Proxy Statement (definitive) (def 14a)
16 Februar 2022 - 08:02PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ |
CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION
ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14A-6(E)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to (s) 240.14a-11(c)
or (s) 240.14a-12 |
Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☐ |
Fee paid previously with
preliminary materials. |
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit
required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and
0-11 |
Notes:
Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300
Baltimore, MD 21202
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NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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February 16, 2022
To the Stockholders of
ADAMS NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC.:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of
ADAMS NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (the
“Fund”), will be held at the Fund’s offices, 500 E. Pratt Street,
Suite 1300, Baltimore, MD 21202, on Thursday, April 21, 2022,
at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
(1)
to elect directors as identified in the Proxy Statement to serve
until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2023 and until their
successors are duly elected and qualify;
(2)
to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to serve as
the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit
the books and accounts of the Fund for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2022; and
(3)
to transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders
vote FOR Proposals (1)
and (2).
Stockholders of record, as shown by the transfer agent’s books for
the Fund, at the close of business on January 28, 2022, are
entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting. All Stockholders
are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting.
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By order of the Board of
Directors,
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Janis F. Kerns
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
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Baltimore, MD
Note: Even if you plan to attend the meeting, stockholders are
requested to fill in, sign, date and return the accompanying proxy
in the enclosed envelope without delay. Stockholders may also
authorize their proxies by telephone and internet as described
further in the enclosed materials.
Because access to our building is restricted, please call the Fund
at (800) 638-2479 or send an email to
investorrelations@adamsfunds.com if you plan to attend the Annual
Meeting.
GUIDE TO
ADAMS NATURAL RESOURCES FUND’S 2022
PROXY STATEMENT
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Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc.
500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300
Baltimore, MD 21202
INTRODUCTION
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Adams Natural Resources Fund,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Fund”), will be held on
Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the Fund’s
offices at 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, MD 21202,
for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual
Meeting and also set forth below. This proxy statement is furnished
in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of
proxies to be used at the meeting and at any and all adjournments
or postponements thereof and is first being provided to
stockholders on or about February 16, 2022.
At the Annual Meeting, action is to be taken on (1) the election of
a Board of Directors; (2) the ratification of the selection of an
independent registered public accounting firm; and (3) the
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for
the
Stockholder Meeting to Be Held On April 21, 2022:
This Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting, a form of the
proxy, and the 2021 Annual Report to stockholders are all available
on the internet at the following website:
http://www.astproxyportal.com/ast/13580/
How You May Vote and Voting By Proxy
You can provide voting instructions by using telephone or internet
options as instructed in the enclosed proxy card, or by dating,
executing and mailing the proxy card. You may also vote in person
at the Annual Meeting, however, even if you intend to do so,
please provide voting instructions
by one of the methods described above. Except for
Proposals (1) and (2), referred to above, the proxies confer
discretionary authority on the persons named therein or their
substitutes with respect to any business that may properly come
before the meeting. Stockholders retain the right to revoke
executed proxies at any time before they are voted by written
notice to the Fund, by executing a later dated proxy, or by
appearing and voting at the meeting. All shares represented at the
meeting by proxies in the accompanying form will be voted, provided
that such proxies are properly executed. In cases where a choice is
indicated, the shares represented will be voted in accordance with
the specifications so made. In cases where no specifications are
made, the shares represented will be voted FOR Proposal (1) and FOR Proposal (2).
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker, or other
holder of record, you will receive instructions from the holder of
record that you must follow in order to vote your shares. If your
shares are not registered in your own name and you plan to vote
your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, you should contact
your broker or agent to obtain a broker’s proxy card and bring it
with you to the Annual Meeting in order to vote.
If you have questions regarding how to attend the meeting and vote
in person, please contact the Secretary of the Fund by telephone at
(800) 638-2479 or by email at
investorrelations@adamsfunds.com.
Who May Vote
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on January 28,
2022, may vote at the Annual Meeting. The total number of shares of
common stock of the Fund (“Common Stock”) outstanding and entitled
to be voted on the record date was 24,466,617. Each share is
entitled to one vote. The Fund has no other class of security
outstanding.
Vote Requirement
For Proposal (1), referred to above, directors shall be elected by
a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting. Proposal (2),
referred to above, requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
the votes cast at the meeting.
Quorum Requirement
A quorum is necessary to hold a valid meeting. If stockholders
entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at
the Annual Meeting are present in person or by proxy, a quorum will
exist. Proxies received by the Fund that are marked “withhold
authority” or abstain, or that constitute a broker non-vote, are
counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum. A broker
non-vote occurs when a broker returns a valid proxy but does not
vote on a particular matter because the broker does not have the
discretionary voting power for that matter and has not received
instructions from the beneficial owner. Proxies marked “withhold
authority,” abstentions, and broker non-votes do not count as votes
cast with respect to any proposal, and therefore, such proxies
would have no effect on the outcome of Proposals (1) and (2)
above.
Appraisal Rights
Under Maryland law, there are no appraisal or other dissenter
rights with respect to any matter to be voted on at the Annual
Meeting that is described herein.
Other Matters
The Fund will pay all costs of soliciting proxies for the Annual
Meeting. Solicitation will be made by mail, and officers,
employees, and agents of the Fund may also solicit proxies by
telephone or personal interview. The Fund has retained AST Fund
Solutions, LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies. The Fund
will pay AST Fund Solutions, LLC a fee for its services, not to
exceed $2,500, and will reimburse AST Fund Solutions, LLC for its
expenses, which the Fund estimates should be approximately $1,500.
The Fund expects to request brokers and nominees who hold stock in
their names to furnish this proxy material to their customers and
to solicit proxies from them, and will reimburse such brokers and
nominees for their out-of-pocket and reasonable clerical expenses
in connection therewith.
Fund Complex
The Fund is part of Adams Funds (the “Fund Complex”), which is
composed of the Fund and Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.
("ADX"), a closed-end investment company that is also traded on the
New York Stock Exchange.
