N-CSR 1 d809205dncsr.htm COHEN & STEERS CLOSED END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. Cohen & Steers Closed End Opportunity Fund, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act File Number:    811-21948                                         

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Dana A. DeVivo

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.

280 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    (212) 832-3232                                         

Date of fiscal year end:    December 31                                        

Date of reporting period:    December 31, 2019                                        

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

 

 


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

To Our Shareholders:

We would like to share with you our report for the year ended December 31, 2019. The total returns for Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the Fund) and its comparative benchmarks were:

 

     Six Months Ended
December 31, 2019
    Year Ended
December 31, 2019
 

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund at Net Asset Valuea

     7.34     26.89

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund at Market Valuea

     9.17     31.25

Linked Benchmarkb

     6.48     26.21

S&P 500 Indexb

     10.92     31.49

The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate and shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Current total returns of the Fund can be obtained by visiting our website at cohenandsteers.com. The Fund’s returns assume the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Net asset value (NAV) returns reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which the returns would be lower. Index performance does not reflect the deduction of any fees, taxes or expenses. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year are not annualized.

The Fund makes regular monthly distributions at a level rate (the Policy). Distributions paid by the Fund are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes and are taxable up to the amount of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized gains. As a result of the Policy, the Fund may pay distributions in excess of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized gains. This excess would be a return of capital distributed from the Fund’s assets. Distributions of capital decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to make these distributions, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

 

 

a 

As a closed-end investment company, the price of the Fund’s exchange-traded shares will be set by market forces and can deviate from the net asset value (NAV) per share of the Fund.

b 

The Linked Benchmark is represented by the performance of the Morningstar US All Taxable Ex-Foreign Equity Index through July 31, 2019 and the S-Network All Taxable ex-Foreign Plus Capped Municipal CEF Index from August 1, 2019 and thereafter. The Morningstar US All Taxable Ex-Foreign Equity Index measures the market-capitalization-weighted total return of taxable equity and fixed income closed-end funds; it excludes international, regional, and country closed-end funds. Index returns update frequently and are subject to change. The S-Network All Taxable ex-Foreign plus Capped Municipal CEF Index is a market capitalization-weighted index comprising all taxable closed-end funds and Diversified Municipal Bond Funds, except for single-country funds and region-specific equity funds. The index reconstitutes and rebalances quarterly. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 large-capitalization stocks that is frequently used as a general measure of U.S. stock market performance.

 

1


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

Market Review

Closed-end funds had strong gains in 2019. The period was a broadly positive environment for financial markets amid accommodative global monetary policies, encouraging U.S. economic data, better-than-expected corporate earnings results and progress in international trade negotiations. Moving forcefully to counter economic risks, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) reduced interest rates three times during 2019, reversing most of the rate hikes it had implemented during the prior 12 months. The economy saw further support from healthy levels of consumer spending, supported in turn by falling unemployment and gradually rising wages. International markets, most of which experienced weaker economic growth than the United States, rallied late in the year with improving manufacturing data and progress toward a U.S.–China trade agreement.

In this environment, the equity and fixed income closed-end fund categories advanced, with most sectors in both groups posting double-digit gains. The period saw a general narrowing in closed-end funds’ discounts to their NAVs. The average discount on equity funds went from 6.9% to 3.3%, compared with the category’s long-term average of 5.3%. The average discount on taxable fixed income funds went from 7.5% to 0.8%, tighter than the long-term average of 3.1%. Tax-exempt funds’ average discount moved the most, dropping from 11.5% to 4.0%, slightly wider than the long-term average of 3.8%.

One notable development in the closed-end fund world was the reawakening of the primary market. The year saw a total of 10 deals raising $5.1 billion in closed-end fund initial public offerings, the highest amount since 2013. A shift in the IPO structure, with investors no longer paying the up-front underwriting fees, along with buoyant asset markets and narrower than average secondary market discounts to NAV, all likely contributed to this renewed interest in fund IPOs.

Fund Performance

The Fund had a positive total return in the period and outperformed its linked benchmark on both a market price and NAV basis.

The Fund’s overweight in U.S. general equity funds helped relative performance; the sector had a sizable gain, led by funds with leverage in their capital structure amid a rally in the U.S. stock market. The Fund’s underweight in senior loan funds also aided relative performance, as the sector trailed the linked benchmark. These funds, which tend to have frequent floating-rate resets, are typically less sensitive to changes in interest rates and hence benefited less from the Fed’s dovish comments in the period. The Fund’s underweight in U.S. high yield bond funds and non-investment in global income funds further contributed to relative performance.

Fund selection in the multi-sector group detracted from relative performance. We have long favored these funds for their ability to maneuver around various fixed income asset classes, but our holdings underperformed in the period. Relative performance was also hindered by the Fund’s underweights in convertible bond funds, which benefited from strength in equity markets, and utilities funds, which also outperformed.

 

2


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

Impact of Derivatives on Fund Performance

The Fund engaged in the buying and selling of single stock options with the intention of enhancing total returns and reducing overall volatility. These contracts did not have a material effect on the Fund’s total return for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2019.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

DOUGLAS R. BOND

Portfolio Manager

The views and opinions in the preceding commentary are subject to change without notice and are as of the date of the report. There is no guarantee that any market forecast set forth in the commentary will be realized. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time, should not be relied upon as investment advice and is not intended to predict or depict performance of any investment.

 

Visit Cohen & Steers online at cohenandsteers.com

For more information about the Cohen & Steers family of mutual funds, visit cohenandsteers.com. Here you will find fund net asset values, fund fact sheets and portfolio highlights, as well as educational resources and timely market updates.

Our website also provides comprehensive information about Cohen & Steers, including our most recent press releases, profiles of our senior investment professionals and their investment approach to each asset class. The Cohen & Steers family of mutual funds specializes in liquid real assets, including real estate securities, listed infrastructure and natural resource equities, as well as preferred securities and other income solutions.

 

3


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

December 31, 2019

Top Ten Holdingsa

(Unaudited)

 

Security

   Value        % of
Net
Assets
 

Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.

   $ 16,421,317          4.4  

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

     14,206,091          3.8  

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     14,196,923          3.8  

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company

     13,642,136          3.7  

Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust

     13,460,772          3.6  

PIMCO Dynamic Credit Income Fund

     12,737,794          3.4  

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF

     12,152,445          3.3  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund

     10,445,294          2.8  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

     9,857,985          2.6  

PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund

     8,958,634          2.4  

 

a 

Top ten holdings (excluding short-term investments) are determined on the basis of the value of individual securities held. The Fund may also hold positions in other securities issued by the companies listed above. See the Schedule of Investments for additional details on such other positions.

Sector Breakdown

(Based on Net Assets)

(Unaudited)

 

LOGO

 

4


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2019

 

            Shares      Value  

CLOSED-END FUNDS

     83.1%        

BANK LOAN

     3.2%        

Ares Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund, Inc.

 

     122,252      $ 1,876,568  

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc.

 

     47,591        639,623  

BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust Fund, Inc.

 

     26,240        337,709  

Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust

 

     94,033        1,274,147  

Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust

 

     191,911        1,230,149  

Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund

 

     494,059        3,789,433  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund

 

     75,925        777,472  

Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund

 

     95,916        958,201  

Western Asset Corporate Loan Fund, Inc.

 

     101,570        1,006,559  
     

 

 

 
           11,889,861  
        

 

 

 

CONVERTIBLE

     3.1%        

AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund

 

     159,565        917,499  

AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund II

 

     859,597        4,401,137  

AllianzGI Equity & Convertible Income Fund

 

     184,522        4,181,269  

Bancroft Fund Ltd.

 

     21,695        566,131  

Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund

 

     114,082        1,300,535  

Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.

 

     22,644        266,293  
        

 

 

 
           11,632,864  
        

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED COMMODITY

     0.8%        

Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc.

 

     174,781        2,876,895  
        

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY

     3.2%        

JPMorgan Emerging Markets Investment Trust PLC
(United Kingdom)

 

     185,037        2,607,863  

Templeton Emerging Markets Fund

 

     299,586        4,670,546  

Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust PLC
(United Kingdom)

 

     424,609        4,724,471  
        

 

 

 
           12,002,880  
        

 

 

 

DIVERSIFIED MUNICIPAL

     8.0%        

BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc.

 

     63,393        987,663  

BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust

 

     63,011        1,524,236  

BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Quality Trust

 

     31,917        453,700  

BlackRock Municipal Income Trust

 

     41,323        585,547  

BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc.

 

     102,593        1,144,938  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc.

 

     14,000        213,220  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2019

 

            Shares      Value  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc.

 

     41,070      $ 517,893  

BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund, Inc.

 

     41,877        526,394  

BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc.

 

     160,555        1,462,656  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc.

 

     110,486        1,436,318  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc.

 

     113,309        1,529,672  

BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc.

 

     123,277        1,855,319  

Eaton Vance Municipal Income Trust

 

     35,484        452,421  

Nuveen AMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund

 

     171,391        2,857,088  

Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund

 

     271,898        3,909,893  

Nuveen Enhanced Municipal Value Fund

 

     151,779        2,256,954  

Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund

 

     77,920        1,275,550  

Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund

 

     52,750        748,523  

Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc.

 

     120,882        1,293,437  

Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund

 

     293,479        4,284,793  

Pioneer Municipal High Income Trust

 

     42,050        507,964  
        

 

 

 
        29,824,179  
        

 

 

 

GLOBAL EQUITY

     0.1%        

Clough Global Equity Fund

 

     18,643        225,021  
        

 

 

 

GLOBAL HYBRID (GROWTH & INCOME)

     0.2%        

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund

 

     70,832        775,610  
        

 

 

 

HIGH YIELD

     0.8%        

BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.

 

     189,166        2,118,659  

New America High Income Fund, Inc.

 

     114,680        1,047,029  
        

 

 

 
        3,165,688  
        

 

 

 

INVESTMENT GRADE

     0.4%        

PIMCO Corporate and Income Opportunity Fund

 

     79,982        1,519,658  
        

 

 

 

MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

     9.6%        

First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund

 

     237,799        5,376,635  

First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund

 

     440,973        5,265,218  

First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund

 

     719,811        6,715,837  

Kayne Anderson Midstream/Energy Fund, Inc.

 

     188,798        1,986,155  

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company

 

     979,335        13,642,136  

Neuberger Berman MLP Income Fund, Inc.

 

     412,091        2,785,735  
        

 

 

 
        35,771,716  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2019

 

            Shares      Value  

MULTI-SECTOR

     9.4%        

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust

 

     90,977      $ 1,470,188  

PIMCO Dynamic Credit Income Fund

 

     505,468        12,737,794  

PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund

 

     125,207        4,061,715  

PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund

 

     322,369        8,958,634  

PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II

 

     779,229        8,252,035  
        

 

 

 
           35,480,366  
        

 

 

 

OPTION INCOME

     8.5%        

BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc.

 

     263,075        4,538,044  

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund, Inc.

 

     108,890        2,564,359  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund

 

     153,349        1,919,929  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

 

     630,043        6,533,546  

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund

 

     1,189,669        10,445,294  

Nuveen NASDAQ 100 Dynamic Overwrite Fund

 

     235,551        5,665,002  
        

 

 

 
           31,666,174  
        

 

 

 

PREFERRED

     3.9%        

Flaherty & Crumrine Dynamic Preferred and Income Fund, Inc.

