Form N-CSRS
Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSRS

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-21269

 

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

C. David Messman

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 800-222-8222

Date of fiscal year end: April 30

Date of reporting period: October 31, 2013

 

 

 


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ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS


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LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage 

Income Opportunities Fund

 

LOGO

 

Semi-Annual Report

October 31, 2013

 

 

LOGO

 

This closed-end fund is no longer offered as an initial public offering and is only offered through broker/ dealers on the secondary market. A closed-end fund is not required to buy its shares back from investors upon request.


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Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Portfolio of investments

    7   

Financial statements

 

Statement of assets and liabilities

    19   

Statement of operations

    20   

Statement of changes in net assets

    21   

Statement of cash flows

    22   

Financial highlights

    23   

Notes to financial statements

    24   

Other information

    28   

Automatic dividend reinvestment plan

    31   

List of abbreviations

    32   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of October 31, 2013, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE


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2   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

 

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Fixed-income markets shifted significantly during the period as economic optimism surged in the opening months of 2013, spurring a rally in equities; a rise in U.S. Treasury yields; and, ultimately, significant outperformance from high-yield bonds.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund for the six-month period that ended October 31, 2013. Fixed-income markets shifted significantly during the period as economic optimism surged in the opening months of 2013, spurring a rally in equities; a rise in U.S. Treasury yields; and, ultimately, significant outperformance from high-yield bonds. Most investment-grade bond sectors experienced price declines along with rising Treasury yields during much of 2013. However, below-investment-grade securities tended to perform better as their higher-yield spreads cushioned some of the yield increases from the Treasury markets before rallying later in the period. On the whole, U.S. high-yield corporate securities generated strong positive returns during the period, overcoming significant price corrections in June 2013.

The return of economic optimism in 2013 led to declines in bond prices as yields rose higher.

Before the period began, U.S. Treasury yields began to rise higher on optimistic expectations for a strengthening U.S. economy during the opening months of 2013. Consequently, fixed-income security yields shifted higher and prices declined across much of the U.S. investment-grade bond sectors, most notably in the longer-maturity ranges, as investors began to reprice bond yields for potential interest-rate increases in upcoming years. Nonetheless, high-yield securities generally withstood the rate shocks and continued to provide positive returns.

These trends continued into May 2013 which was rattled by geopolitical events, domestic terrorism in Boston, and uncertain global economic conditions. U.S. Treasury prices increased sharply, temporarily erasing all of the price losses endured in January 2013 and, in fact, crossing over into positive gains. Meanwhile, U.S. high-yield bonds continued to generate positive returns for the month.

Unfortunately, this streak for high yield would end in May 2013 as a massive rally in the U.S. equity markets erupted, driving U.S. Treasury prices down and this time dragging with them the high-yield bond market. These market moves resulted in the largest monthly losses across the investment-grade bond markets in nearly five years, while high yield saw its first monthly decline in just over a year.

The depreciating trends for bonds deepened in mid-June 2013 on comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Bernanke that tapering of the Fed’s bond-buying programs could begin later in the year and that the programs may end completely around mid-2014. For the last two weeks of June 2013, that debate appeared to play out daily, as volatility buffeted both the equity and bond markets, finally capitulating to yet another sustained rally in equities and a modest retreat in bond prices. Both investment-grade bonds and high-yield bonds posted their worst monthly returns of the year in June 2013—investment-grade securities had their largest quarterly decline in nine years during the second quarter and high yield had its worst quarter since 2011.

In July and August 2013, equity exuberance quieted a bit, and fixed-income markets stabilized. Returns were more mixed, with slightly negative returns in the highest-quality securities to modestly positive in the lower credit tiers. In September and October 2013, investment-grade and high-yield bond markets began generating positive returns yet again, as the Fed backtracked on its intentions to taper quantitative easing, postponing it until 2014 at the

 


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Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     3   

earliest. Bond markets rallied on the news through the end of the period, and the high-yield bond markets significantly outperformed the investment-grade markets.

On the whole, strong returns in high yield during the final months of the period overcame the sharp price declines during May, June, and August 2013, culminating in positive returns across the high-yield market during the full period. Thus, the theme for the period was a persistent increase in U.S. Treasury yields that pressured fixed-income security prices before relaxing in September and October 2013. High-yield securities benefited from yield cushioning during the yield rises before rallying on strong investor appetite for equity-correlated returns.

Don’t let short-term uncertainty derail long-term investment goals.

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs. For current information about your fund investments, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com, or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

 

The theme for the period was a persistent increase in U.S. Treasury yields that pressured fixed-income security prices before relaxing in September and October 2013. High-yield securities benefited from yield cushioning during the yield rises before rallying on strong investor appetite for equity-correlated returns.

 

 

 


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4   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

 

Investment objective

The Fund seeks a high level of current income. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.

Adviser

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Niklas Nordenfelt, CFA

Phillip Susser

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of October 31, 2013

 

     1 year      5 year      10 year  

Based on market value

     (4.29      21.10         6.85   

Based on net asset value (NAV) per share

     7.90         18.99         7.32   

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the sales of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Performance figures of the Fund do not reflect brokerage commissions that a shareholder would pay on the purchase and sale of shares. If taxes and such brokerage commissions had been reflected, performance would have been lower. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-800-222-8222.

The Adviser has committed through February 25, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s borrowing expenses to an amount that is 0.05% lower than what the borrowing expenses would have been if the Fund had not redeemed its Auction Market Preferred Shares. The Fund’s gross and net expense ratios for the six months ended October 31, 2013, were 1.27% and 1.02%, respectively, which includes 0.07% of interest expense. Without this waiver and/or reimbursement, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

Comparison of NAV vs. market value2     

LOGO

 

The Fund is leveraged through a secured debt borrowing facility and also may incur leverage by issuing preferred shares in the future. The use of leverage results in certain risks including, among others, the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and the market price of common shares. Derivatives involve additional risks including interest rate risk, credit risk, the risk of improper valuation, and the risk of non-correlation to the relevant instruments that they are designed to hedge or to closely track. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. High-yield securities have a greater risk of default and tend to be more volatile than higher-rated debt securities.

 

 

 

1. Total returns based on market value are calculated assuming a purchase of common stock on the first day and a sale on the last day of the period reported. Total returns based on NAV are calculated based on the NAV at the beginning of the period and end of the period. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for the purposes of these calculations to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

2. This chart does not reflect any brokerage commissions on the purchase and sale of the Fund’s common stock. Dividends and distributions have the effect of reducing the Fund’s NAV.


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Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     5   

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

The Fund’s return based on market value was -4.29% during the 6 months ended October 31, 2013. During the same period, the Fund’s returns based on NAV was 7.90%.

Overview

Fixed-income markets generally struggled as Treasury yields rose in anticipation of a reduction in the extraordinarily loose Federal Reserve (Fed) policies. Expectations that tapering in the Fed’s monthly $85 billion asset purchase program would cause rates to rise led to investors selling rate-sensitive bonds. The high-yield market was initially weak yet managed to generate positive returns in spite of the rate volatility with credit spreads declining during the period. Ultimately, the Fed surprised the markets by postponing the tapering, resulting in a strong rally across all asset classes, including high-yield bonds in the last few months of the period. Although the Fed’s decision was based on weaker-than-hoped-for economic data, the continuation of a low-interest-rate environment spurred investor confidence and provided support to the market.

 

Ten largest holdings3 (%) as of October 31, 2013  

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings LLC, 3.71%, 10-10-2014

    3.31   

Dell Incorporated, 0.00% 4-30-2020

    2.66   

Sprint Capital Corporation, 6.88%, 11-15-2028

    2.59   

Jabil Circuit Incorporated, 8.25%, 3-15-2018

    2.29   

Greektown Superholdings Incorporated Series A,
13.00%, 7-1-2015

    1.93   

Nielsen Finance LLC, 7.75%, 10-15-2018

    1.83   

CCM Merger Incorporated, 9.13%, 5-1-2019

    1.65   

Sabine Pass LNG LP, 7.50%, 11-30-2016

    1.55   

Local TV Finance LLC, 9.25%, 6-15-2015

    1.44   

Sabine Pass LNG LP, 6.50%, 11-1-2020

    1.39   

 

Credit quality4 as of October 31, 2013

LOGO

Contributors to performance

The Fund benefited from the continuation of accommodative monetary policy. The interest earned on higher yields combined with a decline in spreads helped offset market shifts to higher interest rates. Compared with the broad high-yield market, the Fund’s lower exposure to interest-rate sensitivity was a positive contributor to performance. A number of well-performing securities and a significant allocation to the information technology sector also aided performance.

Detractors to performance

The Fund continued to be positioned conservatively with less higher-yielding and more higher-quality issues than the broad high-yield market. Although the market was volatile during the period, the volatility was almost entirely due to rising interest rates. Credit continued to outperform with lower-quality securities outperforming amid a market

that continues to benefit from the Fed-induced low interest rates. In addition, Fund holdings within the pipelines and electric utilities sectors detracted from performance due to the impact from low natural gas prices.

 

 

 

3. The ten largest holdings are calculated based on the value of the securities divided by total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

4. Credit quality is subject to change and is calculated based on the total market value of bonds held by the Fund. The ratings indicated are from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and/or Fitch Ratings Ltd. Credit Quality Ratings. Credit quality ratings apply to the underlying holdings of the Fund and not the Fund itself. Standard & Poor’s rates the creditworthiness of bonds on a scale of AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Ratings from A to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (–) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories. Standard & Poor’s rates the creditworthiness of short-term notes from SP-1 (highest) to SP-3 (lowest). Moody’s rates the creditworthiness of bonds on a scale of Aaa (highest) to C (lowest). Ratings Aa to B may be modified by the addition of a number 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest) to show relative standing within the ratings categories. Moody’s rates the creditworthiness of short-term U.S. tax-exempt municipal securities from MIG 1/VMIG 1 (highest) to SG (lowest). Fitch rates the creditworthiness of bonds on a scale of AAA (highest) to D (lowest). If a security was rated by all three rating agencies, the middle rating was utilized. If rated by two of three rating agencies, the lower rating was utilized and if rated by one of the agencies that rating was utilized. We generally define higher quality bonds as bonds that have a rating of BBB/Baa and above and lower quality bonds as bonds with a rating below BBB/Baa.


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6   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)
Effective maturity distribution5 as of October 31, 2013

LOGO

Management outlook

The Fund’s focus is on bottom-up security selection of bonds issued by companies with high intrinsic value, which, in our view, limits downside risk. Much of the high-yield market performance has been driven by the extraordinarily low interest rates, which allow highly indebted and highly leveraged companies to meet interest expense and term out maturities. The Fund continues to avoid companies that rely on such conditions to persist. As a result of the strategy of avoiding uncompensated risk, the Fund maintains its

 

lower-volatility profile. We do not feel it is prudent to stretch for yield in the current environment because of the relatively low compensation for taking incremental risk. That said, conditions are quite benign for the high-yield market, with the bulk of issuers enjoying high interest coverage ratios (ability to generate sufficient cash to meet interest expense) and low near-term maturities. We believe default rates may remain well below historical averages and high yield may continue to outperform rate-sensitive fixed-income markets.

 

 

5. Effective maturity distribution is subject to change and are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the Fund.


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Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     7   

 

      

 

 

Security name                Shares      Value  
         

Common Stocks: 0.18%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 0.00%

         
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.00%          

Trump Entertainment Resorts Incorporated †(a)(i)

         2,149       $ 0   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 0.18%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.18%          

Fairpoint Communications Incorporated †

         134,376         1,255,072   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $3,109,765)

            1,255,072   
         

 

 

 
    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal         
Corporate Bonds and Notes: 108.62%          

Consumer Discretionary: 25.36%

         
Auto Components: 2.37%          

Allison Transmission Incorporated 144A

    7.13     5-15-2019       $ 8,015,000         8,636,162   

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

    7.63        3-15-2027         4,305,000         4,132,800   

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company

    8.00        12-15-2019         150,000         154,125   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

    7.00        5-15-2022         700,000         752,500   

United Rentals North America Incorporated

    5.75        7-15-2018         2,675,000         2,868,938   
            16,544,525   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 2.30%          

Ceridian HCM Holding Incorporated 144A

    11.00        3-15-2021         75,000         87,750   

Service Corporation International

    6.75        4-1-2016         1,250,000         1,365,625   

Service Corporation International

    7.00        6-15-2017         1,250,000         1,401,563   

Service Corporation International

    7.00        5-15-2019         1,125,000         1,209,375   

Service Corporation International

    7.50        4-1-2027         7,078,000         7,573,460   

Service Corporation International

    7.63        10-1-2018         1,100,000         1,259,500   

Service Corporation International

    8.00        11-15-2021         885,000         1,014,431   

Sotheby’s 144A

    5.25        10-1-2022         2,265,000         2,163,075   
            16,074,779   
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 8.26%          

Burger King Corporation

    9.88        10-15-2018         1,600,000         1,794,000   

CCM Merger Incorporated 144A

    9.13        5-1-2019         10,830,000         11,479,800   

CityCenter Holdings LLC

    7.63        1-15-2016         2,050,000         2,155,575   

CityCenter Holdings LLC (PIK at 11.50%) ¥

    10.75        1-15-2017         4,816,305         5,163,079   

DineEquity Incorporated

    9.50        10-30-2018         8,475,000         9,428,437   

Greektown Superholdings Incorporated Series A

    13.00        7-1-2015             12,887,000         13,450,806   

Greektown Superholdings Incorporated Series B

    13.00        7-1-2015         1,475,000         1,539,531   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC 144A

    5.63        10-15-2021         320,000         328,800   

Pinnacle Entertainment Incorporated

    7.50        4-15-2021         6,187,000         6,790,232   

Ruby Tuesday Incorporated

    7.63        5-15-2020         3,405,000         3,268,800   

Scientific Games Corporation

    9.25        6-15-2019         1,130,000         1,218,988   

Speedway Motorsports Incorporated

    6.75        2-1-2019         980,000         1,040,025   
            57,658,073   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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8   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         
Household Durables: 0.19%          

American Greetings Corporation

    7.38     12-1-2021       $ 950,000       $ 947,625   

Tempur Sealy International Incorporated

    6.88        12-15-2020         325,000         346,938   
            1,294,563   
         

 

 

 
Media: 9.99%          

Allbritton Communications Company

    8.00        5-15-2018         3,274,000         3,503,180   

Cablevision Systems Corporation

    8.63        9-15-2017         2,975,000         3,465,876   

CCO Holdings LLC

    8.13        4-30-2020         746,000         816,870   

Cinemark USA Incorporated

    7.38        6-15-2021         1,525,000         1,669,875   

CSC Holdings LLC

    7.63        7-15-2018         1,145,000         1,319,611   

CSC Holdings LLC

    7.88        2-15-2018         1,650,000         1,909,875   

CSC Holdings LLC

    8.63        2-15-2019         635,000         750,887   

DISH DBS Corporation

    5.13        5-1-2020         575,000         582,187   

DISH DBS Corporation

    7.88        9-1-2019         2,260,000         2,627,250   

DreamWorks Animation SKG Incorporated 144A

    6.88        8-15-2020         2,690,000         2,861,487   

EchoStar DBS Corporation

    7.13        2-1-2016         1,160,000         1,281,800   

EchoStar DBS Corporation

    7.75        5-31-2015         650,000         710,937   

Gray Television Incorporated 144A

    7.50        10-1-2020         1,615,000         1,691,713   

Gray Television Incorporated

    7.50        10-1-2020         6,920,000         7,248,700   

Lamar Media Corporation

    5.88        2-1-2022         1,785,000         1,843,013   

Lamar Media Corporation

    7.88        4-15-2018         4,090,000         4,355,850   

Lamar Media Corporation Series C

    9.75        4-1-2014         620,000         641,700   

LIN Television Corporation

    6.38        1-15-2021         500,000         510,000   

LIN Television Corporation

    8.38        4-15-2018         3,475,000         3,705,219   

Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated 144A

    7.00        9-1-2020         330,000         350,625   

Local TV Finance LLC 144A

    9.25        6-15-2015         9,943,218         10,042,650   

Lynx I Corporation 144A

    5.38        4-15-2021         605,000         608,025   

Lynx II Corporation 144A

    6.38        4-15-2023         605,000         620,125   

National CineMedia LLC

    6.00        4-15-2022         3,635,000         3,780,400   

National CineMedia LLC

    7.88        7-15-2021         1,150,000         1,270,750   

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Incorporated 144A

    6.88        11-15-2020         3,510,000         3,667,950   

Regal Cinemas Corporation

    8.63        7-15-2019         6,665,000         7,198,200   

Regal Entertainment Group

    5.75        6-15-2023         665,000         656,688   
            69,691,443   
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 2.25%          

ABC Supply Company Incorporated 144A

    5.63        4-15-2021         730,000         739,125   

Ahern Rentals Incorporated 144A

    9.50        6-15-2018             1,985,000         2,128,912   

L Brands Incorporated

    6.63        4-1-2021         925,000         1,017,500   

Neiman Marcus Group Limited 144A

    8.00        10-15-2021         340,000         348,075   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.75        10-1-2022         1,965,000         1,960,088   

RadioShack Corporation

    6.75        5-15-2019         3,698,000         2,449,925   

Rent-A-Center Incorporated

    6.63        11-15-2020         2,765,000         2,920,531   

Toys “R” Us Property Company II LLC

    8.50        12-1-2017         4,025,000         4,155,813   
            15,719,969   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         

Energy: 20.68%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 5.44%          

Cleaver Brooks Incorporated 144A

    8.75     12-15-2019       $ 475,000       $ 516,562   

Dresser-Rand Group Incorporated

    6.50        5-1-2021         1,825,000         1,939,063   

Era Group Incorporated

    7.75        12-15-2022         4,285,000         4,359,987   

Forum Energy Technologies Incorporated 144A

    6.25        10-1-2021         315,000         328,387   

Gulfmark Offshore Incorporated

    6.38        3-15-2022         7,433,000         7,488,748   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    5.00        3-1-2021         4,395,000         4,318,088   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    5.88        4-1-2020         840,000         863,100   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    7.77        12-15-2037         8,690,000         7,538,575   

Oil States International Incorporated

    6.50        6-1-2019         3,759,000         4,003,335   

PHI Incorporated

    8.63        10-15-2018         5,955,000         6,356,963   

Pride International Incorporated

    8.50        6-15-2019         210,000         268,012   
            37,980,820   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 15.24%          

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP 144A%%

    6.13        3-1-2022         475,000         485,687   

CVR Refining LLC/Coffeyville Finance Incorporated

    6.50        11-1-2022         2,850,000         2,857,125   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    4.63        7-15-2023         675,000         622,687   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    6.38        8-15-2021         700,000         747,250   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    8.25        2-15-2020         5,965,000         6,561,500   

El Paso Corporation

    6.50        9-15-2020         1,155,000         1,233,847   

El Paso Corporation

    7.00        6-15-2017         3,183,000         3,592,538   

El Paso Corporation

    7.25        6-1-2018         3,149,000         3,565,969   

El Paso Corporation

    7.42        2-15-2037         1,820,000         1,723,600   

El Paso Corporation

    7.80        8-1-2031         3,050,000         3,147,478   

Energy Transfer Equity LP

    7.50        10-15-2020         5,950,000         6,872,249   

Exterran Partners LP 144A

    6.00        4-1-2021         3,100,000         3,084,500   

Ferrellgas LP

    9.13        10-1-2017         2,300,000         2,417,300   

Inergy Midstream LP 144A

    6.00        12-15-2020             1,230,000         1,257,675   

Kinder Morgan Energy 144A

    6.00        1-15-2018         125,000         136,080   

Murphy Oil USA Incorporated 144A

    6.00        8-15-2023         635,000         644,525   

Northern Tier Energy LLC

    7.13        11-15-2020         2,390,000         2,437,800   

Petrohawk Energy Corporation

    7.88        6-1-2015         2,045,000         2,093,569   

Petrohawk Energy Corporation

    10.50        8-1-2014         1,065,000         1,091,625   

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    7.50        1-15-2020         3,170,000         3,930,486   

Plains Exploration & Production Company

    8.63        10-15-2019         6,380,000         7,059,802   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    5.63        4-15-2020         6,255,000         5,269,838   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    6.00        1-15-2019         630,000         559,125   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    6.88        4-15-2040             10,760,000         8,123,800   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    7.50        7-15-2038         4,425,000         3,628,500   

Sabine Pass LNG LP 144A

    5.63        2-1-2021         1,425,000         1,439,250   

Sabine Pass LNG LP 144A

    5.63        4-15-2023         1,425,000         1,396,500   

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    6.50        11-1-2020         9,260,000         9,676,700   

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    7.50        11-30-2016         9,675,000         10,799,719   

Semgroup LP 144A

    7.50        6-15-2021         4,200,000         4,399,500   

Suburban Propane Partners LP

    7.38        3-15-2020         1,475,000         1,581,938   

Suburban Propane Partners LP

    7.38        8-1-2021         592,000         637,880   

Suburban Propane Partners LP

    7.50        10-1-2018         802,000         861,148   

Tesoro Corporation

    9.75        6-1-2019         2,185,000         2,387,113   
            106,324,303   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         

Financials: 21.74%

         
Commercial Banks: 1.66%          

CIT Group Incorporated 144A

    5.25     4-1-2014       $ 1,205,000       $ 1,224,581   

CIT Group Incorporated

    5.25        3-15-2018         875,000         946,094   

CIT Group Incorporated 144A

    5.50        2-15-2019         2,225,000         2,408,561   

Emigrant Bancorp Incorporated 144A

    6.25        6-15-2014         6,950,000         7,019,500   
            11,598,736   
         

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 12.96%          

Ally Financial Incorporated

    5.50        2-15-2017         1,325,000         1,431,000   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    6.75        12-1-2014         1,869,000         1,967,122   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    7.50        12-31-2013         6,855,000         6,911,896   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    7.50        9-15-2020         1,930,000         2,258,100   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    8.00        3-15-2020         1,545,000         1,834,687   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    8.30        2-12-2015         8,820,000         9,558,675   

American General Finance Corporation

    5.40        12-1-2015         2,650,000         2,775,875   

American General Finance Corporation

    5.75        9-15-2016         2,325,000         2,458,687   

American General Finance Corporation

    6.50        9-15-2017         550,000         583,000   

BMC Software Finance Incorporated 144A

    8.13        7-15-2021         1,025,000         1,083,937   

Clearwire Communications Finance Corporation 144A

    12.00        12-1-2015         5,420,000         5,620,540   

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    8.00        12-15-2016         200,000         237,556   

General Motors Financial Company Incorporated

    6.75        6-1-2018         2,770,000         3,137,025   

Homer City Funding LLC (PIK at 9.23%) ¥

    8.73        10-1-2026         3,084,040         3,184,271   

International Lease Finance Corporation 144A

    6.75        9-1-2016         2,200,000         2,444,750   

International Lease Finance Corporation 144A

    7.13        9-1-2018         1,015,000         1,168,519   

International Lease Finance Corporation

    8.63        9-15-2015         1,700,000         1,891,250   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    10.00        2-1-2018         4,555,000         4,868,156   

Nielsen Finance LLC

    4.50        10-1-2020         200,000         196,000   

Nielsen Finance LLC

    7.75        10-15-2018             11,690,000         12,742,100   

SLM Corporation

    7.25        1-25-2022         1,600,000         1,712,000   

SLM Corporation

    8.00        3-25-2020         6,460,000         7,380,550   

SLM Corporation

    8.45        6-15-2018         3,110,000         3,630,925   

Springleaf Finance Corporation 144A

    6.00        6-1-2020         3,800,000         3,743,000   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.90        12-15-2017         6,950,000         7,523,375   

Springleaf Finance Corporation 144A

    7.75        10-1-2021         100,000         107,500   
            90,450,496   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 2.52%          

Denali Borrower/Finance Corporation 144A

    5.63        10-15-2020             7,150,000         7,078,500   

MPH Intermediate Holding Company (PIK at 9.13%) 144A¥

    8.38        8-1-2018         575,000         597,281   

Neuberger Berman Group LLC 144A

    5.63        3-15-2020         900,000         933,750   

Neuberger Berman Group LLC 144A

    5.88        3-15-2022         1,125,000         1,150,313   

Nuveen Investments Incorporated

    5.50        9-15-2015         6,830,000         6,625,100   

Nuveen Investments Incorporated 144A

    9.13        10-15-2017         1,220,000         1,183,400   
            17,568,344   
         

 

 

 
Insurance: 0.15%          

Fidelity & Guaranty Life Holdings Incorporated 144A

    6.38        4-1-2021         995,000         1,037,287   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         
Real Estate Management & Development: 1.18%          

Hockey Incorporated 144A

    7.88     10-1-2021       $ 4,560,000       $ 4,708,200   

Onex Corporation 144A

    7.75        1-15-2021         3,480,000         3,549,600   
            8,257,800   
         

 

 

 
REITs: 3.27%          

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.88        9-15-2021         7,670,000         7,861,750   

Omega Healthcare Investors Incorporated

    6.75        10-15-2022         3,375,000         3,695,625   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    5.38        6-1-2023         1,425,000         1,392,938   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    8.13        11-1-2018         1,853,000         2,010,505   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.13        4-1-2023         3,000,000         2,812,500   

The Geo Group Incorporated 144A

    5.88        1-15-2022         4,350,000         4,382,625   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    6.63        2-15-2021         605,000         640,544   
            22,796,487   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 5.24%

         
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.39%          

Hologic Incorporated

    6.25        8-1-2020         2,590,000         2,751,875   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 4.60%          

Aviv Healthcare Properties LP 144A

    6.00        10-15-2021         850,000         871,250   

Aviv Healthcare Properties LP

    7.75        2-15-2019             3,725,000         4,018,344   

Capella Healthcare Incorporated

    9.25        7-1-2017         1,455,000         1,562,306   

Centene Corporation

    5.75        6-1-2017         1,925,000         2,054,937   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2022         1,360,000         1,395,700   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    6.38        11-1-2018         140,000         146,825   

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.63        7-31-2019         1,800,000         1,926,000   

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated

    6.88        7-15-2017         700,000         791,000   

HCA Incorporated

    5.88        3-15-2022         750,000         789,375   

HCA Incorporated

    6.50        2-15-2020              5,675,000         6,313,438   

HCA Incorporated

    7.50        11-15-2095         1,350,000         1,215,000   

HCA Incorporated

    8.50        4-15-2019         975,000         1,046,906   

Health Management Associates Incorporated

    6.13        4-15-2016         475,000         522,500   

HealthSouth Corporation

    5.75        11-1-2024         100,000         99,250   

HealthSouth Corporation

    7.25        10-1-2018         675,000         725,625   

HealthSouth Corporation

    8.13        2-15-2020         820,000         903,025   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    6.38        2-15-2022         1,325,000         1,368,063   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    6.88        5-1-2021         3,175,000         3,413,125   

Multiplan Incorporated 144A

    9.88        9-1-2018         565,000         624,325   

Select Medical Corporation

    6.38        6-1-2021         1,560,000         1,505,400   

Tenet Healthcare Corporation 144A

    6.00        10-1-2020         355,000         375,413   

Tenet Healthcare Corporation 144A

    8.13        4-1-2022         400,000         438,000   
            32,105,807   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 0.12%          

Healthcare Technology Intermediate Incorporated (PIK at 8.13%) 144A¥

    7.38        9-1-2018         790,000         816,663   
         

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.13%          

Pinnacle Incorporated 144A

    9.50        10-1-2023         835,000         880,925   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         

Industrials: 5.52%

         
Aerospace & Defense: 0.30%          

TransDigm Group Incorporated

    7.75     12-15-2018       $ 1,939,000       $ 2,084,425   
         

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics: 0.69%          

Bristow Group Incorporated

    6.25        10-15-2022         4,555,000         4,782,750   
         

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.53%          

Aviation Capital Group Corporation 144A

    6.75        4-6-2021         2,190,000         2,357,465   

Aviation Capital Group Corporation 144A

    7.13        10-15-2020         1,210,000         1,342,127   
            3,699,592   
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.26%          

ADT Corporation 144A

    6.25        10-15-2021         990,000         1,050,637   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    6.38        10-1-2022         900,000         929,786   

Interface Incorporated

    7.63        12-1-2018         270,000         293,625   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2024         475,000         453,625   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    6.00        8-15-2023             3,560,000         3,622,300   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    8.38        8-15-2021         2,244,000         2,423,520   
            8,773,493   
         

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.97%          

Columbus McKinnon Corporation

    7.88        2-1-2019         1,575,000         1,691,156   

H&E Equipment Services Incorporated

    7.00        9-1-2022         4,680,000         5,101,200   
            6,792,356   
         

 

 

 
Professional Services: 0.63%          

Interactive Data Corporation

    10.25        8-1-2018         4,005,000         4,425,525   
         

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 0.84%          

Ashtead Capital Incorporated 144A

    6.50        7-15-2022         5,435,000         5,829,037   
         

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure: 0.30%          

Florida East Coast Railway Corporation

    8.13        2-1-2017         1,465,000         1,541,912   

Watco Companies LLC 144A

    6.38        4-1-2023         570,000         564,300   
            2,106,212   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 7.86%

         
Communications Equipment: 0.63%          

Avaya Incorporated

    9.75        11-1-2015         1,150,000         1,138,500   

CyrusOne LP

    6.38        11-15-2022         500,000         503,750   

Lucent Technologies Incorporated

    6.45        3-15-2029         3,100,000         2,728,000   
            4,370,250   
         

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 2.35%          

CDW Financial Corporation

    12.54        10-12-2017         372,000         386,880   

Jabil Circuit Incorporated

    8.25        3-15-2018             13,532,000         16,001,590   
            16,388,470   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     13   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         
Internet Software & Services: 0.06%          

Equinix Incorporated

    7.00     7-15-2021       $ 125,000       $ 136,562   

Verisign Incorporated

    4.63        5-1-2023         290,000         282,388   
            418,950   
         

 

 

 
IT Services: 4.45%          

Audatex North America Incorporated 144A

    6.00        6-15-2021         2,300,000         2,374,750   

Audatex North America Incorporated 144A%%

    6.13        11-1-2023         695,000         705,425   

Audatex North America Incorporated

    6.75        6-15-2018         1,375,000         1,470,287   

Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated

    7.88        7-15-2020             3,200,000         3,524,726   

First Data Corporation 144A

    11.75        8-15-2021         3,505,000         3,566,337   

First Data Corporation 144A

    7.38        6-15-2019         1,325,000         1,426,031   

First Data Corporation

    11.25        3-31-2016         9,555,000         9,602,775   

SunGard Data Systems Incorporated

    7.38        11-15-2018         7,230,000         7,663,800   

SunGard Data Systems Incorporated

    7.63        11-15-2020         650,000         707,688   
            31,041,819   
         

 

 

 
Software: 0.37%          

Activision Blizzard Incorporated 144A

    5.63        9-15-2021         1,155,000         1,195,425   

Activision Blizzard Incorporated 144A

    6.13        9-15-2023         285,000         297,825   

Nuance Communications Incorporated 144A

    5.38        8-15-2020         1,130,000         1,121,525   
            2,614,775   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 1.79%

         
Chemicals: 0.20%          

Celanese US Holdings LLC

    5.88        6-15-2021         440,000         470,800   

Chemtura Corporation

    5.75        7-15-2021         950,000         961,875   
            1,432,675   
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.10%          

Ball Corporation

    5.75        5-15-2021         400,000         422,500   

Ball Corporation

    6.75        9-15-2020         375,000         407,812   

Crown Americas LLC

    6.25        2-1-2021         515,000         545,900   

Crown Cork & Seal Company Incorporated

    7.38        12-15-2026         300,000         332,250   

Crown Cork & Seal Company Incorporated (i)

    7.50        12-15-2096             1,225,000         1,145,375   

Owens-Illinois Incorporated

    7.80        5-15-2018         837,000         965,689   

Sealed Air Corporation 144A

    6.88        7-15-2033         1,715,000         1,612,100   

Silgan Holdings Incorporated

    5.00        4-1-2020         2,250,000         2,238,750   
            7,670,376   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.00%          

Indalex Holdings Corporation (s)(a)(i)

    11.50        2-1-2014         5,985,000         0   
         

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.49%          

Georgia-Pacific LLC

    8.88        5-15-2031         2,430,000         3,424,227   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         

Telecommunication Services: 15.37%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 7.41%          

Citizens Communications Company

    7.88     1-15-2027       $ 4,205,000       $ 4,162,950   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.13        10-1-2018         1,980,000         2,281,950   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.25        4-15-2017         2,380,000         2,751,875   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.50        4-15-2020         1,000,000         1,142,500   

GCI Incorporated

    6.75        6-1-2021         4,145,000         4,010,287   

GCI Incorporated

    8.63        11-15-2019         8,750,000         9,296,875   

Qwest Corporation

    7.13        11-15-2043         1,810,000         1,756,596   

Qwest Corporation

    7.25        9-15-2025         2,755,000         2,935,750   

Qwest Corporation

    7.63        8-3-2021         440,000         465,300   

Syniverse Holdings Incorporated

    9.13        1-15-2019         8,545,000         9,249,963   

TW Telecommunications Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.38        10-1-2022         990,000         987,525   

TW Telecommunications Holdings Incorporated

    5.38        10-1-2022         6,525,000         6,508,688   

Windstream Corporation

    7.88        11-1-2017         5,380,000         6,153,375   
            51,703,634   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 7.96%          

Cricket Communications Incorporated

    7.75        10-15-2020         3,835,000         4,381,487   

Crown Castle International Corporation

    5.25        1-15-2023         4,385,000         4,341,150   

Crown Castle International Corporation

    7.13        11-1-2019         220,000         237,600   

MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated 144A

    6.25        4-1-2021         290,000         303,413   

MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated

    6.63        11-15-2020         5,910,000         6,249,825   

MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated 144A

    6.63        4-1-2023         825,000         863,156   

MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated

    7.88        9-1-2018         3,015,000         3,256,200   

SBA Telecommunications Corporation

    5.63        10-1-2019         270,000         277,425   

SBA Telecommunications Corporation

    5.75        7-15-2020         2,795,000         2,906,800   

SBA Telecommunications Corporation

    8.25        8-15-2019         93,000         100,789   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    6.88        11-15-2028             19,000,000         18,050,000   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    8.75        3-15-2032         6,270,000         6,787,275   

Sprint Corporation 144A

    7.25        9-15-2021         330,000         355,575   

Sprint Corporation 144A

    7.88        9-15-2023         330,000         358,050   

Sprint Nextel Corporation 144A

    9.00        11-15-2018         750,000         909,375   

Sprint Nextel Corporation

    11.50        11-15-2021         1,200,000         1,563,000   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.46        4-28-2019         265,000         280,900   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.54        4-28-2020         275,000         291,500   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.63        4-28-2021         1,510,000         1,596,825   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.73        4-28-2022         1,445,000         1,526,281   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.84        4-28-2023         850,000         898,875   
            55,535,501   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 5.06%

         
Electric Utilities: 2.92%          

Energy Future Holdings Corporation

    10.00        12-1-2020         150,000         157,500   

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Company LLC 144A

    6.88        8-15-2017         875,000         894,688   

IPALCO Enterprises Incorporated

    5.00        5-1-2018         2,050,000         2,142,250   

IPALCO Enterprises Incorporated 144A

    7.25        4-1-2016         3,783,000         4,161,300   

Mirant Mid-Atlantic LLC Series C

    10.06        12-30-2028         7,560,525         8,411,084   

Otter Tail Corporation

    9.00        12-15-2016         3,985,000         4,635,882   
            20,402,704   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     15   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         
Gas Utilities: 0.56%          

AmeriGas Finance LLC

    6.50     5-20-2021       $ 75,000       $ 80,250   

AmeriGas Finance LLC

    6.75        5-20-2020             1,675,000         1,825,750   

AmeriGas Finance LLC

    7.00        5-20-2022         1,840,000         1,987,200   
            3,893,200   
         

 

 

 
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders: 1.58%          

Calpine Corporation 144A

    6.00        1-15-2022         715,000         741,812   

NRG Energy Incorporated

    8.50        6-15-2019         3,675,000         3,959,813   

NSG Holdings LLC 144A

    7.75        12-15-2025         3,640,000         3,867,500   

Reliant Energy Incorporated

    9.24        7-2-2017         1,621,527         1,670,173   

Reliant Energy Incorporated

    9.68        7-2-2026         780,000         811,200   
            11,050,498   
         

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $725,283,714)

            757,993,364   
         

 

 

 
    Dividend yield            Shares         
Preferred Stocks: 0.31%          

Financials: 0.31%

         
Diversified Financial Services: 0.31%          

GMAC Capital Trust I ±

    8.13           81,784         2,196,718   
         

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $2,078,248)

            2,196,718   
         

 

 

 
    Interest rate            Principal         

Term Loans: 14.14%

         

Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC

    8.25        6-17-2018       $ 846,429         853,835   

Alliance Laundry Systems LLC

    9.50        12-10-2019         3,407,755         3,439,720   

Applied Systems Incorporated

    8.25        6-8-2017         680,000         682,836   

Capital Automotive LP

    4.00        4-5-2019         5,105,779         5,132,891   

Capital Automotive LP

    6.00        4-30-2020         2,450,000         2,520,437   

CBAC Borrower LLC

    8.25        7-2-2020         1,965,000         2,023,950   

CCM Merger Incorporated

    5.00        3-1-2017         4,604,130         4,627,150   

Centaur LLC

    8.75        2-20-2020         3,135,000         3,168,952   

Dell Incorporated <

    0.00        4-30-2020             18,645,000         18,530,333   

Federal-Mogul Corporation

    2.12        12-27-2014         2,000,071         1,979,710   

Federal-Mogul Corporation

    2.12        12-27-2015         1,534,579         1,518,957   

Focus Brands Incorporated

    10.25        8-21-2018         4,124,203         4,175,755   

Four Seasons Holdings Incorporated

    6.25        12-24-2020         550,000         563,750   

HHI Holdings LLC

    5.00        10-5-2018         3,348,865         3,368,388   

Learfield Communications Incorporated

    8.75        10-9-2021         165,000         168,300   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    4.00        1-15-2020         5,750,000         5,773,978   

LTS Buyer LLC

    8.00        4-12-2021         85,000         86,063   

nTelos Incorporated

    5.75        11-9-2019         1,120,715         1,124,918   

Philadelphia Energy Solutions LLC

    6.25        4-4-2018         4,736,200         4,238,899   

Sedgwick CMS Holdings Incorporated

    8.00        12-12-2018         850,000         863,813   

Spin Holdco Incorporated

    4.25        11-14-2019         1,850,000         1,845,375   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    4.75        9-30-2019         775,000         782,425   

Tallgrass Energy Partners LP

    5.25        11-13-2018         2,358,360         2,373,099   

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         

Term Loans (continued)

         

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings LLC

    3.71     10-10-2014       $     34,355,889       $ 23,111,550   

TWCC Holdings Corporation

    7.00        6-26-2020         330,000         338,045   

United Surgical Partners International Incorporated

    4.75        4-3-2019         2,216,418         2,223,068   

W3 Company

    9.25        9-13-2020         488,775         497,329   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC

    5.25        2-21-2019         2,641,725         2,648,329   

Total Term Loans (Cost $107,570,400)

            98,661,855   
         

 

 

 

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 6.38%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 0.23%

         
Media: 0.23%          

Videotron Limited

    5.00        7-15-2022         745,000         731,963   

Videotron Limited

    6.38        12-15-2015         100,000         100,500   

Videotron Limited

    9.13        4-15-2018         714,000         750,593   
            1,583,056   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 0.29%

         
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.29%          

Griffin Coal Mining Company Limited 144A(s)

    9.50        12-1-2016         2,119,383         1,759,087   

Griffin Coal Mining Company Limited (s)

    9.50        12-1-2016         290,088         240,773   
            1,999,860   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 0.44%

         
Consumer Finance: 0.34%          

Wind Acquisition Finance SpA 144A

    11.75        7-15-2017         2,205,000         2,342,813   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 0.10%          

Nielsen Holding and Finance BV 144A

    5.50        10-1-2021         700,000         719,250   

Preferred Term Securities XII Limited (s)(i)

    0.00        12-24-2033         1,540,000         15   
            719,265   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 0.49%

         
Pharmaceuticals: 0.49%          

VPII Escrow Corporation 144A

    6.75        8-15-2018         1,120,000         1,226,400   

VPII Escrow Corporation 144A

    7.50        7-15-2021         1,995,000         2,214,450   
            3,440,850   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.79%

         
Computers & Peripherals: 0.79%          

Seagate Technology HDD Holdings

    6.80        10-1-2016         1,275,000         1,443,938   

Seagate Technology HDD Holdings

    6.88        5-1-2020         1,860,000         2,041,350   

Seagate Technology HDD Holdings

    7.00        11-1-2021         1,805,000         1,994,525   
            5,479,813   
         

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     17   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
         

Materials: 0.83%

         
Metals & Mining: 0.59%          

Novelis Incorporated

    8.38     12-15-2017       $ 1,100,000       $ 1,177,000   

Novelis Incorporated

    8.75        12-15-2020         2,675,000         2,975,938   
            4,152,938   
         

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.24%          

Sappi Limited 144A

    7.50        6-15-2032         2,155,000         1,675,513   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 3.31%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 3.09%          

Intelsat Bermuda Limited 144A

    7.75        6-1-2021         1,985,000         2,094,175   

Intelsat Bermuda Limited 144A

    8.13        6-1-2023         890,000         941,175   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Limited 144A

    5.50        8-1-2023         4,775,000         4,607,875   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Limited

    7.25        4-1-2019             6,515,000         7,019,913   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Limited

    7.50        4-1-2021         2,214,000         2,413,260   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Limited

    8.50        11-1-2019         905,000         993,238   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    7.25        10-15-2020         3,225,000         3,499,125   
            21,568,761   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.22%          

Telesat Canada Incorporated 144A

    6.00        5-15-2017         1,475,000         1,541,375   
         

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $42,818,482)

            44,504,244   
         

 

 

 
    Yield            Shares         

Short-Term Investments: 4.32%

         
Investment Companies: 4.32%          

Wells Fargo Advantage Cash Investment Money Market Fund, Select Class (l)(u)##

    0.08               30,116,566         30,116,566   
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $30,116,566)

            30,116,566   
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities       
(Cost $910,977,175) *     133.95        934,727,819   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (33.95        (236,887,088
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 697,840,731   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

(a) Security is fair valued by the Management Valuation Team, and in certain instances by the Board of Trustees, in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

144A Security that may be resold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A or security offered pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

¥ A payment-in-kind (PIK) security is a security in which the issuer may make interest or dividend payments in cash or additional securities. These additional securities generally have the same terms as the original holdings.

 

%% Security issued on a when-issued basis.

 

(s) Security is currently in default with regards to scheduled interest and/or principal payments. The Fund has stopped accruing interest on this security.

 

± Variable rate investment. The rate shown is the rate in effect at period end.

 

< All or a portion of the position represents an unfunded term loan commitment.

 

(i) Illiquid security

 

(l) Investment in an affiliate

 

(u) Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

 

## All or a portion of this security has been segregated for when-issued securities or unfunded term loans.

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $918,958,153 and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 49,099,058   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (33,329,392
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 15,769,666   

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents
Statement of assets and liabilities —October 31, 2013 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     19   

 

         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities, at value (see cost below)

  $ 904,611,253   

In affiliated securities, at value (see cost below)

    30,116,566   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (see cost below)

    934,727,819   

Cash

    5,221,111   

Receivable for investments sold

    1,713,331   

Receivable for interest and dividends

    15,393,685   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    17,001   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    957,072,947   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Dividends payable

    4,826,367   

Payable for investments purchased

    23,677,776   

Secured borrowing payable

    230,211,266   

Advisory fee payable

    315,744   

Due to other related parties

    39,053   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    162,010   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    259,232,216   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 697,840,731   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 983,331,382   

Overdistributed net investment income

    (7,830,738

Accumulated net realized losses on investments

    (301,410,557

Net unrealized gains on investments

    23,750,644   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 697,840,731   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

 

Based on $697,840,731 divided by 70,983,001 shares issued and outstanding (100,000,000 shares authorized)

    $9.83   
 

 

 

 

Investments in unaffiliated securities, at cost

  $ 880,860,609   
 

 

 

 

Investments in affiliated securities, at cost

  $ 30,116,566   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at cost

  $ 910,977,175   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents
20   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Statement of operations—six months ended October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

 

         

Investment income

 

Interest

  $ 33,471,378   

Dividends

    68,445   

Income from affiliated securities

    6,226   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    33,546,049   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    2,805,107   

Administration fee

    233,759   

Custody and accounting fees

    28,173   

Professional fees

    35,840   

Shareholder report expenses

    50,886   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    5,897   

Transfer agent fees

    13,055   

Interest expense

    243,915   

Secured borrowing fees

    1,017,509   

Other fees and expenses

    27,357   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    4,461,498   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (881,937
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    3,579,561   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    29,966,488   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    3,320,733   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (29,203,671
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (25,882,938
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 4,083,550   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents
Statement of changes in net assets   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     21   

 

     Six months ended
October 31, 2013
(unaudited)
      

Year ended

April 30, 2013

 

Operations

      

Net investment income

  $ 29,966,488         $ 62,380,589   

Net realized gains on investments

    3,320,733           11,572,543   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (29,203,671        27,158,011   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    4,083,550           101,111,143   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

      

Net investment income

    (28,961,064        (64,767,000
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

      

Net asset value of common shares issued under the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan

    162,908           2,403,707   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (24,714,606        38,747,850   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    722,555,337           683,807,487   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 697,840,731         $ 722,555,337   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

Overdistributed net investment income

  $ (7,830,738      $ (4,920,932
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents
22   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Statement of cash flows—six months ended October 31, 2013 (unaudited)

 

         

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 4,083,550   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

Purchase of investment securities

    (254,208,973

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

    255,640,903   

Amortization

    (1,263,335

Purchase of short-term investment securities, net

    (12,918,997

Decrease in dividends and interest receivable

    813,438   

Decrease in receivable for investments sold

    7,370,107   

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

    82,880   

Increase in payable for investments purchased

    8,392,169   

Increase in advisory fee payable

    12,092   

Increase in due to other related parties

    151   

Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities

    (72,949

Unrealized losses on investments

    29,203,671   

Litigation payments received

    202,244   

Net realized gains on investments

    (3,320,733
 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    34,016,218   
 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

Cash distributions paid

    (28,797,275

Increase in secured borrowing payable

    2,168   
 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

    (28,795,107
 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

    5,221,111   
 

 

 

 

Cash:

 

Beginning of period

  $ 0   
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 5,221,111   
 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash disclosure:

 

Cash paid for interest

  $ 246,989   
 

 

 

 

Supplemental non-cash financing disclosure:

 

Reinvestment of dividends

  $ 162,908   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Table of Contents
Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     23   

 

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

   

Six months ended
October 31, 2013

(unaudited)

    Year ended April 30  
       2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $ 10.18      $ 9.67      $ 10.11      $ 9.69      $ 7.37      $ 12.32   

Net investment income

    0.42 1      0.88 1      0.95 1      1.02 1      1.06 1      1.35 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.36     0.54        (0.37     0.42        2.41        (4.91

Distributions to preferred shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    0.00        0.00        0.00        (0.00 )1,2      (0.01 )1      (0.08 )1 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.06        1.42        0.58        1.44        3.46        (3.64

Distributions to common shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.41     (0.91     (1.02     (1.02     (1.08     (1.31

Tax basis return of capital

    0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00        (0.06 )1      0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to common shareholders

    (0.41     (0.91     (1.02     (1.02     (1.14     (1.31

Net asset value, end of period

  $ 9.83      $ 10.18      $ 9.67      $ 10.11      $ 9.69      $ 7.37   

Market value, end of period

  $ 9.14      $ 10.23      $ 10.29      $ 10.38      $ 9.63      $ 7.30   

Total return based on market value3

    (6.62 )%      8.90     10.03     19.68     49.84     (25.48 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses4

    1.27     1.29     1.35     1.44     1.79     3.09

Net expenses4

    1.02     1.05     1.03     1.09     1.13     2.30

Net investment income

    8.52     8.89     9.89     10.55 %5      11.81 %5      14.35 %5 

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    16     27     25     42     108     88

Net assets of common shareholders, end of period (000s omitted)

    $697,841        $722,555        $683,807        $709,850        $676,144        $508,602   

Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000s omitted)

    $230,000        $230,000        $230,000        $230,000        N/A        N/A   

Asset coverage per $1,000 of borrowing, end of period

    $4,034        $4,142        $3,973        $4,088        N/A        N/A   

Liquidation value of Preferred Shares, end of period (000s omitted)

    N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        $196,000        $196,000   

Asset coverage ratio for Preferred Shares, end of period

    N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        394     315

 

 

1. Calculated based upon average common shares outstanding

 

2. Amount is less than $0.005.

 

3. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of common stock on the first day and a sale on the last day of the period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of these calculations to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Total return does not reflect brokerage commissions that a shareholder would pay on the purchase and sale of shares. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized

 

4. Ratios include interest expense relating to interest associated with borrowings and/or leverage transactions as follows:

 

Six months ended October 31, 2013

     0.07

Year ended April 30, 2013

     0.08

Year ended April 30, 2012

     0.08

Year ended April 30, 2011

     0.11

Year ended April 30, 2010

     0.02

Year ended April 30, 2009

     0.79

 

5. The net investment income ratio reflects distributions paid to preferred shareholders.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


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24   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a statutory trust under the laws of the state of Delaware on December 3, 2002 and is registered as a diversified closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following significant accounting policies, which are consistently followed in the preparation of the financial statements of the Fund, are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities valuation

All investments are valued each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4 p.m. Eastern Time).

Fixed income securities acquired with maturities exceeding 60 days are valued based on evaluated bid prices provided by an independent pricing service which may utilize both transaction data and market information such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data. If prices are not available from the independent pricing service or prices received are deemed not representative of market value, values will be obtained from an independent broker-dealer or otherwise determined based on the Fund’s Valuation Procedures.

Short-term securities, with maturities of 60 days or less at time of purchase, generally are valued at amortized cost which approximates fair value. The amortized cost method involves valuing a security at its cost, plus accretion of discount or minus amortization of premium over the period until maturity.

Equity securities that are listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market are valued at the official closing price or, if none, the last sales price. If no sale occurs on the primary exchange or market for the security that day, the prior day’s price will be deemed “stale” and fair values will be determined in accordance with the Fund’s Valuation Procedures.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value.

Investments which are not valued using any of the methods discussed above are valued at their fair value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. The Board of Trustees has established a Valuation Committee comprised of the Trustees and has delegated to it the authority to take any actions regarding the valuation of portfolio securities that the Valuation Committee deems necessary or appropriate, including determining the fair value of portfolio securities, unless the determination has been delegated to the Management Valuation Team of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”). The Board of Trustees retains the authority to make or ratify any valuation decisions or approve any changes to the Valuation Procedures as it deems appropriate. On a quarterly basis, the Board of Trustees receives reports on any valuation actions taken by the Valuation Committee or the Management Valuation Team which may include items for ratification.

Valuations of fair valued securities are compared to the next actual sales price when available, or other appropriate market values, to assess the continued appropriateness of the fair valuation methodologies used. These securities are fair valued on a day-to-day basis, taking into consideration changes to appropriate market information and any significant changes to the inputs considered in the valuation process until there is a readily available price provided on an exchange or by an independent pricing service. Valuations received from an independent pricing service or independent broker-dealer quotes are periodically validated by comparisons to most recent trades and valuations provided by other independent pricing services in addition to the review of prices by the adviser and/or subadviser. Unobservable inputs used in determining fair valuations are identified based on the type of security, taking into consideration factors utilized by market participants in valuing the investment, knowledge about the issuer and the current market environment.

When-issued transactions

The Fund may purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued basis. The Fund records a when-issued transaction on the trade date and will segregate assets in an amount at least equal in value to the Fund’s commitment to purchase when-issued securities. Securities purchased on a when-issued basis are marked-to-market daily and the Fund begins earning interest on the settlement date. Losses may arise due to changes in the market value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.


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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     25   

Term loans

The Fund may invest in term loans. The Fund begins earning interest when the loans are funded. The loans pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. The Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower and there could be potential loss to the Fund in the event of default by the borrower.

Security transactions and income recognition

Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains or losses are recorded on the basis of identified cost.

Interest income is accrued daily and bond discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized daily based on the effective interest method. To the extent debt obligations are placed on non-accrual status, any related interest income may be reduced by writing off interest receivables when the collection of all or a portion of interest has become doubtful based on consistently applied procedures. If the issuer subsequently resumes interest payments or when the collectability of interest is reasonably assured, the debt obligation is removed from non-accrual status.

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

Distributions to shareholders

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Such distributions are determined in conformity with federal income tax regulations, which may differ in amount or character from net investment income and realized gains recognized for purposes of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Federal and other taxes

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains (after reduction for capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes was required.

The Fund’s income and federal excise tax returns and all financial records supporting those returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the federal and Delaware revenue authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state, and foreign tax returns for all open tax years and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability.

As of April 30, 2013, capital loss carryforwards available to offset future net realized capital gains were as follows through the indicated expiration dates:

 

2015    2016      2017      2018  

$1,830,407

   $ 15,525,027       $ 130,598,584       $ 155,329,141   

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

Fair value measurements of investments are determined within a framework that has established a fair value hierarchy based upon the various data inputs utilized in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. The three-level hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The Fund’s investments are classified within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follow

 

n   Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

n   Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, use of amortized cost, etc.)

 

n   Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments in securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.


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26   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

As of October 31, 2013, the inputs used in valuing investments in securities were as follows:

 

Investments in securities   

Quoted prices

(Level 1)

    

Other significant
observable inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant

unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Equity securities

           

Common stocks

   $ 1,255,072       $ 0       $ 0       $ 1,255,072   

Preferred stocks

     2,196,718         0         0         2,196,718   

Corporate bonds and notes

     0         757,993,364         0         757,993,364   

Term loans

     0         80,623,248         18,038,607         98,661,855   

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0         44,504,244         0         44,504,244   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     30,116,566         0         0         30,116,566   
     $ 33,568,356       $ 883,120,856       $ 18,038,607       $ 934,727,819   

Transfers in and transfers out are recognized at the end of the reporting period. For the six months ended October 31, 2013, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1 or Level 2.

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

 

     Common
stocks
    

Term

loans

     Total  

Balance as of April 30, 2013

   $ 2,149       $ 20,331,214       $ 20,333,363   

Accrued discounts (premiums)

     0         8,053         8,053   

Realized gains (losses)

     0         (2,524      (2,524

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

     (2,149      (689,881      (692,030

Purchases

     0         5,419,262         5,419,262   

Sales

     0         (219,409      (219,409

Transfers into Level 3

     0         0         0   

Transfers out of Level 3

     0         (6,808,108      (6,808,108

Balance as of October 31, 2013

   $ 0       $ 18,038,607       $ 18,038,607   

Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to securities still held at October 31, 2013

   $ (2,149    $ (604,345    $ (606,494

The investment types categorized above were valued using indicative broker quotes and are therefore considered Level 3 inputs.

Quantitative unobservable inputs used by the brokers are often proprietary and not provided to the Fund and therefore the disclosure that would address these inputs is not included above.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Advisory fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the adviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily total assets. Total assets consist of the net assets of the Fund plus borrowings or other leverage for investment purposes to the extent excluded in calculating net assets. Funds Management has committed through February 25, 2014, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s borrowing expenses to an amount that is 0.05% lower than what the borrowing expenses would have been if the Fund had not redeemed its Auction Market Preferred Shares (“Preferred Shares”). Funds Management contractually waived its advisory fee in the amount of $881,937 for the six months ended October 31, 2013.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate of 0.40% of the Fund’s average daily total assets.


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Notes to financial statements (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     27   

Administration fee

Funds Management also serves as the administrator to the Fund providing the Fund with a wide range of administrative services necessary to the operation of the Fund. Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual administration fee from the Fund equal to 0.05% of the Fund’s average daily total assets.

5. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

The Fund has authorized capital of 100,000,000 shares with no par value. For the six months ended October 31, 2013, and year ended April 30, 2013, the Fund issued 15,971 and 241,079 shares, respectively.

The Fund no longer has any Preferred Shares outstanding.

6. BORROWINGS

The Fund has borrowed approximately $230 million through a secured debt financing agreement administered by a major financial institution (the “Facility”). The Facility has a commitment amount of $230 million which expires on February 24, 2014, at which point it may be renegotiated and potentially renewed for another one-year term. At October 31, 2013, the Fund had secured borrowings outstanding in the amount of $230,211,266 (including accrued interest and usage and commitment fees payable).

The Fund’s borrowings under the Facility are generally charged interest at a rate based on the rates of the commercial paper notes issued to fund the Fund’s borrowings or at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.0%. During the six months ended October 31, 2013, an effective interest rate of 0.21% was incurred on the borrowings. Interest expense of $243,915, representing 0.07% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, was incurred during the six months ended October 31, 2013.

The Fund has pledged all of its assets to secure the borrowings and currently pays, on a monthly basis, a usage fee at an annual rate of 0.40% of the daily average outstanding principal amount of borrowings and commitment fee at an annual rate of 0.40% of the product of (i) the daily average outstanding principal amount of borrowings and (ii) 1.02. The secured borrowing fees on the Statement of Operations of $1,017,509 represents the usage fee, commitment fee and structuring fees. For the six months ended October 31, 2013, the Fund paid structuring fees in the amount of $67,660.

7. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the six months ended October 31, 2013 were $190,729,310 and $149,548,464, respectively.

As of October 31, 2013, the Fund had unfunded term loan commitments of $19,730,700.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, the officers and directors are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

9. SUBSEQUENT DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund declared the following distributions to common shareholders:

 

Declaration date    Record date    Payable date    Per share amount
October 25, 2013    November 14, 2013    December 2, 2013    $0.068
November 15, 2013    December 16, 2013    January 2, 2014    0.068

These distributions are not reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The final determination of the source of all distributions is subject to change and made after the Fund’s tax year-end.


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28   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Other information (unaudited)

 

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge on the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

On August 5, 2013, an Annual Meeting of Shareholders for the Fund was held to consider the following proposal. The results of the proposal are indicated below.

Proposal 1 – Election of trustees:

 

Net assets voted “For”   Peter G. Gordon      $ 614,443,892   
Net assets voted “Withhold”        $ 28,132,659   
Net assets voted “For”   Timothy J. Penny      $ 613,052,485   
Net assets voted “Withhold”        $ 29,524,066   
Net assets voted “For”   Michael S. Scofield      $ 613,588,348   
Net assets voted “Withhold”          $ 28,988,203   

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are publicly available on the Fund’s website (wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com) on a monthly, 30-day or more delayed basis. The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q, which is available without charge by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. In addition, the Fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and at regional offices in New York City, at 233 Broadway, and in Chicago, at 175 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.


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Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     29   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The following table provides basic information about the Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) and Officers of the Fund. Each of the Trustees and Officers listed below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 131 mutual funds1 comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, and four closed-end funds, including the Fund (collectively the “Fund Complex”). All of the Trustees are also Members of the Audit and Governance Committees of each Trust in the Fund Complex. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. The Board of Trustees is classified into three classes of which one is elected annually. Each Trustee serves a three-year term concurrent with the class from which the Trustee is elected. Each Officer serves an indefinite term.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service

  Principal occupations during past five years  

Other

directorships during
past five years

Peter G. Gordon (Born 1942)   Trustee, since 2010; Chairman, since 2010   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee, since 2010   Retired. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Deluxe Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee, since 2010; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2010   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust
Leroy Keith, Jr. (Born 1939)   Trustee, since 2003   Chairman, Bloc Global Services (development and construction). Trustee of the Evergreen Funds from 1983 to 2010. Former Managing Director, Almanac Capital Management (commodities firm), former Partner, Stonington Partners, Inc. (private equity fund), former Director, Obagi Medical Products Co. and former Director, Lincoln Educational Services.   Trustee, Virtus Fund Complex (consisting of 48 portfolios as of 1/31/2013); Asset Allocation Trust
David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee, since 2010   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust
Olivia S. Mitchell (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2010   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee, since 2010   President and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service

  Principal occupations during past five years  

Other

directorships during
past five years

Michael S. Scofield (Born 1943)   Trustee, since 2003   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust
Donald C. Willeke (Born 1940)   Trustee, since 2010   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

Officers

 

Name and

year of birth

  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years    
Karla M. Rabusch (Born 1959)   President, since 2010   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Treasurer, since 2012   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Vice President, Evergreen Investment Services, Inc. from 2004 to 2007. Head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    
C. David Messman (Born 1960)   Secretary, since 2010; Chief Legal Officer, since 2010   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. from 1996 to 2013. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013.    

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2010   Chief Compliance Officer of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2007. Chief Compliance Officer of Parnassus Investments from 2005 to 2007. Chief Financial Officer of Parnassus Investments from 2004 to 2007.    

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Assistant Vice President of Evergreen Investment Services, Inc. from 2004 to 2008. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.    

 

 

 

1. Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 58 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 73 funds in the Fund Complex.


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Automatic dividend reinvestment plan   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund     31   

 

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

All common shareholders are eligible to participate in the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“the Plan”). Pursuant to the Plan, unless a common shareholder is ineligible or elects otherwise, all cash dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as agent for shareholders in administering the Plan (“Plan Agent”), in additional common shares of the Fund. Whenever the Fund declares an ordinary income dividend or a capital gain dividend (collectively referred to as “dividends”) payable either in shares or in cash, nonparticipants in the Plan will receive cash, and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in common shares. The shares are acquired by the Plan Agent for the participant’s account, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized common shares from the Fund (“newly issued common shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common shares on the open-market (open-market purchases) on the NYSE Amex or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any dividend or distribution, the net asset value per share of the common shares is equal to or less than the market price per common share plus estimated brokerage commissions (“market premium”), the Plan Agent will invest the amount of such dividend or distribution in newly issued shares on behalf of the participant. The number of newly issued common shares to be credited to the participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the net asset value per share on the date the shares are issued, provided that the maximum discount from the then current market price per share on the date of issuance may not exceed 5%. If on the dividend payment date the net asset value per share is greater than the market value or market premium (“market discount”), the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in shares acquired on behalf of the participant in open-market purchases. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund as a result of dividends or capital gains distributions payable either in shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends. The automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 43010, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3010 or by calling 1-800-730-6001.


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32   Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund   List of abbreviations

 

The following is a list of common abbreviations for terms and entities that may have appeared in this report.

 

ACA —  ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation
ADR —  American depositary receipt
ADS —  American depositary shares
AGC —  Assured Guaranty Corporation
AGM —  Assured Guaranty Municipal
Ambac —  Ambac Financial Group Incorporated
AMT —  Alternative minimum tax
AUD —  Australian dollar
BAN —  Bond anticipation notes
BHAC —  Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corporation
BRL —  Brazilian real
CAB —  Capital appreciation bond
CAD —  Canadian dollar
CCAB —  Convertible capital appreciation bond
CDA —  Community Development Authority
CDO —  Collateralized debt obligation
CHF —  Swiss franc
COP —  Certificate of participation
DKK —  Danish krone
DRIVER —  Derivative inverse tax-exempt receipts
DW&P —  Department of Water & Power
DWR —  Department of Water Resources
ECFA —  Educational & Cultural Facilities Authority
EDA —  Economic Development Authority
EDFA —  Economic Development Finance Authority
ETF —  Exchange-traded fund
EUR —  Euro
FDIC —  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FFCB —  Federal Farm Credit Banks
FGIC —  Financial Guaranty Insurance Corporation
FHA —  Federal Housing Administration
FHLB —  Federal Home Loan Bank
FHLMC —  Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FICO —  The Financing Corporation
FNMA —  Federal National Mortgage Association
FSA —  Farm Service Agency
GBP —  Great British pound
GDR —  Global depositary receipt
GNMA —  Government National Mortgage Association
GO —  General obligation
HCFR —  Healthcare facilities revenue
HEFA —  Health & Educational Facilities Authority
HEFAR —  Higher education facilities authority revenue
HFA —  Housing Finance Authority
HFFA —  Health Facilities Financing Authority
HKD —  Hong Kong dollar
HUD —  Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUF —  Hungarian forint
IDA —  Industrial Development Authority
IDAG —  Industrial Development Agency
IDR —  Industrial development revenue
IEP —  Irish pound
JPY —  Japanese yen
KRW —  Republic of Korea won
LIBOR —  London Interbank Offered Rate
LIQ —  Liquidity agreement
LLC —  Limited liability company
LLP —  Limited liability partnership
LOC —  Letter of credit
LP —  Limited partnership
MBIA —  Municipal Bond Insurance Association
MFHR —  Multifamily housing revenue
MSTR —  Municipal securities trust receipts
MTN —  Medium-term note
MUD —  Municipal Utility District
MXN —  Mexican peso
MYR —  Malaysian ringgit
National —  National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation
NOK —  Norwegian krone
NZD —  New Zealand dollar
PCFA —  Pollution Control Financing Authority
PCL —  Public Company Limited
PCR —  Pollution control revenue
PFA —  Public Finance Authority
PFFA —  Public Facilities Financing Authority
PFOTER —  Puttable floating option tax-exempt receipts
plc —  Public limited company
PLN —  Polish zloty
PUTTER —  Puttable tax-exempt receipts
R&D —  Research & development
Radian —  Radian Asset Assurance
RAN —  Revenue anticipation notes
RDA —  Redevelopment Authority
RDFA —  Redevelopment Finance Authority
REIT —  Real estate investment trust
ROC —  Reset option certificates
SAVRS —  Select auction variable rate securities
SBA —  Small Business Authority
SEK —  Swedish krona
SFHR —  Single-family housing revenue
SFMR —  Single-family mortgage revenue
SGD —  Singapore dollar
SKK —  Slovakian koruna
SPA —  Standby purchase agreement
SPDR —  Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts
STRIPS —  Separate trading of registered interest and       principal securities
TAN —  Tax anticipation notes
TBA —  To be announced
TIPS —  Treasury inflation-protected securities
TRAN —  Tax revenue anticipation notes
TRY —  Turkish lira
TTFA —  Transportation Trust Fund Authority
TVA —  Tennessee Valley Authority
ZAR —  South African rand
 


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

LOGO

Transfer Agent, Registrar, Shareholder Servicing

Agent & Dividend Disbursing Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43010

Providence, RI 02940-3010

1-800-730-6001

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company and is an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company’s broker/dealer subsidiaries. This material is being prepared by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

© 2013 Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

LOGO     

220815 12-13

SIO/SAR148 10-13

 


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS

The Portfolio of investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s board of trustees that have been implemented since the Registrant’s last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of this Item.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) The President and Treasurer have concluded that the Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund (the “Trust”) disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) provide reasonable assurances that material information relating to the Trust is made known to them by the appropriate persons, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report.


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(b) There were no significant changes in the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS

(a)(1) Not applicable

(a)(2) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.


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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.

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund
By:   /s/ Karla M. Rabusch
  Karla M. Rabusch
  President
Date:   December 23, 2013

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 date indicated.

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund
By:   /s/ Karla M. Rabusch
  Karla M. Rabusch
  President
Date:   December 23, 2013
By:   /s/ Jeremy DePalma
  Jeremy DePalma
  Treasurer
Date:   December 23, 2013