Services for Registered Funds: Mutual Funds, ETFs and Closed-End Funds

We offer asset managers a program of market analysis, strategic advisory, governance guidance, ownership profiling and solicitation campaign planning and execution.

Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions’ deep experience in the space and analytical approach allow us to better understand shareholder sentiment. Utilizing our proprietary analytics, Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions provides fund company clients with strategic insight into their shareholder bases to develop a comprehensive communications strategy to drive positive voting outcomes.

Execution is a key component of our offering. We have the necessary platform and campaign resources to help funds achieve successful shareholder meeting results.

Services

The governance of 1940 Act registered funds is becoming increasingly complicated and challenging – new regulations are introduced, product proliferation is confusing, and shareholder participation continues to decline. Given this backdrop, asset managers and fund boards need an experienced adviser who understands the nuances of product governance and takes a rigorous analytical approach. Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions has deep experience across the three major categories of registered funds – mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end funds. This background, combined with our analytical approach, delivers the best solutions for clients.

Mutual Funds

Assist advisers and their fund boards in planning, targeting and executing mutual fund shareholder meetings using innovative tools such as the “Financial Advisors Program.”

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ETFs

Deep experience with the governance of ETFs understanding the challenges that different ETF beneficial holders (market makers, Authorized Participants (APs), foreign high net worth investors and institutions) present to successfully completing a proxy campaign.

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Closed-End Funds

Understand how activist hedge funds and institutions take advantage of the structure of closed-end funds to make more money for themselves often at the expense of long-term shareholders. Our team has a long track record of winning proxy battles, and engaging activist holders to preempt those situations before they become battles.

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Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions Difference

TEAM

The Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions senior team is comprised of experienced fund advisory, governance and proxy solicitation veterans, all of whom have at least two decades of experience. The team has worked on hundreds of successful campaigns over the years which have helped to formulate our unique approach.

ANALYTICS

The Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions process relies heavily on our proprietary shareholder analysis and profiling analytics. Critical to our approach, we merge historical and predictive analytics to develop a deep understanding of the shareholder voting population looking at both retail and institutional shareholder segments. Our vote projection drives the solicitation process uncovering voting participation hurdles, developing proven solicitation strategies and accurately assessing fees and costs.

STRATEGY

Based on our analytics, we develop a comprehensive solicitation strategy designed to maximize voting from critical segments of the shareholder population. We understand how voting patterns differ from the largest broker dealers to key institutional participants.

EXECUTION

Utilizing a variety of secure tools and resources, we execute the solicitation plan, customizing our approach for each client’s strategy. The “Financial Advisors Program” is one of our proprietary tools to increase retail shareholder participation. We manage all aspects of the process, helping clients efficiently execute campaigns. During these campaigns, the privacy and protection of fund shareholder data is of the utmost concern.

RESCUE SERVICE

Unfortunately, proxy solicitations or closed-end fund proxy fights do not always go as planned. Morrow Sodali Fund Solutions often is hired to help an asset manager that is failing to achieve a favorable vote leading up to a shareholder meeting. We move quickly to understand the shareholder constituencies, determine the best path and engage with the agreed communication strategies to achieve a successful outcome.

OUTCOMES

Being in the trenches for decades, our team has successfully partnered with assets managers and their boards in corporate governance crisis situations. We have weathered storms involving controversial management proposals, complex wide vote initiatives and closed end fund proxy fights. These experiences have built strong relationships and trust with our clients across the industry.