Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term 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  

  

811-22329

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Nuveen Investments

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

 

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Kevin J. McCarthy

Nuveen Investments

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

 

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    (312) 917-7700                        

Date of fiscal year end:    December 31                                

Date of reporting period:    December 31, 2015                   

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss. 3507.


ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.


     LOGO
Closed-End Funds   

 

     Nuveen Investments
     Closed-End Funds

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

Annual Report  December 31, 2015

 

     
           
JLS            
Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund  
           
JMT            
Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2  

 


 

 

     

 

           
  Life is Complex      
 

Nuveen makes things e-simple.

 

It only takes a minute to sign up for e-Reports. Once enrolled, you’ll receive an e-mail as soon as your Nuveen Investments Fund information is ready – no more waiting for delivery by regular mail. Just click on the link within the e-mail to see the report and save it on your computer if you wish.

 

   Free e-Reports right to your e-mail!
  

www.investordelivery.com

If you receive your Nuveen Fund dividends and statements from your financial advisor or brokerage account.

or   

www.nuveen.com/accountaccess

If you receive your Nuveen Fund dividends and statements directly from Nuveen.

 

    

 

                  

 

LOGO


Table

of Contents

 

Chairman’s Letter to Shareholders

     4   

Portfolio Manager’s Comments

     5   

Fund Leverage

     8   

Share Information

     9   

Risk Considerations

     11   

Performance Overview and Holding Summaries

     12   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     16   

Portfolios of Investments

     17   

Statement of Assets & Liabilities

     31   

Statement of Operations

     32   

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

     33   

Statement of Cash Flows

     34   

Financial Highlights

     36   

Notes to Financial Statements

     38   

Additional Fund Information

     47   

Glossary of Terms Used in this Report

     48   

Reinvest Automatically, Easily and Conveniently

     50   

Board Members & Officers

     51   

 

Nuveen Investments     3   


Chairman’s Letter

to Shareholders

 

LOGO

Dear Shareholders,

For better or for worse, the financial markets spent most of the past year waiting for the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) to end its accommodative monetary policy. The policy has propped up stock and bond markets since the Great Recession, but the question remains: how will markets behave without its influence? This uncertainty was a considerable source of volatility for stock and bond prices for much of 2015, despite the Fed carefully conveying its intention to raise rates slowly and only when the economy shows evidence of readiness.

As was widely expected, the long-awaited Fed rate hike materialized in mid-December. While the move was interpreted as a vote of confidence on the U.S. economy’s underlying strength, the Fed emphasized that future rate increases will be gradual and guided by its ongoing assessment of financial conditions. Headwinds including rising borrowing costs, softer commodity prices, low inflation, a strong U.S. dollar and a stagnant global economy could necessitate keeping monetary conditions accommodative for longer. Meanwhile, policy makers in Europe and Japan are deploying their available tools to try to bolster their economies’ fragile growth, while Chinese authorities have stepped up efforts to manage China’s slowdown.

Although the new year began with a more pessimistic tone to investor sentiment and elevated volatility in the markets, we caution investors from making long-term decisions based on short-term news. In times like these, you can look to a professional investment manager with the experience and discipline to maintain the proper perspective on short-term events. And if the daily headlines do concern you, I encourage you to reach out to your financial advisor. Your financial advisor can help you evaluate your investment strategies in light of current events, your time horizon and risk tolerance.

On behalf of the other members of the Nuveen Fund Board, we look forward to continuing to earn your trust in the months and years ahead.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

William J. Schneider

Chairman of the Board

February 22, 2016

 

 

  4      Nuveen Investments


Portfolio Manager’s

Comments

 

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)

The investment adviser for both Funds is Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (NFA), an affiliate of Nuveen Investments, Inc. NFA is responsible for determining each Fund’s overall investment strategy and monitoring the performance of Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management), the sub-adviser for both Funds. Wellington Management is responsible for implementing each Fund’s direct investments in mortgage-backed securities and other permitted investments. Michael Garrett serves as portfolio manager for these Funds. Here Michael talks about his portfolio management strategy and the performance of the Funds for the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2015.

What factors affected the U.S. economy and financial markets during the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2015?

The U.S. economy grew at an overall moderate pace during the twelve-month reporting period. Harsh winter weather and a West coast port strike weighed on growth in the first quarter of 2015, but those factors proved temporary. Rebounding economic activity in the second quarter was followed by a mediocre advance in the latter half of the year. Real gross domestic product (GDP), which is the value of the goods and services produced by the nation’s economy less the value of the goods and services used up in production, adjusted for price changes, increased at an annual rate of 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2015, as reported by the “advance” estimate of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, down from 2.0% in the third quarter.

The labor and housing markets were among the bright spots in the economy during the reporting period, as both showed steady improvement. As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate fell to 5.0% in December from 5.7% in January 2015, and job gains averaged slightly above 200,000 per month for the past twelve months. The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, which covers all nine U.S. census divisions, recorded a 5.1% annual gain in November 2015 (most recent data available at the time this report was prepared). The 10-City and 20-City Composites reported year-over-year increases of 5.3% and 5.8%, respectively.

With GDP growth averaging around 2% for the previous four quarters, the U.S. economic recovery continued to underwhelm. Consumers, whose purchases comprise the largest component of the U.S. economy, benefited from lower gasoline prices and an improving jobs market but didn’t necessarily spend more. Pessimism about the economy’s future and lackluster wage growth likely contributed to consumers’ somewhat muted spending. The sharp decline in energy prices and tepid wage growth kept inflation subdued during this reporting period. The Consumer Price Index CPI declined 0.1% in December on a seasonally adjusted basis, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The core CPI (which excludes food and energy) increased 0.1% during the same period, below the Fed’s unofficial longer term inflation objective of 2.0%.

 

 

Certain statements in this report are forward-looking statements. Discussions of specific investments are for illustration only and are not intended as recommendations of individual investments. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are those of the portfolio manager as of the date of this report. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements and the views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. The Funds disclaim any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein.

Ratings shown are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below investment grade ratings. Certain bonds backed by U.S. Government or agency securities are regarded as having an implied rating equal to the rating of such securities. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for further definition of the terms used within this section.

 

Nuveen Investments     5   


Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

 

Business investment was also rather restrained. Corporate earnings growth slowed during 2015, reflecting an array of factors ranging from weakening demand amid sluggish U.S. and global growth to the impact of falling commodity prices and a strong U.S. dollar. Energy, materials and industrials companies were hit particularly hard by the downturn in natural resource prices, as well as the expectation of rising interest rates, which would make their debts more costly to service. With demand waning, companies, especially in the health care and technology sectors, looked to consolidations with rivals as a way to boost revenues. Merger and acquisition deals, both in the U.S. and globally, reached record levels in the calendar year 2015.

Although the current expansion continued to look subpar relative to past recoveries, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) believed the economy was strong enough to begin the withdrawal of its stimulus policies. After winding down its bond buying program, known as quantitative easing, in October 2014, the Fed began telegraphing its intention to raise the target federal funds rate some time in 2015. The Fed had held the fed funds rate near zero since December 2008. However, the timing of its first rate hike was uncertain, particularly as the inflation rate stayed stubbornly low and signs of global economic weakness, notably from China, merited caution. After delaying the rate change at each prior meeting in 2015, the Fed announced in December 2015 that it would raise its main policy interest rate by 0.25%. The news had a relatively muted impact on the financial markets, as the move was widely expected.

Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), as measured by the Barclays Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) Aggregate Index, posted positive absolute returns during the twelve-month reporting period. Spreads on the Barclay’s CMBS Index ended the reporting period wider, amid the volatility in rates and credit markets. Commercial real estate fundamentals remain healthy, as the sector continues to be supported by a recovering economy, a better lending environment for commercial real estate (CRE) borrowers and a manageable near-term loan maturity schedule. Occupancy and rents have risen while capitalization rates have been range-bound, resulting in continued CRE price appreciation. Commercial property prices, according to the Moody’s/RCA Commercial Property Price Index (CPPI), were up 0.4% in October and 14.2% year-over-year. Rising interest rates remain a risk factor, but as long as that is accompanied by a recovering economy and improving rents, the impact on CMBS should be limited. The non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) market generated positive returns during the twelve-month reporting period. Housing market conditions continue to normalize and growth rates are trending toward their historical range of 3-4%. Despite recovering housing starts, inventory remains low after years of underdevelopment.

What key strategies were used to manage the Funds during this twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2015?

Both Funds seek to generate total returns by investing in a diverse portfolio of mortgage-backed securities (MBS), consisting primarily of non-agency RMBS and CMBS. Under normal circumstances, both Funds will invest at least 80% of their managed assets in MBS, primarily non-agency RMBS and CMBS. Both JLS and JMT may be leveraged directly to a maximum effective leverage of 33% of total net assets. The Funds have a limited term of ten years from each Fund’s inception, at which time all net assets will be distributed to shareholders of record.

