1/03/2011 NTG

Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. Provides Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Asset Coverage Ratio Update as of December 31, 2010

LEAWOOD, Kan.--Jan. 3, 2011--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. (NYSE: NTG) today announced that as of December 31, 2010, the company's unaudited total assets were approximately $1.6 billion and its unaudited net asset value was $1.2 billion, or $25.45 per share.

As of December 31, 2010, the company was in compliance with its asset coverage ratios under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) and basic maintenance covenants. The company's asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness was 563 percent, and its coverage ratio for preferred shares was 422 percent. For more information on calculation of coverage ratios, please refer to our most recent applicable prospectus.

Set forth below is a summary of the company's unaudited balance sheet at December 31, 2010 and a summary of its top 10 holdings.

Unaudited Balance Sheet

    (in Millions)   Per Share
Investments   $ 1,569.3   $ 34.56
Cash and Cash Equivalents     0.1     0.00
Receivable for Investments Sold     1.2     0.03
Other Assets     3.6     0.08
Total Assets     1,574.2     34.67
         
Short-Term Borrowings     39.0     0.86
Senior Notes     230.0     5.07
Preferred Stock     90.0     1.98
Total Leverage     359.0     7.91
         
Payable for Investments Purchased     0.5     0.01
Other Liabilities     6.5     0.14
Deferred Tax Liability     52.8     1.16
Net Assets   $ 1,155.4   $ 25.45

45.4 million common shares currently outstanding.

Top 10 Holdings (as of December 31, 2010)

Name

 

Market
Value
(in Millions)

 

% of
Investment
Securities(1)

Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.   $ 141.8   9.0 %
Enterprise Products Partners L.P.     121.0   7.7 %
Regency Energy Partners LP     113.0   7.2 %
Williams Partners L.P.     112.9   7.2 %
El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P.     103.3   6.6 %
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP     102.6   6.5 %
Inergy, L.P.     91.7   5.8 %
ONEOK Partners, L.P.     77.0   4.9 %
Targa Resources Partners LP     76.3   4.9 %
Copano Energy, L.L.C.     69.9   4.5 %
Total   $ 1,009.5   64.3 %

(1) Percent of Long-Term Investments

About Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc.

Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc. owns a portfolio of master limited partnership (MLP) investments in the energy infrastructure sector, with an emphasis on natural gas infrastructure MLPs. Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc.'s goal is to provide its stockholders a high level of total return with an emphasis on current distributions.

About Tortoise Capital Advisors, LLC

Tortoise is an investment manager specializing in listed energy infrastructure investments, such as pipeline and power companies. As of Nov. 30, 2010, the adviser had approximately $5.9 billion of assets under management in six NYSE-listed investment companies and private accounts. For more information, visit our Web site at www.tortoiseadvisors.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company and Tortoise Capital Advisors believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the Company's reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required by law, the Company and Tortoise Capital Advisors do not assume a duty to update any forward-looking statement.

Tortoise Capital Advisors, LLC,
Pam Kearney, 866-362-9331
Investor Relations
pkearney@tortoiseadvisors.com

Source: Tortoise MLP Fund, Inc.