Corporate Governance Highlights
Our corporate governance is structured by the Board of Directors
with a focus on the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders
and in a manner that aligns the interests of the Board and
management with shareholders. Key features of this governance
framework and the Board’s makeup include:
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Structure and Independence
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6
of 7 director nominees are independent |
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Annual election of all directors |
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Independent non-executive Chair |
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• |
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Annual Board and committee evaluations |
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Independent Audit, Compensation and Nominating & Governance
committees |
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Risk and strategy oversight by the full Board and committees |
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Regular rotation of committee chairs and members |
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Executive session of independent directors at each regular
meeting |
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Succession and Diversity
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Mandatory director retirement age |
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Term limit of 15 years |
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3
of 7 directors joined in the last 5 years |
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7
of 7 directors with a background in finance or investing |
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Extensive leadership experience; 2 former or current CEOs |
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4
female directors, including the Chair of the Board |
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5
of 7 directors 65 years old or younger |
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Other Best Practices
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100% attendance at Board and committee meetings in 2021 |
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Active shareholder engagement with both institutional and
individual investors |
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Significant share ownership requirements for directors and senior
executives |
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Discussions between the Chair and each director supplement formal
Board assessment |
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Open access for directors to all employees |
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Ability of the
Board and its committees to engage independent advisors at their
sole discretion
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(1)
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
Unless contrary instructions are given by the stockholder signing a
proxy, it is intended that each proxy in the accompanying form will
be voted at the Annual Meeting for the election of the following
nominees to the Board of Directors to serve until the annual
meeting of stockholders in 2023 and until their successors are duly
elected and qualify, all of whom have consented to serve if
elected:
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Kenneth J.
Dale |
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Lauriann
C. Kloppenburg |
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Mark E.
Stoeckle* |
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Frederic
A. Escherich |
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Kathleen
T. McGahran |
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Mary Chris
Jammet |
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Jane
Musser Nelson |
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If for any reason one or more of the above-named nominees shall
become unable or unwilling to serve when the election occurs,
proxies in the accompanying form will, in the absence of contrary
instructions, be voted for the election of the other above-named
nominees and may be voted for substitute nominees in the discretion
of the persons named as proxies in the accompanying form. As an
alternative to proxies being voted for substitute nominees, the
size of the Board of Directors may be reduced so that there are no
vacancies caused by an above-named nominee becoming unable or
unwilling to serve. The directors elected will serve until the next
annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and
qualify, unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Fund.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders
vote FOR the election of each of the nominees.
Information as to Nominees for Election as Directors (as of
December 31, 2021)
Set forth below with respect to each nominee for director are his
or her name, address and age, any positions held with the Fund,
other principal occupations, other directorships during the past
five years, business affiliations, the year in which he or she
first became a director, and the number of shares of Common Stock
of the Fund beneficially owned by him or her. Also set forth below
is the number of shares of Common Stock of the Fund beneficially
owned by all the directors and executive officers of the Fund as a
group. A separate table is provided showing the dollar value range
of the shares beneficially owned by each director.
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Name, Age, Positions with the
Fund,
Other Principal Occupations and Other Directorships
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Has
Been a
Director
Since
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Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director or
Nominee for
Director
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Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
(a)(b)(c)
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Independent Directors |
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Kenneth J. Dale,
65, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The
Associated Press. Formerly, Vice President, J.P. Morgan Chase &
Co. Currently, a director of ADX(d).
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2008 |
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2 |
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11,930 |
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Frederic A.
Escherich, 69, Private Investor. Formerly, Managing Director and
head of Mergers and Acquisitions Research and the Financial
Advisory Department of J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc. Currently, a
director of ADX(d).
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2006 |
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2 |
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13,981 |
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Mr. Stoeckle is an “interested person,” as defined by the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, because he is an
officer of the Fund.
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Name, Age, Positions with the
Fund,
Other Principal Occupations and Other Directorships
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Has
Been a
Director
Since
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Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director or
Nominee for
Director
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Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned
(a)(b)(c)
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Mary Chris
Jammet, 54, Principal with Bristol Partners LLC. Previously served
as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Legg Mason, Inc.
(now Franklin Templeton). Currently, a director of ADX(d) and a
director of MGM Resorts International. In addition, within the past
five years, Ms. Jammet served as a director of Payless ShoeSource
Inc.
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2020 |
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2 |
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7,584 |
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Lauriann C.
Kloppenburg, 61, Retired Chief Stragegy Officer and former Chief
Investment Officer - Equity Group of Loomis Sayles & Company,
LP. Currently, a director of ADX(d) a
Trustee of Transamerica Funds, of Transamerica Series Trust, and of
Transamerica Asset Allocation Variable Funds; an adviser to a
family office; and an Executive in Residence, Champlain College.
Formerly, Executive in Residence, Hughey Center for Financial
Services, Bentley University.
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2017 |
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2 |
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6,740 |
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Kathleen T.
McGahran Ph.D., J.D., CPA, 71, President Emeritus & former CEO
of
Pelham Associates, Inc. Formerly, Associate Dean and Director of
Executive
Education and Associate Professor, Columbia University. Currently,
the Chair
of the Board and a director of ADX(d).
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2003 |
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2 |
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12,656 |
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Jane Musser
Nelson, 63, Retired Managing Director, Investments, Cambridge
Associates. Currently, a director of ADX(d), of
First Eagle Alternative Capital
BDC, Inc., of Alcentra, an asset management subsidiary of BNY
Mellon; and
an adviser to investment firms, foundations and trusts. Formerly,
served in
senior management roles at Bain Capital, ING Capital Advisors and
Eaton
Vance.
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2021 |
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2 |
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0 |
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Interested Director |
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Mark E.
Stoeckle, 65, CEO of the Fund. Currently, also the CEO,
President, and
a director of ADX(d).
Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Equities and
Global Sector Funds, BNP Paribas Investment Partners.
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2013 |
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2 |
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15,646 |
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Directors
and executive officers of the Fund as a group. |
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68,537 |
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(a)
To the Fund’s knowledge, except for 2,425 shares shown for Dr.
McGahran, which are beneficially owned by her spouse and as to
which she disclaims beneficial ownership, and the shares referred
to in footnote (b) below, each director and officer had sole
investment and sole voting power with respect to the shares shown
opposite his or her name.
(b)
The amounts shown include vested but deferred stock units under the
Fund’s 2005 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (see “2005 Equity
Incentive Compensation Plan” below) for the following directors;
6,140 held by Mr. Dale, and 800 held by Dr. McGahran. No such
shares or units were held by Mr. Escherich, Ms. Jammet, Ms.
