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IMPORTANT:
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Shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting. In order to avoid delay and additional expense, and to assure that your shares are represented, please vote as promptly as possible, even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting. Please refer to the website and telephone number indicated on your proxy card for instructions on how to cast your vote. To vote by telephone, please call the toll-free number located on your proxy card and follow the recorded instructions, using your proxy card as a guide. To vote by mail, please complete, sign, date, and mail the enclosed proxy card. No postage is required if you use the accompanying envelope to mail the proxy card in the United States. The proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person if you attend the Special Meeting and elect to vote in person.
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Class I Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Fund |
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Term of Office
and Length of Time Served |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Director2 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Independent Directors | | |||||||||||||||
Brian T. Zino Year of Birth: 1952 |
| | Nominee | | | Nominee, term expires at the 2019 Annual Meeting | | | President (1994-2008), J. & W Seligman Co. Incorporated (1982-2008) | | |
2
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| | Director, The Zweig Fund, Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (since 2013); Trustee (since 2011), Bentley University; Director (1998-2009), ICI Mutual Insurance Company | |
R. Keith Walton Year of Birth: 1964 |
| | Director | | | Director since 2016, term expires at 2019 Annual Meeting | | | Vice President, Strategy, Arizona State University (2013-Present); Vice President, Global Government & Affairs, Alcoa (2011-2013); Senior Managing Director, BSE Management LLC (2010); Principal and Chief Administrative Officer, Global Infrastructure Partners (2007-2009) | | |
5
|
| | Director, The Zweig Fund, Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (since 2004); Director, Blue Crest Capital Management, LLC Funds (since 2006) | |
James B. Rogers, Jr. Year of Birth: 1942 |
| | Director | | | Director since 2016, term expires at 2019 Annual Meeting | | | Private investor (since 1980) | | |
5
|
| | Director, The Zweig Fund, Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (since 1986 and 1988, respectively); Director, First China Financial Network Holdings Limited (since 2014); Director, Phos Agro (since 2014); Director Spanish Mountain Gold Limited (since 2014) Director, Geo Energy Resources, Limited (since 2012); Director, FAB Universal Corp. (2013-2014); Director, Genagro Services, Ltd. (since 2011); Chairman, Beeland Interests (Media and Investments) (since 1980) | |
Class II Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Fund |
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Term of Office
and Length of Time Served |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Director2 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Independent Directors | | |||||||||||||||
William R. Moyer Year of Birth: 1944 |
| | Director | | | Director since 2014, term expires at the 2017 Annual Meeting | | | Financial and Operations Principal (2006 to present), Newcastle Distributors LLC (broker dealer); Partner (2006 to 2012), CrossPond Partners, LLC (investment management consultant); Partner (2008 to 2010), Seacap Partners, LLC ( strategic advisory firm); and former Chief Financial Officer, Phoenix Investment Partners | | |
7
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| | Trustee/Director (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios) | |
James M. Oates Year of Birth: 1946 |
| | Director | | | Director since 2014, term expires at the 2017 Annual | | | Managing Director (since 1994), Wydown Group (consulting firm) | | |
61
|
| | Trustee (since 1987), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex (54 portfolios); Director (since 1996), Stifel Financial; Director (1998- | |
Class II Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Fund |
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Term of Office
and Length of Time Served |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Director2 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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| | | | | | Meeting | | | | | | | | | 2014), Connecticut River Bancorp; Chairman and Director (1999 to 2014), Connecticut River Bank; Chairman (since 2000), Emerson Investment Management, Inc.; Director (2002-2014), New Hampshire Trust Company; Chairman and Trustee (since 2005), John Hancock Fund Complex (228 portfolios); Non-Executive Chairman (since 2007), Hudson Castle Group, Inc. (formerly IBEX Capital Markets, Inc.) (financial services); Trustee/Director (since 2013), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios) |
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Class III Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Fund |
| |
Term of Office
and Length of Time Served |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
| |
Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Director2 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Independent Directors | | |||||||||||||||
Philip R. McLoughlin Year of Birth: 1946 | | | Director and Chairman | | | Director since 2014, term expires at the 2018 Annual Meeting | | | Partner (2006 to 2010), Cross Pond Partners, LLC (investment management consultant); and Partner (2008 to 2010), SeaCap Partners, LLC (strategic advisory firm) | | |
74
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| | Director (since 1991) and Chairman (since 2010), World Trust Fund (closed-end investment firm in Luxembourg); Director (since 1995), closed-end funds managed by Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (4 portfolios); Chairman (since 2002) and Trustee (since 1999), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex (52 portfolios); Chairman and Trustee (since 2003), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios); Trustee/Director and Chairman (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); Trustee and Chairman (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios); and Director (1985 to 2009), Argo Group International Holdings Inc. and its predecessor, PXRE Corporation (insurance) | |
Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
| |
Position(s)
Held with the Fund |
| |
Term of Office
and Length of Time Served |
| |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Director2 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Interested Director | | |||||||||||||||
George R. Aylward* Year of Birth: 1964 | | | Director and President | | | Director since 2014, term expires at the 2018 Annual Meeting | | | Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2008), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; and various senior officer positions with Virtus affiliates (since 2005) | | |
70
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| | Trustee (since 2006), Virtus Mutual Funds (52 portfolios); Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2006), The Zweig Closed-End Funds (2 portfolios); Trustee (since 2012) and President (since 2010), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios); Trustee and President (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); Director (since 2013), Virtus Global Funds, PLC (2 portfolios); Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios) and Chairman and Trustee (since 2015), Virtus ETF Trust II. | |
