June 29, 2018
Mr. Jason Fox
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management, Insured Investments Office
100 F Street N.E.
Washington DC 20549
Re: NuveenClosed-End andOpen-End Funds – Sarbanes Oxley Review
Dear Mr. Fox:
This letter addresses the comments Ms. Sheila Stout provided in a telephone discussion on April 17, 2018, regarding reviews performed by the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC Staff”) of certain regulatory filings made by the Nuveenclosed-end andopen-end registered investment companies listed on Appendix A attached hereto, (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and advised by Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”). Each comment is shown below followed by our response.
1) | Comment: For certain Nuveen municipalclosed-end funds (for example, Nuveen Municipal Income Opportunity Fund, NuveenAMT-Free Municipal Value Fund and others) Note 4 within the Notes to Financial Statements explains, “Costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its Shelf Offering were recorded as a deferred charge and recognized as a component of “Deferred offering costs” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The deferred asset is reduced during theone-year period that additional shares are sold by reducing the proceeds from such sales and recognized as a component of “Proceeds from shelf offering, net of offering costs” on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. Any remaining deferred charges at the end of theone-year life of the Shelf Offering period will be expensed accordingly, as well as any additional Shelf Offering costs the Fund may incur. As Shelf Offering costs are expensed they are recognized as a component of “Other expenses” on the Statement of Operations.” Please reference the guidance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for this accounting treatment. |
Response:The Funds follow the guidance set forth in Section 8.31 of the September 2017 AICPA Audit & Accounting Guide – Investment Companies which refers to “Costs Incurred in Shelf Registration” (AICPA, Technical Questions and Answers) Section 4110.10, which reads as follows:
Someclosed-end funds and business development companies offer stock through shelf registration statements. According to Q&A section 4110.10, “Costs Incurred in Shelf Registration” (AICPA, Technical Questions and Answers), legal and other fees incurred for a stock issue under a shelf registration should be capitalized as a prepaid expense. When securities are taken off the shelf and sold, a portion of the costs attributable to the securities sold should be charged againstpaid-in-capital. Any subsequent costs incurred to keep the filing “alive” should be charged to expense as incurred. If the filing is withdrawn, the related capitalized costs should be charged to expense.
As such, the costs incurred with registering shares are capitalized as a deferred asset and charged againstpaid-in-capital on apro-rata basis as shares are sold. Any remaining deferred asset balance associated with “unsold shares” is expensed at the end of the program period (one year from the effective date of the filing). Costs incurred in filing Form 486B, if necessary, are expensed.
2) | Comment: A majority of the Nuveenclosed-end andopen-end municipal Funds hold securities with optional call provisions, which means the bonds can be redeemed or paid off by the issuer prior to the bonds’ maturity date. Since the bonds can be called at any time, they are more risky for investors thannon-callable bonds because the investor bears the risk of loss of future interest payments. Please consider adding additional disclosure in the Funds’ prospectus and/or shareholder reports regarding such interest rate risk. |
Response:We have reviewed the prospectus disclosures for a sample of municipalopen-end funds and municipalclosed-end Funds. We have found that the disclosure on this point in all cases was adequate. The relevant disclosure from theopen-end Funds’ summary prospectuses that we found (in this case the summary prospectus for NuveenAll-American Municipal Bond Fund) was:
Call Risk — If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding municipal bonds held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Fund’s performance.
The somewhat more expansive disclosure in theopen-end Funds’ full statutory prospectus (again, for NuveenAll-American Municipal Bond Fund):
Call risk: Municipal bonds are subject to call risk. Many bonds may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or “called,” before their stated maturity date. In general, an issuer will call its bonds if they can be refinanced by issuing new bonds which bear a lower interest rate. A fund is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates, a bond issuer will call its high yielding bonds. A fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the fund’s income.
The disclosure from a typical prospectus for aclosed-end municipal fund (taken from the January 16, 2016 prospectus from Nuveen Municipal 2021 Target Term Fund) is as follows:
Call Risk. The Fund may invest in securities that are subject to call risk. Debt instruments may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or “called,” before their stated maturity or redemption date. In general, an issuer will call its debt instruments if they can be refinanced by issuing new instruments which bear a lower interest or dividend rate. The Fund is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer will call its high yielding debt instruments. The Fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest or dividend rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income.
We are reviewing the shareholder reports of the affected funds and expect to add disclosure about call risk wherever it does not already appear. From the survey we have conducted so far, theopen-end fund shareholder reports mention call risk, whileclosed-end fund shareholder reports do not.
