Section 19(b) Disclosure
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), acting pursuant to a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) exemptive order and with the approval of each Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), have adopted a plan, consistent with each Fund’s investment objectives and policies to support a level distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital (the “Plan”). In accordance with the Plan, Clough Global Allocation Fund distributes $0.120 per share on a monthly basis, Clough Global Equity Fund distributes $0.115 per share on a monthly basis and Clough Global Opportunities Fund distributes $0.100 per share on a monthly basis.
The fixed amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of each Fund’s Board. Under the Plan, each Fund will distribute all available investment income to its shareholders, consistent with each Fund’s primary investment objectives and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, each Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital to shareholders in order to maintain a level distribution. Each monthly distribution to shareholders is expected to be at the fixed amount established by the Board, except for extraordinary distributions and potential distribution rate increases or decreases to enable each Fund to comply with the distribution requirements imposed by the Code.
Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about each Fund’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the Plan. Each Fund’s total return performance on net asset value is presented in its financial highlights table.
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate each Fund’s Plan without prior notice if it deems such action to be in the best interest of either the Fund or its shareholders. The suspension or termination of the Plan could have the effect of creating a trading discount (if a Fund’s stock is trading at or above net asset value) or widening an existing trading discount. Each Fund is subject to risks that could have an adverse impact on its ability to maintain level distributions. Examples of potential risks include, but are not limited to, economic downturns impacting the markets, increased market volatility, companies suspending or decreasing corporate dividend distributions and changes in the Code. Please refer to each Fund’s prospectus for a more complete description of its risks.
Please refer to Additional Information for a cumulative summary of the Section 19(a) notices for each Fund’s current fiscal period. Section 19(a) notices for each Fund, as applicable, are available on the Clough Global Closed-End Funds website www.cloughglobal.com.
Clough Global Funds | Table of Contents |
Shareholder Letter | 2 |
Portfolio Allocation | |
Global Allocation Fund | 5 |
Global Equity Fund | 6 |
Global Opportunities Fund | 7 |
Statement of Investments | |
Global Allocation Fund | 8 |
Global Equity Fund | 14 |
Global Opportunities Fund | 20 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities | 27 |
Statements of Operations | 28 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | 29 |
Statements of Cash Flows | 32 |
Financial Highlights | |
Global Allocation Fund | 33 |
Global Equity Fund | 34 |
Global Opportunities Fund | 35 |
Notes to Financial Statements | 36 |
Dividend Reinvestment Plan | 51 |
Additional Information | |
Fund Proxy Voting Policies & Procedures | 52 |
Portfolio Holdings | 52 |
Notice | 52 |
Section 19(A) Notices | 52 |
Investment Advisory Agreement Approval | 53 |
Clough Global Funds | Shareholder Letter |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
To Our Investors:
For the first half of 2016 (11/1/2015 – 4/30/2016), the Global Allocation Fund was down 5.78%, The Global Opportunities Fund was down 6.81%, and the Global Equity Fund was down 8.63%. The November through April period witnessed tremendous volatility. The funds were very defensively positioned and were not able to participate in the rapid spring recovery to the extent we would have liked. It should be noted that the funds have performed well in May and as of this writing their 2016 year to date performance is down 1.51% for the Global Allocation fund, down 2.49% for the Global Allocation fund, and down 4.19% for the Global Equity Fund.
Significant contributors to performance were in the energy sector (more on this below), the cable industry, and fixed income. Not surprising given the oil rally late in the quarter that the significant detractors to performance were in Industrial and Commodity related shorts.
The Global Allocation Fund outperformed the Equity and Opportunities Fund due to its higher weighting in fixed income and income producing equities; A reminder that the Allocation fund is the most conservative of the three funds and will tend to outperform when bonds rally and equity markets are volatile.
As we head into the second half of 2016, you will notice that the funds have become more concentrated in our highest conviction themes. Our four highest conviction themes are in Energy, Fixed Income and Yield producing assets, Cable and Healthcare. These four themes account for roughly 91% of the investments in the funds.
During the quarter, we introduced a long energy related strategy focusing on exploration and production companies with low cost reserves. Several of the names including WPX Energy, Sanchez Energy, and Continental Resources, were among the quarter’s largest contributors. We are currently hedging these positions with short positions in offshore drillers.
Energy does look to us to be a long term strategy because of the length of the investment cycle and the extent of the collapse in energy capital spending which continues despite recovery in the oil price. Many focus on the land rig count, which declined 78%, but the offshore rig count is down 34% and it is still declining. UBS analysts are looking for another 35%‐40% fall in the offshore rig count.
At the risk of endlessly repeating ourselves one way we define value is businesses which generate high and growing free cash flow yields and we think the consolidation in the cable industry is the easiest way to invest in the digital disruption phenomenon.
Both the FCC and the United States Justice Department approved the Charter/Time Warner merger (and the related Bright House Cable acquisition). The funds own Charter by itself and also through Liberty Ventures and Liberty Broadband. Eventually Liberty Broadband will be merged into Charter so this is a way to buy Charter at a discount. Charter’s cash flow should ramp up meaningfully as a result. The company estimates $400 million in synergies and, as Charter upgrades to digital, better pricing opportunities will emerge.
The funds also added significantly to income producing equities and corporate bonds during the quarter. We still believe in a low interest rate environment for the foreseeable future regardless off Federal Reserve interest rate policy. A low growth and inflationary economy coupled with negative interest rates in other developed markets should keep a ceiling on long term rates in the US. Yield is still in short supply and we are buyers of high quality income when it goes on sale like it did in the first quarter.
We are finding attractive income producing securities yielding between 5% and 12% in a diversified basket of securities ranging from investment grade debt, Medical Office REITs, Business Development Companies as well as Mortgage REITs. The funds also maintain a position in US Treasuries in the long end of the yield curve.
The greater presence of lower beta fixed income assets has reduced the need for the funds to hedge the portfolio with equity shorts relative to the past few years. In addition to a more concentrated portfolio, you will also notice the funds will have a lower gross assets exposure. This lower gross exposure is due to the meaningful reduction in equity shorts. The smaller short book will also start to reduce the total expense ratio of the fund as the transactional expenses associated with hedging will be reduced.
The fourth largest theme in the portfolio is in Healthcare, a sector that was sold off heavily in the last year and now has very attractive valuations. The funds’ health care exposure is currently constructed around: the capital expenditure cycle associated with government dollars flowing through the Affordable Care Act; disruptive scientific and medical innovations; and industry consolidation and M&A trends. In the near term we are watching for potential green shoots indicating a major healthcare market sentiment change from negative to positive.
Given the recent high correlation and negative returns within the biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical subsectors, we believe the ‘risk off’ nature of year to date trading could change quickly. This in turn could spark a reversion to the mean and higher equity prices for these two volatile subsectors. While we are not yet sure when or what will eventually lead generalist investors back to this space, we do believe that two basic factors ‐ namely, clarity on who will be the Republican and Democratic nominees for President, and the resurgence of a healthy merger and acquisition market ‐ will be contributing factors.
Clough Global Funds | Shareholder Letter |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
If you have any questions about your investment, please call 1‐877‐256‐8445.
Sincerely, |
![-s- charles i. clough](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0001398344-16-014945/fp0020175_02.jpg) |
Charles I. Clough, Jr. |
|
![-s- robert m. zdunczyk](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0001398344-16-014945/fp0020175_03.jpg) |
Robert M. Zdunczyk |
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
This letter is provided for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or sell shares. Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Opportunities Fund are closed-end funds, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange AMEX, and does not continuously issue shares for sale as open-end mutual funds do. The market price of a closed end Fund is based on the market’s value.
The information in this letter represents the opinions of the individual Portfolio Managers and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, or investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The net asset value (NAV) of a closed-end fund is the market price of the underlying investments (i.e., stocks and bonds) in the fund’s portfolio, minus liabilities, divided by the total number of fund shares outstanding. However, the fund also has a market price; the value of which it trades on an exchange. This market price can be more or less than its NAV.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 3 |
Clough Global Funds | Shareholder Letter |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
CLOUGH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND | |
Top 10 Equity Holdings* | % of Total Portfolio |
1. BP PLC ‐ Sponsored ADR | 3.42% |
2. Bank of America Corp. | 3.42% |
3. Citigroup, Inc. | 3.14% |
4. Liberty Ventures ‐ Series A | 2.83% |
5. American International Group, Inc. | 1.87% |
6. Ares Capital Corp. | 1.86% |
7. Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | 1.73% |
8. Viasat, Inc. | 1.67% |
9. American Capital Agency Corp. | 1.63% |
10. Pioneer Natural Resources Co. | 1.57% |
CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND | |
Top 10 Equity Holdings* | % of Total Portfolio |
1. Bank of America Corp. | 3.49% |
2. BP PLC ‐ Sponsored ADR | 3.39% |
3. Liberty Ventures ‐ Series A | 3.37% |
4. Citigroup, Inc. | 3.22% |
5. American International Group, Inc. | 2.00% |
6. IMAX Corp. | 1.99% |
7. TransDigm Group, Inc. | 1.99% |
8. Viasat, Inc. | 1.89% |
9. Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | 1.77% |
10. Liberty Broadband Corp. ‐ Class C | 1.65% |
CLOUGH GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND | |
Top 10 Equity Holdings* | % of Total Portfolio |
1. Bank of America Corp. | 3.43% |
2. BP PLC ‐ Sponsored ADR | 3.38% |
3. Citigroup, Inc. | 3.20% |
4. Liberty Ventures ‐ Series A | 2.89% |
5. American International Group, Inc. | 2.00% |
6. TransDigm Group, Inc. | 1.98% |
7. Starwood Property Trust, Inc. | 1.73% |
8. Viasat, Inc. | 1.71% |
9. American Capital Agency Corp. | 1.63% |
10. Liberty Broadband Corp. ‐ Class C | 1.58% |
Holdings are subject to change.
* | Only long positions are listed. |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Portfolio Allocation |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Asset Allocation* | |
| |
Common Stock ‐ US | 59.05% |
Common Stock ‐ Foreign | 9.11% |
Exchange Traded Funds | ‐8.99% |
Closed‐End Funds | 2.72% |
Participation Notes | 1.35% |
Total Equities | 63.24% |
| |
Government L/T | 18.10% |
Corporate Debt | 15.19% |
Asset/Mortgage Backed | 0.14% |
Total Fixed Income | 33.43% |
| |
Short‐Term Investments | 3.89% |
Warrant | 0.01% |
Other (Foreign Cash) | ‐0.53% |
Total Return Swap Contracts | ‐0.04% |
Total Other | 3.33% |
| |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | 100.00% |
Global Securities Holdings^ | |
| |
United States | 81.41% |
U.S. Multinationals† | 8.68% |
United Kingdom | 4.08% |
China | 3.69% |
Canada | 1.64% |
France | 1.12% |
Singapore | 0.69% |
Norway | 0.63% |
Argentina | 0.52% |
Japan | 0.45% |
Other | ‐2.91% |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | 100.00% |
* | Percentages are based on total investments, including securities sold short. Holdings are subject to change. |
^ | Includes securities sold short and foreign cash balances. |
† | US Multinational Corporations – has more than 50% of revenues derived outside of the U.S. |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 5 |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Portfolio Allocation |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Asset Allocation* | |
| |
Common Stock ‐ US | 62.86% |
Common Stock ‐ Foreign | 10.11% |
Exchange Traded Funds | -8.94% |
Participation Notes | 1.39% |
Total Equities | 65.42% |
| |
Government L/T | 27.13% |
Corporate Debt | 4.40% |
Total Fixed Income | 31.53% |
| |
Short‐Term Investments | 3.61% |
Warrant | 0.01% |
Other (Foreign Cash) | -0.53% |
Total Return Swap Contracts | -0.04% |
Total Other | 3.05% |
| |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | 100.00% |
Global Securities Holdings^ | |
| |
United States | 82.08% |
U.S. Multinationals† | 6.98% |
China | 4.23% |
United Kingdom | 4.06% |
Canada | 2.18% |
France | 1.12% |
Singapore | 0.68% |
Norway | 0.63% |
Argentina | 0.52% |
Japan | 0.47% |
Other | -2.95% |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | 100.00% |
* | Percentages are based on total investments, including securities sold short. Holdings are subject to change. |
^ | Includes securities sold short and foreign cash balances. |
† | US Multinational Corporations – has more than 50% of revenues derived outside of the U.S. |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Portfolio Allocation |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Asset Allocation* | |
| |
Common Stock ‐ US | 59.58% |
Common Stock ‐ Foreign | 9.55% |
Exchange Traded Funds | -8.96% |
Participation Notes | 1.35% |
Total Equities | 61.52% |
| |
Government L/T | 25.82% |
Corporate Debt | 10.45% |
Total Fixed Income | 36.27% |
| |
Short‐Term Investments | 2.77% |
Warrant | 0.01% |
Other (Foreign Cash) | -0.53% |
Total Return Swap Contracts | -0.04% |
Total Other | 2.21% |
| |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | 100.00% |
Global Securities Holdings^ | |
| |
United States | 81.26% |
U.S. Multinationals† | 8.40% |
China | 4.17% |
United Kingdom | 4.04% |
Canada | 1.64% |
France | 1.11% |
Singapore | 0.69% |
Norway | 0.63% |
Argentina | 0.52% |
Japan | 0.46% |
Other | -2.92% |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | 100.00% |
* | Percentages are based on total investments, including securities sold short. Holdings are subject to change. |
^ | Includes securities sold short and foreign cash balances. |
† | US Multinational Corporations – has more than 50% of revenues derived outside of the U.S. |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 7 |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 106.48% | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary 20.59% | | | | | | |
Diversified Consumer Services 1.01% | | | | |
Service Corp. International(a)(b) | | | 54,800 | | | $ | 1,461,516 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Household Durables 4.24% | | | | | | | | |
DR Horton, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 50,226 | | | | 1,509,794 | |
Lennar Corp. ‐ Class A(a)(b) | | | 57,200 | | | | 2,591,732 | |
PulteGroup, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 61,000 | | | | 1,121,790 | |
Sony Corp. ‐ Sponsored ADR(a) | | | 900 | | | | 21,690 | |
TRI Pointe Group, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 22,700 | | | | 263,320 | |
William Lyon Homes ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 43,700 | | | | 616,170 | |
| | | | | | | 6,124,496 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Internet & Catalog Retail 4.73% | | | | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(c) | | | 2,419 | | | | 1,595,548 | |
JD.com, Inc. ‐ ADR(a)(c) | | | 14,000 | | | | 357,840 | |
Liberty Ventures ‐ Series A(a)(b)(c) | | | 122,172 | | | | 4,886,880 | |
| | | | | | | 6,840,268 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Media 8.47% | | | | | | | | |
Cable One, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 3,400 | | | | 1,560,464 | |
Comcast Corp. ‐ Class A(a)(b) | | | 37,700 | | | | 2,290,652 | |
IMAX Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 78,700 | | | | 2,518,400 | |
Liberty Braves Group ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 3,011 | | | | 47,095 | |
Liberty Braves Group ‐ Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 3,482 | | | | 51,958 | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 12,528 | | | | 718,105 | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. ‐ Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 46,348 | | | | 2,653,423 | |
Liberty Media Corp. ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 7,528 | | | | 137,762 | |
Liberty Media Group ‐ Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 8,706 | | | | 156,708 | |
Liberty SiriusXM Group ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 30,112 | | | | 986,770 | |
Liberty SiriusXM Group ‐ Class C(a)(c) | | | 34,824 | | | | 1,115,065 | |
| | | | | | | 12,236,402 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail 1.57% | | | | | | | | |
Signet Jewelers, Ltd.(a)(b) | | | 20,850 | | | | 2,263,476 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Textiles 0.57% | | | | | | | | |
Anta Sports Products, Ltd. | | | 320,000 | | | | 818,471 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | | | | 29,744,629 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples 0.63% | | | | | | | | |
CVS Health Corp.(a)(b) | | | 9,100 | | | | 914,550 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Energy 27.35% | | | | | | |
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(a) | | | 31,300 | | | $ | 1,651,388 | |
Antero Resources Corp.(c) | | | 26,900 | | | | 761,270 | |
Apache Corp.(a)(b) | | | 45,500 | | | | 2,475,200 | |
BP PLC ‐ Sponsored ADR(a)(b) | | | 175,900 | | | | 5,906,722 | |
Concho Resources, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 21,500 | | | | 2,497,655 | |
Continental Resources, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 68,700 | | | | 2,559,762 | |
Devon Energy Corp. | | | 39,500 | | | | 1,369,860 | |
Energen Corp.(a) | | | 22,500 | | | | 956,025 | |
Fairway Energy Partners LLC(c)(d)(e) | | | 130,700 | | | | 1,323,338 | |
Hess Corp.(a) | | | 38,600 | | | | 2,301,332 | |
Marathon Oil Corp.(a) | | | 123,800 | | | | 1,744,342 | |
Newfield Exploration Co.(a)(c) | | | 29,900 | | | | 1,083,875 | |
Noble Energy, Inc.(a) | | | 25,200 | | | | 909,972 | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp.(a) | | | 14,900 | | | | 1,142,085 | |
Parsley Energy, Inc. ‐ Class A(a)(c) | | | 59,700 | | | | 1,398,174 | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.(a)(b) | | | 16,300 | | | | 2,707,430 | |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC ‐ Class A | | | 17,029 | | | | 442,774 | |
Sanchez Energy Corp.(a)(c) | | | 125,100 | | | | 1,124,649 | |
Schlumberger, Ltd. | | | 7,600 | | | | 610,584 | |
Statoil ASA ‐ Sponsored ADR | | | 61,900 | | | | 1,088,821 | |
Total S.A. ‐ Sponsored ADR | | | 40,900 | | | | 2,075,675 | |
Whiting Petroleum Corp.(c) | | | 16,900 | | | | 202,800 | |
WPX Energy, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 236,000 | | | | 2,279,760 | |
YPF S.A. ‐ Sponsored ADR | | | 44,700 | | | | 900,705 | |
| | | | | | | 39,514,198 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Financials 25.21% | | | | | | | | |
Business Development Corporations 3.89% | | | | | |
Ares Capital Corp.(a) | | | 211,100 | | | | 3,206,609 | |
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.(a) | | | 111,300 | | | | 1,953,315 | |
Hercules Capital, Inc. | | | 37,900 | | | | 465,033 | |
| | | | | | | 5,624,957 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets 1.12% | | | | | | | | |
Atlas Mara, Ltd.(c)(e) | | | 183,658 | | | | 791,566 | |
CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. ‐ Class H | | | 376,500 | | | | 831,931 | |
| | | | | | | 1,623,497 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Diversified Financials 8.52% | | | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp.(a)(b) | | | 405,191 | | | | 5,899,581 | |
Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 117,230 | | | | 5,425,404 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(a)(b) | | | 15,500 | | | | 979,600 | |
| | | | | | | 12,304,585 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Insurance 2.23% | | | | | | | | |
American International Group, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 57,800 | | | | 3,226,396 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 8.33% | | | | | |
American Capital Agency Corp.(a)(b) | | | 153,500 | | | | 2,819,795 | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Financials (continued) | | | | | | |
Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.(a) | | | 108,100 | | | $ | 1,967,420 | |
Ladder Capital Corp.(a) | | | 55,102 | | | | 656,265 | |
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(a)(b) | | | 79,514 | | | | 1,080,595 | |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 154,400 | | | | 2,989,184 | |
Two Harbors Investment Corp.(a)(b) | | | 321,191 | | | | 2,514,926 | |
| | | | | | | 12,028,185 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.12% | | | | | | | | |
MGIC Investment Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 224,034 | | | | 1,619,766 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FINANCIALS | | | | | | | 36,427,386 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care 12.05% | | | | | | | | |
Actelion, Ltd. | | | 5,910 | | | | 954,915 | |
Akorn, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 28,900 | | | | 735,505 | |
Albany Molecular Research, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 59,500 | | | | 895,475 | |
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 1,900 | | | | 264,632 | |
Allergan PLC(a)(b)(c) | | | 6,300 | | | | 1,364,328 | |
Amsurg Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 8,800 | | | | 712,624 | |
Becton Dickinson and Co.(a)(b) | | | 2,000 | | | | 322,520 | |
Boston Scientific Corp.(a)(c) | | | 16,300 | | | | 357,296 | |
Bristol‐Meyers Squibb Co.(a)(b) | | | 13,887 | | | | 1,002,363 | |
Cardiome Pharma Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 153,700 | | | | 688,576 | |
Cerner Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 14,900 | | | | 836,486 | |
Corindus Vascular Robotics, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 146,900 | | | | 154,245 | |
Dynavax Technologies Corp.(a)(c) | | | 27,300 | | | | 447,993 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)(c) | | | 3,400 | | | | 361,114 | |
HCA Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 4,377 | | | | 352,874 | |
Healthways, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 114,749 | | | | 1,336,826 | |
Intra‐Cellular Therapies, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 18,200 | | | | 624,624 | |
Intrexon Corp.(a)(c) | | | 8,104 | | | | 216,620 | |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)(c) | | | 3,137 | | | | 472,746 | |
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 84,600 | | | | 460,224 | |
Kura Oncology, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 69,700 | | | | 232,798 | |
Medtronic PLC | | | 3,800 | | | | 300,770 | |
Perrigo Co., PLC(a) | | | 1,560 | | | | 150,805 | |
Shire PLC ‐ ADR(a)(b) | | | 3,700 | | | | 693,454 | |
Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd. ‐ Class H | | | 142,400 | | | | 611,316 | |
Team Health Holdings, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 6,600 | | | | 276,078 | |
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.(c) | | | 45,000 | | | | 1,501,200 | |
Veracyte, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 59,856 | | | | 347,165 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(c) | | | 8,700 | | | | 733,758 | |
| | | | | | | 17,409,330 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Industrials 7.09% | | | | | | |
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.(a)(e) | | | 61,041 | | | $ | 1,758,591 | |
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 27,400 | | | | 1,118,194 | |
Kansas City Southern(a)(b) | | | 19,900 | | | | 1,885,525 | |
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 11,400 | | | | 2,597,718 | |
ViaSat, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 37,649 | | | | 2,887,679 | |
| | | | | | | 10,247,707 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology 10.42% | | | | | | | | |
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. ‐ Sponsored ADR(a)(c) | | | 7,800 | | | | 600,132 | |
Alphabet, Inc. ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 2,250 | | | | 1,592,730 | |
Alphabet, Inc. ‐ Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 1,881 | | | | 1,303,552 | |
Broadcom, Ltd.(a)(b) | | | 10,600 | | | | 1,544,950 | |
Crown Castle International Corp.(a)(b) | | | 18,900 | | | | 1,642,032 | |
Facebook, Inc. ‐ Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 16,500 | | | | 1,940,070 | |
Lam Research Corp.(a)(b) | | | 21,700 | | | | 1,657,880 | |
Microsoft Corp.(a)(b) | | | 20,900 | | | | 1,042,283 | |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.(a) | | | 13,700 | | | | 855,154 | |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. | | | 6,200 | | | | 883,092 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 5,800 | | | | 875,046 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 14,700 | | | | 1,114,260 | |
| | | | | | | 15,051,181 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Materials 1.93% | | | | | | | | |
Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.(a)(b)(c) | | | 63,000 | | | | 1,793,610 | |
Chr Hansen Holding A/S | | | 8,352 | | | | 519,775 | |
GCP Applied Technologies, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 21,100 | | | | 466,943 | |
| | | | | | | 2,780,328 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Telecommunication Services 1.21% | | | | | | | | |
China Mobile, Ltd. | | | 76,500 | | | | 877,242 | |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | | 19,000 | | | | 868,571 | |
| | | | | | | 1,745,813 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $151,735,921) | | | | | | | 153,835,122 | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 9 |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
CLOSED-END FUNDS 3.24% | | | | | | |
Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 132,430 | | | $ | 1,675,239 | |
Avenue Income Credit Strategies Fund(a) | | | 25,200 | | | | 292,824 | |
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund(a)(b) | | | 88,800 | | | | 876,456 | |
Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred Income Fund, Inc.(a) | | | 23,400 | | | | 439,920 | |
Gabelli Equity Trust, Inc.(a) | | | 60,300 | | | | 334,062 | |
Liberty All-Star Equity Fund(a) | | | 146,700 | | | | 732,033 | |
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II(a) | | | 37,700 | | | | 338,169 | |
| | | | | | | 4,688,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS (Cost $4,524,002) | | | | | | | 4,688,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
PARTICIPATION NOTES 1.62% | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples 0.88% | | | | | | | | |
Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd. - Class A (Loan Participation Notes issued by Morgan Stanley Asia Products), expiring 11/09/2017 | | | 32,617 | | | | 1,263,535 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials 0.74% | | | | | | | | |
Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. - Class A (Loan Participation Notes issued by Morgan Stanley Asia Products), expiring 10/27/2017 | | | 339,450 | | | | 1,073,655 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL PARTICIPATION NOTES (Cost $2,252,416) | | | | | | | 2,337,190 | |
| | | | | | | | |
WARRANTS 0.01%(c) | | | | | | | | |
Atlas Mara, Ltd., Strike price $11.50, Expires 12/17/2017(e) | | | 116,958 | | | | 11,696 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL WARRANTS (Cost $1,170) | | | | | | | 11,696 | |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS 18.14% | | | | | | |
Ares Capital Corp. | | | | | | |
11/30/2018, 4.875% | | $ | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,033,300 | |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS (continued) | | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | | | | |
12/15/2042, 4.300% | | $ | 1,000,000 | | | $ | 951,722 | |
Autodesk, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
12/15/2022, 3.600% | | | 1,400,000 | | | | 1,406,793 | |
Bank of America Corp. | | | | | | | | |
Series K, Perpetual Maturity, 8.000%(f)(g) | | | 1,200,000 | | | | 1,171,500 | |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | | | | | | | | |
Series D, Perpetual Maturity, 4.500%(a)(f)(g) | | | 700,000 | | | | 661,150 | |
BankUnited, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
11/17/2025, 4.875% | | | 1,300,000 | | | | 1,310,310 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series N, Perpetual Maturity, 5.800%(a)(f)(g) | | | 1,300,000 | | | | 1,259,375 | |
Series P, Perpetual Maturity, 5.950%(a)(f)(g) | | | 1,400,000 | | | | 1,357,125 | |
Citizens Bank National Association | | | | | | | | |
12/04/2019, 2.450% (a) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,008,165 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual Maturity, 5.500% (a)(e)(f)(g) | | | 1,600,000 | | | | 1,532,000 | |
Exelon Generation Co., LLC | | | | | | | | |
10/01/2017, 6.200% (a) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,062,432 | |
General Motors Co. | | | | | | | | |
04/01/2035, 5.000% | | | 750,000 | | | | 749,154 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series M, Perpetual Maturity, 5.375%(a)(f)(g) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 966,250 | |
Jersey Central Power & Light Co. | | | | | | | | |
06/15/2018, 4.800% (a) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,048,381 | |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
08/01/2044, 4.850% (e) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 965,546 | |
Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co. | | | | | | | | |
12/01/2021, 5.629% (a)(f) | | | 1,750,000 | | | | 1,697,500 | |
Morgan Stanley | | | | | | | | |
Series J, Perpetual Maturity, 5.550%(f)(g) | | | 600,000 | | | | 594,750 | |
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., | | | | | | | | |
Series R, Perpetual Maturity, 4.850%(f)(g) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 960,000 | |
SunTrust Banks, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual Maturity, 5.625% (a)(f)(g) | | | 1,900,000 | | | | 1,885,750 | |
Textron Financial Corp. | | | | | | | | |
02/15/2067, 6.000% (a)(e)(f) | | | 1,910,000 | | | | 1,341,775 | |
U.S. Bancorp | | | | | | | | |
Series I, Perpetual Maturity, 5.125%(a)(f)(g) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,023,750 | |
Western Digital Corp. | | | | | | | | |
04/01/2024, 10.500% (e) | | | 1,236,000 | | | | 1,205,100 | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS (continued) | |
The Western Union Co. | |
06/21/2040, 6.200% | | $ | 1,000,000 | | | $ | 1,011,246 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Cost $26,693,091) | | | | | | | 26,203,074 | |
| |
ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES 0.16% | |
United States Small Business | | | | | | | | |
Administration | | | | | | | | |
Series 2008-20L, Class 1, 12/01/2028, 6.220% | | | 205,839 | | | | 236,624 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES | |
(Cost $205,839) | | | | 236,624 | |
| | | | | | | | |
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 21.62% | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | | | | | | |
08/15/2026, 6.750% (a) | | | 700,000 | | | | 1,023,599 | |
11/15/2026, 6.500% (a) | | | 1,600,000 | | | | 2,313,656 | |
08/15/2029, 6.125% (a) | | | 6,250,000 | | | | 9,239,988 | |
02/15/2031, 5.375% (a) | | | 5,700,000 | | | | 8,110,701 | |
02/15/2041, 4.750% | | | 1,300,000 | | | | 1,833,736 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | | | | | | |
05/15/2017, 4.500% (a) | | | 1,300,000 | | | | 1,351,949 | |
08/15/2017, 4.750% (a) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 5,263,185 | |
02/15/2018, 3.500% (a) | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 2,097,812 | |
| |
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS | |
(Cost $30,925,788) | | | | 31,234,626 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 4.64% | | | | | | | | |
Money Market Fund 4.64% | | | | | | | | |
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (0.200% 7-day yield) | | | 6,706,131 | | | | 6,706,131 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $6,706,131) | | | | 6,706,131 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments - 155.91% (Cost $223,044,358) | | | | | | | 225,253,166 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (55.91%)(h) | | | | (80,780,427 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS - 100.00% | | | | | | $ | 144,472,739 | |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT(c) | | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS (25.07%) | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (1.17%) | | | | | | |
Auto Components (0.42%) | | | | | | |
Bridgestone Corp. | | | (15,600 | ) | | $ | (603,474 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail (0.75%) | | | | | | | | |
Tiffany & Co. | | | (6,300 | ) | | | (449,505 | ) |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | | | (10,900 | ) | | | (640,702 | ) |
| | | | | | | (1,090,207 | ) |
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | | | | (1,693,681 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples (5.12%) | | | | | | | | |
Campbell Soup Co. | | | (9,900 | ) | | | (610,929 | ) |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | (13,500 | ) | | | (601,560 | ) |
General Mills, Inc. | | | (9,900 | ) | | | (607,266 | ) |
Hormel Foods Corp. | | | (16,400 | ) | | | (632,220 | ) |
Kellogg Co. | | | (8,000 | ) | | | (614,480 | ) |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | (4,500 | ) | | | (563,355 | ) |
Monster Beverage Corp. | | | (6,100 | ) | | | (879,742 | ) |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | | (6,000 | ) | | | (617,760 | ) |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | (6,200 | ) | | | (608,344 | ) |
The Procter & Gamble Co. | | | (9,000 | ) | | | (721,080 | ) |
Tyson Foods, Inc. - Class A | | | (9,400 | ) | | | (618,708 | ) |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | | | (4,700 | ) | | | (314,289 | ) |
| | | | | | | (7,389,733 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Energy (3.40%) | | | | | | | | |
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. | | | (89,700 | ) | | | (866,502 | ) |
Inpex Corp. | | | (46,200 | ) | | | (385,666 | ) |
Noble Corp., PLC(a) | | | (125,000 | ) | | | (1,403,750 | ) |
Rowan Cos., PLC - Class A | | | (65,000 | ) | | | (1,222,650 | ) |
Transocean, Ltd. | | | (93,600 | ) | | | (1,037,088 | ) |
| | | | | | | (4,915,656 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Financials (4.81%) | | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets (1.03%) | | | | | | | | |
Credit Suisse Group AG - Sponsored ADR | | | (29,900 | ) | | | (454,779 | ) |
Deutsche Bank AG | | | (54,700 | ) | | | (1,037,112 | ) |
| | | | | | | (1,491,891 | ) |
Commercial Banks (1.67%) | | | | | | | | |
ABN AMRO Group NV | | | (21,465 | ) | | | (458,880 | ) |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | | | (160,797 | ) | | | (445,572 | ) |
Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. - | | | | | | | | |
Preference Shares, Sponsored ADR | | | (120,300 | ) | | | (1,146,459 | ) |
United Overseas Bank, Ltd. | | | (25,700 | ) | | | (355,445 | ) |
| | | | | | | (2,406,356 | ) |
Consumer Finance (1.76%) | | | | | | | | |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | | (31,100 | ) | | | (553,891 | ) |
American Express Co. | | | (15,100 | ) | | | (987,993 | ) |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 11 |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Financials (continued) | | | | | | |
Synchrony Financial | | | (33,000 | ) | | $ | (1,008,810 | ) |
| | | | | | | (2,550,694 | ) |
Real Estate Management & Development (0.35%) | |
Swire Pacific, Ltd. - Class A | | | (46,000 | ) | | | (500,213 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FINANCIALS | | | | | | | (6,949,154 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care (2.08%) | | | | | | | | |
AmerisourceBergen Corp. | | | (9,800 | ) | | | (833,980 | ) |
Celgene Corp. | | | (1,700 | ) | | | (175,797 | ) |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | | (8,200 | ) | | | (619,346 | ) |
Mallinckrodt PLC | | | (4,300 | ) | | | (268,836 | ) |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | | (6,600 | ) | | | (361,944 | ) |
United Therapeutics Corp. | | | (3,100 | ) | | | (326,120 | ) |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | | | (5,200 | ) | | | (422,136 | ) |
| | | | | | | (3,008,159 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials (5.24%) | | | | | | | | |
Air France-KLM | | | (16,447 | ) | | | (147,497 | ) |
The Boeing Co. | | | (8,500 | ) | | | (1,145,800 | ) |
Caterpillar, Inc. | | | (14,100 | ) | | | (1,095,852 | ) |
Deutsche Lufthansa AG | | | (54,794 | ) | | | (850,780 | ) |
International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. | | | (138,598 | ) | | | (1,063,191 | ) |
Metso OYJ | | | (37,471 | ) | | | (900,601 | ) |
Petrofac, Ltd. | | | (34,200 | ) | | | (422,258 | ) |
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC - Class C(d) | | | (10 | ) | | | – | |
Sandvik AB | | | (135,147 | ) | | | (1,386,736 | ) |
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. - Class A | | | (11,800 | ) | | | (556,370 | ) |
| | | | | | | (7,569,085 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology (2.99%) | | | | | | | | |
Analog Devices, Inc. | | | (12,500 | ) | | | (704,000 | ) |
International Business Machines Corp. | | | (24,745 | ) | | | (3,611,285 | ) |
| | | | | | | (4,315,285 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Materials (0.26%) | | | | | | | | |
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. | | | (21,200 | ) | | | (375,664 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Proceeds $34,765,259) | | | | | | | (36,216,417 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (10.73%) | | | | | |
iShares® Russell 2000® ETF | | | (10,600 | ) | | | (1,191,016 | ) |
Market Vectors® Semiconductor ETF | | | (49,600 | ) | | | (2,602,016 | ) |
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust | | | (39,200 | ) | | | (8,086,960 | ) |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Materials (continued) | | | | | | |
SPDR® S&P Retail ETF | | | (42,000 | ) | | $ | (1,856,400 | ) |
Technology Select Sector SPDR® Fund | | | (42,100 | ) | | | (1,773,673 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (Proceeds $14,901,801) | | | | (15,510,065 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (Proceeds $49,667,060) | | | | $ | (51,726,482 | ) |
(a) | Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short or borrowings. As of April 30, 2016, the aggregate market value of those securities was $165,946,101, representing 114.86% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 6) |
(b) | Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of April 30, 2016. |
(c) | Non-income producing security. |
(d) | Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2016, these securities had an aggregate market value of $1,323,338 or 0.92% of total net assets. |
(e) | Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2016, these securities had an aggregate market value of $8,929,612 or 6.18% of net assets. |
(f) | Floating or variable rate security - rate disclosed as of April 30, 2016. |
(g) | This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest. |
(h) | Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts. |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS
Counter Party | Reference Entity/Obligation | | Notional Amount | | Floating Rate Paid by the Fund | Floating Rate Index | Termination Date | | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |
Morgan Stanley | Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. | | $ | 108,978 | | 55 bps + 1D FEDEF | 1 D FEDEF | 01/05/2017 | | $ | 2,040 | |
| | | $ | 108,978 | | | | | | $ | 2,040 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Counter Party | Reference Entity/Obligation | | Notional Amount | | Floating Rate Paid by the Fund | Floating Rate Index | Termination Date | | Net Unrealized Depreciation | |
Credit Suisse | Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. - Class A | | $ | 675,878 | | 75 bps + 1M LIBOR | 1 M LIBOR | 05/26/2017 | | $ | (63,599 | ) |
| | | $ | 675,878 | | | | | | $ | (63,599 | ) |
| | | $ | 784,856 | | | | | | $ | (61,559 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 13 |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 115.17% | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary 25.19% | | | | | | |
Distributors 0.70% | | | | | | |
Pool Corp.(a) | | | 18,500 | | | $ | 1,617,085 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Diversified Consumer Services 1.07% | | | | | | | | |
Service Corp. International(a)(b) | | | 91,800 | | | | 2,448,306 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Household Durables 4.47% | | | | | | | | |
DR Horton, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 84,521 | | | | 2,540,701 | |
Lennar Corp. - Class A(a)(b) | | | 96,600 | | | | 4,376,946 | |
PulteGroup, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 100,800 | | | | 1,853,712 | |
Sony Corp. - Sponsored ADR(a) | | | 1,500 | | | | 36,150 | |
TRI Pointe Group, Inc.(c) | | | 37,000 | | | | 429,200 | |
William Lyon Homes - Class A(a)(c) | | | 71,200 | | | | 1,003,920 | |
| | | | | | | 10,240,629 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Internet & Catalog Retail 6.24% | | | | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(c) | | | 3,921 | | | | 2,586,253 | |
JD.com, Inc. - ADR(a)(c) | | | 22,700 | | | | 580,212 | |
Liberty Ventures - Series A(a)(b)(c) | | | 236,403 | | | | 9,456,120 | |
Wayfair, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 44,900 | | | | 1,694,975 | |
| | | | | | | 14,317,560 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Media 9.86% | | | | | | | | |
Cable One, Inc.(a) | | | 5,600 | | | | 2,570,176 | |
Comcast Corp. - Class A(a)(b) | | | 62,700 | | | | 3,809,652 | |
IMAX Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 174,795 | | | | 5,593,440 | |
Liberty Braves Group - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 5,487 | | | | 85,814 | |
Liberty Braves Group - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 6,804 | | | | 101,510 | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 22,092 | | | | 1,266,313 | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 81,166 | | | | 4,646,753 | |
Liberty Media Corp. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 13,717 | | | | 251,021 | |
Liberty Media Group - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 17,009 | | | | 306,162 | |
Liberty SiriusXM Group - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 54,868 | | | | 1,798,024 | |
Liberty SiriusXM Group - Class C(a)(c) | | | 68,036 | | | | 2,178,513 | |
| | | | | | | 22,607,378 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail 2.27% | | | | | | | | |
CarMax, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 28,200 | | | | 1,493,190 | |
Signet Jewelers, Ltd.(a)(b) | | | 34,246 | | | | 3,717,746 | |
| | | | | | | 5,210,936 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Consumer Discretionary (continued) | | | | | | |
Textiles 0.58% | | | | | | |
Anta Sports Products, Ltd. | | | 522,000 | | | $ | 1,335,131 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | | | | 57,777,025 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples 0.66% | | | | | | | | |
CVS Health Corp.(a)(b) | | | 15,000 | | | | 1,507,500 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Energy 28.13% | | | | | | | | |
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(a) | | | 50,900 | | | | 2,685,484 | |
Antero Resources Corp.(c) | | | 43,600 | | | | 1,233,880 | |
Apache Corp.(a)(b) | | | 74,000 | | | | 4,025,600 | |
BP PLC - Sponsored ADR(a)(b) | | | 283,400 | | | | 9,516,572 | |
Concho Resources, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 35,700 | | | | 4,147,269 | |
Continental Resources, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 111,400 | | | | 4,150,764 | |
Devon Energy Corp. | | | 64,200 | | | | 2,226,456 | |
Energen Corp. | | | 36,600 | | | | 1,555,134 | |
Fairway Energy Partners LLC(c)(d)(e) | | | 217,600 | | | | 2,203,200 | |
Hess Corp.(a) | | | 63,000 | | | | 3,756,060 | |
Marathon Oil Corp.(a) | | | 200,700 | | | | 2,827,863 | |
Newfield Exploration Co.(a)(c) | | | 48,700 | | | | 1,765,375 | |
Noble Energy, Inc.(a) | | | 41,000 | | | | 1,480,510 | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp.(a) | | | 24,000 | | | | 1,839,600 | |
Pacific Coast Oil Trust(a)(e) | | | 95,800 | | | | 168,608 | |
Parsley Energy, Inc. - Class A(a)(c) | | | 96,900 | | | | 2,269,398 | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.(a)(b) | | | 26,900 | | | | 4,468,090 | |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC - Class A | | | 27,741 | | | | 721,299 | |
Sanchez Energy Corp.(a)(c) | | | 203,400 | | | | 1,828,566 | |
Schlumberger, Ltd. | | | 12,400 | | | | 996,216 | |
Statoil ASA - Sponsored ADR | | | 100,500 | | | | 1,767,795 | |
Total S.A. - Sponsored ADR | | | 66,500 | | | | 3,374,875 | |
Whiting Petroleum Corp.(c) | | | 27,600 | | | | 331,200 | |
WPX Energy, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 383,700 | | | | 3,706,542 | |
YPF S.A. - Sponsored ADR | | | 72,400 | | | | 1,458,860 | |
| | | | | | | 64,505,216 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Financials 24.24% | | | | | | | | |
Business Development Corporations 1.69% | | | | | | | | |
Ares Capital Corp.(a) | | | 204,700 | | | | 3,109,393 | |
Hercules Capital, Inc. | | | 61,900 | | | | 759,513 | |
| | | | | | | 3,868,906 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets 1.62% | | | | | | | | |
Atlas Mara, Ltd.(c)(e) | | | 306,320 | | | | 1,320,239 | |
CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. - Class H | | | 610,000 | | | | 1,347,884 | |
Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc.(a) | | | 53,000 | | | | 1,041,450 | |
| | | | | | | 3,709,573 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Financials (continued) | | | | | | |
Diversified Financials 8.93% | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp.(a)(b) | | | 673,905 | | | $ | 9,812,057 | |
Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 195,319 | | | | 9,039,363 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(a)(b) | | | 25,800 | | | | 1,630,560 | |
| | | | | | | 20,481,980 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Insurance 2.45% | | | | | | | | |
American International Group, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 100,500 | | | | 5,609,910 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 7.47% | | | | | | | | |
American Capital Agency Corp.(a)(b) | | | 252,000 | | | | 4,629,240 | |
Ladder Capital Corp.(a) | | | 130,392 | | | | 1,552,969 | |
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(a)(b) | | | 134,088 | | | | 1,822,256 | |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 257,400 | | | | 4,983,264 | |
Two Harbors Investment Corp.(a)(b) | | | 530,557 | | | | 4,154,261 | |
| | | | | | | 17,141,990 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 2.08% | | | | | | | | |
Essent Group, Ltd.(a)(c) | | | 48,400 | | | | 988,328 | |
MGIC Investment Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 369,765 | | | | 2,673,401 | |
NMI Holdings, Inc. - Class A(a)(c) | | | 177,200 | | | | 1,114,588 | |
| | | | | | | 4,776,317 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FINANCIALS | | | | | | | 55,588,676 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care 12.92% | | | | | | | | |
Actelion, Ltd. | | | 9,644 | | | | 1,558,240 | |
Akorn, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 54,400 | | | | 1,384,480 | |
Albany Molecular Research, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 98,800 | | | | 1,486,940 | |
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 3,000 | | | | 417,840 | |
Allergan PLC(a)(b)(c) | | | 10,400 | | | | 2,252,224 | |
Amsurg Corp.(a)(c) | | | 14,300 | | | | 1,158,014 | |
Becton Dickinson and Co. | | | 3,200 | | | | 516,032 | |
Boston Scientific Corp.(c) | | | 26,700 | | | | 585,264 | |
Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.(a)(b) | | | 23,116 | | | | 1,668,513 | |
Cardiome Pharma Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 257,200 | | | | 1,152,256 | |
Cerner Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 24,500 | | | | 1,375,430 | |
Corindus Vascular Robotics, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 245,000 | | | | 257,250 | |
Dynavax Technologies Corp.(a)(c) | | | 45,200 | | | | 741,732 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)(c) | | | 5,500 | | | | 584,155 | |
HCA Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 7,315 | | | | 589,735 | |
Healthways, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 191,311 | | | | 2,228,773 | |
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 30,200 | | | | 1,036,464 | |
Intrexon Corp.(a)(c) | | | 13,659 | | | | 365,105 | |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)(b)(c) | | | 5,434 | | | | 818,904 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Health Care (continued) | | | | | | |
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 141,500 | | | $ | 769,760 | |
Kura Oncology, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 116,800 | | | | 390,112 | |
s Realty Trust, Inc.(d)(e) | | | 51,100 | | | | 651,525 | |
MedEquitie Medtronic LC | | | 6,200 | | | | 490,730 | |
Perrigo Co. PLC(a)(b) | | | 2,650 | | | | 256,176 | |
Shire PLC - DR(a) | | | 6,000 | | | | 1,124,520 | |
Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd. - Class H | | | 236,800 | | | | 1,016,571 | |
Team Health Holdings, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 11,000 | | | | 460,130 | |
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.(c) | | | 73,000 | | | | 2,435,280 | |
Veracyte, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 112,935 | | | | 655,023 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(c) | | | 14,200 | | | | 1,197,628 | |
| | | | | | | 29,624,806 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials 8.18% | | | | | | | | |
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.(a)(e) | | | 101,477 | | | | 2,923,552 | |
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 45,200 | | | | 1,844,612 | |
Kansas City Southern(a)(b) | | | 32,700 | | | | 3,098,325 | |
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 24,520 | | | | 5,587,373 | |
ViaSat, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 69,242 | | | | 5,310,861 | |
| | | | | | | 18,764,723 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology 12.32% | | | | | | | | |
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(c) | | | 12,700 | | | | 977,138 | |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 3,683 | | | | 2,607,122 | |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 3,128 | | | | 2,167,735 | |
Broadcom, Ltd.(a) | | | 17,200 | | | | 2,506,900 | |
Crown Castle International Corp.(a) | | | 31,100 | | | | 2,701,968 | |
Electronics For Imaging, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 39,300 | | | | 1,565,712 | |
Facebook, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 27,400 | | | | 3,221,692 | |
Lam Research Corp.(a)(b) | | | 43,300 | | | | 3,308,120 | |
Microsoft Corp.(a)(b) | | | 30,700 | | | | 1,531,009 | |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.(a) | | | 22,500 | | | | 1,404,450 | |
NetEase, Inc. - ADR(a) | | | 9,900 | | | | 1,392,930 | |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. | | | 10,100 | | | | 1,438,586 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 9,500 | | | | 1,433,265 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 26,500 | | | | 2,008,700 | |
| | | | | | | 28,265,327 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Materials 2.27% | | | | | | | | |
Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.(a)(b)(c) | | | 122,700 | | | | 3,493,269 | |
Chr Hansen Holding A/S | | | 13,639 | | | | 848,805 | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 15 |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Materials (continued) | | | | | | |
GCP Applied Technologies, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 38,600 | | | $ | 854,218 | |
| | | | | | | 5,196,292 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Telecommunication Services 1.26% | | | | | | | | |
China Mobile, Ltd. | | | 124,500 | | | | 1,427,668 | |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | | 31,800 | | | | 1,453,714 | |
| | | | | | | 2,881,382 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | | | | | | | | |
(Cost $261,939,004) | | | | | | | 264,110,947 | |
| | | | | | | | |
PARTICIPATION NOTES 1.70% | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples 0.92% | | | | | | | | |
Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd. - Class A (Loan Participation Notes issued by Morgan Stanley Asia Products), expiring 11/09/2017 | | | 54,442 | | | | 2,109,003 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials 0.78% | | | | | | | | |
Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. - Class A (Loan Participation Notes issued by Morgan Stanley Asia Products), expiring 10/27/2017 | | | 566,600 | | | | 1,792,114 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL PARTICIPATION NOTES | | | | | | | | |
(Cost $3,760,596) | | | | | | | 3,901,117 | |
| | | | | | | | |
WARRANTS 0.01%(c) | | | | | | | | |
Atlas Mara, Ltd., Strike price $11.50, Expires 12/17/2017(e) | | | 195,720 | | | | 19,572 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL WARRANTS | | | | | | | | |
(Cost $1,957) | | | | | | | 19,572 | |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS 5.38% | | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | | | | |
12/15/2042, 4.300% | | $ | 1,000,000 | | | | 951,722 | |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS (continued) | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. | | | | | | |
Series K, Perpetual Maturity, 8.000%(f)(g) | | | 1,200,000 | | | $ | 1,171,500 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series N, Perpetual Maturity, 5.800%(f)(g) | | | 1,900,000 | | | | 1,840,625 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual Maturity, 5.500% (e)(f)(g) | | | 1,900,000 | | | | 1,819,250 | |
General Motors Co. | | | | | | | | |
04/01/2035, 5.000% | | | 1,150,000 | | | | 1,148,703 | |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
08/01/2044, 4.850%(e) | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 965,546 | |
SunTrust Banks, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual Maturity, 5.625%(a)(f)(g) | | | 2,500,000 | | | | 2,481,250 | |
Western Digital Corp. | | | | | | | | |
04/01/2024, 10.500%(e) | | | 2,007,000 | | | | 1,956,825 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS | | | | | | | | |
(Cost $12,531,257) | | | | | | | 12,335,421 | |
| | | | | | | | |
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 33.24% | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | | | | | | |
11/15/2026, 6.500% | | | 1,600,000 | | | | 2,313,656 | |
08/15/2029, 6.125%(a) | | | 9,500,000 | | | | 14,044,781 | |
02/15/2031, 5.375%(a) | | | 7,200,000 | | | | 10,245,096 | |
02/15/2041, 4.750% | | | 1,100,000 | | | | 1,551,623 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | | | | | | |
01/31/2017, 0.500%(a) | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 1,999,804 | |
01/31/2017, 3.125%(a) | | | 10,000,000 | | | | 10,191,800 | |
05/15/2017, 4.500%(a) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 5,199,805 | |
07/31/2017, 0.625%(a) | | | 5,700,000 | | | | 5,698,774 | |
08/15/2017, 4.750%(a) | | | 15,000,000 | | | | 15,789,555 | |
09/15/2017, 1.000%(a) | | | 3,000,000 | | | | 3,013,476 | |
09/30/2017, 0.625% | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 1,998,554 | |
02/15/2018, 3.500%(a) | | | 4,000,000 | | | | 4,195,624 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS | |
(Cost $75,809,752) | | | | | | | 76,242,548 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 4.43% | | | | |
Money Market Fund 4.43% | | | | |
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (0.200% 7-day yield) | | | 10,152,889 | | | | 10,152,889 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS | | | | | |
(Cost $10,152,889) | | | | | | | 10,152,889 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Value | |
Total Investments - 159.93% | | | |
(Cost $364,195,455) | | $ | 366,762,494 | |
| | | | |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (59.93%)(h) | | | (137,428,735 | ) |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS - 100.00% | | $ | 229,333,759 | |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) | | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS (25.78%) | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (1.21%) | | | | | | |
Auto Components (0.43%) | | | | | | |
Bridgestone Corp. | | | (25,400 | ) | | $ | (982,579 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail (0.78%) | | | | | | | | |
Tiffany & Co. | | | (10,300 | ) | | | (734,905 | ) |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | | | (17,800 | ) | | | (1,046,284 | ) |
| | | | | | | (1,781,189 | ) |
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | | | | (2,763,768 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples (5.21%) | | | | | | | | |
Campbell Soup Co. | | | (16,000 | ) | | | (987,360 | ) |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | (21,900 | ) | | | (975,864 | ) |
General Mills, Inc. | | | (16,000 | ) | | | (981,440 | ) |
Hormel Foods Corp. | | | (26,500 | ) | | | (1,021,575 | ) |
Kellogg Co. | | | (13,000 | ) | | | (998,530 | ) |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | (7,400 | ) | | | (926,406 | ) |
Monster Beverage Corp. | | | (9,800 | ) | | | (1,413,356 | ) |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | | (9,600 | ) | | | (988,416 | ) |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | (10,000 | ) | | | (981,200 | ) |
The Procter & Gamble Co. | | | (14,500 | ) | | | (1,161,740 | ) |
Tyson Foods, Inc. - Class A | | | (15,300 | ) | | | (1,007,046 | ) |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | | | (7,700 | ) | | | (514,899 | ) |
| | | | | | | (11,957,832 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Energy (3.50%) | | | | | | | | |
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. | | | (146,200 | ) | | | (1,412,292 | ) |
Inpex Corp. | | | (75,100 | ) | | | (626,916 | ) |
Noble Corp., PLC | | | (203,300 | ) | | | (2,283,059 | ) |
Rowan Cos., PLC - Class A | | | (105,600 | ) | | | (1,986,336 | ) |
Transocean, Ltd. | | | (154,800 | ) | | | (1,715,184 | ) |
| | | | | | | (8,023,787 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Financials (4.96%) | | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets (1.06%) | | | | | | | | |
Credit Suisse Group AG -Sponsored ADR | | | (48,600 | ) | | | (739,206 | ) |
Deutsche Bank AG | | | (88,700 | ) | | | (1,681,752 | ) |
| | | | | | | (2,420,958 | ) |
Commercial Banks (1.73%) | | | | | | | | |
ABN AMRO Group NV | | | (35,165 | ) | | | (751,760 | ) |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Financials (continued) | | | | | | |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | | | (261,816 | ) | | $ | (725,498 | ) |
Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. - Preference Shares,Sponsored ADR | | | (199,700 | ) | | | (1,903,141 | ) |
United Overseas Bank, Ltd. | | | (42,500 | ) | | | (587,798 | ) |
| | | | | | | (3,968,197 | ) |
Consumer Finance (1.82%) | | | | | | | | |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | | (50,800 | ) | | | (904,748 | ) |
American Express Co. | | | (24,700 | ) | | | (1,616,121 | ) |
Synchrony Financial | | | (53,900 | ) | | | (1,647,723 | ) |
| | | | | | | (4,168,592 | ) |
Real Estate Management & Development (0.35%) | | | | | |
Swire Pacific, Ltd. - Class A | | | (74,500 | ) | | | (810,127 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FINANCIALS | | | | | | | (11,367,874 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care (2.16%) | | | | | | | | |
AmerisourceBergen Corp. | | | (16,200 | ) | | | (1,378,620 | ) |
Celgene Corp. | | | (2,850 | ) | | | (294,718 | ) |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | | (13,400 | ) | | | (1,012,102 | ) |
Mallinckrodt PLC | | | (7,300 | ) | | | (456,396 | ) |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | | (10,800 | ) | | | (592,272 | ) |
United Therapeutics Corp. | | | (5,000 | ) | | | (526,000 | ) |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | | | (8,600 | ) | | | (698,148 | ) |
| | | | | | | (4,958,256 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials (5.41%) | | | | | | | | |
Air France-KLM | | | (26,747 | ) | | | (239,868 | ) |
The Boeing Co. | | | (13,800 | ) | | | (1,860,240 | ) |
Caterpillar, Inc. | | | (23,000 | ) | | | (1,787,560 | ) |
Deutsche Lufthansa AG | | | (90,311 | ) | | | (1,402,248 | ) |
International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. | | | (228,245 | ) | | | (1,750,877 | ) |
Metso OYJ | | | (60,903 | ) | | | (1,463,780 | ) |
Petrofac, Ltd. | | | (55,900 | ) | | | (690,182 | ) |
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC - Class C(d) | | | (15 | ) | | | – | |
Sandvik AB | | | (223,728 | ) | | | (2,295,661 | ) |
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. -Class A | | | (19,400 | ) | | | (914,710 | ) |
| | | | | | | (12,405,126 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology (3.06%) | | | | | | | | |
Analog Devices, Inc. | | | (20,400 | ) | | | (1,148,928 | ) |
International Business Machines Corp. | | | (40,235 | ) | | | (5,871,896 | ) |
| | | | | | | (7,020,824 | ) |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 17 |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Materials (0.27%) | | | | | | |
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. | | | (34,300 | ) | | $ | (607,796 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | | | | | | | | |
(Proceeds $56,742,081) | | | | | | | (59,105,263 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (10.95%) | | | | | |
iShares® Russell 2000® ETF | | | (17,200 | ) | | | (1,932,592 | ) |
Market Vectors® Semiconductor ETF | | | (80,600 | ) | | | (4,228,276 | ) |
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust | | | (63,250 | ) | | | (13,048,475 | ) |
SPDR® S&P Retail ETF | | | (68,300 | ) | | | (3,018,860 | ) |
Technology Select Sector SPDR® Fund | | | (68,500 | ) | | | (2,885,905 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS | | | | | |
(Proceeds $24,134,223) | | | | | | | (25,114,108 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT | | | | | |
(Proceeds $80,876,304) | | | | | | $ | (84,219,371 | ) |
(a) | Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short or borrowings. As of April 30, 2016, the aggregate market value of those securities was $266,280,502, representing 116.11% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 6) |
(b) | Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of April 30, 2016. |
(c) | Non-income producing security. |
(d) | Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2016, these securities had an aggregate market value of $2,854,725 or 1.24% of total net assets. |
(e) | Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2016, these securities had an aggregate market value of $12,028,317 or 5.24% of net assets. |
(f) | Floating or variable rate security - rate disclosed as of April 30, 2016. |
(g) | This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest. |
(h) | Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts. |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS
Counter Party | Reference Entity/Obligation | | Notional Amount | | Floating Rate Paid by the Fund | Floating Rate Index | Termination Date | | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |
Morgan Stanley | Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. | | $ | 182,252 | | 55 bps + 1D FEDEF | 1 D FEDEF | 01/05/2017 | | $ | 3,412 | |
| | | $ | 182,252 | | | | | | $ | 3,412 | |
Counter Party | Reference Entity/Obligation | | Notional Amount | | Floating Rate Paid by the Fund | Floating Rate Index | Termination Date | | Net Unrealized Depreciation | |
Credit Suisse | Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. - Class A | | $ | 1,132,234 | | 75 bps + 1M LIBOR | 1 M LIBOR | 05/26/2016 | | $ | (106,541 | ) |
| | | $ | 1,132,234 | | | | | | $ | (106,541 | ) |
| | | $ | 1,314,486 | | | | | | $ | (103,129 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 19 |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS 109.71% | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary 22.61% | | | | | | |
Diversified Consumer Services 1.06% | | | | | | |
Service Corp. International(a)(b) | | | 232,400 | | | $ | 6,198,108 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Household Durables 4.36% | | | | | | | | |
DR Horton, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 210,301 | | | | 6,321,648 | |
Lennar Corp. - Class A(a)(b) | | | 240,200 | | | | 10,883,462 | |
PulteGroup, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 250,200 | | | | 4,601,178 | |
Sony Corp. - Sponsored ADR | | | 3,666 | | | | 88,350 | |
TRI Pointe Group, Inc.(c) | | | 93,202 | | | | 1,081,143 | |
William Lyon Homes - Class A(c) | | | 179,676 | | | | 2,533,432 | |
| | | | | | | 25,509,213 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Internet & Catalog Retail 5.63% | | | | | | | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 9,924 | | | | 6,545,771 | |
JD.com, Inc. - ADR(a)(c) | | | 57,600 | | | | 1,472,256 | |
Liberty Ventures - Series A(a)(b)(c) | | | 515,671 | | | | 20,626,840 | |
Wayfair, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 113,300 | | | | 4,277,075 | |
| | | | | | | 32,921,942 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Media 8.74% | | | | | | | | |
Cable One, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 14,200 | | | | 6,517,232 | |
Comcast Corp. - Class A(a)(b) | | | 156,800 | | | | 9,527,168 | |
IMAX Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 324,600 | | | | 10,387,200 | |
Liberty Braves Group - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 12,546 | | | | 196,213 | |
Liberty Braves Group - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 14,551 | | | | 217,104 | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 52,014 | | | | 2,981,443 | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 197,067 | | | | 11,282,086 | |
Liberty Media Corp. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 31,364 | | | | 573,961 | |
Liberty Media Group - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 36,378 | | | | 654,804 | |
Liberty SiriusXM Group - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 125,456 | | | | 4,111,193 | |
Liberty SiriusXM Group - Class C(a)(c) | | | 145,512 | | | | 4,659,294 | |
| | | | | | | 51,107,698 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail 2.24% | | | | | | | | |
CarMax, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 72,200 | | | | 3,822,990 | |
Signet Jewelers, Ltd.(a)(b) | | | 85,746 | | | | 9,308,586 | |
| | | | | | | 13,131,576 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Consumer Discretionary (continued) | | | | | | |
Textiles 0.58% | | | | | | |
Anta Sports Products, Ltd. | | | 1,317,000 | | | $ | 3,368,521 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | | | | 132,237,058 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples 0.64% | | | | | | | | |
CVS Health Corp.(a)(b) | | | 37,400 | | | | 3,758,700 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Energy 27.75% | | | | | | | | |
Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(a) | | | 128,500 | | | | 6,779,660 | |
Antero Resources Corp.(c) | | | 110,400 | | | | 3,124,320 | |
Apache Corp.(a) | | | 187,000 | | | | 10,172,800 | |
BP PLC - Sponsored ADR(a)(b) | | | 717,000 | | | | 24,076,860 | |
Concho Resources, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 89,500 | | | | 10,397,215 | |
Continental Resources, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 282,000 | | | | 10,507,320 | |
Devon Energy Corp. | | | 162,600 | | | | 5,638,968 | |
Energen Corp.(a) | | | 92,500 | | | | 3,930,325 | |
Fairway Energy Partners LLC(c)(d)(e) | | | 536,000 | | | | 5,427,000 | |
Hess Corp.(a)(b) | | | 159,200 | | | | 9,491,504 | |
Marathon Oil Corp.(a) | | | 508,200 | | | | 7,160,538 | |
Newfield Exploration Co.(a)(c) | | | 123,000 | | | | 4,458,750 | |
Noble Energy, Inc.(a) | | | 103,700 | | | | 3,744,607 | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | 60,900 | | | | 4,667,985 | |
Parsley Energy, Inc. - Class A(c) | | | 245,300 | | | | 5,744,926 | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.(a)(b) | | | 66,930 | | | | 11,117,073 | |
Royal Dutch Shell PLC - Class A | | | 70,191 | | | | 1,825,049 | |
Sanchez Energy Corp.(a)(c) | | | 514,500 | | | | 4,625,355 | |
Schlumberger, Ltd. | | | 31,200 | | | | 2,506,608 | |
Statoil ASA - Sponsored ADR | | | 254,100 | | | | 4,469,619 | |
Total S.A. - Sponsored ADR | | | 168,200 | | | | 8,536,150 | |
Whiting Petroleum Corp.(c) | | | 69,900 | | | | 838,800 | |
WPX Energy, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 970,300 | | | | 9,373,098 | |
YPF S.A. - Sponsored ADR | | | 183,200 | | | | 3,691,480 | |
| | | | | | | 162,306,010 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Financials 23.63% | | | | | | | | |
Business Development Corporations 3.02% | | | | | | | | |
Ares Capital Corp.(a) | | | 716,700 | | | | 10,886,673 | |
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.(a) | | | 384,357 | | | | 6,745,466 | |
| | | | | | | 17,632,139 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets 1.15% | | | | | | | | |
Atlas Mara, Ltd.(c)(e) | | | 764,522 | | | | 3,295,090 | |
CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. - Class H | | | 1,546,000 | | | | 3,416,112 | |
| | | | | | | 6,711,202 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statement of Investments |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Financials (continued) | | | | | | |
Diversified Financials 8.77% | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp.(a)(b) | | | 1,680,710 | | | $ | 24,471,138 | |
Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 492,427 | | | | 22,789,521 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(a)(b) | | | 63,900 | | | | 4,038,480 | |
| | | | | | | 51,299,139 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Insurance 2.44% | | | | | | | | |
American International Group, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 255,900 | | | | 14,284,338 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Real Estate Investment Trusts 7.11% | | | | | | | | |
American Capital Agency Corp.(a)(b) | | | 633,600 | | | | 11,639,232 | |
Ladder Capital Corp.(a) | | | 228,511 | | | | 2,721,566 | |
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(a)(b) | | | 332,291 | | | | 4,515,835 | |
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 638,000 | | | | 12,351,680 | |
Two Harbors Investment Corp.(a)(b) | | | 1,326,122 | | | | 10,383,535 | |
| | | | | | | 41,611,848 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.14% | | | | | | | | |
MGIC Investment Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 924,913 | | | | 6,687,121 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FINANCIALS | | | | | | | 138,225,787 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care 12.31% | | | | | | | | |
Actelion, Ltd. | | | 24,375 | | | | 3,938,419 | |
Akorn, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 121,200 | | | | 3,084,540 | |
Albany Molecular Research, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 247,360 | | | | 3,722,768 | |
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 7,700 | | | | 1,072,456 | |
Allergan PLC(a)(b)(c) | | | 25,800 | | | | 5,587,248 | |
Amsurg Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 36,200 | | | | 2,931,476 | |
Becton Dickinson and Co.(a) | | | 8,100 | | | | 1,306,206 | |
Boston Scientific Corp.(a)(c) | | | 67,400 | | | | 1,477,408 | |
Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.(a)(b) | | | 57,600 | | | | 4,157,568 | |
Cardiome Pharma Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 635,070 | | | | 2,845,114 | |
Cerner Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 61,600 | | | | 3,458,224 | |
Corindus Vascular Robotics, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 606,800 | | | | 637,140 | |
Dynavax Technologies Corp.(a)(b)(c) | | | 112,999 | | | | 1,854,314 | |
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)(c) | | | 14,000 | | | | 1,486,940 | |
HCA Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 18,247 | | | | 1,471,073 | |
Healthways, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 482,133 | | | | 5,616,849 | |
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 75,162 | | | | 2,579,560 | |
Intrexon Corp.(a)(c) | | | 33,672 | | | | 900,052 | |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)(b)(c) | | | 13,423 | | | | 2,022,846 | |
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 350,200 | | | | 1,905,088 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Health Care (continued) | | | | | | |
Kura Oncology, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 288,200 | | | $ | 962,588 | |
Medtronic PLC | | | 15,700 | | | | 1,242,655 | |
Perrigo Co., PLC(a)(b) | | | 6,514 | | | | 629,708 | |
Shire PLC - ADR | | | 15,100 | | | | 2,830,042 | |
Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd. - Class H | | | 583,600 | | | | 2,505,367 | |
Team Health Holdings, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 27,000 | | | | 1,129,410 | |
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.(c) | | | 184,600 | | | | 6,158,256 | |
Veracyte, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 250,082 | | | | 1,450,476 | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(c) | | | 35,900 | | | | 3,027,806 | |
| | | | | | | 71,991,597 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials 7.86% | | | | | | | | |
Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.(a)(e) | | | 253,110 | | | | 7,292,099 | |
Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(c) | | | 113,400 | | | | 4,627,854 | |
Kansas City Southern(a)(b) | | | 82,500 | | | | 7,816,875 | |
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(c) | | | 61,836 | | | | 14,090,569 | |
ViaSat, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 158,435 | | | | 12,151,965 | |
| | | | | | | 45,979,362 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology 11.43% | | | | | | | | |
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(c) | | | 32,100 | | | | 2,469,774 | |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 9,367 | | | | 6,630,712 | |
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C(a)(b)(c) | | | 7,880 | | | | 5,460,919 | |
Broadcom, Ltd.(a) | | | 43,800 | | | | 6,383,850 | |
Crown Castle International Corp. (a)(b) | | | 78,200 | | | | 6,794,016 | |
Facebook, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c) | | | 67,870 | | | | 7,980,154 | |
Lam Research Corp. (a)(b) | | | 106,300 | | | | 8,121,320 | |
Microsoft Corp. (a)(b) | | | 75,500 | | | | 3,765,185 | |
Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.(a)(b) | | | 56,600 | | | | 3,532,972 | |
NetEase, Inc. - ADR | | | 24,900 | | | | 3,503,430 | |
Nintendo Co., Ltd. | | | 25,400 | | | | 3,617,829 | |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(c) | | | 23,900 | | | | 3,605,793 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 66,000 | | | | 5,002,800 | |
| | | | | | | 66,868,754 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Materials 2.23% | | | | | | | | |
Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.(a)(b)(c) | | | 307,100 | | | | 8,743,137 | |
Chr Hansen Holding A/S | | | 34,443 | | | | 2,143,513 | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 21 |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statement of Investments |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
Materials (continued) | | | | | | |
GCP Applied Technologies, Inc.(a)(b)(c) | | | 96,300 | | | $ | 2,131,119 | |
| | | | | | | 13,017,769 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Telecommunication Services 1.25% | | | | | | | | |
China Mobile, Ltd. | | | 314,500 | | | | 3,606,437 | |
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | | | 80,200 | | | | 3,666,286 | |
| | | | | | | 7,272,723 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $640,114,780) | | | | | | | 641,657,760 | |
| | | | | | | | |
PARTICIPATION NOTES 1.64% | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples 0.89% | | | | | | | | |
Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd. - Class A (Loan Participation Notes issued by Morgan Stanley Asia Products), expiring 11/09/2017 | | | 134,407 | | | | 5,206,730 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials 0.75% | | | | | | | | |
Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. - Class A (Loan Participation Notes issued by Morgan Stanley Asia Products), expiring 10/27/2017 | | | 1,394,211 | | | | 4,409,788 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL PARTICIPATION NOTES (Cost $9,265,660) | | | | | | | 9,616,518 | |
| | | | | | | | |
WARRANTS 0.01%(c) | | | | | | | | |
Atlas Mara, Ltd., Strike price $11.50, Expires 12/17/2017(e) | | | 487,322 | | | | 48,732 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL WARRANTS (Cost $4,873) | | | | | | | 48,732 | |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS 12.73% | | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | | | | |
12/15/2042, 4.300% | | $ | 3,000,000 | | | | 2,855,166 | |
Autodesk, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
12/15/2022, 3.600% | | | 5,600,000 | | | | 5,627,171 | |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
CORPORATE BONDS (continued) | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. | | | | | | |
Series K, Perpetual Maturity, 8.000%(f)(g) | | | 600,000 | | | $ | 585,750 | |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | | | | | | | | |
Series D, Perpetual Maturity, 4.500%(f)(g) | | | 2,800,000 | | | | 2,644,600 | |
BankUnited, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
11/17/2025, 4.875% | | | 5,500,000 | | | | 5,543,621 | |
Citigroup, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series N, Perpetual Maturity, 5.800%(f)(g) | | | 4,800,000 | | | | 4,650,000 | |
Series P, Perpetual Maturity, 5.950%(f)(g) | | | 5,600,000 | | | | 5,428,500 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual Maturity, 5.500% (a)(e)(f)(g) | | | 6,250,000 | | | | 5,984,375 | |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC | | | | | | | | |
10/01/2018, 2.875%(a)(b) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 5,127,380 | |
General Motors Co. | | | | | | | | |
04/01/2035, 5.000% | | | 3,100,000 | | | | 3,096,503 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Series M, Perpetual Maturity, 5.375%(a)(f)(g) | | | 2,750,000 | | | | 2,657,188 | |
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
08/01/2044, 4.850%(e) | | | 3,000,000 | | | | 2,896,638 | |
Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co. | | | | | | | | |
12/01/2021, 5.629%(a)(b)(f) | | | 5,250,000 | | | | 5,092,500 | |
Morgan Stanley | | | | | | | | |
Series J, Perpetual Maturity, 5.550%(f)(g) | | | 2,200,000 | | | | 2,180,750 | |
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
09/15/2019, 2.700% | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 2,041,052 | |
SunTrust Banks, Inc. | | | | | | | | |
Perpetual Maturity, 5.625%(a)(b)(f)(g) | | | 7,300,000 | | | | 7,245,250 | |
Textron Financial Corp. | | | | | | | | |
02/15/2067, 6.000%(a)(e)(f) | | | 8,200,000 | | | | 5,760,500 | |
Western Digital Corp. | | | | | | | | |
04/01/2024, 10.500%(e) | | | 5,169,000 | | | | 5,039,775 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Cost $76,537,098) | | | | | | | 74,456,719 | |
| | | | | | | | |
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 31.47% | | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | | | | | | |
08/15/2026, 6.750%(a) | | | 2,800,000 | | | | 4,094,398 | |
11/15/2026, 6.500%(a) | | | 6,300,000 | | | | 9,110,020 | |
08/15/2029, 6.125%(a) | | | 22,750,000 | | | | 33,633,554 | |
02/15/2031, 5.375%(a) | | | 25,300,000 | | | | 36,000,129 | |
02/15/2041, 4.750% | | | 4,600,000 | | | | 6,488,604 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | | | | | | |
01/31/2017, 0.500%(a) | | | 2,000,000 | | | | 1,999,804 | |
01/31/2017, 3.125%(a) | | | 20,000,000 | | | | 20,383,600 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statement of Investments |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
Description and Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (continued) | |
05/15/2017, 4.500% (a) | | $ | 20,000,000 | | | $ | 20,799,220 | |
07/31/2017, 0.625% (a) | | | 10,800,000 | | | | 10,797,678 | |
08/15/2017, 4.750% (a) | | | 20,000,000 | | | | 21,052,740 | |
09/15/2017, 1.000% (a) | | | 5,000,000 | | | | 5,022,460 | |
02/15/2018, 3.500% (a) | | | 14,000,000 | | | | 14,684,684 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS | |
(Cost $182,696,551) | | | | 184,066,891 | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 3.37% | | | | |
Money Market Fund 3.37% | | | | | | |
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (0.200% 7-day yield) | | | 19,715,100 | | | | 19,715,100 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost $19,715,100) | | | | 19,715,100 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments - 158.93% (Cost $928,334,062) | | | | | | | 929,561,720 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (58.93%)(h) | | | | | | | (344,669,684 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS - 100.00% | | | | | | $ | 584,892,036 | |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) | | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS (25.50%) | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary (1.20%) | | | | | | |
Auto Components (0.43%) | | | | | | |
Bridgestone Corp. | | | (64,200 | ) | | $ | (2,483,526 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Specialty Retail (0.77%) | | | | | | | | |
Tiffany & Co. | | | (26,000 | ) | | | (1,855,100 | ) |
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | | | (45,200 | ) | | | (2,656,856 | ) |
| | | | | | | (4,511,956 | ) |
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | | | | (6,995,482 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Consumer Staples (5.18%) | | | | | | | | |
Campbell Soup Co. | | | (40,700 | ) | | | (2,511,597 | ) |
ConAgra Foods, Inc. | | | (55,500 | ) | | | (2,473,080 | ) |
General Mills, Inc. | | | (40,700 | ) | | | (2,496,538 | ) |
Hormel Foods Corp. | | | (67,100 | ) | | | (2,586,705 | ) |
Kellogg Co. | | | (32,900 | ) | | | (2,527,049 | ) |
Kimberly-Clark Corp. | | | (18,600 | ) | | | (2,328,534 | ) |
Monster Beverage Corp. | | | (25,000 | ) | | | (3,605,500 | ) |
PepsiCo, Inc. | | | (24,400 | ) | | | (2,512,224 | ) |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Consumer Staples (continued) | | | | | | |
Philip Morris International, Inc. | | | (25,300 | ) | | $ | (2,482,436 | ) |
The Procter & Gamble Co. | | | (36,800 | ) | | | (2,948,416 | ) |
Tyson Foods, Inc. - Class A | | | (38,600 | ) | | | (2,540,652 | ) |
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | | | (19,600 | ) | | | (1,310,652 | ) |
| | | | | | | (30,323,383 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Energy (3.46%) | | | | | | | | |
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. | | | (369,700 | ) | | | (3,571,302 | ) |
Inpex Corp. | | | (190,000 | ) | | | (1,586,071 | ) |
Noble Corp., PLC | | | (514,600 | ) | | | (5,778,958 | ) |
Rowan Cos., PLC - Class A | | | (267,300 | ) | | | (5,027,913 | ) |
Transocean, Ltd. | | | (387,344 | ) | | | (4,291,772 | ) |
| | | | | | | (20,256,016 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Financials (4.90%) | | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets (1.05%) | | | | | | | | |
Credit Suisse Group AG - Sponsored ADR | | | (123,300 | ) | | | (1,875,393 | ) |
Deutsche Bank AG | | | (224,600 | ) | | | (4,258,416 | ) |
| | | | | | | (6,133,809 | ) |
Commercial Banks (1.70%) | | | | | | | | |
ABN AMRO Group NV | | | (89,015 | ) | | | (1,902,971 | ) |
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | | | (662,421 | ) | | | (1,835,583 | ) |
Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. - Preference Shares, Sponsored ADR | | | (495,421 | ) | | | (4,721,362 | ) |
United Overseas Bank, Ltd. | | | (105,500 | ) | | | (1,459,122 | ) |
| | | | | | | (9,919,038 | ) |
Consumer Finance (1.80%) | | | | | | | | |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | | (128,400 | ) | | | (2,286,804 | ) |
American Express Co. | | | (62,400 | ) | | | (4,082,832 | ) |
Synchrony Financial | | | (136,400 | ) | | | (4,169,748 | ) |
| | | | | | | (10,539,384 | ) |
Real Estate Management & Development (0.35%) | | | | | |
Swire Pacific, Ltd. - Class A | | | (189,000 | ) | | | (2,055,222 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL FINANCIALS | | | | | | | (28,647,453 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care (2.12%) | | | | | | | | |
AmerisourceBergen Corp. | | | (40,300 | ) | | | (3,429,530 | ) |
Celgene Corp. | | | (7,150 | ) | | | (739,381 | ) |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | | (33,800 | ) | | | (2,552,914 | ) |
Mallinckrodt PLC | | | (17,900 | ) | | | (1,119,108 | ) |
Merck & Co., Inc. | | | (27,200 | ) | | | (1,491,648 | ) |
United Therapeutics Corp. | | | (12,700 | ) | | | (1,336,040 | ) |
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | | | (21,400 | ) | | | (1,737,252 | ) |
| | | | | | | (12,405,873 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Industrials (5.34%) | | | | | | | | |
Air France-KLM | | | (67,450 | ) | | | (604,894 | ) |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 23 |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statement of Investments |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Industrials (continued) | | | | | | |
The Boeing Co. | | | (34,900 | ) | | $ | (4,704,520 | ) |
Caterpillar, Inc. | | | (58,100 | ) | | | (4,515,532 | ) |
Deutsche Lufthansa AG | | | (225,986 | ) | | | (3,508,859 | ) |
International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. | | | (571,456 | ) | | | (4,383,663 | ) |
Metso OYJ | | | (154,363 | ) | | | (3,710,054 | ) |
Petrofac, Ltd. | | | (141,300 | ) | | | (1,744,592 | ) |
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC - Class C(d) | | | (41 | ) | | | – | |
Sandvik AB | | | (558,808 | ) | | | (5,733,898 | ) |
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. - Class A | | | (48,800 | ) | | | (2,300,920 | ) |
| | | | | | | (31,206,932 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Information Technology (3.04%) | | | | | | | | |
Analog Devices, Inc. | | | (51,700 | ) | | | (2,911,744 | ) |
International Business Machines Corp. | | | (101,750 | ) | | | (14,849,395 | ) |
| | | | | | | (17,761,139 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Materials (0.26%) | | | | | | | | |
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc. | | | (86,900 | ) | | | (1,539,868 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Proceeds $143,168,292) | | | | | | | (149,136,146 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (10.92%) | | | | | |
iShares® Russell 2000® ETF | | | (43,300 | ) | | | (4,865,188 | ) |
Market Vectors® Semiconductor ETF | | | (203,900 | ) | | | (10,696,594 | ) |
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust | | | (161,850 | ) | | | (33,389,655 | ) |
SPDR® S&P Retail ETF | | | (172,500 | ) | | | (7,624,500 | ) |
Technology Select Sector SPDR® Fund | | | (172,700 | ) | | | (7,275,851 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (Proceeds $61,340,359) | | | | (63,851,788 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (Proceeds $204,508,651) | | | $ | (212,987,934 | ) |
(a) | Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short or borrowings. As of April 30, 2016, the aggregate market value of those securities was $657,471,890, representing 112.41% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 6) |
(b) | Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of April 30, 2016. |
(c) | Non-income producing security. |
(d) | Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2016, these securities had an aggregate market value of $5,427,000 or 0.93% of total net assets. |
(e) | Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2016, these securities had an aggregate market value of $35,744,209 or 6.11% of net assets. |
(f) | Floating or variable rate security - rate disclosed as of April 30, 2016. |
(g) | This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest. |
(h) | Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts. |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statement of Investments |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS |
Counter Party | Reference Entity/Obligation | | Notional Amount | | Floating Rate Paid by the Fund | Floating Rate Index | Termination Date | | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |
Morgan Stanley | Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. | | $ | 450,817 | | 55 bps + 1D FEDEF | 1 D FEDEF | 01/05/2017 | | $ | 8,440 | |
| | | $ | 450,817 | | | | | | $ | 8,440 | |
Counter Party | Reference Entity/Obligation | | Notional Amount | | Floating Rate Paid by the Fund | Floating Rate Index | Termination Date | | Net Unrealized Depreciation | |
Credit Suisse | Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. - Class A | | $ | 2,792,702 | | 75 bps + 1M LIBOR | 1 M LIBOR | 05/26/2017 | | $ | (262,788 | ) |
| | | $ | 2,792,702 | | | | | | $ | (262,788 | ) |
| | | $ | 3,243,519 | | | | | | $ | (254,348 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 25 |
Clough Global Funds | Statement of Investments |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
Abbreviations:
1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)
AB - Aktiebolag is the Swedish equivalent of the term corporation
ADR - American Depositary Receipt
AG - Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e., owned by shareholders
A/S - Aktieselskab, Joint Stock Company in Denmark.
