Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (FOF) Notification of Sources of Distribution Under Section 19(a)
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Insights
The distribution structure of Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. is a critical aspect for investors, particularly in understanding the composition of the payouts. A significant portion of the distribution is classified as return of capital, which exceeds the net investment income and realized capital gains. This indicates that the Fund is distributing from its assets, which can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can signal that the Fund is managing to maintain a steady stream of distributions; on the other, it could imply that the Fund's earnings are not sufficient to cover the distributions, potentially eroding the asset base over time.
Investors should be aware that a return of capital reduces their tax basis in the shares, which could affect the taxable income upon sale of the shares. Additionally, the absence of net realized short-term and long-term capital gains suggests that the Fund may not have realized significant gains from its investments during the period, which could be a point of concern regarding the Fund's growth strategy and market performance.
From a taxation perspective, the nature of distributions from Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. is pivotal. The predominance of distributions classified as return of capital (56.85% of the 2023 distributions) impacts shareholders' tax liabilities. Since these distributions are not taxed as income, they decrease the shareholder's cost basis, potentially leading to higher capital gains taxes if the shares are sold at a profit in the future.
Investors should consult with tax professionals to understand the implications of these distributions on their individual tax situations, especially considering that the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions will only be clarified post-year-end with Form 1099-DIV.
Investors evaluating the performance of Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. should consider the sustainability of its distribution policy. The reliance on return of capital for over half of the distributions year-to-date may raise questions about the Fund's investment income generation and capital appreciation capabilities. While the current policy may offer a stable distribution rate, the lack of realized capital gains could be indicative of a conservative investment approach or a market environment that has not been conducive to gains.
It is important for investors to assess the long-term viability of the Fund's distribution policy in the context of their investment goals and risk tolerance. The flexibility of the managed distribution policy is a factor that could influence the Fund's share price and investor sentiment, especially if the policy is amended, terminated, or suspended by the Board of Directors.
In December 2021, the Fund implemented a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The managed distribution policy seeks to deliver the Fund's long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions declared at a fixed rate per common share. The policy gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis to shareholders. The Board of Directors of the Fund may amend, terminate or suspend the managed distribution policy at any time, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares.
The Fund's monthly distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes. Return of capital includes distributions paid by the Fund in excess of its net investment income and net realized capital gains and such excess is distributed from the Fund's assets. A return of capital is not taxable; rather, it reduces a shareholder's tax basis in his or her shares of the Fund. The amount of monthly distributions may vary depending on a number of factors, including changes in portfolio and market conditions.
At the time of each monthly distribution, information will be posted to cohenandsteers.com and mailed to shareholders in a concurrent notice. However, this information may change at the end of the year because the final tax characteristics of the Fund's distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the calendar year. Final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions will be provided on Form 1099-DIV, which is mailed after the close of the calendar year.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year-to-date from the sources indicated. All amounts are expressed per common share.
DISTRIBUTION ESTIMATES | December 2023 | YEAR-TO-DATE (YTD) December 31, 2023* | ||
Source | Per Share | % of Current | Per Share | % of 2023 |
Net Investment Income | 73.22 % | 43.15 % | ||
Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | ||
Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | ||
Return of Capital (or other Capital Source) | 26.78 % | 56.85 % | ||
Total Current Distribution | 100.00 % | 100.00 % | ||
You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution policy. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with 'yield' or 'income'. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates, are likely to change over time, and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for accounting and tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The amounts and sources of distributions year-to-date may be subject to additional adjustments.
*THE FUND WILL SEND YOU A FORM 1099-DIV FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO REPORT THESE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES
The Fund's Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return for fiscal year 2023 (January 1, 2023 through November 30, 2023) is set forth below. Shareholders should take note of the relationship between the Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return with the Fund's Cumulative Distribution Rate for 2023. In addition, the Fund's Average Annual Total Return for the five-year period ending November 30, 2023 is set forth below. Shareholders should note the relationship between the Average Annual Total Return with the Fund's Current Annualized Distribution Rate for 2023. The performance and distribution rate information disclosed in the table is based on the Fund's net asset value per share (NAV). The Fund's NAV is calculated as the total market value of all the securities and other assets held by the Fund minus the total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's individual investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.
Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:
Year-to-date January 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023 | |
Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return1 | 8.95 % |
Cumulative Distribution Rate2 | 9.87 % |
Five-year period ending November 30, 2023 | |
Average Annual Total Return3 | 5.32 % |
Current Annualized Distribution Rate4 | 9.87 % |
1. | Year-to-date Cumulative Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV over the year-to-date time period including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of those distributions. |
2. | Cumulative Distribution Rate for the Fund's current fiscal period (January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023) measured on the dollar value of distributions in the year-to-date period as a percentage of the Fund's NAV as of November 30, 2023. |
3. | Average Annual Total Return represents the compound average of the Annual NAV Total Returns of the Fund for the five-year period ending November 30, 2023. Annual NAV Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund's NAV over a year including distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of those distributions. |
4. | The Current Annualized Distribution Rate is the current fiscal period's distribution rate annualized as a percentage of the Fund's NAV as of November 30, 2023. |
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expense of the Fund carefully before investing. You can obtain the Fund's most recent periodic reports, when available, and other regulatory filings by contacting your financial advisor or visiting cohenandsteers.com. These reports and other filings can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's EDGAR Database. You should read these reports and other filings carefully before investing.
Shareholders should not use the information provided here in preparing their tax returns. Shareholders will receive a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year indicating how to report Fund distributions for federal income tax purposes.
Website: https://www.cohenandsteers.com
Symbol: (NYSE: CNS)
About Cohen & Steers. Cohen & Steers is a leading global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, including real estate, preferred securities, infrastructure, resource equities, commodities, as well as multi-strategy solutions. Founded in 1986, the firm is headquartered in
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and other statements that Cohen & Steers may make may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect the company's current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative versions of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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SOURCE Cohen & Steers, Inc.
FAQ
What information does Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (FOF) provide in the press release?
What is the managed distribution policy implemented by Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (FOF)?
What may be included in the Fund's monthly distributions?
How does Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. (FOF) provide information to shareholders at the time of each monthly distribution?
Where can shareholders find the final tax characteristics of all of the Fund's distributions?
