UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-23039
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
(formerly known as Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
101 Munson Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Jennifer Fromm, Esq.
Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary for Registrant
One Financial Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103-2608
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: _(866) 270-7788
Date of fiscal year end: January 31
Date of reporting period: July 31, 2022
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
(a) | The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith. |
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (AIO) (f/k/a Virtus AllianzGI Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund) |
Virtus Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund (CBH) (f/k/a Virtus AllianzGI Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund) |
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund (NCV) (f/k/a Virtus AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund |
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II (NCZ) (f/k/a Virtus AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund II) |
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (ACV) (f/k/a Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund) |
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NFJ) |
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE) (f/k/a Virtus AllianzGI Equity & Convertible Income Fund) |
Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value
FUND DISTRIBUTIONS AND MANAGED DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Board of Trustees (the “Board,” or the “Trustees”) of the Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (“AIO”), Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (“ACV”), Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (“NFJ”), and Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (“NIE”) (each individually a “Fund” or collectively “Funds”) have adopted a Managed Distribution Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan currently provides for AIO and ACV to make a monthly distribution at a rate of $0.15 per share and $0.18 per share, respectively. The Plan currently provides for NFJ and NIE to make a quarterly distribution at a rate of $0.245 per share and $0.50 per share, respectively. Under the terms of the Plan, the Funds seek to maintain a consistent distribution level that may be paid in part or in full from net investment income, realized capital gains, and a return of capital, or a combination thereof. The Plan had no effect on the Funds meeting their principal strategies during the most recent fiscal period and is not expected to have such an effect in future periods.
If a Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains in a particular period, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.”
You should not draw any conclusions about a Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in a Fund’s notices issued pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment results during its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes.
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, without prior notice to shareholders, if it deems such action to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
Information on each Fund is available through the closed-end fund section on the web at
www.Virtus.com. Section 19(a) notices are posted on the website at:
https://www.virtus.com/AIO
https://www.virtus.com/ACV
https://www.virtus.com/NFJ
https://www.virtus.com/NIE
To Virtus Closed-End Fund Shareholders:
Effective July 25, 2022, Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya IM) replaced Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC as a subadviser of your Funds. Each Fund’s portfolio management team transitioned to Voya IM, where they continue to manage your Funds following the same investment objectives and investment strategies. Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (VIA) continues as investment adviser to each Fund under the current investment advisory agreements.
Shareholders of each Fund reviewed in this semiannual report have been asked to approve a new subadvisory agreement by and among the Fund, VIA, and Voya IM. I encourage you to take the time to read the proxy statement for your Fund and vote your shares. Your vote is vital to the outcome of the proposals being presented at the special meeting of shareholders. If you have any questions about these proposals or the new subadvisory arrangement, please visit the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com, or call us at 1-866-270-7788.
This semiannual report reviews the performance of your Fund for the six months ended July 31, 2022. During the reporting period, market volatility increased as investors contended with higher inflation, rising interest rates, and efforts by the Federal Reserve (Fed) to tighten monetary policy. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February led to higher energy and food costs, adding to the uncertainty. By the end of the period, however, the markets began to respond to positive signs about inflation and corporate earnings.
We appreciate your business and remain committed to your long-term financial success.
Sincerely,
George R. Aylward
President and Chief Executive Officer, Virtus Closed-End Funds
September 2022
Refer to the Manager’s Discussion section for your Fund’s performance. Performance data quoted represents past results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown above. Investing involves risk, including the risk of loss of principal invested.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund’s (NYSE: AIO) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of current income, current gains and long-term capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The use of leverage currently enables the Fund to borrow at short-term rates and invest at higher yields on its investments. As of July 31, 2022, the Fund’s leverage consisted of $130.0 million of borrowings made pursuant to margin financing and/or securities lending, which represented approximately 15% of the Fund’s total assets.
Manager Comments – Voya Investment Management (Voya IM)
Effective July 25, 2022, the portfolio management team under Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC transitioned to Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya IM”) and continues to manage the Fund. As the asset management business of Voya Financial (NYSE: VOYA), Voya IM seeks to understand and anticipate client needs, delivering differentiated solutions across public and private fixed income, equity, and multi-asset platforms, including private markets and alternatives. The following commentary is provided by the portfolio team at Voya IM and covers the Fund’s performance for the period ended July 31, 2022.
How did the markets perform during the Fund’s fiscal six-month period ended July 31, 2022?
During the six-month period, risk assets sold off sharply. Elevated inflation, global recession fears, rising interest rates, the war in Ukraine, and overseas COVID-19 policies all weighed on investor sentiment. In addition, many corporate management teams provided cautious outlooks, highlighting the difficult operating environment.
U.S. economic reports were mixed, with consumer sentiment reaching a historic low as rising inflation expectations more than offset continued strength in the labor market. Manufacturing and services surveys retreated but continued to demonstrate growth despite economic contraction during the first half of 2022. In addition, U.S. travel increased over the period, with airport screenings exceeding pre-pandemic levels by late June.
In response to May’s inflation report and June’s consumer survey of longer-run inflation expectations, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised interest rates by 0.75% in June, following increases of 0.50% in May and 0.25% in March. At the end of July, the Fed lifted rates by another 0.75%, bringing its target rate range to between 2.25% and 2.50%. The Fed also began quantitative tightening in June. Against this backdrop, U.S. Treasury yields rose sharply, and the slope of the yield curve inverted toward the end of the period. An inverted yield curve occurs when shorter-term bonds are offering a higher yield than longer-term bonds.
Convertible securities were negatively impacted by widening credit spreads, which indicated that investors were demanding a higher additional yield above the risk-free rate, and falling equity prices.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?
For the six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -12.09%. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 50% MSCI AC World Index (net) and 50% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index, returned -9.95%. The underlying indices returned -10.20% for MSCI AC World Index (net) and -9.75% for BofA U.S. Convertibles Index. During the reporting period, the benchmark was changed from the MSCI AC World Index (net) to the composite benchmark to better align with the Fund’s asset class weightings.
In the equity portfolio, relative underperformance during the period was driven by stock selection and industry positioning. Stock selection in the software and health care providers & services industries contributed to relative performance. Conversely, stock selection in the banks and air freight & logistics industries detracted from relative performance.
From an industry allocation perspective, an overweight to the health care providers & services industry contributed to relative performance, while an overweight to the semiconductors & semiconductor equipment industry detracted from relative performance.
Within the convertible securities allocation, technology, consumer discretionary, and media detracted the most from performance. Only one sector – telecommunications – made a positive contribution to performance.
The risk of lower-than-expected growth weighed on high yield bonds during the six-month period. All industries detracted from the Fund’s performance. The top three detractors were technology, gaming, and support services.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Equity Securities: The market price of equity securities may be adversely affected by financial market, industry, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or on small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
Sector Focused Investing: Events negatively affecting a particular industry or market sector in which the portfolio focuses its investments may cause the value of the portfolio to decrease.
Leverage: When a portfolio is leveraged, the value of its securities may be more volatile and all other risks may be compounded.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND, CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND,
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II, DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND, DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND, EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF MARKET PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Manager Comments – Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya IM)
Effective July 25, 2022, the portfolio management team under Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC transitioned to Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya IM”) and continues to manage the Funds. As the asset management business of Voya Financial (NYSE: VOYA), Voya IM seeks to understand and anticipate client needs, delivering differentiated solutions across public and private fixed income, equity, and multi-asset platforms, including private markets and alternatives. The following commentary is provided by the portfolio team at Voya IM and covers the Funds’ performance for the period ended July 31, 2022.
How did the markets perform during the Funds’ fiscal six-month period ended July 31, 2022?
During the six-month period, risk assets sold off sharply. Elevated inflation, global recession fears, rising interest rates, the war in Ukraine, and overseas COVID-19 policies all weighed on investor sentiment. In addition, many corporate management teams provided cautious outlooks, highlighting the difficult operating environment.
U.S. economic reports were mixed, with consumer sentiment reaching a historic low as rising inflation expectations more than offset continued strength in the labor market. Manufacturing and services surveys retreated but continued to demonstrate growth despite economic contraction during the first half of 2022. In addition, U.S. travel increased over the period, with airport screenings exceeding pre-pandemic levels by late June.
In response to May’s inflation report and June’s consumer survey of longer-run inflation expectations, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised interest rates by 0.75% in June, following increases of 0.50% in May and 0.25% in March. At the end of July, the Fed lifted rates by another 0.75%, bringing its target rate range to between 2.25% and 2.50%. The Fed also began quantitative tightening in June. Against this backdrop, U.S. Treasury yields rose sharply, and the slope of the yield curve inverted toward the end of the period. An inverted yield curve occurs when shorter-term bonds are offering a higher yield than longer-term bonds.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund’s (NYSE: CBH) (the “Fund”) investment objectives are to provide a high level of income and to return at least $9.835 per common share (the original net asset value per common share before deducting offering costs of $0.02 per share) to holders of common shares on or about September 1, 2024. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The use of leverage currently enables the Fund to borrow at short-term rates and invest at higher yields on its investments. As of July 31, 2022, the Fund’s leverage consisted of $69.7 million of borrowings made pursuant to margin financing and/or securities lending, which represented approximately 29% of the Fund’s total assets.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?*
For the fiscal six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -3.12%. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 40% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index (representing convertible securities), 45% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield BB-B Constrained Index (representing high yield bonds), and 15% Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index (representing leveraged loans), returned -6.85%. The underlying indexes returned -9.75% for convertible securities, -5.65% for high yield bonds, and -3.01% for leveraged loans.
The Fund delivered a high level of monthly income during the six-month period. With respect to the Fund’s return, the Fund participated in the selloff across risk assets, with most holdings detracting from performance for the period.
Convertible securities were negatively impacted by widening credit spreads, which indicated that investors were demanding a higher additional yield above the risk-free rate, and falling equity prices. Within the Fund’s convertible securities allocation, technology, media, and health care detracted the most from performance. Only one sector – energy – positively contributed to performance.
The risk of lower-than-expected growth weighed on high yield bonds during the six-month period. Underperforming high yield industries included financial services, cable & satellite TV, and basic industry & real estate. Conversely, theaters & entertainment, recreation & travel, and food & drug retailers outperformed.
Among leveraged loans, positive contributions from health care, gaming, and automotive were the most impactful. In contrast, retail, support services, and media hindered performance.
*Please refer to page 4 for the Manager’s Discussion of Market Performance.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
High Yield Fixed Income Securities: There is a greater risk of issuer default, less liquidity, and increased price volatility related to high yield securities than investment grade securities.
Bank Loans: Loans may be unsecured or not fully collateralized, may be subject to restrictions on resale and/or trade infrequently on the secondary market. Loans are subject to credit and call risk, may be difficult to value, and have longer settlement times than other investments, which can make loans relatively illiquid at times.
Leverage: When a portfolio is leveraged, the value of its securities may be more volatile and all other risks may be compounded.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund’s (NYSE: NCV) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and high current income. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The use of leverage currently enables the Fund to have a blended capital structure combining long-term fixed rates and short-term variable rates which allows the Fund to seek to enhance the yields on its investments. As of July 31, 2022, the Fund’s leverage consisted of $323.3 million of borrowings made pursuant to longer-term preferred shares, which represented approximately 45% of the Fund’s total assets.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?*
For the fiscal six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -17.97%. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 60% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index (representing convertible securities) and 40% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index (representing high yield bonds), returned -8.35%. The underlying indexes returned -9.75% for convertible securities and -6.28% for high yield bonds. During the reporting period, the benchmark was changed from 50% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index and 50% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index to 60% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index and 40% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index to better align with the Fund’s asset class weightings.
With respect to the Fund’s return, the Fund participated in the selloff across risk assets, with most holdings detracting from performance for the period.
Convertible securities were negatively impacted by widening credit spreads, which indicated that investors were demanding a higher additional yield above the risk-free rate, and falling equity prices. Within the Fund’s convertible securities allocation, consumer discretionary, technology, and financials detracted the most from performance. Conversely, the sectors that contributed positively to performance were utilities, telecom, and energy.
The risk of lower-than-expected growth weighed on high yield bonds during the six-month period. Underperforming high yield industries included financial services, health care, and recreation & travel, while only theaters & entertainment outperformed.
*Please refer to page 4 for the Manager’s Discussion of Market Performance.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
Leverage: When a portfolio is leveraged, the value of its securities may be more volatile and all other risks may be compounded.
High Yield Fixed Income Securities: There is a greater risk of issuer default, less liquidity, and increased price volatility related to high yield securities than investment grade securities.
Preferred Stocks: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends, or be illiquid.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Convertible & Income Fund II’s (NYSE: NCZ) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and high current income. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The use of leverage currently enables the Fund to have a blended capital structure combining long-term fixed rates and short-term variable rates which allows the Fund to seek to enhance the yields on its investments. As of July 31, 2022, the Fund’s leverage consisted of $271.5 million of borrowings made pursuant to longer-term preferred shares, which represented approximately 48% of the Fund’s total assets.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?*
For the six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -18.06%. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 60% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index (representing convertible securities) and 40% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index (representing high yield bonds), returned -8.35%. The underlying indexes returned -9.75% for convertible securities and -6.28% for high yield bonds. During the reporting period, the benchmark was changed from 50% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index and 50% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index to 60% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index and 40% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index to better align with the Fund’s asset class weightings.
With respect to the Fund’s return, the Fund participated in the selloff across risk assets, with most holdings detracting from performance for the period.
Convertible securities were negatively impacted by widening credit spreads, which indicated that investors were demanding a higher additional yield above the risk-free rate, and falling equity prices. Within the Fund’s convertible securities allocation, consumer discretionary, technology, and financials detracted the most from performance. Conversely, the sectors that contributed positively to performance were utilities, telecom, and energy.
The risk of lower-than-expected growth weighed on high yield bonds during the six-month period. Underperforming high yield industries included financial services, health care, and recreation & travel, while only theaters & entertainment outperformed.
*Please refer to page 4 for the Manager’s Discussion of Market Performance.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
Leverage: When a portfolio is leveraged, the value of its securities may be more volatile and all other risks may be compounded.
High Yield Fixed Income Securities: There is a greater risk of issuer default, less liquidity, and increased price volatility related to high yield securities than investment grade securities.
Preferred Stocks: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends, or be illiquid.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund’s (NYSE: ACV) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation, while seeking to provide downside protection against capital loss. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Fund has a blended capital structure combining long-term fixed rates and short-term variable rates which enable the Fund to seek to enhance the returns and yields on its investments. As of July 31, 2022, the Fund’s leverage consisted of $105.0 million of borrowings made pursuant to long-term senior notes, short-term margin loan financing, and mandatory redeemable preferred shares, which represented approximately 30% of the Fund’s total assets.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?*
For the fiscal six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -13.07%. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 50% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index (representing convertible securities), 25% ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index (representing high yield bonds), and 25% Russell 1000® Growth Index (representing equities), returned -9.32%. The underlying indexes returned -9.75% for convertible securities, -6.28% for high yield bonds, and -11.88% for equities.
With respect to the Fund’s return, the Fund participated in the selloff across risk assets, with most holdings detracting from performance for the period.
Social media and internet services exposures declined due to concerns about lower advertising revenues, while macroeconomic fears partially contributed to weakness in travel-related holdings. Positions in cable & satellite TV, ecommerce, and software companies also underperformed, as did a medical technology issuer and a semiconductor manufacturer, among others.
There were several positive individual contributors within the Fund during the reporting period. Top performers included the stocks of companies that had exposure to energy exploration & production, engineered equipment manufacturing, clean energy storage, and wireless services. Pharmaceutical, biotech, and health services holdings were also sources of strength.
Additionally, many written options positions expired below the strike price, and the Fund was able to retain the set premiums.
*Please refer to page 4 for the Manager’s Discussion of Market Performance.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
Leverage: When a portfolio is leveraged, the value of its securities may be more volatile and all other risks may be compounded.
High Yield Fixed Income Securities: There is a greater risk of issuer default, less liquidity, and increased price volatility related to high yield securities than investment grade securities.
Equity Securities: The market price of equity securities may be adversely affected by financial market, industry, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or on small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
Preferred Stocks: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends, or be illiquid.
Options: Selling call options may limit the opportunity to profit from the increase in price of the underlying asset. Selling put options risks loss if the option is exercised while the price of the underlying asset is rising. Buying options risks loss of the premium paid for those options.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund’s (NYSE: NFJ) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek current income and gains, with a secondary objective of long-term capital appreciation. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
Manager Comments – Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya IM) and NFJ Investment Group, LLC (NFJ)
Voya IM manages the Fund’s convertible securities portfolio, while NFJ manages the Fund’s equity and options portfolios. The Voya IM team (which moved from Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC to Voya on July 25, 2022) and NFJ team have been working together for more than 15 years. The NFJ investment team has been managing value equities for clients for over 30 years. They seek to invest in companies with low market expectations and the strongest prospects for returning capital to shareholders. The following commentary is provided by the portfolio teams at NFJ and covers the Fund’s portfolio for the period ended July 31, 2022. Refer to page 4 for Voya IM commentary.
How did the markets perform during the Fund’s fiscal six-month period ended July 31, 2022?
U.S. equities entered bear market territory during the six-month period as the market posted its worst first half of the year since 1970. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) enacted its biggest interest rate hikes in nearly 30 years with hopes of reining in blistering inflation, which was fueled in part by rising oil prices and supply chain constraints.
In the Russell 1000® Value Index, energy stocks rose 22%, followed by gains from more defensive sectors like utilities and health care, as well as relative strength from consumer staples. Conversely, more economically sensitive areas of the market, including communication services, financials, consumer discretionary, and technology, slumped double digits amid recession fears.
The six-month period was marked by upticks in volatility resulting from the heightened uncertainty. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), spiked multiple times over the six months before trending downward at the end of July.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?
For the fiscal six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -8.05%. The Fund’s equity portfolio returned -6.90%, and its fixed income portfolio returned -11.09%, each excluding the effect of fees and expenses. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 75% Russell 1000® Value Index (representing equities) and 25% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index (representing convertible securities), returned -6.07%. The underlying indexes returned -4.86% for equities, and -9.75% for convertible securities.
In the Fund’s equity portfolio, relative underperformance versus the Russell 1000® Value Index was due to negative sector allocation, which overwhelmed positive stock selection over the reporting period. An overweight in technology and underweight in energy detracted. Conversely, underweight positions in financials and communication services boosted six-month returns.
Stock selection was strong across the real estate, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors. These gains were only somewhat offset by negative selection across just three sectors—energy, industrials, and utilities—during the six-month period.
Convertible securities were negatively impacted by widening credit spreads, which indicated that investors were demanding a higher additional yield above the risk-free rate, and falling equity prices. Within the Fund’s convertible securities allocation, consumer discretionary, technology, and financials detracted the most from performance. Conversely, sectors that positively contributed to performance included energy, telecom, and utilities.
Additionally, many written options positions expired below the strike price, and the Fund was able to retain the set premiums.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Equity Securities: The market price of equity securities may be adversely affected by financial market, industry, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or on small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
Options: Selling call options may limit the opportunity to profit from the increase in price of the underlying asset. Selling put options risks loss if the option is exercised while the price of the underlying asset is rising. Buying options risks loss of the premium paid for those options.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Preferred Stocks: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends, or be illiquid.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND MANAGER’S DISCUSSION OF FUND PERFORMANCE (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
About the Fund:
Equity & Convertible Income Fund’s (NYSE: NIE) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to seek total return comprised of capital appreciation, current income and gains. There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
What factors affected the Fund’s performance during the fiscal six-month period?*
For the fiscal six months ended July 31, 2022, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) returned -10.81%. For the same period, the Fund’s composite benchmark, which consists of 60% Russell 1000® Growth Index (representing equities) and 40% ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index (representing convertible securities), returned -10.93%. The underlying indexes returned -11.88% for equities, and -9.75% for convertible securities.
With respect to the Fund’s return, the Fund participated in the selloff across risk assets, with most holdings detracting from performance for the period.
Social media and internet services exposures were lower based on investor concerns about lower advertising revenues. Within the technology sector, hardware, software, and semiconductor holdings underperformed. Positions in banking, home improvement, and travel services were negatively impacted by macroeconomic headwinds.
There were several positive individual contributors within the Fund during the reporting period. Pharmaceutical and managed care companies held up best within health care. The stocks of companies that had exposure to energy exploration & production, clean energy storage, wireless services, wholesale retail, and waste management also benefited the Fund.
Additionally, many written options positions expired below the strike price, and the Fund was able to retain the set premiums.
*Please refer to page 4 for the Manager’s Discussion of Market Performance.
The preceding information is the opinion of portfolio management only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. Any such opinions are subject to change at any time based upon market conditions and should not be relied upon as investment advice.
The Fund’s portfolio holdings are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investment decisions. The mention of individual securities held by the Fund is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional.
Risk Considerations
Equity Securities: The market price of equity securities may be adversely affected by financial market, industry, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or on small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
Convertible Securities: A convertible security may be called for redemption at a time and price unfavorable to the portfolio.
Credit & Interest: Debt instruments are subject to various risks, including credit and interest rate risk. The issuer of a debt security may fail to make interest and/or principal payments. Values of debt instruments may rise or fall in response to changes in interest rates, and this risk may be enhanced with longer-term maturities.
Options: Selling call options may limit the opportunity to profit from the increase in price of the underlying asset. Selling put options risks loss if the option is exercised while the price of the underlying asset is rising. Buying options risks loss of the premium paid for those options.
Market Volatility: The value of the securities in the Fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic) or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the Fund’s manager(s) to invest the Fund’s assets as intended.
Preferred Stocks: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends, or be illiquid.
Closed-End Funds: Closed-end funds may trade at a discount or premium from their net asset values, which may affect whether an investor will realize gains or losses. They may also employ leverage, which may increase volatility.
For information regarding the indexes and certain key investment terms, see Key Investment Terms starting on page 14.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY WEIGHTINGS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
The following tables present the portfolio holdings within certain industries as a percentage of total investments at July 31, 2022.
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
Common Stocks | | 44% |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 8% | |
Software | 7 | |
Healthcare Providers & Services | 6 | |
All other Common Stocks | 23 | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 32 |
Software | 10 | |
Internet | 6 | |
Semiconductors | 5 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 11 | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | | 14 |
Internet | 2 | |
Lodging | 2 | |
Pharmaceuticals | 2 | |
All other Corporate Bonds and Notes | 8 | |
Short-Term Investment | | 5 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | | 4 |
Securities Lending Collateral | | 1 |
Total | | 100% |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 41% |
Software | 13% | |
Biotechnology | 7 | |
Media | 6 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 15 | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | | 32 |
Media | 5 | |
Healthcare-Services | 3 | |
Telecommunications | 3 | |
All other Corporate Bonds and Notes | 21 | |
Leveraged Loans | | 23 |
Short-Term Investment | | 4 |
Securities Lending Collateral | | 0 |
Total | | 100% |
Convertible & Income Fund
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 47% |
Internet | 9% | |
Software | 8 | |
Commercial Services | 4 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 26 | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | | 32 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 3 | |
Media | 3 | |
Entertainment | 2 | |
All other Corporate Bonds and Notes | 24 | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | | 15 |
Short-Term Investment | | 5 |
Common Stocks | | 1 |
Banks | 1 | |
Total | | 100% |
Convertible & Income Fund II
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 45% |
Internet | 8% | |
Software | 7 | |
Commercial Services | 4 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 26 | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | | 31 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 3 | |
Media | 3 | |
Entertainment | 2 | |
All other Corporate Bonds and Notes | 23 | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | | 14 |
Short-Term Investment | | 9 |
Preferred Stocks | | 1 |
Total | | 100% |
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS SUMMARY WEIGHTINGS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 51% |
Software | 8% | |
Internet | 8 | |
Commercial Services | 4 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 31 | |
Common Stocks | | 23 |
Software | 3 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 2 | |
Interactive Media & Services | 2 | |
All other Common Stocks | 16 | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | | 13 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 2 | |
Media | 2 | |
Entertainment | 1 | |
All other Corporate Bonds and Notes | 8 | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | | 7 |
Short-Term Investment | | 6 |
Total | | 100% |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
Common Stocks | | 78% |
Software | 9% | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 7 | |
Equity Real Estate Investment | 5 | |
All other Common Stocks | 57 | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 16 |
Software | 4 | |
Internet | 3 | |
Commercial Services | 1 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 8 | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | | 4 |
Short-Term Investment | | 2 |
Total | | 100% |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
Common Stocks | | 62% |
Software | 8% | |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | 4 | |
Interactive Media & Services | 4 | |
All other Common Stocks | 46 | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | | 27 |
Software | 6 | |
Internet | 5 | |
Commercial Services | 1 | |
All other Convertible Bonds and Notes | 15 | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | | 6 |
Short-Term Investment | | 5 |
Total | | 100% |
KEY INVESTMENT TERMS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”)
Represents shares of foreign companies traded in U.S. dollars on U.S. exchanges that are held by a U.S. bank or a trust. Foreign companies use ADRs in order to make it easier for Americans to buy their shares.
Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index® (“CBOE VIX®”)
The CBOE VIX® shows the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility. It is constructed using the implied volatilities of a wide range of S&P 500® Index options. This volatility is meant to be forward looking and is calculated from both calls and puts. The CBOE VIX® is a widely used measure of market risk and is often referred to as the “investor fear gauge.” The index is unmanaged, its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and it is not available for direct investment.
Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index
The Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index is a market-weighted index that tracks the investable universe of the U.S. dollar denominated leveraged loans. The index is calculated on a total return basis, is unmanaged and is not available for direct investment. The unmanaged index returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges.
Enterprise value (“EV”)
EV is a measure of a company’s total value, often used as a comprehensive alternative to equity market capitalization that includes debt.
Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)
An open-end fund that is traded on a stock exchange. Most ETFs have a portfolio of stocks or bonds that track a specific market index.
Federal Reserve (the “Fed”)
The central bank of the United States, responsible for controlling the money supply, interest rates and credit with the goal of keeping the U.S. economy and currency stable. Governed by a seven-member board, the system includes 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks, 25 branches and all national and state banks that are part of the system.
ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index
The ICE BofA U.S. Convertibles Index is a widely used, unmanaged index that measures the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated convertible securities not currently in bankruptcy with a total market value greater than $50 million at issuance. Its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and it is not available for direct investment.
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index is market capitalization weighted and is designed to measure the performance of U.S. dollar denominated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk”) corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and it is not available for direct investment.
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield BB-B Constrained Index
The ICE Bofa U.S. High Yield BB-B Constrained Index measures performance of BB/B U.S. dollar denominated corporate bonds publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market, and is restricted to a maximum of 2% per issuer. The index is calculated on a total return basis. The index is unmanaged, its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and is not available for direct investment.
Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”)
An American Fortune 500 company formed in 2000 that operates global exchanges and clearing houses, and provides mortgage technology, data and listing services. The company owns exchanges for financial and commodity markets, and operates 12 regulated exchanges and marketplaces. This includes ICE futures exchanges in the United States, Canada and Europe, the Liffe futures exchanges in Europe, the New York Stock Exchange, equity options exchanges and over-the-counter energy, credit and equity markets.
Leveraged Loan
Leveraged loans (also known as bank, senior or floating-rate loans) consists of below investment-grade credit quality loans that are arranged by banks and other financial institutions to help companies finance acquisitions, recapitalizations, or other highly leveraged transactions. Such loans may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions, although they are senior in the capital structure which typically provides investors/lenders a degree of potential credit risk protection.
London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)
A benchmark rate that some of the world’s leading banks charge each other for short-term loans and that serves as the first step to calculating interest rates on various loans throughout the world.
Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”)
An investment in MLP units involves some risks that differ from an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control on matters affecting the partnership.
MSCI AC World Index (net)
The MSCI AC World Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index that measures equity performance of developed and emerging markets. The index is calculated on a total return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged, its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and is not available for direct investment.
KEY INVESTMENT TERMS (Unaudited) (Continued) July 31, 2022
Quantitative Tightening (“QT”)
Quantitative tightening (QT) refers to monetary policies that contract, or reduce, the Federal Reserve System (Fed) balance sheet. This process is also known as balance sheet normalization.
Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”)
A publicly traded company that owns, develops and operates income-producing real estate such as apartments, office buildings, hotels, shopping centers and other commercial properties.
Risk Assets
A risk asset is any asset that carries a degree of risk. Risk asset generally refers to assets that have a significant degree of price volatility, such as equities, commodities, high-yield bonds, real estate, and currencies.
Russell 1000® Growth Index
The Russell 1000® Growth Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of growth-oriented stocks of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell Universe, which comprises the 3,000 largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged, its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and it is not available for direct investment.
Russell 1000® Value Index
The Russell 1000® Value Index is a market capitalization-weighted index of value-oriented stocks of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell Universe, which comprises the 3,000 largest U.S. companies. The index is calculated on a total return basis with dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged, its returns do not reflect any fees, expenses, or sales charges, and it is not available for direct investment.
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”)
A broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities.
Yield Curve
A yield curve is a line on a graph plotting the interest rates, at a set point in time, of bonds having equal credit quality but different maturity dates.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—17.3% |
Commercial Services—0.9% | | |
ADT Security Corp. (The) 144A 4.125%, 8/1/29(1)(2) | $ 7,000 | | $ 6,300 |
Computers—0.7% | | |
NCR Corp. 144A 5.125%, 4/15/29(1)(2) | 4,815 | | 4,623 |
Cosmetics & Personal Care—1.0% | | |
Coty, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 4/15/26(1)(2)(3) | 7,000 | | 6,856 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—1.0% | | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc. 144A 7.250%, 6/15/28(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 7,252 |
Entertainment—0.8% | | |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 10/15/29(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 5,935 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—0.9% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 7/15/30(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,549 |
Healthcare-Services—1.0% | | |
Tenet Healthcare Corp. 144A 6.125%, 10/1/28(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,825 |
Internet—3.1% | | |
Go Daddy Operating Co., LLC 144A 5.250%, 12/1/27(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,827 |
Match Group Holdings II LLC 144A 5.000%, 12/15/27(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,795 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. 144A 6.250%, 1/15/28(1)(2)(3) | 8,000 | | 7,868 |
| | | 21,490 |
| | | |
|
Lodging—2.9% | | |
Boyd Gaming Corp. 144A 4.750%, 6/15/31(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,442 |
Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC 144A 5.000%, 6/1/29(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,194 |
MGM Resorts International | | | |
5.500%, 4/15/27(2) | 4,000 | | 3,880 |
4.750%, 10/15/28(2) | 4,000 | | 3,625 |
| | | 20,141 |
| | | |
|
Media—0.9% | | |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 7/15/28(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,503 |
Pharmaceuticals—2.0% | | |
Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 8/1/27(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,943 |
Jazz Securities DAC 144A 4.375%, 1/15/29(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 6,740 |
| | | 13,683 |
| | | |
|
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors—0.5% | | |
Entegris Escrow Corp. 144A 5.950%, 6/15/30(1)(2) | $ 3,500 | | $ 3,474 |
Software—0.9% | | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp. 144A 4.875%, 7/1/29(1) | 7,000 | | 6,195 |
Telecommunications—0.7% | | |
GoTo Group, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/1/27(1)(2) | 7,000 | | 5,108 |
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $128,568) | | 120,934 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks—4.3% |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.0% | |
Danaher Corp. Series B, 5.000%(3) | 4,695 | 7,145 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—1.7% | |
Broadcom, Inc. Series A, 8.000% | 6,890 | 11,560 |
Telecommunications—1.6% | |
T-Mobile US 2020 Cash Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 5.250%(1) | 9,220 | 11,054 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $25,075) | 29,759 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
Common Stocks—53.7% |
Air Freight & Logistics—1.0% | |
GXO Logistics, Inc.(2)(4) | 39,090 | 1,876 |
United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B(2) | 25,400 | 4,950 |
| | 6,826 |
| | |
|
Auto Components—0.6% | |
Aptiv plc(2)(4) | 42,035 | 4,409 |
Banks—0.7% | |
Bank of America Corp. | 117,965 | 3,988 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 8,345 | 963 |
| | 4,951 |
| | |
|
Capital Markets—0.9% | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The)(2) | 59,465 | 4,106 |
Morgan Stanley | 24,325 | 2,051 |
| | 6,157 |
| | |
|
Communications Equipment—1.8% | |
Arista Networks, Inc.(2)(4) | 43,465 | 5,069 |
Motorola Solutions, Inc. | 31,070 | 7,413 |
| | 12,482 |
| | |
|
Consumer Finance—1.1% | |
American Express Co.(2) | 49,765 | 7,665 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Electrical Equipment—0.3% | | |
Rockwell Automation, Inc.(2)(3) | 7,445 | | $ 1,901 |
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—1.4% | | |
Flex Ltd.(4) | 569,045 | | 9,560 |
Energy Equipment & Services—2.0% | | |
Baker Hughes Co.(2) | 160,820 | | 4,131 |
Schlumberger N.V.(2) | 260,695 | | 9,654 |
| | | 13,785 |
| | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment—0.2% | | |
Equinix, Inc.(2) | 2,270 | | 1,597 |
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—0.1% | | |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(2)(4) | 3,600 | | 829 |
Healthcare Providers & Services—7.3% | | |
Cigna Corp.(2)(3) | 22,945 | | 6,318 |
Elevance Health, Inc.(2) | 31,345 | | 14,955 |
McKesson Corp. | 19,820 | | 6,770 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(2) | 42,465 | | 23,030 |
| | | 51,073 |
| | | |
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—4.2% | | |
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.(2) | 75,340 | | 9,649 |
Marriott International, Inc. Class A(2) | 54,700 | | 8,687 |
McDonald’s Corp.(2) | 42,405 | | 11,168 |
| | | 29,504 |
| | | |
|
Industrial Conglomerates—0.2% | | |
Honeywell International, Inc.(2) | 7,865 | | 1,514 |
Insurance—2.9% | | |
Chubb Ltd.(2) | 57,070 | | 10,765 |
Progressive Corp. (The)(2) | 83,085 | | 9,560 |
| | | 20,325 |
| | | |
|
Interactive Media & Services—1.2% | | |
Alphabet, Inc. Class A(4) | 54,300 | | 6,316 |
ZoomInfo Technologies, Inc. Class A(3)(4) | 63,833 | | 2,419 |
| | | 8,735 |
| | | |
|
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail—0.5% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(2)(4) | 25,800 | | 3,482 |
IT Services—1.3% | | |
Mastercard, Inc. Class A | 25,305 | | 8,953 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—2.3% | | |
Avantor, Inc.(2)(3)(4) | 205,166 | | 5,954 |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(2)(4) | 43,042 | | 10,342 |
| | | 16,296 |
| | | |
|
Machinery—2.3% | | |
Deere & Co. | 45,996 | | 15,785 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Metals & Mining—0.7% | | |
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. | 155,977 | | $ 4,921 |
Pharmaceuticals—3.3% | | |
AstraZeneca plc Sponsored ADR | 117,125 | | 7,757 |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 107,620 | | 7,940 |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 54,015 | | 4,826 |
Roche Holding AG Sponsored ADR | 62,995 | | 2,612 |
| | | 23,135 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—9.3% | | |
Analog Devices, Inc.(2) | 50,080 | | 8,612 |
Applied Materials, Inc.(2) | 80,425 | | 8,523 |
GlobalFoundries, Inc.(3)(4) | 129,118 | | 6,647 |
Lam Research Corp. | 16,740 | | 8,379 |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | 228,955 | | 12,748 |
Micron Technology, Inc. | 12,885 | | 797 |
NXP Semiconductors N.V.(2) | 71,015 | | 13,058 |
Synaptics, Inc.(3)(4) | 19,495 | | 2,826 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR | 43,350 | | 3,836 |
| | | 65,426 |
| | | |
|
Software—8.1% | | |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(2)(4) | 56,485 | | 10,511 |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. Class A(2)(3)(4) | 38,210 | | 7,015 |
Intuit, Inc. | 22,785 | | 10,394 |
Microsoft Corp.(2) | 41,940 | | 11,774 |
Oracle Corp. | 110,240 | | 8,581 |
Salesforce, Inc.(2)(4) | 24,015 | | 4,419 |
ServiceNow, Inc.(2)(4) | 9,105 | | 4,067 |
| | | 56,761 |
| | | |
|
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $342,081) | | 376,072 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—38.1% |
Auto Manufacturers—1.1% | |
Ford Motor Co. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | $ 7,520 | 8,009 |
Commercial Services—1.8% | |
Block, Inc. 0.125%, 3/1/25(2) | 5,000 | 5,106 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 6,090 | 5,234 |
144A 0.500%, 8/1/27(1)(3) | 3,075 | 2,206 |
| | 12,546 |
| | |
|
Computers—2.8% | |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. 0.500%, 12/15/26(2) | 9,000 | 9,935 |
Pure Storage, Inc. 0.125%, 4/15/23(2) | 6,470 | 7,651 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Computers—continued | | |
Zscaler, Inc. 0.125%, 7/1/25 | $ 1,825 | | $ 2,260 |
| | | 19,846 |
| | | |
|
Electronics—0.7% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 0.250%, 9/1/22(2) | 4,500 | | 5,058 |
Energy-Alternate Sources—1.9% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 3/1/26 | 5,500 | | 6,589 |
0.000%, 3/1/28 | 5,500 | | 6,787 |
| | | 13,376 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—1.0% | | |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 2.000%, 2/15/25(2) | 5,920 | | 6,639 |
Healthcare-Products—1.1% | | |
Insulet Corp. 0.375%, 9/1/26(2) | 5,850 | | 7,336 |
Internet—7.9% | | |
Airbnb, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 8,500 | | 7,395 |
Etsy, Inc. 0.125%, 9/1/27 | 5,725 | | 5,147 |
Expedia Group, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/26 | 9,355 | | 8,495 |
Match Group Financeco 3, Inc. 144A 2.000%, 1/15/30(1)(2) | 4,220 | | 4,747 |
Okta, Inc. 0.375%, 6/15/26 | 9,250 | | 7,881 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. 0.750%, 7/1/23(2) | 4,600 | | 8,692 |
Shopify, Inc. 0.125%, 11/1/25(2) | 11,000 | | 9,442 |
Snap, Inc. 144A 0.125%, 3/1/28(1) | 5,000 | | 3,362 |
| | | 55,161 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—1.5% | | |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 1.125%, 2/15/27(1) | 3,000 | | 2,042 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 2.875%, 11/15/23 | 9,000 | | 8,339 |
| | | 10,381 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—1.3% | | |
Dexcom, Inc. 0.250%, 11/15/25(3) | 9,740 | | 9,210 |
Semiconductors—5.5% | | |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | 9,385 | | 9,180 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. 0.125%, 11/15/24(3) | 10,457 | | 10,828 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors—continued | | |
ON Semiconductor Corp. 0.000%, 5/1/27 | $ 8,135 | | $ 11,361 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 2/15/28(1) | 7,500 | | 7,120 |
| | | 38,489 |
| | | |
|
Software—11.5% | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. 0.125%, 5/1/25(2) | 6,000 | | 6,885 |
Bentley Systems, Inc. 0.125%, 1/15/26 | 7,500 | | 6,915 |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 4/1/27(1) | 11,500 | | 9,349 |
Cloudflare, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 8/15/26(1) | 10,860 | | 8,878 |
Coupa Software, Inc. 0.375%, 6/15/26 | 5,300 | | 4,232 |
Datadog, Inc. 0.125%, 6/15/25 | 2,415 | | 3,181 |
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 12/1/26(1)(3) | 8,670 | | 6,499 |
Five9, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/25 | 6,750 | | 7,131 |
MongoDB, Inc. 0.250%, 1/15/26(2) | 2,270 | | 3,660 |
Nutanix, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 10/1/27(1) | 10,370 | | 7,243 |
Splunk, Inc. | | | |
1.125%, 9/15/25(2) | 2,000 | | 2,005 |
1.125%, 6/15/27 | 7,480 | | 6,414 |
Unity Software, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 8,350 | | 6,224 |
Workday, Inc. 0.250%, 10/1/22(2) | 1,800 | | 1,948 |
| | | 80,564 |
| | | |
|
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $293,870) | | 266,615 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—113.4% (Identified Cost $789,594) | | 793,380 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Short-Term Investment—6.0% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—6.0% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(5) | 41,817,895 | 41,818 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $41,818) | 41,818 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
| | | |
Securities Lending Collateral—1.4% |
Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.833%)(5)(6) | 9,751,319 | | $ 9,751 |
Total Securities Lending Collateral (Identified Cost $9,751) | | 9,751 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—120.8% (Identified Cost $841,163) | | $ 844,949 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—(20.8)% | | (145,248) |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | | $ 699,701 |
Abbreviations: |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $182,153 or 26.0% of net assets. |
(2) | All or a portion of securities is segregated as collateral for the Liquidity Facility. The value of securities segregated as collateral is $163,333. |
(3) | All or a portion of security is on loan pursuant to the Liquidity Facility and/or securities lending. |
(4) | Non-income producing. |
(5) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
(6) | Represents security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 89% |
Switzerland | 2 |
Netherlands | 2 |
United Kingdom | 1 |
Curaçao | 1 |
Singapore | 1 |
Canada | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments as of July 31, 2022. |
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $120,934 | | $ — | | $120,934 |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 266,615 | | — | | 266,615 |
Equity Securities: | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 376,072 | | 376,072 | | — |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 29,759 | | 18,705 | | 11,054 |
Securities Lending Collateral | 9,751 | | 9,751 | | — |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 41,818 | | 41,818 | | — |
Total Investments | $844,949 | | $446,346 | | $398,603 |
There were no securities valued using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at July 31, 2022.
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—45.2% |
Aerospace & Defense—2.1% | | |
Triumph Group, Inc. | | | |
144A 8.875%, 6/1/24(1)(2) | $ 1,722 | | $ 1,781 |
144A 6.250%, 9/15/24(1) | 1,850 | | 1,772 |
| | | 3,553 |
| | | |
|
Airlines—2.3% | | |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 2.900%, 10/28/24(2)(3) | 4,000 | | 3,805 |
Auto Manufacturers—0.3% | | |
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC 4.063%, 11/1/24(2) | 500 | | 492 |
Building Materials—2.0% | | |
Koppers, Inc. 144A 6.000%, 2/15/25(1)(2)(3) | 3,500 | | 3,334 |
Commercial Services—1.8% | | |
ADT Security Corp. (The) 4.125%, 6/15/23(2) | 3,000 | | 2,978 |
Containers & Packaging—1.8% | | |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. 144A 5.875%, 8/15/23(1)(2)(3) | 3,000 | | 3,000 |
Diversified Financial Services—3.5% | | |
Navient Corp. 7.250%, 9/25/23(2) | 2,800 | | 2,838 |
OneMain Finance Corp. 8.250%, 10/1/23(2) | 3,000 | | 3,045 |
| | | 5,883 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—3.5% | | |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 144A 4.875%, 11/1/24(1)(2) | 2,000 | | 1,993 |
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. 144A 4.875%, 7/31/24(1)(2)(3) | 4,000 | | 3,945 |
| | | 5,938 |
| | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—2.2% | | |
Service Properties Trust 4.350%, 10/1/24(2) | 4,170 | | 3,731 |
Food & Beverage—2.4% | | |
Albertsons Cos., Inc. 144A 3.500%, 2/15/23(1)(2) | 4,000 | | 3,999 |
Healthcare-Services—4.0% | | |
HCA, Inc. 5.375%, 2/1/25(2) | 3,000 | | 3,060 |
Tenet Healthcare Corp. 4.625%, 7/15/24(2) | 3,716 | | 3,713 |
| | | 6,773 |
| | | |
|
Internet—2.5% | | |
Netflix, Inc. 5.875%, 2/15/25(2)(3) | 4,000 | | 4,140 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Leisure Time—1.8% | | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 144A 10.875%, 6/1/23(1)(2) | $ 3,000 | | $ 3,067 |
Lodging—2.0% | | |
Wynn Las Vegas LLC 144A 5.500%, 3/1/25(1)(2)(3) | 3,500 | | 3,448 |
Media—6.8% | | |
CCO Holdings LLC 144A 4.000%, 3/1/23(1)(2) | 4,000 | | 3,988 |
CSC Holdings LLC 5.250%, 6/1/24(2) | 4,000 | | 3,960 |
DISH DBS Corp. 5.875%, 11/15/24(2) | 3,785 | | 3,482 |
| | | 11,430 |
| | | |
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.5% | | |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. 6.950%, 7/1/24(2) | 4,000 | | 4,198 |
Telecommunications—3.7% | | |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. 7.500%, 4/1/24(2) | 3,000 | | 3,077 |
Sprint Corp. 7.125%, 6/15/24(2) | 3,000 | | 3,143 |
| | | 6,220 |
| | | |
|
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $80,591) | | 75,989 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Leveraged Loans—33.3% |
Advertising—0.5% | | |
Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc. Tranche B-1 (2 month LIBOR + 4.500%) 6.166%, 10/28/27 (4) | 985 | | 926 |
Airlines—0.3% | | |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 3.750%) 6.460%, 10/20/27 (4) | 500 | | 505 |
Auto Components—1.1% | | |
Adient U.S. LLC Tranche B-1 (1 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.622%, 4/10/28 (4) | 990 | | 957 |
Tenneco, Inc. Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 5.372%, 10/1/25 (4) | 985 | | 967 |
| | | 1,924 |
| | | |
|
Chemicals—0.6% | | |
Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies LLC (3 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 5.306%, 6/9/28 (4) | 988 | | 956 |
Commercial Services—3.1% | | |
Allied Universal Holdco LLC (1 month LIBOR + 3.750%) 6.122%, 5/12/28 (4) | 992 | | 926 |
Hertz Corp. (The) | | | |
Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.630%, 6/30/28 (4) | 1,255 | | 1,203 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Commercial Services—continued | | |
Tranche C (1 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.630%, 6/30/28 (4) | $ 239 | | $ 229 |
R1 RCM, Inc. Tranche B (1 month SOFR + 3.000%) 5.327%, 6/21/29 (4) | 1,170 | | 1,152 |
Travelport Finance (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l. First Lien (3 month LIBOR + 5.000%) 5.220%, 5/29/26 (4) | 975 | | 735 |
WEX, Inc. Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 2.250%) 4.622%, 3/31/28 (4) | 988 | | 966 |
| | | 5,211 |
| | | |
|
Computers—2.7% | | |
Conduent Business Services LLC Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 4.250%) 6.622%, 10/16/28 (4) | 995 | | 956 |
KBR, Inc. Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 2.750%) 5.122%, 2/5/27 (4) | 1,003 | | 994 |
McAfee Corp. Tranche B-1 (1 month Term SOFR + 4.100%) 5.699%, 3/1/29 (4) | 1,200 | | 1,144 |
NCR Corp. (3 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 5.310%, 8/28/26 (4) | 1,463 | | 1,425 |
| | | 4,519 |
| | | |
|
Containers & Packaging—0.8% | | |
Pactiv Evergreen Group Holdings, Inc. Tranche B-3 (1 month LIBOR + 3.500%) 4.000%, 9/25/28 (4) | 1,491 | | 1,441 |
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.6% | | |
Coty, Inc. Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 2.250%) 3.409%, 4/7/25 (4) | 1,000 | | 963 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.4% | | |
Blucora, Inc. (3 month LIBOR + 4.000%) 6.250%, 5/22/24 (4) | 740 | | 727 |
Entertainment—2.1% | | |
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Tranche B-1 (1 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 4.872%, 4/22/26 (4) | 967 | | 835 |
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 2.250%) 4.622%, 3/24/25 (4) | 1,206 | | 1,167 |
Stars Group Holdings B.V. 2021 (3 month LIBOR + 2.250%) 4.500%, 7/21/26 (4) | 1,618 | | 1,585 |
| | | 3,587 |
| | | |
|
Environmental Services—0.6% | | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. 2020 (3 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 5.806%, 5/30/25 (4) | 992 | | 982 |
Food Service—0.9% | | |
Aramark Services, Inc. Tranche B-5 (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.872%, 4/6/28 (4) | 1,500 | | 1,459 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Internet—1.3% | | |
Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC Tranche B-2 (1 month LIBOR + 1.750%) 4.122%, 2/15/24 (4) | $ 1,196 | | $ 1,181 |
Match Group, Inc. Tranche B-1 (3 month LIBOR + 1.750%) 3.194%, 2/13/27 (4) | 1,000 | | 963 |
| | | 2,144 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—1.1% | | |
Callaway Golf Co. (1 month LIBOR + 4.500%) 6.872%, 1/2/26 (4) | 907 | | 899 |
Carnival Corp. 2021, Tranche B (6 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 6.127%, 10/18/28 (4) | 998 | | 924 |
| | | 1,823 |
| | | |
|
Lodging—2.1% | | |
Caesars Resort Collection LLC Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 2.750%) 5.122%, 12/23/24 (4) | 1,447 | | 1,413 |
Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower LLC (1 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 5.372%, 8/2/28 (4) | 1,241 | | 1,214 |
Playa Resorts Holding B.V. (1 month LIBOR + 2.750%) 5.120%, 4/29/24 (4) | 901 | | 865 |
| | | 3,492 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Diversified—0.9% | | |
Gardner Denver, Inc. Tranche B-1 (1 month LIBOR + 1.850%) 4.177%, 3/1/27 (4) | 1,589 | | 1,556 |
Media—3.9% | | |
Charter Communications Operating LLC Tranche B-2 (1 month LIBOR + 1.750%) 4.130%, 2/1/27 (4) | 990 | | 956 |
DIRECTV Financing LLC (1 month LIBOR + 5.000%) 7.372%, 8/2/27 (4) | 932 | | 879 |
Gray Television, Inc. Tranche B-2 (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.213%, 2/7/24 (4) | 1,312 | | 1,292 |
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. Tranche B-4 (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.872%, 9/18/26 (4) | 853 | | 843 |
Sinclair Television Group, Inc. Tranche B-3 (1 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 5.380%, 4/1/28 (4) | 1,237 | | 1,126 |
Virgin Media Bristol LLC Tranche N (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.499%, 1/31/28 (4) | 1,500 | | 1,460 |
| | | 6,556 |
| | | |
|
Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.4% | | |
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (1 month Term SOFR + 2.350%) 3.949%, 7/31/26 (4) | 615 | | 615 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.6% | | |
Gates Global LLC Tranche B-3 (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.872%, 3/31/27 (4) | $ 997 | | $ 960 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.0% | | |
Lealand Finance Co. B.V. (1 month LIBOR + 4.000%) 6.666%, 6/30/25 (4) | 172 | | 81 |
Pharmaceuticals—1.4% | | |
Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. Tranche B-2 (1 month LIBOR + 1.750%) 4.063%, 3/15/28 (4) | 988 | | 967 |
Organon & Co. (3 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 4.625%, 6/2/28 (4) | 1,448 | | 1,421 |
| | | 2,388 |
| | | |
|
Retail—3.3% | | |
Academy Ltd. (1 month LIBOR + 3.750%) 5.463%, 11/5/27 (4) | 995 | | 958 |
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. Tranche B-6 (1 month LIBOR + 2.000%) 4.380%, 6/24/28 (4) | 1,351 | | 1,296 |
CWGS Group LLC (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.529%, 6/3/28 (4) | 985 | | 871 |
Petco Health & Wellness Co., Inc. First Lien (3 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.500%, 3/3/28 (4) | 1,165 | | 1,126 |
Restoration Hardware, Inc. (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.872%, 10/20/28 (4) | 1,489 | | 1,342 |
| | | 5,593 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors—0.3% | | |
Cohu, Inc. Tranche B (3 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 6.371%, 10/1/25 (4) | 437 | | 432 |
Software—1.8% | | |
BMC Software 2021 (1 month LIBOR + 3.750%) 6.122%, 10/2/25 (4) | 870 | | 836 |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition I Co. (1 month LIBOR + 3.000%) 5.372%, 10/30/26 (4) | 1,191 | | 1,160 |
Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc. (1 month LIBOR + 2.500%) 4.166%, 4/30/25 (4) | 997 | | 963 |
| | | 2,959 |
| | | |
|
Telecommunications—2.5% | | |
CenturyLink, Inc. Tranche B (1 month LIBOR + 2.250%) 4.622%, 3/15/27 (4) | 975 | | 927 |
Ciena Corp. 2020 (1 month LIBOR + 1.750%) 3.876%, 9/26/25 (4) | 987 | | 980 |
Commscope, Inc. (1 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.622%, 4/6/26 (4) | 1,463 | | 1,375 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Telecommunications—continued | | |
Frontier Communications Corp. Tranche B (3 month LIBOR + 3.750%) 6.063%, 5/1/28 (4) | $ 990 | | $ 942 |
| | | 4,224 |
| | | |
|
Total Leveraged Loans (Identified Cost $58,312) | | 56,023 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Common Stocks—0.3% |
Banks—0.3% | |
CCF Holdings LLC(5)(6) | 1,369,231 | 411 |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M(5)(6) | 293,320 | 88 |
| | 499 |
| | |
|
Construction & Engineering—0.0% | |
McDermott International Ltd.(6) | 71,796 | 32 |
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $3,273) | 531 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
Warrant—0.0% |
Banks—0.0% | |
CCF Holdings LLC(5)(6) | 485,227 | 53 |
Total Warrant (Identified Cost $—) | 53 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—57.8% |
Auto Manufacturers—5.9% | |
NIO, Inc. 0.000%, 2/1/26 | $ 11,800 | 10,010 |
Biotechnology—10.2% | |
Insmed, Inc. 1.750%, 1/15/25(2) | 5,500 | 5,250 |
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 0.125%, 12/15/24(2) | 8,000 | 7,044 |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 0.750%, 5/15/23(2) | 5,000 | 4,806 |
| | 17,100 |
| | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—5.6% | |
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. 4.750%, 3/15/23(2) | 5,000 | 4,968 |
Redwood Trust, Inc. 5.625%, 7/15/24 | 5,000 | 4,450 |
| | 9,418 |
| | |
|
Healthcare-Products—3.0% | |
NanoString Technologies, Inc. 2.625%, 3/1/25(2) | 1,500 | 1,205 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Healthcare-Products—continued | | |
NuVasive, Inc. 1.000%, 6/1/23 | $ 4,000 | | $ 3,895 |
| | | 5,100 |
| | | |
|
Internet—3.7% | | |
Pinduoduo, Inc. 0.000%, 12/1/25 | 7,000 | | 6,234 |
Media—8.2% | | |
DISH Network Corp. 2.375%, 3/15/24(2) | 7,500 | | 6,675 |
Liberty Broadband Corp. 144A 2.750%, 9/30/50(1)(2) | 7,500 | | 7,160 |
| | | 13,835 |
| | | |
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.8% | | |
Oil States International, Inc. 1.500%, 2/15/23 | 1,500 | | 1,437 |
Pharmaceuticals—2.3% | | |
Jazz Investments I Ltd. 1.500%, 8/15/24(2) | 3,855 | | 3,809 |
Software—18.1% | | |
Alteryx, Inc. 0.500%, 8/1/24(2) | 7,000 | | 6,151 |
Benefitfocus, Inc. 1.250%, 12/15/23 | 3,000 | | 2,756 |
DocuSign, Inc. 0.000%, 1/15/24 | 4,000 | | 3,726 |
Everbridge, Inc. 0.125%, 12/15/24(2) | 4,000 | | 3,476 |
i3 Verticals LLC 1.000%, 2/15/25 | 9,000 | | 8,743 |
LivePerson, Inc. 0.750%, 3/1/24(2) | 1,000 | | 912 |
PROS Holdings, Inc. 1.000%, 5/15/24(3) | 4,000 | | 3,667 |
RingCentral, Inc. 0.000%, 3/1/25(2) | 1,160 | | 956 |
| | | 30,387 |
| | | |
|
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $101,791) | | 97,330 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—136.6% (Identified Cost $243,967) | | 229,926 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Short-Term Investment—5.7% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—5.7% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(7) | 9,657,482 | 9,657 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $9,657) | 9,657 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
| | | |
Securities Lending Collateral—0.1% |
Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.833%)(7)(8) | 93,902 | | $ 94 |
Total Securities Lending Collateral (Identified Cost $94) | | 94 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—142.4% (Identified Cost $253,718) | | $239,677 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—(42.4)% | | (71,376) |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | | $168,301 |
Abbreviations: |
EV | Enterprise Value |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $37,487 or 22.3% of net assets. |
(2) | All or a portion of securities is segregated as collateral for the Liquidity Facility. The value of securities segregated as collateral is $98,686. |
(3) | All or a portion of security is on loan pursuant to the Liquidity Facility and/or securities lending. |
(4) | Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of July 31, 2022. Information in parenthesis represents benchmark and reference rate for each security. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions, or, for mortgage-backed securities, are impacted by the individual mortgages which are paying off over time. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their descriptions. |
(5) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(6) | Non-income producing. |
(7) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
(8) | Represents security purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 88% |
Cayman Islands | 7 |
Bermuda | 2 |
Liberia | 1 |
Netherlands | 1 |
Luxembourg | 1 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments as of July 31, 2022. |
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $ 75,989 | | $ — | | $ 75,989 | | $ — |
Leveraged Loans | 56,023 | | — | | 56,023 | | — |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 97,330 | | — | | 97,330 | | — |
Equity Securities: | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 531 | | 32 | | — | | 499 |
Warrant | 53 | | — | | — | | 53 |
Securities Lending Collateral | 94 | | 94 | | — | | — |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 9,657 | | 9,657 | | — | | — |
Total Investments | $239,677 | | $9,783 | | $229,342 | | $552 |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
Some of the Fund’s investments that were categorized as Level 3 may have been valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. If applicable, such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of Level 3 investments.
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
The following table presents additional information about valuation techniques and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 at July 31, 2022:
Investments in Securities – Assets | | Ending Balance at July 31, 2022 | | Valuation Technique Used | | Unobservable Inputs | | Input Values |
Common Stocks: | | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | | $411 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M | | $ 88 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
Warrant: | | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | | $ 53 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | Black-Scholes Model | | Volatility | | 50.96% |
| | | | | | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—58.5% |
Aerospace & Defense—0.8% | | |
TransDigm, Inc. 5.500%, 11/15/27 | $ 2,595 | | $ 2,450 |
Triumph Group, Inc. 144A 8.875%, 6/1/24(1) | 671 | | 694 |
| | | 3,144 |
| | | |
|
Airlines—0.9% | | |
American Airlines, Inc. 144A 11.750%, 7/15/25(1) | 1,955 | | 2,170 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 7.375%, 1/15/26 | 1,395 | | 1,465 |
| | | 3,635 |
| | | |
|
Auto Components—2.4% | | |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. 6.500%, 4/1/27 | 2,010 | | 1,929 |
Clarios Global LP 144A 8.500%, 5/15/27(1) | 3,010 | | 3,038 |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) | | | |
9.500%, 5/31/25 | 1,270 | | 1,338 |
5.250%, 4/30/31 | 1,465 | | 1,315 |
5.250%, 7/15/31 | 1,395 | | 1,213 |
Tenneco, Inc. 144A 7.875%, 1/15/29(1) | 655 | | 650 |
| | | 9,483 |
| | | |
|
Auto Manufacturers—1.4% | | |
Ford Motor Co. | | | |
9.000%, 4/22/25 | 2,545 | | 2,819 |
9.625%, 4/22/30 | 2,205 | | 2,635 |
| | | 5,454 |
| | | |
|
Building Materials—1.1% | | |
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 144A 6.375%, 6/15/32(1) | 1,255 | | 1,250 |
Griffon Corp. 5.750%, 3/1/28 | 1,250 | | 1,196 |
Koppers, Inc. 144A 6.000%, 2/15/25(1) | 2,095 | | 1,996 |
| | | 4,442 |
| | | |
|
Chemicals—0.8% | | |
Chemours Co. (The) 144A 5.750%, 11/15/28(1) | 1,985 | | 1,892 |
Tronox, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 3/15/29(1) | 1,485 | | 1,280 |
| | | 3,172 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—3.0% | | |
ADT Security Corp. (The) 144A 4.125%, 8/1/29(1) | 2,050 | | 1,845 |
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC 144A 5.375%, 3/1/29(1) | 2,060 | | 1,879 |
Deluxe Corp. 144A 8.000%, 6/1/29(1) | 1,430 | | 1,248 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Commercial Services—continued | | |
Herc Holdings, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 7/15/27(1) | $ 1,315 | | $ 1,315 |
Hertz Corp. (The) 144A 5.000%, 12/1/29(1) | 2,150 | | 1,838 |
NESCO Holdings II, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 4/15/29(1) | 1,405 | | 1,219 |
United Rentals North America, Inc. 5.250%, 1/15/30 | 2,395 | | 2,421 |
| | | 11,765 |
| | | |
|
Computers—0.6% | | |
Condor Merger Sub, Inc. 144A 7.375%, 2/15/30(1) | 1,390 | | 1,220 |
NCR Corp. 144A 5.125%, 4/15/29(1) | 1,375 | | 1,320 |
| | | 2,540 |
| | | |
|
Containers & Packaging—1.1% | | |
Berry Global, Inc. 144A 5.625%, 7/15/27(1) | 1,330 | | 1,342 |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 5/13/27(1) | 3,020 | | 2,905 |
| | | 4,247 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.8% | | |
Coty, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 4/15/26(1) | 1,665 | | 1,631 |
Edgewell Personal Care Co. 144A 5.500%, 6/1/28(1) | 1,430 | | 1,402 |
| | | 3,033 |
| | | |
|
Diversified Financial Services—1.9% | | |
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc. | | | |
144A 5.500%, 8/15/28(1) | 1,400 | | 1,230 |
144A 5.750%, 11/15/31(1) | 730 | | 610 |
Navient Corp. | | | |
6.750%, 6/15/26 | 1,790 | | 1,705 |
5.000%, 3/15/27 | 1,585 | | 1,433 |
OneMain Finance Corp. | | | |
8.250%, 10/1/23 | 1,565 | | 1,589 |
6.625%, 1/15/28 | 700 | | 656 |
| | | 7,223 |
| | | |
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.7% | | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc. 144A 7.250%, 6/15/28(1) | 2,560 | | 2,652 |
Electronics—0.5% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 144A 5.000%, 12/15/29(1) | 2,025 | | 1,929 |
Entertainment—3.9% | | |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. 144A 6.250%, 7/1/25(1) | 4,540 | | 4,529 |
CDI Escrow Issuer, Inc. 144A 5.750%, 4/1/30(1) | 1,840 | | 1,799 |
International Game Technology plc 144A 6.250%, 1/15/27(1) | 2,890 | | 2,940 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Entertainment—continued | | |
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC 144A 5.500%, 4/15/29(1) | $ 2,010 | | $ 1,636 |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 10/15/27(1) | 2,045 | | 1,948 |
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 8/15/29(1) | 2,825 | | 2,533 |
| | | 15,385 |
| | | |
|
Environmental Services—0.7% | | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 6/15/29(1) | 2,770 | | 2,548 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—1.7% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 7/15/30(1) | 2,820 | | 2,638 |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.875%, 10/1/28(1) | 1,340 | | 1,314 |
144A 4.875%, 5/15/29(1) | 1,450 | | 1,335 |
Service Properties Trust 7.500%, 9/15/25 | 1,275 | | 1,236 |
| | | 6,523 |
| | | |
|
Food & Beverage—1.8% | | |
Performance Food Group, Inc. | | | |
144A 5.500%, 10/15/27(1) | 2,750 | | 2,710 |
144A 4.250%, 8/1/29(1) | 1,495 | | 1,328 |
Post Holdings, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 12/15/29(1) | 1,345 | | 1,271 |
US Foods, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 2/15/29(1) | 1,990 | | 1,858 |
| | | 7,167 |
| | | |
|
Food Service—0.5% | | |
Aramark Services, Inc. 144A 5.000%, 2/1/28(1) | 1,995 | | 1,949 |
Healthcare-Products—0.5% | | |
Medline Borrower LP 144A 5.250%, 10/1/29(1) | 2,090 | | 1,889 |
Healthcare-Services—1.7% | | |
Centene Corp. 4.625%, 12/15/29 | 1,910 | | 1,884 |
Select Medical Corp. 144A 6.250%, 8/15/26(1) | 1,380 | | 1,382 |
Tenet Healthcare Corp. | | | |
144A 6.125%, 10/1/28(1) | 2,800 | | 2,730 |
144A 6.125%, 6/15/30(1) | 625 | | 631 |
| | | 6,627 |
| | | |
|
Home Builders—0.5% | | |
Picasso Finance Sub, Inc. 144A 6.125%, 6/15/25(1) | 1,869 | | 1,893 |
Internet—1.1% | | |
Uber Technologies, Inc. | | | |
144A 8.000%, 11/1/26(1) | 1,125 | | 1,145 |
144A 7.500%, 9/15/27(1) | 1,900 | | 1,924 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Internet—continued | | |
144A 6.250%, 1/15/28(1) | $ 1,295 | | $ 1,274 |
| | | 4,343 |
| | | |
|
Investment Companies—0.5% | | |
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC 144A 5.250%, 4/15/29(1) | 2,225 | | 1,964 |
Iron & Steel—0.5% | | |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. 5.875%, 6/1/27 | 1,875 | | 1,866 |
Leisure Time—1.4% | | |
Carnival Corp. 144A 10.500%, 2/1/26(1) | 1,290 | | 1,354 |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 5.875%, 3/15/26(1) | 2,630 | | 2,145 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 144A 11.500%, 6/1/25(1) | 1,736 | | 1,860 |
| | | 5,359 |
| | | |
|
Lodging—1.2% | | |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. | | | |
4.875%, 1/15/30 | 645 | | 627 |
144A 4.000%, 5/1/31(1) | 1,085 | | 974 |
Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC 144A 5.000%, 6/1/29(1) | 1,980 | | 1,752 |
MGM Resorts International 4.750%, 10/15/28 | 1,480 | | 1,341 |
| | | 4,694 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.5% | | |
Terex Corp. 144A 5.000%, 5/15/29(1) | 2,215 | | 1,977 |
Media—5.9% | | |
CCO Holdings LLC | | | |
4.500%, 5/1/32 | 2,310 | | 1,997 |
144A 5.375%, 6/1/29(1) | 1,990 | | 1,896 |
CSC Holdings LLC 144A 7.500%, 4/1/28(1) | 2,255 | | 2,069 |
DirecTV Financing LLC 144A 5.875%, 8/15/27(1) | 2,160 | | 2,012 |
DISH DBS Corp. | | | |
7.375%, 7/1/28 | 2,375 | | 1,693 |
144A 5.750%, 12/1/28(1) | 1,150 | | 933 |
Gray Escrow II, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 11/15/31(1) | 1,395 | | 1,231 |
Gray Television, Inc. 144A 7.000%, 5/15/27(1) | 1,830 | | 1,842 |
Nexstar Media, Inc. 144A 5.625%, 7/15/27(1) | 2,120 | | 2,126 |
Scripps Escrow II, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 1/15/31(1) | 2,185 | | 1,830 |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 7/15/28(1) | 2,240 | | 2,081 |
TEGNA, Inc. 5.000%, 9/15/29 | 1,415 | | 1,383 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Media—continued | | |
Virgin Media Secured Finance plc 144A 5.500%, 5/15/29(1) | $ 1,990 | | $ 1,891 |
| | | 22,984 |
| | | |
|
Mining—0.4% | | |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. 144A 6.125%, 4/1/29(1) | 2,115 | | 1,644 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—6.2% | | |
Antero Resources Corp. 144A 7.625%, 2/1/29(1) | 1,700 | | 1,791 |
Callon Petroleum Co. 144A 8.000%, 8/1/28(1) | 1,710 | | 1,731 |
CITGO Petroleum Corp. 144A 6.375%, 6/15/26(1) | 1,355 | | 1,301 |
CNX Resources Corp. 144A 7.250%, 3/14/27(1) | 2,430 | | 2,461 |
Comstock Resources, Inc. | | | |
144A 6.750%, 3/1/29(1) | 1,480 | | 1,465 |
144A 5.875%, 1/15/30(1) | 700 | | 658 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | |
5.550%, 3/15/26 | 2,510 | | 2,579 |
6.625%, 9/1/30 | 2,510 | | 2,785 |
PDC Energy, Inc. 5.750%, 5/15/26 | 2,150 | | 2,102 |
SM Energy Co. 6.500%, 7/15/28 | 1,535 | | 1,513 |
Southwestern Energy Co. 5.375%, 3/15/30 | 1,405 | | 1,382 |
Sunoco LP 4.500%, 4/30/30 | 730 | | 640 |
USA Compression Partners LP 6.875%, 9/1/27 | 2,285 | | 2,089 |
Weatherford International Ltd. 144A 8.625%, 4/30/30(1) | 1,935 | | 1,750 |
| | | 24,247 |
| | | |
|
Paper & Forest Products—0.5% | | |
Mercer International, Inc. | | | |
5.125%, 2/1/29 | 645 | | 604 |
144A 5.125%, 2/1/29(1) | 1,470 | | 1,376 |
| | | 1,980 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—2.1% | | |
Bausch Health Americas, Inc. 144A 8.500%, 1/31/27(1) | 2,585 | | 1,633 |
Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 8/1/27(1) | 2,235 | | 2,217 |
Jazz Securities DAC 144A 4.375%, 1/15/29(1) | 2,480 | | 2,388 |
Organon & Co. 144A 5.125%, 4/30/31(1) | 2,085 | | 1,952 |
| | | 8,190 |
| | | |
|
Pipelines—2.4% | | |
Antero Midstream Partners LP 144A 5.375%, 6/15/29(1) | 1,405 | | 1,373 |
Crestwood Midstream Partners LP 144A 6.000%, 2/1/29(1) | 1,400 | | 1,275 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Pipelines—continued | | |
DCP Midstream Operating LP 5.125%, 5/15/29 | $ 955 | | $ 935 |
EQM Midstream Partners LP | | | |
144A 6.500%, 7/1/27(1) | 585 | | 586 |
144A 7.500%, 6/1/30(1) | 1,840 | | 1,894 |
NGL Energy Operating LLC 144A 7.500%, 2/1/26(1) | 2,150 | | 1,964 |
NuStar Logistics LP 6.375%, 10/1/30 | 1,445 | | 1,332 |
| | | 9,359 |
| | | |
|
Real Estate—0.4% | | |
Kennedy-Wilson, Inc. 5.000%, 3/1/31 | 1,990 | | 1,696 |
Retail—1.3% | | |
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 11/15/29(1) | 725 | | 640 |
Bath & Body Works, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 10/1/30(1) | 1,945 | | 1,856 |
Macy’s Retail Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.875%, 3/15/30(1) | 680 | | 583 |
144A 6.125%, 3/15/32(1) | 680 | | 572 |
New Red Finance, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 10/15/30(1) | 1,475 | | 1,283 |
| | | 4,934 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors—1.4% | | |
Amkor Technology, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 9/15/27(1) | 3,635 | | 3,617 |
Entegris Escrow Corp. 144A 5.950%, 6/15/30(1) | 1,925 | | 1,911 |
| | | 5,528 |
| | | |
|
Software—1.4% | | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp. 144A 4.875%, 7/1/29(1) | 1,910 | | 1,690 |
Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 10/15/28(1) | 1,480 | | 1,317 |
SS&C Technologies, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/30/27(1) | 2,310 | | 2,275 |
| | | 5,282 |
| | | |
|
Telecommunications—3.4% | | |
Frontier Communications Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.000%, 5/1/28(1) | 1,295 | | 1,217 |
144A 6.000%, 1/15/30(1) | 1,425 | | 1,197 |
144A 8.750%, 5/15/30(1) | 1,235 | | 1,311 |
GoTo Group, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/1/27(1) | 1,590 | | 1,160 |
Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. 6.625%, 8/1/26 | 2,610 | | 2,542 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 6/15/29(1) | 1,575 | | 1,315 |
Sprint Corp. 7.625%, 3/1/26 | 2,415 | | 2,633 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Telecommunications—continued | | |
T-Mobile USA, Inc. 4.750%, 2/1/28 | $ 1,790 | | $ 1,787 |
| | | 13,162 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.6% | | |
Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC | | | |
144A 9.750%, 8/1/27(1) | 1,500 | | 1,515 |
144A 5.500%, 5/1/28(1) | 750 | | 674 |
| | | 2,189 |
| | | |
|
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $241,294) | | 228,098 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Leveraged Loans—0.5% |
Commercial Services—0.2% | | |
R1 RCM, Inc. Tranche B (1 month SOFR + 3.000%) 5.327%, 6/21/29 (2) | 750 | | 739 |
Retail—0.3% | | |
Petco Health & Wellness Co., Inc. First Lien (3 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.500%, 3/3/28 (2) | 1,165 | | 1,125 |
Total Leveraged Loans (Identified Cost $1,909) | | 1,864 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks—26.7% |
Auto Components—1.8% | |
Aptiv plc Series A, 5.500% | 56,155 | 6,810 |
Banks—9.4% | |
Bank of America Corp. Series L, 7.250% | 12,080 | 15,028 |
Wells Fargo & Co. Series L, 7.500% | 16,980 | 21,548 |
| | 36,576 |
| | |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.6% | |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 6.000% | 39,370 | 2,490 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.4% | |
Chewy, Inc. 2020 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 6.500%(1) | 1,830 | 1,706 |
Electric Utilities—4.5% | |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.279% | 78,590 | 4,122 |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 6.219% | 254,310 | 13,448 |
| | 17,570 |
| | |
|
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—2.0% | |
Boston Scientific Corp. Series A, 5.500% | 71,510 | 7,782 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—2.8% | |
Danaher Corp. Series B, 5.000% | 7,175 | 10,919 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—3.3% | | |
Broadcom, Inc. Series A, 8.000% | 7,710 | | $ 12,936 |
Telecommunications—1.9% | | |
T-Mobile US 2020 Cash Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 5.250%(1) | 6,055 | | 7,259 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $84,653) | | 104,048 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Preferred Stocks—0.7% |
Entertainment—0.7% | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (3)(4)(5)(6)(7) | 25,188 | | 2,519 |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (3)(4)(5)(6) | 6,750 | | — |
| | | 2,519 |
| | | |
|
Total Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $9,219) | | 2,519 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Common Stocks—0.7% |
Banks—0.7% | | |
CCF Holdings LLC(5)(6) | 7,808,320 | | 2,342 |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M(5)(6) | 879,959 | | 264 |
| | | 2,606 |
| | | |
|
Consumer Finance—0.0% | | |
Erickson, Inc.(5)(6) | 8,295 | | 177 |
Entertainment—0.0% | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. (3)(4)(5)(6)(7) | 90,407 | | — (8) |
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $30,173) | | 2,783 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Warrants—0.0% |
Banks—0.0% | | |
CCF Holdings LLC(5)(6) | 1,455,681 | | 160 |
Media—0.0% | | |
Affinion Group Holdings(5)(6)(7) | 15,602 | | — |
Total Warrants (Identified Cost $3,080) | | 160 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—86.2% |
Airlines—2.4% | |
American Airlines Group, Inc. 6.500%, 7/1/25 | $ 2,790 | 3,114 |
Southwest Airlines Co. 1.250%, 5/1/25 | 4,860 | 6,145 |
| | 9,259 |
| | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Auto Manufacturers—3.4% | | |
Ford Motor Co. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | $ 5,320 | | $ 5,666 |
Lucid Group, Inc. 144A 1.250%, 12/15/26(1) | 5,250 | | 3,296 |
NIO, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 2/1/26 | 2,010 | | 1,705 |
0.500%, 2/1/27 | 3,355 | | 2,546 |
| | | 13,213 |
| | | |
|
Banks—4.6% | | |
BofA Finance LLC | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/22 | 5,970 | | 5,954 |
0.600%, 5/25/27 | 6,705 | | 6,709 |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA 144A 0.125%, 1/1/23(1) | 5,220 | | 5,139 |
| | | 17,802 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—2.0% | | |
Bridgebio Pharma, Inc. 2.250%, 2/1/29 | 2,860 | | 1,248 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. 0.250%, 3/1/27 | 2,435 | | 2,277 |
NeoGenomics, Inc. 1.250%, 5/1/25 | 4,930 | | 4,193 |
| | | 7,718 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—7.3% | | |
Affirm Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 5,960 | | 3,639 |
Block, Inc. 0.000%, 5/1/26 | 8,680 | | 7,178 |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. 0.750%, 3/15/49 | 8,485 | | 8,300 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 1,875 | | 1,611 |
144A 0.500%, 8/1/27(1) | 4,265 | | 3,060 |
Stride, Inc. 1.125%, 9/1/27 | 4,430 | | 4,634 |
| | | 28,422 |
| | | |
|
Computers—3.0% | | |
3D Systems Corp. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 4,585 | | 3,404 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | | | |
0.500%, 12/15/26 | 2,175 | | 2,401 |
144A 0.500%, 6/15/28(1) | 2,395 | | 2,206 |
Rapid7, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/27 | 855 | | 769 |
Zscaler, Inc. 0.125%, 7/1/25 | 2,355 | | 2,917 |
| | | 11,697 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—1.9% | | |
Beauty Health Co. (The) 144A 1.250%, 10/1/26(1) | 8,755 | | 7,253 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Diversified Financial Services—3.6% | | |
Coinbase Global, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/26 | $ 6,610 | | $ 4,022 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Co., LLC 0.500%, 6/15/27 | 4,590 | | 4,973 |
SoFi Technologies, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 10/15/26(1) | 5,240 | | 3,668 |
Upstart Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/15/26(1) | 2,615 | | 1,435 |
| | | 14,098 |
| | | |
|
Electronics—0.8% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 0.250%, 9/1/22 | 2,725 | | 3,063 |
Energy-Alternate Sources—3.8% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 3/1/26 | 6,640 | | 7,955 |
0.000%, 3/1/28 | 3,785 | | 4,671 |
Sunnova Energy International, Inc. 0.250%, 12/1/26 | 2,280 | | 2,161 |
| | | 14,787 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—2.5% | | |
DraftKings Holdings, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/28 | 5,875 | | 3,531 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. 0.000%, 1/1/26 | 6,875 | | 6,252 |
| | | 9,783 |
| | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—0.9% | | |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust 1.750%, 12/15/26 | 3,620 | | 3,578 |
Healthcare-Products—2.2% | | |
Exact Sciences Corp. 0.375%, 3/1/28 | 5,125 | | 3,705 |
Insulet Corp. 0.375%, 9/1/26 | 3,970 | | 4,979 |
| | | 8,684 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare-Services—3.5% | | |
Oak Street Health, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 10,645 | | 8,489 |
Teladoc Health, Inc. 1.250%, 6/1/27 | 7,045 | | 5,240 |
| | | 13,729 |
| | | |
|
Internet—15.9% | | |
Airbnb, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 5,130 | | 4,463 |
Booking Holdings, Inc. 0.750%, 5/1/25 | 4,115 | | 5,487 |
Etsy, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/27 | 2,595 | | 2,333 |
0.250%, 6/15/28 | 5,915 | | 4,767 |
Expedia Group, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/26 | 7,780 | | 7,065 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Internet—continued | | |
Match Group Financeco 2, Inc. 144A 0.875%, 6/15/26(1) | $ 4,425 | | $ 4,788 |
Okta, Inc. 0.375%, 6/15/26 | 4,390 | | 3,740 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | | | |
0.750%, 7/1/23 | 575 | | 1,086 |
0.375%, 6/1/25 | 4,165 | | 7,222 |
Sea Ltd. 0.250%, 9/15/26 | 6,600 | | 4,872 |
Snap, Inc. 144A 0.125%, 3/1/28(1) | 3,860 | | 2,596 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 12/15/25 | 7,350 | | 6,104 |
Wayfair, Inc. 0.625%, 10/1/25 | 5,015 | | 3,398 |
Zillow Group, Inc. 2.750%, 5/15/25 | 4,005 | | 3,893 |
| | | 61,814 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—2.5% | | |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 1.125%, 2/15/27(1) | 6,540 | | 4,451 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | | |
4.250%, 6/15/23 | 1,710 | | 1,673 |
2.875%, 11/15/23 | 4,080 | | 3,780 |
| | | 9,904 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Diversified—0.7% | | |
Middleby Corp. (The) 1.000%, 9/1/25 | 2,210 | | 2,748 |
Media—4.2% | | |
DISH Network Corp. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 3,640 | | 2,577 |
3.375%, 8/15/26 | 4,580 | | 3,259 |
Liberty Media Corp. | | | |
1.375%, 10/15/23 | 3,765 | | 4,750 |
144A 0.500%, 12/1/50(1) | 4,755 | | 5,689 |
| | | 16,275 |
| | | |
|
Mining—0.2% | | |
Lithium Americas Corp. 144A 1.750%, 1/15/27(1) | 1,140 | | 993 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.9% | | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 0.250%, 5/15/25 | 3,195 | | 7,336 |
Pharmaceuticals—2.8% | | |
Dexcom, Inc. 0.250%, 11/15/25 | 3,830 | | 3,622 |
Jazz Investments I Ltd. 2.000%, 6/15/26 | 6,125 | | 7,303 |
| | | 10,925 |
| | | |
|
Retail—0.4% | | |
Burlington Stores, Inc. 2.250%, 4/15/25 | 1,395 | | 1,430 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors—1.6% | | |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | $ 1,730 | | $ 1,692 |
ON Semiconductor Corp. 0.000%, 5/1/27 | 2,460 | | 3,435 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 2/15/28(1) | 1,090 | | 1,035 |
| | | 6,162 |
| | | |
|
Software—13.9% | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. 0.125%, 5/1/25 | 2,850 | | 3,270 |
Avalara, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/1/26(1) | 1,425 | | 1,215 |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 4/1/27(1) | 12,135 | | 9,866 |
Cloudflare, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 8/15/26(1) | 6,535 | | 5,342 |
Confluent, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 1/15/27(1) | 7,615 | | 5,673 |
Coupa Software, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 6/15/25 | 4,250 | | 3,697 |
0.375%, 6/15/26 | 7,035 | | 5,617 |
Five9, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/25 | 1,180 | | 1,247 |
i3 Verticals LLC 1.000%, 2/15/25 | 2,435 | | 2,366 |
Jamf Holding Corp. 144A 0.125%, 9/1/26(1) | 1,325 | | 1,122 |
Splunk, Inc. 1.125%, 6/15/27 | 8,720 | | 7,477 |
Unity Software, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 9,875 | | 7,361 |
| | | 54,253 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.2% | | |
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 1.125%, 10/15/24 | 865 | | 980 |
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $383,861) | | 335,906 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—173.3% (Identified Cost $754,189) | | 675,378 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investment—9.3% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—9.3% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(9) | 36,440,838 | | $ 36,441 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $36,441) | | 36,441 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—182.6% (Identified Cost $790,630) | | $ 711,819 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—0.3% | | 1,196 |
Preferred Shares—(82.9)% | | (323,275) |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | | $ 389,740 |
Abbreviations: |
EV | Enterprise Value |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
LP | Limited Partnership |
NA | National Association |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $259,484 or 66.6% of net assets. |
(2) | Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of July 31, 2022. Information in parenthesis represents benchmark and reference rate for each security. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions, or, for mortgage-backed securities, are impacted by the individual mortgages which are paying off over time. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their descriptions. |
(3) | For the period of February 1, 2022 through March 1, 2022, a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team was a member of the board of directors of LiveStyle, Inc. |
(4) | Affiliated investment. See Note 4G in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(5) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(6) | Non-income producing. |
(7) | Security is restricted from resale. |
(8) | Amount is less than $500. |
(9) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 92% |
Bermuda | 2 |
Cayman Islands | 1 |
Canada | 1 |
Liberia | 1 |
Jersey | 1 |
United Kingdom | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments as of July 31, 2022. |
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $228,098 | | $ — | | $228,098 | | $ — |
Leveraged Loans | 1,864 | | — | | 1,864 | | — |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 335,906 | | — | | 335,906 | | — |
Equity Securities: | | | | | | | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 104,048 | | 95,083 | | 8,965 | | — |
Common Stocks | 2,783 | | — | | — | | 2,783 |
Preferred Stocks | 2,519 | | — | | — | | 2,519 (1) |
Warrants | 160 | | — | | — | | 160 (1) |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 36,441 | | 36,441 | | — | | — |
Total Investments | $711,819 | | $131,524 | | $574,833 | | $5,462 |
(1) | Includes internally fair valued securities currently priced at zero ($0). |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
Some of the Fund’s investments that were categorized as Level 3 may have been valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. If applicable, such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of Level 3 investments.
The following is a reconciliation of assets of the Fund for Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value.
| Total | | Common Stocks | | Preferred Stocks | | Warrants |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | |
Balance as of January 31, 2022: | $ 6,885 | | $ 4,031 | | $ 2,519 (a) | | $ 335(a) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b) | (1,423) | | (1,248) | | — | | (175) |
Balance as of July 31, 2022 | $ 5,462 | | $ 2,783 | | $ 2,519 (a) | | $ 160(a) |
(a) Includes internally fair valued security currently priced at zero ($0).
(b) The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at July 31, 2022, was $(1,423).
The following table presents additional information about valuation techniques and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 at July 31, 2022:
Investments in Securities – Assets | Ending Balance at July 31, 2022 | | Valuation Technique Used | | Unobservable Inputs | | Input Values |
Preferred Stocks: | | | | | | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B | $2,519 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.41x (0.26x - 3.02x) |
| | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | -75% - 30% |
| | | | | | | |
Common Stocks: | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | $2,342 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M | $ 264 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | |
Erickson, Inc. | $ 177 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.18x (0.62x - 2.58x) |
| | | | | | | 10.81x (9.04x - 12.83x) |
| | | | | | | 0.83x (0.44x - 1.56x) |
| | | | | M&A Transaction Multiples | | 0.96x (0.41x - 1.96x) |
| | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. | $ —(1) | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.41x (0.26x - 3.02x) |
| | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | -75% - 30% |
| | | | | | | |
Warrants: | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | $ 160 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | Black-Scholes Model | | Volatility | | 50.96% |
| | | | | | | |
(1) Amount is less than $500. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—60.3% |
Aerospace & Defense—0.8% | | |
TransDigm, Inc. 5.500%, 11/15/27 | $ 2,010 | | $ 1,897 |
Triumph Group, Inc. 144A 8.875%, 6/1/24(1) | 515 | | 533 |
| | | 2,430 |
| | | |
|
Airlines—0.9% | | |
American Airlines, Inc. 144A 11.750%, 7/15/25(1) | 1,475 | | 1,637 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 7.375%, 1/15/26 | 1,085 | | 1,139 |
| | | 2,776 |
| | | |
|
Auto Components—2.5% | | |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. 6.500%, 4/1/27 | 1,560 | | 1,498 |
Clarios Global LP 144A 8.500%, 5/15/27(1) | 2,325 | | 2,347 |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) | | | |
9.500%, 5/31/25 | 975 | | 1,027 |
5.250%, 4/30/31 | 1,135 | | 1,019 |
5.250%, 7/15/31 | 1,085 | | 943 |
Tenneco, Inc. 144A 7.875%, 1/15/29(1) | 505 | | 501 |
| | | 7,335 |
| | | |
|
Auto Manufacturers—1.4% | | |
Ford Motor Co. | | | |
9.000%, 4/22/25 | 1,970 | | 2,182 |
9.625%, 4/22/30 | 1,705 | | 2,038 |
| | | 4,220 |
| | | |
|
Building Materials—1.2% | | |
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 144A 6.375%, 6/15/32(1) | 980 | | 977 |
Griffon Corp. 5.750%, 3/1/28 | 965 | | 923 |
Koppers, Inc. 144A 6.000%, 2/15/25(1) | 1,650 | | 1,572 |
| | | 3,472 |
| | | |
|
Chemicals—0.8% | | |
Chemours Co. (The) 144A 5.750%, 11/15/28(1) | 1,535 | | 1,463 |
Tronox, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 3/15/29(1) | 1,150 | | 991 |
| | | 2,454 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—3.1% | | |
ADT Security Corp. (The) 144A 4.125%, 8/1/29(1) | 1,595 | | 1,435 |
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC 144A 5.375%, 3/1/29(1) | 1,595 | | 1,454 |
Deluxe Corp. 144A 8.000%, 6/1/29(1) | 1,105 | | 965 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Commercial Services—continued | | |
Herc Holdings, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 7/15/27(1) | $ 1,015 | | $ 1,015 |
Hertz Corp. (The) 144A 5.000%, 12/1/29(1) | 1,675 | | 1,432 |
NESCO Holdings II, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 4/15/29(1) | 1,090 | | 946 |
United Rentals North America, Inc. 5.250%, 1/15/30 | 1,830 | | 1,850 |
| | | 9,097 |
| | | |
|
Computers—0.7% | | |
Condor Merger Sub, Inc. 144A 7.375%, 2/15/30(1) | 1,085 | | 953 |
NCR Corp. 144A 5.125%, 4/15/29(1) | 1,065 | | 1,022 |
| | | 1,975 |
| | | |
|
Containers & Packaging—1.1% | | |
Berry Global, Inc. 144A 5.625%, 7/15/27(1) | 1,030 | | 1,039 |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 5/13/27(1) | 2,315 | | 2,227 |
| | | 3,266 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.8% | | |
Coty, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 4/15/26(1) | 1,285 | | 1,259 |
Edgewell Personal Care Co. 144A 5.500%, 6/1/28(1) | 1,105 | | 1,083 |
| | | 2,342 |
| | | |
|
Diversified Financial Services—1.9% | | |
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc. | | | |
144A 5.500%, 8/15/28(1) | 1,080 | | 949 |
144A 5.750%, 11/15/31(1) | 565 | | 472 |
Navient Corp. | | | |
6.750%, 6/15/26 | 1,375 | | 1,310 |
5.000%, 3/15/27 | 1,230 | | 1,112 |
OneMain Finance Corp. | | | |
8.250%, 10/1/23 | 1,215 | | 1,233 |
6.625%, 1/15/28 | 545 | | 511 |
| | | 5,587 |
| | | |
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.7% | | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc. 144A 7.250%, 6/15/28(1) | 1,980 | | 2,051 |
Electronics—0.5% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 144A 5.000%, 12/15/29(1) | 1,565 | | 1,491 |
Entertainment—4.1% | | |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. 144A 6.250%, 7/1/25(1) | 3,515 | | 3,506 |
CDI Escrow Issuer, Inc. 144A 5.750%, 4/1/30(1) | 1,420 | | 1,388 |
International Game Technology plc 144A 6.250%, 1/15/27(1) | 2,260 | | 2,300 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Entertainment—continued | | |
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC 144A 5.500%, 4/15/29(1) | $ 1,555 | | $ 1,266 |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 10/15/27(1) | 1,585 | | 1,510 |
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 8/15/29(1) | 2,180 | | 1,954 |
| | | 11,924 |
| | | |
|
Environmental Services—0.7% | | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 6/15/29(1) | 2,140 | | 1,969 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—1.7% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 7/15/30(1) | 2,180 | | 2,039 |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.875%, 10/1/28(1) | 1,035 | | 1,015 |
144A 4.875%, 5/15/29(1) | 1,125 | | 1,036 |
Service Properties Trust 7.500%, 9/15/25 | 985 | | 955 |
| | | 5,045 |
| | | |
|
Food & Beverage—1.9% | | |
Performance Food Group, Inc. | | | |
144A 5.500%, 10/15/27(1) | 2,135 | | 2,104 |
144A 4.250%, 8/1/29(1) | 1,155 | | 1,026 |
Post Holdings, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 12/15/29(1) | 1,040 | | 983 |
US Foods, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 2/15/29(1) | 1,540 | | 1,438 |
| | | 5,551 |
| | | |
|
Food Service—0.5% | | |
Aramark Services, Inc. 144A 5.000%, 2/1/28(1) | 1,545 | | 1,509 |
Healthcare-Products—0.5% | | |
Medline Borrower LP 144A 5.250%, 10/1/29(1) | 1,620 | | 1,464 |
Healthcare-Services—1.8% | | |
Centene Corp. 4.625%, 12/15/29 | 1,480 | | 1,460 |
Select Medical Corp. 144A 6.250%, 8/15/26(1) | 1,070 | | 1,071 |
Tenet Healthcare Corp. | | | |
144A 6.125%, 10/1/28(1) | 2,170 | | 2,116 |
144A 6.125%, 6/15/30(1) | 485 | | 490 |
| | | 5,137 |
| | | |
|
Home Builders—0.5% | | |
Picasso Finance Sub, Inc. 144A 6.125%, 6/15/25(1) | 1,448 | | 1,467 |
Internet—1.2% | | |
Uber Technologies, Inc. | | | |
144A 8.000%, 11/1/26(1) | 865 | | 881 |
144A 7.500%, 9/15/27(1) | 1,485 | | 1,504 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Internet—continued | | |
144A 6.250%, 1/15/28(1) | $ 1,000 | | $ 983 |
| | | 3,368 |
| | | |
|
Investment Companies—0.5% | | |
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC 144A 5.250%, 4/15/29(1) | 1,720 | | 1,518 |
Iron & Steel—0.5% | | |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. 5.875%, 6/1/27 | 1,445 | | 1,438 |
Leisure Time—1.4% | | |
Carnival Corp. 144A 10.500%, 2/1/26(1) | 1,000 | | 1,050 |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 5.875%, 3/15/26(1) | 2,030 | | 1,656 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 144A 11.500%, 6/1/25(1) | 1,341 | | 1,436 |
| | | 4,142 |
| | | |
|
Lodging—1.2% | | |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. | | | |
4.875%, 1/15/30 | 500 | | 485 |
144A 4.000%, 5/1/31(1) | 840 | | 754 |
Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC 144A 5.000%, 6/1/29(1) | 1,540 | | 1,363 |
MGM Resorts International 4.750%, 10/15/28 | 1,145 | | 1,038 |
| | | 3,640 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.5% | | |
Terex Corp. 144A 5.000%, 5/15/29(1) | 1,715 | | 1,530 |
Media—6.1% | | |
CCO Holdings LLC | | | |
4.500%, 5/1/32 | 1,785 | | 1,543 |
144A 5.375%, 6/1/29(1) | 1,535 | | 1,463 |
CSC Holdings LLC 144A 7.500%, 4/1/28(1) | 1,745 | | 1,601 |
DirecTV Financing LLC 144A 5.875%, 8/15/27(1) | 1,670 | | 1,556 |
DISH DBS Corp. | | | |
7.375%, 7/1/28 | 1,840 | | 1,312 |
144A 5.750%, 12/1/28(1) | 890 | | 722 |
Gray Escrow II, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 11/15/31(1) | 1,080 | | 953 |
Gray Television, Inc. 144A 7.000%, 5/15/27(1) | 1,425 | | 1,434 |
Nexstar Media, Inc. 144A 5.625%, 7/15/27(1) | 1,640 | | 1,645 |
Scripps Escrow II, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 1/15/31(1) | 1,690 | | 1,415 |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 7/15/28(1) | 1,735 | | 1,612 |
TEGNA, Inc. 5.000%, 9/15/29 | 1,095 | | 1,070 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Media—continued | | |
Virgin Media Secured Finance plc 144A 5.500%, 5/15/29(1) | $ 1,535 | | $ 1,458 |
| | | 17,784 |
| | | |
|
Mining—0.4% | | |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. 144A 6.125%, 4/1/29(1) | 1,635 | | 1,271 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—6.4% | | |
Antero Resources Corp. 144A 7.625%, 2/1/29(1) | 1,314 | | 1,385 |
Callon Petroleum Co. 144A 8.000%, 8/1/28(1) | 1,325 | | 1,342 |
CITGO Petroleum Corp. 144A 6.375%, 6/15/26(1) | 1,055 | | 1,013 |
CNX Resources Corp. 144A 7.250%, 3/14/27(1) | 1,885 | | 1,909 |
Comstock Resources, Inc. | | | |
144A 6.750%, 3/1/29(1) | 1,145 | | 1,133 |
144A 5.875%, 1/15/30(1) | 545 | | 512 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | |
5.550%, 3/15/26 | 1,940 | | 1,993 |
6.625%, 9/1/30 | 1,930 | | 2,141 |
PDC Energy, Inc. 5.750%, 5/15/26 | 1,675 | | 1,637 |
SM Energy Co. 6.500%, 7/15/28 | 1,185 | | 1,168 |
Southwestern Energy Co. 5.375%, 3/15/30 | 1,085 | | 1,068 |
Sunoco LP 4.500%, 4/30/30 | 565 | | 495 |
USA Compression Partners LP 6.875%, 9/1/27 | 1,750 | | 1,600 |
Weatherford International Ltd. 144A 8.625%, 4/30/30(1) | 1,495 | | 1,352 |
| | | 18,748 |
| | | |
|
Paper & Forest Products—0.5% | | |
Mercer International, Inc. | | | |
5.125%, 2/1/29 | 495 | | 463 |
144A 5.125%, 2/1/29(1) | 1,135 | | 1,063 |
| | | 1,526 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—2.2% | | |
Bausch Health Americas, Inc. 144A 8.500%, 1/31/27(1) | 2,000 | | 1,263 |
Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 8/1/27(1) | 1,710 | | 1,696 |
Jazz Securities DAC 144A 4.375%, 1/15/29(1) | 1,925 | | 1,854 |
Organon & Co. 144A 5.125%, 4/30/31(1) | 1,615 | | 1,512 |
| | | 6,325 |
| | | |
|
Pipelines—2.5% | | |
Antero Midstream Partners LP 144A 5.375%, 6/15/29(1) | 1,090 | | 1,065 |
Crestwood Midstream Partners LP 144A 6.000%, 2/1/29(1) | 1,085 | | 988 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Pipelines—continued | | |
DCP Midstream Operating LP 5.125%, 5/15/29 | $ 740 | | $ 725 |
EQM Midstream Partners LP | | | |
144A 6.500%, 7/1/27(1) | 455 | | 456 |
144A 7.500%, 6/1/30(1) | 1,425 | | 1,466 |
NGL Energy Operating LLC 144A 7.500%, 2/1/26(1) | 1,665 | | 1,521 |
NuStar Logistics LP 6.375%, 10/1/30 | 1,120 | | 1,033 |
| | | 7,254 |
| | | |
|
Real Estate—0.5% | | |
Kennedy-Wilson, Inc. 5.000%, 3/1/31 | 1,545 | | 1,317 |
Retail—1.3% | | |
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 11/15/29(1) | 560 | | 494 |
Bath & Body Works, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 10/1/30(1) | 1,505 | | 1,436 |
Macy’s Retail Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.875%, 3/15/30(1) | 525 | | 450 |
144A 6.125%, 3/15/32(1) | 530 | | 446 |
New Red Finance, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 10/15/30(1) | 1,140 | | 992 |
| | | 3,818 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors—1.5% | | |
Amkor Technology, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 9/15/27(1) | 2,815 | | 2,801 |
Entegris Escrow Corp. 144A 5.950%, 6/15/30(1) | 1,485 | | 1,474 |
| | | 4,275 |
| | | |
|
Software—1.4% | | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp. 144A 4.875%, 7/1/29(1) | 1,485 | | 1,314 |
Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 10/15/28(1) | 1,145 | | 1,018 |
SS&C Technologies, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/30/27(1) | 1,770 | | 1,744 |
| | | 4,076 |
| | | |
|
Telecommunications—3.5% | | |
Frontier Communications Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.000%, 5/1/28(1) | 1,010 | | 949 |
144A 6.000%, 1/15/30(1) | 1,100 | | 924 |
144A 8.750%, 5/15/30(1) | 955 | | 1,014 |
GoTo Group, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/1/27(1) | 1,230 | | 898 |
Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. 6.625%, 8/1/26 | 2,010 | | 1,957 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 6/15/29(1) | 1,220 | | 1,019 |
Sprint Corp. 7.625%, 3/1/26 | 1,900 | | 2,071 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Telecommunications—continued | | |
T-Mobile USA, Inc. 4.750%, 2/1/28 | $ 1,395 | | $ 1,393 |
| | | 10,225 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.6% | | |
Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC | | | |
144A 9.750%, 8/1/27(1) | 1,160 | | 1,171 |
144A 5.500%, 5/1/28(1) | 580 | | 522 |
| | | 1,693 |
| | | |
|
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $186,730) | | 176,510 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Leveraged Loans—0.5% |
Commercial Services—0.2% | | |
R1 RCM, Inc. Tranche B (1 month SOFR + 3.000%) 5.327%, 6/21/29 (2) | 585 | | 576 |
Retail—0.3% | | |
Petco Health & Wellness Co., Inc. First Lien (3 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.500%, 3/3/28 (2) | 904 | | 873 |
Total Leveraged Loans (Identified Cost $1,483) | | 1,449 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks—27.0% |
Auto Components—1.8% | |
Aptiv plc Series A, 5.500% | 42,465 | 5,150 |
Banks—9.5% | |
Bank of America Corp. Series L, 7.250% | 9,140 | 11,371 |
Wells Fargo & Co. Series L, 7.500% | 12,835 | 16,287 |
| | 27,658 |
| | |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.6% | |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 6.000% | 29,705 | 1,879 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.4% | |
Chewy, Inc. 2020 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 6.500%(1) | 1,385 | 1,291 |
Electric Utilities—4.5% | |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.279% | 59,355 | 3,113 |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 6.219% | 192,150 | 10,161 |
| | 13,274 |
| | |
|
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—2.1% | |
Boston Scientific Corp. Series A, 5.500% | 57,125 | 6,216 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—2.8% | |
Danaher Corp. Series B, 5.000% | 5,410 | 8,233 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—3.4% | | |
Broadcom, Inc. Series A, 8.000% | 5,910 | | $ 9,916 |
Telecommunications—1.9% | | |
T-Mobile US 2020 Cash Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 5.250%(1) | 4,565 | | 5,473 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $63,540) | | 79,090 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Preferred Stocks—0.9% |
Entertainment—0.9% | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (3)(4)(5)(6)(7) | 25,188 | | 2,519 |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (3)(4)(5)(6) | 5,000 | | — |
| | | 2,519 |
| | | |
|
Total Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $7,469) | | 2,519 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Common Stocks—0.8% |
Banks—0.7% | | |
CCF Holdings LLC(5)(6) | 6,367,079 | | 1,910 |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M(5)(6) | 879,959 | | 264 |
| | | 2,174 |
| | | |
|
Consumer Finance—0.1% | | |
Erickson, Inc.(5)(6) | 6,354 | | 136 |
Entertainment—0.0% | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. (3)(4)(5)(6)(7) | 90,407 | | — (8) |
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $22,668) | | 2,310 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Warrants—0.0% |
Banks—0.0% | | |
CCF Holdings LLC(5)(6) | 1,455,681 | | 160 |
Media—0.0% | | |
Affinion Group Holdings(5)(6)(7) | 12,009 | | — |
Total Warrants (Identified Cost $2,371) | | 160 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—85.8% |
Airlines—2.4% | |
American Airlines Group, Inc. 6.500%, 7/1/25 | $ 2,095 | 2,338 |
Southwest Airlines Co. 1.250%, 5/1/25 | 3,685 | 4,660 |
| | 6,998 |
| | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Auto Manufacturers—3.4% | | |
Ford Motor Co. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | $ 4,015 | | $ 4,276 |
Lucid Group, Inc. 144A 1.250%, 12/15/26(1) | 3,960 | | 2,486 |
NIO, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 2/1/26 | 1,515 | | 1,285 |
0.500%, 2/1/27 | 2,535 | | 1,924 |
| | | 9,971 |
| | | |
|
Banks—4.6% | | |
BofA Finance LLC | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/22 | 4,515 | | 4,503 |
0.600%, 5/25/27 | 5,050 | | 5,053 |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA 144A 0.125%, 1/1/23(1) | 3,945 | | 3,884 |
| | | 13,440 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—2.0% | | |
Bridgebio Pharma, Inc. 2.250%, 2/1/29 | 2,150 | | 938 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. 0.250%, 3/1/27 | 1,835 | | 1,716 |
NeoGenomics, Inc. 1.250%, 5/1/25 | 3,720 | | 3,164 |
| | | 5,818 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—7.3% | | |
Affirm Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 4,505 | | 2,750 |
Block, Inc. 0.000%, 5/1/26 | 6,560 | | 5,425 |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. 0.750%, 3/15/49 | 6,390 | | 6,250 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 1,410 | | 1,212 |
144A 0.500%, 8/1/27(1) | 3,215 | | 2,307 |
Stride, Inc. 1.125%, 9/1/27 | 3,345 | | 3,499 |
| | | 21,443 |
| | | |
|
Computers—3.1% | | |
3D Systems Corp. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 3,460 | | 2,569 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | | | |
0.500%, 12/15/26 | 1,645 | | 1,816 |
144A 0.500%, 6/15/28(1) | 1,925 | | 1,773 |
Rapid7, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/27 | 645 | | 580 |
Zscaler, Inc. 0.125%, 7/1/25 | 1,775 | | 2,198 |
| | | 8,936 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—1.9% | | |
Beauty Health Co. (The) 144A 1.250%, 10/1/26(1) | 6,605 | | 5,472 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Diversified Financial Services—3.6% | | |
Coinbase Global, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/26 | $ 4,990 | | $ 3,036 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Co., LLC 0.500%, 6/15/27 | 3,460 | | 3,749 |
SoFi Technologies, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 10/15/26(1) | 3,955 | | 2,769 |
Upstart Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/15/26(1) | 1,970 | | 1,081 |
| | | 10,635 |
| | | |
|
Electronics—0.8% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 0.250%, 9/1/22 | 2,175 | | 2,445 |
Energy-Alternate Sources—3.8% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 3/1/26 | 5,010 | | 6,002 |
0.000%, 3/1/28 | 2,860 | | 3,529 |
Sunnova Energy International, Inc. 0.250%, 12/1/26 | 1,720 | | 1,631 |
| | | 11,162 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—2.5% | | |
DraftKings Holdings, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/28 | 4,435 | | 2,665 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. 0.000%, 1/1/26 | 5,185 | | 4,715 |
| | | 7,380 |
| | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—0.9% | | |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust 1.750%, 12/15/26 | 2,730 | | 2,699 |
Healthcare-Products—2.2% | | |
Exact Sciences Corp. 0.375%, 3/1/28 | 3,875 | | 2,802 |
Insulet Corp. 0.375%, 9/1/26 | 3,005 | | 3,768 |
| | | 6,570 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare-Services—3.5% | | |
Oak Street Health, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 8,050 | | 6,420 |
Teladoc Health, Inc. 1.250%, 6/1/27 | 5,325 | | 3,960 |
| | | 10,380 |
| | | |
|
Internet—15.4% | | |
Airbnb, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 4,130 | | 3,593 |
Booking Holdings, Inc. 0.750%, 5/1/25 | 2,105 | | 2,807 |
Etsy, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/27 | 1,960 | | 1,762 |
0.250%, 6/15/28 | 4,465 | | 3,599 |
Expedia Group, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/26 | 4,860 | | 4,413 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Internet—continued | | |
Match Group Financeco 2, Inc. 144A 0.875%, 6/15/26(1) | $ 3,335 | | $ 3,609 |
Okta, Inc. 0.375%, 6/15/26 | 3,315 | | 2,825 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | | | |
0.750%, 7/1/23 | 425 | | 803 |
0.375%, 6/1/25 | 3,135 | | 5,436 |
Sea Ltd. 0.250%, 9/15/26 | 5,005 | | 3,694 |
Snap, Inc. 144A 0.125%, 3/1/28(1) | 2,910 | | 1,957 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 12/15/25 | 5,880 | | 4,883 |
Wayfair, Inc. 0.625%, 10/1/25 | 3,785 | | 2,564 |
Zillow Group, Inc. 2.750%, 5/15/25 | 3,210 | | 3,120 |
| | | 45,065 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—2.6% | | |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 1.125%, 2/15/27(1) | 4,935 | | 3,358 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | | |
4.250%, 6/15/23 | 1,290 | | 1,262 |
2.875%, 11/15/23 | 3,070 | | 2,845 |
| | | 7,465 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Diversified—0.7% | | |
Middleby Corp. (The) 1.000%, 9/1/25 | 1,665 | | 2,070 |
Media—4.2% | | |
DISH Network Corp. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 2,745 | | 1,943 |
3.375%, 8/15/26 | 3,455 | | 2,458 |
Liberty Media Corp. | | | |
1.375%, 10/15/23 | 2,840 | | 3,583 |
144A 0.500%, 12/1/50(1) | 3,585 | | 4,290 |
| | | 12,274 |
| | | |
|
Mining—0.3% | | |
Lithium Americas Corp. 144A 1.750%, 1/15/27(1) | 860 | | 749 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.9% | | |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 0.250%, 5/15/25 | 2,485 | | 5,706 |
Pharmaceuticals—2.4% | | |
Dexcom, Inc. 0.250%, 11/15/25 | 2,890 | | 2,733 |
Jazz Investments I Ltd. 2.000%, 6/15/26 | 3,615 | | 4,310 |
| | | 7,043 |
| | | |
|
Retail—0.4% | | |
Burlington Stores, Inc. 2.250%, 4/15/25 | 1,055 | | 1,081 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors—1.7% | | |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | $ 1,385 | | $ 1,355 |
ON Semiconductor Corp. 0.000%, 5/1/27 | 1,980 | | 2,765 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 2/15/28(1) | 820 | | 778 |
| | | 4,898 |
| | | |
|
Software—13.9% | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. 0.125%, 5/1/25 | 2,150 | | 2,467 |
Avalara, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/1/26(1) | 1,075 | | 916 |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 4/1/27(1) | 9,020 | | 7,333 |
Cloudflare, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 8/15/26(1) | 4,930 | | 4,030 |
Confluent, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 1/15/27(1) | 5,755 | | 4,288 |
Coupa Software, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 6/15/25 | 3,195 | | 2,780 |
0.375%, 6/15/26 | 5,290 | | 4,224 |
Five9, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/25 | 890 | | 940 |
i3 Verticals LLC 1.000%, 2/15/25 | 1,840 | | 1,788 |
Jamf Holding Corp. 144A 0.125%, 9/1/26(1) | 1,000 | | 847 |
Splunk, Inc. 1.125%, 6/15/27 | 6,580 | | 5,642 |
Unity Software, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1) | 7,450 | | 5,553 |
| | | 40,808 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.3% | | |
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 1.125%, 10/15/24 | 655 | | 742 |
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $287,110) | | 251,250 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—175.3% (Identified Cost $571,371) | | 513,288 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investment—17.1% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—17.1% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(9) | 50,112,117 | | $ 50,112 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $50,112) | | 50,112 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—192.4% (Identified Cost $621,483) | | $ 563,400 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—0.3% | | 903 |
Preferred Shares—(92.7)% | | (271,525) |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | | $ 292,778 |
Abbreviations: |
EV | Enterprise Value |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
LP | Limited Partnership |
NA | National Association |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $199,029 or 68.0% of net assets. |
(2) | Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of July 31, 2022. Information in parenthesis represents benchmark and reference rate for each security. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions, or, for mortgage-backed securities, are impacted by the individual mortgages which are paying off over time. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their descriptions. |
(3) | For the period of February 1, 2022 through March 1, 2022, a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team was a member of the board of directors of LiveStyle, Inc. |
(4) | Affiliated investment. See Note 4G in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(5) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(6) | Non-income producing. |
(7) | Security is restricted from resale. |
(8) | Amount is less than $500. |
(9) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 93% |
Bermuda | 2 |
Cayman Islands | 1 |
Canada | 1 |
Liberia | 1 |
Jersey | 1 |
United Kingdom | 1 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments as of July 31, 2022. |
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $176,510 | | $ — | | $176,510 | | $ — |
Leveraged Loans | 1,449 | | — | | 1,449 | | — |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 251,250 | | — | | 251,250 | | — |
Equity Securities: | | | | | | | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 79,090 | | 72,326 | | 6,764 | | — |
Common Stocks | 2,310 | | — | | — | | 2,310 |
Preferred Stocks | 2,519 | | — | | — | | 2,519 (1) |
Warrants | 160 | | — | | — | | 160 (1) |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 50,112 | | 50,112 | | — | | — |
Total Investments | $563,400 | | $122,438 | | $435,973 | | $4,989 |
(1) | Includes internally fair valued securities currently priced at zero ($0). |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
Some of the Fund’s investments that were categorized as Level 3 may have been valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. If applicable, such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of Level 3 investments.
The following is a reconciliation of assets of the Fund for Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value.
| Total | | Common Stocks | | Preferred Stocks | | Warrants |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | |
Balance as of January 31, 2022: | $ 6,202 | | $ 3,348 | | $ 2,519 (a) | | $ 335(a) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b) | (1,213) | | (1,038) | | — | | (175) |
Balance as of July 31, 2022 | $ 4,989 | | $ 2,310 | | $ 2,519 (a) | | $ 160(a) |
(a) Includes internally fair valued security currently priced at zero ($0).
(b) The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at July 31, 2022, was $(1,213).
The following table presents additional information about valuation techniques and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 at July 31, 2022:
Investments in Securities – Assets | | Ending Balance at July 31, 2022 | | Valuation Technique Used | | Unobservable Inputs | | Input Values |
Preferred Stocks: | | | | | | | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B | | $2,519 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.41x (0.26x - 3.02x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | -75% - 30% |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks: | | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | | $1,910 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M | | $ 264 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
Erickson, Inc. | | $ 136 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.18x (0.62x - 2.58x) |
| | | | | | | | 10.81x (9.04x - 12.83x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.83x (0.44x - 1.56x) |
| | | | | | M&A Transaction Multiples | | 0.96x (0.41x - 1.96x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. | | $ —(1) | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.41x (0.26x - 3.02x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | -75% - 30% |
| | | | | | | | |
Warrants: | | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | | $ 160 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | Black-Scholes Model | | Volatility | | 50.96% |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
(1) Amount is less than $500. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—19.3% |
Aerospace & Defense—0.3% | | |
TransDigm, Inc. 5.500%, 11/15/27(1) | $ 510 | | $ 481 |
Triumph Group, Inc. | | | |
144A 8.875%, 6/1/24(1)(2) | 143 | | 148 |
144A 6.250%, 9/15/24(1)(2) | 175 | | 168 |
| | | 797 |
| | | |
|
Airlines—0.3% | | |
American Airlines, Inc. 144A 11.750%, 7/15/25(1)(2) | 300 | | 333 |
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 7.375%, 1/15/26(1) | 275 | | 289 |
| | | 622 |
| | | |
|
Auto Components—0.8% | | |
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. 6.500%, 4/1/27(1) | 390 | | 374 |
Clarios Global LP 144A 8.500%, 5/15/27(1)(2) | 645 | | 651 |
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) | | | |
9.500%, 5/31/25 | 250 | | 264 |
5.250%, 4/30/31(1) | 265 | | 238 |
5.250%, 7/15/31 | 305 | | 265 |
Tenneco, Inc. 144A 7.875%, 1/15/29(1)(2) | 130 | | 129 |
| | | 1,921 |
| | | |
|
Auto Manufacturers—0.6% | | |
Ford Motor Co. | | | |
9.000%, 4/22/25(1) | 530 | | 587 |
9.625%, 4/22/30(1) | 460 | | 550 |
7.450%, 7/16/31(1) | 250 | | 272 |
| | | 1,409 |
| | | |
|
Building Materials—0.4% | | |
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 144A 6.375%, 6/15/32(2) | 245 | | 244 |
Griffon Corp. 5.750%, 3/1/28 | 355 | | 340 |
Koppers, Inc. 144A 6.000%, 2/15/25(1)(2) | 305 | | 290 |
| | | 874 |
| | | |
|
Chemicals—0.3% | | |
Chemours Co. (The) 144A 5.750%, 11/15/28(2) | 390 | | 372 |
Tronox, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 3/15/29(1)(2) | 300 | | 258 |
| | | 630 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—0.9% | | |
ADT Security Corp. (The) 144A 4.125%, 8/1/29(2) | 400 | | 360 |
Avis Budget Car Rental LLC 144A 5.375%, 3/1/29(2) | 420 | | 383 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Commercial Services—continued | | |
Deluxe Corp. 144A 8.000%, 6/1/29(1)(2) | $ 285 | | $ 249 |
Herc Holdings, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 7/15/27(2) | 255 | | 255 |
Hertz Corp. (The) 144A 5.000%, 12/1/29(1)(2) | 435 | | 372 |
NESCO Holdings II, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 4/15/29(1)(2) | 285 | | 247 |
United Rentals North America, Inc. 5.250%, 1/15/30(1) | 310 | | 313 |
| | | 2,179 |
| | | |
|
Computers—0.2% | | |
Condor Merger Sub, Inc. 144A 7.375%, 2/15/30(2) | 275 | | 241 |
NCR Corp. 144A 5.125%, 4/15/29(1)(2) | 330 | | 317 |
| | | 558 |
| | | |
|
Containers & Packaging—0.4% | | |
Berry Global, Inc. 144A 5.625%, 7/15/27(1)(2) | 270 | | 273 |
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 5/13/27(1)(2) | 385 | | 370 |
Trivium Packaging Finance B.V. 144A 8.500%, 8/15/27(1)(2) | 355 | | 339 |
| | | 982 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.2% | | |
Coty, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 4/15/26(2) | 255 | | 250 |
Edgewell Personal Care Co. 144A 5.500%, 6/1/28(1)(2) | 300 | | 294 |
| | | 544 |
| | | |
|
Diversified Financial Services—0.6% | | |
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc. | | | |
144A 5.500%, 8/15/28(1)(2) | 290 | | 255 |
144A 5.750%, 11/15/31(1)(2) | 145 | | 121 |
Navient Corp. | | | |
6.750%, 6/15/26(1) | 375 | | 357 |
5.000%, 3/15/27(1) | 285 | | 258 |
OneMain Finance Corp. | | | |
8.250%, 10/1/23(1) | 320 | | 325 |
6.625%, 1/15/28(1) | 140 | | 131 |
| | | 1,447 |
| | | |
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.2% | | |
WESCO Distribution, Inc. 144A 7.250%, 6/15/28(1)(2) | 500 | | 518 |
Electronics—0.2% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 144A 5.000%, 12/15/29(2) | 400 | | 381 |
Entertainment—1.2% | | |
Caesars Entertainment, Inc. | | | |
144A 6.250%, 7/1/25(1)(2) | 430 | | 429 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Entertainment—continued | | |
144A 4.625%, 10/15/29(2) | $ 425 | | $ 360 |
CDI Escrow Issuer, Inc. 144A 5.750%, 4/1/30(2) | 365 | | 357 |
Cedar Fair LP 5.375%, 4/15/27(1) | 465 | | 453 |
International Game Technology plc 144A 6.250%, 1/15/27(1)(2) | 450 | | 458 |
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC 144A 5.500%, 4/15/29(1)(2) | 410 | | 334 |
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 8/15/29(1)(2) | 425 | | 381 |
| | | 2,772 |
| | | |
|
Environmental Services—0.2% | | |
GFL Environmental, Inc. 144A 4.750%, 6/15/29(1)(2) | 545 | | 501 |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—0.5% | | |
Iron Mountain, Inc. 144A 5.250%, 7/15/30(1)(2) | 425 | | 398 |
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.875%, 10/1/28(2) | 260 | | 255 |
144A 4.875%, 5/15/29(1)(2) | 290 | | 267 |
Service Properties Trust 7.500%, 9/15/25 | 250 | | 242 |
| | | 1,162 |
| | | |
|
Food & Beverage—0.5% | | |
Performance Food Group, Inc. 144A 4.250%, 8/1/29(1)(2) | 300 | | 267 |
Post Holdings, Inc. 144A 4.500%, 9/15/31(1)(2) | 300 | | 266 |
Simmons Foods, Inc. 144A 4.625%, 3/1/29(1)(2) | 300 | | 274 |
US Foods, Inc. | | | |
144A 6.250%, 4/15/25(1)(2) | 220 | | 224 |
144A 4.750%, 2/15/29(1)(2) | 180 | | 168 |
| | | 1,199 |
| | | |
|
Food Service—0.2% | | |
Aramark Services, Inc. 144A 5.000%, 2/1/28(1)(2) | 390 | | 381 |
Healthcare-Products—0.2% | | |
Medline Borrower LP 144A 5.250%, 10/1/29(1)(2) | 415 | | 375 |
Healthcare-Services—0.6% | | |
Centene Corp. 4.625%, 12/15/29(1) | 370 | | 365 |
Select Medical Corp. 144A 6.250%, 8/15/26(1)(2) | 280 | | 281 |
Tenet Healthcare Corp. | | | |
144A 6.125%, 10/1/28(1)(2) | 550 | | 536 |
144A 6.125%, 6/15/30(2) | 120 | | 121 |
| | | 1,303 |
| | | |
|
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Home Builders—0.1% | | |
Picasso Finance Sub, Inc. 144A 6.125%, 6/15/25(1)(2) | $ 247 | | $ 250 |
Internet—0.5% | | |
Match Group Holdings II LLC 144A 5.000%, 12/15/27(1)(2) | 395 | | 383 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. | | | |
144A 8.000%, 11/1/26(1)(2) | 235 | | 239 |
144A 7.500%, 9/15/27(1)(2) | 370 | | 375 |
144A 6.250%, 1/15/28(2) | 255 | | 251 |
| | | 1,248 |
| | | |
|
Investment Companies—0.2% | | |
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC 144A 5.250%, 4/15/29(1)(2) | 435 | | 384 |
Iron & Steel—0.2% | | |
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. 5.875%, 6/1/27(1) | 455 | | 453 |
Leisure Time—0.4% | | |
Carnival Corp. 144A 10.500%, 2/1/26(1)(2) | 265 | | 278 |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 5.875%, 3/15/26(1)(2) | 300 | | 245 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 144A 11.500%, 6/1/25(1)(2) | 336 | | 360 |
| | | 883 |
| | | |
|
Lodging—0.4% | | |
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc. | | | |
4.875%, 1/15/30 | 125 | | 121 |
144A 4.000%, 5/1/31(1)(2) | 225 | | 202 |
Hilton Grand Vacations Borrower Escrow LLC 144A 5.000%, 6/1/29(2) | 415 | | 367 |
MGM Resorts International 4.750%, 10/15/28(1) | 305 | | 277 |
| | | 967 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.1% | | |
Terex Corp. 144A 5.000%, 5/15/29(1)(2) | 280 | | 250 |
Media—2.0% | | |
CCO Holdings LLC | | | |
4.500%, 5/1/32(1) | 290 | | 251 |
144A 5.375%, 6/1/29(1)(2) | 385 | | 367 |
CSC Holdings LLC 144A 7.500%, 4/1/28(1)(2) | 445 | | 408 |
DirecTV Financing LLC 144A 5.875%, 8/15/27(1)(2) | 575 | | 536 |
DISH DBS Corp. | | | |
7.375%, 7/1/28(1) | 420 | | 299 |
144A 5.750%, 12/1/28(1)(2) | 230 | | 187 |
Gray Escrow II, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 11/15/31(2) | 275 | | 243 |
Gray Television, Inc. | | | |
144A 7.000%, 5/15/27(2) | 365 | | 367 |
144A 4.750%, 10/15/30(1)(2) | 295 | | 254 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Media—continued | | |
Nexstar Media, Inc. 144A 5.625%, 7/15/27(1)(2) | $ 445 | | $ 446 |
Scripps Escrow II, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 1/15/31(2) | 415 | | 347 |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 7/15/28(1)(2) | 450 | | 418 |
TEGNA, Inc. 5.000%, 9/15/29(1) | 280 | | 274 |
Virgin Media Secured Finance plc 144A 5.500%, 5/15/29(1)(2) | 395 | | 375 |
| | | 4,772 |
| | | |
|
Mining—0.1% | | |
Hudbay Minerals, Inc. 144A 6.125%, 4/1/29(2) | 415 | | 323 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.1% | | |
Antero Resources Corp. 144A 7.625%, 2/1/29(1)(2) | 445 | | 469 |
Callon Petroleum Co. 144A 8.000%, 8/1/28(2) | 355 | | 360 |
CITGO Petroleum Corp. 144A 6.375%, 6/15/26(1)(2) | 260 | | 250 |
CNX Resources Corp. 144A 7.250%, 3/14/27(1)(2) | 465 | | 471 |
Comstock Resources, Inc. | | | |
144A 6.750%, 3/1/29(1)(2) | 295 | | 292 |
144A 5.875%, 1/15/30(2) | 285 | | 268 |
Occidental Petroleum Corp. | | | |
5.550%, 3/15/26(1) | 260 | | 267 |
6.625%, 9/1/30(1) | 220 | | 244 |
PDC Energy, Inc. 5.750%, 5/15/26(1) | 435 | | 425 |
SM Energy Co. 6.500%, 7/15/28(1) | 530 | | 522 |
Southwestern Energy Co. 5.375%, 3/15/30(1) | 285 | | 280 |
Sunoco LP | | | |
5.875%, 3/15/28(1) | 260 | | 249 |
4.500%, 4/30/30 | 145 | | 127 |
USA Compression Partners LP 6.875%, 9/1/27(1) | 415 | | 379 |
Weatherford International Ltd. 144A 8.625%, 4/30/30(1)(2) | 395 | | 357 |
| | | 4,960 |
| | | |
|
Paper & Forest Products—0.1% | | |
Mercer International, Inc. 144A 5.125%, 2/1/29(1)(2) | 300 | | 281 |
Pharmaceuticals—0.7% | | |
Bausch Health Americas, Inc. 144A 8.500%, 1/31/27(1)(2) | 550 | | 347 |
Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 8/1/27(1)(2) | 285 | | 283 |
Jazz Securities DAC 144A 4.375%, 1/15/29(1)(2) | 555 | | 534 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Pharmaceuticals—continued | | |
Organon & Co. 144A 5.125%, 4/30/31(1)(2) | $ 395 | | $ 370 |
| | | 1,534 |
| | | |
|
Pipelines—0.8% | | |
Antero Midstream Partners LP 144A 5.375%, 6/15/29(2) | 290 | | 283 |
Crestwood Midstream Partners LP 144A 6.000%, 2/1/29(1)(2) | 280 | | 255 |
DCP Midstream Operating LP 5.125%, 5/15/29(1) | 370 | | 362 |
EQM Midstream Partners LP | | | |
144A 6.500%, 7/1/27(1)(2) | 120 | | 120 |
144A 7.500%, 6/1/30(2) | 360 | | 371 |
NGL Energy Operating LLC 144A 7.500%, 2/1/26(1)(2) | 290 | | 265 |
NuStar Logistics LP 6.375%, 10/1/30(1) | 305 | | 281 |
| | | 1,937 |
| | | |
|
Real Estate—0.2% | | |
Kennedy-Wilson, Inc. 5.000%, 3/1/31(1) | 395 | | 337 |
Retail—0.5% | | |
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. | | | |
4.750%, 3/1/30(1) | 267 | | 233 |
144A 4.625%, 11/15/29(2) | 145 | | 128 |
Bath & Body Works, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 10/1/30(1)(2) | 325 | | 310 |
Macy’s Retail Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.875%, 3/15/30(2) | 135 | | 116 |
144A 6.125%, 3/15/32(2) | 135 | | 113 |
New Red Finance, Inc. 144A 4.000%, 10/15/30(2) | 300 | | 261 |
| | | 1,161 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors—0.4% | | |
Amkor Technology, Inc. 144A 6.625%, 9/15/27(1)(2) | 485 | | 483 |
Entegris Escrow Corp. 144A 5.950%, 6/15/30(2) | 505 | | 501 |
| | | 984 |
| | | |
|
Software—0.4% | | |
Clarivate Science Holdings Corp. 144A 4.875%, 7/1/29(2) | 300 | | 266 |
Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. 144A 6.500%, 10/15/28(2) | 295 | | 262 |
SS&C Technologies, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/30/27(1)(2) | 480 | | 473 |
| | | 1,001 |
| | | |
|
Telecommunications—1.1% | | |
Frontier Communications Holdings LLC | | | |
144A 5.000%, 5/1/28(1)(2) | 265 | | 249 |
144A 6.000%, 1/15/30(1)(2) | 280 | | 235 |
144A 8.750%, 5/15/30(2) | 240 | | 255 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Telecommunications—continued | | |
GoTo Group, Inc. 144A 5.500%, 9/1/27(1)(2) | $ 430 | | $ 314 |
Hughes Satellite Systems Corp. 6.625%, 8/1/26(1) | 400 | | 390 |
Lumen Technologies, Inc. 144A 5.375%, 6/15/29(1)(2) | 315 | | 263 |
Sprint Corp. 7.625%, 3/1/26(1) | 465 | | 507 |
T-Mobile USA, Inc. 4.750%, 2/1/28 | 350 | | 349 |
| | | 2,562 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.2% | | |
Fortress Transportation & Infrastructure Investors LLC | | | |
144A 9.750%, 8/1/27(1)(2) | 350 | | 353 |
144A 5.500%, 5/1/28(1)(2) | 150 | | 135 |
| | | 488 |
| | | |
|
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $48,259) | | 45,330 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Leveraged Loans—0.1% |
Commercial Services—0.0% | | |
R1 RCM, Inc. Tranche B (1 month SOFR + 3.000%) 5.327%, 6/21/29 (3) | 150 | | 148 |
Retail—0.1% | | |
Petco Health & Wellness Co., Inc. First Lien (3 month LIBOR + 3.250%) 5.500%, 3/3/28 (3) | 232 | | 224 |
Total Leveraged Loans (Identified Cost $381) | | 372 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks—10.6% |
Auto Components—0.5% | |
Aptiv plc Series A, 5.500%(1) | 8,730 | 1,059 |
Banks—1.5% | |
Wells Fargo & Co. Series L, 7.500% | 2,700 | 3,426 |
Capital Markets—0.5% | |
KKR & Co., Inc. Series C, 6.000%(1) | 15,280 | 1,070 |
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.5% | |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 6.000%(1) | 17,770 | 1,124 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.2% | |
Chewy, Inc. 2020 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 6.500%(2) | 610 | 568 |
Electric Utilities—2.3% | |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 4.872% | 36,480 | 2,240 |
| Shares | | Value |
Electric Utilities—continued | | |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.279%(1) | 61,870 | | $ 3,245 |
| | | 5,485 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—0.8% | | |
Boston Scientific Corp. Series A, 5.500%(1) | 16,130 | | 1,755 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.1% | | |
Danaher Corp. Series B, 5.000% | 1,705 | | 2,595 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—1.8% | | |
Broadcom, Inc. Series A, 8.000%(1) | 2,570 | | 4,312 |
Telecommunications—1.4% | | |
T-Mobile US 2020 Cash Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 5.250%(1)(2) | 2,830 | | 3,393 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $24,264) | | 24,787 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Preferred Stocks—0.1% |
Entertainment—0.1% | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (4)(5)(6)(7)(8) | 3,783 | | 378 |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (4)(5)(6)(7) | 1,250 | | — |
| | | 378 |
| | | |
|
Total Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $1,621) | | 378 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Common Stocks—33.7% |
Air Freight & Logistics—0.2% | | |
United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B | 2,920 | | 569 |
Automobiles��1.5% | | |
Tesla, Inc.(7) | 3,996 | | 3,562 |
Banks—1.4% | | |
CCF Holdings LLC(6)(7) | 1,026,972 | | 308 |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M(6)(7) | 219,990 | | 66 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 12,660 | | 1,460 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 34,255 | | 1,503 |
| | | 3,337 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—1.0% | | |
AbbVie, Inc.(9) | 10,545 | | 1,513 |
Horizon Therapeutics plc(7)(9) | 4,515 | | 375 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(7) | 1,955 | | 548 |
| | | 2,436 |
| | | |
|
Capital Markets—1.0% | | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The)(9) | 11,755 | | 812 |
CME Group, Inc. Class A(9) | 4,690 | | 936 |
S&P Global, Inc. | 1,325 | | 499 |
| | | 2,247 |
| | | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Chemicals—0.6% | | |
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. | 13,615 | | $ 833 |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 2,665 | | 645 |
| | | 1,478 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.6% | | |
Waste Management, Inc. | 8,915 | | 1,467 |
Communications Equipment—0.3% | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 16,520 | | 750 |
Electric Utilities—0.7% | | |
Exelon Corp. | 35,935 | | 1,671 |
Electrical Equipment—0.2% | | |
Generac Holdings, Inc.(7) | 2,070 | | 555 |
Energy Equipment & Services—0.7% | | |
Schlumberger N.V.(9) | 41,735 | | 1,545 |
Entertainment—0.0% | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. (4)(5)(6)(7)(8) | 13,574 | | — (10) |
Equity Real Estate Investment—0.6% | | |
American Tower Corp.(9) | 4,875 | | 1,320 |
Food & Staples Retailing—0.8% | | |
Costco Wholesale Corp.(9) | 3,340 | | 1,808 |
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—0.9% | | |
Abbott Laboratories | 7,550 | | 822 |
Dexcom, Inc.(7) | 5,320 | | 436 |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(7)(9) | 3,675 | | 846 |
| | | 2,104 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare Providers & Services—1.3% | | |
McKesson Corp.(9) | 2,880 | | 984 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(9) | 3,787 | | 2,054 |
| | | 3,038 |
| | | |
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—1.3% | | |
Booking Holdings, Inc.(7)(9) | 700 | | 1,355 |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Class A(7)(9) | 605 | | 946 |
MGM Resorts International | 23,125 | | 757 |
| | | 3,058 |
| | | |
|
Insurance—0.4% | | |
Aon plc Class A(9) | 3,175 | | 924 |
Interactive Media & Services—2.3% | | |
Alphabet, Inc. Class A(7) | 37,300 | | 4,339 |
Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A(7) | 6,135 | | 976 |
| | | 5,315 |
| | | |
|
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail—1.6% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(7)(9) | 26,945 | | ��3,636 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
IT Services—2.1% | | |
Accenture plc Class A(9) | 5,220 | | $ 1,599 |
EPAM Systems, Inc.(7) | 1,062 | | 371 |
Mastercard, Inc. Class A(9) | 4,380 | | 1,549 |
Visa, Inc. Class A | 7,100 | | 1,506 |
| | | 5,025 |
| | | |
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.0% | | |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(7) | 4,935 | | 1,186 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 2,045 | | 1,224 |
| | | 2,410 |
| | | |
|
Machinery—0.2% | | |
Deere & Co. | 1,565 | | 537 |
Multiline Retail—0.2% | | |
Target Corp. | 2,770 | | 453 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.0% | | |
ConocoPhillips (9) | 11,270 | | 1,098 |
Devon Energy Corp.(9) | 18,215 | | 1,145 |
| | | 2,243 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—1.0% | | |
Eli Lilly & Co.(9) | 4,545 | | 1,499 |
Zoetis, Inc. Class A | 4,685 | | 855 |
| | | 2,354 |
| | | |
|
Road & Rail—0.7% | | |
Union Pacific Corp. | 7,160 | | 1,627 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—2.1% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc.(7)(9) | 4,560 | | 1,296 |
Lam Research Corp. | 2,035 | | 1,019 |
Marvell Technology, Inc.(9) | 10,735 | | 598 |
Micron Technology, Inc.(9) | 16,235 | | 1,004 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 5,430 | | 986 |
| | | 4,903 |
| | | |
|
Software—4.4% | | |
Adobe, Inc. (7) | 720 | | 295 |
Atlassian Corp. plc Class A(7)(9) | 2,720 | | 569 |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. Class A(7)(9) | 5,615 | | 1,031 |
Intuit, Inc.(9) | 2,970 | | 1,355 |
Microsoft Corp.(9) | 19,656 | | 5,518 |
Salesforce, Inc.(7) | 2,320 | | 427 |
ServiceNow, Inc.(7)(9) | 2,290 | | 1,023 |
| | | 10,218 |
| | | |
|
Specialty Retail—0.9% | | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The)(9) | 5,100 | | 1,535 |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 9,270 | | 567 |
| | | 2,102 |
| | | |
|
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—2.3% | | |
Apple, Inc. | 33,805 | | 5,494 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.4% | | |
NIKE, Inc. Class B | 7,310 | | $ 840 |
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $87,785) | | 79,026 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Warrant—0.0% |
Banks—0.0% | | |
CCF Holdings LLC(6)(7) | 363,920 | | 40 |
Total Warrant (Identified Cost $—) | | 40 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—75.0% |
Airlines—1.6% | |
American Airlines Group, Inc. 6.500%, 7/1/25 | $ 775 | 865 |
Southwest Airlines Co. 1.250%, 5/1/25(1) | 2,215 | 2,801 |
| | 3,666 |
| | |
|
Auto Manufacturers—1.1% | |
Ford Motor Co. 0.000%, 3/15/26(1) | 2,050 | 2,183 |
Lucid Group, Inc. 144A 1.250%, 12/15/26(2) | 640 | 402 |
| | 2,585 |
| | |
|
Banks—1.4% | |
Barclays Bank plc 0.000%, 2/18/25 | 1,185 | 1,270 |
BofA Finance LLC 0.600%, 5/25/27 | 2,010 | 2,011 |
| | 3,281 |
| | |
|
Biotechnology—3.9% | |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. | | |
0.599%, 8/1/24 | 120 | 120 |
1.250%, 5/15/27 | 2,145 | 2,154 |
Cytokinetics, Inc. 144A 3.500%, 7/1/27(2) | 1,040 | 1,130 |
Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. 144A 1.875%, 12/15/28(2) | 550 | 667 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. 0.250%, 3/1/27 | 3,800 | 3,553 |
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. 1.500%, 11/15/24(1) | 995 | 1,455 |
| | 9,079 |
| | |
|
Commercial Services—6.5% | |
Block, Inc. | | |
0.125%, 3/1/25 | 2,170 | 2,216 |
0.000%, 5/1/26(1) | 1,725 | 1,427 |
0.250%, 11/1/27(1) | 2,080 | 1,662 |
Chegg, Inc. 0.125%, 3/15/25 | 2,855 | 2,460 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Commercial Services—continued | | |
Euronet Worldwide, Inc. 0.750%, 3/15/49 | $ 975 | | $ 954 |
Repay Holdings Corp. 144A 0.000%, 2/1/26(2) | 1,350 | | 1,043 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25(1) | 1,575 | | 1,353 |
144A 0.500%, 8/1/27(2) | 2,440 | | 1,751 |
Stride, Inc. 1.125%, 9/1/27(1) | 2,320 | | 2,427 |
| | | 15,293 |
| | | |
|
Computers—4.3% | | |
CyberArk Software Ltd. 0.000%, 11/15/24 | 1,000 | | 1,078 |
KBR, Inc. 2.500%, 11/1/23 | 850 | | 1,800 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. | | | |
0.500%, 12/15/26(1) | 2,210 | | 2,440 |
144A 0.500%, 6/15/28(2) | 1,085 | | 999 |
Pure Storage, Inc. 0.125%, 4/15/23(1) | 1,195 | | 1,413 |
Rapid7, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/27 | 1,390 | | 1,250 |
Zscaler, Inc. 0.125%, 7/1/25(1) | 960 | | 1,189 |
| | | 10,169 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.6% | | |
Beauty Health Co. (The) 144A 1.250%, 10/1/26(2) | 1,710 | | 1,417 |
Diversified Financial Services—1.5% | | |
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. 0.000%, 8/15/23 | 1,380 | | 1,314 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Co., LLC 0.500%, 6/15/27 | 1,955 | | 2,118 |
| | | 3,432 |
| | | |
|
Electronics—0.4% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 0.250%, 9/1/22 | 780 | | 877 |
Energy-Alternate Sources—2.0% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 3/1/26(1) | 2,700 | | 3,235 |
0.000%, 3/1/28(1) | 1,275 | | 1,573 |
| | | 4,808 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—2.7% | | |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 2.000%, 2/15/25(1) | 3,615 | | 4,054 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. 0.000%, 1/1/26(1) | 2,535 | | 2,305 |
| | | 6,359 |
| | | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—2.6% | | |
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 4.750%, 8/23/22 | $ 3,755 | | $ 3,741 |
HAT Holdings I LLC 144A 0.000%, 5/1/25(2) | 830 | | 770 |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust 1.750%, 12/15/26(1) | 1,620 | | 1,602 |
| | | 6,113 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare-Products—2.2% | | |
CONMED Corp. 144A 2.250%, 6/15/27(2) | 870 | | 833 |
Envista Holdings Corp. 2.375%, 6/1/25 | 260 | | 519 |
Insulet Corp. 0.375%, 9/1/26(1) | 1,185 | | 1,486 |
Natera, Inc. 2.250%, 5/1/27 | 230 | | 334 |
Novocure Ltd. 0.000%, 11/1/25 | 780 | | 674 |
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. 144A 1.500%, 5/1/25(2) | 1,385 | | 1,345 |
| | | 5,191 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare-Services—0.6% | | |
Elevance Health, Inc. 2.750%, 10/15/42 | 205 | | 1,390 |
Internet—11.4% | | |
Airbnb, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26(1) | 1,000 | | 870 |
Booking Holdings, Inc. 0.750%, 5/1/25(1) | 1,125 | | 1,500 |
Etsy, Inc. 0.250%, 6/15/28(1) | 4,025 | | 3,244 |
Expedia Group, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/26(1) | 1,550 | | 1,408 |
Okta, Inc. 0.125%, 9/1/25 | 2,310 | | 2,146 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. | | | |
0.750%, 7/1/23(1) | 910 | | 1,719 |
0.375%, 6/1/25(1) | 1,980 | | 3,433 |
Perficient, Inc. 144A 0.125%, 11/15/26(2) | 2,200 | | 1,872 |
Shopify, Inc. 0.125%, 11/1/25 | 1,440 | | 1,236 |
Snap, Inc. 144A 0.125%, 3/1/28(2) | 4,870 | | 3,275 |
TechTarget, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 12/15/26(2) | 1,970 | | 1,590 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 12/15/25 | 3,185 | | 2,645 |
Zillow Group, Inc. 2.750%, 5/15/25 | 1,800 | | 1,750 |
| | | 26,688 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—1.8% | | |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 1.125%, 2/15/27(1)(2) | 3,435 | | 2,338 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Leisure Time—continued | | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | | |
4.250%, 6/15/23 | $ 810 | | $ 792 |
2.875%, 11/15/23(1) | 1,190 | | 1,103 |
| | | 4,233 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Diversified—0.9% | | |
Chart Industries, Inc. 144A 1.000%, 11/15/24(1)(2) | 425 | | 1,430 |
Middleby Corp. (The) 1.000%, 9/1/25(1) | 480 | | 597 |
| | | 2,027 |
| | | |
|
Media—4.9% | | |
DISH Network Corp. 0.000%, 12/15/25(1) | 3,585 | | 2,538 |
Liberty Broadband Corp. | | | |
144A 1.250%, 9/30/50(2) | 2,995 | | 2,785 |
144A 2.750%, 9/30/50(2) | 2,240 | | 2,139 |
Liberty Media Corp. 1.375%, 10/15/23(1) | 1,335 | | 1,684 |
Liberty Media Corp-Liberty Formula One 1.000%, 1/30/23 | 320 | | 588 |
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. 3.375%, 12/15/23 | 600 | | 1,682 |
| | | 11,416 |
| | | |
|
Mining—2.1% | | |
Lithium Americas Corp. 144A 1.750%, 1/15/27(2) | 1,635 | | 1,425 |
Livent Corp. 4.125%, 7/15/25 | 220 | | 647 |
MP Materials Corp. 144A 0.250%, 4/1/26(1)(2) | 2,030 | | 2,041 |
SSR Mining, Inc. 2.500%, 4/1/39 | 680 | | 767 |
| | | 4,880 |
| | | |
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.9% | | |
EQT Corp. 1.750%, 5/1/26(1) | 525 | | 1,573 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 0.250%, 5/15/25(1) | 1,290 | | 2,962 |
| | | 4,535 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—3.7% | | |
Dexcom, Inc. 0.250%, 11/15/25(1) | 4,410 | | 4,170 |
Jazz Investments I Ltd. 2.000%, 6/15/26(1) | 3,165 | | 3,774 |
Pacira BioSciences, Inc. 0.750%, 8/1/25 | 650 | | 670 |
| | | 8,614 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors—3.7% | | |
Impinj, Inc. 144A 1.125%, 5/15/27(2) | 945 | | 954 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Semiconductors—continued | | |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26(1) | $ 1,935 | | $ 1,893 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. 0.125%, 11/15/24(1) | 1,915 | | 1,983 |
ON Semiconductor Corp. 0.000%, 5/1/27(1) | 680 | | 950 |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. 0.625%, 6/15/25(1) | 490 | | 656 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 2/15/28(2) | 2,420 | | 2,297 |
| | | 8,733 |
| | | |
|
Software—11.9% | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. 0.125%, 5/1/25 | 1,495 | | 1,715 |
Avalara, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/1/26(2) | 1,270 | | 1,083 |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 12/1/25(1) | 650 | | 730 |
144A 0.000%, 4/1/27(2) | 2,230 | | 1,813 |
Box, Inc. 0.000%, 1/15/26 | 1,155 | | 1,426 |
Cloudflare, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 8/15/26(2) | 5,150 | | 4,210 |
Confluent, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 1/15/27(2) | 1,510 | | 1,125 |
Coupa Software, Inc. 0.125%, 6/15/25 | 2,345 | | 2,040 |
Datadog, Inc. 0.125%, 6/15/25(1) | 535 | | 705 |
Evolent Health, Inc. 1.500%, 10/15/25 | 2,075 | | 2,484 |
Jamf Holding Corp. 144A 0.125%, 9/1/26(1)(2) | 1,670 | | 1,414 |
MongoDB, Inc. 0.250%, 1/15/26(1) | 735 | | 1,185 |
Splunk, Inc. | | | |
0.500%, 9/15/23(1) | 2,475 | | 2,456 |
1.125%, 9/15/25 | 1,025 | | 1,028 |
1.125%, 6/15/27 | 420 | | 360 |
Tyler Technologies, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26(1) | 2,135 | | 2,224 |
Unity Software, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(1)(2) | 2,650 | | 1,975 |
| | | 27,973 |
| | | |
|
Telecommunications—0.5% | | |
Viavi Solutions, Inc. 1.000%, 3/1/24(1) | 1,090 | | 1,313 |
Transportation—0.8% | | |
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 1.125%, 10/15/24 | 1,665 | | 1,886 |
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $187,731) | | 175,958 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—138.8% (Identified Cost $350,041) | | 325,891 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investment—7.8% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—7.8% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(11) | 18,212,069 | | $ 18,212 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $18,212) | | 18,212 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, BEFORE WRITTEN OPTIONS—146.6% (Identified Cost $368,253) | | 344,103 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
Written Options—(0.0)% |
(See open written options schedule) | | |
Total Written Options (Premiums Received $67) | (95) |
| | |
|
| | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, NET OF WRITTEN OPTIONS—146.6% (Identified Cost $368,186) | $ 344,008 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—(46.6)% | (109,308) |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | $ 234,700 |
Abbreviations: |
EV | Enterprise Value |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
LP | Limited Partnership |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
S&P | Standard & Poor’s |
SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | All or a portion of the security is segregated as collateral for margin loan financing. The value of securities segregated as collateral is $107,497. |
(2) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $80,683 or 34.4% of net assets. |
(3) | Variable rate security. Rate disclosed is as of July 31, 2022. Information in parenthesis represents benchmark and reference rate for each security. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions, or, for mortgage-backed securities, are impacted by the individual mortgages which are paying off over time. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their descriptions. |
(4) | For the period of February 1, 2022 through March 1, 2022, a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team was a member of the board of directors of LiveStyle, Inc. |
(5) | Affiliated investment. See Note 4G in Notes to Financial Statements. |
(6) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(7) | Non-income producing. |
(8) | Security is restricted from resale. |
(9) | All or a portion of the security is segregated as collateral for written options. |
(10) | Amount is less than $500. |
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
(11) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 93% |
Bermuda | 2 |
Canada | 2 |
United Kingdom | 2 |
Liberia | 1 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments, net of written options, as of July 31, 2022. |
Open written options contracts as of July 31, 2022 were as follows: |
Description of Options | Number of Contracts | Contract Notional Amount | Strike Price(1) | Expiration Date | Value |
Call Options(2) | | | | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | (35) | $ (586) | $ 167.50 | 08/19/22 | $(—) (3) |
Accenture plc | (21) | (641) | 305.00 | 08/19/22 | (15) |
Amazon.com, Inc. | (135) | (2,126) | 157.50 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
American Tower Corp. | (30) | (840) | 280.00 | 08/19/22 | (8) |
Aon plc | (12) | (360) | 300.00 | 08/19/22 | (5) |
Apple, Inc. | (100) | (1,775) | 177.50 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Atlassian Corp. plc | (5) | (140) | 280.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Booking Holdings, Inc. | (4) | (1,000) | 2,500.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | (30) | (218) | 72.50 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | (2) | (342) | 1,710.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
CME Group, Inc. | (15) | (360) | 240.00 | 08/19/22 | — |
ConocoPhillips | (70) | (735) | 105.00 | 08/19/22 | (7) |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | (20) | (1,140) | 570.00 | 08/19/22 | (5) |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. | (17) | (400) | 235.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Devon Energy Corp. | (90) | (630) | 70.00 | 08/19/22 | (8) |
Eli Lilly & Co. | (28) | (1,022) | 365.00 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | (33) | (1,089) | 330.00 | 08/19/22 | (14) |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | (1) | (34) | 340.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Horizon Therapeutics plc | (27) | (270) | 100.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Intuit, Inc. | (8) | (400) | 500.00 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | (14) | (364) | 260.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | (50) | (325) | 65.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Mastercard, Inc. | (28) | (1,078) | 385.00 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
McKesson Corp. | (1) | (38) | 380.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Micron Technology, Inc. | (23) | (184) | 80.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Microsoft Corp. | (36) | (1,116) | 310.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Schlumberger N.V. | (210) | (840) | 40.00 | 08/19/22 | (10) |
ServiceNow, Inc. | (9) | (513) | 570.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | (25) | (1,437) | 575.00 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
| | | | | (93) |
Put Options | | | | | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | (10) | (445) | 445.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Mastercard, Inc. | (10) | (305) | 305.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Visa, Inc. | (20) | (370) | 185.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
| | | | | (2) |
Total Written Options | | $(95) |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Strike price not reported in thousands. |
(2) | Exchange-traded options. |
(3) | Amount is less than $500. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $ 45,330 | | $ — | | $ 45,330 | | $ — |
Leveraged Loans | 372 | | — | | 372 | | — |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 175,958 | | — | | 175,958 | | — |
Equity Securities: | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 79,026 | | 78,652 | | — | | 374 |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 24,787 | | 20,826 | | 3,961 | | — |
Preferred Stocks | 378 | | — | | — | | 378 (1) |
Warrant | 40 | | — | | — | | 40 |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 18,212 | | 18,212 | | — | | — |
Total Investments, Before Written Options | 344,103 | | 117,690 | | 225,621 | | 792 |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments: | | | | | | | |
Written Options | (95) | | (95) | | — | | — |
Total Investments, Net of Written Options | $344,008 | | $117,595 | | $225,621 | | $792 |
(1) | Includes internally fair valued securities currently priced at zero ($0). |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
Some of the Fund’s investments that were categorized as Level 3 may have been valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. If applicable, such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of Level 3 investments.
The following is a reconciliation of assets of the Fund for Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value.
| Total | | Common Stocks | | Preferred Stocks | | Warrants |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | |
Balance as of January 31, 2022: | $ 1,011 | | $ 549 | | $ 378 (a) | | $ 84 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b) | (219) | | (175) | | — | | (44) |
Balance as of July 31, 2022 | $ 792 | | $ 374 | | $ 378 (a) | | $ 40 |
(a) Includes internally fair valued security currently priced at zero ($0).
(b) The net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments still held at July 31, 2022, was $ (219).
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
The following table presents additional information about valuation techniques and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 at July 31, 2022:
Investments in Securities – Assets | | Ending Balance at July 31, 2022 | | Valuation Technique Used | | Unobservable Inputs | | Input Values |
Preferred Stock: | | | | | | | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B | | $378 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.41x (0.26x - 3.02x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | -75% - 30% |
| | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks: | | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | | $308 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC Class M | | $ 66 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | | | | | |
LiveStyle, Inc. | | $ —(1) | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.41x (0.26x - 3.02x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | -75% - 30% |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Warrant: | | | | | | | | |
CCF Holdings LLC | | $ 40 | | Market and Company Comparables | | EV Multiples | | 1.05x (0.59x - 1.52x) |
| | | | | | | | 0.61x (0.37x - 0.87x) |
| | | | | | Illiquidity Discount | | 20% |
| | | | Black-Scholes Model | | Volatility | | 50.96% |
| | | | | | | | |
(1) Amount is less than $500. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—0.0% |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.0% | | |
Cobalt International Energy, Inc. 7.750%, 12/1/23(1)(2) | $ 4,647 | | $ 67 |
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $1,844) | | 67 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks—3.8% |
Auto Components—0.1% | |
Aptiv plc Series A, 5.500% | 12,200 | 1,480 |
Banks—0.7% | |
Bank of America Corp. Series L, 7.250% | 3,285 | 4,087 |
Wells Fargo & Co. Series L, 7.500% | 4,465 | 5,666 |
| | 9,753 |
| | |
|
Capital Markets—0.1% | |
KKR & Co., Inc. Series C, 6.000% | 22,070 | 1,545 |
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.1% | |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 6.000% | 24,395 | 1,543 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.1% | |
Chewy, Inc. 2020 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 6.500%(3) | 1,585 | 1,477 |
Electric Utilities—0.6% | |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.279% | 73,085 | 3,833 |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 6.219% | 90,705 | 4,797 |
| | 8,630 |
| | |
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.1% | |
II-VI, Inc. Series A, 6.000% | 4,235 | 952 |
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—0.2% | |
Boston Scientific Corp. Series A, 5.500% | 27,940 | 3,040 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—0.6% | |
Danaher Corp. Series B, 5.000% | 5,360 | 8,157 |
Pharmaceuticals—0.1% | |
Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.000% | 38,480 | 1,262 |
Professional Services—0.1% | |
Clarivate plc Series A, 5.250% | 21,895 | 1,305 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—0.7% | |
Broadcom, Inc. Series A, 8.000% | 5,255 | 8,817 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Telecommunications—0.3% | | |
T-Mobile US 2020 Cash Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 5.250%(3) | 3,695 | | $ 4,430 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $51,261) | | 52,391 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Common Stocks—77.3% |
Air Freight & Logistics—1.1% | | |
FedEx Corp. | 63,828 | | 14,878 |
Automobiles—0.4% | | |
Ferrari N.V. | 24,357 | | 5,145 |
Banks—5.4% | | |
Citigroup, Inc. | 448,906 | | 23,298 |
First Republic Bank | 71,628 | | 11,655 |
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(4) | 339,247 | | 39,135 |
| | | 74,088 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—0.6% | | |
Amgen, Inc. | 33,982 | | 8,410 |
Building Products—0.9% | | |
Lennox International, Inc. | 52,914 | | 12,674 |
Capital Markets—3.4% | | |
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 54,459 | | 8,743 |
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 104,716 | | 10,680 |
Morgan Stanley | 127,824 | | 10,776 |
MSCI, Inc. Class A | 23,256 | | 11,194 |
Nasdaq, Inc. | 32,615 | | 5,900 |
| | | 47,293 |
| | | |
|
Chemicals—1.4% | | |
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. | 43,013 | | 10,677 |
Celanese Corp. | 78,841 | | 9,265 |
| | | 19,942 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.4% | | |
Cintas Corp. | 14,065 | | 5,985 |
Consumer Finance—0.4% | | |
American Express Co. | 35,427 | | 5,456 |
Containers & Packaging—0.8% | | |
Ball Corp. | 143,215 | | 10,515 |
Distributors—0.8% | | |
Pool Corp. | 29,192 | | 10,442 |
Diversified Telecommunication Services—0.3% | | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | 95,847 | | 4,427 |
Electric Utilities—0.8% | | |
NextEra Energy, Inc.(4) | 132,612 | | 11,204 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Electrical Equipment—0.8% | | |
AMETEK, Inc. | 86,021 | | $ 10,624 |
Equity Real Estate Investment—5.4% | | |
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | 73,336 | | 12,158 |
American Tower Corp. | 119,010 | | 32,231 |
Crown Castle International Corp. | 57,196 | | 10,333 |
Equinix, Inc. | 14,376 | | 10,117 |
Sun Communities, Inc. | 58,042 | | 9,517 |
| | | 74,356 |
| | | |
|
Food & Staples Retailing—1.2% | | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 10,226 | | 5,535 |
Walmart, Inc. | 80,239 | | 10,596 |
| | | 16,131 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—1.4% | | |
ResMed, Inc. | 47,282 | | 11,372 |
Stryker Corp. | 36,880 | | 7,920 |
| | | 19,292 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare Providers & Services—0.7% | | |
Chemed Corp. | 19,865 | | 9,557 |
Healthcare Technology—1.0% | | |
Veeva Systems, Inc. Class A(5) | 59,008 | | 13,193 |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—2.7% | | |
Domino’s Pizza, Inc. | 26,524 | | 10,400 |
McDonald’s Corp. | 40,737 | | 10,729 |
Starbucks Corp. | 137,088 | | 11,622 |
Wingstop, Inc. | 33,079 | | 4,174 |
| | | 36,925 |
| | | |
|
Household Durables—0.8% | | |
DR Horton, Inc. | 149,261 | | 11,647 |
Industrial Conglomerates—0.8% | | |
Honeywell International, Inc. | 59,688 | | 11,488 |
Insurance—1.2% | | |
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. | 30,931 | | 7,523 |
Willis Towers Watson plc | 44,320 | | 9,171 |
| | | 16,694 |
| | | |
|
Interactive Media & Services—2.2% | | |
Alphabet, Inc. Class A(5) | 128,860 | | 14,989 |
Alphabet, Inc. Class C(5) | 87,540 | | 10,211 |
Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A(5) | 29,417 | | 4,680 |
| | | 29,880 |
| | | |
|
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail—1.7% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(4)(5) | 176,920 | | 23,875 |
IT Services—3.1% | | |
Mastercard, Inc. Class A | 89,578 | | 31,692 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
IT Services—continued | | |
Visa, Inc. Class A | 51,287 | | $ 10,878 |
| | | 42,570 |
| | | |
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services—4.4% | | |
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 86,156 | | 11,554 |
Avantor, Inc.(5) | 119,406 | | 3,465 |
Danaher Corp. | 38,458 | | 11,209 |
Repligen Corp.(5) | 61,711 | | 13,167 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(4) | 18,977 | | 11,356 |
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. | 28,174 | | 9,679 |
| | | 60,430 |
| | | |
|
Machinery—2.9% | | |
Cummins, Inc. | 50,049 | | 11,076 |
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | 191,544 | | 18,643 |
Toro Co. (The) | 126,755 | | 10,900 |
| | | 40,619 |
| | | |
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.9% | | |
Phillips 66 | 133,368 | | 11,870 |
Personal Products—0.8% | | |
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) Class A | 40,969 | | 11,189 |
Pharmaceuticals—1.9% | | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | 111,292 | | 9,943 |
Zoetis, Inc. Class A | 88,911 | | 16,231 |
| | | 26,174 |
| | | |
|
Professional Services—0.7% | | |
TransUnion | 118,295 | | 9,372 |
Road & Rail—1.2% | | |
Norfolk Southern Corp. | 42,876 | | 10,769 |
Union Pacific Corp. | 22,893 | | 5,204 |
| | | 15,973 |
| | | |
|
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—7.0% | | |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.(5) | 111,060 | | 10,492 |
ASML Holding N.V. Registered Shares | 27,279 | | 15,670 |
Broadcom, Inc. | 17,502 | | 9,372 |
KLA Corp. | 34,388 | | 13,189 |
Lam Research Corp. | 23,037 | | 11,530 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 79,940 | | 14,520 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Sponsored ADR | 109,428 | | 9,682 |
Texas Instruments, Inc. | 65,470 | | 11,712 |
| | | 96,167 |
| | | |
|
Software—8.9% | | |
Adobe, Inc. (5) | 53,276 | | 21,849 |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(5) | 54,837 | | 10,204 |
Intuit, Inc. | 24,605 | | 11,224 |
Microsoft Corp.(4) | 156,910 | | 44,051 |
Roper Technologies, Inc. | 13,428 | | 5,864 |
Salesforce, Inc.(5) | 125,428 | | 23,081 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Software—continued | | |
Synopsys, Inc.(5) | 17,817 | | $ 6,548 |
| | | 122,821 |
| | | |
|
Specialty Retail—3.8% | | |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | 114,108 | | 8,785 |
Home Depot, Inc. (The)(4) | 108,743 | | 32,725 |
Ross Stores, Inc. | 133,736 | | 10,868 |
| | | 52,378 |
| | | |
|
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—3.1% | | |
Apple, Inc.(4) | 264,633 | | 43,005 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.2% | | |
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(5) | 20,439 | | 6,346 |
NIKE, Inc. Class B(4) | 87,066 | | 10,006 |
| | | 16,352 |
| | | |
|
Water Utilities—0.8% | | |
American Water Works Co., Inc.(4) | 67,302 | | 10,461 |
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $992,135) | | 1,063,502 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Warrant—0.0% |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.0% | | |
Nabors Industries Ltd.(5) | 876 | | 29 |
Total Warrant (Identified Cost $—) | | 29 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—16.5% |
Airlines—0.4% | |
American Airlines Group, Inc. 6.500%, 7/1/25 | $ 815 | 909 |
Southwest Airlines Co. 1.250%, 5/1/25 | 3,100 | 3,920 |
| | 4,829 |
| | |
|
Auto Manufacturers—0.4% | |
Ford Motor Co. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 2,870 | 3,056 |
Lucid Group, Inc. 144A 1.250%, 12/15/26(3) | 935 | 587 |
NIO, Inc. 0.000%, 2/1/26 | 2,110 | 1,790 |
| | 5,433 |
| | |
|
Banks—0.7% | |
Barclays Bank plc 0.000%, 2/18/25 | 1,655 | 1,774 |
BofA Finance LLC | | |
0.125%, 9/1/22 | 1,830 | 1,825 |
0.600%, 5/25/27 | 4,085 | 4,087 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Banks—continued | | |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA 144A 0.125%, 1/1/23(3) | $ 1,875 | | $ 1,846 |
| | | 9,532 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—0.7% | | |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. | | | |
0.599%, 8/1/24 | 910 | | 910 |
1.250%, 5/15/27 | 1,880 | | 1,888 |
Bridgebio Pharma, Inc. 2.250%, 2/1/29 | 2,165 | | 945 |
Guardant Health, Inc. 0.000%, 11/15/27 | 1,570 | | 1,102 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. 0.250%, 3/1/27 | 2,845 | | 2,660 |
Insmed, Inc. 0.750%, 6/1/28 | 665 | | 590 |
Livongo Health, Inc. 0.875%, 6/1/25 | 1,715 | | 1,474 |
| | | 9,569 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—0.8% | | |
Affirm Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(3) | 3,685 | | 2,250 |
Block, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 3/1/25 | 880 | | 899 |
0.000%, 5/1/26 | 2,435 | | 2,014 |
0.250%, 11/1/27 | 2,905 | | 2,322 |
Chegg, Inc. 0.125%, 3/15/25 | 1,500 | | 1,292 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 1,155 | | 992 |
144A 0.500%, 8/1/27(3) | 2,625 | | 1,883 |
| | | 11,652 |
| | | |
|
Computers—0.5% | | |
3D Systems Corp. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(3) | 1,060 | | 787 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. 0.500%, 12/15/26 | 2,685 | | 2,964 |
Pure Storage, Inc. 0.125%, 4/15/23 | 830 | | 982 |
Rapid7, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/27 | 540 | | 486 |
Zscaler, Inc. 0.125%, 7/1/25 | 1,360 | | 1,684 |
| | | 6,903 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.1% | | |
Beauty Health Co. (The) 144A 1.250%, 10/1/26(3) | 1,880 | | 1,558 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.6% | | |
Coinbase Global, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/26 | 3,500 | | 2,130 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Co., LLC 0.500%, 6/15/27 | 2,795 | | 3,028 |
SoFi Technologies, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 10/15/26(3) | 3,180 | | 2,226 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Diversified Financial Services—continued | | |
Upstart Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/15/26(3) | $ 1,880 | | $ 1,032 |
| | | 8,416 |
| | | |
|
Electronics—0.1% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 0.250%, 9/1/22 | 1,090 | | 1,225 |
Energy-Alternate Sources—0.5% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 3/1/26 | 1,550 | | 1,857 |
0.000%, 3/1/28 | 2,335 | | 2,882 |
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 9/15/25 | 1,780 | | 2,610 |
| | | 7,349 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—0.4% | | |
DraftKings Holdings, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/28 | 2,730 | | 1,641 |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 2.000%, 2/15/25 | 985 | | 1,104 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. 0.000%, 1/1/26 | 2,540 | | 2,310 |
| | | 5,055 |
| | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—0.2% | | |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust 1.750%, 12/15/26 | 2,255 | | 2,229 |
Healthcare-Products—0.5% | | |
Exact Sciences Corp. | | | |
0.375%, 3/15/27 | 1,285 | | 995 |
0.375%, 3/1/28 | 605 | | 437 |
Insulet Corp. 0.375%, 9/1/26 | 1,660 | | 2,082 |
Novocure Ltd. 0.000%, 11/1/25 | 1,580 | | 1,364 |
Omnicell, Inc. 0.250%, 9/15/25 | 1,230 | | 1,530 |
| | | 6,408 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare-Services—0.4% | | |
Elevance Health, Inc. 2.750%, 10/15/42 | 395 | | 2,679 |
Oak Street Health, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 2,675 | | 2,133 |
| | | 4,812 |
| | | |
|
Internet—3.3% | | |
Airbnb, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 1,450 | | 1,261 |
Booking Holdings, Inc. 0.750%, 5/1/25 | 1,570 | | 2,094 |
Etsy, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/27 | 2,790 | | 2,508 |
0.250%, 6/15/28 | 2,935 | | 2,366 |
Expedia Group, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/26 | 3,505 | | 3,183 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Internet—continued | | |
Lyft, Inc. 1.500%, 5/15/25 | $ 1,405 | | $ 1,216 |
Mandiant, Inc. 0.875%, 6/1/24 | 430 | | 479 |
Match Group Financeco 2, Inc. 144A 0.875%, 6/15/26(3) | 2,705 | | 2,927 |
Okta, Inc. 0.375%, 6/15/26 | 2,975 | | 2,535 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. 0.375%, 6/1/25 | 3,830 | | 6,641 |
Sea Ltd. 0.250%, 9/15/26 | 3,790 | | 2,797 |
Shopify, Inc. 0.125%, 11/1/25 | 2,015 | | 1,730 |
Snap, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 5/1/27 | 4,540 | | 3,201 |
144A 0.125%, 3/1/28(3) | 2,155 | | 1,449 |
Spotify USA, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 2,845 | | 2,324 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 12/15/25 | 4,475 | | 3,716 |
Wayfair, Inc. 0.625%, 10/1/25 | 3,060 | | 2,073 |
Zillow Group, Inc. 2.750%, 5/15/25 | 2,550 | | 2,479 |
| | | 44,979 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—0.5% | | |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 1.125%, 2/15/27(3) | 3,980 | | 2,708 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | | |
4.250%, 6/15/23 | 2,490 | | 2,436 |
2.875%, 11/15/23 | 1,625 | | 1,506 |
| | | 6,650 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Diversified—0.1% | | |
Middleby Corp. (The) 1.000%, 9/1/25 | 1,215 | | 1,511 |
Media—0.8% | | |
DISH Network Corp. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 2,230 | | 1,578 |
3.375%, 8/15/26 | 2,785 | | 1,982 |
Liberty Broadband Corp. | | | |
144A 1.250%, 9/30/50(3) | 290 | | 270 |
144A 2.750%, 9/30/50(3) | 1,900 | | 1,814 |
Liberty Media Corp. | | | |
1.375%, 10/15/23 | 1,870 | | 2,359 |
144A 0.500%, 12/1/50(3) | 2,960 | | 3,542 |
| | | 11,545 |
| | | |
|
Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.1% | | |
Xometry, Inc. 144A 1.000%, 2/1/27(3) | 1,190 | | 1,075 |
Mining—0.1% | | |
MP Materials Corp. 144A 0.250%, 4/1/26(3) | 1,805 | | 1,815 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.5% | | |
EQT Corp. 1.750%, 5/1/26 | $ 525 | | $ 1,574 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 0.250%, 5/15/25 | 2,025 | | 4,649 |
| | | 6,223 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—0.7% | | |
Dexcom, Inc. 0.250%, 11/15/25 | 6,110 | | 5,778 |
Jazz Investments I Ltd. 2.000%, 6/15/26 | 3,770 | | 4,495 |
| | | 10,273 |
| | | |
|
Retail—0.1% | | |
Burlington Stores, Inc. 2.250%, 4/15/25 | 1,830 | | 1,876 |
Semiconductors—0.5% | | |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | 1,100 | | 1,076 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. 0.125%, 11/15/24 | 3,806 | | 3,941 |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. 0.625%, 6/15/25 | 685 | | 917 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 2/15/28(3) | 1,010 | | 959 |
| | | 6,893 |
| | | |
|
Software—3.5% | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 5/1/25 | 2,105 | | 2,416 |
0.375%, 9/1/27 | 1,275 | | 1,316 |
Alteryx, Inc. 0.500%, 8/1/24 | 2,170 | | 1,907 |
Avalara, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/1/26(3) | 2,790 | | 2,379 |
Bentley Systems, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 1/15/26 | 1,995 | | 1,839 |
0.375%, 7/1/27 | 950 | | 780 |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 4/1/27(3) | 4,235 | | 3,443 |
Blackline, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 1,115 | | 914 |
Cloudflare, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 8/15/26(3) | 4,040 | | 3,303 |
Confluent, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 1/15/27(3) | 2,125 | | 1,583 |
Coupa Software, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 6/15/25 | 1,375 | | 1,196 |
0.375%, 6/15/26 | 4,655 | | 3,717 |
Datadog, Inc. 0.125%, 6/15/25 | 540 | | 711 |
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 12/1/26(3) | 2,455 | | 1,840 |
DocuSign, Inc. 0.000%, 1/15/24 | 1,765 | | 1,644 |
Five9, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/25 | 1,790 | | 1,891 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Software—continued | | |
MicroStrategy, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/27 | $ 2,285 | | $ 1,123 |
MongoDB, Inc. 0.250%, 1/15/26 | 1,060 | | 1,709 |
Nutanix, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 10/1/27(3) | 1,765 | | 1,233 |
RingCentral, Inc. 0.000%, 3/1/25 | 3,075 | | 2,533 |
Splunk, Inc. | | | |
0.500%, 9/15/23 | 930 | | 923 |
1.125%, 6/15/27 | 3,930 | | 3,370 |
Tyler Technologies, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | 1,490 | | 1,552 |
Unity Software, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(3) | 3,715 | | 2,769 |
Workday, Inc. 0.250%, 10/1/22 | 2,045 | | 2,213 |
| | | 48,304 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.0% | | |
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 1.125%, 10/15/24 | 530 | | 600 |
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $267,365) | | 226,714 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—97.6% (Identified Cost $1,312,605) | | 1,342,703 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Short-Term Investment—2.2% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—2.2% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(6) | 30,658,184 | 30,658 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $30,658) | 30,658 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, BEFORE WRITTEN OPTIONS—99.8% (Identified Cost $1,343,263) | 1,373,361 |
| | |
|
| | |
|
| | |
Written Options—(0.3)% |
(See open written options schedule) | | |
Total Written Options (Premiums Received $1,278) | (4,106) |
| | |
|
| | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, NET OF WRITTEN OPTIONS—99.5% (Identified Cost $1,341,985) | $1,369,255 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—0.5% | 6,585 |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | $1,375,840 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
Abbreviations: |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
MSCI | Morgan Stanley Capital International |
NA | National Association |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(2) | Security in default; no interest payments are being received during the bankruptcy proceedings. |
(3) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $51,185 or 3.7% of net assets. |
(4) | All or a portion of the security is segregated as collateral for written options. The value of securities segregated as collateral is $ 72,031. |
(5) | Non-income producing. |
(6) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 95% |
Netherlands | 1 |
Taiwan | 1 |
Canada | 1 |
Ireland | 1 |
Bermuda | 1 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments, net of written options, as of July 31, 2022. |
Open written options contracts as of July 31, 2022 were as follows: |
Description of Options | Number of Contracts | Contract Notional Amount | Strike Price(1) | Expiration Date | Value |
Call Options(2) | | | | | |
Adobe, Inc. | (106) | $(4,505) | $425.00 | 08/19/22 | $ (70) |
Adobe, Inc. | (53) | (2,359) | 445.00 | 08/19/22 | (11) |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | (166) | (1,494) | 90.00 | 08/19/22 | (127) |
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | (222) | (2,109) | 95.00 | 08/19/22 | (105) |
Agilent Technologies, Inc. | (258) | (3,483) | 135.00 | 08/19/22 | (95) |
Alphabet, Inc. | (260) | (3,367) | 129.50 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
Alphabet, Inc. | (180) | (2,232) | 124.00 | 08/19/22 | (10) |
Alphabet, Inc. | (240) | (3,072) | 128.00 | 08/19/22 | (5) |
Amazon.com, Inc. | (331) | (4,138) | 125.00 | 08/19/22 | (381) |
American Tower Corp. | (357) | (9,996) | 280.00 | 08/19/22 | (89) |
Apple, Inc. | (529) | (8,728) | 165.00 | 08/19/22 | (135) |
Apple, Inc. | (396) | (6,732) | 170.00 | 09/16/22 | (109) |
ASML Holding N.V. | (27) | (1,350) | 500.00 | 08/19/22 | (213) |
ASML Holding N.V. | (68) | (3,536) | 520.00 | 08/19/22 | (376) |
Best Buy Co., Inc. | (285) | (2,351) | 82.50 | 08/19/22 | (31) |
Broadcom, Inc. | (61) | (3,447) | 565.00 | 07/29/22 | — |
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. | (109) | (1,962) | 180.00 | 08/19/22 | (101) |
Citigroup, Inc. | (448) | (2,352) | 52.50 | 08/19/22 | (52) |
Citigroup, Inc. | (897) | (4,933) | 55.00 | 08/19/22 | (27) |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | (40) | (2,300) | 575.00 | 08/19/22 | (6) |
DR Horton, Inc. | (298) | (2,608) | 87.50 | 08/19/22 | (6) |
FedEx Corp. | (127) | (3,302) | 260.00 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | (163) | (5,216) | 320.00 | 08/19/22 | (31) |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | (217) | (7,161) | 330.00 | 08/19/22 | (15) |
Honeywell International, Inc. | (179) | (3,401) | 190.00 | 08/19/22 | (94) |
Intuit, Inc. | (73) | (3,139) | 430.00 | 08/19/22 | (208) |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | (339) | (4,237) | 125.00 | 08/19/22 | (7) |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | (678) | (8,814) | 130.00 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
KLA Corp. | (85) | (3,145) | 370.00 | 08/19/22 | (197) |
Lam Research Corp. | (80) | (3,800) | 475.00 | 08/19/22 | (280) |
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. | (40) | (1,280) | 320.00 | 08/19/22 | (29) |
Mastercard, Inc. | (89) | (3,204) | 360.00 | 08/19/22 | (53) |
Mastercard, Inc. | (179) | (6,712) | 375.00 | 08/19/22 | (30) |
McDonald’s Corp. | (81) | (2,268) | 280.00 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
Open written options contracts as of July 31, 2022 were as follows (continued): |
Description of Options | Number of Contracts | Contract Notional Amount | Strike Price(1) | Expiration Date | Value |
Call Options(2) (continued) | | | | | |
Merck & Co., Inc. | (445) | $(4,672) | $105.00 | 08/19/22 | $ (1) |
Meta Platforms, Inc. | (58) | (1,102) | 190.00 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
Microsoft Corp. | (156) | (4,446) | 285.00 | 08/19/22 | (66) |
Microsoft Corp. | (235) | (6,815) | 290.00 | 08/19/22 | (58) |
Microsoft Corp. | (235) | (7,050) | 300.00 | 09/16/22 | (65) |
Nasdaq, Inc. | (97) | (1,649) | 170.00 | 08/19/22 | (112) |
NextEra Energy, Inc. | (464) | (3,944) | 85.00 | 08/19/22 | (82) |
NIKE, Inc. | (87) | (1,001) | 115.00 | 08/19/22 | (29) |
NIKE, Inc. | (217) | (2,604) | 120.00 | 08/19/22 | (28) |
Norfolk Southern Corp. | (85) | (2,125) | 250.00 | 08/19/22 | (51) |
NVIDIA Corp. | (119) | (2,083) | 175.00 | 08/19/22 | (149) |
NVIDIA Corp. | (198) | (3,564) | 180.00 | 08/19/22 | (187) |
Salesforce, Inc. | (125) | (2,375) | 190.00 | 08/19/22 | (46) |
Salesforce, Inc. | (250) | (5,000) | 200.00 | 08/19/22 | (27) |
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | (287) | (3,731) | 130.00 | 08/19/22 | (3) |
Starbucks Corp. | (479) | (4,311) | 90.00 | 08/19/22 | (43) |
Synopsys, Inc. | (35) | (1,260) | 360.00 | 08/19/22 | (61) |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | (164) | (1,476) | 90.00 | 08/19/22 | (32) |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | (218) | (2,071) | 95.00 | 08/19/22 | (11) |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | (56) | (3,360) | 600.00 | 08/19/22 | (79) |
Union Pacific Corp. | (80) | (1,880) | 235.00 | 08/19/22 | (14) |
Veeva Systems, Inc. | (88) | (2,024) | 230.00 | 08/19/22 | (37) |
Veeva Systems, Inc. | (88) | (2,112) | 240.00 | 08/19/22 | (13) |
Visa, Inc. | (153) | (3,519) | 230.00 | 08/19/22 | (6) |
Total Written Options | | $(4,106) |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Strike price not reported in thousands. |
(2) | Exchange-traded options. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $ 67 | | $ — | | $ — | | $67 |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 226,714 | | — | | 226,714 | | — |
Equity Securities: | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 1,063,502 | | 1,063,502 | | — | | — |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 52,391 | | 46,484 | | 5,907 | | — |
Warrant | 29 | | 29 | | — | | — |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 30,658 | | 30,658 | | — | | — |
Total Investments, Before Written Options | 1,373,361 | | 1,140,673 | | 232,621 | | 67 |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments: | | | | | | | |
Written Options | (4,106) | | (4,100) | | (6) (1) | | — |
Total Investments, Net of Written Options | $1,369,255 | | $1,136,573 | | $232,615 | | $67 |
(1) | Includes internally fair valued securities currently priced at zero ($0). |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
Some of the Fund’s investments that were categorized as Level 3 may have been valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. If applicable, such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of Level 3 investments.
Management has determined that the amount of Level 3 securities compared to total net assets is not material; therefore, the rollforward of Level 3 securities and assumptions are not shown for the period ended July 31, 2022.
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
Corporate Bonds and Notes—0.0% |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.0% | | |
Cobalt International Energy, Inc. 7.750%, 12/1/23(1)(2) | $ 2,509 | | $ 37 |
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $1,106) | | 37 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | |
Convertible Preferred Stocks—6.2% |
Auto Components—0.2% | |
Aptiv plc Series A, 5.500% | 10,775 | 1,307 |
Banks—1.2% | |
Bank of America Corp. Series L, 7.250% | 2,815 | 3,502 |
Wells Fargo & Co. Series L, 7.500% | 3,915 | 4,968 |
| | 8,470 |
| | |
|
Capital Markets—0.2% | |
KKR & Co., Inc. Series C, 6.000% | 19,340 | 1,354 |
Commercial Services & Supplies—0.2% | |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 6.000% | 20,335 | 1,286 |
Diversified Financial Services—0.2% | |
Chewy, Inc. 2020 Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 6.500%(3) | 1,300 | 1,212 |
Electric Utilities—1.0% | |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 5.279% | 60,130 | 3,154 |
NextEra Energy, Inc., 6.219% | 75,420 | 3,988 |
| | 7,142 |
| | |
|
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.1% | |
II-VI, Inc. Series A, 6.000% | 3,415 | 767 |
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—0.4% | |
Boston Scientific Corp. Series A, 5.500% | 24,535 | 2,670 |
Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.0% | |
Danaher Corp. Series B, 5.000% | 4,685 | 7,130 |
Pharmaceuticals—0.1% | |
Elanco Animal Health, Inc., 5.000% | 31,335 | 1,028 |
Professional Services—0.1% | |
Clarivate plc Series A, 5.250% | 18,795 | 1,121 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—1.0% | |
Broadcom, Inc. Series A, 8.000% | 4,440 | 7,449 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Telecommunications—0.5% | | |
T-Mobile US 2020 Cash Mandatory Exchangeable Trust 144A, 5.250%(3) | 3,110 | | $ 3,728 |
Total Convertible Preferred Stocks (Identified Cost $43,161) | | 44,664 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Common Stocks—62.0% |
Air Freight & Logistics—0.4% | | |
United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B | 16,655 | | 3,246 |
Automobiles—2.8% | | |
Tesla, Inc.(4)(5) | 22,532 | | 20,086 |
Banks—2.3% | | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 71,400 | | 8,237 |
Wells Fargo & Co. | 193,205 | | 8,476 |
| | | 16,713 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—1.9% | | |
AbbVie, Inc.(5) | 59,480 | | 8,536 |
Horizon Therapeutics plc(4)(5) | 25,290 | | 2,098 |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(4) | 11,015 | | 3,089 |
| | | 13,723 |
| | | |
|
Capital Markets—1.8% | | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The)(5) | 66,760 | | 4,610 |
CME Group, Inc. Class A(5) | 26,825 | | 5,351 |
S&P Global, Inc. | 7,465 | | 2,814 |
| | | 12,775 |
| | | |
|
Chemicals—1.2% | | |
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. | 77,305 | | 4,733 |
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The) | 15,105 | | 3,655 |
| | | 8,388 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services & Supplies—1.2% | | |
Waste Management, Inc. | 50,975 | | 8,388 |
Communications Equipment—0.6% | | |
Cisco Systems, Inc. | 93,340 | | 4,235 |
Electric Utilities—1.3% | | |
Exelon Corp. | 200,140 | | 9,305 |
Electrical Equipment—0.4% | | |
Generac Holdings, Inc.(4) | 11,680 | | 3,134 |
Energy Equipment & Services—1.2% | | |
Schlumberger N.V.(5) | 235,190 | | 8,709 |
Equity Real Estate Investment—1.0% | | |
American Tower Corp.(5) | 27,520 | | 7,453 |
Food & Staples Retailing—1.4% | | |
Costco Wholesale Corp.(5) | 19,115 | | 10,347 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Healthcare Equipment & Supplies—1.7% | | |
Abbott Laboratories | 34,870 | | $ 3,795 |
Dexcom, Inc.(4) | 29,920 | | 2,456 |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(4)(5) | 25,680 | | 5,911 |
| | | 12,162 |
| | | |
|
Healthcare Providers & Services—2.4% | | |
McKesson Corp.(5) | 16,230 | | 5,544 |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(5) | 21,223 | | 11,510 |
| | | 17,054 |
| | | |
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—2.4% | | |
Booking Holdings, Inc.(4)(5) | 3,935 | | 7,617 |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Class A(4)(5) | 3,455 | | 5,404 |
MGM Resorts International | 130,450 | | 4,270 |
| | | 17,291 |
| | | |
|
Insurance—0.7% | | |
Aon plc Class A(5) | 17,805 | | 5,182 |
Interactive Media & Services—4.1% | | |
Alphabet, Inc. Class A(4) | 205,300 | | 23,880 |
Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A(4) | 34,800 | | 5,537 |
| | | 29,417 |
| | | |
|
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail—2.8% | | |
Amazon.com, Inc.(4)(5) | 151,695 | | 20,471 |
IT Services—3.9% | | |
Accenture plc Class A(5) | 29,430 | | 9,013 |
EPAM Systems, Inc.(4) | 6,037 | | 2,108 |
Mastercard, Inc. Class A(5) | 24,875 | | 8,801 |
Visa, Inc. Class A | 40,035 | | 8,492 |
| | | 28,414 |
| | | |
|
Life Sciences Tools & Services—2.3% | | |
Avantor, Inc.(4) | 99,832 | | 2,897 |
IQVIA Holdings, Inc.(4) | 27,890 | | 6,701 |
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 11,350 | | 6,792 |
| | | 16,390 |
| | | |
|
Machinery—0.4% | | |
Deere & Co. | 8,780 | | 3,013 |
Multiline Retail—0.4% | | |
Target Corp. | 15,560 | | 2,542 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.8% | | |
ConocoPhillips (5) | 63,950 | | 6,231 |
Devon Energy Corp.(5) | 103,360 | | 6,496 |
| | | 12,727 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—1.8% | | |
Eli Lilly & Co.(5) | 25,545 | | 8,422 |
| Shares | | Value |
| | | |
Pharmaceuticals—continued | | |
Zoetis, Inc. Class A | 26,610 | | $ 4,858 |
| | | 13,280 |
| | | |
|
Road & Rail—1.3% | | |
Union Pacific Corp. | 40,940 | | 9,306 |
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—3.8% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc.(4)(5) | 25,295 | | 7,188 |
Lam Research Corp. | 11,560 | | 5,786 |
Marvell Technology, Inc.(5) | 60,570 | | 3,373 |
Micron Technology, Inc.(5) | 91,545 | | 5,663 |
NVIDIA Corp. | 29,830 | | 5,418 |
| | | 27,428 |
| | | |
|
Software—8.1% | | |
Adobe, Inc. (4) | 4,065 | | 1,667 |
Atlassian Corp. plc Class A(4)(5) | 15,250 | | 3,192 |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. Class A(4)(5) | 29,085 | | 5,340 |
Intuit, Inc.(5) | 16,750 | | 7,641 |
Microsoft Corp.(5) | 115,356 | | 32,385 |
Salesforce, Inc.(4) | 13,136 | | 2,417 |
ServiceNow, Inc.(4)(5) | 12,945 | | 5,782 |
| | | 58,424 |
| | | |
|
Specialty Retail—1.6% | | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The)(5) | 28,580 | | 8,601 |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | 52,280 | | 3,197 |
| | | 11,798 |
| | | |
|
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—4.3% | | |
Apple, Inc. | 191,005 | | 31,040 |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.7% | | |
NIKE, Inc. Class B | 41,815 | | 4,805 |
Total Common Stocks (Identified Cost $483,958) | | 447,246 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Warrant—0.0% |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.0% | | |
Nabors Industries Ltd.(4) | 486 | | 16 |
Total Warrant (Identified Cost $—) | | 16 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Par Value | |
Convertible Bonds and Notes—26.8% |
Airlines—0.6% | |
American Airlines Group, Inc. 6.500%, 7/1/25 | $ 685 | 765 |
Southwest Airlines Co. 1.250%, 5/1/25 | 2,715 | 3,433 |
| | 4,198 |
| | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Auto Manufacturers—0.6% | | |
Ford Motor Co. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | $ 2,510 | | $ 2,673 |
Lucid Group, Inc. 144A 1.250%, 12/15/26(3) | 815 | | 512 |
NIO, Inc. 0.000%, 2/1/26 | 1,775 | | 1,506 |
| | | 4,691 |
| | | |
|
Banks—1.1% | | |
Barclays Bank plc 0.000%, 2/18/25 | 1,450 | | 1,554 |
BofA Finance LLC | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/22 | 1,520 | | 1,516 |
0.600%, 5/25/27 | 3,510 | | 3,512 |
JPMorgan Chase Bank NA 144A 0.125%, 1/1/23(3) | 1,215 | | 1,196 |
| | | 7,778 |
| | | |
|
Biotechnology—1.1% | | |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. | | | |
0.599%, 8/1/24 | 770 | | 770 |
1.250%, 5/15/27 | 1,595 | | 1,602 |
Bridgebio Pharma, Inc. 2.250%, 2/1/29 | 1,805 | | 788 |
Guardant Health, Inc. 0.000%, 11/15/27 | 1,350 | | 947 |
Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. 0.250%, 3/1/27 | 2,330 | | 2,179 |
Insmed, Inc. 0.750%, 6/1/28 | 570 | | 506 |
Livongo Health, Inc. 0.875%, 6/1/25 | 1,450 | | 1,246 |
| | | 8,038 |
| | | |
|
Commercial Services—1.4% | | |
Affirm Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(3) | 3,065 | | 1,871 |
Block, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 3/1/25 | 740 | | 756 |
0.000%, 5/1/26 | 2,075 | | 1,716 |
0.250%, 11/1/27 | 2,550 | | 2,038 |
Chegg, Inc. 0.125%, 3/15/25 | 1,285 | | 1,107 |
Shift4 Payments, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 960 | | 825 |
144A 0.500%, 8/1/27(3) | 2,195 | | 1,575 |
| | | 9,888 |
| | | |
|
Computers—0.8% | | |
3D Systems Corp. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(3) | 895 | | 665 |
Lumentum Holdings, Inc. 0.500%, 12/15/26 | 2,255 | | 2,489 |
Pure Storage, Inc. 0.125%, 4/15/23 | 715 | | 845 |
Rapid7, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/27 | 460 | | 414 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Computers—continued | | |
Zscaler, Inc. 0.125%, 7/1/25 | $ 1,190 | | $ 1,474 |
| | | 5,887 |
| | | |
|
Cosmetics & Personal Care—0.2% | | |
Beauty Health Co. (The) 144A 1.250%, 10/1/26(3) | 1,580 | | 1,309 |
Diversified Financial Services—1.0% | | |
Coinbase Global, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/26 | 2,950 | | 1,795 |
JPMorgan Chase Financial Co., LLC 0.500%, 6/15/27 | 2,400 | | 2,600 |
SoFi Technologies, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 10/15/26(3) | 2,680 | | 1,876 |
Upstart Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/15/26(3) | 1,585 | | 870 |
| | | 7,141 |
| | | |
|
Electronics—0.1% | | |
II-VI, Inc. 0.250%, 9/1/22 | 955 | | 1,073 |
Energy-Alternate Sources—0.9% | | |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 3/1/26 | 1,355 | | 1,623 |
0.000%, 3/1/28 | 2,035 | | 2,511 |
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 9/15/25 | 1,525 | | 2,237 |
| | | 6,371 |
| | | |
|
Entertainment—0.6% | | |
DraftKings Holdings, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/28 | 2,390 | | 1,436 |
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 2.000%, 2/15/25 | 840 | | 942 |
Vail Resorts, Inc. 0.000%, 1/1/26 | 2,045 | | 1,860 |
| | | 4,238 |
| | | |
|
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)—0.2% | | |
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust 1.750%, 12/15/26 | 1,830 | | 1,809 |
Healthcare-Products—0.7% | | |
Exact Sciences Corp. | | | |
0.375%, 3/15/27 | 1,055 | | 817 |
0.375%, 3/1/28 | 495 | | 358 |
Insulet Corp. 0.375%, 9/1/26 | 1,455 | | 1,825 |
Novocure Ltd. 0.000%, 11/1/25 | 1,295 | | 1,118 |
Omnicell, Inc. 0.250%, 9/15/25 | 1,080 | | 1,343 |
| | | 5,461 |
| | | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Healthcare-Services—0.6% | | |
Elevance Health, Inc. 2.750%, 10/15/42 | $ 345 | | $ 2,339 |
Oak Street Health, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 2,195 | | 1,751 |
| | | 4,090 |
| | | |
|
Internet—5.4% | | |
Airbnb, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 1,280 | | 1,114 |
Booking Holdings, Inc. 0.750%, 5/1/25 | 1,380 | | 1,840 |
Etsy, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 9/1/27 | 2,310 | | 2,077 |
0.250%, 6/15/28 | 2,570 | | 2,071 |
Expedia Group, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/26 | 3,075 | | 2,792 |
Lyft, Inc. 1.500%, 5/15/25 | 1,180 | | 1,021 |
Mandiant, Inc. 0.875%, 6/1/24 | 405 | | 451 |
Match Group Financeco 2, Inc. 144A 0.875%, 6/15/26(3) | 2,320 | | 2,510 |
Okta, Inc. 0.375%, 6/15/26 | 2,510 | | 2,139 |
Palo Alto Networks, Inc. 0.375%, 6/1/25 | 3,290 | | 5,705 |
Sea Ltd. 0.250%, 9/15/26 | 3,160 | | 2,333 |
Shopify, Inc. 0.125%, 11/1/25 | 1,765 | | 1,515 |
Snap, Inc. | | | |
0.000%, 5/1/27 | 3,900 | | 2,750 |
144A 0.125%, 3/1/28(3) | 1,825 | | 1,227 |
Spotify USA, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 2,440 | | 1,994 |
Uber Technologies, Inc. 0.000%, 12/15/25 | 3,925 | | 3,259 |
Wayfair, Inc. 0.625%, 10/1/25 | 2,625 | | 1,778 |
Zillow Group, Inc. 2.750%, 5/15/25 | 2,195 | | 2,134 |
| | | 38,710 |
| | | |
|
Leisure Time—0.8% | | |
NCL Corp., Ltd. 144A 1.125%, 2/15/27(3) | 3,360 | | 2,287 |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | | | |
4.250%, 6/15/23 | 2,015 | | 1,971 |
2.875%, 11/15/23 | 1,330 | | 1,232 |
| | | 5,490 |
| | | |
|
Machinery-Diversified—0.2% | | |
Middleby Corp. (The) 1.000%, 9/1/25 | 1,065 | | 1,324 |
Media—1.4% | | |
DISH Network Corp. | | | |
0.000%, 12/15/25 | 1,880 | | 1,331 |
3.375%, 8/15/26 | 2,350 | | 1,672 |
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Media—continued | | |
Liberty Broadband Corp. | | | |
144A 1.250%, 9/30/50(3) | $ 245 | | $ 228 |
144A 2.750%, 9/30/50(3) | 1,630 | | 1,556 |
Liberty Media Corp. | | | |
1.375%, 10/15/23 | 1,640 | | 2,069 |
144A 0.500%, 12/1/50(3) | 2,460 | | 2,943 |
| | | 9,799 |
| | | |
|
Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.1% | | |
Xometry, Inc. 144A 1.000%, 2/1/27(3) | 1,005 | | 908 |
Mining—0.2% | | |
MP Materials Corp. 144A 0.250%, 4/1/26(3) | 1,545 | | 1,554 |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.7% | | |
EQT Corp. 1.750%, 5/1/26 | 470 | | 1,409 |
Pioneer Natural Resources Co. 0.250%, 5/15/25 | 1,745 | | 4,006 |
| | | 5,415 |
| | | |
|
Pharmaceuticals—1.2% | | |
Dexcom, Inc. 0.250%, 11/15/25 | 5,345 | | 5,054 |
Jazz Investments I Ltd. 2.000%, 6/15/26 | 3,180 | | 3,792 |
| | | 8,846 |
| | | |
|
Retail—0.2% | | |
Burlington Stores, Inc. 2.250%, 4/15/25 | 1,560 | | 1,599 |
Semiconductors—0.9% | | |
MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | 965 | | 944 |
Microchip Technology, Inc. 0.125%, 11/15/24 | 3,405 | | 3,526 |
Silicon Laboratories, Inc. 0.625%, 6/15/25 | 600 | | 803 |
Wolfspeed, Inc. | | | |
1.750%, 5/1/26 | 105 | | 196 |
144A 0.250%, 2/15/28(3) | 850 | | 807 |
| | | 6,276 |
| | | |
|
Software—5.7% | | |
Akamai Technologies, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 5/1/25 | 1,845 | | 2,117 |
0.375%, 9/1/27 | 1,060 | | 1,094 |
Alteryx, Inc. 0.500%, 8/1/24 | 1,750 | | 1,538 |
Avalara, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 8/1/26(3) | 2,395 | | 2,042 |
Bentley Systems, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 1/15/26 | 1,650 | | 1,521 |
0.375%, 7/1/27 | 785 | | 645 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Par Value | | Value |
| | | |
Software—continued | | |
Bill.com Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 4/1/27(3) | $ 3,615 | | $ 2,939 |
Blackline, Inc. 0.000%, 3/15/26 | 925 | | 759 |
Cloudflare, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 8/15/26(3) | 3,395 | | 2,775 |
Confluent, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 1/15/27(3) | 1,865 | | 1,389 |
Coupa Software, Inc. | | | |
0.125%, 6/15/25 | 1,180 | | 1,027 |
0.375%, 6/15/26 | 4,000 | | 3,194 |
Datadog, Inc. 0.125%, 6/15/25 | 460 | | 606 |
DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 12/1/26(3) | 2,080 | | 1,559 |
DocuSign, Inc. 0.000%, 1/15/24 | 1,470 | | 1,369 |
Five9, Inc. 0.500%, 6/1/25 | 1,505 | | 1,590 |
MicroStrategy, Inc. 0.000%, 2/15/27 | 1,850 | | 909 |
MongoDB, Inc. 0.250%, 1/15/26 | 930 | | 1,500 |
Nutanix, Inc. 144A 0.250%, 10/1/27(3) | 1,465 | | 1,023 |
RingCentral, Inc. 0.000%, 3/1/25 | 2,555 | | 2,105 |
Splunk, Inc. | | | |
0.500%, 9/15/23 | 775 | | 769 |
1.125%, 6/15/27 | 3,380 | | 2,898 |
Tyler Technologies, Inc. 0.250%, 3/15/26 | 1,245 | | 1,297 |
Unity Software, Inc. 144A 0.000%, 11/15/26(3) | 3,255 | | 2,426 |
Workday, Inc. 0.250%, 10/1/22 | 1,725 | | 1,866 |
| | | 40,957 |
| | | |
|
Transportation—0.1% | | |
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. 1.125%, 10/15/24 | 450 | | 510 |
Total Convertible Bonds and Notes (Identified Cost $226,627) | | 193,360 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total Long-Term Investments—95.0% (Identified Cost $754,852) | | 685,323 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| Shares | | Value |
Short-Term Investment—5.1% |
Money Market Mutual Fund—5.1% |
BlackRock Liquidity FedFund - Institutional Shares (seven-day effective yield 1.728%)(6) | 37,307,065 | | $ 37,307 |
Total Short-Term Investment (Identified Cost $37,307) | | 37,307 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, BEFORE WRITTEN OPTIONS—100.1% (Identified Cost $792,159) | | 722,630 |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| | |
Written Options—(0.1)% |
(See open written options schedule) | | |
Total Written Options (Premiums Received $421) | (712) |
| | |
|
| | |
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, NET OF WRITTEN OPTIONS—100.0% (Identified Cost $791,738) | $721,918 |
Other assets and liabilities, net—(0.0)% | (309) |
NET ASSETS—100.0% | $721,609 |
Abbreviations: |
LLC | Limited Liability Company |
NA | National Association |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
S&P | Standard & Poor’s |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(2) | Security in default; no interest payments are being received during the bankruptcy proceedings. |
(3) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At July 31, 2022, these securities amounted to a value of $42,987 or 6.0% of net assets. |
(4) | Non-income producing. |
(5) | All or a portion of the security is segregated as collateral for written options. The value of securities segregated as collateral is $107,410. |
(6) | Shares of this fund are publicly offered, and its prospectus and annual report are publicly available. |
Country Weightings† |
United States | 95% |
United Kingdom | 2 |
Curaçao | 1 |
Bermuda | 1 |
Cayman Islands | 1 |
Total | 100% |
† % of total investments, net of written options, as of July 31, 2022. |
For information regarding the abbreviations, see the Key Investment Terms starting on page 18.
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
Open written options contracts as of July 31, 2022 were as follows: |
Description of Options | Number of Contracts | Contract Notional Amount | Strike Price(1) | Expiration Date | Value |
Call Options(2) | | | | | |
AbbVie, Inc. | (195) | $ (3,266) | $ 167.50 | 08/19/22 | $ (—)(3) |
Accenture plc | (135) | (4,117) | 305.00 | 08/19/22 | (96) |
Amazon.com, Inc. | (755) | (11,891) | 157.50 | 08/19/22 | (15) |
American Tower Corp. | (165) | (4,620) | 280.00 | 08/19/22 | (41) |
Aon plc | (65) | (1,950) | 300.00 | 08/19/22 | (27) |
Apple, Inc. | (575) | (10,206) | 177.50 | 08/19/22 | (8) |
Atlassian Corp. plc | (30) | (840) | 280.00 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
Booking Holdings, Inc. | (22) | (5,500) | 2,500.00 | 08/19/22 | (2) |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) | (170) | (1,233) | 72.50 | 08/19/22 | (13) |
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. | (13) | (2,223) | 1,710.00 | 08/19/22 | (7) |
CME Group, Inc. | (80) | (1,920) | 240.00 | 08/19/22 | — |
ConocoPhillips | (385) | (4,043) | 105.00 | 08/19/22 | (41) |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | (115) | (6,555) | 570.00 | 08/19/22 | (30) |
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. | (85) | (1,998) | 235.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Devon Energy Corp. | (500) | (3,500) | 70.00 | 08/19/22 | (42) |
Eli Lilly & Co. | (150) | (5,475) | 365.00 | 08/19/22 | (17) |
Enphase Energy, Inc. | (185) | (6,105) | 330.00 | 08/19/22 | (80) |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | (35) | (1,190) | 340.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Horizon Therapeutics plc | (155) | (1,550) | 100.00 | 08/19/22 | (5) |
Intuit, Inc. | (50) | (2,500) | 500.00 | 08/19/22 | (10) |
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | (135) | (3,510) | 260.00 | 08/19/22 | (6) |
Marvell Technology, Inc. | (280) | (1,820) | 65.00 | 08/19/22 | (4) |
Mastercard, Inc. | (160) | (6,160) | 385.00 | 08/19/22 | (9) |
McKesson Corp. | (1) | (38) | 380.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Micron Technology, Inc. | (130) | (1,040) | 80.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Microsoft Corp. | (235) | (7,285) | 310.00 | 08/19/22 | (4) |
Schlumberger N.V. | (1,175) | (4,700) | 40.00 | 08/19/22 | (56) |
ServiceNow, Inc. | (15) | (855) | 570.00 | 08/19/22 | (—) (3) |
Tesla, Inc. | (155) | (15,500) | 1,000.00 | 08/19/22 | (165) |
UnitedHealth Group, Inc. | (150) | (8,625) | 575.00 | 08/19/22 | (21) |
| | | | | (703) |
Put Options(2) | | | | | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | (40) | (1,780) | 445.00 | 08/19/22 | (1) |
Mastercard, Inc. | (65) | (1,982) | 305.00 | 08/19/22 | (4) |
Visa, Inc. | (100) | (1,850) | 185.00 | 08/19/22 | (4) |
| | | | | (9) |
Total Written Options | | $(712) |
Footnote Legend: |
(1) | Strike price not reported in thousands. |
(2) | Exchange-traded options. |
(3) | Amount is less than $500. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
The following table summarizes the value of the Fund’s investments as of July 31, 2022, based on the inputs used to value them (See Security Valuation Note 2A in the Notes to Financial Statements):
| Total Value at July 31, 2022 | | Level 1 Quoted Prices | | Level 2 Significant Observable Inputs | | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Assets: | | | | | | | |
Debt Securities: | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds and Notes | $ 37 | | $ — | | $ — | | $37 |
Convertible Bonds and Notes | 193,360 | | — | | 193,360 | | — |
Equity Securities: | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | 447,246 | | 447,246 | | — | | — |
Convertible Preferred Stocks | 44,664 | | 39,724 | | 4,940 | | — |
Warrant | 16 | | 16 | | — | | — |
Money Market Mutual Fund | 37,307 | | 37,307 | | — | | — |
Total Investments, Before Written Options | 722,630 | | 524,293 | | 198,300 | | 37 |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | |
Other Financial Instruments: | | | | | | | |
Written Options | (712) | | (711) | | (1) | | — |
Total Investments, Net of Written Options | $721,918 | | $523,582 | | $198,299 | | $37 |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 related to securities held at July 31, 2022.
Some of the Fund’s investments that were categorized as Level 3 may have been valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. If applicable, such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of Level 3 investments.
Management has determined that the amount of Level 3 securities compared to total net assets is not material; therefore, the roll-forward of Level 3 securities and assumptions are not shown for the period ended July 31, 2022.
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
(Reported in thousands except shares and per share amounts)
| Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund | | Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund | | Convertible & Income Fund | | Convertible & Income Fund II |
Assets | | | | | | | |
Investment in securities at value(1)(2)
| $ 844,949 | | $ 239,677 | | $ 709,300 | | $ 560,881 |
Investment in affiliates at value(3)
| — | | — | | 2,519 | | 2,519 |
Cash
| 100 | | 97 | | 100 | | 100 |
Receivables | | | | | | | |
Investment securities sold
| — | | 50 | | 4,905 | | 3,818 |
Dividends and interest
| 2,029 | | 1,671 | | 4,774 | | 3,707 |
Securities lending income
| 12 | | 3 | | 3 | | — |
Prepaid Trustees’ retainer
| 37 | | 10 | | 25 | | 19 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets (Note 4)
| 21 | | 26 | | 179 | | 137 |
Total assets
| 847,148 | | 241,534 | | 721,805 | | 571,181 |
Liabilities | | | | | | | |
Loan Payable (Note 9)
| 130,000 | | 69,700 | | — | | — |
Payables | | | | | | | |
Collateral on securities loaned
| 9,751 | | 94 | | — | | — |
Dividend distributions
| 5,151 | | 840 | | 4,419 | | 3,437 |
Investment securities purchased
| 978 | | 2,000 | | 3,489 | | 2,778 |
Investment advisory fees (Note 4)
| 762 | | 140 | | 348 | | 276 |
Loan interest payable (Note 9)
| 527 | | 278 | | 93 | | — |
Professional fees
| 77 | | 86 | | 98 | | 99 |
Administration and accounting fees
| 72 | | 22 | | 63 | | 50 |
Trustee deferred compensation plan (Note 4)
| 21 | | 26 | | 179 | | 137 |
Other accrued expenses
| 108 | | 47 | | 101 | | 101 |
Total liabilities
| 147,447 | | 73,233 | | 8,790 | | 6,878 |
Auction-Rate Preferred Shares ($25,000 liquidation preference per share applicable to an aggregate of 8,931 and 6,501 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)
| — | | — | | 223,275 | | 162,525 |
Cumulative Preferred Shares ($25.00 liquidation preference per share applicable to an aggregate of 4,000,000 and 4,360,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)
| — | | — | | 100,000 | | 109,000 |
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders
| $ 699,701 | | $ 168,301 | | $ 389,740 | | $ 292,778 |
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders Consist of: | | | | | | | |
Common shares par value ($0.00001 per share)
| $ —(a) | | $ —(a) | | $ 1 | | $ 1 |
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest
| 685,992 | | 178,517 | | 713,528 | | 545,859 |
Total distributable earnings (accumulated losses)
| 13,709 | | (10,216) | | (323,789) | | (253,082) |
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders
| $ 699,701 | | $ 168,301 | | $ 389,740 | | $ 292,778 |
Common Shares Issued and Outstanding
| 34,340,972 | | 18,263,597 | | 90,373,569 | | 76,115,749 |
Net Asset Value Per Common Share(b)
| $ 20.38 | | $ 9.22 | | $ 4.31 | | $ 3.85 |
(1)Investment in securities at cost
| $ 841,163 | | $ 253,718 | | $ 781,411 | | $ 614,014 |
(2) Market value of securities on loan
| $ 39,029 | | $ 6,837 | | $ — | | $ — |
(3) Investment in affiliates at cost
| $ — | | $ — | | $ 9,219 | | $ 7,469 |
(a) | Amount is less than $500. |
(b) | Net Asset Value Per Common Share is calculated using unrounded net assets. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
(Reported in thousands except shares and per share amounts)
| Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund | | Equity & Convertible Income Fund |
Assets | | | | | |
Investment in securities at value(1)
| $ 343,725 | | $ 1,373,361 | | $ 722,630 |
Investment in affiliates at value(2)
| 378 | | — | | — |
Cash
| 159 | | 501 | | 100 |
Deposits with broker for written options
| 522 | | — | | 2,123 |
Receivables | | | | | |
Investment securities sold
| 1,651 | | 6,846 | | 2,009 |
Dividends and interest
| 1,384 | | 1,497 | | 672 |
Tax reclaims
| — | | 155 | | — |
Prepaid Trustees’ retainer
| 16 | | 82 | | 45 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets (Note 4)
| 54 | | 298 | | 137 |
Total assets
| 347,889 | | 1,382,740 | | 727,716 |
Liabilities | | | | | |
Mandatory redeemable preferred shares (Note 10)
| 30,000 | | — | | — |
Written options at value (Note 3)(3)
| 95 | | 4,106 | | 712 |
Loan Payable (Note 10 and 11)
| 75,000 | | — | | — |
Payables | | | | | |
Investment securities purchased
| 4,786 | | 1,318 | | 4,529 |
Dividend distributions
| 1,865 | | — | | — |
Loan interest payable (Note 10 and 11)
| 865 | | — | | — |
Investment advisory fees (Note 4)
| 251 | | 870 | | 516 |
Dividend on mandatory redeemable preferred shares (Note 10)
| 109 | | — | | — |
Professional fees
| 71 | | 66 | | 79 |
Trustee deferred compensation plan (Note 4)
| 54 | | 298 | | 137 |
Administration and accounting fees
| 30 | | 118 | | 62 |
Other accrued expenses
| 63 | | 124 | | 72 |
Total liabilities
| 113,189 | | 6,900 | | 6,107 |
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders
| $ 234,700 | | $ 1,375,840 | | $ 721,609 |
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders Consist of: | | | | | |
Common shares par value ($0.00001 per share)
| $ —(a) | | $ 1 | | $ —(a) |
Capital paid in on shares of beneficial interest
| 252,313 | | 1,276,956 | | 670,598 |
Total distributable earnings (accumulated losses)
| (17,613) | | 98,883 | | 51,011 |
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders
| $ 234,700 | | $ 1,375,840 | | $ 721,609 |
Common Shares Issued and Outstanding
| 10,362,954 | | 94,801,581 | | 27,708,965 |
Net Asset Value Per Common Share(b)
| $ 22.65 | | $ 14.51 | | $ 26.04 |
(1)Investment in securities at cost
| $ 366,632 | | $ 1,343,263 | | $ 792,159 |
(2) Investment in affiliates at cost
| $ 1,621 | | $ — | | $ — |
(3) Written options premiums received
| $ 67 | | $ 1,278 | | $ 421 |
(a) | Amount is less than $500. |
(b) | Net Asset Value Per Common Share is calculated using unrounded net assets. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
SIX MONTHS ENDED July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund | | Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund | | Convertible & Income Fund | | Convertible & Income Fund II |
Investment Income | | | | | | | |
Interest
| $ 3,372 | | $ 3,874 | | $ 9,654 | | $ 7,418 |
Dividends
| 2,741 | | 29 | | 3,141 | | 2,411 |
Security lending, net of fees
| 109 | | 15 | | 131 | | — |
Foreign taxes withheld
| (28) | | — | | — | | — |
Total investment income
| 6,194 | | 3,918 | | 12,926 | | 9,829 |
Expenses | | | | | | | |
Investment advisory fees
| 5,275 | | 898 | | 2,687 | | 2,057 |
Administration and accounting fees
| 455 | | 132 | | 413 | | 317 |
Printing fees and expenses
| 139 | | 15 | | 38 | | 30 |
Trustees’ fees and expenses
| 87 | | 19 | | 56 | | 43 |
Professional fees
| 75 | | 51 | | 73 | | 67 |
Transfer agent fees and expenses
| 8 | | 8 | | 10 | | 10 |
Auction agent and commissions
| — | | — | | 109 | | 83 |
Miscellaneous expenses
| 19 | | 3 | | 103 | | 85 |
Total expenses before interest expense
| 6,058 | | 1,126 | | 3,489 | | 2,692 |
Loan interest (Note 9)
| 793 | | 456 | | 144 | | — |
Total expenses after interest expense
| 6,851 | | 1,582 | | 3,633 | | 2,692 |
Less expenses reimbursed and/or waived by investment adviser
| (453) | | (66) | | (381) | | (286) |
Net expenses
| 6,398 | | 1,516 | | 3,252 | | 2,406 |
Net investment income (loss)
| (204) | | 2,402 | | 9,674 | | 7,423 |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | | | | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) from: | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated Investments
| 81 | | 340 | | (20,587) | | (15,956) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | | | | |
Unaffiliated Investments
| (99,748) | | (8,403) | | (73,270) | | (55,381) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
| (99,667) | | (8,063) | | (93,857) | | (71,337) |
Dividends on preferred shares from net investment income
| — | | — | | (4,282) | | (4,064) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations
| $(99,871) | | $(5,661) | | $(88,465) | | $(67,978) |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (Continued)
SIX MONTHS ENDED July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund | | Equity & Convertible Income Fund |
Investment Income | | | | | |
Interest
| $ 2,411 | | $ 893 | | $ 764 |
Dividends
| 1,087 | | 9,510 | | 3,973 |
Foreign taxes withheld
| (2) | | (47) | | — |
Total investment income
| 3,496 | | 10,356 | | 4,737 |
Expenses | | | | | |
Investment advisory fees
| 1,759 | | 6,235 | | 3,731 |
Administration and accounting fees
| 192 | | 743 | | 402 |
Professional fees
| 58 | | 96 | | 73 |
Printing fees and expenses
| 55 | | 122 | | 71 |
Trustees’ fees and expenses
| 34 | | 163 | | 92 |
Transfer agent fees and expenses
| 10 | | 8 | | 8 |
Miscellaneous expenses
| 28 | | 38 | | 15 |
Total expenses before interest expense
| 2,136 | | 7,405 | | 4,392 |
Dividends on mandatory redeemable preferred shares (Note 10)
| 649 | | — | | — |
Loan interest (Note 10 and 11)
| 1,204 | | — | | — |
Total expenses after interest expense
| 3,989 | | 7,405 | | 4,392 |
Less expenses reimbursed and/or waived by investment adviser
| (157) | | (754) | | (399) |
Net expenses
| 3,832 | | 6,651 | | 3,993 |
Net investment income (loss)
| (336) | | 3,705 | | 744 |
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) from: | | | | | |
Investments
| (2,934) | | 25,399 | | 38,733 |
Foreign currency transactions
| — | | — (1) | | — |
Written options
| 320 | | 4,864 | | 1,851 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | | | | | |
Investments
| (33,525) | | (157,081) | | (132,191) |
Written options
| 4 | | (2,967) | | (76) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments
| (36,135) | | (129,785) | | (91,683) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| $(36,471) | | $(126,080) | | $ (90,939) |
(1) | Amount is less than $500. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
($ reported in thousands)
| Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund |
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period Ended January 31, 2022* | | Year Ended February 28, 2021 |
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)
| $ (204) | | $ (6,058) | | $ (2,703) |
Net realized gain (loss)
| 81 | | 109,142 | | 171,687 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (99,748) | | (108,970) | | 236,027 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| (99,871) | | (5,886) | | 405,011 |
From Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | |
Net investment income and net realized gains
| (30,907) (1) | | (166,532) | | (85,439) |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
| (30,907) | | (166,532) | | (85,439) |
From Capital Share Transactions | | | | | |
Reinvestment of distributions resulting in the issuance of common stock (0, 2,290 and 15,547 shares, respectively)
| — | | 59 | | 450 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions
| — | | 59 | | 450 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
| (130,778) | | (172,359) | | 320,022 |
Net Assets | | | | | |
Beginning of period
| 830,479 | | 1,002,838 | | 682,816 |
End of period
| $ 699,701 | | $ 830,479 | | $1,002,838 |
* | Period from March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. The Fund had a fiscal year end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(1) | Please note that the tax status of the Fund’s distributions is determined at the end of the taxable year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
($ reported in thousands)
| Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund |
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period Ended January 31, 2022* | | Year Ended February 28, 2021 |
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)
| $ 2,402 | | $ 4,522 | | $ 7,409 |
Net realized gain (loss)
| 340 | | 4,870 | | 11,108 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (8,403) | | (9,826) | | 7,246 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| (5,661) | | (434) | | 25,763 |
From Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | |
Net investment income and net realized gains
| (5,041) (1) | | (16,220) | | (10,078) |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
| (5,041) | | (16,220) | | (10,078) |
From Capital Share Transactions | | | | | |
Reinvestment of distributions resulting in the issuance of common stock (506, 4,575 and 1,504 shares, respectively)
| 5 | | 46 | | 14 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions
| 5 | | 46 | | 14 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
| (10,697) | | (16,608) | | 15,699 |
Net Assets | | | | | |
Beginning of period
| 178,998 | | 195,606 | | 179,907 |
End of period
| $168,301 | | $178,998 | | $195,606 |
* | Period from March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. The Fund had a fiscal year end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(1) | Please note that the tax status of the Fund’s distributions is determined at the end of the taxable year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
($ reported in thousands)
| Convertible & Income Fund |
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period Ended January 31, 2022* | | Year Ended February 28, 2021 |
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)
| $ 9,674 | | $ 19,202 | | $ 33,510 |
Net realized gain (loss)
| (20,587) | | 34,593 | | 3,663 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (73,270) | | (88,808) | | 118,355 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| (84,183) | | (35,013) | | 155,528 |
Dividends on Preferred Shares from Net Investment Income
| (4,282) | | (5,432) | | (6,245) |
From Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders | | | | | |
Net investment income and net realized gains
| (23,045) (1) | | (14,537) | | (28,244) |
Return of capital
| — | | (27,712) | | (18,750) |
Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders
| (23,045) | | (42,249) | | (46,994) |
From Capital Share Transactions | | | | | |
Reinvestment of distributions resulting in the issuance of common stock (0, 0, and 3,988 shares, respectively)
| — | | — | | 22 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions
| — | | — | | 22 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
| (111,510) | | (82,694) | | 102,311 |
Net Assets | | | | | |
Beginning of period
| 501,250 | | 583,944 | | 481,633 |
End of period
| $ 389,740 | | $501,250 | | $583,944 |
* | Period from March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. The Fund had a fiscal year end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(1) | Please note that the tax status of the Fund’s distributions is determined at the end of the taxable year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
($ reported in thousands)
| Convertible & Income Fund II |
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period Ended January 31, 2022* | | Year Ended February 28, 2021 |
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)
| $ 7,423 | | $ 14,662 | | $ 25,827 |
Net realized gain (loss)
| (15,956) | | 26,021 | | 2,875 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (55,381) | | (66,698) | | 89,181 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| (63,914) | | (26,015) | | 117,883 |
Dividends on Preferred Shares from Net Investment Income
| (4,064) | | (5,699) | | (6,448) |
From Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders | | | | | |
Net investment income and net realized gains
| (17,126) (1) | | (9,409) | | (20,132) |
Return of capital
| — | | (21,989) | | (14,691) |
Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders
| (17,126) | | (31,398) | | (34,823) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
| (85,104) | | (63,112) | | 76,612 |
Net Assets | | | | | |
Beginning of period
| 377,882 | | 440,994 | | 364,382 |
End of period
| $292,778 | | $377,882 | | $440,994 |
* | Period from March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. The Fund had a fiscal year end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(1) | Please note that the tax status of the Fund’s distributions is determined at the end of the taxable year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
($ reported in thousands)
| Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund |
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended January 31, 2022 | | Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended January 31, 2022 |
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)
| $ (336) | | $ (1,760) | | $ 3,705 | | $ 4,380 |
Net realized gain (loss)
| (2,614) | | 69,849 | | 30,263 | | 168,577 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (33,521) | | (68,996) | | (160,048) | | 19,070 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| (36,471) | | (907) | | (126,080) | | 192,027 |
From Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | | | | | |
Net investment income and net realized gains
| (11,192) (1) | | (80,923) | | (46,452) (1) | | (85,321) |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
| (11,192) | | (80,923) | | (46,452) | | (85,321) |
From Capital Share Transactions | | | | | | | |
Reinvestment of distributions resulting in the issuance of common stock (561 and 8,473 shares, respectively)
| 15 | | 279 | | — | | — |
Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital transactions
| 15 | | 279 | | — | | — |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
| (47,648) | | (81,551) | | (172,532) | | 106,706 |
Net Assets | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period
| 282,348 | | 363,899 | | 1,548,372 | | 1,441,666 |
End of period
| $234,700 | | $282,348 | | $1,375,840 | | $1,548,372 |
(1) | Please note that the tax status of the Fund’s distributions is determined at the end of the taxable year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued)
($ reported in thousands)
| Equity & Convertible Income Fund |
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended January 31, 2022 |
Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations | | | |
Net investment income (loss)
| $ 744 | | $ (2,565) |
Net realized gain (loss)
| 40,584 | | 175,497 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
| (132,267) | | (98,405) |
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| (90,939) | | 74,527 |
From Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders | | | |
Net investment income and net realized gains
| (27,709) (1) | | (90,719) |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
| (27,709) | | (90,719) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
| (118,648) | | (16,192) |
Net Assets | | | |
Beginning of period
| 840,257 | | 856,449 |
End of period
| $ 721,609 | | $840,257 |
(1) | Please note that the tax status of the Fund’s distributions is determined at the end of the taxable year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED July 31, 2022
($ reported in thousands)
| Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund | | Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund | | Diversified Income & Convertible Fund |
Increase (Decrease) in cash | | | | | |
Cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities: | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
| $ (99,871) | | $ (5,661) | | $ (36,471) |
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: | | | | | |
Proceeds from sales and paydowns of long-term investments
| 248,449 | | 25,650 | | 178,970 |
(Increase) Decrease in investment securities sold receivable
| 1,163 | | 217 | | 1,539 |
Purchases of long-term investments
| (318,892) | | (21,824) | | (167,428) |
Increase (Decrease) in investment securities purchased payable
| (1,953) | | (2,059) | | 2,761 |
Net (purchases) or sales of short-term investments
| 3,590 | | 755 | | (3,412) |
Net purchases or (sales) in written options
| — | | — | | 350 |
Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on long-term investments
| 99,748 | | 8,403 | | 33,521 |
Net realized (gain)/loss on investments
| (81) | | (340) | | 2,614 |
Amortization of premium and accretion of discounts on investments
| (50) | | 104 | | (311) |
Return of capital distributions on investments
| — | | — | | (17) |
(Increase) Decrease in dividends and interest receivable
| (1,072) | | (103) | | (150) |
(Increase) Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets
| — | | — | | 12 |
(Increase) Decrease in prepaid trustees’ retainer
| 3 | | — | | 4 |
Increase (Decrease) in security lending receivable
| 7 | | (1) | | — |
Increase (Decrease) in dividend payable on mandatory redeemable preferred shares
| — | | — | | (1) |
Increase (Decrease) in loan interest payable
| 467 | | 210 | | 15 |
Increase (Decrease) in affiliated expenses payable
| (36) | | (14) | | (72) |
Increase (Decrease) in non-affiliated expenses payable
| (565) | | (307) | | (170) |
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities
| (69,093) | | 5,030 | | 11,754 |
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities: | | | | | |
Cash received from borrowings
| 100,000 | | — | | — |
Cash distributions paid to shareholders
| (30,907) | | (5,036) | | (11,177) |
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities:
| 69,093 | | (5,036) | | (11,177) |
Net increase/decrease in cash | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash
| — | | (6) | | 577 |
Restricted and unrestricted cash at beginning of period
| 100 | | 103 | | 104 |
Restricted and unrestricted cash at end of period
| $ 100 | | $ 97 | | $ 681 |
Supplemental cash flow information: | | | | | |
Cash paid during the period for interest expense on borrowings | $ 326 | | $ 246 | | $ 1,189 |
Cash paid during the period for dividends to mandatory redeemable preferred shares | $ — | | $ — | | $ 650 |
| | | | | |
Reconciliation of restricted and unrestricted cash at the end of period to the statement of assets and liabilities | | | | | |
Cash | $ 100 | | $ 97 | | $ 159 |
Deposit with brokers for written options | — | | — | | 522 |
| $ 100 | | $ 97 | | $ 681 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING
THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (1) | | Year Ended February 28, 2021 | | From Inception October 31, 2019(2) to February 29, 2020 |
|
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 24.18 | | $ 29.20 | | $ 19.89 | | $ 20.00 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(3)
| (0.01) | | (0.18) | | (0.08) | | (0.01) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (2.89) | | 0.01 | | 11.88 | | 0.23 |
Total from investment operations
| (2.90) | | (0.17) | | 11.80 | | 0.22 |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: | | | | | | | |
Net investment income(3)
| (0.90) | | (1.40) | | — | | — |
Net realized gains
| — | | (3.45) | | (2.49) | | (0.33) |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders
| (0.90) | | (4.85) | | (2.49) | | (0.33) |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 20.38 | | $ 24.18 | | $ 29.20 | | $ 19.89 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 17.96 | | $ 23.58 | | $ 27.41 | | $ 17.72 |
Total return, net asset value(4), (5)
| (12.09)% | | (1.85)% | | —% (6) | | —% (6) |
Total return, market value(4), (5)
| (20.21)% | | 2.75% | | 71.09% | | (9.92)% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses after interest expense to average net assets(7), (8)
| 1.74% | | 1.47% (9), (10) | | 1.42% (9) | | 1.34% (10) |
Ratio of total expenses after interest expense to average net assets(7)
| 1.87% | | 1.56% (9), (10) | | 1.43% (9) | | 1.34% (10) |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(7)
| (0.06)% | | (0.66)% (9), (10) | | (0.33)% (9) | | (0.15)% (10) |
Portfolio turnover rate(4)
| 31% | | 53% | | 103% | | 56% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $699,701 | | $ 830,479 | | $1,002,838 | | $682,816 |
Loan payable, end of period (000’s)
| $130,000 | | $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 |
Asset coverage, per $1,000 principal amount of loan payable
| $ 6,382 | | $ 28,683 | | $ 34,428 | | $ 23,761 |
| |
(1) | The Fund had a fiscal period end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(2) | Commencement of operations. |
(3) | Calculated using average shares outstanding. |
(4) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(5) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(6) | Return not disclosed. |
(7) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(8) | Ratio of net expenses, before interest expense, was 1.53% for the six months ended July 31, 2022, and 1.43%, 1.40% and 1.34% for the period ended January 31, 2022, year ended February 28, 2021 and period ended February 29, 2020 respectively. |
(9) | Inclusive of excise tax expense of 0.06%(4) and 0.05% for the period ended January 31, 2022 and year ended February 28, 2021. |
(10) | Certain expenses incurred by the Fund were not annualized. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME 2024 TARGET TERM FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING
THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (1) | | Year Ended February 28/29 | | From Inception June 30, 2017(2) to February 28, 2018 |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | |
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 9.80 | | $ 10.71 | | $ 9.85 | | $ 9.71 | | $ 9.79 | | $ 9.84(3) |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(4)
| 0.13 | | 0.25 | | 0.41 | | 0.43 | | 0.48 | | 0.35 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (0.43) | | (0.27) | | 1.00 | | 0.26 | | (0.01) | | (0.06) |
Total from investment operations
| (0.30) | | (0.02) | | 1.41 | | 0.69 | | 0.47 | | 0.29 |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income
| (0.28) | | (0.51) | | (0.39) | | (0.44) | | (0.50) | | (0.32) |
Net realized gains
| — | | (0.38) | | (0.16) | | (0.11) | | (0.05) | | — |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders
| (0.28) | | (0.89) | | (0.55) | | (0.55) | | (0.55) | | (0.32) |
Share Transactions: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital change resulting from issuance of common shares and related offering costs
| — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | (0.02) |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 9.22 | | $ 9.80 | | $ 10.71 | | $ 9.85 | | $ 9.71 | | $ 9.79 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 8.91 | | $ 9.88 | | $ 10.04 | | $ 9.14 | | $ 9.00 | | $ 9.22 |
Total return, net asset value(5), (6)
| (3.12)% | | (0.28)% | | —% (7) | | —% (7) | | —% (7) | | —% (7) |
Total return, market value(5), (6)
| (7.06)% | | 7.33% | | 16.68% | | 7.63% | | 3.72% | | (4.59)% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses after interest expense to average net assets(8), (9), (10)
| 1.78% | | 1.62% (11) | | 1.72% | | 2.38% | | 2.60% | | 2.14% (11) |
Ratio of total expenses after interest expense to average net assets(8), (9)
| 1.86% | | 1.72% (11) | | 1.73% | | 2.38% | | 2.60% | | 2.14% (11) |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(8), (9)
| 2.82% | | 2.58% (11) | | 4.24% | | 4.34% | | 4.94% | | 5.47% (11) |
Portfolio turnover rate(5)
| 9% | | 56% | | 101% | | 86% | | 116% | | 66% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $168,301 | | $178,998 | | $195,606 | | $179,907 | | $177,319 | | $178,760 |
Loan payable, end of period (000’s)
| $ 69,700 | | $ 69,700 | | $ 69,700 | | $ 69,700 | | $ 69,700 | | $ 69,700 |
Asset coverage, per $1,000 principal amount of loan payable
| $ 3,415 | | $ 3,568 | | $ 3,806 | | $ 3,581 | | $ 3,544 | | $ 3,565 |
| |
(1) | The Fund had a fiscal year end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(2) | Commencement of operations. |
(3) | Initial public offering price of $10.00 per share less sales load of 1.65% of the offering price. |
(4) | Calculated using average shares outstanding. |
(5) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(6) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(7) | Return not disclosed. |
(8) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(9) | Inclusive of excise tax expense of 0.15%(5), 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.08% and 0.02%(5) for the period ended January 31, 2022, and years ended February 28/29, 2021, 2020, 2019 and period ended February 28, 2018, respectively. |
(10) | Ratio of net expenses, before interest expense, was 1.24%, 1.37%, 1.33%, 1.31%, 1.36% and 1.23% for the periods ended July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, years ended February 28/29, 2021, 2020 and 2019 and period ended 2018, respectively. |
(11) | Certain expenses incurred by the Fund were not annualized. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A COMMON SHARE
OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (1) | | Year Ended February 28/29 |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 5.55 | | $ 6.46 | | $ 5.33 | | $ 5.61 | | $ 6.54 | | $ 6.86 | | $ 5.50 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(2)
| 0.11 | | 0.21 | | 0.37 | | 0.52 | | 0.56 | | 0.69 | | 0.73 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (1.04) | | (0.59) | | 1.35 | | (0.02) | | (0.64) | | (0.16) | | 1.44 |
Total from investment operations
| (0.93) | | (0.38) | | 1.72 | | 0.50 | | (0.08) | | 0.53 | | 2.17 |
Dividends on Preferred Shares from Net Investment Income: | (0.05) | | (0.06) | | (0.07) | | (0.14) | | (0.12) | | (0.07) | | (0.03) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from investment operations
| (0.98) | | (0.44) | | 1.65 | | 0.36 | | (0.20) | | 0.46 | | 2.14 |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income
| (0.26) | | (0.16) | | (0.31) | | (0.42) | | (0.50) | | (0.77) | | (0.78) |
Return of capital
| — | | (0.31) | | (0.21) | | (0.22) | | (0.28) | | (0.01) | | — |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders
| (0.26) | | (0.47) | | (0.52) | | (0.64) | | (0.78) | | (0.78) | | (0.78) |
Preferred Shares Transactions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accretion to net asset value, resulting from tender offer of Auction-Rate Preferred shares
| — | | — | | — | | — | | 0.09 | | — | | — |
Capital change resulting from issuance of Cumulative Preferred Shares and related offering costs
| — | | — | | — | | — | | (0.04) | | — | | — |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 4.31 | | $ 5.55 | | $ 6.46 | | $ 5.33 | | $ 5.61 | | $ 6.54 | | $ 6.86 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 3.93 | | $ 5.31 | | $ 5.68 | | $ 5.10 | | $ 6.24 | | $ 6.93 | | $ 6.93 |
Total return, net asset value(3), (4)
| (17.97)% | | (7.41)% | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) |
Total return, market value(3), (4)
| (21.49)% | | 1.14% | | 24.29% | | (8.51)% | | 2.00% | | 12.22% | | 59.15% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses after interest expense to average net assets(6), (7), (8)
| 1.54% | | 1.39% | | 1.45% | | 1.53% | | 1.56% (9) | | 1.28% | | 1.36% (10) |
Ratio of total expenses after interest expense to average net assets(6), (7)
| 1.72% | | 1.55% | | 1.48% | | 1.53% | | 1.56% (9) | | 1.28% | | 1.36% (10) |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(6), (7)
| 4.57% | | 3.69% | | 7.04% | | 9.30% | | 9.22% | | 10.32% | | 11.33% |
Portfolio turnover rate(3)
| 24% | | 54% | | 73% | | 35% | | 41% | | 34% | | 28% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $389,740 | | $501,250 | | $583,944 | | $481,633 | | $502,648 | | $580,867 | | $605,194 |
Loan payable, end of period (000’s)
| $ — | | $ 28,852 | | $ 28,852 | | $ 28,852 | | $ 28,852 | | $ — | | $ — |
Asset coverage, per $1,000 principal amount of loan payable
| $ — | | $ 29,578 | | $ 32,444 | | $ 28,898 | | $ 29,627 | | $ — | | $ — |
Asset coverage, per $25 liquidation preference per share of cumulative preferred shares
| $ 55 | | $ 61 | | $ 70 | | $ 62 | | $ 64 | | $ — | | $ — |
Asset coverage per $25,000 liquidation preference per share of auction-rate preferred shares
| $ 55,140 | | $ 60,587 | | $ 70,027 | | $ 62,132 | | $ 63,572 | | $ 65,668 | | $ 67,376 |
Cumulative Preferred shares average market value(11)
| $ 24.20 | | $ 24.23 | | $ 25.91 | | $ 25.81 | | $ 24.46 | | $ — | | $ — |
| |
(1) | The Fund had a fiscal period end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(2) | Calculated using average shares outstanding. |
(3) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(4) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(5) | Return not disclosed. |
(6) | Calculated on the basis of income and expenses applicable to both common and preferred shares relative to average net assets of common shareholders. |
(7) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(8) | Ratio of net expenses, before interest expense and auction agent fees and commissions, was 1.40%, 1.31%, 1.35%, 1.33%, 1.34%, 1.21% and 1.28% for the periods ended July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, years ended February 28/29, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
(9) | Inclusive of tender offer expenses of 0.03%. |
(10) | Inclusive of excise tax expense of 0.06% and 0.05% for the period ended January 31, 2022 and year ended February 28, 2021. |
(11) | Based on daily closing market prices. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
CONVERTIBLE & INCOME FUND II
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A COMMON SHARE
OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Fiscal Period March 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (1) | | Year Ended February 28/29 |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 | | 2017 |
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 4.96 | | $ 5.79 | | $ 4.79 | | $ 5.03 | | $ 5.87 | | $ 6.14 | | $ 4.89 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(2)
| 0.10 | | 0.19 | | 0.34 | | 0.48 | | 0.50 | | 0.62 | | 0.66 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (0.93) | | (0.54) | | 1.20 | | (0.03) | | (0.57) | | (0.14) | | 1.30 |
Total from investment operations
| (0.83) | | (0.35) | | 1.54 | | 0.45 | | (0.07) | | 0.48 | | 1.96 |
Dividends on Preferred Shares from Net Investment Income: | (0.05) | | (0.07) | | (0.08) | | (0.14) | | (0.12) | | (0.06) | | (0.02) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from investment operations
| (0.88) | | (0.42) | | 1.46 | | 0.31 | | (0.19) | | 0.42 | | 1.94 |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income
| (0.23) | | (0.12) | | (0.27) | | (0.36) | | (0.45) | | (0.61) | | (0.69) |
Return of capital
| — | | (0.29) | | (0.19) | | (0.19) | | (0.24) | | (0.08) | | — |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders
| (0.23) | | (0.41) | | (0.46) | | (0.55) | | (0.69) | | (0.69) | | (0.69) |
Preferred Shares Transactions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accretion to net asset value, resulting from tender offer of Auction-Rate Preferred shares
| — | | — | | — | | — | | 0.09 | | — | | — |
Capital change resulting from issuance of Cumulative Preferred Shares and related offering costs
| — | | — | | — | | — | | (0.05) | | — | | — |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 3.85 | | $ 4.96 | | $ 5.79 | | $ 4.79 | | $ 5.03 | | $ 5.87 | | $ 6.14 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 3.42 | | $ 4.62 | | $ 5.01 | | $ 4.54 | | $ 5.44 | | $ 6.10 | | $ 6.17 |
Total return, net asset value(3), (4)
| (18.06)% | | (7.95)% | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) |
Total return, market value(3), (4)
| (21.38)% | | (0.19)% | | 22.81% | | (6.98)% | | 1.14% | | 10.84% | | 56.31% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses after interest expense to average net assets(6), (7), (8)
| 1.51% | | 1.40% | | 1.44% | | 1.41% | | 1.53% (9) | | 1.32% | | 1.37% |
Ratio of total expenses after interest expense to average net assets(6), (7)
| 1.69% | | 1.55% | | 1.47% | | 1.41% | | 1.53% (9) | | 1.32% | | 1.37% |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(6), (7)
| 4.66% | | 3.73% | | 7.18% | | 9.48% | | 9.28% | | 10.31% | | 11.46% |
Portfolio turnover rate(3)
| 24% | | 54% | | 73% | | 35% | | 41% | | 33% | | 28% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $292,778 | | $377,882 | | $440,994 | | $364,382 | | $379,901 | | $440,106 | | $456,985 |
Asset coverage, per $25 liquidation preference per share of cumulative preferred shares
| $ 52 | | $ 60 | | $ 65 | | $ 58 | | $ 60 | | $ — | | $ — |
Asset coverage per $25,000 liquidation preference per share of auction-rate preferred shares
| $ 51,957 | | $ 59,793 | | $ 65,454 | | $ 58,421 | | $ 59,845 | | $ 65,147 | | $ 66,691 |
Cumulative Preferred shares average market value(10)
| $ 24.04 | | $ 23.92 | | $ 25.64 | | $ 25.39 | | $ 24.04 | | $ — | | $ — |
| |
(1) | The Fund had a fiscal period end change from February 28 to January 31. |
(2) | Calculated using average common shares outstanding. |
(3) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(4) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(5) | Return not disclosed. |
(6) | Calculated on the basis of income and expenses applicable to both common and preferred shares relative to average net assets of common shareholders. |
(7) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(8) | Ratio of net expenses, before interest expense and auction agent fees and commissions, was 1.44%, 1.35%, 1.39%, 1.36%, 1.39%, 1.24% and 1.30% for the periods ended July 31, 2022 and January 31, 2022, and years ended February 28/29, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. |
(9) | Inclusive of tender offer expenses of 0.04%. |
(10) | Based on daily closing market prices. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVERSIFIED INCOME & CONVERTIBLE FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING
THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended January 31, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 27.25 | | $ 35.15 | | $ 24.81 | | $ 22.05 | | $ 23.88 | | $ 21.59 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(1)
| (0.03) | | (0.17) | | 0.01 | | 0.11 | | 0.16 | | 0.29 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (3.49) | | 0.09 | | 12.71 | | 4.65 | | 0.01 | | 4.00 |
Total from investment operations
| (3.52) | | (0.08) | | 12.72 | | 4.76 | | 0.17 | | 4.29 |
Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income
| (1.08) | | (2.02) | | (1.19) | | (0.42) | | (0.95) | | (0.44) |
Net realized gains
| — | | (5.80) | | (1.19) | | (1.58) | | (1.05) | | (1.56) |
Total dividends and distributions to common shareholders
| (1.08) | | (7.82) | | (2.38) | | (2.00) | | (2.00) | | (2.00) |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 22.65 | | $ 27.25 | | $ 35.15 | | $ 24.81(2) | | $ 22.05 | | $ 23.88 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 22.31 | | $ 27.75 | | $ 32.25 | | $ 25.22 | | $ 21.29 | | $ 22.40 |
Total return, net asset value(3), (4)
| (13.07)% | | (2.32)% | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) |
Total return, market value(3), (4)
| (15.77)% | | 7.46% | | 40.11% | | 29.04% | | 3.89% | | 26.13% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses after interest expense to average net assets(6), (7)
| 3.10% | | 2.47% (8) | | 2.84% (8) | | 3.32% | | 3.40% (8) | | 3.36% (8) |
Ratio of total expenses after interest expense to average net assets(6)
| 3.22% | | 2.55% (8) | | 2.84% (8) | | 3.32% | | 3.40% (8) | | 3.36% (8) |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(6)
| (0.27)% | | (0.48)% (8) | | 0.05% (8) | | 0.47% | | 0.72% (8) | | 1.30% (8) |
Portfolio turnover rate(3)
| 50% | | 108% | | 128% | | 120% | | 105% | | 154% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $234,700 | | $282,348 | | $363,899 | | $256,724 | | $227,320 | | $245,382 |
Loan payable, end of period (000’s)
| $ 75,000 | | $ 75,000 | | $ 75,000 | | $ 75,000 | | $ 75,000 | | $ 75,000 |
Mandatory redeemable preferred shares, end of period (000’s)
| $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 | | $ 30,000 |
Asset coverage, per $1,000 principal amount of loan payable(9)
| $ 4,529 | | $ 5,165 | | $ 6,252 | | $ 4,823 | | $ 4,431 | | $ 4,672 |
Asset coverage ratio on total leverage (loan payable and mandatory redeemable preferred shares)(10)
| 324% | | 369% | | 447% | | 344% | | 316% | | 334% |
Asset coverage, per $25 liquidation preference per share of mandatory redeemable preferred shares(11)
| $ 81 | | $ 92 | | $ 112 | | $ 86 | | $ 79 | | $ 83 |
| |
(1) | Calculated using average shares outstanding. |
(2) | Payment from affiliate increased the net asset value by less than $0.01. |
(3) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(4) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(5) | Return not disclosed. |
(6) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(7) | Ratio of net expenses, before interest expense to average net assets was 2.12% and 1.85%, 2.03%, 2.14%, 2.20% and 2.26% for the six months period ended July 31, 2022 and years ended January 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. |
(8) | Inclusive of excise tax expense of 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06% and 0.07% for the years ended January 31, 2022, 2021, 2019 and 2018, respectively. |
(9) | Represents value of net assets applicable to common stock plus the loan payable and mandatory redeemable preferred shares at the end of the period divided by the borrowings at the end of the period multiplied by $1,000. |
(10) | Represents value of net assets applicable to common stock plus the loan payable and mandatory redeemable preferred shares at the end of the period divided by the loan payable and mandatory redeemable preferred shares at the end of the period. |
(11) | Represents value of net assets applicable to common stock plus the loan payable and mandatory redeemable preferred shares at the end of the period divided by the loan payable and mandatory redeemable preferred shares at the end of the period multiplied by $25. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
DIVIDEND, INTEREST & PREMIUM STRATEGY FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING
THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended January 31, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 16.33 | | $ 15.21 | | $ 14.34 | | $ 13.52 | | $ 15.32 | | $ 14.72 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(1)
| 0.04 | | 0.05 | | 0.13 | | 0.24 | | 0.27 | | 0.30 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (1.37) | | 1.97 | | 1.64 | | 1.48 | | (1.17) | | 1.43 |
Total from investment operations
| (1.33) | | 2.02 | | 1.77 | | 1.72 | | (0.90) | | 1.73 |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income
| (0.49) | | (0.90) | | (0.13) | | (0.26) | | (0.71) | | (0.30) |
Net realized gains
| — | | — | | (0.48) | | (0.64) | | — | | — |
Return of capital
| — | | — | | (0.29) | | — | | (0.19) | | (0.83) |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders
| (0.49) | | (0.90) | | (0.90) | | (0.90) | | (0.90) | | (1.13) |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 14.51 | | $ 16.33 | | $ 15.21 | | $ 14.34 | | $ 13.52 | | $ 15.32 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 12.82 | | $ 14.73 | | $ 13.28 | | $ 13.09 | | $ 11.90 | | $ 13.52 |
Total return, net asset value(2), (3)
| (8.05)% | | 13.39% | | —% (4) | | —% (4) | | —% (4) | | —% (4) |
Total return, market value(2), (3)
| (9.68)% | | 17.77% | | 9.71% | | 18.17% | | (5.42)% | | 12.92% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets(5)
| 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.95% | | 0.97% |
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets(5)
| 1.07% | | 1.06% | | 0.96% | | 0.96% | | 0.95% | | 0.97% |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(5)
| 0.53% | | 0.28% | | 0.94% | | 1.73% | | 1.87% | | 2.03% |
Portfolio turnover rate(2)
| 21% | | 63% | | 104% | | 76% | | 50% | | 85% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $1,375,840 | | $1,548,372 | | $1,441,666 | | $1,359,815 | | $1,281,712 | | $1,452,585 |
| |
(1) | Calculated using average shares outstanding. |
(2) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(3) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(4) | Return not disclosed. |
(5) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
EQUITY & CONVERTIBLE INCOME FUND
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS FOR A SHARE OUTSTANDING
THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD
| Six Months Ended July 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | | Year Ended January 31, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 | | 2018 |
PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value, beginning of period
| $ 30.32 | | $ 30.91 | | $ 24.89 | | $ 22.53 | | $ 24.51 | | $ 21.54 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss)(1)
| 0.03 | | (0.09) | | 0.06 | | 0.18 | | 0.19 | | 0.40 |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
| (3.31) | | 2.77 | | 7.48 | | 3.70 | | (0.65) | | 4.09 |
Total from investment operations
| (3.28) | | 2.68 | | 7.54 | | 3.88 | | (0.46) | | 4.49 |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income
| (1.00) | | (1.52) | | (0.09) | | (0.20) | | (0.93) | | (0.43) |
Net realized gains
| — | | (1.75) | | (1.43) | | (1.32) | | (0.59) | | (1.09) |
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders
| (1.00) | | (3.27) | | (1.52) | | (1.52) | | (1.52) | | (1.52) |
Net asset value, end of period
| $ 26.04 | | $ 30.32 | | $ 30.91 | | $ 24.89(2) | | $ 22.53 | | $ 24.51 |
Market value, end of period
| $ 22.96 | | $ 27.33 | | $ 27.78 | | $ 23.14 | | $ 20.52 | | $ 22.08 |
Total return, net asset value(3), (4)
| (10.81)% | | 8.22% | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) | | —% (5) |
Total return, market value(3), (4)
| (12.47)% | | 9.80% | | 28.21% | | 20.83% | | (0.25)% | | 24.96% |
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets(6)
| 1.07% | | 1.12% (7) | | 1.07% | | 1.07% | | 1.13% (7) | | 1.07% |
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets(6)
| 1.18% | | 1.22% (7) | | 1.07% | | 1.07% | | 1.13% (7) | | 1.07% |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets(6)
| 0.20% | | (0.28)% (7) | | 0.24% | | 0.74% | | 0.83% (7) | | 1.80% |
Portfolio turnover rate(3)
| 30% | | 71% | | 85% | | 50% | | 81% | | 99% |
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
| $721,609 | | $840,257 | | $856,449 | | $689,650 | | $624,315 | | $679,241 |
| |
(1) | Calculated using average shares outstanding. |
(2) | Payment from affiliate increased the net asset value by less than $0.01. |
(3) | Not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(4) | Total return on market value is calculated assuming a purchase of common shares on the opening of the first day and sale on the closing of the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions are assumed, for purposes of this calculation, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan. Total return on market value is not annualized for periods of less than one year. Brokerage commissions that a shareholder may pay are not reflected. Total return on market value does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sale of fund shares. Total return on net asset value uses the same methodology, but with use of net asset value for the beginning, ending and reinvestment values. |
(5) | Return not disclosed. |
(6) | Annualized for periods less than one year. |
(7) | Inclusive of excise tax expense of 0.05% and 0.07% for the years ended January 31, 2022 and 2019, respectively. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
July 31, 2022
Note 1. Organization
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund, Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Convertible & Income Fund, Convertible & Income Fund II, Diversified Income & Convertible Fund, Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund, and Equity & Convertible Income Fund (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”), were organized as Massachusetts business trusts on May 24, 2019, March 21, 2017, January 17, 2003, April 22, 2003, March 10, 2015, December 12, 2006, and August 20, 2003, respectively. The Funds are each organized and registered as diversified, closed-end management investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies
($ reported in thousands)
The Funds are investment companies that follow the accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements and for derivatives, included in Note 3 below. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and those differences could be significant.
A. | Security Valuation |
| Each Fund utilizes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The Funds’ policy is to recognize transfers into or out of Level 3 at the end of the reporting period. |
| • Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities (security types generally include listed equities). |
• Level 2 – prices determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
• Level 3 – prices determined using significant unobservable inputs (including the Valuation Committee’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
A description of the valuation techniques applied to a Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis is as follows:
Equity securities are valued at the official closing price (typically last sale) on the exchange on which the securities are primarily traded or, if no closing price is available, at the last bid price and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy. Illiquid, restricted equity securities and illiquid private placements are internally fair valued by the Valuation Committee, and are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
Certain non-U.S. securities may be fair valued in cases where closing prices are not readily available or are deemed not reflective of readily available market prices. For example, significant events (such as movement in the U.S. securities market, or other regional and local developments) may occur between the time that non-U.S. markets close (where the security is principally traded) and the time that a Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”) at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4 p.m. Eastern time) that may impact the value of securities traded in these non-U.S. markets. In such cases, the Funds fair value non-U.S. securities using an independent pricing service which considers the correlation of the trading patterns of the non-U.S. security to the intraday trading in the U.S. markets for investments such as ADRs, financial futures, ETFs, and certain indexes, as well as prices for similar securities. Such fair valuations are categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Because the frequency of significant events is not predictable, fair valuation of certain non-U.S. common stocks may occur on a frequent basis.
Debt securities, including convertible bonds, and restricted securities, are valued based on evaluated quotations received from independent pricing services or from dealers who make markets in such securities. For most bond types, the pricing service utilizes matrix pricing that considers one or more of the following factors: yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, current cash flows, type, activity of the underlying equities, and current day trade information, as well as dealer supplied prices. These valuations are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Structured debt instruments, such as mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may also incorporate collateral analysis and utilize cash flow models for valuation and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Pricing services do not provide pricing for all securities and therefore indicative bids from dealers are utilized which are based on pricing models used by market makers in the security and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Debt securities that are internally fair valued by the Valuation Committee are generally categorized as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
Listed derivatives, such as options, that are actively traded are valued at the last posted settlement price from the exchange where they are principally traded and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative contracts, which include forward currency contracts and equity-linked instruments, do not require material subjectivity as pricing inputs are observed from actively quoted markets and are categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at NAV. Investments in closed-end funds and ETFs are valued as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE each business day. Each is categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
A summary of the inputs used to value a Fund’s net assets by each major security type is disclosed at the end of the Schedule of Investments for each Fund. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
B. | Security Transactions and Investment Income |
| Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains and losses from the sale of securities are determined on the identified cost basis. Dividend income and capital gain distributions are recognized on the ex-dividend date, or in the case of certain foreign securities, as soon as a Fund is notified. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Each Fund amortizes premiums and accretes discounts using the effective interest method. Premiums on callable debt securities are amortized to interest income to the earliest call date using the effective interest method. Conversion premium is not amortized. Any distributions from underlying funds are recorded in accordance with the character of the distributions as designated by the underlying funds. |
| Dividend income from Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) and Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) investments is recorded using management’s estimate of the percentage of income included in distributions received from such investments based on historical information and other industry sources. The return of capital portion of the estimate is a reduction to investment income and a reduction in the cost basis of each investment which increases net realized gain (loss) and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation). If the return of capital distributions exceed their cost basis, the distributions are treated as realized gains. The actual amounts of income, return of capital, and capital gains are only determined by each REIT after its fiscal year-end, and may differ from the estimated amounts. |
C. | Income Taxes |
| Each Fund is treated as a separate taxable entity. It is the intention of each Fund to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes has been made. Certain Funds may be subject to an excise tax based on distributions paid to shareholders during the year. |
| Certain Funds may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. Each Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable based upon current interpretations of the tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests. |
| Management of the Funds has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Each Fund’s U.S. federal income tax return is generally subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three years after it is filed. State, local and/or non-U.S. tax returns and/or other filings may be subject to examination for different periods, depending upon the tax rules of each applicable jurisdiction. |
D. | Distributions to Shareholders |
| Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund, Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Convertible & Income Fund, Convertible & Income Fund II and Diversified Income & Convertible Fund declare distributions on a monthly basis. Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund and Equity & Convertible Income Fund declare distributions on a quarterly basis. Distributions are recorded by the Funds on the ex-dividend date. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP. |
| Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund and Diversified Income & Convertible Fund have a Managed Distribution Plan which currently provides for the Funds to make a monthly distribution of $0.15 per share and $0.18 per share, respectively. Also, Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund and Equity & Convertible Income Fund have a Managed Distribution Plan which currently provides for the Funds to make a quarterly distribution of $0.245 per share and $0.50 per share, respectively. Distributions may represent earnings from net investment income, realized capital gains, or, if necessary, return of capital. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Funds’ investment performance from the terms of the Funds’ Managed Distribution Plan. |
E. | Expenses |
| Expenses incurred together by a Fund and other affiliated mutual funds are allocated in proportion to the net assets of each such fund, except where allocation of direct expenses to each Fund or an alternative allocation method can be more appropriately used. |
| In addition to the net annual operating expenses that a Fund bears directly, the shareholders of a Fund indirectly bear the pro-rata expenses of any underlying mutual funds in which the Fund invests. |
F. | Foreign Currency Transactions |
| Non-U.S. investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts at the foreign currency exchange rate effective at the end of the reporting period. Cost of investments is translated at the currency exchange rate effective at the trade date. The gain or loss resulting from a change in currency exchange rates between the trade and settlement date of a portfolio transaction is treated as a gain or loss on foreign currency. Likewise, the gain or loss resulting from a change in currency exchange rates between the date income is accrued and the date it is paid is treated as a gain or loss on foreign currency. For fixed income securities, the Funds bifurcate that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held and such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions. For equity securities, the Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held and such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments. |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
G. | Convertible Securities |
| The Funds may invest a portion of their assets in convertible securities. Although convertible securities derive part of their value from that of the securities into which they are convertible, they are not considered derivative financial instruments. However, certain of the Funds’ investments in convertible securities include features which render them sensitive to price changes in their underlying securities. The value of structured/synthetic convertible securities can be affected by interest rate changes and credit risks of the issuer. Such securities may be structured in ways that limit their potential for capital appreciation, and the entire value of the security may be at risk of loss depending on the performance of the underlying equity security. Consequently, the Funds are exposed to greater downside risk than traditional convertible securities, but typically still less than that of the underlying stock. |
H. | Payment-In-Kind Securities |
| The Funds may invest in payment-in-kind securities, which are debt or preferred stock securities that require or permit payment of interest in the form of additional securities. Payment-in-kind securities allow the issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments and, as a result, may involve greater risk than securities that pay interest currently or in cash. |
I. | When-issued Purchases and Forward Commitments (Delayed Delivery) |
| Certain Funds may engage in when-issued or forward commitment transactions. Securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis are also known as delayed delivery transactions. Delayed delivery transactions involve a commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell a security at a future date (ordinarily up to 90 days later). When-issued or forward commitments enable the Funds to lock in what is believed to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. Each Fund records when-issued and forward commitment securities on the trade date. Each Fund maintains collateral for the securities purchased. Securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis begin earning interest on the settlement date. |
J. | Leveraged Loans |
| Certain Funds may invest in direct debt instruments which are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates. Leveraged loans are generally non-investment grade and often involve borrowers that are highly leveraged. The Funds may invest in obligations of borrowers who are in bankruptcy proceedings. Leveraged loans are typically senior in the corporate capital structure of the borrower. A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution (the “lender”) that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the leveraged loan. A Fund’s investments in loans may be in the form of participations in loans or assignments of all or a portion of loans from third parties. When investing in loan participations, a Fund has the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the lender selling the loan participation and only upon receipt by the lender of payments from the borrower. A Fund generally has no right to enforce compliance with the terms of the leveraged loan with the borrower. As a result, a Fund may be subject to the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the leveraged loan. When a Fund purchases assignments from lenders it acquires direct rights against the borrower on the loan. |
| A Fund may invest in multiple series or tranches of a loan, which may have varying terms and carry different associated risks. Leveraged loans may involve foreign borrowers and investments may be denominated in foreign currencies. Direct indebtedness of emerging countries involves a risk that the government entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay the principal and interest when due. |
| The leveraged loans have floating rate loan interests which generally pay interest at rates that are periodically determined by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. The base lending rates are generally LIBOR, SOFR, the prime rate offered by one or more U.S. banks or the certificate of deposit rate. When a leveraged loan is purchased a Fund may pay an assignment fee. On an ongoing basis, a Fund may receive a commitment fee based on the undrawn portion of the underlying line of credit portion of a leveraged loan. Prepayment penalty fees are received upon the prepayment of a leveraged loan by a borrower. Prepayment penalty, facility, commitment, consent and amendment fees are recorded to income as earned or paid. |
K. | Warrants |
| The Funds may receive warrants. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants may be freely transferable and are often traded on major exchanges. Warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitle the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Warrants may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. If the market price of the underlying stock does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless. Warrants may increase the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities. Similarly, the percentage increase or decrease in the value of an equity security warrant may be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the underlying common stock. Warrants may relate to the purchase of equity or debt securities. Debt obligations with warrants attached to purchase equity securities have many characteristics of convertible securities and their prices may, to some degree, reflect the performance of the underlying stock. Debt obligations also may be issued with warrants attached to purchase additional debt securities at the same coupon rate. A decline in interest rates would permit a Fund to sell such warrants at a profit. If interest rates rise, these warrants would generally expire with no value. |
L. | Cash and Cash Equivalents |
| Cash and cash equivalents include deposits held at financial institutions, and are inclusive of dollar denominated cash, foreign currency, and deposit with brokers for written options. |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Note 3. Derivative Financial Instruments and Transactions
($ reported in thousands)
Disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities are intended to enable investors to understand how and why a Fund uses derivatives, how derivatives are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect a Fund’s results of operations and financial position. Summarized below are such disclosures and accounting policies for each specific type of derivative instrument used by certain Funds.
A. | Options Contracts |
| The Funds may write (sell) put and call options on securities and indices to earn premiums, for hedging purposes, risk management purposes or otherwise as part of their investment strategies. An options contract provides the purchaser with the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call option) or sell (put option) a financial instrument at an agreed upon price. |
| When a Fund writes an option, it receives a premium and an amount equal to that premium is recorded as a liability. The liability is adjusted daily to reflect the current market value of the option. Holdings of the Fund designated to cover outstanding written options are noted in the Schedules of Investments. Written options are reported as a liability within “Written options at value.” Changes in value of written options are included in “Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from written options” in the Statements of Operations. |
| If an option expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain to the extent of the premium received. If a written call option is exercised, the premium received is recorded as an adjustment to the proceeds from the sale. If a written put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the security. The difference between the premium and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction is also treated as a realized gain or loss. Gain or loss on written options is presented separately as “Net realized gain (loss) from written options” in the Statements of Operations. |
| The risk in writing call options is that the Fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market price of the referenced security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing put options is that the Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the referenced security decreases and the option is exercised. The risk in buying options is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. The use of such instruments may involve certain additional risks as a result of unanticipated movements in the market. Writers (sellers) of options are subject to unlimited risk of loss, as the seller will be obligated to deliver or take delivery of the security at a predetermined price which may, upon exercise of the option, be significantly different from the then-market value. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. |
| During the period ended July 31, 2022, the Diversified Income & Convertible Fund, Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund, and Equity & Convertible Income Fund invested in written covered call options contracts in an attempt to manage equity price risk and with the purpose of generating realized gains. |
| The following is a summary of derivative instruments categorized by primary risk exposure, and location as presented in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities at July 31, 2022: |
Statement Line Description | Primary Risk | Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund | | Equity & Convertible Income Fund |
Liability Derivatives | | | | |
Written options at value | Equity contracts | $(95) | | $(4,106) | | $(712) |
Total | | $(95) | | $(4,106) | | $(712) |
The following is a summary of derivative instruments categorized by primary risk exposure, and location as presented in the Statements of Operations for the period ended July 31, 2022:
Statement Line Description | Primary Risk | Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund | | Equity & Convertible Income Fund |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) From |
Written options | Equity contracts | $320 | | $ 4,864 | | $1,851 |
Total | | $320 | | $ 4,864 | | $1,851 |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on |
Written options | Equity contracts | $ 4 | | $ (2,967) | | $ (76) |
Total | | $ 4 | | $ (2,967) | | $ (76) |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
The table below shows the quarterly average volume (unless otherwise specified) of the derivatives held by the applicable Funds for the period ended July 31, 2022.
| Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund | | Equity & Convertible Income Fund |
Written Options(1)
| $(77) | | $(956) | | $(454) |
(1) Average premium amount. |
Note 4. Investment Advisory Fees and Related Party Transactions
($ reported in thousands)
A. | Investment Adviser |
| Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (“VIA” or the “Adviser”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (“Virtus”), is the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser manages the Funds’ investment programs and general operations of the Funds, including oversight of the Funds’ subadviser. |
| As compensation for its services to the Funds, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly based upon the following annual rates as a percentage of the average daily total managed assets of each Fund: |
Fund | | Advisory Fee |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | 1.25% |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | 0.75 |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | 0.70 |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| | 0.70 |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
| | 1.00 |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
| | 0.90 |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| | 1.00 |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund and Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund define total managed assets as the total assets of each Fund (including assets attributable to any borrowings, issued debt securities or preferred shares that may be outstanding, reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing borrowings, issued debt securities, reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls). Convertible & Income Fund and Convertible & Income Fund II define total managed assets as the total assets of each Fund (including any assets attributable to any Preferred Shares or other forms of leverage of the Fund that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing leverage). Diversified Income & Convertible Fund defines total managed assets as the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any preferred shares, borrowings, issued debt securities or other forms of leverage that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing leverage). Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund and Equity & Convertible Income Fund define total managed assets as the total assets of each Fund (including assets attributable to any borrowing that may be outstanding) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing borrowings).
B. | Subadvisers |
| The subadvisers manage the investments of each Fund for which they are paid a fee by the Adviser. A list of the subadvisers and the Funds they serve as of the end of the period is as follows: |
Fund | | Subadviser |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | Voya IM(1) |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | Voya IM(1) |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | Voya IM(1) |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| | Voya IM(1) |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
| | Voya IM(1) |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (Equity and Options Portfolios)
| | NFJ (2) |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (Fixed Income Portfolio)
| | Voya IM (1) |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| | Voya IM(1) |
(1) Effective July 25, 2022, Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya IM”) serves as the subadviser to the Funds. Prior to July 25, 2022, Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC (“AllianzGI”) served as subadviser to the Funds. On May 17, 2022, AllianzGI announced that it had settled certain government charges about matters unrelated to the Funds, as a result of which AllianzGI would no longer be permitted to manage U.S. registered open-end and closed-end funds after a brief transition period.
(2) NFJ Investment Group, LLC (“NFJ”), which is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
C. | Expense Limitations |
| The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit each Fund’s annual total operating expenses, subject to the exclusions listed below, so that such expenses do not exceed, on an annualized basis, the following respective percentages of average daily net assets through February 1, 2023. Following the contractual period, the Adviser may discontinue these expense limitation arrangements at any time. The reimbursements are accrued daily and received monthly. |
Fund | | Expense Limitation |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | 0.09 % |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | 0.19 |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | 0.13 |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| | 0.15 |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
| | 0.17 |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
| | 0.06 |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| | 0.07 |
The exclusions include investment advisory fees paid to VIA, interest, any other fees or expenses relating to financial leverage, preferred shares (such as dividends on preferred shares, auction agent fees and commissions and rating agency fees) or borrowing (such as interest, commitment, amendment and renewal expenses on credit or redemption facilities), taxes, extraordinary, unusual or infrequently occurring expenses (such as litigation), costs related to share offerings, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, underlying fund expenses and dividend expenses, if any (each expressed as a percentage of average daily net assets attributable to common shares).
D. | Expense Recapture |
| Under certain conditions, the Adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed or fees waived under these arrangements within three years after the date on which such amounts were incurred or waived. A Fund must pay its ordinary operating expenses before the Adviser is entitled to any reimbursement and must remain in compliance with any applicable expense limitations or, if none, the expense limitation in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. All or a portion of the following Adviser reimbursed expenses may be recaptured by the period ending July 31: |
| | Expiration | | |
Fund | | 2024 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | Total |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | $ 22 | | $ 836 | | $ 453 | | $ 1,311 |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | 25 | | 175 | | 66 | | 266 |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | 107 | | 794 | | 381 | | 1,282 |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| | 98 | | 595 | | 286 | | 979 |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
| | — | | 279 | | 157 | | 436 |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy
Fund
| | — | | 1,598 | | 754 | | 2,352 |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| | — | | 888 | | 399 | | 1,287 |
E. | Administration Services |
| Virtus Fund Services, LLC (“VFS”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Virtus, serves as administrator to the Funds. For the services provided by the administrator under the Administration Agreement, the Funds pay the administrator an asset-based fee calculated on each Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. This fee is calculated daily and paid monthly. |
| For the six months period (“period”) ended July 31, 2022, the Funds incurred administration fees totaling $2,461 which are included in the Statements of Operations within the line item “Administration and accounting fees.” |
F. | Trustees’ Fees |
| For the period ended July 31, 2022, the Funds incurred Trustees’ fees totaling $467 which are included in the Statements of Operations within the line item “Trustees’ fees and expenses”. |
G. | Investments with Affiliates |
| The Funds are permitted to purchase assets from or sell assets to certain affiliates under specified conditions outlined in procedures adopted by the Board. The procedures have been designed to ensure that any purchase or sale of assets by the Funds from or to another fund or portfolio that is, or could be, considered an affiliate by virtue of having a common investment adviser (or affiliated investment advisers), common Trustees and/or common officers comply with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. Further, as defined under the procedures, each transaction is effected at the current market price. During the period ended July 31, 2022, the Funds did not engage in any transactions pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. |
| Outside of Rule 17a-7 transactions, other investments with affiliated issuers are separately reported in this footnote. An affiliated issuer includes any company in which the Fund held 5% or more of a company’s outstanding voting shares at any point during the period, as well as other circumstances where an investment adviser or subadviser to a Fund is deemed to exercise, directly or indirectly, a certain level of control over the |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
| company. A summary of the Funds’ total long-term and short-term purchases and sales of the securities of affiliated issuers during the period ended July 31, 2022, is as follows: |
| Value, beginning of period | | Purchases | | Sales proceeds | | Net realized gain (loss) on affiliated securities | | Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on affiliated securities | | Value, end of period | | Shares |
Convertible & Income Fund |
Common Stocks—0.0% |
LiveStyle, Inc., (1),(2),(3)
| $ —(4) | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $ —(4) | | 90,407 |
Preferred Stocks—0.6% |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (1),(2),(3)
| 2,519 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 2,519 | | 25,188 |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (1),(2)
| — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 6,750 |
| $2,519 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $2,519 | | |
Total | $2,519 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $2,519 | | |
| Value, beginning of period | | Purchases | | Sales proceeds | | Net realized gain (loss) on affiliated securities | | Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on affiliated securities | | Value, end of period | | Shares |
Convertible & Income Fund II |
Common Stocks—0.0% |
LiveStyle, Inc., (1),(2),(3)
| $ —(4) | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $ —(4) | | 90,407 |
Preferred Stocks—0.9% |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (1),(2),(3)
| 2,519 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 2,519 | | 25,188 |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (1),(2)
| — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 5,000 |
| $2,519 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $2,519 | | |
Total | $2,519 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $2,519 | | |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
| Value, beginning of period | | Purchases | | Sales proceeds | | Net realized gain (loss) on affiliated securities | | Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on affiliated securities | | Value, end of period | | Shares |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund |
Common Stocks—0.0% |
LiveStyle, Inc., (1),(2),(3)
| $ —(4) | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $ —(4) | | 13,574 |
Preferred Stocks—0.2% |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (1),(2),(3)
| 378 | | — | | — | | — | | — | | 378 | | 3,783 |
LiveStyle, Inc. Series B (1),(2)
| — (5) | | — | | — | | — | | — | | — (5) | | 1,250 |
| $378 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $378 | | |
Total | $378 | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $— | | $378 | | |
(1) | For the period of February 1, 2022 through March 1, 2022, a member of the Fund’s portfolio management team was a member of the board of directors of LiveStyle, Inc. |
(2) | The value of this security was determined using significant unobservable inputs and is reported as a Level 3 security in the Fair Value Hierarchy table located after the Schedule of Investments. |
(3) | Security is restricted from resale. |
(4) | Amount is less than $500. |
(5) | Includes internally fair valued securities currently priced at zero ($0). |
H. | Trustee Deferred Compensation Plan |
| The Trustees do not currently receive any pension or retirement benefits from the Funds. In calendar year 2018 and certain prior periods, the Funds maintained a deferred compensation plan pursuant to which each Independent Trustee had the opportunity to elect not to receive all or a portion of his or her fees from the respective Fund on a current basis, but instead to receive in a subsequent period chosen by the Independent Trustee an amount equal to the value of such compensation if such compensation had been invested in one or more series of Virtus Investment Trust (formerly known as Allianz Funds) and Virtus Strategy Trust (formerly known as Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust) selected by the Independent Trustees from and after the normal payment dates for such compensation. The deferred compensation program was closed to new deferrals effective January 1, 2019, and all Trustee fees earned with respect to service in calendar years 2019 and 2020 were paid in cash, on a current basis. The Funds still have obligations with respect to Independent Trustee fees deferred in 2018 and in prior periods, and will continue to have such obligations until all deferred Trustee fees are paid out pursuant to the terms of the deferred compensation plan. |
| Effective March 2021, each Fund provides a new deferred compensation plan (“New Plan”) for its Trustees who receive compensation from the Funds. Under the New Plan, Trustees may elect to defer all or a portion of their compensation. Amounts deferred are retained by the Funds, and then, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, in turn, may be invested in the shares of affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds selected by the participating Trustees. Investments in such instruments are included in “Prepaid expenses and other assets” in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities at July 31, 2022. |
Note 5. Purchases and Sales of Securities
($ reported in thousands)
Purchases and sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and written options) during the period ended July 31, 2022, were as follows:
| Purchases | | Sales |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| $318,892 | | $248,449 |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| 21,824 | | 25,650 |
Convertible & Income Fund
| 178,296 | | 229,222 |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| 135,803 | | 176,310 |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
| 167,428 | | 178,970 |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
| 286,578 | | 325,437 |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| 221,433 | | 261,674 |
There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. Government and agency securities during the period ended July 31, 2022.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Note 6. Federal Income Tax Information
($ reported in thousands)
At July 31, 2022, the approximate aggregate cost basis and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and other financial instruments held by the Funds for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
Fund | | Federal Tax Cost | | Unrealized Appreciation | | Unrealized (Depreciation) | | Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | $ 842,119 | | $ 72,936 | | $ (70,106) | | $ 2,830 |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | 256,076 | | 538 | | (16,937) | | (16,399) |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | 793,463 | | 33,687 | | (115,331) | | (81,644) |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| | 623,406 | | 26,882 | | (86,888) | | (60,006) |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
| | 369,957 | | 8,907 | | (34,761) | | (25,854) |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (Written Options)
| | (67) | | 21 | | (49) | | (28) |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy
Fund
| | 1,353,249 | | 120,067 | | (99,955) | | 20,112 |
Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy
Fund (Written Options)
| | (1,278) | | 207 | | (3,035) | | (2,828) |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| | 793,202 | | 28,134 | | (98,706) | | (70,572) |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund (Written Options)
| | (421) | | 117 | | (408) | | (291) |
Certain Funds have capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains, if any, to the extent permitted by the Code. Net capital losses are carried forward without expiration and generally retain their short-term and/or long-term tax character, as applicable. For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022, the Funds’ capital loss carryovers were as follows:
Fund | | Short-Term | | Long-Term |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | $41,033 | | $154,441 |
Convertible & Income Fund II
| | 31,678 | | 124,976 |
Equity & Convertible Income Fund
| | — | | 1,723 |
Note 7. Credit and Market Risk and Asset Concentration
Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on a Fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of each Fund’s portfolio manager(s) to invest each Fund’s assets as intended.
In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced the intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. However, after subsequent announcements by the FCA, the LIBOR administrator and other regulators, certain of the most widely used LIBORs are expected to continue until June 30, 2023. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, which is regulated and authorized by FCA, and the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publishing certain LIBOR settings on December 31, 2021. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The expected discontinuation of LIBOR could have a significant impact on the financial markets and may present a material risk for certain market participants, including the Funds. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could lead to significant short and long-term uncertainty and market instability. The risks associated with this discontinuation and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. It remains uncertain the effects such changes will have on the Funds, issuers of instruments in which the Funds invest, and the financial markets generally.
Certain Funds may invest a high percentage of their assets in specific sectors of the market in the pursuit of their investment objectives. Fluctuations in these sectors of concentration may have a greater impact on a Fund, positive or negative, than if such Fund did not concentrate its investments in such sectors.
Each of Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund, Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Convertible & Income Fund, Convertible & Income Fund II and Diversified Income & Convertible Fund leverages its portfolio through preferred shares, securities lending, senior secured notes and/or margin loan financing. While leverage presents opportunities for increasing each Fund’s total return, it also has the effect of potentially increasing losses. Accordingly, any event which adversely affects the value of an investment held by each Fund would be magnified to the extent each Fund is leveraged.
High-yield/high-risk securities typically entail greater price volatility and/or principal and interest rate risk. There is a greater chance that an issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments on time. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high-yield/high-risk securities may be complex, and as a result, it may be more difficult for the Adviser and/or subadviser to accurately predict risk.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Note 8. Auction-Rate Preferred Shares
Convertible & Income Fund has 1,894 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series A, 1,779 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series B, 1,909 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series C, 1,842 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series D and 1,507 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series E outstanding, each with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share plus any accumulated, unpaid dividends.
Convertible & Income Fund II has 1,296 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series A, 1,512 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series B, 1,239 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series C, 1,156 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series D and 1,298 shares of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares Series E outstanding, each with a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share plus any accumulated, unpaid dividends.
Dividends on the Auction-Rate Preferred Shares are accumulated daily at an annual rate that is typically re-set every seven days. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are paid annually.
For the period ended July 31, 2022, the annualized dividend rates paid with respect to the Auction-Rate Preferred shares of Convertible & Income Fund and Convertible & Income Fund II ranged from:
| High | | Low | | At July 31, 2022 |
Series A
| 3.162% | | 0.160% | | 3.162% |
Series B
| 3.382 | | 0.160 | | 3.382 |
Series C
| 3.382 | | 0.120 | | 3.382 |
Series D
| 4.222 | | 0.160 | | 4.222 |
Series E
| 4.222 | | 0.120 | | 4.222 |
Convertible & Income Fund and Convertible & Income Fund II are subject to certain limitations and restrictions while Auction-Rate Preferred Shares are outstanding. Failure to comply with these limitations and restrictions could preclude the Funds from declaring or paying any dividends or distributions to common shareholders or repurchasing common shares and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of Auction-Rate Preferred Shares at their liquidation preference plus any accumulated, unpaid dividends.
Auction-Rate Preferred shareholders, who are entitled to one vote per share, generally vote together with the common shareholders but vote separately as a class to elect two Trustees and on certain matters affecting the rights of the Auction-Rate Preferred Shares. On matters where preferred shareholders vote separately from common shareholders, including the election of the preferred shares trustees, preferred shareholders are entitled to one vote per $25.00 in liquidation preference per share.
Since mid-February 2008, holders of auction-rate preferred shares (“ARPS”) issued by the Funds have been directly impacted by a lack of liquidity, which has similarly affected ARPS holders in many of the nation’s closed-end funds. Since then, regularly scheduled auctions for the ARPS issued by the Funds have consistently “failed” because of insufficient demand (bids to buy shares) to meet the supply (shares offered for sale) at each auction.
In a failed auction, ARPS holders cannot sell all, and may not be able to sell any, of their shares tendered for sale. While repeated auction failures have affected the liquidity for ARPS, they do not constitute a default or automatically alter the credit quality of the ARPS, and ARPS holders have continued to receive dividends at the defined “maximum rate”, which for the Funds is equal to the 7-day “AA” Composite Commercial Paper Rate multiplied by a minimum of 200% depending on the credit rating of the ARPS. The maximum rate is a function of short-term interest rates and typically higher than the rate that would have otherwise been set through a successful auction.
During the period of this report, short-term interest rates rose significantly. If the Funds’ ARPS continue to fail and the “maximum rate” payable on the ARPS continues to rise as a result of changes in short-term interest rates, returns for the Funds’ common shareholders could be adversely affected.
Note 9. Liquidity Facility and Securities Lending
($ reported in thousands)
Effective June 14, 2021, Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund, Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Convertible & Income Fund and Convertible & Income Fund II entered into a Master Margin Loan Agreement (the “MMLA”) and a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement (the “SLAA” and together with the MMLA, the “BNYM Facilities”) with The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYMellon”). Under the MMLA the Funds pledge their assets as collateral to secure obligations but retain the risks and rewards of the ownership of assets pledged to secure such obligations.
Under the SLAA, the Funds may loan securities to qualified brokers through a securities lending agency agreement with BNYMellon. Under the securities lending policy, when lending securities a Fund is required to maintain collateral with a market value not less than 100% of the market value of loaned securities. Collateral is adjusted daily in connection with changes in the market value of securities on loan. Collateral consists of cash which is invested in a short-term money market fund and/or released to each Fund to be used for liquidity purposes in conjunction with the MMLA. Cash collateral received from securities lending is first credited against borrowings under the MMLA. Upon return of securities by the borrower, BNYMellon returns the cash collateral to the borrower, as applicable, which eliminates the credit against the borrowings and causes the drawdowns under the MMLA to increase by the amounts returned. The securities lending program is subject to the same limits and interest rate structure as the MMLA. Dividends earned on the collateral and premiums paid by the broker are recorded as income by the Fund net of fees and rebates charged/paid by BNYMellon for its services as securities lending agent and in connection with this securities lending program. Lending portfolio securities involves a risk of delay in the recovery of the loaned securities or in the declining value of the collateral.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Securities lending transactions are entered into by each Fund under the SLAA which permit the Fund, under certain circumstances including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received and create one single net payment due to or from the Fund.
At July 31, 2022, the securities loaned were subject to the SLAA on a net payment basis as follows:
Fund | | Value of Securities on Loan | | Cash Collateral Received(1) | | Net Amount(2) |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | $ 39,029 | | $ 39,029 | | $ — |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | 6,837 | | 6,837 | | — |
(1) | Collateral received in excess of the market value of securities on loan is not presented in this table. The cash collateral received in connection with securities lending transactions has been used for the purchase of securities as disclosed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. |
(2) | Net amount represents the net amount receivable due from the counterparty in the event of default. |
At July 31, 2022, the maximum capital commitment amounts under the MMLA were $75,000, $71,000, $34,000 and $0, respectively, for Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund, Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund, Convertible & Income Fund and Convertible & Income Fund II. Interest on amounts drawn under each MMLA is charged at a daily rate, and a commitment fee is paid on the undrawn amounts as agreed to in the MMLA. As of July 31, 2022, Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund, Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund and Convertible & Income Fund used cash collateral received from the SLAA to purchase long term investments and/or invest the amount in a short-term money market fund. These investments are included in the line item “Investments, at value” on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The securities on loan under the SLAA and securities pledged as collateral under the MMLA are reflected on the Schedule of Investments. Any amounts payable under the MMLA/SLAA are reflected in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as “Loan Payable” and/or “Collateral on securities loaned.” The interest rate charged at July 31, 2022, was 2.67%. The expense is included in the Funds’ Statements of Operations under “Loan interest”.
For the period ended July 31, 2022, the outstanding borrowings, average borrowings, average interest rate and interest expense under the BNYM Facilities were as follows:
Fund | | Outstanding Borrowings | | Average Borrowings | | Weighted Average Interest Rate | | Loan Interest Expense |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | $ 130,000 | | $ 111,713 | | 1.41% | | 793 |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | 69,700 | | 69,700 | | 1.30 | | 456 |
Convertible & Income Fund
| | — | | 28,852 | | 1.01 | | 144 |
The following table reflects a breakdown of investments made from cash collateral received from lending activities net of cash used to support any borrowings for the funds, and the remaining contractual maturity of those transactions as of July 31, 2022, for the Funds:
Fund | | Investment of Cash Collateral | | Overnight and Continuous |
Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
| | Money Market Mutual Fund | | $9,751 |
Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
| | Money Market Mutual Fund | | 94 |
Note 10. Long-Term Financing Arrangements
($ reported in thousands)
On October 2, 2015, Diversified Income & Convertible Fund completed a private placement with a single institutional investor, consisting of $30,000 in Series A Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (“MRPS”) with a mandatory redemption date of October 2, 2025, and $50,000 in Senior Secured Notes (“Notes” and together with MRPS, “Long-Term Financing Arrangements”) due November 22, 2029. For a portion of its borrowings, Diversified Income & Convertible Fund continues to maintain short-term borrowings under the Margin Loan Financing described in Note 11 at variable interest rates.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares
At July 31, 2022, Diversified Income & Convertible Fund had 1,200,000 shares of MRPS outstanding with an aggregate liquidation preference of $30,000 ($25.00 per share (not reported in thousands)). The following table summarizes the key terms of the MRPS at July 31, 2022:
| Mandatory Redemption Date | | Annual Dividend Rate | | Aggregate Liquidation Preference | | Estimated Fair Value |
| October 2, 2025 | | 4.34% | | $30,000 | | $30,000 |
The fair value of the MRPS are estimated to be their liquidation preference. The MRPS are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Holders of MRPS are entitled to receive a quarterly dividend at an annual fixed dividend rate of 4.34%, subject to upward adjustment (by as much as 4.00%) during any period when the MRPS have a rating of below “A” from Fitch, or the equivalent from another rating agency (with the rate increasing at lower rating levels). Dividends are accrued daily and paid quarterly and are presented in Diversified Income & Convertible Fund’s Statement of Assets & Liabilities as interest payable on mandatory redeemable preferred shares. For the period ended July 31, 2022, Diversified Income & Convertible Fund paid $649 in dividends to mandatory redeemable preferred shareholders. The MRPS are senior, with priority in all respects, to Diversified Income & Convertible Fund’s outstanding common shares as to payments of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund. The MRPS rank pari passu with any and all other preferred shares of the Fund, and rank junior to the Fund’s indebtedness, including the Notes, the Margin Loan Financing and any other senior secured indebtedness. Diversified Income & Convertible Fund may redeem all or any part of the MRPS at any time, subject to certain redemption premiums. With respect to the MRPS, the Fund is subject to periodic asset coverage testing. If the Fund’s asset coverage is insufficient, it may be required to redeem some or all of the MRPS.
Senior Secured Notes
At July 31, 2022, Diversified Income & Convertible Fund had $50,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding. The Notes rank pari passu with all other senior debt of Diversified Income & Convertible Fund, including the Margin Loan Financing, and are secured by a lien on all assets of the Fund of every kind, including all securities and all other investment property, equal and ratable with the liens securing the Margin Loan Financing. The Notes are senior, with priority in all respects, to the MRPS and the outstanding common shares as to payments of dividends and as to distribution of assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Fund. Holders of the Notes are entitled to receive cash interest payments semi-annually until maturity. The Notes accrue interest at an annual fixed rate of 3.94%. The Notes will be subject to a penalty interest rate if ratings fall below A- from Fitch or the equivalent from another agency. The Notes are prepayable in whole or in part at any time, subject to a prepayment premium, which may be adjusted under some circumstances based on asset coverage levels. Interest expense of $974 is included in the Diversified Income & Convertible Fund’s Statement of Operations.
The following table shows the maturity date, interest rate, notional/carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Notes outstanding at July 31, 2022:
| Maturity Date | | Interest Rate | | Notional/ Carrying Amount | | Estimated Fair Value |
| November 22, 2029 | | 3.94% | | $50,000 | | $50,000 |
The fair value of the senior secured notes are estimated to be their carrying amount. The senior secured notes are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
With respect to the Notes, the Fund is subject to monthly asset coverage tests that mirror those applicable to closed-end funds set forth in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, as well as periodic asset coverage tests that are tied to rating agency criteria, in each case subject to various terms and conditions. A breach of any of these tests, after the passage of a cure period, would constitute an event of default under the Notes. The agreements governing the MRPS and Notes impose certain additional customary covenants and restrictions on the Fund, including, among others, restrictions on distributions and a requirement that the Fund adhere to its stated investment policies.
Note 11. Margin Loan Financing
($ reported in thousands)
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund has entered into a margin loan financing agreement with a commercial bank (the “Bank”) that allows the Fund to borrow cash from the Bank. Cash borrowings are secured by assets of the Diversified Income & Convertible Fund that are held with the Fund’s custodian in a separate account. Through March 31, 2022, interest was charged at 3-month LIBOR plus an additional percentage rate on the amount borrowed. Effective April 1, 2022, interest is charged at the Overnight Bank Funding Rate plus an additional percentage rate on the amount borrowed.
For the period ended July 31, 2022, the weighted average daily balance outstanding was $25,000 at the weighted average interest rate of 1.85%. With respect to the margin loan financing, loan interest expense of $229 is included in the Diversified Income & Convertible Fund’s Statement of Operations.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
At July 31, 2022, the amount of outstanding borrowings was as follows:
Outstanding Borrowings | | Interest Rate |
$25,000 | | 2.64% |
Note 12. Cumulative Preferred Shares
On September 11, 2018, Convertible & Income Fund II issued 4,360,000 shares of 5.50% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation value of $109,000,000 (“NCZ Series A Preferred Shares”). The shares are perpetual, non-callable for a period of five years and have a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. Commencing September 11, 2023, and thereafter, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and Massachusetts law, Convertible & Income Fund II may at any time, upon notice of redemption, redeem the NCZ Series A Preferred Shares in whole or in part at the liquidation preference per share plus accumulated unpaid dividends through the date of redemption. Dividends are paid at an annual rate of 5.50% on a quarterly basis, and commenced on October 1, 2018, with the first such payment pro-rated from the date of issuance.
On September 20, 2018, Convertible & Income Fund issued 4,000,000 shares of 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares with an aggregate liquidation value of $100,000,000 (“NCV Series A Preferred Shares”). The shares are perpetual, non-callable for a period of five years and have a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. Commencing September 20, 2023, and thereafter, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and Massachusetts law, Convertible & Income Fund may at any time, upon notice of redemption, redeem the NCV Series A Preferred Shares in whole or in part at the liquidation preference per share plus accumulated unpaid dividends through the date of redemption. Dividends are paid at an annual rate of 5.625% on a quarterly basis, and commenced on October 1, 2018, with the first such payment pro-rated from the date of issuance.
On December 16, 2020, the Board of the Convertible & Income Fund and Convertible & Income Fund II approved a Repurchase Plan (“Repurchase Plan”) with respect to the outstanding series A cumulative preferred shares (“CPS”) issued by the Funds. Each Fund has access to a short-term revolving credit facility (as outlined in Note 9). Pursuant to the Repurchase Plan, the Funds would repurchase its CPS in the open market on any trading day when (i) a Fund’s CPS are trading at a market price at or below their liquidation preference ($25.00 per share), provided the current rate of interest on its Liquidity Facility is less than or equal to 5.00% or (ii) a Fund’s CPS are trading at a market price which represents a premium of up to 1.00% above their liquidation preference (up to $25.25) provided the current rate of interest on its Liquidity Facility is less than or equal to 3.00% for Convertible & Income Fund or less than or equal to 2.75% for Convertible & Income Fund II, subject, in each case, to the terms and conditions of the Repurchase Plan and input from the portfolio management team as to market conditions and other factors. Any repurchases will be made consistently with the requirements of Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. On each day that shares are repurchased under the Repurchase Plan, a Fund may repurchase its shares in an amount up to 25% of the average daily trading volume of the CPS over the trailing four week period.
Note 13. Indemnifications
Under the Funds’ organizational documents, the Funds, Trustees and officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that provide a variety of indemnifications to other parties. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds and that have not occurred. However, the Funds have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these arrangements and expect the risk of loss to be remote.
Note 14. Capital Shares
At July 31, 2022, each Fund has one class of common stock with $0.00001 par value of which unlimited shares are authorized.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (Continued)
July 31, 2022
Note 15. Restricted Securities
Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Generally, 144A securities are excluded from this category. Each Fund will bear any costs, including those involved in registration under the 1933 Act, in connection with the disposition of such securities. The following Funds held securities that were considered to be restricted at July 31, 2022:
Fund | | Investment | | Date of Acquisition | | Cost | | Value | | Percentage of Net Assets |
Convertible & Income Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Affinion Group Holdings | | 11/9/15-11/12/15 | | 3,080 | | — | | 0.0% |
| | LiveStyle, Inc. | | 2/3/16-11/30/16 | | — | | — (1) | | 0.0 |
| | LiveStyle, Inc. Series B | | 2/3/16 | | 2,469 | | 2,519 | | 0.7 |
Convertible & Income Fund II | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Affinion Group Holdings | | 11/9/15-11/15/19 | | 2,371 | | — | | 0.0% |
| | LiveStyle, Inc. | | 2/3/16-11/30/16 | | — | | — (1) | | 0.0 |
| | LiveStyle, Inc. Series B | | 2/3/16 | | 2,469 | | 2,519 | | 0.9 |
Diversified Income & Convertible Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
| | LiveStyle, Inc. | | 2/3/16-11/30/16 | | — | | — (1) | | 0.0% |
| | LiveStyle, Inc. Series B | | 2/3/16-11/30/16 | | 371 | | 378 | | 0.1 |
(1) Amount is less than $500. | | | | | | | | | | |
Note 16. Regulatory Matters and Litigation
From time to time, the Funds, the Adviser, the subadvisers, and/or their respective affiliates may be involved in litigation and arbitration as well as examinations and investigations by various regulatory bodies, including the SEC, involving compliance with, among other things, securities laws, client investment guidelines, and laws and regulations affecting their activities. At this time, the Funds and the Adviser believe that the outcomes of such matters are not likely, either individually, or in aggregate, to be material to these financial statements.
Note 17. Recent Accounting Pronouncement
In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04 (“ASU 2020-04”), Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020-04 provide optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered reference rates as of the end of 2021. In March 2021, the administrator for LIBOR announced the extension of the publication of a majority of the USD LIBOR settings to June 30, 2023. ASU 2020-04 is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2020-04.
Note 18. Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds through the date the financial statements were available for issuance, and has determined that there are no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in these financial statements.
CERTIFICATION
Each Fund files the required annual Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards no more than 30 days after each annual shareholder meeting for the Fund. Each Fund has included the certifications of the Fund’s CEO and Principal Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the SEC for the period of this report.
KEY INFORMATION
Shareholder Relations: 1-866-270-7788
For general information and literature, as well as updates on net asset value, share price, major industry groups and other key information.
REINVESTMENT PLAN
The Automatic Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) offers shareholders a convenient way to acquire additional shares of each Fund. Registered holders will be automatically placed in the Plan and may opt out by calling Shareholder Relations at the number listed above. If shares are held at a brokerage firm, contact your broker about participation in the Plan.
REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the 1940 Act that each Fund may from time to time purchase its shares of common stock in the open market when Fund shares are trading at a discount from their net asset value.
PROXY VOTING INFORMATION (FORM N-PX)
The subadviser votes proxies relating to portfolio securities in accordance with procedures that have been approved by each Fund’s Board. You may obtain a description of these procedures, along with information regarding how each Fund voted proxies during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, free of charge, by calling toll-free 1-866-270-7788. This information is also available through the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION
Each Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form NPORT-P. Form NPORT-P is available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.
Results of Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Unaudited)
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
Virtus Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund
The Funds held their Annual Meeting of Shareholders on July 12, 2022. Shareholders voted as indicated below:
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund
Election of Trustees | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
George R. Aylward* | 26,625,434 | 1,505,286 |
Sarah E. Cogan | 26,687,390 | 1,443,330 |
Deborah A. DeCotis | 26,661,862 | 1,468,858 |
Brian T. Zino | 26,621,129 | 1,509,591 |
Based on the foregoing, Mr. Aylward was re-elected and Mses. Cogan and DeCotis and Mr. Zino were elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are F. Ford Drummond, James S. MacLeod, Philip R. McLoughlin, William B. Ogden, IV, and Alan Rappaport. Additionally, R. Keith Walton was appointed as Trustee of the Fund on July 12, 2022.
*Interested Trustee
Virtus Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund
Election of Trustees | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
F. Ford Drummond | 15,486,817 | 361,647 |
James S. MacLeod | 15,471,516 | 376,948 |
Philip R. McLoughlin | 15,471,516 | 376,948 |
Brian T. Zino | 15,409,206 | 439,258 |
Based on the foregoing, Messrs. Drummond and MacLeod were re-elected and Messrs. McLoughlin and Zino were elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are George R. Aylward*, Sarah E. Cogan, Deborah A. DeCotis, William B. Ogden, IV, and Alan Rappaport.
*Interested Trustee
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund
Election of Trustees | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
William B. Ogden, IV | 65,264,532 | 3,142,258 |
Philip R. McLoughlin | 10,936,735 | 325,037 |
Alan Rappaport | 65,685,108 | 2,721,680 |
Brian T. Zino | 65,890,802 | 2,515,988 |
Based on the foregoing, Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport were re-elected and Messrs. McLoughlin and Zino were elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are George R. Aylward*, Sarah E. Cogan, Deborah A. DeCotis, F. Ford Drummond, and James S. MacLeod. Additionally, R. Keith Walton was appointed as Trustee of the Fund on July 12, 2022.
*Interested Trustee
Results of Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Unaudited) (Continued)
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II
Election of Trustees | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
Sarah E. Cogan | 7,664,737 | 679,100 |
William B. Ogden, IV | 53,152,945 | 5,998,805 |
Alan Rappaport | 53,355,198 | 5,796,553 |
Brian T. Zino | 56,290,593 | 2,861,155 |
Based on the foregoing, Ms. Cogan and Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport were re-elected and Mr. Zino was elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are George R. Aylward*, Deborah A. DeCotis, F. Ford Drummond, James S. MacLeod, and Philip R. McLoughlin. Mr. McLoughlin served as a Class I Trustee until July 12, 2022, at which time he was appointed a Class III Trustee.
*Interested Trustee
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund
Election of Trustees | Votes For | Votes Withheld |
William B. Ogden, IV | 9,808,801 | 311,111 |
Alan Rappaport | 9,823,899 | 296,013 |
R. Keith Walton | 9,820,700 | 299,212 |
Brian T. Zino | 1,200,000 | 0 |
Based on the foregoing, Messrs. Ogden and Rappaport were re-elected and Messrs. Walton and Zino were elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are George R. Aylward*, Sarah E. Cogan, Deborah A. DeCotis, F. Ford Drummond, James S. MacLeod, and Philip R. McLoughlin.
*Interested Trustee
Results of Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Unaudited) (Continued)
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund
Election of Trustees | | Votes For | | Votes Withheld |
George R. Aylward* | | 76,941,434 | | 8,757,933 |
Deborah A. DeCotis | | 74,261,628 | | 11,437,739 |
Philip R. McLoughlin | | 74,221,011 | | 11,478,356 |
Brian T. Zino | | 80,161,004 | | 5,538,363 |
Based on the foregoing, Messrs. Aylward and McLoughlin and Ms. DeCotis were re-elected and Mr. Zino was elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are Sarah E. Cogan, F. Ford Drummond, James S. MacLeod, William B. Ogden, IV, and Alan Rappaport.
*Interested Trustee
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund
Election of Trustees | | Votes For | | Votes Withheld |
George R. Aylward* | | 22,403,866 | | 792,624 |
Sarah E. Cogan | | 22,172,842 | | 1,023,648 |
Deborah A. DeCotis | | 22,110,591 | | 1,085,899 |
Brian T. Zino | | 22,367,256 | | 829,234 |
Based on the foregoing, Mr. Aylward and Mses. Cogan and DeCotis were re-elected and Mr. Zino was elected to the Board of Trustees. The Fund’s other Trustees who continue in office are F. Ford Drummond, James S. MacLeod, Philip R. McLoughlin, William B. Ogden, IV, and Alan Rappaport. Additionally, R. Keith Walton was appointed as Trustee of the Fund on July 12, 2022.
*Interested Trustee
Board of Trustees’ Considerations Related to the Approval of Subadvisory
Agreements (Unaudited)
The Board of Trustees (“Board” or “Trustees”) of each Fund is responsible for the consideration and approval of advisory and subadvisory agreements for the Fund. At a meeting held on July 18, 2022, the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of each Fund as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (such Act, the “1940 Act” and such Trustees, the “Independent Trustees”), unanimously authorized the appointment of Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (“Voya”) as a subadviser to each Fund, approved an interim subadvisory agreement between Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (the “Adviser”) and Voya for each Fund (each, an “Interim Subadvisory Agreement”) and approved a subadvisory agreement between the Adviser and Voya for each Fund to be proposed for shareholder approval (each, a “Proposed Subadvisory Agreement” and together with the Interim Subadvisory Agreements, the “Subadvisory Agreements”).1
Background. In evaluating the Subadvisory Agreements for each Fund, the Board considered the context of Voya’s strategic partnership with Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC (“AllianzGI US”), the former subadviser of each Fund, whereby AllianzGI US would, pursuant to an agreement with Voya Financial, Inc., transfer selected investment teams comprising most of its U.S. business to Voya in return for a 24% equity stake in the asset manager (the “Liftout”). The Board considered that the Liftout was negotiated as a result of AllianzGI US’s settlements with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) related to certain government charges about matters unrelated to the Funds, pursuant to which AllianzGI US is disqualified from subadvising U.S. registered funds, including the Funds.
The SEC order received by AllianzGI US required the Funds to transition to a new subadviser within four months, and shareholder approval of new subadvisory agreements is required for the Funds. However, because the Liftout was scheduled to close on July 25, 2022, the Board approved the Interim Subadvisory Agreements under Rule 15a-4 under the 1940 Act for the Funds, so that the Funds would continue to be managed by the investment personnel formerly doing so at AllianzGI US once they moved to Voya even pending the proxy solicitation and shareholder approval. Rule 15a-4 provides a temporary exemption from the requirements of Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act pursuant to which an adviser can serve as an investment adviser to a fund pursuant to an interim contract that has not been approved by shareholders, provided that an agreement with the proposed adviser is approved within 150 days and the other conditions of the rule are satisfied. In approving the Interim Subadvisory Agreements, the Board noted that the compensation to be paid under the Interim Subadvisory Agreements was no greater than that paid to AllianzGI US under the agreements previously approved by shareholders and the term of each Interim Subadvisory Agreement was no greater than 150 days.
The Board’s Process. In considering the proposals, the Board of each Fund requested and evaluated information provided by the Adviser and Voya which, in their view, constituted information necessary for the Board to form a judgment as to whether approval of each Subadvisory Agreement would be in the best interests of the applicable Fund and its shareholders. The Board’s process for reviewing the Subadvisory Agreements consisted of multiple meetings and discussions that included meetings of the Independent Trustees and their independent legal counsel, and meetings of the full Board, all leading up to the Board’s consideration of the Subadvisory Agreements for each Fund. Representatives from the Adviser and Voya participated in portions of those meetings and discussions to review the impact of the Liftout and the proposed change in subadviser on each of the Funds, among other topics. The Board also organized separate diligence meetings with personnel from the Adviser and Voya, led and attended by the Chairs of the Performance Committee, Compliance and Risk Oversight Committee, Contracts Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee, relating to each Committee’s responsibilities for the areas relevant for the Boards’ consideration of the Subadvisory Agreements.
The Independent Trustees of each Fund were separately advised by independent legal counsel throughout the process and discussed the proposed approval of the Subadvisory Agreements in private sessions with their independent legal counsel at which no representatives the Adviser or Voya were present. The Board considered all the criteria separately with respect to each Fund and its shareholders. In its deliberations, the Board considered various factors, including those discussed below, none of which were controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weights to the various factors.
Basis for the Board’s Recommendation. In making its determination with respect to each Subadvisory Agreement, the Board considered various factors, including:
• | Nature, extent, and quality of the services to be provided by Voya. The Trustees received in advance of the Meeting information provided by Voya, including Voya’s Form ADV, as well as a presentation provided by senior executives of Voya. The Board noted that Voya would provide portfolio management, compliance with the Fund’s investment policies and procedures, compliance with applicable securities laws and assurances thereof. The Board also noted Voya’s representations that it would ensure management of the Fund is carried out in accordance with the investment objective, policies and restrictions set forth in the Fund’s most recent prospectus and statement of additional information. In considering the approval of each Subadvisory Agreement, the Board also considered Voya’s investment management process, including (a) the experience and capability of Voya’s management and other |
1 The Board of each Fund, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined to rely on the relief granted by an order issued by the SEC that permits fund boards of directors to approve advisory contracts at a meeting held remotely rather than in-person in response to the impact of COVID-19 on investment advisers and funds. The Board determined that reliance on the order was necessary and appropriate due to circumstances related to current or potential effects of COVID-19, and prior to commencing the approval meeting, the Board confirmed that all Board members could hear each other simultaneously during the meeting. The Board noted that they intended to ratify any actions taken at this meeting pursuant to the SEC relief at their next in-person meeting.
Board of Trustees’ Considerations Related to the Approval of Subadvisory
Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
personnel committed by Voya to the Fund, who were the same as those assigned to the Fund by AllianzGI US, and those responsible for overseeing the portfolio management teams; (b) the financial condition of Voya; (c) the quality of Voya’s regulatory and legal compliance policies, procedures and systems; and (d) Voya’s brokerage and trading practices, including with respect to best execution and soft dollars. The Board noted Voya and AllianzGI US had indicated that there would be no changes to the personnel providing portfolio management services to the Fund as a result of the Liftout. The Board also took into account Voya’s risk assessment and monitoring process, including its risk management program with respect to enterprise, operational and other risks. The Board noted Voya’s regulatory history, including whether it was currently involved in any regulatory actions or investigations as well as material litigation, and any settlements and amelioratory actions undertaken, as appropriate. The Board also considered Voya’s representations regarding the soundness of its financial condition and its relationship to a large financial services enterprise. After considering all of the information provided to them, the Trustees concluded that the nature, extent and quality of the services expected to be provided by Voya were satisfactory and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that Voya would provide a high quality of investment services to the Fund.
• | Investment Performance. The Board noted that the portfolio management teams of each Fund would be moving from the prior subadviser, AllianzGI US, to Voya. In this connection, the Board considered each Fund’s historical performance and the portfolio management teams’ ability to manage the Funds. The Board noted that the portfolio managers would have the benefit of both the Adviser’s and Voya’s investment and performance oversight and that the Board had reviewed the Fund’s performance each quarter against relevant peer groups and benchmarks. The Board also noted the Adviser’s representations that the Funds had performed in the short and long term in line with the Adviser’s expectations. |
• | Subadvisory Fee. The Board took into account that each Fund’s subadvisory fee is paid by the Adviser out of its management fees rather than paid separately by the Fund, so that the Fund’s shareholders would not be directly impacted by those fees. The Board also noted that the proposed subadvisory fee schedule was the same as the prior subadvisory fee schedule. In this regard, the Board considered the Adviser’s representation that because there was no change to the fee split between the Adviser and Voya being proposed, the Adviser expected little or no impact on its projected profitability for each Fund. The Board concluded that the proposed subadvisory fees were fair and reasonable in light of services to be provided by Voya and all factors considered. |
• | Profitability and Economies of Scale. As noted above, the Board noted that the fees under the Subadvisory Agreements would be paid by the Adviser out of the fees that the Adviser receives under the Investment Advisory Agreement, so that Fund shareholders would not be directly impacted by those fees. For this reason, the Board concluded that the projected profitability to the Subadviser and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund was not a material factor in approval of the Subadvisory Agreements. For similar reasons, and since the Fund is a closed-end fund, the Board concluded that the potential for economies of scale in Voya’s management of the Fund was not a material factor in the approval of the Subadvisory Agreements. |
• | “Fall-out” Benefits. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by Voya and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted management’s discussion of the fact that there are no direct benefits to Voya in providing subadvisory services to the Fund, other than the fee to be earned under the Subadvisory Agreements, although there may be certain indirect, “fall-out” benefits gained, including to the extent that serving the Fund could provide the opportunity to provide subadvisory services to additional funds managed by the Adviser or certain reputational benefits. |
Recommendations and Other Factors Considered. In approving the Subadvisory Agreements for each Fund, the Board concluded, as considered in the context of the SEC order requiring that AllianzGI US exit the U.S. fund business, that the terms of each Subadvisory Agreement are fair and reasonable and that approval of the Subadvisory Agreements is in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders. In reaching this determination in the exercise of their business judgment, the Independent Trustees considered the following factors, among others, in addition to those noted above:
(1) the terms of the Subadvisory Agreements for each Fund are substantially the same in all material respects to those of the current subadvisory agreements with AllianzGI US;
(2) that the Adviser would continue to serve as each Fund’s investment adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement and would continue and maintain its investment and performance oversight process under its multi-manager model under which it contracts with and oversees affiliated and unaffiliated subadvisers;
(3) the Adviser’s representations regarding its ability to adequately and effectively oversee and perform ongoing due diligence of Voya;
(4) the Adviser’s anticipated oversight of Voya’s compliance program and its initial conclusion that Voya’s compliance program is reasonably designed to prevent violations of federal securities laws under Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act;
(5) the adequacy of Voya’s resources to service the Funds, as compared with the resources of AllianzGI US, including Voya’s resources with respect to its investment and risk oversight, legal, compliance, trading, valuation, and other functions, and its commitment to add additional resources to support those areas as necessary;
Board of Trustees’ Considerations Related to the Approval of Subadvisory
Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
(6) Voya’s plans to rely on certain functions at AllianzGI US for a limited time period, as discussed with the Board, to allow for a timely and smooth transition to Voya, Voya’s plans to oversee and test those functions, and that Voya’s Operations, Compliance and Risk teams will be ultimately responsible for all functions through the full integration of those functions;
(7) Voya’s representations regarding its significant oversight over AllianzGI US’s compliance and risk programs during the transition period, by layering Voya’s compliance and risk functions and oversight over those functions performed by AllianzGI US;
(8) retention agreements put in place by Voya for the Funds’ current portfolio managers and related compensation arrangements;
(9) the experience of Voya in managing closed-end funds, including its experience with addressing discounts, managing leverage (including preferred shares), and the related compliance issues and testing involved;
(10) that there would be no proposed changes to each Fund’s principal investment objectives and strategies as a direct result of the change in subadviser;
(11) that Voya does not manage any funds or accounts using a comparable investment strategy to those of the Funds;
(12) the continued reasonableness of the proposed “fee split” in the advisory and subadvisory fees, including whether the split in the fee appropriately reflects the services provided by the Adviser on the one hand, and the services that would be provided by Voya, on the other, and whether the fee split could provide an incentive for the Adviser to propose replacing Voya with an affiliated manager;
(13) the commitment of AllianzGI US to pay the expenses of each Fund associated with the change in subadviser resulting from the SEC order, including all legal expenses associated with the change and the Board’s approval of the Subadvisory Agreements, as well as the expenses associated with the proxy solicitation, so that shareholders of the Funds would not have to bear any such expenses;
(14) the possible benefits that may be realized by Voya and AllianzGI US as a result of the Liftout, including AllianzGI US’s ownership interest in Voya and Voya’s receipt of AllianzGI US’s global distribution capabilities, as summarized in Voya’s recent 8-K filing describing the material terms of the agreement between the two parties;
(15) any impact on Voya or its operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting market volatility and the functioning of their business continuity during this time;
(16) Voya’s program to promote diversity, equity and inclusion and how such program is evaluated;
(17) the commitment from Voya and AllianzGI US that they will refrain from imposing or seeking to impose, for a period of two years after the Liftout, any “unfair burden” within the meaning of Section 15(f) of the 1940 Act on the Funds;
(18) possible alternatives considered by the Adviser to propose for approval by the Board, including liquidation of the Funds or the Adviser or its affiliate managing the Funds;
(19) the Adviser’s recommendation to the Board that the Subadvisory Agreements and continuation with the current portfolio management teams were in each Fund’s best interests, with such recommendation based on the Adviser’s due diligence of Voya; and
(20) the Adviser’s recommendations regarding potential contingency plans in the event that Fund shareholders do not approve the Proposed Subadvisory Agreement for a Fund or the Liftout does not take place within the required timeframe, including the option of having the Adviser manage the Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement, which would not require the approval of Fund shareholders, and the Adviser’s capabilities to do so.
Conclusion. Based on all of the foregoing considerations and other factors, the Board of each Fund, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined in their business judgment that approval of each Subadvisory Agreement was in the best interests of the applicable Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board of each Fund, and majority of the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously approved the Subadvisory Agreements and determined to recommend that the Proposed Subadvisory Agreement be submitted for approval by Fund shareholders.
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Trustees
Alan Rappaport, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
George R. Aylward
Sarah E. Cogan
Deborah A. DeCotis
F. Ford Drummond
James S. MacLeod
Philip R. McLoughlin
William B. Ogden, IV
Brian T. Zino
R. Keith Walton, Advisory Member (CBH/NCZ/NFJ) and Trustee (AIO/NCV/ACV/NIE)
Officers
George R. Aylward, President and Chief Executive Officer
Peter J. Batchelar, Senior Vice President
W. Patrick Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Timothy Branigan, Vice President and Fund Chief Compliance Officer
Jennifer Fromm, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary
Julia R. Short, Senior Vice President
Richard W. Smirl, Executive Vice President
Investment Adviser
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.
One Financial Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103-2608
Administrator
Virtus Fund Services, LLC
One Financial Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103
Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286-1048
Legal Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP
Prudential Tower
800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199
How to Contact Us
Shareholder Services | 1-866-270-7788 |
Important Notice to Shareholders
The Securities and Exchange Commission has modified mailing regulations for semiannual and annual shareholder fund reports to allow mutual fund companies to send a single copy of these reports to shareholders who share the same mailing address. If you would like additional copies, please call Mutual Fund Services at 1-866-270-7788.
Computershare Investor Services
P. O. Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
For more information about Virtus Closed-End Funds,
please contact us at 1-866-270-7788 or closedendfunds@virtus.com , or visit Virtus.com.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Response not required for semiannual report.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Response not required for semiannual report.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Response not required for semiannual report.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Response not required for semiannual report.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1(a) of this form. |
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Response not required for semiannual report.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a) | Response not required for semiannual report. |
(b) | There has been no change, as of the date of this filing, in any of the portfolio managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in the registrant’s most recently filed annual report on Form N-CSR. |
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees that were implemented after the Registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))), as amended are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| (b) | There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3 (d))) that occurred during the most recent six months of the period covered by this report that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 13. Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (formerly known as Virtus AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund)
| | |
By: | | /s/ George R. Aylward |
| | George R. Aylward, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (principal executive officer) |
|
Date: 10/6/22 |
| |
By: | | /s/ W. Patrick Bradley |
| | W. Patrick Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer |
| | (principal financial officer) |
|
Date: 10/6/22 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | |
By: | | /s/ George R. Aylward |
| | George R. Aylward, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (principal executive officer) |
|
Date: 10/6/22 |
| |
By: | | /s/ W. Patrick Bradley |
| | W. Patrick Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer |
| | (principal financial officer) |
|
Date: 10/6/22 |
* | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |