Wells Fargo Closed-End Funds Announce Board Approval of New Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements
Wells Fargo announced new investment advisory agreements for its closed-end funds, including the Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund (EAD) and Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund (ERC). These changes come in light of the pending sale of Wells Fargo Asset Management to GTCR LLC and Reverence Capital Partners, expected to finalize the termination of existing agreements. Special shareholder meetings to approve the new agreements are set for July 15, 2021. These funds primarily aim for high current income, while mitigating risks associated with interest rates and market volatility.
- Approval of new investment advisory agreements for multiple closed-end funds.
- Funds aim for high current income, potentially benefiting income-seeking investors.
- Automatic termination of existing investment advisory agreements due to the impending sale.
- Increased risk exposure related to changes in interest rates and market conditions.
Each fund listed below has announced that its Board of Trustees has approved a new investment advisory agreement and new sub-advisory agreement(s), and has announced record and meeting dates for a special meeting of shareholders:
Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE American: EAD)
Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund (NYSE American: ERC)
Wells Fargo Utilities and High Income Fund (NYSE American: ERH)
Wells Fargo Global Dividend Opportunity Fund (NYSE: EOD)
As previously announced on February 23, 2021, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) entered into a definitive agreement to sell Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) to GTCR LLC and Reverence Capital Partners, L.P. WFAM is the trade name used by the asset management businesses of Wells Fargo and includes Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, the investment adviser to each of the funds, Wells Capital Management Incorporated, a sub-adviser to each of the funds, and Wells Fargo Asset Management (International) Limited, a sub-adviser to Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund. In connection with the transaction, Wells Capital Management Incorporated is expected to convert from a California corporation to a Delaware limited liability company.
Consummation of the transaction will result in the automatic termination of each fund’s investment advisory agreement and sub-advisory agreement(s). Each fund’s Board of Trustees approved new investment advisory agreements and new sub-advisory agreement(s) and approved submitting the agreements to the fund’s shareholders for approval at a special meeting of shareholders, expected to be held on July 15, 2021. Shareholders of record of each fund at the close of business on May 28, 2021, are entitled to vote at the meeting.
The Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund is a closed-end high-yield bond fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income. The fund may, as a secondary objective, seek capital appreciation to the extent it is consistent with its investment objective.
The Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund is a closed-end income fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income consistent with limiting its overall exposure to domestic interest rate risk.
The Wells Fargo Utilities and High Income Fund is a closed-end equity and high-yield bond fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income and moderate capital growth with an emphasis on providing tax-advantaged dividend income.
The Wells Fargo Global Dividend Opportunity Fund is a closed-end equity and high-yield bond fund. The fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income. The fund’s secondary objective is long-term growth of capital.
For more information on Wells Fargo’s closed-end funds, please visit our website.
These closed-end funds are no longer engaged in initial public offerings, and shares are available only through broker-dealers on the secondary market. Unlike an open-end mutual fund, a closed-end fund offers a fixed number of shares for sale. After the initial public offering, shares are bought and sold through broker-dealers in the secondary marketplace, and the market price of the shares is determined by supply and demand, not by NAV, and is often lower than the NAV. A closed-end fund is not required to buy its shares back from investors upon request.
High-yield, lower-rated bonds may contain more risk due to the increased possibility of default. Foreign investments may contain more risk due to the inherent risks associated with changing political climates, foreign market instability, and foreign currency fluctuations. Risks of international investing are magnified in emerging or developing markets. Funds that concentrate their investments in a single industry or sector may face increased risk of price fluctuation over more diversified funds due to adverse developments within that industry or sector. Small- and mid-cap securities may be subject to special risks associated with narrower product lines and limited financial resources compared with their large-cap counterparts. When interest rates rise, the value of debt securities tends to fall. When interest rates decline, interest that a fund is able to earn on its investments in debt securities also may decline, but the value of those securities may increase. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the debt securities market and reduced liquidity for certain fund investments. Interest rate changes and their impact on the funds and their NAVs can be sudden and unpredictable.
The use of leverage results in certain risks, including, among others, the likelihood of greater volatility of the NAV and the market price of common shares. Derivatives involve additional risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, the risk of improper valuation, and the risk of noncorrelation to the relevant instruments they are designed to hedge or to closely track. There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options on securities. Illiquid securities may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value and may be difficult to sell.
Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is the trade name for certain investment advisory/management firms owned by Wells Fargo & Company. These firms include but are not limited to Wells Capital Management Incorporated and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Certain products managed by WFAM entities are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (a broker-dealer and Member FINRA).
This material is for general informational and educational purposes only and is NOT intended to provide investment advice or a recommendation of any kind—including a recommendation for any specific investment, strategy, or plan.
Some of the information contained herein may include forward-looking statements about the expected investment activities of the funds. These statements provide no assurance as to the funds’ actual investment activities or results. Readers must make their own assessment of the information contained herein and consider such other factors as they may deem relevant to their individual circumstances.
About GTCR
Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Healthcare, Financial Services & Technology, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, and Growth Business Services industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered The Leaders Strategy™ — finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than
About Reverence Capital Partners
Reverence Capital Partners is a private investment firm focused on thematic investing in leading global, middle-market Financial Services businesses through control and influence oriented investments in 5 sectors: (1) Depositories and Finance Companies, (2) Asset and Wealth Management, (3) Insurance, (4) Capital Markets and (5) Financial Technology/Payments. The firm was founded in 2013 by Milton Berlinski, Peter Aberg and Alex Chulack, who collectively bring over 90 years of advisory and investing experience across a wide range of financial services sectors. For more information, please visit www.reverencecapital.com.
PAR-0521-00679
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED ● NO BANK GUARANTEE ● MAY LOSE VALUE
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FAQ
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