Kloppenburg, Ms. Musser Nelson, or Mr. Stoeckle.
(c)
Calculated on the basis of 24,484,588 Common Stock outstanding on
December 31, 2021, each director owned less than 1.0% of the Common
Stock outstanding. The directors and executive officers as a group
owned less than 1.0% of the Common Stock outstanding.
(d)
Non-controlled affiliate of the Fund (a closed-end investment
company), which is part of the Fund Complex. The length of the ADX
Board service is identical to the period served for the Fund.
The address for each director is the Fund’s headquarters office,
500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Additional information about each director follows, supplementing
the information in the table above and describing some of the
specific experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills each
director possesses that led the Board to conclude he or she should
serve as a director.
Independent
Directors
1)
Kenneth J. Dale
Mr. Dale brings broad expertise in financial management to the
Board. He serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of The Associated Press (AP), one of the largest
newsgathering organizations in the world. His responsibilities at
AP include all corporate finance activities, internal audit, global
real estate, and administrative services, and oversight of AP’s
software business, ENPS. Prior to joining AP, Mr. Dale spent 21
years as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Inc.,
advising media and entertainment clients on mergers and
acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. He has been deemed
an audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined in
federal securities regulations, by his fellow directors and
currently serves as the Chair of the Fund’s Audit Committee.
2)
Frederic A. Escherich
Mr. Escherich brings to the Board extensive knowledge of securities
investing and stock valuation gained from his 25 years at J.P.
Morgan & Co. Inc. During his tenure at J.P. Morgan, Mr.
Escherich served as head of mergers and acquisitions research for
many years, and his responsibilities included evaluating numerous
issues related to maximizing shareholder value and setting policies
and procedures in connection with the valuation of companies, the
assessment of various transaction types, analytical techniques, and
securities. Since retiring in 2002, Mr. Escherich has focused
full-time on private investing and is familiar with the dynamics of
today’s equity markets. He has been deemed an audit committee
financial expert, as that term is defined in federal securities
regulations, by his fellow directors and has served as the Chair of
the Fund’s Audit Committee.
3)
Mary Chris Jammet
Ms. Jammet is a seasoned investment management professional and
experienced corporate board member who brings more than 30 years of
experience to Adams Funds. Currently a Principal with Bristol
Partners LLC, Ms. Jammet served as Senior Vice President and
Portfolio Manager at global asset management firm Legg Mason, Inc.
(now Franklin Templeton), where she was responsible for $20 billion
in client assets before retiring in 2013. Ms. Jammet is a member of
the Board of Directors of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM),
and a former Corporate Director for Payless ShoeSource Inc. She
currently serves as an Advisor to Loyola University Maryland’s
Finance Department and is a member of the National Association of
Corporate Directors, as well as the Women Corporate Directors
Foundation. She has been deemed an audit committee financial
expert, as that term is defined in federal securities regulations,
by her fellow directors. She has been deemed an audit committee
financial expert, as that term is defined in federal securities
regulations, by her follow directors.
4)
Lauriann C. Kloppenburg
Ms. Kloppenburg brings a wealth of knowledge of securities
investing and the investment management industry to the Board,
having served in many key roles at Loomis Sayles & Company, an
investment management firm with more than $300 billion under
management. During her more than 30-year career with Loomis Sayles,
Ms. Kloppenburg was, at various times, the Director of Equity
Research, Director of Large-Cap Equities, Chief Investment Officer
- Equity Group, and Chief Strategy Officer, in addition to serving
as a member of the firm’s board of directors. Ms. Kloppenburg is a
member of the Boards of Trustees of Transamerica Funds,
Transamerica Series Trust, and Transamerica Asset Allocation
Variable Funds. She also serves as an adviser to a private family
office. Ms. Kloppenburg has been deemed an audit committee
financial expert, as that term is defined in federal securities
regulations, by her fellow directors.
5) Kathleen T.
McGahran, Ph.D.
Dr. McGahran has served as the Chair of the Fund’s Board of
Directors since March 19, 2013. She is a CPA, a lawyer, and holds a
Ph.D. in Accounting and Finance from New York University, and
brings to the Board a very broad and valuable skill set. She is
President Emeritus and former CEO of Pelham Associates, an
executive education provider. She has served on the faculties of
the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, the Graduate
School of Business at Columbia University, and the Stern School of
Business at New York University. Dr. McGahran has expertise in
financial analysis and has conducted financial analysis training
programs for Wall Street firms and Fortune 500 companies. She has
been deemed an audit committee financial expert, as that term is
defined in federal securities regulations, by her fellow directors
and has served as Chair of the Fund’s Audit Committee for several
terms.
6)
Jane Musser Nelson
Ms. Musser Nelson is a seasoned investment management professional
specializing in traditional and alternative financial assets, as
well as an experienced corporate board member who brings more than
30 years of investment management expertise to the Adams Funds.
Currently an adviser to investment firms, foundations and trusts,
Ms. Musser Nelson formerly was the Managing Director of Investments
for Cambridge Associates, a global asset manager for endowments,
private wealth and pension plans. Prior to that she served in
senior management roles at Bain Capital, ING Capital Advisors and
Eaton Vance. Ms. Musser Nelson is a member of the Board of
Directors of First Eagle Alternative Capital BDC, Inc. and a
director of Alcentra, an asset management subsidiary of BNY Mellon.
Ms. Musser Nelson has been deemed an audit committee financial
expert, as that term is defined in federal securities regulations,
by her fellow directors.
Interested
Director
8)
Mark E. Stoeckle
Mr. Stoeckle has been CEO of the Fund and ADX since
February 11, 2013. He was elected to the Board of Directors of
the Fund and ADX on February 14, 2013, and served as President of
the Fund from his election to that position on February 14, 2013
through January 21, 2015. Mr. Stoeckle’s distinguished career
in financial services and asset management spans over 30 years, and
he brings a wealth of investment and business experience to the
role. Previously, he was Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Equities
and Global Sector Funds, at the global investment management firm
BNP Paribas Investment Partners.
