N-CSRS 1 fp0083883-3_ncsrs.htm

As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2023

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number 811-22072

 

NXG Cushing Midstream Energy Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

600 N. Pearl Street, Suite 1205

Dallas, TX 75201
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Mark Rhodes

600 N. Pearl Street, Suite 1205

Dallas, TX 75201
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

214-692-6334

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

 

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

 

Date of reporting period: May 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a) 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2023

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund*

 

As permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports are no longer sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports are made available on the Fund’s website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

 

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge by contacting your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly with the Fund, calling 800-236-4424 to let the Fund know of your request. Your election to receive shareholder reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account.

 

*formerly, The Cushing® MLP & Infrastructure Total Return Fund

 

Investment Adviser

 

NXG Investment Management
600 N Pearl Street
Suite 1205
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 692-6334
(888) 777-2346
www.cushingcef.com
www.nxgim.com

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

   

Shareholder Letter (Unaudited)

1

Hypothetical Growth of a $10,000 Investment (Unaudited)

5

Key Financial Data (Supplemental Information) (Unaudited)

6

Allocation of Portfolio Assets (Unaudited)

7

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

8

Statement of Assets & Liabilities (Unaudited)

11

Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

12

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

13

Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

14

Financial Highlights

15

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

17

Additional Information (Unaudited)

25

Board Approval of Investment Management Agreement (Unaudited)

29

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Shareholder Letter (Unaudited)

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder,

 

For the six month fiscal period ended May 31, 2023 (the “period”), the NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund (the “Fund”) delivered a Net Asset Value Total Return (equal to the change in net asset value (“NAV”) per share plus reinvested cash distributions from underlying Fund investments during the period) of –11.32%, versus a total return of +3.33% for the S&P 500® Index (Total Return) (“S&P 500”). Fn: See index descriptions on page 4 of this report. The Fund’s Share Price Total Return (equal to the change in market price per share plus reinvested cash distributions from underlying Fund Investments paid during the period) was +3.14%, for the period and differs from the Net Asset Value Total Return due to fluctuations in the discount of share price to NAV. The Fund’s shares traded at a 3.94% discount to NAV as of the end of the period, compared to an 17.41% discount at the end of the Fund’s last fiscal year and a 22.36% discount as of May 31, 2022. As measured by the Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (Total Return) (“AMEI”) Fn: See index descriptions on page 4 of this report., the performance of master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) decreased by –7.16% for the period.

 

Changes to the Fund’s Name and Investment Policies

 

Effective April 3, 2023, in connection with the change in the Fund’s name to NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund, the Fund changed its investment policies. Previously, the Fund pursued its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of infrastructure master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and MLP-related investments (collectively, “MLP Investments”). As of April 3, 2023, it is no longer a policy of the Fund to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of MLP Investments. Effective April 3, 2023, the Fund pursues its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of midstream energy investments. The Fund considers midstream energy investments to be investments that offer economic exposure to securities of midstream energy companies, which are companies that provide midstream services in the energy infrastructure sector, including the gathering, transporting, processing, fractionation, storing, refining and distribution of natural resources, such as natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil refined petroleum products, biofuels, carbon sequestration, solar, and wind. The Fund considers a company to be a midstream energy company if at least 50% of its assets, income, sales or profits are committed to, derived from or otherwise related to midstream energy services.

 

Industry Overview and Themes

 

The period began on a high note with strong performance through the month of January, building on the positive momentum experienced in 2022. However, this progress was abruptly disrupted by a regional banking crisis involving the failure of several banks. The Federal Reserve found itself confronted with a challenging situation as it tackled two major issues concurrently: elevated inflation and the restoration of financial stability. Consequently, Jay Powell and the Federal Open Market Committee reassessed the current trajectory of interest rate hikes amid the most extensive and rapid tightening cycle since 1987.

 

Investor sentiment weakened due to escalating instability in the banking sector, the potential for stricter lending conditions, and a deteriorating economic forecast, all of which increased the likelihood of a recession. This bleak outlook triggered a sharp decline in crude oil prices, pushing them below $70 per barrel for several days in mid-March for the first time since 2021. In response to the banking disruption and declining oil prices, OPEC+ announced a supportive production cut, sparking a remarkable recovery in oil prices, pushing West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) higher by over 25% from the March lows by mid-April. This rally, however, eventually succumbed to economic pressures, with crude oil prices ending near their lowest point of the period.

 

1

 

 

The midstream energy sector significantly trailed the S&P 500 Index’s total return of +3.33%. We assert that the underperformance can be linked to oil price volatility and macro events, rather than a deterioration in midstream fundamentals. Indeed, we believe that the case for midstream investment remains compelling despite the underperformance. Even amidst recent challenges, midstream energy companies persisted in reporting resilient and positive free cash flow (FCF), used for debt reduction, dividend/distribution increase, and share repurchases – actions that we believe will provide a unique and non-correlated value driver for shareholders.

 

Fund Performance and Strategy

 

Almost all subsectors contributed negatively to the overall results for the period, with only two subsectors experiencing positive absolute performance, Large Cap Diversified MLPs and Crude Oil & Refined Products.

 

Performance for the Large Cap Diversified MLP subsector was boosted by ONEOK Inc.’s announcement of its plan to acquire Magellan Midstream Partners, LP for a 22% premium to the preceding day’s closing price. This acquisition, the most significant merger and acquisition deal in the midstream sector since 2018, not only enhanced Magellan’s contribution to the benchmark performance but also set in motion price increases among other MLPs. We believe this upward trend was attributable to investors repositioning their portfolios in anticipation of a possible reallocation of passive MLP product fund flows towards remaining MLPs and potential further sector consolidation.

 

These factors contributed to a notable outperformance of midstream MLPs when compared to midstream C-Corps. To provide numerical evidence, the Alerian Midstream Energy Corporation Index (“AMCC”), which represents midstream C-Corps, registered a -12.37% total return for the period. Fn: See index descriptions on page 4 of this report. In contrast, the Alerian MLP Index (“AMZ”) Fn: See index descriptions on page 4 of this report., which tracks midstream MLPs, reported a +0.39% total return and outperformed by 12.76 percentage points for the same period. (Note: These indices are used for informational purposes only. Neither index is a benchmark for the Fund.)

 

The Fund was overweight the Natural Gas Gatherers and Processors subsector, which was the most significant detractor from relative performance during the period. Companies in this subsector exhibit heightened commodity price exposure both directly and indirectly through wellhead economics and production volumes. The commodity price volatility experienced during the period negatively affected these companies.

 

The Renewable YieldCo subsector, where the Fund also had overweight positioning, was the second largest detractor from relative performance. Rising interest rates, supply chain constraints, inflation concerns, and regulatory uncertainty around solar import tariffs generated near-term challenges for holdings in this subsector. Notably, NextEra Energy Partners, LP, a Renewable YieldCo, was the second largest individual detractor from relative performance for the period. We attribute the underperformance to concerns about renewable financing amid a regional banking crisis. However, we consider these fears to be unjustified given NextEra’s strong liquidity position and robust backing from its industry-leading sponsor, NextEra Energy Inc. We believe this support mitigates development risk and ensures a steady stream of renewable development projects, contributing to consistent distribution growth.

 

On an absolute basis, the top contributors in order of greatest contribution to least were: Equitrans Midstream Corp. (NYSE: ETRN); TXO Partners, L.P. (NYSE: TXO); and Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE: PAGP). Equitrans Midstream, having grappled with extended regulatory hurdles concerning its Mountain Valley Pipeline project, benefitted from a potential resolution due to the introduction of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (also known as the debt ceiling bill), at the period’s end. This legislation lays the groundwork for the completion and operational start of the project by the end of 2023. As more details about the debt ceiling bill emerged, the Fund gradually increased its exposure to the company. TXO Partners is a Permian-focused company that was added to the portfolio as it debuted as a new issue during the period. Plains GP Holdings also gained from continued strong execution and increased investor optimism around a robust growth outlook for the Permian Basin, North America’s largest oil basin. All three companies remained in the Fund as of the end of the period.

 

2

 

 

On an absolute basis, the bottom contributors in order of most negative to least negative performance were: Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE: LNG); Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB); and DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM). We believe all three companies were negatively impacted by the precipitous decline in domestic and international natural gas and LNG prices during the period.

 

During the period, we increased the Fund’s exposure to clean energy technology companies. We also incrementally increased the Fund’s exposure to more commodity-sensitive companies positioned closer to the wellhead. However, these additions were selectively made in companies we believe to have integrated value chains, conservative leverage profiles and overly-discounted valuations.

 

At the end of the reporting period, the three largest subsector exposures, in order of size, were: Large Cap Diversified C-Corps; Natural Gas Gatherers & Processors; and Large Cap MLPs.

 

Leverage

 

The Fund’s investment strategy focuses on holding core positions in companies generating stable cash flows and long-term growth prospects. We also work diligently to optimize the use of leverage for additional income and total return potential. This involves leveraging investments when the probabilities of positive total return are deemed to be skewed favorably. As the prices of the Fund’s investment increase or decline, there is a risk that the impact to the Fund’s NAV and total return will be negatively impacted by leverage, but this strategy is designed to have a positive impact over the longer term.

 

Average leverage for the period was 17% of managed assets, which compares to an average 20% leverage ratio in the prior fiscal year.

 

Closing

 

We believe it is possible that we are entering a long period of energy sector outperformance, although rising recession risks, aggressive fiscal tightening from central banks, and recent banking instability remain the biggest impediments to our outlook.

 

Forecasts of declining inventory levels, limited OPEC+ spare capacity, slowing U.S. shale growth, and constrained oil and gas investment could lead to a more structural shortage of commodity supply growth. This may result in supply-demand imbalances as global demand continues to grow, and China, the world’s largest commodity consumer, emerges from its Zero Covid policy.

 

Despite the highest average commodity price environment in a decade, various factors are inhibiting the energy sector’s ability or willingness to respond with higher levels of capital investment. Consequently, we expect a multi-year elevated commodity price cycle as underinvestment becomes increasingly more pronounced. This combination of low levels of capital spending and higher commodity prices has led to high FCF generation, suggesting that energy sector returns are poised to increase.

 

We see a compelling investment opportunity in midstream energy given the convergence of a robust macro energy environment and a reformed midstream energy sector prioritizing positive FCF and shareholder returns, especially in a backdrop of elevated inflation and rising interest rates.

 

We truly appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to help you achieve your investment goals.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Mark Rhodes
Chief Executive Officer

 

3

 

 

The information provided herein represents the opinion of the Fund’s portfolio managers and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, nor investment advice. The opinions expressed are as of the date of this report and are subject to change.

 

The information in this report is not a complete analysis of every aspect of any market, sector, industry, security or the Fund itself. Statements of fact are from sources considered reliable, but the Fund makes no representation or warranty as to their completeness or accuracy. Discussions of specific investments are for illustration only and are not intended as recommendations of individual investments. Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for a complete list of Fund holdings.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return, net asset value and common share market price will fluctuate so that you may have a gain or loss when you sell shares. Since the Fund is a closed-end management investment company, shares of the Fund may trade at a discount or premium from net asset value. This characteristic is separate and distinct from the risk that net asset value could decrease as a result of investment activities and may be a greater risk to investors expecting to sell their shares after a short time. The Fund cannot predict whether shares will trade at, above or below net asset value. The Fund should not be viewed as a vehicle for trading purposes. It is designed primarily for risk-tolerant long-term investors.

 

An investment in the Fund involves risks. Leverage creates risks which may adversely affect returns, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Fund’s common shares. The Fund is nondiversified, meaning it may con- centrate its assets in fewer individual holdings than a diversified fund. Therefore, the Fund is more exposed to individual stock volatility than a diversified fund.

 

The Fund will invest in energy companies, including Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), which concentrate investments in the natural resources sector. Energy companies are subject to certain risks, including, but not limited to the following: fluctuations in the prices of commodities; the highly cyclical nature of the natural resources sector may adversely affect the earnings or operating cash flows of the companies in which the Fund will invest; a significant decrease in the production of energy commodities could reduce the revenue, operating income, operating cash flows of MLPs and other natural resources sector companies and, therefore, their ability to make distributions or pay dividends and a sustained decline in demand for energy commodities could adversely affect the revenues and cash flows of energy companies. Holders of MLP units are subject to certain risks inherent in the structure of MLPs, including tax risks; the limited ability to elect or remove management or the general partner or managing member; limited voting rights and conflicts of interest between the general partner or managing member and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the limited partners or members, on the other hand. Damage to facilities and infrastructure of MLPs may significantly affect the value of an investment and may incur environmental costs and liabilities due to the nature of their business. Investors in MLP funds incur management fees from underlying MLP investments. Small- and mid-cap stocks are often more volatile and less liquid than large-cap stocks. Smaller companies generally face higher risks due to their limited product lines, markets, and financial resources. Funds that invest in bonds are subject to interest-rate risk and can lose principal value when interest rates rise. Bonds are also subject to credit risk, in which the bond issuer may fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner. High yield securities have speculative characteristics and pres- ent a greater risk of loss than higher quality debt securities. These securities can also be subject to greater price volatility. An invest- ment in the Fund will involve tax risks, including, but not limited to: The portion, if any, of a distribution received by the Fund as the holder of an MLP equity security that is offset by the MLP’s tax deductions or losses generally will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the Fund’s tax basis in the MLP equity security, which will cause income or gain to be higher, or losses to be lower, upon the sale of the MLP security by the Fund. Changes in tax laws, regulations or interpretations of those laws or regulations in the future could adversely affect the Fund or the energy companies in which the Fund will invest.

 

The potential tax benefits of investing in MLPs depend on them being treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. If the MLP is deemed to be a corporation then its income would be subject to federal taxation at the entity level, reducing the amount of cash available for distribution to the Fund which could result in a reduction of the Fund’s value.

 

The Fund incurs operating expenses, including advisory fees, as well as leverage costs. Investment returns for the Fund are shown net of fees and expenses.

 

The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks that is frequently used as a general measure of stock market performance. The Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index is a capitalization-weighted index of North American energy infrastructure companies. The Alerian MLP Index is a capitalization-weighted index and is the leading gauge of energy infrastructure Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). The Alerian Midstream Energy Corporation Index is a capitalization-weighted index of North American energy infrastructure corporations. None of these indices includes fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

4

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Hypothetical Growth of a $10,000 Investment (Unaudited)

 

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS

May 31, 2023

1 Year

5 Year

10 Year

NXG Cushing Midstream Energy Fund

-8.79%

3.20%

-4.21%

S&P 500 Index (Total Return)

2.92%

11.01%

11.99%

 

Data for NXG Cushing Midstream Energy Fund (the “Fund”) represents returns based on the change in the Fund’s net asset value assuming the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. These returns differ from the total investment return based on market value of the Fund’s shares due to the difference between the Fund’s net asset value of its shares outstanding (See page 16 for total investment return based on market value). Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

The S&P 500 Index (Total Return) is an unmanaged index of common stocks that is frequently used as a general measure of stock market performance. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of the Fund shares.

 

5

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Key Financial Data (Supplemental Information) (Unaudited)

 

The information presented below regarding Distributable Cash Flow is supplemental non-GAAP financial information, which we believe is meaningful to understanding our operating performance. Supplemental non-GAAP measures should be read in conjunction with our full financial statements.

