You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund (the “Fund”), which will be held at the principal office of the Fund, 4265 San Felipe, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77027, on Friday, June 13, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time).

At this meeting you will be asked to consider the annual election of Trustees. The enclosed proxy statement contains additional information.

We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend and regardless of the number of shares you own, it is important that your shares be represented. I urge you to complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or to vote by telephone or Internet as included in the instructions on your proxy card as soon as possible to assure that your shares are represented at the meeting.

We appreciate your participation and prompt response in this matter. If you should have any questions regarding the proposals, or to quickly vote your shares, please call Okapi Partners, our proxy solicitor, toll-free at 1-877-629-6357. Thank you for your continued investment in the Fund.

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), will be held at the principal offices of the Fund, 4265 San Felipe, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77027, on Friday, June 13, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time), for the following purposes:

The Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on April 25, 2014 as the record date for the determination of the shareholders of the Fund entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

A proxy is enclosed with the foregoing Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Salient MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund (the “Fund”), to be held June 13, 2014, for the benefit of shareholders who do not expect to be present at the meeting. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”), and is revocable by the person giving it prior to exercise by a signed writing filed with the Fund’s Secretary, or by executing and delivering a later dated proxy, or by attending the meeting and voting the shares in person. If you attend the meeting in person, please be prepared to present photo identification. Each proxy will be voted in accordance with its instructions; if no instruction is given, an executed proxy will authorize the persons named as attorneys, or any of them, to vote in favor of the election of each Trustee. This proxy material is being mailed to shareholders on or about April 25, 2014.

The Board has fixed the close of business on April 25, 2014 as the record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof. Shareholders at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to one vote for each share held. As of April 25, 2014, there were 7,181,832 Common Shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value per share (“Common Shares”), of the Fund outstanding. As of April 25, 2014, to the Fund’s knowledge, (i) no shareholder beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund; and (ii) the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, individually and as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

The Board knows of no business other than that mentioned in Item 1 of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be presented for consideration. If any other matters are properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named as attorneys in the enclosed proxy to vote the proxies in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

The Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) provides that a majority of the Trustees shall fix the number of the entire Board and that such number shall be at least three and no greater than twenty five. The Board will fix the appropriate number of Trustees from time to time. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Board shall be divided into three classes. The term

of office of the Class III Trustees expires on the date of the 2014 Annual Meeting, and the term of office of the Class I and Class II Trustees will expire one and two years thereafter, respectively. Accordingly, nominees for Class III Trustee are currently proposed for election. Class III Trustees will be elected for a three-year term. An effect of staggered terms is to limit the ability of entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund.

Proxies will be voted for the election of the following Class III Trustee nominees: Jonathan P. Carroll, Scott E. Schwinger and Andrew B. Linbeck. Each nominee is currently serving as a Trustee and has consented to continue to so serve. In the event that a nominee is unable to serve for any reason (which is not now expected) when the election occurs, the accompanying proxy will be voted for such other person or persons as the Board may recommend. Election of Trustees is non-cumulative. Shareholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the proposal in this proxy statement.  The three nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast will be elected, as long as a quorum is present at the meeting. No nominee is a party adverse to the Fund or any of its affiliates in any material pending legal proceeding, nor does any nominee have an interest materially adverse to the Fund.

The Class I Trustees serving until the 2015 Annual Meeting are Richard C. Johnson, G. Edward Powell, Gregory A. Reid and A. Haag Sherman. The Class II Trustees serving until the 2016 Annual Meeting are John A. Blaisdell, Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., and Karin B. Bonding.

The nominees for Class III Trustees and the Fund’s current Class I and Class II Trustees and their principal occupations for at least the last five years are as follows:

The following table sets forth the dollar range of the Fund’s common shares beneficially owned by Trustees and equity securities beneficially owned by Trustees in other investment companies overseen by the Trustees within the same family of investment companies, as of April 25, 2014.

The Fund’s business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board, including the duties performed by the Adviser pursuant to the Fund’s investment management agreement. Among other things, the Trustees set broad policies for the Fund, approve the appointment of the Adviser, administrator and officers, and approve the engagement (upon recommendation of the Audit Committee), and reviews the performance of, the Fund’s independent registered accounting firm. The role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Fund.

As part of each regular Board meeting, the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act,” and each such Trustee an “Independent Trustee”) meet separately from the Adviser and on a regular basis and, as part of at least one Board meeting each year, with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”). The Board reviews its leadership structure periodically as part of its annual self-assessment process and believes that its structure is appropriate to enable the Board to exercise its oversight of the Fund.

Under the Fund’s By-Laws, the Board may designate a Chairman to preside over meetings of the Board and meetings of shareholders, and to perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board. The Fund does not have an established policy as to whether the Chairman of the Board shall be an Independent Trustee and believes that its flexibility to determine its Chairman and reorganize its leadership structure from time to time is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

Presently, John A. Blaisdell serves as Chairman of the Board and Gregory A. Reid serves on the Board as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. Each of Mr. Blaisdell and Mr. Reid is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act, by virtue of his affiliation with the Adviser. The Fund believes that Mr. Blaisdell’s history with Salient’s investment platform and experience in the investment field qualifies him to serve as the Chairman of the Board. Similarly, the Fund believes that Mr. Reid’s experience with Salient’s investment platform and extensive experience in the field of energy-related investments qualifies him to serve on the Board and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. The Board has determined that the composition of the Audit and Nominating Committees, consisting entirely of Independent Trustees, are appropriate means to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the Chairman’s status as an interested person of the Fund. The Board believes that this Board leadership structure—a separate Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer—is the optimal structure for the Fund at this time.

Since the Chairman has the most extensive knowledge of the various aspects of the Fund’s business, and the President is directly involved in managing both the day-to-day operations and long-term strategy of the Fund, the Board has determined that Mr. Blaisdell is the most qualified individual to lead the Board and to serve in the key position as Chairman. The Board has also concluded that this structure allows for efficient and effective communication with the Board. The Board has designated Mr. Powell as lead Independent Trustee of the Fund. In this capacity, he serves as liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Chairman, and perform such other duties as the Independent Trustees shall from time to time determine.

The Board oversees the services provided by the Adviser, including certain risk management functions. Risk management is a broad concept comprised of many disparate elements (such as, for example, investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risk and business continuity risk). Consequently, Board oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways, and the Board implements its risk oversight function both as a whole and through Board committees. In the course of providing oversight, the Board and its committees receive reports on the Fund’s activities, including regarding the Fund’s investment portfolio and its financial accounting and reporting. The Compliance Committee and the Board also meet at least quarterly with the CCO, formally and informally, who reports on the compliance of the Fund with the federal securities laws and the Fund’s internal compliance policies and procedures. The Audit Committee’s meetings with the Fund’s independent public accounting firm also contribute to its oversight of certain internal control risks. In addition, the Board meets periodically with representatives of the Fund and the Adviser to receive reports regarding the management of the Fund, including certain investment and operational risks, and the Independent Trustees are encouraged to communicate directly with the Adviser’s senior management.

The Fund believes that the Board’s role in risk oversight must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and that its existing role in risk oversight is appropriate. Management believes that the Fund has robust internal processes in place and that the Adviser has a strong internal control environment to identify and manage risks. However, not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified or processes and controls developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects, and some risks are beyond any control of the Fund, the Board, or Salient, its affiliates or other service providers.

The Declaration of Trust provides that an individual nominated as a Trustee shall be at least 21 years of age and not older than 80 years of age at the time of nomination and not under legal disability. In addition, although

the Charter of the Nominating Committee does not set forth any specifically required qualifications, it does set forth certain factors that the Nominating Committee may take into account in considering Independent Trustee candidates. In general, no one factor is decisive in the selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Nominating Committee considers when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board are the following: (i) public or private sector stature sufficient to instill confidence; (ii) high personal and professional integrity; (iii) good business sense; (iv) able to commit the necessary time to prepare for and attend meetings; (v) not financially dependent on Trustee retainer and meeting fees; (vi) general understanding of financial issues, investing, financial markets and technology; (vii) general understanding of balance sheets and operating statements; (viii) first-hand knowledge of investing; (ix) experience in working in highly regulated and complex legal framework; (x) demonstrated ability to maintain “independence” of management and other service agents while maintaining a constructive working relationship; (xi) ability to be critical, but not confrontational; (xii) demonstrated ability to contribute to Board and committee process; (xiii) ability to consider diverse issues and make timely, well-informed decisions; (xiv) familiarity with the securities industry; and (xv) qualification as an “Audit Committee Financial Expert.” All equally qualified nominees will be treated equally in consideration by the Nominating Committee.

The Board believes that each Trustee has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills (“Trustee Attributes”) appropriate to their continued service as the Fund’s Trustees in light of the Fund’s business and structure. Each of the Trustees has a demonstrated record of business and/or professional accomplishment that indicates that they have the ability to critically review, evaluate and access information provided to them. Certain of these business and professional experiences are set forth in detail in the charts above. In addition, all of the Trustees have served as a member of the board of other funds advised by Salient and its affiliates, other funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations. They therefore have substantial boardroom experience and, in their service to the Fund, have gained substantial insight as to the Fund’s operation and have demonstrated a commitment to discharging oversight duties as Trustees in the interests of shareholders.

In addition to the information provided in the charts above, certain additional information regarding the Trustees and their Trustee Attributes is provided below. The information provided below, and in the charts above, is not all-inclusive. Many Trustee Attributes involve intangible elements, such as intelligence, integrity and work ethic, along with the ability to work together, to communicate effectively, to exercise judgment and to ask incisive questions, and commitment to shareholder interests.

Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds and operating companies.

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013, the Board met four times. The Board has four formal standing committees, including the Nominating Committee, the Compliance Committee, the Valuation Committee and the Audit Committee. The Nominating Committee met one time, the Compliance Committee met routinely with the CCO and formally twice, the Valuation Committee met six times and the Audit Committee met four times during such period. Each Trustee attended at least 75% of the Board and Committee meetings on which he or she serves. Each Committee of the Board of the Fund is comprised of only Independent Trustees. The respective duties and responsibilities of these Committees remain under the continuing review of the Board.

Messrs. Carroll, Powell and Schwinger and Dr. Harris are members of the Audit Committee. The Board has designated Mr. Powell, an Independent Trustee, as the Fund’s Audit Committee Financial Expert. Each Audit Committee member is independent under applicable listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The primary purposes of the Audit Committee are to (i) oversee the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, and their internal controls and procedures; and (ii) oversee the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof. To carry out such purposes, the Audit Committee has a number of duties and responsibilities, each of which is set forth in the Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A. The Audit Committee’s Report is set forth below under “Additional Information”.

The Board has formed a Compliance Committee that is responsible for meeting with the Fund’s CCO to review matters relating to compliance with the federal securities laws. The Committee meets at least annually with the CCO without the presence of management to discuss issues arising, among other things, under the Fund’s compliance program and operations. Messrs. Carroll, Powell and Johnson, each an Independent Trustee, constitute the Compliance Committee. Mr. Johnson is the chair of the Compliance Committee.

The Board’s Valuation Committee is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s valuation policy, making recommendations to the Board on valuation-related matters, and overseeing implementation by the Adviser’s Valuation Committee of the Fund’s valuation policy and procedures. Ms. Bonding, Messrs. Schwinger and Johnson and Dr. Harris, each an Independent Trustee, constitute the Board’s Valuation Committee. Mr. Schwinger is the chair of this Committee.

In addition, the Board has authorized the establishment of the Adviser’s Valuation Committee consisting of officers of the Fund and representatives of the Adviser to serve as the Adviser’s Valuation Committee. The Adviser’s Valuation Committee is not a Board committee. The function of the Adviser’s Valuation Committee, subject to oversight of the Board Valuation Committee and the Board, is generally to review the Fund’s valuation methodologies, valuation determinations, and any information provided to the Adviser’s Valuation Committee by the Adviser or the administrator. The Adviser’s Valuation Committee has been assigned to act in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures as approved by the Board and to report to the Board and the Board Valuation Committee. Changes in its membership are subject to Board notification. The Board Valuation Committee reviews matters arising from considerations of the Adviser’s Valuation Committee.

Lastly, as discussed above, the Board has formed a Nominating Committee that recommends nominations for membership on the Board. It evaluates candidates’ qualifications for Board membership and, with respect to nominees for positions as Independent Trustees, as well as their independence from the Adviser and other principal service providers. The Committee meets as necessary to identify and evaluate nominees for Trustee and to make its recommendations to the Board. The Nominating Committee is composed of all of the Independent Trustees.

While the Nominating Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of potential candidates to serve on the Board, the Nominating Committee may consider and evaluate nominations properly submitted by common shareholders of the Fund. Nominations proposed by shareholders will be properly submitted for consideration by the Nominating Committee only if a shareholder submits a nomination in accordance with the procedures set forth in the charter of the Nominating Committee. It is in the Nominating Committee’s sole discretion whether to seek corrections of a deficient submission or to exclude a nominee from consideration.

Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Board may do so by sending a written communication to the Chairperson of the Board, the Chairperson of any Committee of the Board or to the Independent Trustees as a group, at the following address: 4265 San Felipe, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77027, c/o the Secretary of the Fund.

The Trustees and officers who are “interested persons” by virtue of their affiliation with Salient serve without any compensation from the Fund. Each of the Independent Trustees receives a $15,000 annual retainer for serving as a Trustee, such compensation to encompass attendance and participation at all Board meetings, and any committee meetings thereof, including telephonic meetings, if any. In addition, the Independent Trustees are reimbursed for expenses incurred as a result of attendance at meetings of the Board and its committees.

The following table sets forth compensation paid to the Independent Trustees and officers during the Fund’s last fiscal year after commencement of operations. The Fund has no retirement or pension plans.

The Fund has previously solicited all Nominee and Broker-Dealer accounts as to the number of additional proxy statements required to supply owners of shares. Should additional proxy material be required for beneficial owners, please call 1-877-629-6357, send an email to info@okapipartners.com or forward such requests to Okapi Partners, LLC, 437 Madison Avenue, 28​th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with Fund management. The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61 (Communication with Audit Committees), as modified or supplemented. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as modified or supplemented, and discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013 for filing with the SEC. As mentioned, the Audit Committee is currently comprised of Messrs. Carroll, Powell (Chair) and Schwinger and Dr. Harris, each an Independent Trustee.

KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), 191 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 500, Columbus, Ohio 43215, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. KPMG is not expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, but has been given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence.

The following table presents the aggregate fees billed for the Fund’s fiscal year ending November 30, 2012 and the fiscal year ending November 30, 2013 by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for professional services rendered for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and fees billed for other services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firm during these periods.

No services described in the table above were approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee pursuant to the “de minimis exception” set forth in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.

The Fund’s Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures relating to the pre-approval of services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (the “Pre-Approval Policies”). The Pre-Approval Policies establish a framework intended to assist the Audit Committee in the proper discharge of its pre-approval responsibilities. As a general matter, the Pre-Approval Policies (i) specify certain types of audit, audit-related, tax, and other services determined to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee; and (ii) delineate specific procedures governing the mechanics of the pre-approval process, including the approval and monitoring of audit and non-audit service fees. Unless a service is specifically pre-approved under the Pre-Approval Policies, it must be separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Pre-Approval Policies and the types of audit and non-audit services pre-approved therein must be reviewed and ratified by the Fund’s Audit Committee at least annually. The Fund’s Audit Committee maintains full responsibility for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The following table presents (i) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed for services rendered to the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund’s fiscal year ending November 30, 2012 and the fiscal year ending November 30, 2013; and (ii) the aggregate non-audit fees (i.e., fees for audit-related, tax, and other services) billed for services rendered to SCA for the Fund’s fiscal year ending November 30, 2012 and the fiscal year ending November 30, 2013.

The Fund’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm of non-audit services to the Adviser, as well as any of its affiliates that provide ongoing services to the Fund, that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence.

The officers of the Fund and their length of service are set forth below. The officers of the Fund hold indefinite terms of office. Because of their positions with Salient and their ownership of Salient stock, the officers of the Fund will benefit from the advisory fees paid by the Fund to SCA. Each officer affiliated with Salient may hold a position with other Salient entities that is comparable to his or her position with the Salient entity listed below.

SCA, with its principal office at 4265 San Felipe, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77027, serves as the investment adviser of the Fund.

The expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and enclosures and the costs of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of the Fund will be borne by the Fund. Proxies will be solicited by mail and may be solicited in person, by telephone, Internet or facsimile by officers of the Fund, by personnel of SCA or of the Fund’s administrator and transfer agent, or by broker-dealer firms. The Fund has retained Okapi Partners LLC, a professional proxy solicitation firm, to assist with any necessary solicitation of proxies. Fund shareholders may receive a telephone call from Okapi Partners LLC asking them to vote. The expenses associated with the solicitation of these proxies and with any further proxies which may be solicited by the Fund’s officers, by SCA personnel, or by broker-dealer firms, in person, or by telephone or by facsimile will be borne by the Fund. A written proxy may be delivered to the Fund or its transfer agent prior to the meeting by telephone, Internet, facsimile machine, graphic communication equipment or similar electronic transmission. The Fund will reimburse banks, broker-dealer firms, and other persons holding shares registered in their names or in the names of their nominees, for their expenses incurred in sending proxy material to and obtaining proxies from the beneficial owners of such shares. Total estimated proxy solicitation costs are approximately $11,000.

All proxy cards solicited by the Board that are properly executed and received by the Secretary (via mail, telephone or electronic transmission) prior to the meeting, and which are not revoked, will be voted at the meeting. Shares represented by such proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions thereon. If no specification of nominees is made on the proxy card, all shares held by such shareholder shall be voted equally in favor of all nominees. All shares that are voted and votes to ABSTAIN will be counted towards establishing a quorum, as will broker non-votes. (Broker non-votes are shares for which (i) the beneficial owner has not voted and (ii) the broker holding the shares does not have discretionary authority to vote on the particular matter.) Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes, which will be treated as shares that are present at the meeting but which have not been voted, will assist the Fund in obtaining a quorum but will have no effect on the outcome of the proposed election of nominees or any other proposal properly brought before the meeting.

A quorum requires the presence, in person or by proxy, of thirty-three and one-third percent of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote. In the event that a quorum is not present at the meeting, or if a quorum is

present at the meeting but sufficient votes by the shareholders of the Fund in favor of the Proposal set forth in the Notice of this meeting are not received by June 13, 2014, the persons named as attorneys in the enclosed proxy may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting to be adjourned, or may be called by the chairman of the meeting. The persons named as attorneys in the enclosed proxy will vote in favor of such adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the Proposal for which further solicitation of proxies is to be made. They will vote against any such adjournment those proxies required to be voted against such Proposal. The costs of any such additional solicitation and of any adjourned session will be borne by the Fund. If any of the nominees are not elected by shareholders, the current Trustees may consider other courses of action.

Based solely upon a review of the copies of the forms received by the Fund, all of the Trustees and officers of the Fund, SCA and its affiliates, and any person who owns more than ten percent of the Fund’s outstanding securities have made all filings required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) regarding ownership of shares of the Fund for the Fund’s fiscal year ended November 30, 2013.

To be considered for presentation at the Fund’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, a shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act must be received at the Fund’s principal office c/o the Secretary of the Fund no later than the close of business December 26, 2014. In order to be included in the Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy, a shareholder proposal must comply with all applicable legal requirements. Timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee that such proposal will be included.