Stock
Ownership
Independent
Directors
|
|
|
Dollar Value of Shares
Owned(1)
|
|
Kenneth J. Dale
|
|
|
greater than $100,000
|
|
Frederic A. Escherich
|
|
|
greater than $100,000
|
|
Mary Chris Jammet
|
|
|
greater than $100,000
|
|
Lauriann C. Kloppenburg
|
|
|
greater than $100,000
|
|
Kathleen T. McGahran
|
|
|
greater than $100,000
|
|
Jane Musser Nelson
|
|
|
$0 - $10,000
|
|
Interested
Director
|
|
Mark E. Stoeckle
|
|
|
greater than $100,000
|
|
(1)
As of December 31, 2021.
The Board has adopted equity ownership requirements for the
directors and senior staff. Under these equity ownership
requirements, the Chief Executive Officer, portfolio managers,
research analysts, and other executive officers must own a certain
value of equity in the Fund Complex with a cost basis equal to a
multiple of salary. Non-employee directors must own at least
$100,000 by cost basis of the Fund’s Common Stock within 5 years of
joining the Board.
The nominees for election as directors of the Fund identified above
are also the nominees for election to the Board of Directors of
ADX, part of the Fund Complex.
Board Leadership Structure
Six of the Fund’s seven directors are not “interested persons,” as
defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Act”), and are independent directors. Mr. Stoeckle is the only
member of the Board who is an “interested person” under the Act and
thus is not an independent director. The Board has elected Dr.
Kathleen T. McGahran, an Independent Director, to serve as the
Chair of the Board.
Board’s Oversight of Risk Management for the Fund
The Board’s role in risk management of the Fund is that of
oversight. The internal staff of portfolio managers, research
analysts, and administrative personnel is responsible for the
day-to-day management of the Fund, including risk management in
such aspects as investment performance and investment risk,
valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance
risk, and operational risk. As part of its oversight, the Board has
delegated to the Audit Committee the primary role of overseeing the
assessment and management of risks, including major financial
risks, by the Fund’s management and the steps that management has
taken to monitor and control such risks. The Audit Committee
reports to the Board at least quarterly on its discussions of these
items with management. In addition, the Board, acting at its
regularly scheduled meetings, receives reports from senior
management, including the Fund’s portfolio management team, the
Chief Compliance Officer, and the Chief Financial Officer. Between
Board meetings, the Executive Committee, and/or the Chair of the
Board, and/or the Chairman of the Audit Committee, as appropriate,
interact with the CEO and other senior executives on any matter
requiring action by or notice to the Board. The Board also receives
periodic presentations from senior management regarding specific
operational, compliance, or investment areas, such as business
continuity, personal trading, valuation, investment research, and
securities lending, and receives reports from the Fund’s General
Counsel regarding regulatory, compliance, and governance matters.
The Fund believes that its leadership structure enhances risk
oversight. It should be noted that, in its oversight role, the
Board is not a guarantor of the Fund’s investments or
activities.
Process for Stockholders to Communicate with Board
The Board of Directors has implemented a process for stockholders
of the Fund to send communications to the Board. Any stockholder
desiring to communicate with the Board, or with specific individual
directors, may do so by writing to the Secretary of the Fund at
Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc., 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite
1300, Baltimore, MD 21202, or by sending an email message to the
Secretary at investorrelations@adamsfunds.com.The Secretary has
been instructed by the Board to promptly forward all such
communications to the addressees indicated thereon.
Policy
on Board of Directors’ Attendance at Annual Meetings
The Fund’s policy with regard to attendance by the Board of
Directors at Annual Meetings is that all directors are expected to
attend, absent unusual and extenuating circumstances that prohibit
attendance. All of the directors then serving attended the 2021
Annual Meeting.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Each director and officer of the Fund who is subject to Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and persons who
own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Fund’s
securities are required to report to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) by a specified date his or her
beneficial ownership of or transactions in the Fund’s securities.
Based upon a review of filings with the Commission, such forms
received by the Fund, and written representations that no other
reports are required, the Fund believes that each director and
officer, with one exception, filed all requisite reports with the
Commission on a timely basis during 2021. The Fund had no
greater-than-ten-percent beneficial owners in 2021.
Information as to Other Executive Officers
Set forth below are the names, ages, and positions with the Fund,
as of December 31, 2021, of all executive officers of the Fund
other than those who also serve as directors. Executive officers
serve as such until the election of their successors.
Mr. James P. Haynie, 59, has served as President of the Fund
since January 21, 2015, and before that, served as Executive
Vice President from August 19, 2013 to January 21, 2015. He
also served as the President of ADX from August 19, 2013 to
January 21, 2015 and has served as the Executive Vice
President of ADX since January 21, 2015. Prior to joining the
Fund, he was Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Equities at BNP Paribas
Investment Partners from February - August 2013 and was Senior
Portfolio Manager at BNP Paribas Investment Partners from 2005 to
2013.
Mr. Brian S. Hook, 52, has served as Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Fund and ADX since
March 19, 2013. Prior thereto, he served as Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer of the Fund and ADX from March 20, 2012
to March 19, 2013, as Treasurer of the Fund and ADX from
June 1, 2009 to March 20, 2012, and as Assistant
Treasurer of the Fund and ADX from September 2008 to
June 1, 2009. Prior to joining the Fund, he was a Vice
President and Senior Manager at T. Rowe Price and a business
assurance manager with Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. prior
thereto.
Ms. Janis F. Kerns, 58, has served as Vice President of the Fund
and ADX since April 15, 2021, as the General Counsel, Secretary and
Chief Compliance Officer since July 3, 2018, and as Assistant
General Counsel from January 22, 2018 to July 3, 2018. Prior to
joining the Fund in January 2018, she was Of Counsel in the
Washington, D.C. office of Nelson, Mullins, Riley &
Scarborough, LLP. Previously, Ms. Kerns served for three years on
the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the
Division of Investment Management’s Office of Investment Company
Regulation. Ms. Kerns has more than 26 years of legal and
compliance experience in the investment management industry.
The address for each executive officer is the Fund’s headquarters
office, 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Security
Ownership of Management in the Fund(a)
|
|
|
Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially
Owned(b)(c)
|
|
Name
|
|
James P. Haynie
|
|
|
|
|
26,929 |
|
|
Brian S. Hook
|
|
|
|
|
13,566 |
|
|
Janis F. Kerns
|
|
|
|
|
4,180 |
|
|
(a)
As of December 31, 2021. Share ownership of directors and executive
officers as a group is shown in the table beginning on page 5 and
footnotes thereto.