 

     73,625        1,970,205  

Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Securities Income Fund, Inc.

 

     103,770        2,250,771  

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III

 

     111,885        2,158,262  

Nuveen Preferred & Income Term Fund

 

     120,716        3,115,680  

Nuveen Preferred Income Opportunities Fund

 

     478,211        5,002,087  
        

 

 

 
           14,497,005  
        

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE

     4.8%        

Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund

 

     985,605        6,386,720  

CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund

 

     386,643        3,100,877  

Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund

 

     232,487        4,268,461  

Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund

 

     193,559        2,055,597  

Principal Real Estate Income Fund

 

     94,108        1,987,561  
        

 

 

 
           17,799,216  
        

 

 

 

SECTOR EQUITY

     4.2%        

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

 

     77,269        2,804,865  

Tekla Healthcare Investors

 

     180,462        3,768,046  

Tekla Healthcare Opportunities Fund

 

     206,932        3,946,193  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2019

 

            Shares      Value  

Tekla Life Sciences Investors

 

     260,702      $ 4,544,036  

Tekla World Healthcare Fund

 

     53,687        743,565  
        

 

 

 
        15,806,705  
        

 

 

 

SHORT DURATION

     1.4%        

BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust

 

     179,653        2,944,513  

Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund

 

     163,089        2,160,929  
        

 

 

 
        5,105,442  
        

 

 

 

SINGLE STATE MUNICIPAL

     0.5%        

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc.

 

     53,844        733,894  

Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund

 

     37,428        557,303  

Nuveen Texas Quality Municipal Income Fund

 

     48,330        692,569  
        

 

 

 
        1,983,766  
        

 

 

 

U.S. GENERAL EQUITY

     18.8%        

Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

 

     184,338        1,649,825  

Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.

 

     1,041,301        16,421,317  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

 

     230,671        5,886,724  

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund

 

     547,058        9,857,985  

Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust

 

     613,247        13,460,772  

General American Investors Co., Inc.

 

     204,908        7,733,228  

John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund

 

     253,405        6,928,093  

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

 

     438,215        6,406,703  

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Dividend Growth Fund

 

     102,283        1,771,541  
        

 

 

 
        70,116,188  
        

 

 

 

U.S. HYBRID

     1.1%        

PIMCO Energy & Tactical Credit Opportunities Fund

        238,779        3,939,854  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES

     1.1%        

Reaves Utility Income Fund

 

     108,147        4,007,928  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS
(Identified cost—$295,008,260)

 

        310,087,016  
        

 

 

 

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS

     16.1%        

DIVERSIFIED EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY

     0.5%        

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

 

     39,690        1,780,890  
        

 

 

 

SECTOR EQUITY

     1.9%        

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

 

     127,135        3,913,215  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2019

 

           Shares      Value  

iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF

 

    17,201      $ 2,072,893  

SPDR S&P Bank ETF

 

    26,669        1,261,177  
       

 

 

 
       7,247,285  
       

 

 

 

U.S. GENERAL EQUITY

     12.0%       

SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF

 

    59,138        2,064,508  

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

 

    44,109        14,196,923  

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF

 

    96,894        12,152,445  

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Trust

 

    48,026        14,206,091  

Vanguard Value ETF

 

    17,210        2,062,618  
       

 

 

 
          44,682,585  
       

 

 

 

UTILITIES

     1.7%       

Vanguard Utilities ETF

 

    43,437        6,206,713  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
(Identified cost—$54,413,397)

 

       59,917,473  
       

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

     1.3%       

MONEY MARKET FUNDS

       

State Street Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 1.52%a

 

    4,965,958        4,965,958  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Identified cost—$4,965,958)

 

       4,965,958  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
(Identified cost—$354,387,615)

     100.5%          374,970,447  

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

     (0.5        (1,976,172
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

NET ASSETS (Equivalent to $13.70 per share based on 27,218,519 shares of common stock outstanding)

     100.0%        $ 372,994,275  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Glossary of Portfolio Abbreviations

 

 

ETF

  Exchange-Traded Fund

MLP

  Master Limited Partnership

SPDR

  Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt

 

Note: Percentages indicated are based on the net assets of the Fund.

a 

Rate quoted represents the annualized seven-day yield.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

December 31, 2019

 

ASSETS:

 

Investments in securities, at value (Identified cost—$354,387,615)

   $ 374,970,447  

Cash

     877,724  

Receivable for:

  

Dividends

     745,913  

Investment securities sold

     82,288  

Other assets

     1,561  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     376,677,933  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

Payable for:

  

Investment securities purchased

     3,254,402  

Investment management fees

     295,984  

Dividends and distributions declared

     133,201  

Directors’ fees

     61  

Other liabilities

     10  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     3,683,658  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 372,994,275  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS consist of:

 

Paid-in capital

   $ 355,363,611  

Total distributable earnings/(accumulated loss)

     17,630,664  
  

 

 

 
   $ 372,994,275  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE:

 

($372,994,275 ÷ 27,218,519 shares outstanding)

   $ 13.70  
  

 

 

 

MARKET PRICE PER SHARE

   $ 13.42  
  

 

 

 

MARKET PRICE PREMIUM (DISCOUNT) TO NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

     (2.04 )% 
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

Investment Income:

 

Dividend income

   $ 13,262,759  
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

Investment management fees

     3,387,098  

Directors’ fees and expenses

     16,123  

Miscellaneous

     5,057  
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     3,408,278  

Reduction of Expenses (See Note 2)

     (21,180
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     3,387,098  
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     9,875,661  
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments in securities

     3,293,971  

Written option contracts

     (63,734

Foreign currency transactions

     (5,141
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss)

     3,225,096  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments in securities

     69,686,689  

Foreign currency translations

     393  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     69,687,082  
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

     72,912,178  
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ 82,787,839  
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

    For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
     For the Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 

Change in Net Assets:

 

From Operations:

    

Net investment income (loss)

  $ 9,875,661      $ 11,943,325  

Net realized gain (loss)

    3,225,096        12,805,482  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

    69,687,082        (59,231,822
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    82,787,839        (34,483,015
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders

    (14,400,152      (23,826,142

Tax return of capital to shareholders

    (14,007,832      (4,580,209
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

    (28,407,984      (28,406,351
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital Stock Transactions:

    

Increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

    123,982         
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    54,503,837        (62,889,366

Net Assets:

 

Beginning of year

    318,490,438        381,379,804  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of year

  $ 372,994,275      $ 318,490,438  
 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

12


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout each year and other

performance information derived from the financial statements. It should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto.

 

                                                                     

Per Share Operating Data:

   For the Year Ended December 31,  
   2019     2018     2017     2016     2015  

Net asset value, beginning of year

     $11.71       $14.02       $13.02       $12.34       $14.42  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

          

Net investment income (loss)a,b

     0.36       0.44       0.44       0.57       0.60  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     2.67       (1.71     1.60       1.15       (1.64
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     3.03       (1.27     2.04       1.72       (1.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

          

Net investment income

     (0.45     (0.87     (1.04     (0.89     (0.81

Net realized gain

     (0.08                        

Tax return of capital

     (0.51     (0.17           (0.15     (0.23
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (1.04     (1.04     (1.04     (1.04     (1.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value

     1.99       (2.31     1.00       0.68       (2.08
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

     $13.70       $11.71       $14.02       $13.02       $12.34  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Market value, end of year

     $13.42       $11.09       $13.31       $11.70       $10.96  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   

Total net asset value returnc

     26.89     -9.24     16.67     15.31     -6.57
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total market value returnc

     31.25     -9.46     23.26     16.67     -9.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

  

Net assets, end of year (in millions)

     $373.0       $318.5       $381.4       $354.3       $335.8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratios to average daily net assets:

 

Expenses (before expense reduction)d

     0.96     0.96     0.96     0.96     0.96
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses (net of expense reduction)d

     0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)
(before expense reduction)b,d

     2.76     3.28     3.19     4.45     4.36
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)
(net of expense reduction)b,d

     2.77     3.29     3.20     4.46     4.37
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

     53     37     80     36     19
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

a 

Calculation based on average shares outstanding.

b 

Net investment income (loss) is affected by the timing of distributions of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

c 

Total net asset value return measures the change in net asset value per share over the period indicated. Total market value return is computed based upon the Fund’s market price per share and excludes the effects of brokerage commissions. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of these calculations, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

d 

Does not include expenses incurred by the underlying funds in which the Fund invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

13


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the Fund) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on September 14, 2006 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to achieve total return, consisting of high current income and potential capital appreciation.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The Fund is an investment company and, accordingly, follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 946—Investment Companies. The accounting policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Portfolio Valuation: Investments in securities that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are valued, except as indicated below, at the last sale price reflected at the close of the NYSE on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and ask prices on such day or, if no ask price is available, at the bid price. Exchange-traded options are valued at their last sale price as of the close of options trading on applicable exchanges on the valuation date. In the absence of a last sale price on such day, options are valued at the average of the quoted bid and ask prices as of the close of business. Over-the-counter (OTC) options are valued based upon prices provided by a third-party pricing service or counterparty.

Securities not listed on the NYSE but listed on other domestic or foreign securities exchanges (including NASDAQ) are valued in a similar manner. Securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price reflected at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If after the close of a foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued, market conditions change significantly, certain non-U.S. equity holdings may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Directors.

Readily marketable securities traded in the OTC market, including listed securities whose primary market is believed by Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (the investment manager) to be OTC, are valued on the basis of prices provided by a third-party pricing service or third-party broker-dealers when such prices are believed by the investment manager, pursuant to delegation by the Board of Directors, to reflect the fair value of such securities.

Short-term debt securities with a maturity date of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at net asset value (NAV).

The policies and procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors delegate authority to make fair value determinations to the investment manager, subject to the oversight of the Board of

 

14


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Directors. The investment manager has established a valuation committee (Valuation Committee) to administer, implement and oversee the fair valuation process according to the policies and procedures approved annually by the Board of Directors. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers and other market sources to determine fair value.

Securities for which market prices are unavailable, or securities for which the investment manager determines that the bid and/or ask price or a counterparty valuation does not reflect market value, will be valued at fair value, as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee, pursuant to procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors. Circumstances in which market prices may be unavailable include, but are not limited to, when trading in a security is suspended, the exchange on which the security is traded is subject to an unscheduled close or disruption or material events occur after the close of the exchange on which the security is principally traded. In these circumstances, the Fund determines fair value in a manner that fairly reflects the market value of the security on the valuation date based on consideration of any information or factors it deems appropriate. These may include, but are not limited to, recent transactions in comparable securities, information relating to the specific security and developments in the markets.

Foreign equity fair value pricing procedures utilized by the Fund may cause certain non-U.S. equity holdings to be fair valued on the basis of fair value factors provided by a pricing service to reflect any significant market movements between the time the Fund values such securities and the earlier closing of foreign markets.

The Fund’s use of fair value pricing may cause the NAV of Fund shares to differ from the NAV that would be calculated using market quotations. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security.

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would expect to receive upon the sale of an investment or expect to pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. The hierarchy of inputs that are used in determining the fair value of the Fund’s investments is summarized below.

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, credit risk, etc.)

   

Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments may or may not be an indication of the risk associated with those investments. Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy.

 

15


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2019 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

     Total      Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Investments
(Level 1)
     Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 

Closed-End Funds

   $ 310,087,016      $ 310,087,016      $      $                 —  

Exchange-Traded Funds

     59,917,473        59,917,473                

Short-Term Investments

     4,965,958               4,965,958         
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securitiesa

   $ 374,970,447      $ 370,004,489      $ 4,965,958      $  —  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

a 

Portfolio holdings are disclosed individually on the Schedule of Investments.

Security Transactions and Investment Income: Security transactions are recorded on trade date. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income, which includes the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends on foreign securities, which are recorded as soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. Distributions from closed-end funds (CEFs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are recorded as ordinary income, net realized capital gain or return of capital based on information reported by the CEFs and ETFs and management’s estimates of such amounts based on historical information. These estimates are adjusted when the actual source of distributions is disclosed by the CEFs and ETFs and may differ from the estimated amounts.

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon prevailing exchange rates on the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of such transactions. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign currency transaction gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, (excluding gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts, which are presented separately, if any) currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses arise from changes in the values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, on the date of valuation, resulting from changes in exchange rates. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign

 

16


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

currency gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gains/losses are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

Options: The Fund may purchase and write exchange-listed and OTC put or call options on securities, stock indices and other financial instruments for hedging purposes, to enhance portfolio returns and/or reduce overall volatility.

When the Fund writes (sells) an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option written. When an option expires, the Fund realizes a gain on the option to the extent of the premium received. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or closed are added to or offset against the proceeds or amount paid on the transaction to determine the realized gain or loss. If a put option on a security is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the security purchased by the Fund. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds of the security sold to determine the realized gain or loss. The Fund, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the underlying index or security. Other risks include the possibility of an illiquid options market or the inability of the counterparties to fulfill their obligations under the contracts.

Put and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. Premiums paid for purchasing options which expire are treated as realized losses. Premiums paid for purchasing options which are exercised or closed are added to the amounts paid or offset against the proceeds on the underlying investment transaction to determine the realized gain or loss when the underlying transaction is executed. The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract.

At December 31, 2019, the Fund did not have any option contracts outstanding.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: The Fund makes regular distributions pursuant to the Policy. Dividends from net investment income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are typically declared quarterly and paid monthly. Net realized capital gains, unless offset by any available capital loss carryforward, are typically distributed to shareholders at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are automatically reinvested in full and fractional shares of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s Reinvestment Plan, unless the shareholder has elected to have them paid in cash.

Dividends from net investment income are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes. Based upon the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019, a portion of the dividends has been reclassified to distributions from net realized gain and tax return of capital.

Distributions Subsequent to December 31, 2019: The following distributions have been declared by the Fund’s Board of Directors and are payable subsequent to the period end of this report.

 

17


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Ex-Date

 

Record Date

 

Payable Date

 

Amount

1/14/20  

1/15/20

  1/31/20   $0.087
2/11/20  

2/12/20

  2/28/20   $0.087
3/17/20  

3/18/20

  3/31/20   $0.087

Income Taxes: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC), if such qualification is in the best interest of the shareholders, by complying with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs, and by distributing substantially all of its taxable earnings to its shareholders. Also, in order to avoid the payment of any federal excise taxes, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized gains on a calendar year basis. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal and applicable state income tax returns as well as its tax positions in non-U.S. jurisdictions in which it trades for all open tax years and has concluded that as of December 31, 2019, no additional provisions for income tax are required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s tax positions for the tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, state departments of revenue and by foreign tax authorities.

Note 2. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Fees: Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to an investment management agreement (the investment management agreement). Under the terms of the investment management agreement, the investment manager provides the Fund with day-to-day investment decisions and generally manages the Fund’s investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.

For the services provided to the Fund, the investment manager receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.95% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

The investment manager is also responsible, under the investment management agreement, for the performance of certain administrative functions for the Fund. Additionally, the investment manager pays certain expenses of the Fund, including, but not limited to, administrative and custody fees, transfer agent fees, professional fees, and reports to shareholders.

The investment manager has contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund so that its total annual operating expenses exclusive of brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, and, upon approval of the Board of Directors, extraordinary expenses, do not exceed 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This commitment is currently expected to remain in place for the life of the Fund, can only be amended or terminated by agreement of the Fund’s Board of Directors and the investment manager and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the investment management agreement between the investment manager and the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2019, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed totaled $21,180.

Directors’ and Officers’ Fees: Certain directors and officers of the Fund are also directors, officers, and/or employees of the investment manager. The Fund does not pay compensation to directors and officers affiliated with the investment manager except for the Chief Compliance Officer, who received

 

18


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

compensation from the investment manager, which was reimbursed by the Fund, in the amount of $3,403 for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Note 3. Purchases and Sales of Securities

Purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended December 31, 2019, totaled $185,441,129 and $185,749,866, respectively.

Note 4. Derivative Investments

The following table presents the effect of derivatives held during the year ended December 31, 2019, along with the respective location in the financial statements.

Statement of Operations

Derivatives

  

Location

   Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Equity Risk:

       

Purchased Option Contractsa

   Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)    $ 44,058     $         —  

Written Option Contracts

   Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)      (63,734      

 

a 

Purchased options are included in net realized gain (loss) and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments in securities.

The following summarizes the volume of the Fund’s option contracts activity for the year ended December 31, 2019:

 

     Purchased
Option
Contractsa
       Written
Option
Contractsb
 

Average Notional Amountc

   $ 2,836,400        $ 2,568,950  

 

a 

Average notional amounts are for the period January 4, 2019 through January 17, 2019, which represents the period the Fund had purchased option contracts outstanding.

b 

Average notional amounts represent the average for all months in which the Fund had written option contracts. For the period, this represents two months.

c 

Notional amount is calculated using the number of contracts multiplied by notional contract size multiplied by the underlying price.

 

19


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Note 5. Income Tax Information

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid was as follows:

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2019        2018  

Ordinary income

   $ 12,305,206        $ 22,254,483  

Tax-exempt income

     1,372,555          1,571,659  

Long-term capital gain

     722,391           

Tax return of capital

     14,007,832          4,580,209  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 
   $ 28,407,984        $ 28,406,351  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2019, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings, the federal tax cost and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of investments held were as follows:

 

Cost of investments in securities for federal income tax purposes

   $ 357,340,064  
  

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments

   $ 23,854,485  

Gross unrealized depreciation on investments

     (6,223,821
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

   $ 17,630,664  
  

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to wash sales on portfolio securities and unrealized gain on passive foreign investment companies and permanent book/tax differences primarily attributable to underlying fund adjustments. To reflect reclassifications arising from the permanent differences, paid-in capital was charged $215,082 and total distributable earnings/(accumulated loss) was credited $215,082. Net assets were not affected by this reclassification.

Note 6. Capital Stock

The Fund is authorized to issue 100 million shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund issued 9,371 shares of common stock at $123,982 for the reinvestment of dividends. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund did not issue shares of common stock for the reinvestment of dividends.

The Board of Directors approved the continuation of the delegation of its authority to management to effect repurchases, pursuant to management’s discretion and subject to market conditions and investment considerations, of up to 10% of the Fund’s common shares outstanding (Share Repurchase Program) from January 1, 2020, through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Fund did not effect any repurchases.

 

20


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Note 7. Other Risks

Common Stock Risk: While common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed-income securities over the long-term, common stocks have also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns, although under certain market conditions, fixed-income investments may have comparable or greater price volatility. The value of common stocks and other equity securities will fluctuate in response to developments concerning the company, political and regulatory circumstances, the stock market, and the economy. In the short term, stock prices can fluctuate dramatically in response to these developments. Different parts of the market and different types of equity securities can react differently to these developments. For example, stocks of large companies can react differently than stocks of smaller companies, and value stocks (stocks of companies that are undervalued by various measures and have potential for long-term capital appreciation), can react differently from growth stocks (stocks of companies with attractive cash flow returns on invested capital and earnings that are expected to grow). These developments can affect a single company, all companies within the same industry, economic sector or geographic region, or the stock market as a whole.

Risks of Investing in Other Investment Companies: Since the Fund concentrates its assets in closed-end management investment companies, risks of investing in the Fund include the risks associated with the purchased closed-end investment companies’ portfolio securities, and a shareholder in the Fund will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses, but also indirectly the expenses of the purchased closed-end investment companies (Portfolio Funds). Shareholders will therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. Risks associated with investments in closed-end funds generally include market risk, leverage risk, risk of market price discount from NAV, risk of anti-takeover provisions and non-diversification.

To the extent the Fund invests a portion of its assets in other investment companies, including open-end funds, exchange-traded funds and other types of pooled investment funds, those assets will be subject to the risks of the purchased investment fund’s portfolio securities, and a shareholder in the Fund will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses, but also indirectly the expenses of the purchased investment funds. In addition, restrictions under the 1940 Act may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies to the extent desired.

Sector Concentration Risk: Some Portfolio Funds invest substantially, or even exclusively, in one sector or industry group and therefore carry risk of the particular sector or industry group. To the extent a Portfolio Fund focuses its investments in a specific sector, such as real estate, energy or utilities, the Portfolio Fund will be susceptible to adverse conditions and economic or regulatory occurrences affecting the sector or industry group, which tends to increase volatility and result in higher risk.

Covered Call Writing Risk: The Fund may invest in Portfolio Funds that engage in a strategy known as “covered call option writing,” which is designed to produce income from option premiums and offset a portion of a market decline in the underlying security. The writer (seller) of a covered call option forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has

 

21


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price.

Municipal Bond Risk: The Fund may invest in Portfolio Funds that invest in municipal bonds. Municipal bonds are debt obligations issued by states or by political subdivisions or authorities of states. Municipal bonds are typically designated as general obligation bonds, which are general obligations of a governmental entity that are backed by the taxing power of such entity, or revenue bonds, which are payable from the income of a specific project or authority and are not supported by the issuer’s power to levy taxes. Municipal bonds are long-term fixed rate debt obligations that generally decline in value with increases in interest rates, when an issuer’s financial condition worsens or when the rating on a bond is decreased. Many municipal bonds may be called or redeemed prior to their stated maturity. Lower quality revenue bonds and other credit-sensitive municipal securities carry higher risks of default than general obligation bonds.

Master Limited Partnership Risk: The Fund may invest in Portfolio Funds that invest in master limited partnerships (MLPs). An investment in MLP units involves some risks that differ from an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control on matters affecting the partnership. Investing in MLPs involves certain risks related to investing in the underlying assets of the MLPs and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles. MLPs holding credit-related investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or a particular geographic region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. The benefit derived from the Fund’s investment in MLPs is largely dependent on the MLPs being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. Weakening energy market fundamentals may increase counterparty risk and impact MLP profitability. Specifically, energy companies suffering financial distress may be able to abrogate contracts with MLPs, decreasing or eliminating sources of revenue.

Senior Loans Risk: The Fund may invest in Portfolio Funds that invest in senior loans. The risks associated with senior loans are similar to the risks of junk bonds, although senior loans are typically senior and secured, whereas junk bonds are often subordinated and unsecured. Investments in senior loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. Such companies are more likely to default on their payments of interest and principal owed, and such defaults could reduce a Portfolio Fund’s NAV and income distributions. An economic downturn generally leads to a higher non-payment rate, and a senior loan may lose significant value before a default occurs. There is no assurance that the liquidation of the collateral would satisfy the claims of the borrower’s obligations in the event of the nonpayment of scheduled interest or principal, or that the collateral could be readily liquidated. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain senior loans or senior loans generally, which may reduce market prices. Senior loans and other debt securities are also subject to the risk of price declines and to increases in prevailing interest rates, although floating-rate debt instruments such as senior loans in which certain Portfolio Funds may be expected to invest are substantially less exposed to this risk than fixed-rate debt instruments.