ASA - Allmennaksjeselskap is the Norwegian term for public limited company.
BDC - Business Development Company.
bps - Basis Points
ETF - Exchange Traded Fund
1M LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate (Monthly)
LLC - Limited Liability Corporation
Ltd. - Limited
NV - Naamloze Vennootschap (Dutch: Limited Liability Company)
OYJ - Osakeyhtio is the Finnish equivalent of a public limited company.
PLC - Public Limited Company
REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust
S.A. - Generally designates corporations in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law.
SpA - Societa` Per Azioni is an Italian shared company
S&P - Standard & Poor's
SPDR - Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipt
For Fund compliance purposes, each Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes, and/or as defined by each Fund's management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of net assets. These industry classifications are unaudited.
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Clough Global Funds | Statements of Assets and Liabilities |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
| | Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | Clough Global Equity Fund | | | Clough Global Opportunities Fund | |
ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Investments, at value (Cost - see below)* | | $ | 225,253,166 | | | $ | 366,762,494 | | | $ | 929,561,720 | |
Cash | | | 1,907,731 | | | | 1,777,357 | | | | 5,671,108 | |
Deposit with broker for futures contracts | | | 9,535 | | | | 15,892 | | | | 41,319 | |
Deposit with broker for securities sold short | | | 52,621,934 | | | | 84,725,977 | | | | 214,487,612 | |
Deposit with brokers for total return swap contracts | | | 3,775,754 | | | | 6,922,890 | | | | 15,562,454 | |
Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts | | | 2,040 | | | | 3,412 | | | | 8,440 | |
Dividends receivable | | | 131,039 | | | | 188,857 | | | | 459,414 | |
Interest receivable | | | 765,092 | | | | 819,302 | | | | 2,946,049 | |
Receivable for investments sold | | | 17,424,601 | | | | 27,280,669 | | | | 68,450,750 | |
Total Assets | | | 301,890,892 | | | | 488,496,850 | | | | 1,237,188,866 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency due to custodian (Cost $15,426, $25,076 and $63,372) | | | 15,428 | | | | 25,080 | | | | 63,381 | |
Loan payable | | | 93,300,000 | | | | 156,000,000 | | | | 388,900,000 | |
Interest due on loan payable | | | 10,392 | | | | 17,376 | | | | 43,317 | |
Securities sold short (Proceeds $49,667,060, $80,876,304 and $204,508,651) | | | 51,726,482 | | | | 84,219,371 | | | | 212,987,934 | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | 11,898,897 | | | | 18,007,080 | | | | 48,037,297 | |
Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts | | | 63,599 | | | | 106,541 | | | | 262,788 | |
Dividends payable - short sales | | | 134,833 | | | | 221,695 | | | | 556,816 | |
Interest payable - margin account | | | 22,773 | | | | 37,236 | | | | 93,823 | |
Accrued investment advisory fee | | | 174,495 | | | | 364,059 | | | | 1,023,685 | |
Accrued administration fee | | | 71,044 | | | | 129,443 | | | | 327,579 | |
Other payables and accrued expenses | | | 210 | | | | 35,210 | | | | 210 | |
Total Liabilities | | | 157,418,153 | | | | 259,163,091 | | | | 652,296,830 | |
Net Assets | | $ | 144,472,739 | | | $ | 229,333,759 | | | $ | 584,892,036 | |
Cost of Investments | | $ | 223,044,358 | | | $ | 364,195,455 | | | $ | 928,334,062 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 165,478,928 | | | $ | 263,692,992 | | | $ | 712,547,900 | |
Overdistributed net investment loss | | | (10,320,720 | ) | | | (22,025,612 | ) | | | (52,411,322 | ) |
Accumulated net realized loss on investment securities, futures contracts, securities sold short, written options, total return swap contracts and foreign currency transactions | | | (10,772,227 | ) | | | (11,453,336 | ) | | | (67,734,142 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) in value of investment securities, securities sold short, total return swap contracts and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency | | | 86,758 | | | | (880,285 | ) | | | (7,510,400 | ) |
Net Assets | | $ | 144,472,739 | | | $ | 229,333,759 | | | $ | 584,892,036 | |
Shares of common stock outstanding of no par value, unlimited shares authorized | | | 10,392,606 | | | | 17,653,305 | | | | 51,574,059 | |
Net asset value per share | | $ | 13.90 | | | $ | 12.99 | | | $ | 11.34 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Securities Loaned, at value | | $ | 78,191,277 | | | $ | 133,264,090 | | | $ | 342,698,874 | |
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 27 |
Clough Global Funds | Statements of Operations |
| For the six months ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
| | Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | Clough Global Equity Fund | | | Clough Global Opportunities Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,956, $4,895 and $12,263) | | $ | 1,685,973 | | | $ | 2,151,258 | | | $ | 5,246,578 | |
Interest on investment securities | | | 977,271 | | | | 680,086 | | | | 3,369,160 | |
Hypothecated securities income (See Note 6) | | | 42,881 | | | | 82,484 | | | | 247,484 | |
Total Income | | | 2,706,125 | | | | 2,913,828 | | | | 8,863,222 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
EXPENSES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment advisory fee | | | 1,103,738 | | | | 2,332,248 | | | | 6,494,434 | |
Administration fee | | | 449,822 | | | | 830,071 | | | | 2,080,265 | |
Interest on loan | | | 598,791 | | | | 1,001,194 | | | | 2,495,924 | |
Interest expense - margin account | | | 167,417 | | | | 299,369 | | | | 685,560 | |
Trustees fee | | | 69,193 | | | | 69,193 | | | | 69,193 | |
Dividend expense - short sales | | | 593,997 | | | | 972,379 | | | | 2,450,962 | |
Other expenses | | | 1,085 | | | | 1,085 | | | | 1,085 | |
Total Expenses | | | 2,984,043 | | | | 5,505,539 | | | | 14,277,423 | |
Net Investment Loss | | | (277,918 | ) | | | (2,591,711 | ) | | | (5,414,201 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET REALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | (11,297,078 | ) | | | (18,291,708 | ) | | | (53,435,265 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | (420,652 | ) | | | (689,063 | ) | | | (1,752,233 | ) |
Securities sold short | | | (2,960,088 | ) | | | (3,990,612 | ) | | | (12,180,158 | ) |
Total return swap contracts | | | (691,258 | ) | | | (2,119,698 | ) | | | (2,811,097 | ) |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (5,355 | ) | | | (89,070 | ) | | | (286,046 | ) |
NET CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION/(DEPRECIATION) ON: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | 1,985,986 | | | | (1,927,887 | ) | | | 12,674,795 | |
Futures contracts | | | (10,225 | ) | | | (17,108 | ) | | | (43,457 | ) |
Securities sold short | | | 2,801,095 | | | | 4,168,035 | | | | 11,790,241 | |
Total return swap contracts | | | 179,838 | | | | 486,548 | | | | 704,437 | |
Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | | | 164 | | | | 1,166 | | | | 1,101 | |
Net loss on investment securities, futures contracts, securities sold short, total return swap contracts and foreign currency transactions | | | (10,417,573 | ) | | | (22,469,397 | ) | | | (45,337,682 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares from Operations | | $ | (10,695,491 | ) | | $ | (25,061,108 | ) | | $ | (50,751,883 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | |
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OPERATIONS: | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (277,918 | ) | | $ | (2,781,006 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | (11,297,078 | ) | | | 15,967,179 | |
Futures contracts | | | (420,652 | ) | | | (230,550 | ) |
Securities sold short | | | (2,960,088 | ) | | | 875,223 | |
Written options | | | – | | | | (64,853 | ) |
Total return swap contracts | | | (691,258 | ) | | | 492,704 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (5,355 | ) | | | (171,689 | ) |
Long-term capital gains distributions from other investment companies | | | – | | | | 134,798 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | 1,985,986 | | | | (12,030,047 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | (10,225 | ) | | | 10,225 | |
Securities sold short | | | 2,801,095 | | | | (672,541 | ) |
Written options | | | – | | | | 24,188 | |
Total return swap contracts | | | 179,838 | | | | (587,780 | ) |
Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | | | 164 | | | | 22,010 | |
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations | | | (10,695,491 | ) | | | 987,861 | |
| | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (7,482,677 | ) | | | (678,815 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | – | | | | (14,017,538 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions | | | (7,482,677 | ) | | | (14,696,353 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Repurchase of fund shares | | | – | | | | (609,034 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets From Share Transactions | | | – | | | | (609,034 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares | | | (18,178,168 | ) | | | (14,317,526 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS ATTRIBUABLE TO COMMON SHARES: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 162,650,907 | | | | 176,968,433 | |
End of period* | | $ | 144,472,739 | | | $ | 162,650,907 | |
*Includes overdistributed net investment loss of: | | $ | (10,320,720 | ) | | $ | (2,560,125 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 29 |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | |
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OPERATIONS: | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (2,591,711 | ) | | $ | (7,967,081 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | (18,291,708 | ) | | | 25,881,488 | |
Futures contracts | | | (689,063 | ) | | | (365,111 | ) |
Securities sold short | | | (3,990,612 | ) | | | 510,269 | |
Written options | | | – | | | | (89,508 | ) |
Total return swap contracts | | | (2,119,698 | ) | | | 809,544 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (89,070 | ) | | | (309,402 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | (1,927,887 | ) | | | (17,087,295 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | (17,108 | ) | | | 17,108 | |
Securities sold short | | | 4,168,035 | | | | (666,023 | ) |
Written options | | | – | | | | 30,195 | |
Total return swap contracts | | | 486,548 | | | | (1,152,988 | ) |
Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | | | 1,166 | | | | 47,769 | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets From Operations | | | (25,061,108 | ) | | | (341,035 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (12,180,780 | ) | | | (728,765 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | – | | | | (23,457,129 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions | | | (12,180,780 | ) | | | (24,185,894 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Repurchase of fund shares | | | – | | | | (2,726,913 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets From Share Transactions | | | – | | | | (2,726,913 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares | | | (37,241,888 | ) | | | (27,253,842 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS ATTRIBUABLE TO COMMON SHARES: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 266,575,647 | | | | 293,829,489 | |
End of period* | | $ | 229,333,759 | | | $ | 266,575,647 | |
*Includes overdistributed net investment loss of: | | $ | (22,025,612 | ) | | $ | (7,253,121 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | |
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OPERATIONS: | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net investment loss | | $ | (5,414,201 | ) | | $ | (17,854,276 | ) |
Net realized gain/(loss) from: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | (53,435,265 | ) | | | 73,407,994 | |
Futures contracts | | | (1,752,233 | ) | | | (943,537 | ) |
Securities sold short | | | (12,180,158 | ) | | | 3,220,497 | |
Written options | | | – | | | | (273,567 | ) |
Total return swap contracts | | | (2,811,097 | ) | | | 2,052,697 | |
Foreign currency transactions | | | (286,046 | ) | | | (796,416 | ) |
Long-term capital gains distributions from other investment companies | | | – | | | | 6,811 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on: | | | | | | | | |
Investment securities | | | 12,674,795 | | | | (53,855,662 | ) |
Futures contracts | | | (43,457 | ) | | | 43,457 | |
Securities sold short | | | 11,790,241 | | | | (2,637,957 | ) |
Written options | | | – | | | | 106,238 | |
Total return swap contracts | | | 704,437 | | | | (2,415,201 | ) |
Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | | | 1,101 | | | | 121,062 | |
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations | | | (50,751,883 | ) | | | 182,140 | |
| | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (30,944,436 | ) | | | – | |
Net realized gains | | | – | | | | (61,512,262 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions | | | (30,944,436 | ) | | | (61,512,262 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Repurchase of fund shares | | | – | | | | (1,936,592 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets From Share Transactions | | | – | | | | (1,936,592 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares | | | (81,696,319 | ) | | | (63,266,714 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS ATTRIBUABLE TO COMMON SHARES: | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 666,588,355 | | | | 729,855,069 | |
End of period* | | $ | 584,892,036 | | | $ | 666,588,355 | |
*Includes overdistributed net investment loss of: | | $ | (52,411,322 | ) | | $ | (16,052,685 | ) |
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 31 |
Clough Global Funds | Statements of Cash Flows |
| For the six months ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
| | Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | Clough Global Equity Fund | | | Clough Global Opportunities Fund | |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | | | | | |
Net decrease in net assets from operations | | $ | (10,695,491 | ) | | $ | (25,061,108 | ) | | $ | (50,751,883 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase of investment securities | | | (254,050,514 | ) | | | (357,089,464 | ) | | | (942,419,366 | ) |
Proceeds from disposition of investment securities | | | 252,193,104 | | | | 337,937,842 | | | | 911,012,319 | |
Proceeds from securities sold short transactions | | | 166,678,559 | | | | 273,518,382 | | | | 687,077,977 | |
Cover securities sold short transactions | | | (211,845,465 | ) | | | (357,309,853 | ) | | | (876,527,399 | ) |
Net proceeds from short-term investment securities | | | 7,900,623 | | | | 29,878,770 | | | | 60,832,664 | |
Net realized loss from investment securities | | | 11,297,078 | | | | 18,291,708 | | | | 53,435,265 | |
Net realized loss on securities sold short | | | 2,960,088 | | | | 3,990,612 | | | | 12,180,158 | |
Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions | | | (10 | ) | | | 0 | | | | (11 | ) |
Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on investment securities | | | (1,985,986 | ) | | | 1,927,887 | | | | (12,674,795 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on securities sold short | | | (2,801,095 | ) | | | (4,168,035 | ) | | | (11,790,241 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts | | | (179,838 | ) | | | (486,548 | ) | | | (704,437 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies | | | (164 | ) | | | (1,166 | ) | | | (1,101 | ) |
Net amortization/(accretion) of premiums/discounts | | | 212,330 | | | | 351,125 | | | | 877,630 | |
Decrease in deposits with broker for futures contracts | | | 146,465 | | | | 245,108 | | | | 621,681 | |
Decrease in deposits with broker for securities sold short | | | 44,920,892 | | | | 84,527,438 | | | | 186,273,892 | |
Decrease in deposits with brokers for total return swap contracts | | | 2,227,883 | | | | 3,632,317 | | | | 9,258,996 | |
Decrease in dividends receivable | | | 39,032 | | | | 54,683 | | | | 79,302 | |
Increase in interest receivable | | | (457,888 | ) | | | (577,625 | ) | | | (1,707,617 | ) |
Increase in interest due on loan payable | | | 2,366 | | | | 3,955 | | | | 9,860 | |
Decrease in variation margin payable | | | (18,525 | ) | | | (30,994 | ) | | | (78,731 | ) |
Increase in dividends payable - short sales | | | 55,260 | | | | 89,279 | | | | 227,094 | |
Decrease in interest payable - margin account | | | (38,962 | ) | | | (81,790 | ) | | | (161,271 | ) |
Decrease in accrued investment advisory fee | | | (40,537 | ) | | | (100,281 | ) | | | (244,601 | ) |
Decrease in accrued administration fee | | | (16,505 | ) | | | (35,656 | ) | | | (78,273 | ) |
Decrease in accrued trustees fee | | | (148 | ) | | | (148 | ) | | | (148 | ) |
Decrease in other payables and accrued expenses | | | (265 | ) | | | (29,999 | ) | | | (265 | ) |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 6,502,287 | | | | 9,476,439 | | | | 24,746,699 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash distributions paid | | | (7,482,677 | ) | | | (12,180,780 | ) | | | (30,944,436 | ) |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (7,482,677 | ) | | | (12,180,780 | ) | | | (30,944,436 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Effect of exchange rates on cash | | | 164 | | | | 1,166 | | | | 1,101 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Change in Cash and Foreign Rates on Cash and Foreign Currency | | | (980,226 | ) | | | (2,703,175 | ) | | | (6,196,636 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and foreign currency, beginning of period | | $ | 2,872,529 | | | $ | 4,455,452 | | | $ | 11,804,363 | |
Cash and foreign currency, end of period | | $ | 1,892,303 | | | $ | 1,752,277 | | | $ | 5,607,727 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid during the period for interest from bank borrowing: | | $ | 596,425 | | | $ | 997,239 | | | $ | 2,486,064 | |
See Notes to the Financial Statements. | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | Financial Highlights |
For a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | | | For the Period Ended October 31, 2014(1) | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2014 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2012 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2011 | |
PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value ‐ beginning of period | | $ | 15.65 | | | $ | 16.96 | | | $ | 17.51 | | | $ | 17.38 | | | $ | 16.30 | | | $ | 18.35 | | | $ | 16.90 | |
Income from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss)* | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.12 | ) | | | (0.26 | ) | | | (0.01 | ) | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.38 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments | | | (1.00 | ) | | | 0.38 | | | | 0.31 | | | | 1.90 | | | | 2.29 | | | | (1.11 | ) | | | 2.27 | |
Total Income/(Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (1.03 | ) | | | 0.11 | | | | 0.19 | | | | 1.64 | | | | 2.28 | | | | (0.85 | ) | | | 2.65 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS FROM: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (0.72 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.24 | ) | | | (0.90 | ) | | | (1.20 | ) | | | (1.20 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | – | | | | (1.34 | ) | | | (0.60 | ) | | | (1.27 | ) | | | (0.30 | ) | | | – | | | | – | |
Total Distributions to Common Shareholders | | | (0.72 | ) | | | (1.41 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (1.51 | ) | | | (1.20 | ) | | | (1.20 | ) | | | (1.20 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dilutive impact of capital share transactions* | | | – | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Total Capital Share Transactions | | | – | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Net asset value ‐ end of period | | $ | 13.90 | | | $ | 15.65 | | | $ | 16.96 | | | $ | 17.51 | | | $ | 17.38 | | | $ | 16.30 | | | $ | 18.35 | |
Market price ‐ end of period | | $ | 11.68 | | | $ | 13.60 | | | $ | 14.60 | | | $ | 15.18 | | | $ | 15.07 | | | $ | 13.94 | | | $ | 16.24 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investment Return ‐ Net Asset Value:(2) | | | (5.78 | )% | | | 1.61 | % | | | 1.68 | % | | | 11.14 | % | | | 16.19 | % | | | (3.48 | )% | | | 17.30 | % |
Total Investment Return ‐ Market Price:(2) | | | (8.89 | )% | | | 2.57 | % | | | 0.97 | % | | | 11.12 | % | | | 17.81 | % | | | (6.73 | )% | | | 10.20 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s) | | $ | 144,473 | | | $ | 162,651 | | | $ | 176,968 | | | $ | 182,737 | | | $ | 181,309 | | | $ | 170,120 | | | $ | 191,502 | |
Ratios to average net assets attributable to common shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total expenses | | | 4.03 | %(3) | | | 3.95 | % | | | 3.25 | %(3) | | | 3.34 | % | | | 3.24 | % | | | 3.05 | % | | | 2.87 | % |
Total expenses excluding interest expense and dividends on short sales expense | | | 2.19 | %(3) | | | 2.17 | % | | | 2.00 | %(3) | | | 1.94 | % | | | 1.93 | % | | | 1.80 | % | | | 1.74 | % |
Net investment income/(loss) | | | (0.38 | )(3) | | | (1.58 | ) | | | (1.15 | )(3) | | | (1.47 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | 1.61 | | | | 2.28 | |
Portfolio turnover rate(4) | | | 113 | % | | | 172 | % | | | 110 | % | | | 179 | % | | | 250 | % | | | 192 | % | | | 172 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings at End of Period | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000s) | | $ | 93,300 | | | $ | 93,300 | | | $ | 93,300 | | | $ | 93,300 | | | $ | 89,800 | | | $ | 89,800 | | | $ | 89,800 | |
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 (000s) | | $ | 2,548 | | | $ | 2,743 | | | $ | 2,897 | | | $ | 2,959 | | | $ | 3,019 | | | $ | 2,894 | | | $ | 3,133 | |
* | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(1) | The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1). |
(2) | Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at the closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at price obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Fund's common shares. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Total returns for the period indicated are not annualized. |
(4) | Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized. |
See Notes to the Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 33 |
Clough Global Equity Fund | Financial Highlights |
For a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | | | For the Period Ended October 31, 2014(1) | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2014 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2012 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2011 | |
PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value ‐ beginning of period | | $ | 15.10 | | | $ | 16.47 | | | $ | 17.15 | | | $ | 16.63 | | | $ | 15.53 | | | $ | 17.62 | | | $ | 16.29 | |
Income from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss)* | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.45 | ) | | | (0.17 | ) | | | (0.33 | ) | | | (0.06 | ) | | | 0.21 | | | | 0.30 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments | | | (1.27 | ) | | | 0.46 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 2.33 | | | | 2.32 | | | | (1.14 | ) | | | 2.19 | |
Total Income/(Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (1.42 | ) | | | 0.01 | | | | 0.06 | | | | 2.00 | | | | 2.26 | | | | (0.93 | ) | | | 2.49 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS FROM: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (0.69 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.08 | ) | | | (0.38 | ) | | | (0.87 | ) | | | (1.14 | ) | | | (1.16 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | – | | | | (1.32 | ) | | | (0.66 | ) | | | (1.10 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | – | | | | – | |
Tax return of capital | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | – | |
Total Distributions to Common Shareholders | | | (0.69 | ) | | | (1.36 | ) | | | (0.74 | ) | | | (1.48 | ) | | | (1.16 | ) | | | (1.16 | ) | | | (1.16 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dilutive impact of capital share transactions* | | | – | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Total Capital Share Transactions | | | – | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Net asset value ‐ end of period | | $ | 12.99 | | | $ | 15.10 | | | $ | 16.47 | | | $ | 17.15 | | | $ | 16.63 | | | $ | 15.53 | | | $ | 17.62 | |
Market price ‐ end of period | | $ | 10.83 | | | $ | 12.92 | | | $ | 14.34 | | | $ | 15.42 | | | $ | 14.70 | | | $ | 13.09 | | | $ | 15.37 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investment Return ‐ Net Asset Value:(2) | | | (8.63 | )% | | | 0.76 | % | | | 0.86 | % | | | 13.57 | % | | | 16.90 | % | | | (4.08 | )% | | | 17.05 | % |
Total Investment Return ‐ Market Price:(2) | | | (10.97 | )% | | | (0.98 | )% | | | (2.33 | )% | | | 15.52 | % | | | 22.60 | % | | | (7.32 | )% | | | 16.07 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s) | | $ | 229,334 | | | $ | 266,576 | | | $ | 293,829 | | | $ | 305,958 | | | $ | 296,710 | | | $ | 277,061 | | | $ | 314,355 | |
Ratios to average net assets attributable to common shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total expenses | | | 4.61 | %(3) | | | 4.56 | % | | | 3.68 | %(3) | | | 3.76 | % | | | 3.67 | % | | | 3.43 | % | | | 3.23 | % |
Total expenses excluding interest expense and dividends on short sales expense | | | 2.71 | %(3) | | | 2.77 | % | | | 2.42 | %(3) | | | 2.36 | % | | | 2.35 | % | | | 2.18 | % | | | 2.10 | % |
Net investment income/(loss) | | | (2.17 | )%(3) | | | (2.73 | )% | | | (1.68 | )%(3) | | | (1.95 | )% | | | (0.37 | )% | | | 1.34 | % | | | 1.87 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(4) | | | 98 | % | | | 154 | % | | | 102 | % | | | 166 | % | | | 250 | % | | | 183 | % | | | 173 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings at End of Period | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000s) | | $ | 156,000 | | | $ | 156,000 | | | $ | 156,000 | | | $ | 156,000 | | | $ | 147,000 | | | $ | 147,000 | | | $ | 147,000 | |
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 (000s) | | $ | 2,470 | | | $ | 2,709 | | | $ | 2,884 | | | $ | 2,961 | | | $ | 3,018 | | | $ | 2,885 | | | $ | 3,138 | |
* | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(1) | The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1). |
(2) | Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at the closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at price obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Fund's common shares. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Total returns for the period indicated are not annualized. |
(4) | Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized. |
See Notes to the Financial Statements.
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | Financial Highlights |
For a share outstanding throughout the periods indicated
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | | | For the Period Ended October 31, 2014(1) | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2014 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2013 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2012 | | | For the Year Ended March 31, 2011 | |
PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value ‐ beginning of period | | $ | 12.92 | | | $ | 14.11 | | | $ | 14.67 | | | $ | 14.64 | | | $ | 13.84 | | | $ | 15.72 | | | $ | 14.68 | |
Income from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income/(loss)* | | | (0.10 | ) | | | (0.35 | ) | | | (0.15 | ) | | | (0.32 | ) | | | (0.09 | ) | | | 0.14 | | | | 0.25 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments | | | (0.88 | ) | | | 0.36 | | | | 0.26 | | | | 1.72 | | | | 1.97 | | | | (0.94 | ) | | | 1.87 | |
Total Income/(Loss) from Investment Operations | | | (0.98 | ) | | | 0.01 | | | | 0.11 | | | | 1.40 | | | | 1.88 | | | | (0.80 | ) | | | 2.12 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS FROM: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | (0.60 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (0.11 | ) | | | (1.08 | ) | | | (1.05 | ) | | | (1.08 | ) |
Net realized gains | | | – | | | | (1.19 | ) | | | (0.67 | ) | | | (1.26 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Tax return of capital | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | – | |
Total Distributions to Common Shareholders | | | (0.60 | ) | | | (1.19 | ) | | | (0.67 | ) | | | (1.37 | ) | | | (1.08 | ) | | | (1.08 | ) | | | (1.08 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dilutive impact of capital share transactions* | | | – | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Total Capital Share Transactions | | | – | | | | (0.01 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | | | | – | |
Net asset value ‐ end of period | | $ | 11.34 | | | $ | 12.92 | | | $ | 14.11 | | | $ | 14.67 | | | $ | 14.64 | | | $ | 13.84 | | | $ | 15.72 | |
Market price ‐ end of period | | $ | 9.47 | | | $ | 11.25 | | | $ | 12.18 | | | $ | 12.75 | | | $ | 12.87 | | | $ | 11.78 | | | $ | 13.85 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investment Return ‐ Net Asset Value:(2) | | | (6.74 | )% | | | 1.13 | % | | | 1.39 | % | | | 11.26 | % | | | 15.87 | % | | | (3.88 | )% | | | 16.21 | % |
Total Investment Return ‐ Market Price:(2) | | | (10.56 | )% | | | 1.93 | % | | | 0.70 | % | | | 9.99 | % | | | 19.67 | % | | | (7.14 | )% | | | 15.27 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s) | | $ | 584,892 | | | $ | 666,588 | | | $ | 729,855 | | | $ | 759,084 | | | $ | 757,452 | | | $ | 716,213 | | | $ | 813,178 | |
Ratios to average net assets attributable to common shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total expenses | | | 4.72 | %(3) | | | 4.62 | % | | | 3.86 | %(3) | | | 3.97 | % | | | 3.86 | % | | | 3.61 | % | | | 3.40 | % |
Total expenses excluding interest expense and dividends on short sales expense | | | 2.86 | %(3) | | | 2.82 | % | | | 2.60 | %(3) | | | 2.55 | % | | | 2.52 | % | | | 2.35 | % | | | 2.25 | % |
Net investment income/(loss) | | | (1.79 | )%(3) | | | (2.47 | )% | | | (1.76 | )%(3) | | | (2.15 | )% | | | (0.64 | )% | | | 1.04 | % | | | 1.74 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(4) | | | 103 | % | | | 176 | % | | | 111 | % | | | 178 | % | | | 241 | % | | | 193 | % | | | 171 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings at End of Period | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000s) | | $ | 388,900 | | | $ | 388,900 | | | $ | 388,900 | | | $ | 388,900 | | | $ | 388,900 | | | $ | 388,900 | | | $ | 388,900 | |
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 (000s) | | $ | 2,504 | | | $ | 2,714 | | | $ | 2,877 | | | $ | 2,952 | | | $ | 2,948 | | | $ | 2,842 | | | $ | 3,091 | |
* | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(1) | The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1). |
(2) | Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at the closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at price obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Fund's common shares. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Total returns for the period indicated are not annualized. |
(4) | Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized. |
See Notes to the Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 35 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND OPERATING POLICIES
Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, are closed‐end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). The Funds were organized under the laws of the state of Delaware by an Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 27, 2004 and January 25, 2005, respectively for Clough Global Allocation Fund and Clough Global Equity Fund, and an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 12, 2006, for Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Funds were previously registered as non‐diversified investment companies. As a result of ongoing operations, each of the Funds became a diversified company. The Funds may not resume operating in a non‐diversified manner without first obtaining shareholder approval. Each Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of total return. Each Declaration of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The common shares of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund are listed on the NYSE MKT and trade under the ticker symbols “GLV”, “GLQ” and “GLO” respectively. The Board of Trustees of each Fund announced, on September 12, 2014, that it had approved a change to the Funds' fiscal year‐end from March 31 to October 31.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the financial statements may differ from the value the Funds ultimately realize upon sale of the securities. Each Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP.
The net asset value per share of each Fund is determined no less frequently than daily, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) is open for trading, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). Trading may take place in foreign issues held by the Fund at times when a Fund is not open for business. As a result, each Fund’s net asset value may change at times when it is not possible to purchase or sell shares of a Fund.
Investment Valuation: Securities, including futures contracts, held by each Fund for which exchange quotations are readily available are valued at the last sale price, or if no sale price or if traded on the over‐the‐counter market, at the mean of the bid and asked prices on such day. Most securities listed on a foreign exchange are valued at the last sale price at the close of the exchange on which the security is primarily traded. In certain countries market maker prices are used since they are the most representative of the daily trading activity. Market maker prices are usually the mean between the bid and ask prices. Certain markets are not closed at the time that the Funds price their portfolio securities. In these situations, snapshot prices are provided by the individual pricing services or other alternate sources at the close of the NYSE as appropriate. Securities not traded on a particular day are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and the asked quotes, or the last sale price when appropriate; otherwise fair value will be determined by the board‐appointed fair valuation committee. Debt securities for which the over‐the‐counter market is the primary market are normally valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services or dealers at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices. As authorized by the Board of Trustees, debt securities (including short‐term obligations that will mature in 60 days or less) may be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service which determines valuations based upon market transactions for normal, institutional‐size trading units of securities or a matrix method which considers yield or price of comparable bonds provided by a pricing service. Over‐the‐counter options are valued at the mean between bid and asked prices provided by dealers. Exchange‐traded options are valued at closing settlement prices. Total return swaps are priced based on valuations provided by a Board approved independent third party pricing agent. If a total return swap price cannot be obtained from an independent third party pricing agent the Fund shall seek to obtain a bid price from at least one independent and/or executing broker.
If the price of a security is unavailable in accordance with the aforementioned pricing procedures, or the price of a security is unreliable, e.g., due to the occurrence of a significant event, the security may be valued at its fair value determined by management pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. For this purpose, fair value is the price that a Fund reasonably expects to receive on a current sale of the security. Due to the number of variables affecting the price of a security, however; it is possible that the fair value of a security may not accurately reflect the price that a Fund could actually receive on a sale of the security.
A three‐tier hierarchy has been established to classify fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments as of the reporting period end. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:
Level 1 – | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date; |
Level 2 – | Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and |
Level 3 – | Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. |
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of April 30, 2016, in valuing each Fund’s investments carried at value. The Funds recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period in which the transfer occurred. There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 during the period ended April 30, 2016.
Clough Global Allocation Fund
Investments in Securities at Value* | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | $ | 29,744,629 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 29,744,629 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 914,550 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 914,550 | |
Energy | | | 38,190,860 | | | | 1,323,338 | | | | – | | | | 39,514,198 | |
Financials | | �� | 36,427,386 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 36,427,386 | |
Health Care | | | 17,409,330 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 17,409,330 | |
Industrials | | | 10,247,707 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 10,247,707 | |
Information Technology | | | 15,051,181 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 15,051,181 | |
Materials | | | 2,780,328 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 2,780,328 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 1,745,813 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 1,745,813 | |
Closed‐End Funds | | | 4,688,703 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 4,688,703 | |
Participation Notes | | | – | | | | 2,337,190 | | | | – | | | | 2,337,190 | |
Warrants | | | 11,696 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 11,696 | |
Corporate Bonds | | | – | | | | 26,203,074 | | | | – | | | | 26,203,074 | |
Asset/Mortgage Backed Securities | | | – | | | | 236,624 | | | | – | | | | 236,624 | |
Government & Agency Obligations | | | – | | | | 31,234,626 | | | | – | | | | 31,234,626 | |
Short‐Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money Market Fund | | | 6,706,131 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 6,706,131 | |
TOTAL | | $ | 163,918,314 | | | $ | 61,334,852 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 225,253,166 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts** | | $ | – | | | $ | 2,040 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 2,040 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities Sold Short* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | (36,216,417 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (36,216,417 | ) |
Exchange Traded Funds | | | (15,510,065 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (15,510,065 | ) |
Total Return Swap Contracts** | | | – | | | | (63,599 | ) | | | – | | | | (63,599 | ) |
TOTAL | | $ | (51,726,482 | ) | | $ | (61,559 | ) | | $ | – | | | $ | (51,788,041 | ) |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 37 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Clough Global Equity Fund
Investments in Securities at Value* | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | $ | 57,777,025 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 57,777,025 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 1,507,500 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 1,507,500 | |
Energy | | | 62,302,016 | | | | 2,203,200 | | | | – | | | | 64,505,216 | |
Financials | | | 55,588,676 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 55,588,676 | |
Health Care | | | 28,973,281 | | | | 651,525 | | | | – | | | | 29,624,806 | |
Industrials | | | 18,764,723 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 18,764,723 | |
Information Technology | | | 28,265,327 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 28,265,327 | |
Materials | | | 5,196,292 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 5,196,292 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 2,881,382 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 2,881,382 | |
Participation Notes | | | – | | | | 3,901,117 | | | | – | | | | 3,901,117 | |
Warrants | | | 19,572 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 19,572 | |
Corporate Bonds | | | – | | | | 12,335,421 | | | | – | | | | 12,335,421 | |
Government & Agency Obligations | | | – | | | | 76,242,548 | | | | – | | | | 76,242,548 | |
Short‐Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money Market Fund | | | 10,152,889 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 10,152,889 | |
TOTAL | | $ | 271,428,683 | | | $ | 95,333,811 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 366,762,494 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts** | | $ | – | | | $ | 3,412 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 3,412 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities Sold Short* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | (59,105,263 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (59,105,263 | ) |
Exchange Traded Funds | | | (25,114,108 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (25,114,108 | ) |
Total Return Swap Contracts** | | | – | | | | (106,541 | ) | | | – | | | | (106,541 | ) |
TOTAL | | $ | (84,219,371 | ) | | $ | (103,129 | ) | | $ | – | | | $ | (84,322,500 | ) |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Clough Global Opportunities Fund
Investments in Securities at Value* | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consumer Discretionary | | $ | 132,237,058 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 132,237,058 | |
Consumer Staples | | | 3,758,700 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 3,758,700 | |
Energy | | | 156,879,010 | | | | 5,427,000 | | | | – | | | | 162,306,010 | |
Financials | | | 138,225,787 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 138,225,787 | |
Health Care | | | 71,991,597 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 71,991,597 | |
Industrials | | | 45,979,362 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 45,979,362 | |
Information Technology | | | 66,868,754 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 66,868,754 | |
Materials | | | 13,017,769 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 13,017,769 | |
Telecommunication Services | | | 7,272,723 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 7,272,723 | |
Participation Notes | | | – | | | | 9,616,518 | | | | – | | | | 9,616,518 | |
Warrants | | | 48,732 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 48,732 | |
Corporate Bonds | | | – | | | | 74,456,719 | | | | – | | | | 74,456,719 | |
Government & Agency Obligations | | | – | | | | 184,066,891 | | | | – | | | | 184,066,891 | |
Short‐Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money Market Fund | | | 19,715,100 | | | | – | | | | – | | | | 19,715,100 | |
TOTAL | | $ | 655,994,592 | | | $ | 273,567,128 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 929,561,720 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments | | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts** | | $ | – | | | $ | 8,440 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 8,440 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Securities Sold Short* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | (149,136,146 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (149,136,146 | ) |
Exchange Traded Funds | | | (63,851,788 | ) | | | – | | | | – | | | | (63,851,788 | ) |
Total Return Swap Contracts** | | | – | | | | (262,788 | ) | | | – | | | | (262,788 | ) |
TOTAL | | $ | (212,987,934 | ) | | $ | (254,348 | ) | | $ | – | | | $ | (213,242,282 | ) |
* | For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Statement of Investments. |
** | Swap contracts are reported at their unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) at measurement date, which represents the change in the contract's value from trade date. |
In the event a Board approved independent pricing service is unable to provide an evaluated price for a security or Clough Capital Partners L.P. (the “Adviser” or “Clough”) believes the price provided is not reliable, securities of each Fund may be valued at fair value as described above. In these instances the Adviser may seek to find an alternative independent source, such as a broker/dealer to provide a price quote, or by using evaluated pricing models similar to the techniques and models used by the independent pricing service. These fair value measurement techniques may utilize unobservable inputs (Level 3).
On a monthly basis, the Fair Value Committee of each Fund meets and discusses securities that have been fair valued during the preceding month in accordance with the Funds’ Fair Value Procedures and reports quarterly to the Board of Trustees on the results of those meetings.
For the period ended April 30, 2016, the Funds did not have significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) used in determining fair value. Therefore, a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value is not applicable.
Foreign Securities: Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in foreign securities. In the event that a Fund executes a foreign security transaction, the Fund will generally enter into a foreign currency spot contract to settle the foreign security transaction. Foreign securities may carry more risk than U.S. securities, such as political, market and currency risks.
The accounting records of each Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the closing rates of exchange at period end. Amounts related to the purchase and sale of foreign securities and investment income are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 39 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on investments is reported with investment securities realized and unrealized gains and losses in the Funds’ Statements of Operations.
A foreign currency spot contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date, at a negotiated rate. Each Fund may enter into foreign currency spot contracts to settle specific purchases or sales of securities denominated in a foreign currency and for protection from adverse exchange rate fluctuation. Risks to a Fund include the potential inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract.
The net U.S. dollar value of foreign currency underlying all contractual commitments held by a Fund and the resulting unrealized appreciation or depreciation are determined using prevailing forward foreign currency exchange rates. Unrealized appreciation and depreciation on foreign currency spot contracts are reported in the Funds’ Statements of Assets and Liabilities as a receivable or a payable and in the Funds’ Statements of Operations with the change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. These spot contracts are used by the broker to settle investments denominated in foreign currencies.
A Fund may realize a gain or loss upon the closing or settlement of the foreign transactions, excluding investment securities. Such realized gains and losses are reported with all other foreign currency gains and losses in the Statements of Operations.
Exchange Traded Funds: The Fund may invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), which are funds whose shares are traded on a national exchange. ETFs may be based on underlying equity or fixed income securities, as well as commodities or currencies. ETFs do not sell individual shares directly to investors and only issue their shares in large blocks known as “creation units.” The investor purchasing a creation unit then sells the individual shares on a secondary market. Although similar diversification benefits may be achieved through an investment in another investment company, ETFs generally offer greater liquidity and lower expenses. Because an ETF incurs its own fees and expenses, shareholders of a Fund investing in an ETF will indirectly bear those costs. Such Funds will also incur brokerage commissions and related charges when purchasing or selling shares of an ETF. Unlike typical investment company shares, which are valued once daily, shares in an ETF may be purchased or sold on a securities exchange throughout the trading day at market prices that are generally close to the NAV of the ETF.
Short Sales: Each Fund may sell a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the fair value of that security. When a Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker‐dealer through which it made the short sale. A gain, limited to the price at which a Fund sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited in size, will be recognized upon the termination of the short sale.
Each Fund's obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker‐dealer, usually cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities. Each Fund will also be required to designate on its books and records similar collateral with its custodian to the extent, if any, necessary so that the aggregate collateral value is at all times at least equal to the current market value of the security sold short. The cash amount is reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Deposit with broker for securities sold short which is held with one counterparty. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to short sales. The interest incurred by the Funds is reported on the Statements of Operations as Interest expense – margin account. Interest amounts payable are reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Interest payable – margin account.
Each Fund may also sell a security short if it owns at least an equal amount of the security sold short or another security convertible or exchangeable for an equal amount of the security sold short without payment of further compensation (a short sale against‐the‐box). In a short sale against‐the‐box, the short seller is exposed to the risk of being forced to deliver stock that it holds to close the position if the borrowed stock is called in by the lender, which would cause gain or loss to be recognized on the delivered stock. Each Fund expects normally to close its short sales against‐the‐box by delivering newly acquired stock. Since the Funds intend to hold securities sold short for the short term, these securities are excluded from the purchases and sales of investment securities in Note 4 and the Fund’s Portfolio Turnover in the Financial Highlights.
Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities: The following discloses the Funds’ use of derivative instruments and hedging activities.
The Funds’ investment objectives not only permit the Funds to purchase investment securities, they also allow the Funds to enter into various types of derivative contracts, including, but not limited to, purchased and written options, swaps, futures and warrants. In doing so, the Funds will employ strategies in differing combinations to permit them to increase, decrease, or change the level or types of exposure to market factors. Central to those strategies are features inherent to derivatives that make them more attractive for this purpose than equity securities; they require little or no initial cash investment, they can focus exposure on only certain selected risk factors, and they may not require the ultimate receipt or delivery of the underlying security (or securities) to the contract. This may allow the Funds to pursue their objectives more quickly and efficiently than if they were to make direct purchases or sales of securities capable of affecting a similar response to market factors.
Risk of Investing in Derivatives: The Funds’ use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Funds are using derivatives to decrease or hedge exposures to market risk factors for securities held by the Funds, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected, resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Derivatives may have little or no initial cash investment relative to their market value exposure and therefore can produce significant gains or losses in excess of their cost. This use of embedded leverage allows the Funds to increase their market value exposure relative to their net assets and can substantially increase the volatility of the Funds’ performance.
Additional associated risks from investing in derivatives also exist and potentially could have significant effects on the valuation of the derivative and the Funds. Typically, the associated risks are not the risks that the Funds are attempting to increase or decrease exposure to, per their investment objectives, but are the additional risks from investing in derivatives.
Examples of these associated risks are liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Funds will not be able to sell the derivative in the open market in a timely manner, and counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Funds. Associated risks can be different for each type of derivative and are discussed by each derivative type in the notes that follow.
Each Fund may acquire put and call options and options on stock indices and enter into stock index futures contracts, certain credit derivatives transactions and short sales in connection with its equity investments. In connection with a Fund's investments in debt securities, it may enter into related derivatives transactions such as interest rate futures, swaps and options thereon and certain credit derivatives transactions. Derivatives transactions of the types described above subject a Fund to increased risk of principal loss due to imperfect correlation or unexpected price or interest rate movements. Each Fund also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivatives contracts purchased by a Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivatives contract due to financial difficulties, each Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivatives contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. Each Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
Market Risk Factors: In addition, in pursuit of their investment objectives, certain Funds may seek to use derivatives, which may increase or decrease exposure to the following market risk factors:
Equity Risk: Equity risk relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market.
Foreign Exchange Rate Risk: Foreign exchange rate risk relates to the change in the U.S. dollar value of a security held that is denominated in a foreign currency. The value of a foreign currency denominated security will decrease as the dollar appreciates against the currency, while the value of the foreign currency denominated security will increase as the dollar depreciates against the currency.
Option Writing/Purchasing: Each Fund may purchase or write (sell) put and call options. One of the risks associated with purchasing an option among others, is that a Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, a Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to options. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to written options. The interest incurred on the Funds is reported on the Statements of Operations as Interest expense – margin account. Interest amounts payable by the Funds are reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Interest payable – margin account.
When a Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by a Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by a Fund on the expiration date as realized gains. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is recorded as a realized gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether a Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by a Fund. Each Fund, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.
There was no Written option activity for the period ended April 30, 2016.
Futures Contracts: Each Fund may enter into futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or currency (or to deliver a final cash settlement price in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract) for a set price at a future date. If a Fund buys a security futures contract, the Fund enters into a contract to purchase the underlying security and is said to be “long” under the contract. If a Fund sells a security futures contact, the Fund enters into a contract to sell the underlying security and is said to be “short” under the contract. The price at which the contract trades (the “contract price”) is determined by relative buying and selling interest on a regulated exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and an appropriate payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”) is recorded by the Fund. Such payables or receivables are recorded for financial statement purposes as variation margin payable or variation margin receivable by each Fund. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to futures contracts. The cash amount is reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Deposit with broker for futures contracts which is held with one counterparty.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 41 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
The Funds enter into such transactions for hedging and other appropriate risk‐management purposes or to increase return. While a Fund may enter into futures contracts for hedging purposes, the use of 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 Funds’ portfolio holdings and 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.
Futures contract transactions may result in losses substantially in excess of the variation margin. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the hedging vehicle and in the portfolio securities being hedged. An incorrect correlation could result in a loss on both the hedged securities in a Fund and the hedging vehicle so that the portfolio return might have been greater had hedging not been attempted. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures contract. Lack of a liquid market for any reason may prevent a Fund from liquidating an unfavorable position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risk if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts. With exchange‐traded futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Funds since futures contracts are exchange‐traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange‐traded futures contracts, guarantees the futures contracts against default.
Swaps: During the period each Fund engaged in total return swaps. A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. Each Fund may utilize swap agreements as a means to gain exposure to certain assets and/or to “hedge” or protect the Fund from adverse movements in securities prices or interest rates. Each Fund is subject to equity risk and interest rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective through investments in swap contracts. Swap agreements entail the risk that a party will default on its payment obligation to a Fund. If the other party to a swap defaults, a Fund would risk the loss of the net amount of the payments that it contractually is entitled to receive. If each Fund utilizes a swap at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, the swap may result in a loss to the Fund and reduce the Fund’s total return.
Total return swaps involve an exchange by two parties in which one party makes payments based on a set rate, either fixed or variable, while the other party makes payments based on the return of an underlying asset, which includes both the income it generates and any capital gains over the payment period. A Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or credit risk is the discounted value of the payments to be received from/paid to the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that the amount is positive. The risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between a Fund and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral to a Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to swap contracts. The cash amount is reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Deposit with brokers for total return swap contracts which is held with two counterparties.
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreements”) govern OTC financial derivative transactions entered into by a Fund and those counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral and events of default or termination. Events of termination include conditions that may entitle counterparties to elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable ISDA Master Agreement. Any election to early terminate could be material to the financial statements.
During the period ended April 30, 2016, the Funds invested in swap agreements consistent with the Funds’ investment strategies to gain exposure to certain markets or indices.
Warrants/Rights: Each Fund may purchase or otherwise receive warrants or rights. Warrants and rights generally give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise, a security of the issuer at a set price. Funds typically use warrants and rights in a manner similar to their use of purchased options on securities, as described in options above. Risks associated with the use of warrants and rights are generally similar to risks associated with the use of purchased options. However, warrants and rights often do not have standardized terms, and may have longer maturities and may be less liquid than exchange‐traded options. In addition, the terms of warrants or rights may limit each Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants or rights at such times and in such quantities as each Fund would otherwise wish. Each Fund held no rights at the end of the year.
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
The effect of derivatives instruments on each Fund’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2016:
| Asset Derivatives | | | |
Risk Exposure | Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | | |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts | | $ | 2,040 | |
Equity Contracts (Warrants) | Investments, at value | | | 11,696 | |
Total | | | $ | 13,736 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | | | |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts | | $ | 3,412 | |
Equity Contracts (Warrants) | Investments, at value | | | 19,572 | |
Total | | | $ | 22,984 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | | | |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts | | $ | 8,440 | |
Equity Contracts (Warrants) | Investments, at value | | | 48,732 | |
Total | | | $ | 57,172 | |
| | | | | |
| Liability Derivatives | | | | |
Risk Exposure | Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location | | Fair Value | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | | | |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts | | $ | 63,599 | |
Total | | | $ | 63,599 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | | | |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts | | $ | 106,541 | |
Total | | | $ | 106,541 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | | | |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts | | $ | 262,788 | |
Total | | | $ | 262,788 | |
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 43 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
The effect of derivatives instruments on each Fund’s Statements of Operations for the period ended April 30, 2016:
Risk Exposure | Statements of Operations Location | | Realized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | | | | | |
Foreign Currency Contracts (Futures Contracts) | Net realized gain/(loss) on futures contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures contracts | | $ | (420,652 | ) | | $ | (10,225 | ) |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts | | | (691,258 | ) | | | 179,838 | |
Equity Contracts (Warrants) | Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities | | | – | | | | (2,924 | ) |
Total | | | $ | (1,111,910 | ) | | $ | 166,689 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign Currency Contracts (Futures Contracts) | Net realized gain/(loss) on futures contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures contracts | | $ | (689,063 | ) | | $ | (17,108 | ) |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts | | | (2,119,698 | ) | | | 486,548 | |
Equity Contracts (Warrants) | Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities | | | – | | | | (4,893 | ) |
Total | | | $ | (2,808,761 | ) | | $ | 464,547 | |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
Risk Exposure | Statements of Operations Location | | Realized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | | | Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | | | | | |
Foreign Currency Contracts (Futures Contracts) | Net realized gain/(loss) on futures contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures contracts | | $ | (1,752,233 | ) | | $ | (43,457 | ) |
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts) | Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts | | | (2,811,097 | ) | | | 704,437 | |
Equity Contracts (Warrants) | Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities | | | – | | | | (12,184 | ) |
Total | | | $ | (4,563,330 | ) | | $ | 648,796 | |
The average total return swap contracts notional amount during the period ended April 30, 2016, is noted below for each of the Funds.
Fund | | Average Swap Contract Notional Amount | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | $ | 2,764,454 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | 5,789,434 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | 11,397,015 | |
The average warrant market value during the period ended April 30, 2016, is noted below for each of the Funds.
Fund | | Average Warrant Market Value | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | $ | 13,158 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | 22,019 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | 54,824 | |
The average futures contracts volume during the period ended April 30, 2016, is noted below for each of the Funds.
Fund | | Average Futures Contract Volume | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | 31 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | 50 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | 129 | |
Certain derivative contracts are executed under either standardized netting agreements or, for exchange-traded derivatives, the relevant contracts for a particular exchange which contain enforceable netting provisions. A derivative netting arrangement creates an enforceable right of set-off that becomes effective, and affects the realization of settlement on individual assets, liabilities and collateral amounts, only following a specified event of default or early termination. Default events may include the failure to make payments or deliver securities timely, material adverse changes in financial condition or insolvency, the breach of minimum regulatory capital requirements, or loss of license, charter or other legal authorization necessary to perform under the contract.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 45 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
The following tables present derivative financial instruments that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements as of April 30, 2016.
Offsetting of Derivatives Assets
| | | | | | | | | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities | |
Description | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets | | | Gross Amounts Offset in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities | | | Net Amounts Presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities | | | Financial Instruments(a) | | | Cash Collateral Received(a) | | | Net Amount | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts | | $ | 2,040 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 2,040 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 2,040 | |
Total | | $ | 2,040 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 2,040 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 2,040 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts | | $ | 3,412 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 3,412 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 3,412 | |
Total | | $ | 3,412 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 3,412 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 3,412 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts | | $ | 8,440 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 8,440 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 8,440 | |
Total | | $ | 8,440 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 8,440 | | | $ | – | | | $ | – | | | $ | 8,440 | |
Offsetting of Derivatives Liabilities
| | | | | | | | | | | Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities | |
Description | | Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities | | | Gross Amounts Offset in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities | | | Net Amounts Presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities | | | Financial Instruments(a) | | | Cash Collateral Pledged(a) | | | Net Amount | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts | | $ | 63,599 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 63,599 | | | $ | – | | | $ | (63,599 | ) | | $ | – | |
Total | | $ | 63,599 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 63,599 | | | $ | – | | | $ | (63,599 | ) | | $ | – | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts | | $ | 106,541 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 106,541 | | | $ | – | | | $ | (106,541 | ) | | $ | – | |
Total | | $ | 106,541 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 106,541 | | | $ | – | | | $ | (106,541 | ) | | $ | – | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return Swap Contracts | | $ | 262,788 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 262,788 | | | $ | – | | | $ | (262,788 | ) | | $ | – | |
Total | | $ | 262,788 | | | $ | – | | | $ | 262,788 | | | $ | – | | | $ | (262,788 | ) | | $ | – | |
(a) | These amounts are limited to the derivative asset/liability balance and, accordingly, do not include excess collateral received/pledged, which is disclosed in the Statement of Investments. |
Income Taxes: Each Fund’s policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. As of and during the period ended April 30, 2016, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return but which can be extended to six years in certain circumstances. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
Distributions to Shareholders: Each Fund intends to make a level dividend distribution each month to Common Shareholders after payment of interest on any outstanding borrowings. The level dividend rate may be modified by the Board of Trustees from time to time. Any net capital gains earned by a Fund are distributed at least annually to the extent necessary to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Distributions to shareholders are recorded by each Fund on the ex-dividend date. Each Fund has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act, and Rule 19b-1 there under permitting each Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains, provided that the distribution policy of a Fund with respect to its Common Shares calls for periodic (e.g. quarterly/monthly) distributions in an amount equal to a fixed percentage of each Fund’s average net asset value over a specified period of time or market price per common share at or about the time of distributions or pay-out of a level dollar amount.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Investment security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Dividend income and Dividend expense-short sales are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividend income from foreign securities will be recorded, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, as soon as a Fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date and may be subject to withholding taxes in these jurisdictions. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends are paid (a portion of which may be reclaimable) or provided for in accordance with the applicable country’s tax rules and rates and are disclosed in the Statements of Operations. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities are determined using the identified cost basis for both financial reporting and income tax purposes.
Counterparty Risk: Each of the Funds run the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract, a borrower of each Fund’s securities or the obligor of an obligation underlying an asset-backed security will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest, or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. In addition, to the extent that each of the Funds use over-the-counter derivatives, and/or has significant exposure to a single counterparty, this risk will be particularly pronounced for each of the Funds.
Other Risk Factors: Investing in the Funds may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, the following:
Unforeseen developments in market conditions may result in the decline of prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the Funds. These events may have adverse effects on the Funds such as a decline in the value and liquidity of many securities held by the Funds, and a decrease in net asset value. Such unforeseen developments may limit or preclude the Funds’ ability to achieve their investment objective.
Investing in stocks may involve larger price fluctuation and greater potential for loss than other types of investments. This may cause the securities held by the Funds to be subject to larger short-term declines in value.
The Funds may have elements of risk due to concentrated investments in foreign issuers located in a specific country. Such concentrations may subject the Funds to additional risks resulting from future political or economic conditions and/or possible impositions of adverse foreign governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers have unique risks not present in securities of U.S. issuers, such as greater price volatility and less liquidity.
Fixed income securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that a security could have its credit rating downgraded or that the issuer of the security could fail to make timely payments or default on payments of interest or principal. Additionally, fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, meaning the decline in the price of debt securities that accompanies a rise in interest rates. Bonds with longer maturities are subject to greater price fluctuations than bonds with shorter maturities.
The Funds invest in bonds which are rated below investment grade. These high yield bonds may be more susceptible than higher grade bonds to real or perceived adverse economic or industry conditions. The secondary market, on which high yield bonds are traded, may also be less liquid than the market for higher grade bonds.
2. TAXES
Classification of Distributions: Net investment income/(loss) and net realized gain/(loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes. The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain was recorded by the Funds.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 47 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
| April 30, 2016 (Unaudited) |
The tax character of the distributions paid by the Funds during the year ended October 31, 2015, were as follows:
| | Long-Term Capital | |
| | Ordinary Income | | | Gains | | | Total | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | | | | | | | |
October 31, 2015 | | $ | 1,688,646 | | | $ | 13,007,707 | | | $ | 14,696,353 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
October 31, 2015 | | $ | 1,958,287 | | | $ | 22,227,607 | | | $ | 24,185,894 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | |
October 31, 2015 | | $ | 6,132,133 | | | $ | 55,380,129 | | | $ | 61,512,262 | |
Tax Basis of Investments: Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments based on federal tax cost as of April 30, 2016, were as follows:
| | Clough Global Allocation Fund | | | Clough Global Equity Fund | | | Clough Global Opportunities Fund | |
Gross appreciation (excess of value over tax cost) | | $ | 8,880,002 | | | $ | 15,582,155 | | | $ | 29,600,865 | |
Gross depreciation (excess of tax cost over value) | | | (10,360,415 | ) | | | (18,886,487 | ) | | | (46,670,249 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation | | $ | (1,480,413 | ) | | $ | (3,304,332 | ) | | $ | (17,069,384 | ) |
Cost of investments for income tax purposes | | $ | 226,733,579 | | | $ | 370,066,826 | | | $ | 946,631,104 | |
The difference between book and tax basis unrealized depreciation is attributable primarily to wash sales and tax treatment of certain other investments.
3. CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
Common Shares: There are an unlimited number of no par value common shares of beneficial interest authorized for each Fund.
The Board of Trustees of each Fund announced, on April 20, 2015, that it had approved a share repurchase program in accordance with Section 23(c) of the 1940 Act. Under the share repurchase program, each Fund may purchase up to 5% of its outstanding common shares as of April 9, 2015, in the open market, through the Funds’ fiscal year end of October 31, 2015. The Board of Trustees of each Fund approved, in October 2015, to extend the share repurchase program through the Funds’ fiscal year end of October 31, 2016.
Transactions in common shares were as follows:
| | Clough Global Allocation Fund | |
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | |
Common Shares Outstanding - beginning of period | | | 10,392,606 | | | | 10,434,606 | |
Repurchase of Fund Shares | | | – | | | | (42,000 | ) |
Common Shares Outstanding - end of period | | | 10,392,606 | | | | 10,392,606 | |
Transactions in common shares were as follows:
| | Clough Global Equity Fund | |
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | |
Common Shares Outstanding - beginning of period | | | 17,653,305 | | | | 17,840,705 | |
Repurchase of Fund Shares | | | – | | | | (187,400 | ) |
Common Shares Outstanding - end of period | | | 17,653,305 | | | | 17,653,305 | |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Transactions in common shares were as follows:
| | Clough Global Opportunities Fund | |
| | For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 | | | For the Year Ended October 31, 2015 | |
Common Shares Outstanding - beginning of period | | | 51,574,059 | | | | 51,736,859 | |
Repurchase of Fund Shares | | | – | | | | (162,800 | ) |
Common Shares Outstanding - end of period | | | 51,574,059 | | | | 51,574,059 | |
During the year ended October 31, 2015, 42,000, 187,400 and 162,800 shares of common stock were repurchased at a total purchase price of $609,034, $2,726,913 and $1,936,592 for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. These transactions reflect a weighted average discount from net asset value per share of 13.45%, 11.45% and 14.19% for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively.
Purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding securities sold short intended to be held for less than one year and short-term securities, for the period ended April 30, 2016, are listed in the table below.
Fund | | Cost of Investments Purchased | | | Proceeds From Investments Sold | | | Purchases of Long-Term U.S. Government Obligations | | | Proceeds from Sales of Long-Term U.S. Government Obligations | |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | | $ | 184,003,677 | | | $ | 195,026,857 | | | $ | 72,877,018 | | | $ | 62,120,397 | |
Clough Global Equity Fund | | | 253,215,362 | | | | 289,137,815 | | | | 106,723,166 | | | | 56,061,754 | |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | | | 671,452,314 | | | | 745,499,024 | | | | 279,842,348 | | | | 183,890,613 | |
5. | INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENTS |
Clough serves as each Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (each an “Advisory Agreement” and collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”) with each Fund. As compensation for its services to the Fund, Clough receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.70%, 0.90% and 1.00% based on Clough Global Allocation Fund’s, Clough Global Equity Fund’s and Clough Global Opportunities Fund’s, respectively, average daily total assets, computed daily and payable monthly. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as each Fund’s administrator pursuant to an Administration, Bookkeeping and Pricing Services Agreement with each Fund. As compensation for its services to each Fund, ALPS receives an annual administration fee based on each Fund’s average daily total assets, computed daily and payable monthly. ALPS will pay all expenses incurred by each Fund, with the exception of advisory fees, trustees’ fees, portfolio transaction expenses, litigation expenses, taxes, expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing fund shares, costs of preferred shares, and extraordinary expenses.
Both Clough and ALPS are considered to be “affiliates” of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act.
6. | COMMITTED FACILITY AGREEMENT AND LENDING AGREEMENT |
Each Fund entered into a financing package that includes a Committed Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated January 16, 2009, as amended, between each Fund and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (“BNP”) that allows each Fund to borrow funds from BNP. Each Fund is currently borrowing the maximum commitment covered by the agreement. Borrowings under the Agreement are secured by assets of each Fund that are held by a Fund’s custodian in a separate account (the “pledged collateral”) valued at $149,809,681, $242,445,372 and $599,198,354 for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. Each Fund may, with 30 days notice, reduce the Maximum Commitment Financing (Initial Limit amount plus the increased borrowing amount in excess of the Initial Limit) to a lesser amount if drawing on the full amount would result in a violation of the applicable asset coverage requirement of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Interest is charged at the three month LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus 0.70% on the amount borrowed and 0.65% on the undrawn balance. Each Fund also pays a one-time arrangement fee of 0.25% on (i) the Initial Limit and (ii) any increased borrowing amount in the excess of the Initial Limit, paid in monthly installments for the six months immediately following the date on which borrowings were drawn by the Fund.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 49 |
Clough Global Funds | Notes to Financial Statements |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
The Agreement was amended on December 31, 2013, to increase the Maximum Commitment Financing to $93,300,000 for the Clough Global Allocation Fund and $156,000,000 for the Clough Global Equity Fund. For the period ended April 30, 2016, the average borrowings outstanding for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund under the agreement were $93,300,000, $156,000,000 and $388,900,000, respectively, and the average interest rate for the borrowings was 1.27%. As of April 30, 2016, the outstanding borrowings for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $93,300,000, $156,000,000 and $388,900,000, respectively. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund on April 30, 2016, was 1.34%.
The Lending Agreement is a separate side-agreement between each Fund and BNP pursuant to which BNP may borrow a portion of the pledged collateral (the “Lent Securities”) in an amount not to exceed the outstanding borrowings owed by a Fund to BNP under the Agreement. The Lending Agreement is intended to permit each Fund to significantly reduce the cost of its borrowings under the Agreement. BNP has the ability to reregister the Lent Securities in its own name or in another name other than the Fund to pledge, re-pledge, sell, lend or otherwise transfer or use the collateral with all attendant rights of ownership. (It is each Fund’s understanding that BNP will perform due diligence to determine the creditworthiness of any party that borrows Lent Securities from BNP.) Each Fund may designate any security within the pledged collateral as ineligible to be a Lent Security, provided there are eligible securities within the pledged collateral in an amount equal to the outstanding borrowing owed by a Fund. During the year in which the Lent Securities are outstanding, BNP must remit payment to each Fund equal to the amount of all dividends, interest or other distributions earned or made by the Lent Securities.
Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, the Lent Securities are marked to market daily, and if the value of the Lent Securities exceeds the value of the then-outstanding borrowings owed by a Fund to BNP under the Agreement (the “Current Borrowings”), BNP must, on that day, either (1) return Lent Securities to each Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings; or (2) post cash collateral with each Fund’s custodian equal to the difference between the value of the Lent Securities and the value of the Current Borrowings. If BNP fails to perform either of these actions as required, each Fund will recall securities, as discussed below, in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings. Each Fund can recall any of the Lent Securities and BNP shall, to the extent commercially possible, return such security or equivalent security to each Fund’s custodian no later than three business days after such request. If a Fund recalls a Lent Security pursuant to the Lending Agreement, and BNP fails to return the Lent Securities or equivalent securities in a timely fashion, BNP shall remain liable for the ultimate delivery to each Fund’s custodian of such Lent Securities, or equivalent securities, and for any buy-in costs that the executing broker for the sales transaction may impose with respect to the failure to deliver. Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, each Fund shall have the right to apply and set-off an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then current fair market value of such Lent Securities against the Current Borrowings. As of April 30, 2016, the market value of the Lent Securities for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $78,191,277, $133,264,090 and $342,698,874, respectively.
The Board of Trustees has approved each Agreement and the Lending Agreement. No violations of the Agreement or the Lending Agreement have occurred during the period ended April 30, 2016.
Each Fund receives income from BNP based on the value of the Lent Securities. This income is recorded as Hypothecated securities income on the Statements of Operations. The interest incurred on borrowed amounts is recorded as Interest on loan in the Statements of Operations, a part of Total Expenses.
The Independent Trustees of each Fund receive from each Fund a quarterly retainer of $3,500 and an additional $1,500 for each board meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of each Fund receives a quarterly retainer from each Fund of $4,200 and an additional $1,800 for each board meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee of each Fund receives a quarterly retainer from each Fund of $3,850 and an additional $1,650 for each board meeting attended.
Clough Global Funds | Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
Unless the registered owner of Common Shares elects to receive cash by contacting DST Sytems, Inc. (the “Plan Administrator”), all dividends declared on Common Shares will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Administrator for shareholders in each Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), in additional Common Shares. Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Administrator as dividend disbursing agent. You may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by contacting the Plan Administrator, as dividend disbursing agent, at the address set forth below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Administrator prior to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on your behalf and may re–invest that cash in additional Common Shares for you. If you wish for all dividends declared on your Common Shares to be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, please contact your broker.
The Plan Administrator will open an account for each Common Shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such Common Shareholder’s Common Shares are registered. Whenever a Fund declares a dividend or other distribution (together, a “Dividend”) payable in cash, non– participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Shares. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from a Fund (“Newly Issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“Open–Market Purchases”) on the American Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commissions per Common Share is equal to or greater than the net asset value per Common Share, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the net asset value per Common Share on the payment date; provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the net asset value per Common Share is greater than the closing market value plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open–Market Purchases. In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Administrator will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Shares trade on an “ex–dividend” basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is sooner (the “Last Purchase Date”), to invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in Open–Market Purchases. If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its Open–Market Purchases, the market price per Common Share exceeds the net asset value per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator may exceed the net asset value of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open–Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full Dividend amount in Open–Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Administrator may cease making Open–Market Purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares at the net asset value per Common Share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share; the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.
The Plan Administrator maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Administrator on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.
In the case of Common Shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Administrator will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by a Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with Open–Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. Participants that request a sale of Common Shares through the Plan Administrator are subject to brokerage commissions.
Each Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, each Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.
All correspondence or questions concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator, DST Systems, Inc., 333 West 11th Street, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 51 |
Clough Global Funds | Additional Information |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Each Fund’s policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities are available on the Funds’ website at http://www.cloughglobal.com. Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by each Fund for the period ended June 30, are available without charge, upon request, by contacting the Funds at 1-877-256-8445 and on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N–Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N–Q are available without a charge, upon request, by contacting the Funds at 1–877– 256–8445 and on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy Form N–Q at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the Commission at 1–800–SEC–0330.
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that each Fund may purchase at market prices from time to time shares of its common stock in the open market.
SECTION 19(A) NOTICES
The following table sets forth the estimated amount of the sources of distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the related rules adopted there under. Each Fund estimates the following percentages, of the total distribution amount per share, attributable to (i) current and prior fiscal year net investment income, (ii) net realized short-term capital gain, (iii) net realized long-term capital gain and (iv) return of capital or other capital source as a percentage of the total distribution amount. These percentages are disclosed for the fiscal year-to-date cumulative distribution amount per share for each Fund.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in these 19(a) notices are only estimates and not for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.
| Total Cumulative Distributions for the period ended April 30, 2016 | % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the period ended April 30, 2016 |
| Net Investment Income | Net Realized Capital Gains | Return of Capital | Total Per Common Share | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Capital Gains | Return of Capital | Total Per Common Share |
Clough Global Allocation Fund | $0.00000 | $0.59270 | $0.12730 | $0.72000 | 0.00% | 82.32% | 17.68% | 100.00% |
Clough Global Equity Fund | $0.00000 | $0.57500 | $0.11500 | $0.69000 | 0.00% | 83.33% | 16.67% | 100.00% |
Clough Global Opportunities Fund | $0.00000 | $0.18010 | $0.41990 | $0.60000 | 0.00% | 30.02% | 69.98% | 100.00% |
Each Fund’s dividend policy is to distribute all or a portion of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of dividend distributions, each Fund may at times pay out less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular month and may at times in any particular month pay out such accumulated but undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in that month. As a result, the dividends paid by each Fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Fund during such month. Each Fund’s current accumulated but undistributed net investment income, if any, is disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which comprises part of the financial information included in this report.
Clough Global Funds | Investment Advisory Agreement Approval |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
On April 14, 2016, the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) of each of Clough Global Allocation Fund (“GLV”), Clough Global Equity Fund (“GLQ”) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (“GLO” and together with GLV and GLQ, each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) met in person to, among other things, review and consider the renewal of the Investment Advisory Agreement with each Fund (each, an “Advisory Agreement” and collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”). During their review of each Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund (the “Independent Trustees”), as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), considered in general the nature, quality and scope of services to be provided by Clough.
Prior to the beginning of their review of the Advisory Agreements, counsel to the Funds, who also serves as independent counsel to the Independent Trustees, discussed with the Trustees their role and fiduciary responsibilities in general and also specifically under the 1940 Act with respect to the renewal of each Advisory Agreement.
Representatives from Clough discussed Clough’s materials relating to the Trustees’ consideration of renewal of the Advisory Agreements. It was noted that included in the Board materials were responses by Clough to a questionnaire prepared by legal counsel to the Funds to assist the Board in evaluating whether to renew the Advisory Agreements (the “15(c) Materials”). The Board noted that the 15(c) Materials were extensive, and included information relating to: each Fund’s investment results, portfolio composition, advisory fee and expense comparisons and profitability to Clough; financial information regarding Clough; descriptions of policies, including compliance monitoring and portfolio trading practices; information about the personnel providing investment management services to the Funds; and the nature of services provided under each Advisory Agreement.
The Board reviewed the organizational structure and business operations of Clough. The Board also reviewed the qualifications of Clough and its principals to act as each Fund’s investment adviser. The Board considered the professional experience of the portfolio managers, Eric A. Brock, James E. Canty and Charles I. Clough, Jr., Partners at Clough, as well as Robert Zdunczyk, portfolio manager of the Clough Global Allocation Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (collectively, the “Portfolio Managers”), emphasizing that each of the Portfolio Managers had substantial experience as an investment professional. The Trustees acknowledged their familiarity with the expertise and standing in the investment community of the Portfolio Managers, and their satisfaction with the expertise of Clough and the services provided by Clough to the Funds. The Trustees concluded that the portfolio management team was well qualified to serve the Funds in those functions. Recent changes in Clough personnel, including certain additions were noted.
The Board discussed with representatives from Clough various investment products managed by Clough other than the Funds. The Board also considered the adequacy of Clough’s facilities. The Trustees concluded that Clough appeared to have adequate procedures and personnel in place to ensure compliance by Clough with applicable law and with each Fund’s investment objectives and restrictions.
The Board reviewed the terms of the Advisory Agreements, noting that Clough would receive a fee of 0.70%, 0.90% and 1.00% based on the average daily total assets of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. The Trustees reviewed the fees charged by Clough to other clients for which it provides comparable services. The Trustees also reviewed Clough’s balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Trustees further reviewed a profit and loss analysis as it relates to Clough’s advisory business.
The Board reviewed Clough’s procedures relating to compliance and oversight, noting that a copy of Clough’s compliance program was included in the Board materials. The Board further reviewed information provided by Clough on whether Clough has experienced or anticipates it may experience conflicts of interest in managing the Funds. The Board also considered that the materials contained information regarding Clough’s business continuity and disaster recovery plans as well as steps Clough has undertaken to reasonably detect and prevent cybersecurity crimes. The Board also considered information related to Clough’s trading activities and how Clough monitors best execution. The Board discussed the possible benefits Clough may accrue because of its relationship with the Funds as well as potential benefits that accrue to the Funds because of their relationship with Clough. The Board considered that Clough does not realize any direct benefits due to the allocation of brokerage and related transactions on behalf of the Funds.
The Board reviewed materials regarding the comparability of the investment advisory fees of the Funds with the investment advisory fees of other investment companies (each, an “Expense Group”), which had been prepared by Strategic Insight, an Asset International Company (“Strategic Insight”). The Board also considered information in the Strategic Insight report regarding each Fund’s investment performance as well as comparisons of each Fund’s performance with the performance during similar periods of other funds in its Expense Group and comparisons of cost and expense structures of each Fund with the cost and expense structures of other funds in the relevant Expense Group, and related matters.
The Board took into consideration that the Funds may be unique in the registered fund marketplace and that Strategic Insight had a difficult time presenting a large peer group for comparison. For each Fund, the Board compared fees from other leveraged closed-end investment companies that Strategic Insight classified as “global funds” versus Clough Global Allocation Fund’s, Clough Global Equity Fund’s and Clough Global Opportunities Fund’s fees as part of the expense group (the “Expense Group”). The Board considered the extent to which each Fund utilizes leverage and short sales, thereby increasing its investment-related expenses and concluded that the use of leverage and short sales is an important part of each Fund’s investment strategy to attempt to meet each Fund’s investment objective. The Board also considered that they believe investment related expenses are operational in nature and should not be considered a management expense. The Board further considered that Strategic Insight defined investment related expenses to include, but not be limited to, dividends on securities sold short, interest expense, reverse repurchase agreements, swaps, tender costs, and auction fees.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 | 53 |
Clough Global Funds | Investment Advisory Agreement Approval |
April 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
For GLV, the Board considered that the investment advisory fee for managed assets in the Expense Group ranged from GLV’s low of 0.70% to 1.105%, with a median of 0.982%. For GLV, the Board also considered that as prepared by Strategic Insight, the net total expenses for the Expense Group on managed assets, excluding investment related expenses, ranged from GLV’s low of 1.051% to 1.619%, with a median of 1.159%.
For GLQ, the Board considered that the investment advisory fee for managed assets in the Expense Group ranged from 0.850% to 1.000%, with GLQ falling at the median of 0.900%. For GLQ, the Board also considered that as prepared by Strategic Insight, the net total expenses for the Expense Group on managed assets, excluding investment related expenses, ranged from 0.961% to 1.388%, with a median of 1.293% and GLQ at 1.332%.
For GLO, the Board considered that the investment advisory fee for managed assets in the Expense Group ranged from 0.850% to 1.105%, with GLO falling at the median of 1.000%. For GLO, the Board also considered that as prepared by Strategic Insight, the net total expenses for the Expense Group on managed assets, excluding investment related expenses, ranged from 1.119% to 1.619%, with a median of 1.175% and GLO at 1.353%.
The Trustees reviewed each Fund’s performance as compared to the performance of each Fund’s Expense Group for the one year ended February 29, 2016.
| • | For GLV, the annual net total return performance data for GLV’s Expense Group ranged from a high of -6.38% to a low of -30.76% with a median of -12.90%. GLV’s performance was -16.35%. |
| • | For GLQ, the annual net total return performance data for GLQ’s Expense Group ranged from a high of -9.98% to a low of -25.30% with a median of -17.30%. GLQ’s performance was -18.75%. |
| • | For GLO, the annual net total return performance data for GLO’s Expense Group ranged from a high of -6.38% to a low of -30.76% with a median of -12.90%. GLO’s performance was -16.84%. |
The Trustees also reviewed each Fund’s performance as compared to the performance of each Fund’s Expense Group for the one year ended December 31, 2015.
| • | For GLV, the annual net total return performance data for GLV’s Expense Group ranged from a high of 0.91% to a low of -23.09% with a median of -4.34%. GLV’s performance was -4.13%. |
| • | For GLQ, the annual net total return performance data for GLQ’s Expense Group ranged from a high of 3.01% to a low of -19.43% with a median of -4.79%. GLQ’s performance was -4.79%. |
| • | For GLO, the annual net total return performance data for GLO’s Expense Group ranged from a high of 0.91% to a low of -23.09% with a median of -4.59%. GLO’s performance was -4.62%. |
The Independent Trustees met in executive session and with the assistance of legal counsel reviewed and discussed in more detail the information that had been presented relating to Clough, the Advisory Agreements and Clough’s profitability.
After executive session, the Board of Trustees of the Fund, present in person, with the Independent Trustees present in person voting separately, unanimously concluded that the investment advisory fee of 0.70% of Clough Global Allocation Fund’s total assets, 0.90% of Clough Global Equity Fund’s total assets and 1.00% of Clough Global Opportunities Fund’s total assets are fair and reasonable for each respective Fund and that the renewal of the Advisory Agreements is in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders.
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2016 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT