N-CSR 1 d315919dncsr.htm COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC. Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-21485

 

 

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Dana A. DeVivo

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.

280 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

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

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2020

 

 

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

To Our Shareholders:

We would like to share with you our report for the year ended December 31, 2020. The total returns for Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the Fund) and its comparative benchmarks were:

 

     Six Months Ended
December 31, 2020
     Year Ended
December 31, 2020
 

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund at Net Asset Valuea

     13.12      –3.66

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund at Market Valuea

     21.81      6.94

Blended Benchmark—80% FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Net Tax Index / 20% ICE BofA Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Indexb

     10.49      –1.81

S&P 500 Indexb

     22.16      18.40

The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate and shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance results reflect the effects of leverage, resulting from borrowings under a credit agreement. Current total returns of the Fund can be obtained by visiting our website at cohenandsteers.com. The Fund’s returns assume the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Index performance does not reflect the deduction of any fees, taxes or expenses. An investor cannot invest directly in an index. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year are not annualized.

Managed Distribution Policy

The Fund, acting in accordance with an exemptive order received from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and with approval of its Board of Directors (the Board), adopted a managed distribution policy under which the Fund intends to include long-term capital gains, where applicable, as part of the regular monthly cash distributions to its shareholders (the Plan). The Plan gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains and to distribute those gains on a regular monthly basis. In accordance with the Plan, the Fund currently distributes $0.155 per share on a monthly basis.

 

 

a 

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

b 

The FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Net Tax Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of worldwide infrastructure and infrastructure-related securities and is net of dividend withholding taxes. Constituent weights are adjusted semi-annually according to three broad industry sectors: 50% utilities, 30% transportation, and a 20% mix of other sectors, including pipelines, satellites, and telecommunication towers. The ICE BofA Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index tracks the performance of fixed-rate U.S. dollar-denominated preferred securities issued in the U.S. domestic market. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 large-capitalization stocks that is frequently used as a general measure of U.S. stock market performance.

 

1


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

The Fund may pay distributions in excess of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized gains. This excess would be a return of capital distributed from the Fund’s assets. Distributions of capital decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to make these distributions, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan. The Fund’s total return based on NAV is presented in the table above as well as in the Financial Highlights table.

The Plan provides that the Board of Directors may amend or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to Fund shareholders; however, at this time, there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination. The termination of the Plan could have the effect of creating a trading discount (if the Fund’s stock is trading at or above NAV) or widening an existing trading discount.

Market Review

Global infrastructure stocks had an overall negative return for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020, although performance varied by subsector. Markets began the period on a positive note, but quickly saw the emergence of a global health catastrophe and an economic shutdown that brought about one of the fastest downturns in modern history.

Economic shutdowns directly impacted many infrastructure subsectors, compounding concerns that without sufficient fiscal and monetary policy actions, the drop in economic activity could lead to a liquidity-driven credit crisis. Unemployment surged, while other data pointed to considerable economic damage worldwide.

Markets staged a sharp recovery beginning in March as central banks cut interest rates, introduced or expanded asset purchases and employed other policies to provide liquidity and support functioning credit markets. Additionally, governments globally introduced massive relief packages, many amounting to 10% or more of their annual economic output. The policy responses came faster and more forcefully than in 2008. While the broad stock market more than recovered earlier losses by period end, the rally was dominated by technology and other growth-oriented companies. For infrastructure, the recovery was not enough to overcome declines in the first quarter.

Fund Performance

The Fund had a negative total return in the period and underperformed its blended benchmark on a NAV basis (it had a positive total return and outperformed the blended benchmark based on market price).

Utilities had mixed returns for the year, with water companies posting a modest gain and electric utilities and gas distribution companies ending the period with declines (although the electric sector held up relatively well). The Fund’s security selection in electric utilities and gas distribution aided relative performance. Notable contributors included overweight positions in electric companies which had mostly sizable gains. Within gas distribution, an overweight in China-based ENN Energy Holdings also advanced, aided by an extended growth outlook for gas delivery volumes.

 

2


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Amid broad market declines, the communications sector rose amid accelerating capital spending on wireless infrastructure. The sector benefited from an already healthy growth outlook that was bolstered by the likely persistence of remote work and education activity. The Fund’s overweight allocation and security selection in communications contributed to relative performance, including a beneficial out-of-benchmark allocation to data centers, which saw strong demand tied to increased data traffic.

Transportation sectors largely declined. Travel restrictions weighed on airports, toll roads and passenger railways. In some instances, transportation infrastructure companies were further hindered by emergency government policies to help relieve burdens on struggling consumers. For instance, certain airports had to contend with reduced or suspended landing and/or parking fees, while some toll road charges were likewise provisionally suspended. The timing of our allocation to railways detracted from relative performance. Stock selection in marine ports also hindered performance.

Midstream energy declined materially as the abrupt halt to economic activity resulted in an unprecedented collapse in oil demand. The oil price decline that resulted was exacerbated by the temporary breakdown of the supply discipline of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, which added to an already oversupplied market. Counterparty credit risk and the potential for contract renegotiations between midstream companies and their upstream counterparties weighed heavily on the sector until oil prices began to recover as economies reopened. The Fund’s overweight and stock selection in midstream energy detracted from relative performance.

Preferreds advanced for the year in a broadly favorable period for fixed income due mainly to a decline in interest rates and increasing optimism on credit given the vast stimulus programs at work. The Fund’s underweight in preferreds as a group hindered relative performance, although the effect was partly mitigated by favorable security selection in preferreds.

Impact of Foreign Currency on Fund Performance

The currency impact of the Fund’s investments in foreign securities contributed to absolute performance during the period. Although the Fund reports its NAV and pays dividends in U.S. dollars, the Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currencies are subject to foreign currency risk. Overall, other currencies appreciated against the U.S. dollar. Consequently, changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar were a tailwind for absolute returns.

Impact of Leverage on Fund Performance

The Fund employs leverage as part of a yield-enhancement strategy. Leverage, which can increase total return in rising markets (just as it can have the opposite effect in declining markets), contributed to the Fund’s performance for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020.

Impact of Derivatives on Fund Performance

The Fund engaged in the buying and selling of single stock options with the intention of enhancing total returns and reducing overall volatility. These contracts contributed to the Fund’s total return for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020.

 

3


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

In connection with its use of leverage, the Fund pays interest on a portion of its borrowings based on a floating rate under the terms of its credit agreement. To reduce the impact that an increase in interest rates could have on the performance of the Fund with respect to these borrowings, the Fund used interest rate swaps to exchange a portion of the floating rate for a fixed rate. The Fund’s use of swaps significantly detracted from the Fund’s total return for the 12-month period ended December 31, 2020.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

  

LOGO

ROBERT S. BECKER

Portfolio Manager

  

BEN MORTON

Portfolio Manager

LOGO

   LOGO

WILLIAM F. SCAPELL

Portfolio Manager

  

ELAINE ZAHARIS-NIKAS

Portfolio Manager

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

 

Visit Cohen & Steers online at cohenandsteers.com

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

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

 

4


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Our Leverage Strategy

(Unaudited)

Our current leverage strategy utilizes borrowings up to the maximum permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 to provide additional capital for the Fund, with an objective of increasing net income available for shareholders. As of December 31, 2020, leverage represented 27% of the Fund’s managed assets.

Through a combination of variable and fixed rate financing, the Fund has locked in interest rates on a significant portion of this additional capital through 2026 (where we effectively reduce our variable rate obligation and lock in our fixed rate obligation over various terms). Locking in a significant portion of our leveraging costs is designed to protect the dividend-paying ability of the Fund. The use of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s NAV in both up and down markets. However, we believe that locking in portions of the Fund’s leveraging costs for the various terms partially protects the Fund’s expenses from an increase in short-term interest rates.

Leverage Factsa,b

 

Leverage (as a % of managed assets)

    27%

% Variable Rate Financing

     15%

Variable Rate

   0.9%

% Fixed Rate Financingc

     85%

Weighted Average Rate on Fixed Financing

   3.0%

Weighted Average Term on Fixed Financing

   2.5 years

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

 

a 

Data as of December 31, 2020. Information is subject to change.

b 

See Note 8 in Notes to Financial Statements.

c 

Represents a combination of fixed rate borrowings and fixed payer interest rate swap contracts.

 

5


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

December 31, 2020

Top Ten Holdingsa

(Unaudited)

 

Security

   Value        % of
Managed
Assets
 

NextEra Energy, Inc.

   $ 227,552,999          7.2  

Transurban Group

     133,010,848          4.2  

Norfolk Southern Corp.

     109,629,690          3.5  

American Tower Corp.

     93,127,107          3.0  

Enbridge, Inc.

     89,865,862          2.9  

Crown Castle International Corp.

     85,642,946          2.7  

Duke Energy Corp.

     76,926,789          2.4  

Aena SME SA, 144A

     69,980,297          2.2  

FirstEnergy Corp.

     68,524,005          2.2  

Alliant Energy Corp.

     63,785,432          2.0  

 

a 

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

Country Breakdownb

(Based on Managed Assets)

(Unaudited)

 

LOGO

 

 

b 

Excludes derivative instruments.

 

6


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

COMMON STOCK

     115.1%        

AUSTRALIA

     7.7%        

ELECTRIC

     1.1%        

Spark Infrastructure Group

 

     16,454,821      $ 26,767,131  
        

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE—DATA CENTERS

     0.8%        

Nextdc Ltd.a

 

     1,911,490        18,022,901  
        

 

 

 

TOLL ROADS

     5.8%        

Transurban Groupb

 

     12,630,198        133,010,848  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL AUSTRALIA

 

        177,800,880  
        

 

 

 

BELGIUM

     0.5%        

ELECTRIC

 

Elia Group SA/NV

 

     90,275        10,752,735  
        

 

 

 

BRAZIL

     1.6%        

ELECTRIC

     0.0%        

Neoenergia SA

 

     118,780        402,931  
        

 

 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE—WATER

     0.5%        

Cia de Saneamento do Parana

 

     2,372,908        11,877,788  
        

 

 

 

RAILWAYS

     0.6%        

Rumo SAa

 

     3,830,516        14,188,735  
        

 

 

 

TOLL ROADS

     0.5%        

CCR SA

 

     4,219,079        10,941,241  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL BRAZIL

 

        37,410,695  
        

 

 

 

CANADA

     11.1%        

ELECTRIC

     1.4%        

Hydro One Ltd., 144Ac

 

     1,454,804        32,744,233  
        

 

 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

     2.1%        

FREIGHT RAILS

     0.7%        

Canadian National Railway Co.

 

     151,815        16,690,228  
        

 

 

 

MIDSTREAM—C-CORP

     1.4%        

Pembina Pipeline Corp.

 

     1,317,973        31,165,832  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE

 

        47,856,060  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

PIPELINES—C-CORP

     4.8%        

Enbridge, Inc. (USD)b

 

     2,809,881      $ 89,865,862  

TC Energy Corp.b

 

     484,180        19,684,433  
        

 

 

 
           109,550,295  
        

 

 

 

RAILWAYS

     1.3%     

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.

 

     84,451        29,293,464  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES

     1.5%     

Emera, Inc.

 

     833,151        35,410,063  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL CANADA

 

        254,854,115  
        

 

 

 

CHINA

     3.8%     

GAS DISTRIBUTION

     1.5%     

Enn Energy Holdings Ltd., (H shares)

 

     2,344,221        34,411,360  
        

 

 

 

PIPELINES—C-CORP

     0.5%     

Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd., (H shares)b

 

     3,899,500        12,725,958  
        

 

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

     0.0%     

China Mobile Ltd. (H shares)

 

     96,500        550,187  
        

 

 

 

TOLL ROADS

     1.1%     

Jiangsu Expressway Co., Ltd. (H shares)

 

     15,514,000        17,350,177  

Zhejiang Expressway Co., Ltd. Class H (H shares)

 

     8,712,000        7,360,718  
        

 

 

 
           24,710,895  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES—WATER UTILITIES

     0.7%     

Guangdong Investment Ltd. (H shares)b

 

     8,878,425        15,987,567  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL CHINA

 

        88,385,967  
        

 

 

 

FRANCE

     2.3%     

ENERGY—OIL & GAS

     0.1%     

Total SA

 

     40,237        1,735,190  
        

 

 

 

TOLL ROADS

     2.2%     

Eiffage SAa

 

     196,705        18,993,682  

Vinci SAb

 

     323,870        32,190,557  
        

 

 

 
           51,184,239  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL FRANCE

 

        52,919,429  
        

 

 

 

HONG KONG

     1.0%     

ELECTRIC

 

Power Assets Holdings Ltd.b

 

     4,369,500        23,672,387  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

ITALY

     2.9%     

INFRASTRUCTURE—GAS—DISTRIBUTION

     0.9%     

Snam S.p.A.

 

     3,830,042      $ 21,527,946  
        

 

 

 

TOLL ROADS

     1.4%     

Atlantia S.p.A.a

 

     1,744,401        31,358,366  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES—ELECTRIC UTILITIES

     0.6%     

Enel S.p.A.

 

     1,436,559        14,524,152  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL ITALY

 

        67,410,464  
        

 

 

 

JAPAN

     2.4%        

ELECTRIC

     0.7%        

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.b

 

     1,379,800        16,610,250  
        

 

 

 

GAS DISTRIBUTION

     0.6%        

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.b

 

     647,700        14,954,402  
        

 

 

 

RAILWAYS

     1.1%        

East Japan Railway Co.b

 

     92,000        6,134,522  

West Japan Railway Co.b

 

     351,200        18,363,554  
        

 

 

 
           24,498,076  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL JAPAN

 

        56,062,728  
        

 

 

 

MEXICO

     2.8%        

AIRPORTS

     2.0%        

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, Class Ba

 

     3,989,675        44,509,051  
        

 

 

 

ELECTRIC

     0.8%        

Infraestructura Energetica Nova SAB de CV

 

     4,804,786        18,845,375  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL MEXICO

 

        63,354,426  
        

 

 

 

NETHERLANDS

     1.1%        

MARINE PORTS

        

Koninklijke Vopak NV

 

     475,707        24,983,531  
        

 

 

 

NEW ZEALAND

     1.6%        

AIRPORTS

        

Auckland International Airport Ltd.a,b

 

     6,665,359        36,351,603  
        

 

 

 

SPAIN

     4.8%        

AIRPORTS

     3.0%        

Aena SME SA, 144Aa,c

 

     402,837        69,980,297  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

COMMUNICATIONS

     0.9%        

Cellnex Telecom SA, 144Ac

 

     349,016      $ 20,943,561  
        

 

 

 

ELECTRIC

     0.9%        

Iberdrola SA

 

     1,394,667        19,934,402  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL SPAIN

 

        110,858,260  
        

 

 

 

SWEDEN

     0.0%        

COMMUNICATIONS

        

Telia Co. AB

 

     179,800        742,137  
        

 

 

 

THAILAND

     2.2%        

AIRPORTS

        

Airports of Thailand PCL

 

     23,767,900        49,582,568  
        

 

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

     3.6%        

ELECTRIC

     3.1%        

Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure PLC (USD)

 

     279,985        10,633,830  

National Grid PLC

 

     5,030,669        59,507,190  
        

 

 

 
     70,141,020  
        

 

 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

     0.5%        

Pennon Group PLC

 

     950,684        12,350,581  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM

 

        82,491,601  
        

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

     65.7%        

COMMUNICATIONS—TOWERS

     9.8%        

American Tower Corp.b,d

 

     414,894        93,127,107  

Crown Castle International Corp.b,d

 

     537,992        85,642,946  

SBA Communications Corp.b,d

 

     165,481        46,687,155  
        

 

 

 
           225,457,208  
        

 

 

 

ELECTRIC

     29.6%        

Alliant Energy Corp.b,d

 

     1,237,831        63,785,432  

CMS Energy Corp.b,d

 

     765,293        46,690,526  

Dominion Energy, Inc.b,d

 

     441,706        33,216,291  

Duke Energy Corp.b,d

 

     840,179        76,926,789  

Edison Internationalb,d

 

     294,584        18,505,767  

Evergy, Inc.b,d

 

     879,385        48,814,661  

FirstEnergy Corp.b,d

 

     2,238,615        68,524,005  

NextEra Energy, Inc.b,d

 

     2,949,488        227,552,999  

NorthWestern Corp.

 

     331,658        19,338,978  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

Portland General Electric Co.

 

     588,018      $ 25,149,530  

Xcel Energy, Inc.b,d

 

     800,703        53,382,869  
        

 

 

 
     681,887,847  
        

 

 

 

ENERGY

     0.4%        

Magellan Midstream Partners LPb,d

 

     244,125        10,360,665  
        

 

 

 

GAS DISTRIBUTION

     0.9%        

NiSource, Inc.b,d

 

     882,989        20,255,768  
        

 

 

 

INDUSTRIAL—ROAD & RAIL

     1.1%        

Kansas City Southern

 

     127,013        25,927,164  
        

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS

     0.2%        

United Parcel Service, Inc. Class Bb

 

     27,024        4,550,842  
        

 

 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE—ELECTRIC

     4.0%        

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.b,e

 

     1,821,518        39,417,649  

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.b,d

 

     916,946        53,457,952  
        

 

 

 
           92,875,601  
        

 

 

 

INTEGRATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

     0.2%        

Verizon Communications, Inc.b

 

     62,022        3,643,793  
        

 

 

 

PIPELINES

     6.4%        

PIPELINES—C-CORP

     4.9%        

Cheniere Energy, Inc.a

 

     443,595        26,629,008  

ONEOK, Inc.b,d

 

     830,780        31,885,336  

Plains GP Holdings LP Class Ab,e

 

     1,219,622        10,305,806  

Williams Cos., Inc.b,d

 

     2,186,739        43,844,117  
        

 

 

 
           112,664,267  
        

 

 

 

PIPELINES—MLP

     1.5%        

Enterprise Products Partners LPb,d

 

     632,713        12,394,848  

MPLX LPb,d

 

     514,959        11,148,862  

Western Midstream Partners LPb,d

 

     840,056        11,609,574  
        

 

 

 
           35,153,284  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL PIPELINES

 

        147,817,551  
        

 

 

 

RAILWAYS

     6.3%        

Norfolk Southern Corp.b,d

 

     461,385        109,629,690  

Union Pacific Corp.b,d

 

     169,013        35,191,887  
        

 

 

 
           144,821,577  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

REAL ESTATE—DATA CENTERS

     1.1%        

CyrusOne, Inc.

 

     345,554      $ 25,277,275  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES

     3.4%        

Entergy Corp.b

 

     390,699        39,007,388  

Essential Utilities, Inc.b

 

     851,424        40,263,841  
        

 

 

 
           79,271,229  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES—WATER UTILITIES

     2.3%        

American Water Works Co., Inc.b,d

 

     341,588        52,423,510  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL UNITED STATES

 

        1,514,570,030  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCK
(Identified cost—$2,080,044,792)

 

        2,652,203,556  
        

 

 

 

PREFERRED SECURITIES—$25 PAR VALUE

     6.2%        

BERMUDA

     0.0%        

REINSURANCE

        

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., 5.75%, Series F (USD)g

 

     7,000        198,940  
        

 

 

 

CANADA

     0.1%        

UTILITIES

 

     

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., 6.875% to 10/17/23, due 10/17/78 (USD)f

 

     29,567        833,789  

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., 6.20% to 7/1/24, due 7/1/79, Series 19-A (USD)f

 

     65,127        1,832,674  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL CANADA

 

        2,666,463  
        

 

 

 

NETHERLANDS

     0.1%        

INSURANCE

 

     

Aegon Funding Co. LLC, 5.10%, due 12/15/49 (USD)b

 

     132,100        3,643,318  
        

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

     6.0%        

BANKS

     2.3%        

Bank of America Corp., 6.00%, Series EEb,g

 

     100,000        2,534,000  

Bank of America Corp., 6.00%, Series GGg

 

     54,185        1,505,801  

Bank of America Corp., 5.875%, Series HHg

 

     82,800        2,281,140  

Bank of America Corp., 5.375%, Series KKg

 

     55,130        1,505,600  

Bank of America Corp., 5.00%, Series LLg

 

     101,143        2,759,181  

Bank of America Corp., 4.375%, Series NNg

 

     46,000        1,221,300  

Capital One Financial Corp., 6.00%, Series Hg

 

     37,407        989,041  

Citigroup, Inc., 6.30%, Series Sb,g

 

     97,743        2,498,311  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 5.00%, Series Eg

 

     58,500        1,563,705  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

12


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

GMAC Capital Trust I, 6.007% (3 Month US LIBOR + 5.785%), due 2/15/40, Series 2 (TruPS) (FRN)b,h

 

     216,141      $ 5,846,614  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc., 6.25%, Series Db,g

 

     73,122        1,858,761  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.10%, Series AAb,g

 

     121,901        3,138,951  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., 5.75%, Series DDg

 

     15,000        421,500  

New York Community Bancorp, Inc., 6.375% to 3/17/27, Series Ab,f,g

 

     58,930        1,688,934  

Regions Financial Corp., 5.70% to 5/15/29, Series Cb,f,g

 

     181,815        5,236,272  

Wells Fargo & Co., 5.25%, Series Pb,g

 

     110,900        2,892,272  

Wells Fargo & Co., 5.85% to 9/15/23, Series Qb,f,g

 

     84,670        2,273,390  

Wells Fargo & Co., 5.70%, Series Wb,g

 

     143,039        3,661,798  

Wells Fargo & Co., 5.625%, Series Yb,g

 

     99,275        2,654,614  

Wells Fargo & Co., 4.75%, Series Zb,g

 

     206,575        5,457,711  
        

 

 

 
           51,988,896  
        

 

 

 

ELECTRIC

     1.2%        

CMS Energy Corp., 5.875%, due 3/1/79b

 

     99,975        2,790,302  

DTE Energy Co., 5.375%, due 6/1/76, Series Bb

 

     182,874        4,729,122  

Duke Energy Corp., 5.75%, Series Ab,g

 

     181,350        5,170,289  

Integrys Holding, Inc., 6.00% to 8/1/23, due 8/1/73b,f

 

     174,388        4,703,244  

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 5.65%, due 3/1/79, Series Nb

 

     55,742        1,583,630  

Southern Co./The, 5.25%, due 12/1/77b

 

     99,672        2,722,042  

Southern Co./The, 4.95%, due 1/30/80, Series 2020b

 

     230,000        6,302,000  
        

 

 

 
           28,000,629  
        

 

 

 

FINANCIAL

     0.8%        

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES

     0.3%        

Apollo Global Management, Inc., 6.375%, Series Ag

 

     57,982        1,566,674  

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp., 5.50%, due 5/15/64, Series USb

 

     90,000        2,635,200  

Synchrony Financial, 5.625%, Series Ag

 

     114,545        3,058,351  
        

 

 

 
           7,260,225  
        

 

 

 

INVESTMENT BANKER/BROKER

     0.5%        

Morgan Stanley, 6.875% to 1/15/24, Series Fb,f,g

 

     100,436        2,862,426  

Morgan Stanley, 6.375% to 10/15/24, Series Ib,f,g

 

     178,969        5,136,411  

Morgan Stanley, 5.85% to 4/15/27, Series Kb,f,g

 

     110,200        3,179,270  
        

 

 

 
           11,178,107  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIAL

           18,438,332  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

13


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

INDUSTRIALS—CHEMICALS

     0.3%        

CHS, Inc., 7.10% to 3/31/24, Series 2b,f,g

 

     135,283      $ 3,760,867  

CHS, Inc., 6.75% to 9/30/24, Series 3b,f,g

 

     137,935        3,852,525  
        

 

 

 
           7,613,392  
        

 

 

 

INSURANCE

     0.7%        

LIFE/HEALTH INSURANCE

     0.4%        

Athene Holding Ltd., 6.35% to 6/30/29, Series Ab,f,g

 

     115,223        3,362,207  

Equitable Holdings, Inc., 5.25%, Series Ag

 

     52,000        1,385,280  

MetLife, Inc., 4.75%, Series Fg

 

     68,800        1,871,360  

Voya Financial, Inc., 5.35% to 9/15/29, Series Bf,g

 

     81,223        2,300,236  
        

 

 

 
           8,919,083  
        

 

 

 

MULTI-LINE

     0.2%        

Allstate Corp./The, 5.10%, Series Hb,g

 

     146,650        4,098,867  

American International Group, Inc., 5.85%, Series Ag

 

     1,077        30,350  
        

 

 

 
           4,129,217  
        

 

 

 

PROPERTY CASUALTY

     0.1%        

Enstar Group Ltd., 7.00% to 9/1/28, Series Df,g

 

     77,050        2,175,892  
        

 

 

 

REINSURANCE

     0.0%        

Arch Capital Group Ltd., 5.25%, Series Eg

 

     10,833        281,225  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL INSURANCE

 

        15,505,417  
        

 

 

 

PIPELINES

     0.2%        

Energy Transfer Operating LP, 7.375% to 5/15/23, Series Cb,f,g

 

     109,692        2,267,334  

Energy Transfer Operating LP, 7.625% to 8/15/23, Series Df,g

 

     89,991        1,916,808  

Energy Transfer Operating LP, 7.60% to 5/15/24, Series Ef,g

 

     25,586        576,964  
        

 

 

 
           4,761,106  
        

 

 

 

REAL ESTATE

     0.1%        

DIVERSIFIED

     0.0%        

VEREIT, Inc., 6.70%, Series Fb,g

 

     40,704        1,023,706  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

14


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Shares/Units      Value  

REINSURANCE

     0.1%        

Arch Capital Group Ltd., 5.45%, Series Fb,g

 

     80,000      $ 2,120,000  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL REAL ESTATE

 

        3,143,706  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES

     0.4%        

NiSource, Inc., 6.50% to 3/15/24, Series Bb,d,f,g

 

     92,315        2,630,054  

South Jersey Industries, Inc., 5.625%, due 9/16/79

 

     95,800        2,471,640  

Spire, Inc., 5.90%, Series Ab,g

 

     101,071        2,803,710  
        

 

 

 
           7,905,404  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL UNITED STATES

 

        137,356,882  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES—$25 PAR VALUE
(Identified cost—$133,297,165)

 

        143,865,603  
        

 

 

 
            Principal
Amount
        

PREFERRED SECURITIES—CAPITAL SECURITIES

     14.7%        

AUSTRALIA

     0.3%        

INSURANCE-PROPERTY CASUALTY

 

QBE Insurance Group Ltd., 6.75% to 12/2/24, due 12/2/44 (USD)f,i

 

   $ 5,155,000        5,802,339  

QBE Insurance Group Ltd., 5.875% to 6/17/26, due 6/17/46, Series EMTN (USD)f,i

 

     1,800,000        1,989,064  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL AUSTRALIA

 

        7,791,403  
        

 

 

 

CANADA

     1.6%        

PIPELINES

     1.2%        

Enbridge, Inc., 6.25% to 3/1/28, due 3/1/78 (USD)b,f

 

     3,289,000        3,601,438  

Enbridge, Inc., 6.00% to 1/15/27, due 1/15/77, Series 16-A (USD)b,f

 

     4,155,000        4,439,955  

Enbridge, Inc., 5.75% to 4/15/30, due 7/15/80, Series 20-A (USD)f

 

     7,080,000        7,981,488  

Transcanada Trust, 5.50% to 9/15/29, due 9/15/79 (USD)b,f

 

     5,008,000        5,527,580  

Transcanada Trust, 5.875% to 8/15/26, due 8/15/76, Series 16-A (USD)b,f

 

     5,765,000        6,434,178  
        

 

 

 
           27,984,639  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

15


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Principal
Amount
     Value  

UTILITIES

     0.4%        

Emera, Inc., 6.75% to 6/15/26, due 6/15/76, Series 16-A (USD)b,f

 

   $ 8,000,000      $ 9,363,960  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL CANADA

 

        37,348,599  
        

 

 

 

FINLAND

     0.1%        

BANKS

 

Nordea Bank Abp, 6.625% to 3/26/26, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     1,400,000        1,607,669  
        

 

 

 

FRANCE

     1.5%        

BANKS

     1.4%        

BNP Paribas SA, 6.625% to 3/25/24, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     3,660,000        4,007,700  

BNP Paribas SA, 7.00% to 8/16/28, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     1,000,000        1,185,815  

BNP Paribas SA, 7.195% to 6/25/37, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g

 

     2,900,000        3,222,206  

BNP Paribas SA, 7.375% to 8/19/25, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     3,600,000        4,167,234  

BNP Paribas SA, 7.625% to 3/30/21, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,h,j

 

     2,400,000        2,431,500  

Credit Agricole SA, 6.875% to 9/23/24, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     2,600,000        2,886,169  

Credit Agricole SA, 7.875% to 1/23/24, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     400,000        455,740  

Credit Agricole SA, 8.125% to 12/23/25, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     3,550,000        4,328,426  

Societe Generale SA, 6.75% to 4/6/28, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     3,400,000        3,817,758  

Societe Generale SA, 7.375% to 9/13/21, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     3,600,000        3,694,500  

Societe Generale SA, 8.00% to 9/29/25, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     1,800,000        2,113,599  
        

 

 

 
           32,310,647  
        

 

 

 

INSURANCE—MULTI-LINE

     0.1%        

AXA SA, 6.379% to 12/14/36, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g

 

     1,600,000        2,228,184  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL FRANCE

 

        34,538,831  
        

 

 

 

HONG KONG

     0.1%        

BANKS

        

Bank of China Hong Kong Ltd., 5.90% to 9/14/23, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g

 

     2,200,000        2,392,536  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

16


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Principal
Amount
     Value  

ITALY

     0.2%        

BANKS

        

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, 7.70% to 9/17/25, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

   $ 2,900,000      $ 3,298,750  
        

 

 

 

JAPAN

     0.5%        

INSURANCE

        

LIFE/HEALTH INSURANCE

     0.4%        

Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., Ltd., 5.10% to 10/28/24, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g

 

     2,000,000        2,250,000  

Nippon Life Insurance Co., 5.10% to 10/16/24, due 10/16/44, 144A (USD)b,c,f

 

     5,000,000        5,621,225  
        

 

 

 
           7,871,225  
        

 

 

 

PROPERTY CASUALTY

     0.1%        

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., 4.95% to 3/6/29, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g

 

     2,400,000        2,868,000  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL JAPAN

 

        10,739,225  
        

 

 

 

NETHERLANDS

     0.2%        

BANKS

        

ING Groep N.V., 5.75% to 11/16/26 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     1,800,000        1,957,887  

ING Groep N.V., 6.875% to 4/16/22 (USD)f,g,i,j

 

     3,000,000        3,145,875  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL NETHERLANDS

 

        5,103,762  
        

 

 

 

NORWAY

     0.1%        

BANKS

        

DNB Bank ASA, 6.50% to 3/26/22 (USD)f,g,i,j

 

     3,000,000        3,151,875  
        

 

 

 

SPAIN

     0.2%        

BANKS

        

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, 6.50% to 3/5/25, Series 9 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     3,800,000        4,054,545  
        

 

 

 

SWITZERLAND

     1.2%        

BANKS

     1.1%        

Credit Suisse Group AG, 7.125% to 7/29/22 (USD)f,g,i,j

 

     2,600,000        2,747,524  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 5.25% to 2/11/27, 144A (USD)c,f,g,j

 

     1,600,000        1,696,000  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 6.375% to 8/21/26, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     3,000,000        3,343,755  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

17


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Principal
Amount
     Value  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 7.25% to 9/12/25, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

   $ 1,400,000      $ 1,576,300  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 7.50% to 12/11/23, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     400,000        446,320  

Credit Suisse Group AG, 7.50% to 7/17/23, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     4,800,000        5,244,000  

UBS Funding Switzerland Group AG, 7.00% to 1/31/24, 144A (USD)b,c,f,g,j

 

     4,600,000        5,045,947  

UBS Funding Switzerland Group AG, 6.875% to 8/7/25 (USD)f,g,i,j

 

     3,200,000        3,625,600  

UBS Funding Switzerland Group AG, 7.125% to 8/10/21 (USD)f,g,i,j

 

     800,000        825,000  
        

 

 

 
           24,550,446  
        

 

 

 

INSURANCE—PROPERTY CASUALTY

     0.1%        

Swiss Re Finance Luxembourg SA, 5.00% to 4/2/29, due 4/2/49, 144A (USD)b,c,f

 

     2,000,000        2,336,516  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL SWITZERLAND

 

        26,886,962  
        

 

 

 

UNITED KINGDOM

     2.3%        

BANKS

     2.0%        

Barclays PLC, 7.875% to 3/15/22 (USD)f,g,i,j

 

     3,800,000        3,994,750  

Barclays PLC, 8.00% to 6/15/24 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     2,200,000        2,454,118  

HSBC Capital Funding Dollar 1 LP, 10.176% to 6/30/30, 144A (USD)b,c,d,f,g

 

     8,950,000        15,304,500  

HSBC Holdings PLC, 6.375% to 3/30/25 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     1,600,000        1,750,840  

HSBC Holdings PLC, 6.50% to 3/23/28 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     2,800,000        3,148,250  

HSBC Holdings PLC, 6.875% to 6/1/21 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     3,400,000        3,468,000  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 7.50% to 6/27/24 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     3,534,000        3,993,420  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, 7.50% to 9/27/25 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     1,800,000        2,074,500  

Nationwide Building Society, 10.25%, due 12/6/99g,i

 

     435,000        1,053,651  

Natwest Group PLC, 8.00% to 8/10/25 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     3,600,000        4,201,992  

Natwest Group PLC, 8.625% to 8/15/21 (USD)b,f,g,j

 

     3,200,000        3,328,416  

Standard Chartered PLC, 7.75% to 4/2/23, 144A (USD)c,f,g,j

 

     600,000        650,544  
        

 

 

 
           45,422,981  
        

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

18


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Principal
Amount
    Value  

INTEGRATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

     0.1%       

Vodafone Group PLC, 7.00% to 1/4/29, due 4/4/79 (USD)b,f

 

   $ 2,850,000     $ 3,549,007  
       

 

 

 

OIL & GAS

     0.2%       

BP Capital Markets PLC, 4.875% to 3/22/30 (USD)b,f,g

 

     3,550,000       3,969,610  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM

 

       52,941,598  
       

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

     6.4%       

BANKS

     3.9%       

AgriBank FCB, 6.875% to 1/1/24b,f,g

 

      37,000       4,185,625  

Bank of America Corp., 6.10% to 3/17/25, Series AAb,f,g

 

     2,186,000       2,478,367  

Bank of America Corp., 5.875% to 3/15/28, Series FFb,f,g

 

     4,682,000       5,301,972  

Bank of America Corp., 6.25% to 9/5/24, Series Xb,f,g

 

     4,700,000       5,216,667  

Bank of America Corp., 6.50% to 10/23/24, Series Zb,f,g

 

     3,806,000       4,357,870  

Citigroup, Inc., 5.90% to 2/15/23b,f,g

 

     5,675,000       5,975,775  

Citigroup, Inc., 5.95% to 5/15/25, Series Pb,f,g

 

     6,000,000       6,570,000  

Citigroup, Inc., 6.25% to 8/15/26, Series Tb,f,g

 

     4,850,000       5,574,872  

Citigroup, Inc., 5.00% to 9/12/24, Series Ub,f,g

 

     4,079,000       4,249,808  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 5.65% to 10/6/25, Series Fb,f,g

 

     2,000,000       2,250,400  

Citizens Financial Group, Inc., 6.375% to 4/6/24, Series Cb,f,g

 

     1,200,000       1,239,000  

CoBank ACB, 6.25% to 10/1/22, Series Fb,f,g

 

      52,500       5,578,125  

CoBank ACB, 6.25% to 10/1/26, Series Ib,f,g

 

     2,866,000       3,138,270  

Comerica, Inc., 5.625% to 7/1/25f,g

 

     1,997,000       2,216,670  

Farm Credit Bank of Texas, 6.75% to 9/15/23, 144Ab,c,f,g

 

      35,300       3,785,925  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc./The, 5.30% to 11/10/26, Series Ob,f,g

 

     1,645,000       1,800,814  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc./The, 5.50% to 8/10/24, Series Qb,f,g

 

     1,690,000       1,846,325  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc., 5.625% to 7/15/30, Series Ff,g

 

     1,500,000       1,756,875  

Huntington Bancshares, Inc., 4.45% to 10/15/27, Series Gf,g

 

     1,500,000       1,603,140  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.75% to 2/1/24, Series Sb,f,g

 

     2,790,000       3,133,217  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., 6.10% to 10/1/24, Series Xb,f,g

 

     500,000       548,565  

Truist Financial Corp., 5.125% to 12/15/27, Series Mf,g

 

     500,000       536,875  

Truist Financial Corp., 4.80% to 9/1/24, Series Nb,f,g

 

     1,810,000       1,908,433  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

19


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Principal
Amount
    Value  

Truist Financial Corp., 5.10% to 3/1/30, Series Qf,g

 

   $ 4,210,000     $ 4,820,492  

Wells Fargo & Co., 5.95%, due 12/1/86b

 

      2,830,000       3,794,989  

Wells Fargo & Co., 7.50%, Series Lg

 

     1,596       2,422,568  

Wells Fargo & Co., 5.875% to 6/15/25, Series Ub,f,g

 

     2,891,000       3,284,899  
       

 

 

 
          89,576,538  
       

 

 

 

ELECTRIC

     0.3%     

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., 6.125% to 9/1/23, Series Ab,f,g

 

     1,960,000       2,054,105  

Duke Energy Corp., 4.875% to 9/16/24b,f,g

 

     3,580,000       3,885,481  
       

 

 

 
          5,939,586  
       

 

 

 

FINANCIAL—INVESTMENT BANKER/BROKER

     0.1%       

Charles Schwab Corp./The, 5.375% to 6/1/25, Series Gf,g

 

     2,936,000       3,277,310  
       

 

 

 

FOOD

     0.3%       

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., 7.875%, 144Ac,g,k

 

      60,000       5,790,000  
       

 

 

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

     0.3%       

ELECTRIC

     0.1%       

CMS Energy Corp., 4.75% to 3/1/30, due 6/1/50b,f

 

     2,300,000       2,593,708  
       

 

 

 

GAS—DISTRIBUTION

     0.2%       

Sempra Energy, 4.875% to 10/15/25f,g

 

     3,780,000       4,049,325  
       

 

 

 

TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE

 

       6,643,033  
       

 

 

 

INSURANCE

     1.3%       

LIFE/HEALTH INSURANCE

     0.9%       

MetLife Capital Trust IV, 7.875%, due 12/15/37, 144A (TruPS)b,c

 

     4,500,000       6,356,250  

MetLife, Inc., 9.25%, due 4/8/68, 144Ab,c

 

     6,500,000       9,913,512  

MetLife, Inc., 3.792% (3 Month US LIBOR + 3.575%), Series C (FRN)g,h

 

     1,067,000       1,064,332  

MetLife, Inc., 5.875% to 3/15/28, Series Db,f,g

 

     2,530,000       2,910,765  

Voya Financial, Inc., 5.65% to 5/15/23, due 5/15/53b,f

 

     500,000       530,873  

Voya Financial, Inc., 6.125% to 9/15/23, Series Ab,f,g

 

     1,310,000       1,388,600  
       

 

 

 
          22,164,332  
       

 

 

 

MULTI-LINE

     0.1%       

American International Group, Inc., 8.175% to 5/15/38, due 5/15/68b,f

 

     925,000       1,357,061  
       

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

20


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

            Principal
Amount
     Value  

PROPERTY CASUALTY

     0.2%        

Assurant, Inc., 7.00% to 3/27/28, due 3/27/48b,f

 

   $ 3,200,000      $ 3,608,000  

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 7.80%, due 3/7/87, 144Ab,c

 

     1,680,000        2,156,693  
        

 

 

 
           5,764,693  
        

 

 

 

REINSURANCE

     0.1%        

AXIS Specialty Finance LLC, 4.90% to 1/15/30, due 1/15/40b,f

 

     1,760,000        1,843,903  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL INSURANCE

 

        31,129,989  
        

 

 

 

PIPELINES

     0.1%        

Energy Transfer Operating LP, 7.125% to 5/15/30, Series Gb,f,g

 

     2,247,000        2,140,267  
        

 

 

 

UTILITIES

     0.1%        

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc., 5.65% to 5/1/29, due 5/1/79b,f

 

     2,870,000        3,383,349  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL UNITED STATES

 

        147,880,072  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES—CAPITAL SECURITIES
(Identified cost—$298,649,506)

 

        337,735,827  
        

 

 

 
            Shares         

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

     0.6%        

MONEY MARKET FUNDS

        

State Street Institutional Treasury Money Market Fund, Premier Class, 0.01%l

 

     13,511,226        13,511,226  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Identified cost—$13,511,226)

 

        13,511,226  
        

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
(Identified cost—$2,525,502,689)

     136.6%           3,147,316,212  
        

 

 

 

WRITTEN OPTION CONTRACTS

     (0.0)             (237,630

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS

     (36.6)             (842,901,276
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

NET ASSETS (Equivalent to $24.62 per share based on 93,593,116 shares of common stock outstanding)

     100.0%         $ 2,304,177,306  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

21


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Exchange-Traded Option Contracts

Written Options

 

             
Description   Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Date
    Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amountm
    Premiums
Received
    Value  

Put—Sempra Energy

    $120.00       1/15/21       (1,185     $(15,098,085     $(181,259     $  (85,320

Put—Targa Resources Corp.

    24.00       1/15/21       (2,786     (7,349,468     (164,174     (111,440

 

 
        (3,971     $(22,447,553     $(345,433     $(196,760

 

 

Over-the-Counter Option Contracts

Written Options

 

               
Description   Counterparty   Exercise
Price
    Expiration
Date
    Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amountm
    Premiums
Received
    Value  

Put—SBA Communications Corp.

 

Goldman Sachs

International

    $265.00       1/15/21       (285     $(8,040,705     $(171,855     $(40,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Contracts

 

                 

Notional

Amount

  Fixed
Rate
Payable
 

Fixed

Payment
Frequency

    Floating
Rate
Receivablen
(resets
monthly)
    Floating
Payment
Frequency
    Maturity
Date
    Value     Upfront
Receipts
(Payments)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

$212,500,000

  1.240%     Monthly       0.145     Monthly       2/3/26     $ (9,544,433   $ (89,171   $ (9,633,604

 

 

The total amount of all interest rate swap contracts as presented in the table above are representative of the volume of activity for this derivative type during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Glossary of Portfolio Abbreviations

 

 

EMTN

  Euro Medium Term Note

FRN

  Floating Rate Note

LIBOR

  London Interbank Offered Rate

MLP

  Master Limited Partnership

TruPS

  Trust Preferred Securities

USD

  United States Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

22


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

 

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

 

Represents shares.

a 

Non-income producing security.

b 

All or a portion of the security is pledged as collateral in connection with the Fund’s credit agreement. $1,768,820,650 aggregate has been pledged as collateral.

c 

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may only be resold to qualified institutional buyers. Aggregate holdings amounted to $239,891,364 which represents 10.4% of the net assets of the Fund, of which 0.3% are illiquid.

d 

A portion of the security has been rehypothecated in connection with the Fund’s credit agreement. $801,069,206 in aggregate has been rehypothecated.

e 

All or a portion of the security is pledged in connection with written option contracts. $7,038,344 in aggregate has been pledged as collateral.

f 

Security converts to floating rate after the indicated fixed-rate coupon period.

g 

Perpetual security. Perpetual securities have no stated maturity date, but they may be called/redeemed by the issuer.

h 

Variable rate. Rate shown is in effect at December 31, 2020.

i 

Securities exempt from registration under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities are subject to resale restrictions. Aggregate holdings amounted to $26,335,678 which represents 1.1% of the net assets of the Fund, of which 0.0% are illiquid.

j 

Contingent Capital security (CoCo). CoCos are debt or preferred securities with loss absorption characteristics built into the terms of the security for the benefit of the issuer. Aggregate holdings amounted to $99,920,318 which represents 4.3% of the net assets of the Fund. (3.2% of the managed assets of the Fund).

k 

Security value is determined based on significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

l 

Rate quoted represents the annualized seven-day yield.

m 

Amount represents number of contracts multiplied by notional contract size multiplied by the underlying price.

n 

Based on 1 month LIBOR. Represents rates in effect at December 31, 2020.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

23


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Sector Summary

   % of Managed
Assets
 

Electric

     29.7  

Pipelines

     9.7  

Banks

     8.4  

Toll Roads

     8.0  

Communications

     7.8  

Utilities

     7.0  

Railways

     6.7  

Airports

     6.4  

Infrastructure

     6.1  

Gas Distribution

     2.2  

Insurance

     2.1  

Real Estate

     1.5  

Industrial

     0.8  

Marine Ports

     0.8  

Financial

     0.7  

Other

     2.1  
  

 

 

 
     100.0  
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

24


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

December 31, 2020

 

ASSETS:

 

Investments in securities, at valuea (Identified cost—$2,525,502,689)

   $ 3,147,316,212  

Cash

     596,353  

Cash collateral pledged for interest rate swap contracts

     5,735,141  

Foreign currency, at value (Identified cost—$702,886)

     722,188  

Receivable for:

  

Investment securities sold

     34,905,348  

Dividends and interest

     9,578,076  

Other assets

     24,854  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,198,878,172  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

Written option contracts, at value (Premiums received—$517,288)

     237,630  

Payable for:

  

Credit agreementb

     850,000,000  

Investment securities purchased

     37,844,106  

Investment management fees

     2,261,092  

Interest expense

     2,089,198  

Foreign capital gains tax

     1,474,546  

Administration fees

     159,606  

Variation margin on interest rate swap contracts

     115,224  

Directors’ fees

     2,617  

Other liabilities

     516,847  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     894,700,866  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 2,304,177,306  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS consist of:

 

Paid-in capital

   $ 1,683,193,603  

Total distributable earnings/(accumulated loss)

     620,983,703  
  

 

 

 
   $ 2,304,177,306  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE:

 

($2,304,177,306 ÷ 93,593,116 shares outstanding)

   $ 24.62  
  

 

 

 

MARKET PRICE PER SHARE

   $ 25.82  
  

 

 

 

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

     4.87
  

 

 

 

 

a 

Includes $1,768,820,650 pledged as collateral, of which $801,069,206 has been rehypothecated, in connection with the Fund’s credit agreement, as described in Note 8.

b 

Amount includes $255,000,000 maturing after December 31, 2021.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

25


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

Investment Income:

 

Dividend income (net of $2,670,434 of foreign withholding tax)

   $ 77,426,533  

Interest income

     17,442,309  

Rehypothecation income

     174,836  
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     95,043,678  
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

Interest expense

     26,296,674  

Investment management fees

     26,188,675  

Administration fees

     2,140,019  

Reports to shareholders

     862,055  

Custodian fees and expenses

     348,575  

Professional fees

     139,230  

Directors’ fees and expenses

     99,242  

Transfer agent fees and expenses

     22,027  

Miscellaneous

     294,538  
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     56,391,035  
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     38,652,643  
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):

 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

 

Investments in securities (net of $147,890 of foreign capital gains tax)

     97,239,549  

Written option contracts

     2,388,074  

Foreign currency transactions

     326,789  

Interest rate swap contracts

     (1,770,882
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss)

     98,183,530  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

 

Investments in securities (net of decrease in accrued foreign capital gains tax of $1,161,441)

     (244,031,113

Written option contracts

     247,688  

Foreign currency translations

     67,392  

Interest rate swap contracts

     (10,279,018
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (253,995,051
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

     (155,811,521
  

 

 

 

Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ (117,158,878
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

26


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2020
       For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2019
 

Change in Net Assets:

       

From Operations:

       

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 38,652,643        $ 48,585,593  

Net realized gain (loss)

     98,183,530          149,782,209  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (253,995,051        442,745,240  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

     (117,158,878        641,113,042  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders

     (173,963,770        (158,708,400
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital Stock Transactions:

       

Issued as reinvestment of dividends and distributions (See Note 6)

     1,679,415          1,186,428  

Issued in connection with tax-free reorganization (See Note 7)

              226,180,064  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital stock transactions

     1,679,415          227,366,492  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (289,443,233        709,771,134  

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of year

     2,593,620,539          1,883,849,405  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of year

   $ 2,304,177,306        $ 2,593,620,539  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

27


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

Increase (Decrease) in Cash:

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (117,158,878

Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from
operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

  

Purchases of long-term investments

     (1,620,764,555

Proceeds from sales and maturities of long-term investments

     1,720,063,232  

Net purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments

     43,411,922  

Net amortization of premium on investments in securities

     904,236  

Net decrease in dividends and interest receivable and other assets

     2,327,149  

Net increase in payable for variation margin on interest rate swap contracts

     181,215  

Net decrease in interest expense payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (525,811

Increase in premiums received from written option contracts

     430,466  

Net change in unrealized appreciation on written option contracts

     (247,688

Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments in securities (net of decrease in accrued foreign capital gains tax of $1,161,441)

     244,031,113  

Net realized gain on investments in securities (net of $147,890 of foreign capital gains tax)

     (97,239,549
  

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

     175,412,852  

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

 

Dividends paid

     (172,284,355
  

 

 

 

Cash used for financing activities

     (172,284,355
  

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash

     3,128,497  

Cash and restricted cash at beginning of year (including foreign currency)

     3,925,185  
  

 

 

 

Cash and restricted cash at end of year (including foreign currency)

   $ 7,053,682  
  

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information and Non-Cash Activities:

For the year ended December 31, 2020, interest paid was $26,365,295.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, reinvestment of dividends and distributions was $1,679,415.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, as part of exchange offers from two of the Fund’s investments, the Fund received shares of new securities valued at $3,575,289.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

28


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and restricted cash reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities that sums to the total of such amounts shown on the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

Cash

   $ 596,353  

Restricted cash

     5,735,141  

Foreign currency

     722,188  
  

 

 

 

Total cash and restricted cash shown on the Statement of Cash Flows

   $ 7,053,682  
  

 

 

 

Restricted cash consists of cash that has been deposited with a broker and pledged to cover the Fund’s collateral or margin obligations under derivative contracts. It is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash collateral pledged for interest rate swap contracts.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

29


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout each year and other performance information derived from the financial statements. It should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto.

 

                                                                     
     For the Year Ended December 31,  

Per Share Operating Data:

   2020      2019      2018      2017      2016  

Net asset value, beginning of year

     $27.73        $22.08        $25.53        $22.00        $22.22  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) from investment operations:

              

Net investment income (loss)a

     0.41        0.57        0.52        0.67        0.69  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (1.66      6.94        (1.97      4.63        1.12  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (1.25      7.51        (1.45      5.30        1.81  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less dividends and distributions to shareholders from:

              

Net investment income

     (0.41      (0.58      (0.53      (1.03      (0.62

Net realized gain

     (1.45      (1.28      (1.47      (0.74      (1.41
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions to shareholders

     (1.86      (1.86      (2.00      (1.77      (2.03
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net asset value

     (3.11      5.65        (3.45      3.53        (0.22
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of year

     $24.62        $27.73        $22.08        $25.53        $22.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Market value, end of year

     $25.82        $26.20        $19.76        $24.00        $19.36  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                                              

Total net asset value returnb

     –3.66      35.09      –5.34      25.33      9.22
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total market value returnb

     6.94      42.63      –9.89      33.89      11.93
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
                                              

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

              

Net assets, end of year (in millions)

     $2,304.1        $2,593.6        $1,883.8        $2,178.0        $1,876.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratios to average daily net assets:

              

Expenses

     2.53      2.50      2.44      2.17      2.19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Expenses (excluding interest expense)

     1.35      1.36      1.39      1.35      1.36
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

     1.73      2.18      2.18      2.73      2.97
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ratio of expenses to average daily managed assetsc

     1.83      1.81      1.73      1.54      1.53
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

     54      41      37      46      51
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

30


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS—(Continued)

 

                                                                     
     For the Year Ended December 31,  

Credit Agreement

   2020      2019      2018      2017      2016  

Asset coverage ratio for credit agreement

     371      405      322      356      321
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset coverage per $1,000 for credit agreement

     $3,711        $4,051        $3,216        $3,562        $3,208  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amount of loan outstanding (in millions)

     $850.0        $850.0        $850.0        $850.0        $850.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

a 

Calculation based on average shares outstanding.

b 

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

c 

Average daily managed assets represent net assets plus the outstanding balance of the credit agreement.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

31


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the Fund) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on January 8, 2004 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is total return with emphasis on income.

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

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

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

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

Fixed-income securities are valued on the basis of prices provided by a third-party pricing service or third-party broker-dealers when such prices are believed by the investment manager, pursuant to delegation by the Board of Directors, to reflect the fair value of such securities. The pricing services or broker-dealers use multiple valuation techniques to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient

 

32


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

market activity exists, the pricing services or broker-dealers may utilize a market-based approach through which quotes from market makers are used to determine fair value. In instances where sufficient market activity may not exist or is limited, the pricing services or broker-dealers also utilize proprietary valuation models which may consider market transactions in comparable securities and the various relationships between securities in determining fair value and/or characteristics such as benchmark yield curves, option-adjusted spreads, credit spreads, estimated default rates, coupon rates, anticipated timing of principal repayments, underlying collateral, and other unique security features which are then used to calculate the fair values.

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

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

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

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

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

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would expect to receive upon the sale of an investment or expect to pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in

 

33


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

the principal market or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. The hierarchy of inputs that are used in determining the fair value of the Fund’s investments is summarized below.

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

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

   

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2020 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

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

Common Stock

   $ 2,652,203,556     $ 2,652,203,556     $     $                 —  

Preferred Securities—$25 Par Value:

        

United States

     137,356,882       132,653,638       4,703,244        

Other Countries

     6,508,721       6,508,721              

Preferred Securities—Capital Securities:

        

United States

     147,880,072       2,422,568       139,667,504       5,790,000  

Other Countries

     189,855,755             189,855,755        

Short-Term Investments

     13,511,226             13,511,226        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments in Securitiesa

   $ 3,147,316,212     $ 2,793,788,483     $ 347,737,729     $ 5,790,000 b 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swaps

   $ (9,633,604   $     $ (9,633,604   $  

Written Option Contracts

     (237,630     (196,760     (40,870      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Derivative Liabilitiesa

   $ (9,871,234   $ (196,760   $ (9,674,474   $  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

a 

Portfolio holdings are disclosed individually on the Schedule of Investments.

b 

Level 3 investments are valued by a third-party pricing service. The inputs for these securities are not readily available or cannot be reasonably estimated. A change in the significant unobservable inputs could result in a significantly lower or higher value in such Level 3 investments.

 

34


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments for which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

     Preferred Securities—
Capital Securities—
United States—
Food
 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

   $ 18,093,624  

Sales

     (9,642,308

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (2,661,316
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

   $ 5,790,000  
  

 

 

 

The change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) attributable to securities owned on December 31, 2020 which were valued using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) amounted to $(2,661,316).

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

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

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

 

35


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

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

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

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

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

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Contracts: The Fund uses interest rate swaps in connection with borrowing under its credit agreement. The interest rate swaps are intended to reduce interest rate risk by countering the effect that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on the performance of the Fund’s shares as a result of the floating rate structure of interest owed pursuant to the credit agreement. When entering into interest rate swaps, the Fund agrees to pay the other party to the interest rate swap (which is known as the counterparty) a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty’s agreement to pay the Fund a variable rate payment that was intended to approximate the Fund’s variable rate payment obligation on the credit agreement, the accruals for which would begin at a specific date in the future (“the effective date”). The payment obligation is based on the notional amount of the swap. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the use of interest rate swaps could enhance or harm the overall performance of the Fund. Swaps are marked-to-market daily and changes in the value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation).

Immediately following execution of the swap agreement, the swap agreement is novated to a central counterparty (the CCP) and the Fund’s counterparty on the swap agreement becomes the CCP. The Fund is required to interface with the CCP through a broker. Upon entering into a centrally cleared swap, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount that varies depending on the size and risk profile of the particular swap. Securities deposited as initial margin are designated on the Schedule of Investments and cash deposited is recorded on the

 

36


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash collateral pledged for interest rate swap contracts. The daily change in valuation of centrally cleared swaps is recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on interest rate swap contracts in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Any upfront payments paid or received upon entering into a swap agreement would be recorded as assets or liabilities, respectively, in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and amortized or accreted over the life of the swap and recorded as realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Payments received from or paid to the counterparty during the term of the swap agreement, or at termination, are recorded as realized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations.

Swap agreements involve, to varying degrees, elements of market and counterparty risk, and exposure to loss in excess of the related amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreements and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates.

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

The Fund has a managed distribution policy in accordance with exemptive relief issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Plan gives the Fund greater flexibility to realize long-term capital gains throughout the year and to distribute those gains on a more regular basis to shareholders. Therefore, regular monthly distributions throughout the year may include a portion of estimated realized long-term capital gains, along with net investment income, short-term capital gains and return of capital, which is not taxable. In accordance with the Plan, the Fund is required to adhere to certain conditions in order to distribute long-term capital gains during the year. For the year ended December 31, 2020 the Fund paid distributions from net investment income and net realized gain.

Distributions Subsequent to December 31, 2020: The following distributions have been declared by the Fund’s Board of Directors and are payable subsequent to the period end of this report.

 

Ex-Date

 

Record Date

  Payable Date  

Amount

1/12/21  

1/13/21

  1/29/21   $0.155
2/9/21  

2/10/21

  2/26/21   $0.155
3/16/21  

3/17/21

  3/31/21   $0.155

Income Taxes: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC), if such qualification is in the best interest of the shareholders, by complying with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs, and by distributing substantially all of its taxable earnings to its shareholders. Also, in order to avoid the payment of any federal excise taxes, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net

 

37


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

realized gains on a calendar year basis. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary. Dividend and interest income from holdings in non-U.S. securities is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. Security and foreign currency transactions and any gains realized by the Fund on the sale of securities in certain non-U.S. markets are subject to non-U.S. taxes. The Fund records a liability based on any unrealized gains on securities held in these markets in order to estimate the potential non-U.S. taxes due upon the sale of these securities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal and applicable state income tax returns as well as its tax positions in non-U.S. jurisdictions in which it trades for all open tax years and has concluded that as of December 31, 2020, no additional provisions for income tax are required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s tax positions for the tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, state departments of revenue and by foreign tax authorities.

Note 2. Investment Management Fees, Administration Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

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

For the services provided to the Fund, the investment manager receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.85% of the average daily managed assets of the Fund. Managed assets are equal to the net assets plus the amount of any borrowings used for leverage outstanding.

Under subadvisory agreements between the investment manager and each of Cohen & Steers Asia Limited and Cohen & Steers UK Limited (collectively, the subadvisors), affiliates of the investment manager, the subadvisors are responsible for managing the Fund’s investments in certain non-U.S. securities. For their services provided under the subadvisory agreements, the investment manager (not the Fund) pays the subadvisors. The investment manager allocates 50% of the investment management fee received from the Fund among itself and each subadvisor based on the portion of the Fund’s average daily managed assets managed by the investment manager and each subadvisor.

Administration Fees: The Fund has entered into an administration agreement with the investment manager under which the investment manager performs certain administrative functions for the Fund and receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.06% of the average daily managed assets of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund incurred $1,848,612 in fees under this administration agreement. Additionally, the Fund pays State Street Bank and Trust Company as co-administrator under a fund accounting and administration agreement.

Directors’ and Officers’ Fees: Certain directors and officers of the Fund are also directors, officers and/or employees of the investment manager. The Fund does not pay compensation to directors and officers affiliated with the investment manager except for the Chief Compliance Officer, who received compensation from the investment manager, which was reimbursed by the Fund, in the amount of $20,280 for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

38


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Note 3. Purchases and Sales of Securities

Purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended December 31, 2020, totaled $1,649,663,396 and $1,736,100,765, respectively.

Note 4. Derivative Investments

The following tables present the value of derivatives held at December 31, 2020 and the effect of derivatives held during the year ended December 31, 2020, along with the respective location in the financial statements.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

   

Assets

   

Liabilities

 

Derivatives

 

Location

  Fair Value    

Location

  Fair Value  

Interest Rate Risk:

       

 

Interest Rate Swap Contractsa

 

  $         —    

Payable for variation margin on interest rate swap contracts

  $ 9,633,604 b 

Equity Risk:

       

Written Option Contracts—Exchange-Tradeda

          Written option contracts     196,760  

Written Option Contracts—Over-the-Counter

          Written option contracts     40,870  

 

a 

Not subject to a master netting arrangement or another similar agreement.

b 

Amount represents the cumulative depreciation on interest rate swap contracts as reported on the Schedule of Investments. The Statement of Assets and Liabilities only reflects the current day variation margin payable to the broker.

Statement of Operations

 

Derivatives

  

Location

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

Interest Rate Risk:

      

Interest Rate Swap Contracts

   Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)   $ (1,770,882   $ (10,279,018

Equity Risk:

      

Written Option Contracts

   Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)     2,388,074       247,688  

 

39


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2020, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type), which are subject to a master netting agreement, are as follows:

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

   Assets        Liabilities  

Equity Risk:

       

Written Option Contracts

   $         —        $ 40,870  

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement and net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, as of December 31, 2020:

 

  Counterparty  

   Gross Amount
of Liabilities
Presented
in the Statement
of Assets and
Liabilities
       Financial
Instruments
and Derivatives
Available
for Offset
       Collateral
Pledgeda
       Net Amount
of Derivative
Liabilitiesb
 

Goldman Sachs International

   $ 40,870        $         —        $         —        $ (40,870

 

a 

Collateral received or pledged is limited to the net derivative asset or net derivative liability amounts. Actual collateral amounts received or pledged may be higher than amounts above.

b 

Net amount represents the net payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.

The following summarizes the volume of the Fund’s option contracts activity for the year ended December 31, 2020:

 

     Written Option
Contracts
 

Average Notional Amounta,b

   $ 28,527,237  

 

a 

Average notional amounts represent the average for all months in which the Fund had option contracts outstanding at month end. For the period, this represents nine months for written option contracts.

b 

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

Note 5. Income Tax Information

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

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2020        2019  

Ordinary income

   $ 38,305,073        $ 63,525,904  

Long-term capital gain

     135,658,697          95,182,496  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total dividends and distributions

   $ 173,963,770        $ 158,708,400  
  

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

40


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2020, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings, the federal tax cost and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of investments held were as follows:

 

Cost of investments in securities for federal income tax purposes

   $ 2,529,546,628  
  

 

 

 

Gross unrealized appreciation on investments

   $ 707,529,823  

Gross unrealized depreciation on investments

     (100,479,546
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

   $ 607,050,277  
  

 

 

 

Undistributed long-term capital gains

   $ 13,240,320  
  

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to wash sales on portfolio securities, straddle deferrals, certain fixed income securities and partnership investments and permanent book/tax differences primarily attributable to certain fixed income securities. To reflect reclassifications arising from the permanent differences, paid-in capital was credited $211,698, and total distributable earnings/(accumulated loss) was charged $211,698. Net assets were not affected by this reclassification.

Note 6. Capital Stock

The Fund is authorized to issue 300 million shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund issued 70,307 shares of common stock at $1,679,415 for the reinvestment of dividends. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund issued 44,191 shares of common stock at $1,186,428 for the reinvestment of dividends.

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

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Fund did not effect any repurchases.

On December 8, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the continuation of the Share Repurchase Program up to 10% of the Fund’s common shares outstanding as of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

Note 7. Reorganization

On June 11, 2019, the Boards of Directors of Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc. (INB) and the Fund approved the reorganization of INB with and into the Fund, pursuant to which the Fund would continue as the surviving fund (the Reorganization). The investment advisor believes the Reorganization benefits shareholders of the Fund by reducing annual operating expense ratios, enhancing market liquidity and providing portfolio management and operational efficiencies. The transaction was structured as a tax-free reorganization under the Internal Revenue Code. On December 6, 2019, INB’s stockholders approved the Reorganization.

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

After the close of business on December 20, 2019, the Fund acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of INB in exchange for shares of common stock of the Fund, which were distributed to INB’s shareholders. The investment portfolio of INB, with a fair value of $214,914,884 and identified cost of $190,813,478 as of the date of the reorganization, was the principal asset acquired by the Fund. The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 23,142,068 shares of INB, valued at $226,180,064 (including $129 paid in cash in lieu of fractional shares totaling 5 shares of the Fund) for 8,158,824 shares of the Fund. The net assets of INB and the Fund immediately before the acquisition were $226,180,064 (including $24,101,941 of net unrealized appreciation) and $2,366,482,855, respectively. The combined net assets of the Fund immediately following the acquisition were $2,592,662,919. For financial reporting purposes, assets received and shares issued by the Fund were recorded at fair value; however the cost basis of the investments received from INB was carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Fund’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.

Merger related expenses were approximately $387,207 of which $352,392 were borne by the Fund and $34,815 were borne by INB.

Note 8. Borrowings

On October 6, 2020, the Fund entered into an amendment to its existing amended and restated credit agreement (the credit agreement) with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. (BNPP) to increase the commitment thereunder from $850,000,000 to $950,000,000. The Fund pays a monthly financing charge based on a combination of LIBOR-based variable and fixed rates and may pay a fee of 0.45% per annum on any unused portion of the commitment under the credit agreement. BNPP may not change certain terms of the credit agreement except upon 360 days’ notice. Also, if the Fund violates certain conditions, the credit agreement may be terminated. The Fund is required to pledge portfolio securities as collateral in an amount up to two times the loan balance outstanding (or more depending on the terms of the credit agreement) and has granted a security interest in the securities pledged to, and in favor of, BNPP as security for the loan balance outstanding. If the Fund fails to meet certain requirements, or maintain other financial covenants required under the credit agreement, the Fund may be required to repay immediately, in part or in full, the loan balance outstanding under the credit agreement, necessitating the sale of portfolio securities at potentially inopportune times. Under the terms of the credit agreement, the Fund may, upon prior written notice to BNPP, prepay all or a portion of the fixed rate portions of the credit facility. In the event of such prepayment, the Fund will receive or pay any gain or loss associated with BNPP’s interest rate hedge with respect to the applicable fixed rate portions of the credit facility, which could be material in certain circumstances (breakage fee). The credit agreement also permits, subject to certain conditions, BNPP to rehypothecate portfolio securities pledged by the Fund up to the amount of the loan balance outstanding and the Fund will receive a portion of the fees earned by BNPP in connection with the rehypothecated securities. The Fund continues to receive dividends and interest on rehypothecated securities. The Fund also has the right under the credit agreement to recall the rehypothecated securities from BNPP on demand. If BNPP fails to deliver the recalled security in a timely manner, the Fund will be compensated by BNPP for any fees or losses related to the failed delivery or, in the event a

 

42


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

recalled security will not be returned by BNPP, the Fund, upon notice to BNPP, may reduce the loan balance outstanding by the amount of the recalled security failed to be returned.

As of December 31, 2020, the Fund had outstanding borrowings of $850,000,000 at a weighted average rate of 2.4%. The fair value of these borrowings at December 31, 2020 was approximately $868,410,000, including estimated breakage fees of approximately $18,410,000 in the event of a prepayment of all of the fixed rate financing. The borrowings are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund borrowed an average daily balance of $850,000,000 at a weighted average borrowing cost of 3.1%.

Note 9. Unfunded Subscription Agreement

The Fund has entered into a subscription agreement to purchase $9.5 million of unregistered shares of Star Peak Energy Transition Corp. (STPK) (NYSE: STPK), a special purpose vehicle that plans to combine with Stem, Inc. (STEM). Among other closing conditions, the closing of the Fund’s subscription for the shares is conditioned upon the substantially concurrent consummation of the business combination of STPK and STEM. This business combination requires approval by shareholders of both STPK and STEM. Assuming timely approval of the business combination and the satisfaction of the conditions relating thereto, the closing of the subscription is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2021. At closing, the Fund will deliver cash in the amount of the purchase price and receive restricted PIPE (Private Investment in Public Shares) shares of STPK that will be registered within 90 days.

Note 10. Other

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

Note 11. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated events and transactions occurring after December 31, 2020 through the date that the financial statements were issued, and has determined that no additional disclosure in the financial statements is required.

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2020, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2020 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2020, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2020 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

February 26, 2021

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

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

(The following pages are unaudited)

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

(Periods ended December 31, 2020)

 

Based on Net Asset Value           Based on Market Value  

One Year

    Five Years     Ten Years     Since Inception
(3/30/04)
          One Year     Five Years     Ten Years     Since Inception
(3/30/04)
 
  –3.66     11.01     11.41     10.04       6.94     15.54     13.30     10.05

The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return will vary and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate and shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance results reflect the effect of leverage from utilization of borrowings under a credit agreement and/or from the issuance of preferred shares. Current total returns of the Fund can be obtained by visiting our website at cohenandsteers.com. During certain periods presented above, the investment manager waived fees and/or reimbursed expenses. Without this arrangement, performance would have been lower. The Fund’s returns assume the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

TAX INFORMATION—2020

For the calendar year ended December 31, 2020, for individual taxpayers, the Fund designates $38,305,073 as qualified dividend income eligible for reduced tax rates and long-term capital gain distributions of $135,658,697 taxable at the maximum 20% rate. In addition, for corporate taxpayers, 100.00% of the ordinary dividends paid qualified for the dividends received deduction (DRD).

REINVESTMENT PLAN

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

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

 

45


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

The Plan Agent will receive cash from the Fund with which to buy common shares in the open market if, on the Dividend payment date, the NAV per share exceeds the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions on that date. The Plan Agent will receive the Dividend in newly issued common shares of the Fund if, on the Dividend payment date, the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions equals or exceeds the NAV per share of the Fund on that date. The number of shares to be issued will be computed at a per share rate equal to the greater of (i) the NAV or (ii) 95% of the closing market price per share on the payment date.

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

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

The Plan Agent’s fees for the handling of reinvestment of Dividends will be paid by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of Dividends. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such Dividends.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Reinvestment Plan. All correspondence concerning the Reinvestment Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at 800-432-8224.

OTHER INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 866-227-0757, (ii) on our website at cohenandsteers.com or (iii) on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available by August 31 of each year (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 866-227-0757 or (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Disclosures of the Fund’s complete holdings are required to be made monthly on Form N-PORT, with every third month made available to the public by the SEC 60 days after the end of the Fund’s fiscal quarter. Previously, the Fund filed its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q, which has now been rescinded. Both the Fund’s Form N-Q and Form N-PORT, are available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 866-227-0757 or (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

46


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Please note that distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes and are taxable up to the amount of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized gains. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s investment company taxable income and net realized gains are a return of capital distributed from the Fund’s assets. To the extent this occurs, the Fund’s shareholders of record will be notified of the estimated amount of capital returned to shareholders for each such distribution and this information will also be available at cohenandsteers.com. The final tax treatment of all distributions is reported to shareholders on their 1099-DIV forms, which are mailed after the close of each calendar year. Distributions of capital decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to make these distributions, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

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

Change to the size of the Board of Directors

On January 26, 2021, the Board of Directors voted to set the number of directors on the Fund’s Board of Directors to nine.

 

47


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

CURRENT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND

The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell Fund shares.

Investment Objectives

Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the Fund) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund’s investment objective is total return with emphasis on income. The Fund’s investment objective is considered fundamental and may not be changed without stockholder approval.

Investment Strategies

In making investment decisions with respect to common stocks and other equity securities issued by infrastructure companies, the Fund’s investment manager and subadvisors will rely on a fundamental analysis of each company. Securities will be evaluated for their potential to provide an attractive total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. The investment manager and subadvisors will review each company’s potential for success in light of general economic and industry trends, as well as the company’s quality of management, financial condition, business plan, industry and sector market position, dividend payout ratio and corporate governance. The investment manager and subadvisors utilize a value-oriented approach, and evaluates each company’s valuation on the basis of relative price/cash flow and price/earnings multiples, earnings growth rate, dividend yield, and price/book value, among other metrics. These equity securities can consist of: common stocks; rights or warrants to purchase common stocks; securities convertible into common stocks where the conversion feature represents, in the investment manager’s or subadvisors’ view, a significant element of the securities’ value; preferred stocks; and equity units.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in securities issued by infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications companies and other infrastructure companies. This 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Fund’s Board without stockholder approval. However, the Fund will provide stockholders with written notice at least 60 days’ prior to a change in its 80% investment policy. The Fund may not invest more than 25% of its managed assets in securities of issuers in any one industry, except for securities in infrastructure companies.

Infrastructure companies are companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from, or have at least 50% of their assets committed to, the:

 

   

generation, transmission, sale or distribution of electric energy;

   

distribution, purification and treatment of water;

   

production, transmission or distribution of natural resources used to produce energy; and

   

provision of communication services, including cable television, satellite, microwave, radio, telephone and other communications media.

In addition, infrastructure companies are companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from, or have at least 50% of their assets committed to, the management, ownership and/or operation of

 

48


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

infrastructure assets or construction, development or financing of infrastructure assets, such as pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads or ports. Infrastructure companies also include energy-related companies organized as master limited partnerships and their affiliates.

The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its managed assets in energy-related MLPs and their affiliates and Canadian royalty trusts. An MLP is a publicly traded company organized as a limited partnership or limited liability company and treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. MLPs may derive income and gains from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas, oil, or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or natural resources. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. The general partner of an MLP is typically owned by one or more of the following: a major energy company, an investment fund, or the direct management of the MLP. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP through an up to 2% equity interest in the MLP plus, in many cases, ownership of common units and subordinated units. Limited partners own the remainder of the partnership, through ownership of common units, and have a limited role in the partnership’s operations and management.

A Canadian royalty trust is a trust whose securities are listed on a Canadian stock exchange and which controls an underlying company whose business is the acquisition, exploitation, production and sale of oil and natural gas. These trusts generally pay out to unitholders the majority of the cash flow that they receive from the production and sale of underlying oil and natural gas reserves. The amount of distributions paid on a Canadian royalty trust’s units will vary from time to time based on production levels, commodity prices, royalty rates and certain expenses, deductions and costs, as well as on the distribution payout ratio policy adopted. As a result of distributing the bulk of their cash flow to unitholders, the ability of a Canadian royalty trust to finance internal growth through exploration is limited. Therefore, Canadian royalty trusts typically grow through acquisition of additional oil and gas properties or producing companies with proven reserves of oil and gas, funded through the issuance of additional equity or, where the trust is able, additional debt.

The Fund may invest in preferred securities and other fixed income securities issued by any type of company, including traditional preferred securities, hybrid-preferred securities that have investment and economic characteristics of both preferred stock and debt securities and convertible securities. The Fund is also permitted to invest up to 25% of its managed assets, in securities that at the time of investment are rated below investment grade or that are unrated but judged to be below investment grade by the investment manager or subadvisors. These below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the payment of interest and repayment of principal. Securities rated non-investment grade (lower than “BBB-” by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or lower than “Baa3” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)) are sometimes referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds. The Fund may only invest in high yield securities that are rated “CCC” or higher by S&P, or rated “Caa” or higher by Moody’s, or unrated securities determined by the investment manager or subadvisors to be of comparable quality. The issuers of these securities have a currently identifiable vulnerability to default and such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. The Fund will not invest in securities that are in default at the time of purchase.

The Fund may invest in foreign securities and emerging market securities. The Fund has no geographic restrictions and expects to invest in infrastructure companies primarily in developed

 

49


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

countries, but may invest in securities of infrastructure companies domiciled in emerging market countries. The Fund may invest in securities of closed-end funds, open-end funds, ETFs and other investment companies, to the extent permitted under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, or any exemption granted under the 1940 Act. The Fund will generally not invest more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of one issuer.

The Fund may, but is not required to, use, without limit, various derivatives transactions to seek to generate return, facilitate portfolio management and mitigate risks. Although the investment manager and subadvisors may seek to use these kinds of transactions to further the Fund’s investment objectives, no assurance can be given that they will achieve this result. The Fund may enter into exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities (including securities of investment companies and baskets of securities), indices, and other financial instruments; purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options thereon; enter into various interest rate transactions, such as swaps, caps, floors or collars or credit transactions; equity index, total return and credit default swaps; forward contracts; and structured investments. In addition, the Fund may enter into various currency transactions, such as forward currency contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currency or currency futures. The Fund also may purchase and sell derivative instruments that combine features of these instruments. The Fund may invest in other types of derivatives, structured and similar instruments which are not currently available but which may be developed in the future.

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in restricted securities and other investments that may be illiquid (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable). The Board of Directors or its delegate has the ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the Federal securities laws, which securities are liquid or illiquid for purposes of this 10% limitation. The Board of Directors has delegated to the investment advisor the day-to-day determination of the illiquidity of any security held by the Fund, although it has retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. The Board of Directors and/or the investment advisor will consider factors such as (i) the nature of the market for a security (including the institutional private resale market; the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; the amount of time normally needed to dispose of the security; and the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer), (ii) the terms of certain securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand instruments) and (iii) other permissible relevant factors. The Fund may also invest in certain restricted securities including securities that are only eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) (referred to as Rule 144A Securities) and securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers that are issued through private offerings without registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Temporary Defensive Positions. For temporary defensive purposes or to keep cash on hand fully invested, and following the offering of additional common shares issued by the Fund pending investment in securities that meet the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its total assets in short-term debt instruments, government securities, cash or cash equivalents. When and to the extent the Fund assumes a temporary defensive position, the Fund may not pursue or achieve its investment objective.

Use of Leverage

The Fund currently seeks to enhance the level of its distributions and total return through the use of leverage. The Fund may utilize leverage in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its managed assets through

 

50


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

borrowings, including loans from certain financial institutions and/or the issuance of debt securities (collectively, Borrowings). Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may utilize leverage through (i) Borrowings in an aggregate amount of up to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets immediately after such Borrowings and (ii) the issuance of preferred stock (Preferred Shares) in an aggregate amount of up to 50% of the Fund’s total assets immediately after such issuance. In addition, the Fund may utilize leverage through reverse repurchase agreements (Reverse Repurchase Agreements), in an aggregate amount of up to 50% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund has no current intention to issue Preferred Shares or enter into Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund also may borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions.

The Fund may also engage in various derivatives transactions to seek to generate return, facilitate portfolio management and mitigate risks. Certain derivatives transactions effect a form of economic leverage on the Fund’s portfolio and may be subject to the risks associated with the use of leverage. There is no assurance that the Fund will utilize leverage or, if leverage is utilized, that it will be successful. The net asset value of the Fund’s common shares may be reduced by the issuance or incurrence costs of any leverage. See “Leverage Risk.”

Effects of Leverage. Assuming that leverage in the form of Borrowings will represent up to 27% of the Fund’s managed assets and charge interest or involve payment at a rate set by an interest rate transaction at an annual average rate of approximately 2.69%, the income generated by the Fund’s portfolio (net of estimated expenses) must exceed 0.73% in order to cover such interest payments or payment rates and other expenses specifically related to leverage. Of course, these numbers are merely estimates, used for illustration. Actual interest, or payment rates may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate estimated above.

The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on common share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (comprised of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns expected to be experienced by the Fund. The table assumes leverage in an aggregate amount equal to 27% of the Fund’s managed assets. See “Leverage Risk” below.

 

Assumed Portfolio Total Return

       –10     –5     0     5     10

Common Share Total Return

       (14.7 )%      (7.8 )%      (1.0 )%      (5.9 )%      (12.7 )% 

Common share total return is comprised of two elements –the net investment income of the Fund after paying expenses, including interest expenses on the Fund’s Borrowings as described above and dividend payments on any preferred shares issued by the Fund and gain and losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by the rules of the SEC, the table assumes the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0%, the Fund must assume that the income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by losses in the value of those securities.

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Principal Risks of the Fund

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

Risk of Market Price Discount from Net Asset Value. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that NAV could decrease as a result of investment activities. Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of the shares will depend not upon the Fund’s NAV but entirely upon whether the market price of the shares at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s purchase price for the shares. Because the market price of the shares is determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, Fund shares may trade at, above or below NAV.

Investment Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.

Market Risk: An investment in the Fund represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund. The value of these securities, like other investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Fund’s common stock, at any point in time, may be worth less than what was initially invested, even after taking into account the reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

Infrastructure Companies Risk: Securities and instruments of infrastructure companies are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies may also be affected by or subject to:

 

   

high interest costs in connection with capital construction and improvement programs;

 

   

difficulty in raising capital in adequate amounts on reasonable terms in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets;

 

   

inexperience with and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment;

 

   

costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental and other regulations;

 

   

regulation or adverse actions by various government authorities;

 

   

government regulation of rates charged to customers;

 

   

service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps;

 

   

the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards;

 

   

technological innovations that may render existing plants, equipment or products obsolete; and

 

   

general changes in market sentiment towards infrastructure and utilities assets.

 

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Common Stock Risk: The Fund may invest in common stocks. Common stocks are subject to special risks. Although common stocks have historically generated higher average returns than fixed-income securities over the long-term, common stocks also have experienced significantly more volatility in returns. Common stocks may be more susceptible to adverse changes in market value due to issuer specific events or general movements in the equities markets. A drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stocks held by the Fund. Common stock prices fluctuate for many reasons, including changes to investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant stock market, or the occurrence of political or economic events affecting issuers. For example, an adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of common stock in which the Fund has invested; the price of common stock of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market; or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the common stocks held by the Fund. Also, common stock of an issuer in the Fund’s portfolio may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial condition. The common stocks in which the Fund will invest are typically subordinated to preferred securities, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and assets, and, therefore, will be subject to greater risk than the preferred securities or debt instruments of such issuers. In addition, common stock prices may be sensitive to rising interest rates as the costs of capital rise and borrowing costs increase.

Foreign Currency and Currency Hedging Risk: Although the Fund will report its NAV and pay dividends in U.S. dollars, foreign securities often are purchased with and make any dividend and interest payments in foreign currencies. Therefore, the Fund’s investments in foreign securities will be subject to foreign currency risk, which means that the Fund’s NAV could decline solely as a result of changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of foreign securities to make payment of principal, dividends and interest to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise.

The Fund may, but is not required to, engage in various investments that are designed to hedge the Fund’s foreign currency risks, including foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency futures contracts, put and call options on foreign currencies and foreign currency swaps. Such transactions may reduce returns or increase volatility, perhaps substantially.

Foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency futures contracts, over-the-counter (OTC) options on foreign currencies and foreign currency swaps are subject to the risk of default by the counterparty and can be illiquid. These currency hedging transactions, as well as the futures contracts and exchange-listed options in which the Fund may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currency or other reference asset. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Fund’s performance. Whether or not the Fund engages in currency hedging transactions, the Fund may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in U.S. dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Use of currency hedging transactions may cause the Fund to experience losses greater than if the Fund had not engaged in such transactions.

 

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The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies may increase or accelerate the Fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or character of the Fund’s distributions.

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

Securities of companies in emerging markets may be more volatile than those of companies in more developed markets. Emerging market countries generally have less developed markets and economies and, in some countries, less mature governments and governmental institutions. Political developments in foreign countries or the United States may at times subject such countries to sanctions from the U.S. government, foreign governments and/or international institutions that could negatively affect a Fund’s investments in issuers located in, doing business in or with assets in such countries. Investing in securities of companies in emerging markets may entail special risks relating to potential economic, political or social instability and the risks of expropriation, nationalization, confiscation, trade sanctions or embargoes or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investment, the lack of hedging instruments, and repatriation of capital invested. The securities and real estate markets of some emerging market countries have in the past experienced substantial market disruptions and may do so in the future. The economies of many emerging market countries may be heavily dependent on international trade and have thus been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by trade barriers, foreign exchange controls and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they wish to trade.

MLPs and Energy Investments Risks.

 

   

Limited Partner Risk. An investment in MLPs involves risks that differ from a similar investment in equity securities, such as common stock, of a corporation. Holders of equity securities issued by MLPs have the rights typically afforded to limited partners in a limited partnership. As compared to common shareholders of a corporation, holders of such equity securities have more limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. There are certain tax risks associated with an investment in certain MLP units (described further under “Tax Risk” below). Additionally, conflicts of interest may exist among common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner or managing member of an MLP; for example, a conflict may arise as a result of incentive distribution payments.

 

   

Affiliated Party Risk. Certain MLPs in which the Fund may invest depend upon their parent or sponsor entities for the majority of their revenues. If their parent or sponsor entities fail to make such payments or satisfy their obligations, the revenues and cash flows of such MLPs and ability of such MLPs to make distributions to unit holders, such as the Fund, would be adversely affected.

 

   

General Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities issued by MLPs also are subject to the risks associated with all equity investments, including the risk that the value of such securities will fall due to general market or economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which

 

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  the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, changes in interest rates, and the particular circumstances and performance of particular companies whose securities the Fund holds. The price of an equity security of an issuer may be particularly sensitive to general movements in the stock market, or a drop in the stock market may depress the price of most or all of the equity securities held by the Fund. In addition, equity securities of MLPs and MLP affiliates held by the Fund may decline in price if the issuer fails to make anticipated distributions or dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer experiences a decline in its financial condition.

 

   

MLP Subordinated Units. MLP subordinated units are MLP units that are subordinate in the capital structure to common units. The Fund will typically purchase MLP subordinated units through negotiated transactions directly with affiliates of MLPs and institutional holders of such units or will purchase newly-issued subordinated units directly from MLPs. Holders of MLP subordinated units are typically entitled to receive minimum quarterly distributions (MQDs) after payments to holders of common units have been satisfied and prior to incentive distributions to the general partner or managing member. MLP subordinated units do not typically provide arrearage rights. MLP subordinated units typically are convertible to MLP common units at a one-to-one ratio. The price of MLP subordinated units is typically tied to the price of the corresponding MLP common unit, less a discount. The size of the discount depends upon a variety of factors, including the likelihood of conversion, the length of time remaining until conversion and the size of the block of subordinated units being purchased or sold.

 

   

Debt Securities. Debt securities issued by MLPs are subject to the risks associated with all debt investments, including interest rate risk, credit risk and lower rated securities risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates. Credit risk is the risk that a security in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in price or the issuer will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due because the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial status. Lower rated securities generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of income and principal, and may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher grade securities.

 

   

MLP Affiliates and MLP I-Shares. Affiliates of MLPs, such as general partners or managing members of MLPs, may issue equity securities in which the Fund may invest. Many issuers of such equity securities are treated as C corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and such securities therefore will have different tax characteristics than securities of QPTPs. MLP I-Shares are securities issued by MLP affiliates that use the proceeds from the sale of MLP I-Shares to purchase limited partnership interests in the MLP in the form of MLP i-units. Securities of MLP affiliates and MLP I-Shares represent an indirect investment in the equity securities of MLPs. Prices and volatilities of the securities of MLP affiliates and MLP I-Shares tend to correlate to the price of MLP common units. Holders of the securities of MLP affiliates and MLP I-Shares are therefore subject to the same risks as holders of equity securities of MLPs.

 

   

MLP Funds. An investment in the shares of another fund is subject to the risks associated with that fund’s portfolio securities. To the extent the Fund invests in shares of another fund, Fund shareholders would indirectly pay a portion of that fund’s expenses, including advisory fees, brokerage and other distribution expenses. These fees and expenses are in addition to the direct expenses of the Fund’s own operations.

 

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ETNs. An ETN is typically an unsecured, unsubordinated debt security issued by a sponsoring institution, which may include a government entity, financial institution or corporation. ETNs are subject to the credit risk of the sponsoring institution as well as market risk. ETNs that track the performance of MLPs or MLP indices are also subject to the risks applicable to investments in MLPs.

Energy Sector Risks. The Fund will be subject to more risks related to the energy sector than if the Fund were more broadly diversified over numerous sectors of the economy. A downturn in the energy sector of the economy could have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not concentrate in the sector. At times, the performance of securities of companies in the sector has lagged the performance of other sectors or the broader market as a whole. Recent uncertainty in the energy markets has had an adverse effect on energy-related securities, including MLPs, and it is unclear when these markets may stabilize. In addition, there are several specific risks associated with investments in the energy sector, including the following:

 

   

Fluctuations in commodity prices may impact the volume of commodities transported, processed, stored or distributed.

 

   

Reduced volumes of natural gas or other energy commodities available for transporting, processing, storing or distributing may affect the profitability of MLPs and Energy Investments.

 

   

Slowdowns in new construction and acquisitions can limit growth potential.

 

   

A sustained reduced demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products that could adversely affect revenues and cash flows.

 

   

Depletion of the natural gas reserves or other commodities if not replaced, which could impact the ability of MLPs and Energy Investments to make distributions.

 

   

Changes in the regulatory environment could adversely affect the profitability of MLPs and Energy Investments.

 

   

Extreme weather or other natural disasters could impact the value of MLPs and Energy Investments.

 

   

Rising interest rates which could result in a higher cost of capital and divert investors into other investment opportunities.

 

   

Threats of attack by terrorists on energy assets could impact the market for MLPs and Energy Investments.

 

   

Weakening energy market fundamentals may increase counterparty risk and impact MLP profitability. Specifically, energy companies suffering financial distress may be able to abrogate contracts with MLPs, decreasing or eliminating sources of revenue.

Interest Rate Risk to MLPs and Energy Investments. Rising interest rates could increase the costs of capital thereby increasing operating costs and reducing the ability of MLPs and other entities operating in the energy sector to carry out acquisitions or expansions in a cost-effective manner. As a result, rising interest rates could negatively affect the financial performance of MLPs and other entities operating in the energy sector. Rising interest rates may also impact the price of the securities of MLPs and other entities operating in the energy sector as the yields on alternative investments increase. These risks may be greater in the current market environment because certain interest rates are at historically low levels.

 

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Industry Specific Risks. MLPs and other entities operating in the energy sector are also subject to risks that are specific to the industry within that sector they serve. These sectors include pipelines, gathering and processing, midstream, exploration and production, propane, coal and marine shipping.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving the Fund’s investment objectives. There are no limits on portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in the opinion of the investment manager or subadvisors, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. High portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund that, when distributed to Common Shareholders, would be taxable to such shareholders as ordinary income.

Canadian Royalty Trusts Risk: The royalty trusts in which UTF may invest are heavily invested in oil and gas and are not diversified. Potential growth may be sacrificed because revenue is passed on to a royalty trust’s unit holders (such as the Fund), rather than reinvested in the business. Royalty trusts generally do not guarantee minimum distributions or even return of capital. If the assets underlying a royalty trust do not perform as expected, the royalty trust may reduce or even eliminate distributions. The declaration of such distributions generally depends upon various factors, including the operating performance and financial condition of the royalty trust and general economic conditions. An investment in a Canadian royalty trust also could be affected by changes in the Canadian tax treatment of royalty trusts.

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

Preferred Securities Risk: There are various risks associated with investing in preferred securities. These risks include deferral and omission of distributions; credit risk; subordination to bonds and other debt securities in a company’s capital structure; interest rate risk; prepayment and extension risk; call, reinvestment and income risk; liquidity risk; limited voting rights; special redemption rights and regulatory risk.

 

   

Deferral and Omission Risk. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse

 

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  consequences to the issuer. In certain cases, deferring or omitting distributions may be mandatory. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distributions, the Fund may be required to report income for tax purposes although it has not yet received such income. In addition, recent changes in bank regulations may increase the likelihood for issuers to defer or omit distributions.

 

   

Credit and Subordination Risk. Credit risk is the risk that a preferred security in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in price or the issuer of the security will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status. Preferred securities are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of having priority to corporate income, claims to corporate assets and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior debt instruments.

 

   

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that preferred securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall, and therefore the Fund may underperform during periods of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of government monetary policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Preferred securities with longer periods before maturity may be more sensitive to interest rate changes.

 

   

Prepayment and Extension Risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that changes in interest rates, credit spreads or other factors will result in the call (repayment) of a preferred security more quickly than expected, such that the Fund may have to invest the proceeds in lower yielding securities, or that expectations of such early call will negatively impact the market price of the security.

 

   

Extension Risk. Extension risk is the risk that changes in the interest rates or credit spreads may result in diminishing call expectations, which can cause prices to fall.

 

   

Call, Reinvestment and Income Risk. During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to redeem its issue at par earlier than scheduled which is generally known as call risk. Recent regulatory changes may increase call risk with respect to certain types of preferred securities. If this occurs, the Fund may be forced to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as reinvestment risk. Preferred securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem preferred securities if the issuer can refinance the preferred securities at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer, or in the event of regulatory changes affecting the capital treatment of a security. Another risk associated with a declining interest rate environment is that the income from the Fund’s portfolio may decline over time when the Fund invests the proceeds from new share sales at market rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate.

 

   

Liquidity Risk. Certain preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks or U.S. Government securities. Illiquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by the Fund or at prices approximating the value at which the Fund is carrying the securities on its books.

 

 

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Limited Voting Rights Risk. Generally, traditional preferred securities offer no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board of directors. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights. Hybrid-preferred security holders generally have no voting rights.

 

   

Special Redemption Rights. In certain varying circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities prior to a specified date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in U.S. federal income tax or securities laws. As with call provisions, a redemption by the issuer may have a negative impact on the return of the security held by the Fund.

 

   

New Types of Securities. From time to time, preferred securities, including hybrid-preferred securities, have been, and may in the future be, offered having features other than those described herein. The Fund reserves the right to invest in these securities if the investment manager or subadvisors believe that doing so would be consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Since the market for these instruments would be new, the Fund may have difficulty disposing of them at a suitable price and time. In addition to limited liquidity, these instruments may present other risks, such as high price volatility.

Interest Rate Transactions Risk. The Fund may enter into a swap or cap transaction to attempt to protect itself from increasing dividend or interest expenses resulting from increasing short-term interest rates. A decline in interest rates may result in a decline in the value of the swap or cap, which may result in a decline in the net asset value of the Fund. A sudden and dramatic decline in interest rates may result in a significant decline in the net asset value of the Fund.

Credit and Below Investment Grade Securities Risk. Credit risk is the risk that a security in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in price or the issuer will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due because the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial status. Preferred securities normally are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure, in terms of priority to corporate income and claim to corporate assets, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than other debt instruments.

The Fund may invest in securities that are rated below investment grade. Below investment grade securities generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of loss of income and principal, and may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher grade securities. Such securities may face major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. It is reasonable to expect that any adverse economic conditions could disrupt the market for lower-rated securities, have an adverse impact on the value of those securities and adversely affect the ability of the issuers of those securities to repay principal and interest on those securities.

Geopolitical Risk. Occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years, such as war, terrorist attacks, natural or environmental disasters, country instability, infectious disease epidemics, such as that caused by the COVID-19 virus, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers and other governmental trade or market control

 

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programs, the potential exit of a country from its respective union and related geopolitical events, may result in market volatility and may have long-lasting impacts on both the U.S. and global financial markets. Additionally, those events, as well as other changes in foreign and domestic political and economic conditions, could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, secondary trading, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments.

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 has resulted in, among other things, extreme volatility in the financial markets and severe losses, reduced liquidity of many instruments, significant travel restrictions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, lower consumer demand for goods and services, service and event cancellations, reductions and other changes, strained healthcare systems, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak has negatively affected the global economy, the economies of individual countries, and the financial performance of individual issuers, sectors, industries, asset classes, and markets in significant and unforeseen ways. Pandemics may also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The effects of the outbreak in developing or emerging market countries may be greater due to less established health care systems and supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects may result in a sustained economic downturn or a global recession, ongoing market volatility and/or decreased liquidity in the financial markets, exchange trading suspensions and closures, higher default rates, domestic and foreign political and social instability and damage to diplomatic and international trade relations. While some vaccines have been developed and approved for use by various governments, the political, social, economic, market and financial risks of COVID-19 could persist for years to come. The foregoing could impair the Fund’s ability to maintain operational standards, disrupt the operations of the Fund’s service providers, adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance and your investment in the Fund.

On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) withdrew from the European Union (EU) (referred to as Brexit), commencing a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020. On January 1, 2021, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, a bilateral trade and cooperation deal governing the future relationship between the UK and the EU, provisionally went into effect. The UK Parliament has already ratified the agreement and the EU Parliament has until February 28, 2021 to do the same. Brexit has resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the UK and throughout Europe. There is considerable uncertainty about the potential consequences of Brexit, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, how future negotiations of trade relations will proceed, and how the financial markets will react to all of the preceding. As this process unfolds, markets may be further disrupted. Given the size and importance of the UK’s economy, uncertainty about its legal, political and economic relationship with the remaining member states of the EU may continue to be a source of instability.

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

 

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

The SEC has adopted a new rule that will replace present SEC and SEC staff regulatory guidance related to limits on a registered investment company’s use of derivative instruments and certain other transactions, such as short sales and Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The rule, among other things, will limit the ability of the Fund to enter into derivative transactions and certain other transactions, which may substantially curtail the Fund’s ability to use derivative instruments and inhibit the investment manager’s ability to establish what it views as the optimal level of leverage for the Fund, especially when the Fund has issued preferred shares or has borrowings, Reverse Repurchase Agreements or similar transactions outstanding.

LIBOR Risk. Many financial instruments are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies, or investment value. LIBOR is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. In 2017, the head of the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. Alternatives to LIBOR are in development in many major financial markets. For example, the U.S. Federal Reserve has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), a broad measure of secured overnight U.S. Treasury repo rates, as a possible replacement for U.S. dollar LIBOR. Bank working groups and regulators in other countries have suggested other alternatives for their markets, including the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (SONIA) in England. Other countries are introducing their own local-currency-denominated alternative reference rates for short-term lending and global consensus on alternative rates is lacking. The administrator of LIBOR announced a delay in the phase out of a majority of the U.S. dollar LIBOR publications until mid-2023, with the remainder of LIBOR publications to end at the end of 2021. There remains uncertainty and risk regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include enhanced provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments, the suitability of the proposed replacement rates, and the process for amending existing contracts and instruments remains unclear. As such, the transition away from LIBOR may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, reduced values of, inaccurate valuations of, and miscalculations of payment amounts for LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and reduced effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Fund’s performance or NAV. In addition, any alternative reference rate may be an ineffective substitute resulting in prolonged adverse market conditions for the Fund. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the cessation of LIBOR publications.

 

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Derivatives and Hedging Transactions Risk. The Fund’s use of derivatives, including for the purpose of hedging interest rate or foreign currency risks, presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. In certain types of derivatives transactions the Fund could lose the entire amount of its investment; in other types of derivatives transactions the potential loss is theoretically unlimited. Although both OTC and exchange-traded derivatives markets may experience lack of liquidity, OTC non-standardized derivatives transactions are generally less liquid than exchange-traded instruments. In addition, the liquidity of a secondary market in an exchange-traded derivative contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by the exchanges which once reached, would prevent the liquidation of open positions. If it is not possible to close an open derivative position entered into by the Fund, the Fund may be required to make cash payments of variation (or mark-to-market) margin and, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet variation margin requirements at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The inability to close derivatives transactions positions also could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge its portfolio. Derivatives transactions entered into to seek to manage the risks of the Fund’s portfolio of securities may have the effect of limiting gains from otherwise favorable market movements. The use of derivatives transactions may result in losses greater than if they had not been used. The Fund may enter into swap, cap or other transactions to attempt to protect itself from increasing interest or dividend expenses resulting from increasing short-term interest rates on any leverage it incurs or increasing interest rates on securities held in its portfolio. A decline in interest rates may result in a decline in the value of the transaction, which may result in a decline in the NAV of the Fund. In the event the Fund enters into forward currency contracts for hedging purposes, the Fund will be subject to currency exchange rates risk. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time and also can be affected unpredictably by intervention of U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or the failure to intervene, or by currency controls or political developments in the United States or abroad. Furthermore, the ability to successfully use derivative instruments depends on the ability of the investment manager to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Structured notes and other related instruments carry risks similar to those of more traditional derivatives such as futures, forward and option contracts. However, structured instruments may entail a greater degree of market risk and volatility than other types of debt obligations. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to certain derivatives transactions entered into by the Fund and may experience losses in the event a counterparty fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract.

The Investment Manager is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”). However, with respect to the Fund, the Investment Manager has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the CPO under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”). Accordingly, the Investment Manager, with respect to the Fund, is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA.

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

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position, and for certain options not traded on an exchange no market usually exists. Trading could be interrupted, for example, because of supply and demand imbalances arising from a lack of either buyers or sellers, or an options exchange could suspend trading after the price has risen or fallen more than the maximum specified by the exchange.

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

Cyber Security Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Fund and its service providers (including the investment manager and subadvisors) may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or other technological malfunctions. In general, cyber-attacks are deliberate, but unintentional events may have similar effects. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets and causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund, the investment manager, the subadvisors, or a custodian, transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service provider may adversely affect the Fund or its stockholders. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of stockholder transactions, affect the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private stockholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and additional compliance costs. Furthermore, as a result of breaches in cyber security or other operational and technology disruptions or failures, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities or an entire market, which may result in the Fund being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or unable to accurately price its investments. While the Fund has established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. Similar types of cyber security risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.

Each of the Fund, the investment manager and the Subadvisors may have limited ability to prevent or mitigate cyber-attacks or security or technology breakdowns affecting the Fund’s third-party service providers. While the Fund has established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent or reduce the impact of cyber-attacks, such plans and systems are subject to inherent limitations.

Risks of Securities Linked to the Real Estate Market. The Fund may invest in securities of real estate companies. The Fund does not invest in real estate directly, but is subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate. These risks include:

 

   

declines in the value of real estate;

 

   

risks related to general and local economic conditions;

 

   

possible lack of availability of mortgage funds;

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

   

overbuilding;

 

   

extended vacancies of properties;

 

   

increased competition;

 

   

increases in property taxes and operating expenses;

 

   

changes in zoning laws;

 

   

losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems;

 

   

liability to third parties for damages resulting from environmental problems;

 

   

casualty or condemnation losses;

 

   

limitations on rents;

 

   

changes in neighborhood values and the appeal of properties to tenants;

 

   

changes in interest rates;

 

   

financial condition of tenants, buyers and sellers of real estate;

 

   

quality of maintenance, insurance and management services;

 

   

falling home prices;

 

   

failure of borrowers to repay their loans;

 

   

early payment or restricting of mortgage loans;

 

   

slower mortgage origination; and

 

   

rising construction costs.

Thus, the value of the Fund’s common stock may change at different rates compared to the value of shares of a registered investment company with investments in a mix of different industries and will depend on the general condition of the economy. An economic downturn could have a material adverse effect on the real estate markets and on real estate companies in which the Fund invests, which in turn could result in the Fund not achieving its investment objectives.

Convertible Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are preferred stocks or debt obligations that are convertible into common stock. They generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. Convertible securities have both equity and fixed-income risk characteristics. Like all fixed-income securities, the value of convertible securities is susceptible to the risk of market losses attributable to changes in interest rates. Generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. However, when the market price of the common stock underlying a convertible security approaches or exceeds the conversion price of the convertible security, the convertible security tends to reflect the market price of the underlying common stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the convertible security, like a fixed-income security, tends to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and thus, may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. The markets for convertible securities may be less liquid than markets for common stocks or bonds.

Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed-income securities, such as preferred and debt securities, and to a lesser extent dividend-paying common stocks, will decline in value because of

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall.

During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled which is generally known as call or prepayment risk. If this occurs, the Fund may be forced to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as reinvestment risk. Preferred and debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to repurchase the security prior to its stated maturity. An issuer may redeem an obligation if the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected principal payments. This may lock in a below market interest rate, increase the security’s duration and reduce the value of the security. This is known as extension risk. Market interest rates for investment grade fixed-income securities in which the Fund will invest have recently declined significantly below the recent historical average rates for such securities. This decline may have increased the risk that these rates will rise in the future (which would cause the value of the Fund’s net assets to decline) and the degree to which asset values may decline in such events; however, historical interest rate levels are not necessarily predictive of future interest rate levels.

Tax Risk. The Fund may invest in preferred securities or other securities the Federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service. It could be more difficult for the Fund to comply with the tax requirements applicable to regulated investment companies if the tax characterization of the Fund’s investments or the tax treatment of the income from such investments were successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service.

Restricted and Illiquid Securities Risk. Illiquid securities are securities that are not readily marketable and may include some restricted securities, which are securities that may not be resold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or, if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Illiquid investments involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by the Fund or at prices approximating the value at which the Fund is carrying the securities on its books.

Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If during such a period adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. For purposes of determining the Fund’s NAV, illiquid securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or its delegate.

Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Charter and By-Laws of the Fund could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to change the Fund’s structure. The provisions may have the effect of depriving common stockholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices or have the effect of inhibiting conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company.

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Other Investment Companies Risk. To the extent the Fund invests a portion of its assets in investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, ETFs and other types of pooled investment funds, those assets will be subject to the risks of the purchased investment companies’ portfolio securities, and a shareholder in the Fund will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses, but also indirectly the expenses of the purchased investment companies. Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. Risks associated with investments in closed-end funds also generally include the risks associated with the Fund’s structure as a closed-end investment company, including market risk, leverage risk, risk of market price discount from NAV, risk of anti-takeover provisions and non-diversification. In addition, investments in closed-end funds may be subject to dilution risk, which is the risk that strategies employed by a closed-end fund, such as rights offerings, may, under certain circumstances, have the effect of reducing its share price and the Fund’s proportionate interest. In addition, restrictions under the 1940 Act may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies to the extent desired.

The SEC has adopted Rule 12d1-4 permitting fund of fund arrangements subject to various conditions, and rescinding the present rule and certain exemptive relief previously granted. Once in effect, Rule 12d1-4 may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies and could also significantly affect the Fund’s ability to redeem its investments in other investment companies, making such investments less attractive. The effects of rule and other regulatory changes are not known as of the date of this report, but they could impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its desired investment strategies or cause the Fund to incur losses, realize taxable gains distributable to shareholders, incur greater or unexpected expenses or experience other adverse consequences.

Active Management Risk. As an actively managed portfolio, the value of the Fund’s investments could decline because the financial condition of an issuer may change (due to such factors as management performance, reduced demand or overall market changes), financial markets may fluctuate or overall prices may decline, or the investment manager’s or subadvisors’ investment techniques could fail to achieve the Fund’s investment objective or negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance.

Investment Restrictions

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

The Fund has adopted certain investment limitations limiting the following activities except as specifically authorized. Under these limitations, the Fund may not:

 

  1.

Issue senior securities (including borrowing money for other than temporary purposes) except in conformity with the limits set forth in the 1940 Act; or pledge its assets other than to secure such issuances or borrowings or in connection with permitted investment strategies; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes;

 

  2.

Act as an underwriter of securities issued by other persons, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed an underwriter in connection with the disposition of securities;

 

  3.

Purchase or sell real estate, mortgages on real estate or commodities, except that the Fund may invest in securities of companies that deal in real estate or are engaged in the real estate business, including REITs, and securities secured by real estate or interests therein and the

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

  Fund may hold and sell real estate or mortgages on real estate acquired through default, liquidation, or other distributions of an interest in real estate as a result of the Fund’s ownership of such securities;

 

  4.

Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts, except that the Fund may invest in financial futures contracts, options thereon and such similar instruments;

 

  5.

Make loans to other persons except through the lending of securities held by it (but not to exceed a value of one-third of total assets), through repurchase agreements, and by the purchase of debt securities;

 

  6.

Invest more than 25% of its managed assets in securities of issuers in any one industry, except for securities in infrastructure companies;

 

  7.

Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets other than to secure such issuances or borrowings or in connection with permitted investment strategies; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes.

The investment restrictions above have been adopted as fundamental policies of the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, a fundamental policy may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” voting securities of the Fund.

Additional Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions

Non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Fund’s Board without shareholder approval. Currently, the Fund may not:

 

  1.

Invest in oil, gas or other mineral exploration programs, development programs or leases, except that the Fund may purchase securities of companies engaging in whole or in part in such activities.

 

  2.

Acquire or retain securities of any investment company other than (a) in accordance with the limits permitted by Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, or retain securities of any investment company other than (a) in accordance with, except that the Fund may (a) acquire securities of investment companies up to the limits permitted by Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, or any exemption granted under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, and (b) through the acquisition of securities of any investment company as part of a Reorganization, consolidation or similar transaction.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

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

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

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

    

Length

of Time

Served3

Interested Directors4               

Robert H. Steers5

1953

   Director, Chairman    Until Next Election of Directors    Chief Executive Officer of Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (CSCM or the Advisor) and its parent, Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) since 2014. Prior to that, Co- Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Advisor since 2003 and CNS since 2004. Prior to that, Chairman of the Advisor; Vice President of Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC.      21      Since 1991

Joseph M. Harvey5

1963

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    President of the Advisor (since 2003) and President of CNS (since 2004). Chief Investment Officer of CSCM from 2003 to 2019. Prior to that, Senior Vice President and Director of Investment Research of CSCM.      21      Since 2014

(table continued on next page)

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

(table continued from previous page)

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

    

Length

of Time

Served3

Disinterested Directors            

Michael G. Clark

1965

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    From 2006 to 2011, President and Chief Executive Officer of DWS Funds and Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management.      21      Since 2011

George Grossman

1953

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Attorney-at-law.      21      Since 1993

Dean A. Junkans

1959

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    CFA; Advisor to SigFig (a registered investment advisor) since July, 2018; Adjunct Professor and Executive–In–Residence, Bethel University since 2015; Chief Investment Officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank from 2004 to 2014 and Chief Investment Officer of the Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement group at Wells Fargo & Company from 2011 to 2014; former Member and Chair, Claritas Advisory Committee at the CFA Institute from 2013 to 2015; Board Member and Investment Committee member, Bethel University Foundation since 2010; formerly Corporate Executive Board Member of the National Chief Investment Officers Circle, 2010 to 2015; formerly, Member of the Board of Governors of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, River Falls, 1996 to 2004; U.S. Army Veteran, Gulf War.      21      Since 2015

(table continued on next page)

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

(table continued from previous page)

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

  

Length

of Time

Served3

Gerald J. Maginnis

1955

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Philadelphia Office Managing Partner, KPMG LLP from 2006 to 2015; Partner in Charge, KPMG Pennsylvania Audit Practice from 2002 to 2008; President, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) from 2014 to 2015; Member, PICPA Board of Directors from 2012 to 2016; Member, Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) from 2013 to 2017; Member, Board of Trustees of AICPA Foundation from 2015 to 2020; Board member and Audit Committee Chairman of inTEST Corporation since 2020.    21    Since 2015

Jane F. Magpiong

1960

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    President, Untap Potential since 2013; Board Member, Crespi High School from 2014 to 2017; Senior Managing Director, TIAA-CREF, from 2011 to 2013; National Head of Wealth Management, TIAA- CREF, from 2008 to 2011; and prior to that, President, Bank of America Private Bank from 2005 to 2008.    21    Since 2015

(table continued on next page)

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

(table continued from previous page)

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1

  

Position(s) Held

With Fund

  

Term of

Office2

  

Principal Occupation

During At Least

The Past 5 Years

(Including Other

Directorships Held)

  

Number of

Funds Within

Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Director

(Including

the Fund)

  

Length

of Time

Served3

Daphne L. Richards

1966

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Independent Director of Cartica Management, LLC since 2015; Investment Committee Member of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation since 2015 and Member of the Advisory Board of Northeast Dutchess Fund since 2016; President and CIO of Ledge Harbor Management since 2016; formerly, worked at Bessemer Trust Company from 1999 to 2014; prior thereto, held investment positions at Frank Russell Company from 1996 to 1999. Union Bank of Switzerland from 1993 to 1996; Credit Suisse from 1990 to 1993; and Hambros International Venture Capital Fund from 1988 to 1989.    21    Since 2017

C. Edward Ward, Jr

1946

   Director    Until Next Election of Directors    Member of The Board of Trustees of Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York from 2004 to 2014. Formerly, Director of closed-end fund management for the NYSE where he worked from 1979 to 2004.    21    Since 2004

 

 

1 

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

2 

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

3 

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

4 

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

5 

Robert H. Steers, Chairman of the Board of Directors, is taking a medical leave of absence. In connection with Mr. Steers’ leave of absence, the Board of Directors has appointed Joseph M. Harvey as Acting Chairman of the Board.

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

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

 

Name, Address and
Year of Birth1

 

Position(s) Held
With Fund

  

Principal Occupation During At Least the Past 5 Years

 

Length
of Time
Served2

Adam M. Derechin

1964

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

James Giallanza

1966

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

Dana A. DeVivo

1981

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

Albert Laskaj

1977

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

Stephen Murphy

1966

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

Robert S. Becker

1969

  Vice President    Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2003.   Since 2004

Benjamin Morton

1974

  Vice President    Executive VP of CSCM since 2019. Prior to that, Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2003.   Since 2013

William F. Scapell

1968

  Vice President    Executive Vice President of CSCM since 2012. Prior to that, Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2003.   Since 2004

Yigal D. Jhirad

1964

  Vice President    Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2007.   Since 2008

 

 

1 

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

2 

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

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Cohen & Steers Privacy Policy

 

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

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

 

• Social Security number and account balances

 

• Transaction history and account transactions

 

• Purchase history and wire transfer instructions

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

 

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

For our everyday business purposes—

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

   Yes      No

For our marketing purposes—

to offer our products and services to you

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

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your transactions and experiences

   No      We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—

information about your creditworthiness

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

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Cohen & Steers Privacy Policy—(Continued)

 

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

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

 

• Open an account or buy securities from us

 

• Provide account information or give us your contact information

 

• Make deposits or withdrawals from your account

 

We also collect your personal information from other companies.

Why can’t I limit all sharing?  

Federal law gives you the right to limit only:

 

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

 

• affiliates from using your information to market to you

 

• sharing for non-affiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions    
Affiliates  

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

 

• Cohen & Steers does not share with affiliates.

Non-affiliates  

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

 

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

Joint marketing  

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

 

• Cohen & Steers does not jointly market.

 

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COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

Cohen & Steers Open-End Mutual Funds

 

COHEN & STEERS REALTY SHARES

 

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

 

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

COHEN & STEERS REAL ESTATE SECURITIES FUND

 

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

 

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

COHEN & STEERS INSTITUTIONAL REALTY SHARES

 

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

 

  Symbol: CSRIX

COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL REALTY SHARES

 

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

 

  Symbols: CSFAX, CSFCX, CSSPX, GRSRX, CSFZX

COHEN & STEERS INTERNATIONAL REALTY FUND

 

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

 

  Symbols: IRFAX, IRFCX, IRFIX, IRFRX, IRFZX

COHEN & STEERS REAL ASSETS FUND

 

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

 

  Symbols: RAPAX, RAPCX, RAPIX, RAPRX, RAPZX

COHEN & STEERS PREFERRED SECURITIES

AND INCOME FUND

 

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

 

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

COHEN & STEERS LOW DURATION PREFERRED

AND INCOME FUND

 

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

 

  Symbols: LPXAX, LPXCX, LPXFX, LPXIX, LPXRX, LPXZX

COHEN & STEERS MLP & ENERGY OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

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

 

  Symbols: MLOAX, MLOCX, MLOIX, MLORX, MLOZX

COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

 

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

 

  Symbols: CSUAX, CSUCX, CSUIX, CSURX, CSUZX

COHEN & STEERS ALTERNATIVE INCOME FUND

(FORMERLY COHEN & STEERS DIVIDEND VALUE FUND)

 

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

 

  Symbols: DVFAX, DVFCX, DVFIX, DVFRX, DVFZX
 

Distributed by Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC.

 

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

 

75


COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.

 

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Robert H. Steers

Director and Chairman

Joseph M. Harvey

Director and Vice President

Michael G. Clark

Director

George Grossman

Director

Dean A. Junkans

Director

Gerald J. Maginnis

Director

Jane F. Magpiong

Director

Daphne L. Richards

Director

C. Edward Ward, Jr.

Director

Adam M. Derechin

President and Chief Executive Officer

James Giallanza

Chief Financial Officer

Dana A. DeVivo

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Albert Laskaj

Treasurer

Stephen Murphy

Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President

Robert S. Becker

Vice President

Benjamin Morton

Vice President

William F. Scapell

Vice President

Yigal D. Jhirad

Vice President

 

KEY INFORMATION

Investment Manager and Administrator

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.

280 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(212) 832-3232

Co-administrator and Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent

Computershare

150 Royall Street

Canton, MA 02021

(866) 227-0757

Legal Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

 

New York Stock Exchange Symbol:   UTF

Website: cohenandsteers.com

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

 

 

76


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Cohen & Steers

Infrastructure

Fund (UTF)

Annual Report December 31, 2020

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

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

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

UTFAR

 

 

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer (the “Code of Ethics”). The Code of Ethics was in effect during the reporting period. To the extent the registrant has made any substantive amendments to the Code of Ethics during the reporting period, such amendments are described in this report. The registrant has not granted any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics, as described in Form N-CSR, during the reporting period. A current copy of the Code of Ethics is available on the registrant’s website at https://www.cohenandsteers.com/assets/content/uploads/Code_of_Ethics_for_Principal_Executive_and_Principal_Financial_Officers_of_the_Funds.pdf. Upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics can be obtained free of charge by calling 800-330-7348 or writing to the Secretary of the Registrant, 280 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10017.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

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

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a) – (d) Aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 for professional services rendered by the registrant’s principal accountant were as follows:

 

     2020      2019  

Audit Fees

   $ 49,630      $ 49,630  

Audit-Related Fees

   $ 0      $ 18,000  

Tax Fees

   $ 21,760      $ 21,760  

All Other Fees

   $ 0      $ 0  

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

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

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


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

(f) Not applicable.

(g) For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant and for non-audit services rendered to the registrant’s investment advisor (not including any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment advisor that provides ongoing services to the registrant were:

 

     2020      2019  

Registrant

   $ 21,760      $ 21,760  

Investment Advisor

   $ 0      $ 0  

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

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

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

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

Included in Item 1 above.

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

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

COHEN & STEERS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE VOTING OF SECURITIES

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


General Proxy Voting Guidelines

Objectives

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

General Principles

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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


General Guidelines

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

Specific Guidelines

Board and Director Proposals

Election of Directors

Voting for Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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


 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections

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

Non-Disclosure of Board Nominees

Cohen & Steers generally votes against the election of director nominees if the names of the nominees are not disclosed prior to the meeting. However, Cohen & Steers recognizes that companies in certain emerging markets may have legitimate reasons for not disclosing nominee names. In such cases, if a company discloses a legitimate reason why such nominee names have not been disclosed, Cohen & Steers may vote for the nominees even if nominee names are not disclosed.

Majority Vote Requirement for Directors (SP)3

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

Separation of Chairman and CEO (SP)

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

 

1 

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

2 

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

3 

“SP” refers to a shareholder proposal.


Independent Chairman (SP)

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

Lead Independent Director (SP)

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

Board Independence (SP)

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

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

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

Board Size (SP)

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

Classified Boards (SP)

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

Tiered Boards (non-U.S.)

Cohen & Steers votes in favor of unitary boards as opposed to tiered board structures. Cohen & Steers believes that unitary boards offer flexibility while, with a tiered structure, there is a risk of upper tier directors becoming remote from the business, while lower tier directors become deprived of contact with outsiders of wider experience. No director should be excluded from the requirement to submit him/herself for re-election on a regular basis.

Independent Committees (SP)

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

Adoption of a Board with Audit Committee Structure (JAPAN)

Cohen & Steers votes for article amendments to adopt a board with an audit committee structure unless the structure obstructs shareholders’ ability to submit proposals on income allocation related issues or the company already has a 3-committee (U.S. style) structure.

Non-Disclosure of Board Compensation

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


Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

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

Directors’ Liability (non-U.S.)

These proposals ask shareholders to give discharge from responsibility for all decisions made during the previous financial year. Depending on the country, this resolution may or may not be legally binding, may not release the board from its legal responsibility, and does not necessarily eliminate the possibility of future shareholder action (although it does make such action more difficult to pursue).

Cohen & Steers will generally vote for the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties as evidenced by:

 

 

A lack of oversight or actions by board members that amount to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest;

 

 

Any legal issues (e.g., civil/criminal) aimed to hold the board liable for past or current actions that constitute a breach of trust, such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, or other illegal actions; or

 

 

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders are likely to bring legal action against the company or its directors.

Directors’ Contracts (non-U.S.)

Best market practice about the appropriate length of directors’ service contracts varies by jurisdiction. As such, Cohen & Steers votes these proposals on a case-by-case basis taking into account the best interests of the company and its shareholders and local market practice.

Compensation Proposals

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

COHEN & STEERS GENERALLY VOTES AGAINST IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE AN UNACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF PROBLEMATIC PAY PRACTICES INCLUDING:

 

 

Poor linkage between executive pay and company performance and profitability;

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

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

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


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

 

 

Potentially excessive severance payments;

 

 

Agreements that include excessive excise tax gross-up provisions;

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

Non-Executive Director Remuneration (non-U.S.). Cohen & Steers evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis taking into account the remuneration mix and the adequacy of the disclosure. Cohen & Steers believes that non-executive directors should be compensated with a mix of cash and equity to align their interests with the interests of shareholders. The details of such remuneration should be fully disclosed and provided with sufficient time for us to consider our vote.

Approval of Annual Bonuses for Directors and Statutory Auditors (JAPAN). Cohen & Steers generally supports the payment of annual bonuses to directors and statutory auditors except in cases of scandals or extreme underperformance.

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

 

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

 

Plan Features:

 

   

Automatic single-trigger award vesting upon a CIC;

 

   

Discretionary vesting authority;

 

   

Liberal share recycling on various award types; and

 

   

Minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan.

 

 

Grant Practices:

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

Whether the company maintains a claw-back policy; and

 

   

Whether the company has established post exercise/vesting shareholding requirements.


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

 

 

Awards may vest in connection with a liberal CIC;

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

Equity Compensation Plans (non-U.S.). Cohen & Steers evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis. Share option plans should be clearly explained and fully disclosed to both shareholders and participants and put to shareholders for approval. Each director’s share options should be detailed, including exercise prices, expiration dates and the market price of the shares at the date of exercise. They should take into account appropriate levels of dilution. Options should vest in reference to challenging performance criteria, which are disclosed in advance. Share options should be fully expensed so that shareholders can assess their true cost to the company. The assumptions and methodology behind the expensing calculation should also be disclosed to shareholders.

Long-Term Incentive Plans (non-U.S.). A long-term incentive plan refers to any arrangement, other than deferred bonuses and retirement benefit plans, which require one or more conditions in respect of service and/or performance to be satisfied over more than one financial year.

Cohen & Steers evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis. Cohen & Steers generally votes in favor of plans with robust incentives and challenging performance criteria that are fully disclosed to shareholders in advance and vote against plans that are excessive or contain easily achievable performance metrics or where there is excessive discretion delegated to remuneration committees. Cohen & Steers would expect remuneration committees to explain why criteria are considered to be challenging and how they align the interests of shareholders with the interests of the plan participants. Cohen & Steers will also vote against proposals that lack sufficient disclosure.

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

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

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

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

Pension Arrangements (non-U.S.). Cohen & Steers evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis. Pension arrangements should be transparent and cost-neutral to shareholders. Cohen & Steers believes it is inappropriate for executives to participate in pension arrangements that are materially different than those offered to other employees (such as continuing to participate in a final salary arrangement when employees have been transferred to a money purchase plan). One-off payments into individual director’s pension plans, changes to pension entitlements, and waivers concerning early retirement provisions must be fully disclosed and justified to shareholders.


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

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

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

Capital Structure Changes and Anti-Takeover Proposals

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

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

Pre-Emptive Rights. Cohen & Steers generally votes against the issuance of equity shares with pre-emptive rights. However, Cohen & Steers may vote for shareholder pre-emptive rights where such pre-emptive rights are necessary taking into account the best interests of the company’s shareholders. In addition, we acknowledge that international local practices may call for shareholder pre-emptive rights when a company seeks authority to issue shares (e.g., UK authority for the issuance of only up to 5% of outstanding shares without pre-emptive rights). While Cohen & Steers prefers that companies be permitted to issue shares without pre-emptive rights, in deference to international local practices, Cohen & Steers will approve issuance requests with pre-emptive rights.

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

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


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

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

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

Shareholder Rights Plans (JAPAN). Cohen & Steers reviews proposals on a case-by-case basis examining not only the features of the plan itself but also factors including share price movements, shareholder composition, board composition, and the company’s announced plans to improve shareholder value.

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

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

Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

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

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

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

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

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

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


Issuance of Debt (non-U.S.). Cohen & Steers evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis. Reasons for increased bank borrowing powers are numerous and varied, including allowing for normal growth of the company, the financing of acquisitions, and allowing increased financial leverage. Management may also attempt to borrow as part of a takeover defense. Cohen & Steers generally votes in favor of proposals that will enhance a company’s long-term prospects. Cohen & Steers votes against any uncapped or poorly-defined increase in bank borrowing powers or borrowing limits, issuances that would result in the company reaching an unacceptable level of financial leverage or a material reduction in shareholder value, or where such borrowing is expressly intended as part of a takeover defense.

Ratification of Auditors

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

the auditors are being changed without explanation; or

 

   

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

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

Auditor Rotation

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

Auditor Indemnification

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

Annual Accounts and Reports (non-U.S.)

Annual reports and accounts should be detailed and transparent and should be submitted to shareholders for approval in a timely manner as prescribed by law. They should meet accepted reporting standards such as those prescribed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

Cohen & Steers generally approves proposals relating to the adoption of annual accounts provided that:

 

   

The report has been examined by an independent external accountant and the accuracy of material items in the report is not in doubt;

 

   

The report complies with legal and regulatory requirements and best practice provisions in local markets;


   

the company discloses which portion of the remuneration paid to the external accountant relates to auditing activities and which portion relates to non-auditing advisory assignments;

 

   

A report on the implementation of risk management and internal control measures is incorporated, including an in-control statement from company management;

 

   

A report should include a statement of compliance with relevant codes of best practice for markets where they exist (e.g. for UK companies a statement of compliance with the Corporate Governance Code should be made, together with detailed explanations about any area(s) of non-compliance);

 

   

A conclusive response is given to all queries from shareholders; and

 

   

Other concerns about corporate governance have not been identified.

Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditor (JAPAN)

Cohen & Steers evaluates these proposals on a case-by-case basis taking into account the work history of each nominee. If the nominee is designated as independent but has worked the majority of his or her career for one of the company’s major shareholders, lenders, or business partners, Cohen & Steers considers the nominee affiliated and will withhold support.

Shareholder Access and Voting Proposals

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

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

Reimbursement of Proxy Solicitation Expenses (SP). In the absence of compelling reasons, Cohen & Steers will generally not support such proposals.

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

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

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

Cumulative Voting (SP). Having the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors (i.e., to cast more than one vote for a director) generally increases shareholders’ rights to effect change in the management of a company. However, Cohen & Steers acknowledges that cumulative voting promotes special candidates who may not represent the interests of all, or even a majority, of shareholders.


Therefore, when voting on proposals to institute cumulative voting, Cohen & Steers evaluates all facts and circumstances surrounding such proposal and generally vote against cumulative voting where the company has good corporate governance practices in place, including majority voting for director elections and a de-classified board.

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

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

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

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

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

Environmental and Social Proposals

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

Miscellaneous Proposals

Bundled Proposals. Cohen & Steers reviews on a case-by-case basis bundled or “conditioned” proposals. For items that are conditioned upon each other, Cohen & Steers examines the benefits and costs of the


bundled items. In instances where the combined effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholders’ best interests, Cohen & Steers votes against such proposals. If the combined effect is positive, Cohen & Steers supports such proposals. In the case of bundled director proposals, Cohen & Steers will vote for the entire slate only if Cohen & Steers would have otherwise voted for each director on an individual basis.

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

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

Information pertaining to the portfolio managers of the registrant, as of March 8, 2021, is set forth below.

 

William F. Scapell    Executive Vice President of C&S since 2014. Prior to that, Senior Vice President of C&S since 2003.

•   Vice President

  

•   Portfolio manager since inception

  
Robert Becker    Senior Vice President of C&S since 2003.

•   Vice President

  

•   Portfolio manager since inception

  
Ben Morton    Executive Vice President of C&S since 2019. Prior to that, Senior Vice President of C&S since 2003.

•   Vice President

  

•   Portfolio manager since 2009

  
Elaine Zaharis-Nikas    Senior Vice President of C&S since 2014. Prior to that, Vice President of C&S since 2005

•   Vice President

  

•   Portfolio manager since 2012

  

C&S utilizes a team-based approach in managing the registrant. Mr. Becker and Mr. Morton direct and supervise the execution of the registrant’s investment strategy, and lead and guide the other members of the team. Mr. Scapell and Ms. Zaharis-Nikas manage the registrant’s preferred securities investments.

Each portfolio manager listed above manages other investment companies and/or investment vehicles and accounts in addition to the registrant. The following tables show, as of December 31, 2020, the number of other accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category. The portfolio managers do not receive performance-based fees with respect to any of the registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles or other accounts that they manage.


William F. Scapell    Number of accounts   

Total assets

 

•   Registered investment companies

   10    $ 21,334,696,381  

•   Other pooled investment vehicles

   15    $ 3,169,612,668  

•   Other accounts

   22    $ 3,779,802,086  
Robert Becker    Number of accounts   

Total assets

 

•   Registered investment companies

   1    $ 428,922,808  

•   Other pooled investment vehicles

   13    $ 1,205,222,501  

•   Other accounts

   12    $ 2,779,544,640  
Ben Morton    Number of accounts   

Total assets

 

•   Registered investment companies

   5    $ 816,840,873  

•   Other pooled investment vehicles

   14    $ 1,239,020,060  

•   Other accounts

   15    $ 2,956,123,689  
Elaine Zaharis-Nikas    Number of accounts   

Total assets

 

•   Registered investment companies

   7    $ 17,065,115,235  

•   Other pooled investment vehicles

   13    $ 3,025,397,261  

•   Other accounts

   19    $ 3,413,874,885  

Share Ownership. The following table indicates the dollar range of securities of the registrant owned by the registrant’s portfolio managers as of December 31, 2020:

 

     Dollar Range of Securities Owned

William F. Scapell

   None

Robert Becker

   $10,001-$50,000

Ben Morton

   $10,001-$50,000

Elaine Zaharis-Nikas

   None

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

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


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

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

Advisor Compensation Structure. Compensation of the investment advisor’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting generally of restricted stock units of the investment advisor’s parent, CNS. The investment advisor’s investment professionals, including the portfolio managers, also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to all of its employees. Compensation of the investment advisor’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis.

Method to Determine Compensation. The registrant’s investment advisor compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the total return performance of funds and accounts managed by the portfolio manager versus appropriate peer groups or benchmarks. C&S uses a variety of benchmarks to evaluate each portfolio managers’ performance for compensation purposes, including the FTSE Global Core Infrastructure 50/50 Net Tax Index, the ICE BofA Fixed-Rate Preferred Securities Index, the S&P 500 Index and other broad based indexes based on the asset classes managed by each portfolio manager. In evaluating the performance of a portfolio manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on one- and three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer periods of time. Performance is evaluated on a pre-tax and pre-expense basis. In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to risk-adjusted performance. For funds and accounts with a primary investment objective of high current income, consideration will also be given to the fund’s and account’s success in achieving this objective. For portfolio managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an aggregate basis. The investment advisor has two funds or accounts with performance-based advisory fees. Portfolio managers are also evaluated on the basis of their success in managing their dedicated team of analysts. Base compensation for portfolio managers of the Advisor varies in line with the portfolio manager’s seniority and position with the firm.


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

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

None.

Note: On December 8, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved continuation of the delegation of its authority to management to effect repurchases, pursuant to management’s discretion and subject to market conditions and investment considerations, of up to 10% of the Fund’s common shares outstanding (“Share Repurchase Program”) as of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

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

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

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

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

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

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

(a) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the registrant had the following dollar amounts of income and fees/compensation related to its securities lending activities:

 

     Total  

Gross income from securities lending activities

   $ 1,166,146  

Fees and/or compensation for securities lending activities and related services

 

Fees paid to securities lending agent from a revenue split

   $ 991,310  

Fees paid for cash collateral management services (including fees deducted from a pooled cash collateral reinvestment vehicle) that are not included in the revenue split

     —    

Administrative fees that are not included in the revenue split

     —    

Indemnification fee not included in the revenue split

     —    

Rebates paid to borrowers;

     —    

Other fees relating to the securities lending program not included in the revenue split

     —    

Aggregate fees/compensation for securities lending activities and related services

   $ 991,310  

Net income from securities lending activities

   $ 174,836  


(b) During the registrants most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, BNP Paribas (“BNPP”) served as the registrant’s securities lending agent.

As a securities lending agent, BNPP is responsible for the implementation and administration of the registrant’s securities lending program. Pursuant to its respective Securities Lending Agreement (“Securities Lending Agreement”) with the registrant, BNPP, as a general matter, performs various services, including the following:

 

   

Locating borrowers;

 

   

Monitoring daily the value of the loaned securities and collateral (i.e., the collateral posted by the party borrowing);

 

   

Negotiation of loan terms;

 

   

Selection of securities to be loaned;

 

   

Recordkeeping and account servicing;

 

   

Monitoring of dividend activity and material proxy votes relating to loaned securities, and;

 

   

Arranging for return of loaned securities to the registrant at loan termination.

BNPP is compensated for the above-described services from its securities lending revenue split. The table above shows what the registrant earned and the fees and compensation it paid in connections with its securities lending activities during its most recent fiscal year.

Item 13. Exhibits.

(a)(1) Not applicable.

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

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(a)(4) Not applicable.

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

(c) Registrant’s notices to shareholders pursuant to registrant’s exemptive order granting an exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder regarding distributions pursuant to the registrant’s Managed Distribution Plan.


SIGNATURES

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

 

COHEN & STEERS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND, INC.
  By:  

/s/ Adam M. Derechin

  Name:   Adam M. Derechin
  Title:   Principal Executive Officer
    (President and Chief Executive Officer)
  Date:   March 8, 2021

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

 

  By:  

/s/ Adam M. Derechin

  Name:  

Adam M. Derechin

  Title:   Principal Executive Officer
    (President and Chief Executive Officer)
  By:  

/s/ James Giallanza

  Name:   James Giallanza
  Title:   Principal Financial Officer
    (Chief Financial Officer)
  Date:   March 8, 2021