During the reporting period, Wellington Management maintained a constructive outlook for CMBS over the long-term and continued to believe that the non-agency RMBS sector offered better relative value, and we positioned the Funds accordingly. The Funds continue to be conservatively positioned within RMBS, with a bias toward higher quality collateral to try to mitigate against downside risk in the event of a prolonged path toward economic recovery. The portfolio’s exposure to credit risk transfer (CRT) securities increased. CRTs allow credit risk to be more easily transferred and potentially more widely dispersed across the financial market and as that CRT market continues to grow, we look to find attractive opportunities to invest.

While the fundamentals are positive, Wellington Management remains cautious on technicals. CMBS issuance was lighter than expected in 2015, but still ended the year at a new post-crisis high. Issuance is expected to continue at a high level in 2016 due to a number of technical factors including pending risk retention regulation, rising rates and

 

  6      Nuveen Investments


 

sizable maturities. Within the sector, we favored up-in-quality new issues, seasoned (2010 –2013) credit bonds, select single-borrower deals and AAA rated interest-only (IO) bonds.

The non-agency RMBS market generated positive returns during the twelve-month reporting period. We have a constructive outlook on most non-agency RMBS, given the continuing recovery of the U.S. housing market and the positive technical tailwinds. The current economic recovery and demographic mix in the U.S. indicates improving housing demand going forward. Housing market conditions are normalizing and the growth rate should trend toward the historical range of 3-4%, which is still a healthy level. Despite recovering housing starts, inventory remains low after years of underdevelopment. In this environment, the credit performance of residential mortgages should continue to improve.

Technicals are also positive in RMBS. RMBS net supply has been negative, which continues to provide a positive tailwind for legacy non-agency RMBS, where investor interest in the sector remains strong. The CRT market is growing and maturing; both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are mandated to expand on collateral type, structure and volume. As the product grows and the investor base broadens, its volatility and liquidity should improve. The capital market is playing a greater role where banks’ balance sheets continue to shrink. Securitizations in non-traditional emerging sectors, where investors provide financing rather than pure risk transfers, are also attractive. These transaction types include securitizations backed by servicer advance receivables and re-performing loans.

Within the sector we favor legacy non-agency RMBS, which offer attractive yields relative to other credit sectors with comparable risk. Wellington Management also likes the non-traditional emerging sectors including agency CRT, servicer advance deals, re-performing loans and real estate mortgage investment conduits (re-REMICs), which is a trust that has been created to own one or more existing mortgage-backed residential or commercial securities. These new and growing sectors offer attractive opportunities for investors to lend against high quality collateral at attractive rates.

How did the Funds perform during this twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2015?

The tables in the Performance Overview and Holding Summaries section of this report provide total returns for the one-year, five-year and since inception periods ended December 31, 2015. Each Fund’s total returns at net asset value (NAV) are compared with the performance of a corresponding market index. For the twelve-month reporting period, the Funds’ total returns at NAV outperformed the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. This index reflects the general performance of the bond market, but not the specific MBS market in which the Funds primarily invest.

The total returns of the Funds were positive, as all of the broader securitized sectors generated positive returns for the twelve-month reporting period. The primary contributor to the Funds’ returns was the allocation to residential credit, particularly the higher quality sectors (Alt-A and Prime). An allocation to CMBS also positively impacted performance during the reporting period, primarily driven by legacy and mezzanine bonds.

Wellington Management’s approach to sector allocation has remained consistent since the Funds’ launch. Both Funds seek to generate total returns by investing in a diverse portfolio of MBS consisting primarily of non-agency RMBS and CMBS. While remaining cautious on CMBS in the short-term, they continue to favor residential credit from a relative value perspective and have a bias to the higher quality collateral types within each sector. With an emphasis on the long-term, Wellington Management continued to focus on finding opportunities to add securities that were best positioned to provide stability of principal and attractive income over the duration of the Funds’ limited terms.

Detracting from performance were BBB rated CMBS as their spreads widened more than higher rated tranches amid the broader volatility in credit markets. Within legacy RMBS, adjustable-rate mortgage (ARMs) also detracted during the reporting period. The Funds’ utilized U.S. treasury futures to hedge against increases in interest rates. The effect on performance was negligible during the period.

