Nuveen Senior Income Fund

NUVEEN SENIOR INCOME FUND

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON March 4, 2013

File No. 333-            

File No. 811-09571

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-2

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

x REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

¨ Post-Effective Amendment No.     

and/or

 

x REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

 

x Amendment No. 13

 

 

NUVEEN SENIOR INCOME FUND

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

333 WEST WACKER DRIVE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606

(Address of Principal Executive Offices (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)

(800) 257-8787

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Kevin J. McCarthy

Vice President and Secretary

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service

 

 

Copy to:

Thomas S. Harman

Bingham McCutchen LLP

2020 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

If the securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.    x

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

¨  When declared effective pursuant to section 8(c)

x  Immediately upon filing pursuant to no-action relief granted to Registrant on November 9, 2010.

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Title of Securities
Being Registered
  Amount
Being
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit(1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)
  Amount of
Registration
Fee(2)

Common Shares, $0.01 par value

  8,800,000   $8.05   $70,840,000   $9,662.58

 

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933 based on the average high and low sales prices of beneficial interest on February 25, 2013 as reported on the NYSE.
(2) Transmitted prior to filing.

 

 

 


PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

8.8 Million Common Shares

 

Nuveen Senior Income Fund

 


 

Nuveen Senior Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to achieve a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objective.

 

Investing in the Fund’s Common Shares involves certain risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section of this Prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

You should read this Prospectus, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), dated March 4, 2013, containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of the SAI, the table of contents of which is on the last page of this Prospectus, annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund, and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) 257-8787, by writing to the Fund or from the Fund’s website (http://www.nuveen.com). The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this Prospectus. You also may obtain a copy of the SAI (and other information regarding the Fund) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).

 

The Fund’s common shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency.

 

Portfolio Contents.    Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets (as defined below) in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated secured and unsecured senior loans (“Senior Loans”), which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality. The Fund will invest at least 65% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans that are secured by specific collateral. Senior Loans are made to corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and other entities to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, debt refinancings and, to a lesser extent, for general operating and other purposes. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets, in the aggregate, in other income producing securities such as investment and non-investment grade corporate debt securities, high quality, short-term debt securities and equity securities and warrants acquired in connection with the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans. “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of financial leverage through borrowing or the use of commercial paper or notes.

 

Adviser and Subadviser.    Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for determining the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation, including the use of leverage and hedging. Symphony Asset Management LLC, the Fund’s subadviser, oversees the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund.

 

The minimum price on any day at which Common Shares may be sold will not be less than the current net asset value per share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to the Fund’s distributor, Nuveen Securities, LLC (“Nuveen Securities”). The Fund and Nuveen Securities will suspend the sale of Common Shares if the per share price of the shares is less than the minimum price. The Fund currently intends to distribute the shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus primarily through at-the-market transactions, although from time to time it may also distribute shares through an underwriting syndicate or a privately negotiated transaction. To the extent shares are distributed other than through at-the-market transactions, the Fund will file a supplement to this Prospectus describing such transactions. For more information on how Common Shares may be sold, see the “Plan of Distribution” section of this Prospectus.

 

Common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The trading or “ticker” symbol of the Fund is “NSL.” The Fund’s closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on February 22, 2013 was $8.02.

 


 

The date of this Prospectus is March 4, 2013.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Summary

     3   

Summary of Fund Expenses

     18   

Financial Highlights

     20   

Trading and Net Asset Value Information

     22   

The Fund

     22   

Use of Proceeds

     22   

The Fund’s Investments

     23   

Portfolio Composition

     32   

Use of Leverage

     33   

Hedging Transactions

     35   

Risk Factors

     38   

Management of the Fund

     46   

Net Asset Value

     48   

Distributions

     49   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     50   

Plan of Distribution

     51   

Description of Shares

     53   

Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

     55   

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

     56   

Tax Matters

     57   

Custodian and Transfer Agent

     59   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     59   

Legal Opinion

     59   

Available Information

     59   

Statement of Additional Information Table of Contents

     60   

 


 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this Prospectus. The Fund will update this Prospectus to reflect any material changes to the disclosures herein.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This is only a summary. You should review the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and in the SAI.

 

The Fund

Nuveen Senior Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. See “The Fund.” The Fund’s common shares, $.01 par value (“Common Shares”), are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “NSL.” See “Description of Shares.” As of December 31, 2012, the Fund had 34,395,974 Common Shares outstanding and net assets applicable to Common Shares of $249,496,055.

 

Investment Objective and Policies

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to achieve a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund cannot assure you that it will achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s investment objective and any investment policies identified as such are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

  As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated secured and unsecured senior loans (“Senior Loans”), which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality.

 

  “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of financial leverage through borrowing or the use of commercial paper or notes.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans that are secured by specific collateral. Senior Loans are made to corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and other entities (“Borrowers”) to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, debt refinancings and, to a lesser extent, for general operating and other purposes. Also as a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. Additionally, as a non-fundamental policy, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets, in the aggregate, in:

 

   

other income producing securities such as investment and non-investment grade corporate debt securities, high quality, short-term debt securities; and

 

   

equity securities and warrants acquired in connection with the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans.

 

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  The Fund may also engage in lending of its securities, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements and, for hedging and risk management purposes, certain derivative transactions. See “Risk Factors.”

 

Investment Adviser

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“NFALLC” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for determining the Fund’s overall strategy and its implementation. NFALLC, a registered investment adviser, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”). Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $220 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2012. See “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Manager.”

 

Sub-Adviser

Symphony Asset Management LLC (“Symphony” or “Subadviser”) is the Fund’s subadviser and oversees the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund.

 

  Symphony, a registered investment adviser, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments. Founded in 1994, Symphony had approximately $11.6 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2012. Symphony specializes in the management of both long-only and alternative equity and debt strategies.

 

  NFALLC and Symphony will sometimes individually be referred to as an “Adviser” and together be referred to as the “Advisers.”

 

  Nuveen Securities, LLC (“Nuveen Securities”), a registered broker-dealer affiliate of NFALLC is involved in the offering of the Fund’s Common Shares. See “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Through At-the-Market Transactions.”

 

Use of Leverage

The Fund employs financial leverage through borrowing or the use of commercial paper or notes (collectively “Borrowings”). The Fund has entered into a $109,000,000 credit agreement with an affiliate of Citibank N.A. As of July 31, 2012, the Fund’s outstanding balance on these Borrowings was $100,000,000. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the average daily balance outstanding and average annual interest rate on these borrowings were $80,869,672 and 1.16%, respectively.

 

  The Fund does not currently, but may in the future, issue preferred shares. See “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares.”

 

  Leverage involves special risks. See “Risk Factors—Leverage Risk.” There is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. Interest on Borrowings may be at a fixed or floating rate, but generally will be based on short-term rates. The Fund will seek to invest the proceeds of any future financial leverage in a manner consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. See “Use of Leverage.”

 

4


Offering Methods

The Fund may offer shares using one or more of the following methods: (i) at-the-market transactions through one or more broker-dealers that have entered into a selected dealer agreement with Nuveen Securities, one of the Fund’s underwriters; (ii) through an underwriting syndicate; and (iii) through privately negotiated transactions between the Fund and specific investors. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

  Distribution Through At-the-Market Transactions.    The Fund from time to time may offer its Common Shares through Nuveen Securities, to certain broker-dealers that have entered into selected dealer agreements with Nuveen Securities. Currently, Nuveen Securities has entered into a selected dealer agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel Nicolaus”) pursuant to which Stifel Nicolaus will be acting as Nuveen Securities’s exclusive sub-placement agent with respect to at-the-market offerings of Common Shares. Common Shares will only be sold on such days as shall be agreed to by the Fund, Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus. Common Shares will be sold at market prices, which shall be determined with reference to trades on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), subject to a minimum price to be established each day by the Fund. The minimum price on any day will not be less than the current net asset value per share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to Nuveen Securities. The Fund and Nuveen Securities will suspend the sale of Common Shares if the per share price of the shares is less than the minimum price.

 

  The Fund will compensate Nuveen Securities with respect to sales of the Common Shares at a commission rate of up to 1% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares. Nuveen Securities will compensate Stifel Nicolaus at a fixed rate of 0.8% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares sold by Stifel Nicolaus. Settlements of Common Share sales will occur on the third business day following the date of sale.

 

In connection with the sale of the Common Shares on behalf of the Fund, Nuveen may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the compensation of Nuveen may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. Unless otherwise indicated in a further Prospectus supplement, each of Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus will act on a reasonable efforts basis.

 

  The offering of Common Shares will be made pursuant to the Selected Dealer Agreement among the Fund, Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus, which will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all Common Shares subject thereto or (ii) termination of the Selected Dealer Agreement. Each of Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus shall have the right to terminate the Selected Dealer Agreement in its discretion at any time. See “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Through At-the-Market Transactions.”

 

5


  The Fund currently intends to distribute the shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus primarily through at-the-market transactions, although from time to time it may also distribute shares through an underwriting syndicate or a privately negotiated transaction. To the extent shares are distributed other than through at-the-market transactions, the Fund will file a supplement to this Prospectus describing such transactions.

 

The Fund’s closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on February 22, 2013 was $8.02.

 

  Distribution Through Underwriting Syndicates.    The Fund from time to time may issue additional Common Shares through a syndicated secondary offering. In order to limit the impact on the market price of the Fund’s Common Shares, Underwriters will market and price the offering on an expedited basis (e.g., overnight or similarly abbreviated offering period). The Fund will launch a syndicated offering on a day, and upon terms, mutually agreed upon between the Fund, Nuveen Securities and the underwriting syndicate.

 

  The Fund will offer its shares at a price equal to a specified discount of up to 2% from the closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares on the day prior to the offering date. The applicable discount will be negotiated by the Fund and Nuveen Securities in consultation with the underwriting syndicate on a transaction-by-transaction basis. The Fund will compensate the underwriting syndicate out of the proceeds of the offering based upon a sales load of up to 4% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares. The minimum net proceeds per share to the Fund will not be less than the greater of (i) the Fund’s latest net asset value per Common Share or (ii) 94% of the closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares on the day prior to the offering date. See “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Through Underwriting Syndicates.”

 

  Distribution Through Privately Negotiated Transactions.    The Fund, through Nuveen Securities, from time to time may sell directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional and other sophisticated investors, who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resale of Common Shares.

 

  The terms of such privately negotiated transactions will be subject to the discretion of the management of the Fund. In determining whether to sell Common Shares through a privately negotiated transaction, the Fund will consider relevant factors including, but not limited to, the attractiveness of obtaining additional funds through the sale of Common Shares, the purchase price to apply to any such sale of Common Shares and the investor seeking to purchase the Common Shares.

 

 

Common Shares issued by the Fund through privately negotiated transactions will be issued at a price equal to the greater of (i) the net asset value per Common Share of the Fund’s Common Shares or

 

6


 

(ii) at a discount ranging from 0% to 5% of the average daily closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares at the close of business on the two business days preceding the date upon which Common Shares are sold pursuant to the privately negotiated transaction. The applicable discount will be determined by the Fund on a transaction-by-transaction basis. See “Plan of Distribution—Distribution Through Privately Negotiated Transactions.”

 

Special Risk Considerations

Investment in the Fund involves special risk considerations, which are summarized below. The Fund is designed as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. See “Risk Factors” for a more complete discussion of the special risk considerations of an investment in the Fund.

 

  Investment and Market Risk.    An investment in the Fund’s Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in Common Shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund, which generally do not trade on a national securities exchange, NASDAQ or in the over-the-counter markets. Your Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions. See “Risk Factors—Investment and Market Risk.”

 

  Market Discount from Net Asset Value.    Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and have during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund cannot predict whether Common Shares will trade at, above or below net asset value. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s net asset value could decrease as a result of investment activities. Investors bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower in relation to the Fund’s net asset value than at the time of purchase, assuming a stable net asset value. Proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in this offering will be reduced by shareholder transaction costs (if applicable, which vary depending on the offering method used). Depending on the premium of the Common Shares at the time of any offering of Common Shares hereunder, the Fund’s net asset value may be reduced by an amount up to the offering costs borne by the Fund (estimated to be an additional 0.18% of the offering price assuming a Common Share offering price of $8.02 (the Fund’s closing price on the Exchange on February 22, 2013)). The net asset value per Common Share will also be reduced by costs associated with any future issuances of Common or preferred shares. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Risk Factors—Market Discount from Net Asset Value.”

 

7


  Net Asset Value Fluctuations.    The Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest generally are not listed on any securities exchange. Certain Senior Loans are traded by institutional investors in an over-the- counter secondary market for Senior Loan obligations that has developed over the past several years. The secondary market for those Senior Loans generally is comparatively illiquid relative to markets for other income securities and no active trading market exists for many Senior Loans. Because of the lack of an active trading market, Senior Loans are generally more difficult to value than liquid securities for which an active trading market exists. In determining net asset value, the Fund will utilize the valuations of Senior Loans furnished by an independent third-party pricing service, which typically values Senior Loans at the mean of the highest bona fide bid and lowest bona fide ask prices when current quotations are readily available. Senior Loans for which current quotations are not readily available are valued at a fair value as determined by the pricing service using pricing matrices and other information and analyses, including credit considerations considered relevant by such pricing service, to determine valuations. If the pricing service does not provide a value for a Senior Loan, a value will be determined by the Adviser. To the extent that an active secondary trading market in Senior Loan interests develops to a reliable degree, the pricing service may rely to an increasing extent on such market prices and quotations in determining valuations of the Senior Loan interests in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund purchases Senior Loans primarily to seek to achieve its investment objective of high current income, consistent with preservation of capital, and does not anticipate that it will actively trade Senior Loans. To the extent a trading market continues to develop, certain participants in the market may have objectives other than current income and may pursue short-term trading strategies, which may result in erratic movements in the market prices for Senior Loans as a result of movements in short-term interest rates or otherwise. Although the Fund’s policy of acquiring interests in floating rate Senior Loans is intended to minimize fluctuations in net asset value resulting from changes in market interest rates, the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate. See “Net Asset Value.”

 

Senior Loan Risks.

 

 

Issuer Credit Risk.    Borrowers of Senior Loans may default on their obligations to pay principal or interest when due. This non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of a Senior Loan experiencing non-payment and, potentially, a decrease in the net asset value of the Fund. Although under normal circumstances at least 65% of the Fund’s Managed Assets will be invested in Senior Loans that are secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the Borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower, the Fund could experience

 

8


 

delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing a Senior Loan. The Fund is subject to the same inherent risks described above with respect to issuers of other debt instruments in which the Fund may invest, although it is not expected that those debt instruments will be secured by collateral.

 

  Senior Loan Interest Rate Risk.    Because the interest rates of Senior Loans reset frequently, if market interest rates fall, the loans’ interest rates will be reset to lower levels, potentially reducing the Fund’s income. Because both Senior Loans and the Fund’s preferred shares, if any, and Borrowings generally pay interest or dividends based on short-term market interest rates, the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans may potentially offset the leverage risks borne by the Fund relating to the fluctuations on Common Share income due to variations in the preferred share dividend rate and/or the interest rate on Borrowings. See “Use of Leverage.” The Fund is subject to the same inherent risks described above with respect to other adjustable rate debt instruments in which the Fund may invest.

 

  Participation Risks.    The Fund also may purchase a participation interest in a Senior Loan and by doing so acquire some or all of the interest of a bank or other lending institution in a Senior Loan to a Borrower. A participation typically will result in the Fund having a contractual relationship only with the lender, not the Borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the lender selling the participation in addition to the credit risk of the Borrower. By purchasing a participation, the Fund will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the Borrower. In the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not have a senior claim to the lender’s interest in the loan. If the Fund only acquires a participation in the loan made by a third party, the Fund may not be able to control the exercise of any remedies that the lender would have under the loan. Such third party participation arrangements are designed to give loan investors preferential treatment over high yield investors in the event of a deterioration in the credit quality of the Borrower. Even when these arrangements exist, however, there can be no assurance that the principal and interest owed on the loan will be repaid in full. See “Risk Factors—Senior Loan Risks—Participation Risk” and “Risk Factors—Below Investment Grade Risk.”

 

  Prepayment Risk.    During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, Borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk.

 

 

Other Risks Associated with Senior Loans.    Many Senior Loans in which the Fund may invest may not be rated by an NRSRO, generally

 

9


 

will not be registered with the SEC and generally will not be listed on a securities exchange. In addition, the amount of public information available with respect to Senior Loans generally may be less extensive than that available for registered and exchange-listed securities. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. No active trading market currently exists for some Senior Loans in which the Fund may invest and, thus, those loans may be illiquid. As a result, such Senior Loans generally are more difficult to value than more liquid securities for which a trading market exists.

 

  Below Investment Grade Risk.    The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in Senior Loans and other securities that are below investment grade or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or high yield debt, which implies higher price volatility and default risk than investment grade instruments of comparable terms and duration. Issuers of lower rated securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. The prices of these lower grade securities are typically more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher rated securities. The secondary market for lower rated securities, including some Senior Loans, may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. See “Risk Factors—Below Investment Grade Risk.”

 

 

Non-U.S. Issuer Risk.    The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. Although the Senior Loans will require payment of interest and principal in U.S. dollars, these Borrowers may have significant non-U.S. dollar revenues. Investment in non-U.S. Borrowers involves special risks, including that non-U.S. Borrowers may be subject to: (i) less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers or markets due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) many non-U.S. markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile; (iii) potential adverse effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund’s investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession; (v) the impact of economic, political, social or diplomatic events; (vi) possible seizure of a

 

10


 

company’s assets; (vii) restrictions imposed by non-U.S. countries limiting the ability of non-U.S. issuers to make payments of principal and/or interest due to blockages of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise; and (viii) withholding and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund’s return. These risks are more pronounced to the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in companies located in one region and to the extent that the Fund invests in instruments of issuers in emerging markets countries. In addition, economic, political and social developments may significantly disrupt the financial markets or interfere with the Fund’s ability to enforce its rights against non-U.S. issuers.

 

  See “Risk Factors—Non-U.S. Issuer Risk.”

 

  Credit Risks Associated with Investments in Participations.    The Fund may acquire from a Lender a portion of the Lender’s rights under a loan agreement. This is commonly referred to as purchasing a “Participation” in a Senior Loan. The Fund does not currently intend to invest more than 20% of its Managed Assets in Participations. Under a Participation, the Fund generally will have rights that are more limited than the rights of Lenders or of persons who acquire a Senior Loan by Assignment (as defined below). In a Participation, the Fund typically has a contractual relationship with the Lender selling the Participation, but not with the Borrower. If the Lender selling the Participation becomes insolvent, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such Lender, and may not have any exclusive or senior claim with respect to such Lender’s interest in, or the collateral with respect to, the Senior Loan. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the Lender selling the Participation in addition to the credit risk of the Borrower. The Fund may pay a fee or forgo a portion of interest payments when acquiring Participations or purchase assignments or novations (“Assignments”). A Lender selling a Participation and other persons interpositioned between the Lender and the Fund with respect to a Participation will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries. Because the Fund may invest in Participations, the Fund may be more susceptible than a fund without such a policy to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting such industries. The Fund intends to take measures which it believes will reduce its exposure to such risks but no assurances can be given as to their effectiveness. See “The Fund’s Investments.”

 

 

Interest Rate Risk.    When interest rates decline, the value of a portfolio invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a portfolio invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. Currently, market interest rates are at or near historically low levels. Although the Fund’s net asset value will vary, the Adviser expects the Fund’s policy of acquiring primarily interests in floating rate Senior Loans to minimize fluctuations in net asset value resulting from changes in

 

11


 

market interest rates. However, because floating or variable rates on Senior Loans only reset periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. Similarly, a sudden and significant increase in market interest rates may cause a decline in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund’s use of leverage, as described herein, will also tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk. See “Risk Factors—Investment and Market Risk” and “Risk Factors—Interest Rate Risk.”

 

  Income Risk.    The Fund invests primarily in Senior Loans whose interest rates reset frequently. If market interest rates fall, these interest rates will be reset at lower levels, reducing the Fund’s income and in turn, dividends paid to holders of Common Shares.

 

  Portfolio Liquidity.    No active trading market currently exists for many of the Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest. Senior Loans are thus relatively illiquid. Liquidity relates to the ability of the Fund to sell an investment in a timely manner at a price approximately equal to its value on the Fund’s books. The illiquidity of Senior Loans may impair the Fund’s ability to realize the full value of its assets in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of such assets, and the Fund may suffer capital losses as a result. The market for relatively illiquid securities could be disrupted in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase or decrease in interest rates. Although the Fund believes that investing in adjustable rate Senior Loans should limit fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value from changes in interest rates, extraordinary and sudden changes in market interest rates could disrupt the market for Senior Loans and result in fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. See “The Fund’s Investments” and “Net Asset Value.”

 

  A substantial portion of the Fund’s assets may be invested in relatively illiquid Senior Loan interests. However, many of the Senior Loans in which the Fund expects to invest are of a relatively large principal amount and are held by a relatively large number of financial institutions which should, in the Adviser’s opinion, enhance the relative liquidity of such interests. The risks associated with illiquidity are particularly acute in situations where the Fund’s operations require cash, such as when, based on a Board determination, the Fund makes open market repurchases or tender offers for its Common Shares, or if the Adviser considers it advantageous to increase the percentage of the Fund’s portfolio invested in high quality, short-term securities. See “The Fund’s Investments.”

 

 

Leverage Risk.    The use of financial leverage created through borrowing or any future issuance of preferred shares creates an opportunity for increased Common Share net income and returns, but also creates special risks for Common Shareholders. There is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. The

 

12


 

risk of loss attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage is borne by Common Shareholders. The Fund’s use of financial leverage can result in a greater decrease in net asset values in declining markets. The Fund’s use of financial leverage similarly can magnify the impact of changing market conditions on Common Share market prices. See “Risk Factors—Leverage Risk.”

 

  Because the long-term debt securities in which the Fund invests generally pay fixed rates of interest while the Fund’s costs of leverage generally fluctuate with short- to intermediate term yields, the incremental earnings from leverage will vary over time. However, the Fund may use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, to fix the effective rate paid on all or a portion of the Fund’s leverage, in an effort to lower leverage costs over an extended period. Accordingly, the Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage will result in a higher yield or return to Common Shareholders. The income benefit from leverage will be reduced to the extent that the difference narrows between the net earnings on the Fund’s portfolio securities and its cost of leverage. The income benefit from leverage will increase to the extent that the difference widens between the net earnings on the Fund’s portfolio securities and its cost of leverage. If short- or intermediate-term rates rise, the Fund’s cost of leverage could exceed the fixed rate of return on longer-term bonds held by the Fund that were acquired during periods of lower interest rates, reducing income and returns to Common Shareholders. This could occur even if short-term or intermediate-term and long-term interest rates rise. Because of the costs of leverage, the Fund may incur losses even if the Fund has positive returns if they are not sufficient to cover the costs of leverage. The Fund’s cost of leverage includes interest on borrowing, or dividends paid on preferred shares, if issued in the future, as well as any one-time costs (e.g., issuance costs) and ongoing fees and expenses associated with such leverage.

 

  The Fund has issued preferred shares in the past, but as of the date of this Prospectus, no preferred shares were outstanding. The Fund may again in the future issue certain types of preferred securities to increase the Fund’s leverage.

 

  Furthermore, the amount of fees paid to Nuveen Fund Advisors for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for Nuveen Fund Advisors to leverage the Fund.

 

  The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, which may themselves be leveraged and therefore present similar risks to those described above.

 

 

Regulatory Risk.    To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional

 

13


 

requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans.

 

  Inflation Risk.    Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions can decline. See “Risk Factors—Inflation Risk.”

 

  Deflation Risk.    Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of Issuers and may make Issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio. See “Risk Factors—Definition Risk.”

 

  Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps.    The Fund’s use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the investments underlying the derivatives. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, if NFALLC and Symphony correctly forecast market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If NFALLC and Symphony incorrectly forecast these and other factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. In addition, the derivatives market is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments.

 

  The Fund may enter into debt-related derivatives instruments including credit swap default contracts and interest rate swaps. Like most derivative instruments, the use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In addition, the use of swaps requires an understanding by NFALLC and Symphony not only of the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. The derivatives market is subject to a changing regulatory environment. It is possible that regulatory or other developments in the derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments. See “Risk Factors—Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps,” “Risk Factors—Counterparty Risk,” “Hedging Transactions” and the SAI.

 

Counterparty Risk.    Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives or other transactions supported by another party’s credit will affect the

 

14


 

value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served as counterparties in the markets for these transactions have recently incurred significant financial hardships including bankruptcy and losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower quality credit investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such transactions. By using such derivatives or other transactions, the Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience similar financial hardships. See “Risk Factors—Counterparty Risk.”

 

  Reliance on Investment Adviser.    The Fund is dependent upon services and resources provided by its investment adviser, NFALLC, and therefore the investment adviser’s parent, Nuveen Investments. Nuveen Investments has a substantial amount of indebtedness. Nuveen Investments, through its own business or the financial support of its affiliates, may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or ensure that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to enable it to pay its indebtedness with scheduled maturities beginning in 2014 or to fund its other liquidity needs. Nuveen Investments’ failure to satisfy the terms of its indebtedness, including covenants therein, may generally have an adverse effect on the financial condition of Nuveen Investments.

 

  Anti-Takeover Provisions.    The Fund’s Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) and the Fund’s By-laws (the “By-laws”) include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. These provisions could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust” and “Risk Factors—Anti-Takeover Provisions.”

 

  Non-Diversification.    Because the Fund is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act it can invest a greater portion of its assets in obligations of a single Issuer. As a result, the Fund will be more susceptible than a more widely diversified fund to any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence. The Fund does not intend to invest, however, more than 5% of the value of its assets in interests in Senior Loans of a single Borrower. See “The Fund’s Investments.” In addition, the Fund must satisfy certain asset diversification rules in order to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.

 

 

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk.    NFALLC and Symphony each provide a wide array of portfolio management and other asset management services to a mix of clients and may engage in ordinary course activities in which their respective interests or those of their

 

15


 

clients may compete or conflict with those of the Fund. For example, NFALLC and Symphony may provide investment management services to other funds and accounts that follow investment objectives similar to those of the Fund. In certain circumstances, and subject to its fiduciary obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Symphony may have to allocate a limited investment opportunity among its clients. NFALLC and Symphony have each adopted policies and procedures designed to address such situations and other potential conflicts of interests. For additional information about potential conflicts of interest, and the way in which NFALLC and Symphony address such conflicts, please see the Statement of Additional Information.

 

In addition, an investment in the Fund’s Common Shares raises other risks, which are more fully disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of this Prospectus.

 

Distributions

The Fund pays monthly distributions to Common Shareholders at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) based on the projected performance of the Fund. The Fund’s ability to maintain a level Common Share dividend rate will depend on a number of factors, including dividends payable on preferred shares, if issued in the future. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Fund’s dividend policy could change. For each year, the Fund will distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income (after it pays accrued dividends on outstanding preferred shares, if any). In addition, the Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, the net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) and taxable ordinary income, if any, to Common Shareholders so long as the net capital gain and taxable ordinary income are not necessary to pay accrued dividends on, or redeem or liquidate, any preferred shares then outstanding or pay any interest and required principal payments on borrowings. You may elect to reinvest automatically some or all of your distributions in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

  If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain for a taxable year, it will pay federal income tax on the retained gain. Each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share of the retained gain, will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund will treat the retained capital gain amount as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

 

  The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time.

 

16


Custodian and Transfer Agent

State Street Bank and Trust Company serves as custodian and transfer agent of the Fund’s assets. See “Custodian and Transfer Agent.”

 

Special Tax Considerations

Dividends with respect to the Common Shares generally will not constitute “qualified dividend income” for federal income tax purposes and thus generally will not be eligible for taxation at long-term capital gain tax rates (except in the case of capital gain dividends). See “Tax Matters.”

 

Voting Rights

The Fund has issued preferred shares in the past, but as of the date of this Prospectus, no preferred shares were outstanding. The Fund may again in the future issue certain types of preferred securities to increase the Fund’s leverage. In that event, such preferred securities, voting as a separate class, would have the right to elect at least two trustees at all times and to elect a majority of the trustees in the event two full years’ dividends on the preferred shares are unpaid. In each case, the remaining trustees would be elected by holders of Common Shares and preferred shares, voting together as a single class. The holders of preferred shares would vote as a separate class or classes on certain other matters as required under the Declaration, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and Massachusetts law. See “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares—Voting Rights” and “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

 

17


SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

 

The table shows the expenses of the Fund as a percentage of the average net assets applicable to Common Shares, and not as a percentage of total assets or Managed Assets.

 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of offering price)

        

Maximum Sales Charge

     4.00 %

Offering Costs Borne by the Fund(1)

     0.18
     As a Percentage of
Net Assets
Attributable to
Common Shares(2)


 

Annual Expenses

        

Management Fees

     1.13 %

Interest Payments on Borrowings(3)

     0.46 %

Other Expenses

     0.22 %
    


Total Annual Expenses

     1.81 %
    



  (1)   Assuming a Common Share offering price of $8.02 (the Fund’s closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on February 22, 2013).
  (2)   Stated as a percentage of average net assets attributable to Common Shares for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012.
  (3)   Interest Payments on Borrowings assumes an annual yearly interest rate of 1.00% on a $100,000,000 borrowing and an annual undrawn fee of 0.15% on an unused balance of $9,000,000. The actual Interest Payments on Borrowings incurred in the future may be higher or lower.

 

The purpose of the table above is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a Common Shareholder, would bear directly or indirectly. See “Management of the Fund—Investment Adviser and Subadviser.”

 

Examples

 

The following examples illustrate the expenses (including the applicable transaction fees, if any, and estimated offering costs of $1.80) that a shareholder would pay on a $1,000 investment that is held for the time periods provided in the table. Each example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested in the Fund and that the Fund’s Total Annual Expenses, as provided above, remain the same. The examples also assume a 5% annual return.(1)

 

Example # 1 (At-the-Market Transaction)

 

The following example assumes a transaction fee of 1.00%, as a percentage of the offering price.

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 

$30

   $ 68       $ 109       $ 222   

 

Example # 2 (Underwriting Syndicate Transaction)

 

The following example assumes a transaction fee of 4.00%, as a percentage of the offering price.

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 

$59

   $ 96       $ 136       $ 246   

 

18


Example # 3 (Privately Negotiated Transaction)

 

The following example assumes there is no transaction fee.

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 

$20

   $ 59       $ 100       $ 214   

 

The examples should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown above.


  (1)   The examples assume that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at Common Share net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

 

19


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The following Financial Highlights table is intended to help a prospective investor understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Common Share of the Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in Common Shares of the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends). The information with respect to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, whose report for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, along with the financial statements of the Fund including the Financial Highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, are included in the Fund’s 2012 Annual Report. A copy of the 2012 Annual Report may be obtained from www.sec.gov or by visiting www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this prospectus. Past results are not indicative of future performance.

 

The following per share data and ratios have been derived from information provided in the financial statements.

 

Selected data for a Common Share outstanding throughout the period:

 

     Year Ended July 31,

 
     2012

    2011

    2010

    2009

    2008

 

PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE

                                        

Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value

   $ 7.12      $ 6.81      $ 5.70      $ 7.18      $ 8.00   
    


 


 


 


 


Investment Operations:

                                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)(a)

     0.57        0.64        0.37        0.45        0.72   

Net Realized/Unrealized Gain (Loss)

     (0.10     0.09        1.20        (1.46 )     (0.83 )

Distributions from Net Investment Income to Preferred Shareholders(b)

                       (0.02 )     (0.07 )

Distributions from Capital Gains to Preferred Shareholders(b)

                                   
    


 


 


 


 


Total

     0.47        0.73        1.57        (1.03 )     (0.18 )
    


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions:

                                        

Net Investment Income to Common Shareholders

     (0.54     (0.49 )     (0.46 )     (0.45 )     (0.64 )

Capital Gains to Common Shareholders

                                   
    


 


 


 


 


Total

     (0.54     (0.49 )     (0.46 )     (0.45 )     (0.64 )
    


 


 


 


 


Offering Costs and Preferred Share Underwriting Discounts

                                   
    


 


 


 


 


Discount from Shares Repurchased and Retired

                                   
    


 


 


 


 


Premium from Common Shares Sold through Shelf Offering

     0.02        0.07                        
    


 


 


 


 


Ending Common Share Net Asset Value

   $ 7.07      $ 7.12      $ 6.81      $ 5.70      $ 7.18   
    


 


 


 


 


Ending Market Value

   $ 7.29      $ 6.99      $ 6.95      $ 5.15      $ 6.18   

Total Returns:

                                        

Based on Market Value(c)

     12.78     7.72 %     44.83 %     (6.83 )%     (16.31 )%

Based on Common Share Net Asset Value(c)

     7.34     12.01 %     28.15 %     (12.25 )%     (2.32 )%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

                                        

Ending Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares (000)

   $ 231,866      $ 227,986      $ 203,261      $ 169,917      $ 214,311   

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares Before Reimbursement(d):

                                        

Expenses

     1.82     1.78 %     2.18 %     3.50 %     3.88 %

Net Investment Income (Loss)(f)

     8.34     8.99 %     5.61 %     9.39 %     9.38 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares After Reimbursement(d)(e):

                                        

Expenses

     N/A        N/A       2.17 %     3.39 %     3.69 %

Net Investment Income (Loss)(f)

     N/A        N/A       5.62 %     9.50 %     9.57 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     64     100 %     68 %     48 %     50 %

PREFERRED SHARES AT THE END OF PERIOD

                                        

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $      $      $      $ 26,000      $ 46,000   

Liquidation and Market Value Per Share

   $      $      $      $ 25,000      $ 25,000   

Asset Coverage Per Share

   $      $      $      $ 188,381      $ 141,473   

BORROWINGS AT THE END OF PERIOD

                                        

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)

   $ 100,000      $ 73,950      $ 73,950      $ 32,900      $ 90,000   

Asset Coverage Per $1,000

   $ 3,319      $ 4,083      $ 3,749      $ 6,955      $ 3,892   

(a)   Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.
(b)   The amounts shown are based on Common share equivalents.
(c)   Total Return Based on Market Value is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
    Total Return Based on Common Share Net Asset Value is the combination of changes in Common share net asset value, reinvested dividend income at net asset value and reinvested capital gains distributions at net asset value, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending net asset value. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its net asset value), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
(d)   • Ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to Preferred shareholders, where applicable.
       • Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to Preferred shares and/or borrowings, where applicable.

 

20


 

Year Ended July 31,

 

2007


    2006

    2005

    2004

    2003

 
                                     
$ 8.33      $ 8.48      $ 8.44      $ 7.84      $ 7.38   



 


 


 


 


                                     
  0.79        0.69        0.66        0.64        0.60   
  (0.33 )     (0.15 )            0.50        0.41   
  (0.08 )     (0.07 )     (0.04 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )
                                



 


 


 


 


  0.38        0.47        0.62        1.12        0.99   



 


 


 


 


                                     
  (0.71 )     (0.62 )     (0.58 )     (0.52 )     (0.53 )
                                



 


 


 


 


  (0.71 )     (0.62 )     (0.58 )     (0.52 )     (0.53 )



 


 


 


 


                                



 


 


 


 


                                



 


 


 


 


                                



 


 


 


 


$ 8.00      $ 8.33      $ 8.48      $ 8.44      $ 7.84   



 


 


 


 


$ 8.08      $ 8.15      $ 8.97      $ 9.91      $ 8.43   
                                     
  7.79 %     (1.87 )%     (3.40 )%     24.50 %     25.93 %
  4.39 %     5.78 %     7.53 %     14.61 %     14.25 %
                                     
$ 238,779      $ 248,271      $ 252,598      $ 251,278      $ 233,220   
                                     
  3.88 %     3.52 %     2.70 %     2.23 %     2.66 %
  8.99 %     7.74 %     7.21 %     7.10 %     7.57 %
                                     
  3.59 %     3.08 %     2.10 %     1.50 %     1.90 %
  9.27 %     8.18 %     7.80 %     7.83 %     8.33 %
  80 %     55 %     100 %     91 %     80 %
                                     
$ 46,000      $ 46,000      $ 46,000      $ 46,000      $ 46,000 (h)
$ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000      $ 25,000 (h)
$ 154,771      $ 159,930      $ 162,281      $ 161,564      $ 151,750 (h)
                                     
$ 103,000      $ 103,000      $ 103,000      $ 103,000      $ 103,000 (h)
$ 3,765      $ 3,857      $ 3,899      $ 3,886      $ 3,711 (h)

       • Ratios do not reflect the effect of custodian fee credits earned on the Fund’s net cash on deposit with the custodian bank where applicable.
       • Each ratio includes the effect of all interest expense paid and other costs related to borrowings, where applicable, as follows:

 

     Year Ended July 31,

 
     2012

    2011

    2010

    2009

    2008

    2007

    2006

    2005

    2004

    2003

 

Ratios of Borrowings Interest Expense to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares(g)

     0.47     0.49 %     0.86 %     1.83 %     2.26 %     2.35 %     1.85 %     1.00 %     0.48 %     0.74 %

 

(e)   After expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. As of October 31, 2009, the Adviser is no longer reimbursing the Fund for any fees or expenses.
(f)   Each ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) includes the effect of the increase (decrease) of the net realizable value of the receivable for matured senior loans as described in Footnote 1—General Information and Significant Accounting Policies, Matured Senior Loans, in the most recent shareholder report. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012, July 31, 2011 and July 31, 2010, the increase (decrease) to the Ratios of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares were (0.01%), 0.02% and 0.09%, respectively. Prior to the fiscal year ended July 31, 2010, the Fund had no matured senior loans.
(g)   Borrowings Interest Expense includes all interest expense and other costs related to borrowings, amortization of borrowing costs, where applicable. For the periods prior to July 31, 2007, the Ratios of Borrowings Interest Expense to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares does not include program and liquidity fees.
(h)   Unaudited.
*   Rounds to less than $ .01 per share.
N/A   The Fund no longer has a contractual reimbursement with the Adviser.

 

21


TRADING AND NET ASSET VALUE INFORMATION

 

The following table shows for the periods indicated: (i) the high and low sales prices for the Common Shares reported as of the end of the day on the NYSE, (ii) the high and low net asset values of the Common Shares, and (iii) the high and low of the premium/(discount) to net asset value (expressed as a percentage) of the Common Shares.

 

     Price

     Net Asset Value

     Premium/(Discount)
to Net Asset Value


 

Fiscal Quarter Ended


   High

     Low

     High

     Low

     High

    Low

 

January 2013

   $ 7.79       $ 7.16       $ 7.38       $ 7.18         5.70     (0.42 )% 

October 2012

   $ 7.74       $ 7.17       $ 7.29       $ 7.09         6.46     0.41

July 2012

   $ 7.31       $ 6.80       $ 7.16       $ 6.93         3.69     (2.16 )% 

April 2012

   $ 7.26       $ 6.92       $ 7.13       $ 6.95         2.69     (1.84 )% 

January 2012

   $ 7.08       $ 6.34       $ 6.94       $ 6.66         2.31     (5.34 )% 

October 2011

   $ 7.13       $ 6.26       $ 7.12       $ 6.43         2.91 %     (8.44 )%

July 2011

   $ 7.76       $ 6.99       $ 7.32       $ 7.12         7.52 %     (1.81 )%

April 2011

   $ 7.99       $ 7.38       $ 7.33       $ 7.22         9.15 %     1.51 %

January 2011

   $ 7.41       $ 7.01       $ 7.25       $ 6.94         5.04 %     (0.28 )%

 

The net asset value per share, the market price and percentage of premium/(discount) to net asset value per Common Share on February 22, 2013, was $7.36, $8.02 and 8.97%, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the Fund had 34,395,974 Common Shares outstanding and net assets applicable to Common Shares of $249,496,055.

 

THE FUND

 

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on August 13, 1999, pursuant to a Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund’s Common Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NSL.”

 

The Fund’s principal office is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, and its telephone number is (800) 257-8787.

 

The following provides information about the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares as of December 31, 2012.

 

Title of Class


   Amount
Authorized


     Amount Held
by the Fund or
for its Account


     Amount
Outstanding


 

Common

     unlimited         0         35,395,974   

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds from the issuance of Common Shares hereunder will be used by the Fund to (i) invest in securities in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as stated below and/or (ii) reduce the Fund’s financial leverage outstanding. To the extent the Fund uses the net proceeds of any offering to invest in securities, it is presently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of such proceeds in securities that meet the Fund’s investment objective and policies within one month from the date on which the proceeds from an offering are received by the Fund. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities or in high-quality, short-term money market instruments.

 

22


THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

 

Investment Objective and Policies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to achieve a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

 

In pursuing its objective of high current income, the Fund will invest primarily in adjustable rate U.S. dollar denominated secured Senior Loans. Investment in such floating rate instruments is expected to minimize changes in the underlying principal value of the Senior Loans, and therefore the Fund’s net asset value, resulting from changes in market interest rates. The Borrowers of such Senior Loans operate in a variety of industries and geographical regions.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated, secured and unsecured Senior Loans, which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality. The Fund will invest at least 65% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans that are secured by specific collateral. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets, in the aggregate, in:

 

   

other income producing securities such as investment and non-investment grade corporate debt securities, high-quality, short-term debt securities; and

 

   

equity securities and warrants acquired in connection with the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans.

 

If the Adviser determines that market conditions temporarily warrant a defensive investment policy, the Fund may invest, subject to its ability to liquidate its relatively illiquid portfolio of Senior Loans, up to 100% of its assets in cash and high-quality, short-term debt securities. Any capital appreciation realized by the Fund will generally result in the distribution of taxable capital gains to Common Stockholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

The Fund’s policy under normal circumstances of investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated, secured and unsecured Senior Loans, which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality, is not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed without a vote of the Common Shareholders. However, this policy may only be changed by the Fund’s Board upon 60 days prior written notice to Common Shareholders.

 

The Fund cannot change its investment objective without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common Shares and preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” preferred shares voting as a separate class. When used with respect to particular shares of the Fund, a “majority of the outstanding” shares means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less. See “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares—Voting Rights” and the SAI under “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares—Voting Rights” for additional information with respect to the voting rights of holders of preferred shares.

 

Overall Fund Management

 

NFALLC oversees Symphony in its management of the Fund’s portfolio. This oversight includes ongoing evaluation of Symphony’s investment performance, portfolio allocations, quality of investment process and personnel, compliance with Fund and regulatory guidelines, trade allocation and execution, and other factors.

 

NFALLC also oversees the Fund’s use of leverage, and efforts to minimize the costs and mitigate the risks to Common Shareholders associated with using financial leverage. See “Use of Leverage” and “Hedging Transactions.” This may involve making adjustments to investment policies in an attempt to minimize costs and mitigate risks.

 

23


Symphony Investment Philosophy and Process

 

Investment Philosophy.    Symphony is responsible for the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Symphony believes that managing risk, particularly for volatile assets such as Senior Loans and other forms of high yield debt, is of paramount importance. Symphony believes that a combination of fundamental credit analysis and valuation information that is available from the equity markets provide a means of identifying what it believes to be superior investment candidates. Additionally, Symphony focuses primarily on liquid securities to help ensure that exit strategies remain available under different market conditions.

 

Investment Process.    In identifying Senior Loans and other securities for potential purchase. Symphony combines quantitative screening and fundamental and relative value analysis. Symphony evaluates the identified investment candidates for liquidity constraints and favorable capital structures. The investment team then performs rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis to identify investments with sound industry fundamentals, cash flow sufficiency and asset quality. The final portfolio is constructed using risk management and monitoring systems to ensure proper diversification.

 

Portfolio Composition and Other Information

 

The Fund’s portfolio is composed principally of the following investments. A more detailed description of the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions and more detailed information about the Fund’s portfolio investments are contained in the SAI.

 

Senior Loans

 

General Description.    Senior Loans generally are negotiated between a Borrower and the Lenders represented by one or more Lenders acting as agent (“Agent”) of all the Lenders. The Agent is responsible for negotiating the loan agreement (“Loan Agreement”) that establishes the terms and conditions of the Senior Loan and the rights of the Borrower and the Lenders. The Agent is paid a fee by the Borrower for its services.

 

Rates of Interest.    Interest rates on Senior Loans adjust periodically. The interest rates are adjusted based on a base rate plus a premium or spread over the base rate. The base rate usually is the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) or the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. LIBOR, as provided for in Loan Agreements, usually is an average of the interest rates quoted by several designated banks as the rates at which they pay interest to major depositors in the London Inter-Bank market on U.S. dollar-denominated deposits. The Adviser believes that changes in short-term LIBOR rates are closely related to changes in the Federal Reserve federal funds rate, although the two are not technically linked. The Prime Rate quoted by a major U.S. bank is generally the interest rate at which that bank is willing to lend U.S. dollars to its most creditworthy borrowers, although it may not be the bank’s lowest available rate. The CD rate, as provided for in Loan Agreements, usually is the average rate paid on large certificates of deposit traded in the secondary market.

 

Interest rates on Senior Loans may adjust daily, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans with interest rates that adjust less often than semi-annually. The Fund’s portfolio of Senior Loans will at all times have a dollar-weighted average time until the next interest rate adjustment of 90 days or less. The Fund may use interest rate swaps and other investment practices to shorten the effective interest rate adjustment period of Senior Loans. If the Fund does so, it considers the shortened period to be the adjustment period of the Senior Loans.

 

When interest rates decline, the value of a portfolio invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a portfolio invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. Although the Fund’s net asset value will vary, the Fund’s management expects the Fund’s policy of acquiring interests in Senior Loans, the interest rates on which are adjustable, to limit fluctuations in net asset value as a result of changes in interest rates. Accordingly, the value of the Fund’s portfolio fluctuates less

 

24


than a portfolio of fixed-rate, longer-term obligations as a result of interest rate changes. However, changes in prevailing interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuation in the Fund’s net asset value. In addition to changes in interest rates, changes in the credit quality of Borrowers (and Lenders where the Fund holds a Participation) also affect the Fund’s net asset value. Furthermore, a serious deterioration in the credit quality of one or more Borrowers could cause a prolonged or permanent decrease in the Fund’s net asset value. Fluctuations in net asset value would be magnified as a result of the Fund’s use of leverage.

 

Maturity.    The Fund has no policy limiting the maturity of the Senior Loans that it purchases. Senior Loans usually have mandatory and optional prepayment provisions. Because of prepayments, the actual remaining maturity of Senior Loans may be considerably less than their stated maturity.

 

Protective Provisions of Senior Loans.    Secured Senior Loans generally have the most senior position in a Borrower’s capital structure, although some Senior Loans may hold an equal ranking with other senior securities of the Borrower. The capital structure of a Borrower may include Senior Loans, senior and junior subordinated debt (which may include “junk bonds”), preferred stock and common stock issued by the Borrower, typically in descending order of seniority with respect to claims on the Borrower’s assets.

 

Senior Loans generally are secured by specific collateral, which may include guarantees. In order to borrow money pursuant to collateralized Senior Loans, a Borrower will frequently, for the term of the Senior Loan, pledge as collateral assets such as trademarks, accounts receivable, inventory, buildings, real estate, franchises and common and preferred stock in its subsidiaries. In addition, in the case of some Senior Loans, there may be additional collateral pledged in the form of guarantees or other credit support by and/or securities of affiliates of the Borrowers. In certain instances, a collateralized Senior Loan may be secured only by stock in the Borrower or its subsidiaries.

 

Collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy fully a Borrower’s obligations under a Senior Loan. The Fund may invest in Senior Loans which are not secured by any collateral, subject to the limitations set forth under “The Fund’s Investments—Investment Objective and Policies.” Senior Loans that are not secured by specific collateral generally pose a greater risk of non-payment of interest or loss of principal than do collateralized Senior Loans.

 

Loan Agreements may include various restrictive covenants designed to limit the activities of the Borrower in an effort to protect the right of the Lenders to receive timely payments of interest on and repayment of principal of the Senior Loans. Restrictive covenants may include mandatory prepayment provisions arising from excess cash flows and typically include restrictions on dividend payments, specific mandatory minimum financial ratios, limits on total debt and other financial tests. Breach of such covenants, if not waived by the Lenders, is generally an event of default under the applicable Loan Agreement and may give the Lenders the right to accelerate principal and interest payments. When the Fund holds a Participation in a Senior Loan it may not have the right to vote to waive enforcement of any restrictive covenant breached by a Borrower. Lenders voting in connection with a potential waiver of a restrictive covenant may have interests different from those of the Fund and such Lenders may not consider the interests of the Fund in connection with their votes. Investing in Senior Loans involves investment risk despite these covenants, and some Borrowers default on their Senior Loan payments.

 

Borrowers.    Borrowers operate in a variety of industries and geographic regions. The Fund does not intend to invest more than 10% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans of a single Borrower. In addition, the Fund will not invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets in Borrowers that conduct their principal businesses in the same industry. Most Senior Loans are made to U.S. Borrowers.

 

The Fund may, however, invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans made to Borrowers organized or located outside the U.S. These Senior Loans must be U.S. dollar-denominated. Investing in the Senior Loans of foreign Borrowers involves special risks. See “Risk Factors—Non-U.S. Issuer Risk.”

 

25


The capital structure of a Borrower may include Senior Loans, senior and junior subordinated debt (which may include “junk bonds”), preferred stock and common stock. Senior Loans typically have the most senior claim on Borrower’s assets and common stock the most junior claim. The proceeds of Senior Loans that the Fund will purchase usually will be used by Borrowers to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, debt refinancings and, to a lesser extent, for general operating and other purposes.

 

Although Senior Loans have the most senior position in a Borrower’s capital structure and are usually secured by specific collateral, they are typically below investment grade quality and may have below investment grade ratings; these ratings are associated with securities having speculative characteristics. See “Risk Factors— Portfolio Liquidity.” The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio Senior Loans of Borrowers that have filed for protection under the federal bankruptcy laws or that have had involuntary bankruptcy petitions filed against them by creditors. You should expect the Fund’s net asset value to fluctuate as a result of changes in the credit quality of Borrowers and other factors. A serious deterioration in the credit quality of one or more Borrowers could cause a permanent decrease in the Fund’s net asset value.

 

There is no minimum rating or other independent evaluation of a Borrower or its securities limiting the Fund’s investments. Senior Loans may not be rated by any rating agency at the time the Fund purchases the Senior Loan. The lack of a rating does not necessarily imply that a Senior Loan is of lesser investment quality; however, most Senior Loans, when rated, are below investment grade quality. There is no limit on the percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in Senior Loans that are rated below investment grade or that are unrated but of comparable quality.

 

The Senior Loan Process.

 

The Fund normally relies on the Agent to collect principal and interest payments on a Senior Loan. Furthermore, the Fund also relies in part on the Agent to monitor compliance by the Borrower with the restrictive covenants in the Loan Agreement and to notify the Fund (or the Lender from which the Fund has purchased a Participation) of any adverse change in the Borrower’s financial condition. The Fund will act as a Lender with respect to a syndicated Senior Loan only where the Agent, at the time of the Fund’s investment, has outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade by a rating agency, or where such debt or obligations are unrated but determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. A rating agency’s top four major rating categories generally are considered to be investment grade. The lowest tier of investment grade rating is considered to have speculative characteristics. The Fund will not purchase interests in Senior Loans unless the Agent, Lender and any other person positioned between the Fund and the Borrower has entered into an agreement that provides for the holding of assets in safekeeping for, or the prompt disbursement of assets to, the Fund. Insolvency of the Agent or other persons positioned between the Fund and the Borrower could result in losses for the Fund. See “Risk Factors.”

 

The Fund may be required to pay and may receive various fees and commissions in connection with purchasing, selling and holding interests in Senior Loans. The fees normally paid by Borrowers include three primary types: facility fees, commitment fees and prepayment penalties. Facility fees are paid to Lenders when a Senior Loan is originated. Commitment fees are paid to Lenders on an ongoing basis based on the unused portion of a Senior Loan commitment. Lenders may receive prepayment penalties when a Borrower prepays a Senior Loan. The Fund receives these fees directly from the Borrower if the Fund is an Original Lender (as defined below) or, in the case of commitment fees and prepayment penalties, if the Fund acquires an Assignment. Whether the Fund receives a facility fee in the case of an Assignment, or any fees in the case of a Participation, depends on negotiations between the Fund and the Lender selling such interests. When the Fund buys an Assignment, it may be required to pay a fee, or forgo a portion of interest and fees payable to it, to the Lender selling the Assignment. Occasionally, the assignor pays a fee to the assignee.

 

26


A person selling a Participation to the Fund may deduct a portion of the interest and any fees payable to the Fund as an administrative fee. The Fund may be required to pass along to a person that buys a Senior Loan from the Fund a portion of any fees that the Fund is entitled to. Fees that the Fund occasionally may receive may enhance the Fund’s income.

 

Senior Loan Investments.

 

The Fund may act as one of the group of Lenders originating a Senior Loan (an “Original Lender”), act as an Agent, purchase Assignments of portions of Senior Loans from third parties and invest in Participations in Senior Loans.

 

Senior Loans also include certain foreign debt obligations that are in the form of notes rather than Loan Agreements. All of these interests in Senior Loans are sometimes referred to simply as Senior Loans.

 

The Fund as Original Lender.    When the Fund acts as an Original Lender it may participate in structuring the Senior Loan. The Fund will not act as sole Agent or sole principal negotiator of a Senior Loan. When the Fund is a member of the originating syndicate group for a Senior Loan, it may share in a fee paid to the Original Lenders. When the Fund is an Original Lender it will have a direct contractual relationship with the Borrower, may enforce compliance by the Borrower with the terms of the Loan Agreement and may have rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Lenders through set-off. Lenders also have full voting and consent rights under the applicable Loan Agreement. Action subject to Lender vote or consent generally requires the vote or consent of the holders of some specified percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Loan. Certain decisions, such as reducing the amount of interest on or principal of a Senior Loan, releasing all or substantially all of the collateral or changing the maturity of a Senior Loan, frequently require the unanimous vote or consent of all Lenders affected.

 

The Fund as Agent.    Acting in the capacity of an Agent in a Senior Loan may subject the Fund to certain risks in addition to those associated with the Fund’s role as a Lender. In consideration of such risks, the Fund will invest no more than 20% of its total assets in Senior Loans in which it acts as an Agent or co-Agent, and the size of any such individual Senior Loan will not exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

The Fund’s ability to receive fee income is constrained by certain requirements for qualifying as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Fund intends to comply with those requirements and may limit its investments in Senior Loans in which it acts as Agent in order to do so.

 

Assignments.    The purchaser of an Assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement of the assigning Lender and becomes a Lender under the Loan Agreement. Assignments may, however, be arranged through private negotiations, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an Assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning Lender.

 

Participations.    Participations by the Fund in a Lender’s portion of a Senior Loan typically will result in the Fund having a contractual relationship only with such Lender, not with the Borrower. As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender selling the Participation and only upon receipt by such Lender of such payments from the Borrower. In connection with purchasing Participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the Borrower with the terms of the Loan Agreement, nor have any rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Lenders through set-off against the Borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the Senior Loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the Borrower and the Lender selling the Participation. In the event of the insolvency of the Lender selling a Participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of such Lender. The Fund does not currently intend to invest more than 20% of its Managed Assets in Participations.

 

27


The Fund will only acquire Participations if the Lender selling the Participation, and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the Lender, (i) at the time of investment has outstanding debt or deposit obligations rated investment grade (BBB or A-3 or higher by Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”), Baa or P-3 or higher by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or F3 or higher by Fitch IBCA, Inc. (“Fitch”)) or has debt or obligations that are unrated by S&P, Moody’s and Fitch and determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality and (ii) has entered into an agreement which provides for the holding of assets in safekeeping for, or the prompt disbursement of assets to, the Fund. Long-term debt rated BBB by S&P is regarded by S&P as having adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and debt rated Baa by Moody’s is regarded by Moody’s as a medium grade obligation, i.e., it is neither highly protected nor poorly secured, and debt rated BBB by Fitch is regarded by Fitch as having adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. Commercial paper rated A-3 by S&P indicates that S&P believes such obligations exhibit adequate protection parameters but that adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation, issues of commercial paper rated P-3 by Moody’s are considered by Moody’s to have an acceptable ability for repayment of short-term debt obligations but the effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced and issues of commercial paper rated F3 by Fitch are considered to be of fair credit quality with an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments but near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.

 

The selling Lenders and other persons interpositioned between such Lenders and the Fund with respect to such Participations will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries. The Fund may be more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting such industries. Persons engaged in such industries may be more susceptible than are persons engaged in some other industry to, among other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market Committee’s monetary policy, governmental regulations concerning such industries and capital raising activities generally and fluctuations in the financial markets generally.

 

When the Fund holds a Participation in a Senior Loan, the Fund generally will not have the right to enforce compliance by the Borrower with the Loan Agreement, nor rights to any funds acquired by other Lenders through set-off against the Borrower. In addition, the Fund may not have the right to vote on whether to waive enforcement of any restrictive covenant breached by a Borrower. Lenders voting in connection with a potential waiver of a restrictive covenant may have interests different from those of the Fund and may not consider the interests of the Fund. The Fund may not benefit directly from the collateral supporting a Senior Loan in which it has purchased the Participation, although Lenders that sell Participations generally are required to distribute liquidation proceeds received by them pro rata among the holders of such Participations. For purposes of the Fund’s policy of investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in secured Senior Loans, a Participation in a Senior Loan will be deemed to be secured if the underlying Senior Loan is secured.

 

Role of Agent.    On behalf of the several Lenders, an Agent generally will be required to administer and manage the Senior Loan and, with respect to collateralized Senior Loans, to service or monitor the collateral. In this connection, the valuation of assets pledged as collateral will reflect market value and the Agent may rely on independent appraisals as to the value of specific collateral. The Agent, however, may not obtain an independent appraisal as to the value of assets pledged as collateral in all cases. The Fund normally will rely primarily on the Agent (where the Fund is an Original Lender or owns an Assignment) or the selling Lender (where the Fund owns a Participation) to collect principal of and interest on a Senior Loan.

 

Furthermore, the Fund usually will rely on the Agent (where the Fund is an Original Lender or owns an Assignment) or the selling Lender (where the Fund owns a Participation) to monitor compliance by the Borrower with the restrictive covenants in the Loan Agreement and notify the Fund of any adverse change in the Borrower’s financial condition or any declaration of insolvency.

 

Loan Agreements may provide for the termination of the Agent’s agency status in the event that it fails to act as required under the relevant Loan Agreement, becomes insolvent, enters FDIC receivership or, if not FDIC

 

28


insured, enters into bankruptcy. Should such an Agent, Lender or assignor with respect to an Assignment interpositioned between the Fund and the Borrower become insolvent or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy, any interest in the Senior Loan of such person and any loan payment held by such person for the benefit of the Fund should not be included in such person’s or entity’s bankruptcy estate.

 

If, however, any such amount were included in such person’s or entity’s bankruptcy estate, the Fund would incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment or could suffer a loss of principal or interest. In such event, the Fund could experience a decrease in net asset value.

 

Prepayments.    Pursuant to the relevant Loan Agreement, a Borrower may be required in certain circumstances, and may have the option at any time, to prepay the principal amount of a Senior Loan, often without incurring a prepayment penalty. Because the interest rates on Senior Loans are periodically redetermined at relatively short intervals, the Fund and the Adviser believe that the prepayment of, and subsequent reinvestment by the Fund in, Senior Loans will not have a materially adverse impact on the yield on the Fund’s portfolio and may have a beneficial impact on income due to receipt of prepayment penalties, if any, and any facility fees earned in connection with reinvestment.

 

Commitments to Make Additional Loans.    A Lender may have certain obligations pursuant to a Loan Agreement, which may include the obligation to make additional loans in certain circumstances. The Fund currently intends to reserve against such contingent obligations by segregating a sufficient amount of cash, liquid securities and liquid Senior Loans as a reserve against such commitments. The Fund will not purchase interests in Senior Loans that would require the Fund to make any such additional loans if such additional loan commitments in the aggregate would exceed 20% of the Fund’s Managed Assets or would cause the Fund to fail to meet the diversification requirements set forth under the heading “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI.

 

Warrants, Equity Securities and Junior Debt; Short-Term Debt Securities

 

The Fund may acquire equity securities and warrants issued by a Borrower or its affiliates as part of a package of investments in the Borrower or its affiliates issued in connection with a Senior Loan of the Borrower. The Fund also may convert a warrant so acquired into the underlying security. The Fund may acquire junior debt securities as part of a package of investments in the Borrower or its affiliates issued in connection with a Senior Loan of the Borrower, and may invest separately up to 5% of its Managed Assets in junior debt securities. The Fund generally will acquire interests in warrants, equity and junior bonds or other debt securities only when the Adviser believes that the value the Fund gives in exchange for such interests is substantially outweighed by their potential value. However, investments in warrants, equity and junior debt securities entail certain risks in addition to those associated with investments in Senior Loans. The value of these securities may be affected more rapidly, and to a greater extent, by company-specific developments and general market conditions. These risks may increase fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may frequently possess material non-public information about a Borrower as a result of its ownership of a Senior Loan of such Borrower. Because of prohibitions on trading in securities of issuers while in possession of such information the Fund might be unable to enter into a transaction in a security of such a Borrower when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so. The Fund’s investments in warrants, equity securities and junior debt securities are subject to the limitations set forth under “The Fund’s Investments—Investment Objective and Policies.”

 

The Fund may invest in high quality, short-term debt securities with remaining maturities of one year or less. These may include commercial paper rated at least in the top two rating categories by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, or unrated commercial paper considered by the Adviser to be of similar quality; interests in short-term loans of Borrowers having short-term debt obligations rated, or a short-term credit rating, at least in such top two rating categories, or having no rating but determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality; certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances; and securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. These securities may pay interest at adjustable rates or at fixed rates. The Fund’s investments in high-quality, short-term debt securities are subject to the limitations set forth under “The Fund’s Investments— Investment Objective and Policies.” In spite of those limitations, pending initial investment in Senior Loans, or if

 

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the Adviser determines that market conditions temporarily warrant a defensive investment policy, the Fund may invest, subject to its ability to liquidate its relatively illiquid portfolio of Senior Loans, up to 100% of its Managed Assets in cash and high-quality, short-term debt securities.

 

Structured Notes

 

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its Managed Assets in structured notes, which are privately negotiated debt obligations with rates of return determined by reference to the total rate of return on one or more Senior Loans referenced in such notes. The rate of return on the structured note may be determined by applying a multiplier to the rate of total return on the referenced loan or loans. Application of a multiplier is comparable to the use of financial leverage, a speculative technique. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and the risk of loss; as a result, a relatively small decline in the value of a referenced Senior Loan could result in a relatively large loss in the value of a structured note.

 

Lending of Portfolio Holdings

 

The Fund may seek to increase its income by lending financial instruments in its portfolio in accordance with present regulatory policies, including those of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the SEC. Such loans may be made, without limit, to brokers, dealers, banks or other recognized institutional borrowers of financial instruments and would be required to be secured continuously by collateral, including cash, cash equivalents or U.S. Treasury bills maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value of the financial instruments loaned. The Fund would have the right to call a loan and obtain the financial instruments loaned at any time on five days’ notice. For the duration of a loan, the Fund would continue to receive the equivalent of the interest paid by the issuer on the financial instruments loaned and also may receive compensation from the investment of the collateral.

 

The Fund would not have the right to vote any financial instruments having voting rights during the existence of the loan, but the Fund could call the loan in anticipation of an important vote to be taken among holders of the financial instruments or in anticipation of the giving or withholding of their consent on a material matter affecting the financial instruments. As with other extensions of credit, risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral exist should the borrower of the financial instruments fail financially. However, the loans would be made only to firms deemed by the Adviser to be creditworthy and when, in the judgment of the Adviser, the consideration which can be earned currently from loans of this type justifies the attendant risk. The creditworthiness of firms to which the Fund lends its portfolio holdings will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the Adviser. No specific limitation exists as to the percentage of the Fund’s assets which the Fund may lend.

 

“When-Issued” and “Delayed Delivery” Transactions

 

The Fund may also purchase and sell interests in Senior Loans and other portfolio securities on a “when issued” or “delayed delivery” basis. No income accrues to the Fund on such interests or securities in connection with such purchase transactions prior to the date the Fund actually takes delivery of such interests or securities.

 

These transactions are subject to market fluctuation; the value of the interests in Senior Loans and other portfolio debt securities at delivery may be more or less than their purchase price, and yields generally available on such interests or securities when delivery occurs may be higher or lower than yields on the interests or securities obtained pursuant to such transactions.

 

Because the Fund relies on the buyer or seller, as the case may be, to consummate the transaction, failure by the other party to complete the transaction may result in the Fund missing the opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to be advantageous. When the Fund is the buyer in such a transaction, however, it will maintain, in a segregated account with its custodian, cash or liquid securities having an aggregate value equal to the amount of such purchase commitments until payment is made.

 

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The Fund will make commitments to purchase interests or securities on such basis only with the intention of actually acquiring these interests or securities, but the Fund may sell such interests or securities prior to the settlement date if such sale is considered to be advisable. To the extent the Fund engages in “when issued” or “delayed delivery” transactions, it will do so for the purpose of acquiring interests or securities for the Fund’s portfolio consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and not for the purpose of investment leverage. No specific limitation exists as to the percentage of the Fund’s assets which may be used to acquire securities on a “when issued” or “delayed delivery” basis.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (a purchase of, and a simultaneous commitment to resell, a financial instrument at an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date) only with member banks of the Federal Reserve System and member firms of the New York Stock Exchange. When participating in repurchase agreements, the Fund buys securities from a vendor, e.g., a bank or brokerage firm, with the agreement that the vendor will repurchase the securities at a higher price at a later date. Such transactions afford an opportunity for the Fund to earn a return on available cash at minimal market risk, although the Fund may be subject to various delays and risks of loss if the vendor is unable to meet its obligation to repurchase. Under the 1940 Act, repurchase agreements are deemed to be collateralized loans of money by the Fund to the seller. In evaluating whether to enter into a repurchase agreement, the Adviser will consider carefully the creditworthiness of the vendor. If the member bank or member firm that is the party to the repurchase agreement petitions for bankruptcy or otherwise becomes subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Fund might experience delays in recovering its cash. The securities underlying a repurchase agreement will be marked to market every business day so that the value of the collateral is at least equal to the value of the loan, including the accrued interest thereon, and the Adviser will monitor the value of the collateral. No specific limitation exists as to the percentage of the Fund’s assets which may be used to participate in repurchase agreements.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with respect to debt obligations which could otherwise be sold by the Fund. A reverse repurchase agreement is an instrument under which the Fund may sell an underlying debt instrument and simultaneously obtain the commitment of the purchaser (a commercial bank or a broker or dealer) to sell the security back to the Fund at an agreed upon price on an agreed upon date. The Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its custodian cash or liquid securities in an amount sufficient to cover its obligations with respect to reverse repurchase agreements. The Fund receives payment for such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer by its custodian. Reverse repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the other party, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities. An additional risk is that the market value of securities sold by the Fund under a reverse repurchase agreement could decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse repurchase agreements will be considered borrowings by the Fund and as such would be subject to the restrictions on borrowing described in the SAI under “Investment Restrictions.” The Fund will not hold more than 5% of the value of its Managed Assets in reverse repurchase agreements.

 

Short-Term/Long-Term Debt Securities; Defensive Position.

 

During temporary defensive periods or in order to keep the Fund’s cash fully invested, the Fund may deviate from its investment objective and invest all or any portion of its assets in investment grade debt securities, including obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. In such a case, the Fund may not pursue or achieve its investment objective during such period. In addition, upon Symphony’s recommendation that a change would be in the best interests of the Fund and upon concurrence by NFALLC, and subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, Symphony may deviate from its investment guidelines discussed herein.

 

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Other Investment Companies.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund may invest in other investment companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive securities of the types in which the Fund may invest in directly available in the market. As an investor in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. Symphony will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in the investment company relative to available securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, the securities of other investment companies also may be leveraged and therefore will be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. As described in the section entitled “Risk Factors—Leverage Risk,” the net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares. The Fund will treat its investments in such investment companies as investments in Senior Loans for all purposes, such as for purposes of determining compliance with the requirement set forth above that at least 80% of the Fund’s Managed Assets be invested under normal circumstances in Senior Loans.

 

Portfolio Turnover.

 

The Fund may engage in portfolio trading when considered appropriate, but short-term trading will not be used as the primary means of achieving the Fund’s investment objective. Although the Fund cannot accurately predict its annual portfolio turnover rate, it is generally not expected to exceed 100% under normal circumstances. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 64%. However, there are no limits on the rate of portfolio turnover, and investments may be sold without regard to length of time held when, in the opinion of Symphony, investment considerations warrant such action. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. Although these commissions and expenses are not reflected in the Fund’s “Annual Expenses” under “Summary of Fund Expenses,” they will be reflected in the Fund’s total return. In addition, high portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. See “Tax Matters.”

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the composition of the Fund’s securities as of July 31, 2012.

 

Portfolio Allocation*


   Percent

 

Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests

     87.4

Corporate Bonds

     8.9

Short-Term Investments

     2.2

Common Stocks

     1.3

Convertible Bonds

     0.2
    


Total

     100.0
    


 

  *   The relative percentages of the value of the investments attributable the securities could change over time as a result of rebalancing the Fund’s assets by Symphony, market value fluctuations, issuance of additional shares and other events.

 

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USE OF LEVERAGE

 

The amounts and forms of leverage used by the Fund may vary with prevailing market or economic conditions. The timing and terms of any leverage transactions is determined by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Fund employs financial leverage primarily through borrowing. The Fund has entered into a $109,000,000 Revolving Credit and Security Agreement with an affiliate of Citibank. As of July 31, 2012, the Fund’s outstanding balance on these borrowings was $100,000,000. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the average daily balance outstanding and average annual interest rate on these borrowings were $80,869,672 and 1.16%, respectively. The amount of outstanding borrowings may vary with prevailing market or economic conditions. The Fund borrows money at rates generally available to institutional investors. The timing and terms of any leverage transactions is determined by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Following an offering of additional Common Shares from time to time, the Fund’s leverage ratio will decrease as a result of the increase in net assets attributable to Common Shares. The Fund’s leverage ratio may decline further to the extent that the net proceeds of an offering of Common Shares are used to reduce the Fund’s financial leverage. A lower leverage ratio may result in lower (higher) returns to Common Shareholders over a period of time to the extent that net returns on the Fund’s investment portfolio exceed (fall below) its cost of leverage over that period, which lower (higher) returns may impact the level of the Fund’s distributions. See “Risk Factors—Leverage Risk.”

 

The Fund has issued preferred shares in the past, but as of the date of this Prospectus, no preferred shares were outstanding. The Fund may again in the future issue certain types of preferred securities to increase the Fund’s leverage.

 

Borrowings and preferred shares, if any, will have seniority over the Common Shares. Leverage involves special risks. There is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. The Fund will seek to invest the proceeds from financial leverage in a manner consistent with the Fund’s objective and policies.

 

The Fund anticipates that the financing costs of the instruments used to create its leverage will be based upon short-term adjustable rates that are reset periodically. So long as the Fund’s portfolio is invested in securities that provide a higher rate of return than the Fund’s cost of leverage (after taking expenses into consideration), the leverage will cause you to receive a higher current rate of return than if the Fund were not leveraged.

 

Changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, including costs attributable to Borrowings or preferred shares, if any, will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders. If there is a net decrease (or increase) in the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the leverage will decrease (or increase) the net asset value per Common Share to a greater extent than if the Fund were not leveraged.

 

Given the current economic and debt market environment with historically low short-term to intermediate-term interest rates, the Fund may use derivatives such as interest rate swaps, with terms that may range from one to seven years, to fix the effective rate paid on a significant portion of the Fund’s leverage. The interest rate swap program, if implemented, will seek to achieve potentially lower leverage costs over an extended period. This strategy would enhance common shareholder returns if short-term interest rates were to rise over time to exceed on average the effective fixed interest rate for that time period. This strategy, however, would add to effective leverage costs immediately (because the effective swap costs would likely be higher than current benchmark adjustable short term rates) and would increase overall leverage costs over the entirety of any such time period, in the event that short-term interest rates do not rise sufficiently during the period to exceed on average the effective fixed interest rate for that time period.

 

The Fund pays NFALLC a management fee based on a percentage of Managed Assets. Managed Assets for this purpose includes the proceeds realized from the Fund’s use of financial leverage. See “Management of the Fund—Investment Management Agreement.” NFALLC will base its decision whether and how much to leverage the Fund based solely on its assessment of whether such use of leverage will advance the Fund’s investment objective. NFALLC will be responsible for using leverage to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. However,

 

33


the fact that a decision to increase the Fund’s leverage will have the effect of increasing Managed Assets and therefore NFALLC’s management fee means that NFALLC may have an incentive to increase the Fund’s use of leverage. NFALLC will seek to manage that incentive by only increasing the Fund’s use of leverage when it determines that such increase is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, and by periodically reviewing the Fund’s performance and use of leverage with the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund generally is not permitted to issue commercial paper or notes or borrow unless immediately after the borrowing or commercial paper or note issuance the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities other than the principal amount represented by commercial paper, notes or borrowings, is at least 300% of such principal amount. If the Fund borrows, the Fund intends, to the extent possible, to prepay all or a portion of the principal amount of any outstanding commercial paper, notes or borrowing to the extent necessary in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Failure to maintain certain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default and entitle the debt holders to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless immediately after such issuance, the value of the Fund’s asset coverage is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (i.e., such liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s asset coverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s asset coverage less liabilities other than borrowings is at least 200% of such liquidation value. If preferred shares are issued in the future, the Fund intends, to the extent possible, to purchase or redeem preferred shares from time to time to the extent necessary in order to maintain coverage of any preferred shares. Though it does not currently, if the Fund were to have preferred shares outstanding, two of the Fund’s trustees would be elected by the holders of preferred shares, voting separately as a class. The remaining trustees of the Fund would be elected by holders of Common Shares and preferred shares voting together as a single class. In the event the Fund would fail to pay dividends on preferred shares for two years, preferred shareholders would be entitled to elect a majority of the trustees of the Fund.

 

The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for commercial paper or notes, preferred shares, or, if the Fund borrows from a lender, by the lender. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede NFALLC from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. In addition to other considerations, to the extent that the Fund believes that the covenants and guidelines required by the rating agencies or lenders would impede its ability to meet its investment objective, or if the Fund is unable to obtain the rating on borrowings (expected to be at least AA/Aa or the equivalent short-term ratings) or preferred shares (also expected to be at least AA/Aa), the Fund will not incur borrowings or issue preferred shares.

 

Assuming the utilization of leverage through borrowings in the aggregate amount of approximately 30% of the Fund’s Managed Assets, at a combined interest or payment rate of 1.75% payable on such leverage, the income generated by the Fund’s portfolio (net of non-leverage expenses) must exceed 0.53% in order to cover such interest or payment rates and other expenses specifically related to borrowing. These numbers are merely estimates, used for illustration. Actual interest or payment rates may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate estimated above.

 

The Fund may also borrow money for repurchase of its shares or as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including the payment of dividends and the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of Fund securities.

 

The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the SEC. It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (comprised of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio net of expenses) at the assumed portfolio total return rates provided in the table. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not

 

34


necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns expected to be experienced by the Fund. The table further reflects the use of Borrowings representing 30% of the Fund’s total capital and the Fund’s currently projected annual dividend rate, borrowing interest rate or payment rate set by an interest rate transaction of 1.75%. See “Risk Factors—Leverage Risk” and “Use of Leverage.”

 

Assumed Portfolio Return

     -10 %      -5 %      0 %      5 %      10 % 

Common Stock Total Return

     -15.04     -7.89     -0.75     6.39     13.54

 

Common Share total return is composed of two elements—the Common Share dividends paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying interest on any borrowings) and gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than capital appreciation.

 

HEDGING TRANSACTIONS

 

The Fund may use derivatives or other transactions for the purpose of hedging a portion of its portfolio holdings or in connection with the Fund’s anticipated use of leverage through Borrowings.

 

Portfolio Hedging Transactions.    The Fund may use derivatives or other transactions for purposes of hedging the portfolio’s exposure to high yield credit risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk and the risk of increases in interest rates. The specific derivative instruments to be used, or other transactions to be entered into, each for hedging purposes, may include the purchase or sale of futures contracts on securities, credit-linked notes, securities indices, other indices or other financial instruments; options on futures contracts; exchange- traded and over-the-counter options on securities or indices; index-linked securities; swaps; and currency exchange transactions. Some, but not all, of the derivative instruments may be traded and listed on an exchange. The positions in derivatives will be marked-to-market daily at the closing price established on the relevant exchange or at a fair value. For a complete discussion of these derivative securities, see the SAI.

 

There may be an imperfect correlation between changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and hedging positions entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, the Fund’s success in using hedging instruments is subject to Symphony’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors, and there can be no assurance that Symphony’s judgment in this respect will be correct. Consequently, the use of hedging transactions might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund, whether or not adjusted for risk, than if the Fund had not hedged its portfolio holdings. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it which it would be advisable to do so. See “Hedging Transactions.”

 

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts.    The Fund’s use of derivative instruments may include (i) U.S. Treasury security or U.S. Government Agency security futures contracts and (ii) options on U.S. Treasury security or U.S. Government Agency security futures contracts. All such instruments must be traded and listed on an exchange. U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency futures contracts are standardized contracts for the future delivery of a U.S. Treasury Bond or U.S. Treasury Note or a U.S. Government Agency security or their equivalent at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. An option on a U.S. Treasury or U.S. Government Agency futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser of the option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a U.S. Treasury or U.S. Government Agency futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time on or before the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s future margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.

 

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The Fund may purchase and sell various other kinds of financial futures contracts and options thereon. Futures contracts may be based on various debt securities and securities indices. Such transactions involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, which may exceed the Fund’s initial investment in these contracts. The Fund will only purchase or sell futures contracts or related options in compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These transactions involve transaction costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of futures will be advantageous to the Fund. Guidelines established by one or more NRSROs that rate any preferred shares issued by the Fund may limit use of these transactions.

 

Credit-Linked Notes.    The Fund may invest in credit-linked notes (“CLN”) for risk management purposes, including diversification. A CLN is a derivative instrument that is a synthetic obligation between two or more parties where the payment of principal and/or interest is based on the performance of some obligation (a reference obligation). In addition to credit risk of the reference obligation and interest rate risk, the buyer/seller of the CLN is subject to counterparty risk. See “Risk Factors—Counterparty Risk.”

 

Swaps.    Swap contracts may be purchased or sold to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or market conditions, to change the duration of the overall portfolio, or to mitigate default risk. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties, which returns are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.

 

Credit Default Swaps.    The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts for risk management purposes, including diversification. When the Fund is the buyer of a credit default swap contract, the Fund is entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or non-U.S. corporate Issuer, on the debt obligation. In return, the Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When the Fund is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments, but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund will segregate assets in the form of cash and cash equivalents in an amount equal to the aggregate market value of the credit default swaps of which it is the seller, marked to market on a daily basis. These transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the seller may be unable to fulfill the transaction. The tax treatment of certain credit default swaps is uncertain.

 

Interest Rate Swaps.    The Fund will enter into interest rate and total return swaps only on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). The Fund will only enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. The Fund will not enter into any interest rate swap unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. These instruments are traded in the over-the-counter market.

 

The Fund may use interest rate swaps for risk management purposes only and not as a speculative investment and would typically use interest rate swaps to shorten the average interest rate reset time of the Fund’s holdings. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). The

 

36


use of interest rate swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If NFALLC is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund would be unfavorably affected.

 

Total Return Swaps.    As stated above, the Fund will enter into total return swaps only on a net basis. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset(s), which may include securities, baskets of securities, or securities indices during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from other underlying asset(s).

 

Other Hedging Transactions.    The Fund also may invest in relatively new instruments without a significant trading history for purposes of hedging the Fund’s portfolio risks. See “Other Investment Policies and Techniques” in the Fund’s SAI for further information on hedging transactions.

 

Interest Rate Transactions.    The Fund’s portfolio investments in Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments will serve as a hedge against the risk that Common Share net income and/or returns may decrease due to rising market dividend or interest rates on any future preferred shares or Borrowings.

 

Limitations on the Use of Futures, Futures Options and Swaps.    Pursuant to a claim for exemption filed with the National Futures Association on behalf of the Fund, the Fund is not deemed to be a commodity pool operator or a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and neither it nor NFALLC or Symphony is currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In February 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) announced substantial amendments to certain exemptions, and to the conditions for reliance on those exemptions, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under amendments to the exemption provided under CFTC Regulation 4.5, if the Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s net asset value, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s net asset value (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The CFTC amendments to Regulation 4.5 took effect on December 31, 2012, and the Fund intends to comply with amended Regulation 4.5’s requirements, such that NFALLC and/or Symphony will not be required to register with respect to the Fund as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC. The Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures, options thereon and swaps to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures transactions, engage in options transactions or engage in swap transactions.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in any investment company security involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Therefore, before investing you should consider carefully the following risks that you assume when you invest in Common Shares.

 

Investment and Market Risk

 

An investment in the Fund’s Common Shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in Common Shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund, most of which are not traded on a national securities exchange, NASDAQ (as defined below) or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.

 

Your Common Shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions. The Fund likely will use leverage, which magnifies the securities market risks described above.

 

Market Discount from Net Asset Value

 

Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and have during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value. The Fund cannot predict whether Common Shares will trade at, above or below net asset value. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s net asset value could decrease as a result of investment activities. Investors bear a risk of loss to the extent that the price at which they sell their shares is lower in relation to the Fund’s net asset value than at the time of purchase, assuming a stable net asset value. Proceeds from the sale of Common Shares in this offering will be reduced by transaction costs (if applicable, which vary depending on the offering method used). Depending on the premium of the Common Shares at the time of any offering of Common Shares hereunder, the Fund’s net asset value may be reduced by an amount up to the offering costs borne by the Fund (estimated to be an additional 0.18% of the offering price assuming a Common Share offering price of $8.02 (the Fund’s closing price on the Exchange on February 22, 2013)). The net asset value per Common Share will also be reduced by costs associated with any future offerings of Common Shares or preferred shares. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

 

Senior Loan Risks

 

Issuer Credit Risk.    Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. Such non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the investment and a potential decrease in the net asset value of the Fund. Although under normal circumstances at least 65% of the Fund’s Managed Assets will be invested in Senior Loans that are secured by specific collateral, there can be no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral securing a Senior Loan would satisfy the Borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower, the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing a Senior Loan. The collateral securing a Senior Loan may lose all or substantially all of its value in the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower. Some Senior Loans are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such Senior Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the Borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of Senior Loans, including, in certain circumstances, invalidating such Senior Loans or causing interest previously paid to be refunded to the Borrower. If interest were required to be refunded, it would negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

 

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In evaluating the creditworthiness of Borrowers, Symphony may consider, and may rely in part, on analyses performed by others. Borrowers may have outstanding debt obligations that are rated below investment grade by a NRSRO. Many of the Senior Loans in the Fund will have been assigned ratings below investment grade quality. Because of the protective features of Senior Loans, Symphony believes that Senior Loans tend to have more favorable loss recovery rates as compared to more junior types of below investment grade debt obligations. Symphony does not view ratings as the determinative factor in its investment decisions and relies more upon its credit analysis abilities than upon ratings.

 

The Fund is subject to the same inherent risks described above with respect to issuers of other debt instruments in which the Fund may invest, although it is not expected that these debt instruments will be secured by collateral.

 

Senior Loan Interest Rate Risk.    When interest rates decline, the value of a fund invested in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a fund invested in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. Although changes in prevailing interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the value of Senior Loans (due to the fact that adjustable rates on Senior Loans only reset periodically), the value of Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments is substantially less sensitive to changes in market interest rates than fixed rate instruments. As a result, the Adviser believes the Fund’s policy of investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans will make the Fund less volatile and its net asset value less sensitive to changes in market interest rates than if the Fund invested exclusively in fixed rate obligations. Similarly, because interest rates on most Senior Loans and other adjustable rate instruments typically only reset periodically (e.g., monthly or quarterly), a sudden and significant increase in market interest rates may cause a decline in the value of these investments and in the Fund’s net asset value. Other factors (including, but not limited to, rating downgrades, credit deterioration, a large downward movement in stock prices, a disparity in supply and demand of certain Senior Loans and other securities or market conditions that reduce liquidity) can reduce the value of Senior Loans and other debt obligations, impairing the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Risks in Senior Loan Valuation.    The Fund uses an independent pricing service to value most Senior Loans and other debt securities at their market value or at a fair value determined by the independent pricing service. The Fund will use the fair value method to value loans or other securities if the independent pricing service is unable to provide a market or fair value for them or if the market or fair value provided by the independent pricing service is deemed unreliable, or if events occurring after the close of a securities market and before the Fund values its Managed Assets would materially affect net asset value. A security that is fair valued may be valued at a price higher or lower than actual market quotations or the value determined by other funds using their own fair valuation procedures. Because non-U.S. securities may trade on days when Common Shares are not priced, net asset value can change at times when Common Shares cannot be sold.

 

Agent Risk.    A financial institution’s employment as an Agent under a Senior Loan might be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor Agent would generally be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by the Agent under the loan agreement would likely remain available to holders of such indebtedness. However, if assets held by the terminated Agent for the benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Senior Loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other interposed financial institutions (e.g., an insurance company or government agency) similar risks may arise.

 

Participation Risk.    The Fund also may purchase a participation interest in a Senior Loan and by doing so acquire some or all of the interest of a bank or other lending institution in a Senior Loan to a Borrower. A participation typically will result in the Fund having a contractual relationship only with the Lender, not the Borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the Lender selling the participation in addition to the credit risk of the Borrower. By purchasing a participation, the Fund will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender selling the participation and only upon receipt by the Lender of the payments from the Borrower. In the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the Lender and may not have a senior

 

39


claim to the Lender’s interest in the Senior Loan. If the Fund only acquires a participation in the loan made by a third party, the Fund may not be able to control the exercise of any remedies that the Lender would have under the Senior Loan. Such third party participation arrangements are designed to give Senior Loan investors preferential treatment over high yield investors in the event of a deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer. Even when these arrangements exist, however, there can be no assurance that the principal and interest owed on the Senior Loan will be repaid in full.

 

Prepayment Risk.    During periods of declining interest rates or for other purposes, Borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. In addition, below investment grade securities frequently have call features that allow an issuer to redeem a security at dates prior to its stated maturity at a specified price (typically greater than par) only if certain prescribed conditions are met (commonly referred to as call protection). An issuer may redeem a lower grade security if, for example, the issuer can refinance the debt at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. Senior Loans typically have no such call protection. For premium bonds (bonds acquired at prices that exceed their par or principal value) purchased by the Fund, prepayment risk may be increased.

 

Other Risks Associated with Senior Loans.    Many Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest may not be rated by a NRSRO, will not be registered with the SEC or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. In addition, the amount of public information available with respect to Senior Loans generally may be less extensive than that available for registered or exchange listed securities. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. No active trading market may exist for some Senior Loans and some Senior Loans may be subject to restrictions on resale. A secondary market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods, which may impair the ability to realize full value and thus cause a material decline in the Fund’s net asset value. During periods of limited supply and liquidity of Senior Loans, the Fund’s yield may be lower.

 

Below Investment Grade Risk

 

The Fund may invest 100% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans that are rated below investment grade or that are unrated but judged to be of comparable quality by Symphony. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominately speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or high yield debt, which implies higher price volatility and default risk than investment grade instruments of comparable terms and duration. Issuers of lower grade securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. The prices of these lower grade securities are typically more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the Issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. The secondary market for lower grade securities, including some Senior Loans and most subordinated loans may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. There are fewer dealers in the market for lower grade securities than for investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers for lower grade securities may vary significantly and the spread between the bid and ask price for such securities is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for lower grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular Issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

 

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Non-U.S. Issuer Risk

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. Although the Senior Loans will require payment of interest and principal in U.S. dollars, these Borrowers may have significant non-U.S. dollar revenues. Investment in foreign Borrowers involves special risks, including that foreign Borrowers may be subject to: including the following: (i) less publicly available information about non-U.S. Issuers or markets due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) many non-U.S. markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile, meaning that, in a changing market, Symphony may not be able to sell the Fund’s portfolio securities at times, in amounts or at prices it considers reasonable; (iii) potential adverse effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund’s investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession; (v) the impact of economic, political, social or diplomatic events; (vi) possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of the company or its assets; (vii) certain non-U.S. countries may impose restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. Issuers to make payments of principal and/or interest to investors located outside the U.S., due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise; and (viii) withholding and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund’s return. These risks are more pronounced to the extent that the Fund invests a significant amount of its assets in companies located in one region and to the extent that the Fund invests in securities of Issuers in emerging markets. Although the Fund may hedge its exposure to certain of these risks, including the foreign currency exchange rate risk, there can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into hedging transactions at any time or at times or under circumstances in which it might be advisable to do so.

 

Economies and social and political climates in individual countries may differ unfavorably from the United States. Non-U.S. economies may have less favorable rates of growth of gross domestic product, rates of inflation, currency valuation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments positions. Many countries have experienced substantial, and in some cases extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Unanticipated economic, political and social developments may also affect the values of the Fund’s investments and the availability to the Fund of additional investments in such countries.

 

Portfolio Liquidity

 

No active trading market currently exists for many Senior Loans. Senior Loans are thus relatively illiquid. Liquidity relates to the ability of the Fund to sell an investment in a timely manner at a price approximately equal to its value on the Fund’s books. The illiquidity of Senior Loans may impair the Fund’s ability to realize the full value of its assets in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of such assets. Because of the lack of an active trading market, illiquid securities are also difficult to value and prices provided by external pricing services may not reflect the true fair value of the securities. However, many Senior Loans are of a large principal amount and are held by a large number of financial institutions. In the Adviser’s opinion, this should enhance their liquidity. In addition, in recent years the number of institutional investors purchasing Senior Loans has increased. The risks of illiquidity are particularly important when the Fund’s operations require cash, and may in certain circumstances require that the Fund borrow to meet short-term cash requirements. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for certain Senior Loans, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. The Fund has no limitation on the amount of its assets that may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or that are subject to restrictions on resale (except as noted elsewhere herein). The substantial portion of the Fund’s assets invested in Senior Loans may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a fair price, and could result in capital losses to the Fund and holders of its shares. The market for Senior Loans could be disrupted in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase or decrease in interest rates. This could result in increased volatility in the market and in the Fund’s net asset value and market price per share. See “Net Asset Value.”

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed-income securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. The Fund’s

 

41


investment in such securities means that the net asset value and market price of Common Shares will tend to decline if market interest rates rise. Market interest rates in the U.S. and certain other countries in which the Fund may invest currently are near historically low levels. Because the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans and will maintain an average portfolio duration of one year or less, the Fund is intended to have a relatively low level of interest rate risk. However, because interest rates on most Senior Loans and other adjustable rate instruments typically only reset periodically (e.g., monthly or quarterly), changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuation in the market value of these securities, including declines in market value as interest rates rise. The Fund’s use of leverage, as described herein, will also tend to increase Common Share interest rate risk.

 

Interest Rate Fluctuations

 

When interest rates decline, the value of a portfolio invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a portfolio invested in fixed-rate obligations can be expected to decline. Although the Fund’s net asset value will vary, the Adviser expects the Fund’s policy of acquiring primarily interests in floating rate Senior Loans to minimize fluctuations in net asset value resulting from changes in market interest rates. However, because floating or variable rates on Senior Loans only reset periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. Similarly, a sudden and significant increase in market interest rates, may cause a decline in the Fund’s net asset value.

 

Income Risk

 

The Fund invests primarily in Senior Loans whose interest rates reset frequently. If market interest rates fall, these interest rates will be reset at lower levels, reducing the Fund’s income and in turn, dividends paid to Common Shareholders.

 

Net Asset Value Fluctuations

 

The Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest generally are not listed on any securities exchange. Certain Senior Loans are traded by institutional investors in an over-the-counter secondary market for Senior Loan obligations that has developed over the past several years. No active trading market currently exists for many of the Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest. The secondary market for those Senior Loans generally is comparatively illiquid relative to markets for other income securities. Because of the lack of an active trading market, Senior Loans are generally more difficult to value than liquid securities for which an active trading market exists. In determining net asset value, the Fund will utilize the valuations of Senior Loans furnished by an independent third-party pricing service, which typically values Senior Loans at the mean of the highest bona fide bid and lowest bona fide ask prices when current quotations are readily available.

 

Senior Loans for which current quotations are not readily available are valued at a fair value as determined by the pricing service using pricing methods and other information and analyses, including credit considerations considered relevant by such pricing service, to determine valuations. If the pricing service does not provide a value for a Senior Loan, a value will be determined by the Adviser.

 

To the extent that an active secondary trading market in Senior Loan interests develops to a reliable degree, the pricing service may rely to an increasing extent on such market prices and quotations in determining valuations of the Senior Loan interests in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund purchases Senior Loans primarily to seek to achieve its investment objective of high current income, consistent with preservation of capital, and does not anticipate that it will actively trade Senior Loans. To the extent a trading market continues to develop, certain participants in the market may have objectives other than current income and may pursue short-term trading strategies, which may result in erratic movements in the market prices for Senior Loans as a result of movements in short-term interest rates or otherwise. Although the Fund’s policy of acquiring interests in floating rate Senior Loans is intended to minimize fluctuations in net asset value resulting from changes in market interest rates, the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate.

 

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Reinvestment Risk

 

Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called bonds at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. A decline in income could affect the Common Shares’ market price or their overall returns.

 

Leverage Risk

 

Leverage risk is the risk associated with the use of the Fund’s borrowings, outstanding preferred shares, if issued in the future, or the use of tender option bonds to leverage the Common Shares. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful. Because the long-term debt securities in which the Fund invests generally pay fixed rates of interest while the Fund’s costs of leverage generally fluctuate with short- to intermediate-term yields, the incremental earnings from leverage will vary over time. However, the Fund may use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, to fix the effective rate paid on all or a portion of the Fund’s leverage in an effort to lower leverage costs over an extended period. Accordingly, the Fund cannot assure you that the use of leverage will result in a higher yield or return to Common Shareholders. The income benefit from leverage will be reduced to the extent that the difference narrows between the net earnings on the Fund’s portfolio securities and its cost of leverage. The income benefit from the leverage will increase to the extent that the difference widens between the net earnings on the Fund’s portfolio securities and its costs of leverage. If short- or intermediate-term rates rise, the Fund’s cost of leverage could exceed the fixed rate of return on longer-term bonds held by the Fund that were acquired during periods of lower interest rates, reducing returns to Common Shareholders. This could occur even if short- or intermediate-term and long-term interest rates rise. Because of the costs of leverage, the Fund may incur losses even if the Fund has positive returns, if they are not sufficient to cover the costs of leverage. The Fund’s cost of leverage includes expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of any borrowings or the interest attributable to tender option bonds as well as any one-time costs (e.g., issuance costs) and ongoing fees and expenses associated with such leverage.

 

The risk of loss attributable to the Fund’s use of leverage is borne by Common Shareholders. The Fund’s use of financial leverage can result in a greater decrease in net asset values in declining markets. Furthermore, the amount of fees paid to Nuveen Fund Advisors for investment advisory services will be higher if the Fund uses leverage because the fees will be calculated based on the Fund’s Managed Assets—this may create an incentive for Nuveen Fund Advisors to leverage the Fund. The Fund is required to maintain certain regulatory and rating agency asset coverage requirements in connection with its outstanding borrowings, in order to be able to maintain the ability to declare and pay Common Share distributions and to maintain the rating of preferred shares, if issued in the future. In order to maintain required asset coverage levels, the Fund may be required to alter the composition of its investment portfolio or take other actions, such as redeeming preferred shares, if any, or prepaying borrowings with the proceeds from portfolio transactions, at what might be an inopportune time in the market. Such actions could reduce the net earnings or returns to Common Shareholders over time.

 

The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, which may themselves be leveraged and therefore present similar risks to those described above.

 

Non-Diversification

 

The Fund has registered as a “non-diversified” investment company. This means that it may invest more than 5% of the value of its assets in the obligations of any single issuer, including Senior Loans of a single Borrower and Participations purchased from a single Lender. However, the Fund does not intend to invest more than 10% of the value of its assets in Senior Loans of a single Borrower. If the Fund invests a relatively high percentage of its assets in obligations of a limited number of issuers, the Fund will be more at risk to any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory event that impacts one or more of those issuers. In addition, the Fund must satisfy certain asset diversification rules to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes.

 

43


Borrowing Risks

 

In addition to borrowing for leverage (See “Use of Leverage”), the Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including to meet redemption requests, pay dividends, repurchase its shares, or clear portfolio transactions. Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of the Fund’s shares and may affect the Fund’s net income. When the Fund borrows money, it must pay interest and other fees, which will reduce the fund’s returns if such costs exceed the returns on the portfolio securities purchased or retained with such borrowings. Any such borrowings are intended to be temporary. However, under certain market conditions, such borrowings might be outstanding for longer periods of time.

 

Regulatory Risk

 

To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Further, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Senior Loans.

 

Derivatives Risk, Including the Risk of Swaps

 

The Fund’s use of derivatives involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the investments underlying the derivatives. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, if NFALLC and Symphony correctly forecast market values, interest rates and other applicable factors. If NFALLC and Symphony incorrectly forecast these and other factors, the investment performance of the Fund will be unfavorably affected. In addition, the derivatives market is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments.

 

The Fund may enter into debt-related derivatives instruments including credit default swap contracts and interest rate swaps. Like most derivative instruments, the use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. In addition, the use of swaps requires an understanding by NFALLC and Symphony not only of the referenced asset, rate or index, but also of the swap itself. Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The derivatives market is subject to a changing regulatory environment. It is possible that regulatory or other development in the derivatives market could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to successfully use derivative instruments. See also, “—Counterparty Risk,” “Hedging Transactions” and the SAI.

 

Counterparty Risk

 

Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives or other transactions supported by another party’s credit will affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served as counterparties in the markets for these transactions have recently incurred significant financial hardships including bankruptcy and losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower quality credit investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such hardships have reduced these entities’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such transactions. By using such derivatives or other transactions, the Fund assumes the risk that its counterparties could experience similar financial hardships.

 

Repurchase Agreement Risk

 

With respect to repurchase agreements, if the party agreeing to repurchase specific securities should default, the Fund may seek to sell the securities which it holds. This could involve transaction costs or delays in addition to a loss on the securities if their value should fall below their repurchase price. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

 

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Inflation Risk

 

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investment will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Shares and distributions can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, preferred share dividend rates and interest rates on Borrowings would likely increase, which, without a corresponding increase in the interest rates on investments in the Fund’s portfolio, would reduce returns to Common Shareholders. Inflation risk is mitigated to a certain degree by the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments because increases in inflation have historically been accompanied by increases in the adjustable rates of interest of such securities.

 

Deflation Risk

 

Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Impact of Offering Methods Risk

 

The issuance of Common Shares through the various methods described in the Prospectus may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for the Fund’s Common Shares by increasing the number of Common Shares available for sale. In addition, the Common Shares may be issued at a discount to the market price for such Common Shares, which may put downward pressure on the market price for Common Shares of the Fund.

 

Reliance on Investment Adviser

 

The Fund is dependent upon services and resources provided by its investment adviser, NFALLC, and therefore the investment adviser’s parent, Nuveen Investments. Nuveen Investments has a substantial amount of indebtedness. Nuveen Investments, through its own business or the financial support of its affiliates, may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or ensure that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to enable it to pay its indebtedness with scheduled maturities beginning in 2013 or to fund its other liquidity needs. Nuveen Investments’ failure to satisfy the terms of its indebtedness, including covenants therein, may generally have an adverse effect on the financial condition of Nuveen Investments. For additional information on NFALLC and Nuveen Investments, see “Management of the Fund.”

 

Certain Affiliations

 

Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Fund, Symphony, NFALLC, Nuveen Investments and/or Nuveen Securities. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, the Fund is generally precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit the Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions, purchase certain adjustable rate senior loans, if applicable, and take advantage of market opportunities.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

The Fund’s Declaration includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. These provisions could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Trustees and Officers

 

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by NFALLC. The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the SAI.

 

Investment Adviser, Subadviser and Portfolio Managers

 

Investment Adviser.    NFALLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of mutual fund and closed-end fund clients. NFALLC is responsible for the overall investment strategy and its implementation, including portfolio allocations, and the use of leverage and hedging. NFALLC is also responsible for the ongoing monitoring of Symphony, managing the Nuveen Funds’ business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. NFALLC is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

NFALLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”). Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $220 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2012.

 

Sub-Adviser.    Symphony, located at 555 California Street, Suite 2975, San Francisco, CA 94104, the Fund’s sub-adviser, is responsible for the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund. Symphony specializes in the management of both long-only and alternative equity and debt strategies. Symphony, a registered investment adviser, commenced operations in 1994 and had approximately $11.6 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2012. Symphony is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments.

 

Portfolio Managers.    Gunther Stein is a co-portfolio manager of the Fund. Gunther Stein is Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer at Symphony. Mr. Stein is responsible for leading Symphony’s fixed-income and equity investments strategies and research and overseeing firm trading. Prior to joining Symphony in 1999, Mr. Stein was a high yield portfolio manager at Wells Fargo Bank, where he managed a high yield portfolio, was responsible for investing in public high yield bonds and bank loans and managed a team of credit analysts.

 

Scott Caraher is a co-portfolio manager of the Fund. Mr. Caraher is a member of Symphony’s fixed-income team and his responsibilities include portfolio management and trading for Symphony’s bank loan strategies and credit and equity research for its fixed-income strategies. Prior to joining Symphony in 2002, Mr. Caraher was an Investment Banking Analyst in the industrial group at Deutsche Banc Alex Brown in New York.

 

Additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund is provided in the SAI. The SAI is available free of charge by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.nuveen.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Fund’s website is not part of this prospectus of the SAI.

 

Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

Investment Management Agreement.    Pursuant to an investment management agreement between NFALLC and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the services and facilities provided by NFALLC, payable on a monthly basis, based on the sum of a fund-level fee and a complex-level fee, as described below.

 

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Fund-Level Fee.    The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Average Daily Managed Assets1


   Fund-Level Fee Rate

 

For the first $1 billion

     0.6500 %

For the next $1 billion

     0.6375 %

For the next $3 billion

     0.6250 %

For the next $5 billion

     0.6000 %

For Managed Assets over $10 billion

     0.5750 %

 

Complex Level Fee.    The annual complex-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Complex-Level Managed Asset Breakpoint Level2


   Effective Rate at
Breakpoint Level


 

$55 billion

     0.2000 %

$56 billion

     0.1996 %

$57 billion

     0.1989 %

$60 billion

     0.1961 %

$63 billion

     0.1931 %

$66 billion

     0.1900 %

$71 billion

     0.1851 %

$76 billion

     0.1806 %

$80 billion

     0.1773 %

$91 billion

     0.1691 %

$125 billion

     0.1599 %

$200 billion

     0.1505 %

$250 billion

     0.1469 %

$300 billion

     0.1445 %

 

  (1)   For this Fund, “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles).
  (2)   The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily “eligible assets” of all Nuveen Funds. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen Funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with NFALLC’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. With respect to closed-end funds, eligible assets include assets managed by NFALLC that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes, financial leverage includes the use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by NFALLC as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. As of November 30, 2012, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1684%.

 

In addition to the fee of NFALLC, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with NFALLC or Symphony), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses associated with any borrowings, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any.

 

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A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ decision to renew the Investment Management Agreement for the Fund is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated July 31 of each year.

 

Sub-Advisory Agreement.    Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between NFALLC and Symphony (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), Symphony will receive from NFALLC a management fee equal to the portion specified below of the management fee payable by the Fund to NFALLC, payable on a monthly basis:

 

Average Daily Managed Assets Percentage of Net Management Fee


      

Up to $125 million

     50.0

$125 million to $150 million

     47.5

$150 million to $175 million

     45.0

$175 million to $200 million

     42.5

$200 million and over

     40.0

 

NFALLC and Symphony retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ decision to renew the Sub-Advisory Agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated July 31 of each year.

 

NET ASSET VALUE

 

The Fund’s net asset value per Common Share will be determined as of the close of regular session trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. Net asset value is calculated by taking the market value of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities (including leverage instruments), and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share. All valuations are subject to review by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or its delegate.

 

The Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest generally are not listed on any securities exchange. Certain Senior Loans are traded by institutional investors in an over-the-counter secondary market for Senior Loan obligations that has developed over the past several years. This secondary market for those Senior Loans generally is comparatively illiquid relative to markets for other income securities and no active trading market exists for many Senior Loans. In determining net asset value, the Fund will utilize the valuations of Senior Loans furnished to the Adviser by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has reviewed the various alternatives for pricing the Fund’s portfolio of Senior Loans and has determined that the use of a pricing service is a reasonable, fair and appropriate method of valuing Senior Loans and has entered into an agreement with one or more independent third-party pricing services to provide comparable pricing services for the Fund under similar terms as those described below. The Agreement is terminable by either party and to provide that the pricing service assumes no fiduciary responsibility to the Fund or to any investor in the Fund, and that the pricing service has no liability under the Agreement to any third party, including any investor in the Fund. The Agreement provides that the pricing service will be indemnified by the Adviser unless the pricing service has acted with willful misconduct. The pricing service is explicitly permitted to act as principal for its own account in connection with the purchase and sale (from or to the Fund or otherwise) of any Senior Loan at any price simultaneously while it provides pricing services to the Fund.

 

Furthermore, the pricing service has no obligation to provide a valuation for a Senior Loan if it believes that it cannot determine such a valuation and, accordingly, the pricing service may not provide valuations for all the Senior Loans in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Pricing services typically will value Senior Loans at the mean of the highest bona fide bid and lowest bona fide ask prices when current quotations are readily available. Senior Loans for which current quotations will not be readily available are valued at a fair value as determined by the pricing service using a wide range of market data and other information and analysis, including credit considerations considered relevant by such pricing

 

48


service to determine valuations. The procedures of any pricing service and its valuations will be reviewed by the officers of the Adviser under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees. If the Adviser believes that a value provided by a pricing service does not represent a fair value as a result of information, specific to that Senior Loan or Borrower or its affiliates, of which the Adviser believes that the pricing agent may not be aware, the Adviser may in its discretion value the Senior Loan, and the Fund will utilize that price instead of the price as determined by the pricing service. In addition to such information the Adviser will consider, among other factors, (i) the creditworthiness of the Borrower and (ii) the current interest rate, the period until next interest rate reset and maturity of such Senior Loan interests in determining a fair value of a Senior Loan. If the pricing service does not provide a value for a Senior Loan or if no pricing service is then acting, a value will be determined by the Adviser in the manner described above.

 

It is expected that the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate as a function of interest rate and credit factors. Because of the short-term nature of such instruments, however, the Fund’s net asset value is expected to fluctuate less in response to changes in interest rates than the net asset values of investment companies with portfolios consisting primarily of longer term fixed-income securities.

 

Because a secondary trading market in Senior Loans has not yet fully developed, the pricing service or the Adviser may not rely solely on but may consider, to the extent they believe such information to be reliable, prices or quotations provided by banks, dealers or other pricing services with respect to secondary market transactions in Senior Loans. To the extent that an active secondary trading market in Senior Loan interests develops to a reliable degree, the pricing service or the Adviser may rely to an increasing extent on such market prices and quotations in reviewing the valuations of the Senior Loan interests in the Fund’s portfolio. To the extent a trading market continues to develop, certain participants in the market may have objectives other than current income and may pursue short-term trading strategies, which may result in erratic movements in the market prices for Senior Loans as a result of movements in short-term interest rates. Although the Fund’s policy of acquiring interests in floating rate Senior Loans is intended to minimize fluctuations in net asset value resulting from changes in market interest rates, the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate. In light of the senior nature of Senior Loan interests that may be included in the Fund’s portfolio and taking into account the Fund’s access to non-public information with respect to Borrowers relating to such Senior Loan interests, the Adviser does not currently believe that consideration on a systematic basis of ratings provided by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or price fluctuations with respect to long- or short-term debt of such Borrowers subordinate to the Senior Loans of such Borrowers is necessary in order to review the value of such Senior Loan interests. Accordingly, the Adviser generally will not systematically consider (but may consider in certain instances) and, in any event, will not rely solely upon such ratings or price fluctuations in determining or reviewing valuations of Senior Loan interests in the Fund’s portfolio.

 

See “Net Asset Value” in the SAI.

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The Fund pays monthly distributions to Common Shareholders. Distributions are reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive cash.

 

The Fund seeks to pay monthly distributions at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) based on the Fund’s projected performance. The Fund’s ability to maintain a level Common Share dividend rate depends on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Fund’s distribution policy could change. For each year, the Fund will distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, substantially all of its net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) and taxable ordinary income, if any, to Common Shareholders.

 

49


To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly distribution, the Fund may initially distribute less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in a particular period. Any such undistributed net investment income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the Fund during the period.

 

Undistributed net investment income will be included in the Fund’s net asset value and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed net investment income will be deducted from the Fund’s net asset value.

 

The Fund might not distribute all or a portion of any net capital gain for a taxable year. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain for a taxable year, it will pay U.S. federal income tax on the retained gain. Each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share of the retained net capital gain, will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund may treat the retained capital gains as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. The Fund may make total distributions during a given calendar year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net capital gain for that calendar year, in which case the excess will generally be treated by Common Shareholders as a return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a Shareholder’s tax basis which could result in higher taxes when the Shareholder sells his or her stocks. This may cause the Shareholder to pay taxes even if he or she sells stocks for less than the original price.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time.

 

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

 

If your shares of Common Stock are registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your shares of Common Stock with a brokerage firm that participates in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), you may elect to have all dividends, including any capital gain dividends, on your Common Stock automatically reinvested by the Plan Agent (defined below) in additional Common Stock under the Plan. You may elect to participate in the Plan by contacting Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787. If you do not participate, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you or your brokerage firm by State Street Bank and Trust Company as dividend paying agent (the “Plan Agent”).

 

If you decide to participate in the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock you will receive will be determined as follows:

 

(1) If shares of Common Stock are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the then current market price;

 

(2) If shares of Common Stock are trading below net asset value at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase shares of Common Stock in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the shares of Common Stock may increase before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in shares of Common Stock issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase shares of Common Stock in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments; or

 

(3) If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset value, but the Fund’s shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is

 

50


able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution in newly-issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares’ net asset value or 95% of the shares’ market value.

 

You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive whole shares in your account under the Plan and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.

 

The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Upon a repurchase of your shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) may be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to you cost basis and holding period information for Fund shares that you purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”).

 

For shares of the Fund held in the Plan, you are permitted to elect from among several permitted cost basis methods. In the absence of an election, the Plan will use first-in first-out (“FIFO”) methodology for tracking and reporting your cost basis on covered shares as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method you use may not be changed with respect to a repurchase of shares after the settlement date of the repurchase. You should consult with your tax advisors to determine the best permitted cost basis method for your tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting rules apply to you.

 

Common Stock in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all shares of Common Stock you have received under the Plan.

 

There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in shares of Common Stock. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases.

 

Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions.

 

If you hold your Common Stock with a brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described above. Consult your financial advisor for more information.

 

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Directors the change is warranted. 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. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by writing to State Street Bank and Trust Company, Attn: ComputerShare Nuveen Investments, P.O. Box 43071, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3071 or by calling (800) 257-8787.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The Fund may sell the Common Shares offered under this Prospectus through

 

   

at-the-market transactions;

 

   

underwriting syndicates; and

 

   

privately negotiated transactions.

 

The Fund will bear the expenses of the offering, including but not limited to, the expenses of preparation of the Prospectus and SAI for the offering and the expense of counsel and auditors in connection with the offering.

 

51


Distribution Through At-the-Market Transactions

 

The Fund has entered into a Distribution Agreement with Nuveen Securities, a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The summary of the Distribution Agreement contained herein is qualified by reference to the Distribution Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Distribution Agreement, the Fund may from time to time offer its Common Shares through Nuveen Securities to certain broker-dealers which have entered into selected dealer agreements with Nuveen Securities. Currently, Nuveen Securities has entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Selected Dealer Agreement”) with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel Nicolaus”), pursuant to which Stifel Nicolaus will act as the exclusive sub-placement agent with respect to at-the-market offerings of the Common Shares. A form of the Selected Dealer Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The summary of the Selected Dealer Agreement contained herein is qualified by reference to the Selected Dealer Agreement.

 

Common Shares will only be sold on such days as shall be agreed to by the Fund, Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus. Common Shares will be sold at market prices, which shall be determined with reference to trades on the NYSE, subject to a minimum price to be established each day by Nuveen Securities. The minimum price on any day will not be less than the current net asset value per Common Share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to Nuveen Securities. Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus will suspend the sale of Common Shares if the per share price of the shares is less than the minimum price.

 

The Fund will compensate Nuveen Securities with respect to sales of the Common Shares at a commission rate of up to 1% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares. Nuveen Securities will compensate Stifel Nicolaus at a fixed rate of 0.80% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares sold by Stifel Nicolaus. Settlements of sales of Common Shares will occur on the third business day following the date on which any such sales are made.

 

In connection with the sale of the Common Shares on behalf of the Fund, Nuveen Securities may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and the compensation of Nuveen may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. Unless otherwise indicated in a Prospectus supplement, Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus will act on a reasonable efforts basis.

 

The offering of Common Shares pursuant to the Selected Dealer Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all Shares subject thereto or (ii) termination of the Selected Dealer Agreement. Each of Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus has the right to terminate the Selected Dealer Agreement in its discretion at any time. The Fund currently intends to distribute the Common Shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus primarily through at-the-market transactions, although from time to time it may also distribute Common Shares through an underwriting syndicate or a privately negotiated transaction. To the extent Common Shares are distributed other than through at-the-market transactions, the Fund will file a supplement to this Prospectus describing such transactions.

 

The Fund’s closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on February 22, 2013 was $8.02.

 

Distribution Through Underwriting Syndicates

 

The Fund from time to time may issue additional Common Shares through a syndicated secondary offering. In order to limit the impact on the market price of the Fund’s Common Shares, underwriters will market and price the offering on an expedited basis (e.g., overnight or similarly abbreviated offering period). The Fund will launch a syndicated offering on a day, and upon terms, mutually agreed upon between the Fund, Nuveen Securities, one of the Fund’s underwriters, and the underwriting syndicate.

 

The Fund will offer its shares at a price equal to a specified discount of up to 5% from the closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares on the day prior to the offering date. The applicable discount will be

 

52


negotiated by the Fund and Nuveen Securities in consultation with the underwriting syndicate on a transaction-by-transaction basis. The Fund will compensate the underwriting syndicate out of the proceeds of the offering based upon a sales load of up to 4% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares. The minimum net proceeds per share to the Fund will not be less than the greater of (i) the Fund’s latest net asset value per Common Share or (ii) 91% of the closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares on the day prior to the offering date.

 

Distribution Through Privately Negotiated Transactions

 

The Fund, through Nuveen Securities, from time to time may sell directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional and other sophisticated investors, who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the 1933 Act for any resale of Common Shares.

 

The terms of such privately negotiated transactions will be subject to the discretion of the management of the Fund. In determining whether to sell Common Shares through a privately negotiated transaction, the Fund will consider relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the attractiveness of obtaining additional funds through the sale of Common Shares, the purchase price to apply to any such sale of Common Shares and the person seeking to purchase the Common Shares.

 

Common Shares issued by the Fund through privately negotiated transactions will be issued at a price equal to the greater of (i) the net asset value per Common Share of the Fund’s Common Shares or (ii) at a discount ranging from 0% to 5% of the average daily closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares at the close of business on the two business days preceding the date upon which Common Shares are sold pursuant to the privately negotiated transaction. The applicable discount will be determined by the Fund on a transaction-by-transaction basis.

 

The principal business address of Nuveen Securities is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

Common Shares

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares being offered have a par value of $0.01 per share and, subject to the rights of holders of preferred shares, if issued, and Borrowings, if incurred, have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. The Common Shares being offered will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust,” non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. Each Common Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and will vote together as a single class. Whenever the Fund incurs Borrowings and/or preferred shares are outstanding, Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund unless all interest on such Borrowings has been paid and all accrued dividends on preferred shares have been paid, unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any Borrowings would be at least 300% after giving effect to the distributions and asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares” below.

 

The Common Shares are listed on the NYSE. The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund will not issue share certificates.

 

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end

 

53


investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and have during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value.

 

Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, net asset value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. See “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund.”

 

Borrowings

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Fund, without approval of the Common Shareholders, to borrow money. In this connection, the Fund may issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness (including bank borrowings or commercial paper) and may secure any such borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Fund’s assets. The Fund has entered into a $109,000,000 Revolving Credit and Security Agreement with an affiliate of Citibank. As of July 31, 2012, the Fund’s outstanding balance on these borrowings was $100,000,000. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the average daily balance outstanding and average annual interest rate on these borrowings were $80,869,672 and 1.16%, respectively. The Fund borrows money at rates generally available to institutional investors. In connection with such Borrowings, the Fund may be required to maintain minimum average balances with the lender or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Any such requirements will increase the cost of any such Borrowings over the stated interest rate. Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund, immediately after any such Borrowings, must have an “asset coverage” of at least 300%. With respect to any such Borrowings, asset coverage means the ratio that the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of such Borrowings represented by senior securities issued by the Fund. Certain types of Borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverages or portfolio coverages or otherwise. In addition, as with the issuance of preferred shares, certain types of Borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund. Such restrictions may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.

 

The rights of lenders to the Fund to receive interest on and repayment of principal of any such Borrowings will be senior to those of the Common Shareholders, and the terms of any such Borrowings may contain provisions which limit certain activities of the Fund, including the payment of dividends to Common Shareholders in certain circumstances. Furthermore, the 1940 Act does (in certain circumstances) grant to the lenders to the Fund certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal. In the event that such provisions would impair the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund will attempt to repay or restructure the Borrowings to preserve that eligibility. Any Borrowings will likely be ranked senior or equal to all other existing and future Borrowings of the Fund. The Fund may also borrow money for repurchase of its shares or as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency situations. See “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI.

 

Preferred Shares

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders. The Fund has issued preferred shares in the past, but as of the date of this Prospectus no preferred shares were outstanding. The Fund may again in the future issue certain types of preferred securities to increase the Fund’s leverage.

 

54


Limited Issuance of Preferred Shares.    Under the 1940 Act, the Fund could issue preferred shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets, including any liabilities associated with Borrowings, measured immediately after issuance of the preferred shares. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation value of the preferred shares is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution.

 

Distribution Preference.    If issued in the future, preferred shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

 

Liquidation Preference.    In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders.

 

Voting Rights.    Preferred shares are required to be voting shares and to have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or the SAI and except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, would vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.

 

Holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees (following the establishment of the Fund by an initial trustee, the Declaration provides for a total of no less than two and no more than 12 trustees). The remaining trustees would be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of accrued dividends are unpaid on the preferred shares, if issued in the future, the holders of all outstanding preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, would be required, in addition to the single class vote of the holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, and Common Shares. See “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust” and the SAI under “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares—Voting Rights.”

 

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares.    The terms of the preferred shares, if issued in the future, would provide that they may be redeemed by the issuer at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends. Any redemption or purchase of preferred shares, if issued in the future, by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any issuance of shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

 

CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration of Trust further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

 

The Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. Specifically, the Declaration of Trust requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund

 

55


from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund’s investment activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, or (5) a removal of trustees by shareholders (except at the end of a trustee’s term), and then only for cause,1 unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s Common Shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, is required; provided, however, that where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class), only the required vote by the applicable class or series will be required. Approval of shareholders is not required, however, for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Fund issues shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity. In the case of the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, the action in question will also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, or, if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the Common Shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, such a staggered board could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees believes that the provisions of the Declaration of Trust relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. See the SAI under “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

 

The provisions of the Declaration of Trust described above could have the effect of depriving the Common Shareholders of opportunities to sell their Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price of the Common Shares by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a third party. They provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objective and policies. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its Common Shareholders.

 

Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.

 

REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

 

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of closed-end investment

 


1   

Vacancies caused by the death, resignation, retirement, removal or disqualification of a trustee may be filled in any manner that is consistent with the Declaration of Trust and applicable law.

 

56


companies may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of Common Shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. The Fund cannot assure you that its Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers will actually reduce market discount. On July 30, 2008, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved an open market share repurchase program under which the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its Common Shares. Since the inception of the Fund’s repurchase program, the Fund has not repurchased any of its outstanding Common Shares.

 

If the Fund converted to an open-end investment company, it would be required to redeem all preferred shares then outstanding, if any (requiring in turn that it liquidate a portion of its investment portfolio), and the Common Shares would no longer be listed on the NYSE. In contrast to a closed-end investment company, shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares at any time (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less any redemption charge that is in effect at the time of redemption. See the SAI under “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust” for a discussion of the voting requirements applicable to the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company.

 

Before deciding whether to take any action if the Common Shares trade below net asset value, the Board would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders, and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken. See the SAI under “Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund” for a further discussion of possible action to reduce or eliminate such discount to net asset value.

 

TAX MATTERS

 

The following information is meant as a general summary for U.S. shareholders. Please see the SAI for additional information. Investors should rely on their own tax advisers for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.

 

The Fund intends to qualify for the special tax treatment afforded to regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under the Code. As long as the Fund qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company, it pays no federal income tax on the earnings it distributes to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund must meet certain distribution requirements. Nevertheless, the Fund might not distribute all of its net investment income, and the Fund is not required to distribute any portion of its net capital gain. If the Fund qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company but does not distribute all of its net capital gain and net investment income, it will be subject to tax on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount of capital gain as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be deemed to have paid their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount and will be entitled to credit that amount of tax against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder.

 

Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-exempt entity or tax deferred retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan, you will normally have to pay federal income taxes, and any state or local taxes, on the dividends and other distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you take the distributions in cash or

 

57


reinvest them in additional shares. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions from the Fund’s net capital gains (if any) are considered long-term capital gains and may be taxable to you at reduced rates. Distributions from the Fund’s net short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income. Other dividends are generally taxable as ordinary income. Since the Fund’s income is derived primarily from sources that do not pay dividends, it is not expected that a substantial portion of dividends paid by the Fund will qualify for either the dividends-received deduction for corporations or the U.S. federal income tax rates available to noncorporate taxpayers on “qualified dividend income.” A distribution of an amount in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will first be treated as a return of capital, which is applied against and reduces the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent the amount of any such distribution exceeds your basis in your shares, the excess will be treated as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares.

 

The Fund will report to shareholders annually the U.S. federal income tax status of all Fund distributions.

 

If the Fund declares a dividend in October, November or December, payable to shareholders of record in such a month, but pays it in January of the following year, you will be taxed on the dividend as if you received it in the year in which it was declared.

 

Unless your investment in the Fund is through a tax-exempt entity or tax deferred retirement account, when you sell or exchange Fund shares you will generally recognize a capital gain or capital loss in an amount equal to the difference between the net amount of sale proceeds (or, in the case of an exchange, the fair market value of the shares) that you receive and your tax basis for the shares that you sell or exchange.

 

Investments by the Fund in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to the Fund equal to a portion of the excess of the face value of the securities over their issue price (the “original issue discount” or “OID”) each year that the securities are held, even though the Fund may receive no cash interest payments or may receive cash interest payments that are less than the income recognized for tax purposes. In addition, any market discount recognized on a market discount bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value, or below adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount. Because the income required to be recognized by the Fund as a result of the OID and/or market discount rules may not be matched by a corresponding cash payment to the Fund, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to be able to make distributions to its shareholders in order to qualify for treatment as a RIC and eliminate taxes at the Fund level.

 

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is an individual and not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (among other categories of income) are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

 

The repurchase, sale or exchange of Common Shares normally will result in capital gain or loss to holders of Common Shares who hold their shares as capital assets. Generally a shareholder’s gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the same rates applicable to ordinary income. For noncorporate taxpayers, however, long-term capital gains are taxed at rates of up to 20%. Short-term capital gains and other ordinary income are taxed to noncorporate taxpayers at ordinary income rates.

 

The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) federal income tax from amounts payable to any shareholder who (1) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number

 

58


or no number at all, (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends, (3) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding, or (4) has not certified that such shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The backup withholding rate is 28%.

 

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

 

The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (“Custodian”). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is also State Street Bank and Trust Company (“Transfer Agent”). The Transfer Agent is located at 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, provides auditing services to the Fund. The principal business address of Ernst & Young LLP is 155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

LEGAL OPINION

 

Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Bingham McCutchen LLP, Washington, D.C.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the 1940 Act and is required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These documents can be inspected and copied for a fee at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, and Northeast Regional Office, Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10013-2409. Reports, proxy statements, and other information about the Fund can be inspected at the offices of the NYSE.

 

This Prospectus does not contain all of the information in the Fund’s Registration Statement, including amendments, exhibits, and schedules. Statements in this Prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by this reference.

 

Additional information about the Fund and Common Shares can be found in the Fund’s Registration Statement (including amendments, exhibits, and schedules) on Form N-2 filed with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the Fund’s Registration Statement, other documents incorporated by reference, and other information the Fund has filed electronically with the SEC, including proxy statements and reports filed under the Exchange Act.

 

59


STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Use of Proceeds

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Investment Restrictions

     1   

Investment Policies and Techniques

     4   

Portfolio Composition

     5   

Overall Fund Management

     5   

Symphony Investment Philosophy and Process

     5   

Other Investment Policies and Techniques

     11   

Segregation of Assets

     17   

Hedging Transactions

     18   

Management of the Fund

     25   

Investment Adviser, Subadviser and Portfolio Managers

     42   

Code of Ethics

     46   

Proxy Voting Policies

     46   

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage

     47   

Net Asset Value

     48   

Distributions

     49   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     50   

Plan of Distribution

     52   

Description of Shares

     54   

Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

     56   

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

     57   

Tax Matters

     59   

Financial Statements

     65   

Custodian and Transfer Agent

     65   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     65   

Legal Opinion

     65   

Additional Information

     65   

Appendix A

     A-1   

Appendix B

     B-1   

 

60



 

8.8 Million Common Shares

 

Nuveen Senior Income Fund

 


 

PROSPECTUS

 

March 4, 2013

 


 

 

LPR-NSL-0313D

 



The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

NUVEEN SENIOR INCOME FUND

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

March 4, 2013

Nuveen Senior Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Fund was organized on March 25, 2004. This Statement of Additional Information relating to common shares of the Fund (“Common Shares”) does not constitute a Prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s Prospectus relating thereto dated March 4, 2013 (the “Prospectus”). This Statement of Additional Information does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Common Shares. Investors should obtain and read the Fund’s Prospectus prior to purchasing such shares. In addition, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report therein included in the Fund’s annual report dated July 31, 2012, are incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Fund’s Prospectus may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain a copy of the Fund’s Prospectus on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) web site (http://www.sec.gov). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Statement of Additional Information have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Use of Proceeds

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Investment Restrictions

     1   

Investment Policies and Techniques

     4   

Portfolio Composition

     5   

Overall Fund Management

     5   

Symphony Investment Philosophy and Process

     5   

Other Investment Policies and Techniques

     11   

Segregation of Assets

     17   

Hedging Transactions

     18   

Management of the Fund

     25   

Investment Adviser, Subadviser and Portfolio Managers

     42   

Code of Ethics

     46   

Proxy Voting Policies

     46   

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage

     47   

Net Asset Value

     48   

Distributions

     49   

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     50   

Plan of Distribution

     52   

Description of Shares

     54   

Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

     56   

Repurchase of Fund Shares; Conversion to Open-End Fund

     57   

Tax Matters

     59   

Financial Statements

     65   

Custodian and Transfer Agent

     65   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     65   

Legal Opinion

     65   

Additional Information

     65   

Appendix A

     A-1   

Appendix B

     B-1   


USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds from the issuance of Common Shares hereunder will be used by the Fund to (i) invest in securities in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as stated below and/or (ii) to reduce the Fund’s financial leverage outstanding. To the extent the Fund uses the net proceeds of any offering to invest in securities, it is presently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest substantially all of such proceeds in securities that meet the Fund’s investment objective and policies within one month from the date on which the proceeds from an offering are received by the Fund. Pending investment in Senior Loans and other debt instruments that meet the Fund’s investment objective and policies, it is anticipated that the proceeds will be invested in short-term or long-term securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities or in high quality, short-term money market instruments.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

The Fund’s investment objective is to achieve a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital.

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“NFALLC” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation, including the use of leverage and hedging. Symphony Asset Management LLC (“Symphony” or the “Sub-adviser”), the Fund’s subadviser, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s Managed Assets. See “Overall Fund Management.”

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective primarily by investing in senior secured and unsecured loans whose interest rates adjust periodically based on a benchmark index such as the Prime Rate or LIBOR. Although the Fund’s net asset value will vary, the Fund’s policy of acquiring interests in floating or variable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated senior loans (“Senior Loans”) is expected to minimize the fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value as a result of changes in interest rates. The Fund’s net asset value may be affected by changes in the credit quality of borrowers with respect to Senior Loan interests in which the Fund invests. Fluctuations in net asset value may be magnified as a result of the Fund’s use of leverage. In addition, the Fund’s use of leverage may affect the Fund’s ability to make distributions. The Common Shares may trade at a discount or premium to net asset value. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors and is not intended to be a complete investment program. No assurance can be given that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. For further discussion of the characteristics of Senior Loan interests and associated special risk considerations, see “The Fund’s Investments” in the Prospectus.

The Fund cannot change its investment objective without the approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” Common Shares and preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” preferred shares voting as a separate class. When used with respect to particular shares of the Fund, a “majority of the outstanding” shares means (i) 67% or more of the shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the shares, whichever is less. See “Description of Shares—Preferred Shares—Voting Rights” in the Fund’s Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information for additional information with respect to the voting rights of holders of preferred shares.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund’s investment objective and certain fundamental investment policies of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. The Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Fund:

1. Purchase any security if, as a result of such purchase, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in the securities of borrowers and other issuers having their principal

 

1


business activities in the same industry (the electric, gas, water and telephone utility industries, commercial banks, thrift institutions and finance companies being treated as separate industries for purposes of this restriction); provided, that this limitation shall not apply with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or by its agencies or instrumentalities and provided further that for purposes of this limitation, the term “issuer” shall not include a lender selling a participation to the Fund together with any other person interpositioned between such lender and the Fund with respect to a participation.

2. Borrow money, except as permitted by the 1940 Act.1,2

3. Issue senior securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, other than (i) preferred shares which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 200%, (ii) indebtedness which immediately after issuance will have asset coverage of at least 300%, or (iii) the borrowings permitted by investment restriction 2, above.2

4. Make loans of money or property to any person, except for obtaining interests in Senior Loans in accordance with its investment objective, through loans of portfolio securities or the acquisition of securities subject to repurchase agreements.3

5. Act as an underwriter of securities, except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in certain cases when disposing of its portfolio investments or acting as an agent or one of a group of co-agents in originating senior loans.

6. Purchase or sell real estate, commodities or commodities contracts except pursuant to the exercise by the Fund of its rights under loan agreements, except to the extent the interests in senior loans the Fund may invest in are considered to be interests in real estate, commodities or commodities contracts and except to the extent that hedging instruments the Fund may invest in are considered to be commodities or commodities contracts.

For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in paragraph 2 above, under the 1940 Act, the Fund generally is not permitted to issue commercial paper or notes or borrow unless immediately after the borrowing or commercial paper or note issuance the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities other than the principal amount represented by the commercial paper, notes or borrowings, is at least 300% of such principal amount.

The Fund does not currently have or have pending any exemptive relief with the SEC that would allow it to borrow outside of the limits of the 1940 Act.

For the purpose of applying the limitation set forth in paragraph 3 above, the Fund may not issue senior securities not permitted by the 1940 Act simply by describing such securities in the Prospectus.

 

 

1 

Section 18(a) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a registered closed-end fund from incurring borrowings if, immediately thereafter, the aggregate amount of its borrowings exceeds 33 1/3% of its total assets. The Fund has not applied for, and currently does not intend to apply for, any exemptive relief that would allow it to borrow outside of the limits of the 1940 Act.

 

2 

Section 18(c) of the 1940 Act generally limits a registered closed-end investment company to issuing one class of senior securities representing indebtedness and one class of senior securities representing stock, except that the class of indebtedness or stock may be issued in one or more series, and promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in consideration of any loan, extension, or renewal thereof, made by a bank or other person and privately arranged, and not intended to be publicly distributed, are not deemed a separate class of senior securities.

 

3 

Section 21 of the 1940 Act makes it unlawful for a registered investment company, like the Fund, to lend money or other property if (i) the investment company’s policies set forth in its registration statement do not permit such a loan or (ii) the borrower controls or is under common control with the investment company. The Fund has not applied for, and currently does not intend to apply for, any exemptive relief that would allow it to make loans outside of the limits of the 1940 Act.

 

2


In addition to the foregoing fundamental investment policies, the Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees. The Fund may not:

1. Purchase any securities (other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or by its agencies or instrumentalities), if as a result more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would then be invested in securities of a single issuer or if as a result the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any single issuer; provided that, with respect to 50% of the Fund’s assets, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in the securities of any one issuer. For purposes of this restriction, the term issuer includes both the borrower under a loan agreement and the lender selling a participation to the Fund together with any other persons interpositioned between such lender and the Fund with respect to a participation.

2. Sell any security “short,” write, purchase or sell puts, calls or combinations thereof, or purchase or sell financial futures or options, except to the extent that the hedging transactions in which the Fund may engage would be deemed to be any of the foregoing transactions.

3. Invest in securities of other investment companies, except that the Fund may purchase securities of other investment companies to the extent permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time, (ii) the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time, or (iii) an exemption or other relief from the provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund will rely on representations of borrowers in loan agreements in determining whether such borrowers are investment companies.

4. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or participation in management, except to the extent that exercise by the Fund of its rights under loan agreements would be deemed to constitute such control or participation.

For purposes of non-fundamental investment restriction number 1, the Fund will consider all relevant factors in determining whether to treat the Lender selling a Participation and any persons interpositioned between such Lender and the Fund as an issuer, including: the terms of the Loan Agreement and other relevant agreements (including inter-creditor agreements and any agreements between such person and the Fund’s custodian); the credit quality of such Lender or interpositioned person; general economic conditions applicable to such Lender or interpositioned person; and other factors relating to the degree of credit risk, if any, of such Lender or interpositioned person incurred by the Fund.

The Fund’s policy under normal circumstances of investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated, secured and unsecured Senior Loans, which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality, is not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed without a vote of the Common Shareholders. However, this policy may only be changed by the Fund’s Board upon 60 days prior written notice to the Common Shareholders.

The Fund generally will not engage in the trading of securities for the purpose of realizing short-term profits, but it will adjust its portfolio as it deems advisable in view of prevailing or anticipated market conditions to accomplish the Fund’s investment objective. For example, the Fund may sell portfolio securities in anticipation of a movement in interest rates. Frequency of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor if the Fund considers it advantageous to purchase or sell securities. The Fund anticipates that the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund will not be in excess of 100%. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses than a lower rate, which expenses must be borne by the Fund and its shareholders.

The foregoing restrictions and limitations will apply only at the time of purchase of securities, and the percentage limitations will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an acquisition of securities, unless otherwise indicated.

 

3


The foregoing fundamental investment policies, together with the investment objective of the Fund, cannot be changed without approval by holders of a “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting shares.” As defined in the 1940 Act, this means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the Fund’s shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s shares, whichever is less.

The Fund is an entity commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a trust may, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for its obligations. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of this disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Fund itself were unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes the likelihood of these circumstances is remote.

The Fund may be subject to certain restrictions imposed by either guidelines of one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) that may issue ratings for preferred shares, commercial paper or notes, or, if the Fund borrows from a lender, by the lender. These guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. It is not anticipated that these covenants or guidelines will impede NFALLC from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. In addition to other considerations, to the extent that the Fund believes that the covenants and guidelines required by the NRSROs or lenders would impede its ability to meet its investment objective, or if the Fund is unable to obtain the rating on preferred shares (expected to be at least AA/Aa), the Fund will not issue preferred shares.

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

The following information supplements the discussion of the Fund’s investment objective, policies, and techniques that are described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

The Fund’s investment objective is to achieve a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.

In pursuing its objective of high current income, the Fund will invest primarily in adjustable rate U.S. dollar denominated secured Senior Loans. Investment in such floating rate instruments is expected to minimize changes in the underlying principal value of the Senior Loans, and therefore the Fund’s net asset value, resulting from changes in market interest rates. The Borrowers of such Senior Loans operate in a variety of industries and geographical regions.

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated, secured and unsecured Senior Loans, which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time

of investment, investment grade quality. The Fund will invest at least 65% of its Managed Assets in Senior Loans that are secured by specific collateral. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar-denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets, in the aggregate, in:

 

   

other income producing securities such as investment and non-investment grade corporate debt securities, high-quality, short-term debt securities; and

 

   

equity securities and warrants acquired in connection with the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans.

 

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If the Adviser determines that market conditions temporarily warrant a defensive investment policy, the Fund may invest, subject to its ability to liquidate its relatively illiquid portfolio of Senior Loans, up to 100% of its assets in cash and high-quality, short-term debt securities.

The Fund’s policy under normal circumstances of investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in adjustable rate, U.S. dollar-denominated, secured and unsecured Senior Loans, which unsecured Senior Loans will be, at the time of investment, investment grade quality, is not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed without a vote of the Common Shareholders. However, this policy may only be changed by the Fund’s Board upon 60 days prior written notice to Common Shareholders.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the composition of the Fund’s securities as of July 31, 2012.

 

Portfolio Allocation*

   Percent  

Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests

     87.4

Corporate Bonds

     8.9

Short-Term Investments

     2.2

Common Stocks

     1.3

Convertible Bonds

     0.2
  

 

 

 

Total

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

  * The relative percentages of the value of the investments attributable the securities could change over time as a result of rebalancing the Fund’s assets by Symphony, market value fluctuations, issuance of additional shares and other events.

OVERALL FUND MANAGEMENT

NFALLC is responsible for the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation, including the use of leverage and hedging. Symphony is responsible for the day-to-day investment operations of the Fund.

NFALLC oversees Symphony in its management of the Fund’s portfolio. This oversight will include ongoing evaluation of Symphony’s investment performance, quality of investment process and personnel, compliance with Fund and regulatory guidelines, trade allocation and execution, and other factors.

NFALLC will also oversee the Fund’s use of leverage, and efforts to minimize the costs and mitigate the risks to Common Shareholders associated with using financial leverage. See “Use of Leverage” and “Hedging Transactions” in the Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. This effort may involve making adjustments to investment policies in an attempt to minimize costs and mitigate risks.

SYMPHONY INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY AND PROCESS

Investment Philosophy. Symphony believes that managing risk, particularly for volatile assets such as Senior Loans and other forms of high yield debt, is of paramount importance. Symphony believes that a combination of fundamental credit analysis and valuation information that is available from the equity markets provide a means of identifying what it believes to be superior investment candidates. Additionally, Symphony focuses primarily on liquid securities to help ensure that exit strategies remain available under different market conditions.

 

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Investment Process. In identifying Senior Loans and other securities for potential purchase, Symphony combines quantitative screening and fundamental and relative value analysis. Symphony evaluates the identified investment candidates for liquidity constraints and favorable capital structures. The investment team then performs rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis to identify investments with sound industry fundamentals, cash flow sufficiency and asset quality. The final portfolio is constructed using risk management and monitoring systems to ensure proper diversification.

 

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The Fund’s portfolio will be composed principally of the investments described below.

Senior Loans

Senior Loans, as with the other types of securities in which the Fund may invest, are counted for purposes of various other limitations described in this Statement of Additional Information, including the limitation on investing no more than 50% of the Fund’s Managed Assets in illiquid securities, to the extent such Senior Loans are deemed to be illiquid.

Senior Loans, like most other debt obligations, are subject to the risk of default. Default in the payment of interest or principal on a Senior Loan results in a reduction in income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the Senior Loan and a decrease in the Fund’s net asset value. This decrease in the Fund’s net asset value would be magnified by the Fund’s use of leverage. The risk of default increases in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase in interest rates. An increased risk of default could result in a decline in the value of Senior Loans and in the Fund’s net asset value.

Many Senior Loans in which the Fund may invest may not be rated by an NRSRO, generally will not be registered with the SEC and generally will not be listed on a securities exchange. In addition, the amount of public information available with respect to Senior Loans generally may be less extensive than that available for registered and exchange-listed securities. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. Senior Loans may not be rated at the time that the Fund purchases them. If a Senior Loan is rated at the time of purchase, Symphony may consider the rating when evaluating the Senior Loan but may not view ratings as a determinative factor in investment decisions. As a result, the Fund is more dependent on Symphony’s credit analysis abilities. Because of the protective terms of most Senior Loans, it is possible that the Fund is more likely to recover more of its investment in a defaulted Senior Loan than would be the case for most other types of defaulted debt securities.

In the case of collateralized Senior Loans, there is no assurance that sale of the collateral would raise enough cash to satisfy the Borrower’s payment obligation or that the collateral can or will be liquidated. In the event of bankruptcy, liquidation may not occur and the court may not give lenders the full benefit of their senior positions. If the terms of a Senior Loan do not require the Borrower to pledge additional collateral in the event of a decline in the value of the original collateral, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the value of the collateral will not at all times equal or exceed the amount of the Borrower’s obligations under the Senior Loan. To the extent that a Senior Loan is collateralized by stock in the Borrower or its subsidiaries, such stock may lose all of its value in the event of bankruptcy of the Borrower. Uncollateralized Senior Loans involve a greater risk of loss. Some Senior Loans in which the Fund may invest are subject to the risk that a court, pursuant to fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws, could subordinate such Senior Loans to presently existing or future indebtedness of the Borrower or take other action detrimental to the holders of Senior Loans, such as the Fund, including, under certain circumstances, invalidating such Senior Loans. Lenders commonly have certain obligations pursuant to the loan agreement, which may include the obligation to make additional loans or release collateral in certain circumstances.

The amount of public information with respect to Senior Loans generally may be less extensive than that available for more widely rated, registered and exchange-listed securities. Economic and other events (whether real or perceived) can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund’s net asset value per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted. In addition, there is no minimum rating or other independent evaluation of a Borrower or its securities limiting the Fund’s investments. Symphony may rely exclusively or primarily on its

 

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own evaluation of Borrower credit quality in selecting Senior Loans for purchase. As a result, the Fund is particularly dependent on the analytical abilities of Symphony.

No active trading market currently exists for some of the Senior Loans in which the Fund may invest and, thus, those loans may be illiquid. Liquidity relates to the ability of the Fund to sell an investment in a timely manner at a price approximately equal to its value on the Fund’s books. The illiquidity of some Senior Loans may impair the Fund’s ability to realize the full value of its assets in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of such assets. Because of the lack of an active trading market, illiquid securities are also difficult to value and prices provided by external pricing services may not reflect the true fair value of the securities. The risks of illiquidity are particularly important when the Fund’s operations require cash, and may in certain circumstances require that the Fund sell other investments or borrow to meet short-term cash requirements. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for certain Senior Loans, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. The market for Senior Loans could be disrupted in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase or decrease in interest rates. This could result in increased volatility in the market and in the Fund’s net asset value and market price per share.

If legislation or state or federal regulators impose additional requirements or restrictions on the ability of financial institutions to make loans that are considered highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loans for investment by the Fund may be adversely affected. In addition, such requirements or restrictions could reduce or eliminate sources of financing for certain Borrowers. This would increase the risk of default. If legislation or federal or state regulators require financial institutions to dispose of Senior Loans that are considered highly leveraged transactions or subject such Senior Loans to increased regulatory scrutiny, financial institutions may determine to sell such Senior Loans. Such sales could result in prices that, in the opinion of Symphony, do not represent fair value. If the Fund attempts to sell a Senior Loan at a time when a financial institution is engaging in such a sale, the price the Fund could get for the Senior Loan may be adversely affected.

Any lender, which could include the Fund, is subject to the risk that a court could find the lender liable for damages in a claim by a Borrower arising under the common laws of tort or contracts or anti-fraud provisions of certain securities laws for actions taken or omitted to be taken by the lenders under the relevant terms of a loan agreement or in connection with actions with respect to the collateral underlying the Senior Loan.

The Fund may purchase participations in Senior Loans. By purchasing a participation interest in a loan, the Fund acquires some or all of the interest of a bank or other financial institution in a loan to a Borrower. Under a participation, the Fund generally will have rights that are more limited than the rights of lenders or of persons who acquire a Senior Loan by assignment. In a participation, the Fund typically has a contractual relationship with the lender selling the participation, but not with the Borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the lender selling the participation in addition to the credit risk of the Borrower. In the event of insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not have a senior claim to the lenders’ interest in the Senior Loan. A lender selling a participation and other persons interpositioned between the lender and the Fund with respect to participations will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries.

The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio Senior Loans where the Borrowers have experienced, or may be perceived to be likely to experience, credit problems, including involvement in or recent emergence from bankruptcy reorganization proceedings or other forms of debt restructuring. Such investments may provide opportunities for enhanced income as well as capital appreciation. At times, in connection with the restructuring of a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Fund may determine or be required to accept equity securities or junior debt securities in exchange for all or a portion of a Senior Loan.

 

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Non-Senior Loan Investments

The Fund may invest in debt instruments and other securities as described below:

Corporate Bonds. Corporate bonds generally are used by corporations to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. Certain bonds are “perpetual” in that they have no maturity date. The Fund may invest in bonds and other debt securities of any quality.

Structured Notes. The Fund may use structured notes, which are privately negotiated debt obligations or economically equivalent instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as selected securities or loans, an index of securities or loans, or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured notes may be issued by corporations, including banks, as well as by governmental agencies. Structured notes frequently are assembled in the form of medium-term notes, but a variety of forms are available and may be used in particular circumstances. The terms of such structured notes normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or index while the structured notes are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending on a variety factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. If the Fund invests in structured notes that are designed to provide returns and risks that emulate those of senior loans, the Fund may treat the value of (or, if applicable, the notional amount of) such investment as an investment in Senior Loans for purposes of determining compliance with the requirement set forth above that at least 80% of the Fund’s Managed Assets be invested under normal market circumstances in Senior Loans, except to the extent that the value (or notional amount) of such investments exceeds 5% of the Fund’s Managed Assets. Any such investment amounts that exceed 5% of Managed Assets will be treated as a type of “other debt instruments” which, in the aggregate, are limited to 20% of Managed Assets. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index(es) or other asset(s). Application of the multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.

Symphony may utilize structured notes for investment purposes and also for risk management purposes, such as to reduce the duration and interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio. While structured notes may offer the potential for a favorable rate of return from time to time, they also entail certain risks. Structured notes may be less liquid than other debt securities, and the price of structured notes may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on the terms of the embedded index, a structured note may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured notes also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. Although structured notes are not necessarily illiquid, NFALLC believes that currently most structured notes are illiquid. Like other sophisticated strategies, the Fund’s use of structured notes may not work as intended. If the value of the embedded index changes in a manner other than that expected by Symphony, principal and/or interest payments received on the structured notes may be substantially less than expected. Also, if Symphony uses structured notes to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).

Below Investment Grade Securities. Investments in below investment grade securities generally provide greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk, including the possibility of issuer default and bankruptcy. Issuers of below investment grade securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. In addition, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of below investment grade securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality securities.

 

9


Below investment grade securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in lower-grade security prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of an issuer to make principal and interest payments on its debt obligations. If an issuer of below investment grade securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. In the case of below investment grade securities structured as zero coupon or payment-in-kind securities, their market prices will normally be affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest currently and in cash. Symphony seeks to reduce these risks through diversification, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in both the economy and financial markets.

The secondary market for below investment grade securities may not be as liquid as the secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. There are fewer dealers in the market for below investment grade securities than for investment grade obligations. The prices quoted by different dealers may vary significantly and the spread between the bid and ask price is generally much larger than for higher quality instruments. Under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and these instruments may become illiquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated or unrated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices used in calculating the Fund’s net asset value.

Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of below investment grade securities, especially in a thinly traded market. When secondary markets for below investment grade securities are less liquid than the market for investment grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available. During periods of thin trading in these markets, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly and the Fund may have greater difficulty selling its portfolio securities. The Fund will be more dependent on Symphony research and analysis when investing in below investment grade securities. Symphony seeks to minimize the risks of investing in all securities through in-depth credit analysis and attention to current developments in interest rates and market conditions.

A general description of the ratings of securities by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch is set forth in Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information. The ratings of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch represent their opinions as to the quality of the securities they rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. Consequently, in the case of debt obligations, certain debt obligations with the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields while debt obligations with the same maturity and coupon with different ratings may have the same yield. For these reasons, the use of credit ratings as the sole method of evaluating lower-grade securities can involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of lower-grade securities. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last rated. The Subadviser does not rely solely on credit ratings when selecting securities for the Fund, and develops its own independent analysis of issuer credit quality.

The Fund’s credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or Symphony downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, Symphony may consider such factors as its assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. However, analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of below investment grade securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

 

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U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government securities include (1) U.S. Treasury obligations, which differ in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance: U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S. Treasury notes (maturities of one year to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds (generally maturities of greater than ten years) and (2) obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities that are supported by any of the following: (i) the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, (ii) the right of the issuer to borrow an amount limited to a specific line of credit from the U.S. Treasury, (iii) discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the U.S. Government agency or instrumentality or (iv) the credit of the agency or instrumentality. The Fund also may invest in any other security or agreement collateralized or otherwise secured by U.S. Government securities. Agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government include but are not limited to: Federal Land Banks, Federal Financing Banks, Banks for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Farm Credit Banks, Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC, FNMA, GNMA, Student Loan Marketing Association, United States Postal Service, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority and any other enterprise established or sponsored by the U.S. Government. Because the U.S. Government generally is not obligated to provide support to its instrumentalities, the Fund will invest in obligations issued by these instrumentalities only if Symphony determines that the credit risk with respect to such obligations is minimal.

The principal of and/or interest on certain U.S. Government securities which may be purchased by the Fund could be (i) payable in non-U.S. currencies rather than U.S. dollars or (b) increased or diminished as a result of changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the value of non-U.S. currencies. The value of such portfolio securities may be affected favorably by changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

Warrants and Equity Securities. The Fund may acquire equity securities and warrants issued by a Borrower or its affiliates as part of a package of investments in the Borrower or its affiliates issued in connection with a Senior Loan of the Borrower. The Fund also may convert a warrant so acquired into the underlying security. Investments in warrants and equity securities entail certain risks in addition to those associated with investments in Senior Loans. The value of these securities may be affected more rapidly, and to a greater extent, by company-specific developments and general market conditions. These risks may increase fluctuations in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may possess material non-public information about a Borrower as a result of its ownership of a Senior Loan of such Borrower. Because of prohibitions on trading in securities of issuers while in possession of such information the Fund might be unable to enter into a transaction in a security of such a Borrower when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so.

OTHER INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

Repurchase Agreements

As temporary investments, the Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a contractual agreement whereby the seller of securities agrees to repurchase the same security at a specified price on a future date agreed upon by the parties. The agreed-upon repurchase price determines the yield during the Fund’s holding period. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans collateralized by the underlying security that is the subject of the repurchase contract. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements with registered securities dealers or domestic banks that, in the opinion of Symphony, present minimal credit risk. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the issuer to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the delivery date; however, although the value of the underlying collateral at the time the transaction is entered into always equals

 

11


or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price, if the value of the collateral declines there is a risk of loss of both principal and interest. In the event of default, the collateral may be sold but the Fund might incur a loss if the value of the collateral declines, and might incur disposition costs or experience delays in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization upon the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. Symphony will monitor the value of the collateral at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times subsequent during the term of the repurchase agreement in an effort to determine that such value always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price. In the event the value of the collateral declines below the repurchase price, Symphony will demand additional collateral from the issuer to increase Symphony of the collateral to at least that of the repurchase price, including interest.

Securities Issued by Non-U.S. Issuers

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its Managed Assets in U.S. dollar denominated Senior Loans of Borrowers that are organized or located in countries outside the United States. Although the Senior Loans will require payment of interest and principal in U.S. dollars, these Borrowers may have significant non-U.S. dollar revenues. Investment in foreign Borrowers involves special risks and investors should understand and consider carefully the risks involved in investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers.

Investing in securities of non-U.S. issuers involves certain considerations comprising both risks and opportunities not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. These considerations include: (i) less publicly available information about non-U.S. issuers or markets due to less rigorous disclosure or accounting standards or regulatory practices; (ii) many non-U.S. markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile, meaning that, in a changing market, Symphony may not be able to sell the Fund’s portfolio securities at times, in amounts or at prices it considers reasonable; (iii) potential adverse effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates or controls on the value of the Fund’s investments; (iv) the economies of non-U.S. countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession; (v) the impact of economic, political, social or diplomatic developments may adversely affect the securities markets; (vi) withholding and other non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Fund’s return; (vii) certain non-U.S. countries may impose restrictions on the ability of non-U.S. issuers to make payments of principal and/or interest to investors located outside the U.S. due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise; and (viii) possible seizure, expropriation or nationalization of the company or its assets. These risks are more pronounced to the extent that the Fund invests a significant amount of its investments in issuers located in one region and to the extent that the Fund invests in securities of issuers in emerging markets.

Although the Fund may hedge its exposure to certain of these risks, including the foreign currency exchange rate risk, there can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into hedging transactions at any time or at times or under circumstances in which it might be advisable to do so.

Zero Coupon and Payment-In-Kind Securities

The Fund’s investments in debt securities may be in the form of a zero coupon bond. Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest for the entire life of the obligation. When held to its maturity, its return comes from the difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. Payment-in-kind securities (“PIKs”) pay dividends or interest in the form of additional securities of the issuer, rather than in cash. Each of these instruments is typically issued and traded at a deep discount from its face amount. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero coupon bonds and PIKs generally are more volatile than the market prices of debt instruments that pay interest currently and in cash and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than do other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. In order to qualify for treatment as a “regulated investment company” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the

 

12


“Code”), the Fund must generally distribute for each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the original issue discount accrued on zero coupon bonds and PIKs. Because the Fund will not on a current basis receive cash payments from the issuer of these securities in respect of any accrued original issue discount, in some years the Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from selling portfolio holdings of the Fund in order to avoid unfavorable tax consequences. In some circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash distribution requirements even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell securities at such time. Under many market conditions, investments in zero coupon bonds and PIKs may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.

When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions

The Fund may buy and sell securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, making payment or taking delivery at a later date, normally within 15-45 days of the trade date. On such transactions the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment. Beginning on the date the Fund enters into a commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund is required under rules of the Commission to maintain in a separate account liquid assets, consisting of cash, cash equivalents or liquid securities having a market value at all times of at least equal to the amount of any delayed payment commitment. The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase securities on a forward basis (i.e., where settlement will occur more than 60 days from the date of the transaction) only to the extent that the Fund specifically collateralizes such obligations with a security that is expected to be called or mature within sixty days before or after the settlement date of the forward transaction. The commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward basis may involve an element of risk because no interest accrues on the bonds prior to settlement and at the time of delivery the market value may be less than their cost.

No Inverse Floating Rate Securities

The Fund will not invest in inverse floating rate securities, which are securities that pay interest at rates that vary inversely with changes in prevailing interest rates and which represent a leveraged investment in an underlying security.

Portfolio Liquidity

No active trading market currently exists for many Senior Loans. Senior Loans are thus relatively illiquid. Liquidity relates to the ability of the Fund to sell an investment in a timely manner at a price approximately equal to its value on the Fund’s books. The illiquidity of Senior Loans may impair the Fund’s ability to realize the full value of its assets in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of such assets. Because of the lack of an active trading market, illiquid securities are also difficult to value and prices provided by external pricing services may not reflect the true fair value of the securities. However, many Senior Loans are of a large principal amount and are held by a large number of financial institutions. In the Adviser’s opinion, this should enhance their liquidity. In addition, in recent years the number of institutional investors purchasing Senior Loans has increased. The risks of illiquidity are particularly important when the Fund’s operations require cash, and may in certain circumstances require that the Fund borrow to meet short-term cash requirements. To the extent that a secondary market does exist for certain Senior Loans, the market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. The Fund has no limitation on the amount of its assets that may be invested in securities that are not readily marketable or that are subject to restrictions on resale (except as noted elsewhere herein). The substantial portion of the Fund’s assets invested in Senior Loans may restrict the ability of the Fund to dispose of its investments in a timely fashion and at a fair price, and could result in capital losses to the Fund and holders of its shares. The market for Senior Loans could be disrupted in the event of an economic downturn or a substantial increase or decrease in interest rates. This could result in increased volatility in the market and in the Fund’s net asset value and market price per share.

 

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Short-Term/Long-Term Debt Securities; Defensive Position. During temporary defensive purposes or in order to keep the Fund’s cash on hand fully invested, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its Managed Assets in cash equivalents and investment grade debt securities, including obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. In addition, upon Symphony’s recommendation that a change would be in the best interests of the Fund and upon concurrence by NFALLC, and subject to approval of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, Symphony may deviate from its investment guidelines discussed herein. In such a case, the Fund may not pursue or achieve its investment objective. These investments are defined to include, without limitation, the following:

(1) U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest that are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies, and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities. Consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.

(2) Certificates of Deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or a savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. The issuer of a certificate of deposit agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current FDIC regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $100,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by the Fund may not be fully insured.

(3) Repurchase agreements, which involve purchases of debt securities. At the time the Fund purchases securities pursuant to a repurchase agreement, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver such securities to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the securities at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for the Fund during its holding period, since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for the Fund to invest temporarily available cash. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; or bankers’ acceptances in which the Fund may invest. Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to the Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, the Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The Adviser monitors the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The Adviser does so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to the Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of the Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.

(4) Commercial paper, which consists of short-term unsecured promissory notes, including variable rate master demand notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. Master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and a corporation. There is no secondary market for such notes. However, they are redeemable by the Fund at any time. NFALLC will consider the financial condition of the corporation (e.g., earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity measures) and will

 

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continuously monitor the corporation’s ability to meet all of its financial obligations, because the Fund’s liquidity might be impaired if the corporation were unable to pay principal and interest on demand. Investments in commercial paper will be limited to commercial paper rated in the highest categories by a NRSRO and which mature within one year of the date of purchase or carry a variable or floating rate of interest.

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund may invest in other investment companies either during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash, or during periods when there is a shortage of attractive securities of the types in which the Fund may invest in directly available in the market. The Fund may invest in investment companies that are advised by NFALLC or its affiliates to the extent permitted by the applicable law and/or pursuant to exemptive relief from the SEC. As an investor in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. Symphony will take expenses into account when evaluating the investment merits of an investment in the investment company relative to available securities of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. In addition, the securities of other investment companies also may be leveraged and therefore will be subject to the same leverage risks described herein. As described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus, the net asset value and market value of leveraged shares will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged shares. The Fund will treat its investments in such investment companies as investments in Senior Loans for all purposes, such as for purposes of determining compliance with the requirement set forth above that at least 80% of the Fund’s Managed Assets be invested under normal circumstances in Senior Loans.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers and banks. Any such loan must be continuously secured by collateral in cash or cash equivalents maintained on a current basis in an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned by the Fund. The Fund would continue to receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the Issuer on the securities loaned through payments from the borrower. The Fund would also receive an additional return that may be in the form of a fixed fee or a percentage of the collateral. The Fund may pay reasonable fees to persons unaffiliated with the Fund for services in arranging these loans. The Fund would have the right to call the loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time on notice of not more than five business days. The Fund would not have the right to vote the securities during the existence of the loan but would call the loan to permit voting of the securities, if, in Symphony’s judgment, a material event requiring a shareholder vote would otherwise occur before the loan was repaid. In the event of bankruptcy or other default of the borrower, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the loan collateral or recovering the loaned securities and losses, including (a) possible decline in the value of the collateral or in the value of the securities loaned during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto, (b) possible subnormal levels of income and lack of access to income during this period, and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.

Portfolio Trading and Turnover Rate

Portfolio trading may be undertaken to accomplish the investment objective of the Fund in relation to actual and anticipated movements in interest rates. In addition, a security may be sold and another of comparable quality purchased at approximately the same time to take advantage of what Symphony believes to be a temporary price disparity between the two securities. Temporary price disparities between two comparable securities may result from supply and demand imbalances where, for example, a temporary oversupply of certain securities may cause a temporarily low price for such securities, as compared with other securities of like quality

 

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and characteristics. A security may also be sold when Symphony anticipates a change in the price of such security, Symphony believes the price of a security has reached or is near a realistic maximum, or there are other securities that Symphony believes are more attractive given the Fund’s investment objective. The Fund may also engage to a limited extent in short-term trading consistent with its investment objective. Securities may be sold in anticipation of a market decline or purchased in anticipation of a market rise and later sold, but the Fund will not engage in trading solely to recognize a gain. Subject to the foregoing, the Fund will attempt to achieve its investment objective by prudent selection of securities with a view to holding them for investment. While there can be no assurance thereof, the Fund anticipates that its annual portfolio turnover rate will generally not exceed 100%. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 64%. However, the rate of turnover will not be a limiting factor when the Fund deems it desirable to sell or purchase securities. Therefore, depending upon market conditions, the annual portfolio turnover rate of the Fund may exceed 100% in particular years. A higher portfolio turnover rate would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. High portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income.

Interest Rate Transactions

The Fund expects that the Fund’s portfolio investments in Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments in which the Fund may invest will serve as a hedge against the risk that Common Share net income and/or returns may decrease due to rising market dividend or interest rates on any preferred shares or Borrowings. If market conditions are deemed favorable, the Fund also may enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions to attempt to protect itself from such interest rate risk on the remaining amount of any outstanding preferred shares and/or Borrowings. Interest rate swaps involve the Fund’s agreement with the swap counterparty to pay a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay the Fund a payment at a variable rate that is expected to approximate the rate on the Fund’s variable rate payment obligation on Borrowings or any variable rate preferred shares. The payment obligations would be based on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund may use an interest rate cap, which would require it to pay a premium to the cap counterparty and would entitle it, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, to receive from the counterparty payment of the difference based on the notional amount. The Fund would use interest rate swaps or caps only with the intent to reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on Common Share net earnings as a result of leverage.

Because Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments in which the Fund may invest and the Fund’s preferred shares and Borrowings generally pay interest or dividends based on short-term market interest rates, the Fund’s investments in Senior Loans and other adjustable rate debt instruments may potentially offset the leverage risks borne by the Fund relating to the fluctuations on Common Share income due to variations in the preferred share dividend rate and/or the interest rate on Borrowings. The Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund intends to maintain in a segregated account with its custodian cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction, marked-to-market daily.

The use of interest rate swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. Depending on the state of interest rates in general, the Fund’s use of interest rate swaps or caps could enhance or harm the overall performance on the Common Shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, and could result in a decline in the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, if short-term interest rates are lower than the Fund’s fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will reduce Common Share net earnings. If, on the other hand, short-term interest rates are higher than the fixed rate of payment on the interest rate swap, the swap will enhance Common Share net earnings. Buying interest rate caps could enhance the performance of the Common Shares by providing a maximum leverage expense. Buying

 

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interest rate caps could also decrease the net earnings of the Common Shares in the event that the premium paid by the Fund to the counterparty exceeds the additional amount the Fund would have been required to pay had it not entered into the cap agreement. The Fund will not enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions in an aggregate notional amount that exceeds the remainder of the outstanding amount of the Fund’s leverage, less the amount of Senior Loans in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund has no current intention of selling an interest rate swap or cap. The Fund will monitor its interest rate swap and cap transactions with a view to insuring that it remains in compliance with all applicable tax requirements.

Interest rate swaps and caps do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund would not be able to use the anticipated net receipts under the swap or cap to offset the interest payments on Borrowings or dividend payments on the preferred shares. Depending on whether the Fund would be entitled to receive net payments from the counterparty on the swap or cap, which in turn would depend on the general state of short-term interest rates at that point in time, such a default could negatively impact the performance of the Common Shares. Although this will not guarantee that the counterparty does not default, the Fund will not enter into an interest rate swap or cap transaction with any counter-party that NFALLC believes does not have the financial resources to honor its obligation under the interest rate swap or cap transaction. Further, NFALLC will continually monitor the financial stability of a counterparty to an interest rate swap or cap transaction in an effort to proactively protect the Fund’s investments.

In addition, at the time the interest rate swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund would not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement would not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s Common Shares. The Fund may choose or be required to prepay any Borrowings or redeem some or all of the preferred shares. This redemption would likely result in the Fund seeking to terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap transaction. Such early termination of a swap could result in termination payment by or to the Fund. An early termination of a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund.

SEGREGATION OF ASSETS

As a closed-end investment company registered with the SEC, the Fund is subject to the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and various interpretive provisions of the SEC and its staff. In accordance with these laws, rules and positions, the Fund must “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or staff-approved measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivatives instruments. In the case of forward currency contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle, for example, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts’ full notional value while the positions are open. With respect to forward currency contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, the Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Fund’s daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts’ full notional value. The Fund reserves the right to modify its asset segregation policies in the future to comply with any changes in the positions from time to time articulated by the SEC or its staff regarding asset segregation.

The Fund generally will use its assets to cover its obligations as required by the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder, and applicable positions of the SEC and its staff. As a result of their segregation, such assets may not be used for other operational purposes. NFALLC will monitor the Fund’s use of derivatives and will take action as necessary for the purpose of complying with the asset segregation policy stated above. Such actions may include the sale of the Fund’s portfolio investments.

 

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HEDGING TRANSACTIONS

As a non-fundamental policy that can be changed by the Board of Trustees, the use of derivatives and other transactions for purposes of hedging the portfolio will be restricted to reducing the portfolio’s exposure to lower grade credit risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk and the risk of increases in interest rates. The specific derivative instruments to be used, or other transactions to be entered into, for hedging purposes may include the purchase or sale of futures contracts on securities, credit-linked notes, securities indices, other indices or other financial instruments; options on futures contracts; exchange-traded and over-the-counter options on securities or indices; index-linked securities; swaps; and currency exchange transactions. Some, but not all, of the derivative instruments may be traded and listed on an exchange. The positions in derivatives will be marked-to-market daily at the closing price established on the relevant exchange or at a fair value.

There may be an imperfect correlation between changes in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and hedging positions entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. In addition, the Fund’s success in using hedging instruments is subject to Symphony’s ability to predict correctly changes in the relationships of such hedge instruments to the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other factors, and there can be no assurance that Symphony’s judgment in this respect will be correct. Consequently, the use of hedging transactions might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund, whether or not adjusted for risk, than if the Fund had not hedged its portfolio holdings. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into hedging or other transactions at times or under circumstances in which it would be advisable to do so. See “Hedging Transactions” in the Fund’s Prospectus.

Short Sales. The Fund may make short sales of securities if, at all times when a short position is open, the Fund owns at least an equal amount of such securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, without payment of any further consideration, securities of the same issuer as, and equal in amount to, the securities sold short. This technique is called selling short “against the box.”

In a short sale, the Fund will not deliver from its portfolio the securities sold and will not receive immediately the proceeds from the sale. Instead, the Fund will borrow the securities sold short from a broker-dealer through which the short sale is executed and the broker-dealer will deliver such securities, on behalf of the Fund, to the purchaser of such securities. Such broker-dealer will be entitled to retain the proceeds from the short sale until the Fund delivers to such broker-dealer the securities sold short. In addition, the Fund will be required to pay the broker-dealer the amount of any dividends paid on shares sold short. Finally, to secure its obligation to deliver to such broker-dealer the securities sold short, the Fund must deposit and continuously maintain in a separate account with its custodian an equivalent amount of the securities sold short or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities without the payment of additional consideration. The Fund is said to have a short position in the securities sold until it delivers to the broker-dealer the securities sold, at which time the Fund will receive the proceeds of the sale. Because the Fund ordinarily will want to continue to hold securities in its portfolio that are sold short, the Fund will normally close out a short position by purchasing on the open market and delivering to the broker-dealer an equal amount of the securities sold short, rather than delivering portfolio securities.

Short sales may protect the Fund against the risk of losses in the value of its portfolio securities because any unrealized losses with respect to such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding gain in the short position. However, any potential gain in such portfolio securities should be wholly or partially offset by a corresponding loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are offset will depend upon the amount of securities sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns, either directly or indirectly, and, in the case where the Fund owns convertible securities, changes in the conversion premium. The Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with short sales.

In addition to enabling the Fund to hedge against market risk, short sales may afford the Fund an opportunity to earn additional current income to the extent the Fund is able to enter into arrangements with

 

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broker-dealers through which the short sales are executed to receive income with respect to the proceeds of the short sales during the period the Fund’s short positions remain open.

The Code imposes constructive sale treatment for federal income tax purposes on certain hedging strategies with respect to appreciated financial positions. Under these rules, taxpayers will recognize gain, but not loss, with respect to securities if they enter into short sales or “offsetting notional principal contracts” (as defined by the Code) with respect to, or futures or forward contracts to deliver, the same or substantially identical property, or if they enter into such transactions and then acquire the same or substantially identical property. See “Tax Matters.”

Options on Securities. In order to hedge against adverse market shifts, the Fund may purchase put and call options on stock, bonds or other securities. In addition, the Fund may seek to hedge a portion of its portfolio investments through writing (i.e., selling) covered put and call options. A put option embodies the right of its purchaser to compel the writer of the option to purchase from the option holder an underlying security or its equivalent at a specified price at any time during the option period. In contrast, a call option gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying security covered by the option or its equivalent from the writer of the option at the stated exercise price at any time during the option period.

As a holder of a put option, the Fund will have the right to sell the securities underlying the option and as the holder of a call option, the Fund will have the right to purchase the securities underlying the option, in each case at their exercise price at any time during the option period prior to the option’s expiration date. The Fund may choose to exercise the options it holds, permit them to expire or terminate them prior to their expiration by entering into closing sale or purchase transactions. In entering into a closing sale or purchase transaction, the Fund would sell an option of the same series as the one it has purchased. The ability of the Fund to enter into a closing sale transaction with respect to options purchased and to enter into a closing purchase transaction with respect to options sold depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market. There can be no assurance that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund so desires. The Fund’s ability to terminate option positions established in the over-the-counter market may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded options and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Fund.

In purchasing a put option, the Fund seeks to benefit from a decline in the market price of the underlying security, while in purchasing a call option, the Fund seeks to benefit from an increase in the market price of the underlying security. If an option purchased is not sold or exercised when it has remaining value, or if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price, in the case of a put, or remains equal to or below the exercise price, in the case of a call, during the life of the option, the option will expire worthless. For the purchase of an option to be profitable, the market price of the underlying security must decline sufficiently below the exercise price, in the case of a put, and must increase sufficiently above the exercise price, in the case of a call, to cover the premium and transaction costs. Because option premiums paid by the Fund are small in relation to the market value of the instruments underlying the options, buying options can result in additional amounts of leverage to the Fund. The leverage caused by trading in options could cause the Fund’s net asset value to be subject to more frequent and wider fluctuation than would be the case if the Fund did not invest in options.

The Fund will receive a premium when it writes put and call options, which increases the Fund’s return on the underlying security in the event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. By writing a call, the Fund will limit its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option for as long as the Fund’s obligation as the writer of the option continues. Upon the exercise of a put option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to the difference between the price at which the Fund is required to purchase the underlying security and its market value at the time of the option exercise, less the premium received for writing the option. Upon the exercise of a call option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to an amount not less than the excess of the security’s market value at the time of the option exercise over the Fund’s acquisition cost of the security, less the

 

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sum of the premium received for writing the option and the difference, if any, between the call price paid to the Fund and the Fund’s acquisition cost of the security. Thus, in some periods the Fund might receive less total return and in other periods greater total return from its hedged positions than it would have received from its underlying securities unhedged.

Options on Stock and Bond Indexes. The Fund may purchase put and call options on stock and bond indexes to hedge against risks of market-wide price movements affecting its assets. In addition, the Fund may write covered put and call options on stock and bond indexes. A stock or bond index measures the movement of a certain group of stocks or bonds by assigning relative values to the stocks or bonds included in the index. Options on a stock or bond index are similar to options on securities. Because no underlying security can be delivered, however, the option represents the holder’s right to obtain from the writer, in cash, a fixed multiple of the amount by which the exercise price exceeds (in the case of a put) or is less than (in the case of a call) the closing value of the underlying index on the exercise date. The advisability of using stock or bond index options to hedge against the risk of market-wide movements will depend on the extent of diversification of the Fund’s investments and the sensitivity of its investments to factors influencing the underlying index. The effectiveness of purchasing or writing stock or bond index options as a hedging technique will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the Fund’s investments correlate with price movements in the stock or bond index selected. In addition, successful use by the Fund of options on stock or bond indexes will be subject to the ability of Symphony to predict correctly changes in the relationship of the underlying index to the Fund’s portfolio holdings. No assurance can be given that Symphony’s judgment in this respect will be correct. When the Fund writes an option on a stock or bond index, it will establish a segregated account with its custodian in which the Fund will deposit liquid securities in an amount equal to the market value of the option, and will maintain the account while the option is open.

Stock and Bond Index Futures Contracts. The Fund may purchase and sell stock index futures as a hedge against movements in the equity markets. Stock and bond index futures contracts are agreements in which one party agrees to deliver to the other an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock or bond index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of securities is made. For example, if Symphony expects general stock or bond market prices to decline, it might sell a futures contract on a particular stock or bond index. If that index does in fact decline, the value of some or all of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may also be expected to decline, but that decrease would be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund’s position in such futures contract. If, on the other hand, Symphony expects general stock or bond market prices to rise, it might purchase a stock or bond index futures contract as a hedge against an increase in prices of particular securities it wants ultimately to buy. If in fact the stock or bond index does rise, the price of the particular securities intended to be purchased may also increase, but that increase would be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund’s futures contract resulting from the increase in the index. The Fund may purchase futures contracts on a stock or bond index to enable Symphony to gain immediate exposure to the underlying securities market pending the investment in individual securities of the Fund’s portfolio.

Under regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) currently in effect, which may change from time to time, with respect to futures contracts purchased by the Fund, the Fund will set aside in a segregated account liquid securities with a value at least equal to the value of instruments underlying such futures contracts less the amount of initial margin on deposit for such contracts. The current view of the staff of the SEC is that the Fund’s long and short positions in futures contracts must be collateralized with cash or certain liquid assets held in a segregated account or “covered” in order to counter the impact of any potential leveraging. Parties to a futures contract must make “initial margin” deposits to secure performance of the contract. There are also requirements to make “variation margin” deposits from time to time as the value of the futures contract fluctuates. The Fund and NFALLC have claimed, respectively, an exclusion from registration as a commodity pool and as a commodity trading advisor under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and, therefore, neither the Fund nor NFALLC, or their officers and directors, are subject to the registration requirements of the CEA. The Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures and options thereon to the extent allowed by

 

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CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. In addition, certain provisions of the Code may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures contracts or engage in options transactions. See “Tax Matters.”

The potential loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs). With respect to options purchased by the Fund, there are no daily cash payments made by the Fund to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option does change daily and that change would be reflected in the net asset value of the Fund.

Other Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments also may include (i) U.S. Treasury security or U.S. Government Agency security futures contracts and (ii) options on U.S. Treasury security or U.S. Government Agency security futures contracts. All such instruments must be traded and listed on an exchange. U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency futures contracts are standardized contracts for the future delivery of a U.S. Treasury Bond or U.S. Treasury Note or a U.S. Government Agency security or their equivalent at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. An option on a U.S. Treasury or U.S. Government Agency futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser of the option the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a U.S. Treasury or U.S. Government Agency futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time on or before the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s future margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.

Risks Associated with Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures prices are affected by many factors, such as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. While the Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts for hedging purposes, the use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If, for example, the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell a portion of its underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily variation margin requirements on its futures contracts or options on futures contracts at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. There may be an imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio holdings and futures contracts or options on futures contracts entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as: variations in speculative market demand for futures, futures options and the related securities, including technical influences in futures and futures options trading and differences between the securities markets and the securities underlying the standard contracts available for trading. Futures prices are affected by many factors, such as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until the expiration of the contract. Further, the Fund’s use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to Symphony’s ability to predict correctly changes in interest rate relationships or other factors. A decision as to whether, when and how to use futures contracts involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected stock price or interest rate trends. No assurance can be given that Symphony’s judgment in this respect will be correct.

Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable

 

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positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses. Stock index futures contracts are not normally subject to such daily price change limitations.

The Fund may invest in other options. An option is an instrument that gives the holder of the instrument the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a predetermined number of specific securities (i.e. preferred stocks, common stocks or bonds) at a stated price within the expiration period of the instrument, which is generally less than 12 months from its issuance. If the right is not exercised after a specified period but prior to the expiration, the option expires. Both put and call options may be used by the Fund.

Structured Notes. The Fund may use structured notes and similar instruments for hedging purposes. Structured notes are privately negotiated debt obligations or economically equivalent instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as selected securities or loans, an index of securities or loans or specified interest rates or the differential performance of two assets or markets. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but not ordinarily below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index(es) or other asset(s). Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.

The Fund may purchase and sell various other kinds of financial futures contracts and options thereon. Futures contracts may be based on various debt securities and securities indices. Such transactions involve a risk of loss or depreciation due to unanticipated adverse changes in securities prices, which may exceed the Fund’s initial investment in these contracts. The Fund will only purchase or sell futures contracts or related options in compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. These transactions involve transaction costs. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of futures will be advantageous to the Fund. Guidelines established by one or more NRSROs that rate any preferred shares issued by the Fund may limit use of these transactions.

Credit-Linked Notes. The Fund may invest in credit-linked notes (“CLN”) for risk management purposes, including diversification. A CLN is a derivative instrument that is a synthetic obligation between two or more parties where the payment of principal and/or interest is based on the performance of some obligation (a reference obligation). In addition to credit risk of the reference obligation and interest rate risk, the buyer/seller of the CLN is subject to counterparty risk. See “Risk Factors—Counterparty Risk” in the Fund’s Prospectus.

Swaps. Swap contracts may be purchased or sold to hedge against fluctuations in securities prices, interest rates or market conditions, to change the duration of the overall portfolio, or to mitigate default risk. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties, which returns are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.

Credit Default Swaps. The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts for risk management purposes, including diversification. When the Fund is the buyer of a credit default swap contract, the Fund is entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or non-U.S. corporate issuer, on the debt obligation. In return, the Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided

 

22


that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When the Fund is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments, but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. The Fund will segregate assets in the form of cash and cash equivalents in an amount equal to the aggregate market value of the credit default swaps of which it is the seller, marked to market on a daily basis. These transactions involve certain risks, including the risk that the seller may be unable to fulfill the transaction. The tax treatment of certain credit default swaps is uncertain.

Interest Rate Swaps. The Fund will enter into interest rate and total return swaps only on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). The Fund will only enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis. If the other party to an interest rate swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. The Fund will not enter into any interest rate swap unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be investment grade by the Advisers. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

These instruments are traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use interest rate swaps for risk management purposes only and not as a speculative investment and would typically use interest rate swaps to shorten the average interest rate reset time of the Fund’s holdings. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (e.g., an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments). The use of interest rate swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If Symphony is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund would be unfavorably affected.

Total Return Swaps. As stated above, the Fund will enter into total return swaps only on a net basis. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from the underlying asset(s), which may include securities, baskets of securities, or securities indices during the specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from other underlying asset(s).

Other Hedging Transactions. The Fund may invest in relatively new instruments without a significant trading history for purposes of hedging the Fund’s portfolio risks. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.

Limitations on the Use of Futures, Futures Options and Swaps. Pursuant to a claim for exemption filed with the National Futures Association on behalf of the Fund, the Fund is not deemed to be a commodity pool operator or a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and neither it nor NFALLC or Symphony is currently subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA with respect to the Fund. In February 2012, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) announced substantial amendments to certain exemptions, and to the conditions for reliance on those exemptions, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under amendments to the exemption provided under CFTC Regulation 4.5, if the Fund uses futures, options on futures, or swaps other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums on these positions (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions and excluding the amount by which options that are “in-the-money” at the time of purchase are “in-the-money”) may not exceed 5% of the Fund’s net asset value, or alternatively, the aggregate net notional value of those positions may not exceed 100% of the Fund’s net asset value (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). The CFTC amendments to Regulation 4.5 took effect on

 

23


December 31, 2012, and the Fund intends to comply with amended Regulation 4.5’s requirements, such that NFALLC and/or Symphony will not be required to register with respect to the Fund as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC. The Fund reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures, options thereon and swaps to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Fund’s policies. The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures transactions, engage in options transactions or engage in swap transactions.

 

24


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

The management of the Fund, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement (as defined under “Investment Adviser, Sub-Adviser and Portfolio Managers—Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees”), is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The number of trustees of the Fund is ten, one of whom is an “interested person” (as the term “interested person” is defined in the 1940 Act) and nine of whom are not interested persons (referred to herein as “independent trustees”). None of the independent trustees has ever been a director, trustee or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”), NFALLC, Symphony or their affiliates. The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, the Class I trustees serving until the 2013 annual meeting, the Class II trustees serving until the 2014 annual meeting and the Class III trustees serving until the 2015 annual meeting, in each case until their respective successors are elected and qualified, as described below. Currently, William C. Hunter, Judith M. Stockdale, Carole E. Stone and Virginia L. Stringer are slated in Class I, John P. Amboian, David J. Kundert and Terence J. Toth are slated in Class II and Robert P. Bremner, Jack B. Evans and William J. Schneider are slated in Class III. The officers of the Fund serve annual terms and are elected on an annual basis. The names, business addresses and birthdates of the trustees and officers of the Fund, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each oversees and other trusteeships they hold are set forth below. The trustees of the Fund are directors or trustees, as the case may be, of 101 Nuveen sponsored open-end funds (the “Nuveen Mutual Funds”) and 116 Nuveen-sponsored closed-end funds (collectively with the Nuveen Mutual Funds, the “Nuveen Funds”).

 

Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

   Position(s)
Held with
Fund
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed
    

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
    Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee During
Past 5 Years

Independent Trustees:

         

Robert P. Bremner

8/22/40

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Chairman of
the Board
and Trustee
    

 

Length of Service—

Since 1996

  

  

   Private Investor and Management Consultant; Treasurer and Director, Humanities Council of Washington D.C.; Board Member, Independent Directors Council affiliated with the Investment Company Institute.     217      None

 

25


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

   Position(s)
Held with
Fund
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed
  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
    Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee During
Past 5 Years

Jack B. Evans

10/22/48

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Trustee    Length of Service—
Since 1999
   President, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation (since 1996); Member of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System; Director, Source Media Group; Life Trustee of Coe College and the Iowa College Foundation; formerly, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; formerly, President and Chief Operating Officer, SCI Financial Group, Inc., (a regional financial services firm).     217      Director
and Vice
Chairman,
United
Fire
Group, a
publicly
held
company;
formerly,
Director,
Alliant
Energy.

William C. Hunter

3/6/48

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Trustee    Length of Service—
Since 2004
   Dean Emeritus (since June 30, 2012), formerly, Dean, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa (2006-2012); Director (since 2005) and President (since July 2012) of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Honor Society; Director of Wellmark, Inc. (since 2009); formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Connecticut (2003-2006); formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University; previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (1995-2003).     217      Director
(since
2004) of
Xerox
Corporation.

 

26


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  Position(s)
Held with
Fund
  Year First
Elected or
Appointed
  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
    Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee During
Past 5 Years

David J. Kundert

10/28/42

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Trustee   Length of Service—
Since 2005
   Director, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company; retired (since 2004) as Chairman, JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, President and CEO, Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and President, One Group Mutual Funds; prior thereto, Executive Vice President, Bank One Corporation and Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group; Regent Emeritus, member of Investment Committee, Luther College; member of the Wisconsin Bar Association; member of Board of Directors, Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens; Member of Board of Directors and Chair of the Investment Committee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation; member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee), College Possible.     217      N/A

William J. Schneider

9/24/44

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Trustee   Length of Service—
Since 1996
   Chairman, of Miller-Valentine Partners Ltd., a real estate investment company; member, Mid-America Health Systems Board; formerly, Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired 2004) of Miller-Valentine Group; Member, University of Dayton Business School Advisory Council; Member, Mid-America Health System Board; formerly, Member and Chair, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Association; formerly, Member, Business Advisory Council, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank.     217      N/A

 

27


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

   Position(s)
Held with
Fund
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed
  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
    Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee During
Past 5 Years

Judith M. Stockdale

12/29/47

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Trustee    Length of Service—
Since 1997
   Formerly, Executive Director, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (1994-2012); prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (1990-1994).     217      N/A

Carole E. Stone

6/28/47

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Trustee    Length of Service—
Since 2007
   Director, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (since 2009); formerly, Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (2005-2010); formerly, Chair, New York Racing Association Oversight Board (2005-2007).     217      Director,
Chicago
Board
Options
Exchange
(since
2006).

Virginia L. Stringer

8/16/44

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Trustee    Length of Service—
Since 2011
   Board Member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum; Governance consultant and non-profit board member; former Member, Governing Board, Investment Company Institute’s Independent Directors Council; former Owner and President, Strategic Management Resources, Inc. a management consulting firm; previously, held several executive positions in general management, marketing and human resources at IBM and The Pillsbury Company.     217      Previously,
Independent
Director,
First
American
Fund
Complex
(1987-
2010), and
Chair
(1997-
2010).

 

28


Name, Business Address
and Birthdate

  Position(s)
Held with
Fund
  Year First
Elected or
Appointed
  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee
    Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee During
Past 5 Years

Terence J. Toth

9/29/59

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Trustee   Length of Service—
Since 2008
   Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (since 2008); Managing Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (since 1994); Member: Chicago Fellowship Board (since 2005), Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation (since 2012) and a member of the Investment Committee; formerly, Member, Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004).     217      N/A

Interested Trustee:

          

John P. Amboian(1)

6/14/61

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

  Trustee   Length of Service—
Since 2008
   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman (since 2007) and Director (since 1999) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., formerly, President (1999-2007); Chief Executive Officer (since 2007) of Nuveen Investment Advisors, Inc.; Director (since 1998), formerly, Chief Executive Officer (2007-2010) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC     217      N/A

 

29


Officers of the Fund

 

Name, Birthdate and
Business Address

   Positions and
Offices
with the Fund
and Year First
Elected or
Appointed
 

Principal Occupations Including
Other Directorships
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer
 

Gifford R. Zimmerman

9/9/56

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Chief
Administrative
Officer
(Since 1988)
  Managing Director (since 2002) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2002), Assistant Secretary (since 1997) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2004) and Assistant Secretary (since 1994) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC and Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc. (since 2002); Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Symphony Asset Management LLC (since 2003); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (since 2006) and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2006) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.      217   

Williams Adams IV

6/9/55

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
(Since 2007)
  Senior Executive Vice President, Global Structured Products, formerly, Executive Vice President, (1999-2010) of Nuveen Investments, LLC; Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2011); formerly Managing Director (2010-2011) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC.      116   

Cedric H. Antosiewicz

1/11/62

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
(Since 2007)
 

Managing Director of Nuveen

Securities, LLC.

     116   

Margo L. Cook

4/11/64

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
(Since 2009)
  Executive Vice President (since 2008) of Nuveen Investments, Inc. and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director—Investment Services of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); previously, Head of Institutional Asset Management (2007-2008) of Bear Stearns Asset Management; Head of Institutional Asset Management (1986-2007) of Bank of NY Mellon; Chartered Financial Analyst.      217   

Lorna C. Ferguson

10/24/45

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
(Since 1998)
  Managing Director (since 2004) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2005) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC      217   

 

30


Name, Birthdate and
Business Address

   Positions and
Offices
with the Fund
and Year First
Elected or
Appointed
 

Principal Occupations Including
Other Directorships
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer
 

Stephen D. Foy

5/31/54

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
and Controller
(Since 1998)
  Senior Vice President (since 2010), formerly, Vice President (1993-2010) and Funds Controller (since 1998) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Vice President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2005); Chief Financial Officer (since 2010) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Certified Public Accountant.      217   

Scott S. Grace

8/20/70

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
and Treasurer
(Since 2009)
  Managing Director, Corporate Finance & Development, Treasurer (since 2009) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director and Treasurer (since 2009), of Nuveen Investment Advisers, Inc., Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc., Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and (since 2011) Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Vice President and Treasurer of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC; Vice President of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC; formerly, Treasurer (2006-2009), Senior Vice President (2008-2009), previously, Vice President (2006-2008) of Janus Capital Group, Inc.; formerly, Senior Associate in Morgan Stanley’s Global Financial Services Group (2000-2003); Chartered Accountant.      217   

Walter M. Kelly

2/24/70

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Chief
Compliance
Officer and
Vice President
(Since 2003)
  Senior Vice President (since 2008), formerly, Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Senior Vice President (since 2008) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003), formerly, Vice President (2006-2008) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC previously, Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Nuveen Funds (2003-2006).      217   

Tina M. Lazar

8/27/61

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
(Since 2002)
  Senior Vice President (since 2009), formerly, Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC (1999-2009); Senior Vice President (since 2010), formerly, Vice President (2005-2010) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2005).      217   

 

31


Name, Birthdate and
Business Address

   Positions and
Offices
with the Fund
and Year First
Elected or
Appointed
 

Principal Occupations Including
Other Directorships
During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Officer
 

Kevin J. McCarthy

3/26/66

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
and Secretary
(Since 2007)
  Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2008), formerly, Vice President (2007-2008) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2008), Assistant Secretary (since 2007) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2007) of Nuveen Investment Advisers Inc., NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, NWQ Holdings, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, . and of Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); Vice President and Secretary (since 2010) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; prior thereto, Partner, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP (1997-2007).      217   

Kathleen L. Prudhomme

3/30/53

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN 55402

   Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
(Since 2011)
  Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; formerly, Secretary of FASF (2004-2010); Deputy General Counsel, FAF Advisors, Inc. (2004-2010).      217   

 

(1) Mr. Amboian is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of his positions with Nuveen Investments and certain of its subsidiaries.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be, each is referred to hereafter as the “Board” and the directors or trustees of the Nuveen Funds, as applicable, are each referred to herein as “Trustees”) oversees the operations and management of the Nuveen Funds, including the duties performed for the Nuveen Funds by NFALLC and each Nuveen Fund’s sub-adviser, as applicable. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of trustees who serve on the board of every fund in the complex. In adopting a unitary board structure, the Trustees seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board, the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, independence and experience to oversee the Nuveen Funds’ business. With this overall framework in mind, when the Board, through its Nominating and Governance Committee discussed below, seeks nominees for the Board, the Trustees consider not only the candidate’s particular background, skills and experience, among other things, but also whether such background, skills and experience enhance the Board’s diversity and at the same time complement the Board given its current composition and the mix of skills and experiences of the incumbent Trustees.

The Board believes the unitary board structure enhances good and effective governance, particularly given the nature of the structure of the investment company complex. Funds in the same complex generally are served

 

32


by the same service providers and personnel and are governed by the same regulatory scheme which raises common issues that must be addressed by the trustees across the fund complex (such as compliance, valuation, liquidity, brokerage, trade allocation or risk management). The Board believes it is more efficient to have a single board review and oversee common policies and procedures which increases the Board’s knowledge and expertise with respect to the many aspects of fund operations that are complex-wide in nature. The unitary structure also enhances the Board’s influence and oversight over NFALLC, the Sub-Adviser and other service providers.

In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a Chairman that is an independent Trustee. The Board recognizes that a chairman can perform an important role in setting the agenda for the Board, establishing the boardroom culture, establishing a point person on behalf of the Board for fund management, and reinforcing the Board’s focus on the long-term interests of shareholders. The Board recognizes that a chairman may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with fund management. Accordingly, the Trustees have elected Robert P. Bremner as the independent Chairman of the Board through June 30, 2013 and William J. Schneider to serve as the independent Chairman of the Board effective July 1, 2013. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include: (i) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; (ii) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the Trustees are carried into effect; and (iii) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings of the Trustees and the shareholders.

Although the Board has direct responsibility over various matters (such as advisory contracts, underwriting contracts and Fund performance), the Board also exercises certain of its oversight responsibilities through several committees that it has established and which report back to the full Board. The Board believes that a committee structure is an effective means to permit Trustees to focus on particular operations or issues affecting the Nuveen Funds, including risk oversight. More specifically, with respect to risk oversight, the Board has delegated matters relating to valuation and compliance to certain committees (as summarized below) as well as certain aspects of investment risk. In addition, the Board believes that the periodic rotation of Trustees among the different committees allows the Trustees to gain additional and different perspectives of the Fund’s operations. The Board has established seven standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Open-End Funds Committee and the Closed-End Funds Committee. The Board may also from time to time create ad hoc committees to focus on particular issues as the need arises. The membership and functions of the standing committees are summarized below.

The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board, is authorized to exercise all of the powers of the Board. Robert P. Bremner, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale and John P. Amboian serve as the current members of the Executive Committee of the Board. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Executive Committee did not meet.

The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions on the Trust’s shares including, but not limited to, regular and special dividends, capital gains and ordinary income distributions. The members of the Dividend Committee are Jack B. Evans, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale and Terence J. Toth. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Dividend Committee met five times.

The Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee (the “Compliance Committee”) is responsible for the oversight of compliance issues, risk management and other regulatory matters affecting the Nuveen Funds that are not otherwise the jurisdiction of the other committees. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the Nuveen Funds’ compliance and risk matters. As part of its duties, the Compliance Committee reviews the policies and procedures relating to compliance matters and recommends modifications thereto as necessary or appropriate to the full Board; develops new policies and procedures as new regulatory matters affecting the Nuveen Funds arise from time to time; evaluates or considers any comments or reports from examinations from regulatory authorities and responses thereto; and performs any special reviews, investigations or other oversight responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or regulatory matters as requested by the Board.

 

33


In addition, the Compliance Committee is responsible for risk oversight, including, but not limited to, the oversight of risks related to investments and operations. Such risks include, among other things, exposures to particular issuers, market sectors, or types of securities; risks related to product structure elements, such as leverage; and techniques that may be used to address those risks, such as hedging and swaps. In assessing issues brought to the committee’s attention or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Nuveen Funds in adopting a particular approach or resolution compared to the anticipated benefits to the Nuveen Funds and their shareholders. In fulfilling its obligations, the Compliance Committee meets on a quarterly basis, and at least once a year in person. The Compliance Committee receives written and oral reports from the Nuveen Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and meets privately with the CCO at each of its quarterly meetings. The CCO also provides an annual report to the full Board regarding the operations of the Nuveen Funds’ and other service providers’ compliance programs as well as any recommendations for modifications thereto. The Compliance Committee also receives reports from the investment services group of Nuveen regarding various investment risks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board also participates in discussions with management regarding certain matters relating to investment risk, such as the use of leverage and hedging. The investment services group therefore also reports to the full Board at its quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, Fund performance and the various drivers of such performance. Accordingly, the Board directly and/or in conjunction with the Compliance Committee oversees matters relating to investment risks. Matters not addressed at the committee level are addressed directly by the full Board. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board of Trustees. The members of the Compliance Committee are Jack B. Evans, William C. Hunter, William J. Schneider, Virginia L. Stringer and Judith M. Stockdale (Chair). During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Compliance Committee met six times.

The Audit Committee assists the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices of the Nuveen Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the Nuveen Funds’ compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Nuveen Funds’ financial statements; the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence; and the pricing procedures of the Nuveen Funds and the internal valuation group of Nuveen. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, evaluate and replace any independent auditors (subject only to Board and, if applicable, shareholder ratification) and to determine their compensation. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Nuveen Funds’ portfolios. Subject to the Board’s general supervision of such actions, the Audit Committee addresses any valuation issues, oversees the Nuveen Funds’ pricing procedures and actions taken by Nuveen’s internal valuation group which provides regular reports to the committee, reviews any issues relating to the valuation of the Nuveen Funds’ securities brought to its attention and considers the risks to the Nuveen Funds in assessing the possible resolutions to these matters. The Audit Committee may also consider any financial risk exposures for the Nuveen Funds in conjunction with performing its functions.

To fulfill its oversight duties, the Audit Committee receives annual and semi-annual reports and has regular meetings with the external auditors for the Nuveen Funds and the internal audit group at Nuveen Investments. The Audit Committee also may review in a general manner the processes the Board or other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management as well as compliance with legal and regulatory matters relating to the Nuveen Funds’ financial statements. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. Members of the Audit Committee shall be independent (as set forth in the charter) and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the Trustees, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member. The members of the Audit Committee are Robert P. Bremner, David J. Kundert, Chair, William J. Schneider, Carole E. Stone and Terence J. Toth, each of whom is an independent Trustee of the Nuveen Funds. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Audit Committee met four times.

 

34


The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking, identifying and recommending to the Board qualified candidates for election or appointment to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, the assignment and rotation of committee members, and the establishment of corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent necessary or desirable, and matters related thereto. Although the unitary and committee structure has been developed over the years and the Nominating and Governance Committee believes the structure has provided efficient and effective governance, the committee recognizes that as demands on the Board evolve over time (such as through an increase in the number of funds overseen or an increase in the complexity of the issues raised), the committee must continue to evaluate the Board and committee structures and their processes and modify the foregoing as may be necessary or appropriate to continue to provide effective governance. Accordingly, the Nominating and Governance Committee has a separate meeting each year to, among other things, review the Board and committee structures, their performance and functions, and recommend any modifications thereto or alternative structures or processes that would enhance the Board’s governance over the Nuveen Funds’ business. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee, among other things, makes recommendations concerning the continuing education of Trustees; monitors performance of legal counsel and other service providers; establishes and monitors a process by which security holders are be able to communicate in writing with members of the Board; and periodically reviews and makes recommendations about any appropriate changes to Trustee compensation. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee receives suggestions from various sources, including shareholders, as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to Lorna Ferguson, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen Investments, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. The Nominating and Governance Committee sets appropriate standards and requirements for nominations for new Trustees and reserves the right to interview any and all candidates and to make the final selection of any new Trustees. In considering a candidate’s qualifications, each candidate must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability (including the time requirements for due diligence site visits to internal and external sub-advisors and service providers) and, if qualifying as an Independent Trustee candidate, independence from the NFALLC, sub-advisers, underwriters or other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities. These skill and experience requirements may vary depending on the current composition of the Board, since the goal is to ensure an appropriate range of skills, diversity and experience, in the aggregate. Accordingly, the particular factors considered and weight given to these factors will depend on the composition of the Board and the skills and backgrounds of the incumbent Trustees at the time of consideration of the nominees. All candidates, however, must meet high expectations of personal integrity, independence, governance experience and professional competence. All candidates must be willing to be critical within the Board and with management and yet maintain a collegial and collaborative manner toward other Board members. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the independent Trustees of the Nuveen Funds. Accordingly, the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Robert P. Bremner, Chair, Jack B. Evans, William C. Hunter, David J. Kundert, William J. Schneider, Judith M. Stockdale, Carole E. Stone, and Terence J. Toth. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Nominating and Governance Committee met six times.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Board approved the creation of the Open-End Funds Committee. The Open-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the Nuveen Funds that are registered as open-end management investment companies (“Open-End Funds”). The committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new Open-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Open-End Fund. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Open-End Funds Committee are Robert P. Bremner, David J. Kundert, Judith M. Stockdale, Virginia L. Stringer and Terence J. Toth, Chair. From January 1, 2012 through July 31, 2012, the Open-End Funds Committee met two times.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Board approved the creation of the Closed-End Funds Committee. The Closed-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the

 

35


Nuveen Funds that are registered as closed-end investment companies (“Closed-End Funds”). The committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new Closed-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Closed-End Fund. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Closed-End Funds Committee are Robert P. Bremner, Jack B. Evans, William C. Hunter, William J. Schneider, Chair, and Carole E. Stone. From January 1, 2012 through July 31, 2012, the Closed-End Funds Committee met two times.

Board Diversification and Trustee Qualifications. In determining that a particular Board Member was qualified to serve as a Board Member, the Board has considered each Board Member’s background, skills, experience and other attributes in light of the composition of the Board with no particular factor controlling. The Board believes that Board Members need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties and the Board believes each Board Member satisfies this standard. An effective Board Member may achieve this ability through his or her educational background; business, professional training or practice; public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Boards of the Nuveen Funds), or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and or/other life experiences. Accordingly, set forth below is a summary of the experiences, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this document, that each Board Member should continue to serve in that capacity. References to the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills of Board Members are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any Board Member as having any special expertise or experience and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

John P. Amboian

Mr. Amboian, an interested Trustee of the Nuveen Funds, joined Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”) in June 1995 and became Chief Executive Officer in July 2007 and Chairman in November 2007. Prior to this, since 1999, he served as President with responsibility for the firm’s product, marketing, sales, operations and administrative activities. Mr. Amboian initially served Nuveen as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Nuveen, Mr. Amboian held key management positions with two consumer product firms affiliated with the Phillip Morris Companies. He served as Senior Vice President of Finance, Strategy and Systems at Miller Brewing Company. Mr. Amboian began his career in corporate and international finance at Kraft Foods, Inc., where he eventually served as Treasurer. He received a Bachelor’s degree in economics and a Masters of Business Administration (“MBA”) from the University of Chicago. Mr. Amboian serves on the Board of Directors of Nuveen and is a Board Member or Trustee of the Investment Company Institute Board of Governors, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital and Foundation, the Council on the Graduate School of Business (University of Chicago), and the North Shore Country Day School Foundation. He is also a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago.

Robert P. Bremner

Mr. Bremner, the Nuveen Funds’ Independent Chairman, is a private investor and management consultant in Washington, D.C. His biography of William McChesney Martin, Jr., a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, was published by Yale University Press in November 2004. From 1994 to 1997, he was a Senior Vice President at Samuels International Associates, an international consulting firm specializing in governmental policies, where he served in a part-time capacity. Previously, Mr. Bremner was a partner in the LBK Investors Partnership and was chairman and majority stockholder with ITC Investors Inc., both private investment firms. He currently serves on the Board and as Treasurer of the Humanities Council of Washington D.C. and is a Board Member of the Independent Directors Council affiliated with the Investment Company Institute. From 1984 to

 

36


1996, Mr. Bremner was an independent Trustee of the Flagship Funds, a group of municipal open-end funds. He began his career at the World Bank in Washington D.C. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Yale University and received his MBA from Harvard University.

Jack B. Evans

President of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation, since 1996, Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of the SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Formerly, he was a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as well as a Director of Alliant Energy. Mr. Evans is Chairman of the Board of United Fire Group, sits on the Board of the Source Media Group, is a member of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System and is a Life Trustee of Coe College. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College and an MBA from the University of Iowa.

William C. Hunter

Mr. Hunter became Dean Emeritus of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa on June 30, 2012. He was appointed Dean of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa on July 1, 2006. He had been Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business since June 2003. From 1995 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While there he served as the Bank’s Chief Economist and was an Associate Economist on the Federal Reserve System’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In addition to serving as a Vice President in charge of financial markets and basic research at the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, he held faculty positions at Emory University, Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. A past Director of the Credit Research Center at Georgetown University, SS&C Technologies, Inc. (2005) and past President of the Financial Management Association International, he has consulted with numerous foreign central banks and official agencies in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. From 1990 to 1995, he was a U.S. Treasury Advisor to Central and Eastern Europe. He has been a Director of the Xerox Corporation since 2004 and Wellmark, Inc. since 2009. He is a Director and President of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society.

David J. Kundert

Mr. Kundert retired in 2004 as Chairman of JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, and as President and CEO of Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and as President of One Group Mutual Funds. Prior to the merger between Banc One Corporation and JPMorgan Chase and Co., he was Executive Vice President, Banc One Corporation and, since 1995, the Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group. From 1988 to 1992, he was President and CEO of Bank One Wisconsin Trust Company. Currently, Mr. Kundert is a Director of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. He started his career as an attorney for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Kundert has served on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and he is currently a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. He is on the Board of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and chairs its Investment Committee. He is Regent Emeritus of Luther College and is a member of its investment committee. Mr. Kundert is also a member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee) for College Possible. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College, and his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University.

William J. Schneider

Mr. Schneider is currently Chairman, formerly Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired, December 2004) of Miller-Valentine Partners Ltd., a real estate investment company. He is a Director and Past Chair of the Dayton Development Coalition. He was formerly a member of the Community Advisory Board of the National City Bank in Dayton as well as a former member of the Business Advisory Council of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Schneider is a member of the Business Advisory Council for the University of Dayton College of Business. Mr. Schneider was an independent Trustee of the Flagship Funds, a group of

 

37


municipal open-end funds. He also served as Chair of the Miami Valley Hospital and as Chair of the Finance Committee of its parent holding company. Mr. Schneider has a Bachelor of Science in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Dayton.

Judith M. Stockdale

At the end of 2012, Ms. Stockdale retired as Executive Director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, a private foundation working in land conservation and artistic vitality in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Her previous positions include Executive Director of the Great Lakes Protection Fund, Executive Director of Openlands, and Senior Staff Associate at the Chicago Community Trust. She has served on the Boards of the Land Trust Alliance, the National Zoological Park, the Governor’s Science Advisory Council (Illinois), the Nancy Ryerson Ranney Leadership Grants Program, Friends of Ryerson Woods and the Donors Forum. Ms. Stockdale, a native of the United Kingdom, has a Bachelor of Science degree in geography from the University of Durham (UK) and a Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University.

Carole E. Stone

Ms. Stone retired from the New York State Division of the Budget in 2004, having served as its Director for nearly five years and as Deputy Director from 1995 through 1999. Ms. Stone is currently on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, CBOE Holdings, Inc. and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated and was formerly a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform. She has also served as the Chair of the New York Racing Association Oversight Board, as Chair of the Public Authorities Control Board and as a member of the Boards of Directors of several New York State public authorities. Ms. Stone has a Bachelor of Arts from Skidmore College in Business Administration.

Virginia L. Stringer

Ms. Stringer served as the independent chair of the Board of the First American Fund Complex from 1997 to 2010, having joined such Board in 1987. Ms. Stringer serves on the board of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Corporate Director award from Twin Cities Business Monthly and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Stringer is the past board chair of the Oak Leaf Trust, director of the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation and also served as President of the Minneapolis Club’s Governing Board. She is a director and former board chair of the Minnesota Opera and a Life Trustee and former board member of the Voyageur Outward Bound School. She also served as a trustee of Outward Bound USA. She was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota to the Board on Judicial Standards and recently served on a Minnesota Supreme Court Judicial Advisory Committee to reform the state’s judicial disciplinary process. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and attended the London Business School as an International Business Fellow. Ms. Stringer recently served as board chair of the Human Resource Planning Society, the Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund and the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable. Ms. Stringer is the retired founder of Strategic Management Resources, a consulting practice focused on corporate governance, strategy and leadership. She has twenty five years of corporate experience having held executive positions in general management, marketing and human resources with IBM and the Pillsbury Company.

Terence J. Toth

Mr. Toth is a Director of Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (since 2008) and a Managing Partner of Promus Capital (since 2008). From 2004 to 2007, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Northern Trust Global Investments, and Executive Vice President of Quantitative Management & Securities Lending from 2000 to 2004. He also formerly served on the Board of the Northern Trust Mutual Funds. He joined Northern Trust in 1994 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Global Securities Lending at Bankers Trust (1986 to 1994) and Head of Government Trading and Cash Collateral Investment at

 

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Northern Trust from 1982 to 1986. He currently serves on the Board of the Chicago Fellowship, and is Chairman of the Board of Catalyst Schools of Chicago. He is on the Mather Foundation Board (since 2012) and is a member of its investment committee. Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MBA from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University.

Compensation

The following table shows, for each independent trustee, (1) the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund for its fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, (2) the amount of total compensation paid by the Fund that has been deferred and (3) the total compensation paid to each trustee by the Nuveen Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2012. The Fund does not have a retirement or pension plan. The officers and trustees affiliated with Nuveen Investments serve without any compensation from the Fund. Certain of the Nuveen Funds have a deferred compensation plan (the “Compensation Plan”) that permits any trustee who is not an “interested person” of certain funds to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation as a trustee. The deferred compensation of a participating trustee is credited to the book reserve account of a fund when the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the trustee. The value of the trustee’s deferral account at any time is equal to the value that the account would have had if contributions to the account had been invested and reinvested in shares of one or more of the eligible Nuveen Funds. At the time for commencing distributions from a trustee’s deferral account, the trustee may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or over a period of five years. The Fund will not be liable for any other fund’s obligations to make distributions under the Compensation Plan.

 

Name of Trustee

   Aggregate
Compensation from The Fund(1)
     Amount of Total
Compensation
That Has

Been Deferred(2)
     Total Compensation from
Fund and Fund Complex(3)
 

Robert P. Bremner

   $ 1,088       $ 161       $ 343,204   

Jack B. Evans

     838         212         262,670   

William C. Hunter

     771         378         240,509   

David J. Kundert

     799         799         267,712   

William J. Schneider

     883         475         284,299   

Judith M. Stockdale

     819         495         261,411   

Carole E. Stone

     833         —           263,100   

Virginia L. Stringer

     754         —           248,600   

Terence J. Toth

     899         —           298,475   

 

(1) The total compensation paid, including deferred amounts, to the independent trustees for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012.
(2) Pursuant to a deferred compensation agreement with certain of the Nuveen Funds, deferred amounts are treated as though an equivalent dollar amount has been invested in shares of one or more eligible Nuveen Funds. Total deferred fees for the Nuveen Fund (including the return from the assumed investment in the eligible Nuveen Funds) payable are stated above.
(3) Based on the compensation paid (including any amounts deferred) for the 2012 calendar year ended December 31, 2012 for services to the Nuveen open-end and closed-end funds. Because the funds in the Fund Complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this column are presented on a calendar year basis.

Effective January 1, 2012, independent trustees receive a $130,000 ($140,000 as of January 1, 2013) annual retainer plus (a) a fee of $4,500 per day for attendance in person or by telephone at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board; (b) a fee of $3,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at special, nonregularly scheduled Board meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (c) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Audit Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (d) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at

 

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Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (e) a fee of $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Dividend Committee meetings; (f) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at all other committee meetings ($1,000 for shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is required and $250 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such committee meetings (excluding shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is not required, and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acts as pricing committee for IPOs, plus, in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings, provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held; and (g) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Open-End Funds Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held. In addition to the payments described above, the Chairman of the Board receives $75,000, the chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee and the Open-End Funds Committee receive $12,500 each and the chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee receives $5,000 as additional retainers. Independent trustees also receive a fee of $3,000 per day for site visits to entities that provide services to the Nuveen Funds on days on which no Board meeting is held. When ad hoc committees are organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee will at the time of formation determine compensation to be paid to the members of such committee; however, in general, such fees will be $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at ad hoc committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required. The annual retainer, fees and expenses are allocated among the Nuveen Funds on the basis of relative net assets, although management may, in its discretion, establish a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund.

As noted above, effective January 1, 2013, the annual retainer paid to each independent trustee is $140,000. All other compensation listed above remains the same.

The Fund has no employees. Its officers are compensated by Nuveen Investments or its affiliates.

 

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Share Ownership

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2012.

 

Name of Trustee

   Dollar Range
of Equity Securities
in the Fund
   Aggregate Dollar Range
of Equity Securities in
All Registered
Investment Companies
Overseen by Trustee
in Family of Investment
Companies

Interested Trustee

     

John P. Amboian

   None    Over $100,000

Non-Interested Trustees

     

Robert P. Bremner

   None    Over $100,000

Jack B. Evans

   $50,001-$100,000    Over $100,000

William C. Hunter

   None    Over $100,000

David J. Kundert

   None    Over $100,000

William S. Schneider

   None    Over $100,000

Judith M. Stockdale

   None    Over $100,000

Carole E. Stone

   None    Over $100,000

Virginia L. Stringer

   None    Over $100,000

Terence J. Toth

   None    Over $100,000

As of July 31, 2012 the officers and Trustees as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of the any class of the Fund’s outstanding securities. Additionally, no disinterested trustee owned shares of NFALLC, Symphony or Nuveen Investments (or any entity controlled by or under common control with NFALLC, Symphony or Nuveen Investments).

5% Shareholders

The following table sets forth the percentage ownership of each person who, as of December 31, 2012, owned of record, or is known by the Fund to own of record beneficially, 5% or more of any class of the Fund’s equity securities:*

 

Name of Equity Security

   Name and Address of Owner    Percent of Record Ownership

Common Shares

   First Trust Portfolios L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, IL 60787

   13.72%

Common Shares

   First Trust Advisors L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, IL 60787

  

Common Shares

   The Charger Corporation

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, IL 60787

  

Common Shares

   Guggenheim Capital, LLC

227 West Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60606

   5.85%

Common Shares

   Guggenheim Partners, LLC

227 West Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60606

  

 

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Name of Equity Security

   Name and Address of Owner    Percent of Record Ownership

Common Shares

   GP Holdco, LLC

227 West Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60606

  

Common Shares

   GPFT Holdco, LLC

227 West Monroe Street

Chicago, IL 60606

  

Common Shares

   Guggenheim Funds Services
Holdings, LLC

2455 Corporate West Dr.

Lisle, IL 60532

  

Common Shares

   Guggenheim Funds Services, LLC

2455 Corporate West Dr.

Lisle, IL 60532

  

Common Shares

   Guggenheim Funds Distributors,
LLC

2455 Corporate West Dr.

Lisle, IL 60532

  

 

* The information contained in this table is based on Schedule 13G filings made on January 17 and February 14, 2013.

INVESTMENT ADVISER, SUBADVISER AND PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Investment Adviser. Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“NFALLC”), the Fund’s investment adviser, is responsible for determining the Fund’s overall investment strategy and its implementation, including the use of leverage and hedging. NFALLC also is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of Symphony, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services to the Fund.

NFALLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen Investments”). Founded in 1898, Nuveen Investments and its affiliates had approximately $220 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2012.

Investment Management Agreement and Related Fees. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between NFALLC and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay an annual management fee for the overall advisory and administrative services and general office facilities provided by NFALLC. The Fund’s management fee is separated into two components—a complex-level component, based on the aggregate amount of all fund assets managed by NFALLC, and a specific fund-level component, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund. This pricing structure enables Nuveen Fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within each individual fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by NFALLC.

Fund Level Fee.    The annual fund-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Average Daily Managed Assets1

   Fund-Level Fee Rate  

For the first $1 billion

     0.6500 %

For the next $1 billion

     0.6375 %

For the next $3 billion

     0.6250 %

For the next $5 billion

     0.6000 %

For Managed Assets over $10 billion

     0.5750 %

 

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Complex Level Fee.    The annual complex-level fee for the Fund, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Complex-Level Managed Asset
Breakpoint Level2

   Effective Rate at
Breakpoint Level
 

$55 billion

     0.2000 %

$56 billion

     0.1996 %

$57 billion

     0.1989 %

$60 billion

     0.1961 %

$63 billion

     0.1931 %

$66 billion

     0.1900 %

$71 billion

     0.1851 %

$76 billion

     0.1806 %

$80 billion

     0.1773 %

$91 billion

     0.1691 %

$125 billion

     0.1599 %

$200 billion

     0.1505 %

$250 billion

     0.1469 %

$300 billion

     0.1445 %

 

(1) For this Fund, “Managed Assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to the Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles).
(2) The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily “eligible assets” of all Nuveen Funds. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen Funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with NFALLC’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. With respect to closed-end funds, eligible assets include assets managed by NFALLC that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes, financial leverage includes the use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by NFALLC as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. As of November 30, 2012, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was 0.1684%.

The following table sets forth the management fee paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:

 

     Management Fee Net of
Expense Reimbursement
Paid to NFALLC for the
Fiscal Year Ended
     Expense Reimbursement
from NFALLC for the
Fiscal Year Ended
 

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2010

   $ 2,195,924       $ 30,102   

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2011

     2,434,710         —     

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2012

     2,495,260         —     

In addition to the fee of NFALLC, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including compensation of its trustees (other than those affiliated with NFALLC), custodian, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses associated with any Borrowings, expenses of issuing any preferred shares, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.

 

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A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees’ decision to renew the Investment Management and Sub-Advisory Agreement is in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated July 31 of each year.

Investment Sub-Adviser. Symphony, located at 555 California Street, Suite 2975, San Francisco, CA 94104, the Fund’s subadviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s Managed Assets. Symphony specializes in the management of both long-only and alternative equity and debt strategies. Symphony, a registered investment adviser, commenced operations in 1994 and had approximately $11.6 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2012. Symphony is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments.

Sub-Advisory Agreement and Related Fees. Pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement between NFALLC and Symphony (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”), Symphony is compensated for the services it provides to the Fund with a portion of the management fee NFALLC receives from the Fund. NFALLC and Symphony retain the right to reallocate investment advisory responsibilities and fees between themselves in the future.

The following table sets forth the management fee paid by NFALLC to Symphony for the last three fiscal years:

 

Fiscal Year Ended

   Sub-Advisory Fee
Paid by NFALLC to
Symphony
 

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2010

   $ 1,012,573   

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2011

     1,108,851   

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2012

     1,132,202   

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ decision to renew the Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Fund is available in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated July 31 of each year.

Portfolio Managers. Unless otherwise indicated, the information below is provided as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information.

Portfolio Management. Gunther Stein is a co-portfolio manager of the Fund. Gunther Stein is Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer at Symphony. Mr. Stein is responsible for leading Symphony’s fixed-income and equity investments strategies and research and overseeing firm trading. Prior to joining Symphony in 1999, Mr. Stein was a high yield portfolio manager at Wells Fargo Bank, where he managed a high yield portfolio, was responsible for investing in public high yield bonds and bank loans and managed a team of credit analysts.

Scott Caraher is a co-portfolio manager of the Fund. Mr. Caraher is a member of Symphony’s fixed-income team and his responsibilities include portfolio management and trading for Symphony’s bank loan strategies and credit and equity research for its fixed-income strategies. Prior to joining Symphony in 2002, Mr. Caraher was an Investment Banking Analyst in the industrial group at Deutsche Banc Alex Brown in New York.

 

44


Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers. Each portfolio manager also has responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund. Information regarding these other accounts is set forth below.

 

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED AND ASSETS BY ACCOUNT TYPE AS OF July 31, 2012

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Type of
Account Managed

   Total Number
of Accounts
     Total
Assets
    Number of
Accounts with
Performance
Based Fees
    Assets of
Account with
Performance
Based Fees
 

Gunther Stein

  Registered Investment Companies      17       $ 1.83 billion        0      $ 0   
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles      37       $ 1.67 billion        22      $ 1.62 billion   
  Other Accounts      11       $ 260.65 million        5      $ 157.96 million   

Scott Caraher

  Registered Investment Companies      6       $ 619.513 million        0      $ 0   
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles      12       $ 1.509 billion        12      $ 1.509 billion   
  Other Accounts      4       $ 96.494 million        0      $ 0   

Compensation. Symphony investment professionals receive compensation based on three elements: fixed base salary, participation in a bonus pool and certain long-term incentives.

The fixed base salary is set at a level determined by Symphony and is reviewed periodically to ensure that it is competitive with base salaries paid by similar financial services companies for persons playing similar roles.

Each portfolio manager is also eligible to receive an annual bonus from a pool based on Symphony’s aggregate asset-based and performance fees after all operating expenses. The level of this bonus to each individual portfolio manager is determined by senior management’s assessment of the team’s performance, and the individual’s contribution to and performance on that team. Factors considered in that assessment include the total return and risk-adjusted total return performance of the accounts for which the individual serves as portfolio manager relative to any benchmarks established for those accounts; the individual’s effectiveness in communicating investment performance to investors and/or their advisors; and the individual’s contribution to the firm’s overall investment process and to the execution of investment strategies.

Finally, certain key employees of Symphony, including the portfolio managers, have received profits interests in Symphony which entitle their holders to participate in the firm’s growth over time.

Material Conflicts of Interest. The portfolio managers’ simultaneous management of the Fund and the other accounts noted above may present actual or apparent conflicts of interest with respect to the allocation and aggregation of securities orders placed on behalf of the Fund and the other account. Symphony, however, believes that such potential conflicts are mitigated by the fact that Symphony has adopted several policies that address potential conflicts of interest, including trade execution and trade allocation policies that are designed to ensure (1) that portfolio management is seeking the best execution for portfolio securities under the circumstances, (2) fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among accounts over time and (3) compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. All accounts are to be treated in a non-preferential manner, such that allocations are not based upon account performance, fee structure or preference of the portfolio manager. In addition, Symphony’s Compliance Manual and Code of Ethics includes policies regarding conflicts of interest.

 

45


Ownership of Fund Shares by the Portfolio Managers.    As of July 31, 2012, the portfolio manager beneficially owned (as determined pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act) shares of the Fund having values within the indicated dollar ranges.

 

Portfolio Manager

   Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Beneficially Owned in the Fund
 

Gunther Stein

   $ 10,001-$50,000   

Scott Caraner

   $ 50,001-$100,000   

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, NFALLC, Symphony, Nuveen and other related entities have adopted codes of ethics that essentially prohibit certain of their personnel, including the Fund’s Portfolio Manager, from engaging in personal investments that compete or interfere with, or attempt to take advantage of a client’s, including the Fund’s, anticipated or actual portfolio transactions, and are designed to assure that the interests of clients, including Fund shareholders, are placed before the interests of personnel in connection with personal investment transactions. Text-only versions of the codes of ethics of the Fund, NFALLC, and Nuveen can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet web site at www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy those documents by visiting the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 202-551-8090. In addition, copies of those codes of ethics may be obtained, after mailing the appropriate duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or by e-mail request at publicinfo@sec.gov.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Fund is responsible for voting proxies on securities held in its portfolio. When the Fund receives a proxy, the decision regarding how to vote such proxy will be made by Symphony in accordance with Symphony’s proxy voting procedures.

The Fund has granted to Symphony the authority to vote proxies on its behalf. A senior member of Symphony is responsible for oversight of the Fund’s proxy voting process. Symphony has engaged the services of Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) to make recommendations to Symphony on the voting of proxies relating to securities held by the Fund. ISS provides voting recommendations based upon established guidelines and practices. Symphony reviews ISS recommendations and frequently follows the ISS recommendations. However, on selected issues, Symphony may not vote in accordance with the ISS recommendations when it believes that specific ISS recommendations are not in the best economic interest of the Fund. If Symphony manages the assets of a company or its pension plan and any of Symphony’s clients hold any securities of that company, Symphony will vote proxies relating to such company’s securities in accordance with the ISS recommendations to avoid any conflict of interest. If a client requests Symphony to follow specific voting guidelines or additional guidelines, Symphony will review the request and inform the client only if Symphony is not able to follow the client’s request.

Symphony has adopted the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines. While these guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive, they do provide guidance on Symphony’s general voting policies. When required by applicable regulations, information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended July 31 is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 257-8787 or from the Fund’s website at http://www.nuveen.com, and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

46


PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, Symphony, with respect to the securities for which it is responsible, is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Fund, the negotiation of the prices to be paid for principal trades and the allocation of transactions among various dealer firms. Transactions on stock exchanges involve the payment by the Fund of brokerage commissions. There generally is no stated commission in the case of securities traded in the over-the-counter market but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. In certain instances, the Fund may make purchases of underwritten issues at prices which include underwriting fees.

Portfolio securities may be purchased directly from an underwriter or in the over-the-counter market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained through other means. Portfolio securities will not be purchased from Nuveen or its affiliates or affiliates of Symphony except in compliance with the 1940 Act. With respect to interests in Senior Loans, the Fund generally will engage in privately negotiated transactions for purchase or sale in which Symphony will negotiate on behalf of the Fund, although a more developed market may exist for many Senior Loans. The Fund may be required to pay fees, or forgo a portion of interest and any fees payable to the Fund, to the lender selling participations or assignments to the Fund. Symphony will determine the lenders from whom the Fund will purchase assignments and participations by considering their professional ability, level of service, relationship with the Borrower, financial condition, credit standards and quality of management. See “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus.

It is the policy of Symphony to seek the best execution under the circumstances of each trade. Symphony will evaluate price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondary in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it will be Symphony’s practice to select dealers which, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to Symphony. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to Symphony’s own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly Symphony’s expenses. While Symphony will be primarily responsible for the placement of the business of the Fund, the policies and practices of Symphony in this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times, be subject to review by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

Symphony may manage other investment accounts and investment companies for other clients that may invest in the same types of securities as the Fund and which may have investment objectives similar to those of the Fund. Symphony seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell assets or securities by the Fund and another advisory account. If an aggregated order cannot be filled completely, allocations will generally be made on a pro rata basis. An order may not be allocated on a pro rata basis where, for example (i) consideration is given to portfolio managers who have been instrumental in developing or negotiating a particular investment; (ii) consideration is given to an account with specialized investment policies that coincide with the particulars of a specific investment; (iii) pro rata allocation would result in odd-lot or de minimis amounts being allocated to a portfolio or other client; or (iv) where the Adviser reasonably determines that departure from a pro rata allocation is advisable. There may also be instances where the Fund will not participate at all in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these allocation procedures could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board of Trustees that the benefits available from Symphony’s management outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from Symphony’s larger management activities and its need to allocate securities.

 

47


Substantially all of the Fund’s trades are effected on a principal basis. The following table sets forth the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:

 

Fiscal Year Ended

   Brokerage Commissions Paid  

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2010

   $ —     

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2011

   $ —     

Fiscal year ended July 31, 2012

   $ 656   

During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the Fund did not pay commissions to brokers in return for research services or hold any securities of its regular broker-dealers.

NET ASSET VALUE

The Fund’s net asset value per share is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. Net asset value per Common Share is calculated by taking the fair value of the Fund’s total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less liabilities (including leverage instruments), and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share.

The Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest generally are not listed on any securities exchange. Certain Senior Loans are traded by institutional investors in an over-the-counter secondary market for Senior Loan obligations that has developed over the past several years. This secondary market for those Senior Loans generally is comparatively illiquid relative to markets for other income securities and no active trading market exists for many Senior Loans. In determining net asset value, the Fund will utilize the valuations of Senior Loans furnished to the Adviser by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has reviewed the various alternatives for pricing the Fund’s portfolio of Senior Loans and has determined that the use of a pricing service is a reasonable, fair and appropriate method of valuing Senior Loans and has entered into an agreement with one or more independent third-party pricing services to provide comparable pricing services for the Fund under similar terms as those described below. The Agreement is terminable by either party and to provide that the pricing service assumes no fiduciary responsibility to the Fund or to any investor in the Fund, and that the pricing service has no liability under the Agreement to any third party, including any investor in the Fund. The Agreement provides that the pricing service will be indemnified by the Adviser unless the pricing service has acted with willful misconduct. The pricing service is explicitly permitted to act as principal for its own account in connection with the purchase and sale (from or to the Fund or otherwise) of any Senior Loan at any price simultaneously while it provides pricing services to the Fund.

Furthermore, the pricing service has no obligation to provide a valuation for a Senior Loan if it believes that it cannot determine such a valuation and, accordingly, the pricing service may not provide valuations for all the Senior Loans in the Fund’s portfolio.

Pricing services typically will value Senior Loans at the mean of the highest bona fide bid and lowest bona fide ask prices when current quotations will be readily available. Senior Loans for which current quotations will not be readily available are valued at a fair value as determined by the pricing service using a wide range of market data and other information and analysis, including credit considerations considered relevant by such pricing services to determine valuations. The procedures of any pricing service and its valuations will be reviewed by the officers of the Adviser under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees. If the Adviser believes that a value provided by a pricing service does not represent a fair value as a result of information, specific to that Senior Loan or Borrower or its affiliates, which the Adviser believes that the pricing agent may not be aware, the Adviser may in its discretion value the Senior Loan and the Fund will utilize that price instead of the price as determined by the pricing service. If the pricing service does not provide a value for a Senior Loan, a value will be determined by the Adviser. In addition to such information, if any, the Adviser will

 

48


consider, among other factors, (i) the creditworthiness of the Borrower and (ii) the current interest rate, the period until next interest rate reset and maturity of such Senior Loan interests in determining a fair value of a Senior Loan. If the pricing service does not provide a value for a Senior Loan or if no service is then acting, a value will be determined by the Adviser in the manner described above.

It is expected that the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate as a function of interest rate and credit factors. Because of the short-term nature of such instruments, however, the Fund’s net asset value is expected to fluctuate less in response to changes in interest rates than the net asset values of investment companies with portfolios consisting primarily of longer term fixed-income securities.

Because a secondary trading market in Senior Loans has not yet fully developed, the pricing service or the Adviser may not rely solely on but may consider, to the extent they believe such information to be reliable, prices or quotations provided by banks, dealers or other pricing services with respect to secondary market transactions in Senior Loans. To the extent that an active secondary trading market in Senior Loan interests develops to a reliable degree, the pricing service or the Adviser may rely to an increasing extent on such market prices and quotations in reviewing the valuations of the Senior Loan interests in the Fund’s portfolio. To the extent a trading market continues to develop, certain participants in the market may have objectives other than current income and may pursue short-term trading strategies, which may result in erratic movements in the market prices for Senior Loans as a result of movements in short-term interest rates or otherwise. Although the Fund’s policy of acquiring interests in floating rate Senior Loans is intended to minimize fluctuations in net asset value resulting from changes in market interest rates, the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate. In light of the senior nature of Senior Loan interests that may be included in the Fund’s portfolio and taking into account the Fund’s access to non-public information with respect to Borrowers relating to such Senior Loan interests, the Adviser does not currently believe that consideration on a systematic basis of ratings provided by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization or price fluctuations with respect to long- or short-term debt of such Borrowers subordinate to the Senior Loans of such Borrowers is necessary in order to review the value of such Senior Loan interests. Accordingly, the Adviser generally will not systematically consider (but may consider in certain instances) and, in any event, will not rely solely upon such ratings or price fluctuations in determining or reviewing valuations of Senior Loan interests in the Fund’s portfolio.

Other portfolio securities (other than short-term obligations, but including listed issues) may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services which determine prices for normal, institutional-size trading units of such securities using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities which are generally recognized by institutional traders. In certain circumstances, portfolio securities will be valued at the last sale price on the exchange that is the primary market for such securities, or the last quoted bid price for those securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market or for listed securities in which there were no sales during the day. The value of interest rate swaps will be determined in accordance with a discounted present value formula and then confirmed by obtaining a bank quotation.

Short-term obligations which mature in 60 days or less will be valued at amortized cost, if their original term to maturity when acquired by the Fund was 60 days or less, or will be valued at amortized cost using their value on the 61st day prior to maturity, if their original term to maturity when acquired by the Fund was more than 60 days, unless in each case this is determined not to represent fair value. Repurchase agreements will be valued at cost plus accrued interest. Securities for which there exist no price quotations or valuations and all other assets will be valued at a fair value as determined in good faith by or on behalf of the trustees.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund pays monthly distributions to Common Shareholders. Distributions are reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive cash.

 

49


The Fund seeks to pay monthly distributions at a level rate (stated in terms of a fixed cents per Common Share dividend rate) based on the Fund’s projected performance. The Fund’s ability to maintain a level Common Share dividend rate depends on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the Common Shares and the Fund’s distribution policy could change. For each year, the Fund will distribute all or substantially all of its net investment income. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, the net capital gain (which is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) and taxable ordinary income, if any, to Common Shareholders.

To permit the Fund to maintain a more stable monthly distribution, the Fund may initially distribute less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in a particular period. Any such undistributed net investment income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the Fund during the period. However, the Fund intends to maintain distributions of net investment income for any period in amounts sufficient to continue to qualify for treatment under Subchapter M of the Code as a regulated investment company (as explained more fully below in “Tax Matters”).

Undistributed net investment income will be included in the Fund’s net asset value and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed net investment income will be deducted from the Fund’s net asset value.

As explained more fully below in “Tax Matters,” the Fund might not distribute to Common Shareholders all or a portion of any net capital gain for a taxable year. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain for a taxable year, it will pay federal income tax on the retained gain. Each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include in income for federal tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share of the retained net capital gain, will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of tax paid by the Fund, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund may treat the retained capital gains as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. The Fund may make total distributions during a given calendar year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net capital gain for that calendar year, in which case the excess will generally be treated by Common Shareholders as a return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a Shareholder’s tax basis which could result in higher taxes when the Shareholder sells his or her stocks. This may cause the Shareholder to pay taxes even if he or she sells stocks for less than the original price.

The Fund reserves the right to change its distribution policy and the basis for establishing the rate of its monthly distributions at any time.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

If your Common Shares are registered directly with the Fund or if you hold your shares of Common Shares with a brokerage firm that participates in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), you may elect to have all dividends, including any capital gain dividends, on your Common Shares automatically reinvested by the Plan Agent (defined below) in additional Common Shares under the Plan. You may elect to participate in the Plan by contacting Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787. If you do not participate, you will receive all distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to you or your brokerage firm by State Street Bank and Trust Company as dividend paying agent (the “Plan Agent”).

If you decide to participate in the Plan, the number of shares of Common Shares you will receive will be

determined as follows:

(1) If Common Shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the then current market price;

(2) If Common Shares are trading below net asset value at the time of valuation, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will purchase Common Shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts. It is possible that the market price for the Common

 

50


Shares may increase before the Plan Agent has completed its purchases. Therefore, the average purchase price per share paid by the Plan Agent may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the purchase of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in Common Shares issued by the Fund. The Plan Agent will use all dividends and distributions received in cash to purchase Common Shares in the open market within 30 days of the valuation date. Interest will not be paid on any uninvested cash payments; or

(3) If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset value, but the Fund’s shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution in newly-issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares’ net asset value or 95% of the shares’ market value.

You may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent. If you withdraw or the Plan is terminated, you will receive whole shares in your account under the Plan and you will receive a cash payment for any fraction of a share in your account. If you wish, the Plan Agent will sell your shares and send you the proceeds, minus brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.

The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Upon a repurchase of your shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) may be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to you cost basis and holding period information for Fund shares that you purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”).

For shares of the Fund held in the Plan, you are permitted to elect from among several permitted cost basis methods. In the absence of an election, the Plan will use first-in first-out (“FIFO”) methodology for tracking and reporting your cost basis on covered shares as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method you use may not be changed with respect to a repurchase of shares after the settlement date of the repurchase. You should consult with your tax advisors to determine the best permitted cost basis method for your tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting rules apply to you.

Common Shares in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan. The Plan Agent maintains all stockholders’ accounts in the Plan and gives written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information you may need for tax records. Upon a sale of your stock, the Fund (or its administrative agent) may be required to report to the IRS and furnish to you cost basis and holding period information for the Fund’s stock purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”).

For stock of the Fund held in the Plan, you are permitted to elect from among several permitted cost basis methods. In the absence of an election, the Plan will use first-in first-out (“FIFO”) methodology for tracking and reporting your cost basis on covered shares as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method you use may not be changed with respect to a repurchase by the Fund of stock after the settlement date of the repurchase. You should consult with your tax advisors to determine the best permitted cost basis method for your tax situation and to obtain more information about how the new cost basis reporting rules apply to you.

There is no brokerage charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in shares of Common Shares. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases.

Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions.

 

51


If you hold your Common Shares with a brokerage firm that does not participate in the Plan, you will not be able to participate in the Plan and any dividend reinvestment may be effected on different terms than those described above. Consult your financial advisor for more information.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if in the judgment of the Board of Trustees the change is warranted. 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. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained by writing to State Street Bank and Trust Company, Attn: ComputerShare Nuveen Investments, P.O. Box 43071, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3071 or by calling (800) 257-8787.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Fund may sell the Common Shares offered under this Prospectus through

 

   

at-the-market transactions;

 

   

underwriting syndicates; and

 

   

privately negotiated transactions.

The Fund will bear the expenses of the offering, including but not limited to, the expense of preparing the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for the offering, and the expense of counsel and auditors in connection with the offering.

Distribution Through At-the-Market Transactions

The Fund has entered into a Distribution Agreement with Nuveen Securities, a form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The summary of the Distribution Agreement contained herein is qualified by reference to the Distribution Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Distribution Agreement, the Fund may from time to time offer its Common Shares through Nuveen Securities to certain broker-dealers which have entered into selected dealer agreements with Nuveen Securities. Currently, Nuveen Securities has entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Selected Dealer Agreement”) with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel Nicolaus”), pursuant to which Stifel Nicolaus will act as the exclusive sub-placement agent with respect to at-the-market offerings of the Common Shares. A form of the Selected Dealer Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The summary of the Selected Dealer Agreement contained herein is qualified by reference to the Selected Dealer Agreement.

Common Shares will only be sold on such days as shall be agreed to by the Fund, Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus. Common Shares will be sold at market prices, which shall be determined with reference to trades on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to a minimum price to be established each day by Nuveen Securities. The minimum price on any day will not be less than the current NAV per Common Share plus the per share amount of the commission to be paid to Nuveen Securities. Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus will suspend the sale of Common Shares if the per share price of the shares is less than the minimum price.

The Fund will compensate Nuveen Securities with respect to sales of the Common Shares at a commission rate of up to 1% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares. Nuveen Securities will compensate Stifel Nicolaus at a fixed rate of 0.80% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares sold by Stifel Nicolaus. Settlements of sales of Common Shares will occur on the third business day following the date on which any such sales are made.

In connection with the sale of the Common Shares on behalf of the Fund, Nuveen Securities may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the

 

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compensation of Nuveen Securities may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. Unless otherwise indicated in a Prospectus supplement, Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus will act on a reasonable efforts basis.

The offering of Common Shares pursuant to the Selected Dealer Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all Common Shares subject thereto or (ii) termination of the Selected Dealer Agreement. Each of Nuveen Securities and Stifel Nicolaus has the right to terminate the Selected Dealer Agreement in its discretion at any time. The Fund currently intends to distribute the shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus primarily through at-the-market transactions, although from time to time it may also distribute Common Shares through an underwriting syndicate or a privately negotiated transaction. To the extent Common Shares are distributed other than through at-the-market transactions, the Fund will file a supplement to this Prospectus describing such transactions.

The Fund’s closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on February 22, 2013 was $8.02.

Distribution Through Underwriting Syndicates

The Fund from time to time may issue Common Shares through a syndicated secondary offering. In order to limit the impact on the market price of the Fund’s Common Shares, underwriters will market and price the offering on an expedited basis, e.g., in an overnight or similarly abbreviated offering period. The Fund will launch a syndicated offering on a day, and upon terms, mutually agreed upon between the Fund, Nuveen, one of the Fund’s underwriters, and the underwriting syndicate. The Fund will offer its shares at a price equal to a specified discount of up to 5% from the closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares on the day prior to the offering date. The applicable discount will be negotiated by the Fund and Nuveen in consultation with the underwriting syndicate on a transaction-by-transaction basis. The Fund will compensate the underwriting syndicate out of the proceeds of the offering based upon a sales load of up to 4% of the gross proceeds of the sale of Common Shares. The minimum net proceeds per share to the Fund will not be less than the greater of (i) the Fund’s latest net asset value per Common Share or (ii) 91% of the closing market price of the Fund’s Common Shares on the day prior to the offering date.

Distribution Through Privately Negotiated Transactions

The Fund, through Nuveen, may sell directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional and other sophisticated investors, who may be deemed to be underwriters, as defined in the 1933 Act, for any resale of the Common Shares.

The terms of such privately negotiated transactions will be subject to the discretion of the management of the Fund. In determining whether to sell Common Shares through a privately negotiated transaction, the Fund will consider relevant factors including, but not limited to, the attractiveness of obtaining additional funds through the sale of Common Shares, the purchase price to apply to any such sale of Common Shares and the person seeking to purchase the Common Shares.

Common Shares issued by the Fund through privately negotiated transactions will be issued at a price equal to the greater of (i) the NAV per Common Share of the Fund’s Common Shares or (ii) at a discount ranging from 0% to 5% of the average of the daily market price of the Fund’s Common Shares at the close of business on the two business days preceding the date upon which Common Shares are sold pursuant to the privately negotiated transaction. The applicable discount will be determined by the Fund on a transaction-by-transaction basis.

The principal business address of Nuveen Securities is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Common Shares

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares being offered have a par value of $0.01 per share and, subject to the rights of holders of preferred shares, if issued, and Borrowings, if incurred, have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. The Common Shares being offered will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust,” non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. Each Common Share has one vote with respect to matters upon which a shareholder vote is required, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, and will vote together as a single class. Whenever the Fund incurs Borrowings and/or preferred shares are outstanding, Common Shareholders will not be entitled to receive any cash distributions from the Fund unless all interest on such Borrowings has been paid and all accrued dividends on preferred shares have been paid, unless asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to any Borrowings would be at least 300% after giving effect to the distributions and asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to preferred shares would be at least 200% after giving effect to the distributions. See “Preferred Shares,” below.

The Common Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the ticker symbol “NSL.” The Fund intends to hold annual meetings of shareholders so long as the Common Shares are listed on a national securities exchange and such meetings are required as a condition to such listing. The Fund will not issue share certificates.

Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional Common Shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may conveniently do so by trading on the exchange through a broker or otherwise. Shares of closed-end investment companies may frequently trade on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund have during some periods traded at prices higher than net asset value and have during other periods traded at prices lower than net asset value.

Because the market value of the Common Shares may be influenced by such factors as distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), call protection, dividend stability, portfolio credit quality, net asset value, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that Common Shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The Common Shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and investors in the Common Shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

Borrowings

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Fund, without approval of the Common Shareholders, to borrow money. In this connection, the Fund may issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness (including bank borrowings or commercial paper) and may secure any such borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Fund’s assets. The Fund has entered into a $109,000,000 Revolving Credit and Security Agreement with an affiliate of Citibank. As of July 31, 2012, the Fund’s outstanding balance on these borrowings was $100,000,000. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012, the average daily balance outstanding and average annual interest rate on these borrowings were $80,869,672 and 1.16%, respectively. The Fund borrows money at rates generally available to institutional investors. In connection with such Borrowings, the Fund may be required to maintain minimum average balances with the lender or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit. Any such requirements will increase the cost of any such Borrowings over the stated interest rate. Under the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Fund, immediately after any such Borrowings, must have an “asset coverage” of at least 300%. With respect to any such Borrowings, asset coverage means the ratio that the value of the total assets of the Fund, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (as defined in

 

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the 1940 Act), bears to the aggregate amount of such Borrowings represented by senior securities issued by the Fund. Certain types of Borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverages or portfolio coverages or otherwise. In addition, as with the issuance of preferred shares, certain types of Borrowings may result in the Fund being subject to certain restrictions imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund. Such restrictions may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.

The rights of lenders to the Fund to receive interest on and repayment of principal of any such Borrowings will be senior to those of the Common Shareholders, and the terms of any such Borrowings may contain provisions which limit certain activities of the Fund, including the payment of dividends to Common Shareholders in certain circumstances. Furthermore, the 1940 Act does (in certain circumstances) grant to the lenders to the Fund certain voting rights in the event of default in the payment of interest on or repayment of principal. In the event that such provisions would impair the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code, the Fund will attempt to repay or restructure the Borrowings to preserve that eligibility. Any Borrowings will likely be ranked senior or equal to all other existing and future Borrowings of the Fund. The Fund may also borrow money for repurchase of its shares as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency situations.

Preferred Shares

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders. The Fund currently does not have any preferred shares outstanding. The decision to issue preferred shares is subject to market conditions and to the Board of Trustees’ belief that leveraging the Fund’s capital structure through the issuance of preferred shares is likely to achieve the benefits to the Common Shareholders described in the Prospectus.

Limited Issuance of Preferred Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund could issue preferred shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half (50%) of the value of the Fund’s total net assets, including any liabilities associated with Borrowings, measured immediately after issuance of the preferred shares. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation value of the preferred shares is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution. The Fund intends to purchase or redeem preferred shares, if necessary, to keep that percentage below 50%.

Distribution Preference. If issued in the future, preferred shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders.

Voting Rights. Holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees (following the establishment of the Fund by an initial trustee, the Declaration of Trust provides for a total of no less than two and no more than 12 trustees). The remaining trustees would be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of accrued dividends are unpaid on the preferred shares, if issued in the future, the holders of all outstanding preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears

 

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have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, would be required, in addition to the single class vote of the holders of preferred shares and Common Shares.

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares. The terms of the preferred shares, if issued in the future, would provide that they may be redeemed by the issuer at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends. Any redemption or purchase of preferred shares, if issued in the future, by the Fund would reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any issuance of shares by the Fund will increase such leverage.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the trustees. The Declaration of Trust further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

The Declaration of Trust includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. Specifically, the Declaration of Trust requires a vote by holders of at least two-thirds of the common shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class, except as described below, to authorize (1) a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, (2) a merger or consolidation of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, with any corporation, association, trust or other organization or a reorganization of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund, (3) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets (other than in the regular course of the Fund’s investment activities), (4) in certain circumstances, a termination of the Fund, or a series or class of the Fund or (5) removal of trustees by shareholders, and then only for cause, unless, with respect to (1) through (4), such transaction has already been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, in which case the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s common shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, is required, provided; however, that where only a particular class or series is affected (or, in the case of removing a trustee, when the trustee has been elected by only one class), the required vote only by the applicable class or series will be required. Approval of shareholders is not required, however, for any transaction, whether deemed a merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise whereby the Fund issues shares in connection with the acquisition of assets (including those subject to liabilities) from any other investment company or similar entity. In the case of the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company, or in the case of any of the foregoing transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, the action in question will also require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, or, if such action has been authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the Fund’s preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class. None of the foregoing provisions may be amended except by the vote of at least two-thirds of the common shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class. The votes required to approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company or to approve transactions constituting a plan of reorganization which adversely affects the holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, shares are higher than those required by the 1940 Act. The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes,

 

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such a staggered board could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees believes that the provisions of the Declaration of Trust relating to such higher votes are in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

Reference should be made to the Declaration of Trust on file with the SEC for the full text of these provisions.

The Declaration of Trust provides that the obligations of the Fund are not binding upon the trustees of the Fund individually, but only upon the assets and property of the Fund, and that the trustees shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration of Trust, however, protects a trustee against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

REPURCHASE OF FUND SHARES; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund is a closed-end investment company and as such its shareholders will not have the right to cause the Fund to redeem their shares. Instead, the Fund’s Common Shares will trade in the open market at a price that will be a function of several factors, including dividend levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), net asset value, call protection, price, dividend stability, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors. Because shares of a closed-end investment company may frequently trade at prices lower than net asset value, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has currently determined that, at least annually, it will consider action that might be taken to reduce or eliminate any material discount from net asset value in respect of common shares, which may include the repurchase of such shares in the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares at net asset value, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company. There can be no assurance, however, that the Board of Trustees will decide to take any of these actions, or that share repurchases or tender offers, if undertaken, will reduce market discount. In addition, on July 30, 2008, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved an open market share repurchase program under which the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its Common Shares. To date, the Fund has not repurchased any Common Shares under the program.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time if the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, the Fund may not purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Common Shares unless (1) all accrued preferred shares dividends have been paid and (2) at the time of such purchase, redemption or acquisition, the net asset value of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the acquisition price of the Common Shares) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding preferred shares (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon). The staff of the SEC currently requires that any tender offer made by a closed-end investment company for its shares must be at a price equal to the net asset value of such shares at the close of business on the last day of the tender offer. Any service fees incurred in connection with any tender offer made by the Fund will be borne by the Fund and will not reduce the stated consideration to be paid to tendering shareholders.

Subject to its investment limitations, the Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board of Trustees would have to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Although the decision to take action in response to a discount from net asset value will be made by the Board of the Fund at the time it considers such issue, it is the Board’s present policy, which may be changed by the Board, not to authorize repurchases of Common Shares or a tender offer for such shares if (1) such transactions, if consummated, would (a) result in the delisting of the Common Shares from the New York Stock Exchange, or (b) impair the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code or

 

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impair the Fund’s status as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act; (2) the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies in order to repurchase shares; or (3) there is, in the Board’s judgment, any (a) material legal action or proceeding instituted or threatened challenging such transactions or otherwise materially adversely affecting the Fund, (b) general suspension of or limitation on prices for trading securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (c) declaration of a banking moratorium by Federal or state authorities or any suspension of payment by United States or state banks in which the Fund invests, (d) material limitation affecting the Fund or the issuers of its portfolio securities by federal or state authorities on the extension of credit by lending institutions or on the exchange of foreign currency, (e) commencement of war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States, or (f) other event or condition which would have a material adverse effect (including any adverse tax effect) on the Fund or its shareholders if shares were repurchased. The Board of Trustees of the Fund may in the future modify these conditions in light of experience.

Conversion to an open-end company would require the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s common shares and preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, and of the holders of at least two-thirds of the Fund’s preferred shares, if issued in the future, outstanding at the time, voting as a separate class, provided, however, that such separate class vote shall be a majority vote if the action in question has previously been approved, adopted or authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees fixed in accordance with the Declaration or By-laws. See the Prospectus under “Certain Provisions in the Declaration of Trust” for a discussion of voting requirements applicable to conversion of the Fund to an open-end company. If the Fund converted to an open-end company, it would be required to redeem all preferred shares then outstanding, and the Fund’s Common Shares would no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares on any business day (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of redemption. In order to avoid maintaining large cash positions or liquidating favorable investments to meet redemptions, open-end companies typically engage in a continuous offering of their shares. Open-end companies are thus subject to periodic asset in-flows and out-flows that can complicate portfolio management. The Board of Trustees of the Fund may at any time propose conversion of the Fund to an open-end company depending upon their judgment as to the advisability of such action in light of circumstances then prevailing.

The repurchase by the Fund of its shares at prices below net asset value would result in an increase in the net asset value of those shares that remain outstanding. However, there can be no assurance that share repurchases or tenders at or below net asset value would result in the Fund’s shares trading at a price equal to their net asset value. Nevertheless, the fact that the Fund’s shares may be the subject of repurchase or tender offers at net asset value from time to time, or that the Fund may be converted to an open-end company, may reduce any spread between market price and net asset value that might otherwise exist.

In addition, a purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares would decrease the Fund’s total assets which would likely have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. Any purchase by the Fund of its Common Shares at a time when preferred shares are outstanding will increase the leverage applicable to the outstanding Common Shares then remaining.

Before deciding whether to take any action if the Fund’s Common Shares trade below net asset value, the Board of the Fund would consider all relevant factors, including the extent and duration of the discount, the liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of any action that might be taken on the Fund or its shareholders and market considerations. Based on these considerations, even if the Fund’s shares should trade at a discount, the Board of Trustees may determine that, in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders, no action should be taken.

 

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TAX MATTERS

The following is intended to be a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing, holding and disposing of Common Shares of the Fund. It is not intended to be a complete discussion of all such federal income tax consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors. INVESTORS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR TAX ADVISORS BEFORE MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND.

Set forth below is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax issues concerning the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund shares. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their particular circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes you are a U.S. shareholder and that you hold your shares as a capital asset. This discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, which change may be retroactive. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers with regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of Fund shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country, or other taxing jurisdiction.

The Fund intends to qualify annually as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Code. To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to regulated investment companies, the Fund must, among other things, (a) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships; (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities of any one issuer limited for the purposes of this calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of a single issuer, in the securities (other than securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute for each taxable year an amount at least equal to the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and 90% of its net tax exempt interest income.

As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to shareholders. The Fund might not distribute all of its net investment income, and the Fund is not required to distribute any portion of its net capital gain to qualify for treatment as a RIC. If the Fund qualifies for such treatment but does not distribute all of its net capital gain and net investment income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it may designate the retained amount of capital gain as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who, if subject to federal income tax on long-term capital gains, (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount; (ii) will be deemed to have paid their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount and will be entitled to credit that amount of tax against their federal income tax liabilities, if any; and (iii) will be entitled to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder.

 

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The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gain. Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of (1) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (2) at least 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (3) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. To prevent application of the excise tax, the Fund intends to make its distributions in accordance with the calendar year distribution requirement.

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December and payable to shareholders of record in such a month that is paid during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was declared. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of the Fund may be “spilled back” and treated for certain purposes as paid by the Fund during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. For purposes of calculating the amount of a regulated investment company’s undistributed income and gain subject to the 4% excise tax described above, such “spilled back” dividends are treated as paid by the regulated investment company when they are actually paid.

If the Fund fails to satisfy the qualifying income or diversification requirements in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for certain relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the diversification requirements, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to the Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company for a taxable year, the Fund will be taxable at regular corporate tax rates (and, to the extent applicable, at corporate alternative minimum tax rates). In such an event, all distributions (including capital gains distributions) will be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, subject to the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders and to the lower tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income distributed to noncorporate shareholders. In such an event, distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares (reducing that basis accordingly), and any remaining distributions will be treated as a capital gain. To requalify for treatment as a RIC in a subsequent taxable year, the Fund would be required to satisfy the RIC qualification requirements for that year and to distribute any earnings and profits from any year in which the Fund failed to qualify for tax treatment as a RIC. In addition, if the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, it would generally be required to pay a Fund-level tax on certain net built-in gains recognized with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within ten years of qualifying as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.

The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund for treatment as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Distributions

Dividends paid out of the Fund’s net investment income will be taxable to a shareholder as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. The Fund does not expect to make any distributions that would be treated as qualified dividend income, which is taxable to noncorporate taxpayers at rates of up to 20%. Distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, reported as capital gain dividends are taxable to a shareholder as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Fund shares. Long-term capital gains are taxable to noncorporate taxpayers at rates of up to 20%. Distributions of short-term capital gain are taxable to

 

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shareholders as ordinary income. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares, rather than cash, generally will have a cost basis in each such share equal to the greater of the net asset value or fair market value of a share of the Fund on the reinvestment date. A distribution of an amount in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will first be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital which is applied against and reduces the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of shares.

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the net asset value of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions, although also in effect returns of capital, would be taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

The Fund is required in certain circumstances to withhold (as “backup withholding”) a portion of dividends and certain other payments paid to certain holders of the Fund’s shares who do not furnish to the Fund their correct taxpayer identification numbers (in the case of individuals, their social security numbers) and certain certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate is 28%. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a shareholder may be refunded or credited against such shareholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the required information and forms are timely furnished to the IRS.

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC’s net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain limitations, the Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. The Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year that began on or before December 22, 2010 to offset its capital gains, if any, for up to eight years following the year of the loss. The Fund is permitted to carry forward indefinitely a net capital loss from any taxable year that began after December 22, 2010 to offset its capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. Carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began after December 22, 2010 must be fully utilized before the Fund may utilize carryforwards of losses from taxable years that began on or before December 22, 2010. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year immediately following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred.

Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares

Sales and repurchases generally are taxable events for shareholders that are subject to tax. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers with reference to their individual circumstances to determine whether any particular transaction in Fund shares is properly treated as a sale for tax purposes, as the following discussion assumes, and to ascertain the tax treatment of any gains or losses recognized in such transactions. In general, if Fund shares are sold, the shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares. Such gain or loss generally will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for more than one year and otherwise generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Any loss recognized by a shareholder upon the sale, repurchase or other disposition of shares with a tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the shareholder of long-term capital gain with respect to such shares (including any amounts credited to the shareholder as undistributed capital gains).

 

61


Losses on sales or other dispositions of shares may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules in the event of other investments in the fund (including investments made pursuant to reinvestment of dividends and/or capital gain distributions) within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the sale or other disposition of shares or in the event the shareholder enters into a contract or option to repurchase shares within such period. In such a case, the disallowed portion of any loss generally would be included in the adjusted tax basis of the shares acquired in the other investments.

Nature of Fund’s Investments

Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) change the time at which a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur and (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions. The Fund may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions.

The Code imposes constructive sale treatment for federal income tax purposes on certain hedging strategies with respect to appreciated financial positions. Under these rules, taxpayers will recognize gain, but not loss, with respect to securities if they enter into short sales or “offsetting notional principal contracts” (as defined by the Code) with respect to, or futures or forward contracts to deliver, the same or substantially identical property, or if they enter into such transactions and then acquire the same or substantially identical property.

As a result of entering into swap contracts, the Fund may make or receive periodic net payments. The Fund may also make or receive a payment when a swap is terminated prior to maturity through an assignment of the swap or other closing transaction. Periodic net payments will generally constitute ordinary income or expense, while termination of a swap will generally result in capital gain or loss (which will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Fund has been a party to the swap for more than one year).

The Fund’s investment program and the tax treatment of Fund distributions may be affected by IRS interpretations of the Code and future changes in tax laws and regulations.

Original Issue Discount Securities

Investments by the Fund in zero coupon or other discount securities will result in income to the Fund equal to a portion of the excess of the face value of the securities over their issue price (the “original issue discount”) each year that the securities are held, even though the Fund may receive no cash interest payments or may receive cash interest payments that are less than the income recognized for tax purposes. This income is included in determining the amount of income which the Fund must distribute to avoid the payment of federal income tax and the 4% excise tax. Because such income may not be matched by a corresponding cash payment to the Fund, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to be able to make distributions to its shareholders.

Market Discount

Any market discount recognized on a market discount bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value, or below adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

62


Futures Contracts and Options

The Fund’s transactions in futures contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), may accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) may require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each taxable year), and (b) may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for qualifying to be taxed as a regulated investment company and the distribution requirements for avoiding excise taxes. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, make tax elections and make appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any futures contract, option or hedged investment in an effort to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund from being treated as a regulated investment company.

Foreign Taxes

Since the Fund may invest in foreign securities, its income from such securities may be subject to non-U.S. taxes. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Shareholders of the Fund generally will not be entitled to a credit or deduction with respect to any such taxes paid by the Fund.

Currency Fluctuations

Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.

Foreign Shareholders

U.S. taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation or foreign partnership (“foreign shareholder”) generally depends on whether the income received from the Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder. In addition, unless certain foreign entities that hold Fund shares comply with IRS requirements that will generally require them to report information regarding U.S. persons investing in, or holding accounts with, such entities, a 30% withholding tax may apply to Fund distributions payable to such entities after December 31, 2013 (or, in certain cases, after later dates) and repurchase proceeds and certain capital gain dividends payable to such entities after December 31, 2016. A foreign shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

Income not Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business

If the income received from the Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the foreign shareholder, distributions of net investment income (including distributions of short-term capital gain) will generally be subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate, except in the case of any excess inclusion income allocated to the shareholder), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions.

For taxable years of the Fund beginning on or before December 31, 2013, dividends reported by the Fund as (i) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the fund’s “qualified net interest

 

63


income,” or (ii) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from the Fund’s “qualified short-term gain,” are generally exempt from this 30% withholding tax. “Qualified net interest income” is the Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital gain for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any.

Distributions of net capital gain and any amounts retained by the Fund which are designated as undistributed capital gains generally will not be subject to U.S. tax at the rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate). In the case of a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, the Fund may be required to withhold U.S. income tax from distributions of net capital gain unless the foreign shareholder certifies his or her non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption.

Income Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business

If the income from the Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then distributions of net investment income and capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Fund which are designated as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents and domestic corporations. Foreign corporate shareholders may also be subject to the branch profits tax imposed by the Code. Certain certification and disclosure requirements, including delivery of a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI, must be satisfied for income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business to be exempt from the 30% withholding described above under “Foreign Shareholders-Income not Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”.

The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Foreign shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

Other Tax Considerations

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally applies to all or a portion of the net investment income of a shareholder who is an individual and not a nonresident alien for federal income tax purposes and who has adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) that exceeds a threshold amount ($250,000 if married filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (among other categories of income) are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

Fund shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their Fund distributions. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.

If a shareholder recognizes a loss on disposition of a Fund’s Shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder, or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, in any single taxable year (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. In addition, significant penalties may be imposed for the failure to comply with the reporting requirements. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

64


The foregoing discussion is a summary only and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Purchasers of Common Shares should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of investing in such Common Shares, including under state, local and other tax laws.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Financial Statements and the independent registered public accounting firms reports thereon, appearing in the Fund’s annual shareholder report for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2012 are incorporated herein by reference in this Statement of Additional Information. The Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports may be obtained without charge by calling (800) 257-8787.

CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

The custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (“Custodian”). The Custodian performs custodial, fund accounting and portfolio accounting services. The Fund’s transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent is also State Street Bank and Trust Company (“Transfer Agent”). The Transfer Agent is located at 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, provides auditing services to the Fund. The principal business address of Ernst & Young LLP is 155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois  60606.

LEGAL OPINION

Certain legal matters in connection with the Common Shares will be passed upon for the Fund by Bingham McCutchen LLP, Washington, D.C.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including amendments thereto, relating to the shares of the Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC, Washington, D.C. The Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information do not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the Common Shares offered hereby, reference is made to the Fund’s Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Fund’s Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the SEC’s principal office in Washington, D.C. and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the SEC upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC.

 

65


APPENDIX A

Ratings of Investments

Standard & Poor’s Corporation—A brief description of the applicable Standard & Poor’s Corporation, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“Standard & Poor’s” or “S&P”), rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion evaluates the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

Issue credit ratings are based on current information furnished by the obligors or obtained by Standard & Poor’s from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit in connection with any credit rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.

Issue credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days—including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

LONG-TERM ISSUE CREDIT RATINGS

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

 

   

Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

   

Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

 

   

Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

AAA

An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

A-1


AA

An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A

An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB

An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

BB, B, CCC, CC, and C

Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB

An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC

An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC

An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms.

 

A-2


D

An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Plus (+) or minus (-)

The ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

NR

This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1

A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2

A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3

A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B

A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B-1.

A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

B-2.

A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

 

A-3


B-3.

A short-term obligation rated ‘B-3’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

C

A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D

A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Dual Ratings

Standard & Poor’s assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.—A brief description of the applicable Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:

Municipal Bonds

Aaa

Bonds that are rated ‘Aaa’ are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edged.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

Aa

Bonds mat are rated ‘Aa’ are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the ‘Aaa’ group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in ‘Aaa’ securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present mat make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in ‘Aaa’ securities.

A

Bonds that are rated ‘A’ possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate, but elements may be present that suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa

Bonds that are rated ‘Baa’ are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain

 

A-4


protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

Ba

Bonds that are rated ‘Ba’ are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B

Bonds that are rated ‘B’ generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa

Bonds that are rated ‘Caa’ are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

Ca

Bonds that are rated ‘Ca’ represent obligations that are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C

Bonds that are rated ‘C’ are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor Prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

#(hatchmark): Represents issues that are secured by escrowed funds held in cash, held in trust, invested and reinvested in direct, non-callable, non-prepayable United States government obligations or non-callable, non-prepayable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government, Resolution Funding Corporation debt obligations.

Con. (…): Bonds for which the security depends upon the completion of some act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals that begin when facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting condition attaches. The parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of construction or elimination of the basis of the condition.

(P): When applied to forward delivery bonds, indicates the rating is provisional pending delivery of the bonds. The rating may be revised prior to delivery if changes occur in the legal documents or the underlying credit quality of the bonds.

Note: Moody’s applies numerical modifiers 1,2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates mat the issue ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

Short-Term Loans

MIG 1/VMIG 1

This designation denotes best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

A-5


MIG 2/VMIG 2

This designation denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3/VMIG 3

This designation denotes favorable quality. All security elements are accounted for but there is lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

MIG 4/VMIG 4

This designation denotes adequate quality. Protection commonly regarded as required of an investment security is present and although not distinctly or predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.

SG

This designation denotes speculative quality. Debt instruments in this category lack margins of protection.

Commercial Paper

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will normally be evidenced by the following characteristics:

 

   

Leading market positions in well-established industries.

 

   

High rates of return on funds employed.

 

   

Conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.

 

   

Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.

 

   

Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to variation than is the case for Prime-2 securities. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market composition may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and the requirement for relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Fitch Ratings—A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:

Long-Term Credit Ratings

Investment Grade

AAA

Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

A-6


AA

Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A

High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB

Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.

Speculative Grade

BB

Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

B

Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

CCC, CC, C

High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A ‘CC rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. ‘C’ ratings signal imminent default.

DDD, DD, and D Default

The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their Prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. ‘DDD’ obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest ‘DD’ indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and ‘D’ the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%. Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated ‘DDD’ have the highest Prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated ‘DD’ and ‘D’ are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated ‘DD’ are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated ‘D’ have a poor Prospect for repaying all obligations.

Short-Term Credit Ratings

The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. A Short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for US public finance, in line with

 

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industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years. Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

Fl

Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2

Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F3

Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.

B

Speculative Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C

High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

D

Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.

Notes to Long-term and Short-term ratings:

“+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-term rating category, to categories below ‘CCC, or to Short-term ratings other than ‘FT.

‘NR’ indicates that Fitch Ratings does not rate the issuer or issue in question.

‘Withdrawn’: A rating is withdrawn when Fitch Ratings deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.

Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as “Positive”, indicating a potential upgrade, “Negative”, for a potential downgrade, or “Evolving”, if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.

A Rating Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable, or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are ‘stable’ could be downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.

 

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APPENDIX B

DERIVATIVE STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Set forth below is additional information regarding the various techniques involving the use of derivatives.

Financial Futures

A financial future is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security for a set price on a future date. They have been designed by boards of trade which have been designated “contracts markets” by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”).

The purchase of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. For example, if the Fund desires to increase its exposure to long-term bonds and has identified long-term bonds it wishes to purchase at a future time, but expects market interest rates to decline (thereby causing the value of those bonds to increase), it might purchase financial futures. If interest rates did decrease, the value of those to-be-purchased long-term bonds would increase, but the value of the Fund’s financial futures would be expected to increase at approximately the same rate, thereby helping maintain the Fund’s purchasing power. When the Fund purchases a financial future, it deposits in cash or securities an “initial margin”, typically equal to an amount between 1% and 5% of the contract amount. Thereafter, the Fund’s account is either credited or debited on a daily basis in correlation with the fluctuation in price of the underlying future or other requirements imposed by the exchange in order to maintain an orderly market. The Fund must make additional payments to cover debits to its account and has the right to withdraw credits in excess of the liquidity, the Fund may close out its position at any time prior to expiration of the financial future by taking an opposite position. At closing a final determination of debits and credits is made, additional cash is paid by or to the Fund to settle the final determination and the Fund realizes a loss or gain depending on whether on a net basis it made or received such payments.

The sale of financial futures is for the purpose of hedging the Fund’s existing or anticipated holdings of long-term debt securities. For example, if the Fund owns long-term bonds and market interest rates were expected to increase (causing those bonds’ values to decline), it might sell financial futures. If interest rates did increase, the value of long-term bonds in the Fund’s portfolio would decline, but the value of the Fund’s financial futures would be expected to increase at approximately the same rate thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it otherwise would have.

Among the risks associated with the use of financial futures by the Fund as a hedging or anticipatory device, perhaps the most significant is the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the financial futures and movements in the price of the debt securities which are the subject of the hedge.

Thus, if the price of the financial future moves less or more than the price of the securities which are the subject of the hedge, the hedge will not be fully effective. To compensate for this imperfect correlation, the Fund may enter into financial futures in a greater dollar amount than the dollar amount of the securities being hedged if the historical volatility of the prices of such securities has been greater than the historical volatility of the financial futures. Conversely, the Fund may enter into fewer financial futures if the historical volatility of the price of the securities being hedged is less than the historical volatility of the financial futures.

The market prices of financial futures may also be affected by factors other than interest rates. One of these factors is the possibility that rapid changes in the volume of closing transactions, whether due to volatile markets or movements by speculators, would temporarily distort the normal relationship between the markets in the financial future and the chosen debt securities. In these circumstances as well as in periods of rapid and large price movements. The Fund might find it difficult or impossible to close out a particular transaction.

 

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Options on Financial Futures

The Fund may also purchase put or call options on financial futures which are traded on a U.S. Exchange or board of trade and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. The purchase of put options on financial futures is analogous to the purchase of put options by the Fund on its portfolio securities to hedge against the risk of rising interest rates. As with options on debt securities, the holder of an option may terminate his position by selling an option of the Fund. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.

Index Contracts

Index Futures

A tax-exempt bond index which assigns relative values to the tax-exempt bonds included in the index is traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. The index fluctuates with changes in the market values of all tax-exempt bonds included rather than a single bond. An index future is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash-rather than any security-equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index future was originally written. Thus, an index future is similar to traditional financial futures except that settlement is made in cash.

Index Options

The Fund may also purchase put or call options on U.S. Government or tax- exempt bond index futures and enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. Options on index futures are similar to options on debt instruments except that an option on an index future gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in an index contract rather than an underlying security at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance of the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the index futures contract, at exercise, is less than the exercise price of the option on the index future.

Bond index futures and options transactions would be subject to risks similar to transactions in financial futures and options thereon as described above.

Swap Agreements

Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors, typically for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are calculated with respect to a notional amount (the amount or value of the underlying asset used in computing the particular interest rate, return, or other amount to be exchanged) of a particular security, or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. Swap agreements may include, by way of example, (i) interest rate swaps, in which one party exchanges a commitment to pay a floating, shorter-term interest rate (typically by reference to the rate of a specific security or index) for the other party’s commitment to pay a fixed, longer-term interest rate (either as specifically agreed, or by reference to a specified security or index); (ii) interest rate caps, in which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate or cap; (iii) interest rate floors, in which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level or floor; (iv) interest rate collars, in which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor, or vice versa, in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels or collar amounts; (v) total return swaps, in which one party commits to pay the total return of an underlying security or asset in return for receiving from the other party a

 

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specified return or the return of another instrument (typically a floating short-term interest rate), and (vi) credit default swap, in which the buyer pays a periodic fee in return for a contingent payment by the seller upon a credit event (such as a default) happening with respect to a specified instrument, typically in an amount equivalent to the loss incurred on a specific investment in that security due to the credit event.

A Fund may enter into such swap agreements for any purpose consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain, enhance, or preserve a particular desired return or spread at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return or spread. The Fund also may enter into swaps in order to protect against an increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date.

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend, in part, on the ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments and the changes in the future values, indices, or rates covered by the swap agreement. Swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund will enter swap agreements only with counterparties that the Adviser reasonably believes are capable of performing under the swap agreements. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have to rely on its contractual remedies (which may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws) pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Certain requirements imposed on the Fund by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements. The swap market is largely unregulated.

 

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Nuveen Senior Income Fund

 


 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 


 

March 4, 2013


PART C—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  1. Contained in Part A:

 

       Financial Highlights of Nuveen Senior Income Fund (the “Fund” or the “Registrant”) for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

 

       Contained in Part B:

 

       Financial Statements of the Fund are incorporated in Part B by reference to Registrant’s July 31, 2012 Annual Report (audited) on Form N-CSR as filed with the SEC on October 5, 2012.

 

  2. Exhibits:

 

  a. Registrant’s Declaration of Trust dated August 13, 1999. Filed on September 7, 1999 as Exhibit a. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-86619) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  b. Registrant’s By-laws (Amended and Restated as of November 18, 2009). Filed on June 4, 2010 as Exhibit b. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  c. None.

 

  d. Form of Share Certificate. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit d. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  e. Terms and Conditions of the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Filed on October 18, 1999 as Exhibit e. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-86619) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  f. None.

 

  g.1 Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and Nuveen Asset Management (now, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC) dated November 13, 2007. Filed on June 4, 2010 as Exhibit g.1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  g.2 Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Nuveen Asset Management (now, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC) and Symphony Asset Management LLC dated November 13, 2007. Filed on June 4, 2010 as Exhibit g.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  h.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant, Nuveen Senior Loan Asset Management Inc. and Painewebber Incorporated. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit h. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  h.2 Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Nuveen Investments, LLC (now, Nuveen Securities, LLC) dated August 27, 2010. Filed on September 28, 2010 as Exhibit h.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  h.3 First Amendment, dated August 17, 2012, to the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Nuveen Investments, LLC (now, Nuveen Securities, LLC) dated August 27, 2010. Filed on August 17, 2012 as Exhibit h.3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  h.4

Equity Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Nuveen Investments, LLC (now, Nuveen Securities, LLC), Nuveen Asset Management (now, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC) and Stifel

 


  Nicolaus & Company Incorporated dated August 27, 2010. Filed on September 28, 2010 as Exhibit h.3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  h.5 First Amendment, dated August 17, 2012, to the Equity Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Nuveen Investments, LLC (now, Nuveen Securities, LLC), Nuveen Asset Management (now, Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC) and Stifel Nicolaus & Company Incorporated, dated August 27, 2010. Filed on August 17, 2012 as Exhibit h.5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  i. Nuveen Open-End and Closed-End Funds Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Directors and Trustees. Filed on October 18, 1999 as Exhibit i. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-86619) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  j.1 Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated February 25, 2005. Filed on September 28, 2010 as Exhibit j.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  j.2 Appendix A, dated March 9, 2012, to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement dated February 25, 2005. Filed on November 30, 2012 as Exhibit j.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  k.1 Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated October 7, 2002. Filed on November 30, 2012 as Exhibit k.1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  k.2 Schedule A, dated May 25, 2011, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company dated October 7, 2002. Filed on November 30, 2012 as Exhibit k.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  k.3 Form of Auction Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Bankers Trust Company relating to the Registrant’s TAPS Shares. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit k.3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333- 95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  k.4 Form of Broker-Dealer Agreement relating to the Registrant’s TAPS Shares. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit k.4 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  k.5 Form of DTC Representations Letter relating to the Registrant’s TAPS Shares. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit k.5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  k.6 Credit Agreement among the Registrant, Lenders, and Deutsche Bank AG dated December 14, 1999. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit k.6 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  k.7 Form of Credit Agreement among the Registrant, [SPV] and Deutsche Bank AG dated December 14, 1999. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit k.7 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  k.8 Form of Liquidity Agreement among the Registrant, Lenders and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Filed on May 19, 2000 as Exhibit k.8 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-95423) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  l. Opinion and Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP.*

 

  m. None.

 

  n. Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*

 

  o. None.

 

C-2


  p. Subscription Agreement dated October 12, 1999. Filed on October 18, 1999 as Exhibit p. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-86619) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

  q. None.

 

  r. Code of Ethics and Reporting Requirements of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (including affiliated entities) and the Nuveen Funds, effective January 1, 2013.*

 

  s. Powers of Attorney. Filed on June 7, 2011 as Exhibit s. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.

 

* Filed herewith.

 

Item 26: Marketing Arrangements.

See relevant Sections of the Distribution Agreement and Equity Distribution Agreement which have been filed as Exhibits h.2 and h.4, respectively, to this Registration Statement.

 

Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

Printing and Engraving Fees

   $ 17,500   

Legal Fees

     50,000   

Accounting Fees

     4,000   

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Fees

     10,586   

Stock Exchange Listing Fees

     30,800   

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fees

     9,627   

Miscellaneous Fees

     7,487   
  

 

 

 
   $ 130,000   
  

 

 

 

 

Item 28: Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.

Not applicable.

 

Item 29: Number of Holders of Securities.

As of December 31, 2012

 

Title of Class

   Number of
Record Holders
 

Common Shares, $0.01 par value

     11,875   

 

Item 30: Indemnification.

Section 4 of Article XII of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in this Section 4, every person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust, including persons who serve at the request of the Trust as directors, trustees, officers, employees or agents of another organization in which the Trust has an interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been such a Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent and against amounts paid or incurred by him in settlement thereof.

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

(a) against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which die proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;

 

 

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(b) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust; or

(c) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (a) or (b)) and resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that he did not engage in such conduct:

(i) by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or

(ii) by written opinion of independent legal counsel.

The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Trust personnel other than Covered Persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification under this Section 4 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4, provided that either:

(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or

(b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

As used in this Section 4, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one (x) who is not an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone, as such Disinterested Trustee, who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and (y) against whom none of such actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending.

As used in this Section 4, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by the Mutual Fund Professional Liability policy in the aggregate amount of $70,000,000 against liability and expenses of claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen Funds, except for matters that involve willful acts, bad faith, gross negligence and willful disregard of duty (i.e., where the insured did not act in good faith for a purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Registrant or where he or she had reasonable cause to believe this conduct was unlawful). The policy has a $2,500,000 deductible for operational failures (after the deductible is satisfied, the insurer would cover 80% of any operational failure claims and the Fund would be liable for 20% of any such claims) and $1,000,000 deductible for all other claims, with $0 deductible for individual insureds.

 

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Section 8 of the Form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit h.1 to this Registration Statement provides for each of the parties thereto, including the Registrant and the Agent, to indemnify the others, their trustees, directors, certain of their officers, trustees, directors and persons who control them against certain liabilities in connection with the offering described herein, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser and Subadviser.

Nuveen Fund Advisors, Inc. (“NFALLC”) serves as investment adviser or manager to other open-end and closed-end management investment companies and to separately managed accounts. The principal business address for all of these investment companies and the persons named below is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

NFALLC has no other clients or business at the present time. For a description of other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which any director or officer of the investment adviser who serve as officers or Trustees of the Registrant has engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, see the descriptions under “Management of the Fund” in Part B of this Registration Statement. Such information for the remaining senior officers of NFALLC appears below:

 

Name and Position with NFALLC

  

Other Business, Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years

Thomas J. Schreier, Jr.,
Co-President
   Vice Chairman, Wealth Management, of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2011); Chairman of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); formerly, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of FAF Advisors; formerly, President of First American Funds.
Sherri A. Hlavacek, Managing Director and Corporate Controller    Managing Director and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Investments, Inc., Nuveen Securities, LLC, Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc. and of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Vice President and Controller of Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc., NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, NWQ Holdings, LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC and Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC; Certified Public Accountant.
Mary E. Keefe, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer    Managing Director (since 2004) and Director of Compliance of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer of Nuveen Securities, LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc. and Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Winslow Capital Management, LLC.

 

C-5


Name and Position with NFALLC

  

Other Business, Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years

John L. MacCarthy, Director, Executive Vice President and Secretary    Executive Vice President (since 2008), Secretary and General Counsel (since 2006) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., Nuveen Securities, LLC and Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since 2008) and Secretary (since 2006) of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., NWQ Holdings, LLC, NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Nuveen Hyde Park Group, LLC and Nuveen Investment Solutions, Inc.; Executive Vice President and Secretary (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Director, Vice President and Secretary of Winslow Capital Management, LLC.
Glenn R. Richter, Director    Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2006); Executive Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Executive Vice President of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Chief Administrative Officer of NWQ Holdings, LLC.

Symphony Asset Management LLC (“Symphony”) currently serves as an investment adviser or subadviser to certain other open-end and closed-end funds and as investment adviser to separately managed accounts. The address for Symphony is 555 California Street, Suite 2975, San Francisco, California 94104. See “Investment Adviser and Subadviser” in Part B of the Registration Statement.

Set forth below is a list of each director and officer of Symphony, indicating each business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which such person has been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, partner or trustee.

 

Name and Position with Symphony

  

Other Business Profession, Vocation or Employment During Past Two Years

Anne B. Popkin, President   

Formerly, Principal, BlueCrest Capital Management LLC

40 Grosvenor Place, London,

SW1X 7AW, England

David Goldstein, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer    None
Angela McKillen, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    None
Gunther M. Stein, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer    None
Ross S. Sakamoto, Co-Director of Equity Investments and Portfolio Manager   

Formerly, Director, Deutsche Bank Advisors

345 Park Ave

New York, NY 10154

 

Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records.

NFALLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, maintains the Declaration of Trust, By-Laws, minutes of trustees and shareholders meetings and contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser. Symphony, 555 California Street, Suite 2975, San Francisco, California 94104, in its capacity as subadviser, also may maintain certain books and records of the Fund.

State Street Bank and Trust Company, 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts, 02021, maintains all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other required records not maintained by NFALLC and Symphony.

 

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Item 33: Management Services.

Not applicable.

 

Item 34: Undertakings.

1. Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of its shares until the prospectus is amended if: (1) subsequent to the effective date of its registration statement, the net asset value declines more than ten percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of the registration statement; or (2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

2. Not applicable.

3. Not applicable.

4.(a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”);

(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

(3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

(c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the 1933 Act to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the 1933 Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the 1933 Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into this registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(e) that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the 1933 Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act;

 

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(2) the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(3) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

5. The Registrant undertakes that:

a. For purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497(h) under the 1933 Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in this City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 4th day of March, 2013.

 

NUVEEN SENIOR INCOME FUND

 

/s/ Kevin J. McCarthy

Kevin J. McCarthy,

Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Stephen D. Foy

Stephen D. Foy

   Vice President and Controller (principal financial and accounting officer)    March 4, 2013

/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman

Gifford R. Zimmerman

   Chief Administrative Officer (principal executive officer)   
Robert P. Bremner*    Chairman of the Board and Trustee   
John P. Amboian*    Trustee   
Jack B. Evans*    Trustee   
William C. Hunter*    Trustee   
David J. Kundert*    Trustee   
William J. Schneider*    Trustee   
Judith M. Stockdale*    Trustee   
Carole E. Stone*    Trustee   
Virginia L. Stringer*    Trustee   
Terence J. Toth*    Trustee   

 

By*:   /s/ Kevin J. McCarthy
  Kevin J. McCarthy,
  Attorney-In-Fact
  March 4, 2013

 

* The original powers of attorney authorizing Kevin J. McCarthy and Gifford R. Zimmerman, among others, to execute this Registration Statement, and Amendments thereto, for the trustees of the Registrant on whose behalf this Registration Statement is filed, have been executed and filed as Exhibit s. to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-167328) and incorporated by reference herein.


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Name

   Exhibit

Opinion and Consent of Bingham McCutchen LLP

   l.

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

   n.

Code of Ethics and Reporting Requirements of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (including affiliated entities) and the Nuveen Funds, effective January 1, 2013

   r.