 

   

Period From
December 1,
2022
through
May 31, 2023

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/22

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/21

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/20

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/19
(a)

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/18
(a)

 

FINANCIAL DATA

                                               

Total income from investments

                                               

Distributions and dividends received, net of foreign taxes withheld

  $ 2,819,657     $ 6,332,521     $ 6,419,908     $ 4,819,519     $ 6,545,077     $ 7,605,948  

Interest

    138,485       136,731       627       133,422       358,546       188,009  

Other

    0       2,418       0       0       300       16,592  

Total income from investments

  $ 2,958,142     $ 6,471,670     $ 6,420,535     $ 4,952,941     $ 6,903,923     $ 7,810,549  

Adviser fee and operating expenses

                                               

Adviser fees, less reimbursement by Adviser

  $ 514,277     $ 1,153,052     $ 1,033,407     $ 708,002     $ 1,066,046     $ 1,232,758  

Operating expenses (b)

    316,792       635,617       584,807       495,171       729,171       547,309  

Interest and dividends

    566,770       728,068       289,809       328,065       1,026,987       1,108,640  

Other

    0       0       0       0       641       0  

Total Adviser fees and operating expenses

  $ 1,397,839     $ 2,516,737     $ 1,908,023     $ 1,531,238     $ 2,822,845     $ 2,888,707  

Distributable Cash Flow (DCF) (c)

  $ 1,560,303     $ 3,954,933     $ 4,512,512     $ 3,421,703     $ 4,081,078     $ 4,921,842  

Distributions paid on common stock

  $ 5,895,155     $ 5,764,151     $ 3,144,083     $ 5,418,435     $ 7,297,290     $ 7,297,290  

Distributions paid on common stock per share

  $ 2.70     $ 2.64     $ 1.44     $ 2.81     $ 4.32     $ 4.32  

Distribution Coverage Ratio

                                               

Before Adviser fee and operating expenses

    0.5x       1.1x       2.0x       0.9x       0.9x       1.1x  

After Adviser fee and operating expenses

    0.3x       0.7x       1.4x       0.6x       0.6x       0.7x  

OTHER FUND DATA (end of period)

                                       

Total Assets, end of period

    92,740,362       122,764,805       115,899,449       73,831,898       99,026,398       103,494,265  

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net of income taxes

    (5,917,843 )     4,027,857       1,484,452       (4,710,675 )     851,190       (2,847,325 )

Short-term borrowings

    17,315,000       7,315,000       33,715,000       13,915,000       28,915,000       26,050,000  

Short-term borrowings as a percent of total assets

    19 %     6 %     29 %     19 %     29 %     25 %

Net Assets, end of period

    76,466,420       93,160,415       80,882,596       59,659,139       69,717,658       76,381,982  

Net Asset Value per common share

  $ 35.02     $ 42.67     $ 37.04     $ 27.32     $ 41.41     $ 45.37  

Market Value per share

  $ 33.63     $ 35.24     $ 31.67     $ 20.40     $ 37.84     $ 38.88  

Market Capitalization

  $ 73,427,439     $ 76,942,699     $ 69,147,993     $ 44,541,176     $ 254,825,988     $ 261,829,662  

Shares Outstanding

    2,183,391       2,183,391       2,183,391       2,183,391       6,734,302       6,734,302  

 

 

(a)

Per share data adjusted for 1:4 reverse stock split completed as of June 12, 2020.

(b)

Excludes expenses related to capital raising.

(c)

“Net Investment Income, before Income Taxes” on the Statement of Operations is adjusted as follows to reconcile to Distributable Cash Flow: increased by the return of capital on MLP distributions.

 

6

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Allocation of Portfolio Assets(1) (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023
(Expressed as a Percentage of Total Investments)

 

Large Cap Diversified C Corps(2)(3)

    29.6 %

Natural Gas Gatherers & Processors(2)(3)

    21.9 %

Large Cap MLP(3)

    11.2 %

Upstream MLPs(3)

    6.7 %

General Parterships(2)

    4.8 %

Utilities(2)(4)

    4.7 %

Short-Term Investments

    3.6 %

Natural Gas Transportation & Storage(2)

    3.6 %

Yield Co(2)(3)

    3.1 %

Refiners(2)

    2.7 %

Solar Power(2)

    2.7 %

Crude Oil & Refined Products(3)(4)

    1.6 %

Solar Energy Equipment(2)

    0.9 %

Solar Equipment (2)

    0.8 %

E&P (2)

    0.8 %

Integrated Oil (2)

    0.8 %

Fuel Cell Vehicles(2)

    0.3 %

Solar Developer(2)

    0.2 %
      100.0 %

 

 

(1)

Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and there is no assurance that the Fund will continue to hold any particular security.

(2)

Common Stock

(3)

Master Limited Partnerships and Related Companies

(4)

Preferred Stock

 

 

 

7

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023

 

Common Stock — 68.4%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

E&P — 1.0%

               

Vital Energy, Inc.(2)

    18,000     $ 746,820  
                 

Fuel Cell Vehicles — 0.4%

               

Plug Power, Inc.(2)

    35,000       291,200  
                 

General Partnerships — 5.7%

               

Enlink Midstream LLC(1)

    450,000       4,392,000  
                 

Integrated Oil — 0.9%

               

Cenovus Energy Inc.(3)

    45,000       719,100  
                 

Large Cap Diversified C Corps — 27.4%

               

Cheniere Energy, Inc.

    34,000       4,752,180  

Kinder Morgan, Inc.(1)

    197,000       3,173,670  

ONEOK, Inc.(1)

    65,000       3,682,900  

Pembina Pipeline Corporation(1)(3)

    110,000       3,329,700  

Williams Companies, Inc.(1)

    210,000       6,018,600  
              20,957,050  

Natural Gas Gatherers & Processors — 14.9%

               

Antero Midstream Corporation

    150,000       1,531,500  

DT Midstream, Inc.

    59,000       2,682,140  

Targa Resources Corporation(1)

    105,000       7,145,250  
              11,358,890  

Natural Gas Transportation & Storage — 4.3%

               

Equitrans Midstream Corporation

    310,000       2,644,300  

Excelerate Energy, Inc.

    36,000       668,160  
              3,312,460  

Refiners — 3.3%

               

Marathon Petroleum Corporation(1)

    24,000       2,517,840  
                 

Solar Developer — 0.2%

               

Azure Power Global Ltd.(1)(2)(3)

    73,382       182,721  
                 

Solar Energy Equipment — 1.1%

               

Enphase Energy, Inc.(2)

    3,000       521,640  

Sunrun, Inc.(1)(2)

    17,000       299,880  
              821,520  

Solar Equipment — 1.0%

               

Array Technlologies Inc.(2)

    34,000       753,780  
                 

Solar Power — 3.3%

               

First Solar, Inc.(2)

    6,000       1,217,760  

FTC Solar, Inc.(2)

    107,000       295,320  

Stem, Inc.(2)

    120,000       662,400  

Sunnova Energy International, Inc.(2)

    18,000       317,880  
              2,493,360  

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

8

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023 — (Continued)

 

Common Stock — 68.4% (Continued)

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

Utilities — 3.1%

               

NextEra Energy, Inc.(1)

    32,000     $ 2,350,720  
                 

YieldCo — 1.8%

               

Clearway Energy, Inc.(1)

    49,000       1,407,770  

Total Common Stocks (Cost $57,842,591)

          $ 52,305,231  
                 

MLP Investments and Related Companies — 44.8%

 

Units

   

 

 

Crude Oil & Refined Products — 1.2%

               

Genesis Energy L.P.

    100,000     $ 965,000  
                 

Large Cap Diversified C Corps — 8.3%

               

Plains GP Holdings, L.P.(1)

    470,000       6,392,000  
                 

Large Cap MLP — 13.6%

               

Energy Transfer, L.P.(1)

    593,000       7,353,200  

MPLX, L.P.(1)

    91,000       3,033,940  
              10,387,140  

Natural Gas Gatherers & Processors — 11.6%

               

Crestwood Equity Partners, L.P.(1)

    101,765       2,611,290  

Hess Midstream, L.P.(1)

    140,000       3,904,600  

Western Midstream Partners, L.P.(1)

    92,000       2,322,080  
              8,837,970  

Upstream MLPs — 8.1%

               

TXO Energy Partners, L.P.

    154,000       3,306,380  

Viper Energy Partners, L.P.

    111,700       2,879,626  
              6,186,006  

YieldCo — 2.0%

               

NextEra Energy Partners, L.P.(1)

    25,000       1,498,000  

Total MLP Investments and Related Companies (Cost $34,589,078)

          $ 34,266,116  
                 

Preferred Stock — 3.3%

 

 

   

 

 

Crude Oil & Refined Products — 0.6%

               

NGL Energy Partners, L.P.(1)(2)

    20,313     $ 472,175  
                 

Utilities — 2.7%

               

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.(1)

    81,000       2,020,140  

Total Preferred Stock (Cost $2,549,836)

          $ 2,492,315  
                 

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

9

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023 — (Continued)

 

Short-Term Investments - Investment Companies — 4.4%

 

Shares

   

Fair Value

 

First American Government Obligations Fund — Class X, 4.97%(4)

    1,680,200     $ 1,680,199  

First American Treasury Obligations Fund — Class X, 5.01%(4)

    1,680,199       1,680,199  

Total Short-Term Investments — Investment Companies (Cost $3,360,398)

          $ 3,360,398  

Total Investments — 120.9% (Cost $98,341,903)

          $ 92,424,060  

Liabiliities in Excess of Other Assets — (20.9)%

            (15,957,640 )

Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders — 100.0%

          $ 76,466,420  

 

 

(1)

All or a portion of these securities are held as collateral pursuant to the loan agreements.

