JCE Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-279509

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated July 19, 2024)

1,599,292 COMMON SHARES

$0.01 PAR VALUE PER SHARE

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

 

 

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (the “Fund”), a diversified, closed-end management investment company, is offering up to 1,599,292 of its common shares, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), pursuant to this prospectus supplement.

The minimum price on any day at which Common Shares may be sold will not be less than the current net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to the Fund’s distributor, Nuveen Securities, LLC (“Nuveen Securities”). The Fund and Nuveen Securities will suspend the sale of Common Shares if the per share price of the shares is less than such minimum price. The Fund currently intends to distribute the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement primarily through transactions deemed “at the market,” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. For information on how Common Shares may be sold, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus supplement.

The Fund will compensate Nuveen Securities with respect to sales of Common Shares at a variable commission rate. The variable commission rate shall be equal to the sum of (i) seventy-five percent (75%) of the premium to net asset value with respect to the sale of any Common Shares sold until such compensation is equal to 0.80% of the aggregate gross sales proceeds and (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) of the premium to net asset value with respect to the sale of any Common Shares sold until such compensation is equal to 0.20% of the aggregate gross sales proceeds. Out of this commission, Nuveen Securities will compensate the applicable dealer at a variable commission rate equal to seventy-five percent (75.0%) of the premium net asset value with respect to the sale of any Common Shares sold until such compensation is equal to 0.80% of the aggregate gross sales proceeds. In connection with the sale of the Common Shares on the Fund’s behalf, Nuveen Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Nuveen Securities may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “JCE.” The closing price for the Common Shares on the NYSE on July 16, 2024 was $15.11. The NAV of the Common Shares at the close of business on July 16, 2024 was $15.12 per Common Share.

Common shares of

closed-end

investment companies, such as the Fund, often trade at a discount to their NAV. This creates a risk of loss for an investor purchasing common shares in a public offering.

Investing in the Common Shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of the accompanying prospectus. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making a decision to purchase Common Shares.

The date of this prospectus supplement is July 19, 2024.

(continued on next page)

BASE PROSPECTUS

1,599,292 Shares

Common Shares

Rights to Purchase Common Shares

Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund

The Offering. Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (the “Fund”) is offering, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings, up to 1,599,292 shares of common shares (“Common Shares”) and/or subscription rights to purchase Common Shares (“Rights,” and collectively with Common Shares, “Securities”), in any combination. The Fund may offer and sell such Securities directly to one or more purchasers, to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of Securities will describe such offering, including, as applicable, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and information regarding any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements made with those underwriters, dealers or agents or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The prospectus supplement relating to any Rights offering will set forth the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right (or number of Rights) and the other terms of such Rights offering. For more information about the manners in which the Fund may offer Securities, see “Plan of Distribution.”

The Fund. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide an active level of total return. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily through long term capital appreciation and secondarily through income and gains. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective or that the Fund’s investment strategies will be successful.

This Prospectus, together with any related prospectus supplement, sets forth concisely information about the Fund that a prospective investor should know before investing, and should be retained for future reference. Investing in Securities involves risks. You could lose some or all of your investment. You should consider carefully these risks together with all of the other information in this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement before making a decision to purchase any of the Securities. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9.

Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The trading or “ticker” symbol of the Common Shares is “JCE.” The closing price of the Common Shares, as reported by the NYSE on July 11, 2024, was $15.04 per Common Share. The net asset value of the Common Shares at the close of business on that same date was $14.96 per Common Share. Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange.

You should read this Prospectus, together with any related prospectus supplement, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated July 19, 2024 (the “SAI”), containing additional information about the Fund has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of the SAI, the table of contents of which is on the last page of this Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 or from the Fund’s website (http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein. You also may obtain a copy of the SAI (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).

The date of this Prospectus is July 19, 2024.

The Securities do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on their covers. The Fund will update this Prospectus to reflect any material changes to the disclosures herein.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any projections, forecasts and estimates contained or incorporated by reference herein are forward looking statements and are based upon certain assumptions. Projections, forecasts and estimates are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions underlying any projections, forecasts or estimates will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Actual results may vary from any projections, forecasts and estimates and the variations may be material. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward looking statements include changes in interest rates, market, financial or legal uncertainties, including changes in tax law, and the timing and frequency of defaults on underlying investments. Consequently, the inclusion of any projections, forecasts and estimates herein should not be regarded as a representation by the Fund or any of its affiliates or any other person or entity of the results that will actually be achieved by the Fund. Neither the Fund nor its affiliates has any obligation to update or otherwise revise any projections, forecasts and estimates including any revisions to reflect changes in economic conditions or other circumstances arising after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, even if the underlying assumptions do not come to fruition. The Fund acknowledges that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the safe harbor for forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 does not apply to investment companies such as the Fund.