(b)
To the Fund’s knowledge, each officer had sole investment and sole
voting power with respect to the shares shown opposite his or her
name.
(c)
Calculated on the basis of 24,484,588 shares of Common Stock
outstanding on December 31, 2021, each of the executive officers
listed herein owned less than 1.0% of the Common Stock
outstanding.
Principal Stockholder
At December 31, 2021, the following principal stockholder was
known by the Fund to own beneficially more than five percent of any
class of the Fund’s voting securities.
Title of Class
|
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner
|
|
|
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
|
|
Percent of Class
|
|
Common
Stock |
|
|
Adams Diversified Equity Fund,
Inc.
500 E. Pratt
Street, Suite 1300
Baltimore, Maryland
21202
|
|
|
2,186,774 shares held
directly
|
|
|
8.9%
|
|
Board Meetings and Committees of the Board
The Board held seven regular meetings in 2021. Director attendance
was 100% for each meeting. Dr. Arzac and Dr. Gale are retiring upon
completion of their current terms of service and are not standing
for re-election. Further information about the Board and its
committees is provided below.
Audit Committee
Mr. Dale (Chair), Dr. Arzac, Dr. Gale, Ms. Jammet, and Ms. Musser
Nelson, each of whom is an independent director as such is defined
by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, and none of whom is an
“interested person” as such is defined by the Act, constitute the
membership of the Board’s Audit Committee, which met four times in
2021. Ms. Musser Nelson joined the Board and was appointed to the
Audit Committee on December 9, 2021. The Board has determined each
of Mr. Dale, Dr. Arzac, Ms. Jammet, and Ms. Musser Nelson to be an
audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined in
federal securities regulations. The Board has adopted a written
charter under which the Committee operates. A copy of the Audit
Committee Charter (“Charter”) is available on the Fund’s website:
adamsfunds.com.
Set forth below is the report of the Committee:
Audit Committee Report
The purposes of the Audit Committee are set forth in the
Committee’s written Charter. As provided in the Charter, the role
of the Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in its
oversight on matters relating to accounting, financial reporting,
internal control, auditing, risk assessment and risk management,
regulatory compliance activities, and other matters the Board deems
appropriate. The Committee also selects the Fund’s independent
registered public accounting firm in accordance with the provisions
set out in the Charter. Management, however, is responsible for the
preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Fund’s financial
statements, and for the procedures designed to
assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and
regulations. The independent registered public accounting firm is
responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Committee has reviewed and
discussed the audited financial statements contained in the 2021
Annual Report of the Fund with the Fund’s management and with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), the Fund’s independent
registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Committee has
discussed with PwC the matters required to be discussed pursuant to
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as modified or
supplemented. The Committee has also received from PwC the written
disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding PwC’s
communications with the Committee concerning independence,
considered whether the provision of nonaudit services by PwC is
compatible with maintaining PwC’s independence, and discussed with
PwC its independence.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions with management and PwC
referred to above, and subject to the limitations on the
responsibilities and role of the Committee set forth in the Charter
and discussed above, the Committee recommended to the Board of
Directors, and the Board has approved, that the audited financial
statements be included in the Fund’s 2021 Annual Report for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Respectfully submitted on February 10, 2022, by the members of
the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors:
|
|
|
|
Kenneth J. Dale, Chair
Enrique R. Arzac
Roger W. Gale
Mary Chris Jammet
Jane Musser Nelson
|
|
Compensation Committee
Ms. Kloppenburg (Chair), Mr. Dale, Mr. Escherich, and Dr. Gale
constituted the membership of the Board’s Compensation Committee,
which met two times in 2021. The Committee reviews and recommends
changes in the compensation of the directors, officers, and
employees, including salaries and the cash incentive compensation
plans in which the executive officers, officers and employees of
the Fund are eligible to participate. The Board has adopted a
written charter under which the Compensation Committee operates, a
copy of which is available on the Fund’s website: adamsfunds.com.
Executive Committee
Dr. McGahran (Chair), Mr. Dale, Mr. Escherich, Ms. Kloppenberg, and
Mr. Stoeckle constitute the membership of the Board’s Executive
Committee, which met two times in 2021. The Committee has the
authority of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board
except as limited by law, the Fund’s Bylaws, or Board
resolution.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Mr. Escherich (Chair), Dr. Arzac, Ms. Jammet and Ms. Kloppenburg
constituted the membership of the Board’s Nominating and Governance
Committee, which met five times in 2021. The Board has adopted a
written charter under which the Nominating and Governance Committee
operates, a copy of which is available on the Fund’s website:
adamsfunds.com.
Each of the members of the Committee is an independent director as
such is defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and
none is an “interested person” as such term is defined by the
Act.
Among other responsibilities, the Committee supervises and reviews
Board composition, director nominations, and corporate governance
matters. For director nominations, the Committee leads the search
for qualified director candidates, including canvassing,
recruiting, evaluating and recommending nominees to the full Board.
The Committee has used a third-party search firm to help identify
candidates who may meet the needs of the Board.
Stockholders may recommend candidates for consideration by the
Committee by writing to the Secretary of the Fund at the office of
the Fund, 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore,
MD 21202, giving the candidate’s name, biographical data, and
qualifications, and stating whether the candidate would be an
“interested person” of the Fund. A written statement from the
candidate, consenting to be named as a candidate, and if nominated
and elected, to serve as a director, should accompany any such
recommendation.
The Board appreciates the value of diversity in its membership. In
practice, when evaluating director candidates, the Committee and
the full Board considers the diversity of skills, experience and/or
perspective a prospective nominee would bring to the Board, both
individually and in the context of the Board’s existing membership
at the time such potential candidate is considered.
Transactions with Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.
The Fund shares certain expenses for research, accounting services,
other office services (including proportionate salaries and other
employee benefits), rent and related expenses, and miscellaneous
expenses, such as office supplies, postage, subscriptions, and
travel, with ADX. These expenses were paid by ADX and, on the date
the payment was made, the Fund simultaneously paid to ADX its
allocated share of such expenses, based on either estimated time
spent for each fund, the proportion of the size of the investment
portfolios of the two funds, relative net assets of the two funds
or, where possible, on an actual usage basis, in accordance with
the Fund’s expense allocation policy. In 2021, the funds incurred
$17,596,434 in shared expenses, and ADX’s share of such expenses
was $13,901,250.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
During 2021, each director who is not an interested person, except
for Dr. McGahran, received an annual retainer fee of $65,000. Dr.
McGahran, the Board Chair, received an annual retainer fee of
$85,000. The Chairperson of each committee received an additional
annual retainer fee of $3,000 for that committee. The total amount
of fees paid to independent directors in 2021 was $511,083.
The following table sets forth for each of the persons named below
the aggregate compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021, for services in all
capacities:
Name
|
|
|
Position
|
|
|
Aggregate
Compensation from
the Fund(1)(2)(3)(4)
|
|
|
Total Compensation
from Fund and
Fund Complex
paid to Directors(5)
|
|
Mark E.
Stoeckle |
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer(a) |
|
|
|
$ |
368,140 |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
James P.
Haynie |
|
|
President |
|
|
|
|
239,778 |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Brian S.
Hook |
|
|
Vice-President, CFO, & Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
80,514 |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
Independent
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enrique R.
Arzac* |
|
|
Director
(b)(d) |
|
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
130,000 |
|
|
Kenneth J.
Dale |
|
|
Director(a)(b)(c)
|
|
|
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
136,000 |
|
|
Frederic A.
Escherich |
|
|
Director(a)(c)(d)
|
|
|
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
136,000 |
|
|
Roger W.
Gale* |
|
|
Director
(b)(c) |
|
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
130,000 |
|
|
Mary Chris
Jammet |
|
|
Director (b)(d)
|
|
|
|
|
65,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
130,000 |
|
|
Lauriann C. Kloppenburg
|
|
|
Director(a)(c)(d)
|
|
|
|
|
68,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
136,000 |
|
|
Kathleen T.
McGahran |
|
|
Director
(a) |
|
|
|
|
85,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
170,000 |
|
|
Jane Musser
Nelson |
|
|
Director
(b) |
|
|
|
|
5,417 |
|
|
|
|
|
10,834 |
|
|
*
Dr. Arzac & Dr. Gale are retiring from the Board and are not
standing for re-election.
(1)
Of the amounts shown, direct salaries paid by the Fund to Messrs.
Stoeckle, Haynie, and Hook were $78,313, $55,192, and $38,783,
respectively.
(2)
Of their direct salaries, $4,699, $3,312 and $2,327 were deferred
compensation to Messrs. Stoeckle, Haynie, and Hook, respectively,
under the Fund’s Employee Thrift Plan and the Executive
Nonqualified Supplemental Thrift Plan (see “Employee Thrift Plans”
below). The non-employee directors do not participate in these
Plans.
(3)
Of the amounts shown, $238,500, $152,950, and $33,750 were cash
incentive compensation accrued for Messrs. Stoeckle, Haynie, and
Hook, respectively, in 2021 and paid to them in 2022. These amounts
include $14,310, $9,177, and $2,025 of deferred compensation to
Messrs. Stoeckle, Haynie, and Hook, respectively, under the Fund’s
Employee Thrift Plan and, for Messrs. Stoeckle and Haynie, under
the Executive Nonqualified Supplemental Thrift Plan (see “Employee
Thrift Plans” below).
(4)
Under the Employee Thrift Plans, the Fund makes contributions to
match the contributions made by eligible employees and may, at the
discretion of the Board of Directors, make an additional
contribution. The amounts shown include the Fund’s matching
contributions of $36,949, $21,983 and $4,673 made on behalf of
Messrs. Stoeckle, Haynie, and Hook, respectively, in 2021, and an
additional discretionary contribution of $14,378, $9,653, and
$3,308 made for 2021 on behalf of Messrs. Stoeckle, Haynie, and
Hook, respectively.
(5)
Includes total compensation paid to directors for service on the
boards of investment companies in the Fund Complex, which is
composed of two closed-end investment companies, including the
Fund. Mr. Stoeckle receives no compensation for his services as a
director of the Fund and ADX.
(a)
Member of Executive
Committee
(b)
Member of Audit Committee
(c)
Member of Compensation
Committee
(d)
Member of Nominating and Governance
Committee
2005 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan
In 2005, the Board of Directors adopted and shareholders approved
the Fund’s 2005 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (“2005 Plan”).
Stockholders reapproved the 2005 Plan in 2010, and it expired by
its terms on April 27, 2015. The 2005 Plan was administered by the
Compensation Committee, and awarded grants of restricted and
deferred stock units and dividend equivalents on those units. All
grants under the 2005 Plan vested prior to 2019. Certain restricted
and deferred stock units awarded under the 2005 Plan, for which
payment has been deferred by election of the recipient, remain
outstanding. All deferred and outstanding awards represent rights
to receive Fund stock.
Employee Thrift Plans
Employees of the Fund who have completed six months of service may
defer up to 100% of base salary and cash incentive compensation to
a tax qualified thrift plan (“Thrift Plan”) instead of being paid
currently, and the Fund contributes an amount equal to 100% of each
employee’s contribution (up to 6% of base salary and cash incentive
compensation) but not in excess of the maximum permitted by law
(see footnotes to the Compensation Table set forth on page 14
regarding 2021 contributions for the officers identified therein).
The Fund also has the discretion to contribute annually to each
employee’s thrift plan account an amount of up to 6% of the
employee’s combined base salary and cash incentive compensation
attributable to the prior year’s service with the Fund. All
employee contributions are credited to the employee’s individual
account. Employees may elect that their salary deferral and other
contributions be invested in the common stock of the Fund or ADX,
or a number of mutual funds, or a combination thereof. All of the
Fund’s matching contribution is invested in accordance with the
employee’s investment elections. An employee’s interest in amounts
derived from the Fund’s contributions becomes non-forfeitable upon
completion of 36 months of service or upon death or retirement.
Payments of amounts not withdrawn or forfeited under the Thrift
Plan may be made upon retirement or other termination of
employment.