3) | Comment: For Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund (NMZ), the Fund’s website discloses, “No more than 10% of the fund’s managed assets may be invested in municipal securities rated at or belowB3/B-, or that are unrated but judged by the manager to be of comparable quality.” However, the Fund’s October 31, 2017 annual report indicates that more than 25% of the Fund’s total investment exposure is innon-rated securities. Please confirm that no more than 10% of the Funds’ managed assets are invested in securities rated below single B. |
Response:As of October 31, 2017, NMZ’s portfolio contained 7.1% (as a % of managed assets) of securities ratedB3/B- or lower, plus 24.6% (as a % of managed assets) of securities that were unrated but judged by the manager to be of comparable quality, for a total of 31.7% (as a % of managed assets). Please note that this particular policy was misstated in the October 31, 2017 annual report. In the course of documenting the proposal and approval of a change to NMZ’s investment policies at a different part of the credit curve (the rules relating to the maximum and minimum percentages of managed assets that could or must be invested in securities that were investment grade and below-investment grade), the internal and Board memos regarding the change misstated the policy regarding the CCC/single B dividing line. The longstanding policy of NMZ was that the Fund could invest no more than 10% of managed assets in securities rated belowB3/B-; these two memos misstated that policy to read that the Fund could invest no more than 10% of its managed assets in securities rated “at or” belowB3/B-. That misstated policy was utilized by those individuals who maintain the website and prepare the shareholder reports. We later determined that the actual “belowB3/B-” policy had not actually changed, because its inclusion (in misstated form) in the internal and Board memos was dictum – that is, it was not germane to the policy change proposal or decision, and so the Board never specifically approved the misstatedB3/B- policy, so that in turn that policy, as misstated, never took effect.
4) | Comment:The prospectus for Nuveen Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund states that, “The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, and to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.” In addition, the Fund has disclosed derivatives as both a “principal investment strategy” and a “principle risk,” however, the Fund has not utilized derivatives in the past three fiscal years. Please consider not disclosing derivative instruments as “principal” in future filings. |
Response:Both Nuveen management and the Fund’s investment team consider the use of derivative instruments to be one of the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and we respectfully decline to remove derivatives-related policies disclosures from the referenced sections of the Fund prospectus. As disclosed, the Fund may use derivatives to manage interest rate risk, yield curve risk, and credit risk, and to manage the effective duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. However, market conditions over the recent years have been marked by historically low interest rates, a relatively flat yield curve, and a relatively benign credit market. In these conditions over this period, the Fund’s investment team has generally determined that the use of all or most derivative instruments was not necessary for the management of these risks. If and when market conditions change, however, either or both management and/or the investment team may decide to utilize derivatives for the stated purposes. As such, management continues to regard the described derivatives to be a component of the Fund’s principal investment strategies.
5) | Comment: For Nuveen Municipal Trust, are the fee waivers/expense reimbursements received by a Fund subject to recoupment? In addition, please confirm whether the Adviser has any agreements in place to recoup fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. |
Response: For certain Funds, the Adviser has an agreement in place to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses as stated in the Fund’s prospectus and/or statement of additional information. The Adviser does not have any agreements in place to recoup fee waivers/expenses reimbursed in prior fiscal periods from any Nuveenopen-end Fund (including those Funds comprising Nuveen Municipal Trust),closed-end Fund or exchange-traded Fund.
6) | Comment: For certain municipalclosed-end Funds, Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for Institutional MuniFund Term Preferred Shares (“iMTP Shares”) discloses that “costs incurred by the Fund in connection with its offering of iMTP Shares were recorded as a deferred charge, which are |
amortized over the life of the shares and are recognized as components of “Institutional MuniFund Term Preferred (“iMTP”) Shares, net of deferred offering costs” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Please ensure that the disclosure included within the Notes to Financial Statements is consistent with Financial Accounting Standards Board, Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)2015-03 (“ASU2015-03”): Interest-Imputation of Interest, which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the associated debt liability. |
Response: The Statement of Assets and Liabilities recognizes a Fund’s iMTP Shares as components of “Institutional MuniFund Term Preferred (“iMTP”) Shares, net of deferred offering costs” as required by ASU2015-03. However, we do recognize that a Fund’s outstanding iMTP shares are disclosed at their liquidation preference within Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements to allow a reader of the financial statements to easily reconcile such amounts to the outstanding amount of iMTP Shares disclosed within the (1) Fund Leverage section, (2) parenthetical disclosure on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and (3) aggregate amount outstanding of iMTP Shares at the end of periodwithin the Financial Highlights. To be consistent with the presentation on the Statement of Asset and Liabilities, we are adding the “Liquidation Preference, Net of Deferred Offering Costs” amount to the disclosure describing the amount of iMTP Shares outstanding as of the end of the reporting period. Such additional disclosure will also be added to Note 4 of the Notes to the Financial Statements for any Fund impacted by ASU2015-03.
7) | Comment:For Nuveen Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund, the Fund’s May 31, 2017 annual report indicates that the Fund had more than 20% of its total investment exposure in below investment grade (“junk”) bonds. Please confirm that the Fund is in compliance with its investment policy. |
Response: The Nuveen Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund (FMN) was indeed above the maximum 20% of total investment exposure in below investment grade bonds as of May 31, 2017. This policy is one that applies “at time of purchase.” FMN “passively” went above the 20% threshold in November of the previous year. FMN made no purchases of below investment grade bonds between its last purchase of below-investment grade bonds prior to climbing above the 20% threshold in November of 2016 and May 31, 2017. Therefore, FMN was in compliance with this investment policy on May 31, 2017.
8) | Comment: For Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Value Fund (NJV), Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements within the Fund’s February 28, 2017 annual report indicates that the Fund isnon-diversified, however, it appears as though the Fund has been operating as diversified. Should the Fund be classified as diversified, and if so, shareholder approval will be required prior to the Fund changing its diversification status. [Please refer to Rule13a-1 of the 1940 Act and the Allied Capitalno-action letter.] |
Response: NJV was registered asnon-diversified at its inception on April 28, 2009. The most recentquarter-end at which we found the Fund to benon-diversified was in March of 2017, when theabove-5% concentration reached 25.2%. Since that time, NJV has been generally very close to 25% inabove-5% concentration, with our Charles River Diversification status report showing it at 24.62% as of the annual report date listed in the comment (February 28, 2017). If the Fund continues to avoid exceeding the 25% threshold, we would change its classification to “diversified” on March 31, 2020.
9) | Comment: For Nuveen Build America Bond Fund (NBB), as of March 31, 2017 the Fund has > 25% of its net assets investment in California municipal bonds, however the Fund’s most recent prospectus (2010) does not include any disclosure regarding the risk of investing a substantial concentration of the Fund’s portfolio holdings in any one particular industry or state. Please consider updating the Fund’s prospectus and/or website disclosures accordingly. |
Response:NBB had greater than 25% of itsnet assets invested in California obligations as of March 31, 2017 (27.4%). The Fund had at all times a policy in place to prevent a securities of issuers from a single state from constituting more than 25% of thetotal assets of NBB, and the 1940 Act specifications for state-related concentration are couched in terms of “total” assets, not net. See Rel.IC-9785 (May 31, 1977), which uses the term “assets”, which we believe can only be interpreted as referring to “total assets.” On that same date, NBB had 21.15% of itstotal assets invested in California obligations, and thus was not in violation of the policy. The different figures result from the fact that NBB is leveraged, and the denominator of the%-of-total-assets figure reflects that leverage, while the%-of-net-assets figure does not. Because NBB does not have agreater-than-25% exposure to the bonds of California (or any other state, per policy), we do not feel that California-specific risk disclosure is called for.
10) | Comment: For certainclosed-end municipal Funds (for example, Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund (NQP), Nuveen Connecticut Quality Municipal Income Fund (NTC) and Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NMT)) >25% of the Fund’s net assets were invested in one particular industry (for example, health care) at fiscalyear-end. Please consider whether such industry/sector concentration risk should be identified and disclosed accordingly (for example, within the Risk Considerations section of the Funds’ shareholder reports). |
Response: These Funds all have policies requiring that the Fund invest no more than 25% of net assets in an “industry”. The concept of “health care”, reflected in the investment breakdown analysis you observed and are commenting on, is actually a “sector”, which is composed of several different “industries”. That is, an “industry”, in this context, is asub-component of a “sector”. The Fund has no policy restricting the portfolio exposure at the “sector” level; nor do the federal securities laws require a fund to have a sector-level concentration policy, or require disclosure about sector-level exposure. So the fact that one of these Funds (or similarly-situated Funds) might have invested greater than 25% of net assets in a given “sector” like health care is not the sort of “industry concentration” that needs enhanced disclosure of the fact of such percentage investment or the risks associated with that investment.
11) | Comment:For certain Funds, “Tax Obligation/Limited” is a sector listed within the Portfolio of Investments. Please confirm whether this is one sector or a compilation of various industries within the sector. Also, please describe how this is being monitored for compliance purposes. |
Response: The category of “Tax Obligation / Limited” is one that we use to distinguish, within the broader set of municipal government bonds, general obligation bonds (commonly referred to as “GOs”) fromnon-GO limited taxation obligations. GO bonds are secured by the full faith and credit of the issuing government (e.g., the government of Toledo, Ohio). A Tax Obligation / Limited bond, in contrast, would be secured solely by specified tax revenues, such as a tax increment-secured bond secured by tax revenues from a new housing development.
We do not use the category of “Tax Obligation / Limited” as an “industry” for industry concentration policy compliance. Please note that, under principles enumerated by the SEC in Release No.IC-9785 (May 31, 1977), obligations of governmental entities, which would include not only GOs but also more limited tax obligations of governmental bodies, are not considered to be in any “industry” for purposes of a fund’s industry concentration policy. Therefore, there are no policies or related compliance testing rules regarding limits on the amount of Tax Obligation / Limited bonds in which a particular Nuveen municipal Fund may invest.
12) | Comment: Similar to Comment #4, the prospectus for Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. (specifically for Nuveen Minnesota Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Nuveen Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund, Nuveen Nebraska Municipal Bond Fund and Nuveen Oregon Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund) states that, “The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The |
Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, and to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio.” In addition, the Fund has disclosed derivatives as both a “principal investment strategy” and a “principle risk,” however, the Fund has not utilized derivatives in the past three fiscal years. Please consider not disclosing derivative instruments as “principal” in future filings. |
Response: Both Nuveen management and the Funds’ respective investment teams consider the use of derivative instruments to be one of the Funds’ principal investment strategies, and we respectfully decline to remove derivatives-related policies and disclosures from the referenced sections of the Fund prospectus. As disclosed, the Funds may use derivatives to manage interest rate risk, yield curve risk, and credit risk, and to manage the effective duration of securities in each Fund’s portfolio. However, market conditions over the recent years have been marked by historically low interest rates, a relatively benign credit market, and a relatively flat yield curve. In these conditions, the Funds’ investment teams have generally determined that the use of all or most derivative instruments was not necessary for the management of these risks. If and when market conditions change, however, either or both management and/or the applicable investment team may decide to utilize derivatives for the stated purposes for a given Fund. As such, management continues to regard the described derivatives to be a component of the Funds’ principal investment strategies.
