As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2017
1933 Act Registration No. 033-16905
1940 Act Registration No. 811-05309
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |
☐ | |||
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ☐ | |||
Post-Effective Amendment No. 205 | ☑ | |||
and/or | ||||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 |
||||
Amendment No. 205 | ☑ |
Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(312) 917-7700
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code):
Kathleen L. Prudhomme Vice President and Secretary 901 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 (Name and Address of Agent for Service) |
Copies to: Eric F. Fess Chapman and Cutler LLP 111 West Monroe Street Chicago, Illinois 60603 |
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after effectiveness.
Title of Securities Being Registered: Common Stock.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
☐ | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) | ☐ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) | |||
☒ | on October 31, 2017 pursuant to paragraph (b) | ☐ | 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) | |||
☐ | 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) | ☐ | on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485. |
If appropriate, check the following box:
☐ | This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment. |
CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 205
This Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement comprises the following papers and contents:
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Mutual Funds |
Prospectus
October 31, 2017 |
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Class / Ticker Symbol | ||||||||||||||||||
Fund Name | Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||
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Nuveen Core Bond Fund |
FAIIX | NTIBX | | NTIFX | FINIX |
FIDTX |
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Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
FAFIX | FFAIX | FFISX | FPCFX | FFIIX |
FFITX |
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Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
FJSIX | FCSIX | FANSX | | FJSYX |
FCPTX |
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Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
FAIPX | FCIPX | FRIPX | FISFX | FYIPX |
FIFTX |
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Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund |
FIGAX | FYGCX | FYGRX | | FYGYX |
FYGTX |
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Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund |
FALTX | FBSCX | NSSRX | NSSFX | FLTIX |
NSATX |
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Nuveen Strategic Income Fund |
FCDDX | FCBCX | FABSX | FSFRX | FCBYX |
FSFTX |
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Section 1 Fund Summaries | ||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | 2 | |||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 8 | |||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 15 | |||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 21 | |||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | 28 | |||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 35 | |||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 42 | |||
Section 2 How We Manage Your Money | ||||
Who Manages the Funds | 49 | |||
More About Our Investment Strategies | 52 | |||
What the Risks Are | 59 | |||
Section 3 How You Can Buy and Sell Shares | ||||
What Share Classes We Offer | 71 | |||
How to Reduce Your Sales Charge | 76 | |||
How to Buy Shares | 79 | |||
Special Services | 80 | |||
How to Sell Shares | 82 | |||
Section 4 General Information | ||||
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes | 85 | |||
Distribution and Service Payments | 87 | |||
Net Asset Value | 88 | |||
Frequent Trading | 89 | |||
Fund Service Providers | 91 | |||
Section 5 Financial Highlights | 92 | |||
AppendixVariations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries | A-1 | |||
NOT FDIC OR GOVERNMENT INSURED MAY LOSE VALUE NO BANK GUARANTEE
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with current income to the extent consistent with preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Class A | Class C | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) |
3.00% | None | None | None | 2.50% | |||||||||||||||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) 1 |
None | 1.00% | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000) 2 | $15 | $15 | None | $15 | $15 | |||||||||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class C | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||||||
Management Fees | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | |||||||||||||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25% | |||||||||||||||
Other Expenses | 0.21% | 0.21% | 0.14% | 0.21% | 0.21% | |||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.93% | 1.68% | 0.61% | 0.68% | 0.93% | |||||||||||||||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements 3 | (0.15)% | (0.15)% | (0.15)% | (0.15)% | (0.15)% | |||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements | 0.78% | 1.53% | 0.46% | 0.53% | 0.78% |
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | The Funds investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.53% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the Class R6 shares will be less than the expense limitation. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund. |
2
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Funds operating expenses remain the same and that the fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond July 31, 2019. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R6 |
Class I |
Class T |
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1 Year | $ | 377 | $ | 156 | $ | 47 | $ | 54 | $ | 328 | ||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 562 | $ | 503 | $ | 168 | $ | 191 | $ | 513 | ||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 774 | $ | 887 | $ | 314 | $ | 352 | $ | 726 | ||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,385 | $ | 1,965 | $ | 737 | $ | 821 | $ | 1,340 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 85% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds, such as:
| U.S. government securities (securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities), including zero coupon securities; |
| residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities; |
| asset-backed securities; |
| corporate debt obligations, including obligations issued by special-purpose entities that are backed by corporate debt obligations; and |
| municipal securities in an amount not to exceed 20% of the Funds net assets. |
Bonds in the Fund will be rated investment grade at the time of purchase or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by the Funds sub-adviser. At least 65% of the Funds debt securities must be either U.S. government securities or securities that are rated A or better or are unrated and of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so. Unrated securities will not exceed 25% of the Funds total assets.
The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in U.S. dollar denominated debt obligations of foreign corporations and governments.
The Funds sub-adviser selects securities using a top-down approach, which begins with the formulation of the sub-advisers general economic outlook. Following this, various sectors and industries are analyzed and selected for investment. Finally, the sub-adviser selects individual securities within these sectors or industries.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund attempts to maintain a weighted average effective maturity for its portfolio securities of three to ten years and an average effective duration of two to six years. The Funds weighted average effective maturity and effective duration are measures of how the value of the Funds shares may react to interest rate changes.
To generate additional income, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll transaction, the Fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month while contracting with the same party to repurchase similar securities at a future date.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
3
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; interest rate caps, collars, and floors; swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, security indexes and specific securities, and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts traded on domestic or foreign securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Even though the non-U.S. securities held by the Fund are traded in U.S. dollars, their prices are typically indirectly influenced by currency fluctuations. Changes in currency exchange rates may affect the Funds net asset value, interest earned, and gains or losses realized on the sale of securities.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
4
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Dollar Roll Transaction Risk The use of dollar rolls can increase the volatility of the Funds share price, and it may have an adverse impact on performance unless the sub-adviser correctly predicts mortgage prepayments and interest rates. These transactions are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support.
Municipal Securities Risk The values of municipal securities held by the Fund may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for certain corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of the Fund may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Funds sub-adviser than funds that invest in stock or other corporate investments.
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. Government Securities Risk U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
5
Zero Coupon Bonds Risk Because interest on zero coupon bonds is not paid on a current basis, the values of zero coupon bonds will be more volatile in response to interest rate changes than the values of bonds that distribute income regularly. Although zero coupon bonds generate income for accounting purposes, they do not produce cash flow, and thus the Fund could be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to generate cash to distribute to shareholders as required by tax laws.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 3.14%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 9.70% and -5.11%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inception
Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Since
Inception (Class C) |
Since
Inception (Class R6) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 1/09/95 | (1.34 | )% | 1.49 | % | 3.47 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | (2.19 | )% | 0.24 | % | 2.09 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | (0.75 | )% | 0.75 | % | 2.21 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 1/18/11 | 0.91 | % | 1.32 | % | N/A | 1.58 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Class R6 (return before taxes) | 1/20/15 | 2.00 | % | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.03 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 1/05/93 | 1.96 | % | 2.34 | % | 3.99 | % | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
2.65 | % | 2.23 | % | 4.34 | % | 3.15 | % | 0.94 | % | ||||||||||||||
Lipper Core Bond Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
3.00 | % | 2.41 | % | 3.94 | % | 3.08 | % | 0.88 | % |
1 | An unmanaged fixed income index covering the U.S. investment grade fixed-rate bond market. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Core Bond Funds Category. |
6
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
Wan-Chong Kung, CFA | Senior Vice President | October 2002 | ||
Jeffrey J. Ebert | Senior Vice President | February 2000 | ||
Chris J. Neuharth | Managing Director | May 2012 | ||
Jason J. OBrien, CFA | Senior Vice President | March 2016 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R6 | Class I | ||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only to certain qualified retirement plans and other investors as described in the prospectus and through fee-based programs.
$1 million for all accounts except:
$100,000 for clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services.
No minimum for certain qualified retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
|||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
7
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with high current income consistent with limited risk to capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | |||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) |
4.25% | None | None | None | None | 2.50% | ||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) 1 |
None | 1.00% | None | None | None | None | ||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | None | None | None | ||||||||||||||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | None | None | None | ||||||||||||||||||
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000) 2 | $15 | $15 | None | None | $15 | $15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | |||||||||||||||||||
Management Fees | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | 0.47% | ||||||||||||||||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25% | ||||||||||||||||||
Other Expenses | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.10% | 0.17% | 0.17% | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.89% | 1.64% | 1.14% | 0.57% | 0.64% | 0.89% | ||||||||||||||||||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements 3 | (0.12)% | (0.12)% | (0.12)% | (0.12)% | (0.12)% | (0.12)% | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements | 0.77% | 1.52% | 1.02% | 0.45% | 0.52% | 0.77% |
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | The Funds investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.52% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the Class R6 shares will be less than the expense limitation. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund. |
8
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Funds operating expenses remain the same and that the fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond July 31, 2019. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class R6 |
Class I |
Class T |
|||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | $ | 500 | $ | 155 | $ | 104 | $ | 46 | $ | 53 | $ | 327 | ||||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 676 | $ | 496 | $ | 341 | $ | 161 | $ | 183 | $ | 506 | ||||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 877 | $ | 872 | $ | 607 | $ | 297 | $ | 336 | $ | 710 | ||||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,456 | $ | 1,926 | $ | 1,367 | $ | 693 | $ | 778 | $ | 1,299 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 131% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds, such as:
| U.S. government securities (securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities), including zero coupon securities; |
| residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities; |
| asset-backed securities; |
| corporate debt obligations, including obligations issued by special-purpose entities that are backed by corporate debt obligations; and |
| municipal securities in an amount not to exceed 20% of the Funds net assets. |
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets, collectively, in preferred securities and contingent capital securities (sometimes referred to as CoCos ).
Up to 20% of the Funds total assets may be invested in securities rated lower than investment grade or unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser (securities commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds). The Fund will not invest in securities rated lower than CCC at the time of purchase or in unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so. Unrated securities will not exceed 25% of the Funds total assets.
The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
The Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in debt obligations of foreign corporations and foreign governments. However, no more than 10% of the Funds total assets may be invested in debt obligations of corporations and governments that are located in emerging market countries. A country is considered to have an emerging market if it has a relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the worlds major economies, and the potential for rapid economic growth, provided that no issuer included in the Funds current benchmark index will be considered to be located in an emerging market country.
Up to 10% of the Funds total assets may have non-U.S. dollar currency exposure from non-U.S. dollar denominated securities and currency derivatives, calculated on an absolute notional basis (i.e., adding together the absolute value of net long and net short exposures to individual non-U.S. dollar currencies).
Section 1 Fund Summaries
9
The Funds sub-adviser selects securities using a top-down approach, which begins with the formulation of the sub-advisers general economic outlook. Following this, various sectors and industries are analyzed and selected for investment. Finally, the sub-adviser selects individual securities within these sectors or industries.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund attempts to maintain a weighted average effective maturity for its portfolio securities of fifteen years or less and an average effective duration of three to eight years. The Funds weighted average effective maturity and average effective duration are measures of how the value of the Funds shares may react to interest rate changes.
To generate additional income, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll transaction, the Fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month while contracting with the same party to repurchase similar securities at a future date.
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; interest rate caps, collars, and floors; foreign currency contracts; options on foreign currencies; swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, currency rates, security indexes and specific securities, and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts traded on domestic or foreign securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, currency risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The Fund may also use derivatives to gain exposure to non-dollar denominated securities markets to the extent it does not do so through direct investments. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Contingent Capital Security Risk CoCos have loss absorption mechanisms benefitting the issuer built into their terms. Upon the occurrence of a specified trigger or event, CoCos may be subject to automatic conversion into the issuers common stock, which likely will have declined in value and which will be subordinate to the issuers other classes of securities, or to an automatic write-down of the principal amount of the securities, potentially to zero, which could result in the Fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities.
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit
10
Section 1 Fund Summaries
spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds portfolio.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
Dollar Roll Transaction Risk The use of dollar rolls can increase the volatility of the Funds share price, and it may have an adverse impact on performance unless the sub-adviser correctly predicts mortgage prepayments and interest rates. These transactions are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
High Yield Securities Risk High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as junk bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities.
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support.
Municipal Securities Risk The values of municipal securities held by the Fund may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for certain corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of the Fund may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Funds sub-adviser than funds that invest in stock or other corporate investments.
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of,
Section 1 Fund Summaries
11
among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Preferred Security Risk Preferred securities generally are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a companys capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. In addition, preferred securities are subject to other risks, such as having no or limited voting rights, being subject to special redemption rights, having distributions deferred or skipped, having floating interest rates or dividends, which may result in a decline in value in a falling interest rate environment, having limited liquidity, changing or unfavorable tax treatments and possibly being issued by companies in heavily regulated industries.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. Government Securities Risk U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
Zero Coupon Bonds Risk Because interest on zero coupon bonds is not paid on a current basis, the values of zero coupon bonds will be more volatile in response to interest rate changes than the values of bonds that distribute income regularly. Although zero coupon bonds generate income for accounting purposes, they do not produce cash flow, and thus the Fund could be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to generate cash to distribute to shareholders as required by tax laws.
12
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 4.36%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 13.06% and -6.39%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Inception
Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Since
Inception (Class R6) |
||||||||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 12/22/87 | 1.45 | % | 2.38 | % | 4.02 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | (0.29 | )% | 0.68 | % | 2.32 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | 0.81 | % | 1.12 | % | 2.42 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 2/1/99 | 5.05 | % | 2.50 | % | 3.69 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R3 (return before taxes) | 9/24/01 | 5.75 | % | 3.05 | % | 4.25 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 (return before taxes) | 1/20/15 | 6.20 | % | N/A | N/A | 1.52 | % | |||||||||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 2/4/94 | 6.11 | % | 3.53 | % | 4.73 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
2.65 | % | 2.23 | % | 4.34 | % | 0.94 | % | ||||||||||||
Lipper Core Plus Bond Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
4.36 | % | 3.16 | % | 4.70 | % | 1.27 | % |
1 | An unmanaged fixed income index covering the U.S. investment grade fixed-rate bond market. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Core Plus Bond Funds Category. |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
13
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
Chris J. Neuharth | Managing Director | October 2002 | ||
Timothy A. Palmer, CFA | Managing Director | May 2003 | ||
Wan-Chong Kung, CFA | Senior Vice President | June 2001 | ||
Jeffrey J. Ebert | Senior Vice President | December 2005 | ||
Douglas M. Baker, CFA | Managing Director | March 2016 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | |||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only through certain retirement plans.
No minimum. |
Available only to certain qualified retirement plans and other investors as described in the prospectus and through fee-based programs.
$1 million for all accounts except:
$100,000 for clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services.
No minimum for certain qualified retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
||||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
14
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with a high level of current income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 4.75% | None | None | None | 2.50% | |||||||||||||||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) 1 |
None | 1.00% | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000) 2 | $15 | $15 | None | $15 | $15 | |||||||||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||||||
Management Fees | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.58% | |||||||||||||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% | 0.00% | 0.25% | |||||||||||||||
Other Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest and Related Expenses 3 |
0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | |||||||||||||||
Remainder of Other Expenses |
0.17% | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.17% | |||||||||||||||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% | |||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.07% | 1.82% | 1.32% | 0.82% | 1.07% |
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | Includes interest expense and fees related to Fund borrowing arrangements. |
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment
Section 1 Fund Summaries
15
has a 5% return each year and that the Funds operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class I |
Class T |
||||||||||||||||
1 Year | $ | 579 | $ | 185 | $ | 134 | $ | 84 | $ | 356 | ||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 799 | $ | 573 | $ | 418 | $ | 262 | $ | 582 | ||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 1,037 | $ | 985 | $ | 723 | $ | 455 | $ | 825 | ||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,719 | $ | 2,137 | $ | 1,590 | $ | 1,014 | $ | 1,523 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 155% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds rated lower than investment grade at the time of purchase or in unrated bonds of comparable quality (securities commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds). These bonds generally provide high income in an effort to compensate investors for their higher risk of default, which is the failure to make required interest or principal payments. High yield bond issuers include small or relatively new companies lacking the history or capital to merit investment-grade status, former blue chip companies downgraded because of financial problems, companies electing to borrow heavily to finance or avoid a takeover or buyout, and firms with heavy debt loads. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in fixed and floating rate loans (including senior loans and secured and unsecured junior loans). In addition, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets, collectively, in preferred securities and contingent capital securities (sometimes referred to as CoCos ). The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and other investment companies ( investment companies ).
There is no minimum rating requirement and no limitation on the average maturity or average effective duration of securities held by the Fund.
The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
The Fund may invest without limitation in debt obligations of foreign corporations and governments, provided that no more than 20% of the Funds total assets may be invested in debt obligations issued by governmental and corporate issuers that are located in emerging market countries. A country is considered to have an emerging market if it has a relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the worlds major economies, and the potential for rapid economic growth, provided that no issuer included in the Funds current benchmark index will be considered to be located in an emerging market country.
The Funds sub-adviser employs a bottom up approach to investing. The sub-adviser devotes more resources to evaluating individual securities rather than assessing macro-economic trends. Securities are selected using fundamental credit research to identify relative value in the market. Positions are sold in anticipation of credit deterioration or when a security is priced expensively relative to other comparable investments.
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; foreign currency contracts; options on foreign currencies; swap agreements, including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, total return swaps and credit default swaps; and options on swap agreements. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, currency risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
16
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Contingent Capital Security Risk CoCos have loss absorption mechanisms benefitting the issuer built into their terms. Upon the occurrence of a specified trigger or event, CoCos may be subject to automatic conversion into the issuers common stock, which likely will have declined in value and which will be subordinate to the issuers other classes of securities, or to an automatic write-down of the principal amount of the securities, potentially to zero, which could result in the Fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities.
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds portfolio.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
High Yield Securities Risk High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as junk bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
17
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
Loan Risk The lack of an active trading market for certain loans may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a loan and may make it difficult to value such loans. Portfolio transactions in loans may settle in as short as seven days but typically can take up to two or three weeks, and in some cases much longer. As a result of these extended settlement periods, the Fund may incur losses if it is required to sell other investments or temporarily borrow to meet its cash needs, including satisfying redemption requests. The risks associated with unsecured loans, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral, are higher than those for comparable loans that are secured by specific collateral. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or transactions such as corporate acquisitions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Additionally, loans may not be considered securities and, as a result, the Fund may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the securities laws.
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Other Investment Companies Risk When the Fund invests in other investment companies, you bear both your proportionate share of Fund expenses and, indirectly, the expenses of the other investment companies. Furthermore, the Fund is exposed to the risks to which the other investment companies may be subject.
Preferred Security Risk Preferred securities generally are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a companys capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. In addition, preferred securities are subject to other risks, such as having no or limited voting rights, being subject to special redemption rights, having distributions deferred or skipped, having floating interest rates or dividends, which may result in a decline in value in a falling interest rate environment, having limited liquidity, changing or unfavorable tax treatments and possibly being issued by companies in heavily regulated industries.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
18
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 6.16%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 21.96% and -19.17%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not been offered for a full calendar year.
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 15.74 | % | 5.37 | % | 5.52 | % | ||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | 12.13 | % | 2.16 | % | 2.45 | % | ||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | 8.73 | % | 2.74 | % | 2.95 | % | ||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 20.58 | % | 5.65 | % | 5.28 | % | ||||||
Class R3 (return before taxes) | 21.33 | % | 6.15 | % | 5.78 | % | ||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 21.85 | % | 6.73 | % | 6.33 | % | ||||||
Bloomberg Barclays High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
17.13 | % | 7.36 | % | 7.55 | % | ||||||
Lipper High Yield Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
13.27 | % | 6.18 | % | 5.93 | % |
1 | An issuer-constrained version of the U.S. Corporate High-Yield Index that covers the U.S. dollar denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper High Yield Funds Category. |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
19
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
John T. Fruit, CFA | Senior Vice President | November 2005 | ||
Jeffrey T. Schmitz, CFA | Senior Vice President | January 2008 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R3 | Class I | ||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only through certain retirement plans.
No minimum. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
|||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
20
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with total return while providing protection against inflation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | |||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) |
4.25% | None | None | None | None | 2.50% | ||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) 1 |
None | 1.00% | None | None | None | None | ||||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | None | None | None | ||||||||||||||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | None | None | None | ||||||||||||||||||
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000) 2 | $15 | $15 | None | None | $15 | $15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | Class T | |||||||||||||||||||
Management Fees | 0.40% | 0.40% | 0.40% | 0.40% | 0.40% | 0.40% | ||||||||||||||||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.25% | ||||||||||||||||||
Other Expenses | 0.31% | 0.31% | 0.31% | 0.08% | 0.31% | 0.31% | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.96% | 1.71% | 1.21% | 0.48% | 0.71% | 0.96% | ||||||||||||||||||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements 3,4 | (0.18)% | (0.18)% | (0.18)% | (0.18)% | (0.18)% | (0.18)% | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements | 0.78% | 1.53% | 1.03% | 0.30% | 0.53% | 0.78% |
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements have been restated to reflect current fees. |
4 | The Funds investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.56% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the Class R6 shares will be less than the expense limitation. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund. |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
21
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Funds operating expenses remain the same and that the fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond July 31, 2019. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class R6 |
Class I |
Class T |
|||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | $ | 501 | $ | 156 | $ | 105 | $ | 31 | $ | 54 | $ | 328 | ||||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 687 | $ | 508 | $ | 352 | $ | 122 | $ | 195 | $ | 517 | ||||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 903 | $ | 898 | $ | 634 | $ | 237 | $ | 363 | $ | 737 | ||||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,525 | $ | 1,993 | $ | 1,437 | $ | 573 | $ | 852 | $ | 1,370 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in inflation protected debt securities. These securities will be issued by the U.S. and non-U.S. governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, and domestic and foreign corporations. The Funds investments in U.S. Government inflation protected securities will include U.S. Treasury inflation protected securities as well as inflation protected securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government. Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Some securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.
Inflation protected debt securities are designed to provide protection against the negative effects of inflation. Unlike traditional debt securities, which pay regular fixed interest payments on a fixed principal amount, interest payments on inflation protected debt securities will vary with the rate of inflation. The U.S. Treasury uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as the inflation measure. Inflation protected debt securities issued by foreign governments and corporations are generally linked to a non-U.S. inflation rate.
Inflation protected debt securities have two common structures. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. If the index measuring the rate of inflation rises, the principal value of the security will increase. Because interest payments will be calculated with respect to a larger principal amount, interest payments also will increase. Conversely, if the index measuring the rate of inflation falls, the principal value of the security will fall and interest payments will decrease. Other issuers adjust the interest rates payable on the security according to the rate of inflation, but the principal amount remains the same.
In the event of sustained deflation, the U.S. Treasury has guaranteed that it will repay at maturity at least the original face value of the inflation protected securities that it issues. Other inflation protected debt securities that accrue inflation into their principal value may or may not provide a similar guarantee. For securities that do not provide such a guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the security repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal value.
Up to 20% of the Funds assets may be invested in holdings that are not inflation protected, which may include:
| domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations; |
| securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities; |
| debt obligations of foreign governments; |
| residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities; |
| asset-backed securities; and |
| derivative instruments, as discussed below. |
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Section 1 Fund Summaries
Up to 10% of the Funds net assets may be invested in securities that are rated lower than investment grade at the time of purchase or that are unrated and of comparable quality (securities commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds). The Fund will not invest in securities rated lower than B at the time of purchase or in unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so.
The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, and may invest without limitation in U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign corporations and governments.
When selecting securities for the Fund, the Funds sub-adviser uses a top-down approach, looking first at general economic factors and market conditions. The sub-adviser then selects securities that it believes have strong relative value based on an analysis of a securitys characteristics (such as principal value, coupon rate, maturity, duration and yield) in light of these general economic factors and market conditions. The sub-adviser will sell securities if the securities no longer meet these criteria, if other investments appear to be a better relative value, to manage the duration of the Fund, or to meet redemption requests.
The Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity, but expects to maintain, under normal circumstances, an average effective duration between three and ten years. The Funds average effective duration is a measure of how the Fund may react to interest rate changes.
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; foreign currency contracts; options on foreign currencies; interest rate caps, collars, and floors; index- and other asset-linked notes; swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, currency rates, security indexes and specific securities, and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts traded on domestic or foreign securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, currency risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The Fund may also use derivatives to gain exposure to non-dollar denominated securities markets to the extent it does not do so through direct investments. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
23
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds portfolio.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
High Yield Securities Risk High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as junk bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities.
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds. In addition, because the interest and/or principal payments on inflation protected securities are adjusted periodically for changes in inflation, the income distributed by the Fund may be irregular. In a period of sustained deflation, the inflation protected securities held by the Fund, and consequently the Fund itself, may not pay any income.
Indexing Methodology Risk There can be no assurance that the U.S. or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.
Inflation Risk If the rate of inflation falls, or if inflation is negative ( i.e. , deflation), the principal value of and/or interest payments on inflation protected debt securities held by the Fund will decrease.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Inflation protected securities may react differently from other debt securities to changes in interest rates. Generally, the value of an inflation protected security is affected by changes in real interest rates, which are stated interest rates reduced by the expected impact of inflation. Values of these securities normally fall when real interest rates rise and rise when real interest rates fall.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support.
24
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Tax Consequences of Inflation Adjustments Because inflation adjustments to the principal amount of an inflation protected security will be included in the Funds income, the Fund may have to make income distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash it receives.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. Government Securities Risk U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 1.57%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
25
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 5.25% and -6.88%, respectively, for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2013.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Inception
Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Since
Inception (Class R6) |
||||||||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 10/1/04 | (0.90 | )% | (0.50 | )% | 3.39 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | (1.21 | )% | (0.95 | )% | 2.58 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | (0.51 | )% | (0.52 | )% | 2.34 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 10/1/04 | 2.66 | % | (0.26 | )% | 3.12 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R3 (return before taxes) | 10/1/04 | 3.19 | % | 0.12 | % | 3.51 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 (return before taxes) | 1/20/15 | 3.92 | % | N/A | N/A | 0.12 | % | |||||||||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 10/1/04 | 3.64 | % | 0.73 | % | 4.14 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. TIPS Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
4.68 | % | 0.89 | % | 4.36 | % | 0.72 | % | ||||||||||||
Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
4.66 | % | 0.48 | % | 3.40 | % | 0.53 | % |
1 | An unmanaged index consisting of inflation protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury that have at least one year to final maturity. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Inflation Protected Bond Funds Category. |
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
Wan-Chong Kung, CFA | Senior Vice President | October 2004 | ||
Chad W. Kemper | Vice President | October 2010 |
26
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | |||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only through certain retirement plans.
No minimum. |
Available only to certain qualified retirement plans and other investors as described in the prospectus and through fee-based programs.
$1 million for all accounts except:
$100,000 for clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services.
No minimum for certain qualified retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
||||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
27
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with current income to the extent consistent with the preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price) |
3.00% | None | None | None | 2.50% | |||||||||||||||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) 1 |
None | 1.00% | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends | None | None | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Exchange Fee | None | None | None | None | None | |||||||||||||||
Annual Low Balance Account Fee (for accounts under $1,000) 2 | $15 | $15 | None | $15 | $15 | |||||||||||||||
Annual Fund Operating Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class C | Class R3 | Class I | Class T | ||||||||||||||||
Management Fees | 0.45% | 0.45% | 0.45% | 0.45% | 0.45% | |||||||||||||||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | 0.50% | 0.00% | 0.25% | |||||||||||||||
Other Expenses | 0.34% | 0.34% | 0.33% | 0.33% | 0.34% | |||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.04% | 1.79% | 1.28% | 0.78% | 1.04% | |||||||||||||||
Fee Waiver s and/or Expense Reimbursements 3 | (0.25)% | (0.25)% | (0.24)% | (0.24)% | (0.25)% | |||||||||||||||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements | 0.79% | 1.54% | 1.04% | 0.54% | 0.79% |
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | The Funds investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.54% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund. |
28
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Funds operating expenses remain the same and that the fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond July 31, 2019. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class I |
Class T |
||||||||||||||||
1 Year | $ | 378 | $ | 157 | $ | 106 | $ | 55 | $ | 329 | ||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 578 | $ | 520 | $ | 364 | $ | 206 | $ | 529 | ||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 815 | $ | 928 | $ | 661 | $ | 391 | $ | 767 | ||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,494 | $ | 2,068 | $ | 1,508 | $ | 926 | $ | 1,450 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 82% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in U.S. government bonds. U.S. government bonds are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, including:
| U.S. Treasury obligations; |
| Mortgage-backed securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC); and |
| Non-mortgage-related obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as FNMA, FHLMC, Federal Farm Credit Banks, the Federal Home Loan Bank System, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, including obligations that are issued by private issuers and guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. |
U.S. Treasury obligations and some obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Other U.S. government securities are backed by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. Still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets, collectively, in non-U.S. government debt obligations, asset-backed securities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, corporate debt obligations, and municipal securities. Such securities will be rated investment grade at the time of purchase or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by the Funds sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so. Such securities may include securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
In selecting securities for the Fund, the Funds sub-adviser first determines its economic outlook and the direction in which inflation and interest rates are expected to move. In selecting individual securities consistent with this outlook, the sub-adviser evaluates factors such as credit quality, yield, maturity, liquidity, and portfolio diversification.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund attempts to maintain a weighted average effective maturity between three and ten years and an effective duration of between two and one-half and seven years. The Funds weighted average effective maturity and effective duration are measures of how the value of the Funds shares may react to interest rate changes.
To generate additional income, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll transaction, the Fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month while contracting with the same party to repurchase similar securities at a future date.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
29
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: futures contracts; options on futures contracts, swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, security indexes and specific securities and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts that are traded on domestic securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio, or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use derivatives to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds portfolio.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid
30
Section 1 Fund Summaries
and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
Dollar Roll Transaction Risk The use of dollar rolls can increase the volatility of the Funds share price, and it may have an adverse impact on performance unless the sub-adviser correctly predicts mortgage prepayments and interest rates. These transactions are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support.
Municipal Securities Risk The values of municipal securities held by the Fund may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for certain corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of the Fund may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Funds sub-adviser than funds that invest in stock or other corporate investments.
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. Government Securities Risk U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance
Section 1 Fund Summaries
31
that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 1.26%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 5.92% and -2.74%, respectively, for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2016.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Effective August 31, 2009, the Funds investment objective was changed from providing current income that is exempt from state income tax to providing current income, in each case to the extent consistent with preservation of capital. As of the same date, the Funds investment strategies were significantly broadened, consistent with this new investment objective. As a result, the performance information presented below reflects the performance of an investment portfolio that, prior to August 31, 2009, differed materially from the Funds portfolio thereafter.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.
32
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Inception
Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Since
Inception (Class C & Class R3) |
||||||||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 10/25/02 | (3.16 | )% | 0.01 | % | 2.64 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | (3.67 | )% | (0.57 | )% | 1.84 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | (1.78 | )% | (0.24 | )% | 1.75 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 10/28/09 | (0.80 | )% | (0.13 | )% | N/A | 0.99 | % | ||||||||||||
Class R3 (return before taxes) | 10/28/09 | (0.33 | )% | 0.39 | % | N/A | 1.48 | % | ||||||||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 10/25/02 | 0.21 | % | 0.89 | % | 3.16 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Bloomberg Barclays Intermediate Government Bond Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
1.05 | % | 1.04 | % | 3.42 | % | 2.17 | % | ||||||||||||
Lipper Intermediate U.S. Government Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
0.99 | % | 1.05 | % | 3.21 | % | 2.06 | % |
1 | An unmanaged index that includes all publicly issued, U.S. Treasury securities that have a remaining maturity of greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 10 years, are rated investment grade, and have $250 million or more of outstanding face value. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Intermediate U.S. Government Funds Category. |
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
Wan-Chong Kung, CFA | Senior Vice President | November 2002 | ||
Chris J. Neuharth | Managing Director | August 2009 | ||
Jason J. OBrien, CFA | Senior Vice President | August 2009 |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
33
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R3 | Class I | ||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only through certain retirement plans.
No minimum. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
|||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
34
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with current income while maintaining a high degree of principal stability.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | The Funds investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.47% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the Class R6 shares will be less than the expense limitation. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund. |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
35
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Funds operating expenses remain the same and that the fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond July 31, 2019. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class R6 |
Class I |
Class T |
|||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | $ | 297 | $ | 150 | $ | 99 | $ | 43 | $ | 48 | $ | 322 | ||||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 457 | $ | 472 | $ | 316 | $ | 143 | $ | 158 | $ | 481 | ||||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 635 | $ | 821 | $ | 555 | $ | 258 | $ | 282 | $ | 659 | ||||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,150 | $ | 1,805 | $ | 1,240 | $ | 593 | $ | 644 | $ | 1,172 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 50% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds, such as:
| U.S. government securities, which are securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; |
| residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities; |
| asset-backed securities; |
| corporate debt obligations, including obligations issued by special-purpose entities that are backed by corporate debt obligations; and |
| municipal securities. |
Up to 20% of the Funds total assets may be invested in securities rated lower than investment grade or unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser (securities commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds). The Fund will not invest in securities rated lower than CCC at the time of purchase or in unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so. Unrated securities will not exceed 5% of the Funds total assets.
The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
The Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in debt obligations of foreign corporations and foreign governments. However, no more than 10% of the Funds total assets may be invested in debt obligations of corporations and governments that are located in emerging market countries. A country is considered to have an emerging market if it has a relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the worlds major economies, and the potential for rapid economic growth, provided that no issuer included in the Funds current benchmark index will be considered to be located in an emerging market country.
Up to 10% of the Funds total assets may have non-U.S. dollar currency exposure from non-U.S. dollar denominated securities and currency derivatives, calculated on an absolute notional basis (i.e., adding together the absolute value of net long and net short exposures to individual non-U.S. dollar currencies).
The Funds sub-adviser selects securities using a top-down approach which begins with the formulation of the sub-advisers general economic outlook. Following this, various sectors and industries are analyzed and selected for investment. Finally, the sub-adviser selects individual securities within these sectors or industries.
36
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Under normal market conditions, the Fund attempts to maintain a weighted average effective maturity and an average effective duration for its portfolio securities of one to three years. The Funds weighted average effective maturity and effective duration are measures of how the value of the Funds shares may react to interest rate changes.
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; interest rate caps, collars, and floors; foreign currency contracts; options on foreign currencies; swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, currency rates, security indexes and specific securities, and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts traded on domestic or foreign securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, currency risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The Fund may also use derivatives to gain exposure to non-dollar denominated securities markets to the extent it does not do so through direct investments. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds portfolio.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
37
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
High Yield Securities Risk High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as junk bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities.
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support.
Municipal Securities Risk The values of municipal securities held by the Fund may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for certain corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of the Fund may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Funds sub-adviser than funds that invest in stock or other corporate investments.
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. Government Securities Risk U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
38
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 1.40%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 5.45% and -3.37%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
39
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inception
Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Since
Inception (Class C) |
Since
Inception (Class R3) |
Since
Inception (Class R6) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 12/14/92 | (0.43 | )% | 1.37 | % | 2.38 | % | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | (1.11 | )% | 0.61 | % | 1.38 | % | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | (0.24 | )% | 0.72 | % | 1.44 | % | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 10/28/09 | 1.20 | % | 1.08 | % | N/A | 1.11 | % | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (return before taxes) | 9/22/11 | 1.70 | % | 1.57 | % | N/A | N/A | 1.58 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
Class R6 (return before taxes) | 1/20/15 | 2.15 | % | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.42 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 2/4/94 | 2.15 | % | 2.10 | % | 2.82 | % | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||
Bloomberg Barclays
1-3
Year Government/Credit Bond Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
1.28 | % | 0.92 | % | 2.44 | % | 1.27 | % | 0.89 | % | 0.78 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Lipper Short Investment Grade Debt Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
2.00 | % | 1.47 | % | 2.34 | % | 1.94 | % | 1.48 | % | 1.08 | % |
1 | An unmanaged index of investment grade, fixed income securities with maturities ranging from one to three years. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Short Investment Grade Debt Funds Category. |
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
Chris J. Neuharth | Managing Director | March 2004 | ||
Peter L. Agrimson, CFA | Vice President | October 2010 | ||
Jason J. OBrien, CFA | Senior Vice President | March 2016 | ||
Mackenzie S. Meyer | Vice President | March 2016 |
40
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | |||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only through certain retirement plans.
No minimum. |
Available only to certain qualified retirement plans and other investors as described in the prospectus and through fee-based programs.
$1 million for all accounts except:
$100,000 for clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services.
No minimum for certain qualified retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
||||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
Section 1 Fund Summaries
41
Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Fund or in other Nuveen Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts, as well as eligibility requirements for each share class, is available from your financial advisor and in What Share Classes We Offer on page 71 of the Funds prospectus, How to Reduce Your Sales Charge on page 76 of the prospectus, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares on page S-98 of the Funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
1 | The contingent deferred sales charge on Class C shares applies only to redemptions within 12 months of purchase. |
2 | Fee applies to the following types of accounts under $1,000 held directly with the Fund: individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and accounts established pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA). |
3 | The Funds investment adviser has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse other Fund expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 0.59% of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the Class R6 shares will be less than the expense limitation. Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will not be terminated prior to that time without the approval of the Board of Directors of the Fund. |
42
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem your shares at the end of a period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Funds operating expenses remain the same and that the fee waivers currently in place are not renewed beyond July 31, 2019. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Class A |
Class C |
Class R3 |
Class R6 |
Class I |
Class T |
|||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | $ | 506 | $ | 161 | $ | 110 | $ | 52 | $ | 59 | $ | 333 | ||||||||||||
3 Years | $ | 692 | $ | 512 | $ | 357 | $ | 176 | $ | 200 | $ | 522 | ||||||||||||
5 Years | $ | 901 | $ | 896 | $ | 632 | $ | 319 | $ | 361 | $ | 735 | ||||||||||||
10 Years | $ | 1,504 | $ | 1,972 | $ | 1,416 | $ | 735 | $ | 830 | $ | 1,348 |
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or turns over its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Funds performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds portfolio turnover rate was 135% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in income producing securities, including:
| U.S. government securities (securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities); |
| residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities; |
| asset-backed securities; |
| domestic and foreign corporate debt obligations, including obligations issued by special-purpose entities that are backed by corporate debt obligations; |
| preferred securities and contingent capital securities (sometimes referred to as CoCos ) in an aggregate amount not to exceed 20% of the Funds net assets; |
| fixed and floating rate loans, including senior loans and secured and unsecured junior loans, in an amount not to exceed 20% of the Funds net assets; |
| debt obligations of foreign governments; and |
| municipal securities in an amount not to exceed 20% of the Funds net assets. |
The Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in non-U.S. dollar denominated debt obligations of foreign corporations and governments, including debt obligations issued by governmental and corporate issuers that are located in emerging market countries. The Fund may invest without limitation in U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign issuers.
The Fund may invest up to 50% of its total assets in securities rated lower than investment grade or unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser (securities commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds). The Fund will not invest in securities rated lower than CCC at the time of purchase or in unrated securities of comparable quality as determined by the Funds sub-adviser. If the rating of a security is reduced or the credit quality of an unrated security declines after purchase, the Fund is not required to sell the security, but may consider doing so. Unrated securities will not exceed 25% of the Funds total assets.
The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, but that may be resold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ( Rule 144A securities ).
Under normal market conditions, the Fund attempts to maintain a weighted average effective maturity for its portfolio securities of fifteen years or less and an average effective duration of three to eight years. The Funds weighted
Section 1 Fund Summaries
43
average effective maturity and average effective duration are measures of how the value of the Funds shares may react to interest rate changes.
The Funds sub-adviser makes buy, sell, and hold decisions using a top-down approach, which begins with the formulation of the sub-advisers general economic outlook. Following this, various sectors and industries are analyzed and selected for investment. Finally, the sub-adviser selects individual securities within these sectors or industries. The sub-adviser also analyzes expected changes to the yield curve under multiple market conditions to help define maturity and duration selection.
To generate additional income, the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll transaction, the Fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month while contracting with the same party to repurchase similar securities at a future date.
The Fund may utilize the following derivatives: options; futures contracts; options on futures contracts; interest rate caps, collars, and floors; foreign currency contracts; options on foreign currencies; swap agreements, including swap agreements on interest rates, currency rates, security indexes and specific securities, and credit default swap agreements; and options on the foregoing types of swap agreements. The Fund may enter into standardized derivatives contracts traded on domestic or foreign securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, and non-standardized derivatives contracts traded in the over-the-counter market. The Fund may use these derivatives in an attempt to manage market risk, currency risk, credit risk and yield curve risk, to manage the effective maturity or duration of securities in the Funds portfolio or for speculative purposes in an effort to increase the Funds yield or to enhance returns. The Fund may also use derivatives to gain exposure to non-dollar denominated securities markets to the extent it does not do so through direct investments. The use of a derivative is speculative if the Fund is primarily seeking to enhance returns, rather than offset the risk of other positions. The Fund may not use any derivative to gain exposure to a security or type of security that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly.
Principal Risks
The value of your investment in this Fund will change daily. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, listed alphabetically, include:
Active Management Risk The Funds sub-adviser actively manages the Funds investments. Consequently, the Fund is subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the Funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause the Fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.
Bond Market Liquidity Risk Dealer inventories of bonds, which provide an indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to make markets in those bonds, are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which the Fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. In addition, recent federal banking regulations may cause certain dealers to reduce their inventories of bonds, which may further decrease the Funds ability to buy or sell bonds. As a result of this decreased liquidity, the Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If the Fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call Risk If, during periods of falling interest rates, an issuer calls higher-yielding debt instruments held by the Fund, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with lower yields, which may adversely impact the Funds performance.
Contingent Capital Security Risk CoCos have loss absorption mechanisms benefitting the issuer built into their terms. Upon the occurrence of a specified trigger or event, CoCos may be subject to automatic conversion into the issuers common stock, which likely will have declined in value and which will be subordinate to the issuers other classes of securities, or to an automatic write-down of the principal amount of the securities, potentially to zero, which could result in the Fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities.
Credit Risk Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments.
Credit Spread Risk Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a
44
Section 1 Fund Summaries
greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of the Funds debt securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency Risk Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. dollar denominated securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of the Funds portfolio.
Cybersecurity Risk Cybersecurity risk is the risk of an unauthorized breach and access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or the risk of an incident occurring that causes the Fund, its investment adviser or sub-adviser, custodian, transfer agent, distributor or other service provider or a financial intermediary to suffer a data breach, data corruption or lose operational functionality. Successful cyber-attacks or other cyber-failures or events affecting the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund or its shareholders. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach could affect the issuers in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives Risk The use of derivatives involves additional risks and transaction costs which could leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used these instruments. Derivative instruments can be used to acquire or to transfer the risk and returns of a security or other asset without buying or selling the security or asset. These instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives can result in losses that greatly exceed the original investment. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value. An over-the-counter derivative transaction between the Fund and a counterparty that is not cleared through a central counterparty also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. The payment obligation for a cleared derivative transaction is guaranteed by a central counterparty, which exposes the Fund to the creditworthiness of the central counterparty.
Dollar Roll Transaction Risk The use of dollar rolls can increase the volatility of the Funds share price, and it may have an adverse impact on performance unless the sub-adviser correctly predicts mortgage prepayments and interest rates. These transactions are subject to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
High Yield Securities Risk High yield securities, which are rated below investment grade and commonly referred to as junk bonds, are high risk investments that may cause income and principal losses for the Fund. They generally have greater credit risk, are less liquid and have more volatile prices than investment grade securities.
Income Risk The Funds income could decline during periods of falling interest rates or when the Fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the Funds portfolio will decline because of rising interest rates. The Fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration debt securities usually change more than the values of shorter-duration debt securities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
Loan Risk The lack of an active trading market for certain loans may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a loan and may make it difficult to value such loans. Portfolio transactions in loans may settle in as short as seven days but typically can take up to two or three weeks, and in some cases much longer. As a result of these extended settlement periods, the Fund may incur losses if it is required to sell other investments or temporarily borrow to meet its cash needs, including satisfying redemption requests. The risks associated with unsecured loans, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral, are higher than those for comparable loans that are secured by specific collateral. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or transactions such as corporate acquisitions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Additionally, loans may not be considered securities and, as a result, the Fund may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the securities laws.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk These securities generally can be prepaid at any time, and prepayments that occur either more quickly or more slowly than expected can adversely impact the value of such securities. They are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, thereby lengthening the duration
Section 1 Fund Summaries
45
of such securities, increasing their sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing their prices to decline. A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security, the credit quality of its issuer or guarantor, and the nature and structure of its credit support.
Municipal Securities Risk The values of municipal securities held by the Fund may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. The amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for certain corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of the Fund may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the Funds sub-adviser than funds that invest in stock or other corporate investments.
Non-U.S./Emerging Markets Risk Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to those of issuers located in or that principally operate in the United States as a result of, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened for securities of issuers located in, or with significant operations in, emerging market countries as such countries may have a higher degree of economic instability, unsettled securities laws and inconsistent regulatory systems.
Preferred Security Risk Preferred securities generally are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a companys capital structure and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments. In addition, preferred securities are subject to other risks, such as having no or limited voting rights, being subject to special redemption rights, having distributions deferred or skipped, having floating interest rates or dividends, which may result in a decline in value in a falling interest rate environment, having limited liquidity, changing or unfavorable tax treatments and possibly being issued by companies in heavily regulated industries.
Rule 144A Securities Risk The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and the Fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Unrated Security Risk Unrated securities determined by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which the Fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. Government Securities Risk U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
Valuation Risk The debt securities in which the Fund invests typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Fund were to change pricing services, or if the Funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Funds net asset value.
46
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Fund Performance
The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the Fund. The Funds past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at www.nuveen.com/performance or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The bar chart below shows the variability of the Funds performance from year to year for Class A shares. The bar chart and highest/lowest quarterly returns that follow do not reflect sales charges, and if these charges were reflected, the returns would be less than those shown.
Class A Annual Total Return*
* | Class A year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2017 was 4.60%. The performance of the other share classes will differ due to their different expense structures. |
During the ten-year period ended December 31, 2016, the Funds highest and lowest quarterly returns were 22.45% and -8.60%, respectively, for the quarters ended June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008.
The table below shows the variability of the Funds average annual returns and how they compare over the time periods indicated with those of a broad measure of market performance and an index of funds with similar investment objectives. All after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown for Class A shares only; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. Your own actual after-tax returns will depend on your specific tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold Fund shares in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs or employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Both the bar chart and the table assume that all distributions have been reinvested. Performance reflects fee waivers, if any, in effect during the periods presented. If any such waivers had not been in place, returns would have been reduced.
Performance is not shown for Class T shares, which have not been offered for a full calendar year.
Average Annual Total Returns
for the Periods Ended December 31, 2016 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Inception
Date |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Since
Inception (Class R6) |
||||||||||||||||
Class A (return before taxes) | 2/1/00 | 4.54 | % | 4.01 | % | 5.39 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions) | 2.25 | % | 1.99 | % | 3.36 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class A (return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | 2.52 | % | 2.18 | % | 3.31 | % | N/A | |||||||||||||
Class C (return before taxes) | 2/1/00 | 8.33 | % | 4.15 | % | 5.05 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R3 (return before taxes) | 9/24/01 | 8.87 | % | 4.67 | % | 5.54 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Class R6 (return before taxes) | 1/20/15 | 9.61 | % | N/A | N/A | 2.26 | % | |||||||||||||
Class I (return before taxes) | 2/1/00 | 9.41 | % | 5.19 | % | 6.09 | % | N/A | ||||||||||||
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
1
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
2.65 | % | 2.23 | % | 4.34 | % | 0.94 | % | ||||||||||||
Lipper Multi-Sector Income Funds Category Average
2
(reflects no deduction for taxes or sales loads) |
7.26 | % | 4.33 | % | 4.72 | % | 2.68 | % |
1 | An unmanaged fixed income index covering the U.S. investment grade fixed-rate bond market. |
2 | Represents the average annualized returns for all reporting funds in the Lipper Multi-Sector Income Funds Category. |
Section 1 Fund Summaries
47
Management
Investment Adviser
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
Sub-Adviser
Nuveen Asset Management, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name |
Title |
Portfolio Manager of Fund Since |
||
Timothy A. Palmer, CFA | Managing Director | May 2005 | ||
Jeffrey J. Ebert | Senior Vice President | February 2000 | ||
Marie A. Newcome, CFA | Vice President | October 2010 | ||
Douglas M. Baker, CFA | Managing Director | March 2016 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. You may purchase, redeem or exchange shares of the Fund either through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or directly from the Fund. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from the Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary. The Funds initial and subsequent investment minimums generally are as follows, although certain financial intermediaries may impose their own investment minimums and the Fund may reduce or waive the minimums in some cases:
Class A, Class C and Class T | Class R3 | Class R6 | Class I | |||||
Eligibility and Minimum Initial Investment |
$3,000 for all accounts except:
$2,500 for Traditional/Roth IRA accounts.
$2,000 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.
$250 for accounts opened through fee-based programs. (Class T shares are not available through fee-based programs.)
No minimum for retirement plans. |
Available only through certain retirement plans.
No minimum. |
Available only to certain qualified retirement plans and other investors as described in the prospectus and through fee-based programs.
$1 million for all accounts except:
$100,000 for clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services.
No minimum for certain qualified retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
Available only through fee-based programs and certain retirement plans, and to other limited categories of investors as described in the prospectus.
$100,000 for all accounts except:
$250 for clients of financial intermediaries and family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000 (or that are expected to reach this level).
No minimum for eligible retirement plans and certain other categories of eligible investors as described in the prospectus. |
||||
Minimum Additional Investment | $100 | No minimum. | No minimum. | No minimum. |
Tax Information
The Funds distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan (in which case you may be taxed upon withdrawal of your investment from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank or financial advisor), the Fund, its distributor or its investment adviser may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediarys website for more information.
48
Section 1 Fund Summaries
Section 2 How We Manage Your Money
To help you better understand the Funds, this section includes a detailed discussion of the Funds investment and risk management strategies. For a more complete discussion of these matters, please see the statement of additional information, which is available by calling (800) 257-8787 or by visiting Nuveens website at www.nuveen.com.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (Nuveen Fund Advisors), the Funds investment adviser, offers advisory and investment management services to a broad range of investment company clients. Nuveen Fund Advisors has overall responsibility for management of the Funds, oversees the management of the Funds portfolios, manages the Funds business affairs and provides certain clerical, bookkeeping and other administrative services. Nuveen Fund Advisors is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Nuveen Fund Advisors is a subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC, the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ( TIAA ). TIAA is a life insurance company founded in 1918 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is the companion organization of College Retirement Equities Fund. As of September 30, 2017, Nuveen, LLC managed approximately $948 billion in assets, of which approximately $137 billion was managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Nuveen Fund Advisors has selected its affiliate, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (Nuveen Asset Management) , located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, to serve as sub-adviser to each Fund. Nuveen Asset Management manages the investment of the Funds assets on a discretionary basis, subject to the supervision of Nuveen Fund Advisors.
The portfolio managers for Nuveen Core Bond Fund are Wan-Chong Kung, Jeffrey J. Ebert, Chris J. Neuharth and Jason J. OBrien. The portfolio managers for Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund are Chris J. Neuharth, Timothy A. Palmer, Wan-Chong Kung, Jeffrey J. Ebert and Douglas M. Baker. The portfolio managers for Nuveen High Income Bond Fund are John T. Fruit and Jeffrey T. Schmitz. The portfolio managers for Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund are Wan-Chong Kung and Chad W. Kemper. The portfolio managers for Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund are Wan-Chong Kung, Chris J. Neuharth and Jason J. OBrien. The portfolio managers for Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund are Chris J. Neuharth, Peter L. Agrimson, Jason J. OBrien and Mackenzie S. Meyer. The portfolio managers for Nuveen Strategic Income Fund are Timothy A. Palmer, Jeffrey J. Ebert, Marie A. Newcome and Douglas M. Baker. Each portfolio managers business experience for the last five years is set forth below.
| Chris J. Neuharth entered the financial services industry in 1981 and became a portfolio manager in 1985. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of the Securitized Debt Sector Team in January 2011. In March 2016, he was named Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of Investment Risk Management. |
Section 2 How We Manage Your Money
49
| Timothy A. Palmer, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1986 and became a portfolio manager in 1990. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of the Global Bonds and Emerging Markets Sector Teams in January 2011. In March 2016, he was named Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of the Global Interest Rates and Governments and Emerging Markets Sector Teams. |
| Wan-Chong Kung, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1984 and became a portfolio manager in 1993. She joined Nuveen Asset Management as Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Head of the Interest Rates and Governments Sector Team in January 2011. |
| Jeffrey J. Ebert entered the financial services industry in 1991 and became a portfolio manager in 2001. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Head of the High-Grade Credit Sector Team in January 2011. |
| John T. Fruit, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1988 and became a portfolio manager in 2005. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Head of the High-Yield Credit Sector Team in January 2011. |
| Jeffrey T. Schmitz, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1987 and became a portfolio manager in 2008. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Vice President and Senior Research Analyst in January 2011. In January 2015, he was named Vice President and Portfolio Manager. He was named Senior Vice President in March 2017. |
| Chad W. Kemper entered the financial services industry in 1999 and became a portfolio manager in 2010. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Assistant Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager in January 2011. In March 2015, he was named Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager. |
| Jason J. OBrien, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1993 and became a portfolio manager in 2001. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Vice President and Portfolio Manager in January 2011. In March 2016, he was named Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Head of the Securitized Debt Sector Team. |
| Peter L. Agrimson, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 2005 and became a portfolio manager in 2010. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Assistant Vice President and Trader in January 2011. In September 2015, he was named Assistant Vice President, Trader and Research Analyst. In March 2016, he was named Vice President, Assistant Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst. |
| Marie A. Newcome, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1992 and became a portfolio manager in 2005. She joined Nuveen Asset Management as Vice President and Portfolio Manager in January 2011. |
| Douglas M. Baker, CFA, entered the financial services industry in 1996 and became a portfolio manager specializing in preferred securities in 2006. He joined Nuveen Asset Management as Vice President and Derivatives Analyst in 2006. In March 2017, he was named Managing Director, Portfolio Manager and Head of the Preferred Securities Sector Team. |
50
Section 2 How We Manage Your Money
| Mackenzie S. Meyer entered the financial services industry in 2002 and became a portfolio manager in 2016. She joined Nuveen Asset Management as Assistant Vice President and Trader in January 2011. In March 2016, she was named Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager. |
Additional information about the portfolio managers compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers ownership of securities in the Funds is provided in the statement of additional information.
Management Fees
The management fee schedule for each Fund consists of two components: a Fund-level fee, based only on the amount of assets within a Fund, and a complex-level fee, based on the aggregate amount of all eligible fund assets managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
The annual Fund-level fee, payable monthly, is based upon the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:
Average Daily Net Assets |
Nuveen
Core Bond Fund |
Nuveen
Core Plus Bond Fund |
Nuveen
High Income Bond Fund |
Nuveen
Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
Nuveen
Inter mediate Govern ment Bond Fund |
Nuveen
Short Term Bond Fund |
Nuveen
Strategic Income Fund |
|||||||||||||||||||||
For the first $125 million | 0.2700 | % | 0.2800 | % | 0.4000 | % | 0.2500 | % | 0.2500 | % | 0.2200 | % | 0.3600 | % | ||||||||||||||
For the next $125 million | 0.2575 | % | 0.2675 | % | 0.3875 | % | 0.2375 | % | 0.2375 | % | 0.2075 | % | 0.3475 | % | ||||||||||||||
For the next $250 million | 0.2450 | % | 0.2550 | % | 0.3750 | % | 0.2250 | % | 0.2250 | % | 0.1950 | % | 0.3350 | % | ||||||||||||||
For the next $500 million | 0.2325 | % | 0.2425 | % | 0.3625 | % | 0.2125 | % | 0.2125 | % | 0.1825 | % | 0.3225 | % | ||||||||||||||
For the next $1 billion | 0.2200 | % | 0.2300 | % | 0.3500 | % | 0.2000 | % | 0.2000 | % | 0.1700 | % | 0.3100 | % | ||||||||||||||
For the next $3 billion | 0.1950 | % | 0.2050 | % | 0.3250 | % | 0.1750 | % | 0.1750 | % | 0.1450 | % | 0.2850 | % | ||||||||||||||
For the next $5 billion | 0.1700 | % | 0.1800 | % | 0.3000 | % | 0.1500 | % | 0.1500 | % | 0.1200 | % | 0.2600 | % | ||||||||||||||
For net assets over $10 billion | 0.1575 | % | 0.1675 | % | 0.2875 | % | 0.1375 | % | 0.1375 | % | 0.1075 | % | 0.2475 | % |
The overall complex-level fee begins at a maximum rate of 0.2000% of each Funds average daily net assets, based upon complex-level assets of $55 billion, with breakpoints for eligible assets above that level. As of September 30, 2017, the Funds effective complex-level fee rates were as follows:
Complex-Level
Fee Rate |
||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | 0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 0.1716 | % | ||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | 0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 0.1898 | % |
Section 2 How We Manage Your Money
51
For the most recent fiscal year, each Fund paid Nuveen Fund Advisors the following management fees (net of fee waivers and expense reimbursements, where applicable) as a percentage of average daily net assets:
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | 0.32 | % | ||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 0.35 | % | ||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 0.58 | % | ||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 0.23 | % | ||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | 0.20 | % | ||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 0.35 | % | ||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 0.43 | % |
Nuveen Fund Advisors has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses through July 31, 2019 so that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, interest expenses, taxes, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, fees incurred in acquiring and disposing of portfolio securities and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed the following percentages of the average daily net assets of any class of Fund shares. However, because Class R6 shares are not subject to sub-transfer agent and similar fees, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the Class R6 shares will be less than the expense limitation.
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | 0.53% | |
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 0.52% | |
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 0.75% | |
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 0.56% | |
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | 0.54% | |
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 0.47% | |
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 0.59% |
The expense limitations described above may be terminated or modified prior to July 31, 2019 only with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Funds.
Information regarding the Board of Directors approval of the investment management agreements is available in the Funds annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.
The Funds investment objectives, which are described in the Fund Summaries section, may be changed without shareholder approval. If a Funds investment objective changes, you will be notified at least 60 days in advance.
Nuveen Core Bond Fund, Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund and Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund have adopted a non-fundamental investment policy (a Name Policy ) whereby each Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds. Nuveen High Income Bond Fund has adopted a Name Policy whereby the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds rated lower than investment grade at the time of purchase or in unrated bonds of comparable quality. Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund has adopted a Name Policy whereby the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any
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borrowings for investment purposes in inflation protected debt securities. Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund has adopted a Name Policy whereby the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in U.S. government bonds. The Funds will consider both direct investments and indirect investments (e.g., investments in other investment companies, derivatives and synthetic instruments with economic characteristics similar to the direct investments that meet the Name Policy) when determining compliance with the Name Policy. For purposes of the Name Policy, a Fund will value eligible derivatives at fair value or market value instead of notional value. As a result of having a Name Policy, each Fund must provide shareholders with a notice at least 60 days prior to any change of the Funds Name Policy.
The Funds investment policies may be changed by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval unless otherwise noted in this prospectus or the statement of additional information.
The Funds principal investment strategies are discussed in the Fund Summaries section. These are the strategies that the Funds investment adviser and sub-adviser believe are most likely to be important in trying to achieve the Funds investment objectives. This section provides more information about these strategies, as well as information about some additional strategies that the Funds sub-adviser uses, or may use, to achieve the Funds objectives. The strategies described below are principal investment strategies unless otherwise noted. You should be aware that each Fund may also use strategies and invest in securities that are not described in this prospectus, but that are described in the statement of additional information. For a copy of the statement of additional information, call Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787 or visit Nuveens website at www.nuveen.com.
U.S. Government Securities
As a principal investment strategy, the Funds, other than Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, invest in U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities include U.S. Treasury obligations and securities issued or guaranteed by various agencies of the U.S. government, or by various instrumentalities which have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government. U.S. government securities include securities of non-U.S. issuers that are guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. Treasury obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies and U.S. government sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
Municipal Obligations
As a principal investment strategy, the Funds, other than Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, may invest in taxable and tax-exempt municipal bonds. States, local governments and municipalities and other issuing authorities issue municipal bonds to raise money for various public purposes such as building public facilities, refinancing outstanding obligations and financing general operating expenses. These bonds include general obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the issuer and may be repaid from any revenue source, and revenue bonds, which may be repaid only from the revenue of a specific facility or source.
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Municipal bonds issued to finance activities with a broad public purpose are generally exempt from federal income tax. Taxable municipal bonds, however, are issued to finance activities with less significant benefits to the public, such as the construction of sports facilities, and as such the interest paid to holders of such bonds is taxable as ordinary income. Many taxable municipal bonds offer yields comparable to those of other taxable bonds, such as corporate and agency bonds. Taxable municipal bonds may be rated investment-grade or below investment-grade and pay interest based on fixed or floating rate coupons. Maturities may range from long-term to short-term.
The Funds may purchase municipal bonds that represent lease obligations. These carry special risks because the issuer of the bonds may not be obligated to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease. In order to reduce this risk, the Funds will, in making purchase decisions, take into consideration the issuers incentive to continue making appropriations until maturity.
The municipal securities in which the Funds invest may include refunded bonds and zero coupon bonds. Refunded bonds may have originally been issued as general obligation or revenue bonds, but become refunded when they are secured by an escrow fund, usually consisting entirely of direct U.S. government obligations and/or U.S. government agency obligations. Zero coupon bonds are issued at substantial discounts from their value at maturity and pay no cash income to their holders until they mature. When held to maturity, their entire return comes from the difference between their purchase price and their maturity value.
The municipal securities in which the Funds invest may have variable, floating, or fixed interest rates.
Corporate Debt Securities
As a principal investment strategy, the Funds may invest in corporate debt securities issued by companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured. Corporate debt securities may be rated investment-grade or below investment-grade and may carry fixed or floating rates of interest.
Loans
As a principal investment strategy, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in loans, including senior secured loans, unsecured and/or subordinated loans, loan participations and unfunded contracts. These loans are typically made by or issued to corporations primarily to finance acquisitions, refinance existing debt, support organic growth, or pay out dividends, and are typically originated by large banks and are then syndicated out to institutional investors as well as to other banks. Loans typically bear interest at a floating rate, although some loans pay a fixed rate. Due to their lower place in the borrowers capital structure, unsecured and/or subordinated loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than senior bank loans of the same borrower. Loan participations are loans that are shared by a group of lenders. Unfunded contracts are commitments by lenders (such as a Fund) to loan an amount in the future or that is due to be contractually funded in the future.
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High Yield Debt Securities
As a principal investment strategy, the Funds, other than Nuveen Core Bond Fund and Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund, may invest in debt securities rated below investment grade or unrated securities deemed by the Funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality. Debt securities rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds. These types of bonds are typically issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by issuers that have questionable credit strength. High yield and comparable unrated debt securities: (a) will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of the rating agency evaluating the instrument, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions; and (b) are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuers capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.
Preferred Securities
As a principal investment strategy Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in all types of preferred securities, including both traditional preferred securities and non-traditional preferred securities. Traditional preferred securities are generally equity securities of the issuer that have priority over the issuers common shares as to the payment of dividends ( i.e. , the issuer cannot pay dividends on its common shares until the dividends on the preferred shares are current) and as to the payout of proceeds of a bankruptcy or other liquidation, but are subordinate to an issuers senior debt and junior debt as to both types of payments. Additionally, in a bankruptcy or other liquidation, traditional preferred securities are generally subordinate to an issuers trade creditors and other general obligations. Traditional preferred securities may be perpetual or have a term, and typically have a fixed liquidation (or par) value.
The term preferred securities also includes certain hybrid securities and other types of preferred securities that do not have the traditional features described above. Preferred securities that are hybrid securities often behave similarly to investments in traditional preferred securities and are regarded by market investors as being part of the preferred securities market. Such hybrid securities possess varying combinations of features of both debt and traditional preferred securities and as such they may constitute senior debt, junior debt or preferred shares in an issuers capital structure. Thus, they may not be subordinate to a companys debt securities (as are traditional preferred securities).
Hybrid securities include trust preferred securities. Trust preferred securities are typically issued by corporations, generally in the form of interest-bearing notes with preferred securities characteristics, or by an affiliated business trust of a corporation or other special purpose entity, generally in the form of beneficial interests in subordinated debentures or similarly structured securities. The trust preferred securities market consists of both fixed and floating coupon rate securities that are either perpetual in nature or have stated maturity dates. Trust preferred securities may defer payment of income without triggering an event of default. These securities may have many characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in an issuers capital structure.
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Preferred securities may also include certain forms of debt that have many characteristics of preferred shares, and that are regarded by the investment marketplace to be part of the broader preferred securities market. Among these preferred securities are certain exchange-listed debt issues that historically have several attributes, including trading and investment performance characteristics, in common with exchange-listed traditional preferred securities and hybrid securities. Generally, these types of preferred securities are senior debt or junior debt in the capital structure of an issuer.
As a general matter, dividend or interest payments on preferred securities may be cumulative or non-cumulative and may be deferred (in the case of cumulative payments) or skipped (in the case of non-cumulative payments) at the option of the issuer. Generally, preferred security holders have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company, except in some cases voting rights may arise if the issuer fails to pay the preferred share dividends or if a declaration of default occurs and is continuing.
Preferred securities may either trade over-the-counter ( OTC ) or trade on an exchange. Preferred securities can be structured differently for retail and institutional investors, and the Funds may invest in preferred securities of either structure. The retail segment is typified by $25 par value exchange-traded securities and the institutional segment is typified by $1,000 par value OTC securities. Both $25 and $1,000 par value securities are often callable at par value, typically at least five years after their original issuance date.
Contingent Capital Securities
As a principal investment strategy, Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in contingent capital securities (sometimes referred to as CoCos ). CoCos are hybrid securities, issued primarily by non-U.S. financial institutions, which have loss absorption mechanisms benefitting the issuer built into their terms. CoCos generally provide for mandatory conversion into the common stock of the issuer or a write-down of the principal amount or value of the CoCos upon the occurrence of certain triggers linked to regulatory capital thresholds. In addition, they may provide for mandatory conversion or a principal write-down upon the occurrence of certain events such as regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institutions continued viability as a going-concern. Equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuer and its regulatory requirements and, unlike traditional convertible securities, conversions are not voluntary.
Non-U.S. Investments
As a principal investment strategy, the Funds may invest in debt securities of non-U.S. issuers. The Funds will classify an issuer of a security as being a U.S. or non-U.S. issuer based on the determination of an unaffiliated, recognized financial data provider. Such determinations are based on a number of criteria, such as the issuers country of domicile, the primary exchange on which the security trades, the location from which the majority of the issuers revenue comes, and the issuers reporting currency.
The Funds may invest in issuers located in emerging markets. Emerging market countries include any country other than Canada, the United States and the countries comprising the MSCI EAFE ® Index (currently, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom).
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Other Investment Companies
As a principal investment strategy, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund may invest in securities of other open-end or closed-end investment companies, including exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ). The remaining Funds may invest in securities of other investment companies as a non-principal investment strategy.
An ETF is an investment company that holds a portfolio of securities generally designed to track the performance of a securities index, including industry, sector, country and region indexes. ETFs trade on a securities exchange and their shares may, at times, trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value.
As a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund will bear its ratable share of that vehicles expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Funds advisory and administrative fees with respect to assets so invested. Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent a Fund invests in an investment company. In addition, a Fund will incur brokerage costs when purchasing and selling shares of ETFs. Securities of investment companies may be leveraged, in which case the value and/or yield of such securities will tend to be more volatile than securities of unleveraged vehicles.
Generally, investments in other investment companies (including ETFs) are subject to statutory limitations prescribed by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act ). These limitations include a prohibition on a Fund acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any other investment company, and a prohibition on investing more than 5% of a Funds total assets in the securities of any one investment company or more than 10% of its total assets, in the aggregate, in investment company securities. Many ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETFs shares beyond these statutory limitations, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to a contractual arrangement between the ETFs and the investing Fund. The Funds may rely on these exemptive orders in order to invest in unaffiliated ETFs beyond the foregoing statutory limitations. Subject to certain conditions, the Funds also may invest in money market funds beyond the statutory limits described above.
Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
As a non-principal investment strategy, the Funds may invest in cash and in U.S. dollar-denominated high-quality money market instruments and other short-term securities, including money market funds, in such proportions as warranted by prevailing market conditions and the Funds principal investment strategies. The Funds may temporarily invest without limit in such holdings for liquidity purposes, or in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. Being invested in these securities may keep a Fund from participating in a market upswing and prevent a Fund from achieving its investment objective.
Effective Maturity and Effective Duration
Certain Funds attempt to maintain a specified weighted average effective maturity and/or weighted average effective duration of their portfolios. Generally, the longer the effective maturity or effective duration of a Funds portfolio, the more sensitive the Funds net asset value will be to changes in interest rates.
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A bonds maturity is the length of time until the principal is paid back. The effective maturity of a bond may be substantially shorter than its stated or final maturity. In calculating the effective maturity of bonds in a Funds portfolio, the sub-adviser estimates the shortening effect of expected principal prepayments and call provisions on the bonds maturities. Effective maturity provides a better estimate of interest rate risk under normal market conditions than stated maturity, but may underestimate interest rate risk in an environment of rising market interest rates.
Effective duration incorporates a bonds yield, coupon, final maturity and call features into one number that is designed to estimate how much the value of a bond will change with a given change in interest rates. As a general rule, for every 1% increase or decrease in market interest rates, a bonds price will change approximately 1% in the opposite direction for every year of the bonds effective duration. For example, if a bond has an effective duration of 5 years and interest rates increase by 1%, the bonds price would be expected to decline by approximately 5%. Effective duration is subject to a number of limitations. It is most useful when interest rate changes are small, rapid, and occur equally in short-term and long-term securities. In addition, it is difficult to calculate precisely for bonds with prepayment options, such as mortgage- and asset-backed securities, because the calculation requires assumptions about prepayment rates. Also, an increase in market interest rates will generally increase a bonds effective duration, which in turn will make the value of the bond more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further market interest rate increases. For these reasons, effective duration should not solely be relied upon to indicate a Funds potential price volatility in relation to changes in market interest rates.
Credit Quality
Certain Funds have investment strategies requiring them to invest in debt securities that have received a particular rating from a rating service, such as Moodys or Standard & Poors. Any reference in this prospectus to a specific rating encompasses all gradations of that rating. For example, if the prospectus says that a Fund may invest in securities rated as low as B, the Fund may invest in securities rated B-. Debt securities that are rated below investment grade (BB/Ba or lower) are commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds. High yield bonds typically offer higher yields than investment grade bonds with similar maturities but involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy, and increased market price volatility.
Securities Lending
Each Fund may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of its total assets to broker-dealers, banks, and other institutions to generate additional income. When a Fund loans its portfolio securities, it will receive, at the inception of each loan, cash collateral equal to at least 102% of the value of the loaned securities. Under the Funds securities lending agreement, the securities lending agent will generally bear the risk that a borrower may default on its obligation to return loaned securities. The Funds, however, will be responsible for the risks associated with the investment of cash collateral. A Fund may lose money on its investment of cash collateral or may fail to earn sufficient income on its investment to meet its obligations to the borrower.
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Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings
A description of the Funds policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds portfolio holdings is available in the Funds statement of additional information. A list of each Funds portfolio holdings is available on the Funds websitewww.nuveen.com/mfby navigating to your Fund using the Mutual Fund Finder and clicking on the Holdings & Detail tab. By following these links, you can obtain a list of your Funds top ten holdings as of the end of the most recent month. A complete list of portfolio holdings information is generally made available on the Funds website ten business days after the end of the month. This information will remain available on the website until the Funds file with the Securities and Exchange Commission their annual, semi-annual or quarterly holdings report for the fiscal period that includes the date(s) as of which the website information is current.
Risk is inherent in all investing. Investing in a mutual fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment or even that you may lose part or all of your investment. Therefore, before investing you should consider carefully the principal risks and certain other risks that you assume when you invest in the Funds. See the Fund Summaries section for a description of the principal risks of investing in a particular Fund. Additional information about these risks is listed alphabetically below. Because of these risks, you should consider an investment in the Funds to be a long-term investment.
Principal Risks
Active management risk: The funds sub-adviser actively manages each funds investments. Consequently, the funds are subject to the risk that the investment techniques and risk analyses employed by the funds sub-adviser may not produce the desired results. This could cause a fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Additionally, legislative, regulatory or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to the funds sub-adviser in connection with managing a fund and may also adversely affect the ability of a fund to achieve its investment goal.
Bond market liquidity risk: Primary dealer inventories of bonds appear to be low relative to the size of the fixed income market. These inventories are a core indication of dealers capacity to make a market in fixed income securities. This reduction in market making capacity has the potential to decrease liquidity and increase price volatility in the fixed income markets in which a fund invests, particularly during periods of economic or market stress. As a result of this decreased liquidity, a fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on performance. If a fund needed to sell large blocks of bonds to meet shareholder redemption requests or to raise cash, those sales could further reduce the bonds prices and hurt performance.
Call risk: Debt securities are subject to call risk. Many bonds may be redeemed at the option of the issuer, or called, before their stated maturity date. In general, an issuer will call its bonds if they can be refinanced by issuing new bonds which bear a lower interest rate. A fund is
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subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates, a bond issuer will call its high yielding bonds. A fund would then be forced to invest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the funds income.
Contingent capital securities risk: A loss absorption mechanism trigger event for CoCos would likely be the result of, or related to, the deterioration of the issuers financial condition (e.g., a decrease in the issuers capital ratio) and status as a going concern. In such a case, with respect to CoCos that provide for conversion into common stock upon the occurrence of the trigger event, the market price of the issuers common stock received by a fund will have likely declined, perhaps substantially, and may continue to decline, which may adversely affect the funds net asset value. Further, the issuers common stock would be subordinate to the issuers other classes of securities and therefore would worsen the funds standing in a bankruptcy proceeding. In addition, because the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in these instruments could experience a reduced income rate, potentially to zero. In view of the foregoing, CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities.
CoCos may be subject to an automatic write-down ( i.e. , the automatic write-down of the principal amount or value of the securities, potentially to zero, and the cancellation of the securities) under certain circumstances, which could result in a fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. In addition, a fund may not have any rights with respect to repayment of the principal amount of the securities that has not become due or the payment of interest or dividends on such securities for any period from (and including) the interest or dividend payment date falling immediately prior to the occurrence of such automatic write-down. An automatic write-down could also result in a reduced income rate if the dividend or interest payment is based on the securitys par value. Coupon payments on CoCos may be discretionary and may be cancelled by the issuer for any reason or may be subject to approval by the issuers regulator and may be suspended in the event there are insufficient distributable reserves.
In certain scenarios, investors in CoCos may suffer a loss of capital ahead of equity holders or when equity holders do not. There is no guarantee that a fund will receive a return of principal on CoCos. Any indication that an automatic write-down or conversion event may occur can be expected to have a material adverse effect on the market price of CoCos.
The prices of CoCos may be volatile. Additionally, the trading behavior of a given issuers CoCo may be strongly impacted by the trading behavior of other issuers CoCos, such that negative information from an unrelated CoCo may cause a decline in value of one or more CoCos held by a fund. Accordingly, the trading behavior of CoCos may not follow the trading behavior of other similarly structured securities.
CoCos are issued primarily by financial institutions. Therefore, CoCos present substantially increased risks at times of financial turmoil, which could affect financial institutions more than companies in other sectors and industries.
Credit risk: Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a debt security held by a fund, or to which the fund otherwise has exposure, may be unable or unwilling to make interest and principal payments and the related risk that
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the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuers ability or willingness to make such payments. Debt securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which are often reflected in credit ratings. The credit rating of a debt security may be lowered if the issuer suffers adverse changes in its financial condition, which can lead to greater volatility in the price of the security and in shares of a fund, and can also affect the securitys liquidity and make it more difficult for a fund to sell. When a fund purchases unrated securities, it will depend on the sub-advisers analysis of credit risk without the assessment of an independent rating organization, such as Moodys or Standard & Poors.
Credit spread risk: Credit spread risk is the risk that credit spreads (i.e., the difference in yield between securities that is due to differences in their credit quality) may increase when the market believes that bonds generally have a greater risk of default. Increasing credit spreads may reduce the market values of a funds securities. Credit spreads often increase more for lower rated and unrated securities than for investment grade securities. In addition, when credit spreads increase, reductions in market value will generally be greater for longer-maturity securities.
Currency risk: Changes in currency exchange rates will affect the value of non-U.S. securities, interest earned from such securities, gains and losses realized on the sale of such securities, and derivative transactions tied to such securities, and hence will affect the net asset value of a fund that invests in such securities. A strong U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies will adversely affect the value of a fund to the extent it invests in such non-U.S. securities. Even though the non-U.S. securities held by Nuveen Core Bond Fund are traded in U.S. dollars, their prices are typically indirectly influenced by currency fluctuations.
Cybersecurity risk: Intentional cybersecurity breaches include: unauthorized access to systems, networks or devices (such as through hacking activity); infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. In addition, unintentional incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information (possibly resulting in the violation of applicable privacy laws).
A cybersecurity breach could result in the loss or theft of customer data or funds, the inability to access electronic systems (denial of services), loss or theft of proprietary information or corporate data, physical damage to a computer or network system, or costs associated with system repairs. Such incidents could cause a fund, a funds adviser or sub-adviser, a financial intermediary, or other service providers to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs or financial loss. In addition, such incidents could affect issuers in which a fund invests, and thereby cause the funds investments to lose value.
Derivatives risk: The use of derivatives presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid and difficult to value, and there is the risk that changes in the value of a derivative held by a fund will not correlate with the asset, index or rate underlying the derivative contract.
The use of derivatives can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, index or rate, which may be
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magnified by certain features of the contract. A derivative transaction also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the contract to make required payments. These risks are heightened when the management team uses derivatives to enhance a funds return or as a substitute for a position or security, rather than solely to hedge (or offset) the risk of a position or security held by the fund.
In addition, when a fund engages in certain derivative transactions, it is effectively leveraging its investments, which could result in exaggerated changes in the net asset value of the funds shares and can result in losses that exceed the amount originally invested. The success of a funds derivatives strategies will depend on the sub-advisers ability to assess and predict the impact of market or economic developments on the underlying asset, index or rate and the derivative itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the derivative under all possible market conditions.
A fund may also enter into OTC transactions in derivatives. Transactions in the OTC markets generally are conducted on a principal-to-principal basis. The terms and conditions of these instruments generally are not standardized and tend to be more specialized or complex, and the instruments may be harder to value. In general, there is less governmental regulation and supervision of transactions in the OTC markets than of transactions entered into on organized exchanges. In addition, certain derivative instruments and markets may not be liquid, which means a fund may not be able to close out a derivatives transaction in a cost-efficient manner.
Short positions in derivatives may involve greater risks than long positions, as the risk of loss on short positions is theoretically unlimited (unlike a long position, in which the risk of loss may be limited to the notional amount of the instrument).
Swap agreements may involve fees, commissions or other costs that may reduce a funds gains from a swap agreement or may cause the fund to lose money.
Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when desired.
Dollar roll transaction risk: A fund may invest in dollar roll transactions. In a dollar roll transaction, a fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month while contracting with the same party to repurchase similar securities at a future date. Because the fund gives up the right to receive principal and interest paid on the securities sold, a mortgage dollar roll transaction will diminish the investment performance of a fund unless the difference between the price received for the securities sold and the price to be paid for the securities to be purchased in the future, plus any fee income received, exceeds any income, principal payments, and appreciation on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll. Whether mortgage dollar rolls will benefit a fund may depend upon the sub-advisers ability to predict mortgage prepayments and interest rates. In addition, the use of mortgage dollar rolls by a fund increases the amount of the funds assets that are subject to market risk, which could increase the volatility of the price of the funds shares. These transactions are also subject to the risk that the counterparty to the transaction may not or be unable to perform in accordance with the terms of the instrument.
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High yield securities risk: Securities that are rated below-investment grade are commonly referred to as high yield securities or junk bonds. High yield securities usually offer higher yields than investment grade securities, but also involve more risk. High yield securities may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic conditions than investment grade securities, and they generally have more volatile prices and carry more risk to principal. In addition, high yield securities generally are less liquid than investment grade securities.
Income risk: A funds income from its debt securities could decline during periods of falling interest rates because the fund generally may have to invest the proceeds from sales of fund shares, as well as the proceeds from maturing portfolio debt securities (or portfolio securities that have been called, see Call risk above, or prepaid, see Mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk below), in lower-yielding securities. In addition, a funds income could decline when the fund experiences defaults on debt securities it holds.
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund is subject to the risk that, because the interest and/or principal payments on inflation protected securities are adjusted periodically for changes in inflation, the level of income distributed by the Fund may be less regular than that provided by certain fixed income funds that do not invest in inflation protected securities. In a period of sustained deflation, the inflation protected securities held by the Fund, and consequently the Fund itself, may not pay any income.
Indexing methodology risk: Interest payments on inflation protected securities held by Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund will vary with the rate of inflation, as measured by a specified index. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U (used as the inflation measure by U.S. Treasury inflation-protected securities) or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. If the market perceives that the adjustment mechanism of an inflation-protected security does not accurately adjust for inflation, the value of the security could be adversely affected. There may be a lag between the time a security is adjusted for inflation and the time interest is paid on that security. This may have an adverse effect on the trading price of the security, particularly during periods of significant, rapid changes in inflation. In addition, to the extent that inflation has increased during the period of time between the inflation adjustment and the interest payment, the interest payment will not be protected from the inflation increase.
Inflation risk: If the rate of inflation falls, or if inflation is negative ( i.e. , deflation), the principal value of and/or interest payments on inflation protected debt securities held by Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund will decrease.
Interest rate risk: Debt securities held by a fund will fluctuate in value with changes in interest rates. In general, debt securities will increase in value when interest rates fall and decrease in value when interest rates rise. A fund may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case due to the current period of historically low rates and the effect of potential government fiscal policy initiatives and resulting market reaction to those initiatives. Longer-term debt securities are generally more sensitive
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to interest rate changes. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of debt securities with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases.
The effect of interest rate changes on the inflation protected securities held by Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund will be somewhat different. Interest rates have two components: a real interest rate and an increment that reflects investor expectations of future inflation. Because interest rates on inflation protected securities are adjusted for inflation, the values of these securities are not materially affected by changes in inflation expectations. Therefore, the values of inflation protected debt securities are expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Generally, the value of an inflation protected debt security will fall when real interest rates rise and rise when real interest rates fall.
Loan risk: Loans in which a fund may invest generally are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale and may trade infrequently on the secondary market. The lack of an active trading market for certain loans may impair the ability of a fund to realize full value in the event of the need to sell a loan and may make it difficult to value such loans. Portfolio transactions in loans may settle in as short as seven days but typically can take up to two or three weeks, and in some cases much longer. As a result of these extended settlement periods, a fund may incur losses if it is required to sell other investments or temporarily borrow to meet its cash needs, including satisfying redemption requests.
The amount of public information available with respect to loans may be less extensive than that available for registered or exchange listed securities. Furthermore, because a funds sub-adviser may wish to invest in the publicly-traded securities of an obligor, the fund may not have access to material non-public information regarding the obligor to which other investors have access. Loans may not be considered securities and, as a result, a fund may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the securities laws.
Interests in secured loans have the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further encumber its assets. However, there is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which a fund has an interest may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event the borrower defaults, a funds access to the collateral may be limited or delayed because of difficulty liquidating the collateral or by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. The risks associated with unsecured loans, which are not backed by a security interest in any specific collateral, are higher than those for comparable loans that are secured by specific collateral. Interests in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or transactions such as corporate acquisitions may be especially vulnerable to adverse changes in economic or market conditions.
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk: The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities can fall if the owners of the underlying mortgages or other obligations pay off their mortgages or other obligations sooner than expected, which could happen when interest rates fall or for other reasons.
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Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates could cause mortgages or other obligations underlying the securities to be prepaid more slowly than expected, which would, in effect, convert a short- or medium-duration mortgage- or asset-backed security into a longer-duration security, increasing its sensitivity to interest rate changes and causing its price to decline.
A mortgage-backed security may be negatively affected by the quality of the mortgages underlying such security and the structure of its issuer. For example, if a mortgage underlying a certain mortgage-backed security defaults, the value of that security may decrease.
A fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities that are not explicitly backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and there can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support in situations in which it was not obligated to do so. Mortgage-backed securities issued by a private issuer, such as commercial mortgage-backed securities, generally entail greater risk than obligations directly or indirectly guaranteed by the U.S. government or a government-sponsored entity.
Municipal securities risk: The values of municipal securities may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. Other factors that could affect municipal securities include a change in the local, state, or national economy, demographic factors, ecological or environmental concerns, statutory limitations on the issuers ability to increase taxes, and other developments generally affecting the revenue of issuers (for example, legislation or court decisions reducing state aid to local governments or mandating additional services). This risk would be heightened to the extent that a fund invests a substantial portion of the below-investment grade quality portion of its portfolio in the bonds of similar projects (such as those relating to the education, health care, housing, transportation, or utilities industries), in industrial development bonds, or in particular types of municipal securities (such as general obligation bonds, municipal lease obligations, private activity bonds or moral obligation bonds) that are particularly exposed to specific types of adverse economic, business or political events. In addition, the amount of public information available about municipal bonds is generally less than for certain corporate equities or bonds, meaning that the investment performance of a fund may be more dependent on the analytical abilities of the funds sub-adviser than funds that invest in stock or other corporate investments.
To the extent that a fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of issuers located in a given state or U.S. territory, it will be disproportionally affected by political and economic conditions and developments in that state or territory and may involve greater risk than funds that invest in a larger universe of securities. In addition, economic, political or regulatory changes in that state or territory could adversely affect municipal securities issuers in that state or territory and therefore the value of a funds investment portfolio.
Non-U.S./emerging markets risk: Non-U.S. issuers or U.S. issuers with significant non-U.S. operations may be subject to risks in addition to or different than those of issuers that are located in or principally operated in the United States due to political, social and economic developments
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abroad, different regulatory environments and laws, potential seizure by the government of company assets, higher taxation, withholding taxes on dividends and interest and limitations on the use or transfer of portfolio assets.
To the extent a fund invests in depositary receipts, the fund will be subject to many of the same risks as when investing directly in non-U.S. securities. The holder of an unsponsored depositary receipt may have limited voting rights and may not receive as much information about the issuer of the underlying securities as would the holder of a sponsored depositary receipt.
Other non-U.S. investment risks include the following:
| Enforcing legal rights may be difficult, costly and slow in non-U.S. countries, and there may be special problems enforcing claims against non-U.S. governments. |
| Non-U.S. companies may not be subject to accounting standards or governmental supervision comparable to U.S. companies, and there may be less public information about their operations. |
| Non-U.S. markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. markets. |
| The U.S. and non-U.S. markets often rise and fall at different times or by different amounts due to economic or other developments particular to a given country or region. This phenomenon would tend to lower the overall price volatility of a portfolio that included both U.S. and non-U.S. securities. Sometimes, however, global trends will cause the U.S. and non-U.S. markets to move in the same direction, reducing or eliminating the risk reduction benefit of international investing. |
| Non-U.S. securities traded on foreign exchanges, particularly in emerging markets countries, may be subject to further risks due to the inexperience of local investment professionals and financial institutions, the possibility of permanent or temporary termination of trading, and greater spreads between bid and asked prices for securities. In addition, non-U.S. exchanges and investment professionals are subject to less governmental regulation, and commissions may be higher than in the United States. Also, there may be delays in the settlement of non-U.S. exchange transactions. |
| A funds income from non-U.S. issuers may be subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes. In some countries, the fund also may be subject to taxes on trading profits and, on certain securities transactions, transfer or stamp duties tax. To the extent non-U.S. income taxes are paid by the fund, U.S. shareholders may be entitled to a credit or deduction for U.S. tax purposes. |
| Some countries, particularly in emerging markets, restrict to varying degrees foreign investment in their securities markets. In some circumstances, these restrictions may limit or preclude investment in certain countries or may increase the cost of investing in securities of particular companies. |
| Emerging markets generally do not have the level of market efficiency and strict standards in accounting and securities regulation to be on par with advanced economies. Investments in emerging markets come with much greater risk due to political instability, domestic infrastructure problems and currency volatility. |
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Other investment companies risk: When a fund invests in other investment companies, including ETFs, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of fund expenses and, indirectly, the expenses of the other investment companies. Furthermore, the fund is exposed to the risks to which the other investment companies may be subject. For index-based ETFs, while such ETFs seek to achieve the same returns as a particular market index, the performance of an ETF may diverge from the performance of such index (commonly known as tracking error).
Preferred security risk: There are special risks associated with investing in preferred securities:
Limited voting rights. Generally, preferred security holders have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may elect a number of directors to the issuers board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights.
In the case of certain preferred securities issued by trusts or special purpose entities, holders generally have no voting rights except if a declaration of default occurs and is continuing. In such an event, preferred security holders generally would have the right to appoint and authorize a trustee to enforce the trusts or special purpose entitys rights as a creditor under the agreement with its operating company.
Special redemption rights. In certain circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities prior to their stated maturity date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in federal income tax or securities laws or by regulatory or major corporate action. As with call provisions, a redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return of the security held by a fund.
Payment deferral. Generally, preferred securities may be subject to provisions that allow an issuer, under certain conditions, to skip (non-cumulative preferred securities) or defer (cumulative preferred securities) distributions without any adverse consequences to the issuer. Non-cumulative preferred securities can skip distributions indefinitely. Cumulative preferred securities typically contain provisions that allow an issuer, at its discretion, to defer distributions payments for up to 10 years. If a fund owns a preferred security that is deferring its distribution, the fund may be required to report income for tax purposes although it has not yet received such income. In addition, recent changes in bank regulations may increase the likelihood of issuers deferring or skipping distributions.
Subordination. Preferred securities generally are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a companys capital structure and therefore are subject to greater credit risk than those debt instruments.
Floating Rate Payments. The dividend or interest rates on preferred securities may be floating, or convert from fixed to floating at a specified future time. The market value of floating rate securities may fall in a declining interest rate environment and may also fall in a rising interest rate environment if there is a lag between the rise in interest rates and the reset. This risk may also be present with
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respect to fixed rate securities that will convert to a floating rate at a future time. A secondary risk associated with declining interest rates is the risk that income earned by a fund on floating rate securities may decline due to lower coupon payments on the floating-rate securities.
Liquidity. Preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as U.S. government securities or common stock. Less liquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by a fund or at prices approximating the values at which a fund is carrying the securities on its books.
Financial services industry. The preferred securities market is comprised predominately of securities issued by companies in the financial services industry. Therefore, preferred securities present substantially increased risks at times of financial turmoil, which could affect financial services companies more than companies in other sectors and industries.
Tax risk. A fund may invest in preferred securities or other securities the federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the Internal Revenue Service. It could be more difficult for a fund to comply with the tax requirements applicable to regulated investment companies if the tax characterization of a funds investments or the tax treatment of the income from such investments were successfully challenged by the Internal Revenue Service.
Regulatory risk. Issuers of preferred securities may be in industries that are heavily regulated and that may receive government funding. The value of preferred securities issued by these companies may be affected by changes in government policy, such as increased regulation, ownership restrictions, deregulation or reduced government funding.
Rule 144A s ecurities r isk: The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that their liquidity may become impaired and a fund may be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
Tax consequences of inflation adjustments: Periodic adjustments for inflation to the principal amount of an inflation protected security will give rise to original issue discount, which will be includable in gross income for Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund. Because the Fund is required to distribute its taxable income to avoid corporate level tax, the Fund may be required to make annual distributions to shareholders that exceed the cash it receives, which may require the Fund to liquidate certain investments when it is not advantageous to do so.
Unrated security risk: Unrated securities determined by the funds sub-adviser to be of comparable quality to rated securities which a fund may purchase may pay a higher interest rate than such rated securities and be subject to a greater risk of illiquidity or price changes. Less public information is typically available about unrated securities or issuers than rated securities or issuers.
U.S. g overnment s ecurities r isk : U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. Accordingly, the current market values for these securities will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Securities issued or guaranteed
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by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are supported by varying degrees of credit but generally are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government will provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated by law to do so.
Valuation risk: The debt securities in which a fund may invest typically are valued by a pricing service utilizing a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such instruments, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. There is no assurance that a fund will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the fund. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but some trades may occur in smaller, odd lot sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if a fund were to change pricing services, or if a funds pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the funds net asset value.
Zero coupon bonds risk: As interest on zero coupon bonds is not paid on a current basis, the values of the bonds are subject to greater fluctuations than are the value of bonds that distribute income regularly and may be more speculative than such bonds. Accordingly, the values of zero coupon bonds may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while zero coupon bonds generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause a fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by certain tax laws.
Non-Principal Risks
Global economic risk: Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. An example is the June 2016 United Kingdom referendum to leave the European Union ( EU ), which resulted in depreciation in the value of the British pound, short term declines in the stock markets and ongoing economic and political uncertainty. The United Kingdoms withdrawal from the EU may take an extended period, and there is considerable uncertainty about the potential trade, economic and market consequences of the exit. Other countries may also depart the EU, voluntarily or otherwise. The negative impact of the United Kingdoms departure from the EU, as well as any future departures by other countries, could be significant, not only to the United Kingdom and European economies, but also to the broader global economy. Such departures could potentially result in increased market volatility and illiquidity, and lower economic growth for companies that rely significantly on Europe for their business activities and revenues, which could negatively impact the value of a funds investments. Similarly, major economic or political disruptions outside of Europe, particularly in large economies like Chinas, may have global negative economic and market repercussions.
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Large transactions risk: A fund may experience adverse effects due to large purchases or redemptions of fund shares. A large redemption by an individual shareholder, or an increase in redemptions generally by fund shareholders, may cause a fund to sell portfolio securities at times when it would not otherwise do so, which may negatively impact the funds net asset value and liquidity. If a fund has difficulty selling portfolio securities in a timely manner to meet redemption requests, the fund may have to borrow money to do so. In such an instance, a funds remaining shareholders would bear the costs of such borrowings, and such costs could reduce the funds returns. In addition, until a fund is able to sell securities to meet redemption requests, the funds market exposure may be greater than it ordinarily would be, which would magnify the impact of any market movements on the funds performance. Similarly, large fund share purchases may adversely affect a funds performance to the extent that the fund is delayed in investing new cash and is required to maintain a larger cash position than it ordinarily would, reducing the funds market exposure. Increased redemption activity may also result in unexpected taxable distributions to shareholders if such sales of investments resulted in gains and thereby accelerated the realization of taxable income. In addition, large redemptions could result in a funds current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the funds expense ratio.
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Section 3 How You Can Buy and Sell Shares
The Funds offer multiple classes of shares, each with a different combination of sales charges, fees, eligibility requirements and other features. Your financial advisor can help you determine which class is best for you. For further details, please see the statement of additional information. Because the prospectus and the statement of additional information are available free of charge on Nuveens website at www.nuveen.com, we do not disclose the following share class information separately on the website.
The different share classes offered by the Funds are described below. You will pay up-front or contingent deferred sales charges on some of these share classes. In addition, some share classes are subject to annual distribution and/or service fees in the amounts described below, which are paid out of a Funds assets. These fees are paid to Nuveen Securities, LLC (the Distributor ), a subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC and the distributor of the Funds, and are used primarily for providing compensation to financial intermediaries in connection with the distribution of Fund shares and for providing ongoing account services to shareholders. The Funds have adopted a distribution and service plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows each Fund to pay these distribution and service fees. More information on this plan can be found under Distribution and Service PaymentsDistribution and Service Plan. Because fees paid under the plan are paid out of a Funds assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Class A Shares
You can purchase Class A shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share plus an up-front sales charge. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge, or the sales charge may be waived, as described in How to Reduce Your Sales Charge. Class A shares are also subject to an annual service fee of 0.25% of your Funds average daily net assets, which compensates your financial advisor or other financial intermediary for providing ongoing service to you. The Distributor retains the service fee on accounts with no financial intermediary of record. The up-front Class A sales charges for the Funds are as follows:
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
Amount of Purchase |
Sales Charge as
% of Public Offering Price |
Sales Charge as %
of Net Amount Invested |
Maximum
Financial Intermediary Commission as % of Public Offering Price |
|||||||||
Less than $50,000 | 4.75 | % | 4.99 | % | 4.25 | % | ||||||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.50 | 4.71 | 4.00 | |||||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.50 | 3.63 | 3.00 | |||||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.25 | |||||||||
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | |||||||||
$1,000,000 and over* | | | 1.00 |
* | You can purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares at net asset value without an up-front sales charge. The Distributor pays financial intermediaries of record at a rate of 1.00% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.75% of the next $2.5 million, plus |
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71
0.50% of the amount over $5 million, which includes an advance of the first years service fee. Unless you are eligible for a waiver, you may be assessed a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1.00% if you redeem any of your shares within 18 months of purchase. See Contingent Deferred Sales Charges below for information concerning the CDSC and How to Reduce Your Sales ChargeCDSC Waivers and Reductions below for information concerning CDSC waivers and reductions. |
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
Amount of Purchase |
Sales Charge as
% of Public Offering Price |
Sales Charge as %
of Net Amount Invested |
Maximum
Financial Intermediary Commission as % of Public Offering Price |
|||||||||
Less than $50,000 | 4.25 | % | 4.44 | % | 3.75 | % | ||||||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.00 | 4.17 | 3.50 | |||||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.50 | 3.63 | 3.00 | |||||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.25 | |||||||||
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | |||||||||
$1,000,000 and over* | | | 1.00 |
* | You can purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares at net asset value without an up-front sales charge. The Distributor pays financial intermediaries of record at a rate of 1.00% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.75% of the next $2.5 million, plus 0.50% of the amount over $5 million, which includes an advance of the first years service fee. Unless you are eligible for a waiver, you may be assessed a CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem any of your shares within 18 months of purchase. See Contingent Deferred Sales Charges below for information concerning the CDSC and How to Reduce Your Sales ChargeCDSC Waivers and Reductions below for information concerning CDSC waivers and reductions. |
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
Amount of Purchase |
Sales Charge as
% of Public Offering Price |
Sales Charge as %
of Net Amount Invested |
Maximum
Financial Intermediary Commission as % of Public Offering Price |
|||||||||
Less than $50,000 | 3.00 | % | 3.09 | % | 2.50 | % | ||||||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.00 | |||||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.50 | |||||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 1.25 | |||||||||
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 | 1.25 | 1.27 | 1.00 | |||||||||
$1,000,000 and over* | | | 1.00 |
* | You can purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares at net asset value without an up-front sales charge. The Distributor pays financial intermediaries of record at a rate of 1.00% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.75% of the next $2.5 million, plus 0.50% of the amount over $5 million, which includes an advance of the first years service fee. Unless you are eligible for a waiver, you may be assessed a CDSC of 1.00% if you redeem any of your shares within 18 months of purchase. See Contingent Deferred Sales Charges below for information concerning the CDSC and How to Reduce Your Sales ChargeCDSC Waivers and Reductions below for information concerning CDSC waivers and reductions. |
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
Amount of Purchase |
Sales Charge as
% of Public Offering Price |
Sales Charge as %
of Net Amount Invested |
Maximum
Financial Intermediary Commission as % of Public Offering Price |
|||||||||
Less than $50,000 | 2.25 | % | 2.30 | % | 1.75 | % | ||||||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | |||||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 1.25 | 1.27 | 1.00 | |||||||||
$250,000 and over* | | | 0.75 |
* | You can purchase $250,000 or more of Class A shares at net asset value without an up-front sales charge. The Distributor pays financial intermediaries of record at a rate of 0.75% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.50% of the next $2.5 million, plus 0.25% of the amount over $5 million, which includes an advance of the first years service fee. Unless you are eligible for a waiver, you may be assessed a CDSC of 0.75% if you redeem any of your shares within 18 months of purchase. See Contingent Deferred Sales Charges below for information concerning the CDSC and How to Reduce Your Sales ChargeCDSC Waivers and Reductions below for information concerning CDSC waivers and reductions. |
Investors may purchase Class A shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund.
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Section 3 How You Can Buy and Sell Shares
In addition, Class A shares may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine whether their policies allow for an investment in Class A shares.
Class C Shares
You can purchase Class C shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share without any up-front sales charge. Class C shares are subject to annual distribution and service fees of 1.00% of your Funds average daily net assets. The annual 0.25% service fee compensates your financial advisor or other financial intermediary for providing ongoing service to you. The annual 0.75% distribution fee compensates the Distributor for paying your financial advisor or other financial intermediary an ongoing sales commission as well as an advance of the first years service and distribution fees. The Distributor retains the service and distribution fees on accounts with no financial intermediary of record. If you redeem your shares within 12 months of purchase, you will normally pay a 1.00% CDSC, which is calculated on the lower of your purchase price or redemption proceeds. You do not pay a CDSC on any Class C shares you purchase by reinvesting dividends. You may qualify for a reduced CDSC, or the CDSC may be waived, as described in How to Reduce Your Sales Charge below.
Investors purchasing Class C shares should consider whether they would qualify for a reduced or eliminated sales charge on Class A shares that would make purchasing Class A shares a better choice. Class A share sales charges can be reduced or eliminated based on the size of the purchase, or pursuant to a letter of intent or rights of accumulation. See How to Reduce Your Sales Charge below.
Class C share purchase orders equaling or exceeding $1,000,000 ($250,000 for Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund) will not be accepted. In addition, the Funds limit the cumulative amount of Class C shares that may be purchased by a single purchaser. Your financial intermediary may set lower maximum purchase limits for Class C shares. See the statement of additional information for more information.
Investors may purchase Class C shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund. In addition, Class C shares may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine whether their policies allow for an investment in Class C shares.
Class R3 Shares
You can purchase Class R3 shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share without any up-front sales charge. Class R3 shares are subject to annual distribution and service fees of 0.50% of your Funds average daily net assets.
Investors may purchase Class R3 shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund.
Class R3 shares are only available for purchase by eligible retirement plans. Class R3 shares are not available to traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SAR-SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs or individual 403(b) plans. See the statement of additional information for more information.
Nuveen Core Bond Fund does not issue Class R3 shares.
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73
Class R6 Shares
Eligible investors can purchase Class R6 shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share without any up-front sales charge. As Class R6 shares are not subject to sales charges or ongoing service or distribution fees, they have lower ongoing expenses than the other classes.
Class R6 shares are available to certain qualified retirement plans and other investors. There is no minimum initial investment for qualified retirement plans; however, the shares must be held through plan-level or omnibus accounts held on the books of a Fund. Class R6 shares are also available for purchase by clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments and foundations. The minimum initial investment for such clients is $100,000, but this minimum will be waived for clients of financial intermediaries that have accounts holding Class R6 shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000. The Distributor may also waive the minimum for clients of financial intermediaries anticipated to reach this Class R6 share holdings level. All other eligible investors must meet a minimum initial investment of at least $1 million in a Fund. Such minimum investment requirement may be applied collectively to affiliated accounts, in the discretion of the Distributor. Class R6 shares may be purchased through financial intermediaries only if such intermediaries have entered into an agreement with the Distributor to offer Class R6 shares. Class R6 shares are only available in cases where neither the investor nor the intermediary will receive any commission payments, account servicing fees, record keeping fees, 12b-1 fees, sub-transfer agent fees, so called finders fees, administration fees or similar fees with respect to Class R6 shares. Provided they meet the minimum investment and other eligibility requirements, eligible investors include:
| Qualified retirement plans; |
| Foundations and endowment funds; |
| Any state, county, or city, or its instrumentality, department, authority or agency; |
| 457 plans, including 457(b) governmental entity plans and tax exempt plans; |
| Omnibus or other pooled accounts registered to insurance companies, trust companies, bank trust departments, registered investment advisor firms and family offices; |
| Investment companies, both affiliated and not affiliated with Nuveen Fund Advisors; |
| Corporations, including corporate non-qualified deferred compensation plans of such corporations; |
| Collective investment trusts; |
| Discretionary accounts managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors or its affiliates; and |
| 529 savings plans held in plan-level omnibus accounts. |
Class R6 shares are not available directly to traditional or Roth IRAs, Coverdell Savings Accounts, Keoghs, SEPs, SARSEPs, or SIMPLE IRAs.
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund do not issue Class R6 shares.
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Section 3 How You Can Buy and Sell Shares
Class I Shares
You can purchase Class I shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share without any up-front sales charge. As Class I shares are not subject to sales charges or ongoing service or distribution fees, they have lower ongoing expenses than the other classes.
Class I shares are available for purchase by clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments and foundations. The minimum initial investment for such clients is $100,000, but this minimum will be lowered to $250 for clients of financial intermediaries that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000. The Distributor may also lower the minimum to $250 for clients of financial intermediaries anticipated to reach this Class I share holdings level.
Class I shares are also available for purchase by family offices and their clients. A family office is a company that provides certain financial and other services to a high net worth family or families. The minimum initial investment for family offices and their clients is $100,000, but this minimum will be lowered to $250 for clients of family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000. The Distributor may also lower the minimum to $250 for clients of family offices anticipated to reach this Class I share holdings level.
Class I shares are also available for purchase, with no minimum initial investment, by the following categories of investors:
| Certain employer-sponsored retirement plans. |
| Certain bank or broker-affiliated trust departments. |
| Advisory accounts of Nuveen Fund Advisors and its affiliates. |
| Current and former trustees/directors of any Nuveen Fund, and their immediate family members (as defined in the statement of additional information). |
| Officers of Nuveen, LLC and its affiliates, and their immediate family members. |
| Full-time and retired employees of Nuveen, LLC and its affiliates, and their immediate family members. |
| Certain financial intermediary personnel, and their immediate family members. |
| Certain other institutional investors described in the statement of additional information. |
Class T Shares
You can purchase Class T shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share plus an up-front sales charge. Class T shares are also subject to an annual service fee of 0.25% of the Funds average daily net assets, which compensates your financial advisor or other financial intermediary for
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providing ongoing service to you. The Distributor retains the service fee on accounts with no financial intermediary of record. The up-front Class T sales charges for a Fund are as follows:
Amount of Purchase |
Sales Charge as
% of Public Offering Price |
Sales Charge as %
of Net Amount Invested |
Maximum
Financial Intermediary Commission as % of Public Offering Price |
|||||||||
Less than $250,000 | 2.50 | % | 2.56 | % | 2.50 | % | ||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.00 | 2.04 | 2.00 | |||||||||
$500,000 but less than $1,000,000 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 1.50 | |||||||||
$1,000,000 and over | 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.00 |
Class T shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions from the same Fund are not subject to a sales charge. In addition, Class T shares may be available at net asset value without a sales charge under certain other circumstances, as determined by the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary. See the appendix to this Prospectus, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, for information on available Class T share sales charge waivers.
Investors may purchase Class T shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund. In addition, Class T shares may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine whether their policies allow for an investment in Class T shares.
Please refer to the statement of additional information for more information about Class A, Class C, Class R3, Class R6, Class I and Class T shares, including more detailed program descriptions and eligibility requirements. Additional information is also available from your financial advisor, who can also help you prepare any necessary application forms.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges
If you redeem Class A or Class C shares that are subject to a CDSC, you may be assessed a CDSC upon redemption. When you redeem Class A or Class C shares subject to a CDSC, your Fund will first redeem any shares that are not subject to a CDSC, and then redeem the shares you have owned for the longest period of time, unless you ask the Fund to redeem your shares in a different order. No CDSC is imposed on shares you buy through the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. The CDSC holding period is calculated on a monthly basis and begins on the first day of the month in which the purchase was made. When you redeem shares subject to a CDSC, the CDSC is calculated on the lower of your purchase price or redemption proceeds, deducted from your redemption proceeds, and paid to the Distributor. The CDSC may be waived under certain special circumstances as described below under How You Can Buy and Sell SharesHow to Reduce Your Sales ChargeCDSC Waivers and Reductions, in the appendix to this prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and in the statement of additional information.
The Funds offer a number of ways to reduce or eliminate the up-front sales charge on Class A shares. In addition, under certain circumstances, the
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Funds will waive or reduce the CDSC imposed on redemptions of Class C shares and certain Class A shares purchased at net asset value. The availability of the sales charge reductions and waivers discussed below will depend on the policies of the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares. Information on intermediaries variations from the reductions and waivers discussed below are disclosed in the appendix to this prospectus, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts that are not available through your intermediary, you will have to purchase Fund shares through another intermediary.
Class A Sales Charge Reductions
| Rights of Accumulation. In calculating the appropriate sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares of a Fund, you may be able to add the amount of your purchase to the value, based on the current net asset value per share, of all of your prior purchases of any Nuveen Mutual Fund. |
| Letter of Intent. Subject to certain requirements, you may purchase Class A shares of a Fund at the sales charge rate applicable to the total amount of the purchases you intend to make over a 13-month period. |
For purposes of calculating the appropriate sales charge as described under Rights of Accumulation and Letter of Intent above, you may include purchases by (i) you, (ii) your spouse or domestic partner and children under the age of 21 years, and (iii) a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship that is 100% owned by any of the persons in (i) or (ii). In addition, a trustee or other fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a single trust, estate or other single fiduciary account that has multiple accounts (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same employer).
Class A Sales Charge Waivers
Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased at net asset value without a sales charge as follows:
| Purchases of $1,000,000 or more ($250,000 or more in the case of Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund) (although such purchases may be subject to a CDSC in certain circumstances, see What Share Classes We OfferContingent Deferred Sales Charges above). |
| Shares purchased through the reinvestment of Nuveen Mutual Fund dividends and capital gain distributions. |
| Shares purchased for accounts held directly with a Fund that do not have a financial intermediary of record. |
| Certain employer-sponsored retirement plans. Purchases by employer-sponsored retirement plans ( ESRPs ) as defined below, except that, in the case of ESRPs held through a brokerage account, Class A shares will be available at net asset value without a sales charge only if the broker-dealer has entered into an agreement with the Distributor that allows for such purchases. Intermediaries that have entered into such an agreement are listed in the appendix to this prospectus, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. |
For this purpose, ESRPs include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money
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purchase pension plans, health savings accounts, defined benefit plans, participant directed non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Roth 401(k) plans and Roth 403(b) plans, and do not include SEPs, SAR-SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs (other than SIMPLE IRAs opened before January 1, 2011 where the Distributor is the broker of record), SIMPLE 401(k) plans, Solo 401(k) plans, KEOGH plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and single defined benefit plans.
| Employees of Nuveen, LLC and its affiliates. Purchases by current and retired employees of Nuveen, LLC and its affiliates and such employees immediate family members (as defined in the statement of additional information). |
| Current and former trustees/directors of the Nuveen Funds. |
| Financial intermediary personnel. Purchases by any person who, for at least the last 90 days, has been an officer, director, or employee of any financial intermediary or any such persons immediate family member. |
| Certain trust departments. Purchases by bank or broker-affiliated trust departments investing funds over which they exercise exclusive discretionary investment authority and that are held in a fiduciary, agency, advisory, custodial or similar capacity. |
| Additional categories of investors. Purchases made (i) by investors purchasing on a periodic fee, asset-based fee or no transaction fee basis through a broker-dealer sponsored mutual fund purchase program; (ii) by clients of investment advisers, financial planners or other financial intermediaries that charge periodic or asset-based fees for their services; and (iii) through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor to offer the Funds shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts and that may or may not charge a transaction fee to its customers. Intermediaries that have entered into such an agreement are listed in the appendix to this prospectus, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. |
In order to obtain a sales charge reduction or waiver on Class A share purchases, it may be necessary at the time of purchase for you to inform the Funds or your financial advisor of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated for such purposes. You may need to provide the Funds or your financial advisor information or records, such as account statements, in order to verify your eligibility for a sales charge reduction or waiver. This may include account statements of family members and information regarding Nuveen Mutual Fund shares held in accounts with other financial advisors. You or your financial advisor must notify the Distributor at the time of each purchase if you are eligible for any of these programs. The Funds may modify or discontinue these programs at any time.
CDSC Waivers and Reductions
The CDSC payable upon the redemption of Class C shares, and on Class A shares that were purchased at net asset value without a sales charge because the purchase amount exceeded $1 million ($250,000 for Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund), may be waived or reduced under certain circumstances, including the following:
| In the event of total disability of the shareholder. |
| In the event of death of the shareholder. |
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| For certain redemptions made pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan. |
| For redemptions in connection with a payment of account or plan fees. |
| For redemptions of accounts not meeting required minimum balances. |
| Upon an optional conversion by a Fund of Class C shares held in an account which no longer has a financial intermediary of record into Class A shares. |
| For redemptions of Class C shares where the Distributor did not advance the first years service and distribution fees to the intermediary. |
| For redemptions of Class A shares where the Distributor did not pay a sales charge to the intermediary when the shares were purchased. |
| For certain redemptions of shares held by an employer-sponsored qualified defined contribution plan. |
| For certain redemptions of shares held in an IRA account, including redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions from the account after age 70 1 ⁄ 2 . |
More information on these and other available CDSC waivers and reductions can be found in the appendix to this prospectus, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, and in the statement of additional information.
Fund shares may be purchased on any business day, which is any day the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) is open for business. Generally, the NYSE is closed on weekends and national holidays. The share price you pay depends on when the Distributor receives your order and on the share class you are purchasing. Orders received before the close of trading on a business day (normally, 4:00 p.m. New York time) will receive that days closing share price; otherwise, you will receive the next business days price.
You may purchase Fund shares (1) through a financial advisor or other financial intermediary or (2) directly from the Funds. Class A, Class C and Class T shares may not be purchased directly from a Fund. In addition, the availability of Class A, Class C and Class T shares through a financial intermediary will depend on the policies of the intermediary.
Through a Financial Advisor
You may buy shares through your financial advisor, who can handle all the details for you, including opening a new account. Financial advisors can also help you review your financial needs and formulate long-term investment goals and objectives. In addition, financial advisors generally can help you develop a customized financial plan, select investments and monitor and review your portfolio on an ongoing basis to help assure your investments continue to meet your needs as circumstances change. Financial advisors (including brokers or agents) are paid for providing ongoing investment advice and services, either from Fund sales charges and fees or by charging you a separate fee in lieu of a sales charge.
Financial advisors or other dealer firms may charge their customers a processing or service fee in connection with the purchase or redemption of Fund shares. The amount and applicability of such a fee is determined and disclosed to customers by each individual dealer. Processing or service fees typically are fixed, nominal dollar amounts and are in addition to the sales and
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other charges described in this prospectus and the statement of additional information. Your dealer will provide you with specific information about any processing or service fees you will be charged. Shares you purchase through your financial advisor or other intermediary will normally be held with that firm. For more information, please contact your financial advisor.
Directly from the Funds
Eligible investors may purchase shares directly from the Funds.
| By wire. You can purchase shares by making a wire transfer from your bank. Before making an initial investment by wire, you must submit a new account form to a Fund. After receiving your form, a service representative will contact you with your account number and wiring instructions. Your order will be priced at the next closing share price based on the share class of your Fund, calculated after your Funds custodian receives your payment by wire. Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m. New York time to be eligible for same day pricing. Neither your Fund nor the transfer agent is responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system, or from incomplete wiring instructions. Before making any additional purchases by wire, you should call Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787. You cannot purchase shares by wire on days when federally chartered banks are closed. |
| By mail. You may open an account directly with the Funds and buy shares by completing an application and mailing it along with your check to: Nuveen Investor Services, P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530. Applications may be obtained at www.nuveen.com or by calling (800) 257-8787. No third party checks will be accepted. |
Purchase orders and redemption requests are not processed until received in proper form by the transfer agent of a Fund.
| On-line. Existing shareholders with direct accounts may process certain account transactions on-line. You may purchase additional shares or exchange shares between existing, identically registered direct accounts. You can also look up your account balance, history and dividend information, as well as order duplicate account statements and tax forms from the Funds website. To access your account, click the Individual Investors link on www.nuveen.com and then choose Account Access under the Resources tab. The system will walk you through the log-in process. To purchase shares on-line, you must have established Fund Direct privileges on your account prior to the requested transaction. See Special ServicesFund Direct below. |
| By telephone. Existing shareholders with direct accounts may also process account transactions via the Funds automated information line. Simply call (800) 257-8787, press 1 for mutual funds and the voice menu will walk you through the process. To purchase shares by telephone, you must have established Fund Direct privileges on your account prior to the requested transaction. See Special ServicesFund Direct below. |
To help make your investing with us easy and efficient, we offer you the following services at no extra cost. Your financial advisor can help you
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complete the forms for these services, or you can call Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787 for copies of the necessary forms.
Systematic Investing
Once you have opened an account satisfying the applicable investment minimum, systematic investing allows you to make regular additional investments through automatic deductions from your bank account, directly from your paycheck or from exchanging shares from another mutual fund account. The minimum automatic deduction is $100 per month. There is no charge to participate in your Funds systematic investment plan. You can stop the deductions at any time by notifying your Fund in writing.
| From your bank account. You can make systematic investments of $100 or more per month by authorizing your Fund to draw pre-authorized checks on your bank account. |
| From your paycheck. With your employers consent, you can make systematic investments each pay period (collectively meeting the monthly minimum of $100) by authorizing your employer to deduct monies from your paycheck. |
| Systematic exchanging. You can make systematic investments by authorizing the Distributor to exchange shares from one Nuveen Mutual Fund account into another identically registered Nuveen Mutual Fund account of the same share class. |
Your Fund may cancel your participation in its systematic investment plan if it is unable to deliver a current prospectus to you because of an incorrect or invalid mailing address.
Systematic Withdrawal
If the value of your Fund account is at least $10,000, you may request to have $50 or more withdrawn automatically from your account. You may elect to receive payments monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually, and may choose to receive a check, have the monies transferred directly into your bank account (see Fund Direct below), paid to a third party or sent payable to you at an address other than your address of record. You must complete the appropriate section of the account application or Account Update Form to participate in each Funds systematic withdrawal plan.
You should not establish systematic withdrawals if you intend to make concurrent purchases of Class A or Class C shares because you may unnecessarily pay a sales charge or CDSC on these purchases.
Exchanging Shares
You may exchange Fund shares into an identically registered account for the same class of another Nuveen Mutual Fund available in your state, except that there are no exchange privileges for Class T shares. Your exchange must meet the minimum purchase requirements of the fund into which you are exchanging. You may also, under certain limited circumstances, exchange between certain classes of shares of the same fund, subject to the payment of any applicable CDSC. Please consult the statement of additional information for details.
Each Fund reserves the right to revise or suspend the exchange privilege, limit the amount or number of exchanges, or reject any exchange. In the event that a Fund rejects an exchange request, neither the redemption nor the purchase side of the exchange will be processed. If you would like the redemption request to be processed even if the purchase order is rejected,
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you may submit a separate redemption request (see How to Sell Shares below). Shareholders will be provided with at least 60 days notice of any material revision to or termination of the exchange privilege.
Because an exchange between funds is treated for tax purposes as a purchase and sale, any gain may be subject to tax. An exchange between classes of shares of the same fund may not be considered a taxable event. You should consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of exchanging your shares.
Fund Direct SM
The Fund Direct Program allows you to link your Fund account to your bank account, transfer money electronically between these accounts and perform a variety of account transactions, including purchasing shares by telephone and investing through a systematic investment plan. You may also have dividends, distributions, redemption payments or systematic withdrawal plan payments sent directly to your bank account.
Reinstatement Privilege
If you redeem Fund shares, you may reinvest all or part of your redemption proceeds up to one year later without incurring any additional charges. You may only reinvest into the same share class you redeemed. If you paid a CDSC, any shares purchased pursuant to the reinstatement privilege will not be subject to a CDSC. You may use this reinstatement privilege only once for any redemption.
You may sell (redeem) your shares on any business day, which is any day the NYSE is open for business. You will receive the share price next determined after your Fund has received your properly completed redemption request. Your redemption request must be received before the close of trading (normally, 4:00 p.m. New York time) for you to receive that days price. The Fund will normally mail your check the next business day after a redemption request is received, but in no event more than seven days after your request is received. If you are selling shares purchased recently with a check, your redemption proceeds will not be mailed until your check has cleared, which may take up to ten business days from your purchase date.
You may sell your shares (1) through a financial advisor or (2) directly to the Funds.
Through a Financial Advisor
You may sell your shares through your financial advisor, who can prepare the necessary documentation. Your financial advisor may charge for this service.
Directly to the Funds
| By mail. You can sell your shares at any time by sending a written request to the appropriate Fund, c/o Nuveen Investor Services, P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530. Your request must include the following information: |
| The Funds name; |
| Your name and account number; |
| The dollar or share amount you wish to redeem; |
| The signature of each owner exactly as it appears on the account; |
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An Important Note About Telephone Transactions
Although Nuveen Investor Services has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers, it will not be liable for losses resulting from following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. Also, you should verify your trade confirmations immediately upon receipt.
| The name of the person to whom you want your redemption proceeds paid (if other than to the shareholder of record); |
| The address where you want your redemption proceeds sent (if other than the address of record); and |
| Any required signature guarantees. |
After you have established your account, signatures on a written request must be guaranteed if:
| You would like redemption proceeds payable or sent to any person, address or bank account other than that on record; |
| You have changed the address on your Funds records within the last 30 days; |
| Your redemption request is in excess of $50,000; or |
| You are requesting a change in ownership on your account. |
Non-financial transactions, including establishing or modifying certain services such as changing bank information on an account, will require a signature guarantee or signature verification from a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program member or other acceptable form of authentication from a financial institution source. In addition to the situations described above, the Funds reserve the right to require a signature guarantee, or another acceptable form of signature verification, in other instances based on the circumstances of a particular situation.
A signature guarantee assures that a signature is genuine and protects shareholders from unauthorized account transfers. Banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, broker-dealers and member firms of a national securities exchange may guarantee signatures. Call your financial intermediary to determine if it has this capability. A notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantor. Proceeds from a written redemption request will be sent to you by check unless another form of payment is requested.
| On-line. You may redeem shares or exchange shares between existing, identically registered accounts on-line. To access your account, click the Individual Investors link on www.nuveen.com and then choose Account Access under the Resources tab. The system will walk you through the log-in process. Redemptions where the proceeds are payable by check may not exceed $50,000. Checks will only be issued to you as the shareholder of record and mailed to your address of record. If you have established Fund Direct privileges, you may have redemption proceeds transferred electronically to your bank account. In this case, the redemption proceeds will be transferred to your bank on the next business day after the redemption request is received. You should contact your bank for further information concerning the timing of the credit of the redemption proceeds in your bank account. |
| By telephone. If your account is held with your Fund and not in your brokerage account, and you have authorized telephone redemption privileges, call (800) 257-8787 to redeem your shares, press 1 for mutual funds and the voice menu will walk you through the process. Redemptions where the proceeds are payable by check may not exceed $50,000. Checks will only be issued to you as the shareholder of record and mailed to your address of record, normally the next business day after the redemption request is received. If you have established Fund Direct privileges, you may have redemption proceeds transferred |
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electronically to your bank account. In this case, the redemption proceeds will be transferred to your bank on the next business day after the redemption request is received. You should contact your bank for further information concerning the timing of the credit of the redemption proceeds in your bank account. |
Accounts with Low Balances
A Fund reserves the right to liquidate or assess a low balance fee on any account (other than accounts holding Class R3 or Class R6 shares) held directly with the Fund that has a balance that has fallen below the account balance minimum of $1,000 for any reason, including market fluctuations.
If a Fund elects to exercise the right to assess a low balance fee, then annually the Fund will assess a $15 low balance account fee on certain accounts with balances under the account balance minimum that are IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts or accounts established pursuant to the UTMA or UGMA. At the same time, other accounts with balances under the account balance minimum will be liquidated, with proceeds being mailed to the address of record. Prior to the assessment of any low balance fee or liquidation of low balance accounts, affected shareholders will receive a communication notifying them of the pending action, thereby providing time for shareholders to bring their accounts up to the account balance minimum prior to any fee assessment or account liquidation. You will not be assessed a CDSC if your account is liquidated.
Meeting Redemption Requests
Each Fund typically will pay redemption proceeds using cash reserves maintained in the Funds portfolio, or using the proceeds from sales of portfolio securities. The Funds also may meet redemption requests through overdrafts at the Funds custodian, by borrowing under a credit agreement to which the Funds are parties, or by borrowing from another Nuveen Fund under an inter-fund lending program maintained by the Nuveen Funds pursuant to exemptive relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. See Investment Policies and TechniquesBorrowing in the statement of additional information. These additional methods are more likely to be used to meet large redemption requests or in times of stressed market conditions.
Although the Funds generally pay redemption proceeds in cash, if a Fund determines that it would be detrimental to its remaining shareholders to make payment of a redemption order wholly in cash, that Fund may pay a portion of your redemption proceeds in securities or other Fund assets. Although it is unlikely that your shares would be redeemed in-kind, you would probably have to pay brokerage costs to sell the securities or other assets distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from that sale. Until they are sold, any securities or other assets distributed to you as part of a redemption in-kind may be subject to market risk.
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To help you understand the tax implications of investing in the Funds, this section includes important details about how the Funds make distributions to shareholders. We discuss some other Fund policies as well. Please consult the statement of additional information and your tax advisor for more information about taxes.
The Funds declare dividends daily and pay such dividends monthly. Your account will begin to accrue dividends on the business day after the day when the monies used to purchase your shares are collected by the transfer agent. Each Fund seeks to pay monthly dividends at a level rate that reflects the past and projected net income of the Fund. To help maintain more stable monthly distributions, the distribution paid by a Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the amount of net income actually earned by the Fund during such period, and any such under- (or over-) distribution of income is reflected in the Funds net asset value. This policy is designed to result in the distribution of substantially all of a Funds net income over time. The Funds declare and pay any taxable capital gains once a year at year end.
Payment and Reinvestment Options
The Funds automatically reinvest your dividends in additional Fund shares unless you request otherwise. You may request to have your dividends paid to you by check, sent via electronic funds transfer through Automated Clearing House network or reinvested in shares of another Nuveen Mutual Fund. For further information, contact your financial advisor or call Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787. If you request that your distributions be paid by check but those distributions cannot be delivered because of an incorrect mailing address, or if a distribution check remains uncashed for six months, the undelivered or uncashed distributions and all future distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares at the current net asset value.
Non-U.S. Income Tax Considerations
Investment income that a Fund receives from its non-U.S. investments may be subject to non-U.S. income taxes, which generally will reduce Fund distributions. However, the United States has entered into tax treaties with many non-U.S. countries that may entitle you to certain tax benefits.
Taxes and Tax Reporting
The Funds will make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income (which may be taxable at different rates, depending on the sources of the distributions) or capital gains (which may be taxable at different rates, depending on the length of time a Fund holds its assets). Distributions from a Funds long-term capital gains are generally taxable as capital gains, while distributions from short-term capital gains and net investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. However, certain ordinary income distributions received from a Fund that are determined to be qualified dividend income may be taxed at tax rates equal to those applicable to long-term capital gains. The tax you pay on a given capital gains distribution
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depends generally on how long the Fund has held the portfolio securities it sold and not on how long you have owned your Fund shares. Distributions generally do not qualify for a dividends received deduction if you are a corporate shareholder.
Early in each year, you will receive a statement detailing the amount and nature of all distributions that you were paid during the prior year. If you hold your investment at the firm where you purchased your Fund shares, you will receive the statement from that firm. If you hold your shares directly with the Fund, the Distributor will send you the statement. The tax status of your distributions is the same whether you reinvest them or elect to receive them in cash. The sale of shares in your account may produce a gain or loss, and is a taxable event. For tax purposes, an exchange of shares between funds is generally the same as a sale.
Please note that if you do not furnish your Fund with your correct Social Security number or employer identification number, you fail to provide certain certifications to your Fund, you fail to certify whether you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien, or the Internal Revenue Service notifies the Fund to withhold, federal law requires your Fund to withhold federal income tax from your distributions and redemption proceeds at the applicable withholding rate.
Buying or Selling Shares Close to a Record Date
Buying Fund shares shortly before the record date for a taxable dividend or capital gain distribution is commonly known as buying the dividend. The entire distribution may be taxable to you even though a portion of the distribution effectively represents a return of your purchase price.
Non-U.S. Tax Credits
A regulated investment company with more than 50% of the value of its assets in stock or other securities of non-U.S. corporations at the close of a taxable year may, for such taxable year, elect to pass the regulated investment companys non-U.S. tax credits through to its investors.
Cost Basis Method
For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, you may elect a cost basis method to apply to all existing and future accounts you may establish. The cost basis method you select will determine the order in which shares are redeemed and how your cost basis information is calculated and subsequently reported to you and to the Internal Revenue Service. Please consult your tax advisor to determine which cost basis method best suits your specific situation. If you hold your account directly with a Fund, please contact Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787 for instructions on how to make your election. If you hold your account with a financial intermediary, please contact that financial intermediary for instructions on how to make your election. If you hold your account directly with a Fund and do not elect a cost basis method, your account will default to the average cost basis method. The average cost basis method generally calculates cost basis by determining the average price paid for Fund shares that may have been purchased at different times for different prices. Financial intermediaries choose their own default cost basis method.
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Distribution and Service Plan
The Distributor serves as the selling agent and distributor of the Funds shares. In this capacity, the Distributor manages the offering of the Funds shares and is responsible for all sales and promotional activities. In order to reimburse the Distributor for its costs in connection with these activities, including compensation paid to financial intermediaries, each Fund has adopted a distribution and service plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the Plan ). See How You Can Buy and Sell SharesWhat Share Classes We Offer for a description of the distribution and service fees paid under the Plan.
Under the Plan, the Distributor receives a distribution fee for Class C and Class R3 shares primarily for providing compensation to financial intermediaries, including the Distributor, in connection with the distribution of shares. The Distributor receives a service fee for Class A, Class C, Class R3 and Class T shares to compensate financial intermediaries, including the Distributor, for providing ongoing account services to shareholders. These services may include establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts, answering shareholder inquiries and providing other personal services to shareholders. Fees paid under the Plan also compensate the Distributor for other expenses, including printing and distributing prospectuses to persons other than shareholders, and preparing, printing, and distributing advertising materials, sales literature and reports to shareholders used in connection with the sale of shares. Because fees paid under the Plan are paid out of a Funds assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Long-term holders of Class C and Class R3 shares may pay more in distribution and service fees and CDSCs (Class C shares only) than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge permitted under the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Conduct Rules.
Other Payments by the Funds
In addition to the distribution and service fees the Funds pay under the Plan and fees the Funds pay to their transfer agent, the Distributor or Nuveen Fund Advisors, on behalf of the Funds, may enter into non-Plan agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Funds will pay financial intermediaries for administrative, networking, recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency and shareholder services. These non-Plan payments are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary or (2) a fixed dollar amount for each account serviced by a financial intermediary. The aggregate amount of these payments may be substantial and may vary significantly among intermediaries.
Other Payments by the Distributor and Nuveen Fund Advisors
In addition to the sales commissions and payments from distribution and service fees made to financial intermediaries as previously described, the Distributor and Nuveen Fund Advisors may from time to time make additional payments, out of their own resources, to certain financial intermediaries that sell shares of Nuveen Mutual Funds in order to promote the sales and retention of Fund shares by those firms and their customers. The amounts of these payments vary by financial intermediary and, with respect to a given firm, are typically calculated by reference to the amount of
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the firms recent gross sales of Nuveen Mutual Fund shares and/or total assets of Nuveen Mutual Funds held by the firms customers. The level of payments that the Distributor and/or Nuveen Fund Advisors is willing to provide to a particular financial intermediary may be affected by, among other factors, the firms total assets held in and recent net investments into Nuveen Mutual Funds, the firms level of participation in Nuveen Mutual Fund sales and marketing programs, the firms compensation program for its registered representatives who sell Nuveen Mutual Fund shares and provide services to Nuveen Mutual Fund shareholders, and the asset class of the Nuveen Mutual Funds for which these payments are provided. The statement of additional information contains additional information about these payments, including the names of the firms to which payments are made. The Distributor may also make payments to financial intermediaries in connection with sales meetings, due diligence meetings, prospecting seminars and other meetings at which the Distributor promotes its products and services.
In connection with the availability of Nuveen Mutual Funds within selected mutual fund no-transaction fee institutional platforms and fee-based wrap programs at certain financial intermediaries, the Distributor and Nuveen Fund Advisors also make payments out of their own assets to those firms as compensation for certain recordkeeping, shareholder communications and other account administration services provided to Nuveen Mutual Fund shareholders who own their Fund shares through these platforms or programs. These payments are in addition to the service fee and any applicable sub-transfer agency or similar fees paid to these firms with respect to these services by the Nuveen Mutual Funds out of Fund assets.
The amounts of payments to a financial intermediary could be significant, and may create an incentive for the intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Funds to you. The intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the Funds within the intermediarys organization by, for example, placing the Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting the Distributor and/or its affiliates preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the Funds in various ways within the intermediarys organization.
The price you pay for your shares or the amount you receive upon redemption of your shares is based on your Funds net asset value per share, which is determined as of the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. Each Funds latest net asset value per share is available on the Funds website at www.nuveen.com. Net asset value is calculated for each class of each Fund by taking the value of the classs total assets, including interest or dividends accrued but not yet collected, less all liabilities, and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. The result, rounded to the nearest cent, is the net asset value per share.
In determining net asset value, portfolio instruments generally are valued using prices provided by independent pricing services or obtained from other sources, such as broker-dealer quotations. Exchange-traded instruments generally are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on an exchange, if available. Independent pricing services typically value non-exchange-traded instruments utilizing a range of market-based inputs and
88
Section 4 General Information
assumptions. For example, when available, pricing services may utilize inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, spreads, and transactions for comparable instruments. In pricing certain instruments, the pricing services may consider information about an instruments issuer or market activity provided by the Funds investment adviser or sub-adviser. Pricing service valuations of non-exchange-traded instruments represent the services good faith opinion as to what the holder of an instrument would receive in an orderly transaction for an institutional round lot position under current market conditions. It is possible that these valuations could be materially different from the value that a Fund realizes upon the sale of an instrument. Non-U.S. securities and currency are valued in U.S. dollars based on non-U.S. currency exchange rate quotations supplied by an independent quotation service.
For non-U.S. traded securities whose principal local markets close before the close of the NYSE, a Fund may adjust the local closing price based upon such factors as developments in non-U.S. markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent non-U.S. securities. A Fund may rely on an independent fair valuation service in making any such fair value determinations. If a Fund holds portfolio instruments that are primarily listed on non-U.S. exchanges, the value of such instruments may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the Funds shares.
If a price cannot be obtained from a pricing service or other pre-approved source, or if, in the judgment of Nuveen Fund Advisors, a price is unreliable, a portfolio instrument will be valued at its fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its appointee. Nuveen Fund Advisors may determine that a price is unreliable in various circumstances. For example, a price may be deemed unreliable if it has not changed for an identified period of time, or has changed from the previous days price by more than a threshold amount, and recent transactions and/or broker dealer price quotations differ materially from the price in question.
The Board of Directors has adopted valuation procedures for the Funds and has appointed the Nuveen Fund Advisors Valuation Committee with the day-to-day responsibility for fair value determinations. All fair value determinations made by the Valuation Committee are subject to review and ratification by the Board of Directors. As a general principle, the fair value of a portfolio instrument is the amount that an owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the instruments current sale. A range of factors and analysis may be considered when determining fair value, including relevant market data, interest rates, credit considerations and/or issuer specific news. However, fair valuation involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a portfolio instrument may be materially different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of that instrument.
The Funds are intended for long-term investment and should not be used for excessive trading. Excessive trading in the Funds shares can disrupt portfolio management, lead to higher operating costs, and cause other operating inefficiencies for the Funds. However, the Funds are also mindful that shareholders may have valid reasons for periodically purchasing and redeeming Fund shares.
Section 4 General Information
89
Accordingly, the Funds have adopted a Frequent Trading Policy that seeks to balance the Funds need to prevent excessive trading in Fund shares while offering investors the flexibility in managing their financial affairs to make periodic purchases and redemptions of Fund shares.
The Funds Frequent Trading Policy generally limits an investor to two round trip trades in a 60-day period. A round trip is the purchase and subsequent redemption of Fund shares, including by exchange. Each side of a round trip may be comprised of either a single transaction or a series of closely-spaced transactions.
The Funds primarily receive share purchase and redemption orders through third-party financial intermediaries, some of whom rely on the use of omnibus accounts. An omnibus account typically includes multiple investors and provides the Funds only with a net purchase or redemption amount on any given day where multiple purchases, redemptions and exchanges of shares occur in the account. The identity of individual purchasers, redeemers and exchangers whose orders are aggregated in omnibus accounts, and the size of their orders, will generally not be known by the Funds. Despite the Funds efforts to detect and prevent frequent trading, the Funds may be unable to identify frequent trading because the netting effect in omnibus accounts often makes it more difficult to identify frequent traders. The Distributor has entered into agreements with financial intermediaries that maintain omnibus accounts with the Funds transfer agent. Under the terms of these agreements, the financial intermediaries undertake to cooperate with the Distributor in monitoring purchase, exchange and redemption orders by their customers in order to detect and prevent frequent trading in the Funds through such accounts. Pursuant to these agreements, financial intermediaries may disclose to a Fund an investors taxpayer identification number and a record of the investors transactions at the request of the Fund. Technical limitations in operational systems at such intermediaries or at the Distributor may also limit the Funds ability to detect and prevent frequent trading. In addition, the Funds may permit certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealer and retirement plan administrators, among others, to enforce their own internal policies and procedures concerning frequent trading. Such policies may differ from the Funds Frequent Trading Policy and may be approved for use in instances where the Funds reasonably believe that the intermediarys policies and procedures effectively discourage inappropriate trading activity. Shareholders holding their accounts with such intermediaries may wish to contact the intermediary for information regarding its frequent trading policy. Although the Funds do not knowingly permit frequent trading, they cannot guarantee that they will be able to identify and restrict all frequent trading activity.
The Funds reserve the right in their sole discretion to waive unintentional or minor violations (including transactions below certain dollar thresholds) if they determine that doing so would not harm the interests of Fund shareholders. In addition, certain categories of redemptions may be excluded from the application of the Frequent Trading Policy, as described in more detail in the statement of additional information. These include, among others, redemptions pursuant to systematic withdrawal plans, redemptions in connection with the total disability or death of the investor, involuntary redemptions by operation of law, redemptions in payment of account or plan fees, and certain redemptions by retirement plans, including redemptions in connection with qualifying loans or hardship withdrawals, termination of plan participation, return of excess contributions, and required
90
Section 4 General Information
minimum distributions. The Funds may also modify or suspend the Frequent Trading Policy without notice during periods of market stress or other unusual circumstances.
The Funds reserve the right to impose restrictions on purchases or exchanges that are more restrictive than those stated above if they determine, in their sole discretion, that a transaction or a series of transactions involves market timing or excessive trading that may be detrimental to Fund shareholders. The Funds also reserve the right to reject any purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. For example, a Fund may refuse purchase orders if the Fund would be unable to invest the proceeds from the purchase order in accordance with the Funds investment policies and/or objective, or if the Fund would be adversely affected by the size of the transaction, the frequency of trading in the account or various other factors. For more information about the Funds Frequent Trading Policy and its enforcement, see Purchase and Redemption of Fund SharesFrequent Trading Policy in the statement of additional information.
The custodian of the assets of the Funds is U.S. Bank National Association, 1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. The Funds transfer, shareholder services and dividend paying agent, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530, performs bookkeeping, data processing and administrative services for the maintenance of shareholder accounts.
Section 4 General Information
91
The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand a Funds financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the period of operations for the class of shares. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Funds financial statements, are included in the annual report, which is available upon request.
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Return
of Capital |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (1/95) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 10.05 | $ | .22 | $ | (.28 | ) | $ | (.06 | ) | $ | (.21 | ) | $ | | $ | (.02 | ) | $ | (.23 | ) | $ | 9.76 | (.56 | )% | $ | 13,182 | .78 | % | 2.24 | % | 85 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.97 | .23 | .17 | .40 | (.22 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.32 | ) | 10.05 | 4.12 | 15,185 | .78 | 2.30 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.36 | .25 | (.19 | ) | .06 | (.28 | ) | (.17 | ) | | (.45 | ) | 9.97 | .52 | 14,448 | .78 | 2.40 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 10.13 | .24 | .35 | .59 | (.22 | ) | (.14 | ) | | (.36 | ) | 10.36 | 5.94 | 14,857 | .78 | 2.32 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.67 | .18 | (.20 | ) | (.02 | ) | (.18 | ) | (.34 | ) | | (.52 | ) | 10.13 | (.38 | ) | 18,331 | .78 | 1.65 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (1/11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.02 | .15 | (.28 | ) | (.13 | ) | (.14 | ) | | (.02 | ) | (.16 | ) | 9.73 | (1.33 | ) | 1,720 | 1.53 | 1.49 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.94 | .15 | .17 | .32 | (.14 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.24 | ) | 10.02 | 3.31 | 1,767 | 1.53 | 1.55 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.32 | .17 | (.19 | ) | (.02 | ) | (.19 | ) | (.17 | ) | | (.36 | ) | 9.94 | (.20 | ) | 971 | 1.53 | 1.67 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 10.08 | .16 | .36 | .52 | (.14 | ) | (.14 | ) | | (.28 | ) | 10.32 | 5.24 | 514 | 1.53 | 1.57 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.62 | .09 | (.19 | ) | (.10 | ) | (.09 | ) | (.35 | ) | | (.44 | ) | 10.08 | (1.17 | ) | 585 | 1.53 | .88 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R6 (1/15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.02 | .25 | (.27 | ) | (.02 | ) | (.24 | ) | | (.02 | ) | (.26 | ) | 9.74 | (.22 | ) | 58,545 | .46 | 2.56 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.94 | .26 | .16 | .42 | (.24 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.34 | ) | 10.02 | 4.38 | 58,699 | .48 | 2.60 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(e) | 10.22 | .12 | (.27 | ) | (.15 | ) | (.13 | ) | | | (.13 | ) | 9.94 | (1.46 | ) | 45,145 | .48 | * | 2.68 | * | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (1/93) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.01 | .24 | (.27 | ) | (.03 | ) | (.24 | ) | | (.02 | ) | (.26 | ) | 9.72 | (.32 | ) | 69,528 | .53 | 2.47 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.93 | .25 | .17 | .42 | (.24 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.34 | ) | 10.01 | 4.39 | 107,240 | .53 | 2.55 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.32 | .27 | (.19 | ) | .08 | (.30 | ) | (.17 | ) | | (.47 | ) | 9.93 | .78 | 176,468 | .53 | 2.65 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 10.09 | .26 | .22 | .48 | (.11 | ) | (.14 | ) | | (.25 | ) | 10.32 | 6.21 | 329,901 | .53 | 2.56 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.63 | .20 | (.20 | ) | | (.21 | ) | (.33 | ) | | (.54 | ) | 10.09 | (.16 | ) | 481,088 | .53 | 1.89 | 85 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charges, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transactions, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(e) | For the period January 20, 2015 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2015. |
* | Annualized. |
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Section 5 Financial Highlights
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Return
of Capital |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (12/87) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 11.01 | $ | .37 | $ | .07 | $ | .44 | $ | (.26 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.15 | ) | $ | (.41 | ) | $ | 11.04 | 4.03 | % | $ | 57,299 | .77 | % | 3.39 | % | 131 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.25 | .44 | (.22 | ) | .22 | (.44 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.46 | ) | 11.01 | 2.07 | 61,769 | .77 | 4.00 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.75 | .45 | (.49 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.44 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.46 | ) | 11.25 | (.41 | ) | 69,968 | .77 | 3.88 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.46 | .46 | .45 | .91 | (.43 | ) | (.19 | ) | | (.62 | ) | 11.75 | 8.23 | 68,728 | .77 | 3.97 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.64 | .41 | (.12 | ) | .29 | (.42 | ) | (.05 | ) | | (.47 | ) | 11.46 | 2.40 | 79,740 | .77 | 3.46 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (2/99) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.96 | .29 | .05 | .34 | (.17 | ) | | (0.15 | ) | (.32 | ) | 10.98 | 3.16 | 6,985 | 1.52 | 2.64 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.20 | .35 | (.22 | ) | .13 | (.35 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.37 | ) | 10.96 | 1.29 | 8,387 | 1.52 | 3.25 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.69 | .36 | (.48 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.35 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.37 | ) | 11.20 | (1.10 | ) | 8,580 | 1.52 | 3.15 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.40 | .37 | .45 | .82 | (.34 | ) | (.19 | ) | | (.53 | ) | 11.69 | 7.43 | 7,696 | 1.52 | 3.20 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.59 | .32 | (.12 | ) | .20 | (.34 | ) | (.05 | ) | | (.39 | ) | 11.40 | 1.59 | 4,200 | 1.52 | 2.71 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (9/01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 11.05 | .36 | .06 | .42 | (.23 | ) | | (0.15 | ) | (.38 | ) | 11.09 | 3.88 | 1,205 | 1.02 | 3.19 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.29 | .41 | (.22 | ) | .19 | (.41 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.43 | ) | 11.05 | 1.83 | 14,871 | 1.02 | 3.74 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.80 | .42 | (.50 | ) | (.08 | ) | (.41 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.43 | ) | 11.29 | (.70 | ) | 3,751 | 1.02 | 3.65 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.51 | .43 | .46 | .89 | (.41 | ) | (.19 | ) | | (.60 | ) | 11.80 | 7.97 | 638 | 1.02 | 3.73 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.70 | .38 | (.12 | ) | .26 | (.40 | ) | (.05 | ) | | (.45 | ) | 11.51 | 2.11 | 350 | 1.02 | 3.22 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R6 (1/15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 11.00 | .41 | .05 | .46 | (.28 | ) | | (0.15 | ) | (.43 | ) | 11.03 | 4.30 | 23,798 | .45 | 3.70 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.23 | .47 | (.21 | ) | .26 | (.47 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.49 | ) | 11.00 | 2.35 | 24,899 | .46 | 4.31 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(e) | 11.48 | .22 | (.26 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.21 | ) | | | (.21 | ) | 11.23 | (.29 | ) | 43,680 | .46 | * | 4.22 | * | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (2/94) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.99 | .40 | .05 | .45 | (.28 | ) | | (0.15 | ) | (.43 | ) | 11.01 | 4.21 | 270,536 | .52 | 3.63 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.24 | .46 | (.22 | ) | .24 | (.47 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.49 | ) | 10.99 | 2.26 | 283,680 | .52 | 4.25 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.74 | .48 | (.49 | ) | (.01 | ) | (.47 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.49 | ) | 11.24 | (.15 | ) | 440,499 | .52 | 4.12 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.44 | .49 | .46 | .95 | (.46 | ) | (.19 | ) | | (.65 | ) | 11.74 | 8.64 | 514,961 | .52 | 4.24 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.64 | .44 | (.14 | ) | .30 | (.45 | ) | (.05 | ) | | (.50 | ) | 11.44 | 2.52 | 588,627 | .52 | 3.71 | 46 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transactions, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(e) | For the period January 20, 2015 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2015. |
* | Annualized. |
Section 5 Financial Highlights
93
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (8/01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 7.22 | $ | .54 | $ | .57 | $ | 1.11 | $ | (.53 | ) | $ | | $ | (.53 | ) | $ | 7.80 | 15.75 | % | $ | 136,977 | 1.01 | % | 7.03 | % | 155 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.23 | .57 | (1.05 | ) | (.48 | ) | (.53 | ) | | (.53 | ) | 7.22 | (5.48 | ) | 114,537 | 1.03 | 7.99 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9.29 | .55 | (1.00 | ) | (.45 | ) | (.54 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.61 | ) | 8.23 | (4.82 | ) | 119,535 | .97 | 6.31 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 8.99 | .58 | .53 | 1.11 | (.61 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.81 | ) | 9.29 | 12.88 | 209,830 | .95 | 6.37 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 8.64 | .63 | .39 | 1.02 | (.67 | ) | | (.67 | ) | 8.99 | 11.99 | 141,132 | .94 | 6.92 | 133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (8/01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 7.21 | .49 | .57 | 1.06 | (.48 | ) | | (.48 | ) | 7.79 | 14.93 | 47,698 | 1.76 | 6.32 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.22 | .53 | (1.07 | ) | (.54 | ) | (.47 | ) | | (.47 | ) | 7.21 | (6.27 | ) | 41,663 | 1.79 | 7.26 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9.27 | .49 | (.99 | ) | (.50 | ) | (.48 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.55 | ) | 8.22 | (5.45 | ) | 55,409 | 1.72 | 5.62 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 8.98 | .51 | .52 | 1.03 | (.54 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.74 | ) | 9.27 | 11.98 | 71,974 | 1.70 | 5.64 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 8.62 | .56 | .40 | .96 | (.60 | ) | | (.60 | ) | 8.98 | 11.33 | 67,466 | 1.70 | 6.21 | 133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (9/01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 7.37 | .54 | .58 | 1.12 | (.53 | ) | | (.53 | ) | 7.96 | 15.46 | 756 | 1.26 | 6.81 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.40 | .57 | (1.08 | ) | (.51 | ) | (.52 | ) | | (.52 | ) | 7.37 | (5.76 | ) | 834 | 1.29 | 7.78 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9.48 | .53 | (1.01 | ) | (.48 | ) | (.53 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.60 | ) | 8.40 | (5.07 | ) | 995 | 1.21 | 6.03 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 9.17 | .57 | .54 | 1.11 | (.60 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.80 | ) | 9.48 | 12.65 | 1,099 | 1.20 | 6.09 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 8.81 | .62 | .40 | 1.02 | (.66 | ) | | (.66 | ) | 9.17 | 11.79 | 697 | 1.19 | 6.69 | 133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (8/01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 7.24 | .56 | .57 | 1.13 | (.55 | ) | | (.55 | ) | 7.82 | 15.97 | 200,310 | .76 | 7.31 | 155 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.26 | .60 | (1.07 | ) | (.47 | ) | (.55 | ) | | (.55 | ) | 7.24 | (5.21 | ) | 208,009 | .78 | 8.12 | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9.31 | .57 | (.98 | ) | (.41 | ) | (.57 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.64 | ) | 8.26 | (4.55 | ) | 446,406 | .72 | 6.56 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 9.01 | .60 | .53 | 1.13 | (.63 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.83 | ) | 9.31 | 13.15 | 719,640 | .71 | 6.61 | 85 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 8.65 | .66 | .39 | 1.05 | (.69 | ) | | (.69 | ) | 9.01 | 12.39 | 495,863 | .70 | 7.24 | 133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class T (5/17)(e) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017(f) | 7.91 | .05 | (.10 | ) | (.05 | ) | (.04 | ) | | (.04 | ) | 7.82 | (.58 | ) | 25 | 1.00 | * | 7.78 | * | 155 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. As of October 31, 2013, the Adviser is no longer reimbursing the fund for any fees and expenses. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transactions, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(e) | Class T Shares are not available for public offering. |
(f) | For the period May 31, 2017 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2017. |
* | Annualized |
94
Section 5 Financial Highlights
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Return
of Capital |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (10/04) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 11.30 | $ | .18 | $ | (.35 | ) | $ | (.17 | ) | $ | (.12 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | (.12 | ) | $ | 11.01 | (1.53 | )% | $ | 104,588 | .79 | % | 1.65 | % | 49 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.92 | .06 | .32 | .38 | | | | | 11.30 | 3.48 | 93,104 | .83 | .58 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.26 | (.03 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.23 | ) | (.07 | ) | | (.04 | ) | (.11 | ) | 10.92 | (2.04 | ) | 42,341 | .83 | (.29 | ) | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.08 | .15 | .32 | .47 | (.09 | ) | (.20 | ) | | (.29 | ) | 11.26 | 4.35 | 24,020 | .83 | 1.33 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.80 | .07 | (.66 | ) | (.59 | ) | (.13 | ) | | | (.13 | ) | 11.08 | (5.07 | ) | 21,949 | .81 | .56 | 52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (10/04) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 11.14 | .10 | (.36 | ) | (.26 | ) | (.05 | ) | | | (.05 | ) | 10.83 | (2.33 | ) | 10,639 | 1.54 | .93 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.84 | (.05 | ) | .35 | .30 | | | | | 11.14 | 2.77 | 13,131 | 1.58 | (.47 | ) | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.21 | (.11 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.31 | ) | (.02 | ) | | (.04 | ) | (.06 | ) | 10.84 | (2.75 | ) | 9,366 | 1.58 | (.98 | ) | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.03 | .06 | .35 | .41 | (.03 | ) | (.20 | ) | | (.23 | ) | 11.21 | 3.76 | 6,954 | 1.58 | .52 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.72 | (.03 | ) | (.60 | ) | (.63 | ) | (.06 | ) | | | (.06 | ) | 11.03 | (5.39 | ) | 9,761 | 1.56 | (.25 | ) | 52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (10/04) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 11.21 | .15 | (.36 | ) | (.21 | ) | (.09 | ) | | | (.09 | ) | 10.91 | (1.86 | ) | 5,618 | 1.04 | 1.38 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.85 | .01 | .35 | .36 | | | | | 11.21 | 3.32 | 13,094 | 1.08 | .08 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.21 | (.11 | ) | (.16 | ) | (.27 | ) | (.05 | ) | | (.04 | ) | (.09 | ) | 10.85 | (2.38 | ) | 3,693 | 1.08 | (.98 | ) | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.05 | .29 | .14 | .43 | (.07 | ) | (.20 | ) | | (.27 | ) | 11.21 | 3.97 | 3,447 | 1.08 | 2.68 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.74 | .04 | (.62 | ) | (.58 | ) | (.11 | ) | | | (.11 | ) | 11.05 | (5.02 | ) | 519 | 1.06 | .32 | 52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R6 (1/15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 11.46 | .26 | (.39 | ) | (.13 | ) | (.14 | ) | | | (.14 | ) | 11.19 | (1.10 | ) | 23,654 | .30 | 2.30 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.02 | .09 | .35 | .44 | | | | | 11.46 | 3.99 | 3,773 | .37 | .84 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(e) | 11.18 | | * | (.16 | ) | (.16 | ) | | | | * | | 11.02 | (1.39 | ) | 3,074 | .41 | ** | (.01 | )** | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (10/04) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 11.43 | .22 | (.37 | ) | (.15 | ) | (.14 | ) | | | (.14 | ) | 11.14 | (1.27 | ) | 458,852 | .54 | 1.93 | 49 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.02 | .08 | .33 | .41 | | | | | 11.43 | 3.72 | 404,801 | .58 | .70 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.35 | (.01 | ) | (.19 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.09 | ) | | (.04 | ) | (.13 | ) | 11.02 | (1.78 | ) | 331,707 | .58 | (.05 | ) | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.14 | .19 | .33 | .52 | (.11 | ) | (.20 | ) | | (.31 | ) | 11.35 | 4.82 | 321,472 | .58 | 1.68 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.81 | .09 | (.61 | ) | (.52 | ) | (.15 | ) | | | (.15 | ) | 11.14 | (4.46 | ) | 344,204 | .56 | .77 | 52 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transactions, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(e) | For the period January 20, 2015 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2015. |
* | Rounds to less than $.01 per share. |
** | Annualized. |
Section 5 Financial Highlights
95
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Return of
Capital |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (10/02) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 8.96 | $ | .11 | $ | (.30 | ) | $ | (.19 | ) | $ | (.10 | ) | $ | | $ | | $ | (.10 | ) | $ | 8.67 | (2.08 | )% | $ | 9,458 | .79 | % | 1.27 | % | 82 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.80 | .11 | .16 | .27 | (.11 | ) | | | (.11 | ) | 8.96 | 3.06 | 13,760 | .85 | 1.23 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 8.81 | .10 | (.02 | ) | .08 | (.09 | ) | | | (.09 | ) | 8.80 | .93 | 9,010 | .85 | 1.17 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 8.79 | .11 | .03 | .14 | (.11 | ) | | (.01 | ) | (.12 | ) | 8.81 | 1.65 | 9,621 | .85 | 1.30 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.02 | .14 | (.20 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.17 | ) | | | (.17 | ) | 8.79 | (.74 | ) | 11,034 | .85 | 1.57 | 55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (10/09) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 8.98 | .05 | (.30 | ) | (.25 | ) | (.04 | ) | | | (.04 | ) | 8.69 | (2.81 | ) | 1,169 | 1.54 | .52 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.82 | .04 | .16 | .20 | (.04 | ) | | | (.04 | ) | 8.98 | 2.29 | 1,550 | 1.60 | .49 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 8.83 | .04 | (.02 | ) | .02 | (.03 | ) | | | (.03 | ) | 8.82 | .18 | 667 | 1.60 | .42 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 8.80 | .05 | .04 | .09 | (.05 | ) | | (.01 | ) | (.06 | ) | 8.83 | .98 | 639 | 1.60 | .56 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.03 | .07 | (.21 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.09 | ) | | | (.09 | ) | 8.80 | (1.53 | ) | 1,090 | 1.60 | .82 | 55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (10/09) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 8.97 | .09 | (.31 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.08 | ) | | | (.08 | ) | 8.67 | (2.46 | ) | 82 | 1.04 | 1.00 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.80 | .09 | .16 | .25 | (.08 | ) | | | (.08 | ) | 8.97 | 2.90 | 143 | 1.10 | .98 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 8.81 | .08 | (.02 | ) | .06 | (.07 | ) | | | (.07 | ) | 8.80 | .66 | 137 | 1.10 | .92 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 8.78 | .09 | .04 | .13 | (.09 | ) | | (.01 | ) | (.10 | ) | 8.81 | 1.49 | 137 | 1.10 | 1.05 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.01 | .12 | (.21 | ) | (.09 | ) | (.14 | ) | | | (.14 | ) | 8.78 | (1.00 | ) | 168 | 1.10 | 1.32 | 55 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (10/02) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 8.97 | .13 | (.30 | ) | (.17 | ) | (.13 | ) | | | (.13 | ) | 8.67 | (1.92 | ) | 41,682 | .54 | 1.51 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 8.81 | .13 | .16 | .29 | (.13 | ) | | | (.13 | ) | 8.97 | 3.34 | 65,305 | .60 | 1.48 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 8.82 | .12 | (.01 | ) | .11 | (.12 | ) | | | (.12 | ) | 8.81 | 1.20 | 65,850 | .60 | 1.40 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 8.80 | .13 | .04 | .17 | (.14 | ) | | (.01 | ) | (.15 | ) | 8.82 | 1.90 | 86,186 | .60 | 1.52 | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.03 | .16 | (.21 | ) | (.05 | ) | (.18 | ) | | | (.18 | ) | 8.80 | (.53 | ) | 52,291 | .60 | 1.83 | 55 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transaction, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
96
Section 5 Financial Highlights
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Return
of Capital |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (12/92) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 9.88 | $ | .16 | $ | (.02 | ) | $ | .14 | $ | (.15 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (.16 | ) | $ | 9.86 | 1.39 | % | $ | 92,967 | .72 | % | 1.59 | % | 50 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.93 | .16 | (.06 | ) | .10 | (.15 | ) | | | (.15 | ) | 9.88 | 1.04 | 96,201 | .72 | 1.64 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.05 | .16 | (.13 | ) | .03 | (.15 | ) | | | (.15 | ) | 9.93 | .32 | 100,544 | .71 | 1.58 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 9.97 | .19 | .08 | .27 | (.19 | ) | | | (.19 | ) | 10.05 | 2.69 | 116,365 | .71 | 1.86 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.95 | .20 | .03 | .23 | (.21 | ) | | | (.21 | ) | 9.97 | 2.30 | 141,099 | .71 | 1.99 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (10/09) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 9.92 | .08 | (.02 | ) | .06 | (.07 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | (.08 | ) | 9.90 | .59 | 25,326 | 1.47 | .85 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.97 | .09 | (.07 | ) | .02 | (.07 | ) | | | (.07 | ) | 9.92 | .25 | 30,495 | 1.47 | .90 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.08 | .08 | (.12 | ) | (.04 | ) | (.07 | ) | | | (.07 | ) | 9.97 | (.36 | ) | 33,547 | 1.46 | .83 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 10.00 | .11 | .08 | .19 | (.11 | ) | | | (.11 | ) | 10.08 | 1.89 | 39,347 | 1.46 | 1.13 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.97 | .12 | .04 | .16 | (.13 | ) | | | (.13 | ) | 10.00 | 1.61 | 44,414 | 1.46 | 1.24 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (9/11) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 9.90 | .13 | (.02 | ) | .11 | (.12 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | (.13 | ) | 9.88 | 1.08 | 436 | .97 | 1.35 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.95 | .14 | (.07 | ) | .07 | (.12 | ) | | | (.12 | ) | 9.90 | .74 | 285 | .97 | 1.38 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.07 | .13 | (.13 | ) | .00 | (.12 | ) | | | (.12 | ) | 9.95 | .02 | 131 | .96 | 1.31 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 9.99 | .16 | .08 | .24 | (.16 | ) | | | (.16 | ) | 10.07 | 2.38 | 1,049 | .96 | 1.61 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.96 | .17 | .04 | .21 | (.18 | ) | | | (.18 | ) | 9.99 | 2.10 | 516 | .96 | 1.73 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R6 (1/15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 9.90 | .19 | (.03 | ) | .16 | (.17 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | (.18 | ) | 9.88 | 1.63 | 95,754 | .42 | 1.92 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.95 | .19 | (.06 | ) | .13 | (.18 | ) | | | (.18 | ) | 9.90 | 1.29 | 66,836 | .43 | 1.95 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(e) | 9.93 | .09 | | * | .09 | (.07 | ) | | | (.07 | ) | 9.95 | .96 | 27,475 | .43 | ** | 1.98 | ** | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (2/94) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 9.89 | .18 | (.02 | ) | .16 | (.17 | ) | | (0.01 | ) | (.18 | ) | 9.87 | 1.63 | 347,215 | .47 | 1.84 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 9.94 | .19 | (.06 | ) | .13 | (.18 | ) | | | (.18 | ) | 9.89 | 1.29 | 416,624 | .47 | 1.89 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 10.06 | .18 | (.12 | ) | .06 | (.18 | ) | | | (.18 | ) | 9.94 | .57 | 529,027 | .46 | 1.82 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 9.98 | .21 | .08 | .29 | (.21 | ) | | | (.21 | ) | 10.06 | 2.93 | 915,119 | .46 | 2.11 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.95 | .22 | .04 | .26 | (.23 | ) | | | (.23 | ) | 9.98 | 2.65 | 720,722 | .46 | 2.23 | 42 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transaction, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(e) | For the period January 20, 2015 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2015. |
* | Rounds to less than $.01 per share. |
** | Annualized. |
Section 5 Financial Highlights
97
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
Class
(Commencement Date) |
Investment Operations | Less Distributions | Ratios/Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended
June 30, |
Beginning
NAV |
Net
(Loss)(a) |
Net
Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Total |
From Net
Investment Income |
From
Accumulated Net Realized Gains |
Return
of Capital |
Total |
Ending
NAV |
Total
Return(b) |
Ending
Net Assets (000) |
Ratios of
Expenses to Average Net Assets(c) |
Ratios of Net
Investment
|
Portfolio
Turnover Rate(d) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (2/00) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | $ | 10.52 | $ | .44 | $ | .22 | $ | .66 | $ | (.29 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.24 | ) | $ | (.53 | ) | $ | 10.65 | 6.43 | % | $ | 137,072 | .83 | % | 4.12 | % | 135 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.97 | .50 | (.42 | ) | .08 | (.53 | ) | | | (.53 | ) | 10.52 | .94 | 187,052 | .83 | 4.80 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.60 | .49 | (.58 | ) | (.09 | ) | (.54 | ) | | | (.54 | ) | 10.97 | (.80 | ) | 288,080 | .82 | 4.34 | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.02 | .53 | .59 | 1.12 | (.54 | ) | | | (.54 | ) | 11.60 | 10.46 | 128,189 | .84 | 4.73 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.83 | .52 | .16 | .68 | (.49 | ) | | | (.49 | ) | 11.02 | 6.25 | 72,341 | .84 | 4.57 | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (2/00) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.46 | .35 | .23 | .58 | (.21 | ) | | (0.24 | ) | (.45 | ) | 10.59 | 5.63 | 76,513 | 1.58 | 3.35 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.90 | .42 | (.41 | ) | .01 | (.45 | ) | | | (.45 | ) | 10.46 | .20 | 89,173 | 1.58 | 4.06 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.52 | .40 | (.57 | ) | (.17 | ) | (.45 | ) | | | (.45 | ) | 10.90 | (1.50 | ) | 110,660 | 1.57 | 3.60 | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 10.94 | .44 | .60 | 1.04 | (.46 | ) | | | (.46 | ) | 11.52 | 9.59 | 48,335 | 1.59 | 3.98 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.76 | .43 | .16 | .59 | (.41 | ) | | | (.41 | ) | 10.94 | 5.50 | 35,146 | 1.59 | 3.81 | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R3 (9/01) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.56 | .41 | .23 | .64 | (.27 | ) | | (0.24 | ) | (.51 | ) | 10.69 | 6.17 | 7,320 | 1.08 | 3.83 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 11.01 | .48 | (.42 | ) | .06 | (.51 | ) | | | (.51 | ) | 10.56 | .70 | 7,647 | 1.08 | 4.54 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.64 | .46 | (.57 | ) | (.11 | ) | (.52 | ) | | | (.52 | ) | 11.01 | (1.01 | ) | 12,272 | 1.07 | 4.09 | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.05 | .51 | .60 | 1.11 | (.52 | ) | | | (.52 | ) | 11.64 | 10.19 | 5,321 | 1.09 | 4.48 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.88 | .49 | .15 | .64 | (.47 | ) | | | (.47 | ) | 11.05 | 5.89 | 2,926 | 1.09 | 4.34 | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class R6 (1/15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.52 | .48 | .23 | .71 | (.32 | ) | | (0.24 | ) | (.56 | ) | 10.67 | 6.86 | 8,995 | .51 | 4.45 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.96 | .53 | (.41 | ) | .12 | (.56 | ) | | | (.56 | ) | 10.52 | 1.28 | 33,372 | .50 | 5.17 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(e) | 11.22 | .24 | (.25 | ) | (.01 | ) | (.25 | ) | | | (.25 | ) | 10.96 | (.10 | ) | 20,498 | .50 | * | 4.81 | * | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (2/00) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 10.51 | .46 | .24 | .70 | (.32 | ) | | (0.24 | ) | (.56 | ) | 10.65 | 6.77 | 540,368 | .58 | 4.32 | 135 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 10.96 | .53 | (.42 | ) | .11 | (.56 | ) | | | (.56 | ) | 10.51 | 1.19 | 475,536 | .58 | 5.05 | 56 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.59 | .52 | (.58 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.57 | ) | | | (.57 | ) | 10.96 | (.54 | ) | 773,719 | .57 | 4.57 | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.01 | .56 | .59 | 1.15 | (.57 | ) | | | (.57 | ) | 11.59 | 10.77 | 612,214 | .59 | 5.00 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.83 | .55 | .15 | .70 | (.52 | ) | | | (.52 | ) | 11.01 | 6.42 | 517,292 | .59 | 4.81 | 69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class T (5/17)(f) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017(g) | 10.67 | .03 | (.01 | ) | .02 | | | (0.04 | ) | (.04 | ) | 10.65 | .23 | 25 | .83 | * | 3.50 | * | 135 |
(a) | Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method. |
(b) | Total Return is the combination of changes in NAV without any sales charge, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. Total Return is not annualized. |
(c) | After fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. |
(d) | Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases and sales (as disclosed in Note 5Investment Transactions, in the most recent shareholder report) divided by the average long-term market value during the period. |
(e) | For the period January 20, 2015 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2015. |
(f) | Class T Shares are not available for public offering. |
(g) | For the period May 31, 2017 (commencement of operations) through June 30, 2017. |
* | Annualized. |
98
Section 5 Financial Highlights
October 31, 2017
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
VARIATIONS IN SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
AVAILABLE THROUGH CERTAIN INTERMEDIARIES
A-1
The Funds offer a number of ways to reduce or eliminate the up-front sales charge on Class A and Class T shares, which are set forth in the Prospectus. The Prospectus also sets forth certain circumstances under which the Funds will waive or reduce the contingent deferred sales charge ( CDSC ) imposed on redemptions of Class C shares and certain Class A shares purchased at net asset value. The availability of the sales charge reductions and waivers discussed in the Prospectus will depend on the policies of the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares, which are set forth below.
Class A and Class C Share Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Merrill Lynch
Effective April 10, 2017, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed in the Funds prospectus or SAI. Shareholders should contact Merrill Lynch to determine their eligibility for these waivers and discounts.
Front-End Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares Available at Merrill Lynch
| Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan |
| Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan |
| Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program |
| Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynchs platform |
| Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform |
| Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gain distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family) |
| Shares exchanged from Class C shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date |
| Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members |
| Directors or Trustees of the Funds, and employees of the Funds investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in the Prospectus |
| Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement) |
CDSC Waivers on A and C Shares Available at Merrill Lynch
| Death or disability of the shareholder |
| Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Prospectus |
| Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account |
| Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70 1 ⁄ 2 |
| Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch |
| Shares acquired through a Right of Reinstatement |
| Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gain distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family) |
| Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to a fee based account or platform |
A-2
Front-End Load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent
| Breakpoints as described in the Prospectus |
| Rights of Accumulation ( ROA ) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchasers household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets |
| Letters of Intent ( LOI ) which allow for breakpoint discounts using the same criteria as ROA above, but based on anticipated purchases within a fund family over a 13-month period of time |
Class A Sales Charge Waivers Available Only Through Specified Intermediaries
As described in the Prospectus, Class A shares may be purchased at net asset without a sales charge by employer-sponsored retirement plans ( ESRPs ) as defined in the prospectus, except that, in the case of ESRPs held through a brokerage account, Class A shares will be available at net asset value without a sales charge only if the broker-dealer has entered into an agreement with the Distributor that allows for such purchases.
The following intermediaries have entered into such an agreement:
Baker & Co., Inc.
Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
Cetera Advisors LLC
Cetera Financial Specialists LLC
Cetera Investment Services LLC
Country Club Financial Services, Inc.
Cutter & Co. Brokerage Inc.
Davenport & Co. LLC
Devenir Investment Advisors, LLC
Fintrust Brokerage Services
First Kentucky Securities Corp.
First Western Securities
Gold Coast Securities, Inc.
Hewitt Financial Services LLC
Hilltop Securities Inc.
Infinex Investments, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
KMS Financial Services, Inc.
Mid-Atlantic Capital Corp.
OFG Financial Services, Inc.
Principal Securities Inc.
Raymond James & Associates Inc.
RDM Investment Services, Inc.
Register Financial Associates, Inc.
Shareholders Service Group Inc.
Southeast Investments, NC, Inc.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc.
Waddell & Reed Inc.
As described in the Prospectus, Class A shares may be purchased at net asset value without a sales charge through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor to offer the Funds shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts and that may or may not charge a transaction fee to its customers.
A-3
The following intermediaries have entered into such an agreement:
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
TD Ameritrade, Inc.
TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.
Class T Share Sales Charge Waivers Available Only Through Specified Intermediaries
As set forth in the Prospectus, Class T shares are generally subject to an up-front sales charge, except for shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions from the same fund. However, Class T shares may be available at net asset value without a sales charge under limited circumstances through certain financial intermediaries. Currently no intermediaries are offering such waivers.
A-4
Nuveen Mutual Funds
Nuveen offers a variety of mutual funds designed to help you reach your financial goals. The funds below are grouped by category.
Municipal-National
All-American Municipal Bond
High Yield Municipal Bond
Inflation Protected Municipal Bond
Intermediate Duration Municipal Bond
Limited Term Municipal Bond
Short Duration High Yield Municipal Bond
Short Term Municipal Bond
Strategic Municipal Opportunities
Municipal-State
Arizona Municipal Bond
California High Yield Municipal Bond
California Intermediate Municipal Bond
California Municipal Bond
Colorado Municipal Bond
Connecticut Municipal Bond
Georgia Municipal Bond
Kansas Municipal Bond
Kentucky Municipal Bond
Louisiana Municipal Bond
Maryland Municipal Bond
Massachusetts Municipal Bond
Michigan Municipal Bond
Minnesota Intermediate Municipal Bond
Minnesota Municipal Bond
Missouri Municipal Bond
Nebraska Municipal Bond
New Jersey Municipal Bond
Municipal-State (continued)
New Mexico Municipal Bond
New York Municipal Bond
North Carolina Municipal Bond
Ohio Municipal Bond
Oregon Intermediate Municipal Bond
Pennsylvania Municipal Bond
Tennessee Municipal Bond
Virginia Municipal Bond
Wisconsin Municipal Bond
Taxable Fixed Income
Core Bond
Core Plus Bond
High Income Bond
Inflation Protected Securities
Intermediate Government Bond
NWQ Flexible Income
Preferred Securities and Income
Short Term Bond
Strategic Income
Symphony Credit Opportunities
Symphony Floating Rate Income
Symphony High Yield Bond
Global/International
International Growth
NWQ Global All-Cap
NWQ Global Equity Income
NWQ International Value
Global/International (continued)
Santa Barbara Global Dividend Growth
Santa Barbara International Dividend Growth
Symphony International Equity
Value
Dividend Value
Large Cap Value
Mid Cap Value
NWQ Large-Cap Value
NWQ Multi-Cap Value
NWQ Small-Cap Value
NWQ Small/Mid-Cap Value
Small Cap Value
Growth
Growth
Large Cap Growth
Mid Cap Growth Opportunities
Small Cap Growth Opportunities
Symphony Large-Cap Growth
Winslow Large-Cap Growth
Core
Concentrated Core
Large Cap Core
Large Cap Select
Core (continued)
Santa Barbara Dividend Growth
Small Cap Select
Symphony Low Volatility Equity
Symphony Mid-Cap Core
Symphony Small Cap Core
Real Assets
Global Infrastructure
Gresham Diversified Commodity Strategy
Real Asset Income
Real Estate Securities
Asset Allocation
Multi-Asset Income
Multi-Asset Income Tax-Aware
Strategy Aggressive Growth Allocation
Strategy Balanced Allocation
Strategy Conservative Allocation
Strategy Growth Allocation
Alternative Strategies
Equity Long/Short
Equity Market Neutral
Several additional sources of information are available to you, including the codes of ethics adopted by the Funds, Nuveen, LLC, Nuveen Fund Advisors and Nuveen Asset Management. The appendix to this prospectus, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, contains information on sales charge reductions and waivers available through certain financial intermediaries that differ from the sales charge reductions and waivers disclosed in this prospectus and the related statement of additional information. The statement of additional information, incorporated by reference into this prospectus, contains detailed information on the policies and operation of the Funds included in this prospectus. Additional information about the Funds investments is available in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the Funds annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds performance during their last fiscal year. The Funds most recent statement of additional information, annual and semi-annual reports and certain other information are available, free of charge, by calling Nuveen Investor Services at (800) 257-8787, on the Funds website at www.nuveen.com, or through your financial advisor. Shareholders may call the toll free number above with any inquiries.
You may also obtain this and other Fund information directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ). Reports and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov or in person at the SECs Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at (202) 551-8090 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. 20549-1520. The SEC may charge a copying fee for this information.
The Funds are series of Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc., whose Investment Company Act file number is 811-05309.
Distributed by
Nuveen Securities, LLC
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(800) 257-8787
www.nuveen.com
MPR-FINC-1017D
October 31, 2017
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFAIIX, Class CNTIBX, Class R6NTIFX, Class IFINIX, Class TFIDTX
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFAFIX, Class CFFAIX, Class R3FFISX, Class R6FPCFX, Class IFFIIX, Class TFFITX
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFJSIX, Class CFCSIX, Class R3FANSX, Class IFJSYX, Class TFCPTX
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFAIPX, Class CFCIPX, Class R3FRIPX, Class R6FISFX, Class IFYIPX, Class TFIFTX
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFIGAX, Class CFYGCX, Class R3FYGRX, Class IFYGYX, Class TFYGTX
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFALTX, Class CFBSCX, Class R3NSSRX, Class R6NSSFX, Class IFLTIX, Class TNSATX
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
Ticker Symbols: Class AFCDDX, Class CFCBCX, Class R3FABSX, Class R6FSFRX, Class IFCBYX, Class TFSFTX
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Statement of Additional Information ( SAI ) is not a prospectus. This SAI relates to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus dated October 31, 2017 for Nuveen Core Bond Fund, Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund (each, a Fund , and collectively, the Funds ), each a series of Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. A Prospectus may be obtained without charge from certain securities representatives, banks and other financial institutions that have entered into sales agreements with Nuveen Securities, LLC (the Distributor ), or from a Fund, by written request to the applicable Fund, c/o Nuveen Investor Services, P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530, or by calling (800) 257-8787.
The audited financial statements for each Funds most recent fiscal year appear in the Funds Annual Report dated June 30, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference and is available without charge by calling (800) 257-8787.
Page | ||
General Information | S-4 | |
Investment Restrictions | S-4 | |
Investment Policies and Techniques | S-7 | |
S-7 | ||
S-8 | ||
S-8 | ||
S-9 | ||
S-11 | ||
S-11 | ||
S-12 | ||
S-13 | ||
S-14 | ||
S-14 |
Page | ||
S-24 | ||
S-24 | ||
S-26 | ||
S-27 | ||
S-27 | ||
S-28 | ||
S-29 | ||
S-32 | ||
S-35 | ||
S-37 | ||
S-39 | ||
S-39 | ||
S-40 | ||
S-40 | ||
S-41 | ||
S-41 | ||
S-42 | ||
S-42 | ||
S-43 | ||
Management | S-44 | |
S-52 | ||
S-56 | ||
S-59 | ||
S-61 | ||
S-62 | ||
Service Providers | S-62 | |
S-62 | ||
S-64 | ||
S-64 | ||
S-67 | ||
S-67 | ||
S-67 | ||
S-67 | ||
Codes of Ethics | S-68 | |
Proxy Voting Policies | S-68 | |
Portfolio Transactions | S-69 | |
S-76 | ||
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings | S-77 | |
Net Asset Value | S-78 | |
Capital Stock | S-78 | |
Tax Matters | S-94 | |
S-94 | ||
S-94 | ||
S-94 | ||
S-95 | ||
S-95 | ||
S-95 | ||
S-95 |
S-2
Page | ||
S-96 | ||
S-96 | ||
S-96 | ||
S-96 | ||
S-96 | ||
S-97 | ||
S-97 | ||
S-97 | ||
Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares | S-98 | |
S-98 | ||
Reduction or Elimination of Up-Front Sales Charge on Class A Shares |
S-98 | |
S-101 | ||
Reduction or Elimination of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge |
S-101 | |
S-102 | ||
S-103 | ||
S-104 | ||
S-105 | ||
S-105 | ||
S-105 | ||
S-107 | ||
S-108 | ||
S-110 | ||
S-110 | ||
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Other Payments |
S-111 | |
S-114 | ||
Financial Statements | S-115 | |
Appendix ARatings of Investments | A-1 | |
Appendix BISS United States Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines | B-1 |
S-3
Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. ( NIF ) was incorporated in the State of Maryland on August 20, 1987 under the name SECURAL Mutual Funds, Inc. The Board of Directors and shareholders, at meetings held January 10, 1991, and April 2, 1991, respectively, approved amendments to the Articles of Incorporation providing that the name SECURAL Mutual Funds, Inc. be changed to First American Investment Funds, Inc. At a meeting held February 27, 2011, the Board of Directors approved the name First American Investment Funds, Inc. be changed to Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc.
NIF is organized as a series fund and currently issues its shares in 22 series. Each series of shares represents a separate investment portfolio with its own investment objective and policies (in essence, a separate mutual fund). Nuveen Core Bond Fund was formerly named Nuveen Intermediate Term Bond Fund. Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund was formerly named Nuveen Core Bond Fund. Nuveen Strategic Income Fund was formerly named Nuveen Total Return Bond Fund.
The Funds are diversified open-end management investment companies. The Funds investment adviser is Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC ( Nuveen Fund Advisors or the Adviser ). The Funds sub-adviser is Nuveen Asset Management, LLC ( Nuveen Asset Management or the Sub-Adviser ).
Shareholders may purchase shares of each Fund through separate classes, Class A, Class C, Class R3 (except for Nuveen Core Bond Fund), Class R6 (except for Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund), Class I shares and Class T shares. The different share classes provide for variations in distribution costs, shareholder servicing fees, voting rights and dividends. To the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act ), the Funds may also provide for variations in other costs among the classes. In addition, a sales load is imposed on the sale of Class A, Class C and Class T shares of the Funds. Except for the foregoing differences among the classes pertaining to costs and fees, each share of each Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund.
The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of NIF provide that meetings of shareholders be held as determined by the Board of Directors and as required by the 1940 Act. Maryland corporation law requires a meeting of shareholders to be held upon the written request of shareholders holding 10% or more of the voting shares of NIF, with the cost of preparing and mailing the notice of such meeting payable by the requesting shareholders. The 1940 Act requires a shareholder vote for, among other things, all amendments to fundamental investment policies and restrictions, for approval of investment advisory contracts and amendments thereto, and for amendments to Rule 12b-1 distribution plans.
In addition to the investment objectives and policies set forth in the Prospectus and under Investment Policies and Techniques below, each Fund is subject to the investment restrictions set forth below. The investment restrictions set forth in numbers (1) through (7) below are fundamental and cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of that Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, i.e., by the lesser of the vote of (a) 67% of the shares of the Fund present at a meeting where more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
None of the Funds will:
(1) Concentrate its investments in a particular industry, except that any Fund with one or more industry concentrations implied by its name shall, in normal market conditions, concentrate in securities of issues within that industry or industries. For purposes of this limitation, the U.S. government, and state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions are not considered members of any industry. Whether a Fund is concentrating in an industry shall be determined in accordance with the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.
S-4
(2) Borrow money or issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.
(3) With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase securities of an issuer (other than (i) securities issued by other investment companies, (ii) securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies, instrumentalities or authorities, or (iii) repurchase agreements fully collateralized by U.S. government securities) if (a) such purchase would, at the time, cause more than 5% of the Funds total assets taken at market value to be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (b) such purchase would, at the time, result in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer being held by the Fund.
(4) Purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments; but this restriction shall not prohibit a Fund from investing in options on commodity indices, commodity futures contracts and options thereon, commodity-related swap agreements, other commodity-related derivative instruments, and investment companies that provide exposure to commodities.
(5) Purchase or sell real estate unless as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, but this shall not prevent the Funds from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or interests therein or in securities of companies that deal in real estate or mortgages.
(6) Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed an underwriter under applicable laws.
(7) Make loans except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.
Except with respect to the limitation set forth in number (2) above, the foregoing restrictions and limitations will apply only at the time of purchase of securities, and the percentage limitations will not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an acquisition of securities, unless otherwise indicated.
For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in number (1) above, according to the current interpretation by the Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ), a Fund would be concentrated in an industry if 25% or more of its net assets, based on current market value at the time of purchase, were invested in that industry. For purposes of this limitation, issuers of the following securities will not be considered to be members of any industry: securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities; except as set forth in the following sentence, tax-exempt securities of state, territory, possession or municipal governments and their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and repurchase agreements collateralized by any such obligations. To the extent that the income from a municipal bond is derived principally from the assets and revenues of non-governmental users, the securities will be deemed to be from the industry of that non-governmental user. To the extent a Fund invests in other investment companies, it will consider the investments of the underlying investment companies when determining compliance with the limitation set forth in number (1) above, to the extent the Fund has sufficient information about such investments. For purposes of this limitation, all sovereign debt of a single country will be considered investments in a single industry.
Where a security is guaranteed by a governmental entity or some other facility, such as a bank guarantee or letter of credit, such a guarantee or letter of credit would be considered a separate security and would be treated as an issue of such government, other entity or bank.
For purposes of applying the limitations set forth in numbers (1) and (3) above, an issuer shall be deemed the sole issuer of a security when its assets and revenues are separate from other governmental entities and its securities are backed only by its assets and revenues. Similarly, in the case of a non-governmental user, such as an industrial corporation or a privately owned or operated hospital, if the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the non-governmental user, then such non-governmental user would be deemed to be the sole issuer. Where a security is also backed by the enforceable obligation of a superior or unrelated governmental entity or other entity (other than a bond insurer), it shall also be included in the computation of securities owned that are issued by such governmental or other entity.
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For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in number (2) above, under the 1940 Act as currently in effect, a Fund is not permitted to issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from any bank if immediately after such borrowing the value of the Funds total assets is at least 300% of the principal amount of all of the Funds borrowings (i.e., the principal amount of the borrowings may not exceed 33 1 / 3 % of the Funds total assets). In the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three calendar days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays), reduce the amount of its borrowings to an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%.
For purposes of applying the limitation set forth in number (7) above, there are no limitations with respect to unsecured loans made by a Fund to an unaffiliated party. However, if a Fund loans its portfolio securities, the obligation on the part of the Fund to return collateral upon termination of the loan could be deemed to involve the issuance of a senior security within the meaning of Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act. In order to avoid violation of Section 18(f), the Fund may not make a loan of portfolio securities if, as a result, more than one-third of its total asset value (at market value computed at the time of making a loan) would be on loan.
The following restrictions are non-fundamental and may be changed by NIFs Board of Directors without a shareholder vote:
A Fund may not:
(1) Invest more than 15% of its net assets in all forms of illiquid investments.
(2) Acquire any securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on subparagraph (F) or subparagraph (G) of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.
(3) Invest directly in futures, options on futures and swaps to the extent that the Adviser would be required to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ( CFTC ) as a commodity pool operator. See Investment Policies and TechniquesDerivativesLimitations on the Use of CFTC-Regulated Futures, Options on Futures and Swaps.
For purposes of number (1) above, each Fund will monitor portfolio liquidity on an ongoing basis and, in the event more than 15% of a Funds net assets are invested in illiquid investments, the Fund will reduce its holdings of illiquid investments in an orderly fashion in order to maintain adequate liquidity. The term illiquid investments will have the same meaning as given in guidance provided by the staff of the SEC.
The Board of Directors has adopted guidelines and procedures under which the Adviser is to determine whether the following types of securities which may be held by certain Funds are liquid and to report to the Board concerning its determinations: (i) securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ); (ii) commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, whether or not it is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A; (iii) interest-only and principal-only, inverse floating and inverse interest-only securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; and (iv) municipal leases and securities that represent interests in municipal leases.
Nuveen Core Bond Fund, Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund and Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund have adopted a non-fundamental investment policy pursuant to Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act (a Name Policy ) whereby each Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds. Nuveen High Income Bond Fund has adopted a Name Policy whereby the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in bonds rated lower than investment grade at the time of purchase or in unrated bonds of comparable quality. Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund has adopted a Name Policy whereby the Fund, under normal market conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in inflation protected debt securities. Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund has adopted a Name Policy whereby the Fund, under normal market
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conditions, will invest at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in U.S. government bonds. As a result, each Fund must provide shareholders with a notice meeting the requirements of Rule 35d-1(c) at least 60 days prior to any change of the Funds Name Policy. The Funds will consider both direct investments and indirect investments (e.g., investments in other investment companies, derivatives and synthetic instruments with economic characteristics similar to the direct investments that meet the Name Policy) when determining compliance with the Name Policy. For purposes of the Name Policy, a Fund will value eligible derivatives at fair value or market value instead of notional value.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
The following information supplements the discussion of the Funds investment objectives, principal investment strategies, policies and techniques that appears in the Prospectus for the Funds. Additional information concerning principal investment strategies of the Funds, and other investment strategies that may be used by the Funds, is set forth below in alphabetical order. Additional information concerning the Funds investment restrictions is set forth above under Investment Restrictions.
If a percentage limitation on investments by a Fund stated in this SAI or its Prospectus is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in asset value will not be deemed to violate the limitation except in the case of the limitations on borrowing. A Fund, which is limited to investing in securities with specified ratings or of a certain credit quality, is not required to sell a security if its rating is reduced or its credit quality declines after purchase, but may consider doing so. Descriptions of the rating categories of Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. ( Standard & Poors ), Fitch, Inc. ( Fitch ) and Moodys Investors Service, Inc. ( Moodys ) are contained in Appendix A.
References in this section to the Adviser also apply, to the extent applicable, to the Sub-Adviser of the Funds.
The Funds may invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are securities that are secured or backed by pools of various types of assets on which cash payments are due at fixed intervals over set periods of time. Asset-backed securities are created in a process called securitization. In a securitization transaction, an originator of loans or an owner of accounts receivables of a certain type of asset class sells such underlying assets in a true sale to a special purpose entity, so that there is no recourse to such originator or owner. Payments of principal and interest on asset-backed securities typically are tied to payments made on the pool of underlying assets in the related securitization. Such payments on the underlying assets are effectively passed through to the asset-backed security holders on a monthly or other regular, periodic basis. The level of seniority of a particular asset-backed security will determine the priority in which the holder of such asset-backed security is paid, relative to other security holders and parties in such securitization. Examples of underlying assets include consumer loans or receivables, home equity loans, automobile loans or leases, and time shares, though other types of receivables or assets also may be used.
While asset-backed securities typically have a fixed, stated maturity date, low prevailing interest rates may lead to an increase in the prepayments made on the underlying assets. This may cause the outstanding balances due on the underlying assets to be paid down more rapidly. As a result, a decrease in the originally anticipated interest from such underlying securities may occur, causing the asset-backed securities to pay-down in whole or in part prior to their original stated maturity date. Prepayment proceeds would then have to be reinvested at the lower prevailing interest rates. Conversely, prepayments on the underlying assets may be less than anticipated, causing an extension in the duration of the asset-backed securities.
Delinquencies or losses that exceed the anticipated amounts for a given securitization could adversely impact the payments made on the related asset-backed securities. This is a reason why, as part of a securitization, asset-backed securities are often accompanied by some form of credit enhancement, such as a guaranty, insurance policy, or subordination. Credit protection in the form of
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derivative contracts may also be purchased. In certain securitization transactions, insurance, credit protection, or both may be purchased with respect to only the most senior classes of asset-backed securities, on the underlying collateral pool, or both. The extent and type of credit enhancement varies across securitization transactions.
The ratings and creditworthiness of asset-backed securities typically depend on the legal insulation of the issuer and transaction from the consequences of a sponsoring entitys bankruptcy, as well as on the credit quality of the underlying receivables and the amount and credit quality of any third-party credit enhancement supporting the underlying receivables or the asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities and their underlying receivables generally are not issued or guaranteed by any governmental entity.
Consistent with SEC staff guidance, a Fund will only engage in transactions that expose it to an obligation to another party if it owns either (a) an offsetting position for the same type of financial asset or (b) cash or liquid securities, designated on the Funds books or held in a segregated account, with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (a). Examples of transactions governed by these asset coverage requirements include, for example, options written by the Funds, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, forward currency contracts, swaps, dollar rolls and when-issued and delayed delivery transactions. Assets used as offsetting positions, designated on a Funds books, or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the positions requiring cover are open unless replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of assets to be used as offsetting positions or to be designated or segregated in such a manner could impede portfolio management or the ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
In the case of futures contracts or forward contracts that are not contractually required to cash settle and to the extent a Fund writes a credit default swap, the Fund must set aside liquid assets equal to such contracts full notional value (generally, the total numerical value of the asset underlying a futures contract, forward contract or credit default swap at the time of valuation) while the positions are open. With respect to futures contracts or forward contracts that are contractually required to cash settle, however, a Fund is permitted to set aside liquid assets in an amount equal to the Funds daily mark-to-market net obligation (i.e., the Funds daily net liability) under the contracts, if any, rather than such contracts full notional value. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligations under cash-settled futures and forward contracts, a Fund may employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts.
Joint Credit Agreement
The Funds, along with certain other funds managed by the Adviser ( Participating Funds ), are parties to a 364-day, approximately $3 billion credit agreement with a group of lenders (the Credit Agreement ), which expires in July 2018, unless extended or renewed. The Funds may borrow under the Credit Agreement to meet shareholder redemptions and for other lawful purposes. Borrowing results in interest expense and being a Participating Fund results in other fees and expenses, which may increase a Funds net expenses and reduce the Funds return. In addition, borrowing by a Fund may create leverage by increasing a Funds investment exposure. This will result in any changes in the Funds net asset value, either positive or negative, being greater than they would have been if the Fund had not borrowed. Participating Funds have been allocated different portions of the committed amount of the Credit Facility based primarily on the expected likelihood and extent of the need to borrow under the Credit Agreement. Commitment and undrawn fees under the Credit Agreement are allocated among Participating Funds based upon portions of the aggregate commitment available to them and other factors deemed relevant by the Adviser and the Board of each Participating Fund, while fees on any amounts drawn by a Participating Fund under the Credit Agreement are borne by that Participating Fund.
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Inter-Fund Borrowing and Lending
The SEC has granted an exemptive order permitting registered open-end and closed-end Nuveen Funds to participate in an inter-fund lending facility whereby the Nuveen Funds may directly lend to and borrow money from each other for temporary purposes (e.g., to satisfy redemption requests or when a sale of securities fails, resulting in an unanticipated cash shortfall) (the Inter-Fund Program ). The closed-end Nuveen Funds will participate only as lenders, and not as borrowers, in the Inter-Fund Program because such closed-end funds rarely, if ever, need to borrow cash to meet redemptions. The Inter-Fund Program is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the requirements that (1) no Nuveen Fund may borrow or lend money through the Inter-Fund Program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than is typically available from a bank or other financial institution for a comparable transaction; (2) no Nuveen Fund may borrow on an unsecured basis through the Inter-Fund Program unless the Nuveen Funds outstanding borrowings from all sources immediately after the inter-fund borrowing total 10% or less of its total assets; provided that if the borrowing Nuveen Fund has a secured borrowing outstanding from any other lender, including but not limited to another Nuveen Fund, the inter-fund loan must be secured on at least an equal priority basis with at least an equivalent percentage of collateral to loan value; (3) if a Nuveen Funds total outstanding borrowings immediately after an inter-fund borrowing would be greater than 10% of its total assets, the Nuveen Fund may borrow through the inter-fund loan on a secured basis only; (4) no Nuveen Fund may lend money if the loan would cause its aggregate outstanding loans through the Inter-Fund Program to exceed 15% of its net assets at the time of the loan; (5) a Nuveen Funds inter-fund loans to any one Nuveen Fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending Nuveen Funds net assets; (6) the duration of inter-fund loans will be limited to the time required to receive payment for securities sold, but in no event more than seven days; and (7) each inter-fund loan may be called on one business days notice by a lending Nuveen Fund and may be repaid on any day by a borrowing Nuveen Fund. In addition, a Nuveen Fund may participate in the Inter-Fund Program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the Nuveen Funds investment objective and investment policies. The Board of Directors of the Nuveen Funds is responsible for overseeing the Inter-Fund Program.
The limitations detailed above and the other conditions of the SEC exemptive order permitting the Inter-Fund Program are designed to minimize the risks associated with Inter-Fund Program for both the lending fund and the borrowing fund. However, no borrowing or lending activity is without risk. When a Fund borrows money from another Nuveen Fund, there is a risk that the loan could be called on one days notice or not renewed, in which case the Fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher rate or take other actions to payoff such loan if an inter-fund loan is not available from another Nuveen Fund. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.
Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
The Funds may invest in cash, cash equivalents, and a variety of short-term instruments in such proportions as warranted by prevailing market conditions and a Funds principal investment strategies. The Funds may temporarily invest without limit in such instruments for liquidity purposes, or in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. During such periods, a Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective.
Each Fund will only invest in short-term instruments that are U.S. dollar-denominated.
Short-term instruments include obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (see U.S. Government Securities below) and, without limitation, the following:
(1) Certificates of Deposit. Each Fund may invest in certificates of deposit issued against funds deposited in a bank or savings and loan association. Such certificates are for a definite period of time, earn a specified rate of return, and are normally negotiable. If such certificates of deposit are non-negotiable, they will be considered illiquid securities and be subject to the Funds 15% restriction on investments in illiquid securities. Pursuant to the certificate of deposit, the issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the certificate on the date specified thereon. Under current FDIC regulations, the maximum insurance payable as to any one certificate of deposit is $250,000; therefore, certificates of deposit purchased by a Fund may not be fully insured.
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(2) Bankers Acceptances. Each Fund may invest in bankers acceptances, which are short-term credit instruments used to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then accepted by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of interest for a specific maturity.
(3) Repurchase Agreements. Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements which involve purchases of debt securities. In such an action, at the time a Fund purchases the security, it simultaneously agrees to resell and redeliver the security to the seller, who also simultaneously agrees to buy back the security at a fixed price and time. This assures a predetermined yield for a Fund during its holding period since the resale price is always greater than the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market rate. Such actions afford an opportunity for a Fund to invest temporarily available cash. A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements only with respect to certain obligations. For each Fund, collateral may consist of any fixed income security which is an eligible investment for the Fund entering into the repurchase agreement. The Funds custodian will hold the securities underlying any repurchase agreement, or the securities will be part of the Federal Reserve/Treasury Book Entry System. The market value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will be determined on each business day. If at any time the market value of the collateral falls below the repurchase price under the repurchase agreement (including any accrued interest), the appropriate Fund will promptly receive additional collateral (so the total collateral is an amount at least equal to the repurchase price plus accrued interest). Repurchase agreements may be considered loans to the seller, collateralized by the underlying securities. The risk to a Fund is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the repurchase date; in the event of default, the repurchase agreement provides that the affected Fund is entitled to sell the underlying collateral. If the value of the collateral declines after the agreement is entered into, however, and if the seller defaults under a repurchase agreement when the value of the underlying collateral is less than the repurchase price, the Fund could incur a loss of both principal and interest. The portfolio managers monitor the value of the collateral at the time the action is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement. The portfolio managers do so in an effort to determine that the value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the agreed-upon repurchase price to be paid to a Fund. If the seller were to be subject to a federal bankruptcy proceeding, the ability of a Fund to liquidate the collateral could be delayed or impaired because of certain provisions of the bankruptcy laws.
(4) Bank Time Deposits. Each Fund may invest in bank time deposits, which are monies kept on deposit with banks or savings and loan associations for a stated period of time at a fixed rate of interest. There may be penalties for the early withdrawal of such time deposits, in which case the yields of these investments will be reduced.
(5) Eurodollar and Yankee Instruments. Each Fund may invest in Eurodollar certificates of deposit issued by foreign branches of U.S. or foreign banks; Eurodollar time deposits, which are U.S. dollar-denominated deposits in foreign branches of U.S. or foreign banks; and Yankee certificates of deposit, which are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit issued by U.S. branches of foreign banks and held in the United States. In each instance, the Funds may only invest in bank instruments issued by an institution which has capital, surplus and undivided profits of more than $100 million or the deposits of which are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund.
(6) Commercial Paper. Each Fund may invest in commercial paper, which are short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations to finance their current operations. The Funds may purchase commercial paper consisting of issues rated at the time of purchase within the two highest rating categories by Standard & Poors, Fitch or Moodys, or which have been assigned an equivalent rating by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization. The Funds also may invest in commercial paper that is not rated but that is determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality to instruments that are so rated. For a description of the rating categories of Standard & Poors, Fitch and Moodys, see Appendix A.
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(7) Money Market Funds and Short-Term Debt Funds . Each Fund may invest in money market funds. The Funds will bear their proportionate share of the money market funds fees and expenses (see Other Investment Companies below). The Funds may hold securities of other mutual funds that invest primarily in debt obligations with remaining maturities of 13 months or less.
(8) Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Each Fund may invest in variable amount master demand notes, which are unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate according to the terms of the instrument. Because master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between a Fund and the issuer, they are not normally traded. Although there is no secondary market in the notes, a Fund may demand payment of principal and accrued interest at any time. While the notes are not typically rated by credit rating agencies, issuers of variable amount master demand notes (which are normally manufacturing, retail, financial, and other business concerns) must satisfy the same criteria as set forth above for commercial paper. The Sub-Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuers of such notes and will continuously monitor their financial status and ability to meet payment on demand.
(9) Variable Rate Demand Obligations. Each Fund may invest in variable rate demand obligations ( VRDOs ), which are securities in which the interest rate is adjusted at pre-designated periodic intervals. VRDOs may include a demand feature which is a put that entitles the holder to receive the principal amount of the underlying security or securities and which may be exercised either at any time on no more than 30 days notice or at specified intervals not exceeding 397 calendar days on no more than 30 days notice.
Collateralized Debt Obligations
The Funds may invest in Collateralized Debt Obligations ( CDOs ). CDOs are debt obligations typically issued by a private special-purpose entity and collateralized principally by debt securities, including, for example, high yield, high-risk bonds, structured finance securities including asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities and REITs. The special purpose entity typically issues one or more classes (sometimes referred to as tranches ) of rated debt securities, one or more unrated classes of debt securities that are generally treated as equity interests, and a residual equity interest. The tranches of CDOs typically have different interest rates, projected weighted average lives and ratings, with the higher rated tranches paying lower interest rates. One or more forms of credit enhancement are almost always necessary in a CDO structure to obtain the desired credit ratings for the most highly rated debt securities issued by the CDO. The types of credit enhancement used include internal credit enhancement provided by the underlying assets themselves, such as subordination, excess spread and cash collateral accounts, hedges provided by interest rate swaps, and external credit enhancement provided by third parties, principally financial guaranty insurance issued by monoline insurers. Despite this credit enhancement, CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and the disappearance of lower rated protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CDO securities as a class. CDOs can be less liquid than other publicly held debt issues, and require additional structural analysis.
Common Stock and Partnership Units
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in common stock and master limited partnership ( MLP ) and other partnership units. The Sub-Adviser anticipates that such investments will consist predominantly of income-oriented equity securities or partnership units. Common stock represents units of ownership in a corporation. Owners typically are entitled to vote on the selection of directors and other important matters as well as to receive dividends on their holdings. In the event that a corporation is liquidated, the claims of secured and unsecured creditors and owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock. The price of common stock is generally determined by corporate earnings, type of products or services offered, projected growth rates, experience of management, liquidity, and general market conditions for the markets on which the stock trades. Stocks may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time. Price changes may occur in the market as a whole, or they may
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occur in only a particular country, company, industry, or sector of the market. In addition, the types of stocks in which a particular Fund invests may underperform the market or may not pay dividends as anticipated.
A limited partnership is a partnership consisting of one or more general partners, jointly and severally responsible as ordinary partners, and by whom the business is conducted, and one or more limited partners who contribute cash as capital to the partnership and who generally are not liable for the debts of the partnership beyond the amounts contributed. Limited partners are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. They receive income, capital gains and other tax benefits associated with the partnership project in accordance with terms established in the partnership agreement. Typical limited partnerships are in real estate, oil and gas and equipment leasing, but they also finance movies, research and development, and other projects. For an organization classified as a partnership under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code ), each item of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit is not taxed at the partnership level but flows through to the holder of the partnership unit. This allows the partnership to avoid double taxation and to pass through income to the holder of the partnership unit at lower individual rates.
An MLP is a publicly traded limited partnership. The partnership units are registered with the SEC and are freely exchanged on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. The risks of investing in a MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. Additional risks involved with investing in a MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests, such as the risks of investing in real estate, or oil and gas industries.
The Funds, other than Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund and Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund, may invest in contingent capital securities. Contingent capital securities (sometimes referred to as CoCos ) are hybrid securities, issued primarily by non-U.S. financial institutions, which have loss absorption mechanisms benefitting the issuer built into their terms. CoCos generally provide for mandatory conversion into the common stock of the issuer or a write-down of the principal amount or value of the CoCos upon the occurrence of certain triggers linked to regulatory capital thresholds. In addition, they may provide for mandatory conversion or a principal write-down upon the occurrence of certain events such as regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institutions continued viability as a going-concern. Equity conversion or principal write-down features are tailored to the issuer and its regulatory requirements and, unlike traditional convertible securities, conversions are not voluntary.
A trigger event for CoCos would likely be the result of, or related to, the deterioration of the issuers financial condition ( e.g. , a decrease in the issuers capital ratio) and status as a going concern. In such a case, with respect to CoCos that provide for conversion into common stock upon the occurrence of the trigger event, the market price of the issuers common stock received by a Fund will have likely declined, perhaps substantially, and may continue to decline, which may adversely affect the Funds net asset value. Further, the issuers common stock would be subordinate to the issuers other classes of securities and therefore would worsen a Funds standing in a bankruptcy proceeding. In addition, because the common stock of the issuer may not pay a dividend, investors in these instruments could experience a reduced income rate, potentially to zero. In view of the foregoing, CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities.
CoCos may be subject to an automatic write-down ( i.e. , the automatic write-down of the principal amount or value of the securities, potentially to zero, and the cancellation of the securities) under certain circumstances, which could result in a Fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. In addition, a Fund may not have any rights with respect to repayment of the principal amount of the securities that has not become due or the payment of interest or dividends on such securities for any period from (and including) the interest or dividend payment date falling immediately prior to the occurrence of such automatic write-down. An automatic write-down could also result in a reduced income rate if the dividend or interest payment is based on the securitys par
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value. Coupon payments on CoCos may be discretionary and may be cancelled by the issuer for any reason or may be subject to approval by the issuers regulator and may be suspended in the event there are insufficient distributable reserves.
In certain scenarios, investors in CoCos may suffer a loss of capital ahead of equity holders or when equity holders do not. The prices of CoCos may be volatile. There is no guarantee that a Fund will receive a return of principal on CoCos. Any indication that an automatic write-down or conversion event may occur can be expected to have a material adverse effect on the market price of CoCos.
Each Fund may invest in debt securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for, or which carry warrants or other rights to acquire, common or preferred stocks. Such convertible securities are hybrid securities that combine the investment characteristics of bonds and common stocks. Convertible securities typically consist of debt securities or preferred securities that may be converted within a specified period of time (typically for the entire life of the security) into a certain amount of common stock or other equity security of the same or a different issuer at a predetermined price. They also include debt securities with warrants or common stock attached and derivatives combining the features of debt securities and equity securities. Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt, or dividends paid or accrued on preferred securities, until the security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.
The market value of a convertible security generally is a function of its investment value and its conversion value. A securitys investment value represents the value of the security without its conversion feature (i.e., a comparable non-convertible fixed-income security). The investment value is determined by, among other things, reference to its credit quality and the current value of its yield to maturity or probable call date. At any given time, investment value is dependent upon such factors as the general level of interest rates, the yield of similar non-convertible securities, the financial strength of the issuer and the seniority of the security in the issuers capital structure. A securitys conversion value is determined by multiplying the number of shares the holder is entitled to receive upon conversion or exchange by the current price of the underlying security. If the conversion value of a convertible security is significantly below its investment value, the convertible security will trade like non-convertible debt or a preferred security in the sense that its market value will not be influenced greatly by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying security into which it can be converted. Instead, the convertible securitys price will tend to move in the opposite direction from interest rates. Conversely, if the conversion value of a convertible security is significantly above its investment value, the market value of the convertible security will be more heavily influenced by fluctuations in the market price of the underlying stock. In that case, the convertible securitys price may be as volatile as that of the common stock. Because both interest rate and market movements can influence its value, a convertible security is not generally as sensitive to interest rates as a similar fixed-income security, nor is it generally as sensitive to changes in share price as its underlying stock.
A Funds investments in convertible securities, particularly securities that are convertible into securities of an issuer other than the issuer of the convertible security, may be illiquid. A Funds investments in convertible securities may at times include securities that have a mandatory conversion feature, pursuant to which the securities convert automatically into common stock or other equity securities (of the same or a different issuer) at a specified date and a specified conversion ratio, or that are convertible at the option of the issuer. For issues where the conversion of the security is not at the option of the holder, a Fund may be required to convert the security into the underlying common stock even at times when the value of the underlying common stock or other equity security has declined substantially. Equity interests acquired through conversion, exchange or exercise of rights to acquire stock will be disposed of by each of the Funds as soon as practicable in an orderly manner (except that the Funds that may invest in common stocks and/or preferred stocks directly are not required to dispose of any stock so acquired).
In addition, some convertible securities are often rated below investment-grade or are not rated, and therefore may be considered speculative investments. The credit rating of a companys convertible securities is generally lower than that of its conventional debt securities. Convertible securities are normally considered junior securitiesthat is, the company usually must pay interest
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on its conventional corporate debt before it can make payments on its convertible securities. Some convertible securities are particularly sensitive to interest rate changes when their predetermined conversion price is much higher than the issuing companys common stock.
The Funds may invest in corporate debt securities. The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may be rated investment-grade or below investment-grade and may carry variable or floating rates of interest. Corporate debt securities are fixed income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations, although corporate debt instruments may also include bank loans to companies. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or unsecured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured.
Because of the wide range of types and maturities of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of its issuers, corporate debt securities have widely varying potentials for return and risk profiles. Rates on corporate debt securities are set according to prevailing interest rates at the time of the issue, the credit rating of the issuer, the length of the maturity and other terms of the security. For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated investment-grade may have a modest return on principal, but carries relatively limited risk. On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued by a small non-U.S. corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated by a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization ( NRSRO ) may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal, but carries a relatively high degree of risk.
Corporate debt securities carry both credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk is the risk that a Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when its due. Some corporate debt securities that are rated below investment-grade are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities. The credit risk of a particular issuers debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while making payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of higher-ranking senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of more junior securities. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of certain corporate debt securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise. In general, corporate debt securities with longer terms tend to fall more in value when interest rates rise than corporate debt securities with shorter terms. Additionally, corporate debt securities may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity.
In addition, corporate restructurings, such as mergers, leveraged buyouts, takeovers or similar corporate transactions are often financed by an increase in a corporate issuers debt securities. As a result of the added debt burden, the credit quality and market value of an issuers existing debt securities may decline significantly.
Subject to the limitations set forth below under Limitations on the Use of CFTC-Regulated Futures, Options on Futures and Swaps, each Fund may use derivative instruments as described below. Generally, a derivative is a financial contract the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. Derivatives generally take the form of contracts under which the parties agree to payments between them based upon the performance of a wide variety of underlying references, such as stocks, bonds, loans, commodities, interest rates, currency exchange rates, and various domestic and foreign indices.
The Funds may use derivatives for a variety of reasons, including as a substitute for investing directly in securities and currencies, as an alternative to selling a security short, as part of a hedging strategy (that is, for the purpose of reducing risk to the Fund), to manage the effective duration of a
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Funds portfolio, or for other purposes related to the management of the Funds. Derivatives permit a Fund to increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, to which its portfolio is exposed in much the same way as a Fund can increase or decrease the level of risk, or change the character of the risk, of its portfolio by making investments in specific securities. However, derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest. As a result, a small investment in derivatives could have a large impact on a Funds performance.
While transactions in some derivatives may be effected on established exchanges, many other derivatives are privately negotiated and entered into in the over-the-counter ( OTC ) market with a single counterparty. When exchange-traded derivatives are purchased and sold, a clearing agency associated with the exchange stands between each buyer and seller and effectively guarantees performance of each contract, either on a limited basis through a guaranty fund or to the full extent of the clearing agencys balance sheet. Transactions in OTC derivatives not subject to a clearing requirement have no such protection. Each party to an uncleared OTC derivative bears the risk that its direct counterparty will default. In addition, OTC derivatives are generally less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives because they often can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction.
The use of derivative instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the CFTC, various state regulatory authorities and, with respect to exchange-traded derivatives, the several exchanges upon which they are traded. As discussed above under Asset Coverage Requirements, in order to engage in certain transactions in derivatives, a Fund may be required to hold offsetting positions or to hold cash or liquid securities in a segregated account or designated on the Funds books. In addition, a Funds ability to use derivative instruments may be limited by tax considerations.
The particular derivative instruments the Funds can use are described below. A Funds portfolio managers may decide not to employ some or all of these instruments, and there is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by a Fund will succeed. The Funds may employ new derivative instruments and strategies when they are developed, if those investment methods are consistent with the particular Funds investment objective and are permissible under applicable regulations governing the Fund.
Options Transactions
The Funds may purchase put and call options on specific securities (including groups or baskets of specific securities), interest rates, stock indices, bond indices, commodity indices, and/or foreign currencies. In addition, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund may write put and call options on such financial instruments.
Options on Securities. The Funds (other than Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund) may purchase put and call options on securities. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right (but not the obligation) to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at a stated price (the exercise price) at any time before the option expires. A call option on a security gives the purchaser the right (but not the obligation) to buy, and the writer the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the exercise price at any time before the option expires. The purchase price for a put or call option is the premium paid by the purchaser for the right to sell or buy.
A Fund may purchase put options to hedge against a decline in the value of its portfolio. By using put options in this way, a Fund would reduce any profit it might otherwise have realized in the underlying security by the amount of the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs. In similar fashion, a Fund may purchase call options to protect against an increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing in the future, a practice sometimes referred to as anticipatory hedging. The premium paid for the call option plus any transaction costs will reduce the benefit, if any, realized by the Fund upon exercise of the option, and, unless the price of the underlying security rises sufficiently, the option may expire unexercised.
Options on Interest Rates and Indices. The Funds (other than Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund) may purchase put and call options on interest rates and on stock and bond indices. An option on interest rates or on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing value of the underlying interest rate or index is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of
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cash is equal to the difference between the exercise-settlement value of the interest rate option or the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple (the multiplier). The writer of the option is obligated, for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. Settlements for interest rate and index options are always in cash.
Options on Currencies. Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may purchase put and call options on foreign currencies. A foreign currency option provides the option buyer with the right to buy or sell a stated amount of foreign currency at the exercise price at a specified date or during the option period. A call option gives its owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy the currency, while a put option gives its owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell the currency. The option seller (writer) is obligated to fulfill the terms of the option sold if it is exercised. However, either seller or buyer may close its position during the option period in the secondary market for such options at any time prior to expiration.
A foreign currency call option rises in value if the underlying currency appreciates. Conversely, a foreign currency put option rises in value if the underlying currency depreciates. While purchasing a foreign currency option may protect a Fund against an adverse movement in the value of a foreign currency, it would limit the gain which might result from a favorable movement in the value of the currency. For example, if the Fund were holding securities denominated in an appreciating foreign currency and had purchased a foreign currency put to hedge against a decline in the value of the currency, it would not have to exercise its put. In such an event, however, the amount of the Funds gain would be offset in part by the premium paid for the option. Similarly, if the Fund entered into a contract to purchase a security denominated in a foreign currency and purchased a foreign currency call to hedge against a rise in the value of the currency between the date of purchase and the settlement date, the Fund would not need to exercise its call if the currency instead depreciated in value. In such a case, the Fund could acquire the amount of foreign currency needed for settlement in the spot market at a lower price than the exercise price of the option.
Writing Options. Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund may write (sell) put and call options. These transactions would be undertaken principally to produce additional income. The Fund receives a premium from writing options which it retains whether or not the option is exercised. The Fund may write straddles consisting of a combination of a call and a put written on the same underlying instrument.
The Fund will write a call option on a security only if (a) the Fund owns the security underlying the call, (b) the Fund has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other liquid assets in such amount are segregated), or (c) the Fund holds a call on the same security where the exercise price of the call is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.
The Fund will write a call option on a basket of securities, an index or currency only if (a) the Fund segregates liquid assets in an amount equal to the contract value of the index, basket or currency, or (b) the Fund holds a call on the same index, basket or currency as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.
The Fund will write a put option on a security, basket of securities, currency or index only if (a) the Fund segregates liquid assets equal to the exercise price or (b) the Fund holds a put on the same security, basket of securities, currency or index as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.
When the Fund writes a straddle, sufficient assets will be segregated to meet the Funds immediate obligations. The Fund may segregate the same liquid assets for both the call and put options in a straddle where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is in the money.
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Expiration or Exercise of Options. If an option purchased by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. If an option written by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, underlying security, currency or index, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when a Fund desires.
The Funds may sell put or call options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option which is sold. Prior to exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series. A Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security, currency or index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying security, currency or index, and the time remaining until the expiration date.
Futures
The Funds may engage in futures transactions. The Funds may buy and sell futures contracts that relate to (1) interest rates, (2) debt securities, (3) bond indices, (4) commodities and commodities indices (but only with respect to Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund), (5) foreign currencies (but only with respect to Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund), (6) stock indices, and (7) individual stocks. The Funds may only enter into futures contracts which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system.
A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security, index, interest rate, currency or commodity (each a financial instrument ) for a set price on a future date. Certain futures contracts, such as futures contracts relating to individual securities, call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument. However, these contracts generally are closed out before delivery by entering into an offsetting purchase or sale of a matching futures contract. Other futures contracts, such as futures contracts on interest rates and indices, do not call for making or taking delivery of the underlying financial instrument, but rather are agreements pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the financial instrument at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was originally written. These contracts also may be settled by entering into an offsetting futures contract.
Unlike when a Fund purchases or sells a security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, a Fund will be required to deposit with its futures broker (also known as a futures commission merchant ( FCM )) an amount of cash or securities equal to a specified percentage of the contract amount. This amount is known as initial margin. The margin deposit is intended to ensure completion of the contract. Minimum initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and may be revised. In addition, FCMs may establish margin deposit requirements that are higher than the exchange minimums. Cash held as margin is generally invested by the FCM in high-quality instruments permitted under CFTC regulations, with returns retained by the FCM and interest paid to the Fund on the cash at an agreed-upon rate. A Fund will also receive any interest paid from coupon-bearing securities, such as Treasury securities, held in margin accounts. Subsequent payments to and from the FCM, called variation margin, will be made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying financial instrument fluctuates, making the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as marking the contract to market. Changes in variation margin are recorded by a Fund as unrealized gains or losses. At any time prior to expiration of the futures contract, a Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position that will
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operate to terminate its position in the futures contract. A final determination of variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund, and the Fund realizes a gain or loss. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of a Fund, the Fund may be entitled to the return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCMs other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. Futures transactions also involve brokerage costs.
Most U.S. futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous days settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of futures contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.
Commodity Futures Contracts. Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund may invest in commodity futures contracts. Commodity futures contracts are generally based upon commodities within the six principal commodity groups: energy, industrial metals, agriculture, precious metals, foods and fibers, and livestock. The price of a commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity. These storage costs include the time value of money invested in the physical commodity plus the actual costs of storing the commodity less any benefits from ownership of the physical commodity that are not obtained by the holder of a futures contract (this is sometimes referred to as the convenience yield). To the extent that these storage costs change for an underlying commodity while the Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.
The commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts are subject to economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments, including futures contracts, than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject the Funds investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.
Options on Futures
The Funds may also purchase or write put and call options on the futures contracts in which they may invest and write straddles, which consist of a call and put option on the same futures contract. A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price prior to the expiration of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. Prior to exercise or expiration, a futures option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of a futures option of the same series.
The Funds may use options on futures contracts in connection with hedging strategies. The writing of a call option or the purchasing of a put option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of the securities which are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of a written call option is below the exercise price, a Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the Funds holdings of securities. If the futures price when the option is exercised is above the exercise price, however, a Fund will incur a loss, which may be offset, in whole or in part, by the increase in the value of the securities held by the Fund that were being hedged. Writing a put option or purchasing a call option on a futures contract serves as a partial hedge against an increase in the value of the securities a Fund intends to acquire.
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When writing a call option, a Fund must either segregate liquid assets with a value equal to the fluctuating market value of the optioned futures contract, or the Fund must own an option to purchase the same futures contract having an exercise price that is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.
When writing a put option, a Fund must segregate liquid assets in an amount not less than the exercise price, or own a put option on the same futures contract where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated liquid assets.
When a Fund writes a straddle, sufficient assets will be segregated to meet the Funds immediate obligations. A Fund may segregate the same liquid assets for both the call and put options in a straddle where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is in the money.
As with investments in futures contracts, each Fund is required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it.
Forward Currency Contracts and other Foreign Currency Transactions
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may enter into forward currency contracts. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. Unlike futures contracts, which are standardized contracts, forward contracts can be specifically drawn to meet the needs of the parties that enter into them. The parties to a forward currency contract may agree to offset or terminate the contract before its maturity, or may hold the contract to maturity and complete the contemplated exchange. Because forward contracts are not traded on an exchange, the Funds are subject to the credit and performance risk of the counterparties to such contracts.
The following, among others, are types of currency management strategies involving forward contracts that may be used by Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund. These Funds also may use currency futures contracts and options thereon, put and call options on foreign currencies and currency swaps for the same purposes.
Transaction Hedges. When a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it anticipates receiving dividend payments in a foreign currency, the Fund might wish to lock in the U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the dividend payments. To do so, the Fund could enter into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying transaction at a fixed amount of U.S. dollars per unit of the foreign currency. This is known as a transaction hedge. A transaction hedge will protect a Fund against a loss from an adverse change in the currency exchange rate during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold or on which the payment is declared, and the date on which the payment is made or received. Forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency may also be used by a Fund in anticipation of future purchases or sales of securities denominated in a foreign currency, even if the specific investments have not yet been selected by the Sub-Adviser. This strategy is sometimes referred to as anticipatory hedging.
Position Hedges. A Fund could also use forward contracts to lock in the U.S. dollar value of portfolio positions. This is known as a position hedge. When a Fund believes that a foreign currency might suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it could enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of that foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Funds portfolio securities denominated in that foreign currency. When a Fund believes that the U.S. dollar might suffer a substantial decline against a foreign currency, it could enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed dollar amount. Alternatively, a Fund could enter into a forward
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contract to sell a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount if the Funds portfolio managers believe that the U.S. dollar value of that foreign currency will fall whenever there is a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in which portfolio securities of the Fund are denominated. This is referred to as a cross hedge.
Shifting Currency Exposure. A Fund may also enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to foreign currency or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This strategy tends to limit exposure to the currency sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased, much as if a Fund had sold a security denominated in one currency and purchased an equivalent security denominated in another currency.
Swap Transactions
The Funds may enter into interest rate, currency, total return and credit default swap agreements, except that Nuveen Core Bond Fund and Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund may not enter into currency swap agreements. The Funds may also enter into options on the foregoing types of swap agreements ( swap options ) and in bonds issued by special purpose entities that are backed by a pool of swaps.
A Fund may enter into swap transactions for any purpose consistent with its investment objectives and strategies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against an increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, to reduce risk arising from the ownership of a particular instrument, or to gain exposure to certain securities, reference rates, sectors or markets.
Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for a specified period of time. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on a particular predetermined asset, reference rate or index. The gross returns to be exchanged or swapped between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a notional amount, e.g., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a basket of securities representing a particular index. The notional amount of the swap agreement generally is only used as a basis upon which to calculate the obligations that the parties to the swap agreement have agreed to exchange. A Funds current obligations under a net swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and the Fund will segregate assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser for any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty. See Asset Coverage Requirements above.
Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are fixed-for-floating rate swaps, termed basis swaps and index amortizing swaps. Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met. Like a traditional investment in a debt security, a Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely.
Currency Swaps. A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. A Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in non-U.S. exchange rates and changes in interest rates may negatively affect currency swaps.
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Total Return Swaps. In a total return swap, one party agrees to pay the other the total return of a defined underlying asset during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined baskets of loans and mortgages. A Fund might enter into a total return swap involving an underlying index or basket of securities to create exposure to a potentially widely-diversified range of securities in a single trade. An index total return swap can be used by the portfolio managers to assume risk, without the complications of buying the component securities from what may not always be the most liquid of markets.
Credit Default Swaps. A credit default swap is a bilateral contract that enables an investor to buy or sell protection against a defined-issuer credit event. A Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements either as a buyer or a seller. A Fund may buy protection to attempt to mitigate the risk of default or credit quality deterioration in one or more of its individual holdings or in a segment of the fixed income securities market to which it has exposure, or to take a short position in individual bonds or market segments which it does not own. A Fund may sell protection in an attempt to gain exposure to the credit quality characteristics of particular bonds or market segments without investing directly in those bonds or market segments.
As the buyer of protection in a credit default swap, a Fund will pay a premium (by means of an upfront payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement) in return for the right to deliver a referenced bond or group of bonds to the protection seller and receive the full notional or par value (or other agreed upon value) upon a default (or similar event) by the issuer(s) of the underlying referenced obligation(s). If no default occurs, the protection seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no further obligation to the Fund. Thus, the cost to the Fund would be the premium paid with respect to the agreement. If a credit event occurs, however, the Fund may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. The Fund bears the risk that the protection seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations.
If a Fund is a seller of protection in a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the Fund would generally receive an up-front payment or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a credit event occurs, however, generally the Fund would have to pay the buyer the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity that may have little or no value. As the protection seller, the Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. Thus, the Fund bears the same risk as it would by buying the reference obligations directly, plus the additional risks related to obtaining investment exposure through a derivative instrument discussed below under Risks Associated with Swap Transactions.
Swap Options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation), in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel, or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement at some designated future time on specified terms. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. A Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, a Fund generally will incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than when it purchases a swap option. When a Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when a Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Risks Associated with Swap Transactions. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity which involves strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. If the Sub-Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of default risks, market spreads or other applicable factors the investment performance of a Fund would diminish compared with what it would have been if these techniques were not used. As the protection seller in a credit default swap, a
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Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to being subject to investment exposure on its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. A Fund may only close out a swap or other two-party contract with its particular counterparty, and may only transfer a position with the consent of that counterparty. In addition, the price at which a Fund may close out such a two party contract may not correlate with the price change in the underlying reference asset. If the counterparty defaults, a Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the counterparty will be able to meet its contractual obligations or that the Fund will succeed in enforcing its rights. It also is possible that developments in the derivatives market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect a Funds ability to terminate existing swap or other agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Interest Rate Caps, Collars and Floors
The Funds may enter into interest rate caps, floors and collars. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar involves selling a cap and purchasing a floor or vice versa to protect a Fund against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
Limitations on the Use of CFTC-Regulated Futures, Options on Futures and Swaps
Each Fund will limit its direct investments in CFTC-regulated futures, options on futures and swaps ( CFTC Derivatives ) to the extent necessary for the Adviser to claim the exclusion from regulation as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund under CFTC Rule 4.5, as such rule may be amended from time to time. Under Rule 4.5 as currently in effect, each Fund will limit its trading activity in CFTC Derivatives (excluding activity for bona fide hedging purposes, as defined by the CFTC) such that it meets one of the following tests:
|
Aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish its positions in CFTC Derivatives do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Funds portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions; or |
|
Aggregate net notional value of its positions in CFTC Derivatives does not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Funds portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on such positions. |
With respect to each Fund, the Adviser has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act and therefore is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator thereunder.
The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may also limit the extent to which each Fund may invest in CFTC Derivatives. See Tax MattersQualification as a Regulated Investment Company.
Federal Income Tax Treatment of Futures Contracts and Options
Each Funds transactions in futures contracts and options will be subject to special provisions of the Code, that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by a Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital, or short-term or long-term), may accelerate recognition of income to a Fund and may defer Fund losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also (a) will require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) and (b) may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement for qualifying to be taxed as a regulated investment company and the distribution requirement for avoiding excise taxes.
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Risks and Special Considerations Concerning Derivatives
The use of derivative instruments involves certain general risks and considerations as described below.
(1) Market Risk. Market risk is the risk that the value of the underlying assets may go up or down. Adverse movements in the value of an underlying asset can expose a Fund to losses. The successful use of derivative instruments depends upon a variety of factors, particularly the portfolio managers ability to predict movements in the relevant markets, which may require different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular strategy adopted will succeed.
(2) Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the failure of a counterparty to comply with the terms of a derivative instrument. The counterparty risk for exchange-traded derivatives is generally less than for OTC derivatives, since generally a clearing agency, which is the issuer or counterparty to each exchange-traded instrument, provides a guarantee of performance. For many OTC instruments, there is no similar clearing agency guarantee and there is less regulation or supervision of transactions. In all transactions, a Fund will bear the risk that the counterparty will default, and this could result in a loss of the expected benefit of the derivative transactions and possibly other losses to the Fund. A Fund will enter into derivatives transactions only with counterparties that its portfolio managers reasonably believe are capable of performing under the contract.
(3) Correlation Risk. Correlation risk is the risk that there might be an imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of a derivative instrument and price movements of investments being hedged. When a derivative transaction is used to completely hedge another position, changes in the market value of the combined position (the derivative instrument plus the position being hedged) result from an imperfect correlation between the price movements of the two instruments. With a perfect hedge, the value of the combined position remains unchanged with any change in the price of the underlying asset. With an imperfect hedge, the value of the derivative instrument and its hedge are not perfectly correlated. For example, if the value of a derivative instrument used in a short hedge (such as writing a call option, buying a put option or selling a futures contract) increased by less than the decline in value of the hedged investments, the hedge would not be perfectly correlated. This might occur due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. The effectiveness of hedges using instruments on indices will depend, in part, on the degree of correlation between price movements in the index and the price movements in the investments being hedged.
(4) Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that a derivative instrument cannot be sold, closed out or replaced quickly at or very close to its fundamental value. Generally, exchange contracts are very liquid because the exchange clearinghouse is the counterparty of every contract. OTC transactions are less liquid than exchange-traded derivatives since they often can only be closed out with the other party to the transaction. A Fund might be required by applicable regulatory requirements to maintain assets as cover, maintain segregated accounts, and/or make margin payments when it takes positions in derivative instruments involving obligations to third parties (i.e., instruments other than purchase options). If a Fund is unable to close out its positions in such instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expires, matures or is closed out. These requirements might impair a Funds ability to sell a security or make an investment at a time when it would otherwise be favorable to do so, or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time. A Funds ability to sell or close out a position in an instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends upon the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the counterparty to enter into a transaction closing out the position. There is no assurance that any derivatives position can be sold or closed out at a time and price that is favorable to a Fund.
(5) Legal Risk. Legal risk is the risk of loss caused by the unenforceability of a partys obligations under the derivative. While a party seeking price certainty agrees to surrender the
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potential upside in exchange for downside protection, the party taking the risk is looking for a positive payoff. Despite this voluntary assumption of risk, a counterparty that has lost money in a derivative transaction may try to avoid payment by exploiting various legal uncertainties about certain derivative products.
(6) Systemic or Interconnection Risk. Systemic or interconnection risk is the risk that a disruption in the financial markets will cause difficulties for all market participants. In other words, a disruption in one market will spill over into other markets, perhaps creating a chain reaction. Much of the OTC derivatives market takes place among the OTC dealers themselves, thus creating a large interconnected web of financial obligations. This interconnectedness raises the possibility that a default by one large dealer could create losses for other dealers and destabilize the entire market for OTC derivative instruments.
(7) Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is the risk that a Fund may be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged due to leverages tendency to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Funds portfolio securities. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements.
(8) Regulatory Risk. The Dodd-Frank Act Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act ) has initiated a dramatic revision of the U.S. financial regulatory framework and covers a broad range of topics, including (among many others) a reorganization of federal financial regulators; a process intended to improve financial systemic stability and the resolution of potentially insolvent financial firms; and new rules for derivatives trading. Instruments in which the Funds may invest, or the issuers of such instruments, may be affected by the new legislation and regulation in ways that are unforeseeable. Many of the implementing regulations have not yet been finalized. Accordingly, the ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, including on the derivative instruments in which the Funds may invest, is not yet certain.
The Funds may enter into mortgage dollar rolls in which a Fund sells mortgage-backed securities and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the period between the sale and repurchase (the roll period ), a Fund forgoes principal and interest paid on the mortgage-backed securities. However, a Fund would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the drop ) plus any fee income received. Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the investment performance of a Fund will be less than what the performance would have been without the use of the mortgage dollar roll. A Fund will segregate until the settlement date cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the forward purchase price.
The Funds may invest in foreign securities. The Funds, other than Nuveen Core Bond Fund, may invest in foreign securities payable in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies. Nuveen Core Bond Fund may only invest in U.S. dollar-denominated securities. These securities may include securities issued or guaranteed by (i) the Government of Canada, any Canadian Province or any instrumentality and political subdivision thereof; (ii) any other foreign government agency or instrumentality; (iii) foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations; and (iv) other foreign issuers (each Fund will require that such issuers to have total capital and surplus at the time of investment of at least $1 billion).
Investment in foreign securities is subject to special investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in securities of U.S. domestic issuers. These risks include political, social or economic instability in the country of the issuer, the difficulty of predicting international trade patterns, the possibility of the imposition of exchange controls, expropriation, limits on removal of currency or other assets, nationalization of assets, foreign withholding and income taxation, and foreign trading practices (including higher trading commissions, custodial charges and
S-24
delayed settlements). Foreign securities also may be subject to greater fluctuations in price than securities issued by U.S. corporations. The principal markets on which these securities trade may have less volume and liquidity, and may be more volatile, than securities markets in the United States.
In addition, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than about a U.S. domiciled company. Foreign companies generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. domestic companies. There is also generally less government regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies abroad than in the United States. Confiscatory taxation or diplomatic developments could also affect investment in those countries. In addition, foreign branches of U.S. banks, foreign banks and foreign issuers may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting, and record keeping standards than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks and U.S. domestic issuers. Securities transactions conducted outside the United States may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, non-U.S. securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex non-U.S. political, legal and economic factors, (ii) delays in a Funds ability to act upon economic events occurring in non-U.S. markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and the margin requirements than in the United States, (v) currency exchange rate changes, and (vi) lower trading volume and liquidity.
In considering whether to invest in the securities of a non-U.S. company, the portfolio managers consider such factors as the characteristics of the particular company, differences between economic trends, and the performance of securities markets in the United States and other countries. The portfolio managers also consider factors relating to the general economic, governmental and social conditions of the country or countries where the company is located.
Emerging Markets. The Funds investments in foreign securities may include securities issued by governmental and corporate issuers that are located in emerging market countries. Investments in securities of issuers in emerging market countries may be subject to potentially higher risks than investments in developed countries. These risks include (i) less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the small current size of the markets for such securities and the currently low or nonexistent volume of trading, which may result in a lack of liquidity and in greater price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which may restrict a Funds investment opportunities, including restrictions on investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests; (iv) foreign taxation; (v) the absence of developed structures governing private or foreign investment or allowing for judicial redress for injury to private property; (vi) the limited development and recent emergence, in certain countries, of a capital market structure or market-oriented economy; and (vii) the possibility that recent favorable economic developments in certain countries may be slowed or reversed by unanticipated political or social events in such countries. All of the risks of investing in non-U.S. securities described above are heightened by investing in emerging markets countries.
Certain countries, which do not have market economies, are characterized by an absence of developed legal structures governing private and foreign investments and private property. Certain countries require governmental approval prior to investments by foreign persons, or limit the amount of investment by foreign persons in a particular company, or limit the investment of foreign persons to only a specific class of securities of a company that may have less advantageous terms than securities of the company available for purchase by nationals.
Authoritarian governments in certain countries may require that a governmental or quasi- governmental authority act as custodian of a Funds assets invested in such country. To the extent such governmental or quasi-governmental authorities do not satisfy the requirements of the 1940 Act to act as foreign custodians of the Funds cash and securities, the Funds investment in such countries may be limited or may be required to be effected through intermediaries. The risk of loss through governmental confiscation may be increased in such countries.
Depositary Receipts. The Funds investments in foreign securities may include investment in depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts ( ADRs ), European Depositary
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Receipts ( EDRs ) and Global Depositary Receipts ( GDRs ). U.S. dollar-denominated ADRs, which are traded in the United States on exchanges or over-the-counter, are issued by domestic banks. ADRs represent the right to receive securities of foreign issuers deposited in a domestic bank or a correspondent bank. ADRs do not eliminate all the risk inherent in investing in the securities of foreign issuers. However, by investing in ADRs rather than directly in foreign issuers stock, a Fund can avoid currency risks during the settlement period for either purchases or sales. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the United States for many ADRs. The information available for ADRs is subject to the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards of the domestic market or exchange on which they are traded, which standards are more uniform and more exacting than those to which many foreign issuers may be subject. The Funds may also invest in EDRs, GDRs and in other similar instruments representing securities of foreign companies. EDRs and GDRs are securities that are typically issued by foreign banks or foreign trust companies, although U.S. banks or U.S. trust companies may issue them. EDRs and GDRs are structured similarly to the arrangements of ADRs. EDRs, in bearer form, are designed for use in European securities markets and are not necessarily denominated in the currency of the underlying security.
Certain depositary receipts, typically those denominated as unsponsored, require the holders thereof to bear most of the costs of the facilities while issuers of sponsored facilities normally pay more of the costs thereof. The depository of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities or to pass through the voting rights to facility holders in respect to the deposited securities, whereas the depository of a sponsored facility typically distributes shareholder communications and passes through voting rights.
Brady Bonds. Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds are created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to public and private entities in certain emerging markets for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings. These foreign debt obligations, which may be fixed rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are generally collateralized in full as to repayment of principal at maturity by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon obligations that have the same maturity as the Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds can be viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity. Those uncollateralized amounts constitute what is called the residual risk. If there is a default on collateralized Brady Bonds resulting in acceleration of the payment obligations of the issuer, the zero- coupon U.S. Treasury securities held as collateral for the payment of principal will not be distributed to investors, nor will those obligations be sold to distribute the proceeds. The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the scheduled maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds. The defaulted bonds will continue to remain outstanding, and the face amount of the collateral will equal the principal payments which would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the normal course. Because of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds, Brady Bonds are considered speculative investments and are subject to the same risks as emerging market securities.
Guaranteed Investment Contracts
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund may purchase investment-type insurance products such as Guaranteed Investment Contracts ( GICs ). A GIC is a deferred annuity under which the purchaser agrees to pay money to an insurer (either in a lump sum or in installments) and the insurer promises to pay interest at a guaranteed rate for the life of the contract. GICs may have fixed or variable interest rates. A GIC is a general obligation of the issuing insurance company. The purchase price paid for a GIC becomes part of the general assets of the insurer, and the contract is paid at maturity from the general assets of the insurer. In general, GICs are not assignable or transferable without the permission of the issuing insurance companies and can be redeemed before maturity only at a substantial discount or penalty. GICs, therefore, are usually considered to be illiquid investments. Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund will purchase only GICs which are obligations of insurance companies with a policyholders rating of A or better by A.M. Best Company.
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Each Fund may invest in illiquid securities ( i.e. , securities that are not readily marketable). For purposes of this restriction, illiquid securities include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities the disposition of which is restricted under the federal securities laws) and repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days. However, a Fund will not acquire illiquid securities if, as a result, such securities would comprise more than 15% of the value of the Funds net assets. The Board of Directors or its delegate has the ultimate authority to determine, to the extent permissible under the federal securities laws, which securities are liquid or illiquid for purposes of this 15% limitation. The Board of Directors has delegated to the Adviser the day-to-day determination of the illiquidity of any portfolio security, although it has retained oversight over and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. The Adviser works with and to a large extent relies on the expertise and advice of the Sub-Adviser in making these liquidity determinations. Although no definitive liquidity criteria are used, the Board of Directors has directed the Adviser to look to such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security (including the institutional private resale market; the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; and the amount of time normally needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer), (ii) the terms of certain securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g., certain repurchase obligations and demand instruments), and (iii) other permissible relevant facts.
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. Where registration is required, a Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, a Fund might obtain a less favorable price than that which prevailed when it decided to sell. Illiquid securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or its delegate.
Inflation Protected Securities
The Funds may invest in inflation protected securities. Inflation protected securities are fixed income securities designed to provide protection against the negative effects of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the inflation accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.
Inflation protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten, twenty or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if a Fund purchased an inflation protected bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole years inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).
If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of U.S. Treasury inflation protected securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation protected bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. Other inflation-protected securities that accrue inflation into their principal value may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.
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The value of inflation-protected securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation protected securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-protected securities.
The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation protected bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers
(
CPI-U
), which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
CPI-U
is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components
such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation protected securities issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the
CPI-U
or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will
be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States. If the market perceives that the adjustment mechanism of an inflation-protected security does not accurately adjust for inflation, the value of the security could be adversely affected.
While inflation protected securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. The calculation of the inflation index ratio for inflation protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury incorporates an approximate three-month lag, which may have an effect on the trading price of the securities, particularly during periods of significant, rapid changes in the inflation index. To the extent that inflation has increased during the three months prior to an interest payment, that interest payment will not be protected from the inflation increase. Further, to the extent that inflation has increased during the final three months of a securitys maturity, the final value of the security will not be protected against that increase, which will negatively impact the value of the security. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in inflation-protected securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bonds inflation measure.
Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-protected security will be considered taxable income to a Fund, even though the Fund does not receive its principal until maturity.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
In order to generate additional income, each Fund may lend portfolio securities representing up to one-third of the value of its total assets to broker-dealers, banks or other institutional borrowers of securities. As with other extensions of credit, there may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the Funds will only enter into domestic loan arrangements with broker-dealers, banks, or other institutions which the Sub-Adviser, in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors, has determined are creditworthy. The Funds will pay a portion of the income earned on other lending transactions to the placing broker and may pay administrative and custodial fees in connection with these loans.
In these loan arrangements, the Funds will receive collateral in the form of cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt obligations equal to at least 102% of the value of the securities loaned as determined at the time of loan origination. This collateral must be valued daily by the Sub-Adviser or the applicable Funds lending agent and, if the market value of the loaned securities increases, the borrower must furnish additional collateral to the lending Fund. During the time portfolio securities are on loan, the borrower pays the lending Fund any dividends or interest paid on the securities. Loans are subject to termination at any time by the lending Fund or the borrower. While a Fund does not have the right to vote securities on loan, it would terminate the loan and regain the right to vote if that were considered important with respect to the investment.
When a Fund lends portfolio securities to a borrower, payments in lieu of dividends made by the borrower to the Fund will not constitute qualified dividends taxable at the same rate as long-term capital gains, even if the actual dividends would have constituted qualified dividends had the Fund held the securities. See Taxation.
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Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in fixed and floating rate loans ( Loans ). Loans may include senior loans ( Senior Loans ) and secured and unsecured junior loans, including subordinated loans, second lien or more junior loans and bridge loans ( Junior Loans ). Loans are typically arranged through private negotiations between borrowers in the United States or in foreign or emerging markets which may be corporate issuers or issuers of sovereign debt obligations ( Obligors ) and one or more financial institutions and other lenders ( Lenders ). The Funds may invest in Loans by purchasing assignments of all or a portion of Loans ( Assignments ) or Loan participations ( Participations ) from third parties.
A Fund has direct rights against the Obligor on the Loan when it purchases an Assignment. Because Assignments are arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, however, the rights and obligations acquired by a Fund as the purchaser of an Assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning Lender. With respect to Participations, typically, a Fund will have a contractual relationship only with the Lender and not with the Obligor. The agreement governing Participations may limit the rights of the Fund to vote on certain changes which may be made to the Loan agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. However, the holder of a Participation will generally have the right to vote on certain fundamental issues such as changes in principal amount, payment dates and interest rate. Participations may entail certain risks relating to the creditworthiness of the parties from which the participations are obtained.
A Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the Agent ) for a group of Loan investors. The Agent typically administers and enforces the Loan on behalf of the other Loan investors in the syndicate. The Agents duties may include responsibility for the collection of principal and interest payments from the Obligor and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all Loan investors. The Agent is also typically responsible for monitoring compliance with the covenants contained in the Loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the Obligor. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Loan investors. In the event of a default by the Obligor, it is possible, though unlikely, that the Funds could receive a portion of the borrowers collateral. If the Funds receive collateral other than cash, any proceeds received from liquidation of such collateral will be available for investment as part of the Funds portfolios.
In the process of buying, selling and holding Loans, the Funds may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When a Fund buys or sells a Loan it may pay a fee. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon prepayment of a Loan.
Additional Information Concerning Senior Loans
Senior Loans typically hold the most senior position in the capital structure of the Obligor, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the Obligor that is senior to that held by subordinated debtholders and shareholders of the Obligor. Collateral for Senior Loans may include (i) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory; (ii) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment; (iii) intangible assets, such as trademarks and patent rights; and/or (iv) security interests in shares of stock of subsidiaries or affiliates.
Additional Information Concerning Junior Loans
Junior Loans include secured and unsecured loans including subordinated loans, second lien and more junior loans, and bridge loans. Second lien and more junior loans ( Junior Lien Loans ) are generally second or further in line in terms of repayment priority. In addition, Junior Lien Loans may have a claim on the same collateral pool as the first lien or other more senior liens or may be secured by a separate set of assets. Junior Lien Loans generally give investors priority over general unsecured creditors in the event of an asset sale.
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Junior Loans that are bridge loans or bridge facilities ( Bridge Loans ) are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., 12 to 18 months) typically made by an Obligor in anticipation of intermediate-term or long-term permanent financing. Most Bridge Loans are structured as floating-rate debt with step-up provisions under which the interest rate on the Bridge Loan rises the longer the Loan remains outstanding. In addition, Bridge Loans commonly contain a conversion feature that allows the Bridge Loan investor to convert its Loan interest to senior exchange notes if the Loan has not been prepaid in full on or prior to its maturity date. Bridge Loans may be subordinate to other debt and may be secured or undersecured.
Additional Information Concerning Unfunded Commitments
Unfunded commitments are contractual obligations pursuant to which a Fund agrees to invest in a Loan at a future date. Typically, the Fund receives a commitment fee for entering into the Unfunded Commitment.
Additional Information Concerning Synthetic Letters of Credit
Loans include synthetic letters of credit. In a synthetic letter of credit transaction, the Lender typically creates a special purpose entity or a credit-linked deposit account for the purpose of funding a letter of credit to the borrower. When a Fund invests in a synthetic letter of credit, the Fund is typically paid a rate based on the Lenders borrowing costs and the terms of the synthetic letter of credit. Synthetic letters of credit are typically structured as Assignments with the Fund acquiring direct rights against the Obligor.
Limitations on Investments in Loan Assignments and Participations
If a government entity is a borrower on a Loan, the Funds will consider the government to be the issuer of an Assignment or Participation for purposes of each Funds fundamental investment policy that it will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (i.e., foreign government).
Risk Factors of Loan Assignments and Participations
Loans are subject to the risks associated with debt obligations in general including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. When a Loan is acquired from a Lender, the risk includes the credit risk associated with the Obligor of the underlying Loan. A Fund may incur additional credit risk when it acquires a participation in a Loan from another lender because the Fund must assume the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the other lender from which the Loan was acquired. To the extent that Loans involve Obligors in foreign or emerging markets, such Loans are subject to the risks associated with foreign investments or investments in emerging markets in general. The following outlines some of the additional risks associated with Loan Assignments and Participations.
High Yield Securities Risk. The Loans that the Funds invest in may not be rated by an NRSRO, will not be registered with the SEC or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. To the extent that such high yield Loans are rated, they typically will be rated below investment grade and are subject to an increased risk of default in the payment of principal and interest as well as the other risks described under Non-Investment Grade Debt Securities (Junk Bonds). Loans are vulnerable to market sentiment such that economic conditions or other events may reduce the demand for Loans and cause their value to decline rapidly and unpredictably.
Liquidity Risk . Although the Funds limit their investments in illiquid securities to no more than 15% of a Funds net assets, Loans that are deemed to be liquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid or less liquid. No active trading market may exist for certain Loans and certain Loans may be subject to restrictions on resale or have a limited secondary market. Certain Loans may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. The inability to dispose of certain Loans in an orderly and timely fashion or at a favorable price could result in losses to a Fund.
Collateral, Subordination and Litigation Risk. With respect to Loans that are secured, the Funds are subject to the risk that collateral securing the Loan will decline in value or have no value or that a
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Funds lien is or will become junior in payment to other liens. A decline in value, whether as a result of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise, could cause the Loan to be undercollateralized or unsecured. There may be no formal requirement for the Obligor to pledge additional collateral. In addition, collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy an Obligors obligation on a Loan.
If an Obligor becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may invalidate the Loan or a Funds security interest in loan collateral or subordinate a Funds rights under a Senior Loan or Junior Loan to the interest of the Obligors other creditors, including unsecured creditors, or cause interest or principal previously paid to be refunded to the Obligor. If a court required interest or principal to be refunded, it could negatively affect Fund performance. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a fraudulent conveyance claim to the effect that the Obligor did not receive fair consideration for granting the security interest in the Loan collateral to the Fund. For Senior Loans made in connection with a highly leveraged transaction, consideration for granting a security interest may be deemed inadequate if the proceeds of the Loan were not received or retained by the Obligor, but were instead paid to other persons (such as shareholders of the Obligor) in an amount which left the Obligor insolvent or without sufficient working capital. There are also other events, such as the failure to perfect a security interest due to faulty documentation or faulty official filings, which could lead to the invalidation of a Funds security interest in Loan collateral. If a Funds security interest in Loan collateral is invalidated or the Senior Loan is subordinated to other debt of an Obligor in bankruptcy or other proceedings, a Fund would have substantially lower recovery, and perhaps no recovery on the full amount of the principal and interest due on the Loan, or a Fund could have to refund interest.
Lenders and investors in Loans can be sued by other creditors and shareholders of the Obligors. Losses can be greater than the original Loan amount and occur years after the principal and interest on the Loan have been repaid.
Agent Risk. Selling Lenders, Agents and other entities who may be positioned between a Fund and the Obligor will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries. Investments in Loans may be more impacted by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting such industries than other types of investments. Entities engaged in such industries may be more susceptible to, among other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market Committees monetary policy, government regulations concerning such industries and concerning capital raising activities generally and fluctuations in the financial markets generally. An Agent, Lender or other entity positioned between a Fund and the Obligor may become insolvent or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy. A Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Loan or suffer a loss of principal and/or interest if assets or interests held by the Agent, Lender or other party positioned between a Fund and the Obligor are determined to be subject to the claims of the Agents, Lenders or such other partys creditors.
Regulatory Changes. To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators that regulate certain financial institutions impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of such institutions to make Loans, particularly in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Loans for investment may be adversely affected. Furthermore, such legislation or regulation could depress the market value of Loans held by a Fund.
Inventory Risk. Affiliates of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may participate in the primary and secondary market for Loans. Because of limitations imposed by applicable law, the presence of the Advisers or Sub-Advisers affiliates in the Loan market may restrict a Funds ability to acquire some Loans, affect the timing of such acquisition or affect the price at which the Loan is acquired.
Information Risk. There is typically less publicly available information concerning Loans than other types of fixed income investments. As a result, a Fund generally will be dependent on reports and other information provided by the Obligor, either directly or through an Agent, to evaluate the Obligors creditworthiness or to determine the Obligors compliance with the covenants and other terms of the Loan Agreement. Such reliance may make investments in Loans more susceptible to fraud than other types of investments. In addition, because the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may wish to invest in the publicly traded securities of an Obligor, it may not have access to material non-public information regarding the Obligor to which other Loan investors have access.
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Junior Loan Risk. Junior Loans are subject to the same general risks inherent to any Loan investment. Due to their lower place in the Obligors capital structure and possible unsecured status, Junior Loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than Senior Loans of the same Obligor. Junior Loans that are Bridge Loans generally carry the expectation that the Obligor will be able to obtain permanent financing in the near future. Any delay in obtaining permanent financing subjects the Bridge Loan investor to increased risk. An Obligors use of Bridge Loans also involves the risk that the Obligor may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the Bridge Loan, which may impair the Obligors perceived creditworthiness.
The Funds may invest in mortgage-backed securities. These investments include agency pass-through certificates, private mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, stripped mortgage-backed securities and adjustable rate mortgage securities, as defined and described below.
A mortgage-backed security is a type of pass-through security, which is a security representing pooled debt obligations repackaged as interests that pass income through an intermediary to investors. In the case of mortgage-backed securities, the ownership interest is in a pool of mortgage loans. Residential mortgage-backed securities ( RMBS ) are backed by a pool of mortgages on residential property while commercial mortgage-backed securities ( CMBS ) are backed by a pool of mortgages on commercial property.
Mortgage-backed securities are most commonly issued or guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association ( Ginnie Mae or GNMA ), Federal National Mortgage Association ( Fannie Mae or FNMA ) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ( Freddie Mac or FHLMC ), but may also be issued or guaranteed by other private issuers.
GNMA is a government-owned corporation that is an agency of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It guarantees, with the full faith and credit of the United States, full and timely payment of all monthly principal and interest on its mortgage-backed securities.
Government-related guarantors ( i.e. , not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation. FNMA purchases conventional ( i.e. , not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation that issues Participation Certificates ( PCs ), which are pass-through securities, each representing an undivided interest in a pool of residential mortgages. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
On September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency ( FHFA ) placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of any stockholder, officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for each of FNMA and FHLMC. In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department agreed to provide FNMA and FHLMC with up to $100 billion of capital each to ensure that they are able to continue to provide ongoing liquidity to the U.S. home mortgage market. FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remain liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities.
Privately Issued Mortgage-Backed Securities . Mortgage-backed securities issued by private issuers, whether or not such obligations are subject to guarantees by the private issuer, may entail greater risk than obligations directly or indirectly guaranteed by the U.S. government. Any investments a Fund makes in mortgage-related securities that are issued by private issuers have some
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exposure to subprime loans as well as to the mortgage and credit markets generally. Private issuers include commercial banks, savings associations, mortgage companies, investment banking firms, finance companies and special purpose finance entities (called special purpose vehicles or structured investment vehicles) and other entities that acquire and package mortgage loans for resale as mortgage-related securities. Unlike mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its sponsored entities, mortgage-related securities issued by private issuers do not have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee, but may have credit enhancement provided by external entities such as banks or financial institutions or achieved through the structuring of the transaction itself. Examples of such credit support arising out of the structure of the transaction include: (1) the issuance of senior and subordinated securities (e.g., the issuance of securities by a special purpose vehicle in multiple classes or tranches, with one or more classes being senior to other subordinated classes as to the payment of principal and interest, with the result that defaults on the underlying mortgage loans are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class); (2) the creation of reserve funds (in which case cash or investments, sometimes funded from a portion of the payments on the underlying mortgage loans, are held in reserve against future losses); and (3) overcollateralization (in which case the scheduled payments on, or the principal amount of, the underlying mortgage loans exceeds that required to make payment of the securities and pay any servicing or other fees). However, there can be no guarantee that credit enhancements, if any, will be sufficient to prevent losses in the event of defaults on the underlying mortgage loans.
In addition, mortgage-related securities that are issued by private issuers are not subject to the underwriting requirements for the underlying mortgages that are applicable to those mortgage-related securities that have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee. As a result, the mortgage loans underlying private mortgage-related securities may, and frequently do, have less favorable collateral, credit risk or other underwriting characteristics than government or government-sponsored mortgage-related securities and have wider variances in a number of terms including interest rate, term, size, purpose and borrower characteristics. Privately issued pools more frequently include second mortgages, high loan-to-value mortgages and manufactured housing loans. The coupon rates and maturities of the underlying mortgage loans in a private-label mortgage-related securities pool may vary to a greater extent than those included in a government guaranteed pool, and the pool may include subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans refer to loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans. For these reasons, the loans underlying these securities have had in many cases higher default rates than those loans that meet government underwriting requirements.
The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by mortgage pools that contain subprime loans, but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic turndown, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate, or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable rate mortgages.
Privately issued mortgage-related securities are generally less liquid than obligations directly or indirectly guaranteed by the U.S. government or a government-sponsored entity, especially when there is a perceived weakness in the mortgage and real estate market sectors. Without an active trading market, mortgage-related securities held in a Funds portfolio may be particularly difficult to value because of the complexities involved in assessing the value of the underlying mortgage loans. The average life of a mortgage-backed security is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the mortgage pools underlying the securities. Prepayments of principal by mortgagors and mortgage foreclosures will usually result in the return of the greater part of principal invested far in advance of the maturity of the mortgages in the pool or can result in credit losses.
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations . Collateralized mortgage obligations ( CMOs ) are debt obligations collateralized by mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through securities (collateral collectively referred to hereinafter as Mortgage Assets). Multi-class pass-through securities are interests in a trust composed of Mortgage Assets. All references in this section to CMOs include multi-class pass-through securities. Principal prepayments on the Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be retired substantially earlier than their stated maturities or final distribution dates, resulting in a loss of all or part of the premium if any has been paid. Interest is paid or accrues on all classes of the CMOs on a monthly,
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quarterly or semi-annual basis. The principal and interest payments on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the various classes of CMOs in several ways. Typically, payments of principal, including any prepayments, on the underlying mortgages are applied to the classes in the order of their respective stated maturities or final distribution dates, so that no payment of principal is made on CMOs of a class until all CMOs of other classes having earlier stated maturities or final distribution dates have been paid in full.
Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities ( SMBS ) are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBS are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions from a pool of mortgage assets. A Fund will only invest in SMBS whose mortgage assets are U.S. government obligations. A common type of SMBS will be structured so that one class receives some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class receives most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities. The market value of any class which consists primarily or entirely of principal payments generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities. The Funds may invest in Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities ( ARMS ). ARMS are pass-through mortgage securities collateralized by mortgages with interest rates that are adjusted from time to time. ARMS also include adjustable rate tranches of CMOs. The adjustments usually are determined in accordance with a predetermined interest rate index and may be subject to certain limits. While the values of ARMS, like other debt securities, generally vary inversely with changes in market interest rates (increasing in value during periods of declining interest rates and decreasing in value during periods of increasing interest rates), the values of ARMS should generally be more resistant to price swings than other debt securities because the interest rates of ARMS move with market interest rates. The adjustable rate feature of ARMS will not, however, eliminate fluctuations in the prices of ARMS, particularly during periods of extreme fluctuations in interest rates. Moreover, rising interest rates may lead to borrowers on mortgages underlying ARMS not being able to afford the corresponding higher payments, which could negatively impact the credit and prices of non-agency ARMS.
ARMS typically have caps which limit the maximum amount by which the interest rate may be increased or decreased at periodic intervals or over the life of the loan. To the extent interest rates increase in excess of the caps, ARMS can be expected to behave more like traditional debt securities and to decline in value to a greater extent than would be the case in the absence of such caps. Also, since many adjustable rate mortgages only reset on an annual basis, it can be expected that the prices of ARMS will fluctuate to the extent changes in prevailing interest rates are not immediately reflected in the interest rates payable on the underlying adjustable rate mortgages. The extent to which the prices of ARMS fluctuate with changes in interest rates will also be affected by the indices underlying the ARMS.
Risks of Investing in Mortgage-Backed Securities. Investment in mortgage-backed securities poses several risks, including, among others, prepayment, market and credit risk. Prepayment risk reflects the risk that borrowers may prepay their mortgages faster than expected, thereby affecting the investments average life and perhaps its yield. Whether or not a mortgage loan is prepaid is almost entirely controlled by the borrower. Borrowers are most likely to exercise prepayment options at the time when it is least advantageous to investors, generally prepaying mortgages as interest rates fall, and slowing payments as interest rates rise. Besides the effect of prevailing interest rates, the rate of prepayment and refinancing of mortgages may also be affected by home value appreciation, ease of the refinancing process and local economic conditions. Market risk reflects the risk that the price of a security may fluctuate over time. The price of mortgage-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to prevailing interest rates, the length of time the security is expected to be outstanding and the liquidity of the issue. In a period of unstable interest rates, there may be decreased demand for certain types of mortgage-backed securities, and a Fund invested in such securities wishing to sell them may find it difficult to find a buyer, which may in turn decrease the price at which they may be sold. Credit risk reflects the risk that a Fund may not receive all or part of its principal because
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the issuer or credit enhancer has defaulted on its obligations. Obligations issued by U.S. government-related entities are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The performance of private label mortgage-backed securities, issued by private institutions, is based on the financial health of those institutions.
The risks to which CMBS are subject differ somewhat from the risks to which RMBS are subject. CMBS are typically backed by a much smaller number of mortgages than RMBS are, so problems with one or a small number of mortgages backing a CMBS can have a large impact on its value. As CMBS have a less diversified pool of loans backing them, they are much more susceptible to property-specific risk. The values of CMBS are also more sensitive to macroeconomic trends. For example, when the economy slows rents generally decrease and vacancies generally increase for commercial real estate. Similarly, as many CMBS have a large exposure to retail properties, events that negatively impact the retail industry can also negatively impact the value of CMBS.
Municipal Bonds and Other Municipal Obligations
The Funds may invest in municipal bonds and other municipal obligations. These bonds and other obligations are issued by the states and by their local and special-purpose political subdivisions. The term municipal bond includes short-term municipal notes issued by the states and their political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, tax anticipation notes ( TANs ), bond anticipation notes ( BANs ), revenue anticipation notes ( RANs ), construction loan notes, tax free commercial paper, and tax free participation certificates. In general, municipal obligations include debt obligations issued by states, cities and local authorities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, hospitals, housing, mass transportation, schools, streets and water and sewer works. Industrial development bonds and pollution control bonds that are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately-rated facilities are included within the term municipal obligations if the interest paid thereon is exempt from federal income tax.
Obligations of issuers of municipal obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. In addition, the obligations of such issuers may become subject to the laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon municipalities to levy taxes. There is also the possibility that, as a result of legislation or other conditions, the power or ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its municipal obligations may be materially affected.
Municipal Bonds
The two general classifications of municipal bonds are general obligation bonds and revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the governmental issuers pledge of its faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest upon a default by the issuer of its principal and interest payment obligations. They are usually paid from general revenues of the issuing governmental entity. Revenue bonds, on the other hand, are usually payable only out of a specific revenue source rather than from general revenues. Revenue bonds ordinarily are not backed by the faith, credit or general taxing power of the issuing governmental entity. The principal and interest on revenue bonds for private facilities are typically paid out of rents or other specified payments made to the issuing governmental entity by a private company which uses or operates the facilities. Examples of these types of obligations are industrial revenue bond and pollution control revenue bonds. Industrial revenue bonds are issued by governmental entities to provide financing aid to community facilities such as hospitals, hotels, business or residential complexes, convention halls and sport complexes. Pollution control revenue bonds are issued to finance air, water and solids pollution control systems for privately operated industrial or commercial facilities.
Revenue bonds for private facilities usually do not represent a pledge of the credit, general revenues or taxing powers of issuing governmental entity. Instead, the private company operating the facility is the sole source of payment of the obligation. Sometimes, the funds for payment of revenue bonds come solely from revenue generated by operation of the facility. Federal income tax laws place substantial limitations on industrial revenue bonds, and particularly certain specified private activity
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bonds issued after August 7, 1986. In the future, legislation could be introduced in Congress which could further restrict or eliminate the income tax exemption for interest on debt obligations in which the Funds may invest.
Refunded Bonds
The Funds may invest in refunded bonds. Refunded bonds may have originally been issued as general obligation or revenue bonds, but become refunded when they are secured by an escrow fund, usually consisting entirely of direct U.S. government obligations and/or U.S. government agency obligations sufficient for paying the bondholders. There are two types of refunded bonds: pre-refunded bonds and escrowed-to-maturity ( ETM ) bonds. The escrow fund for a pre-refunded municipal bond may be structured so that the refunded bonds are to be called at the first possible date or a subsequent call date established in the original bond debenture. The call price usually includes a premium from 1% to 3% above par. This type of structure usually is used for those refundings that either reduce the issuers interest payment expenses or change the debt maturity schedule. In escrow funds for ETM refunded municipal bonds, the maturity schedules of the securities in the escrow funds match the regular debt-service requirements on the bonds as originally stated in the bond indentures.
Municipal Leases and Certificates of Participation
The Funds also may purchase municipal lease obligations, primarily through certificates of participation. Certificates of participation in municipal leases are undivided interests in a lease, installment purchase contract or conditional sale contract entered into by a state or local governmental unit to acquire equipment or facilities. Municipal leases frequently have special risks which generally are not associated with general obligation bonds or revenue bonds.
Municipal leases and installment purchase or conditional sales contracts (which usually provide for title to the leased asset to pass to the governmental issuer upon payment of all amounts due under the contract) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of municipal debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in many leases and contracts of non-appropriation clauses that provide that the governmental issuer has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is appropriated for this purpose by the appropriate legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. Although these kinds of obligations are secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition of the pledged property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might, in some cases, prove difficult and time-consuming. In addition, disposition upon non-appropriation or foreclosure might not result in recovery by a Fund of the full principal amount represented by an obligation.
In light of these concerns, the Funds have adopted and follow procedures for determining whether any municipal lease obligations purchased by the Funds are liquid and for monitoring the liquidity of municipal lease securities held in a Funds portfolio. These procedures require that a number of factors be used in evaluating the liquidity of a municipal lease security, including the frequency of trades and quotes for the security, the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers, the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in security, the nature of the marketplace in which the security trades, and other factors which the Adviser may deem relevant. As set forth in Investment Restrictions above, each Fund is subject to limitations on the percentage of illiquid securities it can hold.
Derivative Municipal Securities
The Funds may also acquire derivative municipal securities, which are custodial receipts of certificates underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain municipal securities. The underwriter of these certificates or receipts typically purchases municipal securities and deposits them in an irrevocable trust or custodial account with a custodian bank, which then issues receipts or certificates that evidence ownership of the periodic unmatured coupon payments and the final principal payment on the obligation.
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The principal and interest payments on the municipal securities underlying custodial receipts may be allocated in a number of ways. For example, payments may be allocated such that certain custodial receipts may have variable or floating interest rates and others may be stripped securities which pay only the principal or interest due on the underlying municipal securities.
Variable Rate Demand Notes (VRDNs)
VRDNs are long-term municipal obligations that have variable or floating interest rates and provide a Fund with the right to tender the security for repurchase at its stated principal amount plus accrued interest. Such securities typically bear interest at a rate that is intended to cause the securities to trade at par. The interest rate may float or be adjusted at regular intervals (ranging from daily to annually), and is normally based on an applicable interest index or another published interest rate or interest rate index. Most VRDNs allow a Fund to demand the repurchase of the security on not more than seven days prior notice. Other notes only permit a Fund to tender the security at the time of each interest rate adjustment or at other fixed intervals. Variable interest rates generally reduce changes in the market value of municipal obligations from their original purchase prices. Accordingly, as interest rates decrease, the potential for capital appreciation is less for variable rate municipal obligations than for fixed income obligations.
Inverse Floating Rate Municipal Securities
The Funds may invest in inverse floating rate municipal securities or inverse floaters, whose rates vary inversely to interest rates on a specified short-term municipal bond index or on another instrument. Such securities involve special risks as compared to conventional fixed-rate bonds. Should short-term interest rates rise, a Funds investment in inverse floaters likely would adversely affect the Funds earnings and distributions to shareholders. Also, because changes in the interest rate on the other index or other instrument inversely affect the rate of interest received on an inverse floater, and because inverse floaters essentially represent a leveraged investment in a long-term bond, the value of an inverse floater is generally more volatile than that of a conventional fixed-rate bond having similar credit quality, redemption provisions and maturity. Although volatile in value, inverse floaters typically offer the potential for yields substantially exceeding the yields available on conventional fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality, coupon, call provisions and maturity. The markets for inverse floating rate securities may be less developed and have less liquidity than the markets for conventional securities. The Funds will only invest in inverse floating rate securities whose underlying bonds are rated A or higher.
Non-Investment Grade Debt Securities (Junk Bonds)
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in non-investment grade debt securities. Non-investment grade debt securities are medium- to low-quality debt obligations. Debt obligations rated below investment grade (BB/Ba or lower) are commonly known as high yield, high risk or junk bonds. For all Funds, to be consistent with the ratings methodology used by Barclays, a debt obligation is considered to be rated investment grade if two of Moodys, Standard & Poors and Fitch rate the security investment-grade (i.e., at least Baa, BBB and BBB, respectively). If ratings are provided by only two of those rating agencies, the more conservative rating is used to determine whether the security is investment-grade. If only one of those rating agencies provides a rating, that rating is used. Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund may invest in non-investment grade debt obligations rated at least B by two of Standard & Poors, Moodys and Fitch, unless only one of those rating agencies rates the security, in which case that rating must be at least B, or in unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality by the Sub-Adviser. Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund, and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may not invest in non-investment grade debt obligations rated by two of Standard & Poors, Fitch and Moodys lower than CCC, CCC or Caa, respectively, unless only one of those rating agencies rates the security, in which case that rating must be at least CCC or Caa, or in unrated securities determined to be of comparable quality by the Sub-Adviser. There are no minimum rating requirements for Nuveen High Income Bond Fund (which means that the Fund may invest in bonds in default).
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Junk bonds, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy. They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuers capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The special risk considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed below. Refer to Appendix A of this Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of securities ratings.
(1) Effect of Interest Rates and Economic Changes. All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. In addition, the market values of junk bond securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do the market values of higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Junk bond securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risk than securities in the higher rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of junk bond securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of these securities is significantly greater than by an issuer of higher rated securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors. Further, if the issuer of a junk bond security defaults, a Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of these and thus in the Funds net asset value.
The value of a junk bond security will generally decrease in a rising interest rate market and, accordingly, so will a Funds net asset value. If a Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions in such a market, it may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits. Due to the limited liquidity of certain junk bond securities, a Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a substantial discount. Any such liquidation would reduce a Funds asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of return for the Fund.
(2) Payment Expectations. Junk bond securities typically contain redemption, call, or prepayment provisions that permit the issuer of securities containing such provisions to redeem the securities at its discretion. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, a Fund may have to replace the securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return for the Fund.
(3) Credit Ratings. Credit ratings are issued by credit rating agencies and are indicative of the rated securities safety of principal and interest payments. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of junk bond securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the true risks of such an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality. Investments in junk bonds will depend more upon credit analysis by the Sub-Adviser than investments in investment grade debt securities. The Sub-Adviser employs its own credit research and analysis, which includes a study of the issuers existing debt, capital structure, ability to service debts and pay dividends, sensitivity to economic conditions, operating history, and current earnings trend. The Sub-Adviser continually monitors the Funds investments and carefully evaluates whether to dispose of or to retain junk bond securities whose credit ratings or credit quality may have changed.
(4) Liquidity and Valuation. A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain junk bond securities because there may be a thin trading market for such securities. Not all dealers maintain markets in all junk bond securities. As a result, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for a Fund to obtain
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accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its securities. Market quotations are generally available on many junk bond issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. During periods of thin trading, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and liquidity of junk bond securities, especially in a thinly traded market.
Each Fund may invest in other investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts, and exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ) registered under the 1940 Act ( 1940 Act ETFs ) that invest primarily in Fund eligible investments. Under the 1940 Act, a Funds investment in such securities is generally limited to 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company; 5% of such Funds total assets with respect to any one investment company; and 10% of such Funds total assets in the aggregate. Many 1940 Act ETFs, however, have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in their shares beyond these statutory limits, subject to certain conditions and pursuant to contractual arrangements between the ETFs and the investing funds. The Funds may rely on these exemptive orders in investing in 1940 Act ETFs. A Funds investments in other investment companies may include money market mutual funds. Investments in money market funds are not subject to the percentage limitations set forth above.
ETFs in which the Funds may invest are a type of index fund bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF trades like common stock and represents a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market index. ETFs can give exposure to all or a portion of the U.S. market, a foreign market, a region, a commodity, a currency, or to any other index that an ETF tracks. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities they are designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs. An ETF may fail to accurately track the returns of the market segment or index that it is designed to track, and the price of an ETFs shares may fluctuate. In addition, because they, unlike traditional mutual funds, are traded on an exchange, ETFs are subject to the following risks: (i) the performance of the ETF may not replicate the performance of the underlying index that it is designed to track; (ii) the market price of the ETFs shares may trade at a premium or discount to the ETFs net asset value; (iii) an active trading market for an ETF may not develop or be maintained; and (iv) there is no assurance that the requirements of the exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the ETF will continue to be met or remain unchanged. Trading in an ETF may be halted if the trading in one or more of the ETFs underlying securities is halted, which could result in the ETF being more volatile. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting ETFs should occur in the future, the liquidity and value of a Funds shares could also be substantially and adversely affected.
If a Fund invests in other investment companies, Fund shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the Funds expenses, but also, indirectly, the similar expenses of the underlying investment companies. Shareholders would also be exposed to the risks associated not only with a Fund, but also with the portfolio investments of the underlying investment companies. Shares of certain closed-end funds may at times be acquired at market prices representing premiums to their net asset values. Shares acquired at a premium to their net asset value may be more likely to subsequently decline in price, resulting in a loss to a Fund and its shareholders.
Payment-In-Kind Debentures and Delayed Interest Securities
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund may invest in debentures the interest on which may be paid in other securities rather than cash ( PIKs ) or may be delayed ( delayed interest securities ). Typically, during a specified term prior to the debentures maturity, the issuer of a PIK may provide for the option or the obligation to make interest payments in debentures, common stock or other instruments (i.e., in kind rather than in cash). The type of instrument in which interest may or will be paid would be known by a Fund at the time of investment. While PIKs generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause a Fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by the Code.
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Unlike PIKs, delayed interest securities do not pay interest for a specified period. Because values of securities of this type are subject to greater fluctuations than are the values of securities that distribute income regularly, they may be more speculative than such securities.
The Funds, other than Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund and Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund, may invest in preferred securities with different distribution structures. The various coupon structures may be broadly characterized as follows:
|
Fixed Rate Preferred Securities are preferred securities that pay a fixed rate of interest throughout the life of the security and tend to exhibit more price volatility during times of rising or falling interest rates than securities with variable or floating rates of interest. The value of fixed-rate securities tends to fall when interest rates rise (and vice versa). |
|
Fixed-to-Fixed Preferred Securities are preferred securities that have a distribution rate of payment that is fixed for a certain period (typically five or ten years when first issued) and such period is usually aligned with the first call date. After the defined period expires, the fixed distribution rate then resets to another fixed distribution rate, according to a specified formula, and typically resets with the same longer-term frequency for the remaining life of the security (typically five or ten years). |
|
Fixed-to-Floating Preferred Securities are preferred securities that have a distribution rate of payment that is fixed for a certain period (typically five or ten years when first issued) and such period is usually aligned with the first call date. After this period, distribution rates vary for the remaining life of the security, periodically adjusting according to a specified formula, usually with reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate. The value of fixed-to-floating preferred securities may fluctuate less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of preferred securities with a fixed interest rate, because the interest rate paid by fixed-to-floating preferred securities is variable. |
|
Floating-Rate Preferred Securities are preferred securities that offer a distribution rate of payment that resets periodically (commonly every 90 days) to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index or benchmark rate. Some commonly used indices include the 3-month U.S. Treasury bill rate, the 180-day U.S. Treasury bill, or the one-month or three-month LIBOR. The value of floating-rate preferred securities may fluctuate less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of preferred securities with a fixed interest rate. |
As a general matter, dividend or interest payments on preferred securities may be cumulative or non-cumulative. Although issuers of cumulative preferred securities generally can defer distributions for a specified period of time, no redemption can typically take place unless all cumulative payment obligations have been met. Issuers may, however, be able to engage in open-market repurchases without regard to any cumulative dividends payable. For non-cumulative preferred securities, the issuer does not have any obligation with respect to skipped payments.
Preferred securities may be issued with either a final maturity date, or as a perpetual structure. In certain instances, a final maturity date may be extended and/or the final payment of principal may be deferred at the issuers option for a specified time without any adverse consequence to the issuer.
Real Estate Investment Trust ( REIT ) Securities
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund may invest in common stock issued by REITs. All of the Funds may invest in debt securities issued by REITs and all of the Funds, other than Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund and Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund, may invest in preferred stock issued by REITs. REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding, and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 90% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.
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REITs generally can be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. An Equity REIT invests the majority of its assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT.
Investing in REITs would subject a Fund to risks associated with the real estate industry. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies which own and operate real estate directly, companies which lend to such companies, and companies which service the real estate industry.
A Fund is also subject to risks associated with direct investments in REITs. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders. REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through treatment of their income under the Code or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.
Each Fund may invest in publicly-traded royalty trusts. Royalty trusts are income-oriented equity investments that indirectly, through the ownership of trust units, provide investors (called unit holders ) with exposure to energy sector assets such as coal, oil and natural gas. Royalty trusts are structured similarly to REITs. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource companies or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to the investors of the royalty trust. A sustained decline in demand for crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products could adversely affect income and royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand include a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand for such products. A rising interest rate environment could adversely impact the performance of royalty trusts. Rising interest rates could limit the capital appreciation of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields.
Each Fund may invest in U.S. government securities, including bills, notes and bonds differing as to maturity and rates of interest, which are either issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government agency securities include securities issued by (a) the Federal Housing Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Small Business Administration, and the Government National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; (b) the Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose securities are supported by the right of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (c) the Federal National Mortgage Association, whose securities are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the agency or instrumentality; and (d) the Student Loan Marketing Association, whose securities are supported only by its credit. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored agencies or instrumentalities, no
S-41
assurance can be given that it always will do so since it is not so obligated by law. The U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities do not guarantee the market value of their securities, and consequently, the value of such securities may fluctuate.
U.S. Treasury obligations include separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (STRIPS), which are transferable through the Federal book-entry system. STRIPS are sold as zero coupon securities, which means that they are sold at a substantial discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. This discount is accreted over the life of the security, and such accretion will constitute the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these features, such securities may be subject to greater interest rate volatility than interest paying U.S. Treasury obligations.
Variable, Floating, and Fixed Rate Debt Obligations
The debt obligations in which the Funds invest may have variable, floating, or fixed interest rates. Variable rate securities provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. Floating rate securities are generally offered at an initial interest rate which is at or above prevailing market rates. The interest rate paid on floating rate securities is then reset periodically (commonly every 90 days) to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. Commonly utilized indices include the three-month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a bank, the commercial paper rates, or the longer-term rates on U.S. Treasury securities. Variable and floating rate securities are relatively long-term instruments that often carry demand features permitting the holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals prior to maturity plus accrued interest. In order to most effectively use these securities, the Sub-Adviser must correctly assess probable movements in interest rates. If the Sub-Adviser incorrectly forecasts such movements, a Fund could be adversely affected by use of variable and floating rate securities.
Fixed rate securities pay a fixed rate of interest and tend to exhibit more price volatility during times of rising or falling interest rates than securities with variable or floating rates of interest. The value of fixed rate securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. The value of variable or floating rate securities, on the other hand, fluctuates much less in response to market interest rate movements than the value of fixed rate securities. This is because variable and floating rate securities behave like short-term instruments in that the rate of interest they pay is subject to periodic adjustments according to a specified formula, usually with reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate. Fixed rate securities with short-term characteristics are not subject to the same price volatility as fixed rate securities without such characteristics. Therefore, they behave more like variable or floating rate securities with respect to price volatility.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. When such a transaction is negotiated, the purchase price is fixed at the time the purchase commitment is entered, but delivery of and payment for the securities take place at a later date. A Fund will not accrue income with respect to securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis prior to their stated delivery date.
The purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis exposes a Fund to risk because the securities may decrease in value prior to delivery. In addition, a Funds purchase of securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis while remaining substantially fully invested could increase the amount of the Funds total assets that are subject to market risk, resulting in increased sensitivity of net asset value to changes in market prices. A sellers failure to deliver securities to a Fund could prevent the Fund from realizing a price or yield considered to be advantageous.
When a Fund agrees to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, the Fund will segregate cash or liquid securities in an amount sufficient to meet the Funds purchase commitments. It may be expected that a Funds net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash. In addition, because a Fund will set aside cash or liquid securities to satisfy its purchase commitments, its liquidity
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and the ability of the Sub-Adviser to manage it might be affected in the event its commitments to purchase when-issued or delayed delivery securities ever became significant. Under normal market conditions, however, a Funds commitments to purchase when-issued or delayed delivery securities will not exceed 25% of the value of its total assets.
Zero Coupon and Step Coupon Securities
The Funds may invest in zero coupon and step coupon securities. Zero coupon securities pay no cash income to their holders until they mature. When held to maturity, their entire return comes from the difference between their purchase price and their maturity value. Step coupon securities are debt securities that may not pay interest for a specified period of time and then, after the initial period, may pay interest at a series of different rates. Both zero coupon and step coupon securities are issued at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. Because interest on these securities is not paid on a current basis, the values of securities of this type are subject to greater fluctuations than are the value of securities that distribute income regularly and may be more speculative than such securities. Accordingly, the values of these securities may be highly volatile as interest rates rise or fall. In addition, while such securities generate income for purposes of generally accepted accounting standards, they do not generate cash flow and thus could cause a Fund to be forced to liquidate securities at an inopportune time in order to distribute cash, as required by the Code.
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The management of NIF, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Funds by the Adviser under the Management Agreement, is the responsibility of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of NIF is twelve, one of whom is an interested person (as the term interested person is defined in the 1940 Act) and eleven of whom are not interested persons (referred to herein as independent directors ). None of the independent directors has ever been a trustee, director or employee of, or consultant to, the Adviser or its affiliates. The names, business addresses and years of birth of the directors and officers of the Funds, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each oversees and other directorships they hold are set forth below. Except as noted in the table below, the directors of NIF are directors or trustees, as the case may be, of 176 Nuveen-sponsored registered investment companies (the Nuveen Funds ), which include 90 open-end mutual funds (the Nuveen Mutual Funds ), 75 closed-end funds and 11 exchange-traded funds.
Name, Business
Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other
|
|||||
Independent Directors: |
||||||||||
Jack B. Evans 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1948 |
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
President, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation (since 1996); Director, Public Member, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (since 2015); Life Trustee of Coe College and the Iowa College Foundation; formerly, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; formerly, President and Chief Operating Officer, SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm; formerly, Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System; formerly, Director, The Gazette Company. | 176 | Director and Chairman, United Fire Group, a publicly held company; formerly, Director, Alliant Energy. | |||||
William C. Hunter 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Dean Emeritus, formerly, Dean (2006-2012), Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa; past Director (2005-2015) and past President (2010-2014), Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society; formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University; formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Connecticut (2003-2006); previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (1995-2003). | 176 | Director (since 2004) of Xerox Corporation; Director (since 2009) of Wellmark, Inc. |
S-44
Name, Business
Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other
|
|||||
David J. Kundert 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Formerly, Director, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (2006-2013); retired (since 2004) as Chairman, JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, President and CEO, Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and President, One Group Mutual Funds; prior thereto, Executive Vice President, Bank One Corporation and Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group; Regent Emeritus, Member of Investment Committee, Luther College; Member of the Wisconsin Bar Association; Member of Board of Directors and Chair of Investment Committee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation; Member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee), College Possible; Member of the Board of Trustees, Milwaukee Repertory Theater. | 176 | None | |||||
Albin F. Moschner 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1952 |
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Northcroft Partners, LLC, a management consulting firm (since 2012); previously, held positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., including Consultant (2011-2012), Chief Operating Officer (2008-2011) and Chief Marketing Officer (2004-2008); formerly, President, Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. (2000-2003); formerly, President, One Point Services at One Point Communications (1999-2000); formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board, Diba, Incorporated (1996-1997); formerly, various executive positions with Zenith Electronics Corporation (1991-1996). | 176 | Director, USA Technologies, Inc., a provider of solutions and services to facilitate electronic payment transactions (since 2012); formerly, Director, Wintrust Financial Corporation (1996-2016). |
S-45
Name, Business
Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other
|
|||||
John K. Nelson 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1962 |
Director |
TermIndefinite* Length of Service Since 2013 | Member of Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients; Director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (since 2009) and The Presidents Council, Fordham University (since 2010); formerly, senior external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP (2012-2014); former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Marian University (2010-2014 as trustee, 2011-2014 as Chairman); formerly, Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America, and Global Head of its Financial Markets Division (2007-2008); prior senior positions held at ABN AMRO include Corporate Executive Vice President and Head of Global Marketsthe Americas (2006-2007), CEO of Wholesale BankingNorth America and Global Head of Foreign Exchange and Futures Markets (2001-2006), and Regional Commercial Treasurer and Senior Vice President TradingNorth America (1996-2001); formerly, Trustee at St. Edmund Preparatory School in New York City. | 176 | None |
S-46
Name, Business
Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other
|
|||||
William J. Schneider 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL
60606
|
Chairman of the Board and Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Chairman of Miller-Valentine Partners, a real estate investment company; Board Member of WDPR Public Radio station; formerly, Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired, 2004) of Miller-Valentine Group; formerly, Director, Dayton Development Coalition; formerly, Board Member, Business Advisory Council, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank and University of Dayton Business School Advisory Council. | 176 | None | |||||
Judith M. Stockdale 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Board Member of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (since 2013); Board Member of the Land Trust Alliance (since 2013); formerly, Executive Director (1994-2012), Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (1990-1994). | 176 | None | |||||
Carole E. Stone 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Director, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (since 2006); Director, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (since 2009); formerly, Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (2005-2010). | 176 |
Director, CBOE Holdings, Inc. (since 2010). |
S-47
Name, Business
Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other
|
|||||
Terence J. Toth 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1959 |
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Co-Founding Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008); Director, Fulcrum IT Service LLC (since 2010) and Quality Control Corporation (since 2012); formerly, Director, LogicMark LLC (2012-2016); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (2008-2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (2004-2007); Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (since 1994); Member, Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation Board (since 2012) and Chair of its Investment Committee; formerly, Member, Chicago Fellowship Board (2005-2016), Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004). | 176 | None | |||||
Margaret L. Wolff 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1955 |
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Formerly, of Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group) (2005-2014); Member of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital (since 2005); Member (since 2004) and Chair (since 2015) of the Board of Trustees of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011-2015) of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College. | 176 | Member of the Board of Directors (since 2013) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). |
S-48
Name, Business
Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)
|
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director |
Other
|
|||||
Robert L. Young 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1963 |
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
Formerly, Chief Operating Officer and Director, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (2010-2016); formerly, President and Principal Executive Officer (2013-2016), and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (2005-2010), of J.P. Morgan Funds; formerly, Director and various officer positions for J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (formerly, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. and formerly, One Group Administrative Services) and JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. (formerly, One Group Dealer Services, Inc.) (1999-2017). | 174** | None | |||||
Interested Director: |
||||||||||
Margo L. Cook*** 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1964 |
Director |
TermIndefinite*
Length of Service
|
President (since 2017), formerly, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President (2016-2017), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since February 2017) of Nuveen, LLC; President (since August 2017), formerly, Co-President (October 2016-August 2017), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President (2015-2016), formerly, Executive Vice President (2011-2015) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; President, Global Products and Solutions (since July 2017) and Co-Chief Executive Officer (since 2015), formerly, Co-President (2015-2017), formerly, Executive Vice President (2013-2015), of Nuveen Securities, LLC; President (since 2017), Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst. | 176 | None |
* | Each director serves an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected. |
** | Mr. Young was appointed as a director or trustee, as the case may be, of each of the Nuveen Funds except Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund and Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund. |
*** | Ms. Cook is an interested person of NIF, as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of her position with Nuveen, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries. |
S-49
Name, Business Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Officer |
||||
Officers of NIF: |
||||||||
Greg A. Bottjer 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1971 |
Chief Administrative Officer |
TermUntil
Length of
Service
|
Senior (since 2017) Managing Director (since 2011), formerly, Senior Vice President (2007-2010) of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Senior (since 2017) Managing Director (since October 2016) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst. | 90 | ||||
Lorna C. Ferguson 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Vice President |
TermUntil
August 2018 Length of Service Since 2011 |
Senior Managing Director (since February 2017), formerly, Managing Director (2004-2017) of Nuveen. | 176 | ||||
Stephen D. Foy 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Vice President and Controller |
TermUntil
August 2018 Length of Service Since 2011 |
Managing Director (since 2014), formerly, Senior Vice President (2013-2014) and Vice President (2005-2013) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2016) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Certified Public Accountant. | 176 | ||||
Nathaniel T. Jones
333 West Wacker
Drive
|
Vice President and Treasurer |
TermUntil
August 2018 Length of Service Since 2016 |
Managing Director (since February 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017), formerly, Vice President (2011-2016) of Nuveen; Chartered Financial Analyst. | 176 | ||||
Walter M. Kelly 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1970 |
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer |
TermUntil
August 2018 Length of Service Since 2011 |
Managing Director (since February 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2008-2017) of Nuveen. | 176 | ||||
Tina M. Lazar 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1961 |
Vice President |
TermUntil
August 2018 Length of Service Since 2011 |
Managing Director of Nuveen Securities, LLC. | 176 |
S-50
Name, Business Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Officer |
||||
Kevin J. McCarthy 333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
|
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
TermUntil August 2018 Length of ServiceSince 2011 | Senior Managing Director (since February 2017) and Secretary and General Counsel (since 2016) of Nuveen Investments, Inc., formerly, Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (2008-2016); Senior Managing Director (since January 2017) and Assistant Secretary (since 2008) of Nuveen Securities, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director (2008-2016); Senior Managing Director (since February 2017), Secretary (since 2016) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, formerly, Executive Vice President (2016-2017), Managing Director (2008-2016) and Assistant Secretary (2007-2016); Senior Managing Director (since February 2017), Secretary (since 2016) and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017) and Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (2011-2016); Senior Managing Director (since February 2017) and Secretary (since 2016) of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC, formerly Executive Vice President (2016-2017); Vice President (since 2007) and Secretary (since 2016), formerly, Assistant Secretary, of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010). | 176 | ||||
Kathleen L. Prudhomme 901 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55402 1953 |
Vice President and Secretary |
TermUntil August 2018 Length of ServiceSince 2011 | Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. | 176 | ||||
Christopher M. Rohrbacher
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1971 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
TermUntil August 2018
Length of Service Since 2011 |
Managing Director (since February 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (October 2016-February 2017) and Assistant Secretary (since October 2016) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since January 2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC. | 176 |
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Name, Business Address
|
Position(s) Held
|
Term of Office
Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of
Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Officer |
||||
William A. Siffermann
333 West Wacker
Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
1975 |
Vice President |
TermUntil August 2018
Since 2017 |
Managing Director (since February 2017), formerly, Senior Vice President (2016-2017) and Vice President (2011-2016) of Nuveen. | 176 | ||||
Joel T. Slager
333 West Wacker
Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
1978 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
TermUntil August 2018 Length of ServiceSince 2013 | Fund Tax Director for Nuveen Funds (since 2013); previously, Vice President of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., Assistant Treasurer of the Morgan Stanley Funds (2010-2013). | 176 | ||||
Gifford R. Zimmerman 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 1956 |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
TermUntil August 2018 Length of ServiceSince 2011 |
Managing Director (since 2002) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2002), Assistant Secretary (since 1997) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director (since 2004) and Assistant Secretary (since 1994) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (since 2002); Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2002) of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC; Vice President (since February 2017), Managing Director (2003-2017) and Assistant Secretary (since 2003) of Symphony Asset Management LLC; Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (since 2006) and Winslow Capital Management, LLC (since 2010); Chartered Financial Analyst. | 176 |
Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees (as the case may be, each is referred to hereafter as the Board or Board of Directors and the directors or trustees of the Nuveen Funds, as applicable, are each referred to herein as directors ) oversees the operations and management of the Nuveen Funds, including the duties performed for the Nuveen Funds by the Adviser. The Board has adopted a unitary board structure. A unitary board consists of one group of directors who serve on the board of every fund in the Nuveen Fund complex. In adopting a unitary board structure, the directors seek to provide effective governance through establishing a board, the overall composition of which will, as a body, possess the appropriate skills, independence and experience to oversee the Nuveen Funds business. With this overall framework in mind, when the Board, through its Nominating and Governance Committee discussed below, seeks nominees for the Board, the directors consider, not only the candidates particular background, skills and experience, among other things, but also whether such background, skills and experience enhance the Boards diversity and at the same time complement the Board given its current composition and the mix of skills and experiences of the incumbent directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee believes that
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the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members, and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy on diversity or any particular definition of diversity.
The Board believes the unitary board structure enhances good and effective governance, particularly given the nature of the structure of the investment company complex. Funds in the same complex generally are served by the same service providers and personnel and are governed by the same regulatory scheme which raises common issues that must be addressed by the directors across the fund complex (such as compliance, valuation, liquidity, brokerage, trade allocation or risk management). The Board believes it is more efficient to have a single board review and oversee common policies and procedures which increases the Boards knowledge and expertise with respect to the many aspects of fund operations that are complex-wide in nature. The unitary structure also enhances the Boards influence and oversight over the investment adviser and other service providers.
In an effort to enhance the independence of the Board, the Board also has a Chairman that is an independent director. The Board recognizes that a chairman can perform an important role in setting the agenda for the Board, establishing the boardroom culture, establishing a point person on behalf of the Board for fund management, and reinforcing the Boards focus on the long-term interests of shareholders. The Board recognizes that a chairman may be able to better perform these functions without any conflicts of interests arising from a position with fund management. Accordingly, the directors have elected William J. Schneider to serve as the independent Chairman of the Board. Specific responsibilities of the Chairman include: (i) presiding at all meetings of the Board and of the shareholders; (ii) seeing that all orders and resolutions of the directors are carried into effect; and (iii) maintaining records of and, whenever necessary, certifying all proceedings of the directors and the shareholders.
Although the Board has direct responsibility over various matters (such as advisory contracts, underwriting contracts and fund performance), the Board also exercises certain of its oversight responsibilities through several committees that it has established and which report back to the full Board. The Board believes that a committee structure is an effective means to permit directors to focus on particular operations or issues affecting the Nuveen Funds, including risk oversight. More specifically, with respect to risk oversight, the Board has delegated matters relating to valuation and compliance to certain committees (as summarized below) as well as certain aspects of investment risk. In addition, the Board believes that the periodic rotation of directors among the different committees allows the directors to gain additional and different perspectives of a Nuveen Funds operations. The Board has established six standing committees: the Executive Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Open-End Funds Committee. The Board may also from time to time create ad hoc committees to focus on particular issues as the need arises. The membership and functions of the standing committees are summarized below.
The Executive Committee, which meets between regular meetings of the Board, is authorized to exercise all of the powers of the Board. The members of the Executive Committee are Margo L. Cook, William J. Schneider, Chair, and Terence J. Toth. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Executive Committee did not meet.
The Audit Committee assists the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the accounting and reporting policies, processes and practices of the Nuveen Funds, and the audits of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the quality and integrity of the financial statements of the Nuveen Funds; the Nuveen Funds compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to the Nuveen Funds financial statements; the independent auditors qualifications, performance and independence; and the pricing procedures of the Nuveen Funds and the Advisers internal valuation group. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to select, evaluate and replace any independent auditors (subject only to Board and, if applicable, shareholder ratification) and to determine their compensation. The Audit Committee is also responsible for, among other things, overseeing the valuation of securities comprising the Nuveen Funds portfolios. Subject to the Boards general supervision of such actions, the Audit Committee addresses any valuation issues, oversees the Nuveen Funds pricing procedures and actions taken by the Advisers internal valuation group which provides regular reports to the committee, reviews any issues relating to the valuation of the Nuveen Funds securities brought to its attention and
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considers the risks to the Nuveen Funds in assessing the possible resolutions to these matters. The Audit Committee may also consider any financial risk exposures for the Nuveen Funds in conjunction with performing its functions.
To fulfill its oversight duties, the Audit Committee receives annual and semi-annual reports and has regular meetings with the external auditors for the Nuveen Funds and the Advisers internal audit group. The Audit Committee also may review in a general manner the processes the Board or other Board committees have in place with respect to risk assessment and risk management as well as compliance with legal and regulatory matters relating to the Nuveen Funds financial statements. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. Members of the Audit Committee shall be independent (as set forth in the charter) and free of any relationship that, in the opinion of the directors, would interfere with their exercise of independent judgment as an Audit Committee member. The members of the Audit Committee are Jack B. Evans, Chair, David J. Kundert, John K. Nelson, Carole E. Stone and Terence J. Toth, each of whom is an independent director of the Nuveen Funds. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Audit Committee met four times.
The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking, identifying and recommending to the Board qualified candidates for election or appointment to the Board. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee oversees matters of corporate governance, including the evaluation of Board performance and processes, the assignment and rotation of committee members, and the establishment of corporate governance guidelines and procedures, to the extent necessary or desirable, and matters related thereto. Although the unitary and committee structure has been developed over the years and the Nominating and Governance Committee believes the structure has provided efficient and effective governance, the committee recognizes that as demands on the Board evolve over time (such as through an increase in the number of funds overseen or an increase in the complexity of the issues raised), the committee must continue to evaluate the Board and committee structures and their processes and modify the foregoing as may be necessary or appropriate to continue to provide effective governance. Accordingly, the Nominating and Governance Committee has a separate meeting each year to, among other things, review the Board and committee structures, their performance and functions, and recommend any modifications thereto or alternative structures or processes that would enhance the Boards governance of the Nuveen Funds.
In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee, among other things, makes recommendations concerning the continuing education of directors; monitors performance of legal counsel and other service providers; establishes and monitors a process by which security holders are able to communicate in writing with members of the Board; and periodically reviews and makes recommendations about any appropriate changes to director compensation. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating and Governance Committee receives suggestions from various sources, including shareholders, as to suitable candidates. Suggestions should be sent in writing to Lorna Ferguson, Manager of Fund Board Relations, Nuveen, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606. The Nominating and Governance Committee sets appropriate standards and requirements for nominations for new directors and reserves the right to interview any and all candidates and to make the final selection of any new directors. In considering a candidates qualifications, each candidate must meet certain basic requirements, including relevant skills and experience, time availability (including the time requirements for due diligence site visits to sub-advisers and service providers) and, if qualifying as an independent director candidate, independence from the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and other service providers, including any affiliates of these entities. These skill and experience requirements may vary depending on the current composition of the Board, since the goal is to ensure an appropriate range of skills, diversity and experience, in the aggregate. Accordingly, the particular factors considered and weight given to these factors will depend on the composition of the Board and the skills and backgrounds of the incumbent directors at the time of consideration of the nominees. All candidates, however, must meet high expectations of personal integrity, independence, governance experience and professional competence. All candidates must be willing to be critical within the Board and with management and yet maintain a collegial and collaborative manner toward other Board members. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. This committee is composed of the independent directors of the Nuveen Funds. Accordingly,
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the members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Jack B. Evans, William C. Hunter, David J. Kundert, Albin F. Moschner, John K. Nelson, William J. Schneider, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale, Carole E. Stone, Terence J. Toth, Margaret L. Wolff and Robert L. Young. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Nominating and Governance Committee met six times.
The Dividend Committee is authorized to declare distributions on the Nuveen Funds shares, including, but not limited to, regular and special dividends, capital gains and ordinary income distributions. The members of the Dividend Committee are William C. Hunter, Chair, Terence J. Toth and Margaret L. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Dividend Committee met four times.
The Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee (the Compliance Committee ) is responsible for the oversight of compliance issues, risk management and other regulatory matters affecting the Nuveen Funds that are not otherwise the jurisdiction of the other committees. The Board has adopted and periodically reviews policies and procedures designed to address the Nuveen Funds compliance and risk matters. As part of its duties, the Compliance Committee reviews the policies and procedures relating to compliance matters and recommends modifications thereto as necessary or appropriate to the full Board; develops new policies and procedures as new regulatory matters affecting the Nuveen Funds arise from time to time; evaluates or considers any comments or reports from examinations from regulatory authorities and responses thereto; and performs any special reviews, investigations or other oversight responsibilities relating to risk management, compliance and/or regulatory matters as requested by the Board.
In addition, the Compliance Committee is responsible for risk oversight, including, but not limited to, the oversight of risks related to investments and operations. Such risks include, among other things, exposures to particular issuers, market sectors, or types of securities; risks related to product structure elements, such as leverage; and techniques that may be used to address those risks, such as hedging and swaps. In assessing issues brought to the committees attention or in reviewing a particular policy, procedure, investment technique or strategy, the Compliance Committee evaluates the risks to the Nuveen Funds in adopting a particular approach compared to the anticipated benefits to the Nuveen Funds and their shareholders. In fulfilling its obligations, the Compliance Committee meets on a quarterly basis, and at least once a year in person. The Compliance Committee receives written and oral reports from the Nuveen Funds Chief Compliance Officer ( CCO ) and meets privately with the CCO at each of its quarterly meetings. The CCO also provides an annual report to the full Board regarding the operations of the Nuveen Funds and other service providers compliance programs as well as any recommendations for modifications thereto. The Compliance Committee also receives reports from the Advisers investment services group regarding various investment risks. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board also participates in discussions with management regarding certain matters relating to investment risk, such as the use of leverage and hedging. The investment services group therefore also reports to the full Board at its quarterly meetings regarding, among other things, fund performance and the various drivers of such performance. Accordingly, the Board directly and/or in conjunction with the Compliance Committee oversees matters relating to investment risks. Matters not addressed at the committee level are addressed directly by the full Board. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Compliance Committee are William C. Hunter, Albin F. Moschner, John K. Nelson, Chair, Judith M. Stockdale, Margaret L. Wolff and Robert L. Young. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Compliance Committee met five times.
The Open-End Funds Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in the oversight and monitoring of the Nuveen Funds that are registered as open-end management investment companies ( Open-End Funds ). The committee may review and evaluate matters related to the formation and the initial presentation to the Board of any new Open-End Fund and may review and evaluate any matters relating to any existing Open-End Fund. The committee operates under a written charter adopted and approved by the Board. The members of the Open-End Funds Committee are Margo L. Cook, William C. Hunter, David J. Kundert, William J. Schneider, Judith M. Stockdale, Chair, and Margaret L. Wolff. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Open-End Funds Committee met four times.
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Board Diversification and Director Qualifications
In determining that a particular director was qualified to serve on the Board, the Board has considered each directors background, skills, experience and other attributes in light of the composition of the Board with no particular factor controlling. The Board believes that directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, and the Board believes each director satisfies this standard. An effective director may achieve this ability through his or her educational background; business, professional training or practice; public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member or executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. Accordingly, set forth below is a summary of the experiences, qualifications, attributes, and skills that led to the conclusion, as of the date of this document, that each director should continue to serve in that capacity. References to the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills of directors are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out of the Board or any director as having any special expertise or experience and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.
Margo L. Cook
Ms. Cook is President of Nuveen Investments, Inc. ( Nuveen Investment s) since April 2017, prior to which she had been Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President from 2016-2017, prior to which she had been Senior Executive Vice President since July 2015. Ms. Cook is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and Executive Vice President (since February 2017) of Nuveen, LLC, as well as co-chair of Nuveen Investments Management and Operating Committees. She is President (since August 2017), formerly, Co-President (October 2016-August 2017), formerly, Senior Executive Vice President (2015-2016) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and President, Global Products and Solutions (since July 2017) and Co-Chief Executive Officer (since 2015) of Nuveen Securities, LLC. Since joining in 2008, she has held various leadership roles at Nuveen Investments, including as Head of Investment Services, responsible for investment-related efforts across the firm. Ms. Cook also serves on the Board of Nuveen Global Fund Investors. Before joining Nuveen Investments, she was the Global Head of Bear Stearns Asset Managements institutional business. Prior to that, she spent over 20 years within BNY Mellons asset management business; including as Chief Investment Officer for Institutional Asset Management and Head of Institutional Fixed Income. Ms. Cook earned her bachelors degree in finance from the University of Rhode Island, her Executive MBA from Columbia University, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She serves as Vice Chair of The University of Rhode Island Foundation Board of Trustees and Chair of the All Stars Project of Chicago Board.
Jack B. Evans
President of The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation, since 1996, Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of the SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Formerly, he was a member of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, a Director of Alliant Energy and Member and President Pro Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System. Mr. Evans is Chairman of the Board of United Fire Group, sits on the Board of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery as a Public Member Director (since 2015) and is a Life Trustee of Coe College. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coe College and an MBA from the University of Iowa.
William C. Hunter
Mr. Hunter became Dean Emeritus of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa on June 30, 2012. He was appointed Dean of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business at the University of Iowa on July 1, 2006. He had been Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance at the University of Connecticut School of Business since June 2003. From 1995 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. While there he served as the Banks Chief Economist and was an Associate Economist on the Federal Reserve Systems Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). In addition to serving as a Vice President in
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charge of financial markets and basic research at the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, he held faculty positions at Emory University, Atlanta University, the University of Georgia and Northwestern University. A past Director of the Credit Research Center at Georgetown University, SS&C Technologies, Inc. (2005) and past President of the Financial Management Association International, he has consulted with numerous foreign central banks and official agencies in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Central America and South America. From 1990 to 1995, he was a U.S. Treasury Advisor to Central and Eastern Europe. He has been a Director of the Xerox Corporation since 2004 and Wellmark, Inc. since 2009. He is a past Director and past President of Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society.
David J. Kundert
Mr. Kundert retired in 2004 as Chairman of JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, and as President and CEO of Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and as President of One Group Mutual Funds. Prior to the merger between Bank One Corporation and JPMorgan Chase and Co., he was Executive Vice President, Bank One Corporation and, since 1995, the Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group. From 1988 to 1992, he was President and CEO of Bank One Wisconsin Trust Company. Mr. Kundert recently retired as a Director of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (2006-2013). He started his career as an attorney for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Kundert has served on the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and he is currently a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association. He is on the Board of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and chairs its Investment Committee. He is a Regent Emeritus and a Member of the Investment Committee of Luther College. He is also a Member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee), College Possible and on the Board of Trustees of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater (since 2016). He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College, and his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University.
Albin F. Moschner
Mr. Moschner is a consultant in the wireless industry and, in July 2012, founded Northcroft Partners, LLC, a management consulting firm that provides operational, management and governance solutions. Prior to founding Northcroft Partners, LLC, Mr. Moschner held various positions at Leap Wireless International, Inc., a provider of wireless services, where he was a consultant from February 2011 to July 2012, Chief Operating Officer from July 2008 to February 2011, and Chief Marketing Officer from August 2004 to June 2008. Before he joined Leap Wireless International, Inc., Mr. Moschner was President of the Verizon Card Services division of Verizon Communications, Inc. from 2000 to 2003, and President of One Point Services at One Point Communications from 1999 to 2000. Mr. Moschner also served at Zenith Electronics Corporation as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 1996, and as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1995. Since 2012, Mr. Moschner has been a member of the Board of Directors of USA Technologies, Inc. and, from 1996 until 2016, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Wintrust Financial Corporation. In addition, he currently serves on the Advisory Boards of the Kellogg School of Management (since 1995) and the Archdiocese of Chicago Financial Council (since May 2012). Mr. Moschner received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from The City College of New York in 1974 and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University in 1979.
John K. Nelson
Mr. Nelson is on the Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing, and communications strategies for clients. Mr. Nelson formerly was a senior external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP (2012-2014). He has served in several senior executive positions with ABN AMRO Holdings N.V. and its affiliated entities and predecessors, including LaSalle Bank Corporation from 1996 to 2008. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Nelson was Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America, and Global Head of its Financial Markets Division. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, and during his tenure with ABN AMRO, served as the banks representative on various committees of the Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, and the Bank of England. At Fordham University, he currently serves as a director of The Curran Center for Catholic
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American Studies, and The Presidents Council. He is also a member of The Economic Club of Chicago and was formerly a member of The Hyde Park Angels and a Trustee at St. Edmund Preparatory School in New York City. He formerly served as the Chairman of The Board of Trustees of Marian University (2011-2014). Mr. Nelson graduated and received his MBA from Fordham University.
William J. Schneider
Mr. Schneider, the Nuveen Funds Independent Chairman, is currently Chairman, formerly Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired, 2004) of Miller-Valentine Partners, a real estate investment company. He is an owner in several other Miller-Valentine Group entities. He is currently a member of the Board of WDPR Public radio station. He was formerly a Director and Past Chair of the Dayton Development Coalition. He was formerly a member of the Community Advisory Board of the National City Bank in Dayton as well as a former member of the Business Advisory Council of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Schneider was also a member of the Business Advisory Council for the University of Dayton College of Business. He also served as Chair of the Miami Valley Hospital and as Chair of the Finance Committee of its parent holding company. Mr. Schneider was an independent Trustee of the Flagship Funds, a group of municipal open-end funds. Mr. Schneider has a Bachelor of Science in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Dayton.
Judith M. Stockdale
Ms. Stockdale retired in 2012 as Executive Director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, a private foundation working in land conservation and artistic vitality in the Chicago region and the Low country of South Carolina. She is currently a board member of the Land Trust Alliance (since June 2013) and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (since November 2013). Her previous positions include Executive Director of the Great Lakes Protection Fund, Executive Director of Openlands, and Senior Staff Associate at the Chicago Community Trust. She has served on the Advisory Council of the National Zoological Park, the Governors Science Advisory Council (Illinois) and the Nancy Ryerson Ranney Leadership Grants Program. She has served on the Boards of Brushwood Center and the Donors Forum. Ms. Stockdale, a native of the United Kingdom, has a Bachelor of Science degree in geography from the University of Durham (UK) and a Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University.
Carole E. Stone
Ms. Stone is currently on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, CBOE Holdings, Inc. and C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated. Ms. Stone retired from the New York State Division of the Budget in 2004, having served as its Director for nearly five years and as Deputy Director from 1995 through 1999. She has also served as the Chair of the New York Racing Association Oversight Board, as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform and as a member of the Boards of Directors of several New York State public authorities. Ms. Stone has a Bachelor of Arts from Skidmore College in Business Administration.
Terence J. Toth
Mr. Toth is a Co-Founding Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008). From 2008 to 2013, he was a Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. From 2004 to 2007, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Northern Trust Global Investments, and Executive Vice President of Quantitative Management & Securities Lending from 2000 to 2004. He also formerly served on the Board of the Northern Trust Mutual Funds. He joined Northern Trust in 1994 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Global Securities Lending at Bankers Trust (1986 to 1994) and Head of Government Trading and Cash Collateral Investment at Northern Trust from 1982 to 1986. He currently serves on the Boards of Fulcrum IT Service LLC (since 2010), Quality Control Corporation (since 2012) and Catalyst Schools of Chicago (since 2008). He is on the Mather Foundation Board (since 2012) and is Chair of its Investment Committee and previously served as a Director of LogicMark LLC (2012-2016). Mr. Toth graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MBA from New York University. In 2005, he graduated from the CEO Perspectives Program at Northwestern University.
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Margaret L. Wolff
Ms. Wolff retired from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in 2014 after more than 30 years of providing client service in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. During her legal career, Ms. Wolff devoted significant time to advising boards and senior management on U.S. and international corporate, securities, regulatory and strategic matters, including governance, shareholder, fiduciary, operational and management issues. Since 2013, she has been a Board member of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each of which is a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.). Ms. Wolff has been a trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital since 2005 and, since 2004, she has served as a trustee of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults) where she currently is the Chair. From 2005 to 2015, she was a trustee of Mt. Holyoke College and served as Vice Chair of the Board from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Wolff received her Bachelor of Arts from Mt. Holyoke College and her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Robert L. Young
Mr. Young has more than 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. From 1997 to 2017, he held various positions with J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ( J.P. Morgan Investment ) and its affiliates (collectively, J.P. Morgan ). Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of J.P. Morgan Investment (from 2010 to 2016) and as President and Principal Executive Officer of the J.P. Morgan Funds (from 2013 to 2016). As Chief Operating Officer of J.P. Morgan Investment, Mr. Young led service, administration and business platform support activities for J.P. Morgans domestic retail mutual fund and institutional commingled and separate account businesses, and co-led these activities for J.P. Morgans global retail and institutional investment management businesses. As President of the J.P. Morgan Funds, Mr. Young interacted with various service providers to these funds, facilitated the relationship between such funds and their boards, and was directly involved in establishing board agendas, addressing regulatory matters, and establishing policies and procedures. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Young, a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA), was a Senior Manager (Audit) with Deloitte & Touche LLP (formerly, Touche Ross LLP), where he was employed from 1985 to 1996. During his tenure there, he actively participated in creating, and ultimately led, the firms midwestern mutual fund practice. Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Dayton and, from 2008 to 2011, he served on the Investment Committee of its Board of Trustees.
The following table shows, for each independent director, (1) the aggregate compensation (including deferred amounts) paid by the Funds for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, (2) the amount of total compensation paid by the Funds that has been deferred, and (3) the total compensation (including deferred amounts) paid to each director by the Nuveen Funds during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. Pursuant to the Boards deferred compensation plan, a portion of the independent directors compensation may be deferred and treated as though an equivalent dollar amount has been invested in shares of one or more eligible Nuveen Funds. The amount of total compensation that has been deferred provided below represents the total deferred fees (including the return from the assumed investment in the eligible Nuveen Funds) payable from the Funds.
Name of Director |
Aggregate
Compensation From Funds |
Amount of Total
Compensation that Has Been Deferred |
Total Compensation
From Nuveen Funds Paid to Director |
|||||||||
Jack B. Evans | $ | 8,160 | $ | 777 | $ | 343,830 | ||||||
William C. Hunter | 7,549 | | 322,875 | |||||||||
David J. Kundert | 8,533 | 8,336 | 358,946 | |||||||||
Albin F. Moschner | 5,307 | | 223,125 | |||||||||
John K. Nelson | 8,449 | | 353,625 | |||||||||
William J. Schneider | 9,965 | 9,732 | 420,635 | |||||||||
Judith M. Stockdale | 7,585 | 731 | 325,207 | |||||||||
Carole E. Stone | 8,381 | 4,202 | 352,908 | |||||||||
Terence J. Toth | 8,045 | | 346,625 | |||||||||
Margaret L. Wolff | 7,578 | 2,565 | 320,846 | |||||||||
Robert L. Young 1 |
| | |
1 |
Mr. Young was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Nuveen Funds effective July 1, 2017. |
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Prior to January 1, 2017, independent directors received a $170,000 annual retainer plus (a) a fee of $5,500 per day for attendance in person or by telephone at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board; (b) a fee of $3,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at special, non-regularly scheduled Board meetings where in-person attendance was required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance was not required; (c) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Audit Committee meetings where in-person attendance was required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance was not required; (d) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee meetings where in-person attendance was required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance was not required; (e) a fee of $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Dividend Committee meetings; (f) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at all other committee meetings ($1,000 for shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance was required and $250 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such committee meetings (excluding shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance was not required, and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acted as pricing committee for IPOs, plus, in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings, provided that no fees were received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings were held; and (g) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Open-End Funds Committee meetings where in-person attendance was required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance was not required; provided that no fees were received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings were held. In addition to the payments described above, the Chairman of the Board received $80,000, and the chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Open-End Funds Committee received $12,500 each as additional retainers. Independent directors also received a fee of $3,000 per day for site visits to entities that provided services to the Nuveen Funds on days on which no Board meeting was held. When ad hoc committees were organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee at the time of formation determined compensation to be paid to the members of such committee; however, in general, such fees were $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at ad hoc committee meetings where in-person attendance was required and $500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance was not required. The annual retainer, fees and expenses were allocated among the Nuveen Funds on the basis of relative net assets, although management might have, in its discretion, established a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund.
Effective January 1, 2017, independent directors receive a $177,500 annual retainer plus they receive (a) a fee of $5,750 per day for attendance in person or by telephone at regularly scheduled meetings of the Board; (b) a fee of $3,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at special, non-regularly scheduled Board meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (c) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Audit Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (d) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; (e) a fee of $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Dividend Committee meetings; (f) a fee of $500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at all other committee meetings ($1,000 for shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is required and $250 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such committee meetings (excluding shareholder meetings) where in-person attendance is not required, and $100 per meeting when the Executive Committee acts as pricing committee for IPOs, plus, in each case, expenses incurred in attending such meetings, provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held; and (g) a fee of $2,500 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at Open-End Funds Committee meetings where in-person
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attendance is required and $2,000 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required; provided that no fees are received for meetings held on days on which regularly scheduled Board meetings are held. In addition to the payments described above, the Chairman of the Board receives $80,000, and the chairpersons of the Audit Committee, the Dividend Committee, the Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Open-End Funds Committee receive $12,500 each as additional retainers. Independent directors also receive a fee of $3,000 per day for site visits to entities that provide services to the Nuveen Funds on days on which no Board meeting is held. When ad hoc committees are organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee will at the time of formation determine compensation to be paid to the members of such committee; however, in general, such fees will be $1,000 per meeting for attendance in person or by telephone at ad hoc committee meetings where in-person attendance is required and $500 per meeting for attendance by telephone or in person at such meetings where in-person attendance is not required. The annual retainer, fees and expenses are allocated among the Nuveen Funds on the basis of relative net assets, although management may, in its discretion, establish a minimum amount to be allocated to each fund. In certain instances fees and expenses will be allocated only to those Nuveen Funds that are discussed at a given meeting.
NIF does not have a retirement or pension plan. NIF is a participant in a deferred compensation plan (the Deferred Compensation Plan ) that permits any independent director to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her compensation as an independent director. The deferred compensation of a participating director is credited to a book reserve account of the participating Nuveen Funds when the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the director. The value of the directors deferral account at any time is equal to the value that the account would have had if contributions to the account had been invested and reinvested in shares of one or more of the eligible Nuveen Funds. The independent director may elect to receive distributions in a lump sum or over a period of five years. No participating Nuveen Fund will be liable for any other funds obligations to make distributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan.
The Funds have no employees. The officers of NIF and the directors of NIF who are not independent directors serve without any compensation from the Funds.
The information in the table below discloses the dollar ranges of (i) each directors beneficial ownership in each Fund, and (ii) each directors aggregate beneficial ownership in all funds within the Nuveen Funds complex, including in each case the value of fund shares elected by the director in the directors deferred compensation plan, based on the value of fund shares as of July 1, 2017:
Directors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cook | Evans | Hunter | Kundert | Moschner | Nelson | Schneider | Stockdale | Stone | Toth | Wolff | Young 1 | |||||||||||||
Aggregate HoldingsFund Complex |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
$0 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
Over
$100,000 |
$0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
$0 | $0 |
Over
$100,000 |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
$50,001-
$100,000 |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
$50,001-
$100,000 |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
$50,001-
$100,000 |
$0 |
$10,001-
$50,000 |
$0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund |
$0 | $0 |
Over
$100,000 |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
$50,001-
$100,000 |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Over
$100,000 |
$0 | $0 |
1 |
Mr. Young was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Nuveen Funds effective July 1, 2017. |
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As of October 2, 2017, the officers and directors of NIF, in the aggregate, owned less than 1% of the shares of each of the Funds.
As of October 2, 2017, none of the independent directors or their immediate family members owned, beneficially, or of record, any securities in (i) an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds or (ii) a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds.
Directors of NIF and certain other Fund affiliates may purchase the Funds Class I shares. See the Funds Prospectus for details.
Nuveen Fund Advisors, located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the investment adviser of each Fund, with responsibility for the overall management of each Fund. The Adviser is also responsible for managing the Funds business affairs and providing day-to-day administrative services to the Funds. The Adviser has selected its affiliate, Nuveen Asset Management, located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, to serve as sub-adviser to manage the investment portfolios of the Funds. For additional information regarding the management services performed by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, see Who Manages the Funds in the Prospectus.
The Adviser is an affiliate of the Distributor, which is located at 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The Distributor is the principal underwriter for the Nuveen Mutual Funds, and has served as co-managing underwriter for the shares of the Nuveen Closed-End Funds. The Adviser and the Distributor are subsidiaries of Nuveen, LLC, the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ( TIAA ).
For the management services and facilities furnished by the Adviser, each of the Funds has agreed to pay an annual management fee at a rate set forth in the Prospectus under Who Manages the Funds.
Each Funds management fee is divided into two componentsa complex-level fee based on the aggregate amount of all eligible Nuveen Fund assets and a specific fund-level fee based only on the amount of assets within such Fund. This pricing structure enables Fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within the respective Fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by the Adviser. Under no circumstances will this pricing structure result in a Fund paying management fees at a rate higher than would otherwise have been applicable had the complex-wide management fee structure not been implemented.
Each Fund has agreed to pay an annual fund-level management fee, payable monthly, based upon the average daily net assets of such Fund as set forth in the Prospectus.
Each Funds complex-level fee is payable monthly and is additive to the fund-level fee. It is determined by taking the current overall complex-level fee rate, which is based on the aggregate amount of the eligible assets of all Nuveen Funds, and making, as appropriate, upward adjustments to that rate based upon the percentage of each Funds assets that are not eligible assets. The current overall complex-level fee schedule is as follows:
Complex-Level Asset Breakpoint Level* |
Effective Rate at
Breakpoint Level |
|||
$55 billion |
0.2000 | % | ||
$56 billion |
0.1996 | % | ||
$57 billion |
0.1989 | % | ||
$60 billion |
0.1961 | % | ||
$63 billion |
0.1931 | % | ||
$66 billion |
0.1900 | % |
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Complex-Level Asset Breakpoint Level* |
Effective Rate at
Breakpoint Level |
|||
$71 billion |
0.1851 | % | ||
$76 billion |
0.1806 | % | ||
$80 billion |
0.1773 | % | ||
$91 billion |
0.1691 | % | ||
$125 billion |
0.1599 | % | ||
$200 billion |
0.1505 | % | ||
$250 billion |
0.1469 | % | ||
$300 billion |
0.1445 | % |
* | The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily eligible assets of all Nuveen Funds. Except as described below, eligible assets include the net assets of all Nuveen-branded closed-end and open-end registered investment companies organized in the United States. Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen Funds or assets in excess of a determined amount (originally $2 billion) added to the Nuveen Fund complex in connection with Nuveen Fund Advisors assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. Eligible assets include closed-end fund assets managed by the Adviser that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes, financial leverage includes the closed-end funds use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain 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 a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trusts issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Adviser as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining eligible assets in certain circumstances. As of September 30, 2017, the Funds effective complex-level fee rates were as follows: |
Complex-Level Fee Rate | ||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund |
0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
0.1716 | % | ||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund |
0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund |
0.2000 | % | ||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund |
0.1898 | % |
The following table sets forth the management fees (net of fee waivers and expense reimbursements) paid by the Funds and the fees waived and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser for the specified periods.
Management Fees Net of Expense
Reimbursement Paid to the Adviser for the Fiscal Year Ended |
Fee Waivers and Expense
Reimbursements from the Adviser for the Fiscal Year Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Fund |
6/30/15 | 6/30/16 | 6/30/17 | 6/30/15 | 6/30/16 | 6/30/17 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund |
$ | 1,175,936 | $ | 765,735 | $ | 510,783 | $ | 187,660 | $ | 190,441 | $ | 237,399 | ||||||||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
2,239,168 | 1,662,675 | 1,311,807 | 460,955 | 442,299 | 450,769 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
4,546,123 | 2,615,968 | 2,547,136 | | 554 | 5,802 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
1,245,754 | 1,209,733 | 1,367,715 | 281,563 | 566,150 | 1,049,542 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund |
257,736 | 232,549 | 144,678 | 144,646 | 111,570 | 173,519 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund |
3,497,643 | 2,352,020 | 2,033,561 | 180,096 | 271,589 | 297,138 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund |
4,532,579 | 4,041,837 | 3,388,807 | 992,944 | 941,570 | 732,889 |
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In addition to the Advisers management fee, each Fund also pays a portion of NIFs general administrative expenses allocated in proportion to the net assets of each Fund. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.
The Adviser has selected its affiliate, Nuveen Asset Management, to serve as sub-adviser to manage the investment portfolio of each Fund. The Adviser pays Nuveen Asset Management a portfolio management fee out of the advisory fee paid to the Adviser for its services to the Funds.
The following individuals have primary responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the investment strategies of the Funds:
Name |
Fund |
|
Peter L. Agrimson | Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | |
Douglas M. Baker | Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | |
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | ||
Jeffrey J. Ebert | Nuveen Core Bond Fund | |
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | ||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | ||
John T. Fruit | Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | |
Chad W. Kemper | Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | |
Wan-Chong Kung |
Nuveen Core Bond Fund Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
|
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | ||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | ||
Mackenzie S. Meyer | Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | |
Chris J. Neuharth | Nuveen Core Bond Fund | |
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | ||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | ||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | ||
Marie A. Newcome | Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | |
Jason J. OBrien | Nuveen Core Bond Fund | |
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | ||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | ||
Timothy A. Palmer | Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | |
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | ||
Jeffrey T. Schmitz | Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
Compensation
Portfolio manager compensation consists primarily of base pay, an annual cash bonus and long-term incentive payments.
Base pay. Base pay is determined based upon an analysis of the portfolio managers general performance, experience, and market levels of base pay for such position.
Annual cash bonus. The Funds portfolio managers are eligible for an annual cash bonus based on investment performance, qualitative evaluation and financial performance of Nuveen Asset Management.
A portion of each portfolio managers annual cash bonus is based on a Funds pre-tax investment performance, generally measured over the past one- and three- or five-year periods unless the portfolio managers tenure is shorter. Investment performance for a Fund generally is determined by evaluating the Funds performance relative to its benchmark(s) and/or Lipper industry peer group.
A portion of the cash bonus is based on a qualitative evaluation made by each portfolio managers supervisor taking into consideration a number of factors, including the portfolio managers team collaboration, expense management, support of personnel responsible for asset growth, and his or her compliance with Nuveen Asset Managements policies and procedures.
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The final factor influencing a portfolio managers cash bonus is the financial performance of Nuveen Asset Management based on its operating earnings.
Long-term incentive compensation. Certain key employees of Nuveen Asset Management, including certain portfolio managers, have received profits interests in Nuveen Asset Management which entitle their holders to participate in the firms growth over time.
There are generally no differences between the methods used to determine compensation with respect to the Funds and the Other Accounts shown in the table below.
Other Accounts Managed
In addition to the Funds, as of June 30, 2017, the portfolio managers were also primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the following accounts:
Portfolio Manager |
Type of Account Managed |
Number
of Accounts |
Assets |
Number of
Accounts with Performance- Based Fees |
Assets of
Accounts with Performance- Based Fees |
|||||||||||
Peter L. Agrimson | Registered Investment Companies | 1 | $ | 124.8 million | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 3 | 376.3 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Douglas M. Baker | Registered Investment Companies | 7 | 6.8 billion | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 3 | 91.3 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 565 | 667.2 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Jeffrey J. Ebert | Registered Investment Companies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 3 | 84.2 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 27 | 1.5 billion | 2 | 158.5 million | ||||||||||||
John T. Fruit | Registered Investment Companies | 6 | 2.5 billion | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 1 | 10.8 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 4 | 2.2 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Chad W. Kemper | Registered Investment Companies | 1 | 89.4 million | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 30 | 556.6 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Wan-Chong Kung | Registered Investment Companies | 1 | 89.4 million | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 6 | 206.6 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Mackenzie S. Meyer | Registered Investment Companies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 15 | 671.3 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Chris J. Neuharth | Registered Investment Companies | 5 | 1.8 billion | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 20 | 1.5 billion | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Marie A. Newcome | Registered Investment Companies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 14 | 153.0 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Jason J. OBrien | Registered Investment Companies | 1 | 124.8 million | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 26 | 835.4 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Timothy A. Palmer | Registered Investment Companies | 1 | 620.5 million | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 1 | 45.2 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 8 | 674.0 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Jeffrey T. Schmitz | Registered Investment Companies | 8 | 4.9 billion | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 4 | 140.7 million | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Other Accounts | 3 | 183.8 million | 0 | 0 |
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Conflicts of Interest
Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one account. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple accounts are presented a number of potential conflicts, including, among others, those discussed below.
The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Nuveen Asset Management seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most accounts managed by a portfolio manager in a particular investment strategy are managed using the same investment models.
If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one account, an account may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible accounts. To deal with these situations, Nuveen Asset Management has adopted procedures for allocating limited opportunities across multiple accounts.
With respect to many of its clients accounts, Nuveen Asset Management determines which broker to use to execute transaction orders, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain other accounts, Nuveen Asset Management may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, Nuveen Asset Management may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Fund and other accounts which may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Fund or the other accounts.
Some clients are subject to different regulations. As a consequence of this difference in regulatory requirements, some clients may not be permitted to engage in all the investment techniques or transactions or to engage in these transactions to the same extent as the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager. Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where Nuveen Asset Management has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of some accounts, with respect to which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.
Nuveen Asset Management has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts common among investment managers. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
Beneficial Ownership of Securities
The following table indicates as of June 30, 2017 the value, within the indicated range, of shares beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in the Fund(s) they manage. For purposes of this table, the following letters indicate the range listed next to each letter:
A | - | $0 | ||
B | - | $1-$10,000 | ||
C | - | $10,001-$50,000 | ||
D | - | $50,001-$100,000 | ||
E | - | $100,001-$500,000 | ||
F | - | $500,001-$1,000,000 | ||
G | - | More than $1 million |
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Portfolio Manager |
Fund |
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities Beneficially Owned in Fund Managed |
||||
Peter L. Agrimson |
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | E | ||||
Douglas M. Baker |
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | C | ||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | C | |||||
Jeffrey J. Ebert |
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | B | ||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | B | |||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | C | |||||
John T. Fruit |
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | E | ||||
Chad W. Kemper |
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | A | ||||
Wan-Chong Kung |
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | B | ||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | B | |||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | B | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | B | |||||
Mackenzie S. Meyer |
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | A | ||||
Chris J. Neuharth |
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | A | ||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | A | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | A | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | A | |||||
Marie A. Newcome |
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | C | ||||
Jason J. OBrien |
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | C | ||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | B | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | C | |||||
Timothy A. Palmer |
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | C | ||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | E | |||||
Jeffrey T. Schmitz |
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | E |
The Funds transfer, shareholder services, and dividend paying agent is Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. ( BFDS ), P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530.
U.S. Bank National Association ( U.S. Bank ), 1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, acts as the custodian for each Fund. U.S. Bank is a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bank takes no part in determining the investment policies of the Funds or in deciding which securities are purchased or sold by the Funds. All of the instruments representing the investments of the Funds and all cash are held by U.S. Bank. U.S. Bank delivers securities against payment upon sale and pays for securities against delivery upon purchase. U.S. Bank also remits Fund assets in payment of Fund expenses, pursuant to instructions of NIFs officers or resolutions of the Board of Directors.
Nuveen Securities, LLC, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the distributor for the Funds shares pursuant to a best efforts arrangement as provided by a Distribution Agreement dated January 1, 2011 (the Distribution Agreement ). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Funds appointed the Distributor to be their agent for the distribution of the Funds shares on a continuous offering basis.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ( PwC ), One North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, independent registered public accounting firm, has been selected as auditors for the Funds. In addition to audit services, PwC provides assistance on accounting, tax and related matters.
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The Funds, the Adviser, Nuveen Asset Management and the Distributor have adopted codes of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and with respect to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Acts of 1940, as amended, addressing personal securities transactions and other conduct by investment personnel and access persons who may have access to information about the Funds securities transactions. The codes are intended to address potential conflicts of interest that can arise in connection with personal trading activities of such persons. Persons subject to the codes are generally permitted to engage in personal securities transactions, including investing in securities eligible for investment by the Funds, subject to certain prohibitions, which may include prohibitions on investing in certain types of securities, pre-clearance requirements, blackout periods, annual and quarterly reporting of personal securities holdings and limitations on personal trading of initial public offerings. Violations of the codes are subject to review by the Board of Directors and could result in severe penalties.
The Funds invest their assets primarily in debt securities, which generally do not issue proxies. However, the Funds may also invest in other types of securities that may issue proxies.
Each Fund has delegated authority to the Adviser to vote proxies for securities held by the Fund, and the Adviser has in turn delegated that responsibility to the Sub-Adviser. The Advisers proxy voting policy establishes minimum standards for the exercise of proxy voting authority by the Sub-Adviser.
A member of each Funds management team is responsible for oversight of the Funds proxy voting process. With regard to equity securities, Nuveen Asset Management has engaged the services of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ( ISS ) to make recommendations on the voting of proxies relating to securities held by the Funds and managed by Nuveen Asset Management. ISS provides voting recommendations based upon established guidelines and practices. Nuveen Asset Management reviews and frequently follows ISS recommendations. However, on selected issues, Nuveen Asset Management may not vote in accordance with the ISS recommendations when it believes that specific ISS recommendations are not in the best economic interest of the applicable Fund. If Nuveen Asset Management manages the assets of a company or its pension plan and any of Nuveen Asset Managements clients hold any securities of that company, Nuveen Asset Management will vote proxies relating to such companys securities in accordance with the ISS recommendations to avoid any conflict of interest. Where a material conflict of interest has been identified by Nuveen Asset Management and ISS does not offer a recommendation on the matter, Nuveen Asset Management shall disclose the conflict and Nuveen Asset Managements Proxy Voting Committee shall determine the manner in which to vote and notify the applicable Funds Board of Directors or its designated committee.
Although Nuveen Asset Management has affiliates that provide investment advisory, broker-dealer, insurance or other financial services, Nuveen Asset Management does not receive non-public information about the business arrangements of such affiliates (except with regard to major distribution partners of its investment products) or the directors, officers and employees of such affiliates. Therefore, Nuveen Asset Management is unable to consider such information when determining whether there are material conflicts of interests.
Nuveen Asset Management has adopted the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines. While these guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive, they do provide guidance on the Sub-Advisers general voting policies. Please see Appendix B for the ISS United States Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines.
Voted Proxies. Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge by accessing Nuveens website at http://www.nuveen.com or the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov.
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Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, the negotiation of the prices to be paid or received for principal trades, and the allocation of its transactions among various dealer firms. Portfolio securities will normally be purchased directly from an underwriter in a new issue offering or in the over-the-counter secondary market from the principal dealers in such securities, unless it appears that a better price or execution may be obtained elsewhere.
On behalf of a Fund, Nuveen Asset Management may seek to buy from or sell securities to another fund or account advised by Nuveen Asset Management or an affiliate. Nuveen Asset Management may effect purchases and sales between its clients or clients of its affiliates, including the Funds (referred to herein as cross trades ), if it believes that such transactions are appropriate based on each partys investment objectives and guidelines, subject to applicable law and regulation. Cross trades may give rise to potential conflicts of interest for Nuveen Asset Management. On any occasion when a Fund participates in a cross trade, the Fund will comply with procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act and applicable SEC guidance.
The Funds expect that substantially all portfolio transactions will be effected on a principal (as opposed to an agency) basis and, accordingly, do not expect to pay significant amounts of brokerage commissions. Brokerage will not be allocated based on the sale of a Funds shares. Purchases from underwriters will include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and asked price. It is the policy of Nuveen Asset Management to seek the best execution under the circumstances of each trade. Nuveen Asset Management evaluates price as the primary consideration, with the financial condition, reputation and responsiveness of the dealer considered secondarily in determining best execution. Given the best execution obtainable, it may be Nuveen Asset Managements practice to select dealers that, in addition, furnish research information (primarily credit analyses of issuers and general economic reports) and statistical and other services to Nuveen Asset Management. It is not possible to place a dollar value on information and statistical and other services received from dealers. Since it is only supplementary to Nuveen Asset Managements own research efforts, the receipt of research information is not expected to reduce significantly Nuveen Asset Managements expenses. For certain secondary market transactions where the execution capability of two brokers is judged to be of substantially similar quality, Nuveen Asset Management may randomly select one of them. While Nuveen Asset Management will be primarily responsible for the placement of the portfolio transactions of the Funds, the policies and practices of Nuveen Asset Management in this regard must be consistent with the foregoing and will, at all times, be subject to review by the Board of Directors.
Nuveen Asset Management may manage other investment companies and investment accounts for other clients that have investment objectives similar to the Funds. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, Nuveen Asset Management seeks to allocate portfolio transactions equitably whenever concurrent decisions are made to purchase or sell securities by a Fund and another advisory account. In making such allocations the main factors to be considered will be the respective investment objectives, the relative size of the portfolio holdings of the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment or need to raise cash, and the size of investment commitments generally held. While this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities (or, in the case of dispositions, the demand for securities) available to the Funds from time to time, it is the opinion of the Board of Directors that the benefits available from the Nuveen Asset Management organization will outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions.
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The following table sets forth the aggregate brokerage commissions paid by the Funds for the fiscal years represented below:
Aggregate Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Funds |
||||||||||||
Fund |
6/30/15 | 6/30/16 | 6/30/17 | |||||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund |
$ | 30,150 | $ | 14,160 | $ | 13,299 | ||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
15,079 | 12,490 | 10,237 | |||||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
44,697 | 27,235 | 23,408 | |||||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
27,665 | 21,412 | 20,181 | |||||||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund |
5,480 | 4,407 | 4,542 | |||||||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund |
24,562 | 11,796 | 4,513 | |||||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund |
44,349 | 54,222 | 43,778 |
Brokerage commissions paid by a Fund may vary substantially from year to year as a result of changing asset levels throughout the year, portfolio turnover rates, differences in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, varying market conditions and other factors.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund paid to brokers as commissions in return for research services $8,512 and $737, respectively, and the aggregate amount of those transactions on which such commissions were paid were $13,431,700 and $1,054,967, respectively.
The Funds have acquired during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 the securities of their regular brokers or dealers as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act or of the parents of the brokers or dealers. The following table sets forth those brokers or dealers and states the value of the Funds aggregate holdings of the securities of each issuer as of close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.
Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund |
Bank of America Securities LLC |
Bank of America Corporation, 4.000%, 4/1/24 |
$ | 303,906 | ||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 3.875%, 8/1/25 | 506,957 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 4.450%, 3/3/26 | 1,040,843 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 4.366%, 9/15/48 | 261,890 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 3.167%, 9/15/48 | 132,169 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 4.500%, 1/14/22 | 1,080,573 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.300%, 4/27/25 | 650,253 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 4.300%, 11/20/26 | 374,945 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2012-GC8, 3.024%, 9/10/45 | 1,022,777 |
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Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.750%, 1/24/22 | $ | 1,440,972 | |||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 6.750%, 10/01/37 | 1,418,023 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 3.200%, 1/25/23 | 514,817 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 3.875%, 9/10/24 | 717,121 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.400%, 5/15/38 | 1,341,343 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 4.000%, 7/23/25 | 1,816,264 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 3.950%, 4/23/27 | 1,152,320 | ||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund |
Bank of America Securities LLC |
Bank of America Corporation, 5.000%, 5/13/21 |
1,614,727 | |||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 4.000%, 4/01/24 | 1,535,247 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 4.250%, 10/22/26 | 2,317,232 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 3.248%, 10/21/27 | 1,923,224 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 6.300% | 936,244 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-UBS7, 4.366%, 9/15/48 | 543,926 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-UBS7, 3.167%, 9/15/48 | 276,352 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Credit Card Trust, Series 2017-A1, 1.950%, 8/15/22 | 2,508,262 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Funding Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-4, 5.500%, 6/25/37 | 25,398 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (78,525 | )* | |||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 4.500%, 1/14/22 | 1,822,459 |
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Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.750%, 6/16/24 | $ | 1,036,078 | |||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.300%, 4/27/25 | 1,775,690 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.200%, 10/21/26 | 773,237 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 4.300%, 11/20/26 | 2,054,492 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 6.250% | 1,098,281 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Default Swap | (3,126 | )* | |||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.250%, 7/27/21 | 723,326 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.750%, 1/24/22 | 3,377,277 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 4.000%, 3/03/24 | 3,800,254 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group Inc., 5.300% | 819,000 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-RP2 1A2, 7.500%, 3/25/35 | 467,601 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-RP3 1A2, 7.500%, 9/25/35 | 503,285 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2015-GC32, 3.345%, 7/10/48 | 930,928 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 4.500%, 1/24/22 | 1,440,039 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 3.200%, 1/25/23 | 1,697,366 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 3.900%, 7/15/25 | 1,627,022 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 2.950%, 10/01/26 | 767,336 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.400%, 5/15/38 | 1,542,544 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.750% | 2,556,563 |
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Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates 2017-JP5, 3.723%, 3/15/50 | $ | 2,151,824 | |||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 5.500%, 7/28/21 | 5,626,921 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 3.950%, 4/23/27 | 2,843,060 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2014-C16, 144A, 4.756%, 6/15/47 | 1,159,950 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2015-C22, 4.242%, 4/15/48 | 756,006 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (101,172 | )* | |||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | 23,601 | * | |||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (38,695 | )* | |||||
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. | SunTrust Bank Inc., 5.050% | 1,101,275 | ||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund |
Bank of America Securities LLC |
Bank of America Corporation |
| |||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sacks Bank USA, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (182,075 | )* | |||||
Jefferies & Co., Inc. | Jefferies Finance LLC | | ||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund |
|
Bank of America Corporation, 7.250% |
252,398 | |||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-UBS7 | 2,403,064 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2015-GC32 | 1,624,171 |
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Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund |
Bank of America Securities LLC |
Bank of America Corporation, 5.650%, 5/01/18 |
$ | 6,111,116 | ||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 2.250%, 4/21/20 | 1,500,503 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 2.150%, 7/30/18 | 4,012,664 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2.000%, 4/25/19 | 3,996,636 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2.750%, 9/15/20 | 1,892,376 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation II, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2014-GSFL, 2.226%, 7/15/31 | 1,449 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation II, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2010-C1, 3.679%, 8/10/43 | 1,068,399 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 1.850%, 3/22/19 | 5,774,122 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 2.250%, 1/23/20 | 1,449,387 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2010-C2 A3, | 2,943,852 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2017-1 | 2,689,618 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2017-2, 144A | 2,891,573 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 2.650%, 1/27/20 | 6,057,810 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-IQ16 | 1,163,481 | ||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund |
Bank of America Securities LLC |
Bank of America Corporation, 4.000%, 4/01/24 |
6,832,634 | |||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 4.200%, 8/26/24 | 4,367,665 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 3.248%, 10/21/27 | 7,842,693 |
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Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Corporation, 6.300% | $ | 3,021,769 | |||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Alternative Loan Trust, Series 2005-5 2 CB1, 6.000%, 6/25/35 | 26,273 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-UBS7, 4.366%, 9/15/48 | 1,208,725 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-UBS7, 3.167%, 9/15/48 | 616,786 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America Credit Card Trust, Series 2017-A1, 1.950%, 8/15/22 | 5,172,037 | ||||||
Bank of America Securities LLC | Bank of America, N.A., Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (349,969 | )* | |||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 4.500%, 1/14/22 | 1,510,652 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.750%, 6/16/24 | 5,916,005 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.300%, 4/27/25 | 1,610,626 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 3.200%, 10/21/26 | 3,209,663 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 4.300%, 11/20/26 | 6,163,476 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Inc., 6.250% | 3,289,297 | ||||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Default Swap | (2,088 | )* | |||||
Citigroup Global Markets | Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Credit Default Swap | (538,340 | )* | |||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.250%, 7/27/21 | 1,506,928 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 5.750%, 1/24/22 | 1,013,183 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 4.000%, 3/03/24 | 15,494,150 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 4.250%, 10/21/25 | 1,984,810 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Group Inc., 5.300% | 2,446,500 | ||||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-GC32, 3.345%, 7/10/48 | 1,952,967 |
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Fund |
Broker/Dealer |
Issuer |
Aggregate Fund
Holdings of Broker/Dealer or Parent (as of June 30, 2017) |
|||||
Goldman Sachs & Co. | Goldman Sacks Bank USA, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | $ | (57,459 | )* | ||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 4.500%, 1/24/22 | 1,515,830 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 3.200%, 1/25/23 | 7,645,793 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 3.875%, 9/10/24 | 3,095,487 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 2.950%, 10/01/26 | 3,909,072 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.400%, 5/15/38 | 3,058,262 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Chase & Company, 6.750% | 3,408,750 | ||||||
JPMorgan Chase | JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-S1, 1.512%, 4/25/47 | 727,600 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 4.000%, 7/23/25 | 9,702,400 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 3.950%, 4/23/27 | 10,567,127 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley, 5.550% | 1,044,750 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2014-C16, 144A, 4.756%, 6/15/47 | 2,472,762 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust, Series 2015-C22, 144A, 4.242%, 4/15/48 | 1,651,388 | ||||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | 107,838 | * | |||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (462,278 | )* | |||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. | Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contract | (160,300 | )* |
* | Amounts represent unrealized appreciation/depreciation as of June 30, 2017. |
Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may not purchase portfolio securities from any underwriting syndicate of which the Distributor is a member except under certain limited conditions set forth in Rule 10f-3. The Rule sets forth requirements relating to, among other things, the terms of a security purchased by a Fund, the amount of securities that may be purchased in any one issue and the assets of a Fund that may be invested in a particular issue. In addition, purchases of securities made pursuant to the terms of the Rule must be approved at least quarterly by the Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent directors.
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Portfolio Trading and Turnover
The Funds will make changes in their investment portfolios from time to time in order to seek to take advantage of opportunities in the market and to limit exposure to market risk. The Funds may also engage to a limited extent in short-term trading consistent with their investment objectives. Changes in the Funds investments are known as portfolio turnover.
The substantial increases in portfolio turnover over the past fiscal year for Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund were the result of changes in shareholder purchase and redemption activity, market conditions and investment opportunities.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Nuveen Mutual Funds have adopted a portfolio holdings disclosure policy which governs the dissemination of the Funds portfolio holdings. In accordance with this policy, the Funds may provide portfolio holdings information to third parties no earlier than the time a report is filed with the SEC that is required to contain such information or one day after the information is posted on the Funds publicly accessible website, www.nuveen.com. A complete list of portfolio holdings information is generally made available on the Funds website ten business days after the end of the month. Additionally, the Funds publish on the website a list of their top ten holdings as of the end of each month, approximately two to five business days after the end of the month for which the information is current. This information will remain available on the website at least until the Funds file with the SEC their Forms N-CSR or Forms N-Q for the period that includes the date as of which the website information is current.
Additionally, the Funds may disclose portfolio holdings information that has not been included in a filing with the SEC or posted on the Funds website (i.e., non-public portfolio holdings information) only if there is a legitimate business purpose for doing so and if the recipient is required, either by explicit agreement or by virtue of the recipients duties to the Funds as an agent or service provider, to maintain the confidentiality of the information and to not use the information in an improper manner (e.g., personal trading). In this connection, the Funds may disclose on an ongoing basis non-public portfolio holdings information in the normal course of their investment and administrative operations to various service providers, including the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser, independent registered public accounting firm, custodian, financial printer, proxy voting service(s), and to the legal counsel for the Funds independent directors. Also, the Adviser may transmit to service providers non-public portfolio holdings information to enable the Adviser to perform portfolio attribution analysis using third-party systems and software programs. The Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser may also provide certain portfolio holdings information to broker-dealers from time to time in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities. In providing this information, reasonable precautions are taken in an effort to avoid potential misuse of the disclosed information, including limitations on the scope of the portfolio holdings information disclosed, when appropriate. The Funds, the Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser do not receive compensation or other consideration in exchange for the disclosure of portfolio holdings.
Non-public portfolio holdings information may be provided to other persons if approved by the Funds Chief Administrative Officer or Secretary upon a determination that there is a legitimate business purpose for doing so, the disclosure is consistent with the interests of the Funds, and the recipient is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of the information and not misuse it, which includes a prohibition on trading on such non-public information.
Compliance officers of the Funds and the Adviser and Sub-Adviser periodically monitor overall compliance with the policy to ascertain whether portfolio holdings information is disclosed in a manner that is consistent with the Funds policy. Reports are made to the Funds Board of Directors on an annual basis.
There is no assurance that the Funds policies on portfolio holdings information will protect the Funds from the potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by individuals or firms in possession of such information.
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The following parties currently receive non-public portfolio holdings information regarding one or more of the Nuveen Mutual Funds on an ongoing basis pursuant to the various arrangements described above:
Accenture
Advent
Bank of America PriceServe
Barclays Capital, Inc.
Barra
Bloomberg
Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.
Broadridge Systems
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Chapman and Cutler LLP
Donnelley Financial Solutions
Eagle Investment Systems, LLC
Electra Information Systems
FactSet Research Systems
Financial Graphic Services
Glass, Lewis & Co.
ISS
Interactive Data Pricing and Reference
Investortools
KPMG LLP
Lipper Inc.
Markit
Moodys
Morningstar, Inc.
Omgeo LLC
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricingDirect Inc.
Rimes Technologies Corporation
SS&C
Standard & Poors
State Street Bank and Trust Co.
Strategic Insight
ThomsonReuters LLC
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
U.S. Bank N.A.
Wolters Kluwer
Each Funds net asset value is determined as set forth in its Prospectus under General InformationNet Asset Value.
Each share of each Funds $0.0001 par value common stock is fully paid, nonassessable, and transferable. Shares may be issued as either full or fractional shares. Fractional shares have pro rata the same rights and privileges as full shares. Shares of the Funds have no preemptive or conversion rights.
Each share of a Fund has one vote. On some issues, such as the election of directors, all shares of all NIF funds vote together as one series. The shares do not have cumulative voting rights. On issues affecting only a particular Fund, the shares of that Fund will vote as a separate series. Examples of such issues would be proposals to alter a fundamental investment restriction pertaining to a Fund or to approve, disapprove or alter a distribution plan. The Bylaws of NIF provide that annual
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shareholders meetings are not required and that meetings of shareholders need only be held with such frequency as required under Maryland law and the 1940 Act.
The following table sets forth the percentage ownership of each person, who, as of October 2, 2017, owned of record, or is known by NIF to have owned beneficially, 5% or more of any class of a Funds shares.
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
|
29.71% |
|
||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
8.73% | |||||
Edward D Jones & Co For the Benefit of Customers 12555 Manchester Rd Saint Louis MO 63131-3729 |
8.28% | |||||
UBS WM USA Omni Account M/F Spec Cdy A/C EBOC UBSFSI 1000 Harbor Blvd Weehawken NJ 07086-6761 |
6.59% | |||||
American Enterprise Investment Serv 707 2nd Ave S Minneapolis MN 55402-2405 |
5.98% | |||||
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
5.37% | |||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
|
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
|
22.12% |
|
||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market Street St Louis MO 63103-2523 |
16.36% | |||||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Fund Administration 4800 Deer Lake Dr East 3rd Fl Jacksonville FL 32246 |
15.68% | |||||
American Enterprise Investment Serv 707 2nd Ave S Minneapolis MN 55402-2405 |
12.97% |
S-79
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
9.81% | |||||
Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds House Acct Attn: Courtney Waller 880 Carillon Parkway St Petersburg FL 33716-1102 |
9.50% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
5.89% | |||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
|
Nuveen Strategy Balanced Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
|
57.96% |
|
||
Nuveen Strategy Conservative Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
33.07% | |||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund
|
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
|
63.60% |
|
||
Washington & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
8.48% | |||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
|
30.81% |
|
||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Account For Benefit of Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
12.11% | |||||
Edward D Jones & Co For the Benefit of Customers 12555 Manchester Rd Saint Louis MO 63131-3729 |
7.35% |
S-80
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
6.10% | |||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
|
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
|
28.44% |
|
||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
20.32% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
13.69% | |||||
Edward D Jones & Co For the Benefit of Customers 12555 Manchester Rd Saint Louis MO 63131-3729 |
7.93% | |||||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
6.29% | |||||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
6.06% | |||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
|
State Street Bank and Trust Company Trustee and/or Custodian FBO ADP Access Product 1 Lincoln St Boston MA 02111-2901 |
|
25.31% |
|
||
FIIOC FBO Mellen & Associates Inc 401K Profit Sharing Plan 100 Magellan Way #KW1C Covington KY 41015-1987 |
16.11% | |||||
Ascensus Trust Company FBO Mental Health America of Dutchess C P.O. Box 10758 Fargo ND 58106-0758 |
11.66% |
S-81
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Ascensus Trust Company FBO Overturf 401(K) Plan P.O. Box 10758 Fargo ND 58106-0758 |
6.97% | |||||
Mid Atlantic Trust Company FBO Xemed LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Pla 1251 Waterfront Place, Suite 525 Pittsburgh PA 15222-4228 |
6.09% | |||||
Matrix Trust Company Cust. FBO Panda Bear Pediatrics, LLC 717 17th Street Suite 1300 Denver CO 80202-3304 |
6.08% | |||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
|
Nuveen Strategy Balanced Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
|
46.74% |
|
||
Nuveen Strategy Conservative Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
35.69% | |||||
Nuveen Strategy Growth Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
11.19% | |||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund
|
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
|
44.13% |
|
||
Capinco C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
12.33% | |||||
MAC & Co FBO PB & T Attn Mutual Fund Operations 500 Grant St Rm 151-1010 Pittsburgh PA 15219-2502 |
11.42% | |||||
Great-West Trust Co LLC Trustee/C FBO Retirement Plans 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2 Greenwood Vlg CO 80111-5002 |
7.13% | |||||
Washington & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
6.43% |
S-82
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
|
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
|
16.87% |
|
||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
13.97% | |||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
11.26% | |||||
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
10.59% | |||||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
9.05% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
7.22% | |||||
Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds House Acct Attn: Courtney Waller 880 Carillon Parkway St Petersburg FL 33716-1102 |
5.88% | |||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
|
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
|
13.50% |
|
||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
13.14% | |||||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
13.09% |
S-83
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds House Acct Attn: Courtney Waller 880 Carillon Parkway St Petersburg FL 33716-1102 |
12.80% | |||||
LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account Attn Mutual Fund Trading 4707 Executive Dr San Diego CA 92121-3091 |
8.09% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
7.94% | |||||
UBS WM USA Omni Account M/F Spec Cdy A/C EBOC UBSFSI 1000 Harbor Blvd Weehawken NJ 07086-6761 |
7.94% | |||||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
7.75% | |||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
|
Ascensus Trust Co FBOY FBO Make-A-Wish 401 K Plan PO Box 10758 Fargo ND 58106-0758 |
|
31.30% |
|
||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
23.89% | |||||
Ascensus Trust Company FBO Waterstone Retirement Plan P.O. Box 10758 Fargo ND 58106-0758 |
16.26% | |||||
State Street Bank and Trust Company Trustee and/or Custodian FBO ADP Access Product 1 Lincoln St Boston MA 02111-2901 |
5.19% | |||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
|
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
|
22.86% |
|
S-84
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
18.75% | |||||
LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account Attn Mutual Fund Trading 4707 Executive Dr San Diego CA 92121-3091 |
14.03% | |||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Account For Benefit of Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
9.27% | |||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund
|
Nuveen Investments Inc Attn: Darlene Cramer 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
|
100.00% |
|
||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
|
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
|
54.55% |
|
||
Lincoln Retirement Services Company FBO Shands Jacksonville Med Ctr 401 PO Box 7876 Fort Wayne IN 46801-7876 |
9.67% | |||||
Great-West Trust Company LLC TTEE F Employee Benefits Clients 401K 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2 Greenwood Vlg CO 80111-5002 |
8.51% | |||||
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
6.62% | |||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
|
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
|
12.98% |
|
||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
12.61% |
S-85
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
8.30% | |||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
6.01% | |||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
|
MLPF&S for the Sole Benefit Of its Customers Attn Fund Admin 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Fl 3 Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
|
55.03% |
|
||
DCGT as TTEE and/or Cust FBO PLIC Various Retirement Plans Omnibus Attn NPIO Trade Desk 711 High St Des Moines IA 50392-0001 |
17.31% | |||||
Great-West Trust Company LLC TTEE F Employee Benefits Clients 401K 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2 Greenwood Vlg CO 80111-5002 |
9.53% | |||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
|
Nuveen Strategy Balanced Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
|
23.32% |
|
||
Nuveen Strategy Conservative Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
12.34% | |||||
Great-West Trust Company LLC TTEE F Employee Benefits Clients 401K 8515 E Orchard Rd 2T2 Greenwood Vlg CO 80111-5002 |
8.36% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 5 8 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
7.72% |
S-86
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 13 14 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
5.61% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Nuveen Inflation-Linked Portfolio State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
5.56% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 9 10 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
5.18% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 11 12 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
5.15% | |||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund
|
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
|
62.29% |
|
||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Safekeeping Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
5.16% | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
|
31.88% |
|
||
LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account Attn Mutual Fund Trading 4707 Executive Dr San Diego CA 92121-3091 |
11.68% | |||||
Matrix Trust Company Cust. FBO Bill Page Honda 401(K) Profit Shari 717 17th Street Suite 1300 Denver CO 80202-3304 |
7.59% |
S-87
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
5.82% | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
|
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
|
55.65% |
|
||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
11.93% | |||||
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
5.01% | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
|
Mid Atlantic Trust Company FBO AAAW Guaranty Pest Elimination 1251 Waterfront Place Suite 525 Pittsburgh PA 15222-4228 |
|
75.02% |
|
||
Mid Atlantic Trust Company FBO Community Savings Bank 401(K) Profi 1251 Waterfront Place, Suite 525 Pittsburgh PA 15222-4228 |
18.55% | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund
|
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
|
79.66% |
|
||
Washington & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
5.57% | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
|
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
|
18.46% |
|
||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
11.52% |
S-88
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
9.91% | |||||
UBS WM USA Omni Account M/F Spec Cdy A/C EBOC UBSFSI 1000 Harbor Blvd Weehawken NJ 07086-6761 |
9.39% | |||||
MLPF&S For the Sole Benefit Of its Customers Attn Fund Administration 4800 Deer Lake Drive East 3rd Fl Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
7.44% | |||||
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
7.10% | |||||
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
5.79% | |||||
Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds House Acct Attn: Courtney Waller 880 Carillon Parkway St Petersburg FL 33716-1102 |
5.58% | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
|
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Safekeeping Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
|
22.45% |
|
||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
14.42% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
13.10% | |||||
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
9.72% |
S-89
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Account For Benefit of Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
8.47% | |||||
Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds House Acct Attn: Courtney Waller 880 Carillon Parkway St Petersburg FL 33716-1102 |
7.36% | |||||
American Enterprise Investment Serv 707 2nd Ave S Minneapolis MN 55402-2405 |
6.59% | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
|
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Safekeeping Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
|
94.38% |
|
||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
|
Nuveen Strategy Balanced Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
|
34.51% |
|
||
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
19.74% | |||||
Nuveen Strategy Conservative Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
16.26% | |||||
Nuveen Strategy Growth Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
15.54% | |||||
Nuveen Strategy Aggressive Growth Allocation Fund 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
9.49% | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund
|
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
|
56.08% |
|
S-90
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Capinco C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
9.17% | |||||
Washington & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
6.25% | |||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
|
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
|
13.40% |
|
||
LPL Financial Omnibus Customer Account Attn Mutual Fund Trading 4707 Executive Dr San Diego CA 92121-3091 |
10.50% | |||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
10.35% | |||||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
9.09% | |||||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
7.99% | |||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Account For Benefit of Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
6.96% | |||||
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
6.81% | |||||
American Enterprise Investment Serv 707 2nd Ave S Minneapolis MN 55402-2405 |
5.98% |
S-91
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
|
Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plz Jersey City NJ 07399-0001 |
|
20.47% |
|
||
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Customer 2801 Market St Saint Louis MO 63103-2523 |
13.52% | |||||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
13.20% | |||||
American Enterprise Investment Serv 707 2nd Ave S Minneapolis MN 55402-2405 |
11.56% | |||||
Raymond James Omnibus for Mutual Funds House Acct Attn: Courtney Waller 880 Carillon Parkway St Petersburg FL 33716-1102 |
8.72% | |||||
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Harborside Financial Center Plaza 2 3rd Floor Jersey City NJ 07311 |
7.33% | |||||
Charles Schwab & Co Inc Special Custody Acct FBO Customers Attn Mutual Funds 211 Main St San Francisco CA 94105-1905 |
7.25% | |||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
|
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
|
47.05% |
|
||
VRSCO FBO AIGFSB Cust Ttee FBO Rush Health Systems 403B Plan 2727-A Allen Parkway, 4-D1 Houston TX 77019-2107 |
5.61% | |||||
Mid Atlantic Trust Company FBO Southland 401K Plan 1251 Waterfront Place, Suite 525 Pittsburgh PA 15222-4228 |
5.27% |
S-92
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
|
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Nuveen Strategic Income Portfolio State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
|
46.47% |
|
||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 5 8 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
10.01% | |||||
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
8.61% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 9 10 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
6.71% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 11 12 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
6.67% | |||||
State Street Bank & Trust Custodian FBO/Michigan Advisor Ages 13 14 State Street Corporation One Heritage Drive North Quincy MA 02171-2105 |
5.81% | |||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
|
Band & Co C/O US Bank PO Box 1787 Milwaukee WI 53201-1787 |
|
28.65% |
|
||
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Safekeeping Attn Physical Team 4800 Deer Lake Dr E Jacksonville FL 32246-6484 |
13.01% | |||||
American Enterprise Investment Serv 707 2nd Ave S Minneapolis MN 55402-2405 |
10.27% |
S-93
Name of Fund and Class |
Name and Address of Owner |
Percentage of
Ownership |
||||
National Financial Services LLC For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers Attn Mutual Fund Dept 4th Floor 499 Washington Blvd Jersey City NJ 07310-1995 |
8.37% | |||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund
|
Nuveen Investments Inc Attn: Darlene Cramer 333 West Wacker Dr Chicago IL 60606-1220 |
|
100.00% |
|
This section summarizes some of the main U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning shares of a Fund. Tax laws and interpretations change frequently, and this summary does not describe all of the tax consequences to all taxpayers. For example, this summary generally does not describe your situation if you are a corporation, a non-U.S. person, a broker-dealer or other investor with special circumstances, or if you are investing through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or 401(k) plan. In addition, this section does not describe your state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences. This federal income tax summary is based in part on the advice of counsel to the Funds. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with any conclusions set forth in this section. In addition, Funds counsel was not asked to review, and has not reached a conclusion with respect to the federal income tax treatment of the assets to be deposited in the Funds. Consequently, this summary may not be sufficient for you to use for the purpose of avoiding penalties under federal tax law. As with any investment, you should seek advice based on your individual circumstances from your own tax professional.
Each Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under the federal tax laws. If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company and distributes its income as required by the tax law, the Fund generally will not pay federal income taxes. An adverse federal income tax audit of a partnership that a Fund invests in could result in the Fund being required to pay federal income tax or pay a deficiency dividend (without having received additional cash). If a Fund fails for any taxable year to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes, the Fund itself will generally be subject to federal income taxation (which will reduce the amount of Fund income available for distribution) and your tax consequences will be different from those described in this section (for example, all distributions to you will generally be taxed as ordinary income, even if those distributions are derived from capital gains realized by a Fund).
Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company
As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code , but without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain ( i.e. , the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes to shareholders, provided that it distributes at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for the year (the Distribution Requirement ) and satisfies certain other requirements of the Code that are generally described below. Each Fund also intends to make such distributions as are necessary to avoid the otherwise applicable 4% non-deductible excise tax on certain undistributed earnings.
In addition to satisfying the Distribution Requirement, each Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (1) dividends, interest, certain
S-94
payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or disposition of stock, securities or non-U.S. currencies and other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and (2) net income derived from an interest in qualified publicly traded partnerships (as such term is defined in the Code). Each Fund must also satisfy an asset diversification test in order to qualify as a regulated investment company. Under this test, at the close of each quarter of a Funds taxable year, (1) 50% or more of the value of the Funds assets must be represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), United States government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Funds assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (2) not more than 25% of the value of the Funds assets may be invested in securities of (a) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies), or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses or (b) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as such term is defined in the Code). There are certain exceptions for failure to qualify if the failure is for reasonable cause or is de minimis and certain corrective action is taken and certain tax payments are made by a Fund.
Fund distributions are generally taxable. After the end of each year, you will receive a tax statement that separates your Funds distributions into three categories, ordinary income distributions, capital gain dividends and returns of capital. Ordinary income distributions are generally taxed at your ordinary tax rate, however, as further discussed below, certain ordinary income distributions received from the Fund may be taxed at the capital gains tax rates. Generally, you will treat all capital gain dividends as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your shares. To determine your actual tax liability for your capital gain dividends, you must calculate your total net capital gain or loss for the tax year after considering all of your other taxable transactions, as described below. In addition, a Fund may make distributions that represent a return of capital for tax purposes and thus will generally not be immediately taxable to you unless the distribution exceeds your basis in your shares. The tax status of your distributions from your Fund is not affected by whether you reinvest your distributions in additional shares or receive them in cash. The income from your Fund that you must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts used to pay a deferred sales fee, if any. The tax laws may require you to treat distributions made to you in January as if you had received them on December 31 of the previous year. Income from the Funds may also be subject to a 3.8 percent Medicare tax. This tax generally applies to your net investment income if your adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts, which are $250,000 in the case of married couples filing joint returns and $200,000 in the case of single individuals.
A corporation that owns shares generally will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to dividends received from the Funds because the dividends received deduction is generally not available for distributions from regulated investment companies. However, certain ordinary income dividends on shares that are attributable to qualifying dividends received by a Fund from certain corporations may be reported by the Fund as being eligible for the dividends received deduction.
If you sell or redeem your shares, you will generally recognize a taxable gain or loss. To determine the amount of this gain or loss, you must subtract your tax basis in your shares from the amount you receive in the transaction. Your tax basis in your shares is generally equal to the cost of your shares, generally including sales charges. In some cases, however, you may have to adjust your tax basis after you purchase your shares.
Taxation of Capital Gains and Losses
If you are an individual, the maximum marginal stated federal tax rate for net capital gains is generally 20% for taxpayers in the 39.6% tax bracket, 15% for taxpayers in the 25%, 28%, 33% and
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35% tax brackets and 0% for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% tax brackets. Some capital gains, including some portion of your capital gain dividends from the Funds, may be taxed at a higher stated tax rate. Capital gains received from assets held for more than one year that are considered unrecaptured section 1250 gain (which may be the case, for example, with some capital gains attributable to equity interests in real estate investment trusts that constitute interests in entities treated as real estate investment trusts for federal income tax purposes) are taxed at a maximum stated tax rate of 25%. In the case of capital gain dividends, the determination of which portion of the capital gains dividend, if any, is subject to the 25% tax rate, will be made based on the rules prescribed by the United States Treasury. Capital gains may also be subject to the Medicare tax described above.
Net capital gain equals net long-term capital gain minus net short-term capital loss for the taxable year. Capital gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less. You must exclude the date you purchase your shares to determine your holding period. However, if you receive a capital gain dividend from your Fund and sell your share at a loss after holding it for six months or less, the loss will be recharacterized as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain dividend received. The tax rates for capital gains realized from assets held for one year or less are generally the same as for ordinary income. The Code treats certain capital gains as ordinary income in special situations.
Taxation of Certain Ordinary Income Dividends
Ordinary income dividends received by an individual shareholder from a regulated investment company such as a Fund are generally taxed at the same rates that apply to net capital gain (as discussed above), provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied and provided the dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received by the Fund itself. Distributions with respect to shares in real estate investment trusts are qualifying dividends only in limited circumstances. A Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates.
Under certain circumstances, as described in the Prospectus, you may receive an in-kind distribution of Fund securities when you redeem shares or when your Fund terminates. This distribution will be treated as a sale for federal income tax purposes and you will generally recognize gain or loss, generally based on the value at that time of the securities and the amount of cash received. The Internal Revenue Service could, however, assert that a loss may not be currently deducted.
If you exchange shares of a Fund for shares of another Nuveen Mutual Fund, the exchange would generally be considered a sale for federal income tax purposes.
Deductibility of Fund Expenses
Expenses incurred and deducted by your Fund will generally not be treated as income taxable to you. In some cases, however, you may be required to treat your portion of these Fund expenses as income. In these cases you may be able to take a deduction for these expenses. However, certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, may be deducted by individuals only to the extent that all of these deductions exceed 2% of the individuals adjusted gross income. Some individuals may also be subject to further limitations on the amount of their itemized deductions, depending on their income.
If your Fund invests in any non-U.S. securities, the tax statement that you receive may include an item showing non-U.S. taxes your Fund paid to other countries. In this case, dividends taxed to you will include your share of the taxes your Fund paid to other countries. You may be able to deduct or receive a tax credit for your share of these taxes.
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Investments in Certain Non-U.S. Corporations
If your Fund holds an equity interest in any passive foreign investment companies ( PFICs ), which are generally certain foreign corporations that receive at least 75% of their annual gross income from passive sources (such as interest, dividends, certain rents and royalties or capital gains) or that hold at least 50% of their assets in investments producing such passive income, your Fund could be subject to U.S. federal income tax and additional interest charges on gains and certain distributions with respect to those equity interests, even if all the income or gain is timely distributed to its shareholders. Your Fund will not be able to pass through to its shareholders any credit or deduction for such taxes. Your Fund may be able to make an election that could ameliorate these adverse tax consequences. In this case, your Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of such PFIC shares, and as ordinary loss any decrease in such value to the extent it did not exceed prior increases included in income. Under this election, your Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its distributions from PFICs and its proceeds from dispositions of PFIC stock during that year, and such income would nevertheless be subject to the distribution requirement and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax. Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income.
If you are a non-U.S. investor (i.e., an investor other than a U.S. citizen or resident or a U.S. corporation, partnership, estate or trust), you should be aware that, generally, subject to applicable tax treaties, distributions from a Fund will be characterized as dividends for federal income tax purposes (other than dividends which a Fund properly reports as capital gain dividends) and will be subject to U.S. income taxes, including withholding taxes, subject to certain exceptions described below. However, distributions received by a non-U.S. investor from a Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. Distributions from a Fund that are properly reported by the Fund as an interest-related dividend attributable to certain interest income received by the Fund or as a short-term capital gain dividend attributable to certain net short-term capital gain income received by the Fund may not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes, including withholding taxes when received by certain foreign investors, provided that the Fund makes certain elections and certain other conditions are met. In addition, distributions in respect of shares may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30% in the case of distributions to (i) certain non-U.S. financial institutions that have not entered into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to collect and disclose certain information and are not resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into such an agreement with the U.S. Treasury and (ii) certain other non-U.S. entities that do not provide certain certifications and information about the entitys U.S. owners. Dispositions of shares by such persons may be subject to such withholding after December 31, 2018.
When a Fund has a capital loss carry-forward, it does not make capital gain distributions until the loss has been offset or expired. As of June 30, 2017, the following Funds had capital loss carry-forwards available for federal income tax purposes, expiring in the year indicated.
Fund |
Expiration Year |
Capital Loss
Carry-Forwards |
||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | | * | $ | 2,917,952 | ||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | | * | 6,778,004 | |||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | | * | 93,516,903 | |||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | | * | 3,811,179 | |||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | | * | 1,057,024 | |||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 2018 | 4,103,631 | ||||||
| * | 8,377,887 | ||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 2018 | 35,110,018 | ||||||
| * | 54,722,250 |
* | Not subject to expiration. |
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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES
As described in the Prospectus, the Funds provide you with alternative ways of purchasing Fund shares based upon your individual investment needs and preferences.
Each class of shares of a Fund represents an interest in the same portfolio of investments. Each class of shares is identical in all respects except that each class bears its own class expenses, including distribution and administration expenses, and each class has exclusive voting rights with respect to any distribution or service plan applicable to its shares. As a result of the differences in the expenses borne by each class of shares, net income per share, dividends per share and net asset value per share will vary among a Funds classes of shares. There are no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights.
Shareholders of each class will share expenses proportionately for services that are received equally by all shareholders. A particular class of shares will bear only those expenses that are directly attributable to that class, where the type or amount of services received by a class varies from one class to another. For example, class-specific expenses generally will include distribution and service fees for those classes that pay such fees.
The expenses to be borne by specific classes of shares may include (i) transfer agency fees attributable to a specific class of shares, (ii) printing and postage expenses related to preparing and distributing materials such as shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxy statements to current shareholders of a specific class of shares, (iii) SEC and state securities registration fees incurred by a specific class of shares, (iv) the expense of administrative personnel and services required to support the shareholders of a specific class of shares, (v) litigation or other legal expenses relating to a specific class of shares, (vi) directors fees or expenses incurred as a result of issues relating to a specific class of shares, (vii) accounting expenses relating to a specific class of shares and (viii) any additional incremental expenses subsequently identified and determined to be properly allocated to one or more classes of shares.
Class A shares may be purchased at a public offering price equal to the applicable net asset value per share plus an up-front sales charge imposed at the time of purchase as set forth in the Prospectus. Shareholders may qualify for a reduced sales charge, or the sales charge may be waived in its entirety, as described below. Class A shares are also subject to an annual service fee of 0.25%. See Distribution and Service Plan. Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering price of the Class A shares of a Fund. The example assumes a purchase on June 30, 2017 of Class A shares of Nuveen Core Bond Fund aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the schedule of sales charges set forth in the Prospectus at a price based upon the net asset value of the Class A shares.
Net asset value per share |
$ | 9.76 | ||
Per share sales charge3.00% of public offering price (3.07% of net asset value per share) |
0.30 | |||
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Per share offering price to the public |
$ | 10.06 | ||
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Each Fund receives the entire net asset value of all Class A shares that are sold. The Distributor retains the full applicable sales charge from which it pays the uniform reallowances shown in the Prospectus to financial intermediaries.
Investors may purchase Class A shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund. In addition, Class A shares may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine whether their policies allow for an investment in Class A shares.
Reduction or Elimination of Up-Front Sales Charge on Class A Shares
The availability of the sales charge reductions and waivers discussed below will depend on the policies of the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares. Information on
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intermediaries variations from the reductions and waivers discussed below are disclosed in the appendix to the Prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts that are not available through your intermediary, you will have to purchase Fund shares through another intermediary.
Rights of Accumulation. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares of a Fund if the amount of your purchase, when added to the value that day of all of your shares of any Nuveen Mutual Fund, falls within the amounts stated in the Class A Sales Charges and Commissions table in How You Can Buy and Sell Shares in the Prospectus. You or your financial advisor must notify the Distributor or the Funds transfer agent of any cumulative discount whenever you plan to purchase Class A shares of a Fund that you wish to qualify for a reduced sales charge.
Letter of Intent. You may qualify for a reduced sales charge on a purchase of Class A shares of a Fund if you plan to purchase Class A shares of Nuveen Mutual Funds over the next 13 months and the total amount of your purchases would, if purchased at one time, qualify you for one of the reduced sales charges shown in the Class A Sales Charges and Commissions table in How You Can Buy and Sell Shares in the Prospectus. In order to take advantage of this option, you must complete the applicable section of the Application Form or sign and deliver to your financial advisor or other financial intermediary or to the Funds transfer agent a written Letter of Intent in a form acceptable to the Distributor. A Letter of Intent states that you intend, but are not obligated, to purchase over the next 13 months a stated total amount of Class A shares that would qualify you for a reduced sales charge shown above. You may count shares of all Nuveen Mutual Funds that you already own and any Class C and Class I shares of a Nuveen Mutual Fund that you purchase over the next 13 months towards completion of your investment program, but you will receive a reduced sales charge only on new Class A shares you purchase with a sales charge over the 13 months. You cannot count towards completion of your investment program Class A shares that you purchase without a sales charge through investment of distributions from a Nuveen Mutual Fund or a Nuveen Defined Portfolio, or otherwise.
By establishing a Letter of Intent, you agree that your first purchase of Class A shares of a Fund following execution of the Letter of Intent will be at least 5% of the total amount of your intended purchases. You further agree that shares representing 5% of the total amount of your intended purchases will be held in escrow pending completion of these purchases. All dividends and capital gain distributions on Class A shares held in escrow will be credited to your account. If total purchases, less redemptions, prior to the expiration of the 13 month period equal or exceed the amount specified in your Letter of Intent, the Class A shares held in escrow will be transferred to your account. If the total purchases, less redemptions, are less than the amount specified, you must pay the Distributor an amount equal to the difference between the amounts paid for these purchases and the amounts which would have been paid if the higher sales charge had been applied. If you do not pay the additional amount within 20 days after written request by the Distributor or your financial advisor, the Distributor will redeem an appropriate number of your escrowed Class A shares to meet the required payment. By establishing a Letter of Intent, you irrevocably appoint the Distributor as attorney to give instructions to redeem any or all of your escrowed shares, with full power of substitution in the premises.
You or your financial advisor must notify the Distributor or the Funds transfer agent whenever you make a purchase of Fund shares that you wish to be covered under the Letter of Intent option.
For purposes of determining whether you qualify for a reduced sales charge as described under Rights of Accumulation and Letter of Intent , you may include together with your own purchases those made by your spouse or domestic partner and your children under the age of 21 years, whether these purchases are made through a taxable or non-taxable account. You may also include purchases made by a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship which is 100% owned, either alone or in combination, by any of the foregoing. In addition, a trustee or other fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a single trust, estate or other single fiduciary account that has multiple accounts (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same employer).
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Elimination of Sales Charge on Class A Shares. Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased at net asset value without a sales charge by the following categories of investors:
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investors purchasing $1,000,000 or more ($250,000 or more in the case of Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund); |
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investors purchasing shares through the reinvestment of Nuveen Mutual Fund dividends and capital gain distributions; |
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investors purchasing shares for accounts held directly with a Fund that do not have a financial intermediary of record; |
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current and former trustees/directors of the Nuveen Funds; |
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current and retired employees of Nuveen ,LLC and its affiliates or their immediate family members (immediate family members are defined as their spouses or domestic partners, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, siblings, a siblings spouse and a spouses siblings); |
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any person who, for at least the last 90 days, has been an officer, director or employee of any financial intermediary, or their immediate family members; |
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bank or broker-affiliated trust departments investing funds over which they exercise exclusive discretionary investment authority and that are held in a fiduciary, agency, advisory, custodial or similar capacity; |
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investors purchasing on a periodic fee, asset-based fee or no transaction fee basis through a broker-dealer sponsored mutual fund purchase program; |
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clients of investment advisers, financial planners or other financial intermediaries that charge periodic or asset-based fees for their services; |
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employer-sponsored retirement plans as defined below, except that, in the case of employer-sponsored retirement plans held through a brokerage account, Class A shares will be available at net asset value without a sales charge only if the broker-dealer has entered into an agreement with the Distributor that allows for such purchases. Intermediaries that have entered into such an agreement are listed in the appendix to the Prospectus titled, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. For this purpose, employer-sponsored retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, health savings accounts, defined benefit plans, participant directed non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Roth 401(k) plans and Roth 403(b) plans, and do not include SEPs, SAR-SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs (except as described below), SIMPLE 401(k) plans, Solo 401(k) plans, KEOGH plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and single defined benefit plans; |
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SIMPLE IRAs opened before January 1, 2011 where Nuveen Securities, LLC is the broker of record; and |
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investors purchasing through a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor to offer the Funds shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts and that may or may not charge a transaction fee to its customers. Intermediaries that have entered into such an agreement are listed in the appendix to the Prospectus titled, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. |
You or your financial advisor must notify the Distributor or your Funds transfer agent whenever you make a purchase of Class A shares of any Fund that you wish to be covered under these special sales charge waivers.
Class A shares of any Fund may be issued at net asset value without a sales charge in connection with the acquisition by a Fund of another investment company. All purchases under the special sales charge waivers will be subject to minimum purchase requirements as established by the Funds.
The reduced sales charge programs may be modified or discontinued by the Funds at any time. For more information about the purchase of Class A shares or the reduced sales charge program, or to obtain the required application forms, call Nuveen Investor Services toll-free at (800) 257-8787.
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You may purchase Class C shares at a public offering price equal to the applicable net asset value per share without any up-front sales charge. Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution fee of 0.75% to compensate the Distributor for paying your financial advisor or other financial intermediary an ongoing sales commission. Class C shares are also subject to an annual service fee of 0.25% to compensate financial intermediaries for providing you with ongoing financial advice and other account services. The Distributor compensates financial intermediaries for sales of Class C shares at the time of the sale at a rate of 1.00% of the amount of Class C shares purchased, which represents an advance of the first years distribution fee of 0.75% plus an advance on the first years annual service fee of 0.25%. See Distribution and Service Plan.
Class C share purchase orders equaling or exceeding $1,000,000 ($250,000 for Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund) will not be accepted. In addition, Class C share purchase orders for a single purchaser that, when added to the value that day of all of such purchasers shares of any class of any Nuveen Mutual Fund, cause the purchasers cumulative total of shares in Nuveen Mutual Funds to equal or exceed $1,000,000 ($250,000 for Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund) will not be accepted. Your financial intermediary may set a lower maximum for Class C shares. Shareholders purchasing Class C shares should consider whether they would qualify for a reduced or eliminated sales charge on Class A shares that would make purchasing Class A shares a better choice. Class A share sales charges can be reduced or eliminated based on the size of the purchase, or pursuant to a letter of intent or rights of accumulation. See Reduction or Elimination of Up-Front Sales Charge on Class A Shares above.
Redemption of Class C shares within 12 months of purchase may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge ( CDSC ) of 1.00% of the lower of the purchase price or redemption proceeds. Because Class C shares do not convert to Class A shares and continue to pay an annual distribution fee indefinitely, Class C shares should normally not be purchased by an investor who expects to hold shares for significantly longer than eight years.
Investors may purchase Class C shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund. In addition, Class C shares may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine whether their policies allow for an investment in Class C shares.
Reduction or Elimination of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
The availability of the sales charge reductions and waivers discussed below will depend on the policies of the financial intermediary through which you purchase your shares. Information on intermediaries variations from the reductions and waivers discussed below are disclosed in the appendix to the Prospectus titled Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries. In all instances, it is your responsibility to notify your financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying you for sales charge waivers or discounts. In order to obtain waivers and discounts that are not available through your intermediary, you will have to purchase Fund shares through another intermediary.
Class A shares are normally redeemed at net asset value, without any CDSC. However, in the case of Class A shares purchased at net asset value without a sales charge because the purchase amount exceeded $1 million ($250,000 for Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund), a CDSC is imposed on any redemption within 18 months of purchase. Class C shares are redeemed at net asset value, without any CDSC, except that a CDSC of 1.00% is imposed upon any redemption within 12 months of purchase (except in cases where a shareholder is eligible for a waiver).
In determining whether a CDSC is payable, each Fund will first redeem shares not subject to any charge and then will redeem shares held for the longest period, unless the shareholder specifies another order. No CDSC is charged on shares purchased as a result of automatic reinvestment of dividends or capital gains paid. In addition, no CDSC will be charged on exchanges of shares into another Nuveen Mutual Fund. The holding period is calculated on a monthly basis and begins on the first day of the month in which the purchase was made. The CDSC is assessed on an amount equal to the lower of the then current market value or the cost of the shares being redeemed. Accordingly, no sales charge is imposed on increases of net asset value above the initial purchase price. The Distributor receives the amount of any CDSC shareholders pay.
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The CDSC may be waived or reduced under the following circumstances: (i) in the event of total disability (as evidenced by a determination by the federal Social Security Administration) of the shareholder (including a registered joint owner) occurring after the purchase of the shares being redeemed; (ii) in the event of the death of the shareholder (including a registered joint owner); (iii) for redemptions made pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, up to 1% monthly, 3% quarterly, 6% semiannually or 12% annually of an accounts net asset value depending on the frequency of the plan as designated by the shareholder; (iv) redemptions in connection with a payment of account or plan fees; (v) redemptions in connection with the exercise of a Funds right to redeem all shares in an account that does not maintain a certain minimum balance; (vi) upon an optional conversion by a Fund of Class C shares held in an account which no longer has a financial intermediary of record into Class A shares; (vii) redemptions of Class C shares in cases where the Distributor did not advance the first years service and distribution fees when such shares were purchased; and (viii) redemptions of Class A shares where the Distributor did not pay a sales commission when such shares were purchased. If a Fund waives or reduces the CDSC, such waiver or reduction would be uniformly applied to all Fund shares in the particular category. In waiving or reducing a CDSC, the Funds will comply with the requirements of Rule 22d-1 under the 1940 Act.
In addition, the CDSC will be waived in connection with the following redemptions of shares held by an employer-sponsored qualified defined contribution retirement plan: (i) partial or complete redemptions in connection with a distribution without penalty under Section 72(t) of the Code from a retirement plan: (a) upon attaining age 59 1 / 2 , (b) as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments, or (c) upon separation from service and attaining age 55; (ii) partial or complete redemptions in connection with a qualifying loan or hardship withdrawal; (iii) complete redemptions in connection with termination of employment, plan termination or transfer to another employers plan or IRA; and (iv) redemptions resulting from the return of an excess contribution. The CDSC will also be waived in connection with the following redemptions of shares held in an IRA account: (i) for redemptions made pursuant to an IRA systematic withdrawal based on the shareholders life expectancy including, but not limited to, substantially equal periodic payments described in Code Section 72(t)(A)(iv) prior to age 59 1 / 2 ; and (ii) for redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions after age 70 1 / 2 from an IRA account (with the maximum amount subject to this waiver being based only upon the shareholders Nuveen IRA accounts).
Class R3 shares are available from each Fund except Nuveen Core Bond Fund for purchase at the offering price, which is the net asset value per share without any up-front sales charge. Class R3 shares are subject to annual distribution and service fees of 0.50% of the Funds average daily net assets. The annual 0.25% service fee compensates your financial advisor or other financial intermediary for providing ongoing service to you. The annual 0.25% distribution fee compensates the Distributor for paying your financial advisor or other financial intermediary an ongoing sales commission.
Investors may purchase Class R3 shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with a Fund.
Class R3 shares are only available for purchase by eligible retirement plans. Eligible retirement plans include, but are not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and health care benefit funding plans. In addition, Class R3 shares are available only to retirement plans where Class R3 shares are held on the books of the Funds through omnibus accounts (either at the retirement plan level or at the level of the retirement plans financial intermediary). Class R3 shares are not available to traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SAR-SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs or individual 403(b) plans.
The administrator of a retirement plan or employee benefits office can provide plan participants with detailed information on how to participate in the retirement plan and how to elect a Fund as an investment option. Retirement plan participants may be permitted to elect different investment options, alter the amounts contributed to the retirement plan, or change how contributions are allocated among investment options in accordance with the retirement plans specific provisions. The retirement plan administrator or employee benefits office should be consulted for details. For
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questions about their accounts, participants should contact their employee benefits office, the retirement plan administrator, or the organization that provides recordkeeping services for the retirement plan.
Eligible retirement plans may open an account and purchase Class R3 shares by contacting any financial intermediary authorized to sell Class R3 shares of the Funds. Financial intermediaries may provide or arrange for the provision of some or all of the shareholder servicing and account maintenance services required by retirement plan accounts and their retirement plan participants, including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes. Financial intermediaries may also perform other functions, including generating confirmation statements, and may arrange with retirement plan administrators for other investment or administrative services.
Financial intermediaries may independently establish and charge retirement plans and retirement plan participants transaction fees and/or other additional amounts for such services, which may change over time. Similarly, retirement plans may charge retirement plan participants for certain expenses. These fees and additional amounts could reduce investment returns in Class R3 shares of the Funds.
Financial intermediaries and retirement plans may have omnibus accounts and similar arrangements with a Fund and may be paid for providing shareholder servicing and other services. A financial intermediary or retirement plan may be paid for its services directly or indirectly by the Funds or the Distributor. The Distributor may pay a financial intermediary an additional amount for sub-transfer agency or other administrative services. Such sub-transfer agency or other administrative services may include, but are not limited to, the following: processing and mailing trade confirmations, monthly statements, prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports and shareholder notices and other required communications; capturing and processing tax data; issuing and mailing dividend checks to shareholders who have selected cash distributions; preparing record date shareholder lists for proxy solicitations; collecting and posting distributions to shareholder accounts; and establishing and maintaining systematic withdrawals, automated investment plans and shareholder account registrations. Your retirement plan may establish various minimum investment requirements for Class R3 shares of the Funds and may also establish certain privileges with respect to purchases, redemptions and exchanges of Class R3 shares or the reinvestment of dividends. Retirement plan participants should contact their retirement plan administrator with respect to these issues. This SAI should be read in conjunction with the retirement plans and/or the financial intermediarys materials regarding their fees and services.
Class R6 shares are available from the applicable Funds to the following classes of investors, provided they meet the minimum investment and other eligibility requirements set forth below:
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Qualified retirement plans, including: 401(k) plans, employer sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing pension plans, money purchase pension plans, target benefit plans, defined benefit pension plans and Taft Hartley multi-employer pension plans (collectively, Qualified Plans ); |
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Foundations and endowment funds; |
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Any state, county, or city, or its instrumentality, department, authority or agency; |
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457 plans, including 457(b) governmental entity plans and tax exempt plans; |
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Omnibus or other pooled accounts registered to insurance companies, trust companies, bank trust departments, registered investment advisor firms and family offices; |
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Investment companies, both affiliated and not affiliated with the Adviser; |
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Corporations, including corporate non-qualified deferred compensation plans of such corporations; |
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Collective investment trusts; |
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Discretionary accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates; and |
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529 savings plans held in plan-level omnibus accounts. |
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There is no minimum initial investment for qualified retirement plans; however, the shares must be held through plan-level or omnibus accounts held on the books of the Funds. Class R6 shares are also available for purchase by clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments and foundations. The minimum initial investment for such clients is $100,000, but this minimum will be waived for clients of financial intermediaries that have accounts holding Class R6 shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000. The Distributor may also waive the minimum for clients of financial intermediaries anticipated to reach this Class R6 share holdings level. All other eligible investors must meet a minimum initial investment of at least $1 million in each Fund. Such minimum investment requirement may be applied collectively to affiliated accounts, in the discretion of the Distributor. Class R6 shares may be purchased through financial intermediaries only if such intermediaries have entered into an agreement with the Distributor to offer Class R6 shares. Class R6 shares are only available in cases where neither the investor nor the intermediary will receive any commission payments, account servicing fees, record keeping fees, 12b-1 fees, sub-transfer agent fees, so called finders fees, administration fees or similar fees with respect to Class R6 shares. Class R6 shares are not available directly to traditional or Roth IRAs, Coverdell Savings Accounts, Keoghs, SEPs, SARSEPs, or SIMPLE IRAs.
Class I shares are available for purchase by clients of financial intermediaries who charge such clients an ongoing fee for advisory, investment, consulting or related services. Such clients may include individuals, corporations, endowments and foundations. The minimum initial investment for such clients is $100,000, but this minimum will be lowered to $250 for clients of financial intermediaries that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000. The Distributor may also lower the minimum to $250 for clients of financial intermediaries anticipated to reach this Class I share holdings level.
Class I shares are also available for purchase by family offices and their clients. A family office is a company that provides certain financial and other services to a high net worth family or families. The minimum initial investment for family offices and their clients is $100,000, but this minimum will be lowered to $250 for clients of family offices that have accounts holding Class I shares with an aggregate value of at least $100,000. The Distributor may also lower the minimum to $250 for clients of family offices anticipated to reach this Class I share holdings level.
Class I shares also are available for purchase, with no minimum initial investment, by the following categories of investors:
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employer-sponsored retirement plans, except SEPs, SAR-SEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and KEOGH plans; |
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bank or broker-affiliated trust departments investing funds over which they exercise exclusive discretionary investment authority and that are held in a fiduciary, agency, advisory, custodial or similar capacity; |
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advisory accounts of Nuveen Fund Advisors and its affiliates, including other Nuveen Mutual Funds whose investment policies permit investments in other investment companies; |
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any registered investment company that is not affiliated with the Nuveen Funds and which invests in securities of other investment companies; |
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any plan organized under section 529 under the Code (i.e., a 529 plan); |
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participants in the TIAA-CREF Investment Solutions IRA; |
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current and former trustees/directors of any Nuveen Fund, and their immediate family members ( immediate family members are defined as spouses or domestic partners, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, siblings, a siblings spouse and a spouses siblings); |
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officers of Nuveen, LLC and its affiliates, and their immediate family members; |
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full-time and retired employees of Nuveen, LLC and its affiliates, and their immediate family members, including any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other business organization that is wholly owned by one or more of such persons; and |
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any person who, for at least the last 90 days, has been an officer, director or employee of any financial intermediary, and their immediate family members. |
Holders of Class I shares may purchase additional Class I shares using dividends and capital gain distributions on their shares.
If you are eligible to purchase either Class I shares or Class A shares without a sales charge at net asset value, you should be aware of the differences between these two classes of shares. Class A shares are subject to an annual service fee to compensate financial intermediaries for providing you with ongoing account services. Class I shares are not subject to a distribution or service fee and, consequently, holders of Class I shares may not receive the same types or levels of services from financial intermediaries. In choosing between Class A shares and Class I shares, you should weigh the benefits of the services to be provided by financial intermediaries against the annual service fee imposed upon the Class A shares.
Class T shares may be purchased at a public offering price equal to the applicable net asset value per share plus an up-front sales charge imposed at the time of purchase as set forth in the Prospectus. The sales charge may be waived in its entirety, as described below. Class T shares are also subject to an annual service fee of 0.25%. See Distribution and Service Plan. Set forth below is an example of the method of computing the offering price of the Class T shares of a Fund. The example assumes a purchase on June 30, 2017 of Class T shares of Nuveen Core Bond Fund aggregating less than $50,000 subject to the schedule of sales charges set forth in the Prospectus at a price based upon the net asset value of the Class T shares.
Net asset value per share* |
$ | 9.76 | ||
Per share sales charge2.50% of public offering price (2.56% of net asset value per share) |
0.25 | |||
|
|
|||
Per share offering price to the public |
$ | 10.01 | ||
|
|
* | Based upon the net asset value for Class A shares. |
The Fund receives the entire net asset value of all Class T shares that are sold. The full applicable sales charge shown in the Prospectus is paid to financial intermediaries.
Investors may purchase Class T shares only for Fund accounts held with a financial advisor or other financial intermediary, and not directly with the Fund. In addition, Class T shares may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Please consult with your financial intermediary to determine whether their policies allow for an investment in Class T shares.
Elimination of Up-Front Sales Charge on Class T Shares
Class T shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions from the same Fund are not subject to a sales charge. In addition, Class T shares may be available at net asset value without a sales charge under certain other circumstances, as determined by the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary. See the appendix to the Prospectus titled, Variations in Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers Available Through Certain Intermediaries, for information on available Class T share sales charge waivers.
Exchange Privilege
You may exchange Fund shares into an identically registered account for the same class of another Nuveen Mutual Fund available in your state, except that there are no exchange privileges for Class T shares. Your exchange must meet the minimum purchase requirements of the fund into which you are exchanging. You may also, under certain limited circumstances, exchange between certain classes of shares of the same Fund. An exchange between classes of shares of the same Fund may not be considered a taxable event; please consult your own tax advisor for further information.
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If you hold your shares directly with a Fund, you may exchange your shares by either sending a written request to the applicable Fund, c/o Nuveen Investor Services, P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530 or by calling Nuveen Investor Services toll free at (800) 257-8787.
If you exchange shares between different Nuveen Mutual Funds and your shares are subject to a CDSC, no CDSC will be charged at the time of the exchange. However, if you subsequently redeem the shares acquired through the exchange, the redemption may be subject to a CDSC, depending on when you purchased your original shares and the CDSC schedule of the fund from which you exchanged your shares. If you exchange between classes of shares of the same Fund and your original shares are subject to a CDSC, the CDSC will be assessed at the time of the exchange.
For federal income tax purposes, an exchange between different Nuveen Mutual Funds constitutes a sale and purchase of shares and may result in capital gain or loss. Before making any exchange, you should obtain the Prospectus for the Nuveen Mutual Fund you are purchasing and read it carefully. If the registration of the account for the Fund you are purchasing is not exactly the same as that of the fund account from which the exchange is made, written instructions from all holders of the account from which the exchange is being made must be received, with signatures guaranteed by a member of an approved Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or in such other manner as may be acceptable to the Fund. You may also exchange shares by telephone if you authorize telephone exchanges by checking the applicable box on the Application Form or by calling Nuveen Investor Services toll-free at (800) 257-8787 to obtain an authorization form. Each Fund reserves the right to revise or suspend the exchange privilege, limit the amount or number of exchanges, or reject any exchange. Shareholders will be provided with at least 60 days notice of any material revision to or termination of the exchange privilege.
The exchange privilege is not intended to permit a Fund to be used as a vehicle for short-term trading. Excessive exchange activity may interfere with portfolio management, raise expenses and otherwise have an adverse effect on all shareholders. In order to limit excessive exchange activity and in other circumstances where Fund management believes doing so would be in the best interest of the Fund, each Fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, or limit the amount or number of exchanges or reject any exchange. Shareholders would be notified of any such action to the extent required by law. See Frequent Trading Policy below.
Reinstatement Privilege
If you redeemed Class A, Class C or Class I shares of a Nuveen Mutual Fund, you have up to one year to reinvest all or part of the full amount of the redemption in the same class of shares of any Nuveen Mutual Fund at net asset value. This reinstatement privilege can be exercised only once for any redemption, and reinvestment will be made at the net asset value next calculated after reinstatement of the appropriate class of Fund shares. If you reinstate shares that were subject to a CDSC, any shares purchased pursuant to the reinstatement privilege will not be subject to a CDSC. The federal income tax consequences of any capital gain realized on a redemption will not be affected by reinstatement, but a capital loss may be disallowed in whole or in part depending on the timing, the amount of the reinvestment and the fund from which the redemption occurred.
Suspension of Right of Redemption
Each Fund may suspend the right of redemption of Fund shares or delay payment more than seven days (a) during any period when the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE ) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), (b) when trading in the markets the Fund normally utilizes is restricted or an emergency exists as determined by the SEC so that trading of the Funds investments or determination of its net asset value is not reasonably practicable, or (c) for any other periods that the SEC by order may permit for protection of Fund shareholders.
Redemption In-Kind
The Funds have reserved the right to redeem in-kind (that is, to pay redemption requests in cash and portfolio securities, or wholly in portfolio securities). Pursuant to a notice of election under Rule 18f-1, the Funds voluntarily have committed to pay in cash all requests for redemption by any shareholder, limited as to each shareholder during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of a Fund at the beginning of the 90-day period.
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The Funds Frequent Trading Policy is as follows:
Nuveen Mutual Funds are intended as long-term investments and not as short-term trading vehicles. At the same time, the Funds recognize the need of investors to periodically make purchases and redemptions of Fund shares when rebalancing their portfolios and as their financial needs or circumstances change. Nuveen Mutual Funds have adopted the following Frequent Trading Policy that seeks to balance these needs against the potential for higher operating costs, portfolio management disruption and other inefficiencies that can be caused by excessive trading of Fund shares.
1. Definition of Round Trip
A Round Trip trade is the purchase and subsequent redemption of Fund shares, including by exchange. Each side of a Round Trip trade may be comprised of either a single transaction or a series of closely-spaced transactions.
2. Round Trip Trade Limitations
Nuveen Mutual Funds limit the frequency of Round Trip trades that may be placed in a Fund. Subject to certain exceptions noted below, the Funds limit an investor to two Round Trips per trailing 60-day period.
3. Enforcement
Trades placed in violation of the foregoing policies are subject to rejection or cancellation by Nuveen Mutual Funds. Nuveen Mutual Funds may also bar an investor (and/or the investors financial advisor) who has violated these policies from opening new accounts with the Funds and may restrict the investors existing account(s) to redemptions only. Nuveen Mutual Funds reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to (a) interpret the terms and application of these policies, (b) waive unintentional or minor violations (including transactions below certain dollar thresholds) if Nuveen Mutual Funds determine that doing so does not harm the interests of Fund shareholders, and (c) exclude certain classes of redemptions from the application of the trading restrictions set forth above.
Nuveen Mutual Funds reserve the right to impose restrictions on purchases or exchanges that are more restrictive than those stated above if they determine, in their sole discretion, that a proposed transaction or series of transactions involve market timing or excessive trading that is likely to be detrimental to the Funds. The Funds may also modify or suspend the Frequent Trading Policy without notice during periods of market stress or other unusual circumstances.
The ability of Nuveen Mutual Funds to implement the Frequent Trading Policy for omnibus accounts at certain financial intermediaries may be dependent on receiving from those intermediaries sufficient shareholder information to permit monitoring of trade activity and enforcement of the Funds Frequent Trading Policy. In addition, the Funds may rely on a financial intermediarys policy to restrict market timing and excessive trading if the Funds believe that the policy is reasonably designed to prevent market timing that is detrimental to the Funds. Such policy may be more or less restrictive than the Funds Policy. The Funds cannot ensure that these financial intermediaries will in all cases apply the Funds policy or their own policies, as the case may be, to accounts under their control.
Exclusions from the Frequent Trading Policy
As stated above, certain redemptions are eligible for exclusion from the Frequent Trading Policy, including: (i) redemptions or exchanges by shareholders investing through the fee-based platforms of certain financial intermediaries (where the intermediary charges an asset-based or comprehensive wrap fee for its services) that are effected by the financial intermediaries in connection with systematic portfolio rebalancing; (ii) when there is a verified trade error correction, which occurs when a dealer firm sends a trade to correct an earlier trade made in error and then the firm sends an explanation to the Nuveen Mutual Funds confirming that the trade is actually an error correction; (iii) in the event of total disability (as evidenced by a determination by the federal Social Security Administration) of the shareholder (including a registered joint owner) occurring after the purchase of the shares being redeemed; (iv) in the event of the death of the shareholder (including a registered
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joint owner); (v) redemptions made pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, up to 1% monthly, 3% quarterly, 6% semiannually or 12% annually of an accounts net asset value depending on the frequency of the plan as designated by the shareholder; (vi) redemptions of shares that were purchased through a systematic investment program; (vii) involuntary redemptions caused by operation of law; (viii) redemptions in connection with a payment of account or plan fees; (ix) redemptions or exchanges by any fund of funds advised by the Adviser; (x) redemptions or exchanges by certain 529 plans; and (xi) redemptions in connection with the exercise of a Funds right to redeem all shares in an account that does not maintain a certain minimum balance or that the board has determined may have material adverse consequences to the shareholders of a Fund.
In addition, the following redemptions of shares by an employer-sponsored qualified defined contribution retirement plan are excluded from the Frequent Trading Policy: (i) partial or complete redemptions in connection with a distribution without penalty under Section 72(t) of the Code from a retirement plan: (a) upon attaining age 59 1 / 2 ; (b) as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments; or (c) upon separation from service and attaining age 55; (ii) partial or complete redemptions in connection with a qualifying loan or hardship withdrawal; (iii) complete redemptions in connection with termination of employment, plan termination, transfer to another employers plan or IRA or changes in a plans recordkeeper; and (iv) redemptions resulting from the return of an excess contribution. Also, the following redemptions of shares held in an IRA account are excluded from the application of the Frequent Trading Policy: (i) redemptions made pursuant to an IRA systematic withdrawal based on the shareholders life expectancy including, but not limited to, substantially equal periodic payments described in Code Section 72(t)(A)(iv) prior to age 59 1 / 2 ; and (ii) redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions after age 70 1 / 2 from an IRA account.
The Funds have adopted a plan (the Plan ) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12b-1 provides in substance that a mutual fund may not engage directly or indirectly in financing any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares, except pursuant to a plan adopted under the Rule. The Plan authorizes a Fund to pay the Distributor distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees on a Funds Class A, Class C, Class R3 and Class T shares as described below. The distribution fees under the Plan are used for the primary purpose of compensating participating intermediaries for their sales of a Fund. The shareholder servicing fees are used primarily for the purpose of providing compensation for the ongoing servicing and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts. Pursuant to the Plan, Class C and Class R3 shares are subject to an annual distribution fee and Class A, Class C, Class R3 and Class T shares are subject to the annual service fees (distribution and service fees collectively referred to herein as 12b-1 fees ). The 12b-1 fees are based on the average daily net assets of the class of shares of a Fund and are as follows:
Annual Distribution Fee | Annual Service Fee | Total 12b-1 Fee | ||||||||||
Class A | | 0.25 | % | 0.25 | % | |||||||
Class C | 0.75 | % | 0.25 | % | 1.00 | % | ||||||
Class R3 | 0.25 | % | 0.25 | % | 0.50 | % | ||||||
Class T | | 0.25 | % | 0.25 | % |
Class R6 and Class I shares are not subject to either distribution or service fees.
The distribution fee applicable to Class C and Class R3 shares under each Funds Plan compensates the Distributor for expenses incurred in connection with the distribution of Class C and Class R3 shares, respectively. These expenses include payments to financial intermediaries, including the Distributor, who are brokers of record with respect to the Class C and Class R3 shares, as well as, without limitation, expenses of printing and distributing Prospectuses to persons other than shareholders of each Fund, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing advertising and sales literature and reports to shareholders used in connection with the sale of Class C and Class R3 shares, certain other expenses associated with the distribution of Class C and Class R3 shares, and any other distribution-related expenses that may be authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.
The service fee applicable to Class A, Class C, Class R3 and Class T shares under each Funds Plan is used to compensate financial intermediaries in connection with the provision of ongoing
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account services to shareholders. These services may include establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts, answering shareholder inquiries and providing other personal services to shareholders.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Funds incurred 12b-1 fees pursuant to their respective Plan in the amounts set forth in the table below. 12b-1 fees are calculated and accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as the Board of Directors may determine. As noted above, no 12b-1 fees are paid with respect to Class R6 or Class I shares. For this period, substantially all of the 12b-1 service fees on Class A shares were paid out as compensation to financial intermediaries for providing services to shareholders relating to their investments. To compensate for commissions advanced to financial intermediaries, all 12b-1 fees on Class C shares during the first year following a purchase are retained by the Distributor. After the first year following a purchase, 12b-1 fees on Class C and Class C2 shares are paid to financial intermediaries.
12b-1 Fees Incurred
by Each Fund for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017 |
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Nuveen Core Bond Fund: |
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Class A |
$ | 34,984 | ||
Class C |
19,071 | |||
Class T |
| * | ||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund: |
||||
Class A |
150,218 | |||
Class C |
81,402 | |||
Class R3 |
47,551 | |||
Class T |
| * | ||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund: |
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Class A |
411,150 | |||
Class C |
464,115 | |||
Class R3 |
3,886 | |||
Class T |
5 | |||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund: |
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Class A |
265,570 | |||
Class C |
133,866 | |||
Class R3 |
56,130 | |||
Class T |
| * | ||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund: |
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Class A |
31,570 | |||
Class C |
15,670 | |||
Class R3 |
750 | |||
Class T |
| * | ||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund: |
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Class A |
243,219 | |||
Class C |
300,390 | |||
Class R3 |
1,789 | |||
Class T |
| * | ||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund: |
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Class A |
421,113 | |||
Class C |
834,813 | |||
Class R3 |
37,208 | |||
Class T |
5 |
* | Class T shares of the Fund have not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. |
The Plan is a compensation-type plan under which the Distributor is entitled to receive the distribution and shareholder servicing fees regardless of whether its actual distribution and shareholder servicing expenses are more or less than the amount of the fees. It is therefore possible that the Distributor may realize a profit in a particular year as a result of these payments. The Plan
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recognizes that the Distributor and the Adviser, in their discretion, may from time to time use their own assets to pay for certain additional costs of distributing Class A, Class C, Class R3 and Class T shares. Any such arrangements to pay such additional costs may be commenced or discontinued by the Distributor or the Adviser at any time.
Under each Funds Plan, the Fund will report quarterly to the Board of Directors for its review of all amounts expended per class of shares under the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time with respect to any class of shares, without the payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the independent directors who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class. The Plan may be renewed from year to year if approved by a vote of the Board of Directors and a vote of the independent directors who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan may be continued only if the directors who vote to approve such continuance conclude, in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and in light of their fiduciary duties under applicable law, that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and its shareholders. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the cost which a class of shares may bear under the Plan without the approval of the shareholders of the affected class, and any other material amendments of the Plan must be approved by the independent directors by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such amendments. During the continuance of the Plan, the selection and nomination of the independent directors of NIF will be committed to the discretion of the independent directors then in office. With the exception of the Distributor and its affiliates, no interested person of the Funds, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, and no trustee of the Funds has a direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any related agreement.
If a Fund closes to new investors, it may continue to make payments under the Plan. Such payments would be made for the various services provided to existing shareholders by the participating intermediaries receiving such payments.
The Funds have authorized one or more brokers to accept on their behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Funds behalf. The Funds will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a brokers authorized designee accepts the order. Customer orders received by such broker (or their designee) will be priced at the applicable Funds net asset value next computed after they are accepted by an authorized broker (or their designee). Orders accepted by an authorized broker (or their designee) before the close of regular trading on the NYSE will receive that days share price; orders accepted after the close of trading will receive the next business days share price.
If you choose to invest in a Fund, an account will be opened and maintained for you by BFDS, the Funds shareholder services agent. Shares will be registered in the name of the investor or the investors financial advisor. The Funds do not issue share certificates. A change in registration or transfer of shares held in the name of a financial advisor may only be made by an order in good standing form from the financial advisor acting on the investors behalf. Each Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order and to waive or increase minimum investment requirements.
The Distributor sells shares to or through brokers, dealers, banks or other qualified financial intermediaries (collectively referred to as Dealers ), or others, in a manner consistent with the then effective registration statement of NIF. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, at its own expense, finances certain activities incident to the sale and distribution of the Funds shares, including printing and distributing of prospectuses and statements of additional information to other than existing shareholders, the printing and distributing of sales literature, advertising and payment of compensation and giving of concessions to Dealers.
The Distributor receives for its services the excess, if any, of the sales price of a Funds shares less the net asset value of those shares, and reallows a majority or all of such amounts to the Dealers who
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sold the shares. The Distributor also receives distribution fees pursuant to a distribution plan adopted by NIF pursuant to Rule 12b-1 and described herein under Distribution and Service Plan. The Distributor also receives any CDSCs imposed on redemptions of shares. The Distributor may also act as a Dealer.
The following tables set forth the aggregate amounts of underwriting commissions with respect to the sale of Fund shares, the amount thereof retained by the Distributor and the compensation on redemptions and repurchases received by the Distributor for each of the Funds for the fiscal years represented below. All figures are expressed in thousands and are to the nearest thousand.
Total Underwriting Commissions | ||||||||||||
Fund |
6/30/15 | 6/30/16 | 6/30/17 | |||||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | $ | 24 | $ | 18 | $ | 12 | ||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 95 | 60 | 58 | |||||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 429 | 315 | 531 | |||||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 29 | 18 | 50 | |||||||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | 10 | 12 | 9 | |||||||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 169 | 141 | 164 | |||||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 833 | 182 | 268 | |||||||||
Underwriting Commissions
Retained by Distributor |
||||||||||||
Fund |
6/30/15 | 6/30/16 | 6/30/17 | |||||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | $ | 2 | ||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 9 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 43 | 33 | 58 | |||||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 3 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 5 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 64 | 20 | 24 | |||||||||
Compensation on Redemptions
and Repurchases |
||||||||||||
Fund |
6/30/15 | 6/30/16 | 6/30/17 | |||||||||
Nuveen Core Bond Fund | $ | | $ | 3 | $ | 3 | ||||||
Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund | 3 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||
Nuveen High Income Bond Fund | 33 | 15 | 10 | |||||||||
Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||
Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund | | 3 | 3 | |||||||||
Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund | 29 | 20 | 42 | |||||||||
Nuveen Strategic Income Fund | 65 | 46 | 11 |
To help financial advisors and investors better understand and more efficiently use the Funds to reach their investment goals, the Distributor may advertise and create specific investment programs and systems. For example, this may include information on how to use the Funds to accumulate assets for future education needs or periodic payments such as insurance premiums. The Distributor may produce software, electronic information sites or additional sales literature to promote the advantages of using the Funds to meet these and other specific investor needs. In addition, wholesale representatives of the Distributor may visit financial advisors on a regular basis to educate them about the Funds and to encourage the sale of Fund shares to their clients. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law. Nuveen wholesalers may receive additional compensation if they meet certain targets for sales of one or more Nuveen Mutual Funds.
Additional Payments to Financial Intermediaries and Other Payments
As described in the Prospectus and elsewhere in this SAI, intermediaries that sell shares of the Nuveen Mutual Funds or provide services to their shareholders, such as brokers, dealers, banks,
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registered investment advisers, retirement plan administrators and other intermediaries (individually, an Intermediary , and collectively, Intermediaries ), may receive sales charge payments and, out of Fund assets, may be paid Rule 12b-1 distribution and service payments and sub-transfer agency payments. The Distributor and the Adviser may make additional payments out of their own assets to selected Intermediaries. These payments are made for the purposes of promoting the sale of Fund shares, maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder processing services.
The amounts of these payments could be significant and may create an incentive for an Intermediary or its representatives to recommend or offer shares of the Nuveen Mutual Funds to its customers. The Intermediary may elevate the prominence or profile of the Funds within the Intermediarys organization by, for example, placing the Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or granting the Distributor preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the Funds in various ways within the Intermediarys organization.
These payments are made pursuant to negotiated agreements with Intermediaries. The payments do not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of a share or the amount a Fund will receive as proceeds from such sales. Furthermore, these payments are not reflected in the fees and expenses listed in the fee table section of the Funds Prospectus and described above because they are not paid by the Funds.
The categories of payments described below are not mutually exclusive, and a single Intermediary may receive payments under all categories.
Distribution-Related Payments
The Distributor or the Adviser may from time to time make payments (sometimes referred to as revenue sharing payments) to selected Intermediaries as compensation for services such as providing the Funds with shelf space or a higher profile for the Intermediarys personnel or their customers, placing the Funds on the Intermediarys preferred or recommended fund list, granting access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the Intermediary, providing assistance in training and educating the Intermediarys personnel on the Funds, and furnishing marketing support and other services.
The Adviser and/or the Distributor compensate Intermediaries differently depending upon, among other factors, the number or value of Nuveen Mutual Funds shares that the Intermediary sells or may sell, the value of the assets invested in the Nuveen Mutual Funds by the Intermediarys customers, redemption rates, ability to attract and retain assets, reputation in the industry and the level and/or type of marketing assistance and educational activities provided by the Intermediary. Such payments are generally asset-based but also may include the payment of a lump sum.
Servicing Payments
The Adviser and/or the Distributor may make payments to selected Intermediaries that are registered as holders or dealers of record for accounts invested in one or more of the Nuveen Mutual Funds or that make Nuveen Mutual Fund shares available through employee benefit plans or fee-based advisory programs to compensate them for the variety of services they provide.
Services for which an Intermediary receives servicing payments typically include recordkeeping, reporting, or transaction processing, but may also include services rendered in connection with fund/investment selection and monitoring, employee enrollment and education, plan balance rollover or separation, or other similar services. An Intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform such services.
TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC ( TIAA-CREF IIS ), an affiliate of the Adviser, is one intermediary that receives servicing payments. The shareholder services agreement between TIAA-CREF IIS and the Distributor provides that in exchange for such services, TIAA-CREF IIS will receive payments of 0.25% of the average net assets of Fund shares on the TIAA-CREF IIS retirement platform on an annual basis. The Distributor has agreed to pay the portion of the fee that represents 0.05% of the average net assets of Fund shares attributable to TIAA-CREF IIS and the Funds will pay the remainder.
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Servicing payments typically apply to employee benefit plans, such as retirement plans, or fee-based advisory programs but may apply to retail sales and assets in certain situations. The payments are based on such factors as the type and nature of services or support furnished by the Intermediary and are generally asset-based.
Distribution-Related and Servicing Payment Guidelines
In the case of any one Intermediary, distribution-related and servicing payments made by the Adviser and/or the Distributor are not expected, with certain limited exceptions, to exceed, in the aggregate, 0.35% of the average net assets of Fund shares attributable to that Intermediary on an annual basis. In connection with the sale of a business by U.S. Bank N.A. to Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company ( Great-West ), the Adviser and/or the Distributor has a services agreement with GWFS Equities, Inc., an affiliate of Great-West, which provides for payments of up to 0.60% of the average net assets of Fund shares attributable to GWFS Equities, Inc. on an annual basis (which amount also includes payments by the Funds for sub-transfer agency services).
Other Payments
From time to time, the Adviser and/or the Distributor, at their expense, may provide other compensation to Intermediaries that sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the Funds, which may be in addition to distribution-related and servicing payments described above. For example, the Adviser and/or the Distributor may: (i) compensate Intermediaries for National Securities Clearing Corporation networking system services (e.g., shareholder communication, account statements, trade confirmations, and tax reporting) on an asset-based or per account basis; (ii) compensate Intermediaries for providing Fund shareholder trading information; (iii) make one-time or periodic payments to reimburse selected Intermediaries for items such as ticket charges (i.e., fees that an Intermediary charges its representatives for effecting transactions in Fund shares) of up to $25 per purchase or exchange order, operational charges (e.g., fees that an Intermediary charges for establishing a Fund on its trading system), and literature printing and/or distribution costs; (iv) at the direction of a retirement plans sponsor, reimburse or pay direct expenses of an employee benefit plan that would otherwise be payable by the plan; and (v) provide payments to broker-dealers to help defray their technology or infrastructure costs.
When not provided for in a distribution-related or servicing payment agreement, the Adviser and/or the Distributor may pay Intermediaries for enabling the Adviser and/or the Distributor to participate in and/or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other Intermediary employees, client and investor events and other Intermediary-sponsored events, and for travel expenses, including lodging incurred by registered representatives and other employees in connection with prospecting, asset retention and due diligence trips. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event. The Adviser and/or the Distributor make payments for such events as it deems appropriate, subject to its internal guidelines and applicable law.
The Adviser and/or the Distributor occasionally sponsor due diligence meetings for registered representatives during which the registered representatives receive updates on various Nuveen Mutual Funds and are afforded the opportunity to speak with portfolio managers. Although invitations to these meetings are not conditioned on selling a specific number of shares, those who have shown an interest in Nuveen Mutual Funds are more likely to be considered. To the extent permitted by their firms policies and procedures, all or a portion of registered representatives expenses in attending these meetings may be covered by the Adviser and/or the Distributor.
Representatives of the Distributor or its affiliates may receive additional compensation from the Adviser and/or the Distributor if certain targets are met for sales of one or more Nuveen Mutual Funds. Such compensation may vary by Fund and by affiliate.
Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA. Investors can ask their Intermediary for information about any payments it receives from the Adviser and/or the Distributor and the services it provides for those payments.
Investors may wish to take Intermediary payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to Fund shares.
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Intermediaries Receiving Additional Payments
The following is a list of Intermediaries eligible to receive one or more of the types of payments discussed above as of October 20, 2017:
ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.
AXA Advisors, LLC
American United Life Insurance Company
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Ascensus (formerly BISYS Retirement Services, Inc.)
BB&T
BMO Harris Bank N.A.
BNY Mellon, N.A.
Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc.
Benefit Trust Company
Cetera
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Chase Investment Services
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Commonwealth Equity Services, LLP, DBA Commonwealth Financial Network
Davenport & Co., LLC
Digital Retirement Solutions, Inc.
Dyatech, LLC
Edward Jones
ExpertPlan, Inc.
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC/National Financial Services LLC
Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. (FIIOC)/Fidelity Advisors Retirement
Financial Data Services, Inc.
First Clearing
Genesis Employee Benefits, Inc. DBA Americas VEBA Solution
Goldman Sachs
Great West Life and Annuity Insurance Co.
GWFS Equities, Inc.
Hartford Life Insurance Company
Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc.
Hewitt Associates LLC
ICMA Retirement Corporation
ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company/ING Institutional Plan Services LLC/ING Financial Advisors, LLC (formerly CitiStreet LLC/CitiStreet Advisors LLC)
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, Inc.
J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services, LLC
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
John Hancock Trust Company
LPL Financial Services
Ladenburg Thalmann Advisor Network LLC
Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation
Lincoln Retirement Services Company LLC/AMG Service Corp.
Linsco/Private Ledger Corp.
Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company, N.A.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
Mercer HR Outsourcing LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation
Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated/Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
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MSCS Financial Services Division of Broadridge Business Process Outsourcing, LLC
NFP Advisor Services, LLC
National Financial Services, LLC
Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.
Newport Retirement Services, Inc.
Northwestern Mutual
NYLife Distributors LLC
Oppenheimer & Co.
Pershing LLC
Principal Life Insurance Company
Prudential Insurance Company of America (The)
Prudential Investment Management Services, LLC/Prudential Investments LLC
Raymond James & Associates/Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Reliance Trust Company
Retirement Plan Company, LLC (The)
Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.
SI Financial Advisors
Southwest Securities, Inc.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc.
T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc./T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
TD Ameritrade, Inc.
TD Ameritrade Trust Company (formerly Fiserv Trust Company/International Clearing Trust Company)
TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC
Trust Company of America
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
U.S. Bank N.A.
UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Unified Trust Company, N.A.
VALIC Retirement Services Company (formerly AIG Retirement Services Company)
Vanguard Group, Inc.
Wedbush Morgan Securities
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement & Trust
Wilmington Trust Company
Wilmington Trust Retirement and Institutional Services Company (formerly AST Capital Trust Company)
Any additions, modifications or deletions to the list of Intermediaries identified above that have occurred since October 20, 2017 are not reflected in the list.
The audited financial statements for each Funds most recent fiscal year appear in each Funds Annual Report dated June 30, 2017. Each Funds Annual Report is incorporated by reference into this SAI and is available without charge by calling (800) 257-8787.
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RATINGS OF INVESTMENTS
S&P Global Ratings A brief description of the applicable S&P Global Ratings ( S&P ) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by S&P) follows:
Issue Credit Ratings
A S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&Ps view of the obligors capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.
Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 daysincluding commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.
Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings
Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&Ps analysis of the following considerations:
1. Likelihood of paymentthe capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on a financial obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
2. Nature of and provisions of the obligation, and the promise S&P imputes;
3. Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors rights.
Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)
AAA | An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong. | |
AA | An obligation rated AA differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong. | |
A | An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong. | |
BBB | An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. |
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Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC, and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB | An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. | |
B | An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligors capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. | |
CCC | An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. | |
CC | An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The CC rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty regardless of the anticipated time to default. | |
C | An obligation rated C is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher. | |
D | An obligation rated D is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligations rating is lowered to D if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer. |
Plus (+) or Minus (): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
NR | This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy. |
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1 | A short-term obligation rated A-1 is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong. | |
A-2 | A short-term obligation rated A-2 is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligors capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory. | |
A-3 | A short-term obligation rated A-3 exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. |
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B | A short-term obligation rated B is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligors inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments. | |
C | A short-term obligation rated C is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. |
D | A short-term obligation rated D is in in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligations rating is lowered to D if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer. |
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. A brief description of the applicable Moodys Investors Service, Inc. ( Moodys ) rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moodys) follows:
Ratings assigned on Moodys global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.
Long-Term Obligation Ratings
Aaa | Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk. | |
Aa | Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk. | |
A | Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk. | |
Baa | Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics. | |
Ba | Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk. | |
B | Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk. | |
Caa | Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk. | |
Ca | Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest. | |
C | Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest. |
Note: Moodys appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
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Short-Term Obligation Ratings
P-1 | ssuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations. | |
P-2 | Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations. | |
P-3 | Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations. | |
NP | Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories. |
Medium-Term Note Program Ratings
Moodys assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (MTN) programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).
MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g., senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moodys assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating.
The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuers default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.
Moodys encourages market participants to contact Moodys Ratings Desks or visit www.moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.
U.S. Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings
Short-Term Obligation Ratings
The Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) scale is used to rate US municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity. Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuers long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating. MIG ratings are divided into three levelsMIG 1 through MIG 3while speculative grade short-term obligations are designated SG.
MIG 1 | This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing. | |
MIG 2 | This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group. | |
MIG 3 | This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established. | |
SG | This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection. |
Demand Obligation Ratings
In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moodys evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moodys evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon
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demand ( demand feature ). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scale.
VMIG 1 | This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand. | |
VMIG 2 | This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand. | |
VMIG 3 | This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand. |
SG | This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand. |
Fitch Ratings A brief description of the applicable Fitch Ratings ( Fitch ) ratings symbols and meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:
Fitchs credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. The agencys credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.
The terms investment grade and speculative grade have established themselves over time as shorthand to describe the categories AAA to BBB (investment grade) and BB to D (speculative grade). The terms investment grade and speculative grade are market conventions, and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative categories either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.
A designation of Not Rated or NR is used to denote securities not rated by Fitch where Fitch has rated some, but not all, securities comprising an issuance capital structure.
Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a specific frequency of default or loss.
Fitchs credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. In particular, ratings do not deal with the risk of a market value loss on a rated security due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and other market considerations. However, in terms of payment obligation on the rated liability, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay upon a commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of index-linked bonds).
In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instruments documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations ( i.e., rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligations documentation). In such cases, the agency will make clear the assumptions underlying the agencys opinion in the accompanying rating commentary.
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International Long-Term Ratings
Issuer Credit Rating Scales
Investment Grade
AAA | Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. | |
AA | Very high credit quality. AA ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events. | |
A | High credit quality. A ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings. |
BBB | Good credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. |
Speculative Grade
BB | Speculative. BB ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments. | |
B | Highly speculative. B ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment. | |
CCC | Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility. | |
CC | Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable. | |
C | Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a C category rating for an issuer include: | |
the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation; |
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the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or |
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Fitch otherwise believes a condition of RD or D to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange. |
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RD | Restricted default. RD ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitchs opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include: | |
the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt; |
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the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation; |
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the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or |
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execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations. |
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D | Default. D ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitchs opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business. | |
Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange. | ||
Imminent default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future. | ||
In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agencys opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuers financial obligations or local commercial practice. |
International Short-Term Ratings
A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as short term based on market convention. Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations, and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.
F1 | Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added + to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature. | |
F2 | Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. | |
F3 | Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate. | |
B | Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions. | |
C | High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility. | |
RD | Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only. | |
D | Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation. |
Notes to Long-Term and Short-Term Ratings
The modifiers + or may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA Long-Term Rating category, or to categories below B.
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WD indicates that the rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch.
Rating Watch: Rating Watches indicate that there is a heightened probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such a change. These are designated as Positive, indicating a potential upgrade, Negative, for a potential downgrade, or Evolving, if ratings may be raised, lowered or affirmed. However, ratings that are not on Rating Watch can be raised or lowered without being placed on Rating Watch first, if circumstances warrant such an action. A Rating Watch is typically event-driven and, as such, it is generally resolved over a relatively short period.
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United States
Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines
2017 Benchmark Policy Recommendations
Effective for Meetings on or after February 1, 2017
Published January 17, 2017
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2017 U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines |
The policies contained herein are a sampling of selected key U.S. proxy voting guidelines and are not intended to be exhaustive. A full summary of ISS 2017 proxy voting guidelines can be found at: https://www.issgovernance.com/policy-gateway/2017-policy-information/
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
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General Recommendation: Generally vote for director nominees, except under the following circumstances: |
1. | Accountability |
Vote against 1 or withhold from the entire board of directors (except new nominees 2 , who should be considered case-by-case) for the following:
Problematic Takeover Defenses
Classified Board Structure:
1.1. | The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election. All appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable. |
Director Performance Evaluation:
1.2. | The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a companys four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the companys five-year total shareholder return and operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to: |
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A classified board structure; |
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A supermajority vote requirement; |
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Either a plurality vote standard in uncontested director elections or a majority vote standard with no plurality carve-out for contested elections; |
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The inability of shareholders to call special meetings; |
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The inability of shareholders to act by written consent; |
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A dual-class capital structure; and/or |
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A non-shareholder-approved poison pill. |
Poison Pills:
1.3. | The companys poison pill has a dead-hand or modified dead-hand feature. Vote against or withhold from nominees every year until this feature is removed; |
1 In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use Withhold as the contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use Against. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.
2 A new nominee is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a new nominee if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
© 2017 ISS | Institutional Shareholder Services |
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2017 U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines |
1.4. | The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (long-term pill), or renews any existing pill, including any short-term pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually elected boards at least once every three years, and vote against or withhold votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill; or |
1.5. | The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval. |
Vote case-by-case on all nominees if:
1.6. | The board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (short-term pill) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors: |
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The date of the pills adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholdersi.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on the ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances; |
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The issuers rationale; |
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The issuers governance structure and practices; and |
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The issuers track record of accountability to shareholders. |
Restricting Binding Shareholder Proposals:
Generally vote against or withhold from members of the governance committee if:
1.7. | The companys charter imposes undue restrictions on shareholders ability to amend the bylaws. Such restrictions include, but are not limited to: outright prohibition on the submission of binding shareholder proposals, or share ownership requirements or time holding requirements in excess of SEC Rule 14a-8. Vote against on an ongoing basis. |
Problematic Audit-Related Practices
Generally vote against or withhold from the members of the Audit Committee if:
1.8. | The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under Auditor Ratification ); |
1.9. | The company receives an adverse opinion on the companys financial statements from its auditor; or |
1.10. | There is persuasive evidence that the Audit Committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm. |
Vote case-by-case on members of the Audit Committee and potentially the full board if:
1.11. | Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence, and duration, as well as the companys efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether withhold/against votes are warranted. |
Problematic Compensation Practices/Pay for Performance Misalignment
In the absence of an Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation ballot item or in egregious situations, vote against or withhold from the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:
1.12. | There is a significant misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance); |
1.13. | The company maintains significant problematic pay practices; |
1.14. | The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders; |
1.15. | The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote; or |
1.16. | The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn-rate commitment made to shareholders. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Vote case-by-case on Compensation Committee members (or, in exceptional cases, the full board) and the Management Say-on-Pay proposal if:
1.17. | The companys previous say-on-pay received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account: |
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The companys response, including: |
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Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
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Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
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Other recent compensation actions taken by the company; |
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Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated; |
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The companys ownership structure; and |
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Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness. |
Unilateral Bylaw/Charter Amendments and Problematic Capital Structures
1.18. | Generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if the board amends the companys bylaws or charter without shareholder approval in a manner that materially diminishes shareholders rights or that could adversely impact shareholders, considering the following factors: |
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The boards rationale for adopting the bylaw/charter amendment without shareholder ratification; |
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Disclosure by the company of any significant engagement with shareholders regarding the amendment; |
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The level of impairment of shareholders rights caused by the boards unilateral amendment to the bylaws/charter; |
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The boards track record with regard to unilateral board action on bylaw/charter amendments or other entrenchment provisions; |
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The companys ownership structure; |
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The companys existing governance provisions; |
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The timing of the boards amendment to the bylaws/charter in connection with a significant business development; and |
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Other factors, as deemed appropriate, that may be relevant to determine the impact of the amendment on shareholders. |
Unless the adverse amendment is reversed or submitted to a binding shareholder vote, in subsequent years vote case-by-case on director nominees. Generally vote against (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if the directors:
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Classified the board; |
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Adopted supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter; or |
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Eliminated shareholders ability to amend bylaws. |
1.19. | For newly public companies, generally vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case) if, prior to or in connection with the companys public offering, the company or its board adopted bylaw or charter provisions materially adverse to shareholder rights, or implemented a multi-class capital structure in which the classes have unequal voting rights considering the following factors: |
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The level of impairment of shareholders rights; |
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The disclosed rationale; |
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The ability to change the governance structure (e.g., limitations on shareholders right to amend the bylaws or charter, or supermajority vote requirements to amend the bylaws or charter); |
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The ability of shareholders to hold directors accountable through annual director elections, or whether the company has a classified board structure; |
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Any reasonable sunset provision; and |
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Other relevant factors. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Unless the adverse provision and/or problematic capital structure is reversed or removed, vote case-by-case on director nominees in subsequent years.
Governance Failures
Under extraordinary circumstances, vote against or withhold from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:
1.20. |
Material failures of governance, stewardship, risk oversight 3 , or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; |
1.21. | Failure to replace management as appropriate; or |
1.22. | Egregious actions related to a directors service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company. |
2. Responsiveness
Vote case-by-case on individual directors, committee members, or the entire board of directors as appropriate if:
2.1. | The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received the support of a majority of the shares cast in the previous year. Factors that will be considered are: |
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Disclosed outreach efforts by the board to shareholders in the wake of the vote; |
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Rationale provided in the proxy statement for the level of implementation; |
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The subject matter of the proposal; |
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The level of support for and opposition to the resolution in past meetings; |
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Actions taken by the board in response to the majority vote and its engagement with shareholders; |
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The continuation of the underlying issue as a voting item on the ballot (as either shareholder or management proposals); and |
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Other factors as appropriate. |
2.2. | The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of shares are tendered; |
2.3. | At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote; |
2.4. | The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received the majority of votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency; or |
2.5. | The board implements an advisory vote on executive compensation on a less frequent basis than the frequency that received a plurality, but not a majority, of the votes cast at the most recent shareholder meeting at which shareholders voted on the say-on-pay frequency, taking into account: |
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The boards rationale for selecting a frequency that is different from the frequency that received a plurality; |
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The companys ownership structure and vote results; |
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ISS analysis of whether there are compensation concerns or a history of problematic compensation practices; and |
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The previous years support level on the companys say-on-pay proposal. |
3 Examples of failure of risk oversight include, but are not limited to: bribery; large or serial fines or sanctions from regulatory bodies; significant adverse legal judgments or settlements; hedging of company stock; or significant pledging of company stock.
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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3. Composition
Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings:
3.1. |
Generally vote against or withhold from directors (except new nominees, who should be considered case-by-case 4 ) who attend less than 75 percent of the aggregate of their board and committee meetings for the period for which they served, unless an acceptable reason for absences is disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. Acceptable reasons for director absences are generally limited to the following: |
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Medical issues/illness; |
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Family emergencies; and |
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Missing only one meeting (when the total of all meetings is three or fewer). |
3.2. | If the proxy disclosure is unclear and insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of the aggregate of his/her board and committee meetings during his/her period of service, vote against or withhold from the director(s) in question. |
Overboarded Directors:
Generally vote against or withhold from individual directors who:
3.3. | Sit on more than five public company boards; or |
3.4. |
Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own withhold only at their outside boards 5 . |
4. Independence
Vote against or withhold from Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:
4.1. | The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating; |
4.2. | The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee; |
4.3. | The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or |
4.4. | Independent directors make up less than a majority of the directors. |
Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)
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General Recommendation: Generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring that the chairmans position be filled by an independent director, taking into consideration the following: |
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The scope of the proposal; |
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The companys current board leadership structure; |
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The companys governance structure and practices; |
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Company performance; and |
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Any other relevant factors that may be applicable. |
4 For new nominees only, schedule conflicts due to commitments made prior to their appointment to the board are considered if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing.
5 Although all of a CEOs subsidiary boards will be counted as separate boards, ISS will not recommend a withhold vote for the CEO of a parent company board or any of the controlled (>50 percent ownership) subsidiaries of that parent, but may do so at subsidiaries that are less than 50 percent controlled and boards outside the parent/subsidiary relationships.
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Regarding the scope of the proposal, consider whether the proposal is precatory or binding and whether the proposal is seeking an immediate change in the chairman role or the policy can be implemented at the next CEO transition.
Under the review of the companys board leadership structure, ISS may support the proposal under the following scenarios absent a compelling rationale: the presence of an executive or non-independent chair in addition to the CEO; a recent recombination of the role of CEO and chair; and/or departure from a structure with an independent chair. ISS will also consider any recent transitions in board leadership and the effect such transitions may have on independent board leadership as well as the designation of a lead director role.
When considering the governance structure, ISS will consider the overall independence of the board, the independence of key committees, the establishment of governance guidelines, board tenure and its relationship to CEO tenure, and any other factors that may be relevant. Any concerns about a companys governance structure will weigh in favor of support for the proposal.
The review of the companys governance practices may include, but is not limited to, poor compensation practices, material failures of governance and risk oversight, related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk, corporate or management scandals, and actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impact on shareholders. Any such practices may suggest a need for more independent oversight at the company thus warranting support of the proposal.
ISS performance assessment will generally consider one-, three-, and five-year TSR compared to the companys peers and the market as a whole. While poor performance will weigh in favor of the adoption of an independent chair policy, strong performance over the long term will be considered a mitigating factor when determining whether the proposed leadership change warrants support.
Proxy Access
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General Recommendation: Generally vote for management and shareholder proposals for proxy access with the following provisions: |
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Ownership threshold: maximum requirement not more than three percent (3%) of the voting power; |
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Ownership duration: maximum requirement not longer than three (3) years of continuous ownership for each member of the nominating group; |
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Aggregation: minimal or no limits on the number of shareholders permitted to form a nominating group; |
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Cap: cap on nominees of generally twenty-five percent (25%) of the board. |
Review for reasonableness any other restrictions on the right of proxy access.
Generally vote against proposals that are more restrictive than these guidelines.
Proxy Contests/Proxy Access Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections
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General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors: |
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Long-term financial performance of the company relative to its industry; |
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Managements track record; |
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Background to the contested election; |
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Nominee qualifications and any compensatory arrangements; |
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Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of the critique against management; |
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Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates); and |
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Stock ownership positions. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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In the case of candidates nominated pursuant to proxy access, vote case-by-case considering any applicable factors listed above or additional factors which may be relevant, including those that are specific to the company, to the nominee(s) and/or to the nature of the election (such as whether or not there are more candidates than board seats).
CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING
Capital
Common Stock Authorization
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General Recommendation: Vote for proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support. |
Vote against proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.
Vote against proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.
Vote case-by-case on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:
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Past Board Performance: |
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The companys use of authorized shares during the last three years; |
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The Current Request: |
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Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase; |
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Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and |
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The dilutive impact of the request as determined relative to an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the companys need for shares and total shareholder returns. |
ISS will apply the relevant allowable increase below to requests to increase common stock that are for general corporate purposes (or to the general corporate purposes portion of a request that also includes a specific need):
A. | Most companies: 100 percent of existing authorized shares. |
B. | Companies with less than 50 percent of existing authorized shares either outstanding or reserved for issuance: 50 percent of existing authorized shares. |
C. | Companies with one- and three-year total shareholder returns (TSRs) in the bottom 10 percent of the U.S. market as of the end of the calendar quarter that is closest to their most recent fiscal year end: 50 percent of existing authorized shares. |
D. | Companies at which both conditions (B and C) above are both present: 25 percent of existing authorized shares. |
If there is an acquisition, private placement, or similar transaction on the ballot (not including equity incentive plans) that ISS is recommending FOR, the allowable increase will be the greater of (i) twice the amount needed to support the transactions on the ballot, and (ii) the allowable increase as calculated above.
Mergers and Acquisitions
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General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including: |
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Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal. |
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Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions. |
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Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arms-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation wins can also signify the deal makers competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value. |
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Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the ISS Transaction Summary section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists. |
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Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance. |
COMPENSATION
Executive Pay Evaluation
Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:
1. | Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs; |
2. | Avoid arrangements that risk pay for failure: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation; |
3. | Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e. g. , including access to independent expertise and advice when needed); |
4. | Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly; |
5. | Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices. |
Advisory Votes on Executive CompensationManagement Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)
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General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on ballot items related to executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Vote against Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation (Management Say-on-Pay or MSOP) if:
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There is a significant misalignment between CEO pay and company performance ( pay for performance ); |
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The company maintains significant problematic pay practices ; |
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The board exhibits a significant level of poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders. |
Vote against or withhold from the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:
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There is no MSOP on the ballot, and an against vote on an MSOP is warranted due to pay-for-performance misalignment, problematic pay practices, or the lack of adequate responsiveness on compensation issues raised previously, or a combination thereof; |
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The board fails to respond adequately to a previous MSOP proposal that received less than 70 percent support of votes cast; |
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The company has recently practiced or approved problematic pay practices, including option repricing or option backdating; or |
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The situation is egregious. |
Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay
Pay-for-Performance Evaluation
ISS annually conducts a pay-for-performance analysis to identify strong or satisfactory alignment between pay and performance over a sustained period. With respect to companies in the Russell 3000 or Russell 3000E Indices 6 , this analysis considers the following:
1. |
Peer Group 7 Alignment: |
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The degree of alignment between the companys annualized TSR rank and the CEOs annualized total pay rank within a peer group, each measured over a three-year period. |
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The multiple of the CEOs total pay relative to the peer group median. |
2. |
Absolute Alignment 8 the absolute alignment between the trend in CEO pay and company TSR over the prior five fiscal years i.e., the difference between the trend in annual pay changes and the trend in annualized TSR during the period. |
If the above analysis demonstrates significant unsatisfactory long-term pay-for-performance alignment or, in the case of companies outside the Russell indices, misaligned pay and performance are otherwise suggested, our analysis may include any of the following qualitative factors, as relevant to evaluating how various pay elements may work to encourage or to undermine long-term value creation and alignment with shareholder interests:
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The ratio of performance- to time-based equity awards; |
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The overall ratio of performance-based compensation; |
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The completeness of disclosure and rigor of performance goals; |
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The companys peer group benchmarking practices; |
6 The Russell 3000E Index includes approximately 4,000 of the largest U.S. equity securities.
7 The revised peer group is generally comprised of 14-24 companies that are selected using market cap, revenue (or assets for certain financial firms), GICS industry group, and companys selected peers GICS industry group, with size constraints, via a process designed to select peers that are comparable to the subject company in terms of revenue/assets and industry, and also within a market-cap bucket that is reflective of the companys. For Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels companies, market cap is the only size determinant.
8 Only Russell 3000 Index companies are subject to the Absolute Alignment analysis.
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Actual results of financial/operational metrics, such as growth in revenue, profit, cash flow, etc., both absolute and relative to peers; |
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Special circumstances related to, for example, a new CEO in the prior FY or anomalous equity grant practices (e.g., bi-annual awards); |
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Realizable pay 9 compared to grant pay; and |
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Any other factors deemed relevant. |
Problematic Pay Practices
The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:
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Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements; |
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Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and |
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Options backdating. |
Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements
Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated case-by-case considering the context of a companys overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:
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Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options); |
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Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting; |
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New or extended agreements that provide for: |
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CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus; |
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CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (single or modified single triggers); |
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CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including modified gross-ups); |
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Insufficient executive compensation disclosure by externally-managed issuers (EMIs) such that a reasonable assessment of pay programs and practices applicable to the EMIs executives is not possible. |
Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking
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Multi-year guaranteed bonuses; |
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A single or common performance metric used for short- and long-term plans; |
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Lucrative severance packages; |
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High pay opportunities relative to industry peers; |
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Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or |
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Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk. |
Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.
9 ISS research reports include realizable pay for S&P1500 companies.
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Options Backdating
The following factors should be examined case-by-case to allow for distinctions to be made between sloppy plan administration versus deliberate action or fraud:
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Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes; |
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Duration of options backdating; |
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Size of restatement due to options backdating; |
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Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and |
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Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future. |
Compensation Committee Communications and Responsiveness
Consider the following factors case-by-case when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay on the boards responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues:
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Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or |
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Failure to adequately respond to the companys previous say-on-pay proposal that received the support of less than 70 percent of votes cast, taking into account: |
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The companys response, including: |
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Disclosure of engagement efforts with major institutional investors regarding the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
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Specific actions taken to address the issues that contributed to the low level of support; |
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Other recent compensation actions taken by the company; |
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Whether the issues raised are recurring or isolated; |
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The companys ownership structure; and |
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Whether the support level was less than 50 percent, which would warrant the highest degree of responsiveness. |
Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say When on Pay)
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General Recommendation: Vote for annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies executive pay programs. |
Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans
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General Recommendation: Vote case-by-case on certain equity-based compensation plans 10 depending on a combination of certain plan features and equity grant practices, where positive factors may counterbalance negative factors, and vice versa, as evaluated using an equity plan scorecard (EPSC) approach with three pillars: |
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Plan Cost: The total estimated cost of the companys equity plans relative to industry/market cap peers, measured by the companys estimated Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) in relation to peers and considering both: |
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SVT based on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants, plus outstanding unvested/unexercised grants; and |
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SVT based only on new shares requested plus shares remaining for future grants. |
10 Proposals evaluated under the EPSC policy generally include those to approve or amend (1) stock option plans for employees and/or employees and directors, (2) restricted stock plans for employees and/or employees and directors, and (3) omnibus stock incentive plans for employees and/or employees and directors; amended plans will be further evaluated case-by-case.
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
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Plan Features: |
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Automatic single-triggered award vesting upon a change in control (CIC); |
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Discretionary vesting authority; |
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Liberal share recycling on various award types; |
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Lack of minimum vesting period for grants made under the plan; |
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Dividends payable prior to award vesting. |
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Grant Practices: |
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The companys three-year burn rate relative to its industry/market cap peers; |
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Vesting requirements in most recent CEO equity grants (3-year look-back); |
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The estimated duration of the plan (based on the sum of shares remaining available and the new shares requested, divided by the average annual shares granted in the prior three years); |
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The proportion of the CEOs most recent equity grants/awards subject to performance conditions; |
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Whether the company maintains a claw-back policy; |
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Whether the company has established post-exercise/vesting share-holding requirements. |
Generally vote against the plan proposal if the combination of above factors indicates that the plan is not, overall, in shareholders interests, or if any of the following egregious factors apply:
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Awards may vest in connection with a liberal change-of-control definition; |
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The plan would permit repricing or cash buyout of underwater options without shareholder approval (either by expressly permitting it for NYSE and Nasdaq listed companies or by not prohibiting it when the company has a history of repricing for non-listed companies); |
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The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices or a significant pay-for-performance disconnect under certain circumstances; or |
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Any other plan features are determined to have a significant negative impact on shareholder interests. |
SOCIAL/ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Global Approach
Issues covered under the policy include a wide range of topics, including consumer and product safety, environment and energy, labor standards and human rights, workplace and board diversity, and corporate political issues. While a variety of factors goes into each analysis, the overall principle guiding all vote recommendations focuses on how the proposal may enhance or protect shareholder value in either the short or long term.
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General Recommendation: Generally vote case-by-case, taking into consideration whether implementation of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value, and in addition the following will also be considered: |
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If the issues presented in the proposal are more appropriately or effectively dealt with through legislation or government regulation; |
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If the company has already responded in an appropriate and sufficient manner to the issue(s) raised in the proposal; |
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Whether the proposals request is unduly burdensome (scope or timeframe) or overly prescriptive; |
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The companys approach compared with any industry standard practices for addressing the issue(s) raised by the proposal; |
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If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether or not reasonable and sufficient information is currently available to shareholders from the company or from other publicly available sources; and |
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If the proposal requests increased disclosure or greater transparency, whether or not implementation would reveal proprietary or confidential information that could place the company at a competitive disadvantage. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
© 2017 ISS | Institutional Shareholder Services |
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2017 U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines |
Pharmaceutical Pricing, Access to Medicines, and Prescription Drug Reimportation
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General Recommendation: Generally vote against proposals requesting that companies implement specific price restraints on pharmaceutical products unless the company fails to adhere to legislative guidelines or industry norms in its product pricing practices. |
Vote case-by-case on proposals requesting that a company report on its product pricing or access to medicine policies, considering:
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The potential for reputational, market, and regulatory risk exposure; |
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Existing disclosure of relevant policies; |
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Deviation from established industry norms; |
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Relevant company initiatives to provide research and/or products to disadvantaged consumers; |
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Whether the proposal focuses on specific products or geographic regions; |
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The potential burden and scope of the requested report; |
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Recent significant controversies, litigation, or fines at the company. |
Generally vote for proposals requesting that a company report on the financial and legal impact of its prescription drug reimportation policies unless such information is already publicly disclosed.
Generally vote against proposals requesting that companies adopt specific policies to encourage or constrain prescription drug reimportation. Such matters are more appropriately the province of legislative activity and may place the company at a competitive disadvantage relative to its peers.
Climate Change/Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
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General Recommendation: Generally vote for resolutions requesting that a company disclose information on the risks related to climate change on its operations and investments, such as financial, physical, or regulatory risks, considering: |
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Whether the company already provides current, publicly-available information on the impact that climate change may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities; |
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The companys level of disclosure is at least comparable to that of industry peers; and |
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There are no significant controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the companys environmental performance. |
Generally vote for proposals requesting a report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from company operations and/or products and operations, unless:
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The company already discloses current, publicly-available information on the impacts that GHG emissions may have on the company as well as associated company policies and procedures to address related risks and/or opportunities; |
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The companys level of disclosure is comparable to that of industry peers; and |
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There are no significant, controversies, fines, penalties, or litigation associated with the companys GHG emissions. |
Vote case-by-case on proposals that call for the adoption of GHG reduction goals from products and operations, taking into account:
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Whether the company provides disclosure of year-over-year GHG emissions performance data; |
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Whether company disclosure lags behind industry peers; |
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The companys actual GHG emissions performance; |
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The companys current GHG emission policies, oversight mechanisms, and related initiatives; and |
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Whether the company has been the subject of recent, significant violations, fines, litigation, or controversy related to GHG emissions. |
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
© 2017 ISS | Institutional Shareholder Services |
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2017 U.S. Concise Proxy Voting Guidelines |
Board Diversity
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General Recommendation: Generally vote for requests for reports on a companys efforts to diversify the board, unless: |
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The gender and racial minority representation of the companys board is reasonably inclusive in relation to companies of similar size and business; and |
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The board already reports on its nominating procedures and gender and racial minority initiatives on the board and within the company. |
Vote case-by-case on proposals asking a company to increase the gender and racial minority representation on its board, taking into account:
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The degree of existing gender and racial minority diversity on the companys board and among its executive officers; |
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The level of gender and racial minority representation that exists at the companys industry peers; |
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The companys established process for addressing gender and racial minority board representation; |
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Whether the proposal includes an overly prescriptive request to amend nominating committee charter language; |
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The independence of the companys nominating committee; |
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Whether the company uses an outside search firm to identify potential director nominees; and |
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Whether the company has had recent controversies, fines, or litigation regarding equal employment practices. |
This document and all of the information contained in it, including without limitation all text, data, graphs, and charts (collectively, the Information) is the property of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), its subsidiaries, or, in some cases third party suppliers.
The Information has not been submitted to, nor received approval from, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory body. None of the Information constitutes an offer to sell (or a solicitation of an offer to buy), or a promotion or recommendation of, any security, financial product or other investment vehicle or any trading strategy, and ISS does not endorse, approve, or otherwise express any opinion regarding any issuer, securities, financial products or instruments or trading strategies.
The user of the Information assumes the entire risk of any use it may make or permit to be made of the Information.
ISS MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ORIGINALITY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, NON-INFRINGEMENT, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS for A PARTICULAR PURPOSE) WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE INFORMATION.
Without limiting any of the foregoing and to the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event shall ISS have any liability regarding any of the Information for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential (including lost profits), or any other damages even if notified of the possibility of such damages. The foregoing shall not exclude or limit any liability that may not by applicable law be excluded or limited.
The Global Leader In Corporate Governance
www.issgovernance.com
Enabling the financial community to manage governance risk for the benefit of shareholders.
© 2017 ISS | Institutional Shareholder Services |
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MAI-FINC-1017D
PART COTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits
(a)(1) | Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. (1) | |||
(a)(2) | Articles Supplementary designating new series and new share classes. (2) | |||
(a)(3) | Articles Supplementary designating new series and new share classes. (3) | |||
(a)(4) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (4) | |||
(a)(5) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (5) | |||
(a)(6) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (6) | |||
(a)(7) | Articles Supplementary decreasing authorizations of specified classes and series and decreasing total authorized shares. (7) | |||
(a)(8) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (8) | |||
(a)(9) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (10) | |||
(a)(10) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (11) | |||
(a)(11) | Articles Supplementary designating new series. (12) | |||
(a)(12) | Articles Supplementary designating new share classes. (13) | |||
(a)(13) | Articles of Amendment, dated January 9, 2009. (14) | |||
(a)(14) | Articles of Amendment, dated May 29, 2009. (15) | |||
(a)(15) | Articles Supplementary designating new series and new share classes, filed June 23, 2009. (15) | |||
(a)(16) | Articles Supplementary designating new series and new share class, filed September 17, 2009. (16) | |||
(a)(17) | Articles of Amendment, filed January 22, 2010. (17) | |||
(a)(18) |
Articles Supplementary providing for name changes and names of new classes and series, filed
October 26, 2010. (19) |
|||
(a)(19) | Articles of Amendment providing name change, dated March 23, 2011. (22) | |||
(a)(20) | Articles Supplementary providing names of new class and series, filed July 2011. (23) | |||
(a)(21) | Articles of Amendment regarding reorganization of Nuveen Large Cap Value Fund into Nuveen Dividend Value Fund, dated October 5, 2012. (25) | |||
(a)(22) | Articles Supplementary providing names of new share class, dated November 14, 2012. (26) | |||
(a)(23) | Articles Supplementary providing names of new share class, dated December 11, 2013. (30) | |||
(a)(24) | Articles of Amendment regarding reorganization of Nuveen Mid Cap Select Fund into Nuveen Symphony Mid-Cap Core Fund, dated September 25, 2013. (31) | |||
(a)(25) | Articles of Amendment regarding reorganization of Nuveen International Fund into Nuveen International Select Fund, dated October 18, 2013. (31) | |||
(a)(26) | Articles of Amendment regarding reorganization of Nuveen Quantitative Enhanced Core Equity Fund into Nuveen Symphony Low Volatility Equity Fund, dated October 18, 2013. (31) | |||
(a)(27) | Articles of Amendment regarding reorganization of Nuveen International Select Fund into Nuveen International Growth Fund, dated September 16, 2014. (32) | |||
(a)(28) | Articles Supplementary designating new share classes, dated November 18, 2014. (34) | |||
(a)(29) | Articles Supplementary designating new share classes, dated April 14, 2016. (37) | |||
(a)(30) | Articles Supplementary designating new share classes, dated December 1, 2016. (41) | |||
(a)(31) | Articles Supplementary designating new share classes, dated February 16, 2017. (41) | |||
(a)(32) | Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated October 11, 2017. (44) |
C-1
(b) | Bylaws, as amended. (41) | |||
(c) | Not applicable. | |||
(d)(1) | Management Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, dated October 1, 2014. (33) | |||
(d)(2) | Amended Schedules A and B of Management Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, dated June 30, 2016. (38) | |||
(d)(3) | Renewal and Amendment of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, dated July 24, 2017. (42) | |||
(d)(4) | Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement by and between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, dated October 1, 2014. (33) | |||
(d)(5) | Amended Schedule A of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement by and between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, dated December 22, 2014. (35) | |||
(d)(6) | Notice of Continuance of Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, dated July 24, 2017. (42) | |||
(e)(1) | Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Securities, LLC (f/k/a Nuveen Investments, LLC), dated January 1, 2011. (21) | |||
(e)(2) | Renewal of Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Nuveen Securities, LLC (f/k/a Nuveen Investments, LLC), dated August 4, 2017. (43) | |||
(f) | Not applicable. | |||
(g)(1) | Custody Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated July 1, 2006. (9) | |||
(g)(2) | Amendment to Custody Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated July 1, 2007. (11) | |||
(g)(3) | Amendment to Custody Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated June 7, 2013. (28) | |||
(g)(4) | Exhibit C effective September 16, 2009, to Custody Agreement, dated July 1, 2006. (16) | |||
(g)(5) | Exhibit D effective December 5, 2007, to Custody Agreement, dated July 1, 2006. (12) | |||
(h)(1) | Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Nuveen Mutual Funds and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., dated May 11, 2012. (24) | |||
(h)(2) | Amendment and Schedule A to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, effective as of October 11, 2016. (40) | |||
(h)(3) | Amendment to Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated May 1, 2017. (42) | |||
(h)(4) | Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated February 17, 2010. (18) | |||
(h)(5) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated December 30, 2010. (20) | |||
(h)(6) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated January 1, 2012. (24) | |||
(h)(7) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated January 1, 2014. (42) | |||
(h)(8) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated September 22, 2016. (42) | |||
(h)(9) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Securities Lending Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, dated February 1, 2017. (42) | |||
(h)(10) | Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, dated January 1, 2011. (21) | |||
(h)(11) | Amendment to Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between Registrant and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, dated April 22, 2013. (27) |
C-2
(h)(12) |
Amendment to Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement between Registrant and
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, dated August 1, 2015. (41) |
|||
(i) | Not applicable. | |||
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated October 26, 2017. (44) | |||
(k) | Not applicable. | |||
(l) | Not applicable. | |||
(m) | Amended and Restated Plan of Distribution and Service Pursuant to Rule 12b-1, effective January 26, 2017. (42) | |||
(n) | Multiple Class Plan Adopted Pursuant to Rule 18f-3, as amended January 26, 2017. (42) | |||
(o) | Reserved. | |||
(p)(1) | Code of Ethics, as amended July 1, 2017. (42) | |||
(p)(2) | Code of Ethics for the Independent Trustees of the Nuveen Funds, as amended May 10, 2017. (42) | |||
(q)(1) | Original Power of Attorney of Mr. Nelson, dated September 1, 2013. (28) | |||
(q)(2) | Original Powers of Attorney of Messrs. Evans, Hunter, Kundert, Schneider and Toth and Mss. Stockdale and Stone, dated October 13, 2013. (29) | |||
(q)(3) | Original Powers of Attorney of Ms. Wolff, dated February 15, 2016. (36) | |||
(q)(4) | Original Powers of Attorney of Ms. Cook and Mr. Moschner, dated June 24, 2016. (39) | |||
(q)(5) | Original Powers of Attorney of Mr. Young, dated July 3, 2017. (42) |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 21 filed on May 15, 1995 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 36 filed on April 15, 1998 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 53 filed on June 27, 2001 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 61 filed on April 30, 2002 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(5) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 64 filed on October 24, 2002 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(6) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 66 filed on January 28, 2003 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(7) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 70 filed on June 30, 2004 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(8) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 72 filed on September 24, 2004 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(9) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 80 filed on August 31, 2006 on Form N-1A for Registrant |
(10) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 84 filed on December 20, 2006 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(11) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 87 filed on July 31, 2007 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(12) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 90 filed on December 17, 2007 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(13) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 93 filed on October 28, 2008 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(14) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 95 filed on February 27, 2009 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(15) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 97 filed on August 28, 2009 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(16) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 98 filed on September 29, 2009 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
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(17) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 102 filed on February 26, 2010 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(18) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 103 filed on August 20, 2010 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(19) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 105 filed on October 29, 2010 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(20) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 107 filed on January 18, 2011 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(21) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 109 filed on February 28, 2011 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(22) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 113 filed on June 28, 2011 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(23) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 118 filed on August 26, 2011 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(24) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 129 filed on August 28, 2012 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(25) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 133 filed on October 29, 2012 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(26) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 137 filed on February 28, 2013 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(27) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 142 filed on April 30, 2013 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(28) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 148 filed on September 27, 2013 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(29) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 150 field on October 28, 2013 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(30) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 152 field on December 12, 2013 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(31) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 153 field on February 10, 2014 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(32) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 161 filed on September 26, 2014 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(33) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 164 filed on October 28, 2014 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(34) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 167 filed on January 20, 2015 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(35) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 175 filed on August 28, 2015 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(36) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 182 filed on February 22, 2016 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(37) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 185 filed on April 29, 2016 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(38) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 189 filed on June 30, 2016 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(39) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 190 filed on July 22, 2016 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(40) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 195 filed on October 28, 2016 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(41) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 197 filed on February 28, 2017 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(42) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 201 filed on July 28, 2017 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(43) | Incorporated by reference to the post-effective amendment no. 203 filed on September 28, 2017 on Form N-1A for Registrant. |
(44) | Filed herewith. |
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Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Fund
Not applicable.
Item 30. Indemnification
The Registrants Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that each present or former director, officer, agent and employee of the Registrant or any predecessor or constituent corporation, and each person who, at the request of the Registrant, serves or served another business enterprise in any such capacity, and the heirs and personal representatives of each of the foregoing shall be indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses, including without limitation amounts of judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, attorneys and accountants fees, and costs of litigation, which shall necessarily or reasonably be incurred by him or her in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which he or she was, is or shall be a party, or with which he or she may be threatened, by reason of his or her being or having been a director, officer, agent or employee of the Registrant or such predecessor or constituent corporation or such business enterprise, whether or not he or she continues to be such at the time of incurring such expenses. Such indemnification may include without limitation the purchase of insurance and advancement of any expenses, and the Registrant shall be empowered to enter into agreements to limit the liability of directors and officers of the Registrant. No indemnification shall be made in violation of the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland or the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). The Registrants Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws further provide that no director or officer of the Registrant shall be liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for money damages, except (i) to the extent that it is proved that such director or officer actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services actually received, or (ii) to the extent that a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such director or officer is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that such directors or officers action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding. The foregoing shall not be construed to protect or purport to protect any director or officer of the Registrant against any liability to the Registrant or its stockholders to which such director or officer would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such office. The Registrant undertakes that no indemnification or advance will be made unless it is consistent with Sections 17(h) or 17(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as now enacted or hereafter amended, and Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations, and releases (including, without limitation, Investment Company Act of 1940 Release No. 11330, September 2, 1980).
The trustees and officers of the Registrant are covered by the Mutual Fund Professional Liability policy in the aggregate amount of $70,000,000 against liability and expenses of claims of wrongful acts arising out of their position with the Registrant and other Nuveen funds, except for matters that involve willful acts, bad faith, gross negligence and willful disregard of duty (i.e., where the insured did not act in good faith for a purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Registrant or where he or she had reasonable cause to believe this conduct was unlawful). The policy has a $1,000,000 deductible for operational failures and $1,000,000 deductible for all other claims.
Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the 1933 Act) may be permitted to the officers, directors or controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by an officer or director or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such officer, director or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
(a) Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (Nuveen Fund Advisors) (formerly known as Nuveen Fund Advisors, Inc. and Nuveen Asset Management) manages the Registrant and serves as investment adviser or manager to other open-end and closed-end management investment companies. The principal business address for all of these investment companies and the persons named below is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
A description of any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the directors and officers of Nuveen Fund Advisors who serve as officers or trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under Management in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers of Nuveen Fund Advisors appears below:
Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors |
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
|
|
Michelle Beck, Executive Vice President | Executive Vice President (since 2017), formerly, Managing Director of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC; Chief Risk Officer (since June 2017), formerly, Senior Managing Director, Chief Risk Officer (since November 2016) of Teachers Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Head of Risk Management, Nuveen Investments, Inc. (2010-2017). | |
Joseph T. Castro, Senior Managing Director | Senior Managing Director (since February 2017), Head of Compliance (since 2013) of Nuveen, LLC. | |
Anthony E. Ciccarone, Executive Vice President | Executive Vice President (since 2016), formerly, Managing Director (2015-2016) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; formerly, Executive Vice President (2016-2017), formerly, Managing Director (2015-2016) of Nuveen Investments, Inc. | |
Erik Mogavero, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer |
Formerly employed by Deutsche Bank (2013-August 2017) as Managing Director, Head of Asset Management and Wealth Management Compliance for the Americas region and Chief Compliance Officer of Deutsche Investment Management Americas. |
|
Michael A. Perry, Executive Vice President | Executive Vice President (since 2017), formerly, Managing Director (2015-2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC and of Nuveen Alternative Investments, LLC. |
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Name and Position with Nuveen Fund Advisors |
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
|
|
Austin P. Wachter, Managing Director and Controller | Managing Director, Treasurer and Controller (since April 2017) (formerly, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Controller) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director, Controller and Treasurer (since April 2017) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Controller (since 2014) of Nuveen, LLC; Controller (since 2016) formerly, Vice President and Funds Treasurer (2014-2016) of Teachers Advisors, LLC; Vice President (since 2016) of TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Vice President and Funds Treasurer, TGAM Controller (since 2016), formerly, Senior Director and Funds Treasurer (2014-2016) of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America. | |
Diane M. Whelan, Executive Vice President | Formerly, Executive Vice President (2014-2016) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC. (2014-2016). |
(b) Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (Nuveen Asset Management) acts as sub-investment adviser to Nuveen Core Bond Fund, Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Fund and also serves as sub-investment adviser to other open-end and closed-end funds and investment adviser to separately managed accounts. The following is a list of the senior officers of Nuveen Asset Management. The principal business address of each person is 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
A description of any business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which the directors and officers of Nuveen Asset Management who serve as officers or trustees of the Registrant have engaged during the last two years for his or her account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee appears under Management in the Statement of Additional Information. Such information for the remaining senior officers of Nuveen Asset Management appears below:
Name |
Position and Offices with
|
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
|
||
William T. Huffman | President | None | ||
Charles R. Manzoni, Jr. |
Chief Operating Officer and
General Counsel |
Managing Director (since 2011) of Nuveen, LLC. | ||
Diane S. Meggs | Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer | Managing Director and Compliance Manager (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Director (since 2013) of Nuveen Investments Advisers, LLC. |
C-7
Name |
Position and Offices with
|
Other Business, Profession, Vocation or
|
||
Austin P. Wachter | Managing Director, Treasurer and Controller | Managing Director and Controller (since March 2017) formerly, Assistant Controller and Vice President (2016-2017) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director (since 2017) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director, Controller and Treasurer (since April 2017) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Controller (since 2014) of Nuveen, LLC; Controller (since 2016) formerly, Vice President and Funds Treasurer (2014-2016) of Teachers Advisors, LLC; Vice President (since 2016) of TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; Vice President and Funds Treasurer, TGAM Controller (since 2016), formerly, Senior Director and Funds Treasurer (2014-2016) of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America. |
Item 32. Principal Underwriters
(a) Nuveen Securities, LLC (Nuveen) acts as principal underwriter to the following open-end management type investment companies: Nuveen Multistate Trust I, Nuveen Multistate Trust II, Nuveen Multistate Trust III, Nuveen Multistate Trust IV, Nuveen Municipal Trust, Nuveen Managed Accounts Portfolios Trust, Nuveen Investment Trust, Nuveen Investment Trust II, Nuveen Investment Trust III, Nuveen Investment Trust V, Nuveen Strategy Funds, Inc. and the Registrant.
(b)
Name and Principal
|
Positions and Offices
|
Positions and Offices
|
||
Margo L. Cook
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Co-Chief Executive Officer and President, Global Products and Solutions | Director | ||
Carl M. Katerndahl
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Co-Chief Executive Officer |
None |
||
Anthony E. Ciccarone e333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Executive Vice President | None | ||
Erin F. Donnelly 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Executive Vice President | None | ||
Michael A. Perry 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Executive Vice President | None | ||
Halina T. Mikowski 333 W. Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | None |
C-8
Name and Principal
|
Positions and Offices
|
Positions and Offices
|
||
Kevin J. McCarthy
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Senior Managing Director and Assistant Secretary | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | ||
Kathleen L. Prudhomme
901 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
Managing Director and Assistant Secretary | Vice President and Secretary | ||
Christopher M. Rohrbacher
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Managing Director and Assistant Secretary | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | ||
Lucas A. Satre
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Managing Director, Secretary and General Counsel | None | ||
Gifford R. Zimmerman
333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 |
Managing Director and Assistant Secretary |
Vice President and Assistant Secretary |
(c) Not applicable.
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
Nuveen Fund Advisors, 333 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, maintains the Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, minutes of director and shareholder meetings and contracts of the Registrant and all advisory material of the investment adviser.
U.S. Bank National Association, 1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, currently maintains all general and subsidiary ledgers, journals, trial balances, records of all portfolio purchases and sales, and all other required records not maintained by Nuveen Fund Advisors.
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8530, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8530, maintains all the required records in its capacity as transfer, dividend paying, and shareholder service agent for the Registrant.
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
C-9
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this post-effective amendment to its registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 27th day of October, 2017.
NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ K ATHLEEN L. P RUDHOMME | |
Kathleen L. Prudhomme | ||
Vice President and Secretary |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this post-effective amendment to the registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
* | An original power of attorney authorizing, among others, Kevin J. McCarthy, Kathleen L. Prudhomme and Gifford R. Zimmerman to execute this registration statement, and amendments thereto, for each of the directors of the Registrant on whose behalf this registration statement is filed, has been executed and has previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference herein. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
|
Exhibit |
|
(a)(32) |
Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated October 11, 2017. |
|
(j) | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, dated October 26, 2017. |
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
The undersigned officer of Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. (the Corporation), a Maryland corporation, hereby certifies that the following amendments to the Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation have been advised by the Corporations Board of Directors and approved by the Corporations stockholders in the manner required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, such amendment to become effective October 13, 2017 at the Effective Time referred to below:
WHEREAS, the Corporation is registered as an open-end management investment company (i.e., a mutual fund) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and offers its shares to the public in several classes (i.e., series), each of which represents a separate and distinct portfolio of assets;
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the best interests of the holders of the Class QQ shares of the Corporation (also known as Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund) that the assets belonging to such class be transferred to Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund, a series of Nuveen Investment Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the Trust), in exchange for shares of beneficial interest in Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund, which are to be delivered to the Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund holders;
WHEREAS, Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund and Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization providing for the foregoing transactions; and
WHEREAS, in order to bind all holders of shares of Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund to the foregoing transactions and as set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, and in particular to bind such holders to the exchange of their shares of Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund for shares of beneficial interest in Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund, it is necessary to adopt an amendment to the Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of the Effective Time referred to below, the Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation be, and the same hereby are, amended to add the following Article IV(JJ) immediately following Article IV(II) thereof:
Article IV(JJ) . (a) For purposes of this Article IV(JJ), the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Acquiring Fund means Nuveen Large Cap Growth Fund, a series of the Trust.
Class A Acquiring Fund Shares means the Acquiring Funds Class A shares of beneficial interest.
Class C Acquiring Fund Shares means the Acquiring Funds Class C shares of beneficial interest.
Class R6 Acquiring Fund Shares means the Acquiring Funds Class R6 shares of beneficial interest.
Class I Acquiring Fund Shares means the Acquiring Funds Class I shares of beneficial interest.
Class A Target Fund Shares means the Corporations Class QQ Common Shares.
Class C Target Fund Shares means the Corporations Class QQ, Series 3 Common Shares.
Class R3 Target Fund Shares means the Corporations Class QQ, Series 5 Common Shares.
Class R6 Target Fund Shares means the Corporations Class QQ, Series 6 Common Shares.
Class I Target Fund Shares means the Corporations Class QQ, Series 4 Common Shares.
Closing means the occurrence of the transactions set forth in (b) and (c) below on the Closing Date.
Closing Date means October 13, 2017.
Corporation means this corporation.
Effective Time means immediately after the Valuation Time on the Closing Date.
Plan means the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated June 15, 2017 on behalf of the Acquiring Fund and the Target Fund.
Target Fund means the Corporations Nuveen Large Cap Growth Opportunities Fund, which is represented by the Corporations Class QQ shares.
Trust means Nuveen Investment Trust, a Massachusetts business trust.
Valuation Time means the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Closing Date.
(b) As of the Effective Time, the Target Fund will transfer all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund, including, without limitation, all cash, securities, commodities, interests in futures, dividends or interest receivables owned by the Target Fund and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Target Fund as of the Closing.
(c) As of the Effective Time, the Acquiring Fund will: (i) deliver to the Target Fund the number of full and fractional Class A, Class C, Class R6 and Class I Acquiring Fund Shares, computed in the manner set forth in (d) below; and (ii) assume all the liabilities of the Target Fund not discharged by the Target Fund, which assumed
liabilities shall include all of the Target Funds liabilities, debts, obligations, and duties of whatever kind or nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, whether or not determinable at the Closing, and whether or not specifically referred to in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization or herein.
(d) The number of Class A Acquiring Fund Shares, Class C Acquiring Fund Shares, Class A Acquiring Fund Shares, Class R6 Acquiring Fund Shares and Class I Acquiring Fund Shares to be delivered to holders of Class A Target Fund Shares, Class C Target Fund Shares, Class R3 Target Fund Shares, Class R6 Target Fund Shares and Class I Target Fund Shares, respectively, shall be determined as follows:
(i) Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued (including fractional shares, if any) in consideration for the Target Funds net assets as described in (b) and (c) above, shall be determined with respect to Class A, Class C, Class R3, Class R6 and Class I of the Target Fund Shares by dividing the value of the assets net of liabilities with respect to each such class of shares determined in accordance with (ii) below by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund share of the corresponding class as of the Valuation Time determined in accordance with (iv) below.
(ii) The value of the Target Funds assets and liabilities shall be computed as of the Valuation Time, using the valuation procedures of the Nuveen open-end funds adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the Board of Trustees of the Trust or such other valuation procedures as shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
(iii) The net assets per share per class of Acquiring Fund Shares shall be the net asset value per share for such class using the valuation procedures set forth in (d)(ii) above.
(iv) As of the Effective Time, the Target Fund will distribute the Acquiring Fund Shares received pursuant to (c) above to its shareholders of record, determined as of the time of such distribution (the Target Fund Shareholders), on a pro rata basis within that class. Class A Acquiring Fund Shares to Class A Target Fund Shareholders, Class C Acquiring Fund Shares to Class C Target Fund Shareholders, Class A Acquiring Fund Shares to Class R3 Target Fund Shareholders, Class R6 Acquiring Fund Shares to Class R6 Target Fund Shareholders and Class I Acquiring Fund Shares to Class I Target Fund Shareholders. Such distribution will be accomplished with respect to Class A, Class C, Class R3, Class R6 and Class I Target Fund Shares by the transfer of the Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of the Target Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of Target Fund Shareholders of such class. The Acquiring Fund shall not issue certificates representing Acquiring Fund Shares in connection with such transfer. As of the Effective Time, all issued and outstanding shares of the Target Fund shall be cancelled on the books of the Target Fund and retired.
(e) From and after the Effective Time, the Target Fund shares cancelled and retired pursuant to paragraph (d)(iii) above shall have the status of authorized and unissued common shares of the Corporation, without designation as to series.
The undersigned officer of the Corporation hereby acknowledges, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, the foregoing Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act of the Corporation and further certifies that, to the best of his or her knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth therein with respect to the approval thereof are true in all material respects, under the penalties of perjury.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President or a Vice President and witnessed by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary on October 11, 2017.
NUVEEN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Kathleen Prudhomme | |
Kathleen Prudhomme | ||
Its: | Vice President and Secretary |
Witness:
/s/ Mark Czarniecki
Assistant Secretary
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Nuveen Investment Funds, Inc. of our report dated August 25, 2017, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appears in Nuveen Core Bond Fund, Nuveen Core Plus Bond Fund, Nuveen High Income Bond Fund, Nuveen Inflation Protected Securities Fund, Nuveen Intermediate Government Bond Fund, Nuveen Short Term Bond Fund and Nuveen Strategic Income Funds Annual Report on Form N-CSR for the year ended June 30, 2017. We also consent to the references to us under the headings Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Financial Highlights in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois
October 26, 2017