(2)

No distribution or dividend was made during the period ended May 31, 2023. As such, it is classified as a non-income producing security as of May 31, 2023.

(3)

Foreign issued security. Foreign concentration is as follows: Canada 5.29%, Mauritius 0.24%.

(4)

Rate reported is the current yield as of May 31, 2023.

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

10

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Statement of Assets & Liabilities (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023

 

Assets

       

Investments, at fair value (cost $98,341,903)

  $ 92,424,060  

Distributions and dividends receivable

    130,449  

Interest receivable

    76,903  

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

    108,950  

Total assets

    92,740,362  

Liabilities

       

Short-term borrowings

    13,315,000  

Payable for investments purchased

    2,739,105  

Payable to Adviser, net of waiver

    80,430  

Distributions and dividends payable

    8,066  

Accrued interest expense

    2,291  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    129,050  

Total liabilities

    16,273,942  

Net assets applicable to common stockholders

  $ 76,466,420  

Components of Net Assets

       

Capital stock, $0.001 par value; 2,183,391 shares issued and outstanding (unlimited shares authorized)

    2,183  

Additional paid-in capital

    91,302,544  

Accumulated net losses

    (14,838,307 )

Net assets applicable to common stockholders

  $ 76,466,420  

Net asset value per common share outstanding

  $ 35.02  

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

11

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Statement of Operations (Unaudited)

Period from December 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023

 

Investment Income

       

Distributions and dividends received, net of foreign taxes withheld of $40,878

  $ 2,819,657  

Less: return of capital on distributions

    (1,502,356 )

Distribution and dividend income

    1,317,301  

Interest income

    138,485  

Total Investment Income

    1,455,786  

Expenses

       

Adviser fees

    642,846  

Professional fees

    103,088  

Trustees’ fees

    62,186  

Administrator fees

    55,704  

Reports to stockholders

    25,595  

Fund accounting fees

    20,826  

Insurance expense

    17,543  

Transfer agent fees

    14,150  

Registration fees

    13,200  

Custodian fees and expenses

    4,500  

Total Expenses before Interest

    959,638  

Interest expense

    566,770  

Total Expenses

    1,526,408  

Less: expense waived by Adviser

    (128,569 )

Net Expenses

    1,397,839  

Net Investment Income

    57,947  

Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

       

Net realized loss on investments

    (911,496 )

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

    (9,945,291 )

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments

    (10,856,787 )

Net Decrease in Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders Resulting from Operations

  $ (10,798,840 )

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

12

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

   

Period from
December 1,
2022
through
May 31, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2022

 

Operations

               

Net investment income (loss)

  $ 57,947     $ (288,426 )

Net realized gain (loss) on investments and options

    (911,496 )     15,789,637  

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments and options

    (9,945,291 )     2,540,759  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common stockholders resulting from operations

    (10,798,840 )     18,041,970  

Distribution and Dividends to Common Stockholders

               

Distributable earnings

          (1,601,090 )

Return of capital

    (5,895,155 )     (4,163,061 )

Total distributions and dividends to common stockholders

    (5,895,155 )     (5,764,151 )

Total increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common stockholders

    (16,693,995 )     12,277,819  

Net Assets

               

Beginning of period

    93,160,415       80,882,596  

End of period

  $ 76,466,420     $ 93,160,415  

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

13

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Period from December 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

       

Net Decrease in Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders Resulting from Operations

  $ (10,798,840 )

Adjustments to reconcile decrease in the net assets applicable to common stockholders resulting from operations to net cash used in operating activities

       

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments

    9,945,291  

Purchases of investments

    (70,992,870 )

Proceeds from sales of investments

    69,212,767  

Return of capital on distributions

    1,502,356  

Net realized loss on sales of investments

    911,496  

Net sales of short-term investments

    19,425,754  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

       

Distributions and dividends receivable

    63,259  

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

    33,293  

Distributions and dividends payable

    1,900  

Payable to Adviser, net of waiver

    (18,130 )

Payable for investments purchased

    2,739,105  

Due to custodian

    (22,000,000 )

Accrued interest expense

    (14,902 )

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    (38,421 )

Net cash used in operating activities

    (104,845 )

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

       

Proceeds from borrowing facility

    20,000,000  

Repayment of borrowing facility

    (14,000,000 )

Distributions and dividends paid to common stockholders

    (5,895,155 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    104,845  

CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:

       

Beginning of period

     

End of period

  $  

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW AND NON-CASH INFORMATION

       

Interest Paid

  $ 581,672  

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

14

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Financial Highlights

 

   

Period from
December 1,
2022
through
May 31, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2022

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2021

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2020

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2019
(1)

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2018
(1)

 

Per Common Share Data (2)

                                               

Net Asset Value, beginning of period

  $ 42.67     $ 37.04     $ 27.32     $ 41.40     $ 45.36     $ 48.12  

Income from Investment Operations:

                                               

Net investment income (loss)

    0.03       (0.13 )     (0.03 )     (6.67 )     (0.48 )     (0.16 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

    (4.98 )     8.40       11.19       (4.60 )     0.84       1.72  

Total increase (decrease) from investment operations

    (4.95 )     8.27       11.16       (11.27 )     0.36       1.56  

Less Distributions and Dividends to Common Stockholders:

                                               

Net investment income

          (0.73 )     (0.44 )     (2.81 )     (4.32 )     (0.04 )

Return of capital

    (2.70 )     (1.91 )     (1.00 )                 (4.28 )

Total distributions and dividends to common stockholders

    (2.70 )     (2.64 )     (1.44 )     (2.81 )     (4.32 )     (4.32 )

Net Asset Value, end of period

  $ 35.02     $ 42.67     $ 37.04     $ 27.32     $ 41.40     $ 45.36  

Per common share fair value, end of period

  $ 33.63     $ 35.24     $ 31.67     $ 20.40     $ 37.84     $ 38.88  

Total Investment Return Based on Fair Value (3)

    3.14 %     20.17 %     63.55 %     (38.76 )%     8.51 %     (0.58 )%

Supplemental Data and Ratios

                                               

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

15

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Financial Highlights — (Continued)

 

   

Period from
December 1,
2022
through
May 31, 2023
(Unaudited)

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2022

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2021

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2020

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2019
(1)

   

Fiscal Year
Ended
November 30,
2018
(1)

 

Net assets applicable to common stockholders, end of period (000’s)

  $ 76,466     $ 93,160     $ 80,883     $ 59,659     $ 69,718     $ 76,382  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waiver (4)

    3.36 %     2.88 %     2.47 %     2.81 %     3.73 %     3.35 %

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets before waiver

    (0.17 %)     (0.66 %)     (0.41 %)     (0.74 )%     (1.40 )%     (0.63 )%

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets after waiver

    0.14 %     (0.33 %)     (0.07 %)     (0.42 )%     (1.05 )%     (0.27 )%

Portfolio turnover rate

    71.49 %(5)     142.52 %     114.06 %     77.57 %     44.67 %     95.57 %

Total borrowings outstanding (in thousands)

  $ 13,315     $ 7,315     $ 33,715     $ 13,915     $ 28,915     $ 26,050  

Asset coverage, per $1,000 of indebtedness(6)

  $ 6,743     $ 13,736     $ 3,399     $ 5,287     $ 3,411     $ 3,932  

 

 

(1)

Per share data adjusted for 1:4 reverse stock split completed as of June 12, 2020.

(2)

Information presented relates to a share of common stock outstanding for the entire period.

(3)

Not annualized. The calculation assumes reinvestment of dividends at actual prices pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions.

(4)

The ratio of expenses to average net assets before waiver was 3.67%, 3.21%, 2.80%, 3.13%, 4.08%, and 3.71% for the period ended May 31, 2023 and fiscal years ended November 30, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

(5)

Not annualized.

(6)

Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (not including borrowings) from the Fund’s total assets and dividing by the total borrowings.

 

See Accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

16

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023

 

1. Organization

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund (formerly, The Cushing® MLP & Infrastructure Total Return Fund) (the “Fund”) was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on May 23, 2007, and is a non-diversified, closed-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund is managed by Cushing® Asset Management, LP, d/b/a NXG Investment Management (the “Adviser”). The Fund’s investment objective is to obtain a high after-tax total return from a combination of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund commenced operations on August 27, 2007. The Fund’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SRV.”

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

A. Use of Estimates

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies, consistently followed by the Fund in preparation of the financial statements. The Fund is considered an investment company and accordingly, follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946, Financial Services — Investment Companies, which is part of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, recognition of distribution income and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

B. Investment Valuation

 

The Board of Trustees has designated the Adviser as the “valuation designee” for the Fund pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act. The valuation designee is responsible for making fair value determinations pursuant to valuation policies and procedures adopted by the Adviser and the Fund (the “Valuation Policy”). A committee of voting members comprised of senior personnel of the Adviser considers various pricing issues and establishes fair valuations of portfolio securities and other instruments held by the Fund in accordance with the Valuation Policy (the “Valuation Committee”). The Adviser as valuation designee is subject to monitoring and oversight by the Board of Trustees. 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. The Valuation Committee may consult with and receive input from third parties and will utilize a variety of market data including yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity, rating, indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, spread over U.S. Treasury obligations, and other information and analysis. In addition, the Valuation Committee may consider valuations provided by valuation firms retained to assist in the valuation of certain of the Fund’s investments. Fair valuation involves subjective judgments. While the Fund’s use of fair valuation is intended to result in calculation of net asset value that fairly reflects values of the Fund’s portfolio securities as of the time of pricing, the Fund cannot guarantee that any fair valuation will, in fact, approximate the amount the Fund would actually realize upon the sale of the securities in question. 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.

 

17

 

 

The valuation designee uses the following valuation methods to determine fair value as either fair value for investments for which market quotations are available, or if not available, the fair value, as determined in good faith pursuant to the Valuation Policy. The valuation of the portfolio securities of the Fund currently includes the following processes:

 

(i)    The market value of each security listed or traded on any recognized securities exchange or automated quotation system will be the last reported sale price at the relevant valuation date on the composite tape or on the principal exchange on which such security is traded except those listed on the NASDAQ Global Market®, NASDAQ Global Select Market® and the NASDAQ Capital Market® exchanges (collectively, “NASDAQ”). Securities traded on NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If no sale is reported on that date, the security will be valued at the last reported bid price. If the Valuation Committee (the “Committee”) determines that price is not representative of the actual market price, the Committee may determine the fair value of the security.

 

(ii)    Securities not traded on a U.S. exchange or NASDAQ and foreign securities that are traded on foreign exchanges whose operations are similar to the U.S. over-the-counter market will be valued at prices supplied by a pricing service. If the Committee determines that price is not representative of the actual market price, the Committee may determine the fair value of the security.

 

(iii)    Debt securities will be valued based on evaluated mean prices by an outside pricing service that employs a pricing model that takes into account bids, yield spreads, and/or other market data and specific security characteristics (e.g., credit quality, maturity and coupon rate). If a price cannot be obtained from pricing services, quotes from market makers or brokers may be used. When possible, more than one market maker or broker should be utilized and the mean of bid and ask prices should be used.

 

(iv)    Private Placements in Public Entities (“PIPES”) will be valued using the price of the publicly traded common stock as a baseline, deducting the discount realized on the original purchase and amortizing the difference over the restricted period.

 

(v)    Listed options on debt or equity securities are valued at the last sale price or, if there are no trades for the day, the mean of the closing bid price and ask price. Unlisted options on debt or equity securities are valued based upon their composite bid prices if held long, or their composite ask prices if held short. Futures are valued at the settlement price. Premiums for the sale of options written by an investment company registered under the 1940 Act (a “Registered Fund”) will be included in the assets of such Registered Fund, and the market value of such options will be included as a liability.

 

(vi)    For valuation purposes, quotations of foreign portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated in foreign currency are as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange each day the Exchange is open for trading (or earlier as may be specified by the Registered Fund) and translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the current prevailing market rates as quoted by a pricing service.

 

(vii) Foreign securities are valued using “fair value factors”. Fair value factors consider daily trade activity and price changes for depositary receipts, exchange-traded funds, index futures, foreign currency exchange activity, or other relevant market data.

 

(viii) Over-the-counter options on foreign securities and currencies are fair valued by obtaining the “last available bid” from a single dealer that is either the writer or purchaser of the option.

 

(ix)    Swaps will be valued using market-based prices provided by pricing services or broker-dealer bid counterparty quotations.

 

18

 

 

(x)    Whenever trading in a listed security held in a portfolio is temporarily suspended, halted or delisted from an exchange, the security may be priced using the last closing price for a period of up to 5 business days. The Committee will continue to monitor the security during this period and, if there is a belief that the last closing price does not reflect the fair value of such security, then the value of such security will be determined by the Committee based on factors the Committee deems relevant. Whenever any such valuation determination is made, the Committee will monitor the market and other sources of information available to it in order to ascertain whether any change in circumstance would suggest a change in the value so determined.

 

The Fund may engage in short sale transactions. For financial statement purposes, an amount equal to the settlement amount, if any, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the fair value of the short positions. Subsequent fluctuations in market prices of securities sold short may require purchasing the securities at prices which may differ from the fair value reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale. A gain, limited to the price at which the Fund sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited in size, will be recognized under the termination of a short sale. The Fund is also subject to the risk that it may be unable to reacquire a security to terminate a short position except at a price substantially in excess of the last quoted price. The Fund is liable for any distributions and dividends (collectively referred to as “Distributions”) paid on securities sold short and such amounts, if any, are reflected as a Distribution expense in the Statement of Operations. The Fund’s obligation to replace the borrowed security is secured by collateral deposited with the broker-dealer. The Fund also is required to segregate similar collateral to the extent, if any, necessary so that the value of both collateral amounts in the aggregate is at all times equal to at least 100% of the fair value of the securities sold short. The Fund did not participate in short selling activities for the period ended May 31, 2023.

 

C. Security Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses

 

Security transactions are accounted for on the date securities are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses are reported on a high cost basis. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received from the Fund’s investments in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) generally are comprised of ordinary income, capital gains and return of capital from the MLPs. The Fund records investment income on the ex-date of the distributions. For financial statement purposes, the Fund uses return of capital and income estimates to allocate the distribution income received. Such estimates are based on historical information available from each MLP and other industry sources. These estimates may subsequently be revised based on information received from the MLPs after their tax reporting periods are concluded, as the actual character of these distributions is not known until after the fiscal year end of the Fund.

 

The Fund estimates the allocation of investment income and return of capital for the distributions received from its portfolio investments within the Statement of Operations. For the period ended May 31, 2023, the Fund has estimated approximately 53% of the distributions received from its portfolio investments to be return of capital.

 

Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis.

 

D. Distributions to Shareholders

 

Distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The character of distributions to common shareholders made during the year may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. The Fund’s distributions may include a return of capital to shareholders to the extent that distributions are in excess of the Fund’s net investment income and net capital gains, determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. Distributions that are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a return of capital will reduce each shareholder’s basis in his or her shares and, to the extent the return of capital exceeds such basis, will be treated as a gain to the shareholder from a sale of shares. Returns of shareholder capital may have the effect of reducing the Fund’s assets and increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. For the fiscal

 

19

 

 

year ended November 30, 2022, the Fund’s distributions were 28%, or $1,601,090, ordinary income, and 72%, or $4,163,061, return of capital.1 The final character of distributions paid for the period ended May 31, 2023 will be determined in early 2024.

 

E. Federal Income Taxation

 

The Fund intends to qualify each year for special tax treatment afforded to a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”). In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, satisfy income, asset diversification and distribution requirements. As long as it so qualifies, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent that it distributes annually its investment company taxable income (which includes ordinary income and the excess of net short- term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and its “net capital gain” (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). The Fund intends to distribute at least annually substantially all of such income and gain. If the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the retained amount at regular corporate tax rates. In addition, if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on all of its income and gains at regular corporate tax rates.

 

The Fund recognizes in the financial statements the impact of a tax position, if that position is more-likely- than-not to be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. Tax benefits resulting from such a position are measured as the amount that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood on a cumulative basis to be sustained on examination.

 

F. Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Fund considers all highly liquid investments purchased with initial maturity equal to or less than three months to be cash equivalents.

 

G. Cash Flow Information

 

The Fund makes distributions from investments, which include the amount received as cash distributions from MLPs, common stock dividends and interest payments. These activities are reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and additional information on cash receipts and payments is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

H. Indemnification

 

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide general indemnification to other parties. The Fund’s maximum exposure under such indemnification arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred and may not occur. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

 

I. Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Fund provides disclosure regarding derivatives and hedging activity to allow investors to understand how and why the Fund uses derivatives, how derivatives are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect the Fund’s results of operations and financial position.

 

 

1

For the period ended May 31, 2023, the Fund’s distributions are expected to be 100%, or $5,895,155, return of capital.

 

20

 

 

The Fund occasionally purchases and sells (“writes”) put and call equity options as a source of potential protection against a broad market decline. A purchaser of a put option has the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying instrument at an agreed upon price (“strike price”) to the option seller. A purchaser of a call option has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the underlying instrument at the strike price from the option seller. Options are settled for cash.

 

Purchased Options — Premiums paid by the Fund for purchased options are included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an investment. The option is adjusted daily to reflect the fair value of the option and any change in fair value is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation of investments. If the option is allowed to expire, the Fund will lose the entire premium paid and record a realized loss for the premium amount. Premiums paid for purchased options which are exercised or closed are added to the amounts paid or offset against the proceeds on the underlying investment transaction to determine the realized gain/loss or cost basis of the security.

 

Written Options — Premiums received by the Fund for written options are included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The amount of the liability is adjusted daily to reflect the fair value of the written option and any change in fair value is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation of options. Premiums received from written options that expire are treated as realized gains. The Fund records a realized gain or loss on written options based on whether the cost of the closing transaction exceeds the premium received. If a call option is exercised by the option buyer, the premium received by the Fund is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security to the option buyer and compared to the cost of the closing transaction to determine whether there has been a realized gain or loss. If a put option is exercised by an option buyer, the premium received by the option seller reduces the cost basis of the purchased security.

 

Written uncovered call options subject the Fund to unlimited risk of loss. Written covered call options limit the upside potential of a security above the strike price. Put options written subject the Fund to risk of loss if the value of the security declines below the exercise price minus the put premium.

 

The Fund is not subject to credit risk on written options as the counterparty has already performed its obligation by paying the premium at the inception of the contract.

 

The Fund has adopted the disclosure provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). ASC 815 requires enhanced disclosures about the Fund’s use of and accounting for derivative instruments and the effect of derivative instruments on the Fund’s results of operations and financial position. Tabular disclosure regarding derivative fair value and gain/ loss by contract type (e.g., interest rate contracts, foreign exchange contracts, credit contracts, etc.) is required and derivatives accounted for as hedging instruments under ASC 815 must be disclosed separately from those that do not qualify for hedge accounting. Even though the Fund may use derivatives in an attempt to achieve an economic hedge, the Fund’s derivatives are not accounted for as hedging instruments under ASC 815 because investment companies account for their derivatives at fair value and record any changes in fair value in current period earnings.

 

There were no transactions in purchased options or written options during the period ended May 31, 2023.

 

J. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in the ASU provides optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank- offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. The ASU is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this ASU.

 

21

 

 

3. Concentrations of Risk

 

The Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of midstream energy investments. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to more risks than if they were more broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. General changes in market sentiment towards companies in the sectors in which they invest may adversely affect the Fund, and the performance of such sectors may lag behind the broader market as a whole.

 

The Fund is also subject to MLP structure risk. Holders of MLP units are subject to certain risks inherent in the structure of MLPs, including (i) tax risks, (ii) the limited ability to elect or remove management or the general partner or managing member, (iii) limited voting rights, except with respect to extraordinary transactions, and (iv) conflicts of interest between the general partner or managing member and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the limited partners or members, on the other hand, including those arising from incentive distribution payments or corporate opportunities.

 

4. Agreements and Related Party Transactions

 

The Fund has entered into an Investment Management Agreement with the Adviser (the “Agreement”). Under the terms of the Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee, payable at the end of each calendar month, at an annual rate equal to 1.25% of the average weekly value of the Fund’s Managed Assets during such month for the services and facilities provided by the Adviser to the Fund. “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus all accrued expenses incurred in the normal course of operations other than liabilities or obligations attributable to investment leverage, including, without limitation, investment leverage obtained through (i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt securities), (ii) the issuance of shares of preferred stock or other similar preference securities and/or (iii) the reinvestment of collateral received for securities loaned in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. Effective on May 23, 2023, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved a waiver of the advisory fees to be paid to the Adviser in the amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. The Adviser earned $642,846 and waived $128,569 in advisory fees for the period ended May 31, 2023. The Adviser will not recoup any of the waived expenses from the Fund.

 

The Fund has engaged U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, d/b/a U.S. Bancorp Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”) to serve as the Fund’s administrator. The Fund pays the administrator a monthly fee computed at an annual rate of 0.08% of the first $100,000,000 of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.05% on the next $200,000,000 of average daily net assets and 0.04% on the balance of the Fund’s average daily net assets, with a minimum annual fee of $45,000.

 

Fund Services serves as the Fund’s transfer agent, dividend paying agent, and agent for the automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

 

U.S. Bank, N.A. serves as the Fund’s custodian. The Fund pays the custodian a monthly fee computed at an annual rate of 0.004% of the Fund’s average daily market value, with a minimum annual fee of $4,800.

 

Fees paid to trustees for their services to the Fund are reflected as Trustees’ fees on the Statement of Operations.

 

5. Income Taxes

 

It is the Fund’s intention to continue to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the IRC and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in its financial statements.

 

The amount and character of income and capital gain distributions to be paid, if any, are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These differences are primarily due to differences in the timing of recognition of gains or losses on investments. Permanent book and tax basis differences resulted in the reclassifications of $1,501,693 to additional paid-in capital and $1,501,693 from accumulated net losses.

 

22

 

 

The following information is provided on a tax basis as of November 30, 2022:

 

Cost of investments

  $ 115,438,444  

Gross unrealized appreciation

    12,426,130  

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (5,438,121 )

Net unrealized appreciation

    6,988,009  

Undistributed ordinary income

     

Undistributed long-term gains

     

Other accumulated losses

    (11,027,476 )

Accumulated net losses

  $ (4,039,467 )

 

As of November 30, 2022, for federal income tax purposes, capital loss carryforwards of $11,027,476 were available as shown in the table below, to the extent provided by the Internal Revenue Code, to offset future realized capital gains through the years indicated.

 

Fiscal year ended capital losses

 

Amount

   

Expiration

 

November 30, 2020

  $ 11,027,476       Annual Limit*  

Total

  $ 11,027,476          

 

 

*

Losses acquired from The Cushing Energy Income Fund are subject to Sec. 382 annual limits of $188,142.

 

The Fund utilized $1,328,699 of capital loss carryforward during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022. Capital loss carryforwards of $996,623 expired during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022.

 

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on U.S. tax returns and state tax returns filed since inception of the Fund. No income tax returns are currently under examination. All tax years beginning with November 30, 2019 remain subject to examination by the tax authorities in the United States. Due to the nature of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be required to file income tax returns in several states. The Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next 12 months.

 

6. Fair Value Measurements

 

Various inputs that are used in determining the fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

 

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

 

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

23

 

 

These inputs are summarized in the three levels listed below.

 

           

Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using

 

Description

 

Fair Value at
May 31, 2023

   

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)

   

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

   

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

Assets

                               

Equity Securities

                               

Common Stock(a)

  $ 52,305,231     $ 52,305,231     $     $  

Master Limited Partnerships and Related Companies(a)

    34,266,116       34,266,116              

Preferred Stock(a)

    2,492,315       2,020,140       472,175        

Total Equity Securities

    89,063,662       88,591,487       472,175        

Other

                               

Short-Term Investments(a)

    3,360,398       3,360,398              

Total Assets

  $ 92,424,060     $ 91,951,885     $ 472,175     $  

 

 

(a)

All other industry classifications are identified in the Schedule of Investments. The Fund did not hold Level 3 investments at any time during the period ended May 31, 2023.

 

7. Investment Transactions

 

For the period ended May 31, 2023, the Fund purchased (at cost) and sold securities (proceeds) in the amount of $70,992,870 and $69,212,767 (excluding short-term securities), respectively.

 

8. Common Shares

 

The Fund had unlimited common shares of beneficial interest authorized and 2,183,391 shares outstanding as of May 31, 2023. Transactions in common shares for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022 and period ended May 31, 2023 were as follows:

 

Shares at November 30, 2021

    2,183,391  

Shares at November 30, 2022

    2,183,391  

Shares at May 31, 2023

    2,183,391  

 

9. Borrowing Facilities

 

The Fund maintains a margin account arrangement with ScotiabankTM. The interest rate charged on margin borrowing is tied to the cost of funds for ScotiabankTM (which approximates LIBOR plus 1.00%). Proceeds from the margin account arrangement are used to execute the Fund’s investment objective.

 

The average principal balance and interest rate for the period during which the credit facilities were utilized during the period ended May 31, 2023 was $19,656,000 and 5.71%, respectively. As of May 31, 2023, the principal balance outstanding was $13,315,000 and accrued interest expense was $90,627.

 

10. Subsequent Events

 

Subsequent to May 31, 2023, the Fund declared monthly distributions to common shareholders in the amounts of $0.4500 per share, payable on June 30 and July 31, 2023, to shareholders of record on June 15 and July 18, 2023, respectively.

 

There were no additional subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued that would require adjustments to or additional disclosure in these financial statements.

 

24

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Additional Information (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023

 

Changes to the Fund’s Name and Investment Policies

 

Fund Name

 

Effective as of April 3, 2023, the Fund’s name changed to NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund. The Fund’s New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol, SRV, did not change in connection with the name change.

 

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund

 

The Fund continues to pursue its investment objective to obtain a high after-tax total return from a combination of capital appreciation and current income. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Previously, the Fund pursued its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of infrastructure master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and MLP-related investments (collectively, “MLP Investments”).

 

As of April 3, 2023, it is no longer a policy of the Fund to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of MLP Investments. Effective April 3, 2023, the Fund pursues its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of midstream energy investments. The Fund considers midstream energy investments to be investments that offer economic exposure to securities of midstream energy companies, which are companies that provide midstream services in the energy infrastructure sector, including the gathering, transporting, processing, fractionation, storing, refining and distribution of natural resources, such as natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil refined petroleum products, biofuels, carbon sequestration, solar, and wind. The Fund considers a company to be a midstream energy company if at least 50% of its assets, income, sales or profits are committed to, derived from or otherwise related to midstream energy services.

 

The Fund intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a RIC under the IRC. Therefore, the Fund will, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, invest no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of MLPs and other entities treated as “qualified publicly traded partnerships” under the IRC.

 

The Fund will continue to be non-diversified and may continue to invest in companies of any market capitalization size.

 

No other changes to the Fund’s investment policies were made in connection with these changes, nor are any such further changes currently anticipated.

 

Trustee and Executive Officer Compensation

 

The Fund does not currently compensate any of its trustees who are interested persons nor any of its officers. For the period ended May 31, 2023 the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund to the independent trustees was $53,955. The Fund did not pay any special compensation to any of its trustees or officers. The Fund continuously monitors standard industry practices, and this policy is subject to change.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains “forward-looking statements” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from the Fund’s historical experience and its present expectations or projections indicated in any forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal

 

25

 

 

changes; MLP industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in the Fund’s filings with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Fund undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be attained.

 

Proxy Voting Policies

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities owned by the Fund and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to the portfolio of securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 are available to stockholders without charge, upon request by calling the Fund toll-free at (800) 236-4424 and on the Fund’s website at www.cushingcef.com. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to the portfolio of securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 are also available to stockholders without charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Form N-PORT

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings for each month of each fiscal year with the SEC on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT for the third month of each Fund’s fiscal quarter and statement of additional information are available without charge by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, you may review and copy the Fund’s Form N-PORT at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling (800) SEC-0330.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The portfolio turnover rate for the period ended May 31, 2023 was 71.49%. Portfolio turnover may vary greatly from period to period. The Fund does not consider portfolio turnover rate a limiting factor in the Adviser’s execution of investment decisions, and the Fund may utilize investment and trading strategies that may involve high portfolio turnover. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund.

 

Certifications

 

The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has submitted to the New York Stock Exchange the annual CEO certification as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE Listed Fund Manual.

 

The Fund has filed with the SEC the certification of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

Distribution and Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

How the Plan Works

 

Unless the registered owner of common shares elects to receive cash by contacting the Plan Agent, all dividends and distributions (collectively referred to in this section as “dividends”) declared for your common shares of the Fund will be automatically reinvested by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, d/b/a U.S. Bancorp Global Fund Services (the “Plan Agent”), agent for stockholders in administering the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), in additional common shares of the Fund. The Plan Agent will open an account for each common stockholder under the Plan in the same name in which such common stockholder’s common shares are registered. Whenever the Fund declares a dividend payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in common shares. The common shares will be acquired by the Plan Agent for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized common shares from the Fund (“newly-issued common shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common shares on the open market (“open-market purchases”) on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere.

 

26

 

 

If, on the payment date for any dividend, the market price per common share plus per share fees (which include any brokerage commissions the Plan Agent is required to pay) is greater than the net asset value per common share, the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in newly issued common shares, including fractions, on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued common shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the net asset value per common share on the payment date; provided that, if the net asset value per common share is less than 95% of the market price per common share on the payment date, the dollar amount of the dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price per common share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any dividend, the net asset value per common share is greater than the market value per common share plus per share fees, the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in common shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases.

 

Participation in the Plan

 

If a registered owner of common shares elects not to participate in the Plan, you will receive all dividends in cash paid by check mailed directly to you (or, if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend disbursing agent. You may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by sending written or telephonic instructions to the Plan Agent, as dividend paying agent, or by contacting the Plan Agent via their website at the address set out below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by contacting the Plan Agent before the dividend record date; otherwise, such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution.

 

Plan Fees

 

There will be no per share fees with respect to common shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with open-market purchases. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.

 

Tax Implications

 

The automatic reinvestment of dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends. Accordingly, any taxable dividend received by a participant that is reinvested in additional common shares will be subject to federal (and possibly state and local) income tax even though such participant will not receive a corresponding amount of cash with which to pay such taxes.

 

Contact Information

 

For more information about the plan, you may contact the Plan Agent in writing at PO Box 708, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701, or by calling the Plan Agent at 1-800-662-7232.

 

Privacy Policy

 

In order to conduct its business, the Fund collects and maintains certain nonpublic personal information about its stockholders of record with respect to their transactions in shares of the Fund’s securities. This information includes the stockholder’s address, tax identification or Social Security number, share balances, and dividend elections. We do not collect or maintain personal information about stockholders whose share balances of our securities are held in “street name” by a financial institution such as a bank or broker.

 

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you, the Fund’s other stockholders or the Fund’s former stockholders to third parties unless necessary to process a transaction, service an account, or as otherwise permitted by law.

 

27

 

 

To protect your personal information internally, we restrict access to nonpublic personal information about the Fund’s stockholders to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to our stockholders. We also maintain certain other safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.

 

Other Information for Stockholders

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund from time to time may purchase its common shares of beneficial interest in the open market.

 

This report is sent to stockholders of NXG Cushing Midstream Energy Fund for their information. It is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities mentioned in this report.

 

The Fund does not make available copies of its Statement of Additional Information because the Fund’s shares are not continuously offered, which means that the Statement of Additional Information has not been updated after completion of the Fund’s prior offerings and the information contained in such Statement of Additional Information may have become outdated.

 

The Fund makes available performance and certain other on its website at www.cushingcef.com. Investors and others are advised to periodically check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Fund. This reference to the Fund’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Fund and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate the Fund’s website in this report.

 

Annual Shareholder Meeting Results

 

The annual meeting of shareholders of the Fund was held on May 23, 2023. The matters considered at the meeting, along with the vote tabulations relating to such matters were as follows:

 

To elect Mr. John H. Alban and Mr. Brian R. Bruce as Class I Trustees of the Fund to hold office for a three-year term expiring at the Fund’s 2026 annual meeting, or until a successor is elected and duly qualified.

 

   

For

   

Withheld

 

John H. Alban

    1,500,918       44,648  

Brian R. Bruce

    1,500,714       44,852  

 

28

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

Board Approval of Investment Management Agreement (Unaudited)

May 31, 2023

 

On May 23, 2023, the Board of Trustees (the “Board,” members of which are referred to collectively as the “Trustees”) of the NXG Cushing Midstream Energy Fund (the “Fund”) met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the Investment Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) between Cushing® Asset Management, LP d/b/a NXG Investment Management (the “Adviser”) and the Fund.

 

Activities and Composition of the Board

 

The Board is comprised of four Trustees, three of whom are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Trustees”). The Trustees are responsible for oversight of the operations of the Fund and perform the various duties imposed by the 1940 Act on the trustees of investment companies. The Independent Trustees have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. Prior to its consideration of the Agreement, the Trustees received and reviewed information provided by the Adviser. The Trustees also received and reviewed information responsive to requests from independent counsel to assist it in its consideration of the Agreement. Before the Trustees voted on the approval of the Agreement, the Independent Trustees met with independent legal counsel during executive session and discussed the Agreement and related information.

 

Consideration of Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services

 

The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under the Agreement, including the Adviser’s Form ADV and other background materials supplied by the Adviser.

 

The Board reviewed and considered the Adviser’s investment advisory personnel, its history, and the amount of assets currently under management by the Adviser. The Board also reviewed the research and decision-making processes used by the Adviser, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, strategies, policies, and restrictions of the Fund.

 

The Board considered the background and experience of the Adviser’s management in connection with the Fund, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the management team members primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of the Fund’s actual and potential investments.

 

The Board also reviewed certain of the Adviser’s policies and procedures, including the Adviser’s Code of Ethics.

 

The Board determined that the nature, extent and quality of services to be rendered by the Adviser under the Agreement were adequate.

 

Consideration of Advisory Fees and the Cost of the Services

 

The Board considered the information they received comparing the Fund’s contractual annual advisory fee and overall expenses, to the extent available, with a peer group of competitor closed-end funds determined by FUSE Research Network LLC (“FUSE”). The Board discussed the funds contained in the peer groups and universes and the general methodology used by FUSE in preparing its report. The Board further determined that because the Fund’s advisory fee waiver is a direct reduction of the advisory fee payable by the Fund and not sensitive to other fund operating expenses, the Board would use the Fund’s contractual advisory fee net of its contractual advisory fee waiver for the purposes of evaluating advisory fees and related costs of the services rendered to the Fund.

 

29

 

 

The Board determined that the Fund’s peer group was small, consisting of only seven funds (including the Fund), and that the Fund’s total net expense ratio of 2.05% was in the most expensive quartile with respect to its peer group, and the Fund’s contractual advisory fee of 1.25%, as reduced to 1.00% to account for the 0.25% contractual advisory fee waiver was equal to the median contractual advisory fee for its peer group.

 

Consideration of Investment Performance

 

The Board noted that it regularly reviews the performance of the Fund throughout the year. The Board reviewed performance information provided by FUSE for periods ending February 28, 2023, comparing the performance of the Fund against its peer group over several time horizons, and using different performance metrics, including but not limited to the comparative performance of the Fund in terms of net asset value (NAV) and market price.

 

The Trustees noted that the Fund’s peer group was small, consisting of only seven funds (including the Fund) for the one-year, three year, and five-year periods, and five funds (including the Fund) for the ten-year period. The Board determined that the Fund’s performance based on NAV and on market price was in the highest performing quartile of its peer group for the three- and five-year periods. For the one-year period, the Trustees noted that the Fund’s performance was in the lowest performing quartile based on NAV, and equal to the median for its peer group based on market price. With respect to the ten-year period, the Trustees noted that the Fund’s performance based on NAV and on market price was the second lowest performing fund in its peer group.

 

Consideration of Comparable Accounts

 

The Board reviewed the other accounts and investment vehicles managed by the Adviser and discussed the similarities and differences between these accounts and the Fund.

 

The Board determined that, bearing in mind the limitations of comparing different types of managed accounts and the different levels of service typically associated with such accounts, the fee structures applicable to the Adviser’s other clients employing a comparable strategy to the Fund was not indicative of any unreasonableness with respect to the advisory fees proposed to be payable by the Fund.

 

Consideration of Profitability

 

The Board received and considered a profitability analysis prepared by the Adviser, using a template developed in consultation with counsel to the Independent Trustees, that set forth the fees payable by the Fund under the Agreement and the expenses incurred by the Adviser in connection with the operation of the Fund. The Board used this analysis to evaluate the fairness of the profits realized and anticipated to be realized by the Adviser with respect to the Fund.

 

The Board separately considered the profitability of the Adviser with respect to the Fund. The Board noted that the Fund was profitable to the Adviser, both before and after distribution expenses. The Board determined that, with respect to the Fund, the profit to the Adviser was not unreasonable.

 

Consideration of Economies of Scale

 

The Board considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Fund had been or would be passed along to the shareholders under the Agreement. The Board determined there were no material economies of scale accruing to the Adviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund.

 

Consideration of Other Benefits

 

The Board reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund, including but not limited to soft dollar arrangements. The Board determined there were no material incidental benefits accruing to the Adviser in connection with its relationship with the Fund.

 

 

30

 

 

Conclusion

 

In approving the Agreement and the fees charged under the Agreement, the Board concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Board was identified by the Board to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to approve the Agreement. The summary set out above describes the most important factors, but not all matters, considered by the Board in coming to its decision regarding the Agreement. On the basis of such information as the Board considered necessary to the exercise of its reasonable business judgment and its evaluation of all of the factors described above, and after much discussion, the Board concluded that each factor they considered, in the context of all of the other factors they considered, favored approval of the Agreement. It was noted that it was the judgment of the Board that approval of the Agreement was consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

31

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

 

TRUSTEES

Brian R. Bruce
Andrea N. Mullins
Ronald P. Trout
John H. Alban

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Mark Rhodes
Chief Executive Officer and President

 

Blake R. Nelson
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

 

Mathew J. Calabro
Chief Compliance Officer

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Cushing® Asset Management
d/b/a NXG Investment Management
600 N. Pearl Street, Suite 1205
Dallas, TX 75201

ADMINISTRATOR

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
d/b/a U.S. Bancorp Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202

CUSTODIAN

U.S. Bank, N.A.
1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53212

TRANSFER AGENT

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
d/b/a U.S. Bancorp Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202

LEGAL COUNSEL

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
155 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Ernst & Young LLP
2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 2000
Dallas, TX 75219

 

NOT FDIC INSURED | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | MAY LOSE VALUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NXG Cushing® Midstream Energy Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

NXG Investment Management
600 N Pearl Street
Suite 1205
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 692-6334
(888) 777-2346
www.cushingcef.com
www.nxgim.com

 

 

 

 

(b)Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

 

(b)Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

 

 

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

 

Period (a)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased
(b)
Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)
(c)
Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
(d)
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
Month #1 12/01/22-12/31/22 0 0 0 0
Month #2 01/01/23-01/31/23 0 0 0 0
Month #3 02/01/23-02/28/23 0 0 0 0
Month #4 03/01/23-03/31/23 0 0 0 0
Month #5 04/01/23-04/30/23 0 0 0 0
Month #6 05/01/23-05/31/23 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)The Registrant’s President/Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider.

 

(b)There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

 

The registrant did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal period reported on this Form N-CSR.

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Not applicable.

 

(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.

 

(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. None.

 

(4)Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant. There was no change in the registrant’s independent public accountant for the period covered by this report.

 

(b)Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

     
(Registrant) NXG Cushing Midstream Energy Fund  
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Mark Rhodes  
  Mark Rhodes, President & Chief Executive Officer  
     
Date 8/4/23  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Mark Rhodes  
  Mark Rhodes, President & Chief Executive Officer  
     
Date 8/4/23  
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Blake R. Nelson  
  Blake R. Nelson, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary  
     
Date 8/4/23