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):
☒ | No fee required. |
☐ | 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:
Baltimore, MD 21202
|
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
|
|
stockholders vote FOR Proposals (1) and (2).
|
By order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
Janis F. Kerns
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
|
|
| | | | | 2 | | | |
| | | | | 2 | | | |
| | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | 4 | | | |
| | | | | 5 | | | |
| | | | | 10 | | | |
| | | | | 10 | | | |
| | | | | 10 | | | |
| | | | | 11 | | | |
| | | | | 11 | | | |
| | | | | 12 | | | |
| | | | | 12 | | | |
| | | | | 14 | | | |
| | | | | 14 | | | |
| | | | | 16 | | | |
| | | | | 16 | | | |
| | | | | 16 | | | |
| | | | | 16 | | | |
| | | | | 17 | | | |
| | | | | 17 | | | |
| | | | | 18 | | | |
| | | | | 18 | | |
Baltimore, MD 21202
|
Proxy Statement
|
|
Stockholder Meeting to Be Held On April 17, 2025:
https://proxyvotinginfo.com/p/adamsfunds
|
Structure and Independence
|
| ||||||
| • | | | Independent Chair | | |||
| • | | | Annual Board and committee evaluations | | |||
| • | | | Independent committee membership | | |||
| • | | | Risk and strategy oversight by the full Board and committees | | |||
| • | | | Regular rotation of committee chairs and members | | |||
| • | | | Policy limiting, and oversight of, overboarding | | |||
| • | | | Executive session of independent directors at each regular meeting | |
|
Succession and Diversity
|
| ||||||
| • | | | Mandatory director retirement age (75) | | |||
| • | | | Term limit of 15 years | | |||
| • | | | 3 of 7 directors joined in the last 5 years | | |||
| • | | | 7 of 7 directors with a background in finance or investing | | |||
| • | | | Extensive leadership experience; 5 former or current C-Suite officers | | |||
| • | | | 3 female directors | | |||
| • | | | 3 of 7 directors under 65 years old | |
|
Other Best Practices
|
| ||||||
| • | | | 100% attendance at Board and committee meetings in 2024 | | |||
| • | | | Significant Fund stock ownership requirements for directors and senior executives | | |||
| • | | |
Discussions between the Independent Chair and each director supplement annual Board assessments
|
| |||
| • | | |
Regular director engagement with investment and management teams (open access for directors to all employees)
|
| |||
| • | | | Board and committee autonomy to engage independent advisors in their sole discretion | |
|
Name, Age, Positions with the Fund, Other Principal
Occupations and Other Directorships |
| |
Has
Been a Director Since |
| |
Current Term
Expires |
| |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director or Nominee for Director |
| |
Shares of
Common Stock Beneficially Owned (a)(b)(c) |
| ||||||||||||
| | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nominees for Class I Directors
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independent Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Lauriann C. Kloppenburg, 64, Class I Director.
Retired Chief Strategy 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 a former Executive in Residence at Champlain College and Hughey Center for Financial Services, Bentley University. |
| | | | 2017 | | | | | | 2025 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 8,344 | | |
| Interested Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
James P. Haynie, 62, Class I Director. CEO and
President of the Fund. Currently, also CEO and a Class I Director of ADX(d). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Equities and Global Sector Funds, BNP Paribas Investment Partners. |
| | | | 2023 | | | | | | 2025 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 33,092 | | |
| | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Class II and III Directors
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Independent Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Kenneth J. Dale, 68, Class II Director. Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Associated Press. Formerly, Vice President, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Currently, the Chair of the Board and a Class II Director of ADX(d).
|
| | | | 2008 | | | | | | 2026 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 14,359 | | |
|
Frederic A. Escherich, 72, Class III Director. 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). |
| | | | 2006 | | | | | | 2027 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 15,766 | | |
|
Name, Age, Positions with the Fund, Other Principal
Occupations and Other Directorships |
| |
Has
Been a Director Since |
| |
Current Term
Expires |
| |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director or Nominee for Director |
| |
Shares of
Common Stock Beneficially Owned (a)(b)(c) |
| ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Mary Chris Jammet, 57, Class II Director. Principal
with Bristol Partners LLC. Previously served as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Legg Mason, Inc. (now Franklin Templeton). Currently, a Class II Director of ADX(d), a director of MGM Resorts International and a director of Western Alliance Bancorporation. In addition, within the past five years, Ms. Jammet served as a director of Payless ShoeSource Inc. |
| | | | 2020 | | | | | | 2026 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 10,256 | | |
|
Jane Musser Nelson, 66, Class III Director. Retired
Managing Director, Investments, Cambridge Associates. Currently, a Class III Director of ADX(d). Former director 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. |
| | | | 2021 | | | | | | 2027 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 2,690 | | |
| Interested Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
|
Mark E. Stoeckle, 68, Class III Director. Former CEO of the Fund and of ADX. Currently a Class III Director of ADX(d) and director of Nikko Asset Management, a large multi-national asset manager. Formerly, Chief Investment Officer, U.S. Equities and Global Sector Funds, BNP Paribas Investment Partners.
|
| | | | 2013 | | | | | | 2027 | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 17,152 | | |
|
Directors and executive officers of the Fund as a group.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 101,659 | | |
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
|
|
Jane Musser Nelson
|
| |
$50,000 - $100,000
|
|
Interested Directors
|
| |||
Mark E. Stoeckle
|
| |
greater than $100,000
|
|
James P. Haynie
|
| |
greater than $100,000
|
|
Security Ownership of Management in the Fund(a)
|
| |
Shares of Common
Stock Beneficially Owned(b)(c) |
| |||
Name
|
| ||||||
Gregory W. Buckley
|
| | | | 16,154 | | |
Brian S. Hook
|
| | | | 10,728 | | |
Janis F. Kerns
|
| | | | 6,739 | | |
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
|
| |
2,340,933
|
| |
8.9%
|
|
Common Stock | | |
Saba Capital Management Partners, L.P., et al.
|
| |
2,888,924 (1)
shares held directly and indirectly
|
| |
11.0%(2)
|
|
| | | |
Mary Chris Jammet, Chair
Kenneth J. Dale
Frederic A. Escherich
Lauriann C. Kloppenburg
Jane Musser Nelson
|
|
Name
|
| |
Position
|
| |
Aggregate
Compensation from the Fund(1) |
| |
Total Compensation
from Fund and Fund Complex paid to Directors(2) |
| ||||||
James P. Haynie | | | CEO & President (a) | | | | $ | 430,038 | | | | | | N/A | | |
Gregory W. Buckley | | | Executive Vice President | | | | | 541,129 | | | | | | N/A | | |
Brian S. Hook | | | Vice President & CFO | | | | | 111,992 | | | | | | N/A | | |
Independent Directors | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Kenneth J. Dale | | |
Chair of the Board(a)(b)(c)(d)
|
| | | | 85,000 | | | | | $ | 170,000 | | |
Frederic A. Escherich | | |
Director(a)(b)(c)(d)
|
| | | | 68,000 | | | | | | 136,000 | | |
Mary Chris Jammet | | |
Director (a)(b)(c)(d)
|
| | | | 68,000 | | | | | | 136,000 | | |
Lauriann C. Kloppenburg
|
| |
Director(a)(b)(c)(d)
|
| | | | 68,000 | | | | | | 136,000 | | |
Jane Musser Nelson | | |
Director (b)(c)(d)
|
| | | | 65,000 | | | | | | 130,000 | | |
Interested Director | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mark E. Stoeckle | | | Director | | | | | 65,000 | | | | | | 130,000 | | |
|
2024
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
|
|
20.4%
|
| |
19.8%
|
| |
24.3%
|
|
|
2024
|
| |
2023
|
| |
2022
|
|
|
0.61%
|
| |
0.64%
|
| |
0.56%
|
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
100306_Annual 2025_PEOPO Box 211230, Eagan, MN 55121-9984 VOTE ONLINE 1. Read the proxy statement. 2. Go to: www.proxyvotenow.com/adams2025 3. Follow the simple instructions. VOTE BY PHONE 1. Read the proxy statement and have the proxy card at hand. 2. Call toll-free: 855-672-4278 3. Follow the simple instructions. VOTE BY MAIL 1. Read the proxy statement. 2. Check the appropriate boxes on the reverse side of the proxy card. 3. Sign, date and return the proxy card in the envelope provided ADAMS NATURAL RESOURCES FUND, INC. PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD APRIL 17, 2025 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned stockholder of Adams Natural Resources Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Fund”), hereby appoints Brian S. Hook 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 9:30 a.m., local time, on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Fund’s offices at 500 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1300, Baltimore, MD 21202, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, to cast on behalf of the undersigned at the meeting with all powers possessed by the undersigned as 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. If you have any questions about how to vote your proxy or about the meeting in general, please call toll-free 888-533-8031. Representatives are available to assist you Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern time. CONTROL NUMBER AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE(S) This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. Signature(s) and Title(s), if applicable Sign in the box above Date Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy card. 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 a duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
100306_Annual 2025_PEO Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materialsfor the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 17, 2025. The Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting, a form of the proxy, and the 2024 Annual Report to Stockholdersfor this Meeting are available at https://proxyvotinginfo.com/p/adamsfunds YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN. PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY! YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED. IF YOU ARE NOT VOTING BY PHONE OR INTERNET, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THIS PROXY CARD ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. This proxy issolicited on behalf of the Board of Directors. It will be voted asspecified. If no specification is made,this proxy shall be voted “FOR” the proposals. The Board of Directors has voted in favor of all the proposals and recommends that you vote “FOR” all the proposals. TO VOTE, MARK BOX(ES) BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: 1. To elect two directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2028 and until their successors are duly elected and qualify: FOR ALL WITHHOLD ALL FOR ALL EXCEPT* NOMINEES: (01) Lauriann C. Kloppenburg (02) James P. Haynie *Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark the FOR ALL EXCEPT box and write the nominee(s) number(s) on the line below. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 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, 2025. Transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. Attend Annual Meeting mark here: |