 

Nuveen Investments     7   


Fund

Leverage

 

IMPACT OF THE FUNDS’ LEVERAGE STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE

One important factor impacting the return of the Funds relative to their comparative benchmarks was the Funds’ use of leverage through the use of bank borrowings. The Funds use leverage because our research has shown that, over time, leveraging provides opportunities for additional income and total return for shareholders. However, use of leverage also can expose shareholders to additional volatility. For example, as the prices of securities held by a Fund decline, the negative impact of these valuation changes on NAV and total return is magnified by the use of leverage. Conversely, leverage may enhance returns during periods when the prices of securities held by a Fund generally are rising. Leverage had a negative effect on performance during the current reporting period.

As of December 31, 2015, the Funds’ percentages of leverage are as shown in the accompanying table.

 

     JLS        JMT  

Effective Leverage*

    26.97        28.09

Regulatory Leverage*

    26.97        28.09
* Effective leverage is a Fund’s effective economic leverage, and includes both regulatory leverage and the leverage effects of certain derivative and other investments in a Fund’s portfolio that increase the Fund’s investment exposure. Regulatory leverage consists of preferred shares issued or borrowings of a Fund. Both of these are part of a Fund’s capital structure. Regulatory leverage is subject to asset coverage limits set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

THE FUNDS’ REGULATORY LEVERAGE

Bank Borrowings

The Funds employ regulatory leverage through the use of bank borrowings. As of December 31, 2015, the Funds have outstanding bank borrowings as shown in the accompanying table.

 

     JLS        JMT  

Bank Borrowings

  $ 147,200,000         $ 46,200,000   

Refer to Notes to Financial Statements, Note 8 – Borrowing Agreements for further details.

 

  8      Nuveen Investments


Share

Information

 

DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION

The following information regarding the Funds’ distributions is as of December 31, 2015, the Funds’ fiscal and tax year end, and may differ from previously issued distribution notifications.

The Funds have a cash flow-based distribution program. Under this program, each Fund seeks to maintain an attractive and stable regular distribution based on the Fund’s net cash flow received from its portfolio investments. Fund distributions are not intended to include expected portfolio appreciation; however, each Fund invests in securities that make payments which ultimately may be fully or partially treated as gains or return of capital for tax purposes. This tax treatment will generally “flow through” to the Fund’s distributions, but the specific tax treatment is often not known with certainty until after the end of the Fund’s tax year. As a result, regular distributions throughout the year are likely to be re-characterized for tax purposes as either long-term gains (both realized and unrealized), or as a non-taxable return of capital.

The figures in the table below provide the sources (for tax purposes) of each Fund’s distributions as of December 31, 2015. These sources include amounts attributable to realized gains and/or returns of capital. The information shown below is for the distributions paid on common shares for all prior months in the current fiscal year. These amounts should not be used for tax reporting purposes, and the distribution sources may differ for financial reporting than for tax reporting. The final determination of the tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2015 will be made in early 2016 and reported to you on Form 1099-DIV. More details about the tax characteristics of each Fund’s distributions are available on www.nuveen.com/CEFdistributions.

Data as of 12/31/2015

 

     Fiscal YTD
Percentage of the Distribution
     Fiscal YTD
Per Share Amounts
 
Fund    Net Investment
Income
     Realized
Gains
     Return of
Capital
     Distributions     

Net Investment
Income

    

Realized
Gains

    

Return of
Capital

 

JLS (FYE 12/31)

     74.12      16.51      9.37    $ 1.5180       $ 1.1251       $ 0.2507       $ 0.1422   

JMT (FYE 12/31)

     65.74      12.73      21.53    $ 1.5300       $ 1.0060       $ 0.1947       $ 0.3293   

The following table provides information regarding fund distributions and total return performance over various time periods. This information is intended to help you better understand whether fund returns for the specified time periods were sufficient to meet fund distributions.

Data as of 12/31/2015

 

    Inception
Date
     Latest
Monthly
Per Share
Distribution
     Annualized      Cumulative  
Fund         Current
Distribution on
NAV
     1-Year
Return on
NAV
     5-Year
Return on
NAV
     Fiscal YTD
Distributions on
NAV
     Fiscal
YTD Return
on NAV
 

JLS (FYE 12/31)

    11/25/2009       $ 0.1265         6.05      1.71      7.71      6.05      1.71

JMT (FYE 12/31)

    2/23/2010       $ 0.1275         6.30      1.56      7.81      6.30      1.56

 

Nuveen Investments     9   


Share Information (continued)

 

SHARE REPURCHASES

During August 2015, the Funds’ Board of Trustees reauthorized an open-market share repurchase program, allowing each Fund to repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately 10% of its outstanding shares.

As of December 31, 2015, and since the inception of the Funds’ repurchase programs, the Funds have cumulatively repurchased and retired their outstanding shares as shown in the accompanying table.