 

22


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Preferred Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in Portfolio Funds that invest in preferred securities. Preferred securities are subject to credit risk, which is the risk that a security will decline in price, or the issuer of the security will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due, because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. Preferred securities are also subject to interest rate risk and may decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. Portfolio Funds may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case in an environment of low interest rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. In addition, an issuer may be permitted to defer or omit distributions. Preferred securities are also generally subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure. During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to redeem (call) its issue at par earlier than scheduled, and the Portfolio Fund may be forced to reinvest in lower yielding securities. Certain preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks. Generally, preferred security holders have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless certain events occur. Certain preferred securities may give the issuers special redemption rights allowing the securities to be redeemed prior to a specified date if certain events occur, such as changes to tax or securities laws.

Leverage Risk: Portfolio Funds may employ the use of leverage. The use of leverage is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs associated with leverage. The NAV of the Portfolio Fund’s shares may be reduced by the issuance and ongoing costs of leverage. So long as the Portfolio Fund is able to invest in securities that produce an investment yield that is greater than the total cost of leverage, the leverage strategy will produce higher current net investment income for the shareholders, including the Fund. On the other hand, to the extent that the total cost of leverage exceeds the incremental income gained from employing such leverage, shareholders, including the Fund, would realize lower net investment income. In addition to the impact on net income, the use of leverage will have an effect of magnifying capital appreciation or depreciation for shareholders. Specifically, in an up market, leverage will typically generate greater capital appreciation than if the Portfolio Fund were not employing leverage. Conversely, in down markets, the use of leverage will generally result in greater capital depreciation than if the Portfolio Fund had been unlevered. To the extent that the Portfolio Fund is required or elects to reduce its leverage, the Portfolio Fund may need to liquidate investments, including under adverse economic conditions which may result in capital losses potentially reducing returns to shareholders. The use of leverage also results in the investment management fees payable to the investment manager being higher than if the Fund did not use leverage and can increase operating costs, which may reduce total return. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed.

Options Risk: Gains on options transactions depend on the investment advisor’s ability to predict correctly the direction of stock prices, indexes, interest rates, and other economic factors, and unanticipated changes may cause poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in such transactions. A rise in the value of the security or index underlying a call option written by the Fund exposes the Fund to possible loss or loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the value of any portfolio securities underlying or otherwise related to the call option. By writing a put option, the Fund assumes the risk of a decline in the underlying security or index. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position, and for certain options not

 

23


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

traded on an exchange no market usually exists. Trading could be interrupted, for example, because of supply and demand imbalances arising from a lack of either buyers or sellers, or an options exchange could suspend trading after the price has risen or fallen more than the maximum specified by the exchange.

Although the Fund may be able to offset to some extent any adverse effects of being unable to liquidate an option position, that Fund may experience losses in some cases as a result of such inability, may not be able to close its position and, in such an event would be unable to control its losses.

Regulatory Risk: The U.S. government has proposed and adopted multiple regulations that could have a long-lasting impact on the Fund and on the mutual fund industry in general. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) final rules and amendments that modernize reporting and disclosure, along with other potential upcoming regulations, could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in transactions, and/or increase overall expenses of the Fund. In addition, the SEC, Congress, various exchanges and regulatory and self-regulatory authorities, both domestic and foreign, have undertaken reviews of the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, which could affect the nature and extent of derivatives used by the Fund. While the full extent of these regulations is still unclear, these regulations and actions may adversely affect both the Fund and the instruments in which the Fund invests as well as its ability to execute its investment strategy. Similarly, regulatory developments in other countries may have an unpredictable and adverse impact on the Fund.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) and Emerging Market Securities Risk: The Fund directly purchases securities of foreign issuers. Risks of investing in foreign securities, which can be expected to be greater for investments in emerging markets, include currency risks, future political and economic developments and possible imposition of foreign withholding taxes on income or proceeds payable on the securities. In addition, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than about a domestic issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial recordkeeping standards and requirements as domestic issuers. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

Investing in securities of companies in emerging markets may entail special risks relating to potential economic, political or social instability and the risks of expropriation, nationalization, confiscation, trade sanctions or embargoes or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investment, the lack of hedging instruments, and repatriation of capital invested. The securities and real estate markets of some emerging market countries have in the past experienced substantial market disruptions and may do so in the future.

Geopolitical Risk: Occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years, such as war, terrorist attacks, natural or environmental disasters, country instability, infectious disease epidemics, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers and other governmental trade or market control programs, the potential exit of a country from its respective union and related geopolitical events, may result in market volatility and may have long-lasting impacts on both the U.S. and global financial markets. Additionally, those events, as well as other changes in foreign and domestic political and economic conditions, could adversely affect

 

24


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments.

In March 2017, the United Kingdom (UK) formally notified the European Council of its intention to leave the European Union (EU) and on January 31, 2020 withdrew from the EU (referred to as Brexit). Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the UK and throughout Europe. There is considerable uncertainty about the potential consequences of Brexit, how negotiations of trade agreements will proceed, and how the financial markets will react. As this process unfolds, markets may be further disrupted. Given the size and importance of the UK’s economy, uncertainty about its legal, political and economic relationship with the remaining member states of the EU may continue to be a source of instability.

Growing tensions, including trade disputes, between the United States and other nations, or among foreign powers, and possible diplomatic, trade or other sanctions could adversely impact the global economy, financial markets and the Fund. The strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies may, among other things, adversely affect the Fund’s investments denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies. It is difficult to predict when similar events affecting the U.S. or global financial markets may occur, the effects that such events may have, and the duration of those effects.

Note 8. Other

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

Note 9. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated events and transactions occurring after December 31, 2019 through the date that the financial statements were issued, and has determined that no additional disclosure in the financial statements is required.

 

25


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2019, the related statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2019 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2019, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2019 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 28, 2020

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Cohen & Steers family of mutual funds since 1991.

 

26


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

(Periods ended December 31, 2019) (Unaudited)

 

Based on Net Asset Value           Based on Market Value  

One Year

    Five Years     Ten Years     Since Inception
(11/24/06)
          One Year     Five Years     Ten Years     Since Inception
(11/24/06)
 
  26.89     7.68     9.03     6.10       31.25     9.22     9.62     5.67

The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return will vary and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate and shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Current total returns of the Fund can be obtained by visiting our website at cohenandsteers.com. Fund performance figures reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which the performance would have been lower. The Fund’s returns assume the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

TAX INFORMATION—2019 (Unaudited)

For the calendar year ended December 31, 2019, for individual taxpayers, the Fund designates $5,507,861 as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced tax rates, long-term capital gain distributions of $722,391 taxable at the maximum 20% rate, short-term capital gain distributions of $1,377,519, tax-exempt income distributions of $1,372,555 and $149,175 as qualified business income eligible for the 20% deduction. In addition, for corporate taxpayers, 21.57% of the ordinary dividends paid qualified for the dividends received deduction (DRD).

REINVESTMENT PLAN

The Fund has a dividend reinvestment plan commonly referred to as an “opt-out” plan (the Plan). Each common shareholder who participates in the Plan will have all distributions of dividends and capital gains (Dividends) automatically reinvested in additional common shares by Computershare as agent (the Plan Agent). Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all Dividends in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend disbursing agent. Shareholders whose common shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee to determine whether and how they may participate in the Plan.

The Plan Agent serves as agent for the shareholders in administering the Plan. After the Fund declares a Dividend, the Plan Agent will, as agent for the shareholders, either: (i) receive the cash payment and use it to buy common shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts or (ii) distribute newly issued common shares of the Fund on behalf of the participants.

The Plan Agent will receive cash from the Fund with which to buy common shares in the open market if, on the Dividend payment date, the NAV per share exceeds the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions on that date. The Plan Agent will receive the Dividend in newly issued common shares of the Fund if, on the Dividend payment date, the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions equals or exceeds the NAV per share of the Fund on that date. The

 

27


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

number of shares to be issued will be computed at a per share rate equal to the greater of (i) the NAV or (ii) 95% of the closing market price per share on the payment date.

If the market price per share is less than the NAV on a Dividend payment date, the Plan Agent will have until the last business day before the next ex-dividend date for the common stock, but in no event more than 30 days after the Dividend payment date (as the case may be, the Purchase Period), to invest the Dividend amount in shares acquired in open market purchases. If at the close of business on any day during the Purchase Period on which NAV is calculated the NAV equals or is less than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will cease making open market purchases and the uninvested portion of such Dividends shall be filled through the issuance of new shares of common stock from the Fund at the price set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph.

Participants in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan upon notice to the Plan Agent. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if received not less than ten days prior to a Dividend record date; otherwise, it will be effective for all subsequent Dividends. If any participant elects to have the Plan Agent sell all or part of his or her shares and remit the proceeds, the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct a $15.00 fee plus $0.10 per share brokerage commissions.

The Plan Agent’s fees for the handling of reinvestment of Dividends will be paid by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of Dividends. The automatic reinvestments of Dividends will not relieve participants of any income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such Dividends. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at 800-432-8224.

OTHER INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-330-7348, (ii) on our website at cohenandsteers.com or (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available by August 31 of each year (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-330-7348 or (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Disclosures of the Fund’s complete holdings are required to be made monthly on Form N-PORT, with every third month made available to the public by the SEC 60 days after the end of the Fund’s fiscal quarter. Previously, the Fund filed its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q, which has now been rescinded. Both the Fund’s Form N-Q and Form N-PORT are available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-330-7348 or (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Please note that distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes and are taxable up to the amount of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized gains. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s net investment company taxable income and realized gains are a return of capital distributed from the Fund’s assets. To the extent this occurs, the Fund’s shareholders of record will be notified of the estimated amount of capital returned to shareholders for each such distribution and this information will also be available at cohenandsteers.com. The final tax treatment of all distributions is reported to shareholders on their 1099-DIV forms, which are mailed after the close of

 

28


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

each calendar year. Distributions of capital decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to make these Paige distributions, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act that the Fund may purchase, from time to time, shares of its common stock in the open market.

Benchmark Change

On June 11, 2019, the Fund’s Board of Directors approved a change to the Fund’s benchmark from Morningstar All Taxable ex-Foreign Equity Index to S-Network All Taxable ex-Foreign Plus Capped Municipal CEF Index, effective close of business July 31, 2019. The S-Network All Taxable ex-Foreign plus Capped Municipal CEF Index is a market capitalization-weighted index comprising all taxable closed-end funds and Diversified Municipal Bond Funds, except for single-country funds and region-specific equity funds. The index reconstitutes and rebalances quarterly.

 

29


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors approves all significant agreements between the Fund and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including the Fund’s agreements with its investment advisor, administrator, co-administrator, custodian and transfer agent. The management of the Fund’s day-to-day operations is delegated to its officers, the investment advisor, administrator and co-administrator, subject always to the investment objective and policies of the Fund and to the general supervision of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations during at least the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

    

Length

of Time

Served3

Interested Directors4               

Robert H. Steers

1953

   Director, Chairman    Until Next Election of Directors    Chief Executive Officer of Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (CSCM or the Advisor) and its parent, Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) since 2014. Prior to that, Co- Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor since 2003 and CNS since 2004. Prior to that, Chairman of the Advisor; Vice President of Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC.      20      Since 1991

Joseph M. Harvey

1963

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    President of the Advisor (since 2003) and President of CNS (since 2004). Chief Investment Officer of CSCM from 2003 to 2019. Prior to that, Senior Vice President and Director of Investment Research of CSCM.      20      Since 2014

(table continued on next page)

 

30


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

(table continued from previous page)

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

    

Length

of Time

Served3

Disinterested Directors            

Michael G. Clark

1965

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    CPA and CFA; from 2006 to 2011, President and Chief Executive Officer of DWS Funds and Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management.      20      Since 2011

George Grossman

1953

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Attorney-at-law.      20      Since 1993

Dean A. Junkans

1959

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    CFA; Advisor to SigFig (a registered investment advisor) since July, 2018; Adjunct Professor and Executive–In–Residence, Bethel University Since 2015; Chief Investment Officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank from 2004 to 2014 and Chief Investment Officer of the Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement group at Wells Fargo & Company from 2011 to 2014; former Member and Chair, Claritas Advisory Committee at the CFA Institute from 2013 to 2015; Board Member and Investment Committee Member, Bethel University Foundation since 2010; formerly Corporate Executive Board Member of the National Chief Investment Officers Circle, 2010 to 2015; formerly, Member of the Board of Governors of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, River Falls, 1996 to 2004; U.S. Army Veteran, Gulf War.      20      Since 2015

(table continued on next page)

 

31


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

(table continued from previous page)

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

  

Length

of Time

Served3

Gerald J. Maginnis

1955

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Philadelphia Office Managing Partner, KPMG LLP from 2006 to 2015; Partner in Charge, KPMG Pennsylvania Audit Practice from 2002 to 2008; President, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) from 2014 to 2015; Member, PICPA Board of Directors from 2012 to 2016; Member, Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) from 2013 to 2017; Member, Board of Trustees of AICPA Foundation since 2015.    20    Since 2015

Jane F. Magpiong

1960

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    President, Untap Potential since 2013; Senior Managing Director, TIAA-CREF, from 2011 to 2013; National Head of Wealth Management, TIAA- CREF, from 2008 to 2011; and prior to that, President, Bank of America Private Bank from 2005 to 2008.    20    Since 2015

(table continued on next page)

 

32


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

(table continued from previous page)

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

  

Length

of Time

Served3

Daphne L. Richards

1966

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Independent Director of Cartica Management, LLC since 2015; Investment Committee Member of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation since 2015 and Member of the Advisory Board of Northeast Dutchess Fund since 2016; President and CIO of Ledge Harbor Management since 2016; formerly at Bessemer Trust Company from 1999 to 2014; prior thereto, held investment positions at Frank Russell Company from 1996 to 1999, Union Bank of Switzerland from 1993 to 1996; Credit Suisse from 1990 to 1993; and Hambros International Venture Capital Fund from 1988 to 1989.    20    Since 2017

C. Edward Ward, Jr

1946

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Member of The Board of Trustees of Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York from 2004 to 2014; formerly, Director of closed-end fund management for the NYSE where he worked from 1979 to 2004.    20    Since 2004

 

 

1 

The address for each director is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

2 

On March 12, 2008, the Board of Directors adopted a mandatory retirement policy stating a Director must retire from the Board on December 31st of the year in which he or she turns 75 years of age.

3 

The length of time served represents the year in which the Director was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Cohen & Steers fund complex.

4 

“Interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund because of affiliation with CSCM (Interested Directors).

 

33


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

The officers of the Fund (other than Messrs. Steers and Harvey, whose biographies are provided above), their address, their year of birth and their principal occupations for at least the past five years are set forth below.

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Principal Occupation During At Least the Past 5 Years

 

Length

of Time

Served2

Adam M. Derechin

1964

   President and Chief Executive Officer    Chief Operating Officer of CSCM since 2003 and CNS since 2004.   Since 2005

James Giallanza

1966

   Chief Financial Officer    Executive Vice President of CSCM since 2014. Prior to that, Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2006.   Since 2006

Lisa D. Phelan

1968

   Chief Compliance Officer    Executive Vice President of CSCM since 2015. Prior to that, Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2008. Chief Compliance Officer of CSCM, the Cohen & Steers funds, Cohen & Steers Asia Limited and CSSL since 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.   Since 2006

Dana A. DeVivo

1981

   Secretary and Chief Legal Officer    Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2019. Prior to that, Vice President of CSCM since 2013.   Since 2015

Albert Laskaj

1977

   Treasurer    Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2019. Prior to that, Vice President of CSCM since 2015. Prior to that, Director of Legg Mason & Co. since 2013.   Since 2015

Stephen Murphy

1966

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2019. Prior to that, Managing Director at Mirae Asset Securities (USA) Inc. since 2017. Prior to that, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers LLC since 2011.  

Since

2019

Douglas R. Bond

1959

   Vice President    Executive Vice President of CSCM since 2004.   Since 2007

Yigal D. Jhirad

1965

   Vice President    Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2007.   Since 2007

 

 

1 

The address of each officer is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

2 

Officers serve one-year terms. The length of time served represents the year in which the officer was first elected as an officer of any fund in the Cohen & Steers fund complex. All of the officers listed above are officers of one or more of the other funds in the complex.

 

34


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

Cohen & Steers Privacy Policy

 

   
Facts   What Does Cohen & Steers Do With Your Personal Information?
Why?   Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What?  

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

 

• Social Security number and account balances

 

• Transaction history and account transactions

 

• Purchase history and wire transfer instructions

How?   All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Cohen & Steers chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information    Does Cohen & Steers
share?
     Can you limit this
sharing?

For our everyday business purposes—

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or reports to credit bureaus

   Yes      No

For our marketing purposes—

to offer our products and services to you

   Yes      No
For joint marketing with other financial companies—    No      We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your transactions and experiences

   No      We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your creditworthiness

   No      We don’t share
For our affiliates to market to you—    No      We don’t share
For non-affiliates to market to you—    No      We don’t share
       
     
Questions?    Call 800.330.7348            

 

35


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

Cohen & Steers Privacy Policy—(Continued)

 

   
Who we are    
Who is providing this notice?   Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc., Cohen & Steers Asia Limited, Cohen & Steers Japan, LLC, Cohen & Steers UK Limited, Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC, Cohen & Steers Private Funds and Cohen & Steers Open and Closed-End Funds (collectively, Cohen & Steers).
What we do    
How does Cohen & Steers protect my personal information?   To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. We restrict access to your information to those employees who need it to perform their jobs, and also require companies that provide services on our behalf to protect your information.
How does Cohen & Steers collect my personal information?  

We collect your personal information, for example, when you:

 

• Open an account or buy securities from us

 

• Provide account information or give us your contact information

 

• Make deposits or withdrawals from your account

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only:

 

• sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information about your creditworthiness

 

• affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

• sharing for non-affiliates to market to you

 

State law and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

Definitions    
Affiliates  

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

• Cohen & Steers does not share with affiliates.

Non-affiliates  

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

 

• Cohen & Steers does not share with non-affiliates.

Joint marketing  

A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

 

• Cohen & Steers does not jointly market.

 

36


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

Cohen & Steers Open-End Mutual Funds

 

COHEN & STEERS REALTY SHARES

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in U.S. real estate securities

 

  Symbols: CSJAX, CSJCX, CSJIX, CSRSX, CSJRX, CSJZX

COHEN & STEERS REAL ESTATE SECURITIES FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in U.S. real estate securities

 

  Symbols: CSEIX, CSCIX, CREFX, CSDIX, CIRRX, CSZIX

COHEN & STEERS INSTITUTIONAL REALTY SHARES

 

  Designed for institutional investors seeking total return, investing primarily in U.S. real estate securities

 

  Symbol: CSRIX

COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL REALTY SHARES

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in global real estate equity securities

 

  Symbols: CSFAX, CSFCX, CSSPX, GRSRX, CSFZX

COHEN & STEERS INTERNATIONAL REALTY FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in international (non-U.S.) real estate securities

 

  Symbols: IRFAX, IRFCX, IRFIX, IRFRX, IRFZX

COHEN & STEERS REAL ASSETS FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return and the maximization of real returns during inflationary environments by investing primarily in real assets

 

  Symbols: RAPAX, RAPCX, RAPIX, RAPRX, RAPZX

COHEN & STEERS PREFERRED SECURITIES

AND INCOME FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return (high current income and capital appreciation), investing primarily in preferred and debt securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies

 

  Symbols: CPXAX, CPXCX, CPXFX, CPXIX, CPRRX, CPXZX

COHEN & STEERS LOW DURATION PREFERRED

AND INCOME FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking high current income and capital preservation by investing in low-duration preferred and other income securities issued by U.S. and non-U.S. companies

 

  Symbols: LPXAX, LPXCX, LPXIX, LPXRX, LPXZX

COHEN & STEERS MLP & ENERGY OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in midstream energy master limited partnership (MLP) units and related stocks

 

  Symbols: MLOAX, MLOCX, MLOIX, MLORX, MLOZX

COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

 

  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in global infrastructure securities

 

  Symbols: CSUAX, CSUCX, CSUIX, CSURX, CSUZX

COHEN & STEERS ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

(FORMERLY COHEN & STEERS DIVIDEND VALUE FUND)

 

  Designed for investors seeking high current income and capital appreciation, investing in equity, preferred and debt securities, focused on real assets and alternative income strategies

 

  Symbols: DVFAX, DVFCX, DVFIX, DVFRX, DVFZX
 

Distributed by Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC.

 

 

 

 

Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any Cohen & Steers U.S. registered open-end fund carefully before investing. A summary prospectus and prospectus containing this and other information can be obtained by calling 800-330-7348 or by visiting cohenandsteers.com. Please read the summary prospectus and prospectus carefully before investing.

 

37


COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Robert H. Steers

Director and Chairman

Joseph M. Harvey

Director and Vice President

Michael G. Clark

Director

George Grossman

Director

Dean A. Junkans

Director

Gerald J. Maginnis

Director

Jane F. Magpiong

Director

Daphne L. Richards

Director

C. Edward Ward, Jr.

Director

Adam M. Derechin

President and Chief Executive Officer

James Giallanza

Chief Financial Officer

Lisa D. Phelan

Chief Compliance Officer

Dana A. DeVivo

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Albert Laskaj

Treasurer

Stephen Murphy

Vice President

Douglas R. Bond

Vice President

Yigal D. Jhirad

Vice President

KEY INFORMATION

Investment Manager and Administrator

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.

280 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(212) 832-3232

Co-administrator and Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

Computershare

150 Royall Street

Canton, MA 02021

(866) 227-0757

Legal Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

 

New York Stock Exchange Symbol:   FOF

Website: cohenandsteers.com

This report is for shareholder information. This is not a prospectus intended for use in the purchase or sale of Fund shares. Performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and your investment may be worth more or less at the time you sell your shares.

 

 

38


eDelivery AVAILABLE

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LOGO

Cohen & Steers

Closed-End

Opportunity Fund (FOF)

Annual Report December 31, 2019

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website at www.cohenandsteers.com, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you have already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from a Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, by signing up at www.cohenandsteers.com.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper, free of charge, at any time. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary or, if you are a direct investor, you can call (866) 227-0757 to let the Fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all Funds held within the fund complex if you invest directly with the Fund.

FOFAR

 

 

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

The registrant has adopted an Amended and Restated Code of Ethics that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. The Code of Ethics was in effect during the reporting period. The registrant has not amended the Code of Ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the reporting period. The registrant has not granted any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the reporting period. A current copy of the Code of Ethics is available on the registrant’s website at https://www.cohenandsteers.com/assets/content/uploads/Code_of_Ethics_for_Principal_Executive_and_Principal_Financial_Officers_of_the_Funds.pdf. Upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics can be obtained free of charge by calling 800-330-7348 or writing to the Secretary of the Registrant, 280 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10017.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s board has determined that Gerald J. Maginnis qualifies as an audit committee financial expert based on his years of experience in the public accounting profession. The registrant’s board has determined that Michael G. Clark qualifies as an audit committee financial expert based on his years of experience in the public accounting profession and the investment management and financial services industry. Each of Messrs. Maginnis and Clark is a member of the board’s audit committee, and each is independent as such term is defined in Form N-CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a) – (d) Aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 for professional services rendered by the registrant’s principal accountant were as follows:

 

     2019    2018

Audit Fees

   $45,580    $44,910

Audit-Related Fees

   $0    $0

Tax Fees

   $5,940    $5,850

All Other Fees

   $0    $0

Tax fees were billed in connection with tax compliance services, including the preparation and review of federal and state tax returns and the computation of corporate and franchise tax amounts.

(e)(1) The registrant’s audit committee is required to pre-approve audit and non-audit services performed for the registrant by the principal accountant. The audit committee also is required to pre-approve non-audit services performed by the registrant’s principal accountant for the registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement for services relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.

 

 

 


The audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members who are independent members of the board of directors of the registrant. The member or members to whom such authority is delegated shall report any pre-approval decisions to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting. The audit committee may not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve services to be performed by the registrant’s principal accountant to the investment advisor.

(e)(2) No services included in (b) – (d) above were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraphs (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant and for non-audit services rendered to the registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant were:

 

     2019    2018

Registrant

   $5,940    $5,850

Investment Advisor

   $0    $0

(h) The registrant’s audit committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not required to be pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X was compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

The registrant has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The members of the committee are Gerald J. Maginnis (chairman), Michael G. Clark and George Grossman.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

Included in Item 1 above.

 

 

 


Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

The registrant has delegated voting of proxies in respect of portfolio holdings to Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (“C&S”), in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth below.

COHEN & STEERS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE VOTING OF SECURITIES

This statement sets forth the policies and procedures that Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. and its affiliated advisors (“Cohen & Steers”, “we” or “us”) follow in exercising voting rights with respect to securities held in its client portfolios. All proxy-voting rights that are exercised by Cohen & Steers shall be subject to this Statement of Policy and Procedures.

General Proxy Voting Guidelines

Objectives

Voting rights are an important component of corporate governance. Cohen & Steers has three overall objectives in exercising voting rights:

 

   

Responsibility. Cohen & Steers shall seek to ensure that there is an effective means in place to hold companies accountable for their actions. While management must be accountable to its board, the board must be accountable to a company’s shareholders. Although accountability can be promoted in a variety of ways, protecting shareholder voting rights may be among our most important tools.

 

   

Rationalizing Management and Shareholder Concerns. Cohen & Steers seeks to ensure that the interests of a company’s management and board are aligned with those of the company’s shareholders. In this respect, compensation must be structured to reward the creation of shareholder value.

 

   

Shareholder Communication. Since companies are owned by their shareholders, Cohen & Steers seeks to ensure that management effectively communicates with its owners about the company’s business operations and financial performance. It is only with effective communication that shareholders will be able to assess the performance of management and to make informed decisions on when to buy, sell or hold a company’s securities.

General Principles

In exercising voting rights, Cohen & Steers shall conduct itself in accordance with the general principles set forth below.

 

   

The ability to exercise a voting right with respect to a security is a valuable right and, therefore, must be viewed as part of the asset itself.

 

   

In exercising voting rights, Cohen & Steers shall engage in a careful evaluation of issues that may materially affect the rights of shareholders and the value of the security.

 

 

 


   

Consistent with general fiduciary principles, the exercise of voting rights shall always be conducted with reasonable care, prudence and diligence.

 

   

In exercising voting rights on behalf of clients, Cohen & Steers shall conduct itself in the same manner as if Cohen & Steers were the constructive owner of the securities.

 

   

To the extent reasonably possible, Cohen & Steers shall participate in each shareholder voting opportunity.

 

   

Voting rights shall not automatically be exercised in favor of management-supported proposals.

 

   

Cohen & Steers, and its officers and employees, shall never accept any item of value in consideration of a favorable proxy voting decision.

General Guidelines

Set forth below are general guidelines that Cohen & Steers shall follow in exercising proxy voting rights:

 

   

Prudence. In making a proxy voting decision, Cohen & Steers shall give appropriate consideration to all relevant facts and circumstances, including the value of the securities to be voted and the likely effect any vote may have on that value. Since voting rights must be exercised on the basis of an informed judgment, investigation shall be a critical initial step.

 

   

Third Party Views. While Cohen & Steers may consider the views of third parties, Cohen & Steers shall never base a proxy voting decision solely on the opinion of a third party. Rather, decisions shall be based on a reasonable and good faith determination as to how best to maximize shareholder value.

 

   

Shareholder Value. Just as the decision whether to purchase or sell a security is a matter of judgment, determining whether a specific proxy resolution will increase the market value of a security is a matter of judgment as to which informed parties may differ. In determining how a proxy vote may affect the economic value of a security, Cohen & Steers shall consider both short-term and long-term views about a company’s business and prospects, especially in light of our projected holding period on the stock (e.g., Cohen & Steers may discount long-term views on a short-term holding).

Specific Guidelines

A. Responsibility. Cohen & Steers shall seek to ensure that there is an effective means in place to hold companies accountable for their actions. While management must be accountable to its board, the board must be accountable to a company’s shareholders. Although accountability can be promoted in a variety of ways, protecting shareholder voting rights may be among our most important tools.

 

 

 


B. Rationalizing Management and Shareholder Concerns. Cohen & Steers seeks to ensure that the interests of a company’s management and board are aligned with those of the company’s shareholders. In this respect, compensation must be structured to reward the creation of shareholder value.

C. Shareholder Communication. Since companies are owned by their shareholders, Cohen & Steers seeks to ensure that management effectively communicates with its owners about the company’s business operations and financial performance. It is only with effective communication that shareholders will be able to assess the performance of management and to make informed decisions on when to buy, sell or hold a company’s securities.

In exercising voting rights, Cohen & Steers follows the general principles set forth below.

 

 

The ability to exercise a voting right with respect to a security is a valuable right and, therefore, must be viewed as part of the asset itself.

 

 

In exercising voting rights, Cohen & Steers shall engage in a careful evaluation of issues that may materially affect the rights of shareholders and the value of the security.

 

 

Consistent with general fiduciary principles, the exercise of voting rights shall always be conducted with reasonable care, prudence and diligence.

 

 

In exercising voting rights on behalf of clients, Cohen & Steers shall conduct itself in the same manner as if Cohen & Steers were the beneficial owners of the securities.

 

 

To the extent reasonably possible, Cohen & Steers shall participate in each shareholder voting opportunity.

 

 

Voting rights shall not automatically be exercised in favor of management-supported proposals.

 

 

Cohen & Steers, and their respective officers and employees, shall never accept any item of value in consideration of a favorable proxy vote.

Set forth below are general guidelines followed by Cohen & Steers in exercising proxy voting rights:

Prudence. In making a proxy voting decision, Cohen & Steers shall give appropriate consideration to all relevant facts and circumstances, including the value of the securities to be voted and the likely effect any vote may have on that value. Since voting rights must be exercised on the basis of an informed judgment, investigation shall be a critical initial step.

Third Party Views. While Cohen & Steers may consider the views of third parties, Cohen & Steers shall never base a proxy voting decision solely on the opinion of a third party. Rather, decisions shall be based on a reasonable and good faith determination as to how best to maximize shareholder value.

Shareholder Value. Just as the decision whether to purchase or sell a security is a matter of judgment, determining whether a specific proxy resolution will increase the market value of a security is a matter of judgment as to which informed parties may differ. In determining how a proxy vote may affect the economic value of a security, Cohen & Steers shall consider both short-term and long-term views about a company’s business and prospects, especially in light of its projected holding period on the stock (e.g., Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. may discount long-term views on a short-term holding).

 

 

 


Voting for Directors Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees are made on a case-by-case basis using a “mosaic” approach, where all factors are considered and no single factor is determinative. In evaluating director nominees, Cohen & Steers considers the following factors:

 

 

Whether the nominee attended less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a valid excuse for the absences;

 

 

Whether the nominee is an inside or affiliated outside director and sits on the audit, compensation, or nominating committees and/or the full board serves as the audit, compensation, or nominating committees or the company does not have one of these committees;

 

 

Whether the board ignored a significant shareholder proposal that was approved by a majority of the votes cast in the previous year;

 

 

Whether the board, without shareholder approval, to our knowledge instituted a new poison pill plan, extended an existing plan, or adopted a new plan upon the expiration of an existing plan during the past year;

 

 

Whether the nominee is the chairman or CEO of a publicly-traded company who serves on more than two (2) public company boards;

 

 

In the case of nominees other than the chairman or CEO, whether the nominee serves on more than four (4) public company boards;

 

 

If the nominee is an incumbent director, the length of tenure taking into account tenure limits recommended by local corporate governance codes1;

 

 

Whether the nominee has a material related party transaction or a material conflict of interest with the company;

 

 

Whether the nominee (or the entire board) in our view has a record of making poor corporate or strategic decisions or has demonstrated an overall lack of good business judgment;

 

 

Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight2, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; and

 

 

Actions related to a nominee’s service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

 

1 

For example, in the UK, independent directors of publicly traded companies with tenure exceeding nine (9) years are reclassified as non-independent unless the company can explain why they remain independent.

2 

Examples of failure of risk oversight include, but are not limited to: bribery; large or serial fines from regulatory bodies; significant adverse legal judgments or settlements; hedging of company stock by the employees or directors of a company; or a significant pledging of company stock in the aggregate by the officers and directors of a company.

 

 

 


Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

Votes in a contested election of directors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering the long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry management’s track record, the qualifications of the nominees and other relevant factors.

The Majority Vote for Directors

Cohen & Steers generally votes for proposals asking for the board to amend the company’s governance documents (charter or bylaws) to provide that director nominees will be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders.

Separation of Chairman and CEO

Cohen & Steers generally votes for proposals to separate the CEO and chairman positions. Cohen & Steers does recognize, however, that under certain circumstances, it may be in the company’s best interest for the CEO and chairman positions to be held by one person.

The Independent Chairman

Cohen & Steers reviews on a case-by-case basis proposals requiring the chairman’s position to be filled by an independent director, taking into account the company’s current board leadership and governance structure; company performance, and any other factors that may be relevant.

Lead Independent Directors

In cases where the CEO and chairman roles are combined or the chairman is not independent, Cohen & Steers vote for the appointment of a lead independent director.

Board Independence

Cohen & Steers believes that boards should have a majority of independent directors. Therefore, Cohen & Steers vote for proposals that require the board to be comprised of a majority of independent directors.

Generally, Cohen & Steers considers a director independent if the director satisfies the independence definition set forth in local corporate governance codes and/or the applicable listing standards of the exchange on which the company’s stock is listed.

In addition, Cohen & Steers generally considers a director independent if the director has no significant financial, familial or other ties with the company that may pose a conflict, and has not been employed by the company in an executive capacity.

Board Size

Cohen & Steers generally votes for proposals to limit the size of the board to 15 members or less.

Classified Boards

Cohen & Steers generally votes in favor of shareholder proposals to declassify a board of directors. In voting on proposals to declassify a board of directors, Cohen & Steers evaluates all facts and circumstances, including whether: (i) the current management and board have a history of making good corporate or strategic decisions and (ii) the proposal is in the best interests of shareholders.

 

 

 


Independent Committees

Cohen & Steers votes for proposals requesting that a board’s audit, compensation and nominating committees consist only of independent directors.

Non-Disclosure of Board Compensation

Cohen & Steers generally votes against the election of director nominees at companies if the compensation paid to such directors is not disclosed prior to the meeting. However, Cohen & Steers recognizes that companies in certain emerging markets may have legitimate reasons for not disclosing such compensation. In such cases, if a company discloses a legitimate reason why such compensation should not be disclosed, Cohen & Steers may vote for the nominees even if compensation is not disclosed.

Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

Cohen & Steers votes in favor of proposals providing indemnification for directors and officers for acts conducted in the normal course of business that is consistent with the law of the jurisdiction of formation. Cohen & Steers also vote in favor of proposals that expand coverage for directors and officers where, despite an unsuccessful legal defense, the director or officer acted in good faith and in the best interests of the company. Cohen & Steers votes against proposals that would expand indemnification beyond coverage of legal expenses to coverage of acts, such as gross negligence, that are violations of fiduciary obligations.

Compensation Proposals

Votes on Executive Compensation. “Say-on-Pay” votes are determined on a case-by-case basis taking into account the reasonableness of the company’s compensation structure and the adequacy of the disclosure.

Cohen & Steers generally votes against in cases where there are an unacceptable under of problematic pay practices including:

 

 

Poor linkage between the executives’ pay and the company’s performance and profitability;

 

 

The presence of objectionable structural features in the compensation plan, such as excessive perquisites, golden parachutes, tax-gross up provisions, and automatic benchmarking of pay in the top half of the peer group;

 

 

A lack of proportionality in the plan relative to the company’s size and peer group.

Additional Disclosure on Executive and Director Pay. Cohen & Steers generally votes for shareholder proposals that seek additional disclosure of executive and director pay information.

Frequency of Shareholder Votes on Executive Compensation. Cohen & Steers generally votes for annual shareholder advisory votes to approve executive compensation.

Golden Parachutes. In general, Cohen & Steers votes against golden parachutes because they impede potential takeovers that shareholders should be free to consider. Cohen & Steers opposes the use of employment agreements that result in excessive cash payments and generally withhold our vote at the next shareholder meeting for directors who approved golden parachutes.

 

 

 


In the context of an acquisition, merger, consolidation, or proposed sale, Cohen & Steers votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to approve golden parachute payments. Factors that may result to a vote against include:

 

 

Potentially excessive severance payments;

 

 

Agreements that include excessive excise tax gross-up provisions;

 

 

Single-trigger payments upon a Change in Control (“CIC”), including cash payments and the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

 

 

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

 

 

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to encourage transactions that may not be in the best interests of shareholders; or

 

 

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote.

Equity Compensation Plans. Votes on proposals related to compensation plans are determined on a case-by-case basis taking into account plan features and equity grant practices, where positive factors may counterbalance negative factors (and vice versa), as evaluated based on three pillars:

 

 

Plan Cost: the total estimated cost of the company’s equity plans relative to industry/market cap peers measured by the company’s estimated shareholder value transfer (SVT) in relation to peers, considering:

 

   

SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants; and

 

   

SVT based only on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants.

 

 

Plan Features:

 

   

Automatic single-triggered award vesting upon CIC;

 

   

Discretionary vesting authority;

 

   

Liberal share recycling on various award types; and

 

   

Minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan.

 

 

Grant Practices:

 

   

The company’s three year burn rate relative to its industry/market cap peers;

 

   

Vesting requirements for most recent CEO equity grants (3-year look-back);

 

   

The estimated duration of the plan based on the sum of shares remaining available and the new shares requested divided by the average annual shares granted in the prior three years;

 

   

The proportion of the CEO’s most recent equity grants/awards subject to performance conditions;

 

   

Whether the company maintains a claw-back policy; and

 

   

Whether the company has established post exercise/vesting share-holding requirements.

Cohen & Steers generally votes against compensation plan proposals if the combination of factors indicates that the plan is not, overall, in the shareholders’ interest, or if any of the following apply:

 

 

Awards may vest in connection with a liberal CIC;

 

 

The plan would permit re-pricing or cash buyout of underwater options without shareholder approval;

 

 

 


 

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices or a pay-for-performance disconnect; or

 

 

Any other plan features that are determined to have a significant negative impact on shareholder interests.

Transferable Stock Options. Cohen & Steers evaluates on a case-by-case basis proposals to grant transferable stock options or otherwise permit the transfer of outstanding stock options, including cost of proposal and alignment with shareholder interests.

Approval of Cash or Cash-and-Stock Bonus Plans. Cohen & Steers votes to approve cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans that seek to exempt executive compensation from limits on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Employee Stock Purchase Plans. Cohen & Steers votes for the approval of employee stock purchase plans, although Cohen & Steers generally believes the discounted purchase price should not exceed 15% of the current market price.

401(k) Employee Benefit Plans. Cohen & Steers votes for proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.

Stock Ownership Requirements. Cohen & Steers supports proposals requiring senior executives and directors to hold a minimum amount of stock in a company (often expressed as a percentage of annual compensation), which may include restricted stock or restricted stock units.

Stock Holding Periods. Cohen & Steers generally votes against proposals requiring executives to hold stock received upon option exercise for a specific period of time.

Recovery of Incentive Compensation. Cohen & Steers generally votes for proposals to recover incentive bonuses or other incentive payments made to senior executives if it is later determined that fraud, misconduct, or negligence significantly contributed to a restatement of financial results that led to the award of incentive compensation.

Capital Structure Changes and Anti-Takeover Proposals

Increase to Authorized Shares. Cohen & Steers generally votes for increases in authorized shares, provided that the increase is not greater than three times the number of shares outstanding and reserved for issuance (including shares reserved for stock-related plans and securities convertible into common stock, but not shares reserved for any poison pill plan).

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Cohen & Steers generally votes against proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock without specific voting, conversion, distribution and other rights, and proposals to increase the number of authorized blank check preferred shares. Cohen & Steers may vote in favor of these proposals if Cohen & Steers receives reasonable assurances that (i) the preferred stock was authorized by the board for legitimate capital formation purposes and not for anti-takeover purposes, and (ii) no preferred stock will be issued with voting power that is disproportionate to the economic interests of the preferred stock. These representations should be made either in the proxy statement or in a separate letter from the company to us.

Pre-emptive Rights. Cohen & Steers generally votes against the issuance of equity shares with pre-emptive rights. However, Cohen & Steers may vote for shareholder pre-emptive rights where such pre-emptive rights are necessary taking in to account the best interests of the company’s shareholders. In addition, we acknowledge that international local practices may call for

 

 

 


shareholder pre-emptive rights when a company seeks authority to issue shares (e.g., UK authority for the issuance of only up to 5% of outstanding shares without pre-emptive rights). While Cohen & Steers prefers that companies be permitted to issue shares without pre-emptive rights, in deference to international local practices, Cohen & Steers will approve issuance requests with pre-emptive rights.

Dual Class Capitalizations. Because classes of common stock with unequal voting rights limit the rights of certain shareholders, we vote against adoption of a dual or multiple class capitalization structure. Cohen & Steers supports the one-share, one-vote principle for voting.

Restructurings/Recapitalizations. Cohen & Steers reviews proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan on a case-by-case basis. In voting, Cohen & Steers considers the following issues:

 

 

Dilution: how much will the ownership interest of existing shareholders be reduced, and how extreme will dilution to any future earnings be?

 

 

Change in control: will the transaction result in a change in control of the company?

 

 

Bankruptcy: generally, approve proposals that facilitate debt restructurings unless there are clear signs of self-dealing or other abuses.

Share Repurchase Programs. Cohen & Steers generally votes in favor of such programs where the repurchase would be in the long-term best interests of shareholders and where we believe that this is a good use of the company’s cash.

Cohen & Steers will vote against such programs when shareholders’ interests could be better served by deployment of the cash for alternative uses, or where the repurchase is a defensive maneuver or an attempt to entrench management.

Targeted Share Placements. Cohen & Steers votes these proposals on a case-by-case basis. These proposals ask companies to seek shareholder approval before placing 10% or more of their voting stock with a single investor. The proposals are typically in reaction to the placement of a large block of voting stock in an employee stock option plan, parent capital fund or with a single friendly investor, with the aim of protecting the company against a hostile tender offer.

Shareholder Rights Plans. Cohen & Steers reviews on a case-by-case basis proposals to ratify shareholder rights plans taking into consideration the length of the plan.

Reincorporation Proposals. Proposals to change a company’s jurisdiction of incorporation are examined on a case-by-case basis. When evaluating such proposals, Cohen & Steers reviews management’s rationale for the proposal, changes to the charter/bylaws, and differences in the applicable laws governing the companies.

Voting on State Takeover Statutes. Cohen & Steers reviews on a case-by-case basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freeze-out provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions and disgorgement provisions). In voting on these shareholder proposals, Cohen & Steers takes into account whether the proposal is in the long-term best interests of the company and whether it would be in the best interests of the company to thwart a shareholder’s attempt to control the board of directors.

Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

Mergers and Acquisitions. Votes on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the anticipated financial and operating benefits, offer price (cost vs. premium), prospects of the combined companies, how the deal was negotiated and changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder rights.

 

 

 


Cohen & Steers votes against proposals that require a super-majority of shareholders to approve a merger or other significant business combination.

Nonfinancial Effects of a Merger or Acquisition. Some companies have proposed charter provisions that specify that the board of directors may examine the nonfinancial effects of a merger or acquisition on the company. This provision would allow the board to evaluate the impact a proposed change in control would have on employees, host communities, suppliers and/or others. Cohen & Steers generally vote against proposals to adopt such charter provisions. Directors should base their decisions solely on the financial interests of the shareholders.

Spin-offs. Cohen & Steers evaluates spin-offs on a case-by-case basis taking into account the tax and regulatory advantages, planned use of sale proceeds, market focus, and managerial incentives.

Asset Sales. Cohen & Steers evaluates asset sales on a case-by-case basis taking into account the impact on the balance sheet/working capital, value received for the asset, and potential elimination of diseconomies.

Liquidations. Cohen & Steers evaluates liquidations on a case-by-case basis taking into account management’s efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.

Ratification of Auditors

Cohen & Steers generally votes for proposals to ratify auditors, auditor remuneration and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix audit fees, unless:

 

 

an auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

 

 

there is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

 

 

the name of the proposed auditor and/or fees paid to the audit firm are not disclosed by the company prior to the meeting;

 

 

the auditors are being changed without explanation; or

 

 

fees paid for non-audit related services are excessive and/or exceed fees paid for audit services or limits set in local best practice recommendations or law.

Where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events, initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergence, and spinoffs, and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining whether non-audit related fees are excessive.

 

 

 


Auditor Rotation

Cohen & Steers evaluates auditor rotation proposals on a case-by-case basis taking into account the following factors: the tenure of the audit firm; establishment and disclosure of a review process whereby the auditor is regularly evaluated for both audit quality and competitive price; length of the rotation period advocated in the proposal; and any significant audit related issues.

Auditor Indemnification

Cohen & Steers generally votes against auditor indemnification and limitation of liability. However, Cohen & Steers recognizes there may be situations where indemnification and limitations on liability may be appropriate.

Shareholder Access and Voting Proposals

Proxy Access. Cohen & Steers reviews proxy access proposals on a case-by-case basis taking into account the parameters of proxy access use in light of a company’s specific circumstances. Cohen & Steers generally supports proposals that provide shareholders with a reasonable opportunity to use the right without stipulating overly restrictive or onerous parameters for use and also provide assurances that the mechanism will not be subject to abuse by short-term investors, investors without a substantial investment in the company or investors seeking to take control of the board.

Bylaw Amendments. Cohen & Steers votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals requesting companies grant shareholders the ability to amend bylaws. Similar to proxy access, Cohen & Steers generally supports proposals that provide assurances that this right will not be subject to abuse by short-term investors or investors without a substantial investment in a company.

Reimbursement of Proxy Solicitation Expenses. In the absence of compelling reasons, the Advisor and the Subadvisors will generally not support such proposals.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings. Cohen & Steers votes on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals requesting companies amend their governance documents (bylaws and/or charter) in order to allow shareholders to call special meetings.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent. Cohen & Steers generally votes against proposals to allow or facilitate shareholder action by written consent to provide reasonable protection of minority shareholder rights.

Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board. Cohen & Steers generally votes for proposals that seek to fix the size of the board and vote against proposals that give the board the ability to alter the size of the board without shareholder approval. While Cohen & Steers recognizes the importance of such proposals, these proposals may be set forth in order to promote the agenda(s) of certain special interest groups and could be disruptive to the management of the company.

Cumulative Voting. Having the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors (i.e., to cast more than one vote for a director) generally increases shareholders’ rights to effect change in the management of a corporation. However, Cohen & Steers acknowledges that cumulative voting promotes special candidates who may not represent the interests of all, or even a majority, of shareholders. Therefore, when voting on proposals to institute cumulative voting, Cohen & Steers evaluates all facts and circumstances surrounding such proposal and generally vote against cumulative voting where the company has good corporate governance practices in place, including majority voting for board elections and de-classified boards.

 

 

 


Supermajority Vote Requirements. Cohen & Steers generally supports proposals that seek to lower supermajority voting requirements.

Confidential Voting. Cohen & Steers votes for shareholder proposals requesting that companies adopt confidential voting, use independent tabulators, and use independent inspectors of election as long as such proposals permit management to request that the dissident groups honor its confidential voting policy in the case of proxy contests.

Cohen & Steers also votes for management proposals to adopt confidential voting.

Date/Location of Meeting. Cohen & Steers votes against shareholder proposals to change the date or location of the shareholders’ meeting.

Adjourn Meeting if Votes are Insufficient. Cohen & Steers generally votes against open-end requests for adjournment of a shareholder meeting. However, where management specifically states the reason for requesting an adjournment and the requested adjournment is necessary to permit a proposal that would otherwise be supported under this policy to be carried out, the adjournment request will be supported.

Disclosure of Shareholder Proponents. Cohen & Steers votes for shareholder proposals requesting that companies disclose the names of shareholder proponents. Shareholders may wish to contact the proponents of a shareholder proposal for additional information.

Environmental and Social Proposals

Cohen & Steers believes that well-managed companies should be evaluating and assessing how environmental and social matters may enhance or protect shareholder value. However, because of the diverse nature of environmental and social proposals, we evaluate these proposals on a case-by-case basis. The principles guiding the evaluation of these proposals are whether implementation of a proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value and whether a proposal can be implemented at a reasonable cost.

Environmental Proposals (SP). Cohen & Steers acknowledges that environmental considerations can pose significant investment risks and opportunities. Therefore, we generally vote in favor of proposals requesting a company disclose information that will aid in the determination of shareholder value creation or destruction, taking into consideration the following factors:

 

 

Whether the issues presented have already been effectively dealt with through governmental regulation or legislation;

 

 

Whether the disclosure is available to shareholders from the company or from a publicly available source; and

 

 

Whether implementation would reveal proprietary or confidential information that could place the company at a competitive disadvantage.

Social Proposals (SP). Cohen & Steers believes board and workforce diversity are beneficial t the decision-making process and can enhance long-term profitability. Therefore, we generally vote in favor of proposals that seek to increase board and workforce diversity. We vote all other social proposals on a case-by-case basis, including, but not limited to, proposals related to political and charitable contributions, lobbying, and gender equality and the gender pay gap.

 

 

 


Miscellaneous Proposals

Bundled Proposals. Cohen & Steers reviews on a case-by-case basis bundled or “conditioned” proposals. For items that are conditioned upon each other, Cohen & Steers examines the benefits and costs of the bundled items. In instances where the combined effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholders’ best interests, Cohen & Steers votes against the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, Cohen & Steers supports such proposals. In the case of bundled director proposals, Cohen & Steers will vote for the entire slate only if Cohen & Steers would have otherwise voted for each director on an individual basis.

Other Business. Cohen & Steers generally votes against proposals to approve other business where Cohen & Steers cannot determine the exact nature of the proposal(s) to be voted on.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies.

Information pertaining to the portfolio manager of the registrant, as of March 6, 2020, is set forth below.

 

Douglas R. Bond

 

•   Vice President

 

•   Portfolio manager since inception

  

Executive Vice President of C&S since 2004.

The portfolio manager listed above manages other investment companies and/or investment vehicles and accounts in addition to the registrant. The following tables show, as of December 31, 2019, the number of other accounts the portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category. The portfolio manager does not receive performance-based fees with respect to any of the registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles or other accounts that he manages.

 

                                         
Douglas Bond    Number of accounts    Total assets  

•   Registered investment companies

   0    $ 0  

•   Other pooled investment vehicles

   0    $ 0  

•   Other accounts

   2    $ 213,218,267  

Share Ownership. The following table indicates the dollar range of securities of the registrant owned by the registrant’s portfolio manager as of December 31, 2019:

 

      Dollar Range of Securities Owned
Douglas R. Bond    $100,001–$500,000

 

 

 


Conflicts of Interest. It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s management of the registrant’s investments on the one hand and the investments of other accounts or vehicles for which the portfolio managers are responsible on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the registrant and the other accounts or vehicles he advises. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions among the registrant and the other accounts, a portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the registrant.

In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may provide more revenue to the registrant’s investment advisor. While this may appear to create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities, the investment advisor strives to ensure that portfolio managers endeavor to exercise their discretion in a manner that is equitable to all interested persons. In this regard, in the absence of specific account-related impediments (such as client-imposed restrictions or lack of available cash), it is the policy of the investment advisor to allocate investment ideas pro rata to all accounts with the same primary investment objective.

In addition, certain of the portfolio managers may from time to time manage one or more accounts on behalf of the registrant’s investment advisor and its affiliated companies (the “CNS Accounts”). Certain securities held and traded in the CNS Accounts also may be held and traded in one or more client accounts. It is the policy of the investment advisor however not to put the interests of the CNS Accounts ahead of the interests of client accounts. The investment advisor may aggregate orders of client accounts with those of the CNS Accounts; however, under no circumstances will preferential treatment be given to the CNS Accounts. For all orders involving the CNS Accounts, purchases or sales will be allocated prior to trade placement, and orders that are only partially filled will be allocated across all accounts in proportion to the shares each account, including the CNS Accounts, was designated to receive prior to trading. As a result, it is expected that the CNS Accounts will receive the same average price as other accounts included in the aggregated order. Shares will not be allocated or re-allocated to the CNS Accounts after trade execution or after the average price is known. In the event so few shares of an order are executed that a pro-rata allocation is not practical, a rotational system of allocation may be used; however, the CNS Accounts will never be part of that rotation or receive shares of a partially filled order other than on a pro-rata basis.

Because certain CNS Accounts are managed with a cash management objective, it is possible that a security will be sold out of the CNS Accounts but continue to be held for one or more client accounts. In situations when this occurs, such security will remain in a client account only if the portfolio manager, acting in its reasonable judgment and consistent with its fiduciary duties, believes this is appropriate for, and consistent with the objectives and profile of, the client account.

Advisor Compensation Structure. Compensation of the investment advisor’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus and (3) long-term stock-based compensation consisting generally of restricted stock units of the investment advisor’s parent, CNS. The investment advisor’s investment professionals, including the portfolio managers, also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to all of its employees. Compensation of the investment advisor’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis. Cash bonuses, stock-based compensation awards, and adjustments in base salary are typically paid or put into effect in the January following the fiscal year-end of CNS.

 

 

 


Method to Determine Compensation. The registrant’s investment advisor compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the total return performance of funds and accounts managed by the portfolio manager versus appropriate peer groups or benchmarks. C&S uses a variety of benchmarks to evaluate each portfolio managers’ performance for compensation purposes, including the Morningstar U.S. All Taxable Ex-Foreign Equity Index and other broad based indexes based on the asset classes managed by each portfolio manager. In evaluating the performance of a portfolio manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on one- and three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer periods of time. Performance is evaluated on a pre-tax and pre-expense basis. In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to risk-adjusted performance. For funds and accounts with a primary investment objective of high current income, consideration will also be given to the fund’s and account’s success in achieving this objective. For portfolio managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis. The investment advisor has two funds or accounts with performance-based advisory fees. Portfolio managers are also evaluated on the basis of their success in managing their dedicated team of analysts. Base compensation for portfolio managers of the Advisor varies in line with the portfolio manager’s seniority and position with the firm.

Salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of the registrant’s investment advisor and CNS. While the annual salaries of the Advisor’s portfolio managers are fixed, cash bonuses and stock based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

None.

Note: On December 10, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved continuation of the delegation of its authority to management to effect repurchases, pursuant to management’s discretion and subject to market conditions and investment considerations, of up to 10% of the Fund’s common shares outstanding (“Share Repurchase Program”) as of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this Item.

 

 

 


Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)

The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

 

(b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

(a)

The Fund did not engage in any securities lending activity during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

 

(b)

The Fund did not engage in any securities lending activity and did not engage a securities lending agent during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Item 13. Exhibits.

(a)(1) Not applicable.

(a) (2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(a)(4) Not applicable.

(b) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

 

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

COHEN & STEERS CLOSED-END OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

 

By:   /s/ Adam M. Derechin
  Name: Adam M. Derechin
  Title: Principal Executive Officer
            (President and Chief Executive Officer)
          Date: March 6, 2020

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:   /s/ Adam M. Derechin     By:   /s/ James Giallanza
 

Name: Adam M. Derechin

Title: Principal Executive Officer

          (President and Chief Executive Officer)

     

Name: James Giallanza

Title: Principal Financial Officer

          (Chief Financial Officer)

          Date: March 6, 2020