As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2023
Securities Act Registration
No. 333-
Investment Company Registration No. 811-06623
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-2
|
|
|
| ☒ |
|
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933: |
|
|
| ☐ |
|
Pre-Effective Amendment No. |
|
|
| ☐ |
|
Post-Effective Amendment No. |
|
| and |
|
|
| ☒ |
|
Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940: |
|
|
| ☒ |
|
Amendment No. 5 |
Nuveen
California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Declaration
of Trust
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago,
Illinois 60606
Address of Principal Executive Offices (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)
(800) 257-8787
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code
Mark L. Winget
Vice President and
Secretary
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Name and
Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service
Copies of
Communications to:
|
|
|
| Thomas S. Harman |
|
Eric F. Fess |
| Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP |
|
Chapman and Cutler LLP |
| 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW |
|
111 West Monroe |
| Washington, D.C. 20004 |
|
Chicago, Illinois 60603 |
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
Registration Statement.
☐ Check box
if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans.
☒ Check
box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend
reinvestment plan.
☒ Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective
amendment thereto.
☐ Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective
amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.
☐
Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
☐ when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act.
If appropriate, check the following box:
☐ This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective] amendment [registration
statement].
☐ This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is:
.
☐
This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is:
.
☐
This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is:
.
Check each box that
appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
☒ Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)).
☐ Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as
a business development company under the Investment Company Act).
☐ Interval Fund (Registered
Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act).
☒ A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).
☐ Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
☐ Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(“Exchange Act”).
☐ If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the
extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.
☐ New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing).
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a
further amendment that specifically states that the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the
Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these
securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction
where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 12, 2023
PRELIMINARY BASE PROSPECTUS
1.3 Million Common Shares
Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio
The Offering. Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income
Portfolio (the “Fund”) is offering, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings, common shares (the “Common Shares”). The Fund may offer and sell Common Shares directly to one or more purchasers, to or
through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. In connection with any offering of Common Shares, the Fund will deliver a prospectus supplement describing such
offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon
which such amount may be calculated. For more information about the manners in which the Fund may offer Common Shares, see “Plan of Distribution.”
The Fund. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management
investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide stable dividends exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes, consistent with preservation of capital. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
investment objective or that the Fund’s investment strategies will be successful.
This Prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement, sets forth concisely information about the Fund that a prospective investor should
know before investing, and should be retained for future reference. Investing in Common Shares involves risks. You could lose some or all of your investment. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information in
this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase any of the Common Shares. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 30.
The Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The trading or “ticker” symbol of the Common
Shares is “NXC.” The last reported sale price of the Common Shares, as reported by the NYSE on April 30, 2023, was $13.17 per Common Share. The net asset value of the Common Shares at the close of business on that same date was $13.87
per Common Share.
Fund Strategies
and Policies. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment object by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined below under “Investment Objective and Policies”) in
municipal securities and other related investments, the income from which are exempt from regular federal and California income tax. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that are subject to the federal
alternative minimum tax (“AMT Bonds”). The Fund generally invests in municipal securities with an average effective maturity of approximately 15-30 years, but it may be shortened or lengthened,
depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the municipal securities market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for
tax-exempt income and total return. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in investment grade securities that, at the time of investment, are rated within the four
highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s
sub-adviser.
No
Preferred Shares. Unless otherwise approved by shareholders, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Fund may
borrow for temporary, emergency or certain other purposes as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect of financial
leverage. See “Risk Factors—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk.”
Adviser and
Sub-Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for determining the Fund’s overall investment strategies and their implementation.
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment sub-adviser and oversees the day-to-day investment operations of the
Fund.
* * *
You should read this Prospectus, which contains important information
about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), dated [—], 2023, containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of the SAI, the table of contents of which is on the last page of this Prospectus, annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund or from the Fund’s website
(http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein. You also may obtain a copy of the SAI
(and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The date of this Prospectus is [—], 2023.
The Common Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository
institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with
different information. The Fund is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the
front of this Prospectus. The Fund will update this Prospectus to reflect any material changes to the disclosures herein.
3
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any projections, forecasts and estimates contained or incorporated by
reference herein are forward looking statements and are based upon certain assumptions. Projections, forecasts and estimates are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying any
projections, forecasts or estimates will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Actual results may vary from any projections, forecasts and estimates and the variations may be material. Some important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward looking statements include changes in interest rates, market, financial or legal uncertainties, including changes in tax law, and the timing and frequency of defaults on underlying
investments. Consequently, the inclusion of any projections, forecasts and estimates herein should not be regarded as a representation by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any other person or entity of the results that will actually be achieved
by the Fund. Neither the Fund nor its affiliates has any obligation to update or otherwise revise any projections, forecasts and estimates including any revisions to reflect changes in economic conditions or other circumstances arising after the
date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, even if the underlying assumptions do not come to fruition. The Fund acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 does not apply to investment companies such as the Fund.
4
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed
information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) before purchasing Common Shares.
| The Fund |
Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end investment management company. See “The Fund.” The
Fund’s Common shares, $0.01 par value (“Common Shares”), are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “NXC.” |
| |
The last reported sale price of the Common Shares, as reported by the NYSE on April 30, 2023, was $13.17 per Common Share. The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Common Shares at the close of business on that
same date was $13.87 per Common Share. As of April 30, 2023, the Fund had 6,362,276 Common Shares outstanding and net assets of $88,260,246. See “Description of Shares.” |
| The Offering |
The Fund may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to 1.3 million Common Shares on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Fund may offer and sell Common Shares directly to one or more purchasers, to or
through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. In connection with any offering of Common Shares, the Fund will deliver a prospectus supplement describing such
offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon
which such amount may be calculated. The minimum price on any day at which Common Shares may be sold will not be less than the NAV per Common Share at the time of the offering plus the per share amount of any underwriting commission or discount. For
more information about the manners in which the Fund may offer Common Shares, see “Plan of Distribution.” |
| |
The Fund may not sell any Common Shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the particular offering of the Common Shares. You should
read this Prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our Common Shares. |
| Investment Objective and Policies |
The Fund’s investment objective is to provide stable dividends exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes, consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objective.
The Fund’s investment objective and any investment policies identified as fundamental policies may not be changed without shareholder approval. |
| |
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of municipal securities, a significant portion
of which |
5
| |
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”), the Fund’s sub-adviser, believes are underrated or undervalued or that represent
municipal market sectors that are undervalued. |
| |
As a fundamental investment policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related instruments, the income from which is exempt from regular
federal and California income taxes. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that pay interest that is taxable under the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals (“AMT Bonds”). As of
April 30, 2023, the Fund had invested approximately 7% of its Managed Assets in AMT Bonds. |
| |
For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, “Managed Assets” mean the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose
of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted
accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value. |
| |
The Fund may invest in various municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance
and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from regular federal and California
income taxes (as used in this document, the term “municipal securities” refers to all such investments collectively). Municipal securities are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects,
such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities also may be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation,
electric utility and pollution control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide long-term financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the
issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal securities also may be issued to finance projects on a
short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Fund may purchase municipal securities in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds, and inverse floating rate securities. Such municipal securities also may be
acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships, or other investment |
6
| |
companies. See “The Fund’s Investments—Municipal Securities” for additional information on the types of municipal securities in which the Fund may invest.
|
| |
The Fund also may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objective. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps),
options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or other derivative instruments. Nuveen Asset Management may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal
securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may generate taxable income. As of March 31, 2023, the Fund was not invested in derivatives. See “The Fund’s Investments—Municipal
Securities—Derivatives.” |
| |
Under normal circumstances: |
| |
• |
|
The Fund invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in investment grade securities that, at the time of investment, are rated within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. A security is considered investment grade if it is rated within the four highest letter grades by at least one
NRSRO that rate such securities (even if rated lower by another), or if it is unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset
Management. No more than 10% of the Managed Assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B- by all NRSROs that rate the security or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by
Nuveen Asset Management. Municipal securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk
bonds. |
| |
• |
|
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Fund may borrow for temporary, emergency or certain other
purposes as permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect of financial leverage. |
7
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)) that invest
primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest in municipal securities and other instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). See “Risk Factors—Illiquid Securities
Risk.” |
| |
• |
|
The Fund generally invests in municipal securities with an average effective maturity of approximately 15-30 years, but it may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market
conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the municipal securities market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for tax-exempt
income and total return. As of March 31, 2023, the effective maturity of the Fund’s portfolio was 18.25 years. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in municipal securities in any one industry. |
| |
During temporary defensive periods or in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including during the period when the net proceeds of the offering of Common Shares are being invested, the Fund may deviate
from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in short-term investments, including high quality, short-term securities that may be either
tax-exempt or taxable. The Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available
at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of your dividends being subject to regular federal income tax and, if the proportion of taxable investments exceeded 50% of the Fund’s total
assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund would not satisfy the general eligibility test that would permit it to pay exempt-interest dividends for that taxable year. Such transactions will be used solely to
reduce risk. There can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful. For a more complete discussion of the Fund’s portfolio composition and its corresponding risks, see “The Fund’s Investments” and “Risk
Factors.” |
| Investment Adviser |
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors”), the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s overall
investment strategy and implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall
|
8
| |
responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolio, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other
administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC (“Nuveen”), the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and
Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”). TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of
March 31, 2023, Nuveen managed approximately $1.1 trillion in assets, of which approximately $142.2 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors. |
| Sub-Adviser |
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset Management
oversees the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. |
| Use of Leverage |
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Fund may (i) borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes and
(ii) invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect of leverage. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. As of March 31, 2023, the
Fund’s total effective leverage was approximately 0.00% of its Managed Assets. |
| |
As of March 31, 2023, the Fund was not invested in inverse floating rate securities. An investment in inverse floating rate securities involves special risks. See “Risk Factors—Inverse Floating Rate
Securities.” |
| |
The Fund, along with certain other funds managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors (the “Participating Funds”), also established a 364-day, approximately $2.7 billion standby
credit facility with a group of lenders, under which the Participating Funds may borrow for various purposes other than leveraging for investment purposes. A large portion of this facility’s capacity is currently dedicated for use by a small
number of Participating Funds, which does not include the Fund. The remaining capacity under the facility (and the corresponding portion of the facility’s annual costs) is separately dedicated to most of the other
open-end funds in the Nuveen fund family, along with a number of Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund. The credit facility expires in June 2023 unless extended or
renewed. During the current fiscal period, the Fund did not utilize this facility. |
| Distributions |
The Fund pays monthly distributions to Common Shareholders at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) based on
the projected performance of the Fund. The Fund’s ability to maintain a level Common Share dividend rate will depend on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions |
9
| |
change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Fund’s dividend policy could change. For each taxable year, the Fund will distribute all or substantially all of its net investment
income (including any ordinary taxable income) and net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) to Common Shareholders so long as the net investment income and net capital gain are not
necessary to pay any interest and required principal payments on borrowings. While not currently anticipated, if the Fund makes total distributions for a taxable year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s earnings and profits, the excess would
generally be treated by Common Shareholders as a return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a shareholder’s tax basis, which could result in higher taxes when the shareholder sells his or her shares because it may result in
a larger gain or a smaller loss on the sale. In the event of a distribution of paid-in capital, shareholders will be receiving their own capital back, net of the Fund’s fees and expenses. You may elect to
reinvest automatically some or all of your distributions in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. |
| |
The Fund might not distribute all or a portion of any net capital gain for a taxable year. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain for a taxable year, it will pay federal income tax on the retained
gain. Provided that the Fund satisfies certain requirements, each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year (i) will include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share
of the retained gain, (ii) will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and (iii) may be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund will
treat the retained capital gain amount as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.” |
| |
The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time, subject to a finding by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the
“Board”) that such change is in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders. |
| Custodian and Transfer Agent |
State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as the Fund’s custodian, and Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. See “Custodian and Transfer Agent.” |
| Risk Factors |
Investment in the Fund involves risk. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement for a discussion of the principal risks you should consider before making an investment in the Fund. The specific risks applicable to a particular offering of Common Shares will be set forth in the related prospectus
supplement. |
10
| Use of Proceeds |
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the Fund will use the net proceeds from any sales of Common Shares, pursuant to this Prospectus, to make investments in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives. See “Use
of Proceeds.” |
| Federal Income Tax |
The Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to continue to qualify each year, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). To qualify for the favorable U.S.
federal income tax treatment generally accorded to a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code the Fund must, among other requirements, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources
and satisfy a diversification test on a quarterly basis. If the Fund fails to satisfy the qualifying income or diversification requirements in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable
cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund
corrects the failure within a specified period. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the diversification requirements, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions
were not available to the Fund and it were to fail to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company for a taxable year, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at the 21% regular corporate rate
without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. The value of Common Shares may be adversely
affected by changes in tax rates and policies. |
| |
See “Risk Factors—Tax Risks” and “Tax Matters.” |
| Special Tax Considerations |
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities that pay interest that is taxable under the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals. If you are, or as a result of investment in the Fund would become,
subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for you. In addition, distributions of ordinary taxable income (including any net short-term capital gain) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income
(and not eligible for favorable taxation as “qualified dividend income”), and capital gain dividends will be taxable as long-term capital gains. See “Tax Matters.” |
| Voting Rights |
All Common Shares have equal non-cumulative voting rights. |
| Governing Law |
The Fund’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |
11
SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES
The purpose of the table below and the Examples below are to help you
understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. The table shows the expenses of the Fund as a percentage of the average net assets applicable to Common Shares, and not as a percentage of total
assets or total investment exposure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shareholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of offering price) |
|
|
|
|
| Maximum Sales Charge |
|
|
1.00 |
% |
| Offering Costs(1) |
|
|
0.79 |
% |
| Dividend Reinvestment Plan Fees(2) |
|
|
$2.50 |
|
|
|
| |
|
As a Percentage of
Net Assets
Attributable to
Common
Shares(3)
|
|
|
|
| Annual Expenses |
|
|
|
|
| Management Fees |
|
|
0.26 |
% |
| Other Expenses(4) |
|
|
0.10 |
% |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Total Annual Expenses |
|
|
0.36 |
% |
| |
|
|
|
|
| (1) |
Assuming a Common Share offering price of $13.17 (the Fund’s closing price on the NYSE on April 30,
2023). |
| (2) |
You will be charged a $2.50 service charge and pay brokerage charges if you direct State Street Bank and Trust
Company, as agent for the Common Shareholders (the “Plan Agent”), to sell your Common Shares held in a dividend reinvestment account. |
| (3) |
Stated as annualized percentages of average net assets attributable to Common Shares for the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2023. |
| (4) |
Other Expenses is based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. Expenses attributable to the
Fund’s investments, if any, in other investment companies are currently estimated not to exceed 0.01%. See “Portfolio Composition—Other Investment Companies” in the SAI. |
See “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser.”
Example
The following example illustrates the expenses, including the
applicable transaction fees (referred to as the “Maximum Sales Charge” in the fee table above), if any, and estimated offering costs of $7.90 that a Common Shareholder would pay on a $1,000 investment that is held for the time periods
provided in the table. The example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested in the Fund and that the Fund’s Annual Expenses, as provided above, remain the same. The example also assumes a transaction fee of 1.00%, as a
percentage of the offering price, and a 5% annual return.(1)
The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
|
5 Years
|
|
|
10 Years
|
|
| $22 |
|
|
$29 |
|
|
|
$38 |
|
|
|
$63 |
|
| (1) |
The example assumes that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at Common Share NAV. Actual expenses
may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. |
12
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following Financial Highlights table is intended to help a
prospective investor understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Common share of the Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would
have earned or lost on an investment in Common shares of the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends). The Fund’s annual financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the fiscal period ended
February 28, 2022, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, including the financial highlights for the fiscal period and years then ended, respectively, have been audited by KPMG LLP
(“KPMG”), an independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG has not reviewed or examined any records, transactions or events after the date of such reports. The information with respect to the fiscal years ended prior to
March 31, 2015, has been audited by other auditors. A copy of the Fund’s most recent annual report may be obtained from www.sec.gov or by
visiting www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein. Past results are not indicative of
future performance.
The following per share data and ratios have
been derived from information provided in the financial statements.
Selected data for a common share outstanding throughout each period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Investment Operations
|
|
|
Less Distributions
to Common Shareholders
|
|
|
Common Share
|
|
| |
|
Beginning
Common
Share
NAV
|
|
|
Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
|
|
|
Net
Realized/
Unrealized
Gain
(Loss)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
From Net
Investment
Income
|
|
|
From
Accumulated
Net Realized
Gains
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Shelf
Offering
Cost
|
|
|
Premium
per
Share
Sold
through
Shelf
Offering
|
|
|
Ending
NAV
|
|
|
Ending
Share
Price
|
|
| NXC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Year Ended 2/28: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2023 |
|
$ |
15.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.51 |
|
|
$ |
(1.46 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.95 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
|
— |
* |
|
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
13.71 |
|
|
$ |
13.89 |
|
| 2022(d) |
|
|
15.83 |
|
|
|
0.45 |
|
|
|
(0.65 |
) |
|
|
(0.20 |
) |
|
|
(0.44 |
) |
|
|
(0.04 |
) |
|
|
(0.48 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.15 |
|
|
|
14.81 |
|
| Year Ended 3/31: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2021 |
|
|
15.43 |
|
|
|
0.51 |
|
|
|
0.41 |
|
|
|
0.92 |
|
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.83 |
|
|
|
16.29 |
|
| 2020 |
|
|
15.21 |
|
|
|
0.53 |
|
|
|
0.21 |
|
|
|
0.74 |
|
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.43 |
|
|
|
14.50 |
|
| 2019 |
|
|
15.02 |
|
|
|
0.50 |
|
|
|
0.19 |
|
|
|
0.69 |
|
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.21 |
|
|
|
14.12 |
|
| 2018 |
|
|
15.00 |
|
|
|
0.57 |
|
|
|
0.09 |
|
|
|
0.66 |
|
|
|
(0.58 |
) |
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
(0.64 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
* |
|
|
15.02 |
|
|
|
13.90 |
|
| 2017 |
|
|
15.68 |
|
|
|
0.60 |
|
|
|
(0.56 |
) |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
(0.62 |
) |
|
|
(0.10 |
) |
|
|
(0.72 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.00 |
|
|
|
14.83 |
|
| 2016 |
|
|
15.52 |
|
|
|
0.64 |
|
|
|
0.19 |
|
|
|
0.83 |
|
|
|
(0.65 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.67 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.68 |
|
|
|
16.70 |
|
| 2015 |
|
|
14.83 |
|
|
|
0.66 |
|
|
|
0.82 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
(0.68 |
) |
|
|
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
(0.79 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.52 |
|
|
|
15.40 |
|
| 2014 |
|
|
15.72 |
|
|
|
0.67 |
|
|
|
(0.63 |
) |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
(0.68 |
) |
|
|
(0.25 |
) |
|
|
(0.93 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14.83 |
|
|
|
14.25 |
|
| 2013 |
|
|
15.07 |
|
|
|
0.69 |
|
|
|
0.64 |
|
|
|
1.33 |
|
|
|
(0.68 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.68 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15.72 |
|
|
|
15.07 |
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Share Supplemental Data/
Ratios Applicable to Common
Shares
|
|
| |
|
Common Share Total
Returns
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Based
on
NAV(a)
|
|
|
Based
on
Share
Price(a)
|
|
|
Ending
Net Assets
(000)
|
|
|
Expenses(b)
|
|
|
Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
|
|
|
Portfolio
Turnover
Rate(c)
|
|
| NXC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Year Ended 2/28: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2023 |
|
|
(6.23 |
)% |
|
|
(2.77 |
)% |
|
$ |
87,224 |
|
|
|
0.36 |
% |
|
|
3.63 |
% |
|
|
43 |
% |
| 2022(d) |
|
|
(1.34 |
) |
|
|
(6.27 |
) |
|
|
96,352 |
|
|
|
0.35 |
** |
|
|
3.14 |
** |
|
|
9 |
|
| Year Ended 3/31: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2021 |
|
|
(6.05 |
) |
|
|
16.13 |
|
|
|
100,600 |
|
|
|
0.35 |
|
|
|
3.26 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
| 2020 |
|
|
4.86 |
|
|
|
6.26 |
|
|
|
98,013 |
|
|
|
0.36 |
|
|
|
3.41 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
| 2019 |
|
|
4.82 |
|
|
|
5.44 |
|
|
|
96,573 |
|
|
|
0.55 |
|
|
|
3.38 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
| 2018 |
|
|
4.37 |
|
|
|
(2.23 |
) |
|
|
95,357 |
|
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
3.73 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
| 2017 |
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
|
(6.98 |
) |
|
|
94,310 |
|
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
3.89 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
| 2016 |
|
|
5.51 |
|
|
|
13.25 |
|
|
|
98,494 |
|
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
4.18 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
| 2015 |
|
|
10.20 |
|
|
|
13.84 |
|
|
|
97,421 |
|
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
4.30 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
| 2014 |
|
|
0.50 |
|
|
|
1.07 |
|
|
|
93,011 |
|
|
|
0.38 |
|
|
|
4.55 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
| 2013 |
|
|
8.98 |
|
|
|
6.43 |
|
|
|
98,595 |
|
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
|
4.44 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
| (a) |
Total Return Based on Common Share NAV is the combination of changes in common share NAV, reinvested dividend
income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending NAV. The actual
reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its NAV), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
|
Total Return Based on Common Share Price is the
combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the
period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in
some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
| (b) |
The expense ratios reflect, among other things, the interest expense deemed to have been paid by the Fund on
the floating rate certificates issued by the special purpose trusts for the self-deposited inverse floaters held by the Fund, where applicable, as follows: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Ratios of Interest Expense
to Average Net Assets Applicable
to Common
Shares
|
|
| NXC |
|
|
|
|
| Year Ended 2/28: |
|
|
|
|
| 2023 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2022(d) |
|
|
— |
** |
| Year Ended 3/31: |
|
|
|
|
| 2021 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2020 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2019 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2018 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2017 |
|
|
— |
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Ratios of Interest Expense
to Average Net Assets Applicable
to Common
Shares
|
|
| 2016 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2015 |
|
|
— |
|
| 2014 |
|
|
0.01 |
|
| 2013 |
|
|
0.01 |
|
| (c) |
Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales divided by the
average long-term market value during the period. |
| (d) |
For the eleven months ended February 28, 2022. |
TRADING AND NET ASSET VALUE INFORMATION
The following table shows for the periods indicated: (i) the high
and low sales prices for the Common Shares as reported as of the end of the day on the NYSE, (ii) the high and low net asset values of the Common Shares, and (iii) the high and low of the premium/(discount) to net asset value (expressed as
a percentage) of the Common Shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Price
|
|
|
Net Asset Value
|
|
|
Premium/
(Discount)
|
|
| Fiscal Quarter Ended
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
| February 2023 |
|
$ |
15.19 |
|
|
$ |
13.10 |
|
|
$ |
14.17 |
|
|
$ |
13.70 |
|
|
|
7.89 |
% |
|
|
(5.42 |
)% |
| November 2022 |
|
$ |
13.98 |
|
|
$ |
12.44 |
|
|
$ |
13.83 |
|
|
$ |
13.01 |
|
|
|
3.63 |
% |
|
|
(5.03 |
)% |
| August 2022 |
|
$ |
14.98 |
|
|
$ |
12.95 |
|
|
$ |
14.39 |
|
|
$ |
13.71 |
|
|
|
5.05 |
% |
|
|
(6.09 |
)% |
| May 2022 |
|
$ |
16.00 |
|
|
$ |
13.30 |
|
|
$ |
15.19 |
|
|
$ |
13.70 |
|
|
|
8.04 |
% |
|
|
(6.43 |
)% |
| February 2022 |
|
$ |
16.80 |
|
|
$ |
14.71 |
|
|
$ |
15.83 |
|
|
$ |
15.07 |
|
|
|
8.93 |
% |
|
|
(4.11 |
)% |
| November 2021 |
|
$ |
16.53 |
|
|
$ |
15.26 |
|
|
$ |
15.96 |
|
|
$ |
15.70 |
|
|
|
3.64 |
% |
|
|
(3.48 |
)% |
| August 2021 |
|
$ |
17.30 |
|
|
$ |
16.13 |
|
|
$ |
16.14 |
|
|
$ |
15.96 |
|
|
|
7.99 |
% |
|
|
0.25 |
% |
| May 2021* |
|
$ |
19.40 |
|
|
$ |
15.92 |
|
|
$ |
16.01 |
|
|
$ |
15.85 |
|
|
|
21.25 |
% |
|
|
(0.31 |
)% |
| * |
For the fiscal quarter April 1, 2021 through May 31, 2021. |
The net asset value per Common Share, the market price and percentage
of discount to net asset value per Common Share on April 30, 2023 were $13.87, $13.17 and (5.05)%, respectively. As of April 30, 2023, the Fund had 6,362,276 Common Shares outstanding and net assets of $88,260,246.
THE FUND
The Fund is a diversified,
closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March 30, 1992, pursuant to the Declaration governed by the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund’s Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NXC.”
The following provides information about the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares as of April 30, 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Title of Class
|
|
Amount
Authorized
|
|
|
Amount Held
by the Fund or
for its Account
|
|
|
Amount
Outstanding
|
|
| Common |
|
|
unlimited |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,362,276 |
|
15
Control Persons
The following table lists the control persons of the Fund as of [ ], 2023. A control person is one who owns beneficially
or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control.1 Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of
voting or the direction of management of the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
| Control Persons
|
|
% of Total Outstanding Shares of the
Fund as of [ ], 2023
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
The Fund has no information regarding the beneficial owners of Fund shares owned through accounts with
financial intermediaries. |
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the issuance of Common Shares will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as
stated below. Pending investment, the timing of which may vary depending on the size of the investment but in no case is expected to exceed 30 days, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term securities issued by
the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities or in high-quality, short-term money market instruments. See “Use of Leverage.”
THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS
Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to provide stable dividends exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes, consistent
with preservation of capital. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s investment objective and any investment policies identified as fundamental may not be changed without shareholder approval.
Investment Policies
Under normal circumstances and as a fundamental policy, the Fund will
invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in municipal securities, the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its
Managed Assets in AMT Bonds. The Fund will consider its investment in underlying investment companies when determining its compliance with its policy to invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment
purposes, in municipal securities, the income from which is exempt from regular federal income tax.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of California municipal securities, a significant portion of
which Nuveen Asset Management believes are underrated and undervalued, based upon its bottom-up, research-driven investment strategy. Underrated municipal securities are those whose ratings do not, in Nuveen
Asset Management’s opinion, reflect their true creditworthiness. Undervalued municipal securities are securities that, in Nuveen Asset Management’s opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Nuveen Asset
Management employs a value-oriented strategy and seeks to construct a diversified portfolio of municipal securities that has the potential to outperform major municipal market benchmarks over the longer term. A municipal security’s market value
generally will depend upon its form, maturity, call features, and interest rate, as well as the issuer’s credit quality or credit rating, all such factors examined in the context of the municipal securities market and interest rate levels and
trends. Nuveen Asset Management may at times believe that securities associated with a particular municipal market sector (for
16
example, electric utilities), or issued by a particular municipal issuer, are undervalued. Nuveen Asset Management may purchase such a security for the Fund’s portfolio because it represents
a market sector or issuer that Nuveen Asset Management considers undervalued, even if the value of the particular security appears to be consistent with the value of similar securities. Municipal securities of particular types (e.g., hospital
bonds, industrial revenue bonds or securities issued by a particular municipal issuer) may be undervalued because there is a temporary excess of supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market price of municipal
securities of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to the particular municipal securities that are considered undervalued. The Fund’s investment in underrated or undervalued municipal securities will be based on Nuveen Asset
Management’s belief that the prices of such municipal securities should ultimately reflect their true value. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will
achieve its investment objective.
The Fund may invest in various
municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that
provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from regular federal income tax. Municipal securities are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects, such as roads, schools, and water
supply systems. Municipal securities also may be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and pollution
control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide long-term financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special
tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage payments. Municipal securities also may be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis,
anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Fund may purchase municipal securities in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds, and inverse floating rate securities; or acquired through investments in
pooled vehicles, partnerships, or other investment companies.
The
Fund also may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objective. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures,
options on swap contracts, or other derivative instruments. Nuveen Asset Management may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a
position in the underlying asset. These types of hedging strategies may generate taxable income. With respect to the Fund’s policy to invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in municipal
securities and other related investments, the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes, for purposes of calculating Managed Assets, the Fund will value eligible derivatives at market value or fair value instead of
notional value. As of March 31, 2023, the Fund was not invested in derivatives. See “The Fund’s Investments—Municipal Securities Derivatives.”
Under normal circumstances:
| |
• |
|
The Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Asset in investment grade securities that, at the time of investment, are rated within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one NRSRO or are unrated
but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. A security is considered investment grade if it is rated within the four highest letter grades by at least one NRSRO that rate such securities (even if rated lower by another), or if
it is unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. |
As of March 31, 2023, approximately 83% of the Fund’s total investment exposure were invested in municipal securities rated
investment grade by an NRSRO (including Standard & Poor’s Corporation
17
Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”)). The
relative percentages of the value of the investments attributable to investment grade municipal securities and to below investment grade municipal securities could change over time as a result of rebalancing the Fund’s assets by Nuveen Asset
Management, market value fluctuations, issuance of additional shares and other events.
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed in municipal securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. No
more than 10% of the Fund’s Managed Assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B- by all NRSROs that rate the security or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by
Nuveen Asset Management. Municipal securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk
bonds. The Fund may invest in distressed securities. The Fund may not invest in the securities of an issuer which, at the time of investment, is in default on its obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or that is involved in a
bankruptcy proceeding (i.e., rated below C-, at the time of investment); provided, however, that Nuveen Asset Management may determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders in pursuing a
workout arrangement with issuers of defaulted securities to make loans to the defaulted issuer or another party, or purchase a debt, equity or other interest from the defaulted issuer or another party, or take other related or similar steps
involving the investment of additional monies, but only if that issuer’s securities are already held by the Fund. |
| |
• |
|
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Fund may borrow for temporary, emergency or other
purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act and invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect of financial leverage. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the
Fund may invest directly. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest in municipal securities and other instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). See “Risk Factors—Illiquid Securities
Risk.” |
| |
• |
|
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in municipal securities in any one industry. |
For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, “Managed Assets” mean the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued
liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the
Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value.
The credit quality policies noted above apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security
in the event that a rating agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue, even if such downgrade causes the portfolio to fall below the 80% threshold. If at any time the Fund falls below the 80% threshold, the
Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund’s portfolio back into compliance with this policy. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, Nuveen Asset Management may consider such factors as
Nuveen Asset Management’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. A general description of the
ratings of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch of municipal securities is set forth in Appendix A to the SAI.
The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are additionally secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit
quality of companies that provide such credit enhancements will
18
affect the value of those securities. Although the insurance feature is designed to reduce certain financial risks, the premiums for insurance and the higher market price paid for insured
obligations may reduce the Fund’s income. The Fund may use any insurer, regardless of its rating. A municipal security typically will be deemed to have the rating of its insurer. However, in the event an insurer has a credit rating below the
rating of an underlying municipal security or is perceived by the market to have such a lower rating, the municipal security rating would be the more relevant rating and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely,
reflect such rating. As a result, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security may decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest of an insured obligation, the
market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the Common Shares represented by such insured obligation.
During temporary defensive periods or in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including during the period when the net proceeds
of the offering of Common Shares are being invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment policies and objectives. During such periods, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in short-term investments, including high quality,
short-term securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. The Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt
short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Investment in taxable short-term investments would result in a portion of your dividends being subject to regular federal income tax, and if the proportion of taxable
investments exceeded 50% of the Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund would not satisfy the general eligibility test that would permit it to pay exempt-interest dividends for that taxable
year. Such transactions will be used solely to reduce risk. There can be no assurance that such strategies will be successful. For more information, see the SAI under “Tax Matters.”
The Fund cannot change its investment objective or fundamental policies
without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common Shares. For this purpose, a “majority of the outstanding” shares means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than
50% of the shares are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less. All of the Fund’s other investment policies are not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed by the
Fund’s Board without a vote of the Common Shareholders.
Portfolio Composition and Other Information
The Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the following investments.
Municipal Securities
General. The Fund may invest in various
municipal securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments
creating exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from regular federal and California
income tax (as previously defined, “municipal securities”). Municipal securities are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects such as roads, schools, and water supply systems. Municipal
securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric utility and pollution control projects. Municipal
securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide permanent financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue
source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments and mortgage payments. Municipal securities may also be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with
the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Fund may purchase municipal securities in the form of bonds, notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable;
with payment forms including fixed coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender option bonds, and
19
inverse floating rate securities; or acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships or other investment companies. Inverse floating rate securities are securities that pay interest
at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing short-term tax-exempt interest rates and represent a leveraged investment in an underlying municipal security, which could have the economic effect of
financial leverage.
Generally, municipal securities are either
general obligation or revenue bonds and typically are issued to finance public projects (such as roads or public buildings), to pay general operating expenses, or to refinance outstanding debt. General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith
and credit or taxing authority of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source. Revenue bonds may be repaid only from the revenues of a specific facility or source.
Municipal securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational
facility construction, or for privately owned industrial development and pollution control projects. However, the obligation to repay the principal and interest rests with the private entity involved, not with the public entity that issues the
bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit, or taxing authority, of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source; revenue bonds may be repaid only from the revenues of a specific facility or source. The Fund may
also purchase other types of municipal securities that represent lease obligations, municipal notes, pre-refunded municipal securities, private activity bonds, tender option bonds and other related securities
and derivative instruments that create exposure to municipal bonds, notes and securities and that provide for the payment of interest income that is exempt from regular federal and California income tax.
The municipal securities in which the Fund invests are generally issued
by the State of California, a municipality of California, or a political subdivision of either, and pay interest that, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer (or on the basis of other authority believed by Nuveen Asset Management to be
reliable), is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes, although the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund may invest in municipal securities issued by U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico or Guam)
that are exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
The yields on municipal securities depend on a variety of factors, including prevailing interest rates and the condition of the general money
market and the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. The market value of municipal securities will vary with changes in interest rate levels and as a result of changing
evaluations of the ability of their issuers to meet interest and principal payments.
A municipal security’s market value generally will depend upon its form, maturity, call features, and interest rate, as well as the credit
quality of the issuer, all such factors examined in the context of the municipal securities market and interest rate levels and trends.
Maturity and Duration. The Fund will generally invest in municipal securities with intermediate or long-term
maturities. The average effective maturity of securities held by the Fund may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of the municipal securities market
offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for tax-exempt income and total return. As of March 31, 2023, the effective maturity of the Fund’s portfolio was 18.25 years. In
comparison to maturity (which is the date on which a debt instrument ceases and the issuer is obligated to repay the principal amount), duration is a measure of the price volatility of a debt instrument as a result of changes in market rates of
interest, based on the weighted average timing of the instrument’s expected principal and interest payments. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers a security’s yield, coupon payments, principal payments and call features in
addition to the amount of time until the security finally matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. Prices of securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with
shorter durations. In general, a portfolio of securities with a longer duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a shorter
20
duration. For example, the price of a bond with an effective duration of two years will rise (fall) two percent for every one percent decrease (increase) in its yield, and the price of a
five-year duration bond will rise (fall) five percent for a one percent decrease (increase) in its yield. As of March 31, 2023, the average effective duration of the Fund’s portfolio was 8.47 years, which includes the effects of leverage
and takes into account the effect of option call provisions of the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio.
Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. The Fund also may purchase municipal securities that
represent lease obligations and certificates of participation in such leases. These carry special risks because the issuer of the securities may not be obligated to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease. A municipal lease is an
obligation in the form of a lease or installment purchase which is issued by a state or local government to acquire equipment and facilities. Income from such obligations is generally exempt from state and local taxes in the state of issuance.
Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment
without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of
“non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate
legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary abatement of payments in the event the issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the
leased equipment or facilities. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove
difficult, time consuming and costly, and result in a delay in recovering, or the failure to recover fully, the Fund’s original investment. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the
credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. In order to reduce this risk, the Fund will only purchase municipal securities representing lease obligations where Nuveen Asset Management
believes the issuer has a strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.
A certificate of participation represents an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or
other instruments. The certificates are typically issued by a municipal agency, a trust or other entity that has received an assignment of the payments to be made by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase
agreements. Such certificates provide the Fund with the right to a pro rata undivided interest in the underlying municipal securities. In addition, such participations generally provide the Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than
seven days’ notice, of all or any part of the Fund’s participation interest in the underlying municipal securities, plus accrued interest.
Municipal Notes. Municipal securities in the form of notes generally are used to provide for short-term capital
needs, in anticipation of an issuer’s receipt of other revenues or financing, and typically have maturities of up to three years. Such instruments may include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, tax and
revenue anticipation notes and construction loan notes. Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance the working capital needs of governments. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various tax revenues, such as income, sales, property, use
and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other kinds of revenue, such as federal revenues available under federal revenue sharing programs. Bond
anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term bond financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the funds needed for repayment of the bond anticipation notes. Tax and revenue anticipation
notes combine the funding sources of both tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes. Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. Mortgage notes insured by the Federal Housing Authority secure these notes; however,
the proceeds from the insurance may be less than the economic equivalent of the payment of principal and interest on the mortgage note if there has been a default. The anticipated revenues from taxes, grants or bond financing generally secure the
obligations of an issuer of municipal notes. An investment in such instruments,
21
however, presents a risk that the anticipated revenues will not be received or that such revenues will be insufficient to satisfy the issuer’s payment obligations under the notes or that
refinancing will be otherwise unavailable.
Pre-Refunded Municipal Securities. The principal of and interest on pre-refunded municipal securities are no longer paid from the original revenue
source for the securities. Instead, the source of such payments is typically an escrow fund consisting of U.S. government securities. The assets in the escrow fund are derived from the proceeds of refunding bonds issued by the same issuer as the pre-refunded municipal securities. Issuers of municipal securities use this advance refunding technique to obtain more favorable terms with respect to securities that are not yet subject to call or redemption by the
issuer. For example, advance refunding enables an issuer to refinance debt at lower market interest rates, restructure debt to improve cash flow or eliminate restrictive covenants in the indenture or other governing instrument for the pre-refunded municipal securities. However, except for a change in the revenue source from which principal and interest payments are made, the pre-refunded municipal
securities remain outstanding on their original terms until they mature or are redeemed by the issuer.
Private Activity Bonds. Private activity bonds, formerly referred to as industrial development bonds, are issued
by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities, airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities and certain
local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which are used for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may
constitute municipal securities, although the current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such issues. Under current law, a significant portion of the private activity bond market is subject to the alternative minimum tax.
The Fund will only invest in private activity bonds that are not AMT Bonds. See “Tax Matters.”
Special Considerations Relating to California Municipal Securities
As described above, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in municipal securities and other related investments, the income
from which is exempt from regular federal and California income tax. The Fund is therefore susceptible to political, economic or regulatory factors affecting issuers of California municipal securities. See “Concentration Risk in California
Issuers” and Appendix A of this Prospectus (“Factors Affecting Municipal Securities in California”). Information regarding the financial condition of the State of California is ordinarily included in various public documents issued
thereby, such as the official statements prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of California. Such official statements may be obtained by contacting the State Treasurer’s Office at 800-900-3873 or at www.treasurer.ca.gov. Complete text of the 2022-2023 budget and prior budgets may be found at the electronic budget website of the Department of
Finance (www.ebudget.ca.gov). Complete text of the State Controller’s monthly cash reports may be accessed at the State Controller’s website (www.sco.ca.gov).
The State of California is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many
of which normally occur in governmental operations. Information regarding some of the more significant litigation pending against the State would ordinarily be included in various public documents issued thereby, such as the official statements
referred to above prepared in connection with the issuance of general obligation bonds of California.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (the “LAO”) has released several reports which include their estimates and assessments of State
budget acts and associated fiscal and economic projections. Publications from the LAO can be read in full by accessing the LAO’s website (www.lao.ca.gov) or by contacting the LAO at 916-445-4656.
It should
be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State of California, and that there is no obligation on the part of the State of California to
make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.
22
None of the information on the above websites is incorporated herein by reference.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its Managed Assets in inverse floating
rate securities. Inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as “inverse floaters”) are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally,
inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust formed by a third-party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. The special purpose trust typically sells two classes of beneficial interests or
securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds) and inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by
certificates. The short-term floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the special purpose trust. Typically, a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, grants the
floating rate security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees. The
holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, the institution granting the tender option will not be
obligated to accept tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrade in the credit rating assigned to the bond issuer. For its inverse floating rate investment, the Fund receives the residual cash flow from
the special purpose trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the security, the Fund as the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value
risk associated with the municipal security deposited into the special purpose trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of
the total face value of the short-term floaters in relation to the value of the residual inverse floaters that are issued by the special purpose trust. In addition, all voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating
to the municipal bonds held in the special purpose trust are passed through to the Fund, as the holder of the residual inverse floating rate securities.
Because increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters reduce the residual interest paid on inverse floaters, and because
fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the special purpose trust affect the value of the inverse floater only, and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust, inverse floaters’ value is generally more
volatile than that of fixed rate bonds. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is generally more volatile than the underlying securities due to the leveraging effect of this ownership structure. These securities generally will
underperform the market of fixed rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but tend to outperform the market of fixed rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively stable. Although
volatile, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of liquidity based
upon the liquidity of the underlying securities deposited in a special purpose trust.
The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In Nuveen Asset
Management’s discretion, the Fund may enter into a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party sponsor of a special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to
the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider
from collapsing the trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third-party sponsor of such inverse floater, upon termination of the trust
issuing the inverse floater, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. Such agreements may expose the Fund to a risk of loss that exceeds its
investment in the inverse floating rate securities. Absent a shortfall and forbearance agreement, the Fund would
23
not be required to make such a reimbursement. If the Fund chooses not to enter into such an agreement, the special purpose trust could be liquidated and the Fund could incur a loss.
The Fund may invest in both inverse floating rate securities and
floating rate securities (as discussed below) issued by the same special purpose trust.
Investments in inverse floating rate securities create effective leverage. The use of leverage creates special risks for Common Shareholders.
See “Risk Factors—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk/Leverage Risk.”
Floating Rate Securities. The Fund may also invest in floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts.
Floating rate securities may take the form of short-term floating rate securities or the option period may be substantially longer. Generally, the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or
remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended periods of one year or multiple years. Since the option feature has a shorter term than the
final maturity or first call date of the underlying bond deposited in the trust, the Fund as the holder of the floating rate security relies upon the terms of the agreement with the financial institution furnishing the option as well as the credit
strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal security deposited in the trust and the application of the proceeds to pay off the floating rate security. The trusts
that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate securities and inverse floaters generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the floating rate security.
Special Taxing Districts. Special taxing
districts are organized to plan and finance infrastructure developments to induce residential, commercial and industrial growth and redevelopment. The bond financing methods such as tax increment finance, tax assessment, special services district
and Mello-Roos bonds, are generally payable solely from taxes or other revenues attributable to the specific projects financed by the bonds without recourse to the credit or taxing power of related or overlapping municipalities. They often are
exposed to real estate development-related risks and can have more taxpayer concentration risk than general tax-supported bonds, such as general obligation bonds. Further, the fees, special taxes, or tax
allocations and other revenues that are established to secure such financings are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate
guarantees. The bonds could default if development failed to progress as anticipated or if larger taxpayers failed to pay the assessments, fees and taxes as provided in the financing plans of the districts.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
The Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or
delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. This type of transaction may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and,
because bonds are subject to market fluctuations, the value of the bonds at time of delivery may be less (or more) than cost. A separate account of the Fund will be established with its custodian consisting of cash, cash equivalents, or liquid
securities having a market value at all times at least equal to the amount of the commitment.
Zero Coupon Bonds
A zero coupon bond is a bond that typically does not pay interest either for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after
the issuance of the obligation. When held to its maturity, the holder receives the par value of the zero coupon bond, which generates a return equal to the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. A zero coupon bond is normally
issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. This original issue discount (“OID”) approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound prior to its maturity and reflects the payment deferral and credit
risk associated with the instrument. Because zero
24
coupon securities and other OID instruments do not pay cash interest at regular intervals, the instruments’ ongoing accruals require ongoing judgments concerning the collectability of
deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral. As a result, these securities may be subject to greater value fluctuations and less liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities that pay cash on a
current basis. Because zero coupon bonds, and OID instruments generally, allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments, they may involve greater payment deferral and credit risk than coupon loans and
bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The Fund generally will be required to distribute dividends to shareholders representing the income of these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive all of the income on a
current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, and use the cash proceeds to make income distributions to its shareholders. For accounting purposes, these cash
distributions to shareholders will not be treated as a return of capital.
Further, Nuveen Fund Advisors collects management fees on the value of a zero coupon bond or OID instrument attributable to the ongoing non-cash accrual of interest over the life of the bond or other instrument. As a result, Nuveen Fund Advisors receives non-refundable cash payments based on such non-cash accruals while investors incur the risk that such non-cash accruals ultimately may not be realized.
Structured Notes
The Fund may utilize structured notes and similar instruments for
investment purposes and also for hedging purposes. Structured notes are privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an
“embedded index”), such as selected securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal
and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but not ordinarily below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may
be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending upon a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on
structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index or indices or other assets. Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for
gain and the risk of loss. These types of investments may generate taxable income.
Derivatives
The Fund may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objective. Such instruments include financial futures
contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts or other derivative instruments. The Fund may also use credit default swaps and interest rate swaps. Credit default
swaps may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. If the Fund is a seller of a contract, the Fund would be required to
pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to such debt obligations.
In return, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no
payment obligations. As the seller, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If the Fund is a buyer of a contract, the Fund would have the right to deliver a referenced debt obligation and receive the par
(or other agreed-upon) value of such debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of a default or other credit event (such as a credit downgrade) by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporation, with respect to its debt
obligations. In return, the Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has
25
occurred. If no default occurs, the counterparty would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligations to the Fund. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with a
counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed-rate payments for floating rate payments. The Fund will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams
will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. See “Hedging Strategies and Other Uses of
Derivatives” in the SAI.
The requirements for qualification
as a regulated investment company may also limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in futures, options on futures and swaps. See “Tax Matters.”
Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the
Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may generate taxable income.
There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that, if used, that the strategies will be successful.
Swap Transactions. The Fund may
enter into total return, interest rate and credit default swap agreements and interest rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements (“swap options”).
The Fund may enter into swap transactions for any purpose consistent
with its investment objective and strategies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets,
as a duration management technique, to reduce risk arising from the ownership of a particular instrument, or to gain exposure to certain sectors or markets in the most economical way possible.
Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by
institutional investors for a specified period of time. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset, reference rate or index.
The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a notional amount, e.g., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a
basket of securities representing a particular index. The notional amount of the swap agreement generally is only used as a basis upon which to calculate the obligations that the parties to the swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The Fund’s
current obligations under a net swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by assets determined to be liquid by Nuveen Asset
Management.
Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Collars and
Floors. Interest rate swaps are bilateral contracts in which each party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on different referenced interest rates (e.g., a fixed rate and a floating rate)
applied to a specified notional amount. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount
from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal
amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Interest rate collars involve selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect the Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
The use of interest rate transactions, such as interest rate swaps and
caps, is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest
rate swaps or caps
26
could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund’s Common Shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, and
could result in a decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, if short-term interest rates are lower than the Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will reduce common share net earnings. If, on
the other hand, short-term interest rates are higher than the fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will enhance Common Share net earnings. Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the Common Shares by providing
a maximum leverage expense. Buying interest rate caps could also decrease the net earnings of the common shares in the event that the premium paid by the Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional amount such Fund would have been required to
pay had it not entered into the cap agreement.
Total Return
Swaps. In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest
rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. The Fund might enter
into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by the portfolio managers to assume
risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.
Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell
protection against a defined-issuer credit event. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. The Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in an
individual security or a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a “short” position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. The Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain
exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments. As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, the Fund would pay a premium (by means of an
upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value)
upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund
would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. If a credit event occurs, however, the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity
that may have little or no value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.
If the Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a credit event occurs, however, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an
equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment
exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to
obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under “—Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.”
Swap Options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return
for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the
right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option
agreement, the Fund generally would incur a greater
27
degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it
decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Risks Associated with Swap
Transactions. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or
Nuveen Asset Management is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not
used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on
the notional amount of the swap. The Fund generally may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and generally may only transfer a position with
the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such a two party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have
contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market,
including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Futures and Options on Futures
Generally. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index or interest rate (each a “financial instrument”) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts,
such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale
of a matching futures contract (same exchange, underlying financial instrument, and delivery month). Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying
financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the
contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.
Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract.
Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known
as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that
are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held in the margin account generally is not income producing. However, couponbearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts generally will earn income.
Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will
be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by the Fund as
unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination
of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may
be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs.
28
A futures option gives the purchaser of such option the right, in return for the premium paid, to
assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the purchaser acquires a long position in the futures contract and
the writer is assigned the opposite short position. Upon the exercise of a put option, the opposite is true.
Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including ETFs)
that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or their respective affiliates to the
extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. The Fund has not applied for and currently does not intend to apply for such relief. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share
of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the
extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. The Fund will consider its investment in underlying investment companies when determining its compliance with its policy to invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets (plus any borrowings for
investment purposes) in municipal securities, the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
Nuveen Asset Management will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company
relative to available municipal security investments. In addition, because the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged subject to leverage risk, the Fund may indirectly be subject to those risks. See “Other Investment
Companies Risk.” These types of investments may generate taxable income. See “Risk Factors—Other Investment Companies Risk.”
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving
the Fund’s investment objective. Although the Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, it is generally not expected to exceed 40% under normal circumstances. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the
Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 43%. However, there are no limits on the Fund’s rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in Nuveen Asset Management’s opinion, investment
considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected
in the Fund’s “Total Annual Expenses” disclosed in this Prospectus, they will be reflected in the Fund’s total return. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund
which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. See “Tax Matters.”
USE OF LEVERAGE
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt
instruments. However, the Fund may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes and invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities that have the economic effect of leverage. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its
Managed Assets in inverse floating rate securities.
Inverse
floating rate securities have the economic effect of leverage because the Fund’s investment exposure to the underlying bonds held by the trust have been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate certificates. See
“Inverse Floating Rate Securities.” As of March 31, 2023, the Fund did not invest in inverse floating rate securities. An investment in inverse floating rate securities involves special risks. See “Risk Factors—Inverse
Floating Rate Securities.”
29
The Fund, along with certain other funds managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors (the “Participating
Funds”), also established a 364-day, approximately $2.7 billion standby credit facility with a group of lenders, under which the Participating Funds may borrow for various purposes other than
leveraging for investment purposes. A large portion of this facility’s capacity is currently dedicated for use by a small number of Participating Funds, which does not include the Fund. The remaining capacity under the facility (and the
corresponding portion of the facility’s annual costs) is separately dedicated to most of the other open-end funds in the Nuveen fund family, along with a number of Nuveen
closed-end funds, including the Fund. The credit facility expires in June 2023 unless extended or renewed. During the current fiscal period, the Fund did not utilize this facility.
RISK FACTORS
Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in any investment company
security involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Therefore, before investing you should consider carefully the following risks that you
assume when you invest in Common Shares.
Portfolio Level Risks
Municipal Securities Market
Risk. The amount of public information available about the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund may
therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of Nuveen Asset Management than if the Fund were a stock fund or taxable bond fund. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade bonds in which the
Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at attractive prices. In addition, the market for below
investment grade municipal securities has experienced in the past, and may experience in the future, periods of significant volatility, which could negatively impact the value of the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio and the market
price of the Common Shares.
The ability of municipal issuers to
make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns and as governmental cost burdens are reallocated among federal, state and local governments. In addition, laws enacted in the future by Congress or
state legislatures or referenda could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Further, some state and local
governments have been and in the future may be subject to direct ballot referenda that could limit their financial flexibility, or their ability to levy taxes or raise revenues, which may adversely affect the marketability of notes and bonds issued
by those state and local governments. Issuers of municipal securities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, the Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund
may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Fund may take possession of and
manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses. Any income derived from the Fund’s ownership or operation of such assets may not be tax-exempt.
Credit
Risk. Issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest may default on their obligations to pay principal or interest when due. This non-payment would result in a reduction of
income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of a debt security experiencing non-payment and, potentially, a decrease in the NAV of the Fund. With respect to the Fund’s investments in securities that are
secured, there can be no assurance that liquidation of collateral would satisfy the issuer’s obligation in the event of non-payment of a scheduled interest or principal payment or that such collateral
could be readily liquidated. In the event of the bankruptcy of an issuer the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing a
30
security. To the extent that the credit rating assigned to a security in the Fund’s portfolio is downgraded, the market price and liquidity of such security may be adversely affected.
Credit Spread Risk. Credit spread risk is
the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that municipal securities generally have a greater risk of default.
Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Fund’s securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase,
reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Below Investment Grade Risk. Debt instruments of below investment grade quality are regarded as having
predominately speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk bonds or high yield debt, which implies higher price volatility and default risk than
investment grade instruments of comparable terms and duration. Issuers of lower grade instruments may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. The prices of these lower grade instruments are
typically more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade instruments.
If a below investment grade security goes into default, or its issuer
enters bankruptcy, it might be difficult to sell that security in a timely manner at a reasonable price.
The secondary market for lower grade instruments may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated instruments, a factor which
may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular instrument. There are fewer dealers in the market for lower grade securities than for investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers for lower
grade instruments may vary significantly and the spread between the bid and ask price for such instruments is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for lower
grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these instruments or
may be able to sell the instruments only at prices lower than if such instruments were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated instruments, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in
calculating the Fund’s NAV.
For these reasons, an investment
in the Fund, compared with a portfolio consisting solely of investment grade securities, may experience the following:
| |
• |
|
increased price sensitivity resulting from a deteriorating economic environment and changing interest rates; |
| |
• |
|
greater risk of loss due to default or declining credit quality; |
| |
• |
|
adverse issuer specific events that are more likely to render the issuer unable to make interest and/or principal payments; and |
| |
• |
|
the possibility that a negative perception of the below investment grade market develops, resulting in the price and liquidity of below investment grade securities becoming depressed, and this negative perception could
last for a significant period of time. |
In the event
that the Fund disposes of a portfolio security subsequent to its being downgraded, the Fund may experience a greater loss than if such security had been sold prior to such downgrade.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is
the risk that debt securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. Generally, when market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities will fall, and vice versa. As interest
rates decline, issuers of debt securities may prepay principal
31
earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower-yielding securities and potentially reducing the Fund’s income. As interest rates increase, slower than expected principal
payments may extend the average life of securities, potentially locking in a below-market interest rate and reducing the Fund’s value. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term debt securities generally fluctuate
more than prices of shorter-term debt securities as interest rates change. As of the date of this Prospectus, the risk of rising interest rates may be greater than would normally be the case due to the current changes in government fiscal policy
initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Because the market price of debt securities may change based upon investors’ collective perceptions of future earnings, the value of the Fund will generally decline when investors
anticipate or experience rising interest rates.
Duration
Risk. Duration is the sensitivity, expressed in years, of the price of a fixed-income security to changes in the general level of interest rates (or yields). Securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to
interest rate (or yield) changes, which typically corresponds to increased volatility and risk, than securities with shorter durations. For example, if a security or portfolio has a duration of three years and interest rates increase by 1%, then the
security or portfolio would decline in value by approximately 3%. Duration differs from maturity in that it considers potential changes to interest rates, and a security’s coupon payments, yield, price and par value and call features, in
addition to the amount of time until the security matures. The duration of a security will be expected to change over time with changes in market factors and time to maturity.
Call Risk. The Fund may invest in debt
securities that are subject to call risk. Such municipal securities may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or “called,” before their stated maturity or redemption date. In general, an issuer will call its instruments if they can be
refinanced by issuing new instruments which bear a lower interest rate. The Fund is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer will call its high yielding municipal securities. The Fund would then be forced
to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.
Prepayment Risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security will repay principal (in part or
in whole) prior to the scheduled maturity date. Debt securities allowing prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a period of declining interest rates, as the Fund may be required to reinvest the proceeds of any prepayment at lower
interest rates, reducing its income. If the Fund purchased the debt securities at a premium, prepayments on the securities could cause the Fund to lose a portion of its principal investment. These factors may cause the value of an investment in the
Fund to change. The impact of prepayments on the price of a debt security may be difficult to predict and may increase the security’s volatility.
Reinvestment Risk. Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and
when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called securities at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares’ market price, NAV and/or a
Common Shareholder’s overall returns.
Alternative Minimum
Tax Risk. The Fund may invest in AMT Bonds. Therefore, a portion of the Fund’s otherwise exempt-interest dividends may be taxable to those shareholders subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities
Risk. The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Typically, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”)
formed for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. See “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition—Municipal Securities—Inverse Floating Rate Securities.” In general, income on inverse floating rate securities will
decrease when short-term interest rates increase and increase when short-term interest rates decrease. Investments in inverse floating rate securities may subject the Fund to the risks of reduced or eliminated interest payments and losses of
principal.
The Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities
issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In Nuveen Fund Advisors’ and Nuveen Asset Management’s discretion, the Fund may enter into
32
separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party granting liquidity to the floating rate security holders of the special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse
agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust exceeds the level that the liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or
(ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third party granting
liquidity to the floating rate security holders of the special purpose trust, upon termination of the trust issuing the inverse floater, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the
holders of floating rate interests. In such instances, the Fund may be at risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the inverse floating rate securities.
Inverse floating rate securities may increase or decrease in value at a greater rate than the underlying interest rate, which effectively
leverages the Fund’s investment. As a result, the market value of such securities generally will be more volatile than that of fixed rate securities.
The Fund’s investments in inverse floating rate securities issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund may be highly
leveraged. The structure and degree to which the Fund’s inverse floating rate securities are highly leveraged will vary based upon a number of factors, including the size of the trust itself and the terms of the underlying municipal security.
In the event of a significant decline in the value of an underlying security, the Fund may suffer losses in excess of the amount of its investment (up to an amount equal to the value of the municipal securities underlying the inverse floating rate
securities) as a result of liquidating special purpose trusts or other collateral required to maintain the Fund’s anticipated leverage ratio.
The Fund’s investment in inverse floating rate securities creates leverage. Any leverage achieved through the Fund’s investment in
inverse floating rate securities will create an opportunity for increased Common Share net income and returns, but will also create the possibility that Common Share long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on
the inverse floating rate securities purchased by the Fund. See “Risk Factors—Fund Level and Other Risks—Leverage Risk.”
The amount of fees paid to Nuveen Asset Management for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees
will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for Nuveen Asset Management to leverage the Fund. “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities
(other than liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s
financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles), and derivatives will be valued at their market value.
Inverse floating rate securities have varying degrees of liquidity based, among other things, upon the liquidity of the underlying securities
deposited in a special purpose trust. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is more volatile than the underlying securities due to leverage. The leverage attributable to such inverse floating rate securities may be “called
away” on relatively short notice and therefore may be less permanent than more traditional forms of leverage. In certain circumstances, the likelihood of an increase in the volatility of NAV and market price of the Common Shares may be greater
for a fund (like the Fund) that relies primarily on inverse floating rate securities to achieve a desired leverage ratio. The Fund may be required to sell its inverse floating rate securities at less than favorable prices, or liquidate other Fund
portfolio holdings in certain circumstances, including, but not limited to, the following:
| |
• |
|
If the Fund has a need for cash and the securities in a special purpose trust are not actively trading due to adverse market conditions; |
| |
• |
|
If special purpose trust sponsors (as a collective group or individually) experience financial hardship and consequently seek to terminate their respective outstanding trusts; and |
33
| |
• |
|
If the value of an underlying security declines significantly and if additional collateral has not been posted by the Fund. |
There is no assurance that the Fund’s strategy of investing in inverse floating rate securities will be successful.
Municipal Securities Market Liquidity
Risk. Inventories of municipal securities held by brokers and dealers have decreased in recent years, lessening their ability to make a market in these securities. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential
to decrease the Fund’s ability to buy or sell municipal securities at attractive prices, and increase municipal security price volatility and trading costs, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal
banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of municipal securities, which may further decrease the Fund’s ability to buy or sell municipal securities. The secondary market for municipal securities, particularly
the below investment grade municipal securities in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at
attractive prices. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of municipal securities, which may further decrease the Fund’s ability to buy or sell municipal securities. As a result,
the Fund may be forced to accept a lower price to sell a security, to sell other securities to raise cash, or to give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of
municipal securities to raise cash to meet its obligations, those sales could further reduce the municipal securities’ prices and hurt performance. The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in unrated municipal securities. The
market for these municipal securities may be less liquid than the market for rated municipal securities of comparable quality. Less public information is typically available about unrated municipal securities or issuers than rated municipal
securities or issuers.
Special Risks Related to Certain
Municipal Obligations. Municipal leases and certificates of participation involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations or revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale
contracts (which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory
requirements for the issuance of debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the
governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate legislative body. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary
abatement of payments in the event that the governmental issuer is prevented from maintaining occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the
disposition of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time consuming and costly, and may result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully recover the
Fund’s original investment. In the event of non-appropriation, the issuer would be in default and taking ownership of the assets may be a remedy available to the Fund, although the Fund does not
anticipate that such a remedy would normally be pursued. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on
an ongoing basis. Certificates of participation, which represent interests in unmanaged pools of municipal leases or installment contracts, involve the same risks as the underlying municipal leases. In addition, the Fund may be dependent upon the
municipal authority issuing the certificate of participation to exercise remedies with respect to the underlying securities. Certificates of participation also entail a risk of default or bankruptcy, both of the issuer of the municipal lease and
also the municipal agency issuing the certificate of participation.
Illiquid Investments Risk. Illiquid investments are securities that are not readily marketable. These securities
may include restricted securities, which cannot be resold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or, if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a
privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The Fund may not
34
be able to readily dispose of such securities at prices that approximate those at which the Fund could sell such securities if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity,
the Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise cash to meet its obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the market price of securities, thereby adversely affecting the Fund’s NAV and
ability to make dividend distributions. The financial markets in general have in recent years experienced periods of extreme secondary market supply and demand imbalance, resulting in a loss of liquidity during which market prices were suddenly and
substantially below traditional measures of intrinsic value. During such periods, some securities could be sold only at arbitrary prices and with substantial losses. Periods of such market dislocation may occur again at any time.
Distressed Securities Risk. The Fund may
invest in low-rated securities or securities unrated but judged by the sub-adviser to be of comparable quality. Some or many of these
low-rated securities, although not in default, may be “distressed,” meaning that the issuer is experiencing financial difficulties or distress at the time of acquisition. Such securities would
present a substantial risk of future default which may cause the Fund to incur losses, including additional expenses, to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on those securities. In any
reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio security, the Fund may lose its entire investment or may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than its original investment. Distressed securities may be subject
to restrictions on resale.
Derivatives
Risk. The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to
transfer the risk and returns of a municipal security or other asset without buying or selling the municipal security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small
investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An
over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be
sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness
of the central counterparty. It is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely impact the Fund’s ability to invest in certain derivatives.
Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend
on, among other things, Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management correctly forecasting market circumstances, liquidity, market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management
incorrectly forecast these and other factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. In addition, there can be no assurance that the derivatives investing techniques, as they may be developed and implemented by the
Fund, will be successful in mitigating risk or achieving the Fund’s investment objective. The use of derivatives to enhance returns may be particularly speculative.
Swap Transactions Risk. The Fund may enter into debt-related derivatives instruments such as credit default swap
contracts and interest rate swaps. Like most derivative instruments, the use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In
addition, the use of swaps requires an understanding by Nuveen Asset Management not only of the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. If Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management is incorrect in its forecasts of
default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap,
the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.
The Fund generally may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or
other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and generally may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. Because
35
they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered illiquid. In addition, the price
at which the Fund may close out such a two-party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be
received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to
meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights.
The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the
premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. When the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement t is possible that
developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Financial Futures and Options Transactions
Risk. The Fund may use certain transactions for hedging the portfolio’s exposure to credit risk and the risk of increases in interest rates, which could result in poorer overall performance for the Fund. The
Fund’s use of certain transactions to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to Nuveen Asset Management’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or
other factors. No assurance can be given that Nuveen Asset Management’s judgment in this respect will be correct. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances
in which it may be advisable to do so.
There are certain risks
associated with the use of financial futures and options to hedge investment portfolios. There may be an imperfect correlation between price movements of the futures and options and price movements of the portfolio securities being hedged. Losses
may be incurred in hedging transactions, which could reduce the portfolio gains that might have been realized if the hedging transactions had not been entered into. If the Fund engages in futures transactions or in the writing of options on futures,
it will be required to maintain initial margin and maintenance margin and may be required to make daily variation margin payments in accordance with applicable rules of the exchanges and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).
If the Fund purchases a financial futures contract or a call option or writes a put option in order to hedge the anticipated purchase of municipal securities, and if the Fund fails to complete the anticipated purchase transaction, the Fund may have
a loss or a gain on the futures or options transaction that will not be offset by price movements in the municipal securities that were the subject of the anticipatory hedge. The cost of put options on debt securities or indexes effectively
increases the cost of the securities subject to them, thereby reducing the yield otherwise available from these securities. If the Fund decides to use futures contracts or options on futures contracts for hedging purposes, the Fund will be required
to establish an account for such purposes with one or more CFTC-registered futures commission merchants. A futures commission merchant could establish initial and maintenance margin requirements for the Fund that are greater than those which would
otherwise apply to the Fund under applicable rules of the exchanges and the CFTC. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a derivatives or futures or a futures option position, and the
Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the
maximum amount that the price of the futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the
limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the
liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some
holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.
36
Hedging Risk. The Fund’s use of derivatives or other
transactions to reduce risks involves costs and will be subject to Nuveen Asset Management’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors. No
assurance can be given that Nuveen Asset Management’s judgment in this respect will be correct. In addition, no assurance can be given that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it may
be advisable to do so. Hedging activities may reduce the Fund’s opportunities for gain by offsetting the positive effects of favorable price movements and may result in net losses.
Concentration Risk in California
Issuers. The Fund’s policy of investing in municipal securities of issuers located in California makes the Fund more susceptible to the adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting such issuers.
The information set forth below and the related information in
Appendix A of this Prospectus is derived from sources that are generally available to investors. The information is intended to give a recent historical description and is not intended to indicate future or continuing trends in the financial or
other positions of California. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State of California, and that there is no obligation
on the part of the State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.
California is subject to large fluctuations in its tax revenue and fixed spending obligations. During recessionary periods, which California
recently experienced, dramatic cuts to programs and/or tax increases may be required. To address budget gaps from the recent recessionary period, spending was cut, State programs were realigned to local governments, and short-term budgetary
solutions were implemented. Despite the recent significant budgetary improvements and moderate growth, a number of major risks and pressures threaten the State’s financial condition, including the need to repay billions of dollars of
obligations that were deferred to balance budgets during the economic downturn. Continued risks to the State’s long-term stability include pension liabilities, debt and increasing annual obligations, and potential cost increases associated with
the federal deficit.
California’s fiscal situation heightens
the risk of investing in bonds issued by the State and its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities and authorities, including the risk of default, and also heightens the risk that the prices of California municipal securities, and the
Fund’s net asset value, will experience greater volatility. As of April 30, 2023, California general obligation bonds were rated “Aa2” by Moody’s, “AA-” by S&P and
“AA” by Fitch. There can be no assurance that such ratings will be maintained in the future. The State’s credit rating, and any future revisions or withdrawal of a credit rating, could have a negative effect on the market price of the
State’s general obligation bonds, as well as notes and bonds issued by California’s public authorities and local governments. Lower credit ratings make it more expensive for the State to raise revenue, and in some cases, could prevent the
State from issuing general obligation bonds in the quantity otherwise desired. Further, downgrades can negatively impact the marketability and price of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.
The foregoing information constitutes only a brief summary of some of
the general factors that may impact certain issuers of municipal bonds and does not purport to be a complete or exhaustive description of all adverse conditions to which the issuers of municipal bonds held by the Fund are subject. Additionally, many
factors, including national economic, social and environmental policies and conditions, which are not within the control of the issuers of the municipal bonds, could affect or could have an adverse impact on the financial condition of the issuers.
The Fund is unable to predict whether or to what extent such factors or other factors may affect the issuers of the municipal securities, the market value or marketability of the municipal securities or the ability of the respective issuers of the
municipal bonds acquired by the Fund to pay interest on or principal of the municipal securities. This information has not been independently verified. See Appendix A of this Prospectus for a further discussion of factors affecting municipal
securities in California.
Puerto Rico Municipal Securities
Market Risk. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its political subdivisions, agencies,
37
instrumentalities, or public corporations (collectively referred to in this Prospectus as “Puerto Rico” or the “Commonwealth”), it will be disproportionally affected by
political, social and economic conditions and developments in the Commonwealth. In addition, economic, political or regulatory changes in that territory could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio.
Puerto Rico currently is experiencing significant fiscal and economic
challenges, including substantial debt service obligations, high levels of unemployment, underfunded public retirement systems, and persistent government budget deficits. These challenges may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s
investments in Puerto Rican municipal securities. Several major ratings agencies have downgraded the general obligation debt of Puerto Rico to below investment grade and continue to maintain a negative outlook for this debt, which increases the
likelihood that the rating will be lowered further. In both August 2015 and January 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on its debt by failing to make full payment due on its outstanding bonds, and there can be no assurance that Puerto Rico will be able to
satisfy its future debt obligations. Further downgrades or defaults may place additional strain on the Puerto Rico economy and may negatively affect the value, liquidity, and volatility of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rican municipal
securities. Additionally, numerous issuers have entered Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversite, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”), which is similar to bankruptcy protection, through which the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico can
restructure its debt. However, Puerto Rico’s case is the first ever heard under PROMESA and there is no existing case precedent to guide the proceedings. Accordingly, Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process could take significantly longer
than traditional municipal bankruptcy proceedings. Further, it is not clear whether a debt restructuring process will ultimately be approved or, if so, the extent to which it will apply to Puerto Rico municipal securities sold by an issuer other
than the territory. A debt restructuring could reduce the principal amount due, the interest rate, the maturity, and other terms of Puerto Rico municipal securities, which could adversely affect the value of Puerto Rican municipal securities.
Legislation, including PROMESA that would allow Puerto Rico to restructure its municipal debt obligations, thus increasing the risk that Puerto Rico may never pay off municipal indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed, could
also impact the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rican municipal securities.
These challenges and uncertainties have been exacerbated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the resulting natural disaster in Puerto Rico. In
September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing major damage across the Commonwealth, including damage to its water, power, and telecommunications infrastructure. The length of time needed to rebuild Puerto Rico’s
infrastructure is unclear, but could amount to years, during which the Commonwealth is likely to be in an uncertain economic state. The full extent of the natural disaster’s impact on Puerto Rico’s economy and foreign investment in Puerto
Rico is difficult to estimate.
More recently, in late December
2019 and January 2020, a series of earthquakes hit Puerto Rico, including a magnitude 6.4 earthquake, the most powerful earthquake to hit the island in more than a century, causing an estimated $200 million in damage. In addition, in early
2020, as the population of Puerto Rico worked to recover from these natural disasters, the island was significantly impacted by Covid, resulting in the Commonwealth’s authorization of a $787 million relief package to fight the pandemic and
its economic impacts. Any reduction in the Commonwealth’s revenues as a result of the pandemic could have a negative ability on the Commonwealth to meet its debt service obligations, including with respect to debt held by the Fund.
Puerto Rico’s political and economic conditions could have a
negative impact on the liquidity or value of Puerto Rican municipal securities, and consequently may affect the Fund’s investments and its performance if the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in Puerto Rican municipal securities.
Sector Focus Risk. At times, the
Fund may focus its investments (i.e., overweight its investments relative to the overall municipal securities market) in one or more particular sectors, which may subject the Fund to additional risk and variability. Securities issued in the
same sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that sector than funds that invest more broadly. As the percentage of the Fund’s Managed Assets invested in a
particular sector increases, so does the potential for fluctuation in the NAV of the Common Shares.
38
Sector and Industry Risk. Subject to the concentration limits of
the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its net assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools and other
private educational facilities, special taxing districts and start-up utility districts, and private activity bonds including industrial development bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as airline
companies, whose credit quality and performance may be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its net assets in the
sectors noted above, the Fund’s performance may be subject to additional risk and variability.
Economic Sector Risk. The Fund may invest a significant amount of its total assets in municipal securities in the
same economic sector. This may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting an economic sector. As concentration increases, so does the potential for fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s
assets. In addition, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools and other private educational facilities, special
taxing districts and start-up utility districts, and private activity bonds including industrial development bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as airline companies, whose credit quality and
performance may be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the sectors noted above, the Fund’s
performance may be subject to additional risk and variability. To the extent that the Fund focuses its assets in the hospital and healthcare facilities sector, for example, the Fund will be subject to risks associated with such sector, including
adverse government regulation and reduction in reimbursement rates, as well as government approval of products and services and intense competition. Securities issued with respect to special taxing districts will be subject to various risks,
including real-estate development related risks and taxpayer concentration risk. Further, the fees, special taxes or tax allocations and other revenues established to secure the obligations of securities issued with respect to special taxing
districts are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. Charter schools and other private educational facilities are
subject to various risks, including the reversal of legislation authorizing or funding charter schools, the failure to renew or secure a charter, the failure of a funding entity to appropriate necessary funds and competition from alternatives such
as voucher programs. Issuers of municipal utility securities can be significantly affected by government regulation, financing difficulties, supply and demand of services or fuel and natural resource conservation. The transportation sector,
including airports, airlines, ports and other transportation facilities, can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor relations, insurance costs and government regulation.
Income Risk. The Fund’s income is
based primarily on the interest it earns from its investments, which can vary widely over the short and long term. The Fund’s income could decline due to falling market interest rates. This is because, in a falling interest rate environment,
the Fund generally will have to invest the proceeds from maturing portfolio securities in lower-yielding securities. This risk is magnified when prevailing short-term interest rates increase and the Fund holds residual interest municipal bonds.
Inflation Risk. Inflation is the
reduction in the purchasing power of money resulting from the increase in the price of goods and services. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the
value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions can decline.
Deflation Risk. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have
an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the
value of the Fund’s portfolio.
Zero Coupon Bonds
Risk. Because interest on zero coupon bonds is not paid on a current basis, the values of zero coupon bonds will be more volatile in response to interest rate changes than the values of bonds that
39
distribute income regularly. Although zero coupon bonds generate income for accounting purposes, they do not produce cash flow, and thus the Fund could be forced to liquidate securities at an
inopportune time in order to generate cash to distribute to shareholders as required by tax laws.
Tax Risk. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the
Code. As a RIC, the Fund is not expected to pay U.S. federal income tax to the extent that it distributes its investment company taxable income and net capital gains. To qualify for the special tax treatment available to a RIC, the Fund must comply
with certain income, distribution, and diversification requirements. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may be forced to sell certain assets when it is not advantageous in order to meet these requirements, which may reduce the Fund’s overall
return. If the Fund fails to meet any of these requirements, subject to the opportunity to cure such failures under applicable provisions of the Code, the Fund’s income would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the Fund level and the
shareholder level. The Fund’s income, including its net capital gain, would first be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates, even if such income were distributed to shareholders and, second, all distributions by the Fund
from its current and accumulated earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), would be taxable to shareholders as dividends. See “Tax Matters.”
The value of the Fund’s investments and its NAV may be adversely
affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal securities is normally not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal securities in relation to other investment alternatives is
affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal securities. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can
significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal securities. This could in turn affect the Fund’s NAV and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal securities at desirable yield and price levels.
Additionally, the Fund is not a suitable investment for tax exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are not sensitive to the federal income tax consequences of their investments. In addition,
distributions of taxable ordinary income (including any net short-term capital gain) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (and not eligible for favorable taxation as “qualified dividend income”), and capital gain dividends
will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Interest income on municipal securities also may be subject to state and local income taxes. See “Tax Matters.”
Taxability Risk. The Fund will invest in municipal securities in reliance at the time of purchase on an opinion
of bond counsel to the issuer that the interest paid on those securities will be excludable from gross income for regular federal income tax purposes, and neither Nuveen Asset Management nor any other person will independently verify that opinion.
Subsequent to the Fund’s acquisition of such a municipal security, however, the security may be determined to pay, or to have paid, taxable income. Distributions of taxable ordinary taxable income (including any net short-term capital gain)
will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (and not eligible for favorable taxation as “qualified dividend income”), and capital gain dividends will be taxable as long-term capital gains. See “Tax Matters.”
Insurance Risk. The Fund may purchase
municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Certain significant providers of
insurance for municipal securities have incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced defaults or otherwise
suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if they are called upon to do so in the
future. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided by
the insurer, the rating of the underlying municipal security will be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal
security would decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does
40
not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the NAV represented by such insured obligation.
Tobacco Settlement Bond
Risk. Tobacco settlement bonds are municipal securities that are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and
American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and
nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers. Under the terms of the MSA, the actual amount of future settlement payments by tobacco manufacturers is dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments,
reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be
negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline.
Valuation Risk. The municipal securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service
utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance
that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price municipal securities assuming orderly transactions of an
institutional “round lot” size, but some trades may occur in smaller, “odd lot” sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into
their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Fund’s pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could
be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Fund’s NAV.
Other Investment Companies Risk. The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including
ETFs. Investing in an investment company exposes the Fund to all of the risks of that investment company’s investments. The Fund, as a holder of the securities of other investment companies, will bear its pro rata portion of the other
investment companies’ expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses are in addition to the direct expenses of the Fund’s own operations. As a result, the cost of investing in investment company shares may exceed the costs of investing
directly in its underlying investments. Nuveen Fund Advisors will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in an investment company relative to available municipal security investments.
The Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment
companies when determining compliance with Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act. Moreover, the Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with its own
concentration policy, to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments.
In addition, securities of other investment companies may be leveraged. As a result, the Fund may be indirectly exposed to leverage through an
investment in such securities and therefore magnify the Fund’s leverage risk. As described in the Fund’s Prospectus, the NAV and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to Common Shareholders will tend to
fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.
With respect to ETFs, an ETF that is based on a specific index may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative
weighting of securities in the index. The value of an ETF based on a specific index is subject to change as the values of its respective component assets fluctuate according to market volatility. ETFs typically rely on a limited pool of authorized
participants to create and redeem shares, and an active trading market for ETF shares may not develop or be maintained. The market value of shares of ETFs and closed-end funds may differ from their NAV.
41
Fund Level and Other Risks
Market Discount from Net Asset Value. Shares of closed-end investment
companies like the Fund frequently trade at prices lower than their NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of investment activities. Whether investors will realize
gains or losses upon the sale of the Common Shares will depend not upon the Fund’s NAV but entirely upon whether the market price of the Common Shares at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s purchase price for the Common
Shares. Furthermore, management may have difficulty meeting the Fund’s investment objectives and managing its portfolio when the underlying securities are redeemed or sold during periods of market turmoil and as investors’ perceptions
regarding closed-end funds or their underlying investments change. Because the market price of the Common Shares will be determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for the Common Shares in the
market, general market and economic circumstances, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the Common Shares will trade at, below or above NAV. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term
investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.
Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the
possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Common Shares frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. Your investment in shares of the Fund represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund. Your shares at any
point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if applicable. Investors bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares
is lower than at the time of purchase. The shares of the Fund are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage
involves special risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of, and distributions on, the Common Shares than a comparable portfolio without leverage. The use of leverage in a
declining market will likely cause a greater decline in Common Share net asset value, which may result in a greater decline of the Common Share price, than if the Fund were not to have used leverage.
The Fund will pay (and Common Shareholders will bear) any costs and
expenses relating to the Fund’s use of leverage, which will result in a reduction in the net asset value of and net income payable with respect to the Common Shares. Because of the costs of leverage, the Fund may incur losses even if the Fund
has positive returns if they are not sufficient to cover the costs of leverage. Nuveen Fund Advisors, based on its assessment of market conditions, may increase or decrease the Fund’s level of leverage. Such changes may impact the Fund’s
distributions and the valuation of the Common Shares in the secondary market. There is no assurance that the Fund will continue to utilize leverage or that the Fund’s use of leverage will be successful. Furthermore, the amount of fees paid to
Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets, which may create an incentive for Nuveen Fund
Advisors to leverage the Fund or increase the Fund’s leverage. Certain types of leverage used by the Fund may result in the Fund being subject to certain covenants, asset coverage or other portfolio composition limits by its lenders, Preferred
Share purchasers, liquidity providers, rating agencies that may rate the preferred securities, or reverse repurchase counterparties. Such limitations may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act and may affect whether the Fund is able to
maintain its desired amount of leverage. At this time, Nuveen Fund Advisors does not believe that any such potential investment limitations will impede it from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with its investment objectives and
policies. See “Use of Leverage.” The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, which may themselves be leveraged and therefore present similar risks to those described above and magnify the Fund’s leverage risk.
The risk of loss attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage is borne by Common Shareholders.
Litigation Risk. From time to time, the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management may be subject
to pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action. Some of these claims may result in
42
significant defense costs and potentially significant judgments. The ultimate outcome of any potential litigation or regulatory action or any claims that may arise in the future cannot be
predicted and the reputation of the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management could be damaged as a result. Certain litigation or regulatory scrutiny could materially adversely affect the Fund. The resolution of certain claims may
result in significant fines, judgments, or settlements, which, if partially or completely uninsured, could adversely impact the Fund or the ability of Nuveen Fund Advisors and/or Nuveen Asset Management to perform their duties to the Fund.
Global Economic Risk. The market value of
the Fund’s investments may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably and for short or extended periods of time. Market values may change due to the particular circumstances of individual issuers or due to general conditions impacting
issuers more broadly within a specific country, region, industry, sector or asset class. National and regional economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one
country, region or market might adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or market. Changes in legal, political, regulatory, tax and economic conditions may cause fluctuations in markets and securities prices around the world, which
could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Major economic or political disruptions, particularly in large economies like China’s, may have global negative economic and market repercussions. As a result, the value of the
Fund’s investments may be negatively affected whether or not the Fund invests in a country or region directly impacted by such conditions or events.
Additionally, unexpected events and their aftermaths, including broad financial dislocations (such as the “great recession” of 2008-09), war, armed conflict (such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022), terrorism, the imposition of economic sanctions, natural and environmental disasters and the spread of infectious
illnesses or other public health emergencies (such as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic first detected in December of 2019), may adversely affect the global economy and the markets and issuers in which the
Fund invests. These events could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closure, travel restrictions or quarantines, or wide-spread unemployment, and generally have a severe negative impact on the global economy. Such events
could also impair the information technology and other operational systems upon which the Fund’s service providers, including Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management, rely, and could otherwise disrupt the ability of employees of the
Fund’s service providers to perform essential tasks on behalf of the Fund. Furthermore, such events could cause financial markets to experience elevated or even extreme volatility and losses, and could result in the disruption of trading and
the reduction of liquidity in many instruments. In addition, sanctions and other measures could limit or prevent the Fund from buying and selling securities (in sanctioned countries and other markets), significantly delay or prevent the settlement
of securities transactions, and significantly impact liquidity and performance.
Governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have in the past responded to major economic disruptions
with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. An unexpected or quick reversal of these policies,
or the ineffectiveness of these policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely affect the Fund’s investments. In addition, there is a possibility that the rising prices of goods and services may have an effect
on the Fund. As inflation increases, the value of the Fund’s assets may decline.
Legislation and Regulatory Risk. At any time after the date of this prospectus, legislation or additional
regulations may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund, securities held by the Fund or the issuers of such securities. Changing approaches to regulation may have a negative impact on the entities and/or securities in which
the Fund invests. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. Fund shareholders may incur increased costs resulting from such legislation or additional regulation. There can be no assurance that future
legislation, regulation or deregulation will not have a material adverse effect on the Fund or will not impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives.
43
The SEC’s recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940
Act, governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, could affect the nature and extent of derivatives used by the Fund. The full impact of such rules is uncertain at this time. Rule 18f-4
could limit the implementation of the Fund’s use of derivatives, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Fund’s organizational documents include provisions that could limit the
ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. Further, the By-Laws provide that a shareholder who obtains
beneficial ownership of Common Shares in a “Control Share Acquisition” shall have the same voting rights as other Common Shares only to the extent authorized by shareholders. Although the application of the “Control Share
Acquisition” provisions has currently been suspended, these provisions could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then-current market price of the Common Shares.
See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws.”
Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management each provide a wide array
of portfolio management and other asset management services to a mix of clients and may engage in ordinary course activities in which their respective interests or those of their clients may compete or conflict with those of the Fund. In certain
circumstances, and subject to its fiduciary obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Nuveen Asset Management may have to allocate a limited investment opportunity among its clients, which include
closed-end funds, open-end funds and other commingled funds. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management have each adopted policies and procedures designed to
address such situations and other potential conflicts of interests.
Economic and Political Events Risk. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political
developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the municipal securities of similar projects (such as those relating to the education, health care, housing, transportation, or utilities industries), industrial development bonds, or
in particular types of municipal securities (such as general obligation bonds, private activity bonds or moral obligation bonds). Such developments may adversely affect a specific industry or local political and economic conditions, and thus may
lead to declines in the creditworthiness and value of such municipal securities.
Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to operational and information security
risk resulting from cyber incidents. Cyber incidents refer to both intentional attacks and unintentional events including: processing errors, human errors, technical errors including computer glitches and system malfunctions, inadequate or failed
internal or external processes, market-wide technical-related disruptions, unauthorized access to digital systems (through “hacking” or malicious software coding), computer viruses, and cyber-attacks which shut down, disable, slow or
otherwise disrupt operations, business processes or website access or functionality (including denial of service attacks). Cyber incidents could adversely impact the Fund and cause the Fund to incur financial loss and expense, as well as face
exposure to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures. Cyber incidents may cause the Fund or its service providers to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, lose
operational capacity or fail to comply with applicable privacy and other laws. Among other potentially harmful effects, cyber incidents also may result in theft, unauthorized monitoring and failures in the physical infrastructure or operating
systems that support the Fund and its service providers. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to prevent any cyber incidents in the future. While the Fund’s service providers have established business continuity plans in the
event of, and risk management systems to prevent, such cyber incidents, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Furthermore, the Fund cannot control the
cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect the Fund.
Unrated Securities Risk. The Fund may purchase securities that are not rated by any rating organization. Nuveen
Asset Management may, after assessing such securities’ credit quality, internally assign ratings to certain
44
of those securities in categories similar to those of rating organizations. Some unrated securities may not have an active trading market or may be difficult to value, which means the Fund might
have difficulty selling them promptly at an acceptable price. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated securities, the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives will be more dependent on Nuveen Asset Management’s credit
analysis than would be the case when the Fund invests in rated securities.
Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative
transactions entered into by the Fund. Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives transactions may affect the value of those instruments. Because certain derivative
transactions in which the Fund may engage may be traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contracts. If a counterparty
becomes bankrupt or otherwise becomes unable to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties the Fund may sustain losses (including the full amount of its investment), may be unable to liquidate a derivatives position or may experience
significant delays in obtaining any recovery in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings. By entering into derivatives transactions, the Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience such financial hardships. Although the Fund
intends to enter into transactions only with counterparties that Nuveen Fund Advisors believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction. In the
event of a counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, any collateral posted by the Fund in connection with a derivatives transaction may be subject to the conflicting claims of that counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to
the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.
The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared OTC derivative transactions. In a cleared derivative
transaction, generally, a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a cleared derivative contract and each party to a trade looks only to the clearing organization for performance of financial obligations under the
derivative contract. In effect, the clearing organization guarantees a party’s performance under the contract. However, there can be no assurance that a clearing organization, or its members, will satisfy its obligations to the Fund, or that
the Fund would be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited on its behalf with the clearing organization in the event of the default by the clearing organization or the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, cleared derivative
transactions benefit from daily marking-to-market and settlement, and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Uncleared OTC derivative transactions
generally do not benefit from such protections. As a result, for uncleared OTC derivative transactions, there is the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the
terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. This risk is heightened for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or
where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties.
Risks Related to the Fund’s Clearing Broker and Central Clearing Counterparty. The CEA requires swaps and
futures clearing brokers registered as “futures commission merchants” to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the
brokers’ proprietary assets. Similarly, the CEA requires each futures commission merchant to hold in separate secure accounts all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of foreign futures contracts and
cleared swaps and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are held by the clearing broker on a commingled
basis in an omnibus account and may be invested in certain instruments permitted under applicable regulations. There is a risk that assets deposited by the Fund with any swaps or futures clearing broker as margin for futures contracts or cleared
swaps may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, the assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the Fund’s clearing broker’s bankruptcy,
as the Fund would
45
be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for the relevant account class.
Similarly, the CEA requires a clearing organization approved by the
CFTC as a derivatives clearing organization to segregate all funds and other property received from a clearing member’s clients in connection with domestic cleared derivative contracts from any funds held at the clearing organization to support
the clearing member’s proprietary trading. Nevertheless, all customer funds held at a clearing organization in connection with any futures contracts are held in a commingled omnibus account and are not identified to the name of the clearing
member’s individual customers. All customer funds held at a clearing organization with respect to cleared swaps of customers of a clearing broker are also held in an omnibus account, but CFTC rules require that the clearing broker notify the
clearing organization of the amount of the initial margin provided by the clearing broker to the clearing organization that is attributable to each customer. With respect to futures and options contracts, a clearing organization may use assets of a non-defaulting customer held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. With respect to cleared
swaps, a clearing organization generally cannot do so, but may do so if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting to the clearing organization as to the attribution of margin among its clients. Also, since clearing brokers generally
provide to clearing organizations the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer, the Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing organization
will not make variation margin payments owed to the Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default. As a result, in the event of a default or the clearing broker’s other clients or the clearing
broker’s failure to extend its own funds in connection with any such default, the Fund may not be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited by the clearing broker on behalf of the Fund with the clearing organization.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund’s
annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a given year. The portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Fund. High portfolio turnover may
result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. In addition, a higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage and other
transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund.
Rating
Agencies Risk. Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. In addition, rating agencies are subject to
an inherent conflict of interest because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they grade.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
Trustees and Officers
The Board is responsible for the management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by Nuveen Fund Advisors. The names and
business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the SAI.
Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and
Portfolio Manager
Investment
Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s overall investment strategy and implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment
management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has
46
overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolio, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and
other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. TIAA is a life insurance company
founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of March 31, 2023, Nuveen managed approximately $1.1 trillion in assets, of which approximately
$142.2 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Sub-Adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment
adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset Management oversees day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management will be compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a portion of the management fee Nuveen Fund Advisors receives from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and
Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
Portfolio Manager. Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for the execution of specific investment strategies and
day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management manages the Nuveen funds using a team of analysts and portfolio managers that focuses on a specific
group of funds. The day-to-day operation of the Fund and the execution of its specific investment strategies is the primary responsibility of Scott R. Romans, the
designated portfolio manager of the Fund.
Scott R. Romans, PhD,
Senior Vice President of Nuveen Asset Management, joined Nuveen Investments in 2000 as a senior analyst in the education sector. In 2003, he was assigned management responsibility for several closed- and open-ended municipal bond funds, including
the Fund. Currently, he manages investments for several Nuveen-sponsored investment companies.
Additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager and the Portfolio
Manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund is provided in the SAI. The SAI is available free of charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.nuveen.com. The
information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus or the SAI, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein or in the SAI.
Investment Management and Sub-Advisory
Agreements
Investment Management
Agreement. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services
and facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, payable on a monthly basis, based on the sum of a fund-level fee and a complex-level fee, as described below.
Fund-Level Fee. The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following
schedule:
|
|
|
|
|
| Average Daily Net Assets
|
|
Fund-Level
Fee Rate
|
|
| For the first $125 million |
|
|
0.1000 |
% |
| For the next $125 million |
|
|
0.0875 |
% |
| For the next $250 million |
|
|
0.0750 |
% |
| For the next $500 million |
|
|
0.0625 |
% |
| For the next $1 billion |
|
|
0.0500 |
% |
| For the next $3 billion |
|
|
0.0250 |
% |
| For net assets over $5 billion |
|
|
0.0125 |
% |
47
Complex-Level Fee. The annual complex-level fee for the Fund,
payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:
|
|
|
|
|
| Complex-Level Eligible Asset Breakpoint
Level*
|
|
Effective
Complex-
Level Fee
Rate at
Breakpoint
Level
|
|
| $55 billion |
|
|
0.2000 |
% |
| $56 billion |
|
|
0.1996 |
% |
| $57 billion |
|
|
0.1989 |
% |
| $60 billion |
|
|
0.1961 |
% |
| $63 billion |
|
|
0.1931 |
% |
| $66 billion |
|
|
0.1900 |
% |
| $71 billion |
|
|
0.1851 |
% |
| $76 billion |
|
|
0.1806 |
% |
| $80 billion |
|
|
0.1773 |
% |
| $91 billion |
|
|
0.1691 |
% |
| $125 billion |
|
|
0.1599 |
% |
| $200 billion |
|
|
0.1505 |
% |
| $250 billion |
|
|
0.1469 |
% |
| $300 billion |
|
|
0.1445 |
% |
| * |
The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily “eligible assets” of all Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally
$2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with Nuveen Fund Advisors’ assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011, but do include certain assets of certain Nuveen funds that
were reorganized into funds advised by an affiliate of Nuveen Fund Advisors during the 2019 calendar year. Eligible assets include closed-end fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors that are attributable
to certain types of leverage. For these purposes, leverage includes the closed-end funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called
inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by the TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by
Nuveen Fund Advisors as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. As of February 28, 2023, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1588%. |
In addition to the fee of Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund pays all other
costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of
independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses associated with any borrowings, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any.
All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund may be found in
the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated August 31 of each year.
Sub-Advisory Agreement. Pursuant to the
Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management receives from Nuveen Fund Advisors a management fee equal to 43.00% of Nuveen Fund Advisors’ net management fee from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and
Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
48
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated August 31 of each year.
NET ASSET VALUE
The Fund’s NAV per Common Share is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for business. NAV is calculated by taking the market value of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of Common Shares
outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the NAV per share.
The Fund utilizes independent pricing services approved by the Board to value portfolio instruments at their market value. Independent pricing
services typically value non-equity portfolio instruments utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in
such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. In valuing municipal securities, the pricing services may also consider, among other factors, the yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, type of
issue, coupon, maturity and rating and the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant by the pricing service or Nuveen Fund Advisors. In pricing certain securities, particularly less liquid and lower quality securities, the pricing
services may consider information about a security, its issuer or market activity provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors or Nuveen Asset Management.
If a price cannot be obtained from a pricing service or other pre-approved source, or if the
Fund’s valuation designee, deems such price to be unreliable, or if a significant event occurs after the close of the local market but prior to the time at which the Fund’s NAV is calculated, a portfolio instrument will be valued at its
fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s valuation designee. The Fund’s valuation designee may determine that a price is unreliable in various circumstances. For example, a price may be deemed unreliable if it has not changed
for an identified period of time, or has changed from the previous day’s price by more than a threshold amount, and recent transactions and/or broker dealer price quotations differ materially from the price in question.
The Board has designated Nuveen Fund Advisors as the Fund’s
valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act and delegated to Nuveen Fund Advisors the day-to-day responsibility
of making fair value determinations. All fair value determinations made by Nuveen Fund Advisors are subject to review by the Board. As a general principle, the fair value of a portfolio instrument is the amount that an owner might reasonably expect
to receive upon the instrument’s current sale. A range of factors and analysis may be considered when determining fair value, including relevant market data, interest rates, credit considerations and/or issuer specific news. However, fair
valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a portfolio instrument may be materially different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of that instrument.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund pays regular monthly cash distributions to Common Shareholders
at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) that reflects the past and projected performance of the Fund. Distributions can only be made from net investment income after paying any interest and required
principal payments on borrowings. Although it does not now intend to do so, the Board may change the Fund’s dividend policy and the amount or timing of the distributions, based on a number of factors, including the amount of the Fund’s
undistributed net investment income and historical and projected investment income.
The Fund might not distribute all or a portion of any net capital gain for a taxable year. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net
capital gain for a taxable year, it will pay federal income tax on the retained gain. Provided
49
that the Fund satisfies certain requirements, each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year (i) will include in income for federal income tax purposes as a
long-term capital gain, his or her share of the retained gain, (ii) will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and (iii) will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for
that share of the tax. The Fund will treat the retained capital gains as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. While not currently anticipated, if the Fund makes total distributions for a taxable year in an amount that exceeds the
Fund’s earnings and profits, the excess would generally be treated by Common Shareholders as a return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a shareholder’s tax basis, which could result in higher taxes when the
shareholder sells his or her shares because it may result in a larger gain or a smaller loss on the sale.
The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time,
subject to a finding by the Fund’s Board that such change is in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
If your Common Shares are registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in the
Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), you may elect to have all dividends, including any capital gain dividends, on your Common Shares automatically reinvested by the Plan Agent (defined below) in additional Common Shares
under the Plan. You may elect to participate in the Plan by contacting Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787. If you do not participate, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed
directly to you or your brokerage firm by State Street Bank and Trust Company as dividend paying agent (the “Plan Agent”).
If you decide to participate in the Plan, the number of Common Shares you will receive will be determined as follows:
| |
(1) |
If Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new
shares at the then current market price; |
| |
(2) |
If Common Shares are trading below net asset value at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the
dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase Common Shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the Common Shares may increase before the Plan Agent has
completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in
Common Shares issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments;
or |
| |
(3) |
If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset
value, but the Fund’s shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution
in newly-issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares’ net asset value or 95% of the shares’ market value. |
You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will
receive whole shares in your account under the Plan and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions and a $2.50
service fee.
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’
accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Upon a repurchase of your
50
shares by the Fund, the Fund (or its administrative agent) may be required to report to the IRS and furnish to you cost basis and holding period information for the Fund shares that you purchased
on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”).
For
shares of the Fund held in the Plan, you are permitted to elect from among several permitted cost basis methods. In the absence of an election, the Plan will use first-in
first-out (“FIFO”) methodology for tracking and reporting your cost basis on covered shares as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method you use may not be changed with respect to a
repurchase of shares after the settlement date of the repurchase. You should consult your tax advisors to determine the best permitted cost basis method for your tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting rules
apply to you. Shareholders should also carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax
returns.
Common Shares in your account will be held by the Plan
Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.
There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro
rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases.
Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due, if any, upon receiving
dividends and distributions.
If you hold your Common Shares with a
brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described above. Consult your financial advisor for more information.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in
the judgment of the Board the change is warranted. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information
about the Plan may be obtained by writing to State Street Bank and Trust Company, Attn: ComputerShare Nuveen Investments, P.O. Box 43071, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3071 or by calling (800) 257-8787.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Fund may sell the Common Shares offered under this Prospectus
directly to one or more purchasers, to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. In connection with any offering of Common Shares, the Fund will deliver
a prospectus supplement describing such offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those
underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated.
The Fund will bear the expenses of the offering, including but not limited to, the expenses of preparation of the Prospectus and SAI for the
offering and the expense of counsel and auditors in connection with the offering.
The distribution of Common Shares may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be
changed, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. The sale of Common Shares may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” as defined
in Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, including sales made directly on the NYSE or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. The minimum price on any day at which Common Shares may be sold will not be less than the
NAV per Common Share at the time of the offering plus the per share amount of any underwriting commission or discount.
51
The Fund may sell the Common Shares directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors
or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resales of the securities. No underwriters or agents would be involved in such an offering. The Fund may use electronic media, including the Internet, to
sell offered securities directly.
In connection with the sale of
the Common Shares, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from the Fund, or from Nuveen Fund Advisors or its affiliates, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the Common Shares to or through dealers,
and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
distribution of the Common Shares may be deemed to be underwriters under the 1933 Act, and any discounts and commissions they receive from the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors or its affiliates, and any profit realized by them on the resale of the
Common Shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the 1933 Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified and any such compensation received from the Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors or its affiliates will be described
in the applicable prospectus supplement. The maximum amount of compensation to be received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed eight percent (8%) for the sale of any securities being
offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act. The Fund will not pay any compensation to any underwriter or agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or similar arrangements.
If a prospectus supplement so indicates, the Fund may grant the
underwriters an option to purchase additional Common Shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within a certain number of days (often 30 to 45 days) from the date of the prospectus supplement, to cover any
over-allotments.
Under agreements into which they may enter with
the Fund, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Common Shares may be entitled to indemnification by the Fund against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act. Underwriters, dealers and
agents may engage in transactions with the Fund, or perform services for the Fund, in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Fund will authorize underwriters, or other persons acting as its agents, to
solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Common Shares from the Fund pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contacts may be made must be approved by the Fund and may include
commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. The obligation of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of
the Common Shares shall not, at the time of delivery, be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or
performance of such contracts. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as brokers or dealers and receive fees in connection with the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters
and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.
The Prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The
underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for Internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, securities may
be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders.
52
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the Common Shares
offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
Common Shares
The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares being offered have a par value of $0.01 per
share and have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation of the Fund. The Common Shares being offered will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed under “Certain Provisions in
the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws,” non-assessable, and will have no preemptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. Each Common Share has one
vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and will vote together as a single class. As previously noted, unless otherwise approved
by shareholders, the Fund will not issue senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, if the Fund issues preferred shares, the Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund
unless all accrued dividends on preferred shares have been paid, and unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See “—Other
Shares” below.
The Common Shares have been approved for
listing on the NYSE. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund will not issue share
certificates.
Unlike
open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares
already held, the shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the NYSE through a broker or otherwise. Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than net
asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have, during some periods, traded at prices higher than net asset value and, during other periods, have traded at prices lower than net
asset value. Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), dividend stability, net asset value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the
market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the Fund’s control, the Fund cannot guarantee you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The Common Shares are
designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund”
below.
Other Shares
As previously noted, as a fundamental investment policy, the Fund will
not issue senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments without the approval of Common Shareholders. However, the Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares in one or more classes or series, with
rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders. For additional information, see the SAI under “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares.”
CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF
TRUST AND BY-LAWS
Shareholder and Trustee Liability. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be
held personally liable for the Fund’s obligations. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the Fund’s debts or obligations and requires that notice of such limited
53
liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the Fund’s
assets and property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the Fund’s obligations. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which
the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.
The Declaration provides that the Fund’s obligations are not binding upon the Fund’s trustees individually, but only upon the
Fund’s assets and property, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration, however, protects a trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Declaration and By-Laws include provisions
that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. The By-Laws require the Board be
divided into three classes with staggered terms. See the SAI under “Management of the Fund.” This provision of the By-Laws could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board.
If preferred shares are issued, holders of preferred shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees. In addition, the Declaration requires a vote by holders of at least
two-thirds of the Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares, voting together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or
other organization or a reorganization of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund’s investment
activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund or (5) a removal of trustees by shareholders (except at the end of a trustee’s term), and then only for cause,1 unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of
trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares
outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, would be required; provided, however, that where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class),
only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. Approval of shareholders would not be required, however, for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Fund issues
shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity. The Board is divided into three classes, such a staggered board could delay for up to two years the
replacement of a majority of the Board. The Board believes that the provisions of the Declaration relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
The provisions of the Declaration and
By-Laws described above could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares by
discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a third
party. They provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objective and
policies. The Fund’s Board has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.
Reference should be made to the Declaration and By-Laws on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.
| 1 |
Vacancies caused by the death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification of a trustee may be filled
in any manner that is consistent with the Declaration and applicable law. |
54
REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of
several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and
economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Fund’s Board has currently determined that, at least
annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the
making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board will decide to take any of these actions,
or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.
If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, the Common Shares would no longer be listed on
the NYSE. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time
(except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. As a result, conversion to open-end
status may require changes in the management of the Fund’s portfolio in order to meet the liquidity requirements applicable to open-end funds. Because portfolio securities may have to be liquidated to
meet redemptions, conversion could affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or to use certain investment policies and techniques described above. If converted to an open-end fund, the
Fund expects to pay all redemptions in cash, but intends to reserve the right to pay redemption requests in a combination of cash or securities. If such partial payment in securities were made, investors may incur brokerage costs in converting such
securities to cash. If the Fund were converted to an open-end fund, it is likely that new shares of Common Stock would be sold at net asset value plus a sales load.
Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade
below net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and
market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.
TAX MATTERS
The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S.
shareholders. Please see the SAI for additional information. Investors should rely on their own tax adviser for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year as a regulated
investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution
of its income. As a RIC, the Fund is not expected to be subject to federal income tax. The Fund primarily invests in municipal securities (as defined above) issued by states, cities and local authorities and certain possessions and territories of
the United States (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) or municipal securities whose income is otherwise exempt from regular federal and California income taxes. Substantially all of the Fund’s dividends paid to you are expected to qualify as
“exempt-interest dividends.” A shareholder treats an exempt-interest dividend as interest on state and local bonds exempt from regular federal income tax. Corporations are subject to special rules in calculating their federal alternative
minimum taxable income with respect to interest from municipal securities.
The exemption from federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends does not necessarily result in exemption for such dividends under the
income or other tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. Some
55
states exempt from state income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that is derived from interest received by a regulated investment company on its holdings of securities of that
state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Therefore, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income earned by the fund during the preceding year on
tax-exempt obligations indicating, on a state-by-state basis, the source of such income. Shareholders of the Fund are advised to
consult with their own tax advisers about state and local tax matters.
In addition to exempt-interest dividends, the Fund may also distribute to its shareholders amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain
or ordinary income (which may include short-term capital gains). These distributions are generally subject to regular federal income tax, whether or not reinvested in additional shares. Capital gain distributions are generally taxable at rates
applicable to long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains are taxable to non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. The Fund does not expect
that any part of its distributions to shareholders from its investments will qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders or as “qualified dividend income”, which is taxable to noncorporate shareholders
at reduced maximum U.S. federal income tax rates.
A 3.8% Medicare
contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is an individual and not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments)
that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to
all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net
investment income, but exempt-interest dividends are not taken into account.
As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax in any taxable year provided that it meets certain requirements. As described in
“Distributions” above, the Fund might not distribute some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain and net investment income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the
amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be
required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be deemed to have paid their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed
amount and will be entitled to credit that amount of tax against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the
tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the
shareholder.
Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November
or December, payable to shareholders of record in such a month, and paid during the following January will be treated as having been received by shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.
Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the U.S.
federal income tax status of all distributions.
The repurchase,
sale or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to holders of Common Shares who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have
been held for more than one year even though the increase in value in such Common Shares may be at least partly attributable to tax-exempt interest income. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term
capital gains of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at rates of up to 20%. Short-term capital gains and
other ordinary income are taxed to non-corporate taxpayers at ordinary income rates. If a shareholder sells or
56
otherwise disposes of Common Shares before holding them for six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as
distributions to the common shareholder of long-term capital gain (including any amount credited to the common shareholder as undistributed capital gain). Any loss realized by a shareholder on the disposition of shares held 6 months or less is
disallowed to the extent of the amount of exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to Common Shares. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Fund
are replaced by substantially identical shares of the Fund (including shares acquired by reason of participation in the Plan) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original
shares, or to the extent the shareholder enters into a contract or option to repurchase shares within such period. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
the Fund’s shares to which exempt-interest dividends are allocated is not deductible. Under certain applicable rules, the purchase or ownership of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not
directly used for the purchase or ownership of the shares. In addition, if you receive social security or certain railroad retirement benefits, you may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of such benefits as a result of receiving
investment income, including exempt-interest dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund.
The Fund may be required to withhold (as “backup withholding”) U.S. federal income tax for distributions (including exempt-interest
dividends) and repurchase proceeds payable to a shareholder if the shareholder fails to provide the Fund with his or her correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if the shareholder has been notified by the IRS
that he or she is subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate is 28%. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the IRS ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited
against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities that generate income that is not exempt from regular federal or California income
taxes.
California Tax Matters
The Fund’s regular monthly dividends will not be subject to
California personal income tax to the extent they are paid out of income earned on obligations that, when held by individuals, pay interest that is exempt from taxation by California under California law (e.g., obligations of California and
its political subdivisions) or federal law, so long as at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of such obligations and the Fund designates such tax-exempt distributions pursuant to certain written notice requirements to its shareholders. The portion of the Fund’s monthly dividends that is attributable to income other than as described in the preceding
sentence will be subject to the California income tax. The Fund expects to earn no or only a minimal amount of such non-exempt income. If you are an individual California resident, you will be subject to
California personal income tax to the extent the Fund distributes any realized capital gains, or if you sell or exchange shares and realize a capital gain on the transaction.
Other State and Local Tax Matters
While exempt-interest dividends are exempt from regular federal and
California income taxes, they may not be exempt from other state or local income or other taxes. Some states exempt from state income tax that portion of any exempt-interest dividend that is derived from interest a regulated investment company
receives on its holdings of securities of that state and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities. Therefore, the Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income the Fund earned during the preceding year on tax-exempt obligations and the Fund will indicate, on a state-by-state basis, the source of this income.
57
Shareholders are advised to consult with their own tax advisors for more detailed information concerning California tax matters or the tax laws of their state and locality of residence. Please
refer to the SAI for more detailed information.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016
(the “Custodian”). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,
250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, provides
auditing services to the Fund. The principal business address of KPMG is 200 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60601.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, located at
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the
1940 Act and is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements, and other information about the Fund can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE.
This Prospectus does not contain all of the information in the
Fund’s Registration Statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this Prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy
of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.
Additional information about the Fund and the Common Shares can be found in the Fund’s Registration Statement (including amendments,
exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the Fund’s Registration Statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and
other information the Fund has filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports file under the Exchange Act.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The documents listed below, and any reports and other documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b)(2) of the 1940
Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and
documents:
| |
• |
|
The Fund’s SAI, dated [—], 2023; and |
| |
• |
|
The Fund’s annual report on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2023. |
58
The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later
information that the Fund files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Incorporated materials not delivered with the prospectus may be obtained, without charge, by calling (800)
257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or from the Fund’s website (http://www.nuveen.com).
59
TABLE OF CONTENTS
60
APPENDIX A: FACTORS AFFECTING MUNICIPAL SECURITIES IN CALIFORNIA
The following information constitutes only a brief summary of
some of the general factors that may impact certain issuers of municipal bonds and does not purport to be a complete or exhaustive description of all adverse conditions to which the issuers of municipal bonds held by the Fund are subject.
Additionally, many factors, including national economic, social and environmental policies and conditions, which are not within the control of the issuers of the municipal bonds, could affect or could have an adverse impact on the financial
condition of the issuers. The Fund is unable to predict whether or to what extent such factors or other factors may affect the issuers of the municipal securities, the market value or marketability of the municipal securities or the ability of the
respective issuers of the municipal bonds acquired by the Fund to pay interest on or principal of the municipal securities. This information has not been independently verified.
The Fund invests a high proportion of its assets in municipal
securities of the State of California (the “State” or “California”). The payment of interest on and preservation of principal in these securities are dependent upon the continuing ability of California issuers and/or obligors of
state, municipal and public authority debt obligations to meet their obligations thereunder. In addition to general economic pressures, certain California constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations
and voter initiatives could adversely affect a California issuer’s ability to raise revenues to meet its financial obligations.
Special Risk Considerations Relating to California Municipal Securities
As discussed in the Prospectus, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in California municipal bonds and,
therefore, may be significantly impacted by political, economic, or regulatory developments that affect issuers in California and their ability to pay principal and interest on their obligations.
California is the most populous state in the United States with an
estimated population of 39.2 million in 2021 or 11.8% of the United States population. California is divided into 58 counties, 482 incorporated cities, and thousands of special districts. It is also the third largest state by area after Alaska
and Texas.
California’s $3.3 trillion economy is the largest
in the United States, representing 14.5% of the U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”), and on a stand-alone basis would be the fifth largest in the world according to the International Monetary Fund. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic
Analysis, the State’s GDP expanded 11.6% from 2020 to 2021 as compared to a 10% expansion for the United States as a whole. The State’s economy is diverse and generally mirrors the nation’s economic composition with a higher
concentration in the information technology sector as compared to the United States. Though diverse, California’s economy has historically displayed more volatility than the nation’s as a whole. California’s economic recovery
continues but the progression lags the national average. Through March 2022, the State had recovered 89.3% of the nearly 2.8 million non-farm jobs lost in March and April 2020. Whereas, the nation
recovered more than 92.8% of the jobs lost during the same period. As a result, the State’s unemployment rate improved from its pandemic peak of 16.1% (seasonally adjusted) as of May 2020, to 4.9% as of March 2022, but still above the national
average of 3.6% for the same period.
According to the U.S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, California’s per capita income for 2021 ranks fourth highest among the 50 states, moving into New Jersey’s 2020 spot. At $76,386 for calendar year 2021, it is 120% of the national
average. California’s per capita personal income increased 9.2% year over year, exceeding the nation’s 7.3% increase during the same period. California’s poverty rate of 12.6%, improved over prior year’s 13.4% and is similar to
the national average of 12.8% for 2021. The State’s population continues to grow, increasing 7.0 % since 2010.
Historically, California’s tax revenues have been more volatile than most states due to its steep personal income tax structure, which
results in a reliance on a small number of taxpayers for a large share of tax revenues. With the passage of Proposition 30 and Proposition 55, which temporarily increased State sales and income
A-1
taxes, recent budgets have been structurally balanced and allowed for transfers into a more stringent rainy day fund. The fiscal year 2022 enacted General Fund budget totaled $196.4 billion,
approximately 18.3% higher than the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. The Budget projected a $47 billion surplus due to significantly higher revenues than were estimated at the time of the 2020-21 Budget Act and
state costs did not rise as dramatically as anticipated. The surplus was allocated to one time or temporary programs: stimulus payments to low income residents; highways, transit and road funding; drought funding; homelessness; and clean vehicle
incentives. Funds were added to the Rainy Day Fund and used to reduce the State’s unfunded liabilities for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRs).
The 2022-23 May Revision
to the General Fund budget totals $227.4 billion, up 15.8% over the Enacted Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and 8.3% higher than the Governor’s January 2022 Proposal. The State projects a $49.2 billion surplus, $3.5 billion larger than
the January 2022 projection, with 94% expected to be spent on one time projects. California’s revenues have been supported by its progressive income tax structure which is more heavily weighted toward high wage earners, who generally have not
lost as many jobs from the pandemic than blue collar workers and a strong stock market. The Revision projects California and the nation’s economy will continue to expand but at a slower pace than originally proposed in January 2022. Proposed
additions to the budget include a $400 rebate to households based on number of vehicles, a temporary reduction to the diesel sales tax rate, and assistance for rental housing, subsidized child care and outstanding utility bills due from COVID-19. It also allocates additional funds to help address the State-wide drought; improve energy system reliability over the next 5 years; and incentives for climate positive projects. Supplemental payments
towards the State’s pension liabilities are estimated at $3.4 billion in 2022-23 and another $7.6 billion is projected over the next three years. Total reserves are projected to end fiscal year
2023 at $37.1 billion, which is made up of $23.3 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account, $9.5 billion in the Public School System Stabilization Account (education reserve), $900 million in the safety net reserve (which
protects safety net services during economic downturns), and $3.4 billion in the traditional general fund reserve.
According to Moody’s, California has more net tax supported debt outstanding than any other state at $84.4 billion (excluding pension
obligations). Although on a per capita basis, the State ranks eleventh in the nation at $2,144 (versus the Moody’s median of $1,039) as of 2020 (most recent data reported). In addition to its outstanding debt, California also has authorized but
unissued debt totaling approximately $32.6 billion of general obligation bonds and $7.2 billion of lease revenue bonds as of January 1, 2022. The State of California General Obligation bonds carry an Aa2 rating by Moody’s, a AA- rating with Positive Outlook by S&P and a AA rating by Fitch.
California is the largest issuer of municipal debt among the 50 state issuers, issuing a total of $74.9 billion for the twelve month
period ending April 30, 2022. This is a 7.2% decrease from the same period the prior year. Nationally, issuance totaled $460 billion for the same period, a 9.4% decrease from the prior year.
California’s two largest pension plans, CalPERS and CalSTRs, had
funded ratios of 70.6% and 67%, respectively, as of June 30, 2020. In December 2016, the CalPERS Board voted to lower the assumed rate of return from 7.5% to 7%, to be phased in over three years beginning in 2018. The result is an increase in
the State’s unfunded liability, which increases required contributions. Additionally, in February 2018, the CalPERS board voted to shorten the amortization period from 30 years to 20 years for new pension liabilities, effective June 30,
2019. The change results in a more rapid pay down of unfunded pension liabilities. The State has been making supplemental payments to both CalPERS, CalSTRs and its retiree health liability when capital gains taxes exceed 8% of total revenues since
fiscal year 2018 which reduces the unfunded liabilities and helps to stabilize state contribution rates over the next 20 to 30 years. In February 2017, the CalSTRs Board also approved a reduction of its assumed rate of return from 7.5% to 7%, to be
phased in 2018 and 2019. The State’s net Other Post Employment Benefits (“OPEB”) liability remains large and unfunded at an estimated $95.2 billion as of June 30, 2020, up from $91.19 billion a year earlier. The State
established the California Employers’ Retiree Benefit Trust Fund to prefund OPEB liability and has an approximately $15.6 billion balance as of June 30, 2021.
A-2
California’s political landscape has often led to governmental difficulties, including the
adoption of the state budget. Additionally, California’s voter initiative process has resulted in several initiatives that have restricted the taxing ability of the State and its political subdivisions, including Proposition 13. Other mandates
have required the State and its political subdivisions to incur certain expenses, further restricting their financial flexibility. Furthermore, unanticipated initiatives that could impact the financial health of the State or its political
subdivisions may be adopted in the future. The State and its political subdivisions may also face increasing financial pressure from costs relating to pensions and other post- employment benefits for government employees.
A-3
Until , 2022 (25 days
after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the Common Shares, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the dealers’
obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
LPR-NXC-0523
The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be
changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an
offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO
COMPLETION, DATED MAY 12, 2023
NUVEEN CALIFORNIA SELECT TAX-FREE INCOME PORTFOLIO
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DATED [ ], 2023
Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund was organized on March 30, 1992. The Fund changed its name from
Nuveen Insured California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio 2 on August 2, 2001.
This
Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) relating to Common Shares of the Fund (“Common Shares”) does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus relating thereto dated
[ ], 2023 (the “Prospectus”). This SAI does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Common Shares. Investors should obtain and read the Prospectus prior to
purchasing such shares. In addition, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report therein included in the Fund’s annual
report dated February 28, 2023, are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain a copy of the Prospectus
on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) web site (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the issuance of Common Shares hereunder will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and
policies as stated below. Pending investment, the timing of which may vary depending on the size of the investment but in no case is expected to exceed 30 days, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term
securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities or in high quality, short-term money market instruments. See “Risk Factors—Leverage Risk” and “Use of Leverage” in the Prospectus.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Fund as a fundamental policy, may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares:
(1) Issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act, except to the extent such issuance might be involved with respect to borrowings
described under subparagraph (3) below.1
(2) Borrow money, except as permitted
by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act.2
(3) Act as
underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities;
(4) Invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one industry; provided, however, that such limitation shall not
be applicable to municipal securities other than those municipal securities backed only by the assets and revenues of non-governmental users, nor shall it apply to municipal securities issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.3
(5) Purchase or sell real
estate, but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in municipal securities secured by real estate or interests therein or foreclosing upon and selling such security.
(6) Purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not
prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures contracts, derivative instruments or from investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities).
(7) Make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act and exemptive orders granted under the 1940 Act.4
1 Section 18(c) of the 1940 Act generally limits a registered
closed-end investment company to issuing one class of senior securities representing indebtedness and one class of senior securities representing stock, except that the class of indebtedness or stock may be
issued in one or more series, and promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly
distributed, are not deemed a separate class of senior securities.
2 Section 18(a) of the 1940
Act generally prohibits a registered closed-end fund from incurring borrowings if, immediately thereafter, the aggregate amount of its borrowings exceeds 33 1/3% of its total assets. The Fund has not applied
for, and currently does not intend to apply for, any exemptive relief that would allow it to borrow outside of the limits of the 1940 Act.
3 For purposes of this restriction, governments and their political subdivisions are not members of any industry.
4 Section 21 of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for a registered investment company, like the Fund, to
lend money or other property if (i) the investment company’s policies set forth in its registration statement do not permit such a loan or (ii) the borrower controls or is under common control with the investment company.
3
(8) With respect to 75% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, purchase any securities
(other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government or by its agencies or instrumentalities, and securities issued by other investment companies), if as a result more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would then be
invested in securities of a single issuer or if as a result the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer.
For the purpose of applying the 25% limitation set forth in subparagraph (4) above, such limitation will apply to tax-exempt municipal securities if the payment of principal and interest for such securities is derived principally from a specific project associated with an issuer that is not a governmental entity or a political
subdivision of a government, and in that situation the Fund will consider such municipal securities to be in an industry associated with the project.
For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in subparagraph (8) above, an issuer shall be deemed the sole issuer of a security
when its assets and revenues are separate from other governmental entities and its securities are backed only by its assets and revenues. Similarly, in the case of a non-governmental issuer, such as an
industrial corporation or a privately owned or operated hospital, if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental issuer, then such
non-governmental issuer would be deemed to be the sole issuer. Where a security is also backed by the enforceable obligation of a superior or unrelated governmental or other entity (other than a bond insurer),
it shall also be included in the computation of securities owned that are issued by such governmental or other entity. Where a security is guaranteed by a governmental entity or some other facility, such as a bank guarantee or letter of credit, such
a guarantee or letter of credit would be considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of such government, other entity or bank. When a municipal bond is insured by bond insurance, it shall not be considered a security that is
issued or guaranteed by the insurer; instead, the issuer of such municipal bond will be determined in accordance with the principles set forth above. The foregoing restrictions do not limit the percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be
invested in municipal securities insured by any given insurer.
Subject to certain exemptions, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest
only up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and only up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the
acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased. As a shareholder in any investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and will remain subject to payment of the Fund’s
management, advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment
companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and therefore will be subject to the same leverage risks described herein.
In addition to the foregoing fundamental policies, the Fund is also subject to the following
non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”):
(1) The Fund may invest in derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objectives. Such instruments include financial futures
contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or other derivative instruments. Nuveen Asset Management uses derivatives to seek to enhance return, to hedge some
of the risks of its investments in fixed income securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset.
(2) The Fund may
not sell securities short, unless the Fund owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold at no added cost, and provided that transactions in options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts,
or other derivative instruments are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.
(3) The Fund may not enter into futures contracts
or related options or forward contracts, if more than 30% of the Fund’s net assets would be represented by futures contracts or more than 5% of the Fund’s net assets would be committed to initial margin deposits and premiums on futures
contracts and related options.
4
The restrictions and other limitations set forth above will apply only at the time of purchase of
securities and will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an acquisition of securities.
The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more nationally recognized statistical ratings
organizations (“NRSROs”) that may issue ratings for commercial paper or notes, or, if the Fund borrows from a lender, by the lender. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent
than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. If these restrictions were to apply, it is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines would impede Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors”) from managing the Fund’s
portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND
TECHNIQUES
The Fund’s investment objective is to provide stable dividends exempt from both regular federal and California income
taxes, consistent with preservation of capital.
Under normal circumstances and as a fundamental policy, the Fund will invest at least 80%
of its net assets (plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in municipal securities, the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income tax. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in municipal
securities that pay interest that is taxable under the federal alternative minimum tax applicable to individuals (“AMT Bonds”).
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of California municipal securities, a significant portion of
which Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”), the Fund’s sub-adviser, believes are underrated and undervalued, based upon its bottom-up,
research-driven investment strategy. Underrated municipal securities are those whose ratings do not, in Nuveen Asset Management’s opinion, reflect their true creditworthiness. Undervalued municipal securities are securities that, in Nuveen
Asset Management’s opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Nuveen Asset Management employs a value oriented strategy and seeks to construct a diversified portfolio of municipal securities that has the
potential to outperform major municipal market benchmarks over the longer term. Municipal securities may be underrated because of the time that has elapsed since their rating was assigned or reviewed, or because of positive factors that may not have
been fully taken into account by rating agencies, or for other similar reasons. Municipal securities that are undervalued or that represent undervalued municipal market sectors are municipal securities that, in Nuveen Asset Management’s
opinion, are worth more than the value assigned to them in the marketplace. Municipal securities of particular types or purposes (e.g., hospital bonds, industrial revenue bonds or bonds issued by a particular municipal issuer) may be
undervalued because there is a temporary excess of supply in that market sector, or because of a general decline in the market price of municipal securities of the market sector for reasons that do not apply to the particular municipal securities
that are considered undervalued. The Fund’s investment in underrated or undervalued municipal securities will be based on Nuveen Asset Management’s belief that the prices of such municipal securities should ultimately reflect their true
value. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Fund may invest in various municipal
securities, including municipal bonds and notes, other securities issued to finance and refinance public projects, and other related securities and derivative instruments creating exposure to municipal securities that provide for the payment of
interest income that is exempt from regular federal income tax (collectively, “municipal securities”). Municipal securities are often issued by state and local governmental entities to finance or refinance public projects, such as roads,
schools, and water supply systems. Municipal securities also may be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational facility construction, or for privately owned transportation, electric
utility and pollution control projects. Municipal securities may be issued on a long-term basis to provide long-term financing. The repayment of such debt may be secured generally by a pledge of the full faith and credit taxing
5
power of the issuer, a limited or special tax, or any other revenue source, including project revenues, which may include tolls, fees and other user charges, lease payments, and mortgage
payments. Municipal securities also may be issued to finance projects on a short-term interim basis, anticipating repayment with the proceeds of the later issuance of long-term debt. The Fund may purchase municipal securities in the form of bonds,
notes, leases or certificates of participation; structured as callable or non-callable; with payment forms that include fixed coupon, variable rate, zero coupon, capital appreciation bonds, tender-option
bonds, and inverse floating rate securities. Such municipal securities may also be acquired through investments in pooled vehicles, partnerships, or other investment companies.
California municipal securities are municipal securities that are issued by the State of California and cities and local authorities in the
State of California, and bear interest that, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, is exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes, although such interest may be subject to the Federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund
invests primarily in California municipal securities that are issued by the State of California and cities and local authorities in the State of California, except that the Fund may invest in municipal securities issued by United States possessions
or territories, which also bear interest that is exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes and are therefore considered to be California municipal securities.
The Fund also may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit of its investment objective. Such instruments include financial futures
contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or other derivative instruments. Nuveen Asset Management may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return,
to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may generate taxable income.
Under normal circumstances:
| |
• |
|
The Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in investment grade securities that, at the time of
investment, are rated within the four highest grades (Baa or BBB or better) by at least one NRSRO or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. A security is considered investment grade if it is rated within the
four highest letter grades by at least one NRSRO that rate such securities (even if rated lower by another), or if it is unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. |
As of March 31, 2023, approximately 83% of the Fund’s total investment exposure were invested in municipal securities rated
investment grade by an NRSRO (including Standard & Poor’s Corporation Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“S&P”), Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Ratings, Inc.
(“Fitch”)). The relative percentages of the value of the investments attributable to investment grade municipal securities and to below investment grade municipal securities could change over time as a result of rebalancing the Fund’s
assets by Nuveen Asset Management, market value fluctuations, issuance of additional shares and other events.
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in municipal securities that at the time of investment are rated
below investment grade or are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. No more than 10% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in municipal securities rated below B3/B-
by all NRSROs that rate the security or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Nuveen Asset Management. Municipal securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with
respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as junk bonds. The Fund may invest in distressed securities. The Fund may not invest in the securities of an issuer which, at the time of investment, is in default
on its obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or that is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding (i.e., rated below C-, at
|
6
| |
the time of investment); provided, however, that Nuveen Asset Management may determine that it is in the best interest of shareholders in pursuing a workout arrangement with issuers of defaulted
securities to make loans to the defaulted issuer or another party, or purchase a debt, equity or other interest from the defaulted issuer or another party, or take other related or similar steps involving the investment of additional monies, but
only if that issuer’s securities are already held by the Fund. |
| |
• |
|
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as
preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Fund may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act, and invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect
of financial leverage. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in inverse floating rate securities. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of other open- or
closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. |
| |
• |
|
The Fund may invest in municipal securities and other instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid
(i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). |
| |
• |
|
The Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in municipal securities in any one industry.
|
For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, “net assets” includes assets attributable to floating
rate securities issued by tender option bond (TOB) trusts of which the Fund owns the inverse floating rate interest and assets attributable to borrowings for temporary, emergency or other purposes.
The Fund will consider the investments of underlying investment companies when determining compliance with its own concentration policy, to
the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments after making a reasonable effort to obtain current information about the investments of underlying companies.
The credit quality policies noted above apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security
in the event that a rating agency downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, Nuveen Asset Management may consider such factors as Nuveen Asset
Management’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. A general description of the ratings of
S&P, Moody’s and Fitch of municipal securities is set forth in Appendix A to this SAI.
A more complete description of the
Fund’s investment objective and policies is set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus.
In addition to and supplementing the Prospectus
section, “The Fund’s Investments—Portfolio Composition and Other Information,” the Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the investments described below.
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
Municipal
securities are either general obligation or revenue bonds and typically are issued to finance public projects (such as roads or public buildings), to pay general operating expenses or to refinance outstanding debt.
Municipal securities may also be issued on behalf of private entities or for private activities, such as housing, medical and educational
facility construction, or for privately owned industrial development and pollution control projects. General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit, or taxing authority, of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source;
revenue bonds may be repaid only from the revenues of a specific facility or source. The Fund may also purchase municipal securities that represent lease obligations, municipal notes, pre-refunded municipal
bonds, private activity bonds, tender option bonds and other forms of municipal bonds and securities.
7
Municipal securities of below investment grade quality (Ba/BB or below) are commonly referred to
as junk bonds. Issuers of securities rated Ba/BB or B are regarded as having current capacity to make principal and interest payments but are subject to business, financial or economic conditions which could adversely affect such payment capacity.
Municipal securities rated Baa or BBB or above are considered “investment grade” securities; municipal securities rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations that lack outstanding investment characteristics and have speculative
characteristics, while municipal securities rated BBB are regarded as having adequate capacity to pay principal and interest. Municipal securities rated Aaa or AAA in which the Fund may invest may have been so rated on the basis of the existence of
insurance guaranteeing the timely payment, when due, of all principal and interest. Municipal securities rated below investment grade quality are obligations of issuers that are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s
capacity to pay interest and repay principal according to the terms of the obligation and, therefore, carry greater investment risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy and increased market price volatility. Municipal
securities rated below investment grade tend to be less marketable than higher-quality securities because the market for them is less broad. The market for municipal securities unrated by any NRSRO is even narrower. During periods of thin trading in
these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Fund may have greater difficulty selling its portfolio securities. The Fund will be more dependent on Nuveen Asset Management’s research and
analysis when investing in these securities.
The Fund may invest in distressed securities. Distressed securities are securities issued by
companies having financial difficulties, such as being in default on their obligations to pay principal or interest thereon when due or that are involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. The issuers of such securities may be in transition,
out of favor, financially leveraged or troubled, or potentially troubled, and may be or have recently been involved in major strategic actions, restructurings, bankruptcy, reorganization or liquidation. These characteristics of these issuers can
cause their securities to be particularly risky, although they also may offer the potential for high returns. These issuers’ securities may be considered speculative, and the ability of the issuers to pay their debts on schedule could be
affected by adverse interest rate movements, changes in the general economic climate, economic factors affecting a particular industry or specific developments within the issuers. Distressed securities frequently do not produce income while they are
outstanding and may require the Fund to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and recover its investment.
Investments
in lower rated or unrated securities may present special tax issues for the Fund to the extent that the issuers of these securities default on their obligations pertaining thereto, and the federal income tax consequences to the Fund as a holder of
such distressed securities may not be clear.
A general description of Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s ratings of municipal
securities is set forth in Appendix A hereto. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not
absolute standards of quality. Consequently, municipal securities with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while obligations of the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield.
The Fund will generally invest in municipal securities with intermediate or long-term maturities. Generally, the Fund is expected to have an
average effective maturity of 15 to 30 years. The average effective maturity of securities held by the Fund may be shortened or lengthened, depending on market conditions and on an assessment by the Fund’s portfolio manager of which segments of
the municipal securities market offer the most favorable relative investment values and opportunities for tax-exempt income and total return. As of March 31, 2023, the effective maturity of the
Fund’s portfolio was 18.25 years.
During temporary defensive periods (e.g., times when, in Nuveen Asset Management’s
opinion, temporary imbalances of supply and demand or other temporary dislocations in the tax-exempt securities market adversely affect the price at which long-term or intermediate-term municipal securities
are available), and in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, including the period during which the net proceeds of an offering are being invested, the Fund may invest any percentage of its net assets in short-term investments including
high quality, short-term
8
securities that may be either tax-exempt or taxable. The Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields, as determined by Nuveen Asset Management, and in amounts limited to ensure that the Fund is eligible to pay exempt-interest
dividends (as described in “Tax Matters” below). Tax-exempt short-term investments include various obligations issued by state and local governmental issuers, such as
tax-exempt notes (bond anticipation notes, tax anticipation notes and revenue anticipation notes or other such municipal bonds maturing in three years or less from the date of issuance) and municipal
commercial paper. The Fund will invest only in taxable short-term investments which are U.S. government securities or securities rated within the highest grade by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, and which mature within one year from the date of
purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest. See Appendix A for a general description of Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s ratings of securities in such categories. Taxable short-term investments of the Fund may include
certificates of deposit issued by U.S. banks with assets of at least $1 billion, or commercial paper or corporate notes, bonds or debentures with a remaining maturity of one year or less, or repurchase agreements. To the extent the Fund invests
in taxable investments, the Fund will not at such times be in a position to achieve its investment objective of tax-exempt income.
The foregoing policies as to ratings of portfolio investments will apply only at the time of the purchase of a security, and the Fund will not
be required to dispose of securities in the event Moody’s, S&P or Fitch downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issuer, even if such downgrade causes the portfolio to fall below the 80% threshold. If at any
time the Fund falls below the 80% threshold, the Fund’s future investments will be made in a manner that will bring the Fund’s portfolio back into compliance with this policy. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security,
Nuveen Asset Management may consider such factors as Nuveen Asset Management’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by
other rating agencies. See “—Municipal Securities.” The Fund may also invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types
in which the Fund may invest directly. See “—Other Investment Companies.”
Obligations of issuers of municipal securities
are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. In addition, the obligations of such issuers may become subject to the laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures
or referenda extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the possibility that, as a result of legislation or
other conditions, the power or ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of, and interest on, its municipal securities may be materially affected.
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in municipal securities in any one industry. In addition, subject to the concentration
limits of the Fund’s investment policies and guidelines, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its total assets in certain sectors of the municipal securities market, such as hospitals and other health care facilities, charter schools
and other private educational facilities, special taxing districts and start-up utility districts and private activity bonds including industrial development bonds on behalf of transportation companies such as
airline companies, whose credit quality and performance may be more susceptible to economic, business, political, regulatory and other developments than other sectors of municipal issuers. If the Fund invests a significant portion of its total
assets in the sectors noted above, the Fund’s performance may be subject to additional risk and variability. To the extent that the Fund focuses its total assets in the hospital and healthcare facilities sector, for example, the Fund will be
subject to risks associated with such sector, including adverse government regulation and reduction in reimbursement rates, as well as government approval of products and services and intense competition. Securities issued with respect to special
taxing districts will be subject to various risks, including real-estate development related risks and taxpayer concentration risk. Further, the fees, special taxes or tax allocations and other revenues established to secure the obligations of
securities issued with respect to special taxing districts are generally limited as to the rate or amount that may be levied or assessed and are not subject to increase pursuant to rate covenants or municipal or corporate guarantees. Charter schools
and other private educational facilities will be subject to various risks,
9
including the reversal of legislation authorizing or funding charter schools, the failure to renew or secure a charter, the failure of a funding entity to appropriate necessary funds and
competition from alternatives such as voucher programs. Issuers of municipal utility securities can be significantly affected by government regulation, financing difficulties, supply and demand of services or fuel and natural resource conservation.
The transportation sector, including airports, airlines, ports and other transportation facilities, can be significantly affected by changes in the economy, fuel prices, labor relations, insurance costs and government regulation.
Tobacco Settlement Bonds. Included in the general category of municipal securities described in the Prospectus are “tobacco
settlement bonds.” The Fund may invest in tobacco settlement bonds, which are municipal securities that are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived from lawsuits involving tobacco related deaths and illnesses which were settled between
certain states and American tobacco companies. Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”). The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998
between 46 states and nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers. The MSA provides for annual payments in perpetuity by the manufacturers to the states in exchange for releasing all claims against the manufacturers and a pledge of no further
litigation. Tobacco manufacturers pay into a master escrow trust based on their market share, and each state receives a fixed percentage of the payment as set forth in the MSA. A number of states have securitized the future flow of those payments by
selling bonds pursuant to indentures or through distinct governmental entities created for such purpose. The principal and interest payments on the bonds are backed by the future revenue flow related to the MSA. Annual payments on the bonds, and
thus risk to the Fund, are highly dependent on the receipt of future settlement payments to the state or its governmental entity.
The
actual amount of future settlement payments is further dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, reduced cigarette consumption, increased taxes on cigarettes, inflation, financial capability of
tobacco companies, continuing litigation and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. The initial and annual payments made by the tobacco companies will be adjusted based on a number of factors, the most important of which is domestic
cigarette consumption. If the volume of cigarettes shipped in the U.S. by manufacturers participating in the settlement decreases significantly, payments due from them will also decrease. Demand for cigarettes in the U.S. could continue to decline
due to price increases needed to recoup the cost of payments by tobacco companies. Demand could also be affected by: anti-smoking campaigns, tax increases, reduced advertising, enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors; elimination of certain
sales venues such as vending machines; and the spread of local ordinances restricting smoking in public places. As a result, payments made by tobacco manufacturers could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly
greater than the forecasted decline. A market share loss by the MSA companies to non-MSA participating tobacco manufacturers would cause a downward adjustment in the payment amounts. A participating
manufacturer filing for bankruptcy also could cause delays or reductions in bond payments. The MSA itself has been subject to legal challenges and has, to date, withstood those challenges.
Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation. Also included within the general category of municipal securities described in the
Prospectus are municipal leases, certificates of participation in such lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called “Municipal Lease Obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities.
Although a Municipal Lease Obligation does not constitute a general obligation of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a Municipal Lease Obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s covenant to
budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the Municipal Lease Obligation. However, certain Municipal Lease Obligations contain “nonappropriation” clauses which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or
installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, the Fund’s ability to recover under the
lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, without recourse to the general credit of the lessee, and disposition or releasing of the
property might prove difficult. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases, the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such
10
unrated leases will be monitored on an ongoing basis. In order to reduce this risk, the Fund will only purchase Municipal Lease Obligations where Nuveen Asset Management believes the issuer has a
strong incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.
The Fund also may invest in certain derivative instruments in pursuit
of its investment objective. Such instruments include financial futures contracts, swap contracts (including interest rate and credit default swaps), options on financial futures, options on swap contracts, or other derivative instruments. Nuveen
Asset Management may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may
generate taxable income. As of March 31, 2023, the Fund was not invested in derivatives.
As a fundamental policy, the Fund will not
leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred stock or debt instruments. However, the Fund may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940 Act, and invest in certain instruments,
including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect of financial leverage.
USES OF DERIVATIVES; HEDGING STRATEGIES
The Fund may periodically engage in hedging transactions, and otherwise use various types of derivative instruments, described below, to
reduce risk, to effectively gain particular market exposures, to seek to enhance returns, and to reduce transaction costs, among other reasons.
“Hedging” is a term used for various methods of seeking to preserve portfolio capital value by offsetting price changes in one
investment through making another investment whose price should tend to move in the opposite direction.
A “derivative” is a
financial contract whose value is based on (or “derived” from) a traditional security (such as a stock or a bond), an asset (such as a commodity like gold), or a market index (such as the Lehman Municipal Bond Index). Some forms of
derivatives may trade on exchanges, while non-standardized derivatives, which tend to be more specialized and complex, trade in
“over-the-counter” or a one-on-one basis. It may be desirable and possible in
various market environments to partially hedge the portfolio against fluctuations in market value due to market interest rate or credit quality fluctuations, or instead to gain a desired investment exposure, by entering into various types of
derivative transactions, including financial futures and index futures as well as related put and call options on such instruments, structured notes, or interest rate swaps on taxable or tax-exempt securities
or indexes (which may be “forward-starting”), credit default swaps, and options on interest rate swaps, among others.
These
transactions present certain risks. In particular, the imperfect correlation between price movements in the futures contract and price movements in the securities being hedged creates the possibility that losses on the hedge by a Fund may be greater
than gains in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances. As a result, in volatile markets, the Fund may not be able to close out the transaction without
incurring losses substantially greater than the initial deposit. Finally, the potential deposit requirements in futures contracts create an ongoing greater potential financial risk than do options transactions, where the exposure is limited to the
cost of the initial premium. Losses due to hedging transactions will reduce yield. Net gains, if any, from hedging and other portfolio transactions will be distributed as taxable distributions to stockholders. The Fund will invest in these
instruments only in markets believed by Nuveen Asset Management to be active and sufficiently liquid. Successful implementation of most hedging strategies will generate taxable income.
The Fund will invest in these instruments only in markets believed by Nuveen Asset Management to be active and sufficiently liquid. Successful
implementation of most hedging strategies will generate taxable income.
11
In October 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the
1940 Act governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. Under Rule 18f-4, the Fund may enter into Derivatives Transactions (as defined below) and certain other transactions
notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18, among other things, prohibits closed-end funds, including the
Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security” representing indebtedness (unless the fund maintains 300% “asset coverage”) or any senior security representing stock (unless the fund maintains 200% “asset
coverage”).
Under Rule 18f-4, “Derivatives Transactions” include the
following: (1) any swap, security-based swap (including a contract for differences), futures contract, forward contract, option (excluding purchased options), any combination of the foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which the Fund is
or may be required to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the instrument or at maturity or early termination, whether as margin or settlement payment or otherwise; (2) any short sale borrowing;
(3) reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions (e.g., recourse and non-recourse tender option bonds, and borrowed bonds), if the Fund elects to treat these
transactions as Derivatives Transactions under Rule 18f-4; and (4) when-issued or forward-settling securities (e.g., firm and standby commitments, including to-be-announced (“TBA”) commitments, and dollar rolls) and non-standard settlement cycle securities, unless such transactions
meet the Delayed-Settlement Securities Provision.
Rule 18f-4, among other things,
requires certain funds that invest in Derivatives Transactions to adopt and implement a comprehensive written derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”). The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Fund’s Board, including a
majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Trustees”), and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.
However, Rule 18f-4 provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other
requirements if the Fund’s “derivatives exposure” is limited to 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with Rule 18f-4) and the Fund adopts and implements written policies
and procedures reasonably designed to manage its derivatives risks (the “Limited Derivatives User Exception”). The Fund relies on the Limited Derivatives User Exception.
Swap Transactions. The Fund may enter into total return, interest rate and credit default swap agreements and interest
rate caps, floors and collars. The Fund may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements (“swap options”).
The Fund may enter into swap transactions for any purpose consistent with its investment objective, such as for the purpose of attempting to
obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, as a duration management technique, to reduce risk arising from the ownership of a
particular instrument, or to gain exposure to certain sectors or markets in the most economical way possible.
Swap agreements are two
party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for a specified period of time. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a particular
predetermined asset, reference rate or index. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a notional amount, e.g., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount
invested at a particular interest rate or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. The notional amount of the swap agreement generally is only used as a basis upon which to calculate the obligations that the parties to the swap
agreement have agreed to exchange. The Fund’s current obligations under a net swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered
by assets determined to be liquid by Nuveen Asset Management. The Fund will not enter into swap transactions having a notional amount that exceeds the outstanding amount of the Fund’s leverage. See “Use of Leverage” and “Risk
Factors—Leverage Risk” in the Prospectus.
12
Some, but not all, swaps may be cleared, in which case a central clearing counterparty stands
between each buyer and seller and effectively guarantees performance of each contract, to the extent of its available resources for such purpose. Uncleared swaps have no such protection; each party bears the risk that its direct counterparty will
default.
Interest Rate Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors. Interest rate swaps are bilateral contracts in which each
party agrees to make periodic payments to the other party based on different referenced interest rates (e.g., a fixed rate and a floating rate) applied to a specified notional amount. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the
purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles
the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Interest rate collars involve selling a cap
and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect the Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest rate swaps could enhance or harm the overall performance
of the Common Stock. To the extent interest rates decline, the value of the interest rate swap could decline, and could result in a decline in the net asset value of the Common Stock. In addition, if the counterparty to an interest rate swap
defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap to offset the interest payments on Borrowings or the dividend payments on any outstanding preferred shares. Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to
receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap, which in turn would depend on the general state of short-term interest rates at that point in time, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the Common Stock. In addition, at
the time an interest rate swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund would not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement would not be as favorable as on the expiring
transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Common Stock. The Fund could be required to prepay the principal amount of any Borrowings. Such redemption or prepayment would likely result in the Fund seeking
to terminate early all or a portion of any swap transaction. Early termination of a swap could result in a termination payment by or to the Fund.
Total Return Swaps. In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined
underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly
used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages.
The Fund might enter into a total return swap
involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely-diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by Nuveen Asset Management to assume risk, without the
complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.
Credit Default
Swaps. A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. The Fund may
buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in an individual security or a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a “short” position in individual
bonds or market segments which it does not own. The Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments.
As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, the Fund would pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of
payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the
issuer(s) of the underlying referenced
13
obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund would be the premium paid
with respect to the agreement. If a credit event occurs, however, the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no
value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.
If the Fund is a seller of
protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a credit event occurs,
however, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund
effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Thus, the Fund bears the same
risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under “—Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.”
Swap Options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of
a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return
for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the
Fund generally would incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When the Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the
option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund would become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Risks Associated with Swap Transactions. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies
and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If Nuveen Asset Management is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors or events, the investment performance of
the Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to
investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund generally may only close out a swap, cap, floor, collar or other two-party
contract with its particular counterparty, and generally may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which the Fund may close out such a two party contract may not correlate with the price change in
the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing
its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including changes in government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be
received under such agreements.
Futures and Options on Futures. The Fund may attempt to hedge all or a portion of
its investment portfolio against market risk by engaging in transactions in financial futures contracts, options on financial futures or options that either are based on an index of long-term municipal securities (i.e., those with remaining
maturities averaging 20-30 years) or relate to debt securities whose prices Nuveen Asset Management anticipates to correlate with the prices of the municipal securities the Fund owns. To accomplish such
hedging, the Fund may take an investment position in a futures contract or in an option which is expected to move in the opposite direction from the position being hedged. Hedging may be utilized to reduce the risk that the value of securities the
Fund owns may decline on account of an increase in interest rates and to hedge against increases in the cost of the securities the Fund intends to purchase as a result of a decline in interest rates. The use of futures and
14
options for hedging purposes can be expected to result in taxable income or gain. The Fund currently intends to allocate any taxable income or gain proportionately between its common shares and
its Preferred Shares. See “Tax Matters.”
If futures are used for hedging purposes, there can be no guarantee that there will be
a correlation between price movements in the futures contract and in the underlying financial instruments that are being hedged. This could result from differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the financial instruments
underlying the standard contracts available for trading (e.g., differences in interest rate levels, maturities and the creditworthiness of issuers) among other factors. In addition, price movements of futures contracts may not correlate
perfectly with price movements of the financial instruments underlying the futures contracts due to certain market distortions.
A futures
contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index or interest rate (each a “financial instrument”) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual
securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract (same exchange,
underlying financial instrument, and delivery month). Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements
pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was
originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.
Successful use of futures by the
Fund also is subject to Nuveen Asset Management’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant market. For example, if the Fund uses futures to hedge against the possibility of a decline in the market value of
securities held in its portfolio and the prices of such securities increase instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of the securities which it has hedged because it will have offsetting losses in its futures
positions. Furthermore, if in such circumstances the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements. The Fund may have to sell such securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.
The sale of financial futures or the purchase of put options on financial futures or on debt securities or indexes is a means of hedging against the risk of rising interest rates, whereas the purchase of financial futures or of call options on
financial futures or on debt securities or indexes is a means of hedging the Fund’s portfolio against an increase in the price of securities such Fund intends to purchase. Writing a call option on a futures contract or on debt securities or
indexes may serve as a hedge against a modest decline in prices of municipal securities held in the Fund’s portfolio, and writing a put option on a futures contract or on debt securities or indexes may serve as a partial hedge against an
increase in the value of municipal securities the Fund intends to acquire. The writing of these options provides a hedge to the extent of the premium received in the writing transaction.
Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract.
Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known
as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that
are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held in the margin account generally is not income producing. However, coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts generally will earn income. Subsequent payments to and
from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in
variation margin are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will operate to terminate its position in
the futures contract. A final determination of
15
variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that
holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also
involve brokerage costs.
A futures option gives the purchaser of such option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long
position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the purchaser acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is
assigned the opposite short position. Upon the exercise of a put option, the opposite is true.
There are certain risks associated with
the use of financial futures and options to hedge investment portfolios. There may be an imperfect correlation between price movements of the futures and options and price movements of the portfolio securities being hedged. Losses may be incurred in
hedging transactions, which could reduce the portfolio gains that might have been realized if the hedging transactions had not been entered into.
If the Fund engages in futures transactions or in the writing of options on futures, it will be required to maintain initial margin and
maintenance margin and may be required to make daily variation margin payments in accordance with applicable rules of the exchanges and the CFTC. If the Fund purchases a financial futures contract or a call option or writes a put option in order to
hedge the anticipated purchase of municipal securities, and if the Fund fails to complete the anticipated purchase transaction, the Fund may have a loss or a gain on the futures or options transaction that will not be offset by price movements in
the municipal securities that were the subject of the anticipatory hedge. The cost of put options on debt securities or indexes effectively increases the cost of the securities subject to them, thereby reducing the yield otherwise available from
these securities. If the Fund decides to use futures contracts or options on futures contracts for hedging purposes, the Fund will be required to establish an account for such purposes with one or more CFTC-registered futures commission merchants. A
futures commission merchant could establish initial and maintenance margin requirements for the Fund that are greater than those which would otherwise apply to the Fund under applicable rules of the exchanges and the CFTC.
There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a derivatives or futures or a futures
option position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily
limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract
subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to
prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and
subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.
The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company
may also limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in futures, options on futures and swaps. See “Tax Matters.”
Nuveen Fund
Advisors may use derivative instruments to seek to enhance return, to hedge some of the risk of the Fund’s investments in municipal securities or as a substitute for a position in the underlying asset. These types of strategies may generate
taxable income. With respect to the Fund’s investment policies, for purposes of calculating net assets, the Fund will value eligible derivatives at fair value or market value instead of notional value.
There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that, if used, that the strategies will be successful.
16
For further information regarding these investment strategies and risks presented thereby, see
Appendix B to this SAI.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (the purchase of a security coupled with an agreement to resell that security at a higher price)
with respect to its permitted investments. The Fund’s repurchase agreements will provide that the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest
earned on the agreement, and will be marked-to-market daily. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Fund’s holding period.
Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. The
Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in Nuveen Asset Management’s opinion, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay
the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral
declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be sold but the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in
connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. Nuveen Asset Management will monitor
the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In
the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, Nuveen Asset Management will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase the value of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including
interest.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Short-Term Taxable Fixed Income Securities. For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested, the Fund
may invest up to 100% of its net assets in cash equivalents and short-term taxable fixed-income securities, although the Fund intends to invest in taxable short-term investments only in the event that suitable
tax-exempt short-term investments are not available at reasonable prices and yields. Short-term taxable fixed income investments are defined to include, without limitation, the following:
(1) U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the
United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks1, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National
Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are
supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S.
government, its agencies, and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.
1 These securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
17
(2) Certificates of Deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan
association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate
on the date specified thereon. Under current Federal Deposit Insurance Company regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully
insured.
(3) Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. At the time the Fund purchases securities pursuant to a
repurchase agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Fund during its
holding period, since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for the Fund to invest temporarily available cash. The Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers’ acceptances in which the Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller,
collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell
the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, the Fund
could incur a loss of both principal and interest. Nuveen Fund Advisors monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. Nuveen Fund Advisors does so in an
effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to the Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Fund to liquidate the
collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.
(4) Commercial paper, which consists of
short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no
secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund at any time. Nuveen Asset Management will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity measures) and will
continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Fund’s liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. Investments in commercial paper
will be limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by a major rating agency and which mature within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest.
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Municipal Securities. Short-term
tax-exempt municipal securities are securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and mature within three years or less from the date of issuance. Short-term
tax-exempt municipal income securities are defined to include, without limitation, the following:
Bond Anticipation Notes (“BANs”) are usually general obligations of state and local governmental issuers which are sold to obtain
interim financing for projects that will eventually be funded through the sale of long-term debt obligations or bonds. The ability of an issuer to meet its obligations on its BANs is primarily dependent on the issuer’s access to the long-term
municipal bond market and the likelihood that the proceeds of such bond sales will be used to pay the principal and interest on the BANs.
Tax Anticipation Notes (“TANs”) are issued by state and local governments to finance the current operations of such governments.
Repayment is generally to be derived from specific future tax revenues. TANs are usually general obligations of the issuer. A weakness in an issuer’s capacity to raise taxes due to, among other things, a decline in its tax base or a rise in
delinquencies, could adversely affect the issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding TANs.
18
Revenue Anticipation Notes (“RANs”) are issued by governments or governmental bodies
with the expectation that future revenues from a designated source will be used to repay the notes. In general, they also constitute general obligations of the issuer. A decline in the receipt of projected revenues, such as anticipated revenues from
another level of government, could adversely affect an issuer’s ability to meet its obligations on outstanding RANs. In addition, the possibility that the revenues would, when received, be used to meet other obligations could affect the ability
of the issuer to pay the principal and interest on RANs.
Construction Loan Notes are issued to provide construction financing for
specific projects. Frequently, these notes are redeemed with funds obtained from the Federal Housing Administration.
Bank Notes are notes
issued by local government bodies and agencies, such as those described above to commercial banks as evidence of borrowings. The purposes for which the notes are issued are varied but they are frequently issued to meet short-term working capital or
capital-project needs. These notes may have risks similar to the risks associated with TANs and RANs.
Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper (“Municipal Paper”) represents very short-term unsecured,
negotiable promissory notes issued by states, municipalities and their agencies. Payment of principal and interest on issues of municipal paper may be made from various sources, to the extent the funds are available therefrom. Maturities of
municipal paper generally will be shorter than the maturities of TANs, BANs or RANs. There is a limited secondary market for issues of Municipal Paper.
Certain municipal securities may carry variable or floating rates of interest whereby the rate of interest is not fixed but varies with
changes in specified market rates or indices, such as a bank prime rate or a tax-exempt money market index.
While the various types of notes described above as a group represent the major portion of the short-term
tax-exempt note market, other types of notes are available in the marketplace and the Fund may invest in such other types of notes to the extent permitted under its investment objective, policies and
limitations. Such notes may be issued for different purposes and may be secured differently from those mentioned above.
ILLIQUID SECURITIES
The Fund may invest in municipal securities that, at the time of investment, are illiquid (i.e., securities that are not readily
marketable), including, but not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws), securities that may be resold only pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act that are
deemed to be illiquid, and certain repurchase agreements.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or
in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse
between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable
price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. To the extent that the Board or its delegate determines that the price of any illiquid security provided by the pricing service is inappropriate, such security will be priced at a fair value
as determined in good faith by Nuveen Funds Advisors, the Fund’s valuation designee.
INVERSE FLOATING RATE SECURITIES AND FLOATING RATE
SECURITIES
Inverse Floating Rate Securities. Inverse floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as “inverse
floaters”) are securities whose interest rates bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. Generally, inverse floating rate securities represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust
formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds. The special purpose trust typically
19
sells two classes of beneficial interests or securities: floating rate securities (sometimes referred to as short-term floaters or tender option bonds) and inverse floating rate securities
(sometimes referred to as inverse floaters). Both classes of beneficial interests are represented by certificates. The short-term floating rate securities have first priority on the cash flow from the municipal bonds held by the special purpose
trust. Typically, a third party, such as a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution, grants the floating rate security holders the option, at periodic intervals, to tender their securities to the institution and receive the face value
thereof. As consideration for providing the option, the financial institution receives periodic fees. The holder of the short-term floater effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term, tax-exempt rate. However, the institution granting the tender option will not be obligated to accept tendered short-term floaters in the event of certain defaults or a significant downgrade in the credit rating
assigned to the bond issuer. For its inverse floating rate investment, the Fund receives the residual cash flow from the special purpose trust. Because the holder of the short-term floater is generally assured liquidity at the face value of the
security, the Fund as the holder of the inverse floater assumes the interest rate cash flow risk and the market value risk associated with the municipal security deposited into the special purpose trust. The volatility of the interest cash flow and
the residual market value will vary with the degree to which the trust is leveraged. This is expressed in the ratio of the total face value of the short-term floaters in relation to the value of the residual inverse floaters that are issued by the
special purpose trust. In addition, all voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the municipal bonds held in the special purpose trust are passed through to the Fund, as the holder of the residual inverse
floating rate securities.
Because increases in the interest rate on the short-term floaters reduce the residual interest paid on inverse
floaters, and because fluctuations in the value of the municipal bond deposited in the special purpose trust affect the value of the inverse floater only, and not the value of the short-term floater issued by the trust, inverse floaters’ value
is generally more volatile than that of fixed rate bonds. The market price of inverse floating rate securities is generally more volatile than the underlying securities due to the leveraging effect of this ownership structure. These securities
generally will underperform the market of fixed rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment (i.e., when bond values are falling), but tend to outperform the market of fixed rate bonds when interest rates decline or remain relatively
stable. Although volatile, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. Inverse floaters have varying degrees of
liquidity based upon, among other things, the liquidity of the underlying securities deposited in a special purpose trust.
The Fund may
invest in inverse floating rate securities, issued by special purpose trusts that have recourse to the Fund. In Nuveen Asset Management’s discretion, the Fund may enter into a separate shortfall and forbearance agreement with the third party
sponsor of a special purpose trust. The Fund may enter into such recourse agreements (i) when the liquidity provider to the special purpose trust requires such an agreement because the level of leverage in the trust exceeds the level that the
liquidity provider is willing to support absent such an agreement; and/or (ii) to seek to prevent the liquidity provider from collapsing the trust in the event that the municipal obligation held in the trust has declined in value. Such an
agreement may expose the Fund to a risk of loss that exceeds its investment in the inverse floating rate securities. The shortfall and forbearance agreement would require the Fund to reimburse the third party sponsor of such inverse floater, upon
termination of the trust issuing the inverse floater, the difference between the liquidation value of the bonds held in the trust and the principal amount due to the holders of floating rate interests. Absent a shortfall and forbearance agreement,
the Fund would not be required to make such a reimbursement. If the Fund chooses not to enter into such a shortfall and forbearance agreement, the special purpose trust could be liquidated and the Fund could incur a loss.
The Fund may invest in both inverse floating rate securities and floating rate securities (as discussed below) issued by the same special
purpose trust.
Investments in inverse floating rate securities have the economic effect of leverage. The use of leverage creates special
risks for Common Shareholders. See the Prospectus under “Risk Factors—Inverse Floating Rate Securities Risk/Leverage Risk.”
20
Floating Rate Securities. The Fund may also invest in floating rate securities, as
described above, issued by special purpose trusts. Floating rate securities may take the form of short-term floating rate securities or the option period may be substantially longer. Generally, the interest rate earned will be based upon the market
rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended periods of one year or multiple years. Since
the option feature has a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of the underlying bond deposited in the trust, the Fund as the holder of the floating rate security relies upon the terms of the agreement with the financial
institution furnishing the option as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further assurance of liquidity, the terms of the trust provide for a liquidation of the municipal security deposited in the trust and the application of the
proceeds to pay off the floating rate security. The trusts that are organized to issue both short-term floating rate securities and inverse floaters generally include liquidation triggers to protect the investor in the floating rate security.
AUCTION RATE SECURITIES
Municipal
securities also include auction rate municipal securities and auction rate preferred securities issued by closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal securities (collectively,
“auction rate securities”). In recent market environments, auctions have failed, which adversely affects the liquidity and price of auction rate securities, and are unlikely to resume. Provided that the auction mechanism is successful,
auction rate securities usually permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a
certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale. While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to
be traded at par value, there is a risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. Moreover, between auctions, there may be no secondary market for these securities, and sales conducted on a secondary market may not be
on terms favorable to the seller. Auction rate securities may be called by the issuer. Thus, with respect to liquidity and price stability, auction rate securities may differ substantially from cash equivalents, notwithstanding the frequency of
auctions and the credit quality of the security. The Fund’s investments in auction rate securities of closed-end funds are subject to the limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act. The Fund will indirectly
bear its proportionate share of any management and other fees paid by such closed-end funds in addition to the advisory fees payable directly by the Fund.
WHEN-ISSUED AND DELAYED DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS
The Fund may buy and sell municipal securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date,
normally within 15 to 45 days of the trade date. On such transactions, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the purchaser enters into the commitment. Beginning on the date the Fund enters into a commitment to purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund is required under the rules of the SEC to maintain in a separate account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities having a market value at all times of
at least equal to the amount of any delayed payment commitment. Income generated by any such assets which provide taxable income for federal income tax purposes is includable in the taxable income of the Fund and, to the extent distributed, will be
taxable distributions to shareholders. The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase securities on a forward basis (i.e., where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the transaction) only to the extent that the Fund
specifically collateralizes such obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within 60 days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed
delivery or forward basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and at the time of delivery the market value may be less than their cost.
21
OTHER INVESTMENTS
Zero Coupon Bonds. A zero coupon bond is a bond that typically does not pay interest either for the entire life of the obligation or
for an initial period after the issuance of the obligation. When held to its maturity, the holder receives the par value of the zero coupon bond, which generates a return equal to the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. A
zero coupon bond is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. This original issue discount (“OID”) approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound prior to its maturity and reflects the
payment deferral and credit risk associated with the instrument. Because zero coupon securities and other OID instruments do not pay cash interest at regular intervals, the instruments’ ongoing accruals require ongoing judgments concerning the
collectability of deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral. As a result, these securities may be subject to greater value fluctuations and less liquidity in the event of adverse market conditions than comparably rated securities
that pay cash on a current basis. Because zero coupon bonds, and OID instruments generally, allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments, they may involve greater payment deferral and credit risk than
coupon loans and bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The Fund generally will be required to distribute dividends to shareholders representing the income of these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive all of the
income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, and use the cash proceeds to make income distributions to its shareholders. For accounting purposes, these cash
distributions to shareholders will not be treated as a return of capital.
Further, Nuveen Fund Advisors collects management fees on the
value of a zero coupon bond or OID instrument attributable to the ongoing non-cash accrual of interest over the life of the bond or other instrument. As a result, Nuveen Fund Advisors receives non-refundable cash payments based on such non-cash accruals while investors incur the risk that such non-cash accruals ultimately may
not be realized.
Structured Notes. The Fund may utilize structured notes and similar instruments for investment purposes and also
for hedging purposes. Structured notes are privately negotiated debt obligations where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as
selected securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be
adjusted upwards or downwards (but not ordinarily below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may
vary widely, depending upon a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by
applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index or indices or other assets. Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss. These
types of investments may generate taxable income.
OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund may invest in securities of other open- or closed-end investment companies (including ETFs)
that invest primarily in municipal securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund generally expects that it may invest in other investment companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, such as
the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering of its Common Shares, or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive municipal securities available in the market. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are
advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or their respective affiliates to the extent permitted by applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its
ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative
expenses
22
to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. The Fund will consider its investment in underlying investment companies when determining its compliance with its policy to invest at
least 80% of its net assets in municipal securities, the income from which is exempt from regular federal and California income taxes.
Nuveen Asset Management will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in the investment company
relative to available municipal security instruments. In addition, because the securities of other investment companies may be leveraged and subject to the same leverage risk, the Fund may indirectly be subject to those risks described in the
Prospectus. Market value will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares.
PORTFOLIO TRADING AND TURNOVER RATE
Portfolio trading may be undertaken to accomplish the Fund’s investment objective. In addition, a security may be sold and another of
comparable quality purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage of what Nuveen Asset Management believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two securities. Temporary price disparities between two comparable securities may
result from supply and demand imbalances where, for example, a temporary oversupply of certain securities may cause a temporarily low price for such securities, as compared with other securities of like quality and characteristics. The Fund may also
engage to a limited extent in short-term trading consistent with its investment objectives. Securities may be sold in anticipation of a market decline (a rise in interest rates) or purchased in anticipation of a market rise (a decline in interest
rates) and later sold, but the Fund will not engage in trading solely to recognize a gain.
The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when
considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving the Fund’s investment objective. Although the Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, it is generally not expected to
exceed 40% under normal circumstances. For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 43%. However, there are no limits on the Fund’s rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without
regard to length of time held when, in Nuveen Asset Management’s opinion, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional
expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected in the Fund’s “Total Annual Expenses” in the Prospectus, they will be reflected in the Fund’s total return. In addition, high
portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. See “Tax Matters.”
NO PREFERRED SHARES
Unless otherwise
approved by shareholders, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Fund may borrow for temporary, emergency or other purposes as permitted by the 1940
Act and invest in certain instruments, including inverse floating rate securities, that have the economic effect of financial leverage.
23
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The management of
the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement (as defined under “Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio
Managers—Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees”), is the responsibility of the Board. The number of trustees of the Fund is ten, all of whom are not interested persons (referred to herein as “independent trustees”).
None of the independent trustees has ever been a director, trustee or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen, LLC (“Nuveen”), Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, or their affiliates. The Board is divided into three classes,
Class I, Class II and Class III, the Class I trustees serving until the 2025 annual meeting, the Class II trustees serving until the 2023 annual meeting and the Class III trustees serving until the 2024 annual meeting,
in each case until their respective successors are elected and qualified, as described below. Currently, William C. Hunter and Margaret L. Wolff are slated in Class I; Amy B.R. Lancellotta, John K. Nelson, Terence J. Toth and Robert L. Young
are slated in Class II; and Jack B. Evans, Joanne T. Medero, Albin F. Moschner and Matthew Thornton III are slated in Class III. As each Trustee’s term expires, shareholders will be asked to elect trustees and such trustees shall be
elected for a term expiring at the time of the third succeeding annual meeting subsequent to their election or thereafter in each case when their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. These provisions could delay for up to two years
the replacement of a majority of the Board. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws” in the prospectus.
The officers of the Fund serve annual terms through August of each year and are elected on an annual basis. The names, business addresses and
years of birth of the trustees and officers of the Fund, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each trustee oversees and other directorships they hold are set forth below. Except as
noted in the table below, the trustees of the Fund are directors or trustees, as the case may be, of 139 Nuveen-sponsored registered investment companies (the “Nuveen Funds”), which includes 67
open-end mutual funds (the “Nuveen Mutual Funds”), 53 closed-end funds and 19 Nuveen-sponsored exchange-traded funds.
24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| Terence J. Toth
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1959) |
|
Chair of
the Board;
Trustee |
|
Term—Class II
Length of Service—
Since 2008, Chair
of the Board since
July 2018 |
|
Formerly, Co-Founding Partner, Promus Capital (investment advisory firm) (2008-2017); formerly, Director of Quality Control Corporation (manufacturing) (2012-2021); formerly, Director of
Fulcrum IT Services LLC (information technology services firm to government entities) (2010-2019); formerly, Director, LogicMark LLC (health services) (2012-2016); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc.
(asset management) (2008-2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (financial services) (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various
positions with Northern Trust Company (financial services) (since 1994); Chair of the Board of the Kehrein Center for the Arts (philanthropy) (since 2021); Member of Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation Board
(philanthropy) (since 2012), formerly, Chair of its Investment Committee (2017-2022); formerly, Member, Chicago Fellowship Board (philanthropy) (2005-2016); formerly, Member, Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global
Investments Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004). |
|
139 |
|
None |
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| Jack B. Evans
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1948) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class III
Length of Service—
Since 1999 |
|
Chairman (since 2019), formerly, President (1996-2019), The Hall-Perrine Foundation (private philanthropic corporation); Life Trustee of Coe College; formerly, Director, Public Member, American Board of Orthapaedic Surgery
(2015-2020); Director (1997-2003), Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; President and Chief Operating Officer, (1972-1995), SCI Financial Group, Inc. (regional financial services firm); Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State
of Iowa University System (2007-2013); Director (1996-2015), The Gazette Company (media and publishing). |
|
139 |
|
Formerly, Director and Chairman (2009-2021), United Fire Group, a publicly held company; Director (2000-2004), Alliant Energy. |
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| William C. Hunter
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1948) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class I
Length of
Service— Since
2004 |
|
Dean Emeritus, formerly, Dean (2006-2012), Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa; past Director (2005-2015) and past President (2010-2014) of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society; formerly,
Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University; formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance (2003-2006), School of Business at the University of Connecticut; previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research
(1995-2003) at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. |
|
139 |
|
Director (since 2009) of Wellmark, Inc.; formerly, Director (2004-2018) of Xerox Corporation. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Amy B. R. Lancellotta
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1959) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class II
Length of Service—
Since 2021 |
|
Formerly, Managing Director, Independent Directors Council (IDC) (supports the fund independent director community and is part of the Investment Company Institute (ICI), which represents regulated investment companies)
(2006-2019); formerly, various positions with ICI (1989-2006); Member of the Board of Directors, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA) (since 2020). |
|
139 |
|
None |
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| Joanne T. Medero
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1954) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class III
Length of Service—
Since 2021 |
|
Formerly, Managing Director, Government Relations and Public Policy (2009-2020) and Senior Advisor to the Vice Chairman (2018-2020), BlackRock, Inc. (global investment management firm); formerly, Managing Director, Global Head of
Government Relations and Public Policy, Barclays Group (IBIM) (investment banking, investment management and wealth management businesses) (2006-2009); formerly, Managing Director, Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Barclays Global
Investors (global investment management firm) (1996-2006); formerly, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (law firm) (1993-1995); formerly, General Counsel, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (government agency overseeing U.S.
derivatives markets) (1989-1993); formerly, Deputy Associate Director/Associate Director for Legal and Financial Affairs, Office of Presidential Personnel, The White House (1986-1989); Member of the Board of Directors, Baltic-American Freedom
Foundation (seeks to provide opportunities for citizens of the Baltic states to gain education and professional development through exchanges in the U.S.) (since 2019). |
|
139 |
|
None |
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| Albin F. Moschner
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1952) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class III
Length of Service—
Since 2016 |
|
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Northcroft Partners, LLC (management consulting) (since 2012); previously, held positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc. (consumer wireless services), including Consultant (2011-2012),
Chief Operating Officer (2008-2011) and Chief Marketing Officer (2004-2008); formerly, President, Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. (telecommunication services) (2000-2003); formerly, President, One Point Services at One
Point Communications (telecommunication services) (1999-2000); formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board, Diba, Incorporated (internet technology provider) (1996-1997); formerly, various executive positions (1991-1996), including Chief Executive
Officer (1995-1996), with Zenith Electronics Corporation (consumer electronics). |
|
139 |
|
Former Chairman (2019) and Director (2012-2019), USA Technologies, Inc., a provider of solutions and services to facilitate electronic payment transactions; formerly, Director, Wintrust Financial Corporation
(1996-2016). |
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length
of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| John K. Nelson
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1962) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class II
Length of
Service— Since 2013 |
|
Member of Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients) (since 2008); served The President’s Council of Fordham University (2010-2019) and
previously a Director of the Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (2009-2018); formerly, senior external advisor to the Financial Services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. (2012-2014); former Chair of the Board of Trustees of Marian
University (2010-2014 as trustee, 2011-2014 as Chair); formerly Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO Bank N.V., North America, and Global Head of the Financial Markets Division (2007-2008), with various executive leadership roles in ABN AMRO Bank
N.V. between 1996 and 2007. |
|
139 |
|
None |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Matthew Thornton III
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1958) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class III
Length of
Service— Since 2020 |
|
Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2018-2019), FedEx Freight Corporation, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”) (provider of transportation,
e-commerce and business services through its portfolio of companies); formerly, Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations (2006-2018), Federal Express Corporation, a subsidiary of FedEx; formerly, Member of the
Board of Directors (2012-2018), Safe Kids Worldwide® (non-profit organization dedicated to
preventing childhood injuries). |
|
139 |
|
Member of the Board of Directors (since 2014), The Sherwin-Williams Company (develops, manufactures, distributes and sells paints, coatings and related products); Member of the Board of Directors (since 2020), Crown Castle
International (provider of communications infrastructure). |
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length
of
Time Served with
Funds in the Fund
Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen By
Trustee |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During
Past
Five Years |
| Margaret L. Wolff
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1955) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class I
Length of
Service—
Since 2016 |
|
Formerly, Of Counsel (2005-2014), Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group) (legal services); Member of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital (since 2005);
Member (since 2004), formerly, Chair (2015-2022) of the Board of Trustees of The John A. Hartford Foundation (philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011-2015) of the Board of
Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College. |
|
139 |
|
Formerly, Member of the Board of Directors (2013-2017) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers
Companies, Inc.). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Robert L. Young
c/o Nuveen
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1963) |
|
Trustee |
|
Term—Class II
Length of Service— Since 2017 |
|
Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Director, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (financial services) (2010-2016); formerly, President and Principal Executive Officer (2013-2016), and Senior Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer (2005-2010), of J.P. Morgan Funds; formerly, Director and various officer positions for J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (formerly, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. and formerly, One Group Administrative Services) and
JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. (financial services) (formerly, One Group Dealer Services, Inc.) (1999-2017). |
|
139 |
|
None |
31
OFFICER INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
| David J. Lamb
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1963) |
|
Chief
Administrative
Officer |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2015 |
|
Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2019); Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing Director (2020-2021) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing
Director (2017-2021), Senior Vice President (2006-2017) of Nuveen. |
|
|
|
|
| Brett E. Black
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606 (1972) |
|
Vice President
and Chief
Compliance
Officer |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2022 |
|
Managing Director of Nuveen (since 2022); formerly, Vice President (2014-2022), Chief Compliance Officer (2017-2022), Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (2014-2017) of BMO Funds Inc. |
|
|
|
|
| Mark J. Czarniecki
901 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(1979) |
|
Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2013 |
|
Managing Director (since 2022), formerly, Vice President (2016-2022), and Assistant Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2022), formerly, Vice President (2017-2022) and Assistant Secretary
(since 2017) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2022), formerly, Vice President (2018-2022), Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2018) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Managing Director and Associate General
Counsel (since 2022), formerly, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen (2013-2021). |
|
|
|
|
| Diana R. Gonzalez
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1978) |
|
Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2017 |
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2017); Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2022); Vice President and Associate General
Counsel of Nuveen (since 2017); formerly, Associate General Counsel of Jackson National Asset Management (2012-2017). |
|
|
|
|
| Nathaniel T. Jones
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1979) |
|
Vice President
and Treasurer |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2016 |
|
Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing Director (2017-2021), Senior Vice President (2016-2017) of Nuveen; Managing Director (since 2015) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst. |
|
|
|
|
| Tina M. Lazar
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1961) |
|
Vice President |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2002 |
|
Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2014-2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC. |
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
| Brian J. Lockhart
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1974) |
|
Vice President |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2019 |
|
Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Managing Director (2017-2021), Vice President (2010-2017) of Nuveen; Head of Investment Oversight (since 2017), formerly,
Team Leader of Manager Oversight (2015-2017); Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Risk Manager. |
|
|
|
|
| John M. McCann
8500 Andrew Carnegie
Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262
(1975) |
|
Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2022 |
|
Managing Director (since 2021), General Counsel and Secretary (since 2023), formerly, Assistant Secretary (2021-2023), of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen
Asset Management, LLC (since 2021); Managing Director (since 2021) and Assistant Secretary (since 2016) of TIAA SMA Strategies LLC; Managing Director (since 2019), formerly, Vice President and Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant
Secretary of the College Retirement Equities Fund, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Managing Director (since 2018), formerly, Vice President and Director, Associate General
Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Teacher Advisors LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Vice President (since 2017), Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2011) of
Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC; General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Covariance Capital Management, Inc. (2014-2017). |
33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
| Kevin J. McCarthy
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1966) |
|
Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2007 |
|
Executive Vice President (since 2022), and Secretary and General Counsel (since 2016) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., formerly, Senior Managing Director (2017-2022); Executive Vice President (since 2023) and Assistant Secretary (since
2008) of Nuveen Securities, LLC, formerly, Senior Managing Director (2017-2023); Executive Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2023) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, formerly, Senior Managing Director (2017-2023), Secretary (2016-2023) and Co-General Counsel (2011-2020); Executive Vice President (since 2023) and Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, formerly, Senior Managing Director (2017-2023) and Associate General Counsel
(2011-2020); formerly, Vice President (2007-2021) and Secretary (2016-2021) of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC; Vice President and Secretary of Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); Executive
Vice President (since 2023) and Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC, formerly, Senior Managing Director (2017-2023). |
|
|
|
|
| Jon Scott Meissner
8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262
(1973) |
|
Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2019 |
|
Managing Director, Mutual Fund Tax and Expense Administration (since 2022), formerly, Managing Director of Mutual Fund Tax and Financial Reporting groups (2017-2022), at Nuveen; Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund
Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2021), formerly, Senior Director (2016-2021), of Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director, Mutual Fund and Tax Expense Administration (since 2022), formerly, Senior
Director, Mutual Fund Taxation (2015-2022), to the TIAA-CREF Funds, the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and the CREF Accounts; has held various positions with TIAA
since 2004. |
|
|
|
|
| William A. Siffermann
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1975) |
|
Vice President |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2017 |
|
Managing Director (since 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017) of Nuveen. |
34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name, Business Address
and Year of Birth |
|
Position(s)
Held with
Fund |
|
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
with Funds in the
Fund Complex |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
| Trey S. Stenersen
8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262
(1965) |
|
Vice President |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2022 |
|
Senior Managing Director of Teacher Advisors LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2018); Senior Managing Director (since 2019) and Chief Risk Officer (since 2022), formerly Head of Investment Risk Management
(2017-2022) of Nuveen; Senior Managing Director (since 2018) of Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC. |
|
|
|
|
| E. Scott Wickerham
8500 Andrew Carnegie
Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28262
(1973) |
|
Vice President
and Controller |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2019 |
|
Senior Managing Director, Head of Public Investment Finance at Nuveen (since 2019), formerly, Managing Director, Senior Managing Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2022) of Nuveen
Asset Management, LLC; Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer (since 2017) of the TIAA-CREF Funds, the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, the TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and
Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer (since 2020) and Treasurer (since 2017) to the CREF Accounts; has held various positions with TIAA since 2006. |
|
|
|
|
| Mark L. Winget
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(1968) |
|
Vice President
and Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2008 |
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2008); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2019); Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2020); Vice President (since 2010) and Associate General Counsel (since 2019) of Nuveen. |
|
|
|
|
| Rachael Zufall
8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262
1973 |
|
Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary |
|
Term—Indefinite
Length of Service—
Since 2022 |
|
Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2023) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017), Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2014) of the CREF Accounts, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Managing Director (since 2017), Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2011) of Teacher Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC;
Managing Director of Nuveen, LLC and of TIAA (since 2017). |
35
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees or the Board of Directors (as the case may be, each is referred to hereafter as the “Board” and the trustees
or directors of the Nuveen Funds, as applicable, are referred to herein as “Trustees”) oversees the operations and management of the Nuveen Funds, including the duties performed for the Nuveen Funds by Nuveen Fund Advisors and each Nuveen
Fund’s sub-adviser(s), as applicable. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of Trustees who serve on the board of every Nuveen Fund in the fund complex. In
adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board, the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, diversity (including, among other things, gender,
race and ethnicity), independence and experience to oversee the Fund’s business. With this overall framework in mind, when the Board, through its Nominating and Governance Committee discussed below, seeks nominees for the Board, the Trustees
consider, not only the candidate’s particular background, skills and experience, among other things, but also whether such background, skills and experience enhance the Board’s diversity and at the same time complement the Board given its
current composition and the mix of skills and experiences of the incumbent Trustees. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes that the Board generally benefits from diversity of background (including, among other things, gender, race and
ethnicity), skills, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy on diversity or any particular definition of diversity.
The Board believes the unitary board structure enhances good and effective governance, particularly given the nature of the structure of the
investment company complex. Funds in the same complex generally are served by the same service providers and personnel and are governed by the same regulatory scheme which raises common issues that must be addressed by the trustees across the fund
complex (such as compliance, valuation, liquidity, brokerage, trade allocation or risk management). The Board believes it is more efficient to have a single board review and oversee common policies and procedures which increases the Board’s
knowledge and expertise with respect to the many aspects of fund operations that are complex-wide in nature. The unitary structure also enhances the Board’s influence and oversight over Nuveen Fund Advisors and other service providers.
In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a Chair that is an independent trustee. The Board recognizes that a
chair can perform an important role in setting the agenda for the Board, establishing the boardroom culture, establishing a point person on behalf of the Board for fund management, and reinforcing the Board’s focus on the long-term interests of
shareholders. The Board recognizes that a chair may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with fund management. Accordingly, the Trustees have elected Terence J. Toth as the independent
chair of the Board. Pursuant to the Fund’s By-laws, the Chair shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chair of the Board and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her
by the trustees or the By-Laws.
Although the Board has direct responsibility over various matters
(such as advisory contracts and underwriting contracts), the Board also exercises certain of its oversight responsibilities through several committees that it has established and which report back to the full Board. The Board believes that a
committee structure is an effective means to permit Trustees to focus on particular operations or issues affecting the Nuveen Funds, including risk oversight. More specifically, with respect to risk oversight, the Board has delegated matters
relating to valuation, compliance and investment risk to certain committees (as summarized below). In addition, the Board believes that the periodic rotation of Trustees among the different committees allows the Trustees to gain additional and
different perspectives of the Fund’s operations. The Board has established seven standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Closed-End Funds Committee, the Audit Committee,
the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Investment Committee. The Board may also from time to time create ad hoc committees to focus on particular issues as the need
arises. The membership and functions of the standing committees are summarized below. For more information on the Board, please visit www.nuveen.com/fundgovernance.
36
The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board, is authorized to
exercise all of the powers of the Board. Mr. Toth, Chair, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Young serve as the current members of the Executive Committee of the Board. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Executive Committee did
not meet.
The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions on each Nuveen Fund’s shares including, but not limited to,
regular and special dividends, capital gains and ordinary income distributions. The members of the Dividend Committee are Mr. Young, Chair, Ms. Lancellotta, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Thornton. During the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2023, the Dividend Committee met seven (7) times.
The Audit Committee assists the Board in the oversight and
monitoring of the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices of the Nuveen Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the Nuveen
Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Nuveen Funds’ financial statements; the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence; and the pricing procedures of the Nuveen Funds and
the internal valuation group of Nuveen. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, evaluate and replace any independent auditors (subject only to Board and, if applicable, shareholder ratification) and to determine their
compensation. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Nuveen Funds’ portfolios. Subject to the Board’s general supervision of such actions, the Audit Committee
addresses any valuation issues, oversees the Nuveen Funds’ pricing procedures and actions taken by Nuveen’s internal valuation group which provides regular reports to the committee, reviews any issues relating to the valuation of the
Nuveen Funds’ securities brought to its attention and considers the risks to the Nuveen Funds in assessing the possible resolutions to these matters. The Audit Committee may also consider any financial risk exposures for the Nuveen Funds in
conjunction with performing its functions.
To fulfill its oversight duties, the Audit Committee receives annual and semi-annual reports
and has regular meetings with the external auditors for the Nuveen Funds and Nuveen Fund Advisors’ internal audit group at Nuveen Investments. The Audit Committee also may review in a general manner the processes the Board or other Board
committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management as well as compliance with legal and regulatory matters relating to the Nuveen Funds’ financial statements. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and
approved by the Board. Members of the Audit Committee shall be independent (as set forth in the charter) and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the trustees, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit
Committee member. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Nelson, Chair, Mr. Evans, Mr. Moschner, Ms. Wolff and Mr. Young, each of whom is an independent trustee of the Nuveen Funds. During the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2023, the Audit Committee met four (4) times.
The Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee
(the “Compliance Committee”) is responsible for the oversight of compliance issues, risk management and other regulatory matters affecting the Fund that are not otherwise under or within the jurisdiction of the other committees. The Board
has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the Fund’s compliance and risk matters. As part of its duties, the Compliance Committee reviews the policies and procedures relating to compliance matters and
recommends modifications thereto as necessary or appropriate to the full Board; develops new policies and procedures as new regulatory matters affecting the Fund arise from time to time; evaluates or considers any comments or reports from
examinations from regulatory authorities and responses thereto; and performs any special reviews, investigations or other oversight responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or regulatory matters as requested by the Board.
In addition, the Compliance Committee is responsible for risk oversight, including, but not limited to, the oversight of general risks related
to investments which are not reviewed by other committees, such as liquidity and derivatives usage; risks related to product structure elements, such as leverage; techniques that may be used to address the foregoing risks, such as hedging and swaps;
and Fund operational risk and risks related to
37
the overall operation of the Nuveen enterprise and, in each case, the controls designed to address or mitigate such risks. In assessing issues brought to the Compliance Committee’s attention
or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Fund in adopting a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Fund and its
shareholders. In fulfilling its obligations, the Compliance Committee meets on a quarterly basis, and at least once a year in person. The Compliance Committee receives written and oral reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer
(“CCO”) and meets privately with the CCO at each of its quarterly meetings. The CCO also provides an annual report to the full Board regarding the operations of the Fund’s and other service providers’ compliance programs as well
as any recommendations for modifications thereto. Matters not addressed at the committee level are addressed directly by the full Board. The Compliance Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the
Compliance Committee are Ms. Wolff, Chair, Dr. Hunter, Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Medero, Mr. Thornton and Mr. Toth. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Compliance Committee met four (4) times.
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking, identifying and recommending to the Board qualified candidates for
election or appointment to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, the assignment and rotation of committee members, and
the establishment of corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent necessary or desirable, and matters related thereto. Although the unitary and committee structure has been developed over the years and the Nominating and Governance
Committee believes the structure has provided efficient and effective governance, the Nominating and Governance Committee recognizes that, as demands on the Board evolve over time (such as through an increase in the number of funds overseen or an
increase in the complexity of the issues raised), the Nominating and Governance Committee must continue to evaluate the Board and committee structures and their processes and modify the foregoing as may be necessary or appropriate to continue to
provide effective governance. Accordingly, the Nominating and Governance Committee has a separate meeting each year to, among other things, review the Board and committee structures, their performance and functions, and recommend any modifications
thereto or alternative structures or processes that would enhance the Board’s governance over the Fund’s business.
In addition,
the Nominating and Governance Committee, among other things, makes recommendations concerning the continuing education of Trustees; monitors performance of legal counsel and other service providers; establishes and monitors a process by which
security holders are able to communicate in writing with members of the Board; and periodically reviews and makes recommendations about any appropriate changes to trustee compensation. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and
Governance Committee receives suggestions from various sources, including suggestions from fund security holders, as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to William Siffermann, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen LLC,
333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. The Nominating and Governance Committee sets appropriate standards and requirements for nominations for new Trustees reserves the right to interview any and all candidates and to make the final
selection of any new Trustees. In considering a candidate’s qualifications, each candidate must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability (including the time requirements for due diligence site
visits to internal and external sub-advisers and service providers) and, if qualifying as an Independent Trustee candidate, independence from the Nuveen Fund Advisors, subadvisors underwriters or other service
providers, including any affiliates of these entities. These skill and experience requirements may vary depending on the current composition of the Board, since the goal is to ensure an appropriate range of skills, diversity and experience, in the
aggregate. Accordingly, the particular factors considered and weight given to these factors will depend on the composition of the Board and the skills and backgrounds of the incumbent Trustees at the time of consideration of the nominees. All
candidates, however, must meet high expectations of personal integrity, independence, governance experience and professional competence. All candidates must be willing to be critical within the Board and with management and yet maintain a collegial
and collaborative manner toward other Board members. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the Independent Trustees of
38
the Nuveen Funds. Accordingly, the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Mr. Toth, Chair, Mr. Evans, Dr. Hunter, Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Medero,
Mr. Moschner, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Thornton, Ms. Wolff and Mr. Young. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Nominating and Governance Committee met five (5) times.
The Investment Committee is responsible for the oversight of Fund performance, investment risk management and other portfolio-related matters
affecting the Funds which are not otherwise the jurisdiction of the other Board committees. As part of such oversight, the Investment Committee reviews each Fund’s investment performance and investment risks, which may include, but is not
limited to, an evaluation of Fund performance relative to investment objectives, benchmarks and peer group; a review of risks related to portfolio investments, such as exposures to particular issuers, market sectors, or types of securities, as well
as consideration of other factors that could impact or are related to Fund performance; and an assessment of Fund objectives, policies and practices as such may relate to Fund performance. In assessing issues brought to the committee’s
attention or in reviewing an investment policy, technique or strategy, the Investment Committee evaluates the risks to the Funds in adopting or recommending a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Funds and
their shareholders.
In fulfilling its obligations, the Investment Committee receives quarterly reports from the investment oversight and
the investment risk groups at Nuveen. Such groups also report to the full Board on a quarterly basis and the full Board participates in further discussions with fund management at its quarterly meetings regarding matters relating to Fund performance
and investment risks, including with respect to the various drivers of performance and Fund use of leverage and hedging. Accordingly, the Board directly and/or in conjunction with the Investment Committee oversees the investment performance and
investment risk management of the Funds. The Investment Committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the independent Trustees of the Funds. Accordingly, the members of the Investment
Committee are Dr. Hunter, Chair, Mr. Evans, Ms. Lancellotta, Ms. Medero, Mr. Moschner, Mr. Nelson, Ms. Stockdale, Ms. Stone, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Toth, Ms. Wolff and Mr. Young. During the
fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Investment Committee met one (1) time.
The
Closed-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the Nuveen Funds that are registered as closed-end management
investment companies (“Closed-End Funds”). The committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new
Closed-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Closed-End Fund.
The Closed-End Funds Committee receives updates on the secondary
closed-end fund market and evaluates the premiums and discounts of the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, at each quarterly meeting. The Closed-End Funds Committee reviews, among other things, the premium and discount trends in the broader closed-end fund market, by asset category and by closed-end fund; the historical total return performance data for the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund, based on net asset value and price over various periods; the
volatility trends in the market; the use of leverage by the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund; the distribution data of the Nuveen closed-end funds, including
the Fund, and as compared to peer averages; and a summary of common share issuances, if any, and share repurchases, if any, during the applicable quarter by the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the Fund. The
Closed-End Funds Committee regularly engages in more in-depth discussions of premiums and discounts of the Nuveen closed-end
funds. Additionally, the Closed-End Funds Committee members participate in workshops to explore, among other things, actions to address discounts of the Nuveen
closed-end funds, potential share repurchases and available leverage strategies and their use. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Closed-End Funds Committee are Mr. Evans, Chair, Dr. Hunter, Ms. Lancellotta, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Toth and Ms. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Closed-End Funds Committee met four (4) times.
39
Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications
Listed below for each current Board member are the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the
date of this document, that each current trustee should serve as a trustee of the Fund.
Jack B. Evans. Mr. Evans
has served as Chairman (since 2019), formerly, President from 1996-2019 of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation. Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer (1972-1995) of the SCI Financial Group,
Inc., a regional financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Formerly, he was a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago from 1997 to 2003 as well as a Director of Alliant Energy from 2000 to 2004 and Member and
President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System from 2007 to 2013. Mr. Evans is a Life Trustee of Coe College and formerly served as Chairman of the Board of United Fire Group from 2009 to 2021, served as a
Director and Public Member of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery from 2015 to 2020 and served on the Board of The Gazette Company from 1996 to 2015. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Coe College and an M.B.A. from the University of Iowa.
Mr. Evans joined the Board in 1999.
William C. Hunter. Dr. Hunter became Dean Emeritus of the Henry B.
Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa in 2012, after having served as Dean of the College since July 2006. He had been Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business from 2003 to 2006.
From 1995 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He has held faculty positions at Emory University, Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. He has
consulted with numerous foreign central banks and official agencies in Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. He has been a Director of Wellmark, Inc. since 2009. He is a past Director (2005-2015) and a past President (2010-2014) of Beta
Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society, and a past Director (2004-2018) of the Xerox Corporation. Dr. Hunter received his PhD (1978) and MBA (1970) from Northwestern University and his BS from Hampton University
(1970). Dr. Hunter joined the Board in 2004.
Amy B. R. Lancellotta. After 30 years of service, Ms. Lancellotta
retired at the end of 2019 from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), which represents regulated investment companies on regulatory, legislative and securities industry initiatives that affect funds and their shareholders. From November 2006 until
her retirement, Ms. Lancellotta served as Managing Director of ICI’s Independent Directors Council (IDC), which supports fund independent directors in fulfilling their responsibilities to promote and protect the interests of fund
shareholders. At IDC, Ms. Lancellotta was responsible for all ICI and IDC activities relating to the fund independent director community. In conjunction with her responsibilities, Ms. Lancellotta advised and represented IDC, ICI,
independent directors and the investment company industry on issues relating to fund governance and the role of fund directors. She also directed and coordinated IDC’s education, communication, governance and policy initiatives. Prior to
serving as Managing Director of IDC, Ms. Lancellotta held various other positions with ICI beginning in 1989. Before joining ICI, Ms. Lancellotta was an associate at two Washington, D.C. law firms. In addition, since 2020, she has been a
member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), an organization that seeks to end power-based violence, empower survivors and ensure safe communities. Ms. Lancellotta received a B.A. degree from
Pennsylvania State University in 1981 and a J.D. degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University (currently known as George Washington University Law School) in 1984. Ms. Lancellotta joined the Board in 2021.
Joanne T. Medero. Ms. Medero has over 30 years of financial services experience and, most recently, from December 2009
until her retirement in July 2020, she was a Managing Director in the Government Relations and Public Policy Group at BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock). From July 2018 to July 2020, she was also Senior Advisor to BlackRock’s Vice Chairman, focusing
on public policy and corporate governance issues. In 1996, Ms. Medero joined Barclays Global Investors (BGI), which merged with BlackRock in 2009. At BGI, she was a Managing Director and served as Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
until 2006. Then, from
40
2006 to 2009, Ms. Medero was a Managing Director and Global Head of Government Relations and Public Policy at Barclays Group (IBIM), where she provided policy guidance and directed
legislative and regulatory advocacy programs for the investment banking, investment management and wealth management businesses. Before joining BGI, Ms. Medero was a Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP from 1993 to 1995,
where she specialized in derivatives and financial markets regulation issues. Additionally, she served as General Counsel of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from 1989 to 1993 and, from 1986 to 1989, she was Deputy Associate
Director/Associate Director for Legal and Financial Affairs at The White House Office of Presidential Personnel. Further, from 2006 to 2010, Ms. Medero was a member of the CFTC Global Markets Advisory Committee and she has been actively
involved in financial industry associations, serving as Chair of the Steering Committee of the SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) Asset Management Group (2016-2018) and Chair of the CTA (Commodity Trading Advisor), CPO
(Commodity Pool Operator) and Futures Committee of the Managed Funds Association (2010-2012). Ms. Medero also chaired the Corporations, Antitrust and Securities Practice Group of The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy (2010-2022 and
2000-2002). In addition, since 2019, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, which seeks to provide opportunities for citizens of the Baltic states to gain education and professional development
through exchanges in the United States. Ms. Medero received a B.A. degree from St. Lawrence University in 1975 and a J.D. degree from the National Law Center, George Washington University (currently known as George Washington University Law
School) in 1978. Ms. Medero joined the Board in 2021.
Albin F. Moschner. Mr. Moschner is a consultant
in the wireless industry and, in July 2012, founded Northcroft Partners, LLC, a management consulting firm that provides operational, management and governance solutions. Prior to founding Northcroft Partners, LLC, Mr. Moschner held various
positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., a provider of wireless services, where he was a consultant from February 2011 to July 2012, Chief Operating Officer from July 2008 to February 2011, and Chief Marketing Officer from August 2004 to June
2008. Before he joined Leap Wireless International, Inc., Mr. Moschner was President of the Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. from 2000 to 2003, and President of One Point Services at One Point Communications from
1999 to 2000. Mr. Moschner also served at Zenith Electronics Corporation as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 1996, and as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1995. Mr. Moschner was
formerly Chairman (2019) and a member of the Board of Directors (2012-2019) of USA Technologies, Inc. and, from 1996 until 2016, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Wintrust Financial Corporation. In addition, he is emeritus (since
2018) of the Advisory Boards of the Kellogg School of Management (1995-2018) and the Archdiocese of Chicago Financial Council (2012-2018). Mr. Moschner received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from The City College of
New York in 1974 and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1979. Mr. Moschner joined the Board in 2016.
John K. Nelson. Mr. Nelson is on the Board of Directors of Core12, LLC. (since 2008), a private firm which develops
branding, marketing, and communications strategies for clients. Mr. Nelson has extensive experience in global banking and markets, having served in several senior executive positions with ABN AMRO Holdings N.V. and its affiliated entities and
predecessors, including LaSalle Bank Corporation from 1996 to 2008, ultimately serving as Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America. During his tenure at the bank, he also served as Global Head of its Financial Markets Division, which
encompassed the bank’s Currency, Commodity, Fixed Income, Emerging Markets, and Derivatives businesses. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States and during his tenure with ABN AMRO
served as the bank’s representative on various committees of The Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, and The Bank of England. Mr. Nelson previously served as a senior, external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte
Consulting LLP (2012-2014). At Fordham University, he served as a director of The President’s Council (2010-2019) and previously served as a director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (2009-2018). He served as a trustee and
Chairman of The Board of Trustees of Marian University (2011-2013). Mr. Nelson is a graduate of Fordham University, holding a BA in Economics and an MBA in Finance. Mr. Nelson joined the Board in 2013.
41
Matthew Thornton III. Mr. Thornton has over 40 years of broad leadership
and operating experience from his career with FedEx Corporation (“FedEx”), which, through its portfolio of companies, provides transportation, e-commerce and business services. In November 2019,
Mr. Thornton retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Freight Corporation (FedEx Freight), a subsidiary of FedEx, where, from May 2018 until his retirement, he had been responsible for day-to-day operations, strategic guidance, modernization of freight operations and delivering innovative customer solutions. From September 2006 to May 2018, Mr. Thornton
served as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations at Federal Express Corporation (FedEx Express), a subsidiary of FedEx. Prior to September 2006, Mr. Thornton held a range of positions of increasing responsibility with FedEx, including various
management positions. In addition, Mr. Thornton currently (since 2014) serves on the Board of Directors of The Sherwin-Williams Company, where he is a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the
Board of Directors of Crown Castle International (since 2020), where he is a member of the Strategy Committee and the Compensation Committee. Formerly (2012-2018), he was a member of the Board of Directors of Safe Kids Worldwide®, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of childhood injuries. Mr. Thornton is a member (since 2014) of the Executive Leadership
Council (ELC), the nation’s premier organization of global black senior executives. He is also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Mr. Thornton has been recognized by Black Enterprise on its 2017 list of the
Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America and by Ebony on its 2016 Power 100 list of the world’s most influential and inspiring African Americans. Mr. Thornton received a B.B.A. degree from the University of Memphis in 1980 and an
M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee in 2001. Mr. Thornton joined the Board in 2020.
Terence J.
Toth. Mr. Toth, the Nuveen Funds’ Independent Chair, was a Co-Founding Partner of Promus Capital (2008-2017). From 2012 to 2021, he was a Director of Quality Control Corporation,
from 2008 to 2013, he was a Director of Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. From 2004 to 2007, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Northern Trust Global Investments, and Executive Vice President of Quantitative
Management & Securities Lending from 2000 to 2004. He also formerly served on the Board of the Northern Trust Mutual Funds. He joined Northern Trust in 1994 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Global Securities Lending at Bankers
Trust (1986 to 1994) and Head of Government Trading and Cash Collateral Investment at Northern Trust from 1982 to 1986. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Kehrein Center for the Arts (since 2021) and is on the Board of Catalyst Schools
of Chicago since 2008. He is on the Mather Foundation Board since 2012 and was Chair of its Investment Committee from 2017 to 2022 and previously served as a Director of LogicMark LLC (2012-2016) and of Fulcrum IT Service LLC (2010-2019).
Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MBA from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University. Mr. Toth joined the
Board in 2008.
Margaret L. Wolff. Ms. Wolff retired from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
in 2014 after more than 30 years of providing client service in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. During her legal career, Ms. Wolff devoted significant time to advising boards and senior management on U.S. and international corporate,
securities, regulatory and strategic matters, including governance, shareholder, fiduciary, operational and management issues. Ms. Wolff has been a trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2005 and, since 2004, she has served as a
trustee of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults) where she formerly served as Chair from 2015 to 2022. From 2013 to 2017, she was a Board member of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and
The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each of which is a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). From 2005 to 2015, she was a trustee of Mt. Holyoke College and served as Vice Chair of the
Board from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Wolff received her Bachelor of Arts from Mt. Holyoke College and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Ms. Wolff joined the Board in 2016.
Robert L. Young. Mr. Young has more than 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. From 1997 to
2017, he held various positions with J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“J.P. Morgan Investment”) and its affiliates (collectively, “J.P. Morgan”). Most recently, he served as Chief Operating
42
Officer and Director of J.P. Morgan Investment (from 2010 to 2016) and as President and Principal Executive Officer of the J.P. Morgan Funds (from 2013 to 2016). As Chief Operating Officer of
J.P. Morgan Investment, Mr. Young led service, administration and business platform support activities for J.P. Morgan’s domestic retail mutual fund and institutional commingled and separate account businesses, and co-led these activities for J.P. Morgan’s global retail and institutional investment management businesses. As President of the J.P. Morgan Funds, Mr. Young interacted with various service
providers to these funds, facilitated the relationship between such funds and their boards, and was directly involved in establishing board agendas, addressing regulatory matters, and establishing policies and procedures. Before joining J.P. Morgan,
Mr. Young, a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA), was a Senior Manager (Audit) with Deloitte & Touche LLP (formerly, Touche Ross LLP), where he was employed from 1985 to 1996. During his tenure there, he actively participated in
creating, and ultimately led, the firm’s midwestern mutual fund practice. Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and, from 2008 to 2011, he served on the investment
committee of its board of trustees. Mr. Young joined the Board in 2017.
Independent Chairman
Terence J. Toth currently serves as the independent Chairman of the Board. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include
(a) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; (b) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the Trustees are carried into effect; and (c) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings
of the Trustees and the shareholders.
SHARE OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each trustee as of December 31, 2022:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independent Trustees |
|
Dollar Range
of Equity
Securities
in the Fund |
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in
All Registered
Investment Companies
Overseen by
Trustees in
Nuveen Family of Investment
Companies |
| Jack B. Evans |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| William C. Hunter |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| Amy B. R. Lancellotta |
|
|
None |
|
|
$50,001-$100,000 |
|
|
|
| Joanne T. Medero |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| Albin F. Moschner |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| John K. Nelson |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| Matthew Thornton III |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| Terence J. Toth |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| Margaret L. Wolff |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
|
|
|
| Robert L. Young |
|
|
None |
|
|
Over $100,000 |
No Trustee who is not an interested person of the Fund or his immediate family member owns beneficially or of
record, any security of Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Investments or any person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Nuveen Fund Advisors,
or Nuveen Investments.
43
As of April 30, 2023, the officers and Trustees as a group beneficially owned less than 1%
of any class of the Fund’s outstanding securities. Additionally, no disinterested trustee owned shares of Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or Nuveen Investments (or any entity controlled by or under common control with Nuveen Fund
Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management or Nuveen Investments).
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Common Shares
The following table lists the control persons of the Fund as of [ ], 2023. A control person is one who owns
beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of control.1 Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the
outcome of voting or the direction of management of the Fund.
|
|
|
| Control Persons |
|
% of Total Outstanding Shares of the
Fund as of [ ], 2023 |
|
|
|
| |
1 |
The Fund has no information regarding the beneficial owners of Fund shares owned through accounts with financial
intermediaries. |
The following table sets forth the percentage ownership of each person who, as of
[ ], 2023, owned of record, or was known by the Fund to own of record or beneficially, 5% or more of any class of the Fund’s equity securities:*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Name of Equity Security |
|
Name and
Address
of Owner |
|
|
% of
Record
Ownership* |
|
|
|
|
| Common Shares |
|
|
[— |
] |
|
|
[— |
]% |
| * |
The information contained in this table is based on a Schedule 13G filing made [—]. |
44
COMPENSATION
The following table shows, for each independent trustee, (1) the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund for its fiscal year ended
February 28, 2023, (2) the amount of total compensation paid by the Fund that has been deferred and (3) the total compensation paid to each Trustee by the Nuveen Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2022. The Fund does
not have a retirement or pension plan. The officers and Trustees affiliated with Nuveen Investments serve without any compensation from the Fund. Certain of the Nuveen Funds have a deferred compensation plan (the “Compensation Plan”) that
permits any Trustee who is not an “interested person” of certain Nuveen Funds to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation as a Trustee. The deferred compensation of a participating Trustee is credited to the
book reserve account of a Nuveen Fund when the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the Trustee. The value of the Trustee’s deferral account at any time is equal to the value that the account would have had if contributions to the
account had been invested and reinvested in shares of one or more of the eligible Nuveen Funds. At the time for commencing distributions from a trustee’s deferral account, the trustee may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or over a
period of five years. The Fund will not be liable for any other Nuveen Fund’s obligations to make distributions under the Plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independent Trustees |
|
Aggregate
Compensation from
Fund(1) |
|
|
Amount of Total
Compensation
From the Fund
That
Has
Been Deferred(2) |
|
|
Total Compensation from
Fund and Fund Complex(3) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jack B. Evans |
|
|
$216 |
|
|
|
$21 |
|
|
|
$415,597 |
|
|
|
|
|
| William C. Hunter |
|
|
198 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
387,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Amy B.R. Lancellotta |
|
|
193 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
372,360 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Joanne T. Medero |
|
|
192 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
372,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Albin F. Moschner |
|
|
237 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
453,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
| John K. Nelson |
|
|
226 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
433,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Matthew Thornton III |
|
|
206 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
395,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Terence J. Toth |
|
|
284 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
544,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Margaret L. Wolff |
|
|
211 |
|
|
|
104 |
|
|
|
411,912 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Robert L. Young |
|
|
236 |
|
|
|
176 |
|
|
|
453,324 |
|
| (1) |
The compensation paid, including deferred amounts, to the independent trustees for the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2023, for services to the Fund. |
| (2) |
Pursuant to a deferred compensation agreement with certain of the Nuveen Funds, deferred amounts are treated as
though an equivalent dollar amount has been invested in shares of one or more eligible Nuveen Funds. Total deferred fees for the Fund (including the return from the assumed investment in the eligible Nuveen Funds) payable are stated above.
|
| (3) |
Based on the compensation paid (including any amounts deferred) for the calendar year ended December 31,
2022, for services to the Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Because the funds in the Fund Complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this column
are presented on a calendar year basis. |
Effective January 1, 2023, Independent Board Members receive a $210,000
annual retainer, increased from $205,000 as of January 1, 2022, plus they receive (a) a fee of $7,250, increased from $7,000 as of January 1, 2022, per day for attendance at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board; (b) a fee of
$4,000, increased from $3,000 as of January 1, 2022, per meeting for attendance at special, non-regularly scheduled Board meetings; (c) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance at Audit Committee
meetings, Closed-End Fund
45
Committee meetings and Investment Committee Meetings; (d) a fee of $5,000 per meeting for attendance at Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee meetings; (e) a
fee of $1,250 per meeting for attendance at Dividend Committee meetings; (f) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance at all other committee meetings, and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acts as pricing committee for IPOs, plus,
in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings, provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held. In addition to the payments described above, the Chair of the Board
receives $140,000, increased from $125,000 as of January 1, 2022, and the chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee,
the Closed-End Funds Committee and the Investment Committee receive $20,000 each as additional retainers. Independent Board Members also receive a fee of $5,000, increased from $3,500 as of January 1,
2022, per day for site visits to entities that provide services to the Nuveen Funds on days on which no Board meeting is held. Per meeting fees for unscheduled Committee meetings or meetings of Ad Hoc or Special Assignment Committees will be
determined by the Chair of such Committee based on the complexity or time commitment associated with the particular meeting. Prior to January 1, 2023, when Ad Hoc committees were organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee at the time of
formation determined compensation to be paid to the members of such committee; however, in general, such fees were $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at ad hoc committee meetings where
in-person attendance was required and $500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance was not required. The annual
retainer, fees and expenses are allocated among the Nuveen Funds on the basis of relative net assets, although management may, in its discretion, establish a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund. In certain instances, fees and expenses will
be allocated only to those Nuveen Funds that are discussed at a given meeting.
The Fund has no employees. Its officers are compensated by
Nuveen Investments or its affiliates.
INVESTMENT ADVISER, SUB-ADVISER
AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Investment Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for
overseeing the Fund’s overall investment strategy and implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for
management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolio, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker
Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC (“Nuveen”), the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (“TIAA”). TIAA is a life insurance
company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of March 31, 2023, Nuveen managed approximately $1.1 trillion in assets, of which
approximately $142.2 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees. Pursuant
to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the overall advisory and administrative services and general
office facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors. The Fund’s management fee is separated into two components—a complex-level component, based on the aggregate amount of all fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors, and a specific
fund-level component, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund. This pricing structure enables Nuveen fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within each individual fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide
assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
46
Fund-Level Fee. The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated
according to the following schedule:
|
|
|
|
|
| Average Daily Net Assets |
|
Fund-Level Fee Rate |
|
| For the first $125 million |
|
|
0.1000 |
% |
| For the next $125 million |
|
|
0.0875 |
% |
| For the next $250 million |
|
|
0.0750 |
% |
| For the next $500 million |
|
|
0.0625 |
% |
| For the next $1 billion |
|
|
0.0500 |
% |
| For the next $3 billion |
|
|
0.0250 |
% |
| For managed assets over $5 billion |
|
|
0.0125 |
% |
Complex-Level Fee. The annual complex-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according
to the following schedule:
|
|
|
|
|
| Complex-Level Eligible
Asset Breakpoint Level* |
|
Effective Rate at
Breakpoint Level |
|
| $55 billion |
|
|
0.2000 |
% |
| $56 billion |
|
|
0.1996 |
% |
| $57 billion |
|
|
0.1989 |
% |
| $60 billion |
|
|
0.1961 |
% |
| $63 billion |
|
|
0.1931 |
% |
| $66 billion |
|
|
0.1900 |
% |
| $71 billion |
|
|
0.1851 |
% |
| $76 billion |
|
|
0.1806 |
% |
| $80 billion |
|
|
0.1773 |
% |
| $91 billion |
|
|
0.1691 |
% |
| $125 billion |
|
|
0.1599 |
% |
| $200 billion |
|
|
0.1505 |
% |
| $250 billion |
|
|
0.1469 |
% |
| $300 billion |
|
|
0.1445 |
% |
| * |
The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily “eligible assets” of all Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally
$2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with Nuveen Fund Advisors’ assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011, but do include certain assets of certain Nuveen funds that
were reorganized into funds advised by an affiliate of Nuveen Fund Advisors during the 2019 calendar year. Eligible assets include closed-end fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors that are attributable
to certain types of leverage. For these purposes, leverage includes the closed-end funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called
inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by the TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by
Nuveen Fund Advisors as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. As of February 28, 2023, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1588%. |
47
The following table sets forth the management fee paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal
years/periods:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Management Fee Net of Expense
Reimbursement |
|
|
Expense
Reimbursement
|
|
| Fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 |
|
|
$257,651 |
|
|
|
$— |
|
| Fiscal period ended February 28, 2022* |
|
|
$233,667 |
|
|
|
$— |
|
| Fiscal year ended February 28, 2023 |
|
|
$228,348 |
|
|
|
$— |
|
| * |
For the fiscal period April 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022. |
In addition to the fee of Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its
Trustees (other than those affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of
preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.
A discussion regarding the Board’s most recent approval of the Investment Management Agreement may be found in the Fund’s
semi-annual report to shareholders dated August 31 of each year.
Investment Sub-Adviser.
Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, 333
West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset
Management oversees day-to-day operations and provides portfolio management services to the Fund. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory
Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management is compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a portion of the management fee Nuveen Fund Advisors receives from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to
reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
Sub-Advisory Agreement and Related Fees. Pursuant to the
Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management receives from Nuveen Fund Advisors a management fee equal to 43.000% of Nuveen Fund Advisors’ net management fee from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and
Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.
The following table sets forth the management fee paid by Nuveen Fund Advisors to Nuveen Asset Management for the last three fiscal
years/periods:
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Sub-Advisory Fee Paid by
Nuveen Fund
Advisors
to Nuveen Asset Management |
|
| Fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 |
|
|
$110,422 |
|
| Fiscal period ended February 28, 2022* |
|
|
$100,143 |
|
| Fiscal year ended February 28, 2023 |
|
|
$97,864 |
|
| * |
For the fiscal period April 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022. |
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Sub-Advisory
Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated August 31 of each year.
Portfolio
Manager. Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is provided as of the date of this SAI.
48
Portfolio Management. Scott R. Romans, PhD, Senior Vice President of Nuveen Asset
Management, joined Nuveen Investments in 2000 as a senior analyst in the education sector. In 2003, he was assigned management responsibility for several closed- and open-ended municipal bond funds, most of which are state funds covering California
and other western states. Currently, he manages investments for 14 Nuveen-sponsored investment companies. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA and PhD from the University of Chicago.
Other Accounts Managed. The Portfolio Manager also has responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund. Information regarding these other accounts is set forth below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Number of Other Accounts Managed and Assets by Account
Type as of [ ], 2023 |
| Portfolio Manager |
|
Type of
Account Managed |
|
Number of
Accounts |
|
Assets* |
| Scott R. Romans |
|
Registered Investment Companies |
|
[—] |
|
[—] |
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
|
[—] |
|
[—] |
|
|
Other Accounts |
|
[—] |
|
[—] |
| * |
[Assets are as of [ ], 2023.] None of the assets in these accounts are subject to an
advisory fee based on performance. |
As shown in the above table, the Portfolio Manager may manage accounts in addition
to the Fund. The potential for conflicts of interest exists when a portfolio manager manages other accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies to the Fund (“Similar Accounts”). Potential conflicts may include, for example,
conflicts between investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities.
Responsibility for managing Nuveen
Fund Advisors’ clients’ portfolios is organized according to investment strategies. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed using the same objectives, approach and philosophy. Therefore, portfolio holdings,
relative position sizes and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest.
Nuveen Fund Advisors may receive more compensation with respect to certain Similar Accounts than that received with respect to the Fund or may
receive compensation based in part on the performance of certain Similar Accounts. This may create a potential conflict of interest for the Portfolio Manager by providing an incentive to favor these Similar Accounts when, for example, placing
securities transactions. Potential conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of limited investment opportunities. Allocations of aggregated trades, particularly trade orders
that were only partially completed due to limited availability, and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest.
Nuveen Asset Management has policies and procedures designed to manage these conflicts described above such as allocation of investment
opportunities to achieve fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among its clients over time. For example, orders for the same equity security are aggregated on a continual basis throughout each trading day consistent with Nuveen
Asset Management’s duty of best execution for its clients. If aggregated trades are fully executed, accounts participating in the trade will be allocated their pro rata share on an average price basis. Partially completed orders will be
allocated among the participating accounts on a pro-rata average price basis as well.
Compensation. Portfolio managers are compensated through a combination of base salary and variable components consisting of (i) a
cash bonus; (ii) a long-term performance award; and (iii) participation in a profits interest plan.
Base salary. A portfolio manager’s base salary is determined based upon an analysis of the portfolio manager’s general
performance, experience and market levels of base pay for such position.
49
Cash bonus. A portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus that is
based on three variables: risk-adjusted investment performance relative to benchmark generally measured over the most recent one, three and five year periods (unless the portfolio manager’s tenure is
shorter), ranking versus Morningstar peer funds generally measured over the most recent one, three and five year periods (unless the portfolio manager’s tenure is shorter), and management and peer reviews.
Long-term performance award. A portfolio manager is eligible to receive a long-term performance award that vests after three years. The amount of the award when granted is based on the same factors used in determining the cash bonus. The value of the award at the completion of the three-year vesting period is adjusted based on the risk-adjusted investment performance of Fund(s) managed by the portfolio manager during the vesting period and the
performance of the TIAA organization as a whole.
Profits interest plan. Portfolio managers are eligible to receive profits
interests in Nuveen Asset Management and its affiliate, Teachers Advisors, LLC, which vest over time and entitle their holders to a percentage of the firms’ annual profits. Profits interests are allocated to each portfolio manager based on such
person’s overall contribution to the firms.
There are generally no differences between the methods used to determine compensation
with respect to the Funds and the Other Accounts shown in the table below.
Material conflicts of interest. Actual or apparent
conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio
managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.
The
management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio
managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.
If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able
to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, Nuveen Asset Management has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across
multiple accounts.
With respect to many of its clients’ accounts, Nuveen Asset Management determines which broker to use to execute
transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, Nuveen Asset Management may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be
instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Nuveen Asset Management may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for the Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect
the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.
Some
clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same
extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where Nuveen Asset Management has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of
some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.
Conflicts of interest may also arise when the sub-adviser invests one or more of its client accounts
in different or multiple parts of the same issuer’s capital structure, including investments in public versus private
50
securities, debt versus equity, or senior versus junior/subordinated debt, or otherwise where there are different or inconsistent rights or benefits. Decisions or actions such as investing,
trading, proxy voting, exercising, waiving or amending rights or covenants, workout activity, or serving on a board, committee or other involvement in governance may result in conflicts of interest between clients holding different securities or
investments. Generally, individual portfolio managers will seek to act in a manner that they believe serves the best interest of the accounts they manage. In cases where a portfolio manager or team faces a conflict among its client accounts, it will
seek to act in a manner that it believes best reflects its overall fiduciary duty, which may result in relative advantages or disadvantages for particular accounts.
Nuveen Asset Management has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among
investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates, including TIAA, sponsor an array of financial products for retirement and other investment goals,
and provide services worldwide to a diverse customer base. Accordingly, from time to time, a Fund may be restricted from purchasing or selling securities, or from engaging in other investment activities because of regulatory, legal or contractual
restrictions that arise due to another client account’s investments and/or the internal policies of Nuveen Asset Management, TIAA or its affiliates designed to comply with such restrictions. As a result, there may be periods, for example, when
Nuveen Asset Management will not initiate or recommend certain types of transactions in certain securities or instruments with respect to which investment limits have been reached.
The investment activities of Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates may also limit the investment strategies and rights of the Funds. For
example, in certain circumstances where the Funds invest in securities issued by companies that operate in certain regulated industries, in certain emerging or international markets, or are subject to corporate or regulatory ownership definitions,
or invest in certain futures and derivative transactions, there may be limits on the aggregate amount invested by Nuveen Asset Management or its affiliates for the Funds and other client accounts that may not be exceeded without the grant of a
license or other regulatory or corporate consent. If certain aggregate ownership thresholds are reached or certain transactions undertaken, the ability of Nuveen Asset Management, on behalf of the Funds or other client accounts, to purchase or
dispose of investments or exercise rights or undertake business transactions may be restricted by regulation or otherwise impaired. As a result, Nuveen Asset Management, on behalf of the Funds or other client accounts, may limit purchases, sell
existing investments, or otherwise restrict or limit the exercise of rights (including voting rights) when Nuveen Asset Management, in its sole discretion, deems it appropriate in light of potential regulatory or other restrictions on ownership or
other consequences resulting from reaching investment thresholds.
Fund shares owned by the Portfolio Manager. As of
[ ], 2023, the Portfolio Manager beneficially owned (as determined pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act) shares of the Fund having values within the indicated dollar range.
|
|
|
|
|
| Portfolio Manager |
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned in the Fund |
|
| Scott R. Romans |
|
|
None |
|
CODE OF ETHICS
The Fund, Nuveen Fund Advisors, Nuveen Asset Management, Nuveen Securities and other related entities have adopted a combined code of ethics
(the “Code of Ethics”) that essentially prohibits certain of their personnel, including the Portfolio Manager, from engaging in personal investments that compete or interfere with, or attempt to take advantage of a client’s, including
the Fund’s, anticipated or actual portfolio transactions, and are designed to assure that the interests of clients, including Fund shareholders, are placed before the interests of personnel in connection with personal investment transactions.
Personnel subject to the Code of
51
Ethics may purchase shares of the Fund subject to the restriction set forth in the Code of Ethics. While personnel subject to the Code of Ethics may generally invest in securities in which the
Fund may also invest, portfolio managers of municipal bond funds, such as the Fund, may not do so. Text-only versions of the Code of Ethics can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet website at www.sec.gov.
In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics may be obtained, after paying the appropriate duplicating fee, by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES
The Fund invests its assets generally in municipal securities. On rare occasions the Fund may acquire, directly or through a special purpose
vehicle, equity securities of certain issuers whose securities the Fund already owns when such securities have deteriorated or are expected shortly to deteriorate significantly in credit quality. The purpose of acquiring equity securities generally
will be to acquire control of the municipal bond issuer and to seek to prevent the credit deterioration or facilitate the liquidation or other workout of the distressed issuer’s credit problem. In the course of exercising control of a
distressed municipal issuer, Nuveen Asset Management may pursue the Fund’s interests in a variety of ways, which may entail negotiating and executing consents, agreements and other arrangements, and otherwise influencing the management of the
issuer. Nuveen Asset Management does not consider such activities proxy voting for purposes of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, but nevertheless provides reports to the
Fund’s Board on its control activities on a quarterly basis.
In the rare event that a municipal issuer held by the Fund were to
issue a proxy, or that the Fund were to receive a proxy issued by a cash management security, Nuveen Asset Management would either engage an independent third party to determine how the proxy should be voted or vote the proxy with the consent, or
based on the instructions, of the Fund’s Board or its representative. In the case of a conflict of interest, the proxy would be submitted to the Fund’s Board to determine how the proxy should be voted. A member of Nuveen Asset
Management’s legal department would oversee the administration of the voting, and ensure that records were maintained in accordance with Rule 206(4)-6, reports were filed with the SEC on Form N-PX, and the results provided to the Fund’s Board and made available to shareholders as required by applicable rules. If applicable, information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio
securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 257-8787 or from the Fund’s website
at http://www.nuveen.com, and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
Subject to the supervision of the Board, Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for decisions to purchase
and sell securities for the Fund, the negotiation of the prices to be paid and the allocation of transactions among various dealer firms. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment by the Fund of brokerage commissions. There generally is no
stated commission in the case of securities traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer
commission or mark-up. Transactions in the OTC market can also be placed with broker-dealers who act as agents and charge brokerage commissions for effecting OTC transactions. The Fund may place its OTC
transactions either directly with principal market makers, or with broker-dealers if that is consistent with Nuveen Asset Management’s obligation to obtain best qualitative execution. In certain instances, the Fund may make purchases of
underwritten issues at prices that include underwriting fees.
Portfolio securities may be purchased directly from an underwriter or in
the OTC market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained through other means. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from Nuveen Investments or its affiliates or affiliates
of Nuveen Fund Advisors except in compliance with the 1940 Act.
It is Nuveen Asset Management’s policy to seek the best execution
under the circumstances of each trade. Nuveen Asset Management will evaluate price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition,
52
reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondary in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it will be Nuveen Asset Management’s practice to select
dealers that, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to Nuveen Asset Management. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and
statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to Nuveen Asset Management’s own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly Nuveen Asset Management’s
expenses. While Nuveen Asset Management will be primarily responsible for the placement of the business of the Fund, Nuveen Asset Management’s policies and practices in this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times,
be subject to review by the Board of the Fund.
Nuveen Asset Management may manage other investment accounts and investment companies for
other clients that may invest in the same types of securities as the Fund and that may have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions
are made to purchase or sell assets or securities by the Fund and another advisory account. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis
where, for example (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that
coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where Nuveen
Asset Management reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. There may also be instances where the Fund will not participate at all in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these allocation
procedures could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board that the benefits available from Nuveen Asset Management’s management outweigh any
disadvantage that may arise from Nuveen Asset Management’s larger management activities and its need to allocate securities.
Substantially all of the Fund’s trades are effected on a principal basis. The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of
brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years/periods:
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Brokerage
Commissions
Paid |
|
| Fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
— |
|
| Fiscal period ended February 28, 2022* |
|
$ |
— |
|
| Fiscal year ended February 28, 2023 |
|
$ |
— |
|
| * |
For the fiscal period April 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022. |
During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the Fund did not pay commissions to brokers in return for research services or hold any
securities of its regular broker-dealers.
NET ASSET VALUE
The Fund’s NAV per Common Share is determined as of the close of regular session trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each
day the NYSE is open for business. NAV is calculated by taking the market value of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of Common Shares
outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the NAV per share. All valuations are subject to review by the Fund’s Board.
The Fund utilizes independent pricing services approved by the Board to value portfolio instruments at their market value. Independent pricing
services typically value non-equity portfolio instruments utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in
such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. In valuing
53
municipal securities, the pricing services may also consider, among other factors, the yields or prices of municipal securities of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating
and the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant by the pricing service or Nuveen Fund Advisors. In pricing certain securities, particularly less liquid and lower quality securities, the pricing services may consider information
about a security, its issuer or market activity provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors or Nuveen Asset Management.
If a price cannot be
obtained from a pricing service or other pre-approved source, or if the Fund’s valuation designee, deems such price to be unreliable, or if a significant event occurs after the close of the local market
but prior to the time at which the Fund’s NAV is calculated, a portfolio instrument will be valued at its fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s valuation designee. The Fund’s valuation designee may determine that a
price is unreliable in various circumstances. For example, a price may be deemed unreliable if it has not changed for an identified period of time, or has changed from the previous day’s price by more than a threshold amount, and recent
transactions and/or broker dealer price quotations differ materially from the price in question.
The Board has designated Nuveen Fund
Advisors as the Fund’s valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act and delegated to Nuveen Fund Advisors the
day-to-day responsibility of making fair value determinations. All fair value determinations made by Nuveen Fund Advisors are subject to review by the Board. As a
general principle, the fair value of a portfolio instrument is the amount that an owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the instrument’s current sale. A range of factors and analysis may be considered when determining fair value,
including relevant market data, interest rates, credit considerations and/or issuer specific news. However, fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a portfolio instrument may be materially
different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of that instrument.
TAX MATTERS
The following is intended to be a general summary of certain US federal income tax consequences of investing, holding and disposing of Common
Shares of the Fund. It is not intended to be a complete discussion of all such federal income tax consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors (including investors in Common Shares with large positions in the Fund).
Investors are advised to consult with their own tax advisors before investing in the Fund.
The Fund has elected and intends to qualify
each year, as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to satisfy conditions under which dividends on Common Shares attributable to interest on
municipal securities (as defined above) are exempt from federal income tax in the hands of owners of such stock, subject to the possible application of the federal alternative minimum tax.
To qualify under Subchapter M of the Code for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things: (a) distribute to its shareholders
each year at least 90% of the sum of (i) its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and (ii) its net
tax-exempt income (the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest income over certain disallowed deductions), (b) derive at least 90% of its gross income (including income
on municipal securities exempt from regular federal income tax) for each taxable year from dividends, interest (including interest income on municipal securities exempt from regular federal income tax), payments with respect to certain securities
loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including gains from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or
currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (as defined in the Code), and (c) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year (i) at least 50% of
the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with these other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to an amount
54
not greater in value than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the market value of
the Fund’s assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs), the securities of
two or more issuers (other than securities of other RICs) controlled by the Fund and engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships. To meet these requirements,
the Fund may need to restrict its use of certain of the investment techniques described under “Investment Objective and Policies” above.
If the Fund fails to satisfy the qualifying income or diversification requirements in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief
provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the
diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the diversification requirements, the Fund may be required to
dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to the Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, the Fund will be taxable at regular corporate tax rates (and, to the extent applicable, at
corporate alternative minimum tax rates). In such an event, all distributions (including capital gains distributions and distributions derived from interest on municipal securities) will be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the
Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, subject to certain limitations the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and to the lower tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income distributed to non-corporate shareholders. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to
the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares (reducing that basis accordingly), and any remaining distributions would generally be treated as a capital gain. To requalify for treatment as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the
Fund would be required to satisfy the RIC qualification requirements for that year and to distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. If the Fund failed to qualify as a RIC for a
period greater than two taxable years, it would generally be required to pay a Fund-level tax on certain net built-in gains recognized with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets
within five years of qualifying as a RIC in a subsequent year.
A RIC that fails to distribute, by the close of each calendar year, an
amount at least equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary taxable income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 in such year, plus any shortfalls
from the prior year’s required distribution, is liable for a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on the excess of the required distribution for such calendar year over the distributed amount for such calendar year. To avoid the imposition of
this excise tax, the Fund generally intends, but makes no assurances, to make the required distributions of its ordinary taxable income, if any, and its capital gain net income.
If preferred shares are issued, certain minimum net asset value coverage limitations on distributions made with respect to Common Shares may
under certain circumstances impair the ability of the Fund to maintain its qualification for treatment as a RIC or to pay distributions sufficient to avoid the imposition of the 4% federal excise tax.
As described in “Distributions” above, the Fund may retain for investment or otherwise use some (or all) of its net capital gain. If
the Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed
capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such
undistributed amount; (ii) will be deemed to have paid their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount and will be entitled to credit that amount of tax against their federal income tax liabilities, if any;
and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to
55
the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference
between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder.
The Fund intends to qualify to pay “exempt-interest” dividends, as defined in the Code, to its Common Shares by satisfying the
requirement that, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of municipal securities. Exempt-interest dividends are dividends or any part thereof (other than a capital gain dividend) paid
by the Fund which are attributable to interest on municipal securities and which are so reported by the Fund. Exempt-interest dividends will be exempt from federal income tax, subject to the possible application of the federal alternative minimum
tax. Insurance proceeds received by the Fund under any insurance policies in respect of scheduled interest payments on defaulted municipal bonds, as described herein, will generally be correspondingly excludable from federal gross income. In the
case of non-appropriation by a political subdivision, however, there can be no assurance that payments made by the issuer representing interest on municipal lease obligations will be excludable from gross
income for federal income tax purposes. Any gains of the Fund that are attributable to market discount on municipal securities are treated as ordinary income to the extent of accrued market discount on those securities.
A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is an individual and
not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for
federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For
these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income, but exempt-interest dividends are not taken into account.
A portion of the Fund’s expenditures that would otherwise be deductible may not be allowed as deductions by reason of the Fund’s
investment in municipal securities (such disallowed portion, in general, being the same percentage of the Fund’s aggregate expenses as the percentage of the Fund’s aggregate gross income that constitutes exempt interest income from
municipal securities). A similar disallowance rule also applies to interest expense paid or incurred by the Fund, if any. Any such disallowed deductions will offset the Fund’s gross exempt-interest income for purposes of calculating the
dividends that the Fund can report as exempt-interest dividends. Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Fund’s shares is not deductible to the extent the interest relates to exempt-interest dividends. Under
rules used by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for determining when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase or ownership of shares may be considered to have been made
with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly used for the purchase or ownership of such shares.
Distributions to
shareholders of net investment income received by the Fund from taxable investments, if any, including temporary taxable investments, and of net short-term capital gains realized by the Fund, if any, will be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary
income. Distributions by the Fund of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, are taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned
the shares with respect to which such distributions are made. The amount of taxable income allocable to the Fund’s shares will depend upon the amount of such income realized by the Fund. Distributions, if any, in excess of the Fund’s
earnings and profits will first reduce the adjusted tax basis of a shareholder’s shares and, after that basis has been reduced to zero, will constitute capital gain to the shareholder (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset). As long
as the Fund qualifies as a RIC under the Code, it is not expected that any part of its distributions to shareholders from its investments will qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders or as “qualified
dividend income” taxable to non-corporate shareholders at reduced rates.
56
The interest on private activity bonds in most instances is not federally tax-exempt to a person who is a “substantial user” of a facility financed by such bonds or a “related person” of such “substantial user.” As a result, the Fund may not be an appropriate
investment for a shareholder who is considered either a “substantial user” or a “related person” within the meaning of the Code. In general, a “substantial user” of a facility includes a “nonexempt person who
regularly uses a part of such facility in his trade or business.” “Related persons” are in general defined to include persons among whom there exists a relationship, either by family or business, which would result in a disallowance
of losses in transactions among them under various provisions of the Code (or if they are members of the same controlled group of corporations under the Code), including a partnership and each of its partners (and certain members of their families),
an S corporation and each of its shareholders (and certain members of their families) and various combinations of these and other relationships. The foregoing is not a complete description of all of the provisions of the Code covering the
definitions of “substantial user” and “related person.”
Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed
when paid, dividends declared in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in one of those months and paid during the following January, will be treated as having been distributed by the Fund (and received
by the shareholders) on December 31 of the year declared. The U.S. federal income tax status of all distributions will be reported to shareholders annually.
Federal income tax law imposes an alternative minimum tax with respect to corporations, individuals, trusts and estates. Interest on certain
municipal securities, such as bonds issued to make loans for housing purposes or to private entities (but not to certain tax-exempt organizations such as universities and
non-profit hospitals), is included as an item of tax preference in determining the amount of a taxpayer’s alternative minimum taxable income. The Fund does not intend to invest in municipal securities the
interest on which is a tax preference item. For certain corporations, federal alternative minimum taxable income is increased by 75% of the difference between an alternative measure of income (“adjusted current earnings”) and the amount
otherwise determined to be the alternative minimum taxable income. Interest on all municipal securities, and therefore all distributions by the Fund that would otherwise be tax-exempt, is included in
calculating a corporation’s adjusted current earnings. Certain small corporations are not subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Bonds issued in 2009 or 2010 generally will not be treated as private activity bonds, and interest earned
on such bonds (and Fund distributions consisting of such interest) generally will not be treated as a tax preference item and generally will not result in or increase a corporate shareholder’s liability for the federal alternative minimum tax.
Tax-exempt income, including exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund, is taken into account in
calculating the amount of social security and railroad retirement benefits that may be subject to federal income tax.
The Fund’s
investment in zero coupon bonds will cause it to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these bonds. Such income will be accrued daily by the Fund. In order to avoid a tax payable by the Fund, the Fund may be required
to liquidate securities that it might otherwise continue to hold in order to generate cash so that the Fund may make required distributions to its shareholders.
Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the
Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, defer the use of certain deductions or losses of the Fund, affect the holding period of securities held by the Fund, and alter the character of the gains or losses realized by the Fund. These provisions may
also require the Fund to recognize income or gain without receiving cash with which to make distributions in the amounts necessary to satisfy the requirements for maintaining RIC status and for avoiding income and excise taxes. The Fund will monitor
its transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund for treatment as a RIC.
Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC’s net
investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain
57
limitations, the Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. The Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss from any
taxable year that began on or before December 22, 2010 to offset its capital gains, if any, for up to eight years following the year of the loss. The Fund is permitted to carry forward indefinitely a net capital loss from any taxable year that
began after December 22, 2010 to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund
and may not be distributed as such to shareholders. Carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began after December 22, 2010 must be fully utilized before the Fund may utilize carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began on or
before December 22, 2010. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable
year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred. As of February 28, 2023, the Fund’s tax year end, the Fund had unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes to be applied
against future capital gains, if any, as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
| Not subject to expiration: |
|
|
|
|
| Short-Term |
|
|
$435,076 |
|
| Long-Term |
|
|
$1,272,259 |
|
| Total |
|
|
$1,707,335 |
|
The repurchase, sale or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to holders of
Common Shares who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year even though the increase in value in such Common Shares may
be at least partly attributable to tax-exempt interest income. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are taxed at rates of up to 20%. Short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are taxed to non-corporate
taxpayers at ordinary income rates. If a shareholder sells or otherwise disposes of Common Shares before holding them for six months, any loss on the sale or disposition will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts
treated as distributions to the common shareholder of long-term capital gain (including any amount credited to the common shareholder as undistributed capital gain) or disallowed to the extent of exempt interest dividends are received by a
shareholder. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of (or upon entering into a contract or option to repurchase) shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Fund are replaced (including, without limitation, under the
Plan) by substantially identical shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares, or to the extent the shareholder enters into a contract or option to
repurchase shares within such period. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares of the Fund will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
The Fund is required in certain circumstances to withhold (as “backup withholding”) a portion of dividends (including exempt
interest dividends) and certain other payments paid to certain holders of the Fund’s shares who do not furnish to the Fund their correct taxpayer identification numbers (in the case of individuals, their social security numbers) and certain
certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate is 28%. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against such
shareholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information and forms are timely furnished to the IRS.
The Code
provides that every shareholder required to file a tax return must include for information purposes on such return the amount of tax-exempt interest received during the taxable year, including any
exempt-interest dividends received from the Fund.
The description of certain federal tax provisions above relates only to U.S. federal
income tax consequences for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e., generally, U.S. citizens or residents or U.S.
58
corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates, and who are subject to U.S. federal income tax and hold their shares as capital assets. Except as otherwise provided, this description does not
address the special tax rules that may be applicable to particular types of investors, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, securities dealers, other RICs, or tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts or entities. Investors that are not U.S. persons may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment, including a non-resident alien
U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% or any lower applicable treaty rate on amounts treated as ordinary dividends from the Fund (other than certain dividends reported by the Fund as (i) interest-related dividends, to the extent such
dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified net interest income,” or (ii) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified short-term gain”) or, in certain
circumstances, unless an effective IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other authorized withholding certificate is on file, to backup
withholding on certain other payments from the Fund. “Qualified net interest income” is the Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations.
“Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of the Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that have been
subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States.
Unless certain non-U.S. entities that hold Fund shares comply with IRS requirements that will
generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to Fund distributions payable to such entities, and to repurchase proceeds and certain capital
gain dividends payable to such entities after December 31, 2018. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement
between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.
The foregoing is a general summary of certain provisions of the Code and regulations thereunder presently in effect as they directly govern
the federal income taxation of the Fund and its shareholders. These provisions are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive. Moreover, the foregoing does not address many of the factors that
may be determinative of whether an investor will be liable for the alternative minimum tax. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors for more detailed information concerning the federal, foreign, state and local tax consequences of
purchasing, holding and disposing of Fund shares.
STATE AND LOCAL TAX MATTERS
California Tax Matters
The following is
a general, abbreviated summary of certain provisions of the applicable California tax law as presently in effect as it directly governs the taxation of resident individual Common Shareholders of the Fund. This summary does not address the taxation
of other shareholders nor does it discuss any local taxes that may be applicable. These provisions are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, and any such change may be retroactive with respect to transactions of the Fund.
The following is based on the assumptions that the Fund will qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, that it will satisfy the
conditions which will cause distributions of the Fund to qualify as exempt interest dividends to shareholders for federal and California purposes, and that it will make such distributions of income and gains as are necessary to qualify to be taxed
as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.
If at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year at least 50% of the value of
its total assets consists of obligations that, when held by individuals, pay interest that is exempt from tax by California under California or federal law, then distributions by the Fund that are attributable to interest on any such obligation will
not be subject
59
to the California personal income tax; provided that such distributions are properly reported by the Fund as exempt-interest dividends in written statements furnished to the Fund’s
shareholders and that such treatment is not otherwise limited under Section 17145 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. All other distributions, including distributions attributable to capital gains, will be includable in gross income
for purposes of the California personal income tax. Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued for the purpose of acquiring or maintaining an investment in Common Shares will not be deductible for purposes of the California personal income tax.
Gain on the sale, exchange, or other disposition of Common Shares will be subject to the California personal income tax. Present
California law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains at the rates applicable to ordinary income. In addition, any loss realized by a holder of Common Shares upon the sale of shares held for six months or less may be disallowed to the
extent of any exempt interest dividends received with respect to such shares. Moreover, any loss realized upon the sale of Common Shares within thirty days before or after the acquisition of other Common Shares may be disallowed under the “wash
sale” rules. Common Shares may be subject to the California estate tax if held by a California decedent at the time of death. Holders of Common Shares are advised to consult with their own tax advisors for more detailed information concerning
California tax matters.
Other State and Local Tax Matters
The exemption from U.S. federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends generally does not result in exemption for such dividends under the
income or other tax laws of any state or local taxing authority. In some states, however, the portion of any exempt-interest dividends derived from interest received by the Fund on its holdings of that state’s securities and those of its
political subdivisions and instrumentalities is exempt from the state’s income tax. The Fund will report annually to its shareholders the percentage of interest income earned by the Fund during the preceding year on tax-exempt obligations indicating, on a state-by-state basis, the source of such income. Shareholders of the Fund are advised to
consult their own tax advisors about state and local tax matters.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The audited financial statements, financial highlights and notes thereto and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report
thereon appearing in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023 are incorporated herein by reference in this SAI. The
Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports may be obtained without charge by calling (312) 917-7700 or on Nuveen’s website at www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through,
the Fund’s website is not part of this SAI.
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016
(the “Custodian”). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,
250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, provides auditing services to the Fund. The principal business address of KPMG is
200 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60601.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, located
at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Washington, D.C. 20004.
60
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the shares of the Fund
offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC, Washington, D.C. The Prospectus and this SAI do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further
information with respect to the Fund and the shares offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Prospectus and this SAI as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not
necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Copies of the
Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the SEC’s principal office in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the SEC upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC.
61
APPENDIX A
Ratings of Investments
Standard & Poor’s Corporation—A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s Corporation, a division
of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P”), rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:
A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific
financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors,
insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion evaluates the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they
come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch
as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.
Issue credit ratings are based on current information
furnished by the obligors or obtained by Standard & Poor’s from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit in connection with any credit rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited
financial information. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.
Issue credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered
short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days—including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor
with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS
Issue
credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:
| |
• |
|
Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an
obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation; |
| |
• |
|
Nature of and provisions of the obligation; |
| |
• |
|
Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or
other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights. |
Issue ratings are an
assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as
noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
AAA
An obligation rated
‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
A-1
AA
An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A
An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than
obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB
An obligation rated
‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties
or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB
An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing
uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B
An obligation rated
‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely
impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC
An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC
An obligation rated
‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C
A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages
allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated
debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.
A-2
D
An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made
on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy
petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Plus (+) or minus (-)
The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing
within the major rating categories.
NR
This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard &
Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard &
Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its
financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B
A short-term obligation rated
‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and
‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces
major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B-1.
A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative
characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
B-2.
A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative
characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
A-3
B-3.
A short-term obligation rated ‘B-3’ is regarded as having significant speculative
characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
C
A short-term obligation rated
‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D
A short-term obligation rated
‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.
Dual Ratings
Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their
structure. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the
short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for
example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).
Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:
Municipal Bonds
Aaa
Bonds that are rated ‘Aaa’ are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are
generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized
are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa
Bonds mat are rated ‘Aa’ are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the ‘Aaa’ group they comprise
what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in ‘Aaa’ securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may
be other elements present mat make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in ‘Aaa’ securities.
A
Bonds that are rated ‘A’ possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations.
Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present that suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
A-4
Baa
Bonds that are rated ‘Baa’ are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly
secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain
protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba
Bonds that are rated
‘Ba’ are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times
over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B
Bonds that are rated ‘B’ generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or
of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa
Bonds that are rated ‘Caa’ are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with
respect to principal or interest.
Ca
Bonds that are rated ‘Ca’ represent obligations that are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other
marked shortcomings.
C
Bonds that are rated ‘C’ are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor Prospects
of ever attaining any real investment standing.
#(hatchmark): Represents issues that are secured by escrowed funds held in cash, held in
trust, invested and reinvested in direct, non-callable, non-prepayable United States government obligations or non-callable, non-prepayable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government, Resolution Funding Corporation debt obligations.
Con. (...): Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally.
These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals that begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other
limiting condition attaches. The parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of the basis of the condition.
(P): When applied to forward delivery bonds, indicates the rating is provisional pending delivery of the bonds. The rating may be revised
prior to delivery if changes occur in the legal documents or the underlying credit quality of the bonds.
Note: Moody’s applies
numerical modifiers 1,2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates mat the issue ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
A-5
Short-Term Loans
MIG 1/VMIG 1
This designation
denotes best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2/VMIG 2
This designation
denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3/VMIG 3
This designation denotes favorable quality. All security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable strength of the
preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.
MIG 4/VMIG 4
This designation
denotes adequate quality. Protection commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.
SG
This designation denotes
speculative quality. Debt instruments in this category lack margins of protection.
Commercial Paper
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior
short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:
| |
• |
|
Leading market positions in well-established industries. |
| |
• |
|
High rates of return on funds employed. |
| |
• |
|
Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.
|
| |
• |
|
Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.
|
| |
• |
|
Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.
|
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability for
repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation than is the case
for Prime-2 securities. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior
short-term debt obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for
relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the
Prime rating categories.
A-6
Fitch Ratings—A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”)
ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade
AAA
Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally
strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA
Very high credit quality.
‘AA’ ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A
High credit quality.
‘A’ ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions
than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB
Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment
of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
Speculative Grade
BB
Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse
economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B
Highly speculative.
‘B’ ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business
and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C
High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable
business or economic developments. A ‘CC rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. ‘C’ ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, and D Default
The
ratings of obligations in this category are based on their Prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative
A-7
and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. ‘DDD’ obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around
90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest ‘DD’ indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and ‘D’ the lowest recovery
potential, i.e., below 50%. Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated ‘DDD’ have the highest Prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a
formal reorganization process. Entities rated ‘DD’ and ‘D’ are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated ‘DD’ are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding
obligations, while entities rated ‘D’ have a poor Prospect for repaying all obligations.
Short-Term Credit Ratings
The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. A Short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13
months for most obligations, or up to three years for US public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years.
Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.
Fl
Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote
any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2
Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the
case of the higher ratings.
F3
Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a
reduction to non-investment grade.
B
Speculative Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and
economic conditions.
C
High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable
business and economic environment.
D
Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Notes to Long-term and Short-term ratings:
“+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not
added to the ‘AAA’ Long-term rating category, to categories below ‘CCC, or to Short-term ratings other than ‘FT.
‘NR’ indicates that Fitch Ratings does not rate the issuer or issue in question.
‘Withdrawn’: A rating is withdrawn when Fitch Ratings deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating
purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.
A-8
Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable
probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as “Positive”, indicating a potential upgrade, “Negative”, for a potential downgrade, or “Evolving”, if ratings may be raised,
lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.
A Rating Outlook indicates the direction a
rating is likely to move over a one to two year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable, or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are ‘stable’
could be downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as
evolving.
A-9
APPENDIX B
DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES AND RISKS
Set forth below is additional information regarding the various techniques involving the use of derivatives.
FINANCIAL FUTURES
A financial future is an
agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security for a set price on a future date. They have been designed by boards of trade which have been designated “contracts markets” by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the
“CFTC”).
The purchase of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s existing or anticipated holdings of
long-term debt securities. For example, if the Fund desires to increase its exposure to long-term bonds and has identified long-term bonds it wishes to purchase at a future time, but expects market interest rates to decline (thereby causing the
value of those bonds to increase), it might purchase financial futures. If interest rates did decrease, the value of those to-be-purchased long-term bonds would
increase, but the value of the Fund’s financial futures would be expected to increase at approximately the same rate, thereby helping maintain the Fund’s purchasing power. When the Fund purchases a financial future, it deposits in cash or
securities an “initial margin”, typically equal to an amount between 1% and 5% of the contract amount. Thereafter, the Fund’s account is either credited or debited on a daily basis in correlation with the fluctuation in price of the
underlying future or other requirements imposed by the exchange in order to maintain an orderly market. The Fund must make additional payments to cover debits to its account and has the right to withdraw credits in excess of the liquidity, the Fund
may close out its position at any time prior to expiration of the financial future by taking an opposite position. At closing a final determination of debits and credits is made, additional cash is paid by or to the Fund to settle the final
determination and the Fund realizes a loss or gain depending on whether on a net basis it made or received such payments.
The sale of
financial futures is for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. For example, if the Fund owns long-term bonds and market interest rates were expected to increase (causing those
bonds’ values to decline), it might sell financial futures. If interest rates did increase, the value of long-term bonds in the Fund’s portfolio would decline, but the value of the Fund’s financial futures would be expected to
increase at approximately the same rate thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it otherwise would have.
Among the risks associated with the use of financial futures by the Fund as a hedging or anticipatory device, perhaps the most significant is
the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the financial futures and movements in the price of the debt securities which are the subject of the hedge.
Thus, if the price of the financial future moves less or more than the price of the securities which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge
will not be fully effective. To compensate for this imperfect correlation, the Fund may enter into financial futures in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of the securities being hedged if the historical volatility of the prices of such
securities has been greater than the historical volatility of the financial futures. Conversely, the Fund may enter into fewer financial futures if the historical volatility of the price of the securities being hedged is less than the historical
volatility of the financial futures.
The market prices of financial futures may also be affected by factors other than interest rates.
One of these factors is the possibility that rapid changes in the volume of closing transactions, whether due to volatile markets or movements by speculators, would temporarily distort the normal relationship between the markets in the financial
future and the chosen debt securities. In these circumstances as well as in periods of rapid and large price movements. The Fund might find it difficult or impossible to close out a particular transaction.
B-1
OPTIONS ON FINANCIAL FUTURES
The Fund may also purchase put or call options on financial futures which are traded on a U.S. Exchange or board of trade and enter into
closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. The purchase of put options on financial futures is analogous to the purchase of put options by the Fund on its portfolio securities to hedge against the risk of
rising interest rates. As with options on debt securities, the holder of an option may terminate his position by selling an option of the Fund. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.
INDEX CONTRACTS
INDEX FUTURES
A tax-exempt bond index which assigns relative values to the
tax-exempt bonds included in the index is traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. The index fluctuates with changes in the market values of all tax-exempt bonds included
rather than a single bond. An index future is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash-rather than any security-equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index
value at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index future was originally written. Thus, an index future is similar to traditional financial futures except that settlement is made in cash.
INDEX OPTIONS
The Fund may also purchase put
or call options on U.S. Government or tax-exempt bond index futures and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. Options on index futures are similar to
options on debt instruments except that an option on an index future gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in an index contract rather than an underlying security at a specified exercise price at any
time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance of the writer’s futures
margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, is less than the exercise price of the option on the index future.
Bond index futures and options transactions would be subject to risks similar to transactions in financial futures and options thereon as
described above.
SWAP AGREEMENTS
Swap
agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors, typically for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to
exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount
(the amount or value of the underlying asset used in computing the particular interest rate, return, or other amount to be exchanged) of a particular security, or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. Swap agreements may
include, by way of example, (i) interest rate swaps, in which one party exchanges a commitment to pay a floating, shorter-term interest rate (typically by reference to the rate of a specific security or index) for the other party’s
commitment to pay a fixed, longer-term interest rate (either as specifically agreed, or by reference to a specified security or index); (ii) interest rate caps, in which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the
extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate or cap; (iii) interest rate floors, in which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level or floor;
(iv) interest rate collars, in which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor, or vice versa, in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels or collar amounts; (v) total return
swaps, in which one party
B-2
commits to pay the total return of an underlying security or asset in return for receiving from the other party a specified return or the return of another instrument (typically a floating
short-term interest rate), and (vi) credit default swap, in which the buyer pays a periodic fee in return for a contingent payment by the seller upon a credit event (such as a default) happening with respect to a specified instrument, typically
in an amount equivalent to the loss incurred on a specific investment in that security due to the credit event.
A Fund may enter into
such swap agreements for any purpose consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain, enhance, or preserve a particular desired return or spread at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had
invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return or spread. The Fund also may enter into swaps in order to protect against an increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date.
Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend, in part, on the ability
to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments and the changes in the future values, indices, or rates covered by the swap agreement. Swap agreements may be considered to be
illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund will enter swap agreements only with counterparties
that Nuveen Fund Advisors reasonably believes are capable of performing under the swap agreements. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have to rely on its contractual remedies (which may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws) pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Code, as amended, may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements. The swap market is largely
unregulated.
B-3
PART C—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Financial Highlights for the Nuveen California Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio (the “Fund”
or the “Registrant”) for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, the fiscal period ended February 28, 2022, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Contained in Part B:
Financial
Statements are incorporated in Part B by reference to the Registrant’s August 31, 2022 Semi-Annual Report (unaudited) on Form N-CSR as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) via EDGAR Accession No. 0001821268-22-000315
on November 4, 2022 and the Registrant’s February 28, 2023 Annual Report (audited) on Form N-CSR
as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-23-136853 on May 5, 2023.
|
|
|
| (a) |
|
Declaration of Trust of Registrant, dated March
30, 1992 (the “Declaration of Trust”), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit a. to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File
Nos. 333-212519 and 811-06623), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001193125-16-648262 on July 14, 2016. |
|
|
| (b)(1) |
|
Amended and Restated By-Laws of Nuveen Closed-End Funds Organized
as Massachusetts Business Trusts, as of October 5, 2020 (the “Amended and Restated By-Laws”), are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Nuveen Select Tax-Free Income Portfolio’s Registration Statement on Form 8-K (File No. 811-06548), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001193125-20-264157 on October 6, 2020. |
|
|
| (b)(2) |
|
Amendment No. 1, dated February
24, 2022, to the Amended and Restated By-Laws is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-K (File No.
811-06623), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-22-053189 on February 25,
2022. |
|
|
| (c) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (d) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (e) |
|
Terms and Conditions of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
e. to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-212519 and 811-06623), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR
Accession No. 0001193125-16-648262 on July 14, 2016. |
|
|
| (f) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (g)(1) |
|
Investment Management Agreement dated October
1, 2014, between the Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit g.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on N-2 (File Nos. 333-212519
and 811-06623), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-16-648262 on July 14,
2016. |
|
|
| (g)(2) |
|
Continuance of Management Agreements, dated July 29, 2022, between the Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC is filed herewith. |
|
|
| (g)(3) |
|
Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October
1, 2014, between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit g.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-212519 and 811-06623), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001193125-16-648262 on July 14, 2016. |
|
|
| (g)(4) |
|
Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements, dated July
29, 2022, between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC is filed herewith. |
|
|
| (h)(1) |
|
Distribution Agreement Relating to At-the-Market Offerings to be filed by amendment. |
|
|
|
| (h)(2) |
|
Dealer Agreement to be filed by amendment. |
|
|
| (i) |
|
Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Funds Deferred Compensation Plan
for Independent Directors and Trustees (as Amended and Restated Effective June 30, 2020) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit i to Nuveen Multi-Asset Income Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 811-23669), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession
No. 0001193125-21-204873 on June 30, 2021. |
|
|
| (j)(1) |
|
Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement, dated July
15, 2015, between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement”) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit j.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-212519 and 811-06623) as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-16-648262 on July 14, 2016. |
|
|
| (j)(2) |
|
Amendment and revised Appendix A, effective July
31, 2020, to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit j.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No.
1 to Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Value Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-223524 and 811-22253), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-20-236529 on September 1, 2020.
|
|
|
| (j)(3) |
|
Amendment and revised Appendix A, effective September
8, 2022, to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(3) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to Nuveen Investment Trust V’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
333-138592 and 811-21979), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001193125-22-314076 on December 29, 2022. |
|
|
| (k)(1) |
|
Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June
15, 2017 between the Registrant and Computershare Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k. to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-212519 and 811-06623), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001193125-17-256037 on August 11, 2017. |
|
|
| (k)(2) |
|
First Amendment, dated September
7, 2017, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.2 to Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-254678 and 811-23440), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001193125-21-092969 on March 25, 2021. |
|
|
| (k)(3) |
|
Second Amendment, dated February
26, 2018, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.3 to Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-254678 and 811-23440), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001193125-21-092969 on March 25, 2021. |
|
|
| (k)(4) |
|
Third Amendment, effective May
11, 2020, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit k.4 to Nuveen Municipal Credit Opportunities Fund’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-254678 and 811-23440), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No.
0001193125-21-092969 on March 25, 2021. |
|
|
| (k)(5) |
|
Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective March 28, 2023, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement is filed herewith. |
|
|
| (k)(6) |
|
Rule 12d1-4 Investment Agreement between RiverNorth Funds as Acquiring Funds and Nuveen CEFs as Acquired Funds, dated January 19, 2022 is filed
herewith. |
|
|
| (l)(1) |
|
Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP to be filed by amendment. |
|
|
| (l)(2) |
|
Opinion and consent of counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, to be filed by amendment. |
|
|
| (m) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (n) |
|
Consent of KPMG LLP is filed herewith. |
|
|
| (o) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (p) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (q) |
|
None. |
|
|
| (r)(1) |
|
Code of Ethics and Reporting Requirements of Nuveen, dated February 15, 2023, is filed herewith. |
Item 26: Marketing Arrangements.
See relevant sections of the Distribution Agreement and Dealer Agreement to be filed as Exhibits (h)(1) and (h)(2), respectively, to this
Registration Statement.
Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
|
|
|
|
|
| Printing and Engraving Fees |
|
$ |
50,000 |
|
| Legal Fees |
|
|
60,000 |
|
| Accounting Fees |
|
|
10,000 |
|
| Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Fees |
|
|
4,000 |
|
| Stock Exchange Listing Fees |
|
|
5,000 |
|
| Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fees |
|
|
2,000 |
|
| Miscellaneous Fees |
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
135,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item 28: Persons Controlled by or under Common Control.
None.
Item 29: Number of Holders of
Securities.
As of March 31, 2023:
|
|
|
|
|
| Title of Class |
|
Number of Record Holders |
|
| Common Shares, $0.01 par value |
|
|
20,759 |
|
Item 30: Indemnification.
Article XII, Section 4 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust provides as follows:
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 4: Indemnification. Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 4, every person who is, or
has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a Shareholder,
creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection
with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by
him in settlement thereof.
No indemnification
shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:
a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of a
final adjudication by the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;
b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated
not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or
c) in
the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did
not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based on
a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he did not engage in such conduct:
i.
by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or
ii. by written opinion on independent legal counsel.
The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect
any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under
this Section 4 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification
under this Section 4, provided that either:
a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate
security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or
b) a majority of the
Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.
As used in this Section 4, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one (x) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including
anyone, as such Disinterested Trustee, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (y) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or
other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending.
As used in this Section 4, the words “Claim,”
“action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and
“expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by joint errors and omissions insurance policies against liability and expenses of
claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen Funds, subject to such policies’ coverage limits, exclusions and retention.
Section 7 of the Form of Distribution Agreement to be filed as Exhibit h.1 to this Registration Statement provides for each of the
parties thereto, including the Registrant and the underwriter, to indemnify the others, their trustees, directors, certain of their officers, trustees, directors and persons who control them against certain liabilities in connection with the
offering described herein, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “1933 Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1993
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser and Sub-Adviser.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“Nuveen Fund Advisors”) manages the Registrant and serves as investment adviser or manager to other open-end and closed-end management investment companies and to separately managed accounts. The principal business address for all of these investment companies and the
persons named below is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
A description of any other business, profession, vocation or
employment of a substantial nature in which the directors and officers of Nuveen Fund Advisors or Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”) who serve as officers or Trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two
years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under “Management” in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers of Nuveen Fund
Advisors appears below:
|
|
|
| Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors |
|
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
Employment During Past Two Years |
| Oluseun Salami, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
|
Senior Vice President
(since 2020) NIS/R&T, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC (since 2020), Teachers Advisors, LLC (since 2020), TIAA-CREF Asset Management LLC (since 2020) and TIAA-CREF Investment Management,
LLC (since 2020); Executive Vice President (since 2022), formerly, Senior Vice President (2020-2022), and Chief Financial Officer (since 2020), Nuveen, LLC; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (since 2021), Nuveen Investments, Inc.;
Executive Vice President (since 2021), formerly, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (2018-2021), formerly, Business Finance and Planning (2020) Chief Accounting Officer (2019-2020), Corporate Controller (2018-2020), Teachers
Insurance and Annuity Association of America; Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, College Retirement Equities Fund, TIAA Board of Overseers, TIAA Separate Account VA-1, TIAA-CREF Funds, TIAA-CREF Life
Funds (2018-2020). |
|
|
|
| Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors |
|
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
Employment During Past Two Years |
|
|
| Megan Sendlak, Managing Director and Controller |
|
Managing Director and Controller (since 2020) of Nuveen Alternatives Advisors LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen Investments, Inc., Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director and
Controller (since 2020), formerly Assistant Controller (2019-2020) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Vice President and Corporate Accounting Director (2018-2020) of Nuveen, LLC; Managing Director and
Controller (since 2021) of NIS/R&T, INC.; formerly, Vice President and Controller of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (2020-2021); Vice President and Controller of Winslow Capital Management, LLC
(since 2020). |
|
|
| Michael A. Perry, President |
|
Chief Executive Officer (since 2023), formerly, Co-Chief Executive Officer (2019-2023), Executive Vice President (2017-2019) and Managing Director (2015-2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; and
Executive Vice President (since 2017) of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC. |
|
|
| Erik Mogavero, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Formerly employed by
Deutsche Bank (2013- 2017) as Managing Director, Head of Asset Management and Wealth Management Compliance for the Americas region and Chief Compliance Officer of Deutsche Investment Management Americas. |
Nuveen Asset Management serves as investment sub-adviser to the
Registrant and also serves as investment sub-adviser to other open-end and closed-end funds and investment adviser to separately
managed accounts. The following is a list of the remaining senior officers of Nuveen Asset Management. The principal business address for each person is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
|
|
|
| Name and Position with Nuveen Asset Management |
|
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
Employment During Past Two Years |
| William T. Huffman, President |
|
Executive Vice President (since 2020) of Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen, LLC; President, Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2020), Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (since 2019); Senior Managing
Director (since 2019) of Nuveen Alternative Advisors LLC; Senior Managing Director (since 2022) and Chairman (since 2019) of Churchill Asset Management LLC. |
|
|
|
| Name and Position with Nuveen Asset Management |
|
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
Employment During Past Two Years |
|
|
| Stuart J. Cohen, Managing Director, Head of Legal and Assistant Secretary |
|
Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2002) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2007) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and
Assistant Secretary (since 2019) of Teachers Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary (since 2019) of TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Winslow Capital
Management, LLC; formerly, Vice President (2007-2021) and Assistant Secretary (2003-2021) of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC; formerly Vice President (2007-2021) and Assistant Secretary (2006-2021) of Santa Barbara Asset Management,
LLC. |
|
|
| Travis M. Pauley, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Regional Head of
Compliance and Regulatory Legal (2013-2020) of AXA Investment Managers. |
|
|
| Megan Sendlak, Managing Director and Controller |
|
Managing Director and Controller (since 2020) of Nuveen Alternatives Advisors LLC, Nuveen Investments, Inc., Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, Teachers Advisors, LLC and TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC; Managing Director and
Controller (since 2020), formerly Assistant Controller (2019-2020) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director and Controller (since 2020), formerly, Vice President and Corporate Accounting Director (2018-2020) of Nuveen, LLC; Managing Director and
Controller (since 2021) of NIS/R&T, INC., formerly, Vice President and Controller of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (2020-2021);Vice President and Controller of Winslow Capital Management, LLC
(since 2020). |
Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, maintains the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, minutes of trustee and shareholder meetings, and contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, in its capacity as sub-adviser, may also hold certain accounts and records of the Fund.
State Street Bank and Trust
Company, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016, maintains all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other required records not maintained by Nuveen
Fund Advisors or Nuveen Asset Management.
Item 33: Management Services.
Not applicable.
Item 34: Undertakings.
| 3. |
The Registrant undertakes: |
a. Not applicable.
b. that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment to this
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
c. to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
unsold at the termination of the offering;
d. that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to
any purchaser:
(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
A. Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement
as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
B. Each prospectus
required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the
information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the
first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date
of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of
the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement
or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C:
each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall
be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or
made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede
or modify any statement that was made in this registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
e. that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial
distribution of securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant
pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the
securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser
and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:
(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of
the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;
(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred
to by the undersigned Registrants;
(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule
482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
| 4. |
The Registrant undertakes that: |
a. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus
filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 424(b)(1) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the
time it was declared effective; and
b. for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
| 5. |
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| 6. |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue. |
| 7. |
The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt
delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in this City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 12th day of May 2023.
|
| NUVEEN CALIFORNIA SELECT TAX-FREE INCOME PORTFOLIO |
|
| /S/ MARK L. WINGET |
| Mark L. Winget,
Vice President and Secretary |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed
below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Signature |
|
Title |
|
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
| /s/ E. SCOTT WICKERHAM
E. Scott Wickerham |
|
Vice President and Controller (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
May 12, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
| /s/ DAVID J. LAMB
David J. Lamb |
|
Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer) |
|
|
|
May 12, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
| Terence J. Toth* |
|
Chairman of the Board and Trustee |
|
By:* |
|
/S/ MARK L. WINGET
Mark L. Winget, Attorney-in-Fact May 12, 2023 |
| Jack B. Evans* |
|
Trustee |
| William C. Hunter* |
|
Trustee |
| Albin F. Moschner* |
|
Trustee |
| Amy B. R. Lancellotta* |
|
Trustee |
| Joanne T. Medero* |
|
Trustee |
| John K. Nelson* |
|
Trustee |
| Matthew Thornton III* |
|
Trustee |
| Margaret L. Wolff* |
|
Trustee |
|
|
|
|
| Robert L. Young* |
|
Trustee |
|
|
|
|
By*:
/s/ MARK L. WINGET
Mark L. Winget
Attorney-in-Fact
May 12, 2023
| * |
The powers of attorney authorizing Mark L. Winget, among others, to execute this Registration Statement, and
Amendments thereto, for the Trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, have been executed and are filed herewith as Exhibit (t). |
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
| Exhibit |
|
Name |
|
|
| EX-99.G2 |
|
Continuance of Management Agreements, dated July 29, 2022, between the Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC |
|
|
| EX-99.G4 |
|
Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements, dated July 29, 2022, between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC |
|
|
| EX-99.K5 |
|
Amended and Restated Schedule A, effective March 28, 2023, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement |
|
|
| EX-99.K6 |
|
Rule 12d1-4 Investment Agreement between RiverNorth Funds as Acquiring Funds and Nuveen CEFs as Acquired Funds, dated January 19, 2022 |
|
|
| EX-99.N |
|
Consent of KPMG LLP |
|
|
| EX-99.R1 |
|
Code of Ethics and Reporting Requirements of Nuveen, dated February 15, 2023 |
|
|
| EX-99.S |
|
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables |
|
|
| EX-99.T |
|
Powers of Attorney, dated April 21, 2022 |
Nuveen California Select... (NYSE:NXC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Nuveen California Select... (NYSE:NXC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024