 

     JLS        JMT  

Shares cumulatively repurchased and retired

    0           0   

Shares authorized for repurchase

    1,590,000           485,000   

OTHER SHARE INFORMATION

As of December 31, 2015, and during the current reporting period, the Funds’ share prices were trading at a premium/(discount) to their NAVs as shown in the accompanying table.

 

     JLS        JMT  

NAV

    $25.09         $ 24.28   

Share price

    $22.71         $ 22.29   

Premium/(Discount) to NAV

    (9.49 )%         (8.20 )% 

12-month average premium/(discount) to NAV

    (11.48 )%         (11.12 )% 

 

  10      Nuveen Investments


Risk

Considerations

 

Fund shares are not guaranteed or endorsed by any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Investing in mortgage-backed securities entails credit risk, the risk that the servicer fails to perform its duties, liquidity risks, interest rate risks, structure risks, pre-payment risk, and geographical concentration risks. Leverage increases return volatility and magnifies the Fund’s potential return and its risks; there is no guarantee a fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. These and other risk considerations including the Fund’s limited term are described in more detail on the Fund’s web page at www.nuveen.com/JLS.

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Investing in mortgage-backed securities entails credit risk, the risk that the servicer fails to perform its duties, liquidity risks, interest rate risks, structure risks, pre-payment risk, and geographical concentration risks. Leverage increases return volatility and magnifies the Fund’s potential return and its risks; there is no guarantee a fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. These and other risk considerations including the Fund’s limited term are described in more detail on the Fund’s web page at www.nuveen.com/JMT.

 

Nuveen Investments     11   


JLS

 

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

Performance Overview and Holding Summaries as of December 31, 2015

 

Refer to Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for further definition of terms used in this section.

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2015

 

       Average Annual  
        1-Year        5-Year        Since
Inception
 
JLS at NAV        1.71%           7.71%           8.91%   
JLS at Share Price        4.82%           6.21%           6.79%   
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index        0.55%           3.25%           3.52%   

Since inception returns are from 11/25/09. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

 

LOGO

 

  12      Nuveen Investments


 

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

Ratings shown are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Certain bonds backed by U.S. Government or agency securities are regarded as having an implied rating equal to the rating of such securities. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

Fund Allocation

(% of net assets)

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities     131.7%   
Repurchase Agreements     5.1%   
Other Assets Less Liabilities     0.1%   

Net Assets Plus Borrowings

    136.9%   
Borrowings     (36.9)%   

Net Assets

    100%   

Credit Quality

(% of total long-term investments)

 

AAA/U.S. Guaranteed     8.8%   
A     2.6%   
BBB     7.4%   
BB or Lower     73.9%   
N/R (not rated)     7.3%   

Total

    100%   
 

 

Nuveen Investments     13   


JMT

 

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2

Performance Overview and Holding Summaries as of December 31, 2015

 

Refer to Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for further definition of terms used in this section.

Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2015

 

    Average Annual  
     1-Year        5-Year        Since
Inception
 
JMT at NAV     1.56%           7.81%           8.92%   
JMT at Share Price     3.01%           7.63%           7.03%   
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index     0.55%           3.25%           3.62%   

Since inception returns are from 2/23/10. Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

 

LOGO

 

  14      Nuveen Investments


 

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

Ratings shown are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Certain bonds backed by U.S. Government or agency securities are regarded as having an implied rating equal to the rating of such securities. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

Fund Allocation

(% of net assets)

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities     133.0%   
Repurchase Agreements     6.0%   
Other Assets Less Liabilities     0.1%   

Net Assets Plus Borrowings

    139.1%   
Borrowings     (39.1)%   

Net Assets

    100%   

Credit Quality

(% of total long-term investments)

 

AAA/U.S. Guaranteed     8.5%   
A     2.2%   
BBB     6.9%   
BB or Lower     75.0%   
N/R (not rated)     7.4%   

Total

    100%   
 

 

Nuveen Investments     15   


Report of

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2:

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, and the related statements of operations, of changes in net assets and of cash flows and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund and Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (hereinafter referred to as the “Funds”) at December 31, 2015, the results of each of their operations and each of their cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in each of their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements 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 are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chicago, IL

February 25, 2016

 

  16      Nuveen Investments


JLS

 

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

  

Portfolio of Investments

   December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS – 131.7% (96.3% of Total Investments)

  

 

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 131.7% (96.3% of Total Investments)

  

      Residential – 131.7%                           
$ 3,610     

Ares Collateralized Loan Obligation, Series 2012-2A, 144A

    3.021%         10/12/23         A       $ 3,570,001   
  6,500     

Argent Securities Inc., Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-W2

    0.912%         10/25/35         B1         5,310,539   
  8,837     

Asset Backed Funding Corporation, Asset-Backed Certificates Series 2006-OPT1

    0.662%         9/25/36         CCC         6,201,422   
  1,680     

Babson CLO Limited, Series 2012-2A, 144A

    3.962%         5/15/23         BBB         1,617,148   
  2,354     

Banc of America Alternative Loan Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-6

    6.000%         7/25/46         Caa3         1,932,092   
  4,088     

Banc of America Funding Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-G

    0.692%         7/20/36         Ba1         3,812,862   
  3,125     

Banc of America Merrill Lynch Large Loan Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-200P, 144A

    3.596%         4/14/33         BB–         2,712,660   
  2,416     

Banc of America Mortgage Securities Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    6.000%         3/25/37         Caa3         2,183,430   
  2,020     

Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc. , Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-1

    5.508%         9/10/45         Ba2         2,020,115   
  736     

Bank of America Funding Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C

    2.814%         5/20/36         Caa2         692,874   
  6,384     

Bank of America Funding Trust, 2007-A 2A1

    0.562%         2/20/47         CCC         5,168,004   
  7,383     

BCAP LLC Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates,
Series 2006-AA2

    0.592%         1/25/37         Caa3         5,907,476   
  5,812     

BCAP LLC Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates,
Series 2007 AA1 2A1

    0.602%         3/25/37         Caa3         4,925,036   
  2,602     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2005-3

    2.746%         6/25/35         Caa2         2,408,631   
  880     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2006-2

    2.749%         7/25/36         D         742,374   
  3,911     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2006-4

    2.687%         10/25/36         D         3,328,825   
  5,357     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-4

    4.718%         6/25/47         D         4,762,685   
  1,423     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates Series 2005-12

    2.500%         2/25/36         Caa3         1,189,412   
  5,270     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates Series 2005-12

    2.654%         2/25/36         Caa3         4,714,651   
  2,989     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    2.760%         2/25/47         D         2,580,258   
  5,199     

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-8

    3.151%         8/25/46         Ca         3,903,384   
  2,175     

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass Through Certificates 2007-WR16

    5.722%         6/11/40         B1         2,170,660   
  6,490     

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust, Asset Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-NC5

    0.902%         10/25/35         BB–         5,702,047   
  6,148     

Carrington Securities LP, Mortgage Loan Trust Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-HE1

    0.572%         6/25/37         Caa1         5,591,455   
  2,090     

CDGJ Commercial Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-BXCH, 144A

    4.581%         12/15/27         BB–         2,046,452   
  5,333     

Chaseflex Trust Series 2007-2

    0.702%         5/25/37         CCC         4,773,451   
  2,785     

CIFC Funding Limited, Series 2012-2A, 144A

    3.152%         12/05/24         A         2,715,965   
  1,436     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR4

    2.962%         3/25/37         D         1,138,401   
  730     

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-GC29, 144A

    3.110%         4/10/48         BBB–         510,171   
  1,189     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Inc., Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006- AR2

    2.726%         3/25/36         Caa3         1,081,305   
  1,450     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-3

    2.792%         8/25/35         Caa2         1,352,676   

 

Nuveen Investments     17   


JLS    Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund   
   Portfolio of Investments (continued)    December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 7,369     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR1

    0.642%         1/25/37         CCC       $ 5,210,466   
  1,382     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-AR8

    2.797%         7/25/37         Caa3         1,293,325   
  2,010     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR7

    2.685%         11/25/36         D         1,664,836   
  3,026     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR7

    2.785%         11/25/36         D         2,573,127   
  3,820     

Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates Series 2012-CR4, 144A

    4.574%         10/15/45         BBB         3,562,494   
  1,130     

Core Industrial Trust, Series 2015-CALW, 144A

    3.850%         2/10/34         B         1,007,337   
  2,141     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-63

    2.731%         11/25/35         Ca         1,727,814   
  570     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-6CB

    5.750%         5/25/36         Ca         448,631   
  4,632     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-19

    6.000%         8/25/37         D         3,832,484   
  1,826     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-3T1

    6.000%         4/25/37         Ca         1,423,492   
  5,394     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Securitization Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-HY7C A1

