Clough Global Equity Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-21712

Clough Global Equity Fund

(exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Erin D. Nelson, Secretary

Clough Global Equity Fund

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  303-623-2577

Date of fiscal year end:      October 31

Date of reporting period:    April 1, 2014 - October 31, 2014*

*The Board of Trustees of the Clough Global Allocation Fund (the “Registrant”) announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Registrant from March 31 to October 31.


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 


 

LOGO


 

SECTION 19(B) DISCLOSURE

 

October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), acting pursuant to a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) exemptive order and with the approval of each Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), have adopted a plan, consistent with each Fund’s investment objectives and policies to support a level distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital (the “Plan”). In accordance with the Plan, Clough Global Allocation Fund and Clough Global Equity Fund currently distribute $0.105 per share on a monthly basis and Clough Global Opportunities Fund distributes $0.095 per share on a monthly basis.

The fixed amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of each Fund’s Board. Under the Plan, each Fund will distribute all available investment income to its shareholders, consistent with each Fund’s primary investment objectives and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, each Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital to shareholders in order to maintain a level distribution. Each monthly distribution to shareholders is expected to be at the fixed amount established by the Board, except for extraordinary distributions and potential distribution rate increases or decreases to enable each Fund to comply with the distribution requirements imposed by the Code.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about each Fund’s investment performance from the amount of these distributions or from the terms of the Plan. Each Fund’s total return performance on net asset value is presented in its financial highlights table.

The Board may amend, suspend or terminate each Fund’s Plan without prior notice if it deems such action to be in the best interest of either the Fund or its shareholders. The suspension or termination of the Plan could have the effect of creating a trading discount (if a Fund’s stock is trading at or above net asset value) or widening an existing trading discount. Each Fund is subject to risks that could have an adverse impact on its ability to maintain level distributions. Examples of potential risks include, but are not limited to, economic downturns impacting the markets, increased market volatility, companies suspending or decreasing corporate dividend distributions and changes in the Code. Please refer to each Fund’s prospectus for a more complete description of its risks.

Please refer to Additional Information for a cumulative summary of the Section 19(a) notices for each Fund’s current fiscal period. Section 19(a) notices for each Fund, as applicable, are available on the Clough Global Closed-End Funds website www.cloughglobal.com.


Clough Global Funds

     Table of Contents   

 

         
       Shareholder Letter      2   
 
       Portfolio Allocation   
      

Global Allocation Fund

     5   
      

Global Equity Fund

     6   
      

Global Opportunities Fund

     7   
 
      

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     8   
 
       Statement of Investments   
      

Global Allocation Fund

     9   
      

Global Equity Fund

     15   
      

Global Opportunities Fund

     21   
 
      

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

     28   
 
      

Statements of Operations

     29   
 
      

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     30   
 
      

Statements of Cash Flows

     33   
 
       Financial Highlights   
      

Global Allocation Fund

     36   
      

Global Equity Fund

     37   
      

Global Opportunities Fund

     38   
 
      

Notes to Financial Statements

     39   
 
      

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     55   
 
       Additional Information   
      

Fund Proxy Voting Policies & Procedures

     56   
      

Portfolio Holdings

     56   
      

Notice

     56   
      

Section 19(A) Notices

     56   
      

Tax Designation

     56   
 
      

Trustees & Officers

     57   
 
         


Shareholder Letter

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)   

    

 

To Our Shareholders:

Clough Global Allocation Fund (GLV)

During the seven-months ended October 31, 2014, the Clough Global Allocation Fund’s total return, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, was 1.68% based on the net asset value and 0.97% based on the market price of the Fund. The S&P 500 and the MSCI World Index returned 9.02% and 3.59% respectively over the same period. During the seven-months ended October 31, 2014, the Fund paid $0.74 per share in distributions. As of October 31st, the Fund had a dividend distribution rate on the market price of 8.63%.

Clough Global Equity Fund (GLQ)

During the seven-months ended October 31, 2014, the Clough Global Equity Fund’s total return, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, was 0.86% based on the net asset value and -2.33% based on the market price of the Fund. The S&P 500 and the MSCI World Index returned 9.02% and 3.59% respectively over the same period. During the seven-months ended October 31, 2014, the Fund paid $0.74 per share in distributions. As of October 31st, the Fund had a dividend distribution rate on the market price of 8.79%.

Clough Global Opportunities Fund (GLO)

During the seven-months ended October 31, 2014, the Clough Global Opportunities Fund’s total return, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, was 1.39% based on the net asset value and 0.70% based on the market price of the Fund. The S&P 500 and the MSCI World Index returned 9.02% and 3.59% respectively over the same period. During the seven-months ended October 31, 2014, the Fund paid $0.67 per share in distributions. As of October 31st, the Fund had a dividend distribution rate on the market price of 9.36%.

One thing that has been supportive of equities for the past two years has been the aggressive expansion of liquidity on the part of the Fed. That in turn has depressed securities market volatility. All has now changed. Volatility first emerged in the foreign exchange market several weeks ago, a market where trillions of dollars are traded weekly. One reason for its reemergence is clear: tapering removes that support central bank liquidity has provided the capital markets. Another reason for the rise in volatility is a slowing global economy and the fact that systemic weakness in Europe has finally reached into Germany, where export orders and industrial activity have weakened. As an aside, Europe’s problems are actually positive for the Fund. As you know we have had a short European bank trade on for some time. We still believe very large capital raises lie ahead for the banks. While some of our strategies have been flat over the last six months, we still believe they have promise for high returns in this new environment.

Our positions in the housing sector encompass both homebuilders and companies involved in providing mortgage insurance. The mortgage insurance industry has the potential of being both rapidly growing and highly profitable in the absence of another collapse in

residential housing prices we think. That is unlikely. The industry is under building demand. Meanwhile apartment rents are 15% higher year-on-year so that alternative to single family housing is getting pricey at a time mortgage costs are declining. The cog in the machine is mortgage availability which is still depressed largely due to regulatory issues but they are likely to ease. Sheila Bair, the former FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) Chair, wrote a piece in Fortune suggesting a less restrictive mortgage lending environment. In addition, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced a joint campaign to make credit more accessible to first time home buyers. The recent move lower in 30 year mortgage rates below 4% should also provide a tailwind for the sector. Meanwhile MGIC Investment Corp., a mortgage insurer held by the Fund, reported a 21% year-on-year rise in new insurance in the third quarter in a flat market as the private companies take share from the FHA (Federal Housing Administration). It may require some patience, but a housing cycle seems more likely.

Citigroup Corp., the Funds’ largest position reported third quarter revenues rose 10% year-on-year while expenses dropped 6% and total credit costs dropped 11%. Citi Holdings (the so-called “bad bank”) was profitable for the second quarter in a row. Net interest margins and trading revenues improved, as did international consumer revenues. Citi’s capital and leverage ratios are far above peers, yet the stock still sells 15% below tangible book and 30% below stated book. It is notable that one third of the company’s earnings came from its Asian consumer business. Citi is part of an oligopoly of only three global banks which can offer corporate banking services worldwide.

Healthcare continues to be one of the largest contributor to performance for 2014. The Funds are long names that will continue to benefit from the M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) environment. Large slow growing names in the space need to acquire companies to maintain product pipelines. We are long mid cap names with launched products and no partners that make for attractive acquisition targets. The Funds also continue to be long hospitals that benefit from the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid is now correcting roughly 10% top line losses for hospitals. Potential losses of the past will now be backed by the government. The Funds are also long equipment names that can benefit from an emerging hospital capital expenditure cycle. The long position in Healthcare is hedged with shorts in Biotech and HMO’s (Health Maintenance Organization) where valuations look vulnerable.

On the Asia front, we think China’s A share market (SHCOMP, Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index) could be the world’s best performing index over the next few years. That index rose 6.9% in September on a 65% year on year rise in turnover while western stocks stumbled. Our thinking is based on China’s transformation from a credit dependent industrial economy with a mercantilist bent to a consumer based services economy. The China consumer is spending big time. One piece of evidence of this is a structural change in its current account makeup. China’s merchandise trade balance was a positive $358 billion in 2013, but that merely means it returned to its 2008 peak. However, China’s total current account is

 

 

2

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Funds

   Shareholder Letter
   October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

    

 

deteriorating because of a growing deficit in trade from services. That means services consumption is rising rapidly. A boom in transportation and tourism services is simply reflective of the boom in services spending generally across China.

One way to think about Asia is that everywhere in Asia, reform is underway. Reform governments are in power in China and India, the Abe government is the best Japan has had in 30 years outside of Junichiro Koizumi. A former salesperson is in power in Indonesia. The army is currently in charge in Thailand but the army is popular and business friendly. In brief, approximately 8-9% of each Fund is invested here at present, largely in China, India, Japan and South Korea, and we are seeking ways to increase that exposure.

The Funds have benefited this year by being long 30 year Treasuries and A rated US corporate bonds. 20% of equity in GLV and GLO and 10% of equity in GLQ are currently in fixed income assets. The recent volatility has made pricing more attractive in corporate bonds and we will continue to add to this allocation opportunistically. We still believe we are in a low interest rate world and deflationary forces in Europe will continue to make US Treasuries and corporate debt an attractive source of income.

If you have any questions about your investment, please call 1-877-256-8445.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Charles I. Clough, Jr.

 

LOGO

Robert M. Zdunczyk

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The information in this letter represents the opinions of the individual Portfolio Managers and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, or investment advice.

The Fund’s distribution policy will, under certain circumstances, have certain adverse consequences to the Fund and its shareholders because it may result in a return of capital resulting in less of a shareholder’s assets being invested in the Fund and, over time, increase the Fund’s expense ratio.

Sources of distributions to shareholders may include net investment income, net realized short-term capital gains, net realized long-term capital gains and return of capital. If a distribution includes anything other than net investment income, the applicable Fund provides a Section 19(a) notice of the best estimate of its distribution sources at that time. Please refer to Additional Information for a cumulative summary of the Section 19(a) notices for each Fund’s current period. The actual amounts and sources of distributions for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The estimates may not match the final tax characterization (for the full year’s distributions) contained in the shareholder’s Form 1099-DIV. Distribution payments are not guaranteed; distribution rates may vary.

MSCI World Index – A free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The index includes reinvestment of dividends, net of foreign withholding taxes.

S&P 500® Index – Standard & Poor’s composite index of 500 stocks, a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices.

Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite-Index – A capitalization-weighted index. The index tracks the daily price performance of all A-shares and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

30-year Treasuries – A U.S. Treasury debt obligation that has a maturity of 30 years. The 30-year Treasury used to be the bellwether U.S. bond but now most consider the 10-year Treasury to be the benchmark.

A-rated US corporate bonds – A rating that indicates that a municipal or corporate bond has a relatively low risk of default. Bond rating firms, such as Standard & Poor’s, use different designations consisting of upper- and lower-case letters ‘A’ and ‘B’ to identify a bond’s credit quality rating. ‘AAA’ and ‘AA’ (high credit quality) and ‘A’ and ‘BBB’ (medium credit quality) are considered investment grade. Credit ratings for bonds below these designations (‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, etc.) are considered low credit quality, and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds”.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  3


Shareholder Letter

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)   

    

 

CLOUGH GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND  

Top 10 Equity Holdings*

     % of Total Portfolio   

1. Citigroup, Inc.

     4.20%   

2. Bank of America Corp.

     4.13%   

3. Western Union Co.

     3.02%   

4. DR Horton, Inc.

     2.72%   

5. CarMax, Inc.

     2.70%   

6. Lennar Corp. - Class A

     2.55%   

7. Lam Research Corp.

     2.24%   

8. Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.-144A

     2.08%   

9. Signet Jewelers, Ltd.

     2.02%   

10. Two Harbors Investment Corp.

     1.97%   

CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

  

Top 10 Equity Holdings*

     % of Total Portfolio   

1. Citigroup, Inc.

     4.29%   

2. Bank of America Corp.

     4.22%   

3. Western Union Co.

     3.05%   

4. DR Horton, Inc.

     2.76%   

5. CarMax, Inc.

     2.71%   

6. Lennar Corp. - Class A

     2.58%   

7. Lam Research Corp.

     2.27%   

8. Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.-144A

     2.19%   

9. Signet Jewelers, Ltd.

     2.05%   

10. Two Harbors Investment Corp.

     1.99%   

CLOUGH GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND

  

Top 10 Equity Holdings*

     % of Total Portfolio   

1. Citigroup, Inc.

     4.25%   

2. Bank of America Corp.

     4.19%   

3. Western Union Co.

     3.05%   

4. DR Horton, Inc.

     2.75%   

5. CarMax, Inc.

     2.72%   

6. Lennar Corp. - Class A

     2.59%   

7. Lam Research Corp.

     2.26%   

8. Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.-144A

     2.14%   

9. Signet Jewelers, Ltd.

     2.05%   

10. Two Harbors Investment Corp.

     2.00%   

Holdings are subject to change.

* Only long positions are listed.

 

 

4

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Clough Global Allocation Fund

   Portfolio Allocation
   October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

    

 

Asset Allocation*

 

Common Stock - US

     79.03%   

Common Stock - Foreign

     12.52%   

Exchange Traded Funds

     -16.91%   

 

 

Total Equities

     74.64%   

 

 

Government L/T

     8.17%   

Asset/Mortgage Backed

     8.26%   

Corporate Debt

     6.21%   

 

 

Total Fixed Income

     22.64%   

 

 

Short-Term Investments

     1.88%   

Other (Foreign Cash)

     0.65%   

Total Return Swap Contracts

     0.19%   

Warrant

     0.03%   

Option

     -0.03%   

 

 

Total Other

     2.72%   

 

 
  

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

     100.00%   

 

 

 

 

 

* 

Percentages are based on total investments, including options written and securities sold short. Holdings are subject to change.

^ 

Includes securities sold short and foreign cash balances.

 

US Multinational Corporations – has more than 50% of revenues derived outside of the U.S.

Global Securities Holdings^

 

United States

     67.47%   

U.S. Multinationals

     18.53%   

Japan

     3.22%   

United Kingdom

     3.18%   

China

     3.05%   

Brazil

     1.36%   

Ireland

     1.13%   

Canada

     0.85%   

South Korea

     0.66%   

European Union

     0.54%   

Other

     0.01%   

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

     100.00%   

 

 
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  5


Portfolio Allocation

   Clough Global Equity Fund
October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)   

    

 

Asset Allocation*

 

Common Stock - US

     86.04%   

Common Stock - Foreign

     14.35%   

Exchange Traded Funds

     -16.97%   

 

 

Total Equities

     83.42%   

 

 

Government L/T

     7.25%   

Corporate Debt

     4.29%   

Asset/Mortgage Backed

     1.58%   

 

 

Total Fixed Income

     13.12%   

 

 

Short-Term Investments

     2.44%   

Other (Foreign Cash)

     0.84%   

Total Return Swap Contracts

     0.18%   

Warrant

     0.03%   

Option

     -0.03%   

 

 

Total Other

     3.46%   

 

 
  

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

     100.00%   

 

 

 

 

 

* 

Percentages are based on total investments, including options written and securities sold short. Holdings are subject to change.

^ 

Includes securities sold short and foreign cash balances.

 

US Multinational Corporations – has more than 50% of revenues derived outside of the U.S.

Global Securities Holdings^

 

United States

     64.75%   

U.S. Multinationals

     19.24%   

China

     3.72%   

Japan

     3.61%   

United Kingdom

     3.23%   

Canada

     1.41%   

Brazil

     1.37%   

Ireland

     1.13%   

South Korea

     0.84%   

Hong Kong

     0.67%   

Other

     0.03%   

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

     100.00%   

 

 
 

 

6

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Clough Global Opportunities Fund

   Portfolio Allocation
   October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

    

 

Asset Allocation*

 

Common Stock - US

     79.51%   

Common Stock - Foreign

     12.70%   

Exchange Traded Funds

     -17.13%   

 

 

Total Equities

     75.08%   

 

 

Government L/T

     7.74%   

Asset/Mortgage Backed

     8.24%   

Corporate Debt

     6.00%   

 

 

Total Fixed Income

     21.98%   

 

 

Short-Term Investments

     2.08%   

Other (Foreign Cash)

     0.66%   

Total Return Swap Contracts

     0.19%   

Warrant

     0.03%   

Option

     -0.02%   

 

 

Total Other

     2.94%   

 

 
  

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

     100.00%   

 

 

 

 

 

* 

Percentages are based on total investments, including options written and securities sold short. Holdings are subject to change.

^ 

Includes securities sold short and foreign cash balances.

 

US Multinational Corporations – has more than 50% of revenues derived outside of the U.S.

Global Securities Holdings^

 

United States

     67.02%   

U.S. Multinationals

     18.77%   

Japan

     3.27%   

United Kingdom

     3.22%   

China

     3.10%   

Brazil

     1.38%   

Ireland

     1.13%   

Canada

     0.87%   

South Korea

     0.66%   

Netherlands

     0.55%   

Other

     0.03%   

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

     100.00%   

 

 
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  7


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of

Clough Global Allocation Fund,

Clough Global Equity Fund, and

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the statements of investments, of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”) as of October 31, 2014, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the seven months ended October 31, 2014 and for the year ended March 31, 2014, the statements of changes in net assets for the seven months ended October 31, 2014 and the years ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and the financial highlights for each of the four periods in the period ended October 31, 2014. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. The financial highlights for the periods indicated prior to March 31, 2012 were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm whose report, dated May 18, 2011, expressed unqualified opinions on those financial highlights.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers or counterparties were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund as of October 31, 2014, the results of their operations, their cash flows and the changes in their net assets for each of the periods indicated in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the four periods in the period ended October 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

COHEN FUND AUDIT SERVICES, LTD.

Cleveland, Ohio

December 23, 2014

 

 

 

8

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Clough Global Allocation Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

      Shares    Value

COMMON STOCKS 114.59%

  

Consumer Discretionary 30.23%

  

Diversified Consumer Services 0.71%

  

Service Corp.
International(a)

       57,700              $1,261,899  
         

 

 

 

Hotels 2.49%

  

Melco Crown Entertainment, Ltd. - ADR(a)

       14,200          385,388  

SeaWorld Entertainment,
Inc.(a)(b)

       42,900          825,396  

Wyndham Worldwide
Corp.(a)(b)

       41,080          3,190,684  
         

 

 

 
            4,401,468  
         

 

 

 

Household Durables 8.50%

  

DR Horton, Inc.(a)(b)

       222,226          5,064,531  

Lennar Corp. - Class A(a)(b)

       110,200          4,747,416  

Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.

       408,065          610,376  

PulteGroup, Inc.(a)(b)

       104,549          2,006,295  

Sony Corp.

       35,600          656,694  

Toll Brothers, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       61,125          1,952,944  
         

 

 

 
            15,038,256  
         

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail 4.52%

  

Liberty Interactive Corp. -
Class A(a)(c)

       65,212          1,704,642  

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

       54,217          1,712,173  

Liberty Ventures -
Series A(a)(b)(c)

       79,772          2,799,997  

Priceline Group, Inc.(a)(c)

       1,477          1,781,572  
         

 

 

 
            7,998,384  
         

 

 

 

Media 6.75%

  

Charter Communications, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

       17,100          2,708,469  

Comcast Corp. -
Class A(a)(b)

       54,600          3,022,110  

IMAX Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       50,200          1,478,892  

Liberty Media Corp. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

       50,112          2,406,378  

Liberty Media Corp. -
Class C(a)(b)(c)

       48,424          2,320,962  
         

 

 

 
            11,936,811  
         

 

 

 

Multiline Retailing 0.34%

  

Don Quijote Holdings Co., Ltd.

       10,400          610,158  
         

 

 

 

Specialty Retail 6.92%

  

AutoNation, Inc.(a)(c)

       60,136          3,443,387  

CarMax, Inc.(a)(c)

       90,100          5,037,491  

Signet Jewelers, Ltd.(a)(b)

       31,350          3,762,314  
         

 

 

 
            12,243,192  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

            53,490,168  
         

 

 

 
      Shares    Value

Consumer Staples 1.34%

  

Brasil Pharma S.A.(c)(d)

       241,474                  $353,747  

Hypermarcas S.A.(c)

       62,500          436,610  

M Dias Branco S.A.

       12,300          478,319  

Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.

       10,600          375,117  

Vinda International Holdings, Ltd.

       480,498          728,633  
         

 

 

 
            2,372,426  
         

 

 

 

Energy 8.31%

         

Anadarko Petroleum
Corp.(a)(b)

       7,200          660,816  

Concho Resources, Inc.(a)(c)

       6,400          697,792  

Delek US Holdings, Inc.

       5,800          196,562  

EOG Resources, Inc.(a)

       5,900          560,795  

Halliburton Co.(a)(b)

       18,400          1,014,576  

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.(a)(b)

       6,600          573,012  

HollyFrontier Corp.

       7,500          340,350  

InterOil Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       15,819          895,988  

Marathon Petroleum
Corp.(a)

       19,300          1,754,370  

Nabors Industries,
Ltd.(a)(b)

       38,600          689,010  

Patterson-UTI Energy,
Inc.(a)(b)

       27,500          633,325  

Penn Virginia
Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       37,200          318,804  

Phillips 66(a)

       15,100          1,185,350  

Stone Energy Corp.(a)(c)

       13,900          340,550  

Tesoro Corp.(a)

       19,700          1,406,777  

Valero Energy Corp.(a)

       37,800          1,893,402  

Western Refining, Inc.(a)

       33,900          1,545,501  
         

 

 

 
            14,706,980  
         

 

 

 

Financials 27.11%

         

Business Development Corporations 1.32%

  

Ares Capital Corp.(a)

       65,900          1,053,741  

Golub Capital BDC, Inc.

       73,800          1,278,954  
         

 

 

 
            2,332,695  
         

 

 

 

Capital Markets 2.99%

  

CITIC Securities Co.,
Ltd. - Class H

       319,500          796,778  

Haitong Securities Co.,
Ltd. - Class H

       224,000          384,157  

Ladder Capital Corp. -
Class A(a)(c)

       29,604          562,180  

Morgan Stanley(a)(b)

       101,387          3,543,476  
         

 

 

 
            5,286,591  
         

 

 

 

Commercial Banks 2.92%

  

First Republic Bank(a)(b)

       68,200          3,473,426  

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV - Class O

       105,888          678,595  

SunTrust Banks, Inc.(a)(b)

       25,954          1,015,840  
         

 

 

 
            5,167,861  
         

 

 

 

Diversified Financials 9.85%

  

Atlas Mara Co.-Nvest,
Ltd.(c)(d)

       183,658          1,919,226  
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  9


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Allocation Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

      Shares    Value

Financials (continued)

  

Bank of America Corp.(a)(b)

       447,991              $7,687,526  

Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b)

       146,230          7,827,692  
         

 

 

 
            17,434,444  
         

 

 

 

Insurance 4.08%

  

American International Group, Inc.(a)(b)

       62,400          3,342,768  

Genworth Financial, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

       146,593          2,050,836  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

       46,208          1,828,913  
         

 

 

 
            7,222,517  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts 3.87%

  

Colony Financial, Inc.(a)

       48,100          1,071,668  

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(a)

       97,714          2,109,645  

Two Harbors Investment
Corp.(a)

       362,100          3,668,073  
         

 

 

 
            6,849,386  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate Management &
Development 0.61%

  

BHG S.A. - Brazil Hospitality Group(c)

       59,300          428,375  

BR Properties S.A.

       80,400          406,234  

Leopalace21 Corp.(c)

       41,600          252,581  
         

 

 

 
            1,087,190  
         

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.47%

  

MGIC Investment Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       291,570          2,600,804  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

            47,981,488  
         

 

 

 

Health Care 18.47%

  

AbbVie, Inc.(a)(b)

       26,500          1,681,690  

Accuray, Inc.(c)

       45,600          288,648  

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       29,900          603,681  

Akorn, Inc.(a)(c)

       17,000          757,350  

Alkermes PLC(a)(b)(c)

       12,500          631,875  

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

       23,000          347,892  

Auris Medical Holding AG(a)(c)

       30,600          141,066  

Biogen Idec, Inc.(a)(c)

       5,890          1,891,161  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.(a)

       32,187          1,872,962  

Centene Corp.(a)(c)

       4,057          375,962  

Cerner Corp.(a)(c)

       14,800          937,432  

Community Health Systems,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       23,400          1,286,298  

Endo International PLC(a)(b)(c)

       16,800          1,124,256  

Flamel Technologies S.A. - Sponsored ADR(a)(c)

       36,245          442,189  
      Shares    Value

Health Care (continued)

         

GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR(a)(b)(c)

       17,100              $1,261,125  

HCA Holdings, Inc.(a)(c)

       17,577          1,231,269  

Healthways, Inc.(c)

       45,029          697,949  

Hologic, Inc.(c)

       13,200          345,708  

Illumina, Inc.(c)

       3,800          731,804  

Intrexon Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       74,904          1,671,857  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(c)

       1,400          694,120  

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       26,400          370,128  

Jazz Pharmaceuticals
PLC(a)(b)(c)

       5,677          958,505  

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.(a)(c)

       23,627          1,653,890  

PAREXEL International
Corp.(c)

       12,500          678,875  

Perrigo Co. PLC

       1,400          226,030  

Pfizer, Inc.(a)

       73,500          2,201,325  

Salix Pharmaceuticals,
Ltd.(a)(b)(c)

       6,120          880,362  

Sanofi - ADR(a)

       28,553          1,320,291  

Select Medical Holdings Corp.

       16,100          232,162  

Shire PLC - ADR(a)

       10,500          2,097,900  

Team Health Holdings, Inc.(a)(c)

       15,534          971,496  

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.(c)

       12,400          1,043,088  

Veracyte, Inc.(a)(c)

       65,956          532,265  

WellPoint, Inc.(a)

       4,010          508,027  
         

 

 

 
            32,690,638  
         

 

 

 

Industrials 11.94%

  

Allegion PLC(a)(b)

       47,000          2,495,230  

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(d)

       119,341          3,876,196  

Armstrong World Industries,
Inc.(c)

       11,100          537,462  

CIRCOR International, Inc.(a)

       3,100          232,965  

FANUC Corp.

       3,900          663,859  

FLIR Systems, Inc.(a)(b)

       75,800          2,541,574  

GEA Group AG

       32,615          1,499,778  

IHI Corp.

       112,000          525,475  

Kirby Corp.(c)

       10,900          1,205,322  

Localiza Rent A Car S.A.

       29,900          431,021  

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

       182,000          1,107,636  

Roper Industries, Inc.(a)

       12,600          1,994,580  

TransDigm Group, Inc.

       3,100          579,793  

ViaSat, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       40,749          2,552,517  

Wesco Aircraft Holdings,
Inc.(a)(c)

       50,200          891,050  
         

 

 

 
            21,134,458  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology 14.59%

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)

       10,400          1,025,440  

Apple, Inc.(a)

       6,200          669,600  

Applied Materials, Inc.(a)

       34,900          770,941  

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

       21,200          887,856  
 

 

10

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Allocation Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

      Shares      Value  

Information Technology (continued)

  

eBay, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     29,235                 $1,534,838   

EMC Corp.

     29,100         836,043   

EVERTEC, Inc.(a)

     37,842         859,013   

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, Ltd.(c)

     1,501,000         507,098   

Google, Inc. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

     2,836         1,610,479   

Google, Inc. -
Class C(a)(b)(c)

     3,240         1,811,419   

Hoya Corp.

     8,800         306,130   

Lam Research Corp.(a)(b)

     53,700         4,181,082   

NXP Semiconductor
NV(a)(c)

     14,452         992,274   

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.(c)

     19,300         634,885   

RF Micro Devices, Inc.(c)

     8,800         114,488   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

     620         721,679   

Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.(c)(e)

     35         6,222   

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.(c)

     3,641,000         375,596   

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.(a)

     20,000         1,164,800   

Western Digital Corp.(a)

     11,900         1,170,603   

Western Union Co.(a)(b)

     332,255         5,635,045   
     

 

 

 
        25,815,531   
     

 

 

 

Materials 1.51%

  

Berry Plastics Group,
Inc.(a)(c)

     50,346         1,310,003   

Graphic Packaging Holding Co.(a)(c)

     112,505         1,364,686   
     

 

 

 
        2,674,689   
     

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services 1.09%

  

China Mobile, Ltd.

     45,000         559,951   

KT Corp.

     16,100         494,119   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

     14,200         871,279   
     

 

 

 
        1,925,349   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

(Cost $190,534,802)

  

  

     202,791,727   
     

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 1.70%

  

CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF

     997,600         1,201,471   

SPDR® Gold Shares(a)(c)

     16,070         1,810,446   
     

 

 

 
        3,011,917   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

(Cost $3,311,157)

  

  

     3,011,917   
     

 

 

 
      Shares      Value  

WARRANTS 0.03%

     

Brasil Pharma S.A., Strike price 5.50 (BRL), Expires 6/24/2016(c)(e)

     24,186         $2,831   

Atlas Mara Co.-Nvest, Ltd., Strike price $11.50, Expires 12/17/2017(c)(d)

     116,958         46,783   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL WARRANTS

(Cost $1,170)

        49,614   
     

 

 

 

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
     Value  

CORPORATE BONDS 6.55%

     

Bank of America Corp.

     

Series V, Perpetual Maturity,
5.125%(a)(f)(g)

     $1,850,000         1,803,750   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     

08/01/2042, 3.250%

     800,000         686,079   

Citigroup, Inc.

     

Series N, Perpetual Maturity,
5.800%(f)(g)

     750,000         753,375   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

     

11/15/2021, 2.450%

     750,000         745,424   

Fifth Third Bancorp

     

Series J, Perpetual Maturity,
4.900%(a)(f)(g)

     1,300,000         1,285,765   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     

Series V, Perpetual Maturity,
5.000%(a)(f)(g)

     1,950,000         1,928,063   

Morgan Stanley

     

Series H, Perpetual Maturity,
5.450%(a)(f)(g)

     1,450,000         1,458,610   

Provident Bank of Maryland

     

05/01/2018, 9.500%(a)

     1,000,000         1,000,000   

Stifel Financial Corp.

     

07/18/2024, 4.250%(a)

     1,200,000         1,219,008   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

     

04/11/2043, 4.000%(a)

     700,000         702,896   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS

(Cost $11,604,758)

  

  

         11,582,970   
     

 

 

 

ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES 8.69%

  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. REMICS

     

Series 2013-4185, Class PB,
03/15/2043, 3.000%(a)

     594,481         577,351   
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  11


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Allocation Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
   Value

ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES (continued)

  

Federal National Mortgage Association REMICS

         

Series 2013-100, Class MS, 06/25/2043,
3.848%(a)(f)

       $707,249          $685,578  

Series 2013-67,
Class BP, 07/25/2043,
3.000%(a)

       1,244,555          1,210,719  

Series 2013-132, Class LB, 01/25/2044, 3.000%

       758,409          753,143  

Government National Mortgage Association

         

Series 2014-86, Class A, 11/16/2040, 2.650%

       397,322          404,521  

Series 2014-112, Class AB, 12/16/2040, 2.350%

       1,193,532          1,217,312  

Series 2014-81, Class EC, 12/20/2042, 2.000%

       985,634          952,539  

Series 2014-54, Class AB, 10/16/2043, 2.619%

       1,387,560          1,410,775  

Series 2014-28, Class A, 01/16/2046, 2.000%

       543,721          546,205  

Series 2014-134, Class A, 09/16/2047,
3.100%(a)(f)

       1,797,511          1,841,797  

Series 2014-120, Class A, 04/16/2056, 2.800%(f)

       995,783          1,016,601  

Series 2014-120, Class AC, 04/16/2056, 2.650%(f)

       1,614,753          1,621,458  

Small Business Administration Participation Certificates

         

Series 2008-20L, Class 1, 12/01/2028,
6.220%(a)

       297,445          340,216  

Series 2012-20J, Class 1, 10/01/2032, 2.180%

       2,037,021          1,992,152  

Series 2013-20E, Class 1, 05/01/2033, 2.070%

       842,124          814,943  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES

(Cost $15,330,282)

                15,385,310  
         

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT & AGENCY
OBLIGATIONS 8.60%

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds

         

05/15/2024, 2.500%(a)

       1,400,000          1,422,422  

05/15/2030, 6.250%(a)

       1,200,000          1,747,031  

02/15/2031, 5.375%(a)

       1,200,000          1,622,063  

02/15/2038, 4.375%(a)

       1,600,000          1,990,626  

11/15/2041, 3.125%(a)

       1,600,000          1,630,000  

02/15/2042, 3.125%(a)

       3,000,000          3,050,157  

11/15/2042, 2.750%(a)

       4,000,000          3,761,876  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS

(Cost $15,010,655)

            15,224,175  
         

 

 

 
      Principal
Amount
   Value

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 1.98%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills 1.98%

         

U.S. Treasury Bills Discount Notes

  

    

11/28/2014, 0.040%(a)(h)

       $2,000,000          $1,999,940  

02/26/2015, 0.015%(a)(h)

       1,500,000          1,499,904  
         

 

 

 
            3,499,844  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

(Cost $3,499,864)

            3,499,844  
         

 

 

 

Total Investments - 142.14%

(Cost $ 239,292,688)

            251,545,557  
         

 

 

 

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (42.14%)(i) 

            (74,577,124)  
         

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.00%

                $176,968,433  
         

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN
OPTIONS
   Number of
Contracts
   Value

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN (0.03%)

  

Service Corp. International,

  

Expires December, 2014,

  

Exercise Price $22.50

       (200)          $(9,500)  

Signet Jewelers, Ltd., Expires November, 2014, Exercise Price $115.00

       (82)          (49,200)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN

(Premiums received $34,512)

            (58,700)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS

(Premiums received $34,512)

            $(58,700)  
         

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT(c)
   Shares    Value

COMMON STOCKS (18.18%)

 

Consumer Discretionary (1.53%)

 

Auto Components (0.50%)

  

Johnson Controls, Inc.

       (18,800)          $(888,300)  
         

 

 

 

Hotels (0.59%)

         

Wynn Resorts, Ltd.

       (5,500)          (1,045,055)  
         

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail (0.44%)

  

Expedia, Inc.

       (9,100)          (773,227)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

            (2,706,582)  
         

 

 

 
 

 

12

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Allocation Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT(c)
   Shares    Value

Financials (3.39%)

         

Capital Markets (1.32%)

 

    

Deutsche Bank AG

       (33,500)              $(1,049,220)  

Mediobanca SpA

       (146,479)          (1,288,591)  
         

 

 

 
            (2,337,811)  
         

 

 

 

Commercial Banks (1.09%)

 

BNP Paribas S.A.

       (9,600)          (603,196)  

Credit Agricole S.A.

       (36,933)          (545,902)  

Societe Generale S.A.

       (7,894)          (380,015)  

UniCredit SpA

       (56,909)          (410,777)  
         

 

 

 
            (1,939,890)  
         

 

 

 

Diversified Financials (0.76%)

  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

       (1,746)          (363,674)  

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

       (22,800)          (986,328)  
         

 

 

 
            (1,350,002)  
         

 

 

 

Insurance (0.22%)

  

    

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

       (2,242)          (382,597)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

            (6,010,300)  
         

 

 

 

Health Care (8.57%)

 

Amgen, Inc.

       (5,240)          (849,823)  

athenahealth, Inc.

       (17,810)          (2,181,725)  

Cigna Corp.

       (14,300)          (1,423,851)  

CR Bard, Inc.

       (4,510)          (739,505)  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

       (4,000)          (448,000)  

Hospira, Inc.

       (20,000)          (1,074,000)  

Humana, Inc.

       (10,300)          (1,430,155)  

Merck & Co., Inc.

       (29,700)          (1,720,818)  

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

       (26,400)          (1,694,088)  

Stryker Corp.

       (11,800)          (1,032,854)  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

       (14,500)          (1,377,645)  

Waters Corp.

       (10,800)          (1,196,640)  
         

 

 

 
            (15,169,104)  
         

 

 

 

Industrials (2.12%)

         

Caterpillar, Inc.

       (10,200)          (1,034,382)  

Emerson Electric Co.

       (16,200)          (1,037,772)  

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

       (30,300)          (408,608)  

Rolls-Royce Holdings Preference - C Shares(e)

       (2,727,000)          (4,362)  

Sandvik AB

       (48,651)          (533,016)  

SPX Corp.

       (7,800)          (739,362)  
         

 

 

 
            (3,757,502)  
         

 

 

 

Information Technology (0.75%)

  

Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd.

       (46,700)          (928,863)  

Paychex, Inc.

       (8,500)          (398,990)  
         

 

 

 
            (1,327,853)  
         

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT(c)
   Shares    Value

Materials (1.82%)

  

Anglo American PLC

       (42,402)          $(892,984)  

Bemis Co., Inc.

       (17,900)          (688,613)  

BHP Billiton, Ltd.

       (20,865)          (623,549)  

Glencore International PLC

       (197,638)          (1,011,396)  
         

 

 

 
            (3,216,542)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

(Proceeds $31,102,577)

            (32,187,883)  
         

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (19.50%)

 

Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund

       (59,800)          (4,022,746)  

iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

       (42,743)          (1,801,618)  

iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF

       (3,410)          (1,011,474)  

iShares® Russell 2000® ETF

       (93,838)          (10,937,757)  

Market Vectors® Semiconductor ETF

       (88,000)          (4,524,960)  

Powershares QQQ ™ Trust Series 1

       (48,900)          (4,958,460)  

SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust

       (36,000)          (7,259,760)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

(Proceeds $31,414,105)

            (34,516,775)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

(Proceeds $62,516,682)

                $(66,704,658)  
         

 

 

 
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  13


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Allocation Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

(a)

Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for written options, securities sold short or borrowings. As of October 31, 2014, the aggregate market value of those securities was $198,213,927 representing 112.01% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 6)

(b)

Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of October 31, 2014.

(c)

Non-income producing security.

(d)

Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of October 31, 2014, these securities had an aggregate market value of $6,195,952 or 3.50% of net assets.

(e)

Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of October 31, 2014, these securities had an aggregate market value of $4,691 or 0.00% of total net assets.

(f)

Floating or variable rate security - rate disclosed as of October 31, 2014.

(g)

This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.

(h)

Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.

(i)

Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts.

 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS

 

Counter Party   

Reference

Entity/Obligation

   Notional
Amount
  

Floating Rate

Paid by the Fund

   Floating
Rate Index
   Termination Date    Net Unrealized
Appreciation

Morgan Stanley

   Bharti Infratel, Ltd.      $ 1,350,830      30 bps + 1D FEDEF    1D FEDEF    12/30/2014      $     253,798  

Morgan Stanley

   Housing Development Finance Corp.        299,253      30 bps + 1D FEDEF    1D FEDEF    01/15/2016        92,585  
            $ 1,650,083                       $ 346,383  

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

14

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Equity Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

      Shares    Value

COMMON STOCKS 123.16%

  

Consumer Discretionary 33.24%

  

Diversified Consumer Services 0.72%

  

Service Corp.
International(a)(b)

       96,600          $2,112,642  
         

 

 

 

Hotels 2.58%

  

Melco Crown Entertainment, Ltd. - ADR(a)

       23,500          637,790  

SeaWorld Entertainment,
Inc.(a)

       71,700          1,379,508  

Wyndham Worldwide
Corp.(a)(b)

       71,744          5,572,356  
         

 

 

 
            7,589,654  
         

 

 

 

Household Durables 8.54%

  

DR Horton, Inc.(a)(b)

       371,321          8,462,406  

Lennar Corp. - Class A(a)(b)

       184,100          7,931,028  

Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.

       677,810          1,013,855  

PulteGroup, Inc.(a)(b)

       174,786          3,354,143  

Sony Corp.

       58,600          1,080,963  

Toll Brothers, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       101,208          3,233,596  
         

 

 

 
                25,075,991  
         

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail 5.18%

  

Liberty Interactive Corp. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

       146,586          3,831,758  

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

       93,748          2,960,562  

Liberty Ventures -
Series A(a)(b)(c)

       154,303          5,416,035  

Priceline Group, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       2,495          3,009,494  
         

 

 

 
            15,217,849  
         

 

 

 

Media 7.59%

  

Charter Communications, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

       28,700          4,545,793  

Comcast Corp. - Class A (a)(b)

       91,300          5,053,455  

IMAX Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       139,495          4,109,523  

Liberty Media Corp. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

       88,368          4,243,431  

Liberty Media Corp. -
Class C(a)(b)(c)

       90,936          4,358,562  
         

 

 

 
            22,310,764  
         

 

 

 

Multiline Retailing 0.34%

  

Don Quijote Holdings Co., Ltd.

       17,100          1,003,241  
         

 

 

 

Specialty Retail 6.93%

  

AutoNation, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       99,967          5,724,110  

CarMax, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

       149,100          8,336,181  

Signet Jewelers, Ltd.(a)(b)

       52,546          6,306,046  
         

 

 

 
            20,366,337  
         

 

 

 
      Shares    Value

Consumer Discretionary (continued)

  

Textiles 1.36%

  

Carter’s, Inc.

       51,000          $3,984,630  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

            97,661,108  
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples 1.87%

  

Brasil Pharma S.A.(c)(d)

       396,047          580,189  

China Huishan Dairy Holdings Co., Ltd.

       2,541,000          570,117  

China Modern Dairy Holdings, Ltd.(c)

       612,000          269,890  

Hypermarcas S.A.(c)

       104,000          726,518  

M Dias Branco S.A.

       20,400          793,311  

Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.

       17,500          619,297  

Vinda International Holdings, Ltd.

       1,281,222          1,942,860  
         

 

 

 
            5,502,182  
         

 

 

 

Energy 8.76%

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(a)

       12,000          1,101,360  

Concho Resources, Inc.(a)(c)

       10,800          1,177,524  

Delek US Holdings, Inc.

       9,700          328,733  

EOG Resources, Inc.(a)

       9,900          940,995  

Halliburton Co.(a)(b)

       37,400          2,062,236  

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.(a)(b)

       10,700          928,974  

HollyFrontier Corp.

       12,400          562,712  

InterOil Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       26,084          1,477,398  

Marathon Petroleum Corp.(a)

       32,000          2,908,800  

Nabors Industries, Ltd.(a)(b)

       64,500          1,151,325  

Pacific Coast Oil Trust(d)

       95,800          906,268  

Patterson-UTI Energy,
Inc.(a)(b)

       45,800          1,054,774  

Penn Virginia Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       62,500          535,625  

Phillips 66(a)

       25,200          1,978,200  

Stone Energy Corp.(a)(c)

       23,400          573,300  

Tesoro Corp.(a)

       32,700          2,335,107  

Valero Energy Corp.(a)

       62,600          3,135,634  

Western Refining, Inc.(a)

       56,500          2,575,835  
         

 

 

 
                25,734,800  
         

 

 

 

Financials 27.95%

  

Business Development Corporations 0.59%

  

Ares Capital Corp.(a)

       109,500          1,750,905  
         

 

 

 

Capital Markets 3.34%

  

CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. - Class H

       534,500          1,332,950  

Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. - Class H

       375,200          643,464  

Ladder Capital Corp. -
Class A(a)(c)

       102,100          1,938,879  
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  15


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Equity Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

      Shares    Value

Financials (continued)

  

Morgan Stanley(a)(b)

       168,496          $5,888,935  
         

 

 

 
            9,804,228  
         

 

 

 

Commercial Banks 2.94%

  

First Republic Bank(a)(b)

       113,900          5,800,927  

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV - Class O

       175,725          1,126,154  

SunTrust Banks, Inc.(a)

       43,529          1,703,725  
         

 

 

 
            8,630,806  
         

 

 

 

Diversified Financials 9.99%

  

Atlas Mara Co.-Nvest, Ltd.(c)(d)

       306,320          3,201,044  

Bank of America Corp.(a)

       755,905          12,971,330  

Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b)

       246,419          13,190,809  
         

 

 

 
                29,363,183  
         

 

 

 

Insurance 4.25%

  

American International Group, Inc.(a)(b)

       104,200          5,581,994  

Genworth Financial, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

       277,390          3,880,686  

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

       76,721          3,036,617  
         

 

 

 
            12,499,297  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts 3.90%

  

Colony Financial, Inc.(a)

       80,600          1,795,768  

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust(a)

       163,388          3,527,547  

Two Harbors Investment
Corp.(a)

       604,700          6,125,611  
         

 

 

 
            11,448,926  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development 0.61%

  

BHG S.A. - Brazil Hospitality Group(c)

       97,514          704,427  

BR Properties S.A.

       133,600          675,036  

Leopalace21 Corp.(c)

       69,300          420,767  
         

 

 

 
            1,800,230  
         

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 2.33%

  

MGIC Investment Corp.(a)(b)(c)

       486,453          4,339,161  

NMI Holdings, Inc. - Class A(c)

       100,300          897,685  

Stonegate Mortgage Corp.(c)

       111,111          1,606,665  
         

 

 

 
            6,843,511  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

            82,141,086  
         

 

 

 

Health Care 19.83%

  

AbbVie, Inc.(a)(b)

       44,400          2,817,624  

Accuray, Inc.(c)

       75,500          477,915  
      Shares      Value  

Health Care (continued)

     

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     49,900         $1,007,481   

Akorn, Inc.(a)(c)

     46,800         2,084,940   

Alkermes PLC(a)(b)(c)

     21,000         1,061,550   

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

     38,100         576,291   

Auris Medical Holding AG(a)(c)

     50,900         234,649   

Biogen Idec, Inc.(a)(c)

     9,675         3,106,449   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.(a)(b)

     53,516         3,114,096   

Centene Corp.(a)(c)

     6,699         620,796   

Cerner Corp.(a)(c)

     24,800         1,570,832   

Community Health Systems, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     39,300         2,160,321   

Endo International PLC(a)(b)(c)

     28,100         1,880,452   

Flamel Technologies S.A. - Sponsored ADR(a)(c)

     62,497         762,463   

GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR(a)(b)(c)

     28,500         2,101,875   

HCA Holdings, Inc.(a)(c)

     29,315         2,053,516   

Healthways, Inc.(c)

     73,241         1,135,236   

Hologic, Inc.(c)

     21,800         570,942   

Illumina, Inc.(c)

     6,300         1,213,254   

Intrexon Corp.(a)(b)(c)

     125,059         2,791,317   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(c)

     2,400         1,189,920   

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     44,300         621,086   

Jazz Pharmaceuticals
PLC(a)(b)(c)

     9,469         1,598,746   

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.(a)(c)

     39,239         2,746,730   

Medequities Realty Trust, Inc.(e)

     51,100         766,500   

PAREXEL International Corp.(c)

     20,800         1,129,648   

Perrigo Co. PLC

     2,300         371,335   

Pfizer, Inc.(a)

     122,600         3,671,870   

Salix Pharmaceuticals,
Ltd.(a)(b)(c)

     10,120         1,455,762   

Sanofi - ADR(a)

     47,298         2,187,060   

Select Medical Holdings Corp.

     26,600         383,572   

Shire PLC - ADR(a)

     17,300         3,456,540   

Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd. - Class H

     94,800         370,391   

Team Health Holdings, Inc.(a)(c)

     25,762         1,611,156   

TESARO, Inc.(c)

     61,000         1,697,020   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.(c)

     20,600         1,732,872   

Veracyte, Inc.(a)(c)

     133,735         1,079,241   

WellPoint, Inc.(a)

     6,710         850,090   
     

 

 

 
            58,261,538   
     

 

 

 

Industrials 12.75%

  

Allegion PLC(a)

     78,500         4,167,565   

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(d)

     206,677         6,712,869   

Armstrong World Industries,
Inc.(c)

     18,400         890,928   

CIRCOR International, Inc.(a)

     5,200         390,780   
 

 

16

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Equity Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

      Shares      Value  

Industrials (continued)

  

Daewoo International Corp.

     16,597         $525,679   

FANUC Corp.

     6,400         1,089,410   

FLIR Systems, Inc.(a)(b)

     125,600         4,211,368   

GEA Group AG

     54,039         2,484,945   

IHI Corp.

     431,044         2,022,347   

Kirby Corp.(c)

     18,100         2,001,498   

Localiza Rent A Car S.A.

     49,700         716,447   

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

     302,000         1,837,945   

Roper Industries, Inc.(a)

     20,900         3,308,470   

TransDigm Group, Inc.

     5,160         965,075   

ViaSat, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     74,442         4,663,047   

Wesco Aircraft Holdings,
Inc.(a)(c)

     83,700         1,485,675   
     

 

 

 
            37,474,048   
     

 

 

 

Information Technology 16.17%

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)

     17,400         1,715,640   

Apple, Inc.(a)

     10,300         1,112,400   

Applied Materials, Inc.(a)

     58,000         1,281,220   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

     35,200         1,474,176   

eBay, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     48,930         2,568,825   

Electronics For Imaging,
Inc.(c)

     40,200         1,837,944   

EMC Corp.

     48,300         1,387,659   

EVERTEC, Inc.(a)

     63,498         1,441,405   

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, Ltd.(c)

     2,510,000         847,978   

Google, Inc. - Class A(a)(c)

     4,657         2,644,571   

Google, Inc. - Class C(a)(b)(c)

     5,321         2,974,865   

Hoya Corp.

     14,700         511,375   

Lam Research Corp.(a)(b)

     89,500         6,968,470   

NXP Semiconductor NV(a)(c)

     23,308         1,600,327   

Pandora Media, Inc.(c)

     145,800         2,811,024   

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.(c)

     32,000         1,052,660   

RF Micro Devices, Inc.(c)

     14,700         191,247   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

     1,034         1,203,574   

Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.(c)(e)

     58         10,311   

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.(c)

     6,071,000         626,268   

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.(a)

     32,900         1,916,096   

Western Digital Corp.(a)

     19,900         1,957,563   

Western Union Co.(a)(b)

     552,439         9,369,365   
     

 

 

 
        47,504,963   
     

 

 

 

Materials 1.49%

  

Berry Plastics Group,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     83,247         2,166,087   

Graphic Packaging Holding
Co.(a)(b)(c)

     182,887         2,218,419   
     

 

 

 
        4,384,506   
     

 

 

 
      Shares      Value  

Telecommunication Services 1.10%

  

  

China Mobile, Ltd.

     75,500         $939,472   

KT Corp.

     26,900         825,578   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

     23,800         1,460,313   
     

 

 

 
        3,225,363   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

(Cost $340,228,437)

            361,889,594   
     

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 1.69%

  

  

CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF

     1,664,400         2,004,539   

SPDR® Gold Shares(a)(c)

     26,320         2,965,211   
     

 

 

 
        4,969,750   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

(Cost $5,460,875)

  

  

     4,969,750   
     

 

 

 

WARRANTS 0.03%

     

Brasil Pharma S.A., Strike price 5.50 (BRL), Expires 6/24/2016(c)(e)

     39,668         4,642   

Atlas Mara Co.-Nvest, Ltd., Strike price $11.50, Expires 12/17/2017(c)(d)

     195,720         78,288   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL WARRANTS

(Cost $1,957)

        82,930   
     

 

 

 

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
     Value  

CORPORATE BONDS 4.49%

  

Bank of America Corp.
Series V, Perpetual Maturity,
        5.125%(a)(f)(g)

     $2,950,000         2,876,250   

Citigroup, Inc.
Series N, Perpetual Maturity,
        5.800%(f)(g)

     1,200,000         1,205,400   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.
11/15/2021, 2.450%

     1,200,000         1,192,679   

Fifth Third Bancorp
Series J, Perpetual Maturity,
        4.900%(a)(f)(g)

     500,000         494,525   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Series V, Perpetual Maturity,
        5.000%(a)(f)(g)

     2,750,000         2,719,062   
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  17


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Equity Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
   Value

CORPORATE BONDS (continued)

  

Morgan Stanley
Series H, Perpetual Maturity,
        5.450%(a)(f)(g)

       $2,150,000          $2,162,767  

Stifel Financial Corp.
07/18/2024, 4.250% (a)

       2,000,000          2,031,680  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
04/11/2043, 4.000% (a)

       500,000          502,068  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS

(Cost $13,145,334)

            13,184,431  
         

 

 

 

ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED
SECURITIES 1.65%

   

Government National Mortgage

         

Association

         

Series 2014-112, Class AB, 12/16/2040, 2.350%

       1,889,759          1,927,410  

Series 2014-134, Class A,
09/16/2047,
3.100%(a)(f)

       1,198,341          1,227,865  

Series 2014-120, Class AC,
04/16/2056, 2.650%(f)

       1,694,494          1,701,530  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES

(Cost $4,887,435)

            4,856,805  
         

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT & AGENCY
OBLIGATIONS 7.58%

   

U.S. Treasury Bonds

         

05/15/2024, 2.500% (a)

       2,500,000          2,540,040  

05/15/2030, 6.250% (a)

       1,900,000          2,766,132  

02/15/2031, 5.375% (a)

       1,900,000          2,568,266  

02/15/2038, 4.375% (a)

       2,550,000          3,172,560  

11/15/2041, 3.125% (a)

       2,400,000          2,445,000  

02/15/2042, 3.125% (a)

       4,000,000          4,066,876  

11/15/2042, 2.750% (a)

       5,000,000          4,702,345  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY
OBLIGATIONS

(Cost $21,938,436)

                22,261,219  
         

 

 

 
      Principal
Amount
   Value

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 2.55%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills 2.55%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills Discount Notes

         

11/28/2014,
0.040%(a)(h)

       $5,000,000          4,999,850  

02/26/2015,
0.015%(a)(h)

       2,500,000          2,499,840  
         

 

 

 
            7,499,690  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

  

(Cost $7,499,724)

            7,499,690  
         

 

 

 
                
Value

Total Investments - 141.15%
(Cost $393,162,198)

            $414,744,419   

Liabilities in Excess of Other
Assets - (41.15%)(i) 

            (120,914,930)   
         

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.00%

                $293,829,489   
         

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN
OPTIONS
   Number of
Contracts
   Value

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN (0.04%)

  

Carter’s, Inc., Expires November, 2014, Exercise Price $87.50

       (121)          $(1,815)  

Service Corp. International, Expires December, 2014, Exercise Price $22.50

       (340)          (16,150)  

Signet Jewelers, Ltd., Expires November, 2014, Exercise Price $115.00

       (144)          (86,400)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN

(Premiums received $74,170)

            (104,365)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS

(Premiums received $74,170)

            $(104,365)  
         

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT (c)
   Shares    Value

COMMON STOCKS (18.23%)

 

Consumer Discretionary (1.55%)

 

Auto Components (0.51%)

  

Johnson Controls, Inc.

       (31,600)          $(1,493,100)  
         

 

 

 

Hotels (0.59%)

  

Wynn Resorts, Ltd.

       (9,100)          (1,729,091)  
         

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail (0.45%)

  

Expedia, Inc.

       (15,700)          (1,334,029)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

            (4,556,220)  
         

 

 

 

Financials (3.39%)

 

Capital Markets (1.32%)

 

Deutsche Bank AG

       (55,400)          (1,735,128)  

Mediobanca SpA

       (243,161)          (2,139,112)  
         

 

 

 
            (3,874,240)  
         

 

 

 

Commercial Banks (1.09%)

 

BNP Paribas S.A.

       (15,900)          (999,042)  

Credit Agricole S.A.

       (60,002)          (886,883)  
 

 

18

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Equity Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT (c)
   Shares      Value  

Financials (continued)

  

  

Societe Generale S.A.

     (13,140)         $(632,556)   

UniCredit SpA

     (95,139)         (686,726)   
     

 

 

 
        (3,205,207)   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financials (0.76%)

  

  

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

     (2,910)         (606,124)   

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

     (38,000)         (1,643,880)   
     

 

 

 
        (2,250,004)   
     

 

 

 

Insurance (0.22%)

  

  

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

     (3,743)         (638,743)   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

        (9,968,194)   
     

 

 

 

Health Care (8.58%)

 

  

Amgen, Inc.

     (8,760)         (1,420,697)   

athenahealth, Inc.

     (29,670)         (3,634,575)   

Cigna Corp.

     (23,800)         (2,369,766)   

CR Bard, Inc.

     (7,600)         (1,246,172)   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

     (6,700)         (750,400)   

Hospira, Inc.

     (33,300)         (1,788,210)   

Humana, Inc.

     (17,100)         (2,374,335)   

Merck & Co., Inc.

     (49,200)         (2,850,648)   

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

     (44,100)         (2,829,897)   

Stryker Corp.

     (19,500)         (1,706,835)   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     (23,900)         (2,270,739)   

Waters Corp.

     (17,800)         (1,972,240)   
     

 

 

 
            (25,214,514)   
     

 

 

 

Industrials (2.13%)

     

Caterpillar, Inc.

     (16,900)         (1,713,829)   

Emerson Electric Co.

     (27,000)         (1,729,620)   

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

     (50,700)         (683,710)   

Rolls-Royce Holdings Preference -

     

C Shares(e)

     (4,563,000)         (7,300)   

Sandvik AB

     (81,221)         (889,849)   

SPX Corp.

     (12,900)         (1,222,791)   
     

 

 

 
        (6,247,099)   
     

 

 

 

Information Technology (0.75%)

  

  

Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd.

     (77,600)         (1,543,464)   

Paychex, Inc.

     (14,200)         (666,548)   
     

 

 

 
        (2,210,012)   
     

 

 

 

Materials (1.83%)

     

Anglo American PLC

     (70,903)         (1,493,214)   

Bemis Co., Inc.

     (30,000)         (1,154,100)   

BHP Billiton, Ltd.

     (34,880)         (1,042,385)   
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT (c)
   Shares      Value  

Materials (continued)

  

Glencore International PLC

     (327,960)         $(1,678,309)   
     

 

 

 
        (5,368,008)   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

(Proceeds $51,771,871)

  

  

     (53,564,047)   
     

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (19.43%)

 

Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund

     (99,300)         (6,679,911)   

iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

     (71,351)         (3,007,445)   

iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF

     (5,660)         (1,678,869)   

iShares® Russell 2000® ETF

     (156,679)         (18,262,504)   

Market Vectors®

Semiconductor ETF

     (146,100)         (7,512,462)   

Powershares QQQ ™ Trust Series 1

     (81,200)         (8,233,680)   

SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust

     (58,050)         (11,706,363)   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

(Proceeds $52,028,331)

  

  

     (57,081,234)   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

(Proceeds $103,800,202)

  

  

         $(110,645,281)   
     

 

 

 
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  19


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Equity Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

(a)

Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for written options, securities sold short or borrowings. As of October 31, 2014, the aggregate market value of those securities was $325,663,713 representing 110.83% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 6)

(b) 

Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of October 31, 2014.

(c) 

Non-income producing security.

(d) 

Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of October 31, 2014, these securities had an aggregate market value of $11,478,658 or 3.91% of net assets.

(e) 

Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of October 31, 2014, these securities had an aggregate market value of $774,153 or 0.26% of total net assets.

(f) 

Floating or variable rate security - rate disclosed as of October 31, 2014.

(g)

This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.

(h)

Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.

(i) 

Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts.

 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS

 

Counter Party    Reference Entity/Obligation    Notional
Amount
   Floating Rate
Paid by the Fund
   Floating
Rate Index
   Termination
Date
   Net Unrealized
Appreciation

Morgan Stanley

   Bharti Infratel, Ltd.      $     2,171,923      30 bps + 1D FEDEF    1D FEDEF    12/30/2014      $     408,068  

Morgan Stanley

  

Housing Development

Finance Corp.

       501,777      30 bps + 1D FEDEF    1D FEDEF    01/15/2016        155,243  
            $ 2,673,700                       $ 563,311  

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

20

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Opportunities Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

      Shares      Value  

COMMON STOCKS 115.18%

  

  

Consumer Discretionary 30.59%

  

  

Diversified Consumer Services 0.72%

   

  

Service Corp. International(a)(b)

     240,300         $5,255,361   
     

 

 

 

Hotels 2.52%

  

  

Melco Crown Entertainment, Ltd. - ADR(a)

     58,900         1,598,546   

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.(a)(b)

     178,100         3,426,644   

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.(a)(b)

     172,120         13,368,560   
     

 

 

 
             18,393,750   
     

 

 

 

Household Durables 8.58%

  

  

DR Horton, Inc.(a)(b)

     924,562         21,070,768   

Lennar Corp. - Class A(a)(b)

     460,000         19,816,800   

Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.

     1,723,046         2,577,298   

PulteGroup, Inc.(a)(b)

     435,069         8,348,974   

Sony Corp.

     146,000         2,693,185   

Toll Brothers,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     253,375         8,095,331   
     

 

 

 
        62,602,356   
     

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail 4.64%

  

  

Liberty Interactive Corp. -
Class A(a)(c)

     272,402         7,120,588   

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

     230,232         7,270,727   

Liberty Ventures - Series A(a)(b)(c)

     336,671         11,817,152   

Priceline Group,
Inc.(a)(c)

     6,349         7,658,227   
     

 

 

 
        33,866,694   
     

 

 

 

Media 6.82%

  

  

Charter Communications, Inc. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

     71,400         11,309,046   

Comcast Corp. - Class A(a)(b)

     227,200         12,575,520   

IMAX Corp.(a)(c)

     210,300         6,195,438   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class A(a)(b)(c)

     208,056         9,990,849   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class C(a)(b)(c)

     201,912         9,677,642   
     

 

 

 
        49,748,495   
     

 

 

 

Multiline Retailing 0.35%

  

  

Don Quijote Holdings Co., Ltd.

     43,300         2,540,370   
     

 

 

 

Specialty Retail 6.96%

  

  

AutoNation,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     249,509         14,286,885   

CarMax, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     373,300         20,871,203   
      Shares      Value  

Consumer Discretionary (continued)

  

  

Signet Jewelers,
Ltd.(a)(b)

     130,646         $15,678,827   
     

 

 

 
        50,836,915   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

  

     223,243,941   
     

 

 

 

Consumer Staples 1.37%

  

  

Brasil Pharma
S.A.(c)(d)

     1,040,742         1,524,635   

Hypermarcas S.A.(c)

     258,700         1,807,214   

M Dias Branco S.A.

     50,700         1,971,610   

Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.

     44,500         1,574,783   

Vinda International Holdings, Ltd.

     2,060,714         3,124,891   
     

 

 

 
             10,003,133   
     

 

 

 

Energy 8.41%

  

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(a)

     29,600         2,716,688   

Concho Resources, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     27,000         2,943,810   

Delek US Holdings, Inc.

     24,300         823,527   

EOG Resources, Inc.(a)

     24,600         2,338,230   

Halliburton Co.(a)(b)

     77,900         4,295,406   

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.(a)(b)

     27,000         2,344,140   

HollyFrontier Corp.

     30,900         1,402,242   

InterOil Corp.(a)(b)(c)

     68,694         3,890,828   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.(a)(b)

     79,900         7,262,910   

Nabors Industries,
Ltd.(a)(b)

     161,100         2,875,635   

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.(a)(b)

     114,900         2,646,147   

Penn Virginia
Corp.(a)(b)(c)

     154,806         1,326,687   

Phillips 66(a)(b)

     63,000         4,945,500   

Stone Energy
Corp.(a)(c)

     57,765         1,415,243   

Tesoro Corp.(a)

     81,900         5,848,479   

Valero Energy
Corp.(a)

     156,800         7,854,112   

Western Refining,
Inc.(a)

     140,800         6,419,072   
     

 

 

 
        61,348,656   
     

 

 

 

Financials 26.70%

  

  

Business Development Corporations 0.60%

   

  

Ares Capital Corp.(a)

     273,700         4,376,463   
     

 

 

 

Capital Markets 3.04%

  

  

CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. - Class H

     1,328,000         3,311,802   

Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. - Class H

     931,600         1,597,684   

Ladder Capital
Corp. - Class A(a)(c)

     123,096         2,337,593   

Morgan Stanley(a)(b)

     426,513         14,906,629   
     

 

 

 
        22,153,708   
     

 

 

 
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014   21


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Opportunities Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

      Shares      Value  

Financials (continued)

  

  

Commercial Banks 2.95%

  

  

First Republic
Bank(a)(b)

     283,700         $14,448,841   

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV - Class O

     447,444         2,867,496   

SunTrust Banks,
Inc.(a)(b)

     107,709         4,215,730   
     

 

 

 
        21,532,067   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financials 9.96%

  

  

Atlas Mara Co.-Nvest, Ltd.(c)(d)

     764,522         7,989,255   

Bank of America
Corp.(a)

     1,870,810         32,103,099   

Citigroup, Inc.(a)(b)

     609,262         32,613,795   
     

 

 

 
        72,706,149   
     

 

 

 

Insurance 4.14%

  

  

American International Group, Inc.(a)(b)

     259,600         13,906,772   

Genworth Financial, Inc. -
Class A(a)(b)(c)

     615,355         8,608,817   

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

     193,507         7,659,007   
     

 

 

 
        30,174,596   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts 3.91%

   

  

Colony Financial,
Inc.(a)

     200,800         4,473,824   

PennyMac Mortgage Investment
Trust(a)

     406,991         8,786,936   

Two Harbors Investment
Corp.(a)

     1,511,100         15,307,443   
     

 

 

 
        28,568,203   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development 0.62%

   

  

BHG S.A. - Brazil Hospitality
Group(c)

     249,677         1,803,632   

BR Properties S.A.

     332,500         1,680,011   

Leopalace21 Corp.(c)

     172,900         1,049,791   
     

 

 

 
        4,533,434   
     

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage
Finance 1.48%

  

  

MGIC Investment Corp.(a)(c)

     1,213,368         10,823,243   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

           194,867,863   
     

 

 

 

Health Care 18.65%

  

  

AbbVie, Inc.(a)(b)

     110,600         7,018,676   

Accuray, Inc.(c)

     189,100         1,197,003   

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     124,200         2,507,598   

Akorn, Inc.(a)(c)

     75,000         3,341,250   

Alkermes PLC(a)(b)(c)

     52,200         2,638,710   

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

     96,800         1,464,173   

Auris Medical Holding AG(a)(c)

     126,400         582,704   

Biogen Idec, Inc.(a)(c)

     24,340         7,815,087   
      Shares      Value  

Health Care (continued)

  

  

Bristol-Myers Squibb
Co.(a)(b)

     133,600         $7,774,184   

Centene Corp.(a)(c)

     16,885         1,564,733   

Cerner Corp.(a)(c)

     61,800         3,914,412   

Community Health Systems, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     97,400         5,354,078   

Endo International
PLC(a)(b)(c)

     69,700         4,664,324   

Flamel Technologies S.A. - Sponsored ADR(a)(c)

     151,072         1,843,078   

GW Pharmaceuticals PLC - ADR(a)(b)(c)

     71,000         5,236,250   

HCA Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     73,347         5,137,957   

Healthways, Inc.(c)

     181,963         2,820,426   

Hologic, Inc.(c)

     54,600         1,429,974   

Illumina, Inc.(c)

     15,700         3,023,506   

Intrexon Corp.(a)(c)

     311,540         6,953,573   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(c)

     6,000         2,974,800   

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     110,200         1,545,004   

Jazz Pharmaceuticals
PLC(a)(b)(c)

     23,743         4,008,768   

LifePoint Hospitals,
Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     98,076         6,865,320   

PAREXEL International Corp.(c)

     51,900         2,818,689   

Perrigo Co. PLC

     5,985         966,278   

Pfizer, Inc.(a)

     305,200         9,140,740   

Salix Pharmaceuticals,
Ltd.(a)(b)(c)

     25,190         3,623,582   

Sanofi - ADR(a)

     118,350         5,472,504   

Select Medical Holdings Corp.

     66,683         961,569   

Shire PLC - ADR(a)

     43,200         8,631,360   

Team Health Holdings,
Inc.(a)(c)

     65,193         4,077,170   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.(c)

     51,800         4,357,416   

Veracyte, Inc.(a)(c)

     275,197         2,220,840   

WellPoint, Inc.(a)

     17,250         2,185,403   
     

 

 

 
           136,131,139   
     

 

 

 

Industrials 12.11%

  

  

Allegion PLC(a)

     195,400         10,373,786   

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)(d)

     503,910         16,366,997   

Armstrong World Industries, Inc.(c)

     46,200         2,237,004   

CIRCOR International,
Inc.(a)

     13,000         976,950   

FANUC Corp.

     16,100         2,740,548   

FLIR Systems, Inc.(a)(b)

     319,800         10,722,894   

GEA Group AG

     134,915         6,203,970   

IHI Corp.

     470,000         2,205,119   

Kirby Corp.(c)

     45,200         4,998,216   

Localiza Rent A Car S.A.

     123,700         1,783,189   

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

     768,000         4,673,980   

Roper Industries, Inc.(a)

     52,300         8,279,090   

TransDigm Group, Inc.

     12,880         2,408,946   

ViaSat, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     171,335         10,732,424   
 

 

22

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Opportunities Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

      Shares      Value  

Industrials (continued)

  

  

Wesco Aircraft Holdings,
Inc.(a)(c)

     208,300         $3,697,325   
     

 

 

 
        88,400,438   
     

 

 

 

Information Technology 14.70%

  

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. - Sponsored ADR(a)(b)(c)

     43,300         4,269,380   

Apple, Inc.(a)

     25,700         2,775,600   

Applied Materials, Inc.(a)

     144,600         3,194,214   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

     88,100         3,689,628   

eBay, Inc.(a)(b)(c)

     121,968         6,403,320   

EMC Corp.

     120,800         3,470,584   

EVERTEC, Inc.(a)

     157,945         3,585,351   

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, Ltd.(c)

     6,245,000         2,109,811   

Google, Inc. - Class A(a)(c)

     11,741         6,667,362   

Google, Inc. - Class C(a)(b)(c)

     13,423         7,504,531   

Hoya Corp.

     37,600         1,308,008   

Lam Research Corp.(a)(b)

     222,500         17,323,850   

NXP Semiconductor NV(a)(c)

     61,586         4,228,495   

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.(c)

     80,100         2,634,939   

RF Micro Devices, Inc.(c)

     36,600         476,166   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

     2,566         2,986,820   

Samsung SDS Co., Ltd.(c)(e)

     145         25,778   

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.(c)

     15,120,000         1,559,738   

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.(a)

     81,900         4,769,856   

Western Digital Corp.(a)(b)

     49,900         4,908,663   

Western Union Co.(a)(b)

     1,378,041         23,371,575   
     

 

 

 
           107,263,669   
     

 

 

 

Materials 1.55%

  

  

Berry Plastics Group,
Inc.(a)(c)

     212,253         5,522,823   

Graphic Packaging Holding
Co.(a)(b)(c)

     475,732         5,770,629   
     

 

 

 
        11,293,452   
     

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services 1.10%

  

  

China Mobile, Ltd.

     187,500         2,333,127   

KT Corp.

     67,000         2,056,273   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

     59,900         3,675,324   
     

 

 

 
        8,064,724   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

  

  

(Cost $797,930,713)

  

     840,617,015   
     

 

 

 
      Shares      Value  

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 1.74%

  

  

CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF

     4,136,200         $4,981,478   

SPDR® Gold Shares(a)(c)

     68,410         7,707,070   
     

 

 

 
        12,688,548   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

(Cost $13,958,512)

  

  

          12,688,548   
     

 

 

 

WARRANTS 0.03%

  

  

Brasil Pharma S.A., Strike price 5.50 (BRL), Expires 6/24/2016(c)(e)

     104,241         12,200   
     

 

 

 

Atlas Mara Co.-Nvest, Ltd., Strike price $11.50, Expires 12/17/2017(c)(d)

     487,322         194,929   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL WARRANTS

(Cost $4,873)

  

  

     207,129   
     

 

 

 

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
     Value  

CORPORATE BONDS 6.28%

  

  

Bank of America Corp.

     

Series V, Perpetual Maturity, 5.125%(a)(f)(g)

     $7,200,000         7,020,000   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     

08/01/2042, 3.250%

     3,200,000         2,744,317   

Citigroup, Inc.

     

Series N, Perpetual Maturity, 5.800%(f)(g)

     3,050,000         3,063,725   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

     

11/15/2021, 2.450%

     3,050,000         3,031,392   

Fifth Third Bancorp

     

Series J, Perpetual Maturity, 4.900%(a)(f)(g)

     5,200,000         5,143,060   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     

Series V, Perpetual Maturity, 5.000%(a)(f)(g)

     7,800,000         7,712,250   

Morgan Stanley

     

Series H, Perpetual Maturity, 5.450%(a)(f)(g)

     5,400,000         5,432,065   

Provident Bank of Maryland

     

05/01/2018, 9.500%(a) 

     4,000,000         4,000,000   

Stifel Financial Corp.

     

07/18/2024, 4.250%(a) 

     4,800,000         4,876,032   
 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  23


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Opportunities Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
     Value  

CORPORATE BONDS (continued)

  

  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 04/11/2043, 4.000%(a)

     $2,800,000         $2,811,584   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS

(Cost $45,919,381)

  

  

          45,834,425   
     

 

 

 

ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES 8.64%

   

  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. REMICS

   

  

Series 2013-4185, Class PB,
03/15/2043, 3.000%(a)

     2,400,000         2,330,846   

Federal National Mortgage Association REMICS

   

  

Series 2013-100, Class MS,
06/25/2043,
3.848%(a)(f)

     2,828,997         2,742,311   

Series 2013-67, Class BP,
07/25/2043, 3.000%(a)

     5,170,000         5,029,443   

Series 2013-132, Class LB,
01/25/2044, 3.000%

     3,151,680         3,129,798   

Series 2014-26, Class YW,
04/25/2044, 3.500%

     1,375,538         1,393,065   

Government National Mortgage Association

  

  

Series 2014-86, Class A,
11/16/2040, 2.650%

     1,629,021         1,658,535   

Series 2014-112, Class AB,
12/16/2040, 2.350%

     4,873,588         4,970,690   

Series 2014-81, Class EC,
12/20/2042, 2.000%

     4,928,170         4,762,697   

Series 2014-54, Class AB,
10/16/2043, 2.619%

     5,550,240         5,643,101   

Series 2014-28, Class A,
01/16/2046, 2.000%

     2,174,883         2,184,822   

Series 2014-134, Class A,
09/16/2047,
3.100%(a)(f)

     6,990,322         7,162,543   

Series 2014-120, Class A,
04/16/2056, 2.800%(f)

     3,983,131         4,066,402   

Series 2014-120, Class AC,
04/16/2056, 2.650%(f)

     6,608,528         6,635,966   

Small Business Administration Participation Certificates

   

  

Series 2012-20J, Class 1,
10/01/2032, 2.180%

     8,290,489         8,107,875   

Series 2013-20E, Class 1,
05/01/2033, 2.070%

     3,373,172         3,264,300   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSET/MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES

(Cost $63,011,758)

   

  

     63,082,394   
     

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 8.14%

   

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds

     

05/15/2024, 2.500% (a)

     6,100,000         6,197,698   

05/15/2030, 6.250% (a)

     4,900,000         7,133,709   

Description and

Maturity Date

   Principal
Amount
    Value  

GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (continued)

   

 

02/15/2031, 5.375% (a)

     $4,900,000        $6,623,423   

02/15/2038, 4.375% (a)

     6,350,000        7,900,295   

11/15/2041, 3.125% (a)

     6,000,000        6,112,500   

02/15/2042, 3.125% (a)

     13,000,000        13,217,347   

11/15/2042, 2.750% (a)

     13,000,000             12,226,097   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS

(Cost $58,503,906)

   

  

    59,411,069   
    

 

 

 
      Number of
Contracts
    Value  

PURCHASED OPTIONS 0.01%

  

 

Call Options Purchased 0.01%

  

 

AstraZeneca PLC, Expires January 2015, Exercise Price $77.50

     350        67,375   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL Call Options Purchased

(Cost $170,205)

  

  

    67,375   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL PURCHASED OPTIONS

(Cost $170,205)

  

  

    67,375   
    

 

 

 
      Principal
Amount
    Value  

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 2.19%

  

 

U.S. Treasury Bills 2.19%

  

 

U.S. Treasury Bills Discount Notes

    

11/28/2014, 0.040%(a)(h)

     $10,000,000        9,999,700   

02/26/2015, 0.015%(a)(h)

     6,000,000        5,999,616   
    

 

 

 
       15,999,316   
    

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

(Cost $15,999,398)

  

  

    15,999,316   
    

 

 

 

Total Investments - 142.21%

(Cost $995,498,746)

  

  

      1,037,907,271   
    

 

 

 

Liabilities in Excess of Other
Assets - (42.21%)(i) 

   

    (308,052,202
    

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.00%

       $729,855,069   
    

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN
OPTIONS
   Number of
Contracts
    Value  

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN (0.03%)

  

 

Service Corp. International, Expires December, 2014, Exercise Price $22.50

     (850     $(40,375)   
 

 

24

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Clough Global Opportunities Fund

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN
OPTIONS
   Number of
Contracts
    Value  

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN (continued)

  

 

Signet Jewelers, Ltd., Expires
November, 2014, Exercise
Price $115.00

     (358     $(214,800
    

 

 

 

TOTAL CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN

(Premiums received $148,937)

  

  

    (255,175
    

 

 

 

TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS

(Premiums received $148,937)

  

  

    $(255,175
    

 

 

 
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT (c)
   Shares     Value  

COMMON STOCKS (18.33%)

 

 

Consumer Discretionary (1.55%)

 

 

Auto Components (0.51%)

  

 

Johnson Controls, Inc.

     (78,300         $(3,699,675
    

 

 

 

Hotels (0.59%)

  

 

Wynn Resorts, Ltd.

     (22,700     (4,313,227
    

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog
Retail (0.45%)

  

 

Expedia, Inc.

     (38,800     (3,296,836
    

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

   

    (11,309,738
    

 

 

 

Financials (3.43%)

 

 

Capital Markets (1.33%)

 

 

Deutsche Bank AG

     (138,900     (4,350,348

Mediobanca SpA

     (606,328     (5,333,930
    

 

 

 
       (9,684,278
    

 

 

 

Commercial Banks (1.11%)

 

 

BNP Paribas S.A.

     (39,800     (2,500,748

Credit Agricole S.A.

     (156,621     (2,314,997

Societe Generale S.A.

     (32,840     (1,580,908

UniCredit SpA

     (236,476     (1,706,916
    

 

 

 
       (8,103,569
    

 

 

 

Diversified Financials (0.77%)

  

 

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

     (7,338     (1,528,432

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

     (94,067     (4,069,338
    

 

 

 
       (5,597,770
    

 

 

 

Insurance (0.22%)

  

 

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

     (9,373     (1,599,503
    

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

  

    (24,985,120
    

 

 

 

Health Care (8.63%)

 

 

Amgen, Inc.

     (21,800     (3,535,524

athenahealth, Inc.

     (73,978     (9,062,305

Cigna Corp.

     (59,300     (5,904,501
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES
SOLD SHORT(c)
   Shares     Value  

Health Care (continued)

  

 

CR Bard, Inc.

     (19,110     $(3,133,467

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

     (16,800     (1,881,600

Hospira, Inc.

     (83,200     (4,467,840

Humana, Inc.

     (42,800     (5,942,780

Merck & Co., Inc.

     (123,100     (7,132,414

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

     (110,100     (7,065,117

Stryker Corp.

     (48,772     (4,269,013

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     (59,700     (5,672,097

Waters Corp.

     (44,432     (4,923,066
    

 

 

 
       (62,989,724
    

 

 

 

Industrials (2.13%)

 

 

Caterpillar, Inc.

     (42,100     (4,269,361

Emerson Electric Co.

     (67,300     (4,311,238

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC

     (126,000     (1,699,162

Rolls-Royce Holdings Preference -
C Shares(e)

     (11,340,000     (18,140

Sandvik AB

     (202,357     (2,217,003

SPX Corp.

     (32,200     (3,052,238
    

 

 

 
       (15,567,142
    

 

 

 

Information Technology (0.76%)

  

 

Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd.

     (193,800     (3,854,682

Paychex, Inc.

     (35,400     (1,661,676
    

 

 

 
       (5,516,358
    

 

 

 

Materials (1.83%)

 

 

Anglo American PLC

     (176,509     (3,717,272

Bemis Co., Inc.

     (74,700     (2,873,709

BHP Billiton, Ltd.

     (86,851     (2,595,533

Glencore International PLC

     (818,698     (4,189,619
    

 

 

 
       (13,376,133
    

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Proceeds $129,219,132)

   

        (133,744,215
    

 

 

 

EXCHANGE TRADED
FUNDS (19.72%)

 

 

Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund

     (248,000     (16,682,960

iShares® MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

     (179,006     (7,545,103

iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF

     (14,150     (4,197,173

iShares® Russell 2000® ETF

     (388,124     (45,239,733

Market Vectors® Semiconductor ETF

     (365,100     (18,773,442

Powershares QQQ™ Trust Series 1

     (202,800     (20,563,920

SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust

     (153,350     (30,924,561
    

 

 

 
 

 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  25


Statement of Investments

   Clough Global Opportunities Fund
October 31, 2014   

    

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD
SHORT (c)
         Value  

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

  

(Proceeds $130,820,408)

   $ (143,926,892
     

 

 

 

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

  

(Proceeds $260,039,540)

   $ (277,671,107
     

 

 

 

 

(a) 

Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for written options, securities sold short or borrowings. As of October 31, 2014, the aggregate market value of those securities was $813,374,275 representing 111.44% of net assets. (See Note 1 and Note 6)

(b) 

Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of October 31, 2014.

(c) 

Non-income producing security.

(d) 

Security exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of October 31, 2014, these securities had an aggregate market value of $26,075,816 or 3.57% of net assets.

(e) 

Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of October 31, 2014, these securities had an aggregate market value of $19,838 or 0.00% of total net assets.

(f) 

Floating or variable rate security - rate disclosed as of October 31, 2014.

(g) 

This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.

(h) 

Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.

(i) 

Includes cash which is being held as collateral for total return swap contracts.

 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS

 

Counter Party   

Reference

Entity/Obligation

   Notional
Amount
     Floating Rate
Paid by the Fund
     Floating
Rate Index
     Termination Date    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
       

Morgan Stanley

  

Bharti Infratel, Ltd.

     $  5,694,681         30 bps + 1D FEDEF         1D FEDEF       12/30/2014      $  1,069,934      

Morgan Stanley

   Housing Development Finance Corp.      1,249,187         30 bps + 1D FEDEF         1D FEDEF       01/15/2016      386,482        
        $  6,943,868                  $  1,456,416      

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

 

26

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Clough Global Funds

   Statement of Investments
   October 31, 2014

    

 

Abbreviations:

1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)

AB - Aktiebolag is the Swedish equivalent of the term corporation

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

AG - Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e., owned by shareholders

Bps - Basis Points

BRL - Brazilian Real

ETF - Exchange Traded Fund

FTSE - Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange

Ltd. - Limited

MSCI - Morgan Stanley Capital International

NV - Naamloze Vennootschap (Dutch: Limited Liability Company)

PLC - Public Limited Liability

REMICS - Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits

S.A. - Generally designates corporations in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law

SpA - Societa` Per Azioni is an Italian shared company

SAB de CV - Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable (Spanish Variable Capital Company)

S&P - Standard & Poor’s

SPDR - Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipt

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

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  27


Statements of Assets and Liabilities

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

      Clough Global
Allocation Fund
     Clough Global
Equity Fund
     Clough Global
Opportunities Fund

ASSETS:

           

Investments, at value (Cost - see below)*

   $     251,545,557       $     414,744,419       $     1,037,907,271      

Cash

     2,922,613         11,681,004         24,056,821      

Foreign Currency, at value (Cost $1,592,649, $3,218,874 and $6,675,208)

     1,573,995         3,176,768         6,567,885      

Deposit with broker for written options and securities sold short

     65,259,739         109,054,858         271,825,263      

Deposit with broker for total return swap contracts

     1,949,357         3,160,155         8,202,353      

Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts

     346,383         563,311         1,456,416      

Dividends receivable

     137,086         240,271         573,814      

Interest receivable

     400,437         450,608         1,540,991      

Receivable for investments sold

     19,940,191         29,313,183         78,400,905        

Total Assets

     344,075,358         572,384,577         1,430,531,719        

LIABILITIES:

           

Loan payable

     93,300,000         156,000,000         388,900,000      

Interest due on loan payable

     4,832         8,079         20,141      

Securities sold short (Proceeds $62,516,682, $103,800,202 and $260,039,540)

     66,704,658         110,645,281         277,671,107      

Written options, at value (Premiums received $34,512, $74,170 and $148,937)

     58,700         104,365         255,175      

Payable for investments purchased

     6,704,202         11,136,926         32,080,280      

Dividends payable - short sales

     3,512         5,867         14,624      

Interest payable - margin account

     26,975         44,839         112,319      

Accrued investment advisory fee

     205,615         438,926         1,218,399      

Accrued administration fee

     83,715         156,063         389,888      

Accrued trustees fee

     14,552         14,552         14,552      

Other payables and accrued expenses

     164         190         165        

Total Liabilities

     167,106,925         278,555,088         700,676,650        

Net Assets

   $ 176,968,433       $ 293,829,489       $ 729,855,069        

Cost of Investments

   $ 239,292,688       $ 393,162,198       $ 995,498,746      

 

COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS:

           

Paid-in capital

   $ 166,087,962       $ 266,419,903       $ 714,484,492      

Overdistributed net investment income

     (421,661)         (689,161)         (4,172,614)      

Accumulated net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities, written options, securities sold short, total return swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     2,938,287         12,878,552         (6,457,355)      

Net unrealized appreciation in value of investment securities, written options, securities sold short, total return swap contracts and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency

     8,363,845         15,220,195         26,000,546        

Net Assets

   $ 176,968,433       $ 293,829,489       $ 729,855,069      

 

Shares of common stock outstanding of no par value, unlimited shares authorized

     10,434,606         17,840,705         51,736,859      

 

Net assets value per share

   $ 16.96       $ 16.47       $ 14.11      

 

*   Securities Loaned, at value

   $ 87,663,637       $ 147,927,038       $ 365,496,770      

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

28

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Clough Global Funds

   Statements of Operations
  

    

 

     Clough Global Allocation Fund    Clough Global Equity Fund   Clough Global
Opportunities Fund
    
     

For the
Period Ended

October 31,
2014(a)

   For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
   For the
Period Ended
October 31,
2014(a)
  For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
  For the
Period Ended
October 31,
2014(a)
   For the
Year Ended
March 31,
2014
    

INVESTMENT INCOME:

  

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $24,897, $43,260, $45,163, $75,463, $103,710 and $182,695)

     $   1,555,497         $   2,404,817         $   2,818,563        $   4,306,515        $   6,503,341         $   9,635,289     

Interest on investment securities

       606,431          800,213          604,112         818,628         2,431,838          3,249,449    

Hypothecated securities income (See Note 6)

       50,985          222,440          82,296         373,396         212,889          1,012,655      

Total Income

       2,212,913          3,427,470          3,504,971         5,498,539         9,148,068          13,897,393      

EXPENSES:

                             

Investment advisory fee

       1,431,968          2,439,482          3,071,654         5,208,740         8,500,818          14,660,276    

Administration fee

       583,015          993,217          1,092,144         1,851,996         2,720,262          4,691,289    

Interest on loan

       542,141          922,380          906,474         1,518,062         2,259,793          3,956,800    

Interest expense - margin account

       236,898          400,975          397,041         672,991         988,135          1,684,402    

Trustees fee

       80,030          133,372          80,030         133,372         80,030          133,371    

Dividend expense - short sales

       540,806          1,236,143          902,180         2,070,138         2,258,108          5,201,889    

Other expenses

       9,835          2,650          15,576         2,631         36,908          2,875      

Total Expenses

       3,424,693          6,128,219          6,465,099         11,457,930         16,844,054          30,330,902      

Net Investment Loss

       (1,211,780)           (2,700,749)           (2,960,128 )       (5,959,391 )       (7,695,986)           (16,433,509)       

NET REALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON:

  

                   

Investment securities

       9,263,719           33,757,575           21,552,419          59,677,261          56,231,878           154,280,979     

Securities sold short

       (4,048,850)           (11,724,746)           (6,922,240)          (19,377,471)          (16,856,654)           (49,230,469)     

Written options

       1,626,786           1,157,134           2,711,856          2,132,270          6,494,088           2,518,366     

Total return swap contracts

       127,759           (397,065)           208,335          (778,872)          536,860           (1,681,206)     

Foreign currency transactions

       (1,107,584)           (1,364,844)           (1,873,544)          (2,282,452)          (4,657,276)           (5,764,401)     

NET CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION/(DEPRECIATION) ON:

  

          

Investment securities

       (3,767,515)           1,545,066           (13,626,546)          7,138,315          (33,118,469)           1,301,682     

Securities sold short

       776,488           (3,663,378)           1,519,793          (6,297,210)          3,202,670           (15,531,017)     

Written options

       (262,076)           237,888           (426,675)          396,480          (1,057,790)           951,552     

Total return swap contracts

       527,780           387,137           850,925          912,341          2,223,549           1,634,232     

Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

       (23,378)           1,667           (49,915)          2,278          (126,915)           6,869       

Net gain on investment securities, securities sold short, written options, total return swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

       3,113,129           19,936,434           3,944,408          41,522,940          12,871,941           88,686,587       

Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares from Operations

     $   1,901,349         $ 17,235,685         $      984,280        $ 35,563,549        $   5,175,955         $ 72,253,078       
                                                                       

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  29


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

   Clough Global Allocation Fund
  

    

 

      For the Period
Ended
October 31,
2014(a)
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
      

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OPERATIONS:

  

 

Net investment loss

   $ (1,211,780   $ (2,700,749   $ (69,712  

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

        

Investment securities

     9,263,719        33,757,575        24,958,582     

Securities sold short

     (4,048,850     (11,724,746     3,273,485     

Written options

     1,626,786        1,157,134        1,756,731     

Total return swap contracts

     127,759        (397,065     (112,013  

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,107,584     (1,364,844     (736,407  

Net change in urealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investment securities

     (3,767,515     1,545,066        (2,632,864  

Securities sold short

     776,488        (3,663,378     (2,291,702  

Written options

     (262,076     237,888        135,484     

Total return swap contracts

     527,780        387,137        (568,534  

Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     (23,378     1,667        (2,585    

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

     1,901,349        17,235,685        23,710,465       

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:

  

 

Net investment income

     (1,428,310     (2,508,129     (9,391,145  

Net realized gains

     (6,241,125     (13,300,299     (3,130,382  

Net Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions

     (7,669,435     (15,808,428     (12,521,527    

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares

     (5,768,086     1,427,257        11,188,938       

NET ASSETS ATTRIBUABLE TO COMMON SHARES:

  

 

Beginning of period

     182,736,519        181,309,262        170,120,324     

End of period*

   $     176,968,433      $     182,736,519      $     181,309,262       

 

*Includes Overdistributed Net Investment Income of:

   $ (421,661   $ (25,714   $ (1,019,963    

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

30

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Equity Fund

   Statements of Changes in Net Assets
  

    

 

      For the Period
Ended
October 31,
2014(a)
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
      

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OPERATIONS:

        

Net investment loss

   $ (2,960,128   $ (5,959,391   $ (983,944  

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

        

Investment securities

     21,552,419        59,677,261        40,944,160     

Securities sold short

     (6,922,240     (19,377,471     5,058,198     

Written options

     2,711,856        2,132,270        2,891,304     

Total return swap contracts

     208,335        (778,872     (174,134  

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,873,544     (2,282,452     (1,185,512  

Net change in urealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investment securities

     (13,626,546     7,138,315        (1,538,547  

Securities sold short

     1,519,793        (6,297,210     (3,687,914  

Written options

     (426,675     396,480        223,842     

Total return swap contracts

     850,925        912,341        (1,199,955  

Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     (49,915     2,278        (4,143    

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

     984,280        35,563,549        40,343,355       

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:

        

Net investment income

     (1,468,195     (6,725,986     (15,521,413  

Net realized gains

     (11,644,723     (19,589,053     (5,173,804  

Net Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions

     (13,112,918     (26,315,039     (20,695,217    

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares

     (12,128,638     9,248,510        19,648,138       

NET ASSETS ATTRIBUABLE TO COMMON SHARES:

  

     

Beginning of period

     305,958,127        296,709,617        277,061,479     

End of period*

   $ 293,829,489      $ 305,958,127      $ 296,709,617       

 

*Includes Overdistributed Net Investment Income of:

   $ (689,161   $ (58,333   $ (2,013,693    

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  31


Statements of Changes in Net Assets

   Clough Global Opportunities Fund
  

    

 

      For the Period
Ended
October 31,
2014(a)
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
      

COMMON SHAREHOLDERS OPERATIONS:

        

Net investment loss

   $ (7,695,986   $ (16,433,509   $ (4,407,866  

Net realized gain/(loss) from:

        

Investment securities

     56,231,878        154,280,979        85,789,337     

Securities sold short

     (16,856,654     (49,230,469     14,018,291     

Written options

     6,494,088        2,518,366        7,011,300     

Total return swap contracts

     536,860        (1,681,206     (473,796  

Foreign currency transactions

     (4,657,276     (5,764,401     (3,066,474  

Net change in urealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:

        

Investment securities

     (33,118,469     1,301,682        9,736,891     

Securities sold short

     3,202,670        (15,331,017     (9,730,672  

Written options

     (1,057,790     951,552        650,071     

Total return swap contracts

     2,223,549        1,634,232        (2,401,365  

Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     (126,915     6,869        (11,019    

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

     5,175,955        72,253,078        97,114,698       

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:

        

Net investment income

            (5,714,309     (55,875,807  

Net realized gains

     (34,405,011     (64,906,503         

Net Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions

     (34,405,011     (70,620,812     (55,875,807    

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares

     (29,229,056     1,632,266        41,238,891       

NET ASSETS ATTRIBUABLE TO COMMON SHARES:

        

Beginning of period

     759,084,125        757,451,859        716,212,968     

End of period*

   $ 729,855,069      $ 759,084,125      $ 757,451,859       

 

*Includes Overdistributed Net Investment Income of:

   $ (4,172,614   $ (4,669,930   $ (5,320,120    

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

32

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Allocation Fund

   Statements of Cash Flows
  

    

 

      For the Period Ended
October 31, 2014(a)
    For the Year Ended
March 31, 2014

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net increase in net assets from operations

     $          1,901,349        $        17,235,685     

Adjustments to reconcile net increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Purchase of investment securities

     (278,684,960)        (433,037,075)     

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     263,154,912        479,320,220     

Proceeds from securities sold short transactions

     154,382,138        229,586,058     

Cover securities sold short transactions

     (154,963,119)        (248,043,344)     

Premiums received from written options transactions

     1,902,448        2,697,925     

Premiums paid on closing written options transactions

     (520,568)        (1,241,403)     

Purchased options transactions

     (4,271,226)        (6,057,666)     

Proceeds from purchased options transactions

     1,464,389        1,676,696     

Net proceeds from/(purchases of) short-term investment securities

     18,966,921        (2,778,652)     

Net realized gain from investment securities

     (9,263,719)        (33,757,575)     

Net realized loss on securities sold short

     4,048,850        11,724,746     

Net realized gain on written options

     (1,626,786)        (1,157,134)     

Net realized (gain)/loss on total return swap contracts

     (127,759)        397,065     

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     1,006,549        1,202,318     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on investment securities

     3,767,515        (1,545,066)     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on securities sold short

     (776,488)        3,663,378     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on written options

     262,076        (237,888)     

Net change in unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts

     (527,780)        (387,137)     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     23,378        (1,667)     

Net receipts from/(payments on) total return swap contracts

     127,759        (397,065)     

Discount and premiums amortized

     36,093        224,315     

(Increase)/Decrease in deposits with broker for written options and securities sold short

     9,498,965        (5,686,565)     

Decrease in deposits with broker for total return swap contracts

     312,663        1,588,719     

(Increase)/Decrease in dividends receivable

     148,011        (83,052)     

Increase in interest receivable

     (28,655)        (6,036)     

Decrease in due to custodian for foreign currency

     (162,757)        (439,957)     

Decrease in interest due on loan payable

     (5,355)        (2,694)     

Increase/(Decrease) in dividends payable - short sales

     (94,206)        68,441     

Increase/(Decrease) in interest payable - margin account

     (9,129)        5,348     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued investment advisory fee

     (5,853)        9,688     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued administration fee

     (2,383)        3,945     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued trustees fee

     12,052        (2,471)     

Increase/(Decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses

     (56)        180       

Net cash provided by operating activities

     9,945,269        14,542,280       

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net proceeds from bank borrowing

            3,500,000     

Cash distributions paid

     (7,669,435     (15,808,428    

Net cash used in financing activities

     (7,669,435     (12,308,428    

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     (23,378     1,667       

Net Change in Cash and Foreign Rates on Cash and Foreign Currency

     2,252,456        2,235,519       

Cash and foreign currency, beginning of period

     $          2,244,152        $8,633       

Cash and foreign currency, end of period

     $          4,496,608        $          2,244,152     

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Cash paid during the period for interest from bank borrowing:

     $             547,496        $             925,074     

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  33


Statements of Cash Flows

   Clough Global Equity Fund
  

    

 

      For the Period Ended
October 31, 2014(a)
    For the Year Ended
March 31, 2014

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net increase in net assets from operations

     $             984,280        $        35,563,549     

Adjustments to reconcile net increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Purchase of investment securities

     (437,511,856)        (686,514,711)     

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     441,299,401        759,969,777     

Proceeds from securities sold short transactions

     257,539,309        383,510,232     

Cover securities sold short transactions

     (259,621,421)        (415,504,252)     

Premiums received from written options transactions

     3,193,533        4,491,177     

Premiums paid on closing written options transactions

     (901,452)        (1,859,927)     

Purchased options transactions

     (7,120,342)        (10,096,110)     

Proceeds from purchased options transactions

     2,438,795        2,794,493     

Net proceeds from/(purchases of) short-term investment securities

     10,368,604        (2,637,130)     

Net realized gain from investment securities

     (21,552,419)        (59,677,261)     

Net realized loss on securities sold short

     6,922,240        19,377,471     

Net realized gain on written options

     (2,711,856)        (2,132,270)     

Net realized (gain)/loss on total return swap contracts

     (208,335)        778,872     

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     1,698,731        2,000,002     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on investment securities

     13,626,546        (7,138,315)     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on securities sold short

     (1,519,793)        6,297,210     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on written options

     426,675        (396,480)     

Net change in unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts

     (850,925)        (912,341)     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     49,915        (2,278)     

Net receipts from/(payments on) total return swap contracts

     208,335        (778,872)     

Discount and premiums amortized

     48,197        199,371     

(Increase)/Decrease in deposits with broker for written options and securities sold short

     17,018,007        (10,978,765)     

Decrease in deposits with broker for total return swap contracts

     526,938        5,535,847     

(Increase)/Decrease in dividends receivable

     275,884        (148,245)     

(Increase)/Decrease in interest receivable

     28,389        (40,602)     

Decrease in due to custodian for foreign currency

     (264,940)        (743,902)     

Decrease in interest due on loan payable

     (8,954)        (4,053)     

Increase/(Decrease) in dividends payable - short sales

     (155,576)        113,869     

Increase/(Decrease) in interest payable - margin account

     (15,802)        18,144     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued investment advisory fee

     (14,468)        25,541     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued administration fee

     (5,143)        9,080     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued trustees fee

     12,052        (2,471)     

Increase/(Decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses

     (30)        180       

Net cash provided by operating activities

     24,202,519        21,116,830       

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net proceeds from bank borrowing

            9,000,000     

Cash distributions paid

     (13,112,918     (26,315,039    

Net cash used in financing activities

     (13,112,918     (17,315,039    

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     (49,915     2,278       

Net Change in Cash and Foreign Rates on Cash and Foreign Currency

     11,039,686        3,804,069       

Cash and foreign currency, beginning of period

     $          3,818,086        $               14,017       

Cash and foreign currency, end of period

     $        14,857,772        $          3,818,086     

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Cash paid during the period for interest from bank borrowing:

     $             915,428        $          1,522,115     

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

34

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Opportunities Fund

   Statements of Cash Flows
  

    

 

      For the Period Ended
October 31, 2014(a)
    For the Year Ended
March 31, 2014

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

      

Net increase in net assets from operations

     $            5,175,955        $          72,253,078     

Adjustments to reconcile net increase/(decrease) in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Purchase of investment securities

     (1,163,294,559)        (1,792,763,035)     

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities

     1,119,857,477        2,011,048,103     

Proceeds from securities sold short transactions

     641,333,119        974,663,385     

Cover securities sold short transactions

     (645,276,387)        (1,054,593,097)     

Premiums received from written options transactions

     7,649,669        9,640,740     

Premiums paid on closing written options transactions

     (2,191,650)        (5,924,822)     

Purchased options transactions

     (17,558,651)        (21,691,930)     

Proceeds from purchased options transactions

     5,928,096        9,256,788     

Net proceeds from/(purchases of) short-term investment securities

     76,794,357        (15,607,391)     

Net realized gain from investment securities

     (56,231,878)        (154,280,979)     

Net realized loss on securities sold short

     16,856,654        49,230,469     

Net realized gain on written options

     (6,494,088)        (2,518,366)     

Net realized (gain)/loss on total return swap contracts

     (536,860)        1,681,206     

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     4,219,901        5,074,913     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on investment securities

     33,118,469        (1,301,682)     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on securities sold short

     (3,202,670)        15,331,017     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on written options

     1,057,790        (951,552)     

Net change in unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts

     (2,223,549)        (1,634,232)     

Net change in unrealized (appreciation)/depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies

     126,915        (6,869)     

Net receipts from/(payments on) total return swap contracts

     536,860        (1,681,206)     

Discount and premiums amortized

     130,834        1,031,400     

(Increase)/Decrease in deposits with broker for written options and securities sold short

     38,633,791        (21,734,902)     

Decrease in deposits with broker for total return swap contracts

     1,303,632        7,614,521     

(Increase)/Decrease in dividends receivable

     621,241        (342,904)     

(Increase)/Decrease in interest receivable

     (92,907)        288,139     

Decrease in due to custodian for foreign currency

     (673,983)        (1,778,416)     

Decrease in interest due on loan payable

     (22,321)        (13,324)     

Increase/(Decrease) in dividends payable - short sales

     (395,867)        286,565     

Increase/(Decrease) in interest payable - margin account

     (38,759)        20,766     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued investment advisory fee

     (38,942)        52,139     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued administration fee

     (12,461)        16,685     

Increase/(Decrease) in accrued trustees fee

     12,052        (2,471)     

Increase/(Decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses

     (55)        155       

Net cash provided by operating activities

     55,071,225        80,662,891       

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

  

   

Cash distributions paid

     (34,405,011     (70,620,812    

Net cash used in financing activities

     (34,405,011     (70,620,812    

Effect of exchange rates on cash

     (126,915     6,869       

Net Change in Cash and Foreign Rates on Cash and Foreign Currency

     20,539,299        10,048,948       

Cash and foreign currency, beginning of period

     $          10,085,407        $                 36,459       

Cash and foreign currency, end of period

     $          30,624,706        $          10,085,407       
                      

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

  

 

Cash paid during the period for interest from bank borrowing:

     $            2,282,114        $            3,970,124     

 

(a) 

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  35


Financial Highlights

   Clough Global Allocation Fund
For a share outstanding throughout the period/years indicated   

    

 

    

For the
Period Ended

October 31, 2014(1)

    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2012
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2011
    For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2010
 

PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:

  

   

Net asset value - beginning of period

    $17.51        $17.38        $16.30        $18.35        $16.90        $13.24   

Income from investment operations:

           

Net investment income/(loss)*

    (0.12)        (0.26)        (0.01)        0.26        0.38        0.32   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

    0.31        1.90        2.29        (1.11)        2.27        4.44   

Total Income from Investment Operations

    0.19        1.64        2.28        (0.85)        2.65        4.76   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

  

   

Net investment income

    (0.14)        (0.24)        (0.90)        (1.20)        (1.20)        (0.46)   

Net realized gains

    (0.60)        (1.27)        (0.30)                        

Tax return of capital

                                       (0.64)   

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

    (0.74)        (1.51)        (1.20)        (1.20)        (1.20)        (1.10)   

Net asset value - end of period

    $16.96        $17.51        $17.38        $16.30        $18.35        $16.90   
                                                 

Market price - end of period

    $14.60        $15.18        $15.07        $13.94        $16.24        $15.92   
                                                 

Total Investment Return - Net Asset Value:(2)

    1.68%        11.14%        16.19%        (3.48)%        17.30%        38.14%   

Total Investment Return - Market Price:(2)

    0.97%        11.12%        17.81%        (6.73)%        10.20%        61.32%   

RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

  

   

Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s)

    $176,968        $182,737        $181,309        $170,120        $191,502        $176,317   

Ratios to average net assets attributable to common shareholders:

           

Total expenses

    3.25% (3)      3.34%        3.24%        3.05%        2.87%        3.22%   

Total expenses excluding interest expense and dividends on short sales expense

    2.00% (3)      1.94%        1.93%        1.80%        1.74%        1.88%   

Net investment income/(loss)

    (1.15)% (3)      (1.47)%        (0.04)%        1.61%        2.28%        1.96%   

Portfolio turnover rate(4)

    110%        179%        250%        192%        172%        115%   

Borrowings at End of Period

  

   

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000s)

    $93,300        $93,300        $89,800        $89,800        $89,800        $89,800   

Asset Coverage Per $1,000 (000s)

    $2,897        $2,959        $3,019        $2,894        $3,133        $2,963   

 

*

Based on average shares outstanding.

(1)

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

(2)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at the closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at price obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Fund’s common shares. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Total returns for the period indicated are not annualized.

(3)

Annualized.

(4)

Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

36

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Clough Global Equity Fund

   Financial Highlights
   For a share outstanding throughout the period/years indicated

    

 

    

For the

Period Ended

October 31, 2014(1)

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2014

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2013

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2012

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2011

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2010

 

PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:

  

   

Net asset value - beginning of period

    $17.15        $16.63        $15.53        $17.62        $16.29        $12.28   

Income from investment operations:

  

     

Net investment income/(loss)*

    (0.17)        (0.33)        (0.06)        0.21        0.30        0.22   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

    0.23        2.33        2.32        (1.14)        2.19        4.82   

Total Income from Investment Operations

    0.06        2.00        2.26        (0.93)        2.49        5.04   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

  

   

Net investment income

    (0.08)        (0.38)        (0.87)        (1.14)        (1.16)        (0.39)   

Net realized gains

    (0.66)        (1.10)        (0.29)                        

Tax return of capital

                         (0.02)               (0.64)   

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

    (0.74)        (1.48)        (1.16)        (1.16)        (1.16)        (1.03)   

Net asset value - end of period

    $16.47        $17.15        $16.63        $15.53        $17.62        $16.29   
                                                 

Market price - end of period

    $14.34        $15.42        $14.70        $13.09        $15.37        $14.33   
                                                 

Total Investment Return - Net Asset Value:(2)

    0.86%        13.57%        16.90%        (4.08)%        17.05%        43.62%   

Total Investment Return - Market Price:(2)

    (2.33)%        15.52%        22.60%        (7.32)%        16.07%        58.80%   

RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

  

   

Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s)

    $293,829        $305,958        $296,710        $277,061        $314,355        $290,577   

Ratios to average net assets attributable to common shareholders:

           

Total expenses

    3.68% (3)      3.76%        3.67%        3.43%        3.23%        3.57%   

Total expenses excluding interest expense and dividends on short sales expense

    2.42% (3)      2.36%        2.35%        2.18%        2.10%        2.25%   

Net investment income/(loss)

    (1.68)% (3)      (1.95)%        (0.37)%        1.34%        1.87%        1.43%   

Portfolio turnover rate(4)

    102%        166%        250%        183%        173%        116%   

Borrowings at End of Period

  

   

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000s)

    $156,000        $156,000        $147,000        $147,000        $147,000        $147,000   

Asset Coverage Per $1,000 (000s)

    $2,884        $2,961        $3,018        $2,885        $3,138        $2,977   

 

*

Based on average shares outstanding.

(1)

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

(2)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at the closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at price obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Fund’s common shares. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Total returns for the period indicated are not annualized.

(3)

Annualized.

(4)

Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  37


Financial Highlights

   Clough Global Opportunities Fund
For a share outstanding throughout the period/years indicated   

    

 

    

For the

Period Ended

October 31, 2014(1)

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2014

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2013

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2012

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2011

   

For the

Year Ended

March 31, 2010

 

PER COMMON SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE:

  

   

Net asset value - beginning of period

    $14.67        $14.64        $13.84        $15.72        $14.68        $11.55   

Income from investment operations:

  

     

Net investment income/(loss)*

    (0.15)        (0.32)        (0.09)        0.14        0.25        0.17   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments

    0.26        1.72        1.97        (0.94)        1.87        3.94   

Total Income from Investment Operations

    0.11        1.40        1.88        (0.80)        2.12        4.11   

DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS FROM:

  

   

Net investment income

           (0.11)        (1.08)        (1.05)        (1.08)        (0.29)   

Net realized gains

    (0.67)        (1.26)                               

Tax return of capital

                         (0.03)               (0.69)   

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

    (0.67)        (1.37)        (1.08)        (1.08)        (1.08)        (0.98)   

Net asset value - end of period

    $14.11        $14.67        $14.64        $13.84        $15.72        $14.68   
                                                 

Market price - end of period

    $12.18        $12.75        $12.87        $11.78        $13.85        $13.04   
                                                 

Total Investment Return - Net Asset Value:(2)

    1.39%        11.26%        15.87%        (3.88)%        16.21%        37.93%   

Total Investment Return - Market Price:(2)

    0.70%        9.99%        19.67%        (7.14)%        15.27%        53.82%   

RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:

  

   

Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000s)

    $729,855        $759,084        $757,452        $716,213        $813,178        $759,601   

Ratios to average net assets attributable to common shareholders:

           

Total expenses

    3.86% (3)      3.97%        3.86%        3.61%        3.40%        3.72%   

Total expenses excluding interest expense and dividends on short sales expense

    2.60% (3)      2.55%        2.52%        2.35%        2.25%        2.39%   

Net investment income/(loss)

    (1.76)% (3)      (2.15)%        (0.64)%        1.04%        1.74%        1.19%   

Portfolio turnover rate(4)

    111%        178%        241%        193%        171%        115%   

Borrowings at End of Period

  

   

Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000s)

    $388,900        $388,900        $388,900        $388,900        $388,900        $388,900   

Asset Coverage Per $1,000 (000s)

    $2,877        $2,952        $2,948        $2,842        $3,091        $2,953   

 

*

Based on average shares outstanding.

(1)

The Board announced, on September 12, 2014, approval to change the fiscal year-end of the Fund from March 31 to October 31 (See Note 1).

(2)

Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at the closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at price obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Fund’s common shares. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Total returns for the period indicated are not annualized.

(3)

Annualized.

(4)

Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

38

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Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND OPERATING POLICIES

 

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, are closed-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). The Funds were organized under the laws of the state of Delaware by an Amended Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated April 27, 2004 and January 25, 2005, respectively for Clough Global Allocation Fund and Clough Global Equity Fund, and an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated January 12, 2006, for Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Funds were previously registered as non-diversified investment companies. As a result of ongoing operations, each of the Funds became a diversified company. The Funds may not resume operating in a non-diversified manner without first obtaining shareholder approval. Each Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of total return. Each Declaration of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The common shares of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund are listed on the NYSE MKT and trade under the ticker symbols “GLV”, “GLQ” and “GLO” respectively. The Board of Trustees of each Fund announced, on September 12, 2014, that it had approved a change to the Funds’ fiscal year-end from March 31 to October 31, therefore, this report is for the seven months ended October 31, 2014.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the financial statements may differ from the value the Funds ultimately realize upon sale of the securities. Each Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP. The financial statements have been prepared as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE” or the “Exchange”) on October 31, 2014.

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

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

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

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

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  39


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

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

 

Level 1 –  

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;

Level 2 –  

Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3 –  

Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of October 31, 2014, in valuing each Fund’s investments carried at value. The Funds recognize transfers between the levels as of the end of the period in which the transfer occurred. There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 during the period ended October 31, 2014.

Clough Global Allocation Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

   $ 53,490,168       $       $       $ 53,490,168       

Consumer Staples

     2,372,426                         2,372,426       

Energy

     14,706,980                         14,706,980       

Financials

     47,981,488                         47,981,488       

Health Care

     32,690,638                         32,690,638       

Industrials

     21,134,458                         21,134,458       

Information Technology

     25,809,309         6,222                 25,815,531       

Materials

     2,674,689                         2,674,689       

Telecommunication Services

     1,925,349                         1,925,349       

Exchange Traded Funds

     3,011,917                         3,011,917       

Warrants

     46,783         2,831                 49,614       

Corporate Bonds

             11,582,970                 11,582,970       

Asset/Mortgage Backed Securities

             15,385,310                 15,385,310       

Government & Agency Obligations

             15,224,175                 15,224,175       

Short-Term Investments

             3,499,844                 3,499,844       

 

 

TOTAL

   $     205,844,205       $     45,701,352       $                 –       $     251,545,557       

 

 

Other Financial Instruments

           

 

 

Assets

           

Total Return Swap Contracts**

   $       $ 346,383       $       $ 346,383       

Liabilities

           

Written Options

     (58,700)                         (58,700)       

Securities Sold Short

           

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

     (2,706,582)                         (2,706,582)       

Financials

     (6,010,300)                         (6,010,300)       

Health Care

     (15,169,104)                         (15,169,104)       

Industrials

     (3,753,140)         (4,362)                 (3,757,502)       

Information Technology

     (1,327,853)                         (1,327,853)       

Materials

     (3,216,542)                         (3,216,542)       

Exchange Traded Funds

     (34,516,775)                         (34,516,775)       

 

 

TOTAL

   $ (66,758,996)       $ 342,021       $       $ (66,416,975)       

 

 

 

40

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

   $ 97,661,108       $       $       $ 97,661,108       

Consumer Staples

     5,502,182                         5,502,182       

Energy

     25,734,800                         25,734,800       

Financials

     82,141,086                         82,141,086       

Health Care

     57,495,038         766,500                 58,261,538       

Industrials

     37,474,048                         37,474,048       

Information Technology

     47,494,652         10,311                 47,504,963       

Materials

     4,384,506                         4,384,506       

Telecommunication Services

     3,225,363                         3,225,363       

Exchange Traded Funds

     4,969,750                         4,969,750       

Warrants

     78,288         4,642                 82,930       

Corporate Bonds

             13,184,431                 13,184,431       

Asset/Mortgage Backed Securities

             4,856,805                 4,856,805       

Government & Agency Obligations

             22,261,219                 22,261,219       

Short-Term Investments

             7,499,690                 7,499,690       

 

 

TOTAL

   $     366,160,821       $     48,583,598       $                 –       $     414,744,419       

 

 

Other Financial Instruments

           

 

 

Assets

           

Total Return Swap Contracts**

   $       $ 563,311       $       $ 563,311       

Liabilities

           

Written Options

     (104,365)                         (104,365)       

Securities Sold Short

           

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

     (4,556,220)                         (4,556,220)       

Financials

     (9,968,194)                         (9,968,194)       

Health Care

     (25,214,514)                         (25,214,514)       

Industrials

     (6,239,799)         (7,300)                 (6,247,099)       

Information Technology

     (2,210,012)                         (2,210,012)       

Materials

     (5,368,008)                         (5,368,008)       

Exchange Traded Funds

     (57,081,234)                         (57,081,234)       

 

 

TOTAL

   $ (110,742,346)       $ 556,011       $       $ (110,186,335)       

 

 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  41


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

 

 

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

   $ 223,243,941       $       $       $ 223,243,941       

Consumer Staples

     10,003,133                         10,003,133       

Energy

     61,348,656                         61,348,656       

Financials

     194,867,863                         194,867,863       

Health Care

     136,131,139                         136,131,139       

Industrials

     88,400,438                         88,400,438       

Information Technology

     107,237,891         25,778                 107,263,669       

Materials

     11,293,452                         11,293,452       

Telecommunication Services

     8,064,724                         8,064,724       

Exchange Traded Funds

     12,688,548                         12,688,548       

Warrants

     194,929         12,200                 207,129       

Corporate Bonds

             45,834,425                 45,834,425       

Asset/Mortgage Backed Securities

             63,082,394                 63,082,394       

Government & Agency Obligations

             59,411,069                 59,411,069       

Purchased Options

     67,375                         67,375       

Short-Term Investments

             15,999,316                 15,999,316       

 

 

TOTAL

   $     853,542,089       $     184,365,182       $                 –       $     1,037,907,271       

 

 

Other Financial Instruments

           

 

 

Assets

           

Total Return Swap Contracts**

   $       $ 1,456,416       $       $ 1,456,416       

Liabilities

           

Written Options

     (255,175)                         (255,175)       

Securities Sold Short

           

Common Stocks

           

Consumer Discretionary

     (11,309,738)                         (11,309,738)       

Financials

     (24,985,120)                         (24,985,120)       

Health Care

     (62,989,724)                         (62,989,724)       

Industrials

     (15,549,002)         (18,140)                 (15,567,142)       

Information Technology

     (5,516,358)                         (5,516,358)       

Materials

     (13,376,133)                         (13,376,133)       

Exchange Traded Funds

     (143,926,892)                         (143,926,892)       

 

 

TOTAL

   $ (277,908,142)       $ 1,438,276       $       $ (276,469,866)       

 

 

 

*

For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Statement of Investments.

**

Swap contracts are reported at their unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) at measurement date, which represents the change in the contract’s value from trade date.

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

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

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

 

42

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

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

The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on investments is reported with all other foreign currency realized and unrealized gains and losses in the Funds’ Statements of Operations.

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

The net U.S. dollar value of foreign currency underlying all contractual commitments held by a Fund and the resulting unrealized appreciation or depreciation are determined using prevailing forward foreign currency exchange rates. Unrealized appreciation and depreciation on foreign currency spot contracts are reported in the Funds’ Statements of Assets and Liabilities as a receivable or a payable and in the Funds’ Statements of Operations with the change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. These spot contracts are used by the broker to settle investments denominated in foreign currencies.

A Fund may realize a gain or loss upon the closing or settlement of the foreign transaction. Such realized gains and losses are reported with all other foreign currency gains and losses in the Statements of Operations.

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

Each Fund’s obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities. Each Fund will also be required to designate on its books and records similar collateral with its custodian to the extent, if any, necessary so that the aggregate collateral value is at all times at least equal to the current market value of the security sold short. The cash amount is reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Deposit with broker for written options and securities sold short which is held with one counterparty. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to short sales. The interest incurred by the Funds is reported on the Statements of Operations as Interest expense – margin account. Interest amounts payable are reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Interest payable – margin account.

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

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

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

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

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

Risk of Investing in Derivatives: The Funds’ use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Funds are using derivatives to decrease or hedge exposures to market risk factors for

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  43


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

securities held by the Funds, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected, resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.

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

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

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

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

Option Writing/Purchasing: Each Fund may purchase or write (sell) put and call options. One of the risks associated with purchasing an option among others, is that a Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, a Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to options. Each Fund deposits collateral with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities. The cash amount is reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Deposit with broker for written options and securities sold short which is held with one counterparty. The interest incurred on the Funds is reported on the Statements of Operations as Interest expense – margin account. Interest amounts payable by the Funds are reported on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as Interest payable – margin account.

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

 

44

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

Written option activity for the period ended October 31, 2014, was as follows:

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund                 
  

 

 

     Written Call Options     Written Put Options      

 

     Contracts     Premiums     Contracts     Premiums      

 

Outstanding, March 31, 2014

          $        (300   $ 299,388     

Positions opened

     (1,198     119,470        (1,632         1,782,979     

Closed

     566        (61,014     1,560        (1,584,958  

Excercised

     250        (16,950     72        (3,021  

Expired

     100        (6,994     300        (494,388  

 

Outstanding, October 31, 2014

     (282   $ 34,512             $     

 

Market Value, October 31, 2014

     $ (58,700     $     

 

Clough Global Equity Fund           
  

 

 

     Written Call Options     Written Put Options      

 

     Contracts     Premiums     Contracts     Premiums      

 

Outstanding, March 31, 2014

          $        (500   $ 498,980     

Positions opened

     (2,230     221,902        (2,720     2,971,631     

Closed

     975        (103,233     2,600        (2,641,596  

Excercised

     450        (30,511     120        (5,035  

Expired

     200        (13,988     500        (823,980  

 

Outstanding, October 31, 2014

     (605   $ 74,170             $     

 

Market Value, October 31, 2014

     $ (104,365     $     

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund           
  

 

 

     Written Call Options     Written Put Options      

 

     Contracts     Premiums     Contracts     Premiums      

 

Outstanding, March 31, 2014

          $        (1,200   $ 1,197,552     

Positions opened

     (5,297         516,914        (6,548     7,132,754     

Closed

     2,489        (258,632     6,249        (6,340,208  

Excercised

     1,200        (81,370     299        (12,546  

Expired

     400        (27,975     1,200        (1,977,552  

 

Outstanding, October 31, 2014

     (1,208   $ 148,937             $     

 

Market Value, October 31, 2014

     $ (255,175     $     

 

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

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

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

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  45


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

During the year/period ended October 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, the Funds invested in swap agreements consistent with the Funds’ investment strategies to gain exposure to certain markets or indices.

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

The effect of derivatives instruments on each Fund’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 2014:

 

     Asset Derivatives           

 

Risk Exposure    Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location    Fair Value      

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

       

Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts)

   Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts    $ 346,383     

Equity Contracts (Warrants)

   Investments, at value      49,614     

 

Total

      $ 395,997     

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

       

Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts)

   Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts    $ 563,311     

Equity Contracts (Warrants)

   Investments, at value      82,930     

 

Total

      $ 646,241     

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

       

Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts)

   Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts    $     1,456,416     

Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)

   Investments, at value      67,375     

Equity Contracts (Warrants)

   Investments, at value      207,129     

 

Total

      $ 1,730,920     

 

     Liability Derivatives           

 

Risk Exposure    Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location    Fair Value      

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

       

Equity Contracts (Written Options)

   Written Options, at value    $ (58,700  

 

Total

      $ (58,700  

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

       

Equity Contracts (Written Options)

   Written Options, at value    $ (104,365  

 

Total

      $ (104,365  

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

       

Equity Contracts (Written Options)

   Written Options, at value    $ (255,175  

 

Total

      $ (255,175  

 

 

46

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

The effect of derivatives instruments on each Fund’s Statements of Operations for the period ended October 31, 2014:

 

Risk Exposure    Statements of Operations Location    Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Derivatives
Recognized
in Income
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
on Derivatives
Recognized
in Income
     

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

         

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

   $ 1,626,786      $ (262,076  

Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts

     127,759        527,780     

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (3,570,499     503,112     

Equity Contracts
(Warrants)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

            (125,823  

 

Total

      $ (1,815,954   $ 642,993     

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

         

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

   $ 2,711,856      $ (426,675  

Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts

     208,335        850,925     

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (5,952,056     838,520     

Equity Contracts
(Warrants)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

            (210,650  

 

Total

      $ (3,031,865   $ 1,052,120     

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

         

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

   $ 6,494,088      $ (1,057,790  

Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts

     536,860        2,223,549     

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (14,501,428     1,909,618     

Equity Contracts
(Warrants)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

            (523,854  

 

Total

      $ (7,470,480   $ 2,551,523     

 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  47


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

The effect of derivatives instruments on each Fund’s Statements of Operations for the year ended March 31, 2014.

 

Risk Exposure    Statements of Operations Location    Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Derivatives
Recognized
in Income
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
on Derivatives
Recognized
in Income
     

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

         

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

   $ 1,157,134      $ 237,888     

Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts

     (397,065     387,137     

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (3,600,359     (503,112  

Equity Contracts
(Warrants)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (11,959     174,267     

 

Total

      $ (2,852,249   $ 296,180     

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

         

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

   $ 2,132,270      $ 396,480     

Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts

     (778,872     912,341     

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (6,000,598     (838,520  

Equity Contracts
(Warrants)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (19,840     291,623     

 

Total

      $ (4,667,040   $ 761,924     

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

         

Equity Contracts
(Written Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on written options/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on written options

   $ 2,518,366      $ 951,552     

Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on total return swap contracts

     (1,681,206     1,634,232     

Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (9,999,098     (2,078,544  

Equity Contracts
(Warrants)

  

Net realized gain/(loss) on investment securities/ Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities

     (50,675     726,110     

 

Total

      $ (9,212,613   $ 1,233,350     

 

The average purchased and written option contracts volume during the period ended October 31, 2014, is noted below for each of the Funds.

 

Fund   Average Purchased Option Contract Volume   Average Written Option Contract Volume

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

  255                       481                    

Clough Global Equity Fund

  428                       794                    

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

  1,495                       2034                    

 

 

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Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

The average total return swap contracts notional amount during the period ended October 31, 2014, is noted below for each of the Funds.

 

Fund    Average Swap Contract Notional Amount                

 

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

       $     1,828,386                                      

Clough Global Equity Fund

     2,963,607                                     

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

     7,693,631                                      

The average warrant market value during the period ended October 31, 2014, is noted below for each of the Funds.

 

Fund    Average Warrant Market Value                       

Clough Global Allocation Fund

     $         151,454                          

Clough Global Equity Fund

       253,416                          

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

       631,186                          

Certain derivative contracts are executed under either standardized netting agreements or, for exchange-traded derivatives, the relevant contracts for a particular exchange which contain enforceable netting provisions. A derivative netting arrangement creates an enforceable right of set-off that becomes effective, and affects the realization of settlement on individual assets, liabilities and collateral amounts, only following a specified event of default or early termination. Default events may include the failure to make payments or deliver securities timely, material adverse changes in financial condition or insolvency, the breach of minimum regulatory capital requirements, or loss of license, charter or other legal authorization necessary to perform under the contract.

 

Offsetting of Derivatives Assets                    

 

October 31, 2014                
                    Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the
Statements of
Assets and
Liabilities
   
       

 

Description   Gross Amounts of
Recognized Assets
  Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statements of
Assets and
Liabilities
  Net Amounts
Presented in the
Statements of
Assets and
Liabilities
  Financial
Instruments (a)
  Cash Collateral
Pledged(a)
  Net Amount        

 

Clough Global Allocation Fund

     

Total Return Swap Contracts

  $346,383   $–   $346,383   $–   $–   $346,383        

 

Total

  $346,383   $–   $346,383   $–   $–   $346,383        

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

     

Total Return Swap Contracts

  $563,311   $–   $563,311   $–   $–   $563,311        

 

Total

  $563,311   $–   $563,311   $–   $–   $563,311        

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

     

Total Return Swap Contracts

  $1,456,416   $–   $1,456,416   $–   $–   $1,456,416        

 

Total

  $1,456,416   $–   $1,456,416   $–   $–   $1,456,416        

 

 

(a) 

These amounts are limited to the derivative asset balance and, accordingly, do not include excess collateral received/pledged.

Income Taxes: Each Fund’s policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. As of and during the period ended October 31, 2014, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return but which can be extended to six years in certain circumstances. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  49


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Distributions to Shareholders: Each Fund intends to make a level dividend distribution each month to Common Shareholders after payment of interest on any outstanding borrowings. The level dividend rate may be modified by the Board of Trustees from time to time. Any net capital gains earned by a Fund are distributed at least annually to the extent necessary to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Distributions to shareholders are recorded by each Fund on the ex-dividend date. Each Fund has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act, and Rule 19b-1 there under permitting each Fund to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains, provided that the distribution policy of a fund with respect to its Common Shares calls for periodic (e.g. quarterly/monthly) distributions in an amount equal to a fixed percentage of each Fund’s average net asset value over a specified period of time or market price per common share at or about the time of distributions or pay-out of a level dollar amount.

Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Investment security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Dividend income and Dividend expense-short sales are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Certain dividend income from foreign securities will be recorded, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, as soon as a Fund is informed of the dividend if such information is obtained subsequent to the ex-dividend date and may be subject to withholding taxes in these jurisdictions. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities are determined using the identified cost basis for both financial reporting and income tax purposes.

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

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

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

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

The Funds may have elements of risk due to concentrated investments in foreign issuers located in a specific country. Such concentrations may subject the Funds to additional risks resulting from future political or economic conditions and/or possible impositions of adverse foreign governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers have unique risks not present in securities of U.S. issuers, such as greater price volatility and less liquidity. At October 31, 2014, Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund each had a significant concentration of their investment securities (Investments, at value recorded on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities) in companies based in the United States 90.56%, 87.79% and 90.10% of net assets, respectively.

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

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

2. TAXES

 

Classification of Distributions: Net investment income/(loss) and net realized gain/(loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes. The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain was recorded by the Funds.

 

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Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

The tax character of the distributions paid by the Funds during the years ended October 31, 2014, March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

      Ordinary income      Long-Term Capital
Gains
     Total          

Clough Global Allocation Fund

        

October 31, 2014

   $ 1,428,310       $ 6,241,125       $ 7,669,435           

March 31, 2014

     2,508,129         13,300,299         15,808,428           

March 31, 2013

     9,391,145         3,130,382         12,521,527           

Clough Global Equity Fund

        

October 31, 2014

   $ 1,468,195       $ 11,644,723       $         13,112,918           

March 31, 2014

     6,725,986         19,589,053         26,315,039           

March 31, 2013

     15,521,413         5,173,804         20,695,217           

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

        

October 31, 2014

   $       $ 34,405,011       $ 34,405,011           

March 31, 2014

     5,714,309         64,906,503         70,620,812           

March 31, 2013

     55,875,807                 55,875,807           

Components of Earnings: Tax components of distributable earnings are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from composition of net assets reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Accordingly, for the period ended October 31, 2014, certain differences were reclassified. These differences relate primarily to the differing tax treatment of commodities, passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), foreign currencies and other investments.

The reclassifications were as follows:

 

      Undistributed Ordinary
Income
     Accumulated Capital
Gain/(Loss)
     Paid-in Capital          

Clough Global Allocation Fund

   $ 2,244,143       $ (2,244,143)       $                         –       

Clough Global Equity Fund

     3,797,495         (3,797,493)         (2)       

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

     8,193,302         (8,193,302)         –       

Capital Losses: As of October 31, 2014, the Funds had no capital loss carryforwards.

The Funds elect to defer to the year ending October 31, 2015, late year ordinary losses in the amounts of:

 

Fund    Amount              

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

   $             2,403,598           

Tax Basis of Distributable Earnings: Tax components of distributable earnings are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from composition of net assets reported under GAAP.

As of October 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

      Clough Global
Allocation Fund
     Clough Global Equity
Fund
     Clough Global
Opportunities Fund    
 

Accumulated net realized gain on investments

   $ 5,930,447       $ 17,630,080       $ 5,986,416           

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     5,317,383         10,379,274         13,333,072           

Other accumulated losses

     (367,359)         (599,768)         (3,948,911)           

 

 

Total

   $ 10,880,471       $ 27,409,586       $ 15,370,577           

 

 

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  51


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Tax Basis of Investments: Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments based on federal tax cost as of October 31, 2014, were as follows:

 

      Clough Global
Allocation Fund
     Clough Global Equity
Fund
     Clough Global
Opportunities Fund
 

Gross appreciation (excess of value over tax cost)

   $ 17,529,182       $ 33,291,339       $ 64,329,827       

Gross depreciation (excess of tax cost over value)

     (8,322,775)         (16,550,039)         (34,588,776)       

Net depreciation (excess of tax cost over value) of foreign currency and derivatives

     (3,889,024)         (6,362,026)         (16,407,979)       

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 5,317,383       $ 10,379,274       $ 13,333,072       

 

 

Cost of investments for income tax purposes

   $ 242,339,150       $ 398,003,119       $ 1,008,166,220       

 

 

The difference between book and tax basis unrealized appreciation is attributable primarily to wash sales and tax treatment of certain other investments.

3. CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS

 

Common Shares: There are an unlimited number of no par value common shares of beneficial interest authorized for each Fund.

Transactions in common shares were as follows:

 

    

Clough Global

Allocation Fund

 
      For the
Period Ended
October 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Common Shares Outstanding - beginning of period

     10,434,606         10,434,606         10,434,606       

Common Shares Issued as reinvestment of dividends

                     –       

 

 

Common Shares Outstanding - end of period

     10,434,606         10,434,606         10,434,606       

 

 

Transactions in common shares were as follows:

 

     Clough Global Equity Fund  
      For the
Period Ended
October 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Common Shares Outstanding - beginning of period

     17,840,705         17,840,705         17,840,705       

Common Shares Issued as reinvestment of dividends

                     –       

 

 

Common Shares Outstanding - end of period

     17,840,705         17,840,705         17,840,705       

 

 

Transactions in common shares were as follows:

 

     Clough Global Opportunities Fund  
      For the
Period Ended
October 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2014
     For the
Year Ended
March 31, 2013
 

Common Shares Outstanding - beginning of period

     51,736,859         51,736,859         51,736,859       

Common Shares Issued as reinvestment of dividends

                     –       

 

 

Common Shares Outstanding - end of period

     51,736,859         51,736,859         51,736,859       

 

 

 

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Clough Global Funds

   Notes to Financial Statements
   October 31, 2014

    

 

4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

Purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term securities, for the period ended October 31, 2014, are listed in the table below.

 

Fund   Cost of Investments
Purchased
    Proceeds From
Investments Sold
    Purchases of Long-Term
U.S. Government
Obligations
    Proceeds from Sales of
Long-Term U.S.
Government Obligations

Clough Global Allocation Fund

  $ 235,499,299      $ 247,234,025      $ 28,157,679      $23,284,101

Clough Global Equity Fund

    374,736,387        421,587,623        40,442,292      31,611,391

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

    1,001,582,340        1,062,421,794        108,104,130      87,594,182

5. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENTS

 

Clough serves as each Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (each an “Advisory Agreement” and collectively, the “Advisory Agreements”) with each Fund. As compensation for its services to the Fund, Clough receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.70%, 0.90% and 1.00% based on Clough Global Allocation Fund’s, Clough Global Equity Fund’s and Clough Global Opportunities Fund’s, respectively, average daily total assets, computed daily and payable monthly. ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as each Fund’s administrator pursuant to an Administration, Bookkeeping and Pricing Services Agreement with each Fund. As compensation for its services to each Fund, ALPS receives an annual administration fee of 0.285%, 0.32%, and 0.32% based on Clough Global Allocation Fund’s, Clough Global Equity Fund’s and Clough Global Opportunities Fund’s, respectively, average daily total assets, computed daily and payable monthly. ALPS will pay all expenses incurred by each Fund, with the exception of advisory fees, trustees’ fees, portfolio transaction expenses, litigation expenses, taxes, expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing fund shares, costs of preferred shares, and extraordinary expenses.

Both Clough and ALPS are considered to be “affiliates” of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act.

6. COMMITTED FACILITY AGREEMENT AND LENDING AGREEMENT

 

Each Fund entered into a financing package that includes a Committed Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated January 16, 2009, as amended, between each Fund and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (“BNP”) that allows each Fund to borrow funds from BNP. Each Fund is currently borrowing the maximum commitment covered by the agreement. Borrowings under the Agreement are secured by assets of each Fund that are held by a Fund’s custodian in a separate account (the “pledged collateral”) valued at $165,160,911, $277,456,848 and $681,808,868 for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. Each Fund may, with 30 days notice, reduce the Maximum Commitment Financing (Initial Limit amount plus the increased borrowing amount in excess of the Initial Limit) to a lesser amount if drawing on the full amount would result in a violation of the applicable asset coverage requirement of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Interest is charged at the three month LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus 0.70% (prior to October 15, 2014, 0.75%) on the amount borrowed and 0.65% on the undrawn balance. Each Fund also pays a one-time arrangement fee of 0.25% on (i) the Initial Limit and (ii) any increased borrowing amount in the excess of the Initial Limit, paid in monthly installments for the six months immediately following the date on which borrowings were drawn by the Fund.

The Agreement was amended on December 31, 2013, to increase the Maximum Commitment Financing to $93,300,000 for the Clough Global Allocation Fund and $156,000,000 for the Clough Global Equity Fund. For the period ended October 31, 2014 the average borrowings outstanding for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund under the agreement were $93,300,000, $156,000,000 and $388,900,000, respectively, and the average interest rate for the borrowings was 0.98%. As of October 31, 2014, the outstanding borrowings for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $93,300,000, $156,000,000 and $388,900,000, respectively. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund on October 31, 2014, was 0.93%.

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

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  53


Notes to Financial Statements

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014   

    

 

Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, the Lent Securities are marked to market daily, and if the value of the Lent Securities exceeds the value of the then-outstanding borrowings owed by a Fund to BNP under the Agreement (the “Current Borrowings”), BNP must, on that day, either (1) return Lent Securities to each Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings; or (2) post cash collateral with each Fund’s custodian equal to the difference between the value of the Lent Securities and the value of the Current Borrowings. If BNP fails to perform either of these actions as required, each Fund will recall securities, as discussed below, in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings. Each Fund can recall any of the Lent Securities and BNP shall, to the extent commercially possible, return such security or equivalent security to each Fund’s custodian no later than three business days after such request. If a Fund recalls a Lent Security pursuant to the Lending Agreement, and BNP fails to return the Lent Securities or equivalent securities in a timely fashion, BNP shall remain liable for the ultimate delivery to each Fund’s custodian of such Lent Securities, or equivalent securities, and for any buy-in costs that the executing broker for the sales transaction may impose with respect to the failure to deliver. Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, each Fund shall have the right to apply and set-off an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then current fair market value of such Lent Securities against the Current Borrowings. As of October 31, 2014, the market value of the Lent Securities for Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $87,663,637, $147,927,038 and $365,496,770, respectively.

The Board of Trustees has approved each Agreement and the Lending Agreement. No violations of the Agreement or the Lending Agreement have occurred during the period ended October 31, 2014.

Each Fund receives income from BNP based on the value of the Lent Securities. This income is recorded as Hypothecated securities income on the Statements of Operations. The interest incurred on borrowed amounts is recorded as Interest on loan in the Statements of Operations, a part of Total Expenses.

7. OTHER

 

The Independent Trustees of each Fund receive from each Fund a quarterly retainer of $3,500 and an additional $1,500 for each board meeting attended. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of each Fund receives a quarterly retainer from each Fund of $4,200 and an additional $1,800 for each board meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee of each Fund receives a quarterly retainer from each Fund of $3,850 and an additional $1,650 for each board meeting attended.

 

54

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Clough Global Funds

   Dividend Reinvestment Plan
   October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

    

 

Unless the registered owner of Common Shares elects to receive cash by contacting DST Sytems, Inc. (the “Plan Administrator”), all dividends declared on Common Shares will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Administrator for shareholders in each Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), in additional Common Shares. Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Administrator as dividend disbursing agent. You may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by contacting the Plan Administrator, as dividend disbursing agent, at the address set forth below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Administrator prior to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on your behalf and may re–invest that cash in additional Common Shares for you. If you wish for all dividends declared on your Common Shares to be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, please contact your broker.

The Plan Administrator will open an account for each Common Shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such Common Shareholder’s Common Shares are registered. Whenever a Fund declares a dividend or other distribution (together, a “Dividend”) payable in cash, non–participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Shares. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from a Fund (“Newly Issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“Open–Market Purchases”) on the American Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commissions per Common Share is equal to or greater than the net asset value per Common Share, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the net asset value per Common Share on the payment date; provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the net asset value per Common Share is greater than the closing market value plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open–Market Purchases. In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Administrator will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Shares trade on an “ex–dividend” basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is sooner (the “Last Purchase Date”), to invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in Open–Market Purchases. If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its Open–Market Purchases, the market price per Common Share exceeds the net asset value per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator may exceed the net asset value of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open–Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full Dividend amount in Open–Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Administrator may cease making Open–Market Purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares at the net asset value per Common Share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share; the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.

The Plan Administrator maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Administrator on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.

In the case of Common Shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Administrator will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.

There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by a Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with Open–Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. Participants that request a sale of Common Shares through the Plan Administrator are subject to brokerage commissions.

Each Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, each Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.

All correspondence or questions concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator, DST Systems, Inc., 333 West 11th Street, 5th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  55


Additional Information

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)   

    

 

FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES & PROCEDURES

 

Each Fund’s policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities are available on the Funds’ website at http://www.cloughglobal.com. Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held by each Fund for the period ended June 30, are available without charge, upon request, by contacting the Funds at 1-877-256-8445 and on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N–Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N–Q are available without a charge, upon request, by contacting the Funds at 1–877–256–8445 and on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy Form N–Q at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the Commission at 1–800–SEC–0330.

NOTICE

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that each Fund may purchase at market prices from time to time shares of its common stock in the open market.

SECTION 19(A) NOTICES

 

The following table sets forth the estimated amount of the sources of distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the related rules adopted there under. Each Fund estimates the following percentages, of the total distribution amount per share, attributable to (i) current and prior fiscal year net investment income, (ii) net realized short-term capital gain, (iii) net realized long-term capital gain and (iv) return of capital or other capital source as a percentage of the total distribution amount. These percentages are disclosed for the fiscal year-to-date cumulative distribution amount per share for the Fund.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in these 19(a) notices are only estimates and not for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

 

    Total Cumulative Distributions for the period
ended October 31, 2014
    % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions
for the period ended October 31, 2014
    Net
Investment
Income
    Net
Realized
Capital
Gains
    Return of
Capital
    Total Per
Common
Share
    Net
Investment
Income
  Net
Realized
Capital
Gains
  Return of
Capital
  Total Per
Common
Share

Clough Global Allocation Fund

  $ 0.0000      $ 0.7350      $ 0.0000      $ 0.7350      0.00%   100.00%     0.00%   100.00%

Clough Global Equity Fund

  $ 0.0000      $ 0.7350      $ 0.0000      $ 0.7350      0.00%   100.00%     0.00%   100.00%

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

  $ 0.0000      $ 0.5228      $ 0.1422      $ 0.6650      0.00%     78.62%   21.38%   100.00%

Each Fund’s dividend policy is to distribute all or a portion of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of dividend distributions, each Fund may at times pay out less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular month and may at times in any particular month pay out such accumulated but undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in that month. As a result, the dividends paid by each Fund for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Fund during such month. Each Fund’s current accumulated but undistributed net investment income, if any, is disclosed in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which comprises part of the financial information included in this report.

TAX DESIGNATIONS

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund designate $6,241,125, $11,644,723 and $34,405,011 respectively as a long-term capital gain distribution.

The Funds hereby designate the following as a percentage of taxable ordinary income distributions, or up to the maximum amount allowable, for the calendar year ended December 31, 2013:

 

    Clough Global Allocation Fund    Clough Global Equity Fund    Clough Global Opportunities Fund    

Corporate Dividends Received Deduction

  10.11%    10.67%    9.05%

Qualified Dividend Income

  13.27%    14.94%    12.86%

Please consult a tax advisor if you have questions about federal or state income tax laws, or how to prepare your tax returns.

 

56

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Clough Global Funds

   Trustees & Officers
   October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

    

 

  Name, Address1 and

  Year of Birth

   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
  

Term of office

and length of

service with

GLV2, GLQ3

& GLO4

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustee5

  

Other Directorships

Held by Trustee

During the Past Five
Years

  Non-Interested Trustees/Nominees

  Robert L. Butler

  1941

   Chairman of the Board and Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:
GLV: 2015
GLQ: 2016
GLO: 2014

 

   Since 2001, Mr. Butler has been an independent consultant for businesses. Mr. Butler has over 45 years experience in the investment business, including 17 years as a senior executive with a global investment management/natural resources company and 20 years with a securities industry regulation organization, neither of which Mr. Butler has been employed by since 2001.    3    None
              
              
                        

  Adam D. Crescenzi

  1942

   Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:

GLV: 2014
GLQ: 2015
GLO: 2016

 

   Mr. Crescenzi is a Trustee of Dean College. He has been a founder and investor of several start-up technology and service firms. He currently is the Founding Partner of Simply Tuscan Imports LLC since 2007. He also serves as a Director of two non-profit organizations. He retired from CSC Index as Executive Vice-President of Management Consulting Services.    3    None
              
                        

  John F. Mee

  1943

   Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:

GLV: 2016
GLQ: 2014
GLO: 2015

 

   Mr. Mee is an attorney practicing commercial law, family law, product liability and criminal law. Mr. Mee is currently a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He serves on the Board of Directors of The College of the Holy Cross Alumni Association and Concord Carlisle Scholarship Fund, a Charitable Trust. Mr. Mee was from 1990 to 2009 an Advisor at the Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop.    3    None
              
              
                        

  Richard C. Rantzow

  1938

   Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:
GLV: 2015
GLQ: 2016
GLO: 2014

   Mr. Rantzow has over 40 years experience in the financial industry. His professional experience includes serving as an audit partner with Ernst & Young which specifically involved auditing financial institutions. Mr. Rantzow has also served in several executive positions in both financial and non-financial industries. Mr. Rantzow’s educational background is in accounting and he is a Certified Public Accountant who has continued to serve on several audit committees of various financial organizations.    3    Mr. Rantzow is a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  57


Trustees & Officers

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)   

    

 

  Name, Address1 and

  Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held

with the Funds

  

Term of office

and length of

service with

GLV2, GLQ3
& GLO4

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustee5

  

Other Directorships

Held by Trustee

During the Past Five

Years

  Non-Interested Trustees/Nominees

  Jerry G. Rutledge

  1944

   Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:

GLV: 2014

GLQ: 2015

GLO: 2016

   Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. Mr. Rutledge was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. In addition, Mr. Rutledge is currently serving as a Director of the University of Colorado Hospital. Mr. Rutledge also served as a Director of the American National Bank from 1985 to 2009.    4    Mr. Rutledge is currently a Trustee of the Financial Investor Trust and the Principal Real Estate Income Fund.
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

  Hon. Vincent W. Versaci

  1971

   Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2013
GLQ: 2013
GLO: 2013

 

Term expires:

GLV: 2014

GLQ: 2015

GLO: 2016

   Judge Versaci has served as a Judge in the New York State Courts since January 2003. Currently, Judge Versaci is assigned as an Acting Supreme Court Justice and presides over the Surrogate’s Court for Schenectady County, New York. Previously, Judge Versaci has served as an Adjunct Professor at Schenectady County Community College and a practicing attorney with an emphasis on civil and criminal litigation primarily in New York State Courts.    3    None
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

  Interested Trustees6 / Nominees

  Edmund J. Burke7

  1961

   Trustee and President   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2006
GLQ: 2006
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:

GLV: 2016

GLQ: 2014

GLO: 2015

 

President since:

GLV: 2004

GLQ: 2005

GLO: 2006

   Mr. Burke joined ALPS in 1991 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer and President of ALPS Holdings, Inc., and a Director of ALPS Advisors, Inc., ALPS Distributors, Inc., ALPS Fund Services, Inc., and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. Mr. Burke is also Director of Boston Financial Data Services. Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of each Fund as defined under the 1940 Act.    4    Mr. Burke is also Trustee, Chairman and President of Financial Investors Trust. Mr. Burke is a Trustee and Vice President of the Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and is a Director and Vice President of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

  James E. Canty8

  1962

   Trustee   

Trustee since:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006

 

Term expires:

GLV: 2015

GLQ: 2016

GLO: 2014

   Mr. Canty is a founding partner and Portfolio Manager for Clough. Mr. Canty is deemed an affiliate of each Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Canty is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Clough Offshore Fund, Ltd. and Clough Offshore Fund (QP), Ltd. Mr. Canty is also currently a Trustee of St. Bonaventure University. Mr. Canty is a Certified Public Accountant.    3    None
              
              
              
              

  Clough Capital

  Partners, LP

  One Post Office Square

  40th Floor

  Boston, MA 02109

              
              
              
              
              
              

 

58

  www.cloughglobal.com


Clough Global Funds

   Trustees & Officers
   October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

    

 

  Name, Addressand

  Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held

with the Funds

  

Term of office

and length of

service with

GLV2, GLQ3
& GLO4

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustee5

   Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the Past Five
Years

  Officers

                        

  Jeremy O. May

  1970

   Treasurer    Officer since9:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006
   Mr. May joined ALPS in 1995 and is currently President of ALPS and ALPS Distributors, Inc., and Executive Vice President and Director of ALPS Advisors, Inc. and ALPS Holdings, Inc. Mr. May is also Director of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. Mr. May is deemed an affiliate of each Fund as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. May is also President, Chairman and Trustee of the ALPS Series Trust. Mr. May is also President, Chairman and Trustee of the Reaves Utility Income Fund. Mr. May is currently on the Board of Directors of the University of Colorado Foundation.    None    None

  Erin D. Nelson, Esq.

  1977

   Secretary    Officer since9:
GLV: 2004
GLQ: 2005
GLO: 2006
   Ms. Nelson joined ALPS in 2003 and is currently Vice-President and Assistant General Counsel of ALPS Advisors, Inc. and Vice-President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc., and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. Ms. Nelson is also Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Principal Real Estate Income Fund. Ms. Nelson is deemed an affiliate of each Fund as defined under the 1940 Act.    None    None

  Theodore J. Uhl

  1974

   Chief Compliance Officer    Officer since9:
GLV: 2010
GLQ: 2010
GLO: 2010
   Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Vice President and Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served as Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is currently Chief Compliance Officer of Centre Funds, Financial Investors Trust, and Transparent Value Trust.    None    None

 

Annual Report  |  October 31, 2014

  59


Trustees & Officers

   Clough Global Funds
October 31, 2014 (Unaudited)   

    

 

  Name, Addressand

  Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held

with the Funds

  

Term of office

and length of

service with

GLV2, GLQ3
& GLO4

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustee5

   Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the Past Five
Years

  Officers

                        

  Jill Kerschen

  1975

   Assistant Treasurer    Officer since9:
GLV: 2013
GLQ: 2013
GLO: 2013
   Ms. Kerschen joined ALPS in July 2013 and is currently a Fund Controller at ALPS. Ms. Kerschen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Kerschen also serves as Treasurer of Reaves Utility Income Fund and Assistant Treasurer of the Westcore Funds and the Macquarie Global Infrastructure Total Return Fund. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Kerschen was Senior Manager, Financial & Tax Reporting at Great-West Financial from 2007 to 2013.    None    None

 

1 

Address: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203, unless otherwise noted.

2 

GLV commenced operations on July 28, 2004.

3 

GLQ commenced operations on April 27, 2005.

4 

GLO commenced operations on April 25, 2006.

5 

The Fund Complex for all Trustees, except Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Burke, consists of the Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Fund Complex for Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Burke consists of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and the Clough China Fund, a series of the Financial Investors Trust.

6 

“Interested Trustees” refers to those Trustees who constitute “interested persons” of a Fund as defined in the 1940 Act.

7 

Mr. Burke is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because of his affiliation with ALPS, which acts as each Fund’s administrator.

8 

Mr. Canty is considered to be an “Interested Trustee” because of his affiliation with Clough Capital Partners L.P., which acts as each Fund’s investment adviser.

9 

Officers are elected annually and each officer will hold such office until a successor has been elected by the Board.

 

60

  www.cloughglobal.com


LOGO


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

  (a) The Registrant, as of the end of the period covered by the report, has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer or Controller or any persons performing similar functions on behalf of the Registrant.

 

  (b) Not Applicable.

 

  (c) During the period covered, by this report, no amendments were made to the provisions of the Code of Ethics adopted in 2 (a) above.

 

  (d) During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provision of the Code of Ethics adopted in 2 (a) above were granted.

 

  (e) Not Applicable.

 

  (f) The Registrant’s Code of Ethics is attached as Exhibit 12.A.1 hereto.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has as least one audit committee financial expert serving on its Audit Committee. The Board of Trustees has designated Richard C. Rantzow as the Registrant’s “audit committee financial expert.” Mr. Rantzow is “independent” as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.

Mr. Rantzow was the Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Ron Miller Associates, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Rantzow was managing partner of the Memphis office of Ernst & Young until 1990.

 

Item 4. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The following table sets forth the aggregate audit and non-audit fees billed to the registrant for each of the last three fiscal years for professional services rendered by the registrant’s principal accountant, Cohen Fund Audit Services, Ltd. (“Cohen”).

 

    

Fiscal year ended

October 31, 2014 (1)

    

Fiscal year ended

March 31, 2014

    

Fiscal year ended

March 31, 2013

 

(a) Audit Fees (2)

     $20,500         $20,500         $20,000   

(b) Audit-Related Fees (3)

     0         0         0   

(c ) Tax Fees (4)

     3,000         3,000         3,000   

(d) All Other Fees (5)

     0         0         0   

(g) Aggregate Non-Audit Fees (6)

     3,000         3,000         3,000   

 

      (1)

In 2014, the registrant changed its fiscal year end to October 31, so this fiscal year consists of the seven months ended October 31, 2014.

 

      (2)

Audit Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by Cohen for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and for the services that are normally provided by Cohen in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

      (3)

Audit-Related Fees are fees billed for assurance and related services by Cohen that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under the caption “Audit Fees”.

 

      (4)

Tax Fees are fees billed for professional services rendered by Cohen for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. In all periods shown in the table, such services consisted of preparation of the registrant’s annual tax returns, excise tax returns, and review of dividend distribution calculation fees.

 

      (5)

All Other Fees are fees billed for products and services provided by Cohen, other than the services reported under the captions “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”.

 

      (6)

Aggregate Non-Audit Fees are non-audit fees billed by Cohen for services rendered to the registrant, the registrant’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant (collectively, the “Covered Entities”). The Aggregate Non-Audit Fee includes the Tax Fees disclosed pursuant to Footnote 4 above. During all periods shown in the table, no portion of such fees related to services rendered by Cohen to the Adviser or any other Covered Entity.

 

  (e)(1)

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures: All services to be performed by the Registrant’s principal auditors must be pre-approved by the Registrant’s Audit Committee.

 

  (e)(2)

No services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

  (f)

Not applicable.


  (h) Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrant.

The registrant has a separately designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3 (a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and is comprised of the following members:

Robert L. Butler

Adam D. Crescenzi

John F. Mee

Richard C. Rantzow, Committee Chairman

Jerry G. Rutledge

Hon. Vincent W. Versaci

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

 

(a) Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Attached, as Exhibit Ex.99. Item 7, is a copy of the policies and procedures of Clough Capital Partners L.P. (“Clough”), the investment adviser of the registrant.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies, October 31, 2014

 

Portfolio Managers
Name
   Title    Length of
Service
   Business Experience: 5 Years
Charles I. Clough, Jr.    Partner and Portfolio Manager    Since Inception    Founding Partner Clough Capital Partners L.P. Portfolio Manager for pooled investment accounts, separately managed accounts, and investment companies for over ten years.
Eric A. Brock    Partner and    Since Inception    Founding Partner Clough


     Portfolio Manager         Capital Partners L.P. Portfolio Manager for pooled investment accounts, separately managed accounts, and investment companies for over ten years.
James E. Canty    Partner and Portfolio Manager    Since Inception    Founding Partner of Clough Capital L.P. Portfolio Manager, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel for pooled investment accounts, separately managed accounts, and investment companies for over ten years. Mr. Canty is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Clough Offshore Fund, Ltd and Clough Offshore Fund (QP), Ltd. and Board of Trustees of Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. Because of his affiliation with Clough, Mr. Canty is an ‘‘interested’’ Trustee of the Registrant.

(a)(2) As of October 31, 2014, the Portfolio Managers listed above are also responsible for the day-to-day management of the following:

 

Portfolio

Managers

Name

  Registered
Investment
Companies
 

Other Pooled
Investment

Vehicles (1)

 

Other

Accounts(2)

 

Material

Conflicts

If Any


Charles I. Clough, Jr.    

4 Accounts

$2,437.4 million Total Assets

 

 

5 Accounts

$1,408.8 million

Total Assets

 

2 Accounts

$308.2 million Total Assets

  See below (3)
Eric A. Brock  

4 Accounts

$2,437.4 million Total Assets

 

5 Accounts

$1408.8 million

Total Assets

 

2 Accounts

$308.2 million Total Assets

 

  See below (3)
James E. Canty  

4 Accounts

$2,437.4 million Total Assets

 

5 Accounts

$1408.8 million

Total Assets

 

2 Accounts

$308.2 million Total Assets

 

  See below (3)

(1) The advisory fees are based in part on the performance for each account.

(2) The advisory fee is based in part on the performance for two accounts totaling $308.2 million in assets.

(3) Material Conflicts:

Material conflicts of interest may arise as a result of the fact that the Portfolio Managers also have day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to both the Registrant and the various accounts listed above (collectively with the Registrant, the “Accounts”). These potential conflicts include:

Limited Resources. The Portfolio Managers cannot devote their full time and attention to the management of each of the Accounts. Accordingly, the Portfolio Managers may be limited in their ability to identify investment opportunities for each of the Accounts that are as attractive as might be the case if the Portfolio Managers were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single Account. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where the Accounts have different investment strategies.

Limited Investment Opportunities. If the Portfolio Managers identify a limited investment opportunity that may be appropriate for more than one Account, the investment opportunity may be allocated among several Accounts. This could limit any single Account’s ability to take full advantage of an investment opportunity that might not be limited if the Portfolio Managers did not provide investment advice to other Accounts.

Different Investment Strategies. The Accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers have differing investment strategies. If the Portfolio Managers determine that an investment


opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the Accounts or decide that certain of the Accounts should take different positions with respect to a particular security, the Portfolio Managers may effect transactions for one or more Accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other Accounts.

Variation in Compensation. A conflict of interest may arise where Clough or Clough Associates, LLC, as applicable, is compensated differently by the Accounts that are managed by the Portfolio Managers. If certain Accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based incentive fees, the Portfolio Managers might be motivated to prefer certain Accounts over others. The Portfolio Managers might also be motivated to favor Accounts in which they have a greater ownership interest or Accounts that are more likely to enhance the Portfolio Managers’ performance record or to otherwise benefit the Portfolio Managers.

Selection of Brokers. The Portfolio Managers select the brokers that execute securities transactions for the Accounts that they supervise. In addition to executing trades, some brokers provide the Portfolio Managers with research and other services which may require the payment of higher brokerage fees than might otherwise be available. The Portfolio Managers’ decision as to the selection of brokers could yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the Accounts that they manage, since the research and other services provided by brokers may be more beneficial to some Accounts than to others.

(a)(3) Portfolio Manager Compensation as of October 31, 2014.

The Portfolio Managers Charles Clough, James Canty and Eric Brock own 100% of Clough. They each receive a fixed base salary determined based on market factors. Additionally, Clough distributes substantially all of its annual net profits to those three Portfolio Managers, with Mr. Clough receiving a majority share and the remainder being divided between Mr. Brock and Mr. Canty, with an additional smaller share allocated to four income partners.

(a)(4) Dollar Range of Securities Owned as of October 31, 2014.

 

     Dollar Range of the Registrant’s Securities
Owned by the Portfolio Managers
Portfolio Managers     
Charles I. Clough, Jr.    $1,000,001 +
Eric A. Brock    $10,001 - $50,000
James E. Canty    $100,001 - $500,000

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.


None

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders.

No material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees have been implemented after the registrant’s last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a) The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this document.

 

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

 

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a)(1) The Code of Ethics that applies to the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer is attached hereto as Exhibit 12.A.1.

(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Ex-99.Cert.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) A certification for the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Ex-99.906Cert.

(c) The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are attached hereto as Ex99. Item 7.

(d) Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Order granting relief from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 dated September 21, 2009, the form of 19(a) Notices to Beneficial Owners are attached hereto as Exhibit 12(d).


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.

CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

 

By:   

/s/ Edmund J. Burke

  
   Edmund J. Burke   
   President & Trustee   
Date:    January 9, 2015   

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

CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND

 

By:   

/s/ Edmund J. Burke

  
   Edmund J. Burke   
   President/Principal Executive Officer
Date:    January 9, 2015   
By:   

/s/ Jeremy O. May

  
   Jeremy O. May   
   Treasurer/Principal Financial Officer
Date:    January 9, 2015