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and any related prospectus supplement and in the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”).

If, for any quarterly distribution, net investment income and net realized capital gains were less than the amount of the distribution, the difference would be distributed from the Fund’s assets. In order to raise the cash for such distributions, the Fund expects to sell portfolio securities. Such portfolio sales may occur at a time when independent investment judgment might not otherwise have dictated such action. The Fund’s final distribution for each calendar year may include any remaining net investment income and net realized capital gains not distributed during the year.

The Fund’s actual financial performance likely varies significantly from month-to-month and from year-to-year, and there may be extended periods when the distribution rate exceeds the Fund’s actual total returns. The Fund’s projected or actual distribution rate is not a prediction of what the Fund’s actual total returns are over any specific future period.

As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions on the Common Shares and the Fund’s distribution policy could change. To the extent that the total return of the Fund’s overall strategy exceeds the distribution rate for an extended period, the Fund may be in a position either to increase the distribution rate or to distribute supplemental amounts to shareholders, or both. Conversely, if the total return of the Fund’s overall strategy is less than the distribution rate for an extended period of time, the Fund effectively draws upon its assets to meet payments prescribed by its distribution policy. Similarly, for tax purposes such distributions by the Fund may consist in part of a return of capital to holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”). The exact tax characteristics of the Fund’s Common Share distributions will not be known until after the Fund’s fiscal year-end. Common Shareholders should not confuse a return of capital distribution with “dividend yield” or “total return.” At the same time that it pays a quarterly distribution, the Fund posts on its website (www.nuveen.com/cef), and makes available in written form to Common Shareholders a notice of the estimated sources and tax characteristics of the Fund’s distributions (i.e., what percentage of the distributions is estimated to constitute ordinary income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains, and/or a non-taxable return of capital) on a year-to-date basis, in compliance with a federal securities law requirement that any fund paying a distribution from sources other than net investment income disclose to shareholders the respective portion attributable to such other sources. These estimates may be based on certain assumptions about the Fund’s expected investment returns and the realization of net gains, if any, over the remaining course of the year. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after December 31 in each year, and reported to Common Shareholders on Form 1099-DIV early the following year.

As explained more fully below in “Tax Matters,” the Fund intends to distribute to Common Shareholders any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) for each taxable year through its managed distributions or, alternatively, to retain all or a portion of the year’s net capital gain and pay U.S. federal income tax on the retained gain. Each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share of any retained gain, will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund may treat any retained capital gain amount as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. In addition, the Fund may make total Common Share distributions during a given calendar year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net realized long-term capital gains for that calendar year, in which case the excess will generally be treated by Common Shareholders as return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a shareholder’s tax basis, which could result in more taxable gain when the shareholder sells his or her shares. This may cause the shareholder to pay taxes even if he or she sells shares for less than the original price.

The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its quarterly Common Share distributions at any time upon notice to Common Shareholders, upon a determination by the Fund’s Board that such change is in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.

SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

Please refer to the section of the Fund’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled “Shareholder Update—Current Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the Funds—Additional Disclosures for Certain Funds as of the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023—Summary of Fund Expenses,” which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of fees and expenses of the Fund.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Fund’s financial highlights for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (File No. 811-22003), as filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR on March 7, 2024. The financial highlights for each of these fiscal years have been derived from financial statements audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, for the last five fiscal years. The Fund’s financial highlights for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016, December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (File No. 811-22003), as filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR on March 1, 2019.

TRADING AND NET ASSET VALUE INFORMATION

Please refer to the section of the Fund’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled “Shareholder Update—Current Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the Funds—Additional Disclosures for Certain Funds as of the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023—Trading and Net Asset Value Information,” which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the following information for the periods indicated: (i) the high and low market prices for Common Shares reported as of the end of the day on the NYSE, (ii) the high and low net asset values of Common Shares, and (iii) the high and low of the premium/(discount) to net asset value (expressed as a percentage) of Common Shares.

The net asset value per Common Share, the market price, and percentage of premium/(discount) to net asset value per Common Share on July 11, 2024, was $14.96, $15.04 and 0.53%, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, the Fund had 16,095,014 Common Shares outstanding and net assets of $236,814,663.

THE FUND

The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 9, 2007, pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, which is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund’s Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “JCE.” Preferred Shares and/or Rights issued by the Fund may also be listed on a securities exchange.

The following provides information about the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares as of June 30, 2024:

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from any offering will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as stated below. Pending investment, the timing of which may vary depending on the size of the investment but in no case is expected to exceed 30 days, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities or in high-quality, short-term money market instruments. See “Use of Leverage.”

THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

Investment Objective and Policies

Please refer to the section of the Fund’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled “Shareholder Update—Current Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the Funds—Investment Objective” and “—Investment Policies,” as such investment objective and investment policies may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Fund’s investment objective and policies.