    0.562%         8/25/37         Ca         4,613,169   
  1,913     

Countrywide Asset Backed Certificates Trust 2005-IM1

    0.822%         11/25/35         A+         1,830,903   
  2,170     

Countrywide CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust 2006-HYB1

    2.526%         3/20/36         Ca         1,869,978   
  1,234     

Countrywide CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust Series 2005-HY10

    3.096%         2/20/36         Caa3         1,048,222   
  4,260     

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-HYB7

    2.615%         11/20/35         Caa3         3,802,192   
  691     

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass Through Trust Certificates Series 2007-HY5

    4.674%         9/25/37         D         633,453   
  5,240     

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass- Through Trust, Series 2007-HY1 1A1

    2.632%         4/25/37         D         4,915,697   
  3,981     

Credit Suisse Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2005-9

    0.692%         11/25/35         BBB+         3,628,249   
  4,950     

Credit Suisse Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2006-3, Pass Through Certificates

    0.542%         8/25/36         CCC         2,990,161   
  823     

Credit Suisse Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2007-2

    0.632%         6/25/37         Caa3         710,539   
  3,047     

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-12

    2.881%         3/25/36         Caa3         2,356,430   
  1,028     

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corporation, Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-2

    2.843%         5/25/36         D         953,401   
  2,100     

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-C1, 144A

    3.801%         4/15/50         BBB-         1,651,004   
  4,700     

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-C3

    3.362%         8/15/48         BBB-         3,397,602   
  1,045     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities , Series 2014-C02

    3.022%         5/25/24         Aaa         917,735   
  1,535     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities , Series 2014-C02

    3.022%         5/25/24         Aaa         1,381,268   
  4,000     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities , Series 2014-C04

    5.322%         11/25/24         Aaa         4,075,356   
  2,790     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2013-C01

    5.672%         10/25/23         Aaa         2,891,346   
  3,297     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Ave Securities, Series 2015-C04

    6.122%         4/25/28         Aaa         3,358,859   
  950     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities Series 2014-C01

    4.822%         1/25/24         Aaa         943,046   
  5,815     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2014-C03

    3.422%         7/25/24         Aaa         5,272,801   
  6,125     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2015-C01

    4.972%         2/25/25         Aaa         6,163,151   
  5,290     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2015-C02

    4.422%         5/25/25         Aaa         5,026,511   
  1,240     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2015-C03

    5.422%         7/25/25         Aaa         1,231,443   
  2,798     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2006-FA3

    6.000%         7/25/36         Ca         2,284,688   
  2,533     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2006-FA3

    6.000%         7/25/36         Ca         2,068,186   
  5,495     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-FA8

    0.922%         2/25/37         Caa3         2,970,442   
  2,175     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates Series 2005-A7

    2.254%         9/25/35         Caa2         1,937,722   
  1,462     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-FA10

    1.222%         1/25/36         Caa2         1,009,239   

 

  18      Nuveen Investments


Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 3,603     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AA2

    2.325%         5/25/36         Ca       $ 2,901,113   
  196     

First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, Series 2007-AR1

    2.732%         5/25/37         D         155,792   
  1,834     

First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-AR2

    2.698%         8/25/37         D         1,464,453   
  7,310     

Freddie Mac Collateralized Mortgage REMIC Series 4338, (I/O)

    2.490%         6/25/42         Aaa         1,209,344   
  1,800     

Freddie Mac Mortgage Trust, Multifamily Mortgage-Pass Through Certificates, Series K720, 144A

    3.389%         7/25/22         AAA         1,575,495   
  5,400     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K701, (I/O)

    2.108%         7/25/48         Aaa         203,988   
  6,950     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates K036, (I/O)

    2.111%         12/25/41         Aaa         941,842   
  17,405     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K025, (I/O)

    1.751%         11/25/40         Aaa         1,747,970   
  11,406     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K031, (I/O)

    1.661%         7/25/41         Aaa         1,078,901   
  16,460     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K034, (I/O)

    1.726%         9/25/41         Aaa         1,773,892   
  9,800     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K037, (I/O)

    2.206%         1/25/42         Aaa         1,405,322   
  11,060     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K715, (I/O)

    2.017%         2/25/41         Aaa         1,020,532   
  6,257     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates Series KF01, (I/O)

    1.969%         7/25/40         Aaa         682,085   
  1,630     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates, Series K013, (I/O)

    2.807%         1/25/43         Aaa         208,125   
  13,444     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structures Pass- Through Certificates, Series 2011-K012, (I/O)

    2.251%         1/25/41         Aaa         1,395,419   
  775     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Trust, Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-K37, 144A