The Fund also maintains an Executive Nonqualified Supplemental
Thrift Plan for eligible employees of the Fund (the “Nonqualified
Plan”). The purpose of the Nonqualified Plan is to provide deferred
compensation in excess of contribution limits imposed by the
Internal Revenue Code on tax-qualified thrift plans, including the
Thrift Plan described above. In accordance with such limitations,
for 2021, the maximum annual amount that an individual can defer to
the Thrift Plan is $19,500 for those under the age of 50, and
$26,000 for those age 50 and over, and the maximum combined amount
– consisting of both the employee’s contributions and the Fund’s
matching contributions – that can go into the Thrift Plan is
$58,000 per year for those under the age of 50 and $64,500 per year
for those age 50 and over.
The Nonqualified Plan permits an eligible employee to contribute to
the Nonqualified Plan up to the maximum amount of 6% of the
employee’s salary and cash incentive compensation that he or she is
prevented from contributing to the Thrift Plan because of the
Internal Revenue Code’s limitations on annual contributions, and
for the Fund to contribute the 100% matching contribution on that
sum and/or the Fund’s discretionary contribution that would
otherwise be limited by the Internal Revenue Code’s limitations on
annual contributions. The employee’s contributions and the Fund’s
contributions to the Nonqualified Plan are invested in eligible
mutual funds in accordance with the employee’s investment
elections.
Brokerage Commissions
During the past fiscal year, the Fund paid brokerage commissions in
the amount of $140,259 on the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System, and
on swap transactions, substantially all of which were paid to
brokers providing research and other investment services to the
Fund. The average per share commission rate paid by the Fund was
$0.03. No commissions were paid to an affiliated broker.
Portfolio Turnover
The portfolio turnover rate (purchases or sales, whichever is
lower, as a percentage of average portfolio value) for the past
three years has been as follows:
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
20.7%
|
|
|
31.8%
|
|
|
29.5%
|
|
Expense Ratio
The ratio of expenses to the average net assets of the Fund for the
past three years has been as follows:
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
0.88%
|
|
|
1.47%
|
|
|
0.97%
|
|
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders
vote FOR the election of each of the nominees for director.
(2)
RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
As permitted under the Act, the Audit Committee selected
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 100 E. Pratt Street, Suite
2600, Baltimore, MD 21202, an independent registered public
accounting firm, for recommendation to the full Board as the
independent registered public accounting firm to audit the books
and accounts of the Fund for the year ending December 31,
2022. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was the Fund’s principal auditor
during the year 2021. A majority of the members of the Board of
Directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined by the Act)
have approved the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2022.
While not required under the Act, the Audit Committee and the Board
of Directors have determined to submit for stockholder ratification
the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund’s
independent registered public accounting firm for 2022 at the
Annual Meeting. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are
expected to be present at the meeting to make a statement, if they
so desire, and to respond to appropriate questions. The Fund has
been informed that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP does not have any
direct financial or any material indirect financial interest in the
Fund.
Independent Accountant Fees
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees for professional services rendered by the Fund’s
independent registered public accounting firm,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, for the audit of the Fund’s annual
financial statements for 2021 and 2020 were $92,790 and $90,090,
respectively.
Audit-Related Fees
There were no audit-related fees in 2021 or 2020.
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees for professional services rendered to the Fund
by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the review of the Fund’s excise
tax calculations and preparations of federal, state, and excise tax
returns for 2021 and 2020 were $12,730 and $22,360,
respectively.
All Other Fees
Other fees for services rendered to the Fund by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 2021 and 2020 were $634 and $423,
respectively. Fees were related to licenses for technical reference
tools.
The Board’s Audit Committee has considered the provision by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP of the services covered in this
All Other Fees section and
found that they are compatible with maintaining
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s independence.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy
The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and
permissible non-audit services provided by the independent
auditors. In assessing requests for services by the independent
auditors, the Committee considers whether such services are
consistent with the auditor’s independence; whether the independent
auditors are likely to provide the most effective and efficient
service based upon their familiarity with the Fund; and whether the
service could enhance the Fund’s ability to manage or control risk
or improve financial statement audit and review quality. The
Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to its Chair. Any
pre-approvals by the Chair under this delegation are to be reported
to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting. All services
performed for 2021 were pre-approved by the Committee.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends ratification of the
selection of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
(3) OTHER
MATTERS AND ANNUAL REPORT
As of the date of this proxy statement, management knows of no
other business that will come before the meeting. Should other
business be properly brought up, it is intended that proxies in the
accompanying form will be voted thereon in accordance with the
judgment of the person or persons voting such proxies.
The Annual Report of the Fund for the year ended December 31,
2021, including financial statements, is being mailed to all
stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting to be held on April 21, 2022. A copy of the Fund’s
Annual Report will be furnished to other stockholders, without
charge, upon request. You may request a copy by contacting the
Secretary of the Fund at 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300,
Baltimore, MD 21202, by telephoning the Fund at (800) 638-2479, or
by sending an email message to
investorrelations@adamsfunds.com.
Stockholder Proposals or Nominations for 2023 Annual Meeting
Stockholder proposals for inclusion in the proxy statement and form
of proxy relating to the 2023 Annual Meeting must be received at
the office of the Fund, 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore,
MD 21202, no later than October 19, 2022 (5 p.m.).
In addition, for stockholder proposals or director nominations that
a stockholder seeks to bring before the 2023 Annual Meeting, but
does not seek to have included in the Fund’s proxy statement and
form of proxy for that meeting, the following requirements apply:
Pursuant to the Fund’s Bylaws, in order for stockholder proposals
or nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors to
be properly brought before the 2023 Annual Meeting, any such
stockholder proposal or nomination (including in the case of a
nomination, the information required by the Fund’s advance notice
Bylaws provisions) must be received at the office of the Fund no
earlier than September 19, 2022 and no later than
October 19, 2022 (5 p.m.). The Fund’s advance notice Bylaw
requirements are separate from, and in addition to, the
Commission’s requirements (including the timing requirements
described in the preceding paragraph) that a stockholder must meet
in order to have a stockholder proposal included in the proxy
statement.
Should the Fund determine to allow a stockholder proposal that is
received by the Fund after October 19, 2022 (5 p.m.) to be
presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies
in the form accompanying the proxy statement for such meeting will
have discretionary voting authority with respect to such
stockholder proposal.
Signature
of Stockholder Date: Signature of Stockholder Date: Note: Please
sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When
shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as
executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give
full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign
full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title
as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership
name by authorized person. To change the address on your account,
please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the
address space above. Please note that changes to the registered
name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. 1.
Election of Directors: O Kenneth J. Dale O Frederic A. Escherich O
Mary C. Jammet O Lauriann C. Kloppenburg O Kathleen T. McGahran O
Jane Musser Nelson O Mark E. Stoeckle 2. Ratification of the
selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent public
auditors. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote
upon all other business that may properly come before the Meeting
with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally
present. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN FOR ALL NOMINEES WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below)
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to
each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: JOHN SMITH 1234
MAIN STREET APT. 203 NEW YORK, NY 10038 NOMINEES: ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS OF ADAMS NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. April 21, 2022
INTERNET - Access “www.voteproxy.com” and follow the on-screen
instructions or scan the QR code with your smartphone. Have your
proxy card available when you access the web page. TELEPHONE - Call
toll-free 1-800-PROXIES (1-800-776-9437) in the United States or
1-718-921-8500 from foreign countries from any touch-tone telephone
and follow the instructions. Have your proxy card available when
you call. Vote online/phone until 11:59 PM EST the day before the
meeting. MAIL - Sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope
provided as soon as possible. IN PERSON - You may vote your shares
in person by attending the Annual Meeting. GO GREEN - e-Consent
makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly
access your proxy material, statements and other eligible documents
online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today
via www.astfinancial.com to enjoy online access. PROXY VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS Please detach along perforated line and mail in the
envelope provided IF you are not voting via telephone or the
Internet. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS VOTES "FOR ALL
NOMINEES" IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2. x ------------------
---------------- 20730000000000001000 4 042122 COMPANY NUMBER
ACCOUNT NUMBER *Mr. Ober is an "interested person", as defined by
the Investment Company Act of 1940, because he is an officer of the
Corporation. Attend Annual Meeting mark here. Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials for the Meeting: The notice of
annual meeting, proxy statement, form of proxy card, and 2021
Annual Report to stockholders are available on the internet at the
following website:
http://www.astproxyportal.com/ast/13580/
0 ------------------ . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- 14475 ADAMS
NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. PROXY FOR 2022 ANNUAL MEETING THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ADAMS
NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. The undersigned stockholder of Adams
Natural Resources Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Fund”),
hereby appoints James P. Haynie and Janis F. Kerns, or either of
them, as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of
substitution in each of them, to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the offices of the Fund, 500 East
Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 and at any
adjournment or postponement thereof, to cast on behalf of the
undersigned all votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast at
such meeting and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the
meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally
present at the meeting. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt
of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, the terms of
each of which are incorporated by reference, and revokes any proxy
heretofore given with respect to such meeting. The votes entitled
to be cast by the undersigned will be cast as instructed on the
reverse side. If this proxy is executed but no instruction is
given, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be
cast “FOR ALL NOMINEES" in Proposal 1 and "FOR" Proposal 2, as
described in the Proxy Statement. The votes entitled to be cast by
the undersigned will be cast in the discretion of the Proxy holder
on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment or postponement thereof. (over) ADAMS NATURAL
RESOURCES FUND, INC. 1.1
ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS OF ADAMS NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. April 21, 2022
Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Meeting:
The notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, form of proxy card,
and 2021 Annual Report to stockholders are available on the
internet at the following website:
http://www.astproxyportal.com/ast/13580/ Please sign, date and mail
your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible.
Signature of Stockholder Date: Signature of Stockholder Date: Note:
Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy.
When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing
as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please
give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please
sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full
title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in
partnership name by authorized person. To change the address on
your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new
address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the
registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this
method. 1. Election of Directors: O Kenneth J. Dale O Frederic A.
Escherich O Mary C. Jammet O Lauriann C. Kloppenburg O Kathleen T.
McGahran O Jane Musser Nelson O Mark E. Stoeckle 2. Ratification of
the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent public
auditors. In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote
upon all other business that may properly come before the Meeting
with all the powers the undersigned would possess if personally
present. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN FOR ALL NOMINEES WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
FOR ALL NOMINEES FOR ALL EXCEPT (See instructions below)
INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL EXCEPT” and fill in the circle next to
each nominee you wish to withhold, as shown here: NOMINEES: THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS VOTES "FOR ALL NOMINEES" IN PROPOSAL
1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2. x Please detach along perforated line and
mail in the ------------------ e n v e l o p e p r o v i d e d .
---------------- 20730000000000001000 4 042122 *Mr. Ober is an
"interested person", as defined by the Investment Company Act of
1940, because he is an officer of the Corporation. Attend Annual
Meeting mark here. GO GREEN e-Consent makes it easy to go
paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy
material, statements and other eligible documents online, while
reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today via
www.astfinancial.com to enjoy online access.
0 ------------------ . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- 14475 ADAMS
NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. PROXY FOR 2022 ANNUAL MEETING THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ADAMS
NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. The undersigned stockholder of Adams
Natural Resources Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Fund”),
hereby appoints James P. Haynie and Janis F. Kerns, or either of
them, as proxies for the undersigned, with full power of
substitution in each of them, to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the offices of the Fund, 500 East
Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 and at any
adjournment or postponement thereof, to cast on behalf of the
undersigned all votes that the undersigned is entitled to cast at
such meeting and otherwise to represent the undersigned at the
meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned if personally
present at the meeting. The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt
of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, the terms of
each of which are incorporated by reference, and revokes any proxy
heretofore given with respect to such meeting. The votes entitled
to be cast by the undersigned will be cast as instructed on the
reverse side. If this proxy is executed but no instruction is
given, the votes entitled to be cast by the undersigned will be
cast “FOR ALL NOMINEES" in Proposal 1 and "FOR" Proposal 2, as
described in the Proxy Statement. The votes entitled to be cast by
the undersigned will be cast in the discretion of the Proxy holder
on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment or postponement thereof. (over) ADAMS NATURAL
RESOURCES FUND, INC. 1.1
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