Form N-CSRS
Table of Contents

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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: 811-21507

 

 

Wells Fargo 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, 2016

 

 

 


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ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS


Table of Contents

Semi-Annual Report

October 31, 2016

 

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Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund (EAD)

 

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Table of Contents

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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

    29   

Automatic dividend reinvestment plan

    35   

List of abbreviations

    36   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of October 31, 2016, 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 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 Income Opportunities Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

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Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

 

In a marked difference from the prior 12 months, muted volatility characterized the high-yield bond market.

 

 

 

 

In another departure from the prior year, default events among energy and materials companies moderated during the period.

 

 

Dear Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this semi-annual report for the Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund for the six-month period that ended October 31, 2016. High-yield bonds enjoyed favorable market conditions during the period. Credit spreads narrowed, prices strengthened, and volatility was subdued in comparison to the prior year. These conditions attracted greater interest in high-yield bonds among investors, helping the market as measured by the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index1 to achieve a 7.74% return for the period.

In a marked difference from the prior 12 months, muted volatility characterized the high-yield bond market. Once again, the Federal Open Market Committee—the policy-making committee of the U.S Federal Reserve (Fed)—deferred an interest-rate hike at its September meeting. Throughout the period, the Fed cited inconsistent employment or jobs creation data and other mixed economic and manufacturing indicators to explain its hesitancy to raise rates. Based on high-yield bond pricing at the close of the period, it appeared the market still is anticipating that there is a more-than-even chance that the Fed will announce an interest-rate hike at its December 2016 meeting.

The U.S. economy continued to grow at a moderate pace during the six-month reporting period. The country delivered annualized real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 1.4% in the second quarter of 2016. GDP growth accelerated to 2.9% in the third quarter that ended September 30, 2016. Reported inflation, as measured by the core personal consumption expenditures price index, remained below the Fed’s target of 2.0%.

The U.K.’s vote in June to exit the European Union (Brexit) created some initial volatility in the U.S. high-yield market but had little enduring overall effect during the period. Credit spreads tightened primarily due to monetary policy in major global financial markets that was accommodative of economic and business activity. Further accommodation out of major central banks—the European Central Bank, the People’s Bank of China, and the Bank of Japan—offered strong encouragement that they would maintain low and in some cases negative interest rates as well as provide liquidity to the markets through bond purchases. To a certain degree, accommodative monetary policies around the globe, including negative interest rates on some sovereign bonds, drove yields down and supported the investment case for riskier assets such as high-yield bonds as investors sought higher yields than were available in other sectors of the bond market or from equity investments.

In another departure from the prior year, default events among energy and materials companies moderated during the period. While defaults continue, the overall default rate is less than 1% when those occurring among commodity-related businesses are excluded. Outside of the stressed commodity sector, the majority of U.S. high-yield companies are meeting their debt obligations, largely because of continued low interest rates. High-yield companies can obtain inexpensive financing compared with historical norms to meet their interest payments.

Energy prices rebounded somewhat from the declines that began in mid-2014. The potential for an agreement among Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to limit output helped support higher oil prices for several weeks

 

 

 

1  The BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index (formerly known as BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Index) is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of the high-yield securities traded in the United States bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index.


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

during the period. Higher oil prices reduced the specter of default for energy-sector companies which had suffered elevated default levels as commodity prices remained low. Also, the Fed’s continued low-interest-rate policy along with continued slow but consistent U.S. economic growth combined to support higher investor interest in lower-quality bonds. One outcome of increased investor risk tolerance was that CCC-rated bonds outperformed BB-rated and B-rated bonds during the period.

New issuance remains below 2015 levels, but the difference has steadily narrowed after a slow start. High-yield new issuance began 2016 well below last year’s pace but grew more robust later in the reporting period. This is an encouraging sign for high-yield bond issuers relying on the capital markets for financing and for investors seeking the yields available in the high yield bond markets.

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 Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

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Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

    

 

 

Notice to shareholders

On November 23, 2016, the Fund announced an extension of its open-market share repurchase program (the “Buyback Program”). Under the extended Buyback Program, the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares during the period beginning December 17, 2016, ending December 31, 2017. The Fund’s Board of Trustees has delegated to Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, the Fund’s adviser, discretion to administer the Buyback Program including the determination of the amount and timing of repurchases in accordance with the best interests of the Fund and subject to applicable legal limitations.

 

For further information about your Fund, contact your investment professional, visit our website at wellsfargofunds.com, or call us directly at 1-800-222-8222. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


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4   Wells Fargo 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 returns (%) as of October 31, 20161

 

     6 months      1 year      5 year      10 year  

Based on market value

     10.67         15.11         6.08         5.51   

Based on net asset value (NAV)

     11.49         12.76         8.95         6.96   

BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index2

     7.74         10.16         7.07         7.46   

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 March 6, 2017, 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 previously utilized Auction Market Perferred Shares for leverage but secured debt financing to fully redeem those shares in 2010. The Fund’s gross and net expense ratios, which inclue 0.44% of interest expense, were 1.36% and 1.16% , respectively, for the six months ended October 31, 2016. Without this waiver and/or reimbursement, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

Comparison of NAV vs. market value3

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The Fund is leveraged through a revolving credit 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 value of common shares. Derivatives involve additional risks, including interest-rate risk, credit risk, the risk of improper valuation, and the risk of noncorrelation to the relevant instruments that they are designed to hedge or closely track. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest-rate changes and their impact on the fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. High-yield securities have a greater risk of default and tend to be more volatile than higher-rated debt securities. 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.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 6.


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Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     5   

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

The Fund’s return based on market value was 10.67% during the six months that ended October 31, 2016. During the same period, the Fund’s return based on net asset value (NAV) was 11.49%. Based on its NAV return, the Fund outperformed relative to the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index (the Index), which returned 7.74%.

Overview

The rally reflected the continued bounce-back from the decline in the high-yield market that began in June 2015. Energy and other commodity-related bonds drove much of the decline in high-yield bond prices, as commodity prices were generally falling until mid-February 2016. Technical pressure from large investment grade issuers being downgraded to high-yield ratings aggravated the price decline of non-investment grade debt issues. Once the downgrades were absorbed by the high-yield market and commodity prices began to stabilize or rebound, the high-yield market rallied during the reporting period.

From a fundamental perspective, corporate leverage remained at elevated levels for this point in the credit cycle. However, the cash flow impact from these higher leverage levels was somewhat offset by issuers’ ability to finance debt at low interest rates. Outside of commodity-dependent sectors, the U.S. economy appears to be growing, albeit at a subdued pace. Moderate growth with low unemployment should provide an ideal environment for high-yield issuers because consumer demand might remain stable and the Federal Reserve (Fed) should have room to be accommodative. While we continue to remain cautiously optimistic that this environment will continue in the near term, we are cognizant that ideal environments never last forever, and as yields move lower, the risk of a future sell off may increase.

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of October 31, 20164  

NGPL PipeCo LLC, 7.77%, 12-15-2037

    2.65   

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

    2.27   

Greektown Holdings LLC, 8.88%, 3-15-2019

    2.13   

NCR Corporation, 6.38%, 12-15-2023

    1.65   

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Company LLC, 0.00%, 10-10-2017

    1.54   

Diamond 1 Finance Corporation, 7.13%, 6-15-2024

    1.50   

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

    1.49   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC, 6.38%, 2-1-2023

    1.41   

Ultra Petroleum Corporation, 6.13%, 10-1-2024

    1.38   

PHI Incorporated, 5.25%, 3-15-2019

    1.38   

 

Credit quality as of October 31, 20165

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Contributors to performance

As compared with the composition of the broader high-yield bond market, as measured by the Index, the portfolio benefited from a relatively higher level of investment in the midstream energy industry, including Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America and Rockies Express Pipeline LLC. The Fund’s investment in Ultra Petroleum Corporation contributed to performance.

Detractors from performance

The portfolio was hurt by a comparatively lower level of investment (as compared with the Index as representative of the broader high-yield bond market) to two sectors. The portfolio’s lower-than-market allocation to the metals and mining sector was a detractor. The portfolio also invested in the energy exploration and production sector at a lower level than represented in the market, which detracted from performance. An investment in private prison operator Geo Group Incorporated also detracted. A relatively higher cash allocation in a strong market during the period restrained performance.

The ratings and maturity allocations of the Fund did not have a meaningful effect on relative performance during this period.

 

 

Management outlook

Our outlook for high-yield energy and commodity companies has not changed. With respect to the broader high-yield market, we continue to believe that a number of imbalances that have existed for years around the world could prompt a second potential scenario. Although likely to remain dormant, these imbalances have the potential to cause renewed fears of systemic risks and a related fall in all risk markets, including high yield. These global imbalances include the high government debt and deficit levels in most of the developed world, potential real-estate and municipal-debt bubbles in China, potential real-estate bubbles in major cities, and persistent trade and current international account deficits and

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 6.


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6   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)
Effective maturity distribution as of October 31, 20166

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surpluses. We believe high-yield bonds will remain relatively stable and potentially outperform other fixed-income asset classes such as intermediate U.S. Treasuries and investment-grade corporate markets that may be more affected by a rising interest-rate environment. In this scenario, the economy would improve at a consistent pace and interest rates would rise as the Fed continued to reduce the exceptionally accommodative monetary stance it has maintained for nearly a decade. We expect the Fed to be extremely cautious in implementing further

rate increases and may be willing to risk higher inflation

 

in order to avoid derailing the economy. In our view, the recent rally in the high-yield and bank loan markets tends to reduce the likelihood of the market remaining stable and increases the risk that the market sells off in the future.

Default rates were mostly concentrated in the energy and commodity industries over the prior year. While we expect that bankruptcies will remain concentrated in those industries in the near term, many of the weakest names have already filed for bankruptcy. Outside of the broader energy and metals and mining complexes, we believe that lower energy and commodity prices are generally a positive for the economy and the high-yield market. Lower energy and commodity prices should reduce expenses at most companies and leave consumers with more purchasing power with which to buy goods and services. In addition, lower energy and commodity prices may suppress near-term inflation, which would allow the Fed to leave rates lower for longer.

In addition, lower rates since the beginning of this year have also been a near-term positive for high-yield bonds, as weaker companies are more easily able to refinance their debt when yields are lower. In a higher-yield environment, these companies may have more difficulty accessing the high-yield market leading to more bankruptcies. In this way, the fall in rates may be a near-term positive, but a long-term risk for the market.

In the long run, we expect high yield’s relative performance will be primarily driven by corporate fundamentals and defaults. In the near term, with the exception of the energy and other commodity sectors, our default outlook remains fairly benign. Over a full cycle, we believe the best way to protect the portfolio from periodic bouts of systemic fears and rebalancing is by following a bottom-up investment process that attempts to minimize downside risk while capturing the return potential of high-yield issuers.

 

 

 

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  The BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Index (formerly known as BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Index) is a market-capitalization-weighted index of domestic and Yankee high-yield bonds. The index tracks the performance of the high-yield securities traded in the United States bond market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3  This chart does not reflect any brokerage commissions charged on the purchase and sale of the Fund’s common stock. Dividends and distributions paid by the Fund are included in the Fund’s average annual total returns but have the effect of reducing the Fund’s NAV.

 

4 The ten largest holdings, excluding cash and cash equivalents, are calculated based on the value of the investments divided by total net assets of the Fund. Holdings are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

5  The credit quality distribution of portfolio holdings reflected in the chart is based on ratings from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and/ or Fitch Ratings Ltd. Credit quality ratings apply to the underlying holdings of the Fund and not to the Fund itself. The percentages of the Fund’s portfolio with the ratings depicted in the chart are calculated based on the total market value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. 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 rating agencies, that rating was utilized. Standard & Poor’s rates the creditworthiness of bonds, ranging from 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, ranging from 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, ranging from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Credit quality distribution is subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

6 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, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     7   

       

 

 

Security name                Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 0.13%

         

Energy: 0.13%

         
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.13%          

Swift Energy Company †(i)

         27,009       $ 864,288   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 0.00%

         
Chemicals: 0.00%          

LyondellBasell Industries NV Class A

         7         557   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $7,028,060)

            864,845   
         

 

 

 
    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal         

Corporate Bonds and Notes: 113.77%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 21.97%

         
Auto Components: 2.03%          

Allison Transmission Incorporated 144A

    5.00     10-1-2024       $ 7,375,000         7,522,500   

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (i)

    7.63        3-15-2027         4,000,000         4,370,000   

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (i)

    8.00        12-15-2019         400,000         452,000   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

    7.00        5-15-2022         700,000         735,875   
            13,080,375   
         

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.27%          

LKQ Corporation

    4.75        5-15-2023         1,675,000         1,718,969   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 1.64%          

Service Corporation International

    7.50        4-1-2027         7,078,000         8,281,260   

Service Corporation International

    7.63        10-1-2018         1,100,000         1,212,750   

Service Corporation International

    8.00        11-15-2021         885,000         1,048,725   
            10,542,735   
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 3.82%          

Brinker International Incorporated 144A

    5.00        10-1-2024         1,525,000         1,540,250   

CCM Merger Incorporated 144A

    9.13        5-1-2019         7,876,000         8,230,420   

Greektown Holdings LLC 144A

    8.88        3-15-2019             12,975,000         13,721,063   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

    5.63        10-15-2021         320,000         329,600   

Speedway Motorsports Incorporated

    5.13        2-1-2023         825,000         830,998   
            24,652,331   
         

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.43%          

American Greetings Corporation

    7.38        12-1-2021         1,100,000         1,127,500   

Tempur Sealy International Incorporated

    5.50        6-15-2026         1,425,000         1,467,750   

Tempur Sealy International Incorporated

    5.63        10-15-2023         175,000         181,125   
            2,776,375   
         

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.20%          

Vista Outdoor Incorporated

    5.88        10-1-2023         1,250,000         1,312,625   
         

 

 

 

 

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


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8   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Media: 10.94%          

Altice US Finance I Corporation 144A

    5.38     7-15-2023       $ 2,270,000       $ 2,332,425   

Altice US Finance I Corporation 144A

    5.50        5-15-2026         2,200,000         2,244,000   

AMC Entertainment Holdings Incorporated 144A%%

    5.88        11-15-2026         1,525,000         1,536,438   

Cablevision Systems Corporation

    8.63        9-15-2017         2,975,000         3,108,875   

CBS Radio Incorporated 144A

    7.25        11-1-2024         80,000         83,100   

CCO Holdings LLC

    5.13        2-15-2023         1,425,000         1,474,875   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.13        5-1-2023         2,965,000         3,068,775   

CCO Holdings LLC

    5.25        9-30-2022         2,048,000         2,132,480   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.38        5-1-2025         7,195,000         7,392,863   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.50        5-1-2026         325,000         333,938   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.75        2-15-2026         5,675,000         5,912,641   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.88        4-1-2024         2,350,000         2,479,250   

CCO Holdings LLC

    6.63        1-31-2022         1,228,000         1,280,190   

Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC 144A

    7.75        7-15-2025         3,625,000         3,878,750   

Cinemark USA Incorporated

    4.88        6-1-2023         600,000         600,750   

CSC Holdings LLC

    7.88        2-15-2018         1,525,000         1,627,938   

CSC Holdings LLC

    8.63        2-15-2019         635,000         708,419   

EMI Music Publishing 144A

    7.63        6-15-2024         950,000         1,026,000   

Gray Television Incorporated 144A

    5.13        10-15-2024         2,400,000         2,328,000   

Gray Television Incorporated 144A

    5.88        7-15-2026             6,350,000         6,318,250   

Lamar Media Corporation

    5.88        2-1-2022         1,785,000         1,847,475   

LIN Television Corporation

    6.38        1-15-2021         500,000         515,625   

Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated 144A

    4.88        11-1-2024         2,300,000         2,294,250   

Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated 144A

    7.00        9-1-2020         1,190,000         1,235,458   

National CineMedia LLC 144A

    5.75        8-15-2026         1,600,000         1,648,000   

National CineMedia LLC

    6.00        4-15-2022         3,400,000         3,536,000   

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Incorporated 144A

    5.63        8-1-2024         1,375,000         1,364,688   

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Incorporated 144A

    6.13        2-15-2022         2,815,000         2,885,375   

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Incorporated

    6.88        11-15-2020         3,510,000         3,637,238   

Outfront Media Capital Corporation

    5.25        2-15-2022         320,000         331,200   

Outfront Media Capital Corporation

    5.63        2-15-2024         35,000         36,400   

Outfront Media Capital Corporation

    5.88        3-15-2025         1,275,000         1,332,375   
            70,532,041   
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 2.42%          

Asbury Automotive Group Incorporated

    6.00        12-15-2024         3,275,000         3,373,250   

Century Intermediate Holding Company (PIK at 10.50%) 144A¥

    9.75        2-15-2019         465,000         471,394   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.38        12-1-2024         5,273,000         5,299,365   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.75        10-1-2022         2,100,000         2,176,125   

Sonic Automotive Incorporated

    5.00        5-15-2023         2,050,000         2,003,875   

Sonic Automotive Incorporated

    7.00        7-15-2022         2,182,000         2,293,828   
            15,617,837   
         

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 0.22%          

Wolverine World Wide Company 144A

    5.00        9-1-2026         1,400,000         1,400,000   
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.91%

         
Beverages: 0.34%          

Cott Beverages Incorporated

    5.38        7-1-2022         850,000         862,750   

Cott Beverages Incorporated

    6.75        1-1-2020         1,295,000         1,345,181   
            2,207,931   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     9   

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Food Products: 1.50%          

B&G Foods Incorporated

    4.63     6-1-2021       $ 670,000       $ 688,425   

Darling Ingredients Incorporated

    5.38        1-15-2022         295,000         307,538   

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 144A

    5.75        3-15-2025         1,860,000         1,901,850   

Pinnacle Foods Incorporated 144A

    5.63        5-1-2024         700,000         702,800   

Pinnacle Foods Incorporated

    5.88        1-15-2024         100,000         107,188   

Post Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.00        8-15-2026             1,350,000         1,309,500   

Prestige Brands Incorporated 144A

    6.38        3-1-2024         210,000         223,125   

Simmons Foods Incorporated 144A

    7.88        10-1-2021         3,625,000         3,652,188   

TreeHouse Foods Incorporated 144A

    6.00        2-15-2024         100,000         107,400   

US Foods Incorporated 144A

    5.88        6-15-2024         670,000         701,825   
            9,701,839   
         

 

 

 
Household Products: 0.07%          

Central Garden & Pet Company

    6.13        11-15-2023         405,000         434,363   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 28.79%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 9.00%          

Bristow Group Incorporated

    6.25        10-15-2022         8,450,000         6,738,875   

Cleaver Brooks Incorporated 144A

    8.75        12-15-2019         810,000         846,450   

Era Group Incorporated

    7.75        12-15-2022         3,895,000         3,466,550   

Hilcorp Energy Company 144A

    5.00        12-1-2024         2,775,000         2,705,625   

Hilcorp Energy Company 144A

    5.75        10-1-2025         2,290,000         2,295,725   

Hilcorp Energy Company 144A

    7.63        4-15-2021         700,000         717,500   

Holly Energy Partners LP 144A

    6.00        8-1-2024         1,100,000         1,144,000   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    1.50        9-1-2019         3,700,000         2,305,563   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    5.00        3-1-2021         6,700,000         3,986,500   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    5.88        4-1-2020         4,562,000         2,942,490   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    7.12        12-15-2017         3,990,000         4,158,330   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    7.77        12-15-2037         15,625,000         17,109,375   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    9.63        6-1-2019         715,000         750,750   

PHI Incorporated

    5.25        3-15-2019         9,225,000         8,879,063   
            58,046,796   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 19.79%          

Archrock Partners LP

    6.00        10-1-2022         525,000         492,188   

Continental Resources Incorporated

    5.00        9-15-2022         1,450,000         1,428,250   

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP

    6.13        3-1-2022         350,000         357,875   

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP

    6.25        4-1-2023         2,625,000         2,657,813   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    4.63        7-15-2023         7,750,000         5,638,125   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    5.50        5-1-2022         75,000         59,250   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    6.38        8-15-2021         3,380,000         2,796,950   

El Paso Pipeline Partners Operating LLC

    5.00        10-1-2021         2,850,000         3,114,380   

Enable Midstream Partner LP

    2.40        5-15-2019         5,475,000         5,401,049   

Enable Midstream Partner LP

    3.90        5-15-2024         3,150,000         2,965,079   

Enable Midstream Partner LP

    5.00        5-15-2044         600,000         502,816   

Enable Oklahoma Intrastate Transmission LLC 144A

    6.25        3-15-2020         1,100,000         1,187,710   

EnLink Midstream LLC

    4.15        6-1-2025         5,000,000         4,873,775   

EnLink Midstream LLC

    4.40        4-1-2024         5,400,000         5,374,021   

Exterran Partners LP

    6.00        4-1-2021         4,300,000         4,074,250   

Gulfport Energy Corporation 144A

    6.00        10-15-2024         475,000         483,313   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)          

Gulfport Energy Corporation

    6.63     5-1-2023       $ 3,825,000       $ 4,016,250   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated

    6.50        9-15-2020         1,155,000         1,304,976   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated (i)

    7.42        2-15-2037         1,820,000         2,005,638   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated

    7.80        8-1-2031         3,050,000         3,782,299   

Murphy Oil Corporation

    4.70        12-1-2022         1,400,000         1,328,445   

Murphy Oil Corporation

    6.88        8-15-2024         1,425,000         1,503,694   

Overseas Shipholding Group Incorporated

    8.13        3-30-2018         3,975,000         4,173,750   

PDC Energy Incorporated 144A

    6.13        9-15-2024         950,000         988,000   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    5.63        4-15-2020         7,320,000         7,676,850   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    6.88        4-15-2040         6,350,000         6,619,875   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    7.50        7-15-2038         4,500,000         4,837,500   

Rose Rock Midstream LP

    5.63        7-15-2022         2,450,000         2,339,750   

Rose Rock Midstream LP

    5.63        11-15-2023         1,375,000         1,320,000   

Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation (i)(s)

    7.25        6-15-2019         850,000         850   

Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation (i)(s)

    7.50        9-15-2020         5,733,000         5,733   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.63        2-1-2021         2,275,000         2,400,125   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.63        4-15-2023         2,820,000         2,996,250   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.63        3-1-2025         740,000         782,550   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.75        5-15-2024         525,000         555,188   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC 144A

    5.88        6-30-2026         1,225,000         1,320,183   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    6.25        3-15-2022         3,415,000         3,739,425   

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    6.50        11-1-2020         6,295,000         6,520,865   

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    7.50        11-30-2016         675,000         677,768   

SemGroup Corporation

    7.50        6-15-2021         5,775,000         5,904,938   

Southern Star Central Corporation 144A

    5.13        7-15-2022         80,000         81,400   

Southwestern Energy Company

    4.10        3-15-2022         815,000         729,425   

Swift Energy Company (a)(i)(s)

    7.13        6-1-2017         9,300,000         0   

Swift Energy Company (a)(i)(s)

    8.88        1-15-2020         1,750,000         0   

Tallgrass Energy Partners LP 144A

    5.50        9-15-2024         7,225,000         7,188,875   

Tesoro Logistics LP

    6.13        10-15-2021         350,000         366,188   

Tesoro Logistics LP

    6.38        5-1-2024         725,000         781,188   

Ultra Petroleum Corporation 144A(s)

    5.75        12-15-2018         650,000         559,000   

Ultra Petroleum Corporation 144A(s)

    6.13        10-1-2024             10,500,000         8,925,000   

Western Gas Partners LP

    4.00        7-1-2022         300,000         308,476   

Western Gas Partners LP

    5.38        6-1-2021         375,000         408,954   
            127,556,252   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 9.07%

         
Banks: 1.02%          

CIT Group Incorporated

    5.25        3-15-2018         160,000         165,706   

CIT Group Incorporated 144A

    5.50        2-15-2019         2,225,000         2,344,594   

CIT Group Incorporated 144A

    6.63        4-1-2018         3,880,000         4,074,000   
            6,584,300   
         

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 1.19%          

Jefferies Finance LLC 144A

    6.88        4-15-2022         6,910,000         6,529,950   

Neuberger Berman Group LLC 144A

    5.88        3-15-2022         1,125,000         1,171,406   
            7,701,356   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     11   

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Consumer Finance: 4.24%          

Ally Financial Incorporated

    7.50     9-15-2020       $ 300,000       $ 338,250   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    8.00        12-31-2018         1,300,000         1,426,750   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    8.00        3-15-2020         3,016,000         3,415,620   

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    8.00        12-15-2016         200,000         201,550   

Navient Corporation

    8.00        3-25-2020         2,725,000         2,953,219   

SLM Corporation

    8.45        6-15-2018         3,110,000         3,365,393   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.00        6-1-2020         2,850,000         2,874,938   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.50        9-15-2017         550,000         568,563   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.90        12-15-2017         6,950,000         7,280,125   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    7.75        10-1-2021         2,500,000         2,594,750   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    8.25        12-15-2020         300,000         324,810   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    8.25        10-1-2023         1,892,000         1,958,220   
            27,302,188   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.01%          

Infinity Acquisition LLC 144A(i)

    7.25        8-1-2022         2,815,000         2,434,975   

NewStar Financial Incorporated

    7.25        5-1-2020         4,075,000         4,075,000   
            6,509,975   
         

 

 

 
Insurance: 1.61%          

Hub Holdings LLC (PIK at 8.88%) 144A¥

    8.13        7-15-2019         3,405,000         3,319,875   

Hub International Limited 144A

    7.88        10-1-2021         6,900,000         7,072,500   
            10,392,375   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 11.42%

         
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 2.35%          

Crimson Merger Sub Incorporated 144A

    6.63        5-15-2022         6,225,000         5,353,500   

Hill-Rom Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.75        9-1-2023         325,000         341,250   

Hologic Incorporated 144A

    5.25        7-15-2022         1,500,000         1,586,400   

Kinetics Concepts Incorporated 144A

    7.88        2-15-2021         3,750,000         4,073,925   

Surgery Center Holdings Company 144A

    8.88        4-15-2021         3,550,000         3,780,750   
            15,135,825   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 7.18%          

Acadia Healthcare Company Incorporated

    6.50        3-1-2024         310,000         318,138   

Centene Corporation

    5.75        6-1-2017         1,925,000         1,958,688   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.00        5-1-2025         2,215,000         2,137,475   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2022         2,925,000         3,001,781   

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.63        7-31-2019         1,000,000         1,082,500   

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated

    6.88        7-15-2017         700,000         721,000   

HCA Incorporated

    5.88        3-15-2022         750,000         825,000   

HCA Incorporated

    6.50        2-15-2020         6,525,000         7,222,359   

HealthSouth Corporation

    5.75        9-15-2025             1,725,000         1,785,375   

Mednax Incorporated 144A

    5.25        12-1-2023         775,000         809,875   

Molina Healthcare Incorporated

    5.38        11-15-2022         775,000         806,481   

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC 144A

    7.13        6-1-2024         2,460,000         2,631,954   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    5.25        8-1-2026         2,050,000         2,091,000   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    6.38        2-15-2022         2,025,000         2,100,938   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    6.38        3-1-2024         170,000         183,175   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Health Care Providers & Services (continued)          

Select Medical Corporation

    6.38     6-1-2021       $ 6,730,000       $ 6,685,838   

Team Health Incorporated 144A

    7.25        12-15-2023         3,575,000         4,039,750   

Tenet Healthcare Corporation

    6.00        10-1-2020         2,600,000         2,756,000   

Vizient Incorporated 144A

    10.38        3-1-2024         4,635,000         5,168,025   
            46,325,352   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 1.54%          

Change Healthcare Holdings Incorporated 144A

    6.00        2-15-2021         1,691,000         1,775,550   

Change Healthcare Holdings Incorporated

    11.00        12-31-2019         7,415,000         7,785,750   

QuintilesIMS Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.00        10-15-2026         375,000         387,188   
            9,948,488   
         

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.35%          

Endo Finance LLC 144A

    5.38        1-15-2023         1,275,000         1,083,750   

Endo Finance LLC 144A

    5.75        1-15-2022         1,180,000         1,062,000   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    7.25        7-15-2022         100,000         85,000   
            2,230,750   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 5.68%

         
Airlines: 0.40%          

Aviation Capital Group Corporation 144A

    6.75        4-6-2021         2,190,000         2,598,347   
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.93%          

Advanced Disposal Services Incorporated 144A%%

    5.63        11-15-2024         425,000         427,125   

Aramark Services Incorporated

    5.13        1-15-2024         200,000         209,500   

Aramark Services Incorporated 144A

    5.13        1-15-2024         1,000,000         1,047,500   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    5.88        3-1-2024         5,393,000         5,258,175   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    6.38        10-1-2022         3,205,000         3,261,088   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    7.25        12-1-2020             2,150,000         2,206,438   
            12,409,826   
         

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 0.76%          

AECOM

    5.75        10-15-2022         355,000         372,601   

AECOM

    5.88        10-15-2024         4,280,000         4,520,750   
            4,893,351   
         

 

 

 
Professional Services: 0.07%          

Ascent Capital Group Incorporated

    4.00        7-15-2020         600,000         434,250   
         

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 2.52%          

Ashtead Capital Incorporated 144A

    6.50        7-15-2022         8,075,000         8,468,656   

H&E Equipment Services Incorporated

    7.00        9-1-2022         6,370,000         6,701,240   

International Lease Finance Corporation 144A

    7.13        9-1-2018         1,015,000         1,105,081   
            16,274,977   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 9.63%

         
Communications Equipment: 0.33%          

CommScope Technologies Finance LLC 144A

    6.00        6-15-2025         2,000,000         2,100,000   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     13   

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 2.75%          

Jabil Circuit Incorporated

    8.25     3-15-2018       $ 13,532,000       $ 14,614,560   

Zebra Technologies Corporation

    7.25        10-15-2022         2,910,000         3,135,525   
            17,750,085   
         

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 0.43%          

Infor Software Parent LLC

    6.50        5-15-2022         875,000         905,625   

Infor Software Parent LLC (PIK at 7.88%) 144A¥

    7.13        5-1-2021         1,260,000         1,278,507   

Zayo Group LLC

    6.00        4-1-2023         250,000         262,813   

Zayo Group LLC

    6.38        5-15-2025         300,000         315,375   
            2,762,320   
         

 

 

 
IT Services: 0.41%          

First Data Corporation 144A

    5.00        1-15-2024         690,000         698,625   

First Data Corporation 144A

    5.75        1-15-2024         520,000         529,100   

First Data Corporation 144A

    6.75        11-1-2020         1,391,000         1,439,685   
            2,667,410   
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 1.16%          

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.25        8-1-2023         600,000         588,000   

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.25        1-15-2024         1,325,000         1,291,875   

Micron Technology Incorporated

    5.50        2-1-2025         2,850,000         2,787,756   

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.63        1-15-2026         1,379,000         1,337,630   

Micron Technology Incorporated

    5.88        2-15-2022         1,410,000         1,456,389   
            7,461,650   
         

 

 

 
Software: 0.59%          

Activision Blizzard Incorporated 144A

    6.13        9-15-2023         285,000         313,856   

Boxer Parent Company Incorporated (PIK at 9.75%) 144A¥

    9.00        10-15-2019         2,975,000         2,722,125   

SS&C Technologies Incorporated

    5.88        7-15-2023         700,000         733,250   
            3,769,231   
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 3.96%          

Diamond 1 Finance Corporation 144A

    5.88        6-15-2021         4,650,000         4,876,557   

Diamond 1 Finance Corporation 144A

    7.13        6-15-2024         8,825,000         9,669,041   

NCR Corporation

    5.88        12-15-2021         380,000         397,931   

NCR Corporation

    6.38        12-15-2023             10,038,000         10,615,185   
            25,558,714   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 2.59%

         
Chemicals: 0.18%          

Celanese US Holdings LLC

    5.88        6-15-2021         440,000         501,134   

Valvoline Incorporated 144A

    5.50        7-15-2024         625,000         659,375   
            1,160,509   
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 2.36%          

Ball Corporation

    5.25        7-1-2025         305,000         324,825   

Berry Plastics Corporation

    5.13        7-15-2023         700,000         712,250   

Berry Plastics Corporation

    6.00        10-15-2022         350,000         370,780   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Containers & Packaging (continued)          

Crown Cork & Seal Company Incorporated

    7.38     12-15-2026       $ 60,000       $ 67,350   

Crown Cork & Seal Company Incorporated (i)

    7.50        12-15-2096         1,225,000         1,251,031   

Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated 144A

    5.88        8-15-2023         1,300,000         1,385,313   

Owens-Illinois Incorporated 144A

    5.38        1-15-2025         925,000         952,750   

Owens-Illinois Incorporated 144A

    6.38        8-15-2025         5,380,000         5,904,550   

Owens-Illinois Incorporated

    7.80        5-15-2018         837,000         903,960   

Sealed Air Corporation 144A

    5.13        12-1-2024         1,775,000         1,881,500   

Silgan Holdings Incorporated

    5.00        4-1-2020         1,400,000         1,428,000   
            15,182,309   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.05%          

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

    11.50        2-1-2020         5,985,000         0   

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation

    5.88        5-15-2024         325,000         343,281   
            343,281   
         

 

 

 

Real Estate: 8.24%

         
Equity REITs: 7.17%          

Crown Castle International Corporation

    4.88        4-15-2022         760,000         838,508   

Crown Castle International Corporation

    5.25        1-15-2023         4,385,000         4,899,843   

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated LP

    5.63        6-15-2023         4,875,000         5,130,938   

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated LP

    5.88        9-15-2021         7,670,000         8,034,325   

Equinix Incorporated

    5.88        1-15-2026         700,000         743,532   

ESH Hospitality Incorporated 144A

    5.25        5-1-2025         6,425,000         6,360,750   

Iron Mountain Incorporated 144A

    4.38        6-1-2021         2,500,000         2,581,250   

Iron Mountain Incorporated 144A

    5.38        6-1-2026         2,175,000         2,196,750   

Iron Mountain Incorporated 144A

    6.00        10-1-2020         600,000         635,250   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    6.00        8-15-2023         5,185,000         5,509,063   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    5.38        6-1-2023         2,100,000         2,142,000   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    5.50        2-1-2021         1,960,000         2,043,300   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.13        4-1-2023         1,305,000         1,136,981   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.88        1-15-2022         2,595,000         2,445,788   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.88        10-15-2024         1,450,000         1,257,875   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    6.00        4-15-2026         325,000         280,313   
            46,236,466   
         

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 1.07%          

Onex Corporation 144A

    7.75        1-15-2021             6,800,000         6,868,000   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 10.64%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 3.86%          

Citizens Communications Company

    7.88        1-15-2027         830,000         728,325   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.13        10-1-2018         1,980,000         2,153,250   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.25        4-15-2017         2,380,000         2,451,400   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.50        4-15-2020         1,000,000         1,067,500   

GCI Incorporated

    6.75        6-1-2021         4,750,000         4,904,375   

GCI Incorporated

    6.88        4-15-2025         2,450,000         2,486,750   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.13        5-1-2023         1,595,000         1,610,950   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated 144A

    5.25        3-15-2026         1,050,000         1,063,125   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.38        8-15-2022         2,545,000         2,621,350   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     15   

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Diversified Telecommunication Services (continued)          

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.38     1-15-2024       $ 1,125,000       $ 1,144,688   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.38        5-1-2025         1,595,000         1,618,925   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.63        2-1-2023         1,275,000         1,310,063   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    6.13        1-15-2021         1,690,000         1,747,038   
            24,907,739   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 6.78%          

MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated

    6.63        11-15-2020         5,910,000         6,087,300   

SBA Communications Corporation

    4.88        7-15-2022         1,485,000         1,507,424   

SBA Communications Corporation 144A

    4.88        9-1-2024         1,025,000         1,026,281   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    6.88        11-15-2028             10,500,000         9,623,964   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    8.75        3-15-2032         2,580,000         2,643,695   

Sprint Communications Incorporated

    7.00        8-15-2020         380,000         394,250   

Syniverse Holdings Incorporated

    9.13        1-15-2019         7,585,000         6,068,000   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.00        3-1-2023         500,000         526,250   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.00        4-15-2024         275,000         292,531   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.13        1-15-2022         140,000         148,050   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.25        4-1-2021         290,000         301,963   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.38        3-1-2025         2,800,000         3,001,264   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.46        4-28-2019         265,000         269,306   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.50        1-15-2024         140,000         150,150   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.50        1-15-2026         805,000         887,513   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.54        4-28-2020         275,000         283,337   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.63        4-28-2021         1,525,000         1,592,672   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.63        4-1-2023         1,050,000         1,115,814   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.73        4-28-2022         5,645,000         5,913,138   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.84        4-28-2023         1,765,000         1,885,020   
            43,717,922   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 3.83%

         
Electric Utilities: 0.63%          

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Company LLC (s)

    10.00        12-1-2020         150,000         16,500   

Otter Tail Corporation (i)

    9.00        12-15-2016         3,985,000         4,015,545   
            4,032,045   
         

 

 

 
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 3.20%          

Calpine Corporation 144A

    5.88        1-15-2024         455,000         478,888   

Calpine Corporation 144A

    6.00        1-15-2022         865,000         904,193   

Calpine Corporation 144A

    7.88        1-15-2023         872,000         914,510   

NSG Holdings LLC 144A

    7.75        12-15-2025         5,693,058         6,120,038   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC 144A

    6.38        2-1-2023         9,065,000         9,062,281   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC 144A

    6.63        6-15-2025         3,050,000         3,149,125   
            20,629,035   
         

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $705,790,100)

            733,468,545   
         

 

 

 

Loans: 4.61%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 1.95%

         
Auto Components: 0.11%          

Federal-Mogul Corporation ±

    4.00        4-15-2018         723,151         713,468   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.55%          

CCM Merger Incorporated ±

    4.50     8-8-2021       $ 614,273       $ 616,196   

Four Seasons Holdings Incorporated ±

    6.25        12-27-2020         2,925,000         2,945,124   
            3,561,320   
         

 

 

 
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail: 1.29%          

Ancestry.com Incorporated ±

    5.25        10-19-2023         4,950,000         4,957,722   

Ancestry.com Incorporated ±

    9.25        10-11-2024         3,300,000         3,341,250   
            8,298,972   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 0.25%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.13%          

Hummel Station LLC ±

    7.00        10-27-2022         893,917         852,198   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.12%          

Chesapeake Energy Corporation ±

    8.50        8-23-2021         725,000         774,394   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 0.15%

         
Diversified Financial Services: 0.15%          

American Beacon Advisors Incorporated ±

    9.75        3-3-2023         1,010,000         979,700   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 0.04%

         
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.04%          

Press Ganey Holdings Incorporated ±<

    0.00        10-21-2024         250,000         253,125   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 0.43%

         
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.43%          

Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC ±

    7.50        7-25-2022             2,025,000         1,909,838   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    4.25        5-14-2022         571,425         570,711   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    4.25        5-14-2022         100,073         99,948   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    8.00        5-12-2023         29,808         29,361   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±(i)

    8.00        5-14-2023         170,192         167,639   
            2,777,497   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.10%

         
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.10%          

Peak 10 Incorporated ±(i)

    8.25        6-17-2022         700,239         648,891   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 0.15%

         
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.15%          

LTS Buyer LLC ±(i)

    8.00        4-12-2021         935,369         935,958   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 1.54%

         
Electric Utilities: 1.54%          

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Company LLC (s)

    0.00        10-10-2017         34,355,889         9,946,030   
         

 

 

 

Total Loans (Cost $53,148,483)

            29,741,553   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     17   

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 9.52%

         

Energy: 2.56%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.53%          

Alcoa Nederland Holding Company BV 144A

    6.75     9-30-2024       $ 275,000       $ 284,625   

Alcoa Nederland Holding Company BV 144A

    7.00        9-30-2026         275,000         282,563   

Ensco plc

    5.75        10-1-2044         4,325,000         2,886,938   
            3,454,126   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 2.03%          

Baytex Energy Corporation 144A

    5.13        6-1-2021         3,525,000         2,969,813   

Baytex Energy Corporation 144A

    5.63        6-1-2024         1,700,000         1,368,500   

Griffin Coal Mining Company Limited 144A(a)(i)(s)

    9.50        12-1-2016         2,119,383         8,478   

Griffin Coal Mining Company Limited (a)(i)(s)

    9.50        12-1-2016         290,088         1,160   

Teekay Corporation

    8.50        1-15-2020         9,583,000         8,720,530   
            13,068,481   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 0.11%

         
Banks: 0.11%          

Nielsen Holding and Finance BV 144A

    5.50        10-1-2021         700,000         729,750   

Preferred Term Securities XII Limited (a)(i)(s)

    0.00        12-24-2033         1,540,000         0   
            729,750   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 2.71%

         
Pharmaceuticals: 2.71%          

Mallinckrodt plc 144A

    5.50        4-15-2025         970,000         896,038   

Mallinckrodt plc 144A

    5.63        10-15-2023         445,000         418,300   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    5.63        12-1-2021         1,178,000         954,180   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    5.88        5-15-2023         3,600,000         2,772,000   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    6.13        4-15-2025             10,925,000         8,412,250   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    6.38        10-15-2020         2,375,000         2,066,250   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    6.75        8-15-2021         700,000         595,000   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    7.50        7-15-2021         1,541,000         1,356,080   
            17,470,098   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 1.10%

         
Building Products: 0.06%          

Allegion plc

    5.88        9-15-2023         340,000         366,350   
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.98%          

GFL Environmental Incorporated 144A

    7.88        4-1-2020         5,150,000         5,394,625   

GFL Environmental Incorporated 144A

    9.88        2-1-2021         850,000         930,750   
            6,325,375   
         

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.06%          

Sensata Technologies BV 144A

    5.00        10-1-2025         385,000         394,625   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 0.32%

         
Containers & Packaging: 0.19%          

Ardagh Packaging Finance plc 144A

    7.25        5-15-2024         1,175,000         1,239,625   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

       

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Metals & Mining: 0.13%          

ArcelorMittal SA

    6.13     6-1-2025       $ 450,000       $ 492,750   

Novelis Corporation 144A

    6.25        8-15-2024         325,000         338,000   
            830,750   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 2.72%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 2.49%          

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    5.50        8-1-2023         11,740,000         7,777,750   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    7.25        4-1-2019         4,000,000         3,190,000   

Intelsat Luxembourg SA

    7.75        6-1-2021         2,600,000         845,000   

Intelsat Luxembourg SA

    8.13        6-1-2023             10,050,000         3,316,500   

Virgin Media Finance plc 144A

    5.38        4-15-2021         274,500         283,421   

Virgin Media Finance plc 144A

    6.38        4-15-2023         605,000         617,100   
            16,029,771   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.23%          

Telesat Canada Incorporated 144A

    6.00        5-15-2017         1,475,000         1,476,817   
         

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $77,088,013)

            61,385,768   
         

 

 

 
    Yield            Shares         
Short-Term Investments: 6.42%          
Investment Companies: 6.42%          

Wells Fargo Government Money Market Fund Select Class (l)(u)##

    0.32           41,370,627         41,370,627   
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $41,370,627)

            41,370,627        
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $884,425,283) *     134.45        866,831,338   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (34.45        (222,116,418
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 644,714,920   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

(i) Illiquid security

 

144A The security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

%% The security is issued on a when-issued basis.

 

¥ 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.

 

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

 

(a) The security is fair valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

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

 

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

 

(l) The issuer of the security is an affiliated person of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(u) The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

 

## All or a portion of this security is segregated for when-issued and/or unfunded loans.

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $890,660,632 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 45,303,157   

Gross unrealized losses

     (69,132,451
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses

   $ (23,829,294

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of assets and liabilities—October 31, 2016 (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     19   
           

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities, at value (cost $843,054,656)

  $ 825,460,711   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $41,370,627)

    41,370,627   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $884,425,283)

    866,831,338   

Cash

    3,366,563   

Receivable for investments sold

    4,945,636   

Receivable for interest

    13,480,145   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    35,104   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    888,658,786   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Dividends payable

    4,826,367   

Payable for investments purchased

    8,413,433   

Secured borrowing payable

    230,000,000   

Advisory fee payable

    340,142   

Administration fee payable

    37,323   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    326,601   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    243,943,866   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 644,714,920   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 973,704,126   

Overdistributed net investment income

    (8,385,850

Accumulated net realized losses on investments

    (303,009,411

Net unrealized losses on investments

    (17,593,945
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 644,714,920   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

 

Based on $644,714,920 divided by 70,906,130 shares issued and outstanding (100,000,000 shares authorized)

    $9.09   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Statement of operations—six months ended October 31, 2016 (unaudited)
           

Investment income

 

Interest

  $ 30,799,812   

Income from affiliated securities

    65,285   

Dividends

    12   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    30,865,109   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    2,590,742   

Administration fee

    215,895   

Custody and accounting fees

    12,983   

Professional fees

    44,897   

Shareholder report expenses

    36,404   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    7,904   

Transfer agent fees

    17,266   

Interest expense

    1,379,216   

Other fees and expenses

    5,565   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    4,310,872   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (636,004
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    3,674,868   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    27,190,241   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized losses on investments

    (2,188,892

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    41,871,351   
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    39,682,459   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 66,872,700   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of changes in net assets   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     21   
     Six months ended
October 31, 2016
(unaudited)
      

Year ended

April 30, 2016

 

Operations

      

Net investment income

  $ 27,190,241         $ 54,634,635   

Net realized losses on investments

    (2,188,892        (9,809,272

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    41,871,351           (71,635,372
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    66,872,700           (26,810,009
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from net investment income

    (28,961,064 )         (57,922,129 ) 
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

      

Cost of shares repurchased

    (633,809        0   
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    37,277,827           (84,732,138
 

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    607,437,093           692,169,231   
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 644,714,920         $ 607,437,093   
 

 

 

 

Overdistributed net investment income

  $ (8,385,850      $ (2,367,548
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


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22   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Statement of cash flows—six months ended October 31, 2016 (unaudited)
           

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 66,872,700   

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

 

Purchase of securities

    (209,147,540

Proceeds from the sales of securities

    214,567,207   

Amortization

    (3,140,310

Proceeds from the sales of short-term securities, net

    2,756,294   

Decrease in receivable for investments sold

    4,484,090   

Decrease in receivable for interest

    457,446   

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

    128,683   

Decrease in payable for investments purchased

    (4,533,154

Increase in advisory fee payable

    28,862   

Increase in administration fee payable

    2,405   

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

    12,267   

Litigation payments received

    18,029   

Net realized gains on investments

    2,188,892   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (41,871,351
 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    32,824,520   
 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

Cost of shares repurchased

    (633,809

Cash distributions paid

    (29,123,556
 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

    (29,757,365
 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

    3,067,155   
 

 

 

 

Cash:

 

Beginning of period

  $ 299,408   
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 3,366,563   
 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash disclosure

 

Cash paid for interest

  $ 1,358,077   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


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Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     23   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

   

Six months ended

October 31, 2016

(unaudited)

    Year ended April 30  
       2016     2015     2014     2013     2012  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $8.56        $9.75        $10.04        $10.18        $9.67        $10.11   

Net investment income

    0.38 1      0.77 1      0.77 1      0.82 1      0.88 1      0.95 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.56        (1.14     (0.24     (0.14     0.54        (0.37
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.94        (0.37     0.53        0.68        1.42        0.58   

Distributions to shareholders from

           

Net investment income

    (0.41     (0.82     (0.82     (0.82     (0.91     (1.02

Anti-dilutive effect of shares repurchased

    0.00 2      0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.09        $8.56        $9.75        $10.04        $10.18        $9.67   

Market value, end of period

    $8.17        $7.76        $8.93        $9.52        $10.23        $10.29   

Total return based on market value3

    10.67     (3.47 )%      2.59     1.60     8.90     10.03

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

           

Gross expenses4

    1.36     1.30     1.23     1.27     1.29     1.35

Net expenses4

    1.16     1.10     0.96     1.01     1.05     1.03

Net investment income4

    8.59     8.76     7.85     8.35     8.89     9.89

Supplemental data

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    22     25     33     31     27     25

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $644,715        $607,437        $692,169        $712,781        $722,555        $683,807   

Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000s omitted)

    $230,000        $230,000        $230,000        $230,000        $230,000        $230,000   

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

    $3,803        $3,641        $4,009        $4,099        $4,142        $3,973   

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average 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 sale on the last day of the period reported. 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. Total return does not reflect brokerage commissions or sales charges.

 

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

 

Six months ended October 31, 2016 (unaudited)

    0.44

Year ended April 30, 2016

    0.37

Year ended April 30, 2015

    0.10

Year ended April 30, 2014

    0.07

Year ended April 30, 2013

    0.08

Year ended April 30, 2012

    0.08

 

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


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

1. ORGANIZATION

The Wells Fargo 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. As an investment company, the Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies.

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), although the Fund may deviate from this calculation time under unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Debt securities are valued at the evaluated bid price provided by an independent pricing service or, if a reliable price is not available, the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer.

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 principal exchange or market that day, the prior day’s price will be deemed “stale” and a fair value price 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.

Loans

The Fund may invest in direct debt instruments which are interests in amounts owed to lenders by corporate or other borrowers. The loans pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. Investments in loans may be in the form of participations in loans or assignments of all or a portion of loans from third


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

parties. When the Fund purchases participations, it generally has no rights to enforce compliance with terms of the loan agreement with the borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. When the Fund purchases assignments from lenders, it acquires direct rights against the borrower on the loan and may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement. Loans may include fully funded term loans or unfunded loan commitments, which are contractual obligations for future funding.

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.

Capital loss carryforwards that do not expire are required to be utilized prior to capital loss carryforwards that expire. As of April 30, 2016, capital loss carryforwards available to offset future net realized capital gains were as follows through the indicated expiration dates:

 

          No expiration
2017    2018    Short-term
$130,598,584    $155,329,141    $4,979,470

As of April 30, 2016, the Fund had current year deferred post-October capital losses consisting of $612,706 in short-term losses and $7,312,748 in long-term losses which will be recognized on the first day of the following fiscal year.

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 follows:

 

  Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities

 

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

 

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


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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of October 31, 2016:

 

     Quoted prices
(Level 1)
     Other significant
observable inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Energy

   $ 864,288       $ 0       $ 0       $ 864,288   

Materials

     557         0         0         557   

Corporate bonds and notes

     0         733,468,545         0         733,468,545   

Loans

     0         26,705,111         3,036,442         29,741,553   

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0         61,376,130         9,638         61,385,768   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     41,370,627         0         0         41,370,627   

Total assets

   $ 42,235,472       $ 821,549,786       $ 3,046,080       $ 866,831,338   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At October 31, 2016, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1. The Fund had no material transfers between Level 2 and Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

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 March 31, 2017 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 previously utilized Auction Market Preferred Shares for leverage but secured debt financing to fully redeem those shares in 2010. Funds Management contractually waived its advisory fee in the amount of $636,004 for the six months ended October 31, 2016.

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.

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, 2016 and year ended April 30, 2016, the Fund did not issue any shares.

On December 17, 2015, the Fund announced an open-market share repurchase program (the “Buyback Program”). Under the Buyback Program, the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares within one year of December 17, 2015. The Fund’s Board of Trustees has delegated to Funds Management full discretion to administer the Buyback Program including the determination of the amount and timing of repurchases in accordance with the best interests of the Fund and subject to applicable legal limitations. During the six months ended October 31, 2016, the Fund purchased 76,871 of its shares on the open market at a total cost of $633,809 (weighted average price per share of $8.25). The weighted average discount of these repurchased shares was 10.59%.


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

6. BORROWINGS

As of October 31, 2016, the Fund has borrowed $230 million through a revolving credit facility administered by a major financial institution (the “Facility”). The Facility has a commitment amount of $230 million with no specific contract expiration date but the Facility can be terminated upon 180 days’ notice. The Fund is charged interest at London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 0.70% and a commitment fee of 0.30% of the average daily unutilized amount of the commitment which may be waived if the amount drawn on the Facility is over 75% of the committed amount.

During the six months ended October 31, 2016, the Fund had average borrowings outstanding of $230,000,000 at an average rate of 1.20% and paid interest in the amount of $1,379,216, which represents 0.44% of its average daily net assets.

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, 2016 were $194,667,230 and $176,979,059, respectively.

The Fund may purchase or sell investment securities to other Wells Fargo funds under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The procedures have been designed to ensure that these interfund transactions, which generally do not incur broker commissions, are effected at current market prices. Interfund trades are included within the respective purchases and sales amounts shown.

As of October 31, 2016, the Fund had unfunded term loan commitments of $247,500.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights 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. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), which is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. Management is currently assessing the potential impact on the financial statements that may result from adopting this ASU. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those financial years, with early adoption permitted.

In November 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash (a Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts general described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Amounts described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with the cash and cash equivalents in reconciling the beginning and end of period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Management is currently assessing the potential impact on the financial statements that may result from adopting this ASU. This ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

10. REGULATORY CHANGES

In October 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted new rules and forms and amended existing rules and forms (together, “final rules”) intended to modernize and enhance the reporting and disclosure of information by registered investment companies and to enhance liquidity risk management by open-end mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. The final rules will enhance the quality of information available to investors and will allow the SEC to more effectively collect and use data reported by funds. In part, the final rules amend Regulation S-X and require standardized, enhanced disclosure about derivatives in the Fund’s financial statements, as well as other amendments. The compliance date for the amendments to Regulation S-X is August 1, 2017 while the compliance date for the new form types is June 1, 2018 and the compliance date for the liquidity risk management program requirements is December 1, 2018. Management is currently assessing the potential impact of these enhancements and their impact on the financial statement disclosures and reporting requirements.


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

11. SUBSEQUENT DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund declared the following distributions to common shareholders:

 

Declaration date    Record date    Payable date    Per share amount
October 28, 2016    November 14, 2016    December 1, 2016    $0.068
November 16, 2016    December 12, 2016    January 3, 2017    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.

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On November 23, 2016, the Fund announced an extension of its Buyback Program. Under the extended Buyback Program, the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares during the period beginning December 17, 2016 and ending December 31, 2017.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     29   

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, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wellsfargofunds.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 on the Fund’s website at wellsfargofunds.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

On August 8, 2016, 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      $ 504,010,681   
Net assets voted “Withhold”        $ 18,872,584   
Net assets voted “For”   Timothy J. Penny      $ 504,536,569   
Net assets voted “Withhold”        $ 18,346,696   
Net assets voted “For”   Michael S. Scofield      $ 504,114,652   
Net assets voted “Withhold”          $ 18,768,613   

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are publicly available monthly on the Fund’s website (wellsfargofunds.com), on a one-month 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 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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30   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Other information (unaudited)

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 Officers1 listed below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 139 mutual funds 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”). 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 or longer  

Current other
public company or

investment company
directorships

Class I - Non-Interested Trustees to serve until 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

  Trustee, since 2010   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. 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). Advisory Board Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship (non-profit). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant (inactive status).   CIGNA Corporation; 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, Director of the Corporate Governance Research Initiative 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
Class II - Non-Interested Trustees to serve until 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director and chief investment officer at Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. where he lead a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2015   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is a Board Member of Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization) and an inactive chartered financial analyst.   Asset Allocation Trust


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Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     31   
Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Current other
public company or

investment company
directorships

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
Class III - Non-Interested Trustees to serve until 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
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
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee, since 2010   President and Chief Executive Officer 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
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 complex (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

 

* Peter Gordon is expected to retire on December 31, 2017.

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    

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 and 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. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    

Michael Whitaker2

(Born 1967)

  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2016   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2016. Chief Compliance Officer of Fidelity’s Fixed Income Funds and Asset Allocation Funds from 2008 to 2016, Compliance Officer of FMR Co., Inc. from 2014 to 2016, Fidelity Investments Money Management, Inc. from 2014 to 2016, Fidelity Investments from 2007 to 2016.    

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. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.    

 

 

1 Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 69 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 70 funds in the Fund Complex.

 

2  Michael Whitaker became Chief Compliance Officer effective May 16, 2016.


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32   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) must determine whether to approve the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 24-25, 2016 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved: (i) an investment advisory agreement with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), and (ii) an investment sub-advisory agreement with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The investment advisory agreement with Funds Management and the investment sub-advisory agreement with the Sub-Adviser are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

At the Meeting, the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. Prior to the Meeting, including at an in-person meeting in April 2016, the Trustees conferred extensively among themselves and with representatives of Funds Management about these matters. Also, the Board has adopted a team-based approach, with each team consisting of a sub-set of Trustees, to assist the full Board in the discharge of its duties in reviewing performance and other matters throughout the year. The Independent Trustees were assisted in their evaluation of the Advisory Agreements by independent legal counsel, from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately.

In providing information to the Board, Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser were guided by a detailed set of requests for information submitted to them by independent legal counsel on behalf of the Independent Trustees at the start of the Board’s annual contract renewal process earlier in 2016. In considering and approving the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees considered the information they believed relevant, including but not limited to the information discussed below. The Board considered not only the specific information presented in connection with the Meeting, but also the knowledge gained over time through interaction with Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser about various topics. In this regard, the Board reviewed reports of Funds Management at each of its quarterly meetings, which included, among other things, portfolio reviews and performance reports. In addition, the Board and the teams mentioned above confer with portfolio managers at various times throughout the year. The Board did not identify any particular information or consideration that was all-important or controlling, and each individual Trustee may have attributed different weights to various factors.

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements and determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser is reasonable. The Board considered the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund.

The Board evaluated the ability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance programs and compliance records of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the full range of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and its affiliates.

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended December 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a Universe that was determined by Broadridge Inc. (“Broadridge”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Broadridge to select the funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than or in range of the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than its benchmark, the BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Index, for all periods under review except the one-year period.


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Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     33   

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratio and its various components, including actual management fees, and custodian and other non-management fees. The Board considered this ratio in comparison to the median ratio of funds in an expense group that was determined by Broadridge to be similar to the Fund (the “Group”). Broadridge is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Broadridge to select the funds in the expense Group and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Broadridge reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratio of the Fund was lower than the median net operating expense ratio of the expense Group.

The Board took into account the Fund performance and expense information provided to it among the factors considered in deciding to re-approve the Advisory Agreements.

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate that is payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rate”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s contractual administration fee rate (the “Management Rate”). The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rate that is payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rate of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Group at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rate of the Fund was lower than the average rate for the Fund’s expense Group.

The Board also received and considered information about the portion of the total advisory fee that was retained by Funds Management after payment of the fee to the Sub-Adviser for sub-advisory services. In assessing the reasonableness of this amount, the Board received and evaluated information about the nature and extent of responsibilities retained and risks assumed by Funds Management and not delegated to or assumed by the Sub-Adviser, and about Funds Management’s on-going oversight services. However, given the affiliation between Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser, the Board ascribed limited relevance to the allocation of the advisory fee between them.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the Advisory Agreement Rate and the Sub-Advisory Agreement Rate was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

The Board received and considered information concerning the profitability of Funds Management, as well as the profitability of Wells Fargo as a whole, from providing services to the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board also received and considered information concerning the profitability of the Sub-Adviser from providing services to the fund family as a whole, noting that the Sub-Adviser’s profitability information with respect to providing services to the Fund was subsumed in the Wells Fargo and Funds Management profitability analysis.

Funds Management reported on the methodologies and estimates used in calculating profitability. Among other things, the Board noted that the levels of profitability reported on a fund-by-fund basis varied widely, depending on factors such as the size and type of fund. Based on its review, the Board did not deem the profits reported by Funds Management or Wells Fargo from its services to the Fund to be at a level that would prevent it from approving the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.

Economies of scale

The Board considered the extent to which there may be sharing with the Fund of potential economies of scale in the provision of advisory services to the Fund. The Board noted that, as is typical of closed-end funds, there are no breakpoints in the Management Rate. Although the Fund would not share in any potential economies of scale through contractual breakpoints, the Board noted that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee waiver and expense arrangements constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders. The Board also noted that it would have opportunities to revisit the Management Rate as part of future contract reviews.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits


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34   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund   Other information (unaudited)

could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser and commissions earned by affiliated brokers from portfolio transactions.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board did not find that any ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, were unreasonable.

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for an additional one-year period and determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser is reasonable.


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Automatic dividend reinvestment plan   Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund     35   

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 (“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 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170 or by calling 1-800-730-6001.


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36   Wells Fargo 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 —  Colombian peso
CLP —  Chilean peso
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 —  Indonesian rupiah
IEP —  Irish pound
JPY —  Japanese yen
KRW —  Republic of Korea won
LIBOR —  London Interbank Offered Rate
LIFER —  Long Inverse Floating Exempt Receipts
LIQ —  Liquidity agreement
LLC —  Limited liability company
LLLP —  Limited liability limited partnership
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
NGN —  Nigerian naira
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
RON —  Romanian lei
RUB —  Russian ruble
SAVRS —  Select auction variable rate securities
SBA —  Small Business Authority
SDR —  Swedish depositary receipt
SEK —  Swedish krona
SFHR —  Single-family housing revenue
SFMR —  Single-family mortgage revenue
SGD —  Singapore dollar
SPA —  Standby purchase agreement
SPDR —  Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts
SPEAR —  Short Puttable Exempt Adjustable Receipts
STRIPS —  Separate trading of registered interest and
           principal securities
TAN —  Tax anticipation notes
TBA —  To be announced
THB —  Thai baht
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
 


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LOGO

 

LOGO

Transfer Agent, Registrar, Shareholder Servicing

Agent & Dividend Disbursing Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 30170

College Station, TX 77842-3170

1-800-730-6001

Website: wellsfargofunds.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. Certain material contained in this report may be considered marketing material and has been reviewed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Neither Wells Fargo Funds Management nor Wells Fargo Funds Distributor has Fund customer accounts/assets, and neither provides investment advice/recommendations or acts as an investment advice fiduciary to any investor.

NOT FDIC INSURED    NO BANK GUARANTEE     MAY LOSE VALUE

© 2016 Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

LOGO     

247348 12-16

SIO/SAR148 10-16

 

 


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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

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


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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

 

Period

   (a)
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
     (b)
Average
Price Paid
per Share
     (c)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
     (d)
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 

5/1/2016 to 5/31/2016

     0         0         0         7,098,300.10   


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6/1/2016 to 6/30/2016

     0         0         0         7,098,300.10   

7/1/2016 to 7/31/2016

     0         0         0         7,098,300.10   

8/1/2016 to 8/31/2016

     0         0         0         7,098,300.10   

9/1/2016 to 9/30/2016

     0         0         0         7,098,300.10   

10/1/2016 to 10/31/2016

     76,871         8.24322         76,871         7,021,429.10   

Total

     76,871         8.24322         76,871         7,021,429.10   

On December 17, 2015, the Fund announced an open-market share repurchase program (the “Buyback Program”). Under the Buyback Program, the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares within one year of December 17, 2015.

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 Wells Fargo Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) 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 Fund 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.

(b) There were no significant changes in the Fund’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 Income Opportunities Fund
By:  
  /s/ Karla M. Rabusch
  Karla M. Rabusch
  President
Date:   December 22, 2016

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 Income Opportunities Fund
By:  
  /s/ Karla M. Rabusch
  Karla M. Rabusch
  President
Date:   December 22, 2016
By:  
  /s/ Jeremy DePalma
  Jeremy DePalma
  Treasurer
Date:   December 22, 2016