13) | Comment:Same as Comment #12 above for Nuveen Multistate Trust II, III and IV. In the past three fiscal years, the Funds have only invested in swap contracts. Please consider updating the Funds’ “principal” investment strategies. |
Response: Both Nuveen management and the Funds’ respective investment teams consider the use of derivative instruments to be one of the Funds’ principal investment strategies, and we respectfully decline to remove derivatives-related policies and disclosures from the referenced sections of the Fund prospectus. As disclosed, the Funds may use derivatives to manage interest rate risk, yield curve risk, and credit risk, and to manage the effective duration of securities in each Fund’s portfolio. However, market conditions over the recent years have been marked by historically low interest rates, a relatively benign credit market, and a relatively flat yield curve. In these conditions, the Funds’ investment teams have generally determined that the use of all or most derivative instruments was not necessary for the management of these risks, although even in those market conditions some of the Funds in question did use swap contracts to managed risks or to manage effective duration. If and when market conditions change, however, either or both management and/or the applicable investment team may decide to utilize not only swap contracts but also the other named forms of derivatives for the stated purposes for a given Fund. As such, management continues to regard the described derivatives to be a component of the Funds’ principal investment strategies
14) | Comment: The financial statements for Nuveen California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund show that the Fund has a “receivable from Adviser” as of its February 28, 2017 fiscal year end. Please confirm that such payments to the Adviser are settled in the same frame as incurred (e.g. monthly). |
Response:When a Fund is due monies from the Adviser, such amounts are settled in the same time frame as incurred, on a monthly basis.
15) | Comment:During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2017, the Nuveen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund had transfers into its Level 3 holdings during the measurement period, however such transfers were not accompanied by the tabular disclosure as required by ASC820-10-50-2C3. Please include such tabular disclosures as required by ASC820-10-50-2C.3 in future filings. |
Response:Typically, the Funds do not include a tabular disclosure for transfer within the fair value hierarchy when they are deemed “immaterial” (meaning they do not exceed internal thresholds for including such disclosure). In this instance, such transfers did not meet the internal threshold. However, because the Level 3 rollforward was included within the Notes to Financial Statements, we agree with the SEC Staff that tabular or narrative disclosure for the amounts of any transfers into or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy required by ASC820-10-50-2C3 should accompany the Level 3 rollforward. We will include such disclosures in future shareholder reports, when appropriate.
16) | Comment:Please confirm that Nuveen High Income 2020 Target Term Fund (JHY) complied with shareholder notice requirements under Rule19a-1 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. |
Response: JHY was brought to market in July 2015 and paid five monthly distributions in 2015 prior to its first fiscal year end on December 31, 2015. JHY has a policy of distributing only amounts that are attributable to net income. For JHY’s first, truncated fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, we ended up being slightly over-distributed (.0091 per share, or 3% of the total distributions for 2015). The determination that the Fund had over-distributed its net investment income was made by Nuveen’s Tax department well after December 31, 2015. At that time, we created a 19(a) notice, which we posted to the Nuveen website. Unfortunately, it was too late to have the notice “accompany” the dividend payment, as required by Rule19a-1. A shareholder report, which included disclosure on the over-distribution, was also delivered to shareholders. For the fiscal years ending December 31, 2016 and 2017, the Fund was not obligated to prepare shareholder notices under Rule19a-1 as all distributions to shareholders were sourced from net investment income.
17) | Comment:Forclosed-end Funds with monthly distributions, please disclose on the Fund’s website, the distribution character and amounts paid monthly in addition to the payable, record andex-date. |
Response:The SEC Staff, after hearing our explanation during the call, told us to ignore this comment because we had addressed it on the call. However, we thought we would include the substance of our telephonic discussion. Namely, we said on the call that to our knowledge the dividend character and amounts are always on the website, and that there were two possible explanations for why the SEC Staff saw a distribution discussion on the website that did not include the amounts and character of the Fund’s distributions:
a. | The data might have been missing on the day that the SEC Staff performed their review. We believe this is very unlikely, but cannot verify either way, because we do not know what day the staff performed their review. |
b. | The SEC Staff might have been viewing the part of the website that describes only the “schedule” of dividend payments in ageneric way, and missed thatactual historical amounts and character were set forth on an entirely different section of the website. |
18) | Comment:Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund (JPT),similar to Comment #8, Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements within the Fund’s July 31, 2017 annual report indicates that the Fund isnon-diversified, however, it appears as though the Fund has been operating as diversified. Should the Fund be classified as diversified, and if so, shareholder approval will be required prior to the Fund changing its diversification status. |
Response: This Fund commenced operations on January 26, 2017, and was categorized asnon-diversified at its inception. To our knowledge, it has never exceeded anabove-5% concentration of 25%. If that remains true, we would change its classification to “diversified” on December 31, 2019.
19) | Comment:For Nuveen Investment Trust III, which includes Nuveen Symphony Credit Strategies Fund and Nuveen Symphony Floating Rate Fund, the prospectus states, “The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; swap agreements, including interest rate swaps, total return swaps, and credit default swaps; and options on swap agreements. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Fund’s yield or to enhance returns.” In addition, the Fund has disclosed derivatives as both a “principal investment strategy” and a “principal risk.” However, the Fund has only utilized swap contracts in the past three fiscal years. Please consider updating the Funds’ “principal” investment strategies. |
Response: Both Nuveen management and the Funds’ respective investment teams consider the use of derivative instruments to be one of the Funds’ principal investment strategies, and we respectfully decline to remove derivatives-related policies and disclosures from the referenced sections of the Fund prospectus. As disclosed, the Funds may use derivatives to manage interest rate risk, yield curve risk, and credit risk, and to manage the effective duration of securities in the Fund’s portfolio. However, market conditions over the recent years have been marked by historically low interest rates, a relatively benign credit market, and a relatively flat yield curve. In these conditions, the Funds’ investment teams have generally determined that the use of all or most derivative instruments was not necessary for the management of these risks, although even under these market conditions some of the Funds in question did use swap contracts to manage the named risks or to manage effective duration. If and when market conditions change, however, either or both management and/or the applicable investment team may decide to utilize not only swap contracts but also one or more of the other named forms of derivatives for the stated purposes for a given Fund. As such, management continues to regard the described derivatives to be a component of the Funds’ principal investment strategies.
20) | Comment:For Funds with significant exposure to bank loans, the Fund’s website does not note the risk that such investments are not considered securities, and therefore may not receive protection of securities laws. Please consider adding such disclosure to the Fund’s website and include such risk in future filings. |
Response: We believe that the fact that senior loans are not considered “securities” under federal securities laws and therefore do not receive all the legal protections of those laws is not the sort of material risk to the funds that invest heavily in senior loans (such as the Nuveen Symphony Floating Rate Income Fund) and their shareholders that such risk needs to be included among the descriptions of material risks contained on the website. That Fund’s risk description on its website page, which is not intended to be inclusive of all risks of the funds and which we continue to think is adequate and proper, is as follows:
Mutual fund investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Debt or fixed income securities such as those held by the Fund, are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Below investment grade or high yield debt securities are subject to liquidity risk and heightened credit risk. Foreign investments involve additional risks, including currency fluctuation, political and economic instability, lack of liquidity and differing legal and accounting standards. The value of the Fund’s convertible securities may decline in response to such factors as rising interest rates and fluctuations in the market price of the underlying securities. This Fund is subject to loan settlement risk due to the lack of established settlement standards or remedies for failure to settle.
We have very rarely, if ever, experienced a situation where a Nuveen Fund’s investment in a senior loan was meaningfully disadvantaged because of the lack of the special protections afforded by the federal securities laws, in part because the special protections negotiated with loan borrowers at the time of loan issuance are typically very strong. As noted in the SEC Staff’s comment above, we include a description of the risk associated with senior loans not being considered securities in the more expansive set of risk descriptions contained in those Funds’ prospectuses, where we have deemed it appropriate.
21) | Comment:For Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund’s (JPC) July 31, 2017 annual report, the risk section for the Fund, discloses that certain types of preferred with special loss absorption, contingent capital securities, or CoCos, may become so subordinated that they are subject to risks equivalent to common stock. This language seems to imply that CoCos are preferred securities. Rather they are fixed-income securities that are not preferred securities. In addition, the risk disclosure for such securities is not consistent with the disclosure included for the Nuveenopen-end Funds. Please update the disclosure accordingly. |
Response:The risk section of the shareholder report in question contains a statement that “certain types of preferred or debt securities” have special loss absorption features, and then refers to CoCos. We agree with you that CoCos are properly characterized as “fixed-income securities”, and we assert that the actual reference to “certain types of preferred or debt securities” is essentially equivalent to making a reference to “fixed-income securities” (apparently the SEC Staff’s favored nomenclature), and that it is fair and appropriate to assert that CoCos are a type of preferred or debt security, at least where (as here) the point of the disclosure is to explain that CoCos have special loss absorption features that render them so subordinated that they present risks equivalent to common stock, and that the reference to CoCos as a “type of preferred or debt security” is not misleading in that context. Nevertheless, we will review our disclosures about CoCos to help ensure that CoCos are not characterized as being a form of preferred security.
22) | Comment:Nuveen Concentrated Core Fund, in its August 31, 2017 annual report disclosed that the Fund isnon-diversified within the Risk Considerations, but diversified within Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements. Please confirm which is correct and how the Fund has been operating for the past year. |
Response: This Fund was registerednon-diversified at its inception on June 17, 2013. It has generally beennon-diversified since that time with the most recent March 31, 2018 review showing it at 72.65%. For the annual report date listed below (August 31, 2017), the diversification concentration was 51.76%. The reference to the Fund being diversified in the August 31, 2017 annual report was incorrect, and has been corrected in subsequent reports.
