nvcsrs
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 811-21471
Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Nuveen Investments
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Kevin J. McCarthy
Nuveen Investments
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (312) 917-7700
Date of
fiscal year end: December 31
Date of
reporting period: June 30, 2009
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. SS. 3507.
ITEM 1. REPORTS
TO SHAREHOLDERS
Closed-End Funds
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Nuveen Investments
Closed-End Funds
Opportunities
for Capital Appreciation and Tax-Advantaged
Distributions from a Portfolio of
Value Equities and Senior Loans
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Semi-Annual Report
June 30, 2009
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Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund
JTA
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Chairmans
Letter to Shareholders
Dear
Shareholder,
The problems in the U.S. financial system and the slowdown in
global economic activity continue to create a very difficult
environment for the U.S. economy. The administration, the
Federal Reserve System and Congress have initiated a variety of
programs directed at restoring liquidity to the financial
markets, providing financial support for critical financial
institutions and stimulating economic activity. There are
encouraging signs that these initiatives are beginning to have a
constructive impact. It is not possible to predict whether the
actions taken to date will be sufficient to restore more normal
conditions in the financial markets or enable the economy to
stabilize and set a course toward recovery. However, the speed
and scope of the governments actions are very encouraging
and, more importantly, reflect a commitment to act decisively to
meet the economic challenges we face.
The performance information in the attached report reflects the
impact of many forces at work in the equity and fixed-income
markets. The comments by the portfolio managers describe the
strategies being used to pursue your Funds long-term
investment goals. Parts of the financial markets continue to
experience serious dislocations and thorough research and strong
investment disciplines have never been more important in
identifying risks and opportunities. I hope you will read this
information carefully.
Your Board is particularly sensitive to our shareholders
concerns in these uncertain times. We believe that frequent and
thorough communication is essential in this regard and encourage
you to visit the Nuveen website: www.nuveen.com, for recent
developments in all Nuveen funds. We also encourage you to
communicate with your financial consultant for answers to your
questions and to seek advice on your long-term investment
strategy in the current market environment.
Nuveen continues to work on resolving the issues related to the
auction rate preferred shares situation, but the unsettled
conditions in the credit markets have slowed progress. Nuveen is
actively pursuing a number of solutions, all with the goal of
providing liquidity for preferred shareholders while preserving
the potential benefits of leverage for common shareholders. We
appreciate the patience you have shown as we work through the
many issues involved.
On behalf of myself and the other members of your Funds
Board, we look forward to continuing to earn your trust in the
months and years ahead.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Bremner
Chairman of the Nuveen Fund Board
August 24, 2009
Portfolio
Managers Comments
Nuveen
Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (JTA)
JTA features management by two affiliates of Nuveen
Investments. The Funds investments in dividend-paying
common and preferred stocks are managed by NWQ Investment
Management Company, LLC (NWQ), while the Funds investments
in senior corporate loans and other debt instruments are managed
by Symphony Asset Management, LLC (Symphony).
Jon Bosse, Chief Investment Officer of NWQ, leads the
Funds management team at that firm. He has more than
27 years of corporate finance and investment management
experience.
The Symphony team is led by Gunther Stein, who serves as that
firms Chief Investment Officer. Gunther has more than
20 years of investment management experience, much of it in
evaluating and purchasing senior corporate loans and other
high-yield debt.
Here Jon and Gunther talk about their management strategies
and the performance of the Fund for the six-month period
June 30, 2009.
What key
strategies were used to manage the Fund during this reporting
period?
Certain statements in this report are forward-looking
statements. Discussions of specific investments are for
illustration only and are not intended as recommendations of
individual investments. The forward-looking statements and other
views expressed herein are those of the portfolio managers as of
the date of this report. Actual future results or occurrences
may differ significantly from those anticipated in any
forward-looking statements and the views expressed herein are
subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other
factors. The Fund disclaims any obligation to update publicly or
revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed
herein.
For the common and preferred equity portion of the Funds
portfolio, we continued to employ an opportunistic,
bottom-up
strategy that focused on identifying undervalued companies
possessing favorable risk/reward characteristics as well as
emerging catalysts that can unlock value or improve
profitability. These catalysts included management changes,
restructuring efforts, recognition of hidden assets, or a
positive change in the underlying fundamentals. We also focused
on downside protection, and paid a great deal of attention to a
companys balance sheet and cash flow statement, not just
the income statement. We believed that cash flow analysis
offered a more objective and truer picture of a companys
financial position than an evaluation based on earnings alone.
In the senior loan and other debt portion of the Funds
portfolio, we continued to find value in the senior parts of
many firms capital structures, as well as within the
convertible securities market. In a number of cases, we believed
that both senior loans and convertibles remained significantly
undervalued on an implied basis, even after the recent rally.
The first half of this year was characterized by a broad-based
technical move in many areas of the market. Over the first two
quarters alone, over $30 billion of new-issue high yield
bonds have been used to pay down shorter-dated term loans. This
is a positive in most cases for the secured lender, as many of
these issuers suffer more from bad balance sheets than bad
business models.
From a technical perspective, we preferred to own senior loans
and convertibles rather than other forms of debt. Senior loans
generally carry floating rates, and they historically have
outperformed fixed-rate bonds in a rising interest rate
environment. We also felt that there was potential to see
continued crossover demand in the convertible bond market from
equity accounts buying convertible bonds because of better
perceived values.
How did the Fund
perform over this six-month period?
The performance of JTA, as well as a comparative benchmark and
general market index, is presented in the accompanying table.
Average Annual
Total Return on Common Share Net Asset Value*
For periods ended 6/30/09
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Past performance is does not
guarantee future results. Current performance may be higher or
lower than the data shown.
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Returns do not reflect the
deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund
distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. For additional
information, see the individual Performance Overview for your
Fund in this report.
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*
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Six-month returns are cumulative;
one-year and five-year returns are annualized.
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1
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The comparative benchmark designed
to reflect the portfolio composition of JTA is calculated by
combining: 1) 56% of the return of the Russell 3000 Value
Index, which measures the performance of those Russell 3000
Index companies with lower price-to book ratios and lower
forecasted growth values, 2) 16% of the return of the MSCI
EAFE ex-Japan Value Index, a capitalization weighted index that
selects the lower 50% of the
price-to-book
ranked value stocks traded in the developed markets of Europe,
Asia and the Far East, excluding Japan, 3) 8% of the return
of the Merrill Lynch DRD (dividends received deduction)
Preferred Index, which consists of investment-grade,
DRD-eligible, exchange-traded preferred stocks with one year or
more to maturity, and 4) 20% of the return of the CSFB
Leveraged Loan Index, which consists of approximately
$150 billion of tradable term loans with at least one year
to maturity and rated BBB or lower. Index returns are not
leveraged, and do not include the effects of any sales charges
or management fees. It is not possible to invest directly in an
index.
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2
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The S&P 500 Index is an
unmanaged Index generally considered representative of the U.S.
Stock Market.
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6-Month
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1-Year
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5-Year
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JTA
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6.93%
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-40.53%
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-5.89%
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Comparative
Benchmark1
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4.77%
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-26.99%
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-1.34%
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S&P 500
Index2
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3.16%
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-26.21%
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-2.24%
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For the six-month period ended June 30, 2009, the total
return on common share net asset value for the Fund outperformed
the comparative benchmark and general market index. The
Funds leveraged capital structure in the generally
favorable market conditions found during the second quarter of
2009, served as a primary driver for the Funds performance
in the first half of 2009. By contrast, leverage had a generally
detrimental effect on the Funds return during the
generally negative market environment in the second half of
2008, as can be seen in the one-year return shown here. (Please
see p. 8 for more information on the Funds capital
structures and financial leverage).
We had several holdings in the equity portion of the Funds
portfolio that also contributed positively to the Funds
performance over the reporting period. JPMorgan
Chase & Co. appreciated as the company seems to have
successfully solidified its position as one of the
survivors of the on-going global banking crisis.
Despite an increase in credit costs, JPMorgans capital
levels remain strong and management announced on June 17,
2009, the company had repaid, with interest, money received
under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). JPMorgan also
passed the Government stress test and was not
required to raise additional capital. The strength of JPMorgan
was also seen in its record fixed-income trading revenue for the
first quarter as the company reaped the benefits of abnormal
bid/ask spreads on bond trading because it was one of a few
banks (including Goldman Sachs) that could provide liquidity in
the market. Revenues from the investment bank were also strong
due to all the debt and equity capital that is being raised in
the market.
Our investment in Microsoft Corp. benefited from positive
investor reaction to the companys successful cost cuts and
the upcoming corporate product upgrade cycle that may help drive
revenue growth. The company also received several upgrades from
sell-side analysts which has helped support the stock price.
Packaging Corp. of America is the fifth-largest producer of
containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the U.S. The
stock outperformed for the period as the company continues to
show improving fundamentals, report earnings above expectations,
and remains well positioned for a cyclical recovery in the
economy. Containerboard fundamentals remain balanced with
absolute inventory levels at 25 year lows, with demand
beginning to trend higher. The industry has shown greater
discipline at managing supply and demand compared to previous
cycles, which has allowed pricing to hold up. Packaging Corp. is
consistently one of the lowest cost containerboard producers,
and has one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry, and
generates significant free cash flow.
We also had several stock selections that detracted from
performance. While our investment in Hartford Financial Services
Group, Inc. declined for the period, the shares were very
volatile. After hitting a 52-week low in early March, the shares
appreciated by nearly 350% by early May ($4 to $18) as the
financial sector rallied on increased investor confidence in the
sector. Shares of Hartford specifically benefited from news that
the company would receive TARP funds, as well as speculation
that it is close to a deal to sell its property and casualty
business. Despite its recent
run-up,
Hartford continues to trade at substantially below its tangible
book value. While portfolio holdings MetLife, Inc. and Travelers
Companies, Inc. did not need TARP assistance, their shares also
declined for the period as rising realized and unrealized losses
and declining equity markets put a strain on regulatory capital
for companies with exposure to equity-sensitive insurance
products such as variable life and variable annuities.
Shares of Wells Fargo & Co. also bottomed with the rest of
the market in early March (hitting a 52-week low of $8) before
rebounding 200% by the end of the period. Although considered by
many to be one of the better positioned U.S. banks and one
capable of surviving the current economic environment, the
company remains exposed to ongoing credit deterioration and a
potential for futures losses from increasing credit costs.
Expectations of the size of these losses put pressure on the
stock as it raised concerns regarding the companys capital
levels and whether they will have to raise additional dilutive
capital. Wells Fargo has taken steps to support its capital
position by reducing its dividend by 85%, which will preserve
about $5 billion annually.
The decline in Raytheon Co. during the period had less to do
with the Companys fundamentals and more to do with
investor speculation on reduced defense spending by the Obama
Administration. Raytheon and the rest of the major defense names
have been trading at historically low valuations despite solid
earnings expectations this year and next. We continue to find
Raytheon attractively valued given its strong balance sheet
(nearly zero debt), strong position to win missile defense
contracts, and exposure to international markets (over 20% of
revenues are generated outside the U.S.). Management has also
continued to implement shareholder friendly actions such as
increasing its dividend.
We also were able to add several names to the Funds
portfolio. We initiated a position in insurance holding company,
Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (RGA), in February after
shares of the company declined in line with the rest of the
insurance sector on investors concerns that insurance
companies were at risk to suffer losses similar to those
experienced by banks. RGA is primarily engaged in traditional
individual life, critical illness, and financial reinsurance. We
believe that RGA offers an attractive valuation and risk/reward
profile, and should benefit from a positive pricing environment
in the U.S. market and strong international growth prospects.
We invested in Loews Corp. as our calculation of the
stocks discount to the sum of its parts exceeded 30%, more
than double its historical average. The stocks spread to
our fair value figure widened primarily as a result of investor
concerns surrounding insurance
companies in general, and Loews 90%-owned stake in CNA
Financial Corp. in particular. According to our analysis, the
stock remains undervalued even if Loews wrote off its entire CNA
position, including its $1.25 billion cumulative preferred
stock that it issued CNA in October 2008. As such, we took the
opportunity to purchase a position given an exceptionally
compelling valuation and extremely favorable risk/reward.
TransAtlantic Holdings Inc. (TRH) is a leading global reinsurer
that is well diversified both in terms of products and geography
with a focus on the casualty insurance markets. AIG owned over a
50% interest in TRH and sold almost its entire stake in the
company in June 2009 to raise capital and support its on-going
efforts to monetize its assets and payback its government loan.
We participated in the secondary offering and acquired shares of
TRH as we saw an attractive risk/reward opportunity to acquire a
quality franchise from a distressed seller at depressed prices.
We eliminated our position in the stock shortly after its
purchase to take advantage of an immediate profit. We also
purchased a U.S. Steel convertible bond on a public offering as
the company was raising additional capital, and then eliminated
that position to realize the gain.
Microsoft Corp., as discussed previously, was added to the
portfolio in February 2009 as we believed the companys
share price was undervalued given its dominant franchise, cash
rich balance sheet, and strong free cash flow yield. Other new
holdings include CA Inc., Comcast Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp.
We eliminated industrial equipment manufacturer, Illinois Tool
Works Inc., as we perceived the stock to be fully valued
relative to its peers. We believe the companys earnings
have proven to be far more cyclical than in previous economic
downturns and our justification for owning the shares based on
balance sheet strength, strong free cash flow, opportunistic
acquisitions, share buybacks, and resilient earnings in economic
downturns were no longer viable arguments for continuing to own
the shares.
We also exited our position in Altria Group Inc. as the stock
achieved our primary catalyst, which was the break up of the
company into Kraft Foods Inc., Philip Morris International Inc.,
and Altria Group (PM USA) in an effort to increase shareholder
value. While the individual parts remain inexpensive, there are
Altria-specific issues that we believe limit the upside
potential of the stock, including significant federal and state
tax hikes, and levering up its otherwise spotless balance sheet
to acquire U.S. Tobacco (UST) late last year. Given the
headwinds that the company was facing, we eliminated the
position in favor of other opportunities with a more favorable
risk/reward profile.
Although we continue to like Motorola Inc. from a fundamental
investment standpoint, we eliminated the position during the
period as the company suspended its dividend in order to
preserve cash. Motorola has a strong balance sheet with no net
debt and generates positive free cash flows; however, management
felt it was prudent to suspend its dividend given the uncertain
credit environment where the ability to raise needed capital was
questionable for even the highest quality firms. Gannet Co. Inc.
significantly cut its dividend and therefore also was eliminated
from the portfolio. As expected, fundamentals in the newspaper
publishing industry have been pressured due to the weak economy,
poor circulation trends, and a soft advertising market.
Finland-based newsprint and packaging firm, Stora Enso Oyj.,
also was sold from the portfolio, as well as CBS Corp., Chevron
Corp., and U.S. Steel Corp.
The preferred sleeve also was another factor impacting
performance. This market, as measured by the Merrill Lynch
Preferred Master Index (MLPMI), posted a total return for the
first half of 2009 of 2.7%. The tax-advantaged DRD/QDI subsector
fared much worse, finishing the six month period with a return
of -7.4%. These returns mask the fact of a very weak performance
in the first quarter as the credit crisis continued, followed by
a very robust second quarter.
Also impacting performance for the six-month period was the
broad and technical upward move in the senior loan market. The
Fund did have exposure to both VNU Nielsen and Charter
Communication, two large positions which outperformed the market
on a relative basis. VNU had strong operating results, while
Charter filed for bankruptcya move that was beneficial to
senior lenders given the companys strong assets which
collateralize the term loan. The VNU Nielsen position was sold
before the end of the period.
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE FUNDS LEVERAGED CAPITAL
STRUCTURE
Shortly after its inception in 2004, the Fund issued
FundPreferred shares to create financial leverage. The Fund uses
leverage because its managers believe that, over time,
leveraging provides opportunities for additional income and
total return for common shareholders. However, use of leverage
also can expose common shareholders to additional
risk especially when market conditions are
unfavorable. For example, if the prices of securities held by
the Fund decline, the negative impact of these valuation changes
on common share net asset value and common shareholder total
return would be magnified by the use of leverage.
As noted in the last several shareholder reports, the auction
rate preferred shares issued by many closed-end funds, including
this Nuveen Fund, have been hampered by a lack of liquidity
since February 2008. Since that time, more auction rate
preferred shares have been submitted for sale in their regularly
scheduled auctions than there have been offers to buy. This
means that these auctions have failed to clear, and
that many, or all, of the auction rate preferred shareholders
who wanted to sell their shares in these auctions were unable to
do so. This decline in liquidity in auction rate preferred
shares did not lower the credit quality of these shares, and
auction rate preferred shareholders unable to sell their shares
received distributions at the maximum rate
applicable to failed auctions, as calculated in accordance with
the pre-established terms of the auction rate preferred shares.
One continuing implication for JTA common shareholders from the
auction failures is that the Funds cost of leverage likely
has been incrementally higher at times than it otherwise might
have been had the auctions continued to be successful. As a
result, the Funds common share earnings likely have been
incrementally lower at times than they otherwise might have been.
Beginning in the summer of 2008, the Fund announced its
intention to redeem most or all of its FundPreferred shares and
retain its leveraged structure primarily through the use of
borrowings. The Fund began a series of periodic, partial
redemptions in September 2008, and on June 10, 2009, it
announced its intention to redeem all of its remaining
outstanding FundPreferred shares. This final redemption is
contingent on favorable market conditions and temporary relief
from the Securities and Exchange Commission from certain
technical regulatory provisions. The Fund cannot provide any
assurance about if or when this regulatory relief might be
granted and if or when these last outstanding FundPreferred
shares might be redeemed.
As of June 30, 2009, the Fund had redeemed
$16.15 million, at par, of its FundPreferred shares,
representing 35.9% of the total amount originally issued by the
Fund. As noted in the last shareholder report, the Fund has
redeemed all $78 million of its outstanding Fund Notes.
Leveraging using borrowings offers common shareholders most of
the same potential benefits and risks as leveraging with
FundPreferred shares.
For
up-to-date
information, please visit the Nuveen CEF Auction Rate Preferred
Resource Center at:
http://www.nuveen.com/ResourceCenter/AuctionRatePreferred.aspx.
Common Share
Distribution
and Share Price Information
The following information regarding your Funds
distributions is current as of June 30, 2009, and likely
will vary over time based on the Funds investment
activities and portfolio investment changes.
The Fund reduced its quarterly distribution to common
shareholders once over the
six-month
reporting period. Some of the important factors affecting the
amount and composition of these distributions are summarized
below.
The Fund employs financial leverage through the use of
FundPreferred shares and/or bank borrowings. Financial leverage
provides the potential for higher earnings (net investment
income), total returns and distributions over time,
butas noted earlieralso increases the variability of
common shareholders net asset value per share in response
to changing market conditions. Over the reporting period, the
impact of financial leverage on the Funds net asset value
per share contributed positively to the income return and
detracted from the price return. The overall impact of financial
leverage detracted from the Funds total return.
The Fund has a managed distribution program. The goal of this
program is to provide shareholders relatively consistent and
predictable cash flow by systematically converting the
Funds expected long-term return potential into regular
distributions. As a result, regular distributions throughout the
year are likely to include a portion of expected long-term gains
(both realized and unrealized), along with net investment income.
Important points to understand about the managed distribution
program are:
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The Fund seeks to establish a relatively stable common share
distribution rate that roughly corresponds to the projected
total return from its investment strategy over an extended
period of time. However, you should not draw any conclusions
about the Funds past or future investment performance from
its current distribution rate.
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Actual common share returns will differ from projected long-term
returns (and therefore the Funds distribution rate), at
least over shorter time periods. Over a specific timeframe, the
difference between actual returns and total distributions will
be reflected in an increasing (returns exceed distributions) or
a decreasing (distributions exceed returns) Fund net asset value.
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Each distribution is expected to be paid from some or all of the
following sources:
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net investment income (regular interest and dividends),
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realized capital gains, and
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unrealized gains, or, in certain cases, a return of principal
(non-taxable distributions).
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A non-taxable distribution is a payment of a portion of the
Funds capital. When the Funds returns exceed
distributions, it may represent portfolio gains generated, but
not
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realized as a taxable capital gain. In periods when the
Funds returns fall short of distributions, the shortfall
will represent a portion of your original principal, unless the
shortfall is offset during other time periods over the life of
your investment (previous or subsequent) when the Funds
total return exceeds distributions.
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Because distribution source estimates are updated during the
year based on the Funds performance and forecast for its
current fiscal year (which is the calendar year for the Fund),
these estimates may differ from both the tax information
reported to you in your Funds IRS
Form 1099 statement provided at year end, as well as
the ultimate economic sources of distributions over the life of
your investment.
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The following table provides estimated information regarding the
Funds common share distributions and total return
performance for the six months ended June 30, 2009. The
distribution information is presented on a tax basis rather than
on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. This
information is intended to help you better understand whether
the Funds returns for the specified time period were
sufficient to meet the Funds distributions.
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3 |
The Fund elected to retain a portion of its realized long-term
capital gains for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006, and pay required federal corporate
income taxes on these amounts. As reported on Form 2439,
Common shareholders on record date must include their pro-rata
share of these gains on their applicable federal tax returns,
and are entitled to take offsetting tax credits, for their
pro-rata share of the taxes paid by the Fund. The total returns
Including retained gain tax credit/refund include
the economic benefit to Common shareholders on record date of
these tax credits/refunds. The Fund had no retained capital
gains for the tax year ended December 31, 2008.
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As of 6/30/09 (Common
Shares)
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JTA
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Inception date
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1/27/04
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Six months ended June 30, 2009:
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Per share distribution:
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From net investment income
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$
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0.19
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From realized capital gains
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0.00
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Tax return of capital
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0.27
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Total per share distribution
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$
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0.46
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Distribution rate on NAV
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4.81%
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Annualized total returns:
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Excluding retained gain tax
credit/refund3:
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Six-Month (Cumulative) on NAV
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6.93%
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1-Year on NAV
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-40.53%
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5-Year on NAV
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-5.89%
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Since inception on NAV
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-4.93%
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Including retained gain tax
credit/refund3:
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Six-Month (Cumulative) on NAV
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6.93%
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1-Year on NAV
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-40.53%
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5-Year on NAV
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-5.06%
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Since inception on NAV
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-4.16%
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Common Share
Repurchases and Share Price Information
The Funds Board of Trustees approved an open-market share
repurchase program on July 30, 2008, under which the Fund
may repurchase an aggregate of up to 10% of its outstanding
common shares. As of June 30, 2009 the Fund had
cumulatively repurchased common shares as shown in the
accompanying table.
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|
|
|
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
% of Outstanding
|
|
Repurchased
|
|
|
Common Shares
|
|
|
|
12,600
|
|
|
|
0.1%
|
|
During the six-month reporting period, the Funds common
shares were repurchased at a weighted average price and a
weighted average discount per common share as shown in the
accompanying table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average
|
|
|
Weighted Average
|
|
Price Per Share
|
|
|
Discount Per Share
|
|
Repurchased
|
|
|
Repurchased
|
|
|
|
$8.03
|
|
|
|
15.78%
|
|
As of June 30, 2009, the Funds common share price was
trading at a discount of -14.33% to its net asset value,
compared with an average discount of -16.99% for the full
six-month period.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JTA
Performance
OVERVIEW
|
|
|
Nuveen
Tax-Advantaged
Total Return
Strategy Fund
|
|
|
|
as
of June 30, 2009
|
|
|
|
Fund Snapshot
|
Common Share Price
|
|
$8.19
|
|
|
|
Common Share Net Asset Value
|
|
$9.56
|
|
|
|
Premium/(Discount) to NAV
|
|
-14.33%
|
|
|
|
Current Distribution
Rate1
|
|
11.23%
|
|
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares ($000)
|
|
$133,378
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industries
|
(as a % of total investments)
|
Pharmaceuticals
|
|
9.3%
|
|
|
|
Insurance
|
|
9.2%
|
|
|
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
|
|
8.1%
|
|
|
|
Media
|
|
7.2%
|
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense
|
|
4.8%
|
|
|
|
Diversified Telecommunication Services
|
|
4.5%
|
|
|
|
Electric Utilities
|
|
4.4%
|
|
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
3.9%
|
|
|
|
Commercial Banks
|
|
3.8%
|
|
|
|
Software
|
|
3.8%
|
|
|
|
Commercial Services & Supplies
|
|
3.5%
|
|
|
|
Metals & Mining
|
|
3.2%
|
|
|
|
Health Care Providers & Services
|
|
3.0%
|
|
|
|
Containers & Packaging
|
|
2.8%
|
|
|
|
Machinery
|
|
2.7%
|
|
|
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
|
|
2.7%
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services
|
|
2.5%
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Investments
|
|
4.9%
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
15.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Countries
|
(as a % of total investments)
|
United States
|
|
83.0%
|
|
|
|
France
|
|
5.4%
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
4.0%
|
|
|
|
Italy
|
|
2.3%
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
1.3%
|
|
|
|
Portugal
|
|
1.3%
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
2.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Return
|
(Inception 1/27/04)
|
|
|
On Share Price
|
|
On NAV
|
6-Month (Cumulative)
|
|
14.87%
|
|
6.93%
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-Year
|
|
-42.61%
|
|
-40.53%
|
|
|
|
|
|
5-Year
|
|
-5.38%
|
|
-5.89%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since Inception
|
|
-7.73%
|
|
-4.93%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total
Return2
|
(Including retained gain tax
credit/refund)
|
|
|
On Share Price
|
|
On NAV
|
6-Month (Cumulative)
|
|
14.87%
|
|
6.93%
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-Year
|
|
-42.61%
|
|
-40.53%
|
|
|
|
|
|
5-Year
|
|
-4.43%
|
|
-5.06%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since Inception
|
|
-6.88%
|
|
-4.16%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio
Allocation (as a % of total
investments)
2008-2009
Distributions Per Common Share
Share Price
PerformanceWeekly Closing
Price
|
|
1
|
Current Distribution Rate is based on the Funds current
annualized quarterly distribution divided by the Funds
current market price. The Funds quarterly distributions to
its shareholders may be comprised of ordinary income, net
realized capital gains and, if at the end of the calendar year
the Funds cumulative net ordinary income and net realized
gains are less than the amount of the Funds distributions,
a return of capital for tax purposes.
|
|
2
|
As previously explained in the Common Share Distribution and
Share Price Information section of this report, the Fund elected
to retain a portion of its realized long-term capital gains for
the tax years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31,
2006, and pay required federal corporate income taxes on these
amounts. These standardized total returns include the economic
benefit to Common shareholders of record of this tax
credit/refund. The Fund had no retained capital gains for the
tax year ended December 31, 2008.
|
Shareholder Meeting
Report
The annual meeting of shareholders was held in the offices of
Nuveen Investments on May 6, 2009; at this meeting the
shareholders were asked to vote on the election of Board Members.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JTA
|
|
|
|
Common and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FundPreferred
|
|
|
FundPreferred
|
|
|
|
shares voting
|
|
|
shares voting
|
|
|
|
together
|
|
|
together
|
Approval of the Board Members
was reached as follows:
|
|
|
as a class
|
|
|
as a class
|
Robert P. Bremner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
|
11,946,736
|
|
|
|
Withhold
|
|
|
301,397
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
12,248,133
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack B. Evans
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
|
11,940,943
|
|
|
|
Withhold
|
|
|
307,190
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
12,248,133
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William C. Hunter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
|
|
|
|
970
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
970
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William J. Schneider
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For
|
|
|
|
|
|
970
|
Withhold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
970
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JTA
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return
Strategy Fund
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Description (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stocks 87.2% (63.9% of Total
Investments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense 5.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,300
|
|
|
Lockheed Martin Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,685,645
|
|
|
117,300
|
|
|
Raytheon Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,211,639
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Aerospace & Defense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,897,284
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial Banks 3.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
216,300
|
|
|
Wells Fargo & Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,247,438
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial Services & Supplies 4.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
290,300
|
|
|
Pitney Bowes Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,366,279
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Containers & Packaging 2.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
201,800
|
|
|
Packaging Corp. of America
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,269,160
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services 3.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120,700
|
|
|
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,117,077
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Telecommunication
Services 4.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,500
|
|
|
AT&T Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,620,620
|
|
|
121,300
|
|
|
Verizon Communications Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,727,549
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Diversified Telecommunication Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,348,169
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric Utilities 1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,400
|
|
|
EDPEnergias de Portugal, S.A., Sponsored ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,366,218
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food Products 2.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,006
|
|
|
Kraft Foods Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,660,852
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Household Products 2.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,700
|
|
|
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,763,061
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industrial Conglomerates 1.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
General Electric Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,051,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance 10.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
210,600
|
|
|
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,499,822
|
|
|
72,500
|
|
|
Loews Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,986,500
|
|
|
122,900
|
|
|
MetLife, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,688,229
|
|
|
38,800
|
|
|
Reinsurance Group of America Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,354,508
|
|
|
119,300
|
|
|
Travelers Companies, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,896,072
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,425,131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Machinery 3.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
Caterpillar Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,478,000
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
Ingersoll Rand Company Limited, Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,567,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Machinery
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,045,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Media 1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130,000
|
|
|
Comcast Corporation, Special Class A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,833,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metals & Mining 2.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
72,000
|
|
|
Barrick Gold Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,415,600
|
|
|
14,700
|
|
|
POSCO, ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,215,249
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Metals & Mining
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,630,849
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multi-Utilities 1.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
139,090
|
|
|
United Utilities PLC, Sponsored ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,288,031
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 11.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,500
|
|
|
ConocoPhillips
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,227,030
|
|
|
87,000
|
|
|
Eni S.p.A., Sponsored ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,124,670
|
|
|
28,000
|
|
|
Exxon Mobil Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,957,480
|
|
|
81,600
|
|
|
Total S.A., Sponsored ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,425,168
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
|
|
|
14,734,348
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JTA
|
|
|
Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund
(continued)
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Description (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals 11.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94,500
|
|
|
GlaxoSmithKline PLC, ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,339,630
|
|
|
137,500
|
|
|
Merck & Co. Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,844,500
|
|
|
224,300
|
|
|
Pfizer Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,364,500
|
|
|
180,000
|
|
|
Sanofi-Aventis, ADR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,308,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Pharmaceuticals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,856,830
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Road & Rail 1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,000
|
|
|
Union Pacific Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,394,760
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Software 5.2%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
217,500
|
|
|
CA Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,791,025
|
|
|
132,100
|
|
|
Microsoft Corporation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,140,017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Software
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,931,042
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tobacco 5.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
Lorillard Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,049,650
|
|
|
91,900
|
|
|
Philip Morris International
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,008,678
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Tobacco
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,058,328
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Common Stocks (cost $133,413,477)
|
|
|
116,284,357
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Description (1)
|
|
Coupon
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratings (2)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
$25 Par (or similar) Preferred Securities 6.3% (4.6%
of Total Investments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Markets 0.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,100
|
|
|
Credit Suisse
|
|
|
7.900%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aa3
|
|
|
$
|
383,724
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Deutsche Bank Capital Funding Trust V
|
|
|
8.050%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aa3
|
|
|
|
517,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Capital Markets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
900,974
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial Banks 1.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Banco Santander Finance
|
|
|
6.500%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aa3
|
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
Banco Santander Finance
|
|
|
4.000%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aa3
|
|
|
|
168,750
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
Barclays Bank PLC
|
|
|
8.125%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB+
|
|
|
|
103,250
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Barclays Bank PLC
|
|
|
6.625%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB+
|
|
|
|
441,500
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Series M
|
|
|
6.400%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B3
|
|
|
|
279,750
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
|
|
|
6.600%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B3
|
|
|
|
280,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Commercial Banks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,723,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer Finance 0.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
HSBC USA Inc.
|
|
|
6.500%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
|
515,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services 0.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
ING Groep N.V.
|
|
|
7.200%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A3
|
|
|
|
425,250
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
ING Groep N.V.
|
|
|
7.050%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB
|
|
|
|
82,450
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Diversified Financial Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
507,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric Utilities 1.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,400
|
|
|
Georgia Power Company
|
|
|
6.125%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
637,050
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
Gulf Power Company
|
|
|
6.450%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB+
|
|
|
|
417,699
|
|
|
19,100
|
|
|
Mississippi Power Company
|
|
|
5.250%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A3
|
|
|
|
417,908
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
PPL Electric Utilities Corporation
|
|
|
6.250%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB
|
|
|
|
539,845
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
Southern California Edison Company
|
|
|
6.125%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baa2
|
|
|
|
386,406
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Electric Utilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,398,908
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance 1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,900
|
|
|
Aegon N.V.
|
|
|
6.375%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baa1
|
|
|
|
460,317
|
|
|
22,800
|
|
|
Arch Capital Group Limited
|
|
|
8.000%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB
|
|
|
|
500,688
|
|
|
20,500
|
|
|
Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited
|
|
|
7.750%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB
|
|
|
|
359,160
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
Prudential PLC
|
|
|
6.750%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
|
549,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Insurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,869,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multi-Utilities 0.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,400
|
|
|
Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc.
|
|
|
5.000%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BBB+
|
|
|
|
467,316
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total $25 Par (or similar) Preferred Securities (cost
$10,805,031)
|
|
|
8,382,313
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount (000)
|
|
|
Description (1)
|
|
Coupon
|
|
|
Maturity (4)
|
|
|
Ratings (2)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests 36.3%
(26.6% of Total Investments) (3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense 0.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
693
|
|
|
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
2.810%
|
|
|
|
12/22/11
|
|
|
|
Ba3
|
|
|
$
|
585,386
|
|
|
242
|
|
|
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc., Tranche B, Letter of
Credit
|
|
|
3.001%
|
|
|
|
12/22/10
|
|
|
|
Ba3
|
|
|
|
197,576
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
935
|
|
|
Total Aerospace & Defense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
782,962
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chemicals 1.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,223
|
|
|
Ashland, Inc., Term Loan B
|
|
|
6.650%
|
|
|
|
5/13/14
|
|
|
|
BB+
|
|
|
|
1,232,874
|
|
|
906
|
|
|
Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., Term Loan E
|
|
|
6.000%
|
|
|
|
7/30/12
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
903,926
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,129
|
|
|
Total Chemicals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,136,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Containers & Packaging 1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
170
|
|
|
Graham Packaging Company, L.P., Term Loan B
|
|
|
2.617%
|
|
|
|
10/07/11
|
|
|
|
B+
|
|
|
|
161,638
|
|
|
1,698
|
|
|
Graham Packaging Company, L.P., Term Loan C
|
|
|
6.750%
|
|
|
|
4/05/14
|
|
|
|
B2
|
|
|
|
1,683,469
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,868
|
|
|
Total Containers & Packaging
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,845,107
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Telecommunication
Services 1.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
333
|
|
|
Intelsat, Tranche B, Term Loan A, WI/DD
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
305,062
|
|
|
333
|
|
|
Intelsat, Tranche B, Term Loan C, WI/DD
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
304,969
|
|
|
333
|
|
|
Intelsat,
Tranche B-2,
Term Loan, WI/DD
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
304,969
|
|
|
950
|
|
|
MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
3.045%
|
|
|
|
11/03/13
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
906,291
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,949
|
|
|
Total Diversified Telecommunication Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,821,291
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric Utilities 2.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,702
|
|
|
Dynegy Holdings, Inc., Delayed Term Loan
|
|
|
1.810%
|
|
|
|
4/02/13
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
1,534,042
|
|
|
293
|
|
|
Dynegy Holdings, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
1.810%
|
|
|
|
4/02/13
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
263,759
|
|
|
1,965
|
|
|
TXU Corporation, Term Loan B2
|
|
|
3.821%
|
|
|
|
10/10/14
|
|
|
|
B+
|
|
|
|
1,409,029
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,960
|
|
|
Total Electric Utilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,206,830
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electrical Equipment 0.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,383
|
|
|
Sensus Metering Systems, Inc., Term Loan B1
|
|
|
2.651%
|
|
|
|
12/17/10
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,278,913
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Care Equipment &
Supplies 2.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
Biomet, Inc., Term Loan, WI/DD
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,874,204
|
|
|
997
|
|
|
Renal Advantage, Inc., Term Loan, WI/DD
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
N/R
|
|
|
|
917,589
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,997
|
|
|
Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,791,793
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Health Care Providers &
Services 4.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
Community Health Systems, Inc., Delayed Term Loan
|
|
|
2.560%
|
|
|
|
7/25/14
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
87,624
|
|
|
1,903
|
|
|
Community Health Systems, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
2.898%
|
|
|
|
7/25/14
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,717,604
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
HCA, Inc., Term Loan, WI/DD
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
905,000
|
|
|
459
|
|
|
IASIS Healthcare LLC, Delayed Term Loan
|
|
|
2.310%
|
|
|
|
3/14/14
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
423,032
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
IASIS Healthcare LLC, Letter of Credit
|
|
|
0.210%
|
|
|
|
3/14/14
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
113,948
|
|
|
1,327
|
|
|
IASIS Healthcare LLC, Term Loan
|
|
|
2.310%
|
|
|
|
3/14/14
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
1,222,441
|
|
|
965
|
|
|
Quintiles Transnational Corporation, Term Loan B
|
|
|
2.491%
|
|
|
|
3/29/13
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
907,982
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,875
|
|
|
Total Health Care Providers & Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,377,631
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 3.6%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,935
|
|
|
24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc., Term Loan B
|
|
|
3.254%
|
|
|
|
6/08/12
|
|
|
|
Ba3
|
|
|
|
1,528,650
|
|
|
761
|
|
|
CBRL Group, Inc., Term Loan B1
|
|
|
2.489%
|
|
|
|
4/27/13
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
705,969
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
CBRL Group, Inc., Term Loan B2
|
|
|
1.820%
|
|
|
|
4/28/13
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
76,456
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
Travelport LLC, Letter of Credit
|
|
|
3.098%
|
|
|
|
8/23/13
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
70,411
|
|
|
445
|
|
|
Travelport LLC, Term Loan
|
|
|
2.914%
|
|
|
|
8/23/13
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
350,914
|
|
|
594
|
|
|
Venetian Casino Resort LLC, Delayed Term Loan
|
|
|
2.060%
|
|
|
|
5/23/14
|
|
|
|
B
|
|
|
|
421,555
|
|
|
2,352
|
|
|
Venetian Casino Resort LLC, Term Loan
|
|
|
2.060%
|
|
|
|
5/23/14
|
|
|
|
B
|
|
|
|
1,669,186
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,258
|
|
|
Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,823,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Insurance 0.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
651
|
|
|
Conseco, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
6.500%
|
|
|
|
10/10/13
|
|
|
|
Caa1
|
|
|
|
436,143
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IT Services 2.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,965
|
|
|
First Data Corporation, Term Loan B1
|
|
|
3.065%
|
|
|
|
9/24/14
|
|
|
|
B+
|
|
|
|
1,477,570
|
|
|
2,006
|
|
|
SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Term Loan B
|
|
|
2.462%
|
|
|
|
2/28/14
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,868,693
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,971
|
|
|
Total IT Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,346,263
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Machinery 0.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
995
|
|
|
Manitowoc Company, Term Loan
|
|
|
7.500%
|
|
|
|
11/06/14
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
902,134
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JTA
|
|
|
Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund
(continued)
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount (000)
|
|
|
Description (1)
|
|
Coupon
|
|
|
Maturity (4)
|
|
|
Ratings (2)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Media 8.4%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,965
|
|
|
CanWest Mediaworks LP, Term Loan
|
|
|
4.250%
|
|
|
|
7/10/15
|
|
|
|
Caa3
|
|
|
$
|
1,080,750
|
|
|
1,955
|
|
|
Cequel Communications LLC, Term Loan B
|
|
|
2.318%
|
|
|
|
11/05/13
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,793,713
|
|
|
2,167
|
|
|
Charter Communications Operating Holdings LLC, Term
Loan, (5)
|
|
|
6.250%
|
|
|
|
3/06/14
|
|
|
|
Ba2
|
|
|
|
1,965,198
|
|
|
1,995
|
|
|
Discovery Communications Holdings LLC, Term Loan
|
|
|
2.598%
|
|
|
|
5/14/14
|
|
|
|
Baa3
|
|
|
|
1,882,697
|
|
|
1,903
|
|
|
Idearc, Inc., Term Loan, (5), (6)
|
|
|
4.250%
|
|
|
|
11/17/14
|
|
|
|
Caa3
|
|
|
|
821,567
|
|
|
963
|
|
|
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Studios, Inc., Term Loan B
|
|
|
3.560%
|
|
|
|
4/08/12
|
|
|
|
N/R
|
|
|
|
536,671
|
|
|
911
|
|
|
Neilsen Finance LLC, Term Loan
|
|
|
2.321%
|
|
|
|
8/09/13
|
|
|
|
Ba3
|
|
|
|
822,485
|
|
|
1,975
|
|
|
Tribune Company, Term Loan B, (5), (6)
|
|
|
3.468%
|
|
|
|
6/04/14
|
|
|
|
Ca
|
|
|
|
677,261
|
|
|
341
|
|
|
Tribune Company, Term Loan X, (5), (6)
|
|
|
2.968%
|
|
|
|
6/04/09
|
|
|
|
Ca
|
|
|
|
116,736
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
Univision Communications, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
2.560%
|
|
|
|
9/29/14
|
|
|
|
B2
|
|
|
|
1,500,714
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,175
|
|
|
Total Media
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,197,792
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metals & Mining 1.7%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,007
|
|
|
Amsted Industries, Inc., Delayed Term Loan
|
|
|
2.781%
|
|
|
|
4/06/13
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
939,982
|
|
|
1,386
|
|
|
Amsted Industries, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
3.060%
|
|
|
|
4/06/13
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,293,932
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,393
|
|
|
Total Metals & Mining
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,233,914
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals 0.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,128
|
|
|
Mylan Laboratories, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
3.815%
|
|
|
|
10/02/14
|
|
|
|
BB
|
|
|
|
1,091,611
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Real Estate Management &
Development 0.5%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,320
|
|
|
LNR Property Corporation, Term Loan B
|
|
|
3.820%
|
|
|
|
7/12/11
|
|
|
|
B2
|
|
|
|
682,440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Road & Rail 1.0%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,764
|
|
|
Swift Transportation Company, Inc., Term Loan
|
|
|
3.625%
|
|
|
|
5/10/14
|
|
|
|
B
|
|
|
|
1,317,151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Specialty Retail 1.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,462
|
|
|
TRU 2005 RE Holding Co I LLC, Term Loan
|
|
|
3.320%
|
|
|
|
12/08/09
|
|
|
|
B3
|
|
|
|
1,446,947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trading Companies &
Distributors 1.3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
912
|
|
|
Ashtead Group Public Limited Company, Term Loan
|
|
|
2.125%
|
|
|
|
8/31/11
|
|
|
|
BB+
|
|
|
|
843,600
|
|
|
193
|
|
|
Brenntag Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Acquisition Facility
|
|
|
2.380%
|
|
|
|
1/20/14
|
|
|
|
B+
|
|
|
|
178,150
|
|
|
799
|
|
|
Brenntag Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Facility B2
|
|
|
3.138%
|
|
|
|
1/20/14
|
|
|
|
B+
|
|
|
|
737,502
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,904
|
|
|
Total Trading Companies & Distributors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,759,252
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
59,117
|
|
|
Total Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests (cost
$58,339,452)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,478,115
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount (000)
|
|
|
Description (1)
|
|
Coupon
|
|
|
Maturity
|
|
|
Ratings (2)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Investments 6.6% (4.9% of Total
Investments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations2.4% (1.8% of
Total Investments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,600
|
|
|
U.S. Treasury Notes
|
|
|
3.125%
|
|
|
|
11/30/09
|
|
|
|
AAA
|
|
|
$
|
1,619,064
|
|
|
1,550
|
|
|
U.S. Treasury Notes
|
|
|
3.250%
|
|
|
|
12/31/09
|
|
|
|
AAA
|
|
|
|
1,572,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,150
|
|
|
Total U.S. Government and Agency Obligations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,191,710
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements 4.2% (3.1% of Total
Investments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,563
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation,
dated 6/30/09, repurchase price $5,563,109, collateralized by
$5,395,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 3.875%, due 7/15/10, value
$5,676,080
|
|
|
0.000%
|
|
|
|
7/01/09
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
5,563,109
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Short-Term Investments (cost $8,754,189)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,754,819
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investments (cost $211,312,149) 136.4%
|
|
|
181,899,604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings (11.6)% (7), (8)
|
|
|
(15,500,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Assets Less Liabilities (3.2)%
|
|
|
(4,171,958
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FundPreferred Shares, at Liquidation Value
(21.6)% (7)
|
|
|
(28,850,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares 100%
|
|
$
|
133,377,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based
on net assets applicable to Common shares unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
Ratings: Using the higher of Standard & Poors
Group (Standard & Poors) or
Moodys Investor Service, Inc. (Moodys)
rating. Ratings below BBB by Standard & Poors or
Baa by Moodys are considered to be below investment grade.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
|
Senior Loans generally pay interest at rates which are
periodically adjusted by reference to a base short-term,
floating lending rate plus an assigned fixed rate. These
floating lending rates are generally (i) the lending rate
referenced by the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate
(LIBOR), or (ii) the prime rate offered by one
or more major United States banks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Loans may be considered restricted in that the Fund
ordinarily is contractually obligated to receive approval from
the Agent Bank
and/or
Borrower prior to the disposition of a Senior Loan.
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
|
Senior Loans generally are subject to mandatory
and/or
optional prepayment. Because of these mandatory prepayment
conditions and because there may be significant economic
incentives for a Borrower to prepay, prepayments of Senior Loans
may occur. As a result, the actual remaining maturity of Senior
Loans held may be substantially less than the stated maturities
shown.
|
|
|
|
|
(5)
|
|
At or subsequent to June 30, 2009, this issue was under the
protection of the Federal Bankruptcy Court.
|
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
Non-income producing; denotes that the issuer has defaulted on
the payment of principal or interest or has filed for bankruptcy.
|
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
|
Borrowings and FundPreferred Shares, at Liquidation Value as a
percentage of Total Investments are 8.5% and 15.9%, respectively.
|
|
|
|
|
(8)
|
|
The Fund may pledge up to 100% of its eligible investments in
the Portfolio of Investments as collateral for Borrowings. As of
June 30, 2009, investments with a value of $48,077,900 have
been pledged as collateral for Borrowings.
|
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Not applicable.
|
|
|
|
|
N/R
|
|
Not rated.
|
|
|
|
|
WI/DD
|
|
Purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.
|
|
|
|
|
ADR
|
|
American Depositary Receipt.
|
|
|
|
|
TBD
|
|
Senior Loan purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery
basis. Certain details associated with this purchase are not
known prior to the settlement date of the transaction. In
addition, Senior Loans typically trade without accrued interest
and therefore a weighted average coupon rate is not available
prior to settlement. At settlement, if still unknown, the
Borrower or counterparty will provide the Fund with the final
weighted average coupon rate and maturity date.
|
See accompanying notes to
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of
ASSETS & LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Investments, at value (cost $211,312,149)
|
|
$
|
181,899,604
|
|
Receivables:
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends
|
|
|
411,013
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
196,093
|
|
Investments sold
|
|
|
2,548,855
|
|
Reclaims
|
|
|
62,051
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
43,615
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
185,161,231
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Cash overdraft
|
|
|
23,690
|
|
Borrowings
|
|
|
15,500,000
|
|
Payables:
|
|
|
|
|
Common share dividends
|
|
|
2,560,414
|
|
Common shares repurchased
|
|
|
16,280
|
|
Investments purchased
|
|
|
4,652,570
|
|
FundPreferred shares dividends
|
|
|
7,320
|
|
Accrued expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
Interest on borrowings
|
|
|
2,949
|
|
Management fees
|
|
|
97,172
|
|
Other
|
|
|
73,190
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
22,933,585
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FundPreferred shares, at liquidation value
|
|
|
28,850,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets applicable to Common shares
|
|
$
|
133,377,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,945,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per Common share outstanding (net assets
applicable to Common shares, divided by Common shares
outstanding)
|
|
$
|
9.56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets applicable to Common shares consist of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shares, $.01 par value per share
|
|
$
|
139,457
|
|
Paid-in surplus
|
|
|
268,699,177
|
|
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income
|
|
|
(3,924,011
|
)
|
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) from investments
|
|
|
(102,124,432
|
)
|
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments
|
|
|
(29,412,545
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets applicable to Common shares
|
|
$
|
133,377,646
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authorized shares:
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Unlimited
|
|
FundPreferred
|
|
|
Unlimited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of
OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Income
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends (net of foreign tax withheld of $68,499)
|
|
$
|
2,885,361
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
1,027,304
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total investment income
|
|
|
3,912,665
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
Management fees
|
|
|
757,481
|
|
FundPreferred shares auction fees
|
|
|
31,181
|
|
FundPreferred shares dividend disbursing agent fees
|
|
|
2,975
|
|
Shareholders servicing agent fees and expenses
|
|
|
547
|
|
Interest expense on borrowings and amortization of borrowing
costs
|
|
|
312,147
|
|
Custodians fees and expenses
|
|
|
14,884
|
|
Trustees fees and expenses
|
|
|
2,882
|
|
Professional fees
|
|
|
26,441
|
|
Shareholders reports printing and mailing
expenses
|
|
|
38,643
|
|
Stock exchange listing fees
|
|
|
4,572
|
|
Investor relations expense
|
|
|
14,843
|
|
Other expenses
|
|
|
16,604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses before custodian fee credit and expense
reimbursement
|
|
|
1,223,200
|
|
Custodian fee credit
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
Expense reimbursement
|
|
|
(214,608
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses
|
|
|
1,008,589
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
|
2,904,076
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) from investments
|
|
|
(21,742,901
|
)
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of
investments
|
|
|
27,419,277
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
|
|
|
5,676,376
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to FundPreferred Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
From and in excess of net investment income
|
|
|
(226,924
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease in net assets applicable to Common shares from
distributions to FundPreferred shareholders
|
|
|
(226,924
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common
shares from operations
|
|
$
|
8,353,528
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of
CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
6/30/09
|
|
|
12/31/08
|
|
Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
$
|
2,904,076
|
|
|
$
|
10,805,830
|
|
Net realized gain (loss) from investments
|
|
|
(21,742,901
|
)
|
|
|
(73,871,997
|
)
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of
investments
|
|
|
27,419,277
|
|
|
|
(108,432,470
|
)
|
Distributions to FundPreferred shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From and in excess of net investment income
|
|
|
(226,924
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
From net investment income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,705,800
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common
shares from operations
|
|
|
8,353,528
|
|
|
|
(173,204,437
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to Common Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From and in excess of net investment income
|
|
|
(6,420,803
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
From net investment income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,743,713
|
)
|
From accumulated net realized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,902,935
|
)
|
Tax return of capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11,159,176
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease in net assets applicable to Common shares from
distributions to Common shareholders
|
|
|
(6,420,803
|
)
|
|
|
(23,805,824
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Share Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shares repurchased
|
|
|
(101,474
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common
shares from capital share transactions
|
|
|
(101,474
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common
shares
|
|
|
1,831,251
|
|
|
|
(197,010,261
|
)
|
Net assets applicable to Common shares at the beginning of period
|
|
|
131,546,395
|
|
|
|
328,556,656
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets applicable to Common shares at the end of period
|
|
$
|
133,377,646
|
|
|
$
|
131,546,395
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income at
the end of period
|
|
$
|
(3,924,011
|
)
|
|
$
|
(180,360
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of
CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common
Shares from Operations
|
|
$
|
8,353,528
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile the net increase (decrease) in net
assets applicable to Common shares from operations to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
(46,683,036
|
)
|
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
70,984,790
|
|
Proceeds from (Purchases of) short-term investments, net
|
|
|
(6,708,366
|
)
|
Amortization (Accretion) of premiums and discounts, net
|
|
|
(7,233
|
)
|
(Increase) Decrease in receivable for dividends
|
|
|
333,287
|
|
(Increase) Decrease in receivable for interest
|
|
|
323,483
|
|
(Increase) Decrease in receivable for investments sold
|
|
|
(2,048,204
|
)
|
(Increase) Decrease in receivable for reclaims
|
|
|
(31,869
|
)
|
(Increase) Decrease in other assets
|
|
|
(7,881
|
)
|
Increase (Decrease) in payable for investments purchased
|
|
|
4,652,570
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in payable for FundPreferred share dividends
|
|
|
6,014
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in accrued interest on borrowings
|
|
|
(2,383
|
)
|
Increase (Decrease) in accrued management fees
|
|
|
1,280
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in accrued other liabilities
|
|
|
(86,889
|
)
|
Net realized (gain) loss from investments
|
|
|
21,742,901
|
|
Net realized (gain) loss from paydowns
|
|
|
17,873
|
|
Change in net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of
investments
|
|
|
(27,419,277
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
23,420,588
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in cash overdraft balance
|
|
|
23,690
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in borrowings
|
|
|
(19,500,000
|
)
|
Increase (Decrease) in payable for Common shares repurchased
|
|
|
16,280
|
|
Cost of Common shares repurchased
|
|
|
(101,474
|
)
|
Cash distributions paid to Common shareholders
|
|
|
(3,860,389
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
(23,421,893
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash
|
|
|
(1,305
|
)
|
Cash at the beginning of period
|
|
|
1,305
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash at the End of Period
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Cash paid for interest on borrowings (excluding amortization of
borrowing costs) during the six months ended June 30, 2009,
was $314,530.
See accompanying notes to
financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
General
Information and Significant Accounting Policies
|
Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (the
Fund) is a closed-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The Funds Common shares are listed on the New York Stock
Exchange and trade under the ticker symbol JTA. The
Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on
October 1, 2003.
The Fund seeks to provide a high level of after-tax total return
consisting primarily of tax-advantaged dividend income and
capital appreciation by investing primarily in a portfolio of
dividend-paying common stocks that the Fund believes at the time
of investment are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for
favorable federal income taxation at rates applicable to
long-term capital gains (tax-advantaged dividends).
The Fund will also invest, to a more limited extent, in
preferred securities that are eligible to pay tax-advantaged
dividends, as well as senior loans (both secured and unsecured),
domestic corporate bonds, notes and debentures, convertible debt
securities, and other similar types of corporate instruments,
including high-yield debt securities, that are not eligible to
pay tax-advantaged dividends.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies
followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial
statements in accordance with US generally accepted accounting
principles.
Investment
Valuation
Exchange-listed securities are generally valued at the last
sales price on the securities exchange on which such securities
are primarily traded. Securities traded on a securities exchange
for which there are no transactions on a given day or securities
not listed on a securities exchange are valued at the mean of
the closing bid and asked prices. Securities traded on NASDAQ
are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. The prices of
fixed-income securities and senior loans are generally provided
by an independent pricing service approved by the Funds
Board of Trustees. When market price quotes are not readily
available, the pricing service may or, in the absence of a
pricing service for a particular investment the Board of
Trustees of the Fund or its designee, establish fair value using
a wide variety of market data including yields or prices of
investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon,
maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from
security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or
collateral, general market conditions and other information and
analysis, including the obligors credit characteristics
considered relevant. Short-term investments are valued at
amortized cost, which approximates value.
The senior loans in which the Fund invests are not listed on an
organized exchange and the secondary market for such investments
may be less liquid relative to markets for other fixed-income
securities. Consequently, the value of senior loans, determined
as described above, may differ significantly from the value that
would have been determined had there been an active market for
that senior loan.
Investment
Transactions
Investment transactions are recorded on a trade date basis.
Trade date for senior loans purchased in the primary
market is considered the date on which the loan
allocations are determined. Trade date for senior loans
purchased in the secondary market is the date on
which the transaction is entered into. Realized gains and losses
from investment transactions are determined on the specific
identification method. Investments purchased on a
when-issued/delayed delivery basis may have extended settlement
periods. Any investments so purchased are subject to market
fluctuation during this period. The Fund has instructed the
custodian to segregate assets with a current value at least
equal to the amount of the when-issued/delayed delivery purchase
commitments. At June 30, 2009, the Fund had outstanding
when-issued/delayed delivery purchase commitments of $4,652,570.
Investment
Income
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for
foreign securities, when information is available. Interest
income, which includes the amortization of premiums and
accretion of discounts for financial reporting purposes, is
recorded on an accrual basis. Interest income also includes
paydown gains and losses, fee income and amendment fees, if any.
Fee income consists primarily of amendment fees. Amendment fees
are earned as compensation for evaluating and accepting changes
to an original senior loan agreement and are recognized when
received.
Income
Taxes
The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to
regulated investment companies. The Fund intends to distribute
substantially all of its investment company taxable income to
shareholders. In any year when the Fund realizes net capital
gains, the Fund may choose to
distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains to
shareholders, or alternatively, to retain all or a portion of
its net capital gains and pay federal corporate income taxes on
such retained gains. The Fund had no retained capital gains for
the tax year ended December 31, 2008.
For all open tax years and all major taxing jurisdictions,
management of the Fund has concluded that there are no
significant uncertain tax positions that would require
recognition in the financial statements. Open tax years are
those that are open for examination by taxing authorities (i.e.,
generally the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period
since then). Furthermore, management of the Fund is also not
aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible
that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will
significantly change in the next twelve months.
Dividends and
Distributions to Common Shareholders
Distributions to Common shareholders are recorded on the
ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are
determined in accordance with federal corporate income tax
regulations, which may differ from US generally accepted
accounting principles.
The Fund makes quarterly cash distributions to Common
shareholders of a stated dollar amount per share. Subject to
approval and oversight by the Funds Board of Trustees, the
Fund seeks to maintain a stable distribution level designed to
deliver the long-term return potential of the Funds
investment strategy through regular quarterly distributions (a
Managed Distribution Program). Total distributions
during a calendar year generally will be made from the
Funds net investment income, net realized capital gains
and net unrealized capital gains in the Funds portfolio,
if any. The portion of distributions paid from net unrealized
gains, if any, would be distributed from the Funds assets
and would be treated by shareholders as a non-taxable
distribution for tax purposes. In the event that total
distributions during a calendar year exceed the Funds
total return on net asset value, the difference will be treated
as a return of capital for tax purposes and will reduce net
asset value per share. If the Funds total return on net
asset value exceeds total distributions during a calendar year,
the excess will be reflected as an increase in net asset value
per share. The final determination of the source and character
of all distributions for the fiscal year are made after the end
of the fiscal year and are reflected in the financial statements
contained in the annual report as of December 31 each year.
The actual character of distributions made by the Fund during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, is reflected in
the accompanying financial statements.
The distributions made by the Fund during the six months ended
June 30, 2009, are provisionally classified as being
From and in excess of net investment income, and
those distributions will be classified as being from net
investment income, net realized capital gains
and/or a
return of capital for tax purposes after the fiscal year end.
For purposes of calculating Undistributed
(Over-distribution of) net investment income as of
June 30, 2009, the distribution amounts provisionally
classified as From and in excess of net investment
income were treated as being entirely from net investment
income. Consequently, the financial statements at June 30,
2009, reflect an over-distribution of net investment income.
FundPreferred
Shares
As of June 30, 2009, Fund has issued and outstanding 1,154
Series W FundPreferred shares, $25,000 stated value per
share, as a means of effecting financial leverage. The dividend
rate paid by the Fund is determined every seven days, pursuant
to a dutch auction process overseen by the auction agent, and is
payable at the end of each rate period.
Beginning in February 2008, more shares for sale were submitted
in the regularly scheduled auctions for the FundPreferred shares
issued by the Fund than there were offers to buy. This meant
that these auctions failed to clear, and that many
FundPreferred shareholders who wanted to sell their shares in
these auctions were unable to do so. FundPreferred shareholders
unable to sell their shares received distributions at the
maximum rate applicable to failed auctions as
calculated in accordance with the pre-established terms of the
FundPreferred shares.
These developments have generally not affected the management or
investment policies of the Fund. However, one implication of
these auction failures for Common shareholders is that the
Funds cost of leverage will likely be higher, at least
temporarily, than it otherwise would have been had the auctions
continued to be successful. As a result, the Funds future
Common share earnings may be lower than they otherwise would
have been.
As of June 30, 2009 the Fund has redeemed $16,150,000 of
its outstanding FundPreferred shares, at liquidation value.
Derivative
Financial Instruments
The Fund is authorized to invest in derivative financial
instruments or other transactions for the purpose of hedging the
portfolios exposure to common stock risk, high yield
credit risk, foreign currency exchange risk and the risk of
increases in interest rates. Although the Fund is authorized to
invest in such financial instruments, and may do so in the
future, it did not invest in any such instruments during the six
months ended June 30, 2009.
Repurchase
Agreements
In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, it is
the Funds policy that its custodian take possession of the
underlying collateral securities, the fair value of which
exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction,
including accrued interest, at all times. If the seller
defaults, and the fair value of the collateral declines,
realization of the collateral may be delayed or limited.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(continued) (Unaudited)
|
Custodian Fee
Credit
The Fund has an arrangement with the custodian bank whereby
certain custodian fees and expenses are reduced by net credits
earned on the Funds cash on deposit with the bank. Such
deposit arrangements are an alternative to overnight
investments. Credits for cash balances may be offset by charges
for any days on which the Fund overdraws its account at the
custodian bank.
Indemnifications
Under the Funds organizational documents, its Officers and
Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out
of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in
the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts
that provide general 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
Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund has not had
prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects
the risk of loss to be remote.
Use of
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases
in net assets applicable to Common shares from operations during
the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those
estimates.
|
|
2.
|
Fair Value
Measurements
|
In determining the value of the Funds investments various
inputs are used. These inputs are summarized in the three broad
levels listed below:
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
|
Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
|
Level 2
|
|
|
|
Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for
similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit
risk, etc.).
|
Level 3
|
|
|
|
Significant unobservable inputs (including managements
assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
|
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an
indication of the risk associated with investing in those
securities. The following is a summary of the Funds fair
value measurements as of June 30, 2009:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stocks
|
|
$
|
111,630,108
|
|
|
$
|
4,654,249
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
116,284,357
|
|
Preferred Securities*
|
|
|
7,038,363
|
|
|
|
1,343,950
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,382,313
|
|
Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,478,115
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,478,115
|
|
Short-Term Investments
|
|
|
8,754,819
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,754,819
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
127,423,290
|
|
|
$
|
54,476,314
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
181,899,604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Preferred Securities may include Convertible Preferred
Securities, $25 Par (or similar) Preferred Securities and
Capital Preferred Securities.
|
|
|
3.
|
Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities
|
During the current fiscal period, the Fund adopted the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
161 (SFAS No. 161) Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities. This standard is
intended to enhance financial statement disclosures for
derivative instruments and hedging activities and enable
investors to better understand: a) how and why a fund uses
derivative instruments; b) how derivative instruments are
accounted for; and c) how derivative instruments affect a
funds financial position, results of operations and cash
flows, if any. The Fund records derivative instruments at fair
value with changes in fair value recognized on the Statement of
Operations. Even though the Funds investments in
derivatives may represent economic hedges, they are considered
to be non-hedge transactions for SFAS No. 161 disclosure
purposes. The Fund did not invest in derivative instruments
during the six months ended June 30, 2009.
Common
Shares
On July 30, 2008, the Funds Board of Trustees
approved an open-market share repurchase program under which the
Fund may repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately 10% of
its outstanding Common shares.
Transactions in Common shares were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
6/30/09
|
|
|
12/31/08
|
|
Common shares repurchased
|
|
|
(12,600
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Price per share repurchased
|
|
$
|
8.03
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discount per share repurchased
|
|
|
15.78
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FundPreferred
Shares
Transactions in FundPreferred shares were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
6/30/09
|
|
|
12/31/08
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
FundPreferred Series W shares redeemed
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
646
|
|
|
$
|
16,150,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective May 1, 2009, auction participation fees with
respect to auctions that have failed have been reduced from 25
bps (annualized) to 15 bps (annualized). All auction
participants have signed new agreements incorporating this
change.
|
|
5.
|
Investment
Transactions
|
Purchases and sales (including maturities but excluding
short-term investments) during the six months ended
June 30, 2009, aggregated $46,683,036 and $70,984,790,
respectively.
|
|
6.
|
Income Tax
Information
|
The following information is presented on an income tax basis.
Differences between amounts for financial statement and federal
income tax purposes are primarily due to the treatment of
paydown gains and losses, recognition of premium amortization
and timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses
on investment transactions. To the extent that differences arise
that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified
within the capital accounts on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities presented in the annual report, based on their
federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not
require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do
not impact the net asset value of the Fund.
At June 30, 2009, the cost of investments was $213,820,211.
Gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation
of investments at June 30, 2009, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Gross unrealized:
|
|
|
|
|
Appreciation
|
|
$
|
14,161,627
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
(46,082,234
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments
|
|
$
|
(31,920,607
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The tax components of undistributed net ordinary income and net
long-term capital gains at December 31, 2008, the
Funds last tax year end, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Undistributed net ordinary income *
|
|
$
|
|
|
Undistributed net long-term capital gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from
dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.
|
The tax character of distributions paid during the Funds
last tax year ended December 31, 2008, was designated for
purposes of the dividends paid deduction as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions from net ordinary income *
|
|
$
|
11,480,569
|
|
Distributions from net long-term capital gains
|
|
|
2,902,935
|
|
Tax return of capital
|
|
|
11,159,176
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from
dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.
|
At December 31, 2008, the Funds last tax year end,
the Fund had an unused capital loss carryforward of $67,127,564
available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against
future capital gains, if any. If not applied, the carryforward
will expire on December 31, 2016.
The Fund elected to defer net realized losses from investments
incurred from November 1, 2008, through December 31,
2008, the Funds last tax year end, (post-October
losses) in accordance with federal income tax regulations.
Post-October capital losses of $10,772,243 are treated as having
arisen on the first day of the current fiscal year.
|
|
7.
|
Management Fees
and Other Transactions with Affiliates
|
The Funds management fee is separated into two
components a complex-level component, based on the
aggregate amount of all fund assets managed by Nuveen Asset
Management (the Adviser), a wholly owned subsidiary
of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (Nuveen), and a specific
fund-level component, based only on the amount of assets within
the Fund. This pricing structure enables Nuveen fund
shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within each
individual fund as well as from growth in the amount of
complex-wide assets managed by the Adviser.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(continued) (Unaudited)
|
The annual fund-level fee, payable monthly, is based upon the
average daily managed net assets of the Fund as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Average Daily Managed Net Assets
(1)
|
|
Fund-Level Fee Rate
|
For the first $500 million
|
|
|
.7000
|
%
|
For the next $500 million
|
|
|
.6750
|
|
For the next $500 million
|
|
|
.6500
|
|
For the next $500 million
|
|
|
.6250
|
|
For Managed Assets over $2 billion
|
|
|
.6000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The annual complex-level fee, payable monthly, which is additive
to the fund-level fee, for all Nuveen sponsored funds in the
U.S., is based on the aggregate amount of total fund net assets
managed as stated in the following table. As of June 30,
2009, the complex level fee rate was .1970%.
The complex-level fee schedule is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Complex-Level Net Asset
Breakpoint Level
(1)
|
|
Effective Rate at Breakpoint
Level
|
$55 billion
|
|
|
.2000
|
%
|
$56 billion
|
|
|
.1996
|
|
$57 billion
|
|
|
.1989
|
|
$60 billion
|
|
|
.1961
|
|
$63 billion
|
|
|
.1931
|
|
$66 billion
|
|
|
.1900
|
|
$71 billion
|
|
|
.1851
|
|
$76 billion
|
|
|
.1806
|
|
$80 billion
|
|
|
.1773
|
|
$91 billion
|
|
|
.1691
|
|
$125 billion
|
|
|
.1599
|
|
$200 billion
|
|
|
.1505
|
|
$250 billion
|
|
|
.1469
|
|
$300 billion
|
|
|
.1445
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The complex-level fee component of the management fee for the
funds is calculated based upon the aggregate daily managed net
assets of all Nuveen funds, with such daily managed net assets
defined separately for each fund in its management agreement,
but excluding assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen
funds. For the complex-level and fund-level fee components,
daily managed net assets include assets managed by the Adviser
that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes,
financial leverage includes the funds use of preferred
stock and borrowings and investments in the residual interest
certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in
tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets
held by the TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the
trusts issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an
agreement by the Adviser to limit the amount of such assets for
determining managed net assets in certain circumstances.
|
The management fee compensates the Adviser for overall
investment advisory and administrative services and general
office facilities. The Adviser has entered into
Sub-Advisory Agreements with NWQ Investment Management Company,
LLC (NWQ) and Symphony Asset Management, LLC
(Symphony), both subsidiaries of Nuveen. NWQ manages
the portion of the Funds investment portfolio
allocated to dividend-paying common and preferred stocks
including American Depositary Receipts
(ADRs). Symphony manages the portion of the
Funds investment portfolio allocated to senior loans and
other debt instruments. NWQ and Symphony are compensated for
their services to the Fund from the management fee paid to the
Adviser.
The Fund pays no compensation directly to those of its Trustees
who are affiliated with the Adviser or to its Officers, all of
whom receive remuneration for their services to the Fund from
the Adviser or its affiliates. The Board of Trustees has adopted
a deferred compensation plan for independent Trustees that
enables Trustees to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion
of the annual compensation they are entitled to receive from
certain Nuveen advised funds. Under the plan, deferred amounts
are treated as though equal dollar amounts had been invested in
shares of select Nuveen advised funds.
For the first eight years of the Funds operations, the
Adviser has agreed to reimburse the Fund, as a percentage of
average daily managed net assets, for fees and expenses in the
amounts and for the time periods set forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ending
|
|
|
|
Year Ending
|
|
|
January 31,
|
|
|
|
January 31,
|
|
|
2004 *
|
|
|
.32
|
%
|
|
2009
|
|
|
.32
|
%
|
2005
|
|
|
.32
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
.24
|
|
2006
|
|
|
.32
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
.16
|
|
2007
|
|
|
.32
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
.08
|
|
2008
|
|
|
.32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
From the commencement of operations.
|
The Adviser has not agreed to reimburse the Fund for any portion
of its fees and expenses beyond January 31, 2012.
|
|
8.
|
Senior Loan
Commitments
|
Unfunded
Commitments
Pursuant to the terms of certain of the variable rate senior
loan agreements, the Fund may have unfunded senior loan
commitments. The Fund will maintain with its custodian, cash,
liquid securities and/or liquid senior loans having an aggregate
value at least equal to the amount of unfunded senior loan
commitments. At June 30, 2009, the Fund had no unfunded
senior loan commitments.
Participation
Commitments
With respect to the senior loans held in the Funds
portfolio, the Fund may: 1) invest in assignments; 2) act as a
participant in primary lending syndicates; or 3) invest in
participations. If the Fund purchases a participation of a
senior loan interest, the Fund would typically enter into a
contractual agreement with the lender or other third party
selling the participation, rather than directly with the
Borrower. As such, the Fund not only assumes the credit risk of
the Borrower, but also that of the Selling Participant or other
persons interpositioned between the Fund and the Borrower. At
June 30, 2009, there were no such outstanding participation
commitments.
|
|
9.
|
Borrowing
Arrangements
|
Management determined that leveraging the Fund with debt as a
replacement for Fund preferred shares continued to benefit the
Funds shareholders. The Fund has entered into a
$104 million prime brokerage facility with Bank of America,
which was subsequently assigned to BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage,
Inc. As of June 30, 2009, the outstanding balance on this
facility was $15 million. In order to maintain the
facility, the Fund must meet certain collateral, asset coverage
and other requirements. Borrowings outstanding are fully secured
by securities held in the Funds Portfolio of Investments.
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, the average daily
balance outstanding and average interest rate on these
borrowings were $20,754,144 and 1.99%, respectively.
Interest is charged at 3 Month LIBOR (London Inter-bank
Offered Rate) plus .95% on the amount borrowed and .50% on the
undrawn balance.
Interest expense incurred on the drawn and undrawn balances are
recognized as Interest expense on borrowings and
amortization of borrowing costs on the Statement of
Operations.
In May 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 165
(SFAS No. 165) Subsequent Events.
SFAS No. 165 requires an entity to recognize in the
financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that
provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the
date of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 165 is intended to
establish general standards of accounting and for disclosure of
events that occur after the balance sheet date but before
financial statements are issued or are available to be issued.
SFAS No. 165 requires the disclosure of the date
through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the
basis for that datethat is, whether that date represents
the date the financial statements were issued or were available
to be issued. SFAS No. 165 is effective for interim
and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Fund has
performed an evaluation of subsequent events through
August 26, 2009, which is the date the financial statements
were issued.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial
HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
Selected data for a Common share outstanding throughout each
period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Operations
|
|
|
Less Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
from Net
|
|
|
Distributions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
|
from Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Return of
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
Ending
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized/
|
|
|
Income to
|
|
|
Gains to
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income to
|
|
|
Gains to
|
|
|
Capital to
|
|
|
|
|
|
FundPreferred
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Unrealized
|
|
|
FundPreferred
|
|
|
FundPreferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
|
|
|
Share
|
|
|
Ending
|
|
|
|
Net Asset
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
|
Gain
|
|
|
Share-
|
|
|
Share-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-
|
|
|
Share-
|
|
|
Share-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting
|
|
|
Net Asset
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Income(a)
|
|
|
(Loss)(b)
|
|
|
holders
|
|
|
holders
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
holders
|
|
|
holders
|
|
|
holders
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Discounts
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Year Ended 12/31:
|
2009(e)
|
|
$
|
9.42
|
|
|
$
|
.21
|
|
|
$
|
.41
|
|
|
$
|
(.02
|
)****
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
.60
|
|
|
$
|
(.19
|
)****
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(.27
|
)
|
|
$
|
(.46
|
)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
9.56
|
|
|
$
|
8.19
|
|
2008
|
|
|
23.54
|
|
|
|
.77
|
|
|
|
(13.06
|
)
|
|
|
(.12
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12.41
|
)
|
|
|
(.70
|
)
|
|
|
(.21
|
)
|
|
|
(.80
|
)
|
|
|
(1.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.42
|
|
|
|
7.58
|
|
2007
|
|
|
25.98
|
|
|
|
.90
|
|
|
|
(1.22
|
)
|
|
|
(.05
|
)
|
|
|
(.11
|
)
|
|
|
(.48
|
)
|
|
|
(.82
|
)
|
|
|
(1.14
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.96
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23.54
|
|
|
|
21.81
|
|
2006
|
|
|
22.33
|
|
|
|
.89
|
|
|
|
4.48
|
|
|
|
(.05
|
)
|
|
|
(.09
|
)
|
|
|
5.23
|
|
|
|
(.88
|
)
|
|
|
(.70
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.58
|
)
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
25.98
|
|
|
|
27.09
|
|
2005
|
|
|
21.54
|
|
|
|
.83
|
|
|
|
1.76
|
|
|
|
(.05
|
)
|
|
|
(.05
|
)
|
|
|
2.49
|
|
|
|
(.78
|
)
|
|
|
(.91
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.69
|
)
|
|
|
(.01
|
)
|
|
|
22.33
|
|
|
|
21.37
|
|
2004(c)
|
|
|
19.10
|
|
|
|
.67
|
|
|
|
2.69
|
|
|
|
(.03
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.33
|
|
|
|
(.67
|
)
|
|
|
(.10
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(.77
|
)
|
|
|
(.12
|
)
|
|
|
21.54
|
|
|
|
19.35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FundNotes at End of Period
|
|
|
FundPreferred Shares at End of Period
|
|
|
Borrowings at End of Period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Market
|
|
|
Asset
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Value Per
|
|
|
Coverage Per
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
Liquidation
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
$25,000 of
|
|
|
$1,000 of
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
and Market
|
|
|
Asset
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Asset
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Coverage
|
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Coverage
|
|
|
|
(000)
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
(000)
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
(000)
|
|
|
Per $1,000
|
|
Year Ended 12/31:
|
2009(e)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
28,850
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
140,579
|
|
|
$
|
15,500
|
|
|
$
|
11,466
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28,850
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
138,992
|
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
5,583
|
|
2007
|
|
|
78,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
5,789
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
207,531
|
|
|
|
33,000
|
|
|
|
14,684
|
|
2006
|
|
|
78,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
6,202
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
225,411
|
|
|
|
33,000
|
|
|
|
15,659
|
|
2005
|
|
|
78,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
5,544
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
196,918
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004(c)
|
|
|
78,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
5,403
|
|
|
|
45,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
190,805
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
Per share Net Investment Income is
calculated using the average daily shares method.
|
(b)
|
|
Net of federal corporate income
taxes on long-term capital gains retained by the Fund per share
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term
|
|
|
|
Capital Gains
|
|
|
|
Retained
|
|
Year Ended 12/31:
|
2009(e)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
2008
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
2006
|
|
|
.33
|
|
2005
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
2004(c)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
For the period January 27,
2004 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2004.
|
(d)
|
|
Borrowings Interest Expense
includes amortization of borrowing costs.
|
(e)
|
|
For the six months ended
June 30, 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Returns
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets
|
|
|
Ratios to Average Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Ending
|
|
|
Applicable to Common Shares
|
|
|
Applicable to Common Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
|
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
Before Credit/Reimbursement
|
|
|
After Credit/Reimbursement***
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Applicable to
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Portfolio
|
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
Asset
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
|
Turnover
|
|
|
|
Value**
|
|
|
Value**
|
|
|
Shares (000)
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Rate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14.87
|
%
|
|
|
6.93
|
%
|
|
$
|
133,378
|
|
|
|
2.03
|
%*****
|
|
|
4.46
|
%*****
|
|
|
1.67
|
%*****
|
|
|
4.81
|
%*****
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
|
(60.54
|
)
|
|
|
(55.29
|
)
|
|
|
131,546
|
|
|
|
3.74
|
|
|
|
4.03
|
|
|
|
3.24
|
|
|
|
4.53
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
|
(12.99
|
)
|
|
|
(2.38
|
)
|
|
|
328,557
|
|
|
|
3.10
|
|
|
|
2.99
|
|
|
|
2.64
|
|
|
|
3.45
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
35.52
|
|
|
|
24.19
|
|
|
|
360,740
|
|
|
|
2.79
|
|
|
|
3.28
|
|
|
|
2.34
|
|
|
|
3.73
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
20.00
|
|
|
|
11.93
|
|
|
|
309,452
|
|
|
|
2.26
|
|
|
|
3.36
|
|
|
|
1.81
|
|
|
|
3.81
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
.91
|
|
|
|
17.18
|
|
|
|
298,449
|
|
|
|
1.80
|
*****
|
|
|
3.30
|
*****
|
|
|
1.37
|
*****
|
|
|
3.73
|
*****
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Rounds to less than $.01 per
share.
|
|
**
|
|
Total Return Based on
Market Value is the combination of changes in the market price
per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and
reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average
price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last
dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the
first business day of the following month, is assumed to be
reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment
for the last dividend declared in the period takes place over
several days, and in some instances may not be based on the
market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different
from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not
annualized.
|
|
|
|
Total Return Based on
Common Share Net Asset Value is the combination of changes in
Common Share net asset value, reinvested dividend income at net
asset value and reinvested capital gains distributions at net
asset value, if any. The last dividend declared in the period,
which is typically paid on the first business day of the
following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending net
asset value. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend
declared in the period may often be based on the Funds
market price (and not its net asset value), and therefore may be
different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns
are not annualized.
|
|
|
|
The Fund elected to
retain a portion of its realized long-term capital gains for the
following tax years ended December 31, (which is the fiscal
year end for the Fund) and pay required federal corporate income
taxes on these amounts. As reported on Form 2439, Common
shareholders on record date must include their pro-rata share of
these gains on their applicable federal tax returns, and are
entitled to take offsetting tax credits, for their pro-rata
share of the taxes paid by the Fund. The standardized total
returns shown above do not include the economic benefit to
Common shareholders on record date of these tax credits/refunds.
The Funds corresponding Total Return Based on Market Value
and Common Share Net Asset Value when these benefits are
included are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Returns
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
|
Shareholders
|
|
|
Based on
|
|
|
Common Share
|
|
|
|
of Record on
|
|
|
Market Value
|
|
|
Net Asset Value
|
|
Year Ended 12/31:
|
2009(e)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
14.87
|
%
|
|
|
6.93
|
%
|
2008
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
(60.54
|
)
|
|
|
(55.29
|
)
|
2007
|
|
|
December 31
|
|
|
|
(12.18
|
)
|
|
|
(1.54
|
)
|
2006
|
|
|
December 29
|
|
|
|
37.15
|
|
|
|
25.75
|
|
2005
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
20.00
|
|
|
|
11.93
|
|
2004(c)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
.91
|
|
|
|
17.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
***
|
|
After custodian fee credit and
expense reimbursement, where applicable.
|
|
****
|
|
Represents distributions paid
From and in excess of net investment income for the
six months ended June 30, 2009.
|
|
*****
|
|
Annualized.
|
|
|
The amounts shown are based on
Common share equivalents.
|
|
|
Ratios do not reflect
the effect of dividend payments to FundPreferred shareholders.
|
|
|
Net Investment Income
ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets
attributable to FundPreferred shares, FundNotes and borrowings,
where applicable.
|
|
|
Each Ratio of Expenses
to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares and each Ratio
of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets Applicable to
Common Shares includes the effect of the interest expense paid
on FundNotes and borrowings as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of FundNotes Interest Expense
to
|
|
|
Ratio of Borrowings Interest
Expense to
|
|
|
|
Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares(d)
|
|
|
Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares(d)
|
|
Year Ended 12/31:
|
2009(e)
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
.52
|
%*****
|
2008
|
|
|
1.12
|
|
|
|
1.00
|
|
2007
|
|
|
1.11
|
|
|
|
.51
|
|
2006
|
|
|
1.11
|
|
|
|
.23
|
|
2005
|
|
|
.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004(c)
|
|
|
.37
|
*****
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Not applicable for the six months
ended June 30, 2009. The Fund had no retained capital gains
for the tax year ended, December 31, 2008, or for the tax
years ended prior to December 31, 2006.
|
See accompanying notes to the
financial statements.
Annual Investment
Management
Agreement Approval Process
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
1940 Act), provides, in substance, that each
investment advisory agreement between a fund and its investment
adviser (including
sub-advisers)
will continue in effect from year to year only if its
continuance is approved at least annually by the funds
board members, including by a vote of a majority of the board
members who are not parties to the advisory agreement or
interested persons of any parties (the
Independent Board Members), cast in person at
a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval.
In connection with such approvals, the funds board members
must request and evaluate, and the investment adviser is
required to furnish, such information as may be reasonably
necessary to evaluate the terms of the advisory agreement.
Accordingly, at a meeting held on May
27-29, 2009
(the May Meeting), the Board of Trustees (the
Board, and each Trustee, a Board
Member) of the Fund, including a majority of the
Independent Board Members, considered and approved the
continuation of the advisory and
sub-advisory
agreements for the Fund for an additional one-year period. These
agreements include the investment advisory agreement between
Nuveen Asset Management (NAM) and the Fund
and the
sub-advisory
agreements between NAM and NWQ Investment Management Company,
LLC (NWQ) and NAM and Symphony Asset
Management LLC (Symphony and, together with
NWQ, the
Sub-Advisers).
In preparation for their considerations at the May Meeting, the
Board also held a separate meeting on April
21-22, 2009
(the April Meeting). Accordingly, the factors
considered and determinations made regarding the renewals by the
Independent Board Members include those made at the April
Meeting.
In addition, in evaluating the advisory agreement (the
Investment Management Agreement) and
sub-advisory
agreements (each, a
Sub-advisory
Agreement, and the Investment Management Agreement and
Sub-advisory
Agreements are each an Advisory Agreement),
the Independent Board Members reviewed a broad range of
information relating to the Fund, NAM and the
Sub-Advisers
(NAM and the
Sub-Advisers
are each a Fund Adviser), including
absolute performance, fee and expense information for the Fund
as well as comparative performance, fee and expense information
for a comparable peer group of funds, the performance
information of recognized
and/or
customized benchmarks (as applicable) of the Fund, the
profitability of Nuveen for its advisory activities (which
includes its wholly owned subsidiaries other than Winslow
Capital Management, Inc. (Winslow Capital),
which was recently acquired in December 2008), and other
information regarding the organization, personnel, and services
provided by the respective Fund Adviser. The Independent
Board Members also met quarterly as well as at other times as
the need arose during the year and took into account the
information provided at such meetings and the knowledge gained
therefrom. Prior to approving the renewal of the Advisory
Agreements, the Independent Board Members reviewed the foregoing
information with their independent legal counsel and with
management, reviewed materials from independent legal counsel
describing applicable law and their duties in reviewing advisory
contracts, and met with independent legal counsel in private
sessions without management present. The Independent Board
Members considered the legal advice provided by independent
legal counsel and relied upon their knowledge of the
Fund Adviser, its services and the Fund resulting from
their meetings and other interactions throughout the year and
their own business judgment in determining the factors to be
considered in evaluating the Advisory Agreements. Each Board
Member may have accorded different weight to the various factors
in reaching his or her conclusions with respect to the
Funds Advisory Agreements. The Independent Board Members
did not identify any single factor as all-important or
controlling. The Independent Board Members considerations
were instead based on a comprehensive consideration of all the
information presented. The principal factors considered by the
Board and its conclusions are described below.
|
|
A.
|
Nature, Extent
and Quality of Services
|
In considering renewal of the Advisory Agreements, the
Independent Board Members considered the nature, extent and
quality of the Fund Advisers services, including
advisory services and administrative services. The
Independent Board Members reviewed
materials outlining, among other things, the
Fund Advisers organization and business; the types of
services that the Fund Adviser or its affiliates provide
and are expected to provide to the Fund; the performance record
of the Fund (as described in further detail below); and any
initiatives Nuveen had taken for the applicable fund product
line.
In reviewing the services provided and the initiatives
undertaken during the past year, the Independent Board Members
recognized the severe market turmoil experienced in the capital
markets during recent periods, including sustained periods of
high volatility, credit disruption and government intervention.
The Independent Board Members considered the
Fund Advisers efforts, expertise and other actions
taken to address matters as they arose that impacted the Fund.
The Independent Board Members recognized the role of the
Investment Services group which, among other things, monitors
the various positions throughout the Nuveen fund complex to
identify and address any systematic risks. In addition, the
Capital Markets Committee of NAM provides a multi-departmental
venue for developing new policies to mitigate any risks. The
Independent Board Members further recognized NAMs
continuous review of the Nuveen funds investment
strategies and mandates in seeking to continue to refine and
improve the investment process for the funds, particularly in
light of market conditions. With respect to closed-end funds
that issued auction rate preferred shares
(ARPs) or that otherwise utilize leverage,
the Independent Board Members noted, in particular, NAMs
efforts in refinancing the preferred shares of such funds frozen
by the collapse of the auction rate market and managing leverage
during a period of rapid market declines, particularly for the
non-equity funds. Such efforts included negotiating and
maintaining the availability of bank loan facilities and other
sources of credit used for investment purposes or to satisfy
liquidity needs, liquidating portfolio securities during
difficult times to meet leverage ratios, and seeking alternative
forms of debt and other leverage that may over time reduce
financing costs associated with ARPs and enable the funds that
have issued ARPs to restore liquidity to ARPs holders. The
Independent Board Members also noted Nuveens continued
commitment and efforts to keep investors and financial advisers
informed as to its progress with the ARPs through, among other
things, conference calls, emails, press releases, information
posted on its website, and telephone calls and in-person
meetings with financial advisers. In addition to the foregoing,
the Independent Board Members also noted the additional services
that NAM or its affiliates provide to closed-end funds,
including, in particular, Nuveens continued commitment to
supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its
closed-end funds through a variety of programs designed to raise
investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end
funds. These efforts include maintaining an investor relations
program to provide timely information and education to financial
advisers and investors; providing advertising and marketing for
the closed-end funds; maintaining websites; and providing
educational seminars.
As part of their review, the Independent Board Members also
evaluated the background, experience and track record of the
Fund Advisers investment personnel. In this regard,
the Independent Board Members considered any changes in the
personnel, and the impact on the level of services provided to
the Fund, if any. The Independent Board Members also reviewed
information regarding portfolio manager compensation
arrangements to evaluate the Fund Advisers ability to
attract and retain high quality investment personnel, preserve
stability, and reward performance but not provide an incentive
for taking undue risks.
In addition to advisory services, the Independent Board Members
considered the quality of administrative services provided by
NAM and its affiliates including product management, fund
administration, oversight of service providers, shareholder
services, administration of Board relations, regulatory and
portfolio compliance and legal support. Given the importance of
compliance, the Independent Board Members considered NAMs
compliance program, including the report of the chief compliance
officer regarding the Funds compliance policies and
procedures.
The Independent Board Members also considered NAMs
oversight of the performance, business activities and compliance
of the
Sub-Advisers.
In that regard, the Independent Board Members reviewed an
evaluation of each
Sub-Adviser
from NAM. The evaluation also included information relating to
the respective
Sub-Advisers
organization, operations, personnel, assets under management,
investment philosophy, strategies and techniques in managing the
Fund, developments affecting each
Sub-Adviser,
and an analysis of each
Sub-Adviser.
As described in further detail below, the Board considered the
performance of the portion of the investment portfolio for which
each
Sub-Adviser
is responsible. The Board also recognized that the
Sub-advisory
Agreements were essentially agreements for portfolio management
services only and the
Sub-Advisers
were not expected to supply other significant administrative
services to the Fund. As part of their oversight, the
Independent Board Members also continued their program of
seeking to visit each
sub-adviser
to the Nuveen funds at least once
Annual Investment Management
Agreement Approval Process
(continued)
over a multiple year rotation,
meeting with key investment and business personnel. In this
regard, the Independent Board Members met with NWQ in February
2009. The Independent Board Members noted that NAM recommended
the renewal of the
Sub-advisory
Agreements and considered the basis for such recommendations and
any qualifications in connection therewith.
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members found that,
overall, the nature, extent and quality of services provided
(and expected to be provided) to the Fund under the Investment
Management Agreement or
Sub-advisory
Agreement, as applicable, were satisfactory.
|
|
B.
|
The Investment
Performance of the Fund and Fund Advisers
|
The Board considered the investment performance of the Fund,
including the Funds historic performance as well as its
performance compared to funds with similar investment objectives
(the Performance Peer Group) based on data
provided by an independent provider of mutual fund data as well
as recognized
and/or
customized benchmarks. The Independent Board Members reviewed
performance information including, among other things, total
return information compared with the Funds Performance
Peer Group and recognized
and/or
customized benchmarks for the quarter-, one- and three-year
periods (as applicable) ending December 31, 2008 and for
the quarter-, one-, three- and five-year periods (as applicable)
ending March 31, 2009. The Independent Board Members also
reviewed performance information of the Nuveen funds managed by
each particular
Sub-Adviser
in the aggregate ranked by peer group and the performance of
such funds, in the aggregate, relative to their benchmark. The
Independent Board Members also reviewed, among other things, the
returns of each sleeve of the Fund relative to the benchmark of
each sleeve and the overall benchmark for the Fund for the year
2008. This information supplemented the Fund performance
information provided to the Board at each of its quarterly
meetings.
In comparing a funds performance with that of its
Performance Peer Group, the Independent Board Members took into
account that the closest Performance Peer Group in certain
instances may not adequately reflect the respective funds
investment objectives and strategies thereby hindering a
meaningful comparison of the funds performance with that
of the Performance Peer Group. The Independent Board Members
further considered the performance of the Fund in the context of
the volatile market conditions during the past year, and their
impact on various asset classes and the portfolio management of
the Fund.
Based on their review and factoring in the severity of market
turmoil in 2008, the Independent Board Members determined that
the Funds investment performance over time had been
satisfactory.
|
|
C.
|
Fees, Expenses
and Profitability
|
1. Fees and
Expenses
The Board evaluated the management fees and expenses of the Fund
reviewing, among other things, the Funds gross management
fees, net management fees and total expense ratios (before and
after expense reimbursements
and/or
waivers) in absolute terms as well as compared to the fee and
expenses of a comparable universe of unaffiliated funds based on
data provided by an independent fund data provider (the
Peer Universe) and in certain cases, to a
more focused subset of funds in the Peer Universe (the
Peer Group).
The Independent Board Members further reviewed data regarding
the construction of the applicable Peer Universe and Peer Group.
In reviewing the comparisons of fee and expense information, the
Independent Board Members took into account that in certain
instances various factors such as the asset level of a fund
relative to peers, the size and particular composition of the
Peer Universe or Peer Group, the investment objectives of the
peers, expense anomalies, changes in the funds comprising the
Peer Universe or Peer Group from year to year, levels of
reimbursement and the timing of information used may impact the
comparative data, thereby limiting the ability to make a
meaningful comparison. The Independent Board Members also
considered, among other things, the differences in the use and
type of leverage compared to the peers. In reviewing the fee
schedule for the Fund, the Independent Board Members also
considered the fund-level and complex-wide breakpoint schedules
(described in further detail below) and any fee waivers and
reimbursements provided by Nuveen (applicable, in particular,
for certain closed-end funds launched since 1999).
Based on their review of the fee and expense information
provided, the Independent Board Members determined that the
Funds management fees and net total expense ratio were
reasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of
services provided to the Fund.
2. Comparisons
with the Fees of Other Clients
The Independent Board Members further reviewed information
regarding the nature of services and fee rates offered by NAM to
other clients. Such clients include separately managed accounts
(both retail and institutional accounts) and funds that are not
offered by Nuveen but are
sub-advised
by one of Nuveens investment management teams. In
evaluating the comparisons of fees, the Independent Board
Members noted that the fee rates charged to the Fund and other
clients vary, among other things, because of the different
services involved and the additional regulatory and compliance
requirements associated with registered investment companies,
such as the Fund. Accordingly, the Independent Board Members
considered the differences in the product types, including, but
not limited to, the services provided, the structure and
operations, product distribution and costs thereof, portfolio
investment policies, investor profiles, account sizes and
regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members noted, in
particular, that the range of services provided to the Fund (as
discussed above) is much more extensive than that provided to
separately managed accounts. Given the inherent differences in
the products, particularly the extensive services provided to
the Fund, the Independent Board Members believe such facts
justify the different levels of fees.
In considering the fees of the
Sub-Advisers,
the Independent Board Members also considered the pricing
schedule or fees that each
Sub-Adviser
charges for similar investment management services for other
fund sponsors or clients (such as retail
and/or
institutional managed accounts) as applicable. With respect to
Symphony, the Independent Board Members also reviewed the fees
it assesses for equity and taxable fixed-income hedge funds and
hedge accounts it manages, which include a performance fee.
3. Profitability
of Fund Advisers
In conjunction with its review of fees, the Independent Board
Members also considered the profitability of Nuveen for its
advisory activities (which incorporated Nuveens
wholly-owned affiliated
sub-advisers
other than Winslow Capital) and its financial condition. The
Independent Board Members reviewed the revenues and expenses of
Nuveens advisory activities for the last two years, the
allocation methodology used in preparing the profitability data
and an analysis of the key drivers behind the changes in
revenues and expenses that impacted profitability in 2008. In
addition, the Independent Board Members reviewed information
regarding the financial results of Nuveen for 2008 based on its
Form 8-K
filed on March 31, 2009. The Independent Board Members
noted this information supplemented the profitability
information requested and received during the year to help keep
them apprised of developments affecting profitability (such as
changes in fee waivers and expense reimbursement commitments).
In this regard, the Independent Board Members noted that they
had also appointed an Independent Board Member as a point person
to review and keep them apprised of changes to the profitability
analysis
and/or
methodologies during the year. The Independent Board Members
also considered Nuveens revenues for advisory activities,
expenses, and profit margin compared to that of various
unaffiliated management firms with similar amounts of assets
under management and relatively comparable asset composition
prepared by Nuveen.
In reviewing profitability, the Independent Board Members
recognized the subjective nature of determining profitability
which may be affected by numerous factors including the
allocation of expenses. Further, the Independent Board Members
recognized the difficulties in making comparisons as the
profitability of other advisers generally is not publicly
available and the profitability information that is available
for certain advisers or management firms may not be
representative of the industry and may be affected by, among
other things, the advisers particular business mix,
capital costs, types of funds managed and expense allocations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Independent Board Members
reviewed Nuveens methodology and assumptions for
allocating expenses across product lines to determine
profitability. In reviewing profitability, the Independent Board
Members recognized Nuveens investment in its fund
business. Based on their review, the Independent Board Members
concluded that Nuveens level of profitability for its
advisory activities was reasonable in light of the services
provided.
Annual Investment Management
Agreement Approval Process
(continued)
In evaluating the reasonableness of the compensation, the
Independent Board Members also considered other amounts paid to
a Fund Adviser by the Fund as well as any indirect benefits
(such as soft dollar arrangements, if any) the Fund Adviser
and its affiliates receive, or are expected to receive, that are
directly attributable to the management of the Fund, if any. See
Section E below for additional information on indirect
benefits the Fund Adviser may receive as a result of its
relationship with the Fund. Based on their review of the overall
fee arrangements of the Fund, the Independent Board Members
determined that the advisory fees and expenses of the Fund were
reasonable.
|
|
D.
|
Economies of
Scale and Whether Fee Levels Reflect These Economies of
Scale
|
With respect to economies of scale, the Independent Board
Members have recognized the potential benefits resulting from
the costs of a fund being spread over a larger asset base,
although economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict
with precision, particularly on a
fund-by-fund
basis. One method to help ensure the shareholders share in these
benefits is to include breakpoints in the advisory fee schedule.
Generally, management fees for funds in the Nuveen complex are
comprised of a fund-level component and a complex-level
component, subject to certain exceptions. Accordingly, the
Independent Board Members reviewed and considered the applicable
fund-level breakpoints in the advisory fee schedules that reduce
advisory fees as asset levels increase. In this regard, the
Independent Board Members noted that although closed-end funds
may from
time-to-time
make additional share offerings, the growth of their assets will
occur primarily through the appreciation of such funds
investment portfolio. While economies of scale result when costs
can be spread over a larger asset base, the Independent Board
Members also recognized that the asset levels generally declined
in 2008 due to, among other things, the market downturn.
Accordingly, for funds with a reduction in assets under
management, advisory fee levels may have increased as
breakpoints in the fee schedule were no longer surpassed.
In addition to fund-level advisory fee breakpoints, the Board
also considered the Funds complex-wide fee arrangement.
Pursuant to the complex-wide fee arrangement, the fees of the
funds in the Nuveen complex generally are reduced as the assets
in the fund complex reach certain levels. The complex-wide fee
arrangement seeks to provide the benefits of economies of scale
to fund shareholders when total fund complex assets increase,
even if assets of a particular fund are unchanged or have
decreased. The approach reflects the notion that some of
Nuveens costs are attributable to services provided to all
its funds in the complex and therefore all funds benefit if
these costs are spread over a larger asset base. Generally, the
complex-wide pricing reduces Nuveens revenue because total
complex fund assets have consistently grown in prior years. As
noted, however, total fund assets declined in 2008 resulting in
a smaller downward adjustment of revenues due to complex-wide
pricing compared to the prior year.
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded
that the breakpoint schedules and complex-wide fee arrangement
(as applicable) were acceptable and reflect economies of scale
to be shared with shareholders when assets under management
increase.
In evaluating fees, the Independent Board Members received and
considered information regarding potential fall out
or ancillary benefits the respective Fund Adviser or its
affiliates may receive as a result of its relationship with the
Fund. In this regard, the Independent Board Members considered
revenues received by affiliates of NAM for serving as agent at
Nuveens trading desk.
In addition to the above, the Independent Board Members
considered whether the Fund Adviser received any benefits
from soft dollar arrangements whereby a portion of the
commissions paid by the Fund for brokerage may be used to
acquire research that may be useful to the Fund Adviser in
managing the assets of the Fund and other clients. With respect
to NAM, the Independent Board Members noted that NAM does not
currently have any soft dollar arrangements; however, to the
extent certain bona fide agency transactions that occur on
markets that traditionally trade on a principal basis and
riskless principal transactions are considered as generating
commissions, NAM intends to comply with the
applicable safe harbor provisions.
With respect to NWQ, the Independent Board Members considered
that such
Sub-Adviser
may benefit from its soft dollar arrangements pursuant to which
it receives research from brokers that execute the Funds
portfolio transactions. For this
Sub-Adviser,
the Independent Board Members further noted that its
profitability may be
lower if it were required to pay
for this research with hard dollars. With respect to Symphony,
the Board also considered that Symphony currently does not enter
into soft dollar arrangements; however, it has adopted a soft
dollar policy in the event it does so in the future.
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded
that any indirect benefits received by a Fund Adviser as a
result of its relationship with the Fund were reasonable and
within acceptable parameters.
The Independent Board Members did not identify any single factor
discussed previously as all-important or controlling. The Board
Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously
concluded that the terms of the Investment Management Agreement
and
Sub-advisory
Agreements are fair and reasonable, that the respective
Fund Advisers fees are reasonable in light of the
services provided to the Fund and that the Investment Management
Agreement and the
Sub-advisory
Agreements be renewed.
Reinvest
Automatically
Easily and Conveniently
Nuveen makes
reinvesting easy. A phone call is all it takes to set up your
reinvestment account.
Nuveen Closed-End
Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Your Nuveen Closed-End Fund allows you to conveniently reinvest
dividends and/or capital gains distributions in additional Fund
shares.
By choosing to reinvest, youll be able to invest money
regularly and automatically, and watch your investment grow
through the power of tax-free compounding. Just like dividends
or distributions in cash, there may be times when income or
capital gains taxes may be payable on dividends or distributions
that are reinvested.
It is important to note that an automatic reinvestment plan does
not ensure a profit, nor does it protect you against loss in a
declining market.
Easy and
convenient
To make recordkeeping easy and convenient, each month
youll receive a statement showing your total dividends and
distributions, the date of investment, the shares acquired and
the price per share, and the total number of shares you own.
How shares are
purchased
The shares you acquire by reinvesting will either be purchased
on the open market or newly issued by the Fund. If the shares
are trading at or above net asset value at the time of
valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the greater of the
net asset value or 95% of the then-current market price. If the
shares are trading at less than net asset value, shares for your
account will be purchased on the open market. If the Plan Agent
begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares
are trading below net asset value, but the Funds shares
subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the
Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may
cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested
portion of the distribution in newly-issued Fund shares at a
price equal to the greater of the shares net asset value
or 95% of the shares market value on the last business day
immediately prior to the purchase date. Dividends and
distributions received to purchase shares in the open market
will normally be invested shortly after the dividend payment
date. No interest will be paid on dividends and distributions
awaiting reinvestment. Because the market price of the shares
may increase before purchases are completed, the average
purchase price per share may exceed the market price at the time
of valuation, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than
if the dividend or distribution had been paid in shares issued
by the Fund. A pro rata portion of any applicable brokerage
commissions on open market purchases will be paid by Plan
participants. These commissions usually will be lower than those
charged on individual transactions.
Flexible
You may change your distribution option or withdraw from the
Plan at any time, should your needs or situation change. Should
you withdraw, you can receive a certificate for all whole shares
credited to your reinvestment account and cash payment for
fractional shares, or cash payment for all reinvestment account
shares, less brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.
You can reinvest whether your shares are registered in your
name, or in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other
nominee. Ask your investment advisor if his or her firm will
participate on your behalf. Participants whose shares are
registered in the name of one firm may not be able to transfer
the shares to another firm and continue to participate in the
Plan.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at
any time. Although the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan
to include a service charge payable by the participants, there
is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan at this
time.
Call today to
start reinvesting dividends and/or distributions
For more information on the Nuveen Automatic Reinvestment Plan
or to enroll in or withdraw from the Plan, speak with your
financial advisor or call us at (800) 257-8787.
Glossary of Terms
Used in this Report
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n
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Average Annual Total Return: This is a commonly
used method to express an investments performance over a
particular, usually multi-year time period. It expresses the
return that would have been necessary each year to equal the
investments actual cumulative performance (including
change in NAV or market price and reinvested dividends and
capital gains distributions, if any) over the time period being
considered.
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n
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Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs):
Collateralized debt obligations are a type of asset-backed
security constructed from a portfolio of fixed-income assets.
CDOs usually are divided into different tranches having
different ratings and paying different interest rates. Losses,
if any, are applied in reverse order of seniority and so junior
tranches generally offer higher coupons to compensate for added
default risk.
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n
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Current Distribution Rate (also known as Market Yield,
Dividend Yield or Current Yield): Current distribution
rate is based on the Funds current annualized quarterly
distribution divided by the Funds current market price.
The Funds quarterly distributions to its shareholders may
be comprised of ordinary income, net realized capital gains and,
if at the end of the calendar year the Funds cumulative
net ordinary income and net realized gains are less than the
amount of the Funds distributions, a tax return of capital.
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n
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Net Asset Value (NAV): A Funds NAV per
common share is calculated by subtracting the liabilities of the
Fund (including any Preferred shares issued in order to leverage
the Fund) from its total assets and then dividing the remainder
by the number of common shares outstanding. Fund NAVs are
calculated at the end of each business day.
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Board of
Trustees
John P. Amboian
Robert P. Bremner
Jack B. Evans
William C. Hunter
David J. Kundert
William J. Schneider
Judith M. Stockdale
Carole E. Stone
Terence J. Toth
Fund
Manager
Nuveen Asset Management
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Custodian
State Street Bank & Trust Company
Boston, MA
Transfer Agent
and
Shareholder Services
State Street Bank & Trust Company
Nuveen Funds
P.O. Box 43071
Providence, RI 02940-3071
(800) 257-8787
Legal
Counsel
Chapman and Cutler LLP
Chicago, IL
Independent
Registered
Public Accounting
Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, IL
Quarterly
Portfolio of Investments and Proxy Voting Information
You may obtain (i) the Funds quarterly portfolio of
investments, (ii) information regarding how the Fund voted
proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most
recent
twelve-month
period ended June 30, 2009, and (iii) a description of
the policies and procedures that the Fund used to determine how
to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities without charge,
upon request, by calling Nuveen Investments toll-free at
(800) 257-8787
or on Nuveens website at www.nuveen.com.
You may also obtain this and other Fund information directly
from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The SEC may charge a copying fee for this information. Visit the
SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov or in person at the SECs
Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at
(202) 942-8090
for room hours and operation. You may also request Fund
information by sending an
e-mail
request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SECs
Public Reference Section at 100 F Street NE,
Washington, D.C. 20549.
CEO Certification
Disclosure
The Funds Chief Executive Officer has submitted to the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the annual CEO certification as
required by Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE Listed
Company Manual.
The Fund has filed with the SEC the certification of its Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Common and
Preferred Share Information
The Fund intends to repurchase
and/or
redeem shares of its own common or preferred stock in the future
at such times and in such amounts as is deemed advisable. During
the period covered by this report, the Fund repurchased
and/or
redeemed shares of its common
and/or
preferred stock as shown in the accompanying table.
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Common Shares
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Preferred Shares
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Repurchased
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Redeemed
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12,600
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Any future repurchases
and/or
redemptions will be reported to shareholders in the next annual
or semi-annual report.
Nuveen
Investments:
Serving Investors for Generations
Since 1898, financial advisors and their clients have relied on
Nuveen Investments to provide dependable investment solutions.
For the past century, Nuveen Investments has adhered to the
belief that the best approach to investing is to apply
conservative risk-management principles to help minimize
volatility. Building on this tradition, we today offer a range
of high quality equity and fixed-income solutions that are
integral to a well-diversified core portfolio. Our clients have
come to appreciate this diversity, as well as our continued
adherence to proven, long-term investing principles.
We offer many
different investing solutions for our clients different
needs.
Nuveen Investments is a global investment management firm that
seeks to help secure the long-term goals of institutions and
high net worth investors as well as the consultants and
financial advisors who serve them. Nuveen Investments markets
its growing range of specialized investment solutions under the
high-quality brands of HydePark, NWQ, Nuveen, Santa Barbara,
Symphony, Tradewinds and Winslow Capital. In total, the Company
managed approximately $128 billion of assets on
June 30, 2009.
Find out how we
can help you reach your financial goals.
To learn more about the products and services Nuveen Investments
offers, talk to your financial advisor, or call us at
(800) 257-8787. Please read the information provided
carefully before you invest. Be sure to obtain a prospectus,
where applicable. Investors should consider the investment
objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and
expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus
contains this and other information relevant to an investment in
the Fund. For a prospectus, please contact your securities
representative or Nuveen Investments, 333 W. Wacker
Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. Please read the prospectus carefully
before you invest or send money.
Learn more about Nuveen Funds at:
www.nuveen.com/cef
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Share prices
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Fund details
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Daily financial news
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Investor education
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Interactive planning tools
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Distributed by
Nuveen Investments, LLC
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
www.nuveen.com
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ESA-C-0609D
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
See Portfolio of Investments in Item 1.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
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(a) |
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(b) |
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(c) |
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(d)* |
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AVERAGE |
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TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES |
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MAXIMUM NUMBER (OR |
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TOTAL NUMBER OF |
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PRICE |
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(OR UNITS) PURCHASED AS |
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APPROXIMATE DOLLAR VALUE) OF |
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SHARES (OR |
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PAID PER |
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PART OF PUBLICLY |
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SHARES (OR UNITS) THAT MAY YET |
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UNITS) |
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SHARE (OR |
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ANNOUNCED PLANS OR |
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BE PURCHASED UNDER THE PLANS OR |
Period* |
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PURCHASED |
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UNIT) |
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PROGRAMS |
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PROGRAMS |
JANUARY 1-31, 2009 |
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0 |
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0 |
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1,395,000 |
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FEBRUARY 1-28, 2009 |
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0 |
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0 |
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1,395,000 |
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MARCH 1-31, 2009 |
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0 |
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0 |
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1,395,000 |
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APRIL 1-30, 2009 |
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0 |
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0 |
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1,395,000 |
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MAY 1-31, 2009 |
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0 |
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|
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0 |
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1,395,000 |
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JUNE 1-30, 2009 |
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12,600 |
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8.03 |
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12,600 |
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1,382,400 |
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TOTAL |
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12,600 |
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* |
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The registrants repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of 1,395,000 shares, was announced August 7, 2008. Any repurchases made by the registrant pursuant to the program were made through open-market transactions. |
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may
recommend nominees to the registrants Board implemented after the registrant
last provided disclosure in response to this item.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
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(a) |
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The registrants principal executive and principal financial
officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded
that the registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the 1940 Act) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of
a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that
includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their
evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b)
under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or
15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act)(17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
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(b) |
|
There were no changes in the registrants 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 second fiscal quarter
of the period covered by this report that has materially affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants
internal control over financial reporting. |
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form.
(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the
disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to
satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Not applicable to
this filing.
(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and
principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under
the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) in the exact form set forth below: Ex-99.CERT
attached hereto.
(a)(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under
the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the
report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons: Not applicable.
(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR
270.30a-2(b)); Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of
the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished
pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18
of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of
that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act,
except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by
reference. Ex-99.906 CERT attached hereto.
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.
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(Registrant) Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund
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By (Signature and Title)* |
/s/ Kevin J. McCarthy
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Kevin J. McCarthy |
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Vice President and Secretary |
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Date:
September 8, 2009
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.
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By (Signature and Title)* |
/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman
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Gifford R. Zimmerman |
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Chief Administrative Officer
(principal executive officer) |
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Date:
September 8, 2009
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By (Signature and Title)* |
/s/ Stephen D. Foy
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Stephen D. Foy |
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Vice President and Controller
(principal financial officer) |
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Date:
September 8, 2009
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* |
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Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |