Preliminary Program
All program times are in shown in eastern time (ET).
Tuesday, November 9 | Wednesday, November 10
November 9
Noon–12:50 p.m.
Sponsored Thought Leadership sessions
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Calamos Investments
Providing Investment Solutions and Optimizing the Shareholder Experience for CEF Clients
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Stradley Ronon
The Leverage Landscape and Activist Defense Shoreline: Popular Destinations on the Closed-End Map
1:00–1:05 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks
1:05–1:35 p.m.
Fireside Chat with Paul Cellupica
PAUL CELLUPICA
Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, PIMCO
Former Deputy Director, Division of Investment Management, US Securities and Exchange Commission
DAVID LAMB
Senior Managing Director
Nuveen
1:35–2:25 p.m.
Trends in Shareholder Activist Strategies and Closed-End Fund Defenses
Recent state court decisions on closed-end fund defensive tactics have caused some closed-end funds to reevaluate their approach to activist investors. This panel will analyze those court decisions and other recent developments, and explore measures that closed-end funds and their boards can take upon learning that they are the targets of an activist.
CHRIS JACKSON, Moderator
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Calamos Investments LLC
MICHAEL MABRY
Partner
Stradley Ronon
TOBY SERKIN
Partner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
MICHAEL HE
Senior Account Executive
AST Financial
2:25–2:50 p.m.
Sponsored Coffee Break
Nuveen
Capital Markets: Leveraging ETF Expertise to Benefit Closed-End Funds
2:50–3:35 p.m.
After the IPO: Secondary Market Trading of Closed-End Funds
This year has brought narrower closed-end fund discounts and, in some cases, large premiums. This panel will review recent closed-end fund market trends. It will offer insights on how closed-end funds are attempting to improve the trading of their shares, and will discuss how closed-end funds can take advantage of the uncommon market environment to raise capital.
PARTH DOSHI, Moderator
Vice President, Closed-End Funds
Nuveen
NATHAN BRIGGS
Partner
Ropes & Gray LLP
JONATHAN ISAAC
Managing Director, Product Management
Eaton Vance
SANGEETA MARFATIA
Executive Director
UBS Financial Services
November 10
Noon–12:50 p.m.
Sponsored Thought Leadership sessions
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Dechert
Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Developments for Closed-End Funds
1:00–1:05 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks
1:05–1:40 p.m.
Closed-End Fund Renaissance? Primary Market Considerations
Through August, closed-end fund IPOs have raised more capital than through all of last year, and are on track to raise more than in any year over the last decade. What is the reason for the market resurgence? And how can closed-end fund sponsors continue to stand out with unique products that provide attractive benefits for investors?
STEPHEN MINAR, Moderator
Director
BlackRock
JAMIE PATTURELLI
Director
New York Stock Exchange
NEIL SULLIVAN
Managing Director
Vision 4 Fund Distributors
FINBAR WARD
Vice President
Morgan Stanley
1:40–2:10 p.m.
Primary Market/Product Development: ESG Funds
Interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies continues to gain momentum. Is there a place for these strategies in a closed-end fund wrapper? What should fund shops know about ESG funds? This mini panel will explore some of the basic issues sponsors have had to deal with when incorporating ESG principles within their funds.
ANNETTE CAPRETTA, Moderator
Associate General Counsel
Investment Company Institute
ELLIOT GLUCK
Partner
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
ASHLEY SCHULTEN
Managing Director, Head of Responsible Investing for Global Fixed Income
BlackRock
2:10–2:40 p.m.
Primary Market/Product Development: Unlisted Closed-End Funds
The unlisted closed-end fund market has grown significantly over the last three years. This mini panel will discuss some common trends, considerations, and issues for fund sponsors that are in the market or looking to enter it.
BILL BIELEFELD, Moderator
Partner
Dechert LLP
CHRISTIAN CLAYTON
Senior Vice President
PIMCO
CHRIS LARSEN
Senior Product Manager
Franklin Templeton
2:40–3:00 p.m.
Sponsored Coffee Break
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
ESG Investment Product Disclosure and Treatment of ESG Investment Products Under the Names Rule
3:00–3:45 p.m.
Closed-End Fund Regulatory Update
Closed-end funds are in the midst of implementing changes in response to the bevy of new rules that the SEC recently adopted. The SEC and legislators, however, have not slowed their regulatory or legislative agenda. This panel will discuss current implementation issues, some unforeseen, that closed-end funds are grappling with today, ongoing regulatory challenges, and new developments on the agency and legislative front.
TOM CONNORS, Moderator
Senior Counsel
MFS Investment Management
RYAN BRIZEK
Partner
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
BRIAN JOHNSON
Assistant Director
US Securities and Exchange Commission
STEVEN B. LEVINE
Senior Counsel
US Securities and Exchange Commission
DAVID MARCINKUS
Senior Counsel
Proskauer Rose LLP