NPORT-EX 1 fp0046002_nportex_v1kxznxt.htm

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
 
   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS 78.28%
Communication Services 1.35%          
China Tower Corp., Ltd. - Class H   2,770,000   $721,856 
Momo, Inc. - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)   13,100    445,007 
         1,166,863 
           
Consumer Discretionary 7.60%          
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.   100,800    96,703 
Home Depot, Inc.(a)(b)   3,690    788,516 
Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)   45,100    1,013,397 
Pool Corp.(a)(b)   3,900    738,543 
Sands China, Ltd.   340,800    1,658,691 
Titan Co., Ltd.   47,843    734,738 
Vail Resorts, Inc.(a)(b)   4,700    1,158,644 
XTEP International Holdings, Ltd.   530,000    383,884 
         6,573,116 
           
Energy 0.00%          
Fairway Energy LP(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)   130,700    0 
           
Financials 36.04%          
AIA Group, Ltd.   70,200    725,482 
American International Group, Inc.(a)(b)   17,500    979,825 
Ares Capital Corp.(a)   147,900    2,746,503 
Bank of America Corp.(a)(b)   90,491    2,776,264 
Barings BDC, Inc.(a)(b)   202,900    2,002,623 
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. - Class A(a)   45,830    1,627,882 
Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b)   75,830    5,396,063 
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.(a)   106,200    1,925,406 
Granite Point Mortgage Trust, Inc.(a)   109,000    2,081,900 
HDFC Bank, Ltd.   48,289    1,580,721 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(a)(b)   20,700    2,401,200 
Morgan Stanley(a)(b)   37,800    1,684,368 
Solar Capital, Ltd.(a)   75,100    1,559,076 
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(a)   99,900    2,320,677 
TPG Specialty Lending, Inc.(a)   69,300    1,352,736 
         31,160,726 
           
Health Care 6.10%          
Amgen, Inc.(a)(b)   2,990    557,874 
Baxter International, Inc.(a)(b)   7,980    670,081 
Eli Lilly & Co.(a)(b)   8,813    960,176 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(a)(b)   3,835    1,064,903 

    Shares    Value 
Health Care (continued)          
Zoetis, Inc.(a)(b)   17,610   $2,023,213 
         5,276,247 
           
Industrials 0.84%          
Larsen & Toubro, Ltd.   35,900    724,054 
           
Information Technology 18.29%          
Analog Devices, Inc.   12,525    1,471,186 
Apple, Inc.   7,060    1,504,062 
Applied Materials, Inc.   30,115    1,486,778 
Broadcom, Ltd.(a)(b)   9,779    2,835,812 
Microsoft Corp.(a)(b)   32,430    4,419,236 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   18,422    706,143 
Visa, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   9,899    1,762,022 
Western Digital Corp.(a)(b)   17,550    945,770 
Xilinx, Inc.(a)(b)   6,000    685,260 
         15,816,269 
           
Real Estate 8.06%          
Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.(a)   107,700    4,425,393 
Embassy Office Parks REIT(c)   137,600    748,683 
Link REIT   59,500    694,711 
SBA Communications Corp.(a)(b)(c)   4,480    1,099,437 
         6,968,224 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $63,730,122)        67,685,499 
           
CLOSED-END FUNDS 1.41%          
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund, Inc.(a)(b)   13,400    293,460 
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.(a)(b)   24,800    296,112 
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.(a)(b)   25,500    298,095 
Royce Value Trust, Inc.(a)(b)   23,700    333,222 
           
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS          
(Cost $1,234,152)        1,220,889 
           
PREFERRED STOCKS 8.28%          
Annaly Capital Management, Inc.          
Series G, 6.500%(a)   37,476    934,651 
Ares Management Corp.          
Series A, 7.000%(a)   35,000    934,500 
First Republic Bank          
Series D, 5.500%(a)(b)   35,000    892,500 
Global Medical REIT, Inc.          
Series A, 7.500%(a)   10,900    281,220 
M&T Bank Corp.          
Series C, 6.375%(a)(b)   962    968,734 
New Mountain Finance Corp., 5.750%(a)(b)   40,000    1,024,800 

 

 

 

    Shares    Value 
PREFERRED STOCKS (continued)          
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust          
Series A, 3M US L + 5.831%(a)(i)   22,000   $590,040 
Series B, 3M US L + 5.99%(a)(i)   10,000    265,400 
Two Harbors Investment Corp.          
Series A, 3M US L + 5.66%(a)(i)   28,500    766,650 
Series C, 3M US L + 5.011%(a)(b)(i)   20,000    504,000 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $6,922,820)        7,162,495 
           
Underlying Security/Expiration Date/ Exercise Price/Notional Amount   Contracts    Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS 1.44%          
Put Options Purchased 1.44%          
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1          
10/18/19, 190, $21,021,000   1,100    611,600 
iShares China Large-Cap ETF          
08/02/19, 42, $953,520   232    20,996 
S&P 500® Index          
09/20/19, 2,950, $29,803,800   100    491,500 
Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF          
08/02/19, 28, $9,294,645   3,335    116,725 
           
Total Put Options Purchased          
(Cost $1,201,578)        1,240,821 
           
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS          
(Cost $1,201,578)        1,240,821 
           
Description and   Principal      
Maturity Date   Amount    Value 
CORPORATE BONDS 18.41%          
American Tower Trust #1          
03/15/2023, 3.070%(e)  $700,000    706,991 
Amgen, Inc.          
11/15/2021, 3.875%(a)   700,000    720,617 
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.          
09/15/2022, 2.950%(a)   500,000    508,689 
Bank of America Corp.          
10/21/2022, 2.503%(a)   500,000    500,682 
BP Capital Markets America, Inc.          
05/06/2022, 3.245%(a)   288,000    295,442 
Branch Banking & Trust Co.          
06/01/2020, 2.250%(a)   500,000    499,643 
Caterpillar, Inc.          
05/27/2021, 3.900%(a)   500,000    515,107 
Citigroup, Inc.          
04/25/2022, 2.750%(a)   700,000    705,788 
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.          
09/28/2022, 4.150%(a)(b)(e)   1,325,000    1,366,146 
Connecticut Light & Power Co.          
01/15/2023, 2.500%(a)(b)   750,000    756,742 

Description and   Principal      
Maturity Date   Amount    Value 
CORPORATE BONDS (continued)          
JPMorgan Chase & Co.          
10/29/2020, 2.550%(a)  $600,000   $600,844 
09/23/2022, 3.250%(a)   700,000    719,542 
Main Street Capital Corp.          
12/01/2019, 4.500%(a)(b)   1,000,000    1,004,228 
Morgan Stanley          
05/19/2022, 2.750%(a)(b)   750,000    755,913 
MUFG Union Bank NA          
04/01/2022, 3.150%(a)   850,000    866,614 
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.          
10/01/2066, 3M US L + 2.0675%(a)(b)(i)   500,000    413,260 
Owl Rock Capital Corp.          
04/15/2024, 5.250%(a)   500,000    519,635 
Philip Morris International, Inc.          
11/02/2022, 2.500%(a)(b)   1,000,000    1,004,283 
Solar Capital, Ltd.          
01/20/2023, 4.500%(a)(b)   500,000    494,027 
Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations LP          
04/01/2021, 4.400%(a)(b)   750,000    770,280 
TPG Specialty Lending, Inc.          
01/22/2023, 4.500%(a)(b)   750,000    751,678 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.          
07/15/2020, 2.700%(a)(b)   700,000    703,296 
Welltower, Inc.          
01/15/2022, 5.250%(a)(b)   700,000    742,911 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $15,869,627)        15,922,358 
           
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 0.10%          
United States Small Business Administration          
Series 2008-20L, Class 1, 12/01/2028, 6.220%   75,200    82,512 
           
TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES          
(Cost $75,200)        82,512 
           
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 17.00%          
U.S. Treasury Bonds          
02/15/2041, 4.750%(a)   1,000,000    1,398,477 
05/15/2041, 4.375%(a)   1,000,000    1,334,687 
08/15/2043, 3.625%(a)   1,000,000    1,206,992 
11/15/2043, 3.750%(a)   1,000,000    1,230,723 
05/15/2045, 3.000%(a)   1,000,000    1,092,715 
02/15/2048, 3.000%   2,700,000    2,955,182 
05/15/2048, 3.125%(a)   4,000,000    4,484,453 
U.S. Treasury Note          
01/31/2020, 2.000%(a)   1,000,000    999,355 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $13,678,412)        14,702,584 

 

 

 

    Shares/Principal Amount    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 15.89%          
Money Market Funds  7.83%          
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (2.201% 7-day yield)   6,771,860   $6,771,860 
         6,771,860 
U.S. Treasury Bills  8.06%          
U.S. Treasury Bills          
09/05/2019, 2.418%(a)(j)  $1,000,000    998,069 
10/03/2019, 2.101%(a)(j)   2,000,000    1,992,962 
11/29/2019, 2.075%(j)   3,000,000    2,979,722 
12/05/2019, 2.410%(a)(j)   1,000,000    992,920 
         6,963,673 
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $13,732,746)        13,735,533 
           
Total Investments - 140.81%          
(Cost $116,444,657)        121,752,691 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (40.81%)(k)        (35,287,872)
           
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $86,464,819 
           
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c)   Shares    Value 
COMMON STOCKS (7.37%)          
Financials (4.48%)          
Deutsche Bank AG   (105,400)   (823,174)
Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA   (128,642)   (1,289,351)
Societe Generale S.A.   (24,383)   (599,357)
UniCredit SpA   (98,881)   (1,166,420)
         (3,878,302)
           
Industrials (1.12%)          
Stericycle, Inc.   (21,010)   (965,619)
           
Information Technology (1.77%)          
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.   (25,500)   (776,475)
Cree, Inc.   (7,150)   (444,587)
NetApp, Inc.   (5,300)   (309,997)
         (1,531,059)
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Proceeds $6,435,628)        (6,374,980)
           
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (3.34%)          
iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF   (5,490)   (580,074)
SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF   (26,900)   (2,304,792)
           

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (c) (continued)        Value 
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Proceeds $2,750,711)       $(2,884,866)
           
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $9,186,339)       $(9,259,846)

 

Investment Abbreviations:

1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate

 

Libor Rates:

3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of July 31, 2019 was 2.27%

 

(a) Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short, total return swap contracts or borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, the aggregate value of those securities was $85,308,474, representing 98.66% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 2)
(b) Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of July 31, 2019.
(c) Non-income producing security.
(d) Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $0 or 0.00% of total net assets.
(e) Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933.  These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $2,073,137 or 2.40% of net assets.
(f) Private Placement; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $0 or 0.00% of net assets.
(g) As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets. (See Note 1)
(h) Security filed for bankruptcy on November 26, 2018.
(i) Variable rate investment. Interest rates reset periodically. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at July 31, 2019. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in the description above.
(j) Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.
(k) Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts and securities sold short.

 

 

 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS        
         
   Reference   Notional   Floating Rate  Floating  Termination        Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation   Amount   Paid by the Fund  Rate Index   Date   Value    Appreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Banco Santander SA  $(612,142)  1D FEDEF - 50 bps  1D FEDEF  05/20/2020  $(588,604)  $23,538 
                            
   Reference   Notional   Floating Rate  Floating  Termination        Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation   Amount   Paid by the Fund  Rate Index   Date   Value    Depreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.  $714,756   1D FEDEF + 250 bps  1D FEDEF  05/29/2020  $678,016   $(36,740)
                            
       102,614            $89,412   $(13,202)

 

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN            
                    
   Expiration  Strike       Notional     
Underlying Security  Date  Price   Contracts   Amount   Value 
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1  10/18/2019  $180    (1,100)  $(21,021,000)  $(311,850)
S&P 500® Index  09/20/2019   2,650    (50)   (14,901,900)   (45,250)
S&P 500® Index  09/20/2019   2,750    (50)   (14,901,900)   (77,000)
                        
                $(50,824,800)  $(434,100)

 

 

 

Clough Global Equity Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
 
   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS 107.76%
Communication Services 2.32%          
China Tower Corp., Ltd. - Class H   4,822,000   $1,256,603 
Momo, Inc. - Sponsored ADR(a)   22,800    774,516 
Netflix, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   4,529    1,462,822 
         3,493,941 
           
Consumer Discretionary 15.08%          
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)   14,600    2,527,406 
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   1,906    3,558,083 
Carvana Co.(a)(b)   74,500    4,735,220 
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.   177,600    170,382 
Etsy, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   21,400    1,434,228 
Home Depot, Inc.(a)(c)   2,470    527,814 
Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd. - ADR(a)   79,100    1,777,377 
Pool Corp.(a)   6,710    1,270,673 
Sands China, Ltd.   592,800    2,885,187 
Titan Co., Ltd.   81,389    1,249,913 
Vail Resorts, Inc.(a)   5,500    1,355,860 
Wayfair, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   9,130    1,197,491 
         22,689,634 
           
Energy 0.00%          
Fairway Energy LP(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)   217,600    0 
           
Financials 28.73%          
AIA Group, Ltd.   120,800    1,248,407 
Ares Capital Corp.(a)   243,900    4,529,223 
Bank of America Corp.(a)(c)   120,205    3,687,889 
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. - Class A(a)   81,550    2,896,656 
Citigroup, Inc.(a)(c)   114,219    8,127,824 
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.(a)   193,109    3,501,066 
Granite Point Mortgage Trust, Inc.(a)   121,900    2,328,290 
HDFC Bank, Ltd.   83,949    2,748,038 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(a)(c)   24,800    2,876,800 
Morgan Stanley(a)(c)   60,400    2,691,424 
Solar Capital, Ltd.(a)   104,400    2,167,344 
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(a)   197,800    4,594,894 
TPG Specialty Lending, Inc.(a)   93,100    1,817,312 
         43,215,167 
           
Health Care 20.37%          
Align Technology, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   2,902    606,750 
Amgen, Inc.(a)(c)   2,600    485,108 
Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc. - Series C(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)   334,425    1,199,997 
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)   87,697    2,449,377 

    Shares    Value 
Health Care (continued)          
Baxter International, Inc.(a)(c)   13,717   $1,151,817 
BeiGene, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   9,150    1,256,661 
Boston Scientific Corp.(a)(b)(c)   35,040    1,487,799 
Centrexion Therapeutics(b)(d)(e)(f)(g)   66,719    749,988 
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.(b)(e)(f)(g)   4,336    48,741 
Correvio Pharma Corp.(a)(b)   319,900    585,417 
CRISPR Therapeutics AG(a)(b)   72,780    3,689,218 
Elanco Animal Health, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   49,000    1,615,040 
Equillium, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   11,800    48,380 
Galapagos NV - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)   5,370    931,158 
Gossamer Bio, Inc.(a)(b)   26,200    520,070 
Gossamer Biosciences(b)(d)(e)(f)   58,721    1,163,345 
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR(a)(b)(c)   11,540    1,872,942 
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   2,924    824,714 
Idorsia, Ltd.(b)(d)   44,696    956,343 
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   16,800    1,065,624 
Teladoc Health, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   17,120    1,168,269 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(a)(c)   6,652    1,847,127 
Veracyte, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   63,720    1,807,736 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   4,972    828,435 
Zoetis, Inc.(a)(c)   19,950    2,292,056 
         30,652,112 
           
Industrials 4.12%          
Larsen & Toubro, Ltd.   62,407    1,258,665 
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(b)   10,160    4,932,070 
         6,190,735 
           
Information Technology 37.14%          
Adobe, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   6,050    1,808,103 
Analog Devices, Inc.(a)   21,769    2,556,987 
Apple, Inc.   12,310    2,622,522 
Applied Materials, Inc.(a)   52,343    2,584,174 
Arista Networks, Inc.(a)(b)   5,270    1,441,082 
Broadcom, Ltd.(a)   17,104    4,959,989 
Coupa Software, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   12,580    1,707,232 
Fabrinet(a)(b)(c)   48,700    2,614,216 
Guidewire Software, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   13,300    1,357,664 
Lumentum Holdings, Inc.(b)   33,100    1,874,453 
Micron Technology, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   135,743    6,093,503 
Microsoft Corp.(a)(c)   47,160    6,426,493 
New Relic, Inc.(a)(b)   7,300    680,141 
Pluralsight, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   44,900    1,377,981 
RingCentral, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   12,830    1,821,603 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   21,929    3,388,031 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   32,523    1,246,655 
ServiceNow, Inc.(a)(b)   7,388    2,049,357 
Twilio, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   10,000    1,391,100 
Visa, Inc. - Class A(a)(c)   14,220    2,531,160 
Western Digital Corp.(a)   30,440    1,640,412 
WNS Holdings, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   21,500    1,354,930 

 

 

 

    Shares    Value 
Information Technology (continued)          
Xilinx, Inc.(a)   10,500   $1,199,205 
Zendesk, Inc.(a)(b)   13,800    1,153,128 
         55,880,121 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $154,788,907)        162,121,710 
           
CLOSED-END FUNDS 2.14%          
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.(a)(c)   81,400    971,916 
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.(a)   84,100    983,129 
Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund, Inc.(a)(c)   29,600    452,584 
Royce Value Trust, Inc.(a)   58,200    818,292 
           
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS          
(Cost $3,241,765)        3,225,921 
           
PREFERRED STOCKS 0.87%          
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust          
Series A, 3M US L + 5.831%(a)(i)   48,692    1,305,919 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $1,207,329)        1,305,919 
           
Underlying Security/Expiration Date/ Exercise Price/Notional Amount   Contracts    Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS 2.03%          
Put Options Purchased 2.03%          
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1          
10/18/19, 190, $63,063,000   3,300    1,834,800 
iShares China Large-Cap ETF          
08/02/19, 42, $1,644,000   400    36,200 
S&P 500® Index          
09/20/19, 2,800, $20,862,660   70    142,100 
09/20/19, 2,950, $50,666,460   170    835,550 
Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF          
08/02/19, 28, $16,030,824   5,752    201,320 
           
Total Put Options Purchased          
(Cost $3,135,529)        3,049,970 
           
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS          
(Cost $3,135,529)        3,049,970 

Description and   Principal      
Maturity Date   Amount    Value 
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 3.35%          
U.S. Treasury Bonds          
02/15/2048, 3.000%(a)  $4,600,000   $5,034,754 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $4,973,701)        5,034,754 
           
    Shares/Principal Amount    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 11.74%          
Money Market Funds  3.81%          
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (2.201% 7-day yield)   5,727,825    5,727,825 
         5,727,825 
U.S. Treasury Bills  7.93%          
U.S. Treasury Bills          
08/29/2019, 2.107%(a)(j)  $4,000,000    3,994,092 
10/03/2019, 2.101%(a)(j)   3,000,000    2,989,442 
01/09/2020, 2.026%(a)(j)   2,000,000    1,981,850 
01/30/2020, 2.259%(a)(j)   3,000,000    2,969,225 
         11,934,609 
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $17,657,886)        17,662,434 
           
Total Investments - 127.89%          
(Cost $185,005,117)        192,400,708 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (27.89%)(k)        (41,957,158)
           
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $150,443,550 

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (b)    Shares    Value 
COMMON STOCKS (7.35%)          
Financials (4.50%)          
Deutsche Bank AG   (180,100)   (1,406,581)
Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA   (213,416)   (2,139,022)
Societe Generale S.A.   (41,794)   (1,027,336)
UniCredit SpA   (186,653)   (2,201,796)
         (6,774,735)
           
Industrials (1.10%)          
Stericycle, Inc.   (35,840)   (1,647,206)
           
Information Technology (1.75%)          
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.   (43,400)   (1,321,530)
Cree, Inc.   (12,250)   (761,705)
NetApp, Inc.   (9,400)   (549,806)
         (2,633,041)
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Proceeds $11,199,799)        (11,054,982)

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (b) (continued)   Shares    Value 
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (5.45%)          
Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund   (36,700)  $(3,344,838)
iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF   (8,640)   (912,902)
SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF   (46,100)   (3,949,848)
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Proceeds $7,719,970)        (8,207,588)
           
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $18,919,769)       $(19,262,570)

 

Investment Abbreviations:

1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate

 

Libor Rates:

3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of July 31, 2019 was 2.27%

 

(a) Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short, total return swap contracts or borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, the aggregate value of those securities was $145,637,945, representing 96.81% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 2)
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of July 31, 2019.
(d) All or a portion of the security is exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933.  These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $3,598,275 or 2.39% of net assets.
(e) Private Placement; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $3,162,071 or 2.10% of net assets.
(f) Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $3,162,071 or 2.10% of total net assets.
(g) As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets. (See Note 1)
(h) Security filed for bankruptcy on November 26, 2018.
(i) Variable rate investment. Interest rates reset periodically. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at July 31, 2019. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in the description above.
(j) Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.
(k) Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts and securities sold short.

 

 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS        
         
   Reference   Notional   Floating Rate  Floating   Termination         Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation   Amount   Paid by the Fund  Rate Index    Date    Value    Appreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Banco Santander SA  $(1,049,112)  1D FEDEF - 50 bps  1D FEDEF   05/20/2020   $(1,008,922)  $40,190 
                              
   Reference   Notional   Floating Rate  Floating   Termination         Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation   Amount   Paid by the Fund  Rate Index    Date    Value    Depreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.  $1,250,823   1D FEDEF + 250 bps  1D FEDEF   5/29/2020   $1,186,528   $(64,295)
                              
       201,711              $177,606   $(24,105)

 

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN            
                    
   Expiration  Strike       Notional     
Underlying Security  Date  Price   Contracts   Amount   Value 
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1  10/18/2019  $180    (3,300)  $(63,063,000)  $(935,550)
S&P 500® Index  09/20/2019   2,650    (155)   (46,195,890)   (140,275)
S&P 500® Index  09/20/2019   2,750    (85)   (25,333,230)   (130,900)
                        
                $(134,592,120)  $(1,206,725)

 

 

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2019 (Unaudited)
 
   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS 106.52%
Communication Services 3.96%          
China Tower Corp., Ltd. - Class H   11,094,000   $2,891,074 
GCI Liberty, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   94,072    5,618,920 
Momo, Inc. - Sponsored ADR(b)(c)   52,400    1,780,028 
Netflix, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   10,424    3,366,848 
         13,656,870 
           
Consumer Discretionary 15.15%          
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)   33,600    5,816,496 
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   4,408    8,228,766 
Carvana Co.(a)(b)   171,860    10,923,422 
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Ltd.   408,000    391,418 
Etsy, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   49,200    3,297,384 
Home Depot, Inc.(b)(c)   5,570    1,190,253 
Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Ltd. - ADR(b)   182,000    4,089,540 
Pool Corp.(b)   15,440    2,923,873 
Sands China, Ltd.   1,362,800    6,632,816 
Titan Co., Ltd.   187,443    2,878,613 
Vail Resorts, Inc.(b)   12,700    3,130,804 
Wayfair, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   20,990    2,753,049 
         52,256,434 
           
Energy 0.00%          
Fairway Energy LP(a)(d)(e)(f)(g)(h)   536,000    0 
           
Financials 27.05%          
AIA Group, Ltd.   278,200    2,875,057 
Ares Capital Corp.(b)   528,100    9,806,817 
Bank of America Corp.(b)(c)   309,110    9,483,495 
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. - Class A(b)   186,660    6,630,163 
Citigroup, Inc.(b)(c)   268,127    19,079,917 
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.(b)   340,257    6,168,860 
HDFC Bank, Ltd.   192,907    6,314,735 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.(b)(c)   64,950    7,534,200 
Morgan Stanley(b)(c)   138,300    6,162,648 
Solar Capital, Ltd.(b)   216,231    4,488,956 
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.(b)   452,886    10,520,542 
TPG Specialty Lending, Inc.(b)   215,783    4,212,084 
         93,277,474 
           
Health Care 18.44%          
Align Technology, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   6,671    1,394,773 
Amgen, Inc.(b)(c)   7,520    1,403,081 
Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc. - Series C(a)(d)(e)(f)(g)   780,326    2,799,997 
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)   214,401    5,988,220 
Baxter International, Inc.(b)(c)   31,642    2,656,979 

    Shares    Value 
Health Care (continued)          
BeiGene, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   21,310   $2,926,715 
BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   18,600    1,475,352 
Centrexion Therapeutics(a)(d)(e)(f)(g)   217,952    2,449,998 
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.(a)(e)(f)(g)   14,166    159,240 
Correvio Pharma Corp.(a)(b)   797,281    1,459,024 
CRISPR Therapeutics AG(a)(b)   170,014    8,618,010 
Elanco Animal Health, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   112,900    3,721,184 
Equillium, Inc.(a)(b)   26,926    110,396 
Galapagos NV - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)   12,300    2,132,820 
Gossamer Bio, Inc.(a)(b)   60,500    1,200,925 
Gossamer Biosciences(a)(d)(e)(f)   113,988    2,258,262 
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR(a)(b)(c)   26,520    4,304,196 
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   6,775    1,910,889 
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   39,000    2,473,770 
Teladoc Health, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   39,240    2,677,738 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(b)(c)   15,497    4,303,207 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   11,413    1,901,634 
Zoetis, Inc.(b)(c)   46,010    5,286,089 
         63,612,499 
           
Industrials 4.13%          
Larsen & Toubro, Ltd.   143,395    2,892,082 
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(b)   23,370    11,344,733 
         14,236,815 
           
Information Technology 36.53%          
Adobe, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   13,930    4,163,120 
Analog Devices, Inc.(b)(c)   50,107    5,885,568 
Apple, Inc.   28,170    6,001,337 
Applied Materials, Inc.(b)   120,248    5,936,644 
Arista Networks, Inc.(a)(b)   12,140    3,319,683 
Broadcom, Ltd.(b)(c)   39,231    11,376,598 
Fabrinet(a)   112,000    6,012,160 
Guidewire Software, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   30,600    3,123,648 
Lumentum Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)   75,800    4,292,554 
Micron Technology, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   316,383    14,202,433 
Microsoft Corp.(b)(c)   109,520    14,924,290 
New Relic, Inc.(a)(b)   16,700    1,555,939 
Pluralsight, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   103,900    3,188,691 
RingCentral, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   29,670    4,212,547 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   50,501    7,802,404 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   74,791    2,866,851 
ServiceNow, Inc.(a)(b)   17,004    4,716,740 
Twilio, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   23,170    3,223,179 
Visa, Inc. - Class A(b)(c)   38,504    6,853,712 
Western Digital Corp.(b)   70,950    3,823,495 
WNS Holdings, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   49,547    3,122,452 
Xilinx, Inc.(b)   24,100    2,752,461 
Zendesk, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   31,700    2,648,852 
         126,005,358 

 

 

 

    Shares    Value 
Real Estate 1.26%          
SBA Communications Corp.(a)(b)(c)   17,670   $4,336,395 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $351,343,711)        367,381,845 
           
CLOSED-END FUNDS 1.52%          
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund, Inc.(b)(c)   191,200    2,282,928 
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.(b)(c)   197,600    2,309,944 
Royce Value Trust, Inc.(b)   46,800    658,008 
           
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS          
(Cost $5,206,998)        5,250,880 
           
PREFERRED STOCKS 3.03%          
Ares Management Corp.          
Series A, 7.000%(b)   147,000    3,924,900 
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust          
Series B, 3M US L + 5.99%(b)(i)   70,000    1,857,800 
Two Harbors Investment Corp.          
Series A, 3M US L + 5.66%(b)(i)   75,000    2,017,500 
Series C, 3M US L + 5.011%(b)(c)(i)   105,000    2,646,000 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $9,965,750)        10,446,200 
           
Underlying Security/Expiration Date/ Exercise Price/Notional Amount   Contracts    Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS 2.04%          
Put Options Purchased 2.04%          
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1          
10/18/19, 190, $145,236,000   7,600    4,225,600 
iShares China Large-Cap ETF          
08/02/19, 42, $3,781,200   920    83,260 
S&P 500® Index          
09/20/19, 2,800, $50,666,460   170    345,100 
09/20/19, 2,950, $116,234,820   390    1,916,850 
Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF          
08/02/19, 28, $36,849,714   13,222    462,770 
           
Total Put Options Purchased          
(Cost $7,259,531)        7,033,580 
           
TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS          
(Cost $7,259,531)        7,033,580 

Description and   Principal      
Maturity Date   Amount    Value 
CORPORATE BONDS 9.87%          
American Tower Trust #1          
03/15/2023, 3.070%(b)(d)  $3,000,000   $3,029,962 
Bank of America Corp.          
10/21/2022, 2.503%(b)   2,000,000    2,002,726 
Citigroup, Inc.          
04/25/2022, 2.750%(b)   3,000,000    3,024,806 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.          
09/23/2022, 3.250%(b)   3,000,000    3,083,751 
MUFG Union Bank NA          
04/01/2022, 3.150%(b)   3,300,000    3,364,500 
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.          
10/01/2066, 3M US L + 2.0675%(b)(i)   2,500,000    2,066,300 
Owl Rock Capital Corp.          
04/15/2024, 5.250%(b)   3,000,000    3,117,810 
Solar Capital, Ltd.          
01/20/2023, 4.500%(b)   2,500,000    2,470,135 
Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations LP          
04/01/2021, 4.400%(b)   3,000,000    3,081,119 
SunTrust Bank/Atlanta GA          
01/29/2021, 3M US L + 0.2975%(b)(i)   1,355,000    1,354,617 
TPG Specialty Lending, Inc.          
01/22/2023, 4.500%(b)(c)   4,250,000    4,259,510 
Welltower, Inc.          
01/15/2022, 5.250%(b)   3,000,000    3,183,906 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $33,965,849)        34,039,142 
           
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 8.71%          
U.S. Treasury Bonds          
05/15/2041, 4.375%(b)   2,000,000    2,669,375 
05/15/2042, 3.000%   7,200,000    7,883,859 
05/15/2045, 3.000%(b)   6,000,000    6,556,289 
02/15/2048, 3.000%   900,000    985,060 
05/15/2048, 3.125%(b)   7,500,000    8,408,350 
11/15/2048, 3.375%(b)   3,000,000    3,527,871 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $28,087,099)        30,030,804 
           
    Shares/Principal Amount    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 11.70%          
Money Market Funds  7.65%          
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (2.201% 7-day yield)   26,389,469    26,389,469 
         26,389,469 
U.S. Treasury Bills  4.05%          
U.S. Treasury Bills          
08/01/2019, 2.253%(j)  $8,000,000    8,000,000 

 

 

 

    Shares/Principal Amount    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (continued)          
10/03/2019, 2.101%(j)  $6,000,000   $5,978,885 
         13,978,885 
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $40,366,999)        40,368,354 
           
Total Investments - 143.39%          
(Cost $476,195,937)        494,550,805 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (43.39%)(k)        (149,649,269)
           
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $344,901,536 
           
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (a)       Shares    Value 
COMMON STOCKS (7.41%)          
Financials (4.56%)          
Deutsche Bank AG   (414,700)   (3,238,807)
Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA   (497,828)   (4,989,622)
Societe Generale S.A.   (96,035)   (2,360,631)
UniCredit SpA   (435,411)   (5,136,194)
         (15,725,254)
           
Industrials (1.10%)          
Stericycle, Inc.   (82,550)   (3,793,998)
           
Information Technology (1.75%)          
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.   (100,000)   (3,045,000)
Cree, Inc.   (28,200)   (1,753,476)
NetApp, Inc.   (21,500)   (1,257,535)
         (6,056,011)
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Proceeds $25,920,629)        (25,575,263)
           
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (5.10%)          
Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund   (69,050)   (6,293,217)
iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF   (20,640)   (2,180,822)
SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF   (106,300)   (9,107,784)
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Proceeds $16,601,173)        (17,581,823)
           
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $42,521,802)       $(43,157,086)

 

Investment Abbreviations:

1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate

 

Libor Rates:

3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of July 31, 2019 was 2.27%

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short, total return swap contracts or borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, the aggregate value of those securities was $352,464,915, representing 102.19% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 2)
(c) Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of July 31, 2019.
(d) Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933.  These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $10,538,219 or 3.06% of net assets.
(e) Private Placement; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $7,667,497 or 2.22% of net assets.
(f) Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. As of July 31, 2019, these securities had an aggregate value of $7,667,497 or 2.22% of total net assets.
(g) As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets. (See Note 1)
(h) Security filed for bankruptcy on November 26, 2018.
(i) Variable rate investment. Interest rates reset periodically. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at July 31, 2019. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in the description above.
(j) Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.
(k) Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts and securities sold short.

 

 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS        
         
   Reference   Notional   Floating Rate  Floating   Termination         Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation   Amount   Paid by the Fund  Rate Index    Date    Value    Appreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Banco Santander SA  $(2,410,712)  1D FEDEF - 50 bps  1D FEDEF   05/20/2020   $(2,318,273)  $92,439 
                              
   Reference   Notional   Floating Rate  Floating   Termination         Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation   Amount   Paid by the Fund  Rate Index    Date    Value    Depreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Kweichow Moutai Co., Ltd.  $2,873,915   1D FEDEF + 250 bps  1D FEDEF   5/29/2020   $2,726,190   $(147,725)
                              
       463,203              $407,917   $(55,286)

 

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN            
                    
   Expiration  Strike       Notional     
Underlying Security  Date  Price   Contracts   Amount   Value 
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1  10/18/2019  $180    (7,600)  $(145,236,000)  $(2,154,600)
S&P 500® Index  09/20/2019   2,650    (365)   (108,783,870)   (330,325)
S&P 500® Index  09/20/2019   2,750    (195)   (58,117,410)   (300,300)
                        
                $(312,137,280)  $(2,785,225)

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s sector classifications refer to any one of the sector sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sector sub-classifications for reporting ease. Sectors are shown as a percent of net assets. These sector classifications are unaudited.

 

See Notes to Quarterly Statement of Investments.

 

 

Clough Global FundS

Notes to Quarterly Statement of Investments

July 31, 2019 (unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization and SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND OPERATING POLICIES

 

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”), are closed-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). The Funds were organized under the laws of the state of Delaware on April 27, 2004, January 25, 2005, and January 12, 2006, respectively for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Funds were previously registered as non- diversified investment companies. As a result of ongoing operations, each of the Funds became a diversified company. The Funds may not resume operating in a non-diversified manner without first obtaining shareholder approval. Each Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of total return. Each Declaration of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The common shares of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund are listed on the NYSE American LLC and trade under the ticker symbols “GLV”, “GLQ” and “GLO” respectively.

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of the Statement of Investments in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the Statement of Investments during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the Statement of Investments may differ from the value the Funds ultimately realize upon sale of the securities. Each Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies as codified in Accounting Standards Codification Topic (“ASC”) 946 – Investment Companies.

 

The net asset value per share of each Fund is determined no less frequently than daily, on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) is open for trading, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). Trading may take place in foreign issues held by the Fund at times when a Fund is not open for business. As a result, each Fund’s net asset value may change at times when it is not possible to purchase or sell shares of a Fund.

 

Investment Valuation: Securities, including preferred stocks, exchange traded funds, closed-end funds and participation notes held by each Fund for which exchange quotations are readily available are valued at the last sale price, or if no sale price or if traded on the over-the-counter market, at the mean of the bid and asked prices on such day. Most securities listed on a foreign exchange are valued at the last sale price at the close of the exchange on which the security is primarily traded. In certain countries market maker prices are used since they are the most representative of the daily trading activity. Market maker prices are usually the mean between the bid and ask prices. Certain markets are not closed at the time that the Funds price their portfolio securities. In these situations, snapshot prices are provided by the individual pricing services or other alternate sources at the close of the NYSE as appropriate. Securities not traded on a particular day are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and the asked quotes, or the last sale price when appropriate; otherwise fair value will be determined by the board-appointed fair valuation committee. Debt securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market are normally valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services or dealers at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices. As authorized by the Board, debt securities (including short-term obligations that will mature in 60 days or less) may be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service which determines valuations based upon market transactions for normal, institutional-size trading units of securities or a matrix method which considers yield or price of comparable bonds provided by a pricing service. Over-the-counter options are valued at the mean between bid and asked prices provided by dealers. Exchange-traded options are valued at closing settlement prices. Total return swaps are priced based on valuations provided by a Board approved independent third party pricing agent. If a total return swap price cannot be obtained from an independent third party pricing agent the Fund shall seek to obtain a bid price from at least one independent and/or executing broker.

 

If the price of a security is unavailable in accordance with the aforementioned pricing procedures, or the price of a security is unreliable, e.g., due to the occurrence of a significant event, the security may be valued at its fair value determined by management pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board. For this purpose, fair value is the price that a Fund reasonably expects to receive on a current sale of the security. Due to the number of variables affecting the price of a security, however; it is possible that the fair value of a security may not accurately reflect the price that a Fund could actually receive on a sale of the security.

 

A three-tier hierarchy has been established to classify fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best
information available.

 

 

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments as of the reporting period end. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access at the  measurement date;
Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of July 31, 2019, in valuing each Fund’s investments carried at value.

 

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund
                     
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Common Stocks  $67,685,499   $   $0   $67,685,499 
Closed-End Funds   1,220,889            1,220,889 
Preferred Stocks   7,162,495            7,162,495 
Purchased Options   1,240,821            1,240,821 
Corporate Bonds       15,922,358        15,922,358 
Asset-Backed Securities       82,512        82,512 
Government & Agency Obligations       14,702,584        14,702,584 
Short-Term Investments                    
Money Market Funds   6,771,860            6,771,860 
U.S. Treasury Bills       6,963,673        6,963,673 
TOTAL  $84,081,564   $37,671,127   $   $121,752,691 

 

Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets                    
Total Return Swap Contracts**  $   $23,538   $   $23,538 
                     
Liabilities
Written Options   (434,100)           (434,100)
Securities Sold Short                    
Common Stocks   (6,374,980)           (6,374,980)
Exchange Traded Funds   (2,884,866)           (2,884,866)
Total Return Swap Contracts**       (36,740)       (36,740)
TOTAL  $(9,693,946)  $(13,202)  $   $(9,707,148)

 

Clough Global Equity Fund
                     
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Common Stocks                    
Communication Services  $3,493,941   $   $   $3,493,941 
Consumer Discretionary   22,689,634            22,689,634 
Energy                
Financials   43,215,167            43,215,167 
Health Care   27,490,041    1,163,345    1,998,726    30,652,112 
Industrials   6,190,735            6,190,735 
Information Technology   55,880,121            55,880,121 
Closed-End Funds   3,225,921            3,225,921 
Preferred Stocks   1,305,919            1,305,919 
Purchased Options   3,049,970            3,049,970 
Government & Agency Obligations       5,034,754        5,034,754 
Short-Term Investments                    
Money Market Funds   5,727,825            5,727,825 
U.S. Treasury Bills       11,934,609        11,934,609 
TOTAL  $172,269,274   $18,132,708   $1,998,726   $192,400,708 

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets                    
Total Return Swap Contracts**  $   $40,190   $   $40,190 
                     
Liabilities
Written Options   (1,206,725)           (1,206,725)
Securities Sold Short                    
Common Stocks   (11,054,982)           (11,054,982)
Exchange Traded Funds   (8,207,588)           (8,207,588)
Total Return Swap Contracts**       (64,295)       (64,295)
TOTAL  $(20,469,295)  $(24,105)  $   $(20,493,400)

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund
                     
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Common Stocks                    
Communication Services  $13,656,870   $   $   $13,656,870 
Consumer Discretionary   52,256,434            52,256,434 
Energy                
Financials   93,277,474            93,277,474 
Health Care   55,945,002    2,258,262    5,409,235    63,612,499 
Industrials   14,236,815            14,236,815 
Information Technology   126,005,358            126,005,358 
Real Estate   4,336,395            4,336,395 
Closed-End Funds   5,250,880            5,250,880 
Preferred Stocks   10,446,200            10,446,200 
Purchased Options   7,033,580            7,033,580 
Corporate Bonds       34,039,142        34,039,142 
Government & Agency Obligations       30,030,804        30,030,804 
Short-Term Investments                    
Money Market Funds   26,389,469            26,389,469 
U.S. Treasury Bills       13,978,885        13,978,885 
TOTAL  $408,834,477   $80,307,093   $5,409,235   $494,550,805 

 

Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets                    
Total Return Swap Contracts**  $   $92,439   $   $92,439 
                     
Liabilities
Written Options   (2,785,225)           (2,785,225)
Securities Sold Short                    
Common Stocks   (25,575,263)           (25,575,263)
Exchange Traded Funds   (17,581,823)           (17,581,823)
Total Return Swap Contracts**       (147,725)       (147,725)
TOTAL  $(45,942,311)  $(55,286)  $   $(45,997,597)

 

*For detailed sector descriptions, see the accompanying Statements of Investments.
**Swap contracts are reported at their unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) at measurement date, which represents the change in the contract's value from trade date.

 

In the event a Board approved independent pricing service is unable to provide an evaluated price for a security or Clough Capital Partners L.P. (the “Adviser” or “Clough”) believes the price provided is not reliable, securities of each Fund may be valued at fair value as described above. In these instances the Adviser may seek to find an alternative independent source, such as a broker/dealer to provide a price quote, or by using evaluated pricing models similar to the techniques and models used by the independent pricing service. These fair value measurement techniques may utilize unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

 

 

On a monthly basis, the Fair Value Committee of each Fund meets and discusses securities that have been fair valued during the preceding month in accordance with the Funds’ Fair Value Procedures and reports quarterly to the Board on the results of those meetings.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund                                    
Investments in Securities    Balance as of October 31, 2018      Realized
Gain/(Loss)
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
     Purchases      Sales Proceeds      Transfer
into
Level 3
     Transfer
out of
Level 3
    Balance as of July 31, 2019    

Net change in unrealized

appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at July 31, 2019

 
Common Stocks  $264,929   $   $(264,929)  $   $   $   $   $   $(264,929)
Total  $264,929   $   $(264,929)  $   $   $   $   $   $(264,929)

 

Clough Global Equity Fund                                    
Investments in Securities    Balance as of October 31, 2018      Realized
Gain/(Loss)
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
     Purchases      Sales Proceeds      Transfer
into
Level 3
     Transfer
out of
Level 3
    Balance as of  July 31, 2019    

Net change in unrealized

appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at July 31, 2019

 
Common Stocks  $2,041,074   $   $(79,000)  $1,199,997   $   $

– –

   $(1,163,345)  $1,998,726   $(79,000)
Total  $2,041,074   $   $(79,000)  $1,199,997   $   $

– –

   $(1,163,345)  $1,998,726   $(79,000)

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund                                    
Investments in Securities    Balance as of October 31, 2018      Realized
Gain/(Loss)
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
     Purchases      Sales Proceeds      Transfer
into
Level 3
     Transfer
out of
Level 3
    Balance as of July 31, 2019    

Net change in unrealized

appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at July 31, 2019

 
Common Stocks  $5,186,472   $   $(318,972)  $2,799,997   $   $   $(2,258,262)  $5,409,235   $(318,972)
Total  $5,186,472   $   $(318,972)  $2,799,997   $   $   $(2,258,262)  $5,409,235   $(318,972)

 

The following is a summary of valuation techniques and quantitative information used in determining the fair value of the Fund’s Level 3 investments at July 31, 2019:

 

Fund Sector Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Input(a) Range/Premium
Clough Global Equity Fund Health Care $1,998,726 Recent Financings Transaction Price N/A
Clough Global Opportunities Fund Health Care $5,409,235 Recent Financings Transaction Price N/A

 

(a)A change to the unobservable input may result in a significant change to the value of the investment as follows:

 

Unobservable Input Impact to Value if Input Increases Impact to Value if Input Decreases
Transaction Price Increase Decrease

 

Foreign Securities: Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in foreign securities. In the event that a Fund executes a foreign security transaction, the Fund will generally enter into a foreign currency spot contract to settle the foreign security transaction. Foreign securities may carry more risk than U.S. securities, such as political, market and currency risks.

 

 

 

The accounting records of each Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the closing rates of exchange at period end. Amounts related to the purchase and sale of foreign securities and investment income are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

A foreign currency spot contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date, at a negotiated rate. Each Fund may enter into foreign currency spot contracts to settle specific purchases or sales of securities denominated in a foreign currency and for protection from adverse exchange rate fluctuation. Risks to a Fund include the potential inability of the counterparty to meet the terms of the contract.

 

Exchange Traded Funds: Each Fund may invest in exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), which are funds whose shares are traded on a national exchange. ETFs may be based on underlying equity or fixed income securities, as well as commodities or currencies. ETFs do not sell individual shares directly to investors and only issue their shares in large blocks known as “creation units.” The investor purchasing a creation unit then sells the individual shares on a secondary market. Although similar diversification benefits may be achieved through an investment in another investment company, ETFs generally offer greater liquidity and lower expenses. Because an ETF incurs its own fees and expenses, shareholders of a Fund investing in an ETF will indirectly bear those costs. Such Funds will also incur brokerage commissions and related charges when purchasing or selling shares of an ETF. Unlike typical investment company shares, which are valued once daily, shares in an ETF may be purchased or sold on a securities exchange throughout the trading day at market prices that are generally close to the NAV of the ETF.

 

Short Sales: Each Fund may sell a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the fair value of that security. When a Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale. A gain, limited to the price at which a Fund sold the security short, or a loss, unlimited in size, will be recognized upon the termination of the short sale.

 

Each Fund's obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities. Each Fund will also be required to designate on its books and records similar collateral with its custodian to the extent, if any, necessary so that the aggregate collateral value is at all times at least equal to the current value of the security sold short. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to short sales.

 

Each Fund may also sell a security short if it owns at least an equal amount of the security sold short or another security convertible or exchangeable for an equal amount of the security sold short without payment of further compensation (a short sale against-the-box). In a short sale against-the-box, the short seller is exposed to the risk of being forced to deliver stock that it holds to close the position if the borrowed stock is called in by the lender, which would cause gain or loss to be recognized on the delivered stock. Each Fund expects normally to close its short sales against-the-box by delivering newly acquired stock.

 

Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities: The following discloses the Funds’ use of derivative instruments and hedging activities.

 

The Funds’ investment objectives not only permit the Funds to purchase investment securities, they also allow the Funds to enter into various types of derivative contracts, including, but not limited to, purchased and written options, swaps, futures and warrants. In doing so, the Funds will employ strategies in differing combinations to permit them to increase, decrease, or change the level or types of exposure to market factors. Central to those strategies are features inherent to derivatives that make them more attractive for this purpose than equity securities; they require little or no initial cash investment, they can focus exposure on only certain selected risk factors, and they may not require the ultimate receipt or delivery of the underlying security (or securities) to the contract. This may allow the Funds to pursue their objectives more quickly and efficiently than if they were to make direct purchases or sales of securities capable of affecting a similar response to market factors.

 

Risk of Investing in Derivatives: The Funds’ use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Funds are using derivatives to decrease or hedge exposures to market risk factors for securities held by the Funds, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected, resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.

 

Derivatives may have little or no initial cash investment relative to their market value exposure and therefore can produce significant gains or losses in excess of their cost. This use of embedded leverage allows the Funds to increase their market value exposure relative to their net assets and can substantially increase the volatility of the Funds’ performance.

 

Additional associated risks from investing in derivatives also exist and potentially could have significant effects on the valuation of the derivative and the Funds. Typically, the associated risks are not the risks that the Funds are attempting to increase or decrease exposure to, per their investment objectives, but are the additional risks from investing in derivatives.

 

Examples of these associated risks are liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Funds will not be able to sell the derivative in the open market in a timely manner, and counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Funds. Associated risks can be different for each type of derivative and are discussed by each derivative type in the notes that follow.

 

 

 

Each Fund may acquire put and call options and options on stock indices and enter into stock index futures contracts, certain credit derivatives transactions and short sales in connection with its equity investments. In connection with a Fund's investments in debt securities, it may enter into related derivatives transactions such as interest rate futures, swaps and options thereon and certain credit derivatives transactions. Derivatives transactions of the types described above subject a Fund to increased risk of principal loss due to imperfect correlation or unexpected price or interest rate movements. Each Fund also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivatives contracts purchased by a Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivatives contract due to financial difficulties, each Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivatives contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. Each Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

 

Market Risk Factors: In addition, in pursuit of their investment objectives, certain Funds may seek to use derivatives, which may increase or decrease exposure to the following market risk factors:

 

Equity Risk: Equity risk relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market.

 

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk: Foreign exchange rate risk relates to the change in the U.S. dollar value of a security held that is denominated in a foreign currency. The value of a foreign currency denominated security will decrease as the dollar appreciates against the currency, while the value of the foreign currency denominated security will increase as the dollar depreciates against the currency.

 

Option Writing/Purchasing: Each Fund may purchase or write (sell) put and call options. One of the risks associated with purchasing an option among others, is that a Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, a Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to options. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to written options.

 

When a Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by a Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by a Fund on the expiration date as realized gains. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is recorded as a realized gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether a Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by a Fund. Each Fund, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.

 

Futures Contracts: Each Fund may enter into futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or currency (or to deliver a final cash settlement price in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract) for a set price at a future date. If a Fund buys a security futures contract, the Fund enters into a contract to purchase the underlying security and is said to be "long" under the contract. If a Fund sells a security futures contact, the Fund enters into a contract to sell the underlying security and is said to be "short" under the contract. The price at which the contract trades (the "contract price") is determined by relative buying and selling interest on a regulated exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and an appropriate payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”) is recorded by the Fund. Such payables or receivables are recorded for financial statement purposes as variation margin payable or variation margin receivable by each Fund. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to futures contracts. Management has reviewed the futures agreement under which the futures contracts are traded and has determined that the Funds do not have the right to set-off, and therefore the futures contracts are not subject to enforceable netting arrangements.

 

The Funds enter into such transactions for hedging and other appropriate risk-management purposes or to increase return. While a Fund may enter into futures contracts for hedging purposes, the use of futures contracts might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If, for example, the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell a portion of its underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily variation margin requirements on its futures contracts or options on futures contracts at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. There may be an imperfect correlation between the Funds’ portfolio holdings and futures contracts entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss.

 

Futures contract transactions may result in losses substantially in excess of the variation margin. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the hedging vehicle and in the portfolio securities being hedged. An incorrect correlation could result in a loss on both the hedged securities in a Fund and the hedging vehicle so that the portfolio return might have been greater had hedging not been attempted. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures contract. Lack of a liquid market for any reason may prevent a Fund from liquidating an unfavorable position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risk if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts. With exchange-traded futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Funds since futures contracts are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures contracts, guarantees the futures contracts against default.

 

 

 

Each Fund held no futures contracts at the end of the period.

 

Swaps: During the period each Fund engaged in total return swaps. A swap is an agreement that obligates two parties to exchange a series of cash flows at specified intervals based upon or calculated by reference to changes in specified prices or rates for a specified amount of an underlying asset. Each Fund may utilize swap agreements as a means to gain exposure to certain assets and/or to “hedge” or protect the Fund from adverse movements in securities prices or interest rates. Each Fund is subject to equity risk and interest rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective through investments in swap contracts. Swap agreements entail the risk that a party will default on its payment obligation to a Fund. If the other party to a swap defaults, a Fund would risk the loss of the net amount of the payments that it contractually is entitled to receive. If each Fund utilizes a swap at the wrong time or judges market conditions incorrectly, the swap may result in a loss to the Fund and reduce the Fund’s total return.

 

Total return swaps involve an exchange by two parties in which one party makes payments based on a set rate, either fixed or variable, while the other party makes payments based on the return of an underlying asset, which includes both the income it generates and any capital gains over the payment period. A Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or credit risk is the discounted value of the payments to be received from/paid to the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that the amount is positive. The risk is mitigated by having a netting arrangement between a Fund and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral to a Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to swap contracts.

 

International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreements”) govern OTC financial derivative transactions entered into by a Fund and those counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral and events of default or termination. Events of termination include conditions that may entitle counterparties to elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable ISDA Master Agreement. Any election to early terminate could be material to the financial statements.

 

During the period ended July 31, 2019, the Funds invested in swap agreements consistent with the Funds’ investment strategies to gain exposure to certain markets or indices.

 

Warrants/Rights: Each Fund may purchase or otherwise receive warrants or rights. Warrants and rights generally give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise, a security of the issuer at a set price. Funds typically use warrants and rights in a manner similar to their use of purchased options on securities, as described in options above. Risks associated with the use of warrants and rights are generally similar to risks associated with the use of purchased options. However, warrants and rights often do not have standardized terms, and may have longer maturities and may be less liquid than exchange-traded options. In addition, the terms of warrants or rights may limit each Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants or rights at such times and in such quantities as each Fund would otherwise wish. As of and during the period ended July 31, 2019, each Fund held no warrants or rights.

 

Restricted Securities: Although the Funds will invest primarily in publicly traded securities, they may invest a portion of their assets (generally, 5% of its value) in restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or, if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration.

 

Restricted securities as of July 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

Fund  Security  % of
Net Assets
  Acquisition
Date
  Shares  Cost   Value 
Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund  American Tower Trust #1  0.82%  7/8/2019  700,000  $707,182   $706,991 
   Citizens Financial Group, Inc.  1.58%  12/11/2017  1,325,000   1,360,606    1,366,146 
   Fairway Energy LP  0.00%  6/30/2015  130,700   1,307,000    0 
Total     2.40%        $3,374,788   $2,073,137 
                       
Clough Global Equity Fund  Amphivena Therapeutics  0.80%  4/8/2019  334,425   1,199,997    1,199,997 
   Centrexion Therapeutics  0.50%  12/18/2017  66,719   701,250    749,988 
   Fairway Energy LP  0.00%  6/30/2015  217,600   2,176,000    0 
   Gossamer Biosciences  0.77%  7/20/2018  58,721   850,000    1,163,345 
   Idorsia, Ltd.  0.32%  7/11/2018  22,661   580,575    484,945 
Total     2.39%        $5,507,822   $3,598,275 

 

 

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund  American Tower Trust #1  0.88%  7/8/2019  3,000,000   3,030,779    3,029,962 
   Amphivena Therapeutics  0.81%  4/8/2019  780,326   2,799,997    2,799,997 
   Centrexion Therapeutics  0.71%  12/18/2017  217,952   2,290,759    2,449,998 
   Fairway Energy LP  0.00%  6/30/2015  536,000   5,360,000    0 
   Gossamer Biosciences  0.65%  7/20/2018  113,988   1,650,000    2,258,262 
Total     3.05%        $15,131,535   $10,538,219 

 

Counterparty Risk: Each of the Funds run the risk that the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, the counterparty to an over-the-counter derivatives contract, a borrower of each Fund’s securities or the obligor of an obligation underlying an asset-backed security will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest, or settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. In addition, to the extent that each of the Funds use over-the-counter derivatives, and/or has significant exposure to a single counterparty, this risk will be particularly pronounced for each of the Funds.

 

Other Risk Factors: Investing in the Funds may involve certain risks including, but not limited to, the following:

 

Unforeseen developments in market conditions may result in the decline of prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the Funds. These events may have adverse effects on the Funds such as a decline in the value and liquidity of many securities held by the Funds, and a decrease in net asset value. Such unforeseen developments may limit or preclude the Funds’ ability to achieve their investment objective.

 

Investing in stocks may involve larger price fluctuation and greater potential for loss than other types of investments. This may result in the securities held by the Funds being subject to larger short-term declines in value compared to other types of investments.

 

The Funds may have elements of risk due to concentrated investments in foreign issuers located in a specific country. Such concentrations may subject the Funds to additional risks resulting from future political or economic conditions and/or possible impositions of adverse foreign governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers have unique risks not present in securities of U.S. issuers, such as greater price volatility and less liquidity.

 

Fixed income securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that a security could have its credit rating downgraded or that the issuer of the security could fail to make timely payments or default on payments of interest or principal. Additionally, fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk, meaning the decline in the price of debt securities that accompanies a rise in interest rates. Bonds with longer maturities are subject to greater price fluctuations than bonds with shorter maturities.

 

The Funds invest in bonds which are rated below investment grade. These high yield bonds may be more susceptible than higher grade bonds to real or perceived adverse economic or industry conditions. The secondary market, on which high yield bonds are traded, may also be less liquid than the market for higher grade bonds.

 

2. CommitTed facility agreement

 

 

Each Fund entered into a financing package that includes a Committed Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated January 16, 2009, as amended, between each Fund and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (“BNP”) that allows each Fund to borrow funds from BNP. Each Fund entered a Special Custody and Pledge Agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) dated December 9, 2013, as amended, between each Fund, the Funds’ custodian, and BNP. As of October 31, 2016, the Pledge Agreement was assigned from BNP to BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. Per the Pledge Agreement, borrowings under the Agreement are secured by assets of each Fund that are held by the Fund’s custodian in a separate account (the “pledged collateral”). On July 31, 2019, the pledged collateral was valued at $81,853,129, $138,921,438 and $336,464,525 for the Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. Each Fund may, with 30 days notice, reduce the Maximum Commitment Financing (Initial Limit amount plus the increased borrowing amount in excess of the Initial Limit) to a lesser amount if drawing on the full amount would result in a violation of the applicable asset coverage requirement of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Interest is charged at the three month LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus 0.70% on the amount borrowed and 0.65% on the undrawn balance. Each Fund also pays a one-time arrangement fee of 0.25% on (i) the Initial Limit and (ii) any increased borrowing amount in the excess of the Initial Limit, paid in monthly installments for the six months immediately following the date on which borrowings were drawn by the Fund.

 

 

 

The Maximum Commitment Financing allowed under the Agreement is $47,000,000, $76,500,000 and $178,000,000 for the Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and the Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. As of July 31, 2019, the outstanding borrowings for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $47,000,000, $76,500,000 and $178,000,000, respectively. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund on July 31, 2019, was 2.97%.

 

The Lending Agreement is a separate side-agreement between each Fund and BNP pursuant to which BNP may borrow a portion of the pledged collateral (the “Lent Securities”) in an amount not to exceed the outstanding borrowings owed by a Fund to BNP under the Agreement. The Lending Agreement is intended to permit each Fund to significantly reduce the cost of its borrowings under the Agreement. BNP has the ability to re- register the Lent Securities in its own name or in another name other than the Fund to pledge, re-pledge, sell, lend or otherwise transfer or use the collateral with all attendant rights of ownership. (It is each Fund’s understanding that BNP will perform due diligence to determine the creditworthiness of any party that borrows Lent Securities from BNP.) Each Fund may designate any security within the pledged collateral as ineligible to be a Lent Security, provided there are eligible securities within the pledged collateral in an amount equal to the outstanding borrowing owed by a Fund. During the period in which the Lent Securities are outstanding, BNP must remit payment to each Fund equal to the amount of all dividends, interest or other distributions earned or made by the Lent Securities.

 

Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, the Lent Securities are marked to market daily, and if the value of the Lent Securities exceeds the value of the then-outstanding borrowings owed by a Fund to BNP under the Agreement (the “Current Borrowings”), BNP must, on that day, either (1) return Lent Securities to each Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings; or (2) post cash collateral with each Fund’s custodian equal to the difference between the value of the Lent Securities and the value of the Current Borrowings. If BNP fails to perform either of these actions as required, each Fund will recall securities, as discussed below, in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings. Each Fund can recall any of the Lent Securities and BNP shall, to the extent commercially possible, return such security or equivalent security to each Fund’s custodian no later than three business days after such request. If a Fund recalls a Lent Security pursuant to the Lending Agreement, and BNP fails to return the Lent Securities or equivalent securities in a timely fashion, BNP shall remain liable for the ultimate delivery to each Fund’s custodian of such Lent Securities, or equivalent securities, and for any buy-in costs that the executing broker for the sales transaction may impose with respect to the failure to deliver. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Funds have the right to reduce the outstanding amount of the Current Borrowings against which the pledged collateral has been secured. Although risk is mitigated by the collateral, the Funds could experience a delay in recovering their securities and possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the borrowed securities. Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, each Fund shall have the right to apply and set-off an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then current fair value of such Lent Securities against the Current Borrowings. As of July 31, 2019, the value of the Lent Securities for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $40,752,778, $63,987,853 and $162,999,947, respectively.

 

The Board has approved each Agreement and the Lending Agreement. No violations of the Agreement or the Lending Agreement have occurred during the period ended July 31, 2019.

 

3. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

 

Effective September 13, 2019, the Maximum Commitment Financing allowed under the Agreement was increased to $48,500,000 for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund and $81,000,000 for Clough Global Equity Fund. Effective September 16, 2019, the Maximum Commitment Financing allowed under the Agreement was increased to $49,500,000 for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund and $84,500,000 for Clough Global Equity Fund.