Portfolio Composition and Other Information

Please refer to the section of the Fund’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled “Shareholder Update—Current Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the Funds—Investment Policies—Portfolio Contents,” as such portfolio contents may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the investments principally included in the Fund’s portfolio. More detailed information about the Fund’s portfolio investments are contained in the SAI under “The Fund’s Investments.”

Portfolio Turnover

The rebalancing technique employed by Nuveen Asset Management is likely to result in a higher portfolio turnover rate and related expenses compared to a “buy and hold” fund strategy. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 105%. However, there are no limits on the Fund’s rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in Nuveen Asset Management’s opinion, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected in the Fund’s “Total Annual Expenses” disclosed in the Fund's most recent annual report on Form N-CSR, they will be reflected in the Fund’s total return. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. See “Tax Matters.”

Other Policies

Certain investment policies specifically identified in the SAI as such are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. See “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI.

USE OF LEVERAGE

As a non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as the issuance of preferred shares or debt instruments. The Fund may, however, borrow up to 7.5% of its Managed Assets for cash management purposes. In addition, the Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes and may enter into certain derivatives transactions that have the economic effect of leverage by creating additional investment exposure.

RISK FACTORS

Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in any investment company security involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Please refer to the section of the Fund’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled “Shareholder Update—Current Investment Objectives, Investment Policies and Principal Risks of the Funds—Principal Risks of the Funds,” as such principal risks may be supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the principal risks you should consider before making an investment in the Fund. The specific risks applicable to a particular offering of Securities will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

The Board is responsible for the management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management. The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the SAI.

Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers

Investment Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s overall investment strategy and implementation. Nuveen Fund Advisors offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for management of the Fund, oversees the management of the Fund’s portfolio, manages the Fund’s business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is an indirect subsidiary of Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of June 30, 2024, Nuveen managed approximately $1.2 trillion in assets, of which approximately $145.5 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.

Sub-Adviser. Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund’s sub-adviser pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”). Nuveen Asset Management, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Asset Management oversees day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management is compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a portion of the management fee Nuveen Fund Advisors receives from the Fund. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.

Portfolio Managers. Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for the execution of specific investment strategies and day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Nuveen Asset Management manages the Nuveen funds using a team of analysts and portfolio managers that focuses on a specific group of funds. The day-to-day operation of the Fund and the execution of its specific investment strategies is the primary responsibility of David A. Friar, Max A. Kozlov, CFA, and Pei Chen, the designated portfolio managers of the Fund, who have served as portfolio managers of the Fund since 2011, 2020 and 2020, respectively.

Max Kozlov, CFA, is a portfolio manager for Nuveen’s quantitative equity team and has portfolio management responsibilities for U.S. and international equity strategies. He entered the investment industry in 1999, and prior to joining the firm in 2014, Max held positions at BlackRock, Inc., and McKinsey & Company.

Pei Chen, Managing Director and Head of Equity Quantitative Strategies, manages U.S. small- and small/mid-cap equity strategies. She joined the firm in 2004 and began working in the investment industry in 1990. Prior to joining the firm, she was a manager, special project research at MSCI Barra, where she evaluated the Barra Integrated Model and various research projects.

David Friar, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for Nuveen’s multi-asset portfolio management team. He joined the team managing the Equity, Mid-Cap and Small Cap Index Strategies in 2000 and became part of the enhanced equity index team in 2007. Additionally, he is a member of the investment team responsible for several other quantitative products, including the Equity Option Overwrite Strategies. He joined the firm in 1999 as a member of the performance measurement group. Before his role in portfolio management, he provided quantitative analysis for equity portfolios and constructed quantitatively driven portfolios for institutional and taxable clients.

Additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers and the Portfolio Managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund is provided in the SAI. The SAI is available free of charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus or the SAI, except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference herein or in the SAI.

Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements

Investment Management Agreement.    Pursuant to an investment management agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services and facilities provided by Nuveen Fund Advisors, payable on a monthly basis, based on the sum of a fund-level fee and a complex-level fee, as described below.

Fund-Level Fee.    The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

Complex-Level Fee.    The overall complex-level fee, payable monthly, begins at a maximum rate of 0.1600% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets, with breakpoints for eligible complex-level assets above $124.3 billion. Therefore, the maximum management fee rate for the Fund is the Fund-level fee plus 0.1600%. The current overall complex-level fee schedule is as follows:

As of June 30, 2024, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1574%.

In addition to the fee of Nuveen Fund Advisors, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses associated with any borrowings, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund may be found in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated June 30 of each year.

Sub-Advisory Agreement.    Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, Nuveen Asset Management receives from Nuveen Fund Advisors a management fee equal to 50.0000% of the net management fee paid by the Fund to Nuveen Fund Advisors. Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement may be found in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated June 30 of each year.

NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund’s NAV per Common Share is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. NAV is calculated by taking the market value of the Fund’s total assets, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of Common Shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the NAV per share.

Exchange-traded equity securities are generally valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Exchange-traded equity securities traded on a securities exchange for which there are no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on a securities exchange are valued at closing mid or bid prices. Securities reported on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price. Exchange-listed option contracts are valued using the prices reported on the exchanges where such instruments are primarily traded as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors should note that the listed options markets generally close at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Changes in the value of the Fund’s options portfolio after 4:00 p.m. generally would not be reflected in that day’s NAV. Exchange-traded futures contracts and options on futures contracts are generally valued at the final settlement price or official closing price on the exchange on which such futures contracts and options on futures contracts are primarily traded. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives, including OTC options, are valued based on prices from a third-party evaluation service. Temporary investments in securities that have variable rate and demand features qualifying them as short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. Where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is generally valued at the price on the exchange considered to be the primary exchange. In the case of securities not traded on an exchange, or if exchange prices are not otherwise available, the prices are typically determined by independent third-party pricing services that use a variety of techniques and methodologies.

The valuations for fixed-income securities and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of fair valuation techniques and methodologies. Short-term fixed-income securities that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined that using this method would not reflect an investment’s fair value. The valuations of certain fixed-income securities will generally be based on prices determined as of the earlier closing time of the markets on which they primarily trade, unless a significant event has occurred.

If a price cannot be obtained from a pricing service or other pre-approved source, or if the Fund’s valuation designee deems such price to be unreliable, or if a significant event occurs after the close of the local market but prior to the time at which the Fund’s NAV is calculated, a portfolio instrument will be valued at its fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s valuation designee. The Fund’s valuation designee may determine that a price is unreliable in various circumstances. For example, a price may be deemed unreliable if it has not changed for an identified period of time, or has changed from the previous day’s price by more than a threshold amount, and recent transactions and/or broker dealer price quotations differ materially from the price in question.

The Board has designated Nuveen Fund Advisors as the Fund’s valuation designee pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act and delegated to Nuveen Fund Advisors the day-to-day responsibility of making fair value determinations. All fair value determinations made by Nuveen Fund Advisors are subject to review by the Board. As a general principle, the fair value of a portfolio instrument is the amount that an owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the instrument’s current sale. A range of factors and analysis may be considered when determining fair value, including relevant market data, interest rates, credit considerations and/or issuer specific news. However, fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a portfolio instrument may be materially different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of that instrument.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund will pay quarterly distributions stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share that would be composed of net investment income and supplemental amounts generally representing realized capital gains or, possibly, returns of capital representing unrealized capital gains. Quarterly distributions, including such supplemental amounts, are sometimes referred to as “managed distributions.” The Fund’s managed distribution policy is pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC, which permits the Fund to distribute long-term capital gains to shareholders more frequently than once per year. The Fund will seek to establish a Common Share distribution rate that roughly corresponds to Nuveen Fund Advisors’ projections of the total return that could reasonably be expected to be generated by the Fund’s Common Shares over an extended period of time, although the distribution rate will not be solely dependent on the amount of income earned or capital gains realized. Nuveen Fund Advisors, in making such projections, may consider long-term historical returns and a variety of other factors. Distributions can only be made after paying any interest and required principal payments on borrowings, if any, and any accrued dividends to preferred shareholders, if any.

If, for any quarterly distribution, net investment income and net realized capital gains were less than the amount of the distribution, the difference would be distributed from the Fund’s assets. In order to raise the cash for such distributions, the Fund expects to sell portfolio securities. Such portfolio sales may occur at a time when independent investment judgment might not otherwise have dictated such action. The Fund’s final distribution for each calendar year may include any remaining net investment income and net realized capital gains not distributed during the year.

The Fund’s actual financial performance will likely vary significantly from month-to-month and from year-to-year, and there may be extended periods when the distribution rate will exceed the Fund’s actual total returns. The Fund’s projected or actual distribution rate is not a prediction of what the Fund’s actual total returns will be over any specific future period.

As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions on the Common Shares and the Fund’s distribution policy could change. To the extent that the total return of the Fund’s overall strategy exceeds the distribution rate for an extended period, the Fund may be in a position either to increase the distribution rate or to distribute supplemental amounts to shareholders, or both. Conversely, if the total return of the Fund’s overall strategy is less than the distribution rate for an extended period of time, the Fund will effectively be drawing upon its assets to meet payments prescribed by its distribution policy. Similarly, for tax purposes such distributions by the Fund may consist in part of a return of capital to Common Shareholders. The exact tax characteristics of the Fund’s Common Share distributions will not be known until after the Fund’s fiscal year-end. Common Shareholders should not confuse a return of capital distribution with “dividend yield” or “total return.” At the same time that it pays a quarterly distribution, the Fund will post on its website (www.nuveen.com/cef), and make available in written form to Common Shareholders a notice of the estimated sources and tax characteristics of the Fund’s distributions (i.e., what percentage of the distributions is estimated to constitute ordinary income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains, and/or a non-taxable return of capital) on a year-to-date basis, in compliance with a federal securities law requirement that any fund paying a distribution from sources other than net investment income disclose to shareholders the respective portion attributable to such other sources. These estimates may be based on certain assumptions about the Fund’s expected investment returns and the realization of net gains, if any, over the remaining course of the year. These estimates may, and likely will, vary over time based on the activities of the Fund and changes in the value of portfolio investments. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after December 31 in each year, and reported to Common Shareholders on Form 1099- DIV early the following year.

As explained more fully below in “Tax Matters,” the Fund intends to distribute to Common Shareholders any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) for each taxable year through its managed distributions or, alternatively, to retain all or a portion of the year’s net capital gain and pay U.S. federal income tax on the retained gain. Each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share of any retained gain, will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund may treat any retained capital gain amount as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. In addition, the Fund may make total Common Share distributions during a given calendar year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net realized long-term capital gains for that calendar year, in which case the excess will generally be treated by Common Shareholders as return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a shareholder’s tax basis, which could result in more taxable gain when the shareholder sells his or her shares. This may cause the shareholder to pay taxes even if he or she sells shares for less than the original price.

The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its quarterly Common Share distributions at any time upon notice to Common Shareholders, upon a determination by the Fund’s Board that such change is in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

Please refer to the section of the Fund’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR entitled “Shareholder Update—Dividend Reinvestment Plan,” which is incorporated by reference herein, for a discussion of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Fund may offer and sell Securities from time to time on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis, in one or more offerings under this Prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Fund may offer and sell such Securities directly to one or more purchasers, to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents that the Fund designates from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. Sales of Securities may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), including sales made directly on the NYSE or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of Securities will describe the terms of such offering, including, as applicable:

The prospectus supplement relating to any Rights offering will set forth the number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right (or number of Rights) and the other terms of such Rights offering.

Direct Sales

The Fund may offer and sell Securities directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resales of Securities. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. The Fund may use electronic media, including the Internet, to sell offered Securities directly. The Fund will describe the terms of any of those sales in a prospectus supplement.

By Agents

The Fund may offer and sell Securities through an agent or agents designated by the Fund from time to time. An agent may sell Securities it has purchased from the Fund as principal to other dealers for resale to investors and other purchasers, and may reallow all or any portion of the discount received in connection with the purchase from the Fund to the dealers. After the initial offering of Securities, the offering price (in the case of Securities to be resold at a fixed offering price), the concession and the discount may be changed.

By Underwriters

If any underwriters are involved in the offer and sale of Securities, such Securities will be acquired by the underwriters and may be resold by them, either at a fixed public offering price established at the time of offering or from time to time in one or more negotiated transactions or otherwise, at prices related to prevailing market prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase Securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all Securities described in the prospectus supplement if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to underwriters may be changed from time to time.

In connection with an offering of Common Shares, if a prospectus supplement so indicates, the Fund may grant the underwriters an option to purchase additional Common Shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the prospectus supplement, to cover any overallotments.

By Dealers

The Fund may offer and sell Securities from time to time through one or more dealers who would purchase the securities as principal. The dealers then may resell the offered Securities to the public at fixed or varying prices to be determined by those dealers at the time of resale. The Fund will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the prospectus supplement.

General

Any underwriters, dealer or agent participating in an offering of Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as that term is defined in the 1933 Act, of Securities so offered and sold, and any discounts and commission received by them, and any profit realized by them on resale of the offered Securities for whom they act as agent, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the 1933 Act.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the Fund, to indemnification by the Fund against some liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act.

The Fund may offer to sell Securities either at a fixed price or at prices that may vary, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

To facilitate an offering of Common Shares in an underwritten transaction and in accordance with industry practice, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Shares or any other Security. Those transactions may include overallotment, entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions, and reclaiming selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer.

Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities above independent market levels. Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

In connection with any Rights offering, the Fund may also enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter(s) will purchase Common Shares remaining unsubscribed for after the Rights offering.

Underwriters, agents and dealers may engage in transactions with or perform services, including various investment banking and other services, for the Fund and/or any of the Fund’s affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

The maximum amount of compensation to be received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed the applicable FINRA limit for the sale of any securities being offered pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will not pay any compensation to any underwriter or agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or similar arrangements.

To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as a broker or dealer and receive fees in connection with the execution of the Fund’s portfolio transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an underwriter.

A prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of Securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of Securities for Internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, Securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell Securities to online brokerage account holders.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Common Shares

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares being offered have a par value of $0.01 per share and, subject to the rights of holders of preferred shares, if issued, and borrowings, if incurred, have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation of the Fund. The Common Shares being offered will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and By-laws,” non-assessable, and will have no preemptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. The Fund has no current intention of issuing preferred shares or incurring borrowings. However, if at some future time the Fund issues preferred shares and/or incurs borrowings, the Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund unless all accrued dividends on preferred shares and interest on borrowings have been paid, and (i) unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any borrowings would be at least 300% after giving effect to the distributions and (ii) unless asset coverage (again, as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See “—Preferred Shares” below.

Each whole Common Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required, and each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportional fractional vote consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and will vote together as a single class. 

The Common Shares are listed on the NYSE and trade under the ticker symbol “JCE.” The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund does not issue share certificates.

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Common shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than NAV. Common shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than NAV and have during other periods traded at prices lower than NAV.

Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, NAV, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than NAV in the future. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund.”

Preferred Shares

As a non-fundamental policy, the Fund will not leverage its capital structure by issuing senior securities such as preferred shares or debt instruments. However, the Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders. The terms of any preferred shares that may be issued by the Fund may be the same as, or different from, the terms described below, subject to applicable law and the Declaration.

Distribution Preference

Any Preferred Shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of Preferred Shares would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, holders of Preferred Shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund. A consolidation or merger of the Fund with or into another entity or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Fund shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Fund.

Voting Rights

In connection with any issuance of Preferred Shares, the Fund must comply with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act, which requires, among other things, that Preferred Shares be voting shares and have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in the SAI and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Preferred Shares would vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.

In connection with the election of the Fund’s trustees, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees, and the remaining trustees would be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, if at any time dividends on the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares would be unpaid in an amount equal to two full years’ dividends thereon, the holders of all outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment.

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares of any class or series, as the case may be, voting as a separate class, would be required to, among other things, (1) take certain actions that would affect the preferences, rights, or powers of such class or series or (2) authorize or issue any class or series ranking prior to the Preferred Shares. Except as may otherwise be required by law, (1) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company and (2) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any plan of reorganization (as such term is used in the 1940 Act) adversely affecting such shares; provided however, that such separate class vote would be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, would be required to approve any action not described in the preceding sentence requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act including, among other things, changes in the Fund’s investment objective or changes in the investment restrictions described as fundamental policies under “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI. The class or series vote of holders of Preferred Shares described above would in each case be in addition to any separate vote of the requisite percentage of Common Shares and Preferred Shares necessary to authorize the action in question.

The foregoing voting provisions would not apply with respect to the Fund’s Preferred Shares if, at or prior to the time when a vote was required, such shares would have been (1) redeemed or (2) called for redemption and sufficient funds would have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares

The terms of the Preferred Shares may provide that they are redeemable by the Fund at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends, that the Fund may tender for or purchase Preferred Shares and that the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of Preferred Shares by the Fund would reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any resale of such shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

RIGHTS OFFERINGS

The Fund may in the future, and at its discretion, choose to make offerings of Rights to its shareholders to purchase Common Shares. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with a Rights offering to shareholders, the Fund would distribute certificates or other documentation evidencing the Rights and a prospectus supplement to the Fund’s shareholders as of the record date that the Fund sets for determining the shareholders eligible to receive Rights in such Rights offering. Any such future Rights offering will be made in accordance with the 1940 Act and, to the extent such Rights are transferable, will comply with applicable interpretations of the SEC or its staff, as such interpretations may be modified in the future, which currently require that: (i) the Fund’s Board make a good faith determination that such offering would result in a net benefit to existing shareholders; (ii) the offering fully protects shareholders’ preemptive rights and does not discriminate among shareholders (except for the possible effect of not offering fractional rights); (iii) management uses its best efforts to ensure an adequate trading market in the Rights for use by shareholders who do not exercise such Rights; and (iv) the ratio of such transferable Rights offering does not exceed one new share for each three rights held.

The applicable prospectus supplement would describe the following terms of the Rights (to the extent each is applicable) in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered:

A certain number of Rights would entitle the holder of the Right(s) to purchase for cash such number of shares at such exercise price as in each case is set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the Rights offered thereby. Rights would be exercisable at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such Rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised Rights would become void. Upon expiration of the Rights offering and the receipt of payment and the Rights certificate or other appropriate documentation properly executed and completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the Rights agent, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, the Common Shares purchased as a result of such exercise will be issued as soon as practicable. To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Fund may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than shareholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BY-LAWS

General. The By-laws of the Fund provide that by becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the terms of the Declaration of Trust and By-laws. However, neither the Declaration of Trust nor the By-laws purport to require the waiver of a shareholder’s rights under the federal securities laws.

Shareholder and Trustee Liability. Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the Fund’s obligations. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for the Fund’s debts or obligations and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration of Trust further provides for indemnification out of the Fund’s assets and property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the Fund’s obligations. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

The Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund’s obligations are not binding upon the Fund’s trustees individually, but only upon the Fund’s assets and property, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration of Trust, however, protects a trustee against any liability to which the trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the trustee’s office.

Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Declaration of Trust and By-laws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. The By-laws require the Board be divided into three classes with staggered terms. See “Management of the Fund” in the SAI. This provision of the By-laws could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board. If Preferred Shares are issued, holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees. In addition, the Declaration of Trust requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and, if issued, Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund’s investment activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund or (5) a removal of trustees by shareholders, and then only for cause, unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s Common Shares and, if issued, Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, would be required; provided, however, that where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. However, approval of shareholders would not be required for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Fund issues shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity. In the case of the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization that adversely affects the holders of any outstanding Preferred Shares, the action in question also would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Preferred Shares outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, unless such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s Preferred Shares outstanding at the time would be required. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and any preferred shares voting together as a single class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board believes that the provisions of the Declaration of Trust relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

Procedural Requirements on Derivative Actions, Exclusive Jurisdiction and Jury Trial Waiver. The By-laws of the Fund contain certain provisions affecting potential shareholder claims against the Fund, including procedural requirements for derivative actions, an exclusive forum provision, and the waiver of shareholder rights to a jury trial. Massachusetts is considered a “universal demand” state, meaning that under Massachusetts corporate law a shareholder must make a demand on the company before bringing a derivative action (i.e., a lawsuit brought by a shareholder on behalf of the company). The By-laws of the Fund provide detailed procedures for the bringing of derivative actions by shareholders which are modeled on the substantive provisions of the Massachusetts corporate law derivative demand statute. The procedures are intended to permit legitimate inquiries and claims while avoiding the time, expense, distraction, and other harm that can be caused to the Fund or its shareholders as a result of spurious shareholder demands and derivative actions. Among other things, these procedures:

These procedures may be more restrictive than procedures for bringing derivative suits applicable to other investment companies.

The By-laws also require that actions by shareholders against the Fund, except for actions under the U.S. federal securities laws, be brought only in a certain federal court in Massachusetts, or if not permitted to be brought in federal court, then in the Business Litigation Session of the Massachusetts Superior Court in Suffolk County (the “Exclusive Jurisdictions”), and that the right to jury trial be waived to the fullest extent permitted by law. Other investment companies may not be subject to similar restrictions. The designation of Exclusive Jurisdictions may make it more expensive for a shareholder to bring a suit than if the shareholder were permitted to select another jurisdiction. Also, the designation of Exclusive Jurisdictions and the waiver of jury trials limit a shareholder’s ability to litigate a claim in the jurisdiction and in a manner that may be more favorable to the shareholder. It is possible that a court may choose not to enforce these provisions of the Fund’s By-laws.

Preemptive Rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that Common Shareholders shall have no right to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any shares or investments of the Fund, other than such right, if any, as the Fund’s Board in its discretion may determine. As of the date of this Prospectus, no preemptive rights have been granted by the Board.

Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust and By-laws on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.

REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), NAV, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade at prices lower than NAV, the Fund’s Board has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from NAV in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at NAV, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount.

If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, it would be required to redeem all preferred shares then outstanding (requiring in turn that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the Common Shares would no longer be listed on the NYSE or elsewhere and it would likely have to significantly reduce any leverage it is then employing, which may require a repositioning of its investment portfolio, which may in turn generate substantial transaction costs, which would be borne by Common Shareholders, and may adversely affect Fund performance and Fund distributions. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder) at their NAV, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. The Fund currently expects that any such redemptions would be made in cash. The Fund may charge sales or redemption fees upon conversion to an open-end fund. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end investment companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end investment companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. The Board of Trustees may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company depending upon its judgment as to the advisability of such action in light of circumstances then prevailing. See the SAI under “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws” for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable to the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company.

Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below NAV, the Fund’s Board would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.

TAX MATTERS

The following is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a Common Shareholder that acquires, holds and/or disposes of Common Shares of the Fund. This discussion only addresses U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders who hold their Common Shares as capital assets and does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their individual circumstances. This discussion also does not address the tax consequences to Common Shareholders who are subject to special rules, including, without limitation, shareholders with large positions in the Fund, financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, foreign holders, persons who hold their shares as or in a hedge against currency risk, a constructive sale, or conversion transaction, holders who are subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, or tax-exempt or tax-deferred plans, accounts, or entities. In addition, the discussion does not address any state, local, or foreign tax consequences. The discussion reflects applicable tax laws of the United States as of the date of this Prospectus, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) retroactively or prospectively. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders, and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the specific tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund, including the applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences to them and the effect of possible changes in tax laws.

The Fund has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must satisfy certain requirements regarding the sources of its income, the diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. As a RIC, the Fund is not expected to be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income and gains it timely distributes to its shareholders.

The Fund invests primarily in equity securities. The Fund may distribute to its shareholders amounts that are treated as long-term capital gain or ordinary income (which may include short-term capital gains). These distributions may be subject to U.S. federal, state and local taxation, depending on a shareholder’s situation. If so, they are taxable whether or not such distributions are reinvested. Net capital gain distributions (the excess of net long- term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gains regardless of how long a shareholder has held its shares. Long-term capital gains are currently taxable to non-corporate shareholders at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20%. In addition, certain individuals, estates and trusts are subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income, including net capital gains and other taxable dividends. Corporate shareholders are taxed on capital gain at the same 21% rate applicable to ordinary income. The Fund expects that a portion of its distributions to shareholders from its investments may qualify for the dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders and as “qualified dividend income” to non-corporate shareholders; provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will represent a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of the shareholder’s basis in the shares and thus will generally not be taxable to the shareholder. To the extent such distributions exceed the shareholder’s basis in the shares, they will be treated as gain from the sale of such shares and will be treated as capital gain (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset).

In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet certain holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet the same holding period and other requirements with respect to the shareholder’s Fund shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (i) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held (or treated as held) for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (ii) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (iii) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (iv) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.

In general, dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of the Fund will qualify for the 50% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. A dividend received by the Fund will not be treated as a qualifying dividend (i) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held (or is treated as holding) for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (ii) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends-received deduction may be disallowed or reduced (i) if a corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund or (ii) by application of various provisions of the Code (for instance, the dividends-received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock (generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds)). For purposes of determining the holding period for stock on which a dividend is received, such holding period is reduced for any period the recipient has an option to sell, is under a contractual obligation to sell or has made (and not closed) a short sale of substantially identical stock or securities, and in certain other circumstances.

As a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax in any taxable year provided that it meets certain distribution requirements. The Fund may retain for investment some (or all) of its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any net capital gain or investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at the regular corporate rate on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to U.S. federal income tax on long- term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the U.S. federal income tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) may claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

Distributions declared by the Fund to shareholders of record in October, November or December and paid during the following January will be treated as having been paid by the Fund and received by shareholders in the year the distributions were declared.

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending December 31 of the calendar year, and (iii) any ordinary taxable income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years and on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Fund intends to make distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.

Each shareholder will receive an annual statement summarizing the shareholder’s distributions.

The Fund’s investments may be subject to special provisions of the Code that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss, (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely alter the characterization of certain Fund investments or distributions, and/or (vi) affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC.

The redemption or sale of shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to shareholders who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. The gain or loss on shares held for one year or less will generally be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same rates applicable to ordinary income. For non-corporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are currently taxed at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20%, while short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are currently taxed at ordinary income rates. An additional 3.8% Medicare tax may also apply to certain individual, estate or trust shareholders’ capital gain from the sale or other disposition of their shares. Any loss on the sale or disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any net capital gain distributions received by the shareholder on such shares. Any loss realized on a sale of shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent those shares of the Fund are replaced by other substantially identical shares of the Fund or other substantially identical stock or securities (including through reinvestment of dividends) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition of the original shares. In that event, the basis of the replacement shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. As of December 31, 2023, the Fund’s tax year end, the Fund had no unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future capital gains, if any.

The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 24% from all distributions and redemption proceeds payable to a shareholder if the shareholder fails to provide the Fund with his, her or its correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if the shareholder has been notified by the IRS (or the IRS notifies the Fund) that he, she or it is subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, it is a way in which the IRS ensures it will collect taxes otherwise due. Any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2016 (the “Custodian”). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent with respect to the Fund’s Common Shares is Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., located at 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021. The transfer agent, tender and dividend paying agent, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), an independent registered public accounting firm, provides auditing services to the Fund. The principal business address of PwC is One North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. In addition to audit services, PwC provides assistance on accounting, tax and related matters.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for the Fund by Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, located at 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP may rely as to certain matters of Massachusetts law on the opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Any additional legal opinions will be described in a prospectus supplement.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the 1940 Act and is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements, and other information about the Fund can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE.

This Prospectus does not contain all of the information in the Fund’s Registration Statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this Prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.

Additional information about the Fund and the Securities can be found in the Fund’s Registration Statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the Fund’s Registration Statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information the Fund has filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The documents listed below, and any reports and other documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 30(b)(2) of the 1940 Act and Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering will be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and deemed to be part of this Prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents:

The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Prospectus, and later information that the Fund files with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Incorporated materials not delivered with the Prospectus may be obtained, without charge, by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or from the Fund’s website (http://www.nuveen.com).

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