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 811-22958    

Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Midstream Energy Fund Inc.    

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

101 Munson Street

Greenfield, MA 01301

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Jennifer Fromm, Esq.

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary for Registrant

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

One Financial Plaza

Hartford, CT 06103-4506

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   866-270-7788

Date of fiscal year end:   November 30

Date of reporting period:   May 31, 2021

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

  (a)

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 

  (b)

Not applicable.

 



May 31, 2021
SEMIANNUAL REPORT

Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value




MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDERS
Dear Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Midstream Energy Fund Inc. Shareholder:
This semiannual report reviews the performance of the Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Midstream Energy Fund Inc. (DSE) for the six months ended May 31, 2021. It contains commentary from the portfolio management team at Duff & Phelps Investment Management concerning the U.S. energy market and the Fund’s performance.
For the six-month period, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned 48.26%, and its market price returned 81.35%. For the same period, the Alerian MLP Index returned 44.09% and the average NAV of the Fund’s peer group, as represented by the Lipper Energy MLP Closed-End Fund Average, was 43.871, including reinvested dividends.
At the Fund’s annual meeting in May, shareholders approved the merger of the Fund into the Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund
(I Shares: VLPIX), an open-end mutual fund also subadvised by Duff & Phelps with a similar investment objective and strategy. The merger took place on June 25, 2021, which means that if you continued to hold your shares of the Fund on that date you became a shareholder of VLPIX. Thus this is the last report you will receive about DSE.
If you have any questions about the merger or your account, our customer service team is ready to assist you at 1-800-243-1574. We appreciate your business and remain committed to your long-term financial success.
Sincerely,
George R. Aylward
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Midstream Energy Fund Inc.
July 2021

1Average NAV performance as calculated for the Lipper Energy MLP Closed-End Fund Average may differ from any constituent fund’s stated performance.
Performance data quoted represents past results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown above.
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DUFF & PHELPS SELECT MLP AND MIDSTREAM ENERGY FUND INC. MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
May 31, 2021
About the Fund:
The Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Midstream Energy Fund Inc. (NYSE: DSE) (the “Fund”) invests at least 80% of its Managed Assets in energy master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and midstream energy companies that are not organized as MLPs. The Fund’s “Managed Assets” are equal to its net assets plus any outstanding preferred stock and/or borrowings made for the purpose of leverage. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in securities of issuers either: (i) in the energy sector and that are not midstream energy companies or (ii) that produce products that are primarily for the use of companies in the energy sector (such as sand miners, certain chemical companies, and coking coal processors). The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of total return resulting from a combination of current tax-deferred distributions and capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
As of May 31, 2021, the Fund’s leverage consisted of $4 million of borrowings made pursuant to a line of credit which represented approximately 15% of the Fund’s total assets.
Manager Comments – Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (“DPIM”)
The Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Midstream Energy Fund Inc. is subadvised by Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., and managed by a team of two dedicated MLP investment professionals with average industry experience of more than 23 years: David D. Grumhaus, Jr., Senior Portfolio Manager, and Rodney C. Clayton, CFA, Portfolio Manager. The following commentary is provided by the portfolio management team at DPIM, and covers the period from December 1, 2020 through May 31, 2021.
How did the markets perform during the six months ended May 31, 2021?
After heating up considerably in November of 2020, the midstream sector kept its foot on the gas through the six-month period ended May 31, 2021, with the Alerian MLP Index up 44.1%. The sector recovered to levels last seen before the worst effects of the pandemic began to ravage the equity markets in March of 2020. The sector benefited from stronger commodity prices, a vaccine-fueled recovery, and strong performance from previously out-of-favor value stocks. These tailwinds outweighed the results of the Georgia Senate run-off election, as well as President Biden’s cancellation of Keystone XL’s pipeline permit.
What a difference a year makes. Last spring, the oil market was turned upside down as global lockdowns were put in place, limiting consumer mobility and impeding the use of key oil products. Russia and Saudi Arabia added fuel to the fire when they entered into a price war that ultimately drove crude oil prices below zero in April of 2020. Fortunately, the two sides reconciled and they, along with other OPEC members, did an admirable job of managing global output during the pandemic. Demand continued to recover through the first few months of 2021 as vaccine distribution increased and lockdown orders eased. Tightening supply and demand fundamentals drove a 46% rally in crude oil prices during the six months, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices eventually closing the period above $66 per barrel.
Natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) fundamentals also supported renewed investor interest in the energy sector. Record low temperatures across many parts of Asia resulted in robust demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG), while at the same time key Australian suppliers were experiencing supply disruptions. This pushed global gas prices to the highest levels seen in
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 6.
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DUFF & PHELPS SELECT MLP AND MIDSTREAM ENERGY FUND INC. MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (Continued)
May 31, 2021
years and encouraged robust U.S. LNG exports. On the NGL front, lower associated gas production in the U.S. combined with increasing petrochemical demand in the Gulf Coast and Asia, drove ethane prices nearly 30% higher from the start of the year. Cold weather in Asia and an extended freeze throughout large parts of the U.S. supported strong propane demand throughout the first quarter of 2021 as well. U.S. propane exports were notably high in January and February, while at the same time supply was at a multi-year low. This sent propane prices up 40% over the two-month period, driving support for NGL-exposed midstream names.
Winter Storm Uri hit the U.S. in the middle of February and brought freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall to southern states that were not equipped to handle the depth and duration of such an event. Oil and gas production in Texas and Oklahoma temporarily came offline as wells froze up, resulting in gas shortages throughout the region. At the same time, gas demand for heating and power generation skyrocketed, resulting in a dramatic spike in spot natural gas pricing throughout the affected areas. Although midstream infrastructure was impacted by the drop in volumes, the storm was a clear net positive for the sector, with midstream companies providing reliability of supply when it was most needed and recording billions of dollars in windfall profits in the process.
There were a few notable performance themes to touch on during the six-month period. Unsurprisingly, within the midstream sector, higher-volatility names tended to outperform. This was led by gathering and processing companies, which generally have a higher degree of direct commodity exposure in their contracts. Refiners and refining logistic master limited partnerships (MLPs) also posted strong returns, driven by optimism that consumers will be increasingly more mobile as vaccines are distributed. We also saw strong performance from the three large-cap midstream C corporations that are held in the S&P 500® Index, Kinder Morgan, ONEOK, and Williams.
The energy sector, which was hit the hardest by the pandemic, climbed 45% for the six-month period, as measured by the S&P 500® Energy (Sector) Index. This handily beat the broader market, which was up just 16.95%, as measured by the S&P 500® Index. Midstream (up 44.1% as measured by the Alerian MLP Index), although up meaningfully, lagged the more commodity-sensitive exploration & production (E&P) sector, (up 67% as measured by the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index) and oilfield service (up 51% as measured by the Dow Jones U.S. Select Oil Equipment & Services Index) stocks. But, as oil pulled back over the final three weeks of March, which drove E&P and service stocks down 11% and 14%, respectively, MLPs held their ground, only down 5% as measured by the Alerian MLP Index.
What factors affected the performance of the Fund during the fiscal six-month period?
The Fund outperformed the Alerian MLP Index on both a net asset value (NAV) and market basis, rising 48.3% and 81.4%, respectively, for the six-month period ended May 31, 2021, versus an increase of 44.1% for the Alerian MLP Index.
In February 2021, the Board announced a proposal to shareholders to merge the Fund into the Virtus Duff & Phelps Select MLP and Energy Fund (I Shares: VLPIX), an open-end mutual fund also subadvised by Duff & Phelps with a similar investment objective and strategy. This resulted in a strong rally in the Fund’s market price, largely closing its significant discount to NAV. Shareholders approved the merger at the Fund’s annual meeting in May.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 6.
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DUFF & PHELPS SELECT MLP AND MIDSTREAM ENERGY FUND INC. MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (Continued)
May 31, 2021
The five largest individual contributors to Fund performance on an absolute basis were Targa Resources, Energy Transfer, MPLX, Cheniere Energy, and ONEOK. These companies benefitted from the strong rally in the sector and in energy commodity prices, which resulted from increased demand as vaccines were deployed and economic activity began to normalize.
The five smallest individual contributors to Fund performance on an absolute basis were TC Pipelines, Cheniere Energy Partners, Golar LNG, Phillips 66 Partners, and Enable Midstream. These were fairly small positions on balance, with the Fund exiting four of the five holdings during the fiscal period. Performance for the five stocks was slightly positive, with the exception of TC Pipelines, which generated a small negative return over the holding period.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Equity Securities: The market price of equity securities may be adversely affected by financial market, industry, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or on small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
MLPs: Investments in Master Limited Partnerships may be adversely impacted by tax law changes, regulation, or factors affecting underlying assets.
Energy Sector Concentration: The Fund’s investments are concentrated in the energy sector and may present more risks than if the Fund were broadly diversified over numerous sectors of the economy.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 6.
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DUFF & PHELPS SELECT MLP AND MIDSTREAM ENERGY FUND INC.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY WEIGHTINGS (Unaudited)
May 31, 2021
The following tables present the portfolio holdings within certain
sectors or countries as a percentage of total investments as of May 31, 2021.
Country Weightings
United States 88%
Canada 11
Bermuda 1
Total 100%
Sector Weightings
Traditional Midstream   84%
Downstream/Other   15%
Other (includes short-term investment)   1%
Total   100%
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