N-Q 1 rvrnorth_dltof-nq.htm QUARTERLY NOTICE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


 
FORM N-Q
 
 
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANY
 



Investment Company Act file number: 811-23166


RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Opportunity Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


325 North LaSalle Street, Suite 645, Chicago, Illinois 60654
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Marcus L. Collins, Esq.
RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC
325 North LaSalle Street, Suite 645
Chicago, Illinois 60654
 (Name and address of agent for service)


(312)832-1440
Registrant's telephone number, including area code










Date of fiscal year end: June 30, 2018



Date of reporting period:  September 30, 2017


 
Item 1. Schedule of Investments.
 
                     
Principal Amount/Description
 
 
Rate
 
Maturity
 
Value
 
ASSET BACKED OBLIGATIONS - 7.36%(a)
               
 
2,875,000
 
Blackbird Capital Aircraft(b)(c)
     
5.68
%
12/16/2041
 
$
2,904,842
 
 
1,995,000
 
Coinstar Funding, LLC(b)
     
5.22
%
4/25/2047
   
2,076,168
 
 
3,000,000
 
InSite Issuer LLC(b)
     
6.41
%
11/15/2046
   
3,094,636
 
 
2,875,000
 
Labrador Aviation Finance Limited(b)
     
5.68
%
1/15/2042
   
2,958,740
 
 
5,901,530
 
Morgan Stanley Capital Inc (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.20%)(b)(c)
   
1.44
%
5/25/2037
   
4,179,190
 
 
1,000,000
 
SOFI Consumer Loan Program Trust(b)(d)
     
4.73
%
1/26/2026
   
1,039,699
 
                           
TOTAL ASSET BACKED OBLIGATIONS
                   
(Cost $15,925,385)
                   
16,253,275
 
                           
Shares/Description
 
 
 
 
Rate
 
Maturity
 
Value
 
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NOTES - 9.00%(a)
                   
 
35,423
 
Capitala Finance Corp
     
5.75
%
5/31/2022
   
884,158
 
 
84,957
 
Great Elm Capital Corp.
     
8.25
%
6/30/2020
   
2,129,872
 
 
33,899
 
Harvest Capital Credit Corporation
     
6.13
%
9/15/2022
   
861,035
 
 
34,836
 
Hercules Capital, Inc.
     
6.25
%
7/30/2024
   
885,531
 
 
90,235
 
KCAP Financial Inc
     
7.38
%
9/30/2019
   
2,254,070
 
 
1,389
 
KCAP Financial Inc
     
6.13
%
9/30/2022
   
34,864
 
 
19,165
 
Saratoga Investment Corp
     
6.75
%
12/30/2023
   
501,069
 
 
30,193
 
Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
     
5.75
%
9/15/2022
   
768,412
 
 
160,200
 
THL Credit, Inc.
     
6.75
%
12/30/2022
   
4,133,160
 
 
1,500
 
THL Credit, Inc.
     
6.75
%
11/15/2021
   
37,770
 
 
243,220
 
TICC Capital Corp.
     
6.50
%
3/30/2024
   
6,362,635
 
 
41,359
 
TriplePoint Venture Growth BDC Corp
     
5.75
%
7/15/2022
   
1,045,555
 
                           
TOTAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY NOTES
                   
(Cost $19,471,001)
                   
19,898,131
 
                           
Shares/Description
 
 
 
       
    
 
Value
 
CLOSED-END FUNDS - 24.69%(a)
                   
 
105,330
 
Ares Capital Corporation
               
1,726,359
 
 
570,511
 
BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc.
             
6,446,774
 
 
384,710
 
BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust
             
5,220,515
 
 
49,975
 
BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.
               
583,208
 
 
49,539
 
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc
               
1,178,533
 
 
325,436
 
Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund
             
4,565,867
 
 
97,602
 
Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust
               
646,125
 
 
466,267
 
Invesco Senior Income Trust
               
2,093,539
 
 
343,175
 
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc
             
4,612,272
 
 
53,758
 
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund
               
1,239,122
 
 
99,410
 
Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund
             
1,376,829
 
 
517,060
 
Nuveen Credit Strategies Income Fund
               
4,389,839
 
 
71,816
 
Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund
               
1,019,069
 
 
160,041
 
Prudential Global Short Duration High Yield Fund
             
2,389,412
 
 
22,944
 
TCG BDC, Inc.
               
431,806
 
 
46,604
 
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund
             
539,208
 
 
300,734
 
Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund
               
2,631,423
 
 
244,583
 
Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc.
             
3,849,737
 
 
382,298
 
Western Asset Global High Income Fund Inc.
             
3,933,846
 
 
1,108,985
 
Western Asset Global High Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
             
5,689,093
 
                           
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS
                   
(Cost $52,359,867)
                   
54,562,576
 
                           
 

Principal Amount/Description
 
 
Rate
 
Maturity
 
Value
 
NON-AGENCY COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS - 67.31%(a)
                 
     
Bank of America Alternative Loan Trust
                   
 
2,726,432
 
Series 2004-12
     
6.00
%
1/25/2035
   
2,703,683
 
     
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust
                 
 
303,570
 
Series 2007-4(b)(d)
     
6.10
%
2/10/2051
   
304,736
 
     
Banc of America Funding Corporation
                   
 
2,824,007
 
Series 2006-D(d)
     
3.32
%
5/20/2036
   
2,525,998
 
     
Banc of America Mortgage Securities Inc.
                 
 
3,425,863
 
Series 2007-3
     
6.00
%
9/25/2037
   
3,335,092
 
     
BB-UBS Trust
                   
 
500,000
 
Series 2012 - TFT(b)(d)
     
3.68
%
6/7/2030
   
470,632
 
     
BCAP LLC Trust
                   
 
3,075,331
 
Series 2011-RR4(b)(d)
     
6.02
%
8/26/2037
   
3,021,389
 
 
2,890,755
 
Series 2011-RR4(b)(d)
     
6.00
%
8/26/2037
   
2,836,059
 
     
Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust
                   
 
2,886,000
 
Series 2005-10(d)
     
3.32
%
1/25/2036
   
2,703,983
 
     
Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust
                 
 
2,384,352
 
Series 2006-2(d)
     
3.59
%
7/25/2036
   
2,359,691
 
     
Chase Mortgage Finance Corporation
                   
 
4,227,138
 
Series 2007-S4 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.60%)
   
1.84
%
6/25/2037
   
2,544,204
 
     
ChaseFlex Trust
                   
 
3,630,493
 
Series 2007-1
     
6.50
%
2/25/2037
   
2,844,931
 
     
CIM Trust
                   
 
3,720,000
 
Series 2017-3RR-B2(b)(d)
     
13.63
%
1/29/2057
   
4,115,800
 
     
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc.
                   
 
2,934,429
 
Series 2005-5(d)
     
3.31
%
10/25/2035
   
2,309,564
 
 
2,668,656
 
Series 2007-AR5(d)
     
3.38
%
4/25/2037
   
2,530,475
 
     
Commercial Mortgage Trust
                   
 
500,000
 
Series 2012-CR4(b)(d)
     
4.74
%
10/17/2017
   
436,957
 
 
537,000
 
Series 2012-CR4(b)(d)
     
4.74
%
10/17/2017
   
392,192
 
 
500,000
 
Series 2013-LC13(b)(d)
     
5.21
%
8/10/2046
   
490,947
 
     
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
                   
 
1,250,313
 
Series 2005-48T1
`
   
5.50
%
11/25/2035
   
1,066,888
 
 
2,387,065
 
Series 2005-63(d)
     
3.26
%
12/25/2035
   
2,204,374
 
 
4,341,115
 
Series 2005-64CB
     
5.50
%
12/25/2035
   
3,864,876
 
 
1,710,152
 
Series 2006-26CB
     
6.50
%
9/25/2036
   
1,459,153
 
 
4,812,052
 
Series 2006-32CB
     
6.00
%
11/25/2036
   
4,386,944
 
 
3,617,488
 
Series 2007-14T2
     
6.00
%
7/25/2037
   
2,649,306
 
 
3,845,505
 
Series 2007-2CB
     
5.75
%
3/25/2037
   
3,297,596
 
 
3,042,658
 
Series 2007-16CB
     
6.25
%
8/25/2037
   
2,707,083
 
     
Countrywide Home Loans
                   
 
2,896,251
 
Series 2005-HYB1 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.30%)(c)
   
1.54
%
3/25/2035
   
2,719,759
 
 
3,581,426
 
Series 2007-9
     
5.75
%
7/25/2037
   
3,390,395
 
 
2,941,692
 
Series 2007-HYB1(d)
     
3.11
%
3/25/2037
   
2,573,364
 
     
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
                 
 
2,305,773
 
Series 2005-9
     
5.50
%
10/25/2035
   
2,186,658
 
     
Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust
                   
 
2,982,889
 
Series 2006-7
     
6.75
%
8/25/2036
   
2,505,937
 
 
2,754,885
 
Series 2007-1
     
6.00
%
2/25/2037
   
2,519,243
 
     
First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust
                 
 
1,370,540
 
Series 2005-AA8(d)
     
3.18
%
10/25/2035
   
1,281,747
 
     
FREMF Mortgage Trust
                   
 
412,366
 
Series 2016-KF22 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 5.05%)(b)
   
6.28
%
7/25/2023
   
436,941
 
     
GMAC Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc.
                 
 
500,000
 
Series 2004-C3(b)(d)
     
5.14
%
12/10/2041
   
496,849
 
 

Principal Amount/Description
 
 
Rate
 
Maturity
 
Value
 
     
GS Mortgage Securities Trust
                   
 
500,000
 
Series 2013-GC13(b)(d)
     
4.20
%
7/12/2046
   
464,796
 
 
604,000
 
Series 2014-GC26(b)(d)
     
4.66
%
11/13/2047
   
523,209
 
 
500,000
 
Series 2015-GC28(b)(d)
     
4.47
%
2/12/2048
   
401,137
 
     
Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust
                   
 
2,526,928
 
Series 2004-2 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.52%)(c)
   
1.76
%
6/19/2034
   
2,492,671
 
     
IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust
                   
 
2,116,238
 
Series 2004-AR4(d)
     
3.50
%
8/25/2034
   
2,101,736
 
 
4,283,014
 
Series 2007-FLX6 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.25%)(c)
   
1.49
%
9/25/2037
   
4,141,014
 
     
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp.
                 
 
499,000
 
Series 2006-LDP9
     
5.34
%
5/15/2047
   
495,464
 
 
153,566
 
Series 2007-LDPX(d)
     
5.46
%
1/15/2049
   
153,442
 
 
500,000
 
Series 2007-C1(d)
     
6.28
%
2/15/2051
   
499,794
 
 
549,000
 
Series 2015-JP1(b)(d)
     
4.90
%
1/15/2049
   
391,222
 
 
500,000
 
Series 2016-WIKI(b)(d)
     
4.14
%
10/5/2031
   
490,243
 
 
500,000
 
Series 2016-WPT(1 Month LIBOR USD + 5.00%)(b)(c)
   
6.23
%
10/15/2033
   
507,094
 
     
JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
                 
 
9,475,000
 
Series 2013-C14(b)(d)
     
1.12
%
8/17/2046
   
461,496
 
 
500,000
 
Series 2013-C15(b)(d)
     
5.25
%
11/17/2045
   
490,605
 
 
1,000,000
 
Series 2013-C17(b)(d)
     
3.87
%
1/15/2047
   
727,645
 
 
632,000
 
Series 2015-C27(b)(d)
     
3.99
%
2/15/2048
   
509,051
 
     
Luminent Mortgage Trust
                   
 
3,410,807
 
Series 06-3-11A1 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.20%)(c)
   
1.44
%
5/25/2036
   
3,366,780
 
 
3,331,007
 
Series 06-3-12A1 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.21%)(c)
   
1.45
%
5/25/2036
   
2,984,306
 
     
Morgan Stanley BAML Trust
                   
 
656,000
 
Series 2015-C20(b)
     
3.07
%
2/15/2048
   
496,002
 
     
New Century Home Equity Loan Trust
                   
 
3,397,891
 
Series 2006-1-A2B (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.18%)(c)
   
1.42
%
5/25/2036
   
2,938,217
 
     
Nomura Asset Acceptance Corporation
                   
 
2,782,815
 
Series 2005-AP3(c)
     
5.19
%
8/25/2035
   
1,730,835
 
     
PR Mortgage Loan Trust
                   
 
2,955,603
 
Series 2014-1(b)(d)
     
5.91
%
10/25/2049
   
2,951,743
 
     
Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.
                   
 
5,591,499
 
Series 2006-QO5 (1 Month LIBOR USD + 0.19%)(c)
   
1.43
%
5/25/2046
   
4,957,216
 
 
3,009,741
 
Series 2007-QA5(d)
     
5.76
%
9/25/2037
   
2,729,203
 
     
Residential Asset Securitization Trust
                   
 
3,233,055
 
Series 2005-A15
     
5.75
%
2/25/2036
   
2,570,143
 
 
3,173,800
 
Series 2007-A5
     
6.00
%
5/25/2037
   
2,822,818
 
     
Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I Trust
                 
 
2,166,714
 
Series 2005-SA2(d)
     
3.69
%
6/25/2035
   
1,968,312
 
 
3,935,331
 
Series 2006-S8
     
6.00
%
9/25/2036
   
3,747,671
 
     
 RMAT
                   
 
1,680,803
 
Series 2015-PR2(b)(c)
     
5.85
%
11/25/2035
   
1,697,498
 
     
Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust
                 
 
2,488,727
 
Series 2005-22(d)
     
3.45
%
12/25/2035
   
2,406,318
 
 
3,768,275
 
Series 2007-08(d)
     
3.73
%
9/25/2037
   
3,717,545
 
     
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments Inc.
                 
 
1,105,046
 
Series 2005-AR7 (12 Month US Treasury Average + 1.05%)
   
1.94
%
3/25/2046
   
1,045,624
 
     
UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust
                 
 
500,000
 
Series 2013-C5(b)(d)
     
4.22
%
3/10/2046
   
372,660
 
     
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust
                 
 
99,128
 
Series 2006-C26(d)
     
6.20
%
6/15/2045
   
99,837
 
 
302,098
 
Series 2007-C30(d)
     
5.41
%
12/15/2043
   
307,385
 
     
Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust
                 
 
2,442,134
 
Series 2005-8
     
5.50
%
10/25/2035
   
2,338,925
 
 
2,387,400
 
Series 2006-AR6(d)
     
3.28
%
8/25/2036
   
2,316,241
 
 
2,944,576
 
Series 2006-AR10(d)
     
3.27
%
8/25/2046
   
2,855,979
 
 
2,015,479
 
Series 2006-2
     
6.00
%
3/25/2036
   
2,057,719
 
 
2,764,460
 
Series 2007-HY3(d)
     
3.10
%
3/25/2037
   
2,599,209
 
     
Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities
                   
 
3,151,006
 
Series 2006-9
     
6.00
%
8/25/2036
   
3,135,796
 
                           
TOTAL NON-AGENCY COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
                 
(Cost $147,470,499)
                   
148,738,047
 
                           
 

Principal Amount/Description
 
 
Rate
 
Maturity
 
Value
 
U.S. Government/Agency Mortgage Backed Securities - 16.30%(a)
                 
     
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
                 
 
3,928,129
 
Series 3770
     
4.00
%
12/15/2040
   
4,200,191
 
 
4,184,108
 
Series 3806(e)(f)
     
5.22
%
12/15/2037
   
208,369
 
 
9,489,579
 
Series 3966(e)(f)
     
4.67
%
12/15/2041
   
1,335,885
 
 
4,364,043
 
Series 4605
     
3.00
%
8/15/2046
   
4,026,087
 
 
4,579,343
 
Series 4657
     
3.00
%
2/15/2047
   
4,205,636
 
 
4,053,601
 
Series 4686
     
4.00
%
3/15/2047
   
4,316,053
 
     
Federal National Mortgage Association
                   
 
7,398,421
 
Series 2011-101(e)(f)
     
4.66
%
10/25/2041
   
1,041,645
 
 
6,816,517
 
Series 2011-124(e)(f)
     
5.26
%
12/25/2041
   
1,153,903
 
 
7,460,742
 
Series 2012-20(e)(f)
     
5.21
%
3/25/2042
   
1,215,563
 
 
6,000,000
 
Series 2013-109(g)
     
0.00
%
7/25/2043
   
4,068,139
 
 
2,755,693
 
Series 2014-38
     
3.00
%
9/25/2043
   
2,452,403
 
 
3,945,924
 
Series 2016-75
     
3.00
%
10/25/2046
   
3,588,539
 
     
Government National Mortgage Association
                 
 
4,265,335
 
Series 2017-17
     
3.50
%
2/20/2047
   
4,202,607
 
                           
TOTAL U.S. Government/Agency Mortgage Backed Securities
                 
(Cost $36,140,072)
                   
36,015,020
 
                           
                           
Shares/Description
 
 
 
       
    
 
Value
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 7.34%(a)
                   
Money Market Fund
                       
 
16,225,080
 
Fidelity Institutional Government Portfolio(d)
                 
     
    (7 Day Yield 0.91%)
               
16,225,080
 
                           
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
                   
(Cost $16,225,080)
                   
16,225,080
 
                           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 132.00%
               
291,692,129
 
(Cost $287,591,904)
                       
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (32.00)%
               
(70,710,587
)
NET ASSETS - 100.00%
               
$
220,981,542
 
 
(a)
All or a portion of the security has been pledged as collateral in connection with an open credit agreement.
 
At September 30, 2017, the value of securities pledged amounted to $291,692,129, which represents
 
approximately 132.00% of net assets.
       
(b)
Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.  These securities have been
 
deemed liquid under procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Directors and may normally be sold to
 
qualified institutional buyers in transactions exempt from registration.  Total fair value of Rule 144A
 
securities amounts to $39,740,178 which represents approximately 17.98% of net assets as of
 
 
September 30, 2017.
         
(c)
Step-up bond; the interest rate shown is the rate in effect as of September 30, 2017.
 
(d)
Variable rate security.  Coupon is based on weighted average coupon of underlying collateral.
 
 
Rate disclosed as of September 30, 2017.
       
(e)
Includes inverse floating rate securities whose interest rate moves in the opposite direction of reference
 
interest rates.  Reference interest rates are typically based on a negative multiplier or slope.
 
 
Interest rate may also be subject to a cap or floor.
     
(f)
Interest only security.
         
(g)
Denotes zero-coupon bonds.
       
                 
 

1. ORGANIZATION

RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Opportunity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a closed‑end management investment company that was organized as a Maryland corporation on June 22, 2016, and commenced investment operations on September 28, 2016.  The investment adviser to the Fund is RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC (the "Adviser").  The Fund's sub-adviser is DoubleLine Capital, LP ("Sub-Adviser").  The Fund is a diversified investment company with an investment objective to seek current income and overall total return.

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its Managed Assets among two principal strategies; under normal market conditions, the Fund may allocate between 10% and 35% of its Managed Assets to the Tactical Closed-End Fund Income Strategy and 65% to 90% of its Managed Assets to the Opportunistic Income Strategy.  The Adviser will determine the portion of the Fund's Managed Assets to allocate to each strategy and may, from time to time, adjust the allocations.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the financial statements may differ from the value the Fund ultimately realizes upon sale of the securities. The 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 ("ASC") 946 – Investment Companies.

Security Valuation:  The Fund's assets and other financial instruments are generally valued at their market value using market quotations.  If a market quotation is unavailable, a security may be valued at its estimated fair value as described in Note 3.

Security Transactions and Related Income:  The Fund follows industry practice and records security transactions on the trade date basis. The specific identification costs basis method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, when the information becomes available to the Fund and interest income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized or accreted using the effective interest method.

Other:  The Fund holds certain investments which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations. It is possible for these dividends to exceed the underlying investments' taxable earnings and profits resulting in the excess portion of such dividends being designated as a return of capital. Distributions received from investments in securities that represent a return of capital or capital gains are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or as a realized gain, respectively.

Share Valuation:  The net asset value (the "NAV") is generally calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("the Exchange") (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) every day the Exchange is open.  The NAV is calculated by dividing the value of all of the securities and other assets of the Fund, less the liabilities (including accrued expenses and indebtedness), by the total number of common shares outstanding.

Federal Income Taxes:  The Fund intends to elect to be treated as, and to qualify each year for special tax treatment afforded to, a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC").  In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, satisfy income, asset diversification and distribution requirements.  As long as it so qualifies, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent that it distributes annually its investment company taxable income and its "net capital gain".  If the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net capital gain, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the retained amount at regular corporate tax rates.  In addition, if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on all of its income and gains at regular corporate tax rates.


Distributions to Shareholders:  Distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the year from net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes.  These differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of recognition of certain components of income, expense, or realized capital gain for federal income tax purposes.  Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified in the components of the net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes.  Any such reclassification will have no effect on net assets, results of operations, or net asset values per share of the Fund.

The Fund maintains a level distribution policy.  The Fund distributes to shareholders regular monthly cash distributions of its net investment income.  In addition, the Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. 
 
At times, to maintain a stable level of distributions, the Fund may pay out less than all of its net investment income or pay out accumulated undistributed income, or return capital, in addition to current net investment income.  Any distribution that is treated as a return of capital generally will reduce a shareholder's basis in his or her shares, which may increase the capital gain or reduce the capital loss realized upon the sale of such shares.  Any amounts received in excess of a shareholder's basis are generally treated as capital gain, assuming the shares are held as capital assets.

3. SECURITIES VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the price that a Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.

Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  This includes assumptions about risk, such as the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including using such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability 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 developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

·
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the 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 inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.


Equity securities, including closed-end funds and business development company notes, are generally valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser or  Sub-Adviser believes such prices more accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange traded security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. 

Investments in mutual funds, including money market mutual funds, are generally priced at the ending net asset value (NAV) provided by the service agent of the funds. These securities will be categorized as Level 1 securities.

Fair values for long-term debt securities, including asset-backed obligations, non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations, and U.S. government/agency mortgage-backed securities are normally determined on the basis of the mean valuations provided by independent pricing services.  Vendors typically value such securities based on one or more inputs, including but not limited to benchmark yields, transactions, bids, offers, quotations from dealers and trading systems, new issues, spreads and other relationships observed in the markets among comparable securities, and pricing models such as yield measurers calculated using factors such as cash flows, financial or collateral performance and other reference data.  In addition to these inputs, mortgage-backed and asset-backed obligations may utilize cash flows, prepayment information, default rates, delinquency and loss assumptions, collateral characteristics, credit enhancements, and specific deal information.  Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  To the extent the significant inputs are unobservable, the values generally would be categorized as Level 3.
 
Short-term investments in fixed income securities, with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board of Directors ("Board") has determined will represent fair value. These securities will be classified as Level 2 securities.

In accordance with the Fund's good faith pricing guidelines, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or Valuation Committee is required to consider all appropriate factors relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described above. No single standard exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual case. As a general principle, the current fair value of an issue of securities being valued by the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or Valuation Committee would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for them upon their current sale. Methods which are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) a discount from market of a similar freely traded security (including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (iii) yield to maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Good faith pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser's, Sub-Adviser's, or the Valuation Committee's opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund's NAV calculation that may affect a security's value, or the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or Valuation Committee is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.

Good faith pricing may also be used in instances when the bonds the Fund invests in default or otherwise cease to have market quotations readily available. Investments in foreign securities, junk bonds or other thinly traded securities are more likely to trigger good faith pricing than other securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used at September 30, 2017 involving the Fund's assets and liabilities:



 
   
Valuation Inputs
       
Investments in Securities at Value*
 

Level 1
   

Level 2
   

Level 3
   

Total
 
 
Asset Backed Obligations
 
$
-
   
$
16,253,275
   
$
-
   
$
16,253,275
 
 
Business Development Company Notes
   
19,397,062
     
501,069
     
-
     
19,898,131
 
 
Closed-End Funds
   

54,562,576
     

-
     
-
     

54,562,576
 
Non-Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
   

-
     

148,738,047
     
-
     

148,738,047
 
U.S. Government/Agency Mortgage Backed Securities
   
-
     
36,015,020
             
36,015,020
 
                     
-
         
Short-Term Investments
   
16,225,080
     
-
     
-
     
16,225,080
 
Total
 
$
90,184,718
   
$
201,507,411
   
$
-
   
$
291,692,129
 
                                 
*     Refer to the Fund's Schedule of Investments for a listing of securities by type.

The changes of the fair value of investments for which the Fund has used Level 3 inputs to determine the fair value are as follows:

It is the Fund's policy to recognize transfers into and out of all levels at the end of the reporting period.

The Fund did not hold any Level 3 securities at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers into and out of Levels 1, 2, and 3 during the current period presented.


4. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

It is the Fund's policy to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of their taxable net income to their shareholders.  In addition, the Fund intends to pay distributions as required to avoid imposition of excise tax.  Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.


 

As of September 30, 2017, net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments based on federal tax costs was as follows:
Gross Appreciation
(excess of value over tax)
   
Gross Depreciation
(excess of tax cost over
value)
   
Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
   
Cost of Investments for
Income Tax Purposes
 
$
6,591,423
   
$
2,491,198
   
$
4,100,225
   
$
287,591,904
 

 
Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
 
(a)
The Registrant's President and Treasurer have concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act")) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(d)).

(b)
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the Registrant's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Item 3. Exhibits.
 
Separate certifications for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)).  Filed herewith.
 

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


(Registrant)  RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Opportunity Fund, Inc.               
 
By (Signature and Title) /s/ Patrick W. Galley                                                           
                                           Patrick W. Galley, President

Date                                        November 29, 2017                                                          


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title) /s/ Patrick W. Galley                                                          
                                           Patrick W. Galley, President

Date                                        November 29, 2017                                                          

By (Signature and Title) /s/ Jonathan M. Mohrhardt                                               
                                           Jonathan M. Mohrhardt, Chief Financial Officer

Date                                        November 29, 2017