23) | Comment:For the Funds’ holdings in money market funds (specifically Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund), similar to other short-term fixed-income securities please disclose the coupon rate as required by RegulationS-X. |
Response: We agree with the SEC Staff that the Funds should disclose the interest rate for money market funds as required by RegulationS-X§210.12-12, Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers and will do so prospectively.
24) | Comment: Nuveen Large Cap Value Fund for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017, please confirm that the “ratios to average net assets after waiver/reimbursement” are reflective of the amounts reported on the Statement of Operations. |
Response:The Adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses of Nuveen Large Cap Value Fund so that total annual Fund operating expenses (with certain exclusions) do not exceed 1.20% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017, the Fund’s expenses were less than its expense limitation and therefore the Fund’s “ratios to average net assets after waiver/reimbursement” as presented in the Financial Highlights are reflective of the Fund’s Statement of Operations. In addition, for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2013 through August 31, 2016, the Fund either did not receive a fee waiver/expense reimbursement from the Adviser or such fee waiver/expense reimbursement rounds to less than ..005%.
25) | Comment: On the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, for any Fund that may have contingent obligations and commitments, include another line item below total liabilities for “Commitments and Contingencies” even if such balance is zero as of the end of the reporting period. In addition, indicate within such line item where such commitments and contingencies are discussed within the Notes to Financial Statements. |
Response:We respectfully disagree with the SEC Staff that such financial statement disclosure is necessary for the Funds. In further researching this subject matter and looking at industry constituents, we believe that this disclosure is not common for investment companies financial statements, such as the Funds since “Commitments and Contingencies” in 1940 Act investment companies differ greatly from traditional operating companies. If, and when, the Funds have outstanding obligations (e.g. outstanding loans and borrowings), they are disclosed within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities accordingly.
26) | Comment:For all Funds filing on FormN-CSR after August 31, 2017, please ensure you are using the new format that became effective as of August 1, 2017, which includes new Items 12 and 13. |
Response:We agree with the SEC Staff that the Funds filing on FormN-CSR did not utilize the new format that became effective on August 1, 2017. Beginning with the periods ended February 28, 2018, the Funds’ FormN-CSRs filings include new Items 12 and 13.
27) | Comment #27: Same as Comment #1 for Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund, Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund, Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunities Fund and several other affected Funds. |
Response:See response to comment #1
Sincerely,
/s/ Stephen D. Foy
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Stephen D. Foy
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Vice President and Funds’ Controller
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(Principal Financial Officer) |
CC: Audit Committee of the Funds
Eric Fess, Chapman & Cutler, Counsel to the Independent Trustees of the Funds
Kevin McCarthy, Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Funds
Mary Keefe, Managing Director of Regulatory Affairs of Nuveen Investments, Inc.
Walter Kelly, Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of the Funds
APPENDIX A
CIK | File No. | Fund Name | Annual Report Reviewed | Ticker (closed-end Funds only) | Series # (open-end Funds only) | Registrant | ||||||||
1 | 0001639457 | 811-23051 | Nuveen High Income 2020 Target Term Fund | 12/31/16 | JHY | - | Nuveen High Income 2020 Target Term Fund | |||||||
2 | 0001647932 | 811-23074 | Nuveen High Income December 2018 Target Term Fund | 12/31/16 | JHA | - | Nuveen High Income December 2018 Target Term Fund | |||||||
3 | 0001666735 | 811-23141 | Nuveen High Income December 2019 Target Term Fund | 12/31/16 | JHD | - | Nuveen High Income December 2019 Target Term Fund | |||||||
4 | 0001647933 | 811-23102 | Nuveen High Income November 2021 Target Term Fund | 12/31/16 | JHB | - | Nuveen High Income November 2021 Target Term Fund | |||||||
5 | 0000892992 | 811-07278 | Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NAZ | - | Nuveen Arizona Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
6 | 0001195738 | 811-21212 | Nuveen CaliforniaAMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NKX | - | Nuveen CaliforniaAMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
7 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen California High Yield Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000008513 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
8 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen California Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000055308 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
9 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen California Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000000552 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
10 | 0001454979 | 811-22272 | Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund 2 | 2/28/17 | NCB | - | Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund 2 | |||||||
11 | 0000818851 | 811-05235 | Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund, Inc. | 2/28/17 | NCA | - | Nuveen California Municipal Value Fund, Inc. | |||||||
12 | 0001074952 | 811-09161 | Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NAC | - | Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
13 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen Connecticut Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000000554 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
14 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen Massachusetts Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000000555 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
15 | 0000878198 | 811-06383 | Nuveen Michigan Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NUM | - | Nuveen Michigan Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
16 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000000557 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
17 | 0001454980 | 811-22274 | Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Value Fund | 2/28/17 | NJV | - | Nuveen New Jersey Municipal Value Fund | |||||||
18 | 0001087786 | 811-09455 | Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NXJ | - | Nuveen New Jersey Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
19 | 0001195739 | 811-21211 | Nuveen New YorkAMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NRK | - | Nuveen New YorkAMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
20 | 0001018975 | 811-07755 | Nuveen New York Municipal Bond Fund | 2/28/17 | - | S000000558 | Nuveen Multistate Trust II | |||||||
21 | 0001454981 | 811-22271 | Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 | 2/28/17 | NYV | - | Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 | |||||||
22 | 0000818850 | 811-05238 | Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Inc. | 2/28/17 | NNY | - | Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Inc. | |||||||
23 | 0001074769 | 811-09135 | Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NAN | - | Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
24 | 0000878200 | 811-06385 | Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NUO | - | Nuveen Ohio Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
25 | 0001454978 | 811-22273 | Nuveen Pennsylvania Municipal Value Fund | 2/28/17 | NPN | - | Nuveen Pennsylvania Municipal Value Fund | |||||||
26 | 0000870780 | 811-06265 | Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NQP | - | Nuveen Pennsylvania Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
27 | 0000878201 | 811-06384 | Nuveen Texas Quality Municipal Income Fund | 2/28/17 | NTX | - | Nuveen Texas Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
28 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | NuveenAll-American Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000000286 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
29 | 0001478888 | 811-22391 | Nuveen Build America Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | NBB | - | Nuveen Build America Bond Fund | |||||||
30 | 0001493523 | 811-22425 | Nuveen Build America Bond Opportunity Fund | 3/31/17 | NBD | - | Nuveen Build America Bond Opportunity Fund | |||||||
31 | 0000885732 | 811-06623 | Nuveen California SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio | 3/31/17 | NXC | - | Nuveen California SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio | |||||||
32 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | Nuveen High Yield Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000000289 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
33 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | Nuveen Inflation Protected Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000030344 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
34 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | Nuveen Intermediate Duration Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000000285 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
35 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | Nuveen Limited Term Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000000288 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
36 | 0000885731 | 811-06624 | Nuveen New York SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio | 3/31/17 | NXN | - | Nuveen New York SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio | |||||||
37 | 0000890119 | 811-07056 | Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund | 3/31/17 | NIM | - | Nuveen Select Maturities Municipal Fund | |||||||
38 | 0000883618 | 811-06548 | Nuveen SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio | 3/31/17 | NXP | - | Nuveen SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio | |||||||
39 | 0000885733 | 811-06622 | Nuveen SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio 2 | 3/31/17 | NXQ | - | Nuveen SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio 2 | |||||||
40 | 0000888411 | 811-06693 | Nuveen SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio 3 | 3/31/17 | NXR | - | Nuveen SelectTax-Free Income Portfolio 3 | |||||||
41 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | Nuveen Short Duration High Yield Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000039680 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
42 | 0000820892 | 811-05309 | Nuveen Short Term Municipal Bond Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000005564 | Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. | |||||||
43 | 0001020660 | 811-07873 | Nuveen Strategic Municipal Opportunities Fund | 3/31/17 | - | S000047609 | Nuveen Municipal Trust | |||||||
44 | 0000899752 | 811-07606 | Nuveen Connecticut Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NTC | - | Nuveen Connecticut Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
45 | 0001020661 | 811-07943 | Nuveen Georgia Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000560 | Nuveen Multistate Trust III | |||||||
46 | 0001177219 | 811-21152 | Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NKG | - | Nuveen Georgia Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
47 | 0001018973 | 811-07751 | Nuveen Kansas Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000596 | Nuveen Multistate Trust IV | |||||||
48 | 0001018973 | 811-07751 | Nuveen Kentucky Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000597 | Nuveen Multistate Trust IV | |||||||
49 | 0001020661 | 811-07943 | Nuveen Louisiana Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000561 | Nuveen Multistate Trust III | |||||||
50 | 0000897424 | 811-07486 | Nuveen Maryland Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NMY | - | Nuveen Maryland Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
51 | 0000897419 | 811-07484 | Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NMT | - | Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
52 | 0001018973 | 811-07751 | Nuveen Michigan Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000598 | Nuveen Multistate Trust IV | |||||||
53 | 0000820892 | 811-05309 | Nuveen Minnesota Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000005558 | Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. | |||||||
54 | 0000820892 | 811-05309 | Nuveen Minnesota Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000005559 | Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. | |||||||
55 | 0001607997 | 811-22967 | Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NMS | - | Nuveen Minnesota Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
56 | 0001018973 | 811-07751 | Nuveen Missouri Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000599 | Nuveen Multistate Trust IV | |||||||
57 | 0000899782 | 811-07616 | Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NOM | - | Nuveen Missouri Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
58 | 0001655544 | 811-23102 | Nuveen Municipal 2021 Target Term Fund | 5/31/17 | NHA | - | Nuveen Municipal 2021 Target Term Fund | |||||||
59 | 0000820892 | 811-05309 | Nuveen Nebraska Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000005560 | Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. | |||||||
60 | 0001020661 | 811-07943 | Nuveen North Carolina Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | S000000562 | Nuveen Multistate Trust III | ||||||||
61 | 0000899761 | 811-07608 | Nuveen North Carolina Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NNC | - | Nuveen North Carolina Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
62 | 0001018973 | 811-07751 | Nuveen Ohio Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000600 | Nuveen Multistate Trust IV | |||||||
63 | 0000820892 | 811-05309 | Nuveen Oregon Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000005562 | Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. | |||||||
64 | 0001020661 | 811-07943 | Nuveen Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000563 | Nuveen Multistate Trust III | |||||||
65 | 0000897421 | 811-07490 | Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund | 5/31/17 | NPV | - | Nuveen Virginia Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
66 | 0001018973 | 811-07751 | Nuveen Wisconsin Municipal Bond Fund | 5/31/17 | - | S000000601 | Nuveen Multistate Trust IV | |||||||
67 | 0000838131 | 811-05642 | Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund | 6/30/17 | JMM | - | Nuveen Multi-Market Income Fund | |||||||
68 | 0001227476 | 811-21333 | Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund | 7/31/17 | JQC | - | Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund | |||||||
69 | 0001276533 | 811-21494 | Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund | 7/31/17 | JFR | - | Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund | |||||||
70 | 0001289213 | 811-21579 | Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund | 7/31/17 | JRO | - | Nuveen Floating Rate Income Opportunity Fund |
APPENDIX A
CIK | File No. | Fund Name | Annual Report Reviewed | Ticker (closed-end Funds only) | Series # (open-end Funds only) | Registrant | ||||||||
71 | 0001679033 | 811-23198 | Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund | 7/31/17 | JPT | - | Nuveen Preferred and Income 2022 Term Fund | |||||||
72 | 0001216583 | 811-21293 | Nuveen Preferred and Income Opportunities Fund | 7/31/17 | JPC | - | Nuveen Preferred and Income Opportunities Fund | |||||||
73 | 0001176433 | 811-21137 | Nuveen Preferred and Income Securities Fund | 7/31/17 | JPS | - | Nuveen Preferred and Income Securities Fund | |||||||
74 | 0001547994 | 811-22699 | Nuveen Preferred and Income Term Fund | 7/31/17 | JPI | - | Nuveen Preferred and Income Term Fund | |||||||
75 | 0001093428 | 811-09571 | Nuveen Senior Income Fund | 7/31/17 | NSL | - | Nuveen Senior Income Fund | |||||||
76 | 0001509253 | 811-22518 | Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund | 7/31/17 | JSD | - | Nuveen Short Duration Credit Opportunities Fund | |||||||
77 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Concentrated Core Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000040902 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
78 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Core Dividend Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000040903 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
79 | 0001041673 | 811-08333 | Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000024570 | Nuveen Investment Trust II | |||||||
80 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Equity Market Neutral Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000040904 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
81 | 0001041673 | 811-08333 | Nuveen Growth Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000008517 | Nuveen Investment Trust II | |||||||
82 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Large Cap Core Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000040905 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
83 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Large Cap Core Plus Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000040906 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
84 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000040907 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
85 | 0001013881 | 811-07619 | Nuveen Large Cap Value Fund | 8/31/17 | - | S000000602 | Nuveen Investment Trust | |||||||
86 | 0001380786 | 811-21979 | Nuveen Gresham Diversified Commodity Strategy Fund | 9/30/17 | - | S000037640 | Nuveen Investment Trust V | |||||||
87 | 0001380786 | 811-21979 | Nuveen NWQ Flexible Income Fund | 9/30/17 | - | S000027100 | Nuveen Investment Trust V | |||||||
88 | 0001380786 | 811-21979 | Nuveen Preferred Securities and Income Fund | 9/30/17 | - | S000015514 | Nuveen Investment Trust V | |||||||
89 | 0001071336 | 811-09037 | Nuveen Symphony Credit Opportunities Fund | 9/30/17 | - | S000028810 | Nuveen Investment Trust III | |||||||
90 | 0001071336 | 811-09037 | Nuveen Symphony Floating Rate Income Fund | 9/30/17 | - | S000032446 | Nuveen Investment Trust III | |||||||
91 | 0001071336 | 811-09037 | Nuveen Symphony High Yield Bond Fund | 9/30/17 | - | S000039257 | Nuveen Investment Trust III | |||||||
92 | 0001090116 | 811-09475 | NuveenAMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund | 10/31/17 | NVG | - | NuveenAMT-Free Municipal Credit Income Fund | |||||||
93 | 0001450445 | 811-22253 | NuveenAMT-Free Municipal Value Fund | 10/31/17 | NUW | - | NuveenAMT-Free Municipal Value Fund | |||||||
94 | 0001195737 | 811-21213 | NuveenAMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | 10/31/17 | NEA | - | NuveenAMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | |||||||
95 | 0001469392 | 811-22323 | Nuveen Enhanced Municipal Value Fund | 10/31/17 | NEV | - | Nuveen Enhanced Municipal Value Fund | |||||||
96 | 0001137887 | 811-10345 | Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund | 10/31/17 | NZF | - | Nuveen Municipal Credit Income Fund | |||||||
97 | 0001266585 | 811-21449 | Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund | 10/31/17 | NMZ | - | Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity Fund | |||||||
98 | 0000830271 | 811-05488 | Nuveen Municipal Income Fund, Inc. | 10/31/17 | NMI | - | Nuveen Municipal Income Fund, Inc. | |||||||
99 | 0000812801 | 811-05120 | Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc. | 10/31/17 | NUV | - | Nuveen Municipal Value Fund, Inc. | |||||||
100 | 0001083839 | 811-09297 | Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund | 10/31/17 | NAD | - | Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund |