DEF 14A 1 fp0067915_def14a.htm

UNITED STATES

SECRUITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.___)

 

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[X]Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ]Definitive Additional Materials
[  ]Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12

 

SABA CAPITAL INCOME & OPPORTUNITIES FUND

(name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

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identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

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Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund

405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor

New York, New York 10174

212-542-4644

 

August 13, 2021

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), we are pleased to invite you to the annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”). The Annual Meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., local time, on September 24, 2021, via audio teleconference.

 

At the Annual Meeting, shareholders of the Fund will be asked to reelect six nominees to the Board (the “Proposal”).

 

Formal notice of the Annual Meeting appears on the next page, followed by the proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”). The Proposal is discussed in detail in the enclosed Proxy Statement, which you should read carefully.

 

After careful consideration, the Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Proposal.

 

Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own. To avoid the added cost of follow-up solicitations and possible adjournments, please take a few minutes to read the Proxy Statement and cast your vote. It is important that your vote be received no later than September 24, 2021.

 

We appreciate your participation and prompt response in this matter and thank you for your continued support.

 

Sincerely,

 

Andrew Kellerman

 

Andrew Kellerman
President of the Board

 

 

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

of

Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund

405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor

New York, New York 10174

212-542-4644

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual meeting of the shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., local time on September 24, 2021 via audio teleconference.

 

At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked:

 

1.To reelect six nominees to the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Proposal”);

 

2.To transact such other business, not currently contemplated, that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements thereof, in the discretion of the proxies or their substitutes.

 

Please read the enclosed proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) carefully for information concerning the Proposal to be placed before the Annual Meeting. The Board of Trustees recommends that you vote “FOR” the Proposal.

 

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 16, 2021, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, and are also entitled to vote at any adjournments or postponements thereof. Your attention is called to the accompanying Proxy Statement. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, and return promptly, but in no event later than September 24, 2021, the enclosed Proxy Ballot so that a quorum will be present and a maximum number of shares may be voted. Proxies may be revoked at any time before they are exercised by submitting a revised Proxy Ballot, by giving written notice of revocation to the Fund or by voting virtually at the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Trustees

 

Michael D'Angelo

 

Michael D’Angelo

Secretary

 

August 13, 2021

 

 

PROXY STATEMENT

 

August 13, 2021

 

Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund

 

405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor

New York, New York 10174

212-542-4644

 


Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Scheduled for September 24, 2021


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on September 24, 2021

 

This Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders are
available at: www.proxyvote.com

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Why did you send me this booklet?

This booklet includes a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) and a Proxy Ballot for the Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) in which you have an interest. It provides you with information you should review before providing voting instructions on the matters listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The words “you” and “shareholder” are used in this Proxy Statement to refer to the person or entity that has voting rights or is being asked to provide voting instructions in connection with the shares.

 

What proposal will be considered at the Annual Meeting?

At the annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), shareholders of the Fund are being asked to approve the election of six nominees to the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Proposal”).

 

Who is eligible to vote?

Shareholders of record holding an investment in shares of the Fund as of the close of business on July 16, 2021 (the “Record Date”) are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

How do I vote?

You may submit your Proxy Ballot in one of four ways:

 

By Internet. The web address and instructions for voting can be found on the enclosed Proxy Ballot. You will be required to provide your control number located on the Proxy Ballot.
   
By Telephone. The toll-free number for telephone voting can be found on the enclosed Proxy Ballot. You will be required to provide your control number located on the Proxy Ballot.
   
By Mail. Mark the enclosed Proxy Ballot, sign and date it, and return it in the postage-paid envelope we provided. Joint owners must each sign the Proxy Ballot.
   
Virtually at the Annual Meeting. You can vote your shares virtually at the Annual Meeting. If you expect to attend the Annual Meeting virtually, please call Broadridge Fund Solutions, LLC (“Broadridge”) at 855-928-4480.
   

To be certain your vote will be counted, a properly executed Proxy Ballot must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., local time, on September 23, 2021.

 

 

When and where will the Annual Meeting be held?

The Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held via audio teleconference on September 24, 2021, at 12:00 p.m., local time, and, if the Annual Meeting is adjourned or postponed, any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting will also be held in the same manner.

 

To participate in the Annual Meeting, shareholders must register in advance by visiting https://www.viewproxy.com/sabacapital/broadridgevsm/ and submitting the requested required information to Broadridge, the Fund’s proxy tabulator.

 

Shareholders whose shares are registered directly with the Fund in the shareholder’s name will be asked to submit their name and control number found on the shareholder’s proxy card in order to register to participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders whose shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee must first obtain a “legal proxy” from the applicable nominee/record holder, who will then provide the shareholder with a newly issued control number. We note that obtaining a legal proxy may take several days. Requests for registration should be received no later than 2 days prior to Meeting Date, but in any event must be received by the scheduled time for commencement of the Annual Meeting. Once shareholders have obtained a new control number, they must visit

https://www.viewproxy.com/sabacapital/broadridgevsm/, submit their name and newly issued control number in order to register to participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting. After shareholders have submitted their registration information, they will receive an email from Broadridge that confirms that their registration request has been received and is under review by Broadridge. Once shareholders’ registration requests have been accepted, they will receive (i) an email containing an event link and dial-in information to attend the Annual Meeting, and (ii) an email with a password to enter at the event link in order to access the Annual Meeting.

 

Shareholders may vote before or during the Annual Meeting at proxyvote.com. Only shareholders of the Fund present virtually or by proxy will be able to vote, or otherwise exercise the powers of a shareholder, at the Annual Meeting.

 

How can I obtain more information about the Fund?

Should you have any questions about the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact Broadridge toll free at 855-928-4480. A copy of the current annual report and most recent semi-annual report is available, without charge, on the Internet at www.sabacef.com or by contacting the Fund at:

 

 

Saba Capital Management, LP

405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor

New York, NY 10174
212-542-4644

 

Who are the service providers to the Fund?

Saba Capital Management, L.P. (“Saba Capital” or “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Additional information about Saba Capital may be found below.

 

Saba Capital, a Delaware limited partnership, has overall responsibility for the management of the Fund. Saba Capital oversees all investment advisory and portfolio management services and assists in managing and supervising all aspects of the general day-to-day business activities and operations of the Fund, including custodial, transfer agency, dividend disbursing, accounting, auditing, compliance and related services. Saba Capital is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an investment adviser. Effective June 4, 2021, Saba Capital replaced Voya Investments, LLC as the investment manager of the Fund and assumed responsibility for providing the investment management services to the Fund.

 

The Adviser is a U.S.-based registered investment adviser who focuses on credit relative value, tail hedge, SPACs and closed-end funds. Saba Capital’s principal office is located at 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174. As of July 1, 2021, Saba Capital managed approximately $3.7 billion in assets.

 

The Fund has engaged ALPS Fund Services, Inc. ("SS&C ALPS") to provide certain administrative and transfer agency services to the Fund. SS&C ALPS also acts as Fund Accountant, Transfer Agent, and Administrator to the Fund pursuant to service agreements with the Fund. The principal business address of SS&C ALPS is 1290 Broadway Suite 1000 Denver, CO 80203. In addition, the Fund has engaged Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC ("Foreside") to provide third-party compliance officer and treasurer services.

 

PROPOSAL ONE – ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES

 

What is Proposal One?

The Board of Trustees for the Fund (the “Board”) has nominated six individuals (the “Nominees”) for election as Trustees of the Fund. Shareholders are being asked to reelect each Nominee as a Trustee, each to serve until his or her death, resignation, or removal or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

 

The Nominees are: Aditya Bindal, Thomas Bumbolow, Karen Caldwell, Ketu Desai, Kieran Goodwin and Andrew Kellerman, each of whom is a current member of the Board. Except for Messrs. Kellerman and Bindal, each nominee is not an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Such persons are commonly referred to as “Independent Trustees.” Messrs. Kellerman and Bindal are considered an interested person of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, because each is also employed by Saba Capital. Each Nominee is currently a Trustee of the Fund and has consented to serve as a Trustee and to being named in this Proxy Statement. Please read the section entitled “Further Information about the Trustees and Officers” before voting on the Proposal.

 

Who are the Nominees and what are their qualifications?

Set forth below is pertinent information about each Nominee.

 

Independent Trustees

 

Thomas Bumbolow

Thomas R. Bumbolow became a Trustee of the Fund in 2021. Mr. Bumbolow currently serves as the head of business development at Midwest Holding (MWDT), an insurance company which blends innovative reinsurance capabilities with an elite asset management business. Mr. Bumbolow also serves as advisor to Capital2markets, a tech-based broker/dealer, Limitless Ventures, a venture impact capital fund, and Vchromatix, a private technology company. Mr. Bumbolow is the co-Founder of protoCapital, a merchant bank that operated from 2017-2020. Mr. Bumbolow has 20 years of experience at JPMorgan Chase, where he held various roles in fixed-income sales and trading from 1997-2017. He has been a board member of Stepping Stones Museum for Children since 2018. Mr. Bumbolow earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston College. Mr. Bumbolow's qualifications to serve as a Trustee include his numerous years of experience working within the financial and banking sectors, and with the asset management space generally.

 

Karen Caldwell

Karen Caldwell has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Reform Alliance since 2019. Previously, Ms. Caldwell served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the NHP Foundation, a non for profit dedicated to increasing housing affordability, from 2018 to 2019. From 2016 to 2018, Ms. Caldwell served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of the New York City Housing Authority. Prior to such position, she served as the president of Hanseatic Management Services, Inc., an asset management company, from 2015 to 2016. Prior to Hanseatic, Ms. Caldwell served as a managing director of Alternative Investments at Amundi Investments, LLC, an investment advisement firm, from 2008 to 2014. From 1994 until 2008, Ms. Caldwell served as the Group Senior Vice President and Co-Head of Rates and Portfolio Management of ABN AMRO/LaSalle Bank Corporation Treasury. Ms. Caldwell also served as the Vice President of Foreign Exchange Trading and Sales at JPMorgan Chase from 1982 until 1994. Ms. Caldwell served as a member of the board of directors and on the Audit Committee of the Chicago Housing Authority from 2014 until 2015. Ms. Caldwell earned a B.S. in Accounting from Florida A&M University, and an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Ms. Caldwell’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee include her extensive experience as senior management in various businesses and decades of leadership experience in top financial institutions.

 

 

Ketu Desai

Ketu Desai has served as the founding partner and Principal of i-squared Wealth Management, Inc., a private wealth investment management firm, since 2016. Previously, he served as Investment Analyst at Lighthouse Investment Partners, LLC (“Lighthouse”), a global investment firm, from 2007 until 2016. Based out of Lighthouse’s NYC office, Mr. Desai helped manage Lighthouse’s credit funds, including the Lighthouse Credit Opportunities Fund and Lighthouse Credit Compass. At Lighthouse, Mr. Desai was also a member of the firm’s Relative Value committee, responsible for portfolio allocation decisions and risk management of fixed income, credit, event-driven, mortgage, and distressed strategies. Prior to joining Lighthouse, Mr. Desai served as a M&A Investment Banking Analyst at Credit Suisse AG. Mr. Desai earned a B.A. in Economics from Stony Brook University, and a M.S. in Economics from New York University. Mr. Desai has also received an MBA from NYU Stern in Finance, Financial Instruments and Markets, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Mr. Desai’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee include his investing and financial experience as well his background in risk management.

 

Kieran Goodwin

Kieran Goodwin is the founder of Hidden Truth, a mobile application game. Previously, he served as the co-founder and Portfolio Manager of Panning Capital Management, LLC, a hedge fund with $2.5 billion AUM at its peak, from 2012 to 2019. Prior to Panning, from 2004 to 2010, Mr. Goodwin served as partner and Head of Trading of King Street Capital Management, an investment management firm. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Goodwin served as a Managing Director in UBS Principal Finance. Prior to UBS, Mr. Goodwin was a Managing Director in Fixed Income at Merrill Lynch and from 1991 until 1997 he was a trader in interest rate and credit derivatives at Smith Barney, Citigroup and Salomon Brothers. Mr. Goodwin earned a B.A. in Computer Science from Duke University in 1991. Mr. Goodwin’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee include his experience as a founder of an investment company and his extensive knowledge and experience in the finance and investment spaces.

 

 

Interested Trustee

 

Aditya Bindal

Aditya Bindal has served as Chief Risk Officer of Saba Capital Management, L.P. since 2018, prior to which he served as Chief Risk Officer at Water Island Capital (“Water Island”), an event-driven investment firm with over $2.5 billion in AUM, from 2015 to 2018. Prior to joining Water Island, from 2008 until 2015, Mr. Bindal served as Senior Risk Manager at Eton Park Capital Management, an investment firm with over $9 billion in AUM at its peak. Mr. Bindal began his career in 2005 at Bear Stearns as a risk associate and subsequently traded credit derivatives for the proprietary desk. Mr. Bindal received a Bachelor of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in India, a Masters from Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University. Mr. Bindal’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee include his deep financial expertise and the senior financial management positions he has held at multiple asset management firms.

 

Andrew Kellerman

Andrew Kellerman has served as Partner, President and Head of Business Development of Saba Capital Management, L.P. since 2018. Prior to joining Saba, Mr. Kellerman served as a Managing Director and Head of Distribution for the Private Institutional Client group within Alex. Brown & Sons where he was responsible for placement of boutique funds and private direct investments from 2017 to 2018. Prior to Alex. Brown, Mr. Kellerman served as a Managing Partner of Measure 8 Venture Partners, a diversified private capital fund focused on opportunities in emerging industries, from January 2017 to November 2017. Previously, Mr. Kellerman served as a Managing Director and Head of Business Development with Vertical Knowledge supplying open source data and analytics for the defense, financial services, and commercial markets from 2014-2016. Prior to joining Vertical Knowledge, Mr. Kellerman was employed with Deutsche Bank from 2002 through 2014, where he served as a Managing Director in Credit Derivatives from 2002-2006; U.S. Head of Synthetic CDO Sales from 2006-2009 and Head of Hedge Fund Credit Sales from 2009 through 2014. Mr. Kellerman’s additional experience includes FleetBoston Financial in Singapore where he was a Director in Asia Structured Finance, Presidio Capital also in Singapore where he served as Director in Structured Finance and First National Bank of Chicago where he served as VP, Head of EM Options Trading. Mr. Kellerman holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from Syracuse University. Mr. Kellerman’s qualifications to serve as a Trustee include his extensive experience in the investment and financial services industries including his time as managing director of a large multinational investment bank.

 

 

For additional information on the Nominees, please see Appendix A. No Nominee is a party adverse to the Fund or any of its affiliates in any material pending legal proceeding, nor does any Nominee have an interest materially adverse to the Fund.

 

If any or all of the Nominees become unavailable to serve as Trustee due to events not now known or anticipated, the persons named as proxies will vote for such other nominee or nominees as the current Trustees may recommend or the Board may reduce the number of Trustees as provided for in the Fund’s charter documents.

 

How long will the Trustees serve on the Board?

If elected, each Nominee would serve as a Trustee until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees, if any, and until a successor is duly elected and qualified, or if sooner, until their death, resignation, or removal.

 

What is the required vote?

Shareholders of the Fund will vote collectively as a single class on the election of each Nominee. There is no cumulative voting for the election of Trustees. The election of each Nominee must be approved by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present. Shareholders who vote for the Proposal will vote for each Nominee. Those shareholders who wish to withhold their vote on any specific nominees may do so on the Proxy Ballot. Shareholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Proposal.

 

What is the Board’s recommendation?

The Board, including all of the Independent Trustees, has unanimously approved the nomination of each of the Nominees, and is recommending that the shareholders of the Fund vote “FOR” each of the Nominees.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

 

The Board of Trustees

The Fund is governed by the Board, which oversees the Fund’s business and affairs. The Board delegates the day-to-day management of the Fund to the Fund’s Officers and to various service providers that have been contractually retained to provide such day-to-day services. The entities that render services to the Fund do so pursuant to contracts that have been approved by the Board. The Trustees are experienced executives who, among other duties, oversee the Fund’s activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund, and review the Fund’s investment performance.

 

 

The Board Leadership Structure and Related Matters

The Board is comprised of six members, four of whom are Independent Trustees.

 

One of the Interested Trustees, Andrew Kellerman, serves as the Chairperson of the Board. The responsibilities of the Chairperson of the Board include: coordinating with management in the preparation of agendas for Board meetings; presiding at Board meetings; between Board meetings, serving as a primary liaison with other Trustees, officers of the Fund, management personnel, and legal counsel to the Independent Trustees; and such other duties as the Board periodically may determine. Mr. Kellerman is a partner of the Fund’s investment adviser, Saba Capital. The designation of an individual as the Chairperson does not impose on such Trustee any duties, obligations or liabilities greater than the duties, obligations or liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.

 

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021, no Trustee attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of: (1) the total number of meetings held by the Board and (2) with respect to Trustees currently serving as members of the Audit Committee, the total number of meetings held by the Audit Committee.

 

Audit Committee. The Board has established an Audit Committee whose functions include, among other things: (i) meeting with the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund to review the scope of the Fund’s audit, the Fund’s financial statements and accounting controls; (ii) meeting with management concerning these matters, internal audit activities and other matters; and (iii) overseeing the implementation of the fund’s valuation procedures and the fair value determinations made with respect to securities held by the Fund for which market value quotations are not readily available. The Audit Committee currently consists of three (3) Independent Trustees. The following Trustees currently serve as members of the Audit Committee: Ms. Caldwell and Messrs. Bumbolow and Desai. Ms. Caldwell currently serves as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. All Committee members have been designated as Audit Committee Financial Experts under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee typically meets five (5) times per year, and may hold special meetings by telephone or in person to discuss specific matters that may require action prior to the next regular meeting. The Audit Committee held four (4) meetings during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021.

 

 

 

The Board has not established any committees other than the Audit Committee, and does not have a standing nominating committee nor a standing compensation committee. The Board believes it is appropriate for the Fund not to have a standing nominating committee or compensation committee because, given the size of the Board, the Independent Trustees are collectively capable of effectively and efficiently fulfilling the obligations that would otherwise be delegated to such committees, without the need for a formal committee structure. The Independent Trustees, acting together as a group, each participate in the consideration of trustee nominations and the compensation of trustees and executive officers.

 

The Board’s Risk Oversight Role

The day-to-day management of various risks relating to the administration and operation of the Fund and the Fund is the responsibility of management and other service providers retained by the Board or by management, most of whom employ professional personnel who have risk management responsibilities. The Board oversees this risk management function consistent with and as part of its oversight duties. The Board performs this risk management oversight function directly and, with respect to various matters, through its committees. The following description provides an overview of many, but not all, aspects of the Board’s oversight of risk management for the Fund. In this connection, the Board has been advised that it is not practicable to identify all of the risks that may impact the Fund or to develop procedures or controls that are designed to eliminate all such risk exposures, and that applicable securities law regulations do not contemplate that all such risks be identified and addressed.

 

The Board, working with management personnel and other service providers, has endeavored to identify the primary risks that confront the Fund. In general, these risks include, among others: (i) investment risks; (ii) credit risks; (iii) liquidity risks; (iv) valuation risks; (v) operational risks; (vi) reputational risks; (vii) regulatory risks; (viii) risks related to potential legislative changes; (ix) the risk of conflicts of interest affecting affiliates in managing the Fund; and (x) cybersecurity risks. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews various policies and procedures that are designed to address these and other risks confronting the Fund. In addition, many service providers to the Fund have adopted their own policies, procedures, and controls designed to address particular risks to the Fund. The Board and persons retained to render advice and service to the Board, including SS&C ALPS, which provides certain administrative, middle office and transfer agency services to the Fund, and Foreside, which provides third-party compliance officer and treasurer services to the Fund, periodically review and/or monitor changes to, and developments relating to, the effectiveness of these policies and procedures.

 

 

The Board oversees risk management activities in part through receipt and review by the Board of regular and special reports, presentations and other information from Officers of the Fund, including the CCOs for the Fund and the Adviser and the Adviser’s Chief Risk Officer, and from other service providers.

 

Trustee Compensation

Each Trustee is reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with each meeting of the Board or Audit Committee meetings attended, as applicable. Each Independent Trustee is compensated for his or her services, on a quarterly basis, according to a fee schedule adopted by the Board. The Board may from time to time designate other meetings as subject to compensation.

 

For serving on the Board, each Trustee was paid between $6,970 and $10,435 for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021. Appendix B details the compensation paid to the Trustees by the Fund.

 

Trustee Ownership of Securities

Appendix C provides the dollar value of all of the shares of the Fund held directly or indirectly by each Trustee as of a recent date.

 

Officers of the Fund

The Fund’s officers are elected by the Board and hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until they sooner resign, are removed, or are otherwise disqualified to serve. The officers of the Fund, together with each person’s position with the Fund and principal occupation for the last five years, are listed in Appendix D.

 

Officer Compensation

The officers, who are also officers or employees of Saba Capital or its affiliates, are compensated by Saba Capital or its affiliates. The officers are not paid by the Fund.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROXY STATEMENT

 

Who is asking for my vote?

The Board is soliciting your vote for the Annual Meeting of shareholders.

 

 

How is my proxy being solicited?

Solicitation of proxies is being made primarily by the mailing of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Proxy Statement, and the Proxy Ballot on or about August 13, 2021. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, employees of Saba Capital and its affiliates, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, telegraph, facsimile, or oral communications.

 

If a shareholder wishes to participate in the Annual Meeting, the shareholder may mail the Proxy Ballot originally sent with the Proxy Statement, attend virtually, vote telephonically, or vote online by logging on to www.proxyvote.com and following the online directions. Should shareholders require additional information regarding the proxy or require replacement of the Proxy Ballot, they may contact Broadridge at 855-928-4480.

 

What happens to my proxy once I submit it?

The Board has named Michael D’Angelo and Nitin Sapru, or one or more substitutes designated by them, as proxies who are authorized to vote Fund shares as directed by shareholders.

 

Can I revoke my proxy after I submit it?

A shareholder may revoke their proxy at any time prior to its use by filing with your Fund a written revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. In addition, any shareholder who attends the Annual Meeting virtually may vote by ballot at the Annual Meeting, thereby canceling any proxy previously given.

 

How will my shares be voted?

If you follow the voting instructions, your proxies will vote your shares as you have directed. If you submitted your Proxy Ballot but did not vote on the proposals, your proxies will vote on the proposals as recommended by the Board. If any other matter is properly presented, your proxies will vote in their discretion in accordance with their best judgment, including on any proposal to adjourn the meeting. At the time this Proxy Statement was printed, the Board knew of no matter that needed to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting other than the proposal discussed in this Proxy Statement.

 

Quorum and Tabulation

Each shareholder of the Fund is entitled to one vote for each share held as to any matter on which such shareholder is entitled to vote and for each fractional share that is owned, the shareholder shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. A majority of shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

 

 

Adjournments

If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, if there are insufficient votes to approve the Proposal, or for any other reason deemed appropriate by your proxies, your proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Annual Meeting to permit additional time for the solicitation of proxies. Solicitation of votes may continue to be made without any obligation to provide any additional notice of the adjournment. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournments in their discretion.

 

Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions

If a shareholder abstains from voting as to any matter, or if a broker returns a “non-vote” proxy, indicating a lack of authority to vote on a matter, then the shares represented by such abstention or non-vote will be treated as shares that are present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. However, abstentions and broker non-votes will be disregarded in determining the “votes cast” on a proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of the election of Trustees.

 

How many shares are outstanding?

Appendix E sets forth the number of shares of the Fund issued and outstanding as of the Record Date. Shares have no preemptive or subscription rights.

 

Appendix F lists the persons that, as of the Record Date, owned beneficially or of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. To the best of the Fund’s knowledge, as of the Record Date, no Trustee or officers owned 1% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As of the Record Date, none of the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members owned any shares of the Adviser or principal underwriter or of any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or principal underwriter (not including registered investment companies).

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act, as applied to the Fund, require the Fund’s officers, Trustees, investment adviser, affiliates of the investment adviser, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund’s outstanding securities (“Reporting Persons”), to file reports of ownership of the Fund’s securities and changes in such ownership with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Such persons are required by the SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all such filings. Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it and written representations from certain Reporting Persons, the Fund believes that during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021, its Reporting Persons complied with all applicable filing requirements.

 

 

Shareholder Communications with the Board

Shareholders may send other communications to the Board or an individual Trustee. Such communications should be sent to the Fund’s Secretary at the address on the front of this Proxy Statement.

 

What is the deadline to submit a proposal for the 2022 Annual Meeting?

It is anticipated that the next annual meeting will be held in September 2022, but the exact date, time, and location of such meeting have yet to be determined. Any proposals of shareholders that are intended to be presented at the next annual meeting must be in writing and received at the Fund’s principal executive offices no later than May 15, 2022, in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for that meeting. The submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion in the proxy statement or presentation at the meeting.

 

Shareholders who wish to make a proposal that would not be included in the Fund’s proxy materials or to nominate a person or persons as a Trustee at the 2022 annual meeting of the Fund must ensure that the proposal or nomination is delivered to the Fund’s principal executive offices no earlier than April 15, 2022 and no later than May 15, 2022 and includes the information specified in the Fund’s declaration of trust and bylaws. However, if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within 30 days before or after the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year (such annual meeting date outside such period, an “Other Annual Meeting Date”), notice by shareholders, to be timely, must be delivered to the Fund’s principal executive offices by the later of (i) the date 90 days prior to the Other Annual Meeting Date or (ii) the 10th day following the date that the Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed and must include the information specified in the Fund’s declaration of trust and bylaws. The chairperson of the Annual Meeting may disregard any nomination or other proposal by a shareholder that is not made in the manner described above.

 

Who are the Fund’s independent public accountants?

The Board has selected the accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) as the independent auditor of the Fund for the current fiscal year.

 

As part of its oversight of the Fund’s financial statements, in April 2021, the Audit Committee held a telephonic meeting to review and discuss with Voya Investment Management, LLC, the prior investment adviser to the Fund, and E&Y the Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021. The Audit Committee discussed with E&Y the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard 1301, Communications with Audit Committees. The Audit Committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from E&Y pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526 and discussed E&Y’s independence with E&Y.

 

 

Based on the reviews and discussion referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders.

 

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board

Karen Caldwell

Thomas Bumbolow

Ketu Desai

 

The fees paid to E&Y for professional audit services during the Fund’s most recent fiscal years ended February 29, 2020 and February 28, 2021, amounts billed for other services rendered by E&Y to the Fund, and the aggregate non-audit fees billed by E&Y for services rendered to the Fund, the Adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2020 and February 28, 2021 are described in Appendix G.

 

All of the services provided by the independent public accountants were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures adopted by the Audit Committee. Pursuant to such policies and procedures, the Audit Committee approves: (i) all audit and non-audit services to be rendered to the Fund by E&Y; and (ii) all non-audit services impacting the operations and financial reporting of the Fund provided by E&Y to the Adviser or any affiliate thereof that provides ongoing services to the Fund (collectively, “Covered Services”). The Audit Committee has adopted pre- approval procedures authorizing one or more members of the Audit Committee to approve from time to time, on behalf of the Audit Committee, all Covered Services to be provided by E&Y which are not otherwise approved at a meeting of the Audit Committee, provided that such delegate reports to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The pre-approval procedures do not include delegation of the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to management. Pre-approval has not been waived with respect to any of the services described above since the date on which the Audit Committee adopted its current pre-approval procedures.

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has considered and will periodically consider whether E&Y’s provision of non-audit services to the Adviser and all entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund that were not required to be pre-approved is compatible with maintaining the independence of E&Y.

 

 

Representatives of E&Y are not expected to be at the Annual Meeting but have been given the opportunity to make a statement if they wish.

 

Why did my household only receive one copy of this Proxy Statement?

Only one copy of this Proxy Statement may be mailed to each household, even if more than one person in the household is a Fund shareholder of record, unless the Fund has received contrary instructions from one or more of the household’s shareholders. If a shareholder needs an additional copy of this Proxy Statement, please contact Broadridge at 855-928-4480. If in the future, any shareholder does not wish to combine or wishes to recombine the mailing of a proxy statement with household members, please inform the Fund in writing at 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174 or via telephone at 212-542-4644

 

Who pays for this proxy solicitation?

The Fund will pay the expenses incurred in connection with the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement, and the Annual Meeting, including printing, mailing, vote tabulation, legal, and out of pocket expenses. The Fund will pay Broadridge, as the proxy tabulator, a fee estimated to be $17,562 plus costs and expenses.

 

In order that the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting may be assured, prompt execution and return of the enclosed Proxy Ballot is requested. A self-addressed postage paid envelope is enclosed for your convenience. You also may vote via telephone or via the Internet. Please follow the voting instructions as outlined on your Proxy Ballot.

 

Michael D’Angelo
Secretary

 

August 13, 2021

 

 

APPENDIX A: NOMINEES

The following table sets forth information concerning the Nominees of the Fund. The mailing address for each Nominee is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, NY 10174.

 

Name, Address
and Date of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
the Fund
Term of Office and
Length of Time Served1
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Number of Funds in
the Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustees2
Other Board Positions
Held by Trustees
Independent Nominees

Thomas Bumbolow

DOB: 05/17/1976

Trustee Since January 2021 See “Proposal One – Election of Nominees” 1 Stepping Stones Museum

Karen Caldwell

DOB: 01/22/1959

Trustee Since July 2020 See “Proposal One – Election of Nominees” 1 None

Ketu Desai

DOB: 07/02/1982

Trustee Since July 2020 See “Proposal One – Election of Nominees” 1 None

Kieran Goodwin

DOB: 07/30/1969

Trustee Since July 2020 See “Proposal One – Election of Nominees” 1 None

 

 

 

Name, Address
and Age
Position(s)
Held with
the Fund
Term of Office and
Length of Time Served1
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past 5 Years
Number of Funds in
the Fund Complex
Overseen by Trustees2
Other Board Positions
Held by Trustees
Nominee who is an “Interested Person” 3

Aditya Bindal

 

DOB: 03/10/1976

Trustee Since July 2020  See “Proposal One – Election of Nominees” 1 GIM

Andrew Kellerman

 

DOB: 09/22/1965

Trustee Since July 2020 See “Proposal One – Election of Nominees” 1 None

 

1. Trustees serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The tenure of each Trustee who is not an “interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund (as defined below, “Independent Trustee”) is subject to the Board’s retirement policy, which states that each duly elected or appointed Independent Trustee shall retire from and cease to be a member of the Board of Trustees at the close of business on December 31 of the calendar year in which the Independent Trustee attains the age of 75. A majority vote of the Board’s other Independent Trustees may extend the retirement date of an Independent Trustee if the retirement would trigger a requirement to hold a meeting of shareholders of the Fund under applicable law, whether for the purposes of appointing a successor to the Independent Trustee or otherwise complying under applicable law, in which case the extension would apply until such time as the shareholder meeting can be held or is no longer required (as determined by a vote of a majority of the other Independent Trustees).
   
2. For the purposes of this table, “Fund Complex” means the Fund.
   
3. Aditya Bindal and Andrew Kellerman are each deemed to be an Interested Trustee because of their current affiliation with the Fund and Saba Capital and its affiliates.

 

APPENDIX B: TRUSTEE COMPENSATION TABLE

The following tables have been provided to the Fund by the Adviser and its affiliates and sets forth information regarding the compensation paid to the Independent Trustees for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021 for service on the Board.

 

 

Name of Trustee Aggregate Compensation from the Fund
(fiscal year ended February 28, 2021)
Total Compensation from the Fund and
Complex Paid to Trustees
Karen Caldwell $10,434 $10,434
Charles Clarvit $6,970 $6,970
Ketu Desai $6,970 $6,970
Neal Neilinger $6,970 $6,970
Kieran Goodwin $6,970 $6,970
Thomas Bumbolow $0 $0
Aditya Bindal1 $0 $0
Andrew Kellerman1 $0 $0

 

1. Aditya Bindal and Andrew Kellerman are each deemed to be an Interested Trustee because of their current affiliation with the Fund and Saba Capital and its affiliates and therefore do not receive any compensation from the Fund for their roles as Interested Trustees.

 

APPENDIX C: SHARES OWNED BY TRUSTEES

The following table sets forth information regarding the dollar range of equity securities of the Fund beneficially owned by each Trustee as of July 16, 2021.

 

Name of Trustee BRW

Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in all Registered
Investment Companies Overseen by

Trustee in Family of
Investment Companies

Independent Trustees
Karen Caldwell $0 None
Charles Clarvit $0 None
Ketu Desai $0 None
Neal Neilinger $0 None
Keiran Goodwin $0 None
Thomas Bumbolow $0 None
Trustee who is an “Interested Person”
Aditya Bindal $0 None
Andrew Kellerman $0 None

 

 

 

APPENDIX D: OFFICERS

Information for each Officer of the Fund is set forth in the table below. The mailing address for each officer is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, NY 10174, except as noted below.

 

Name, Address1 and DOB Position(s) Held with
the Fund
Term of Office and Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years

Boaz Weinstein

DOB: 06/06/1973

President Since May 2021 CIO of Saba Capital

Pierre Weinstein

DOB: 04/07/1975

Chief Executive Officer Since May 2021 Portfolio Manager at Saba Capital

Michael D’Angelo

DOB: 09/08/1978

Secretary Since May 2021 COO and General Counsel at Saba Capital

Patrick Keniston1

DOB: 01/18/1964

CCO Since June 2021 Managing Director, Foreside Fund Services, LLC (since 2008)

Troy Staczar1

DOB: 08/31/1971

PFO, Treasurer Since June 2021

Senior Director, Foreside Treasurer Services since 2020 - Foreside Financial

Group; Director of Fund Administration (2017-2019) - Thornburg Investment

Management, Inc.; Director of U.S. Operations (2008-2017) - Henderson

Global Investors N.A., Inc.

Nitin Sapru

DOB: 12/07/1980

VP Since May 2021 CFO at Saba Capital

 1

Patrick Keniston's and Troy Staczar’s address is Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101.

 

 

APPENDIX E: COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

The following table sets forth the Common Shares outstanding for the Fund as of the Record Date.

 

Fund Number of Common Shares Outstanding
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (“BRW”) 121,512,358

 

APPENDIX F: 5 PERCENT BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Fund Name and Address of Shareholder1 Percentage of Fund
BRW

Saba Capital Management, L.P. / Boaz Weinstein

405 Lexington Ave., 58th Floor

New York, NY 10174

21.43%
BRW

RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC

325 N. LaSalle Street, Ste 645
Chicago, Illinois 60654-7030

6.99%
BRW

Baillie Gifford & Co. (Scottish Partnership)

1 Greenside Row

Edinburgh Scotland UK

5.98%

 

1. This entity is the shareholder of record and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares listed for certain purposes under the securities laws, although in certain instances it may not have an economic interest in these shares and would, therefore, ordinarily disclaim any beneficial ownership therein.

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX G: FEES PAID TO THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

The following table shows fees paid to E&Y for professional audit services during the Fund’s most recent fiscal years ended February 29, 2020 and February 28, 2021, as well as fees billed for other services rendered by E&Y to the Fund.

 

Fund Audit Fees1 Audit-Related Fees2 Tax Fees3 All Other Fees4
  2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
BRW $62,300 $62,300 $0 $0 $7,800 $0 $0 $0

 

1. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by E&Y in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
   
2. Audit-related fees consist principally of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s consolidated financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attestation services that are not required by statute or regulations and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
   
3. Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance. These services include assistance regarding federal, state, and local tax compliance.
   
4. All other fees would include fees for products and services other than the services reported above, including those related to the review and issuance of consents on various SEC filings.

 

The following table presents: (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed to the Fund by the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund’s fiscal years ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees billed to the investment adviser, or any of its affiliates, by the independent registered public accounting firm for the same time periods.

 

 

Aggregate Non-Audit Fees
Registrant/Investment Adviser 2021 2020
BRW $0 $0
Voya Investment Management LLC1 $0 $10,639,517

 

1. Saba Capital Management, L.P. became the investment adviser to the Fund effective June 3, 2021. Any aggregate non-audit fees reported before June 3, 2021 were for the prior investment adviser, Voya Investment Management, LLC.