Class I Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
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Term of Office
and Length of Time Served2 |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Trustee3 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Independent Trustees | | |||||||||||||||
Brian T. Zino Year of Birth: 1952 |
| | Nominee | | | Nominee, term expires at the 2019 Annual Meeting | | | President (1994-2008), J. & W Seligman Co. Incorporated (1982-2008) | | |
2
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| | Director, The Zweig Fund, Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (since 2013); Trustee (since 2011), Bentley University; Director (1998-2009), ICI Mutual Insurance Company | |
R. Keith Walton Year of Birth: 1964 |
| | Director | | | Director since 2016, term expires at 2019 Annual Meeting | | | Vice President, Strategy, Arizona State University (2013-Present); Vice President, Global Government & Affairs, Alcoa (2011-2013); Senior Managing Director, BSE Management LLC (2010); Principal and Chief Administrative Officer, Global Infrastructure Partners (2007-2009) | | |
5
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| | Director, The Zweig Fund, Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (since 2004); Director, Blue Crest Capital Management, LLC Funds (since 2006) | |
James B. Rogers, Jr. Year of Birth: 1942 |
| | Director | | | Director since 2016, term expires at 2019 Annual Meeting | | | Private investor (since 1980) | | |
5
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| | Director, The Zweig Fund, Inc. and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (since 1986 and 1988, respectively); Director, First China Financial Network Holdings Limited (since 2014); Director, Phos Agro (since 2014); Director Spanish Mountain Gold Limited (since 2014) Director, Geo Energy Resources, Limited (since 2012); Director, FAB Universal Corp. (2013-2014); Director, Genagro Services, Ltd. (since 2011); Chairman, Beeland Interests (Media and Investments) (since 1980) | |
Class II Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
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Term of Office
and Length of Time Served2 |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Trustee3 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Independent Trustees | | |||||||||||||||
William R. Moyer Year of Birth: 1944 |
| | Trustee | | | Trustee since 2011; term expires at the 2017 annual meeting | | | Financial and Operations Principal (2006 to present), Newcastle Distributors LLC (broker dealer); Partner (2006 to 2012), CrossPond Partners, LLC (investment management consultant ); Partner (2008 to 2010), Seacap Partners, LLC ( strategic advisory firm); and former Chief Financial Officer, Phoenix Investment Partners | | |
7
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| | Trustee/Director (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios) | |
Class II Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
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Term of Office
and Length of Time Served2 |
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Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
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Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Trustee3 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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James M. Oates Year of Birth: 1946 | | | Trustee | | | Trustee since 2013; term expires at the 2017 annual meeting | | | Managing Director (since 1994), Wydown Group (consulting firm). | | |
61
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| | Trustee (since 1987), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex (54 portfolios); Director (since 1996), Stifel Financial; Director (1998-2014), Connecticut River Bancorp; Chairman and Director (1999 to 2014), Connecticut River Bank; Chairman (since 2000), Emerson Investment Management, Inc.; Director (2002-2014), New Hampshire Trust Company; Chairman and Trustee (since 2005), John Hancock Fund Complex (228 portfolios); Non-Executive Chairman (since 2007), Hudson Castle Group, Inc. (formerly IBEX Capital Markets, Inc.) (financial services); Trustee/Director (since 2013), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios) | |
Class III Trustees
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Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position(s)
Held with the Funds |
| |
Term of Office
and Length of Time Served2 |
| |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
| |
Number of
Portfolios in Funds Complex Overseen by Trustee3 |
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Other Directorships/Trusteeships Held
During Past Five Years |
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Independent Trustee | | |||||||||||||||
Philip R. McLoughlin Year of Birth: 1946 | | | Nominee, Trustee and Chairman | | | Trustee since 2011; term expires at the 2018 annual meeting | | | Partner (2006 to 2010), Cross Pond Partners, LLC (investment management consultant); and Partner (2008 to 2010), SeaCap Partners, LLC (strategic advisory firm) | | |
74
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| | Director (since 1991) and Chairman (since 2010), World Trust Fund (closed-end investment firm in Luxembourg); Director (since 1995), closed-end funds managed by Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (4 portfolios); Chairman (since 2002) and Trustee (since 1999), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex (52 portfolios); Chairman and Trustee (since 2003), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios); Trustee/Director and Chairman (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); Trustee and Chairman (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios); and Director (1985 to 2009), Argo Group International Holdings Inc. and its predecessor, PXRE Corporation (insurance) | |
Interested Trustee | | |||||||||||||||
George R. Aylward* Year of Birth: 1964 | | | Nominee, Trustee and President | | | Trustee since 2011; term expires at the 2018 annual meeting | | | Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2008), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various senior officer positions with Virtus affiliates (since 2005). | | |
70
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| | Trustee (since 2006), Virtus Mutual Funds (52 portfolios); Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2006), The Zweig Closed-End Funds (2 portfolios); Trustee (since 2012) and President (since 2010), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios); Trustee and President (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); Director (since 2013), Virtus Global Funds, PLC (2 portfolios); Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (4 portfolios); and Chairman and Trustee (since 2015), Virtus ETF Trust II. | |
Name, Year of Birth and Address1 |
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Position held with the
Funds and Length of Time Served2 |
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Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
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Francis G. Waltman YOB: 1962 |
| | Executive Vice President since 2011 | | | Executive Vice President, Product Development (since 2009), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various senior officer positions with Virtus affiliates (since 2006) and with various Virtus-affiliated funds (since 2008). | |
W. Patrick Bradley YOB: 1972 |
| | Executive Vice President (since 2016), Senior Vice President (2013 to 2016), Vice President (2011 to 2013), Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2011 | | | Executive Vice President, Fund Services (since 2016), Senior Vice President, Fund Services (2010 to 2016), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various officer positions (since 2006) with Virtus affiliates; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2004) of various Virtus-affiliated funds. | |
William Renahan YOB: 1969 |
| | Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary since 2012 | | | Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary of various Virtus-affiliated closed-end funds (since 2012); and a Managing Director, Legg Mason, Inc. and predecessor firms (1999-2012). | |
Nancy J. Engberg YOB: 1956 |
| | Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer since 2011 | | | Vice President (since 2008) and Chief Compliance Officer (2008 to 2011 and since 2016), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various officer positions with Virtus affiliates (since 2003); Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex; Vice President (since 2010), Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011) of various Virtus-affiliated funds. | |
Name of Trustee/Nominee
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Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund: DSE |
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Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund: VGI |
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Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All Funds Overseen by Trustees in Family of Registered Investment Companies* |
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Nominee | | | | | ||||||
Brian T. Zino | | |
$10,001-$50,000
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$10,001-$50,000
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Over $100,000
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Independent Trustees | | | | | ||||||
Philip R. McLoughlin | | |
$0
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$10,001-$50,000
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Over $100,000
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William R. Moyer | | |
$10,001-$50,000
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$10,001-$50,000
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Over $100,000
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James M. Oates | | |
$10,001-$50,000
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$10,001-$50,000
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Over $100,000
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James B. Rogers, Jr. | | |
$0
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$0
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$50,001-$100,000
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R. Keith Walton | | |
$0
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$0
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$50,001-$100,000
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Interested Trustee | | | | | ||||||
George R. Aylward | | |
$10,001-$50,000
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$10,001-$50,000
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Over $100,000
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Name of Trustee
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Aggregate
Compensation from the Funds |
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Pension or Retirement
Benefits Accrued as Part of Funds Expenses |
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Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon Retirement |
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Total Compensation
from the Funds and Fund Complex1 |
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Philip R. McLoughlin | | | | $ | 78,667 | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | $ | 755,283 | | |
William R. Moyer | | | | $ | 67,037 | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | $ | 148,283 | | |
James M. Oates | | | | $ | 63,160 | | | | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | $ | 405,283 | | |
James B. Rogers, Jr. | | |
$02
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| | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | |
$86,000
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R. Keith Walton | | |
$02
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| | | | N/A | | | | | | N/A | | | | | $ | 116,000 | | |
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Fiscal Year
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Audit Fees
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Audit-Related Fees*
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Tax Fees**
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All Other Fees***
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2015
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| | | $ | 30,500 | | | | | $ | 4,747 | | | | | $ | 6,650 | | | | | $ | 0 | | |
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2014
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| | | $ | 30,500 | | | | | $ | 2,268 | | | | | $ | 5,900 | | | | | $ | 0 | | |
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Fiscal Year
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Audit Fees
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Audit-Related Fees*
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Tax Fees**
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All Other Fees***
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2015
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| | | $ | 45,000 | | | | | $ | 1,468 | | | | | $ | 14,500 | | | | | $ | 0 | | |
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2014
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$4,500
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$525
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$0
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| | | $ | 0 | | |
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Title of Class
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Name and Address of
Beneficial Ownership |
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Amount of and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership |
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Percent of Class
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| Common Stock of VGI | | | First Trust Portfolios L.P. First Trust Advisors L.P. The Charger Corporation 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 |
| | 1,064,390 | | | 9.46% | |
| Common Stock of VGI | | | SIT Investment Associates, Inc. 3300 IDS Center 80 South 8th Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
| | 562,246 | | | 5.00% | |
| Common Stock of DSE | | | First Trust Portfolios L.P. First Trust Advisors L.P. The Charger Corporation 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 |
| | 2,674,587 | | | 10.30% | |