    4.558%         1/25/47         Aaa         787,989   
  15,800     

Freddie Mac Structured Pass-Through Certificates, Series K711 X3, (I/O)

    1.619%         8/25/40         Aaa         822,900   
  4,900     

General Electric Capital Commercial Mortgage Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C1

    5.606%         12/10/49         Ba3         4,982,403   
  3,870     

GMAC Mortgage Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-AR5

    3.205%         9/19/35         CCC         3,482,026   
  3,426     

GMACM Mortgage Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-AF2

    6.000%         12/25/35         D         3,019,611   
  3,140     

GMACM Mortgage Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR1

    3.100%         4/19/36         Caa3         2,835,583   
  1,797     

Goldman Sachs GSAA Home Equity Trust, Series 2006-4 4A2

    0.652%         3/25/36         Caa3         1,691,081   
  5,577     

Goldman Sachs GSAA Home Equity Trust, Series 2007-8

    0.872%         8/25/37         CCC         5,040,309   
  380     

Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation, GSR Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-AR1

    2.835%         3/25/47         D         327,000   
  7,303     

Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR1 2A4

    2.869%         1/25/36         D         6,703,421   
  2,340     

Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-GC20, 144A

    4.867%         4/10/47         BBB–         1,996,382   
  1,698     

Government National Mortgage Association Pool, (I/O)

    4.500%         10/20/39         Aaa         199,810   
  2,550     

Gramercy Park CLO Limited, Series 2012-1AR, 144A

    3.265%         7/17/23         A         2,528,598   
  2,010     

GSAA Home Equity Trust Series 2007-5

    0.522%         3/25/47         Caa3         1,067,101   
  2,678     

GSAA Home Equity Trust Series 2007-5

    5.788%         3/25/47         Caa3         1,743,445   
  3,351     

GSR Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass- Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR2

    2.558%         4/25/36         D         2,825,351   
  3,488     

GSR Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR2

    2.775%         5/25/37         D         2,861,288   
  4,657     

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-12

    0.640%         12/19/36         Ca         3,228,798   
  4,075     

Hilton USA Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2013-HLT, 144A

    4.453%         11/05/30         Ba1         4,073,904   
  6,159     

HomeBanc Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Backed Notes 2005-5

    0.682%         1/25/36         Caa1         5,339,972   
  4,405     

HomeBanc Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Backed Notes 2006-2

    0.602%         12/25/36         CCC         3,881,320   
  3,494     

HSI Asset Securitization Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-HE1

    0.532%         10/25/36         CCC         1,821,644   

 

Nuveen Investments     19   


JLS    Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund   
   Portfolio of Investments (continued)    December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 2,329     

IndyMac INDA Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2007-AR3

    5.067%         7/25/37         Caa2       $ 2,047,427   
  3,670     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 07-AR5

    2.782%         5/25/37         Ca         2,793,554   
  4,325     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-AR11

    2.652%         8/25/35         Caa3         3,533,240   
  579     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-AR23

    2.511%         11/25/35         Caa3         492,377   
  1,721     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR15

    0.632%         7/25/36         Caa3         1,372,930   
  2,712     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR15

    0.542%         7/25/36         Caa3         2,144,916   
  1,492     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR35

    0.592%         1/25/37         Caa3         1,217,125   
  2,680     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR39

    0.602%         2/25/37         Caa3         2,183,724   
  6,472     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2007-AR7 2A1

    2.302%         6/25/37         Ca         4,892,503   
  1,407     

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-A4

    2.696%         6/25/36         Caa2         1,219,083   
  3,197     

JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2006-S4

    5.960%         12/25/36         Ca         2,569,887   
  4,170     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-LDP8

    5.480%         5/15/45         Baa1         4,240,419   
  988     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-S4 A5

    6.000%         1/25/37         Caa3         838,120   
  4,421     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-S4 A8

    0.802%         1/25/37         Caa3         2,709,537   
  1,925     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2011-C5, 144A

    5.323%         8/15/46         Baa3         1,982,988   
  5,000     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass Through Certificates Series 2006-LDP9

    5.337%         5/15/47         Ba1         4,989,513   
  2,300     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-CB17 AM

    5.464%         12/12/43         Ba1         2,313,687   
  4,200     

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Corporation, Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-CH5

    0.682%         5/25/37         B3         3,348,830   
  3,405     

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust, Series 2006-A6

    2.971%         10/25/36         Caa2         2,976,535   
  2,500     

LB UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2006-C4

    5.840%         6/15/38         Ba2         2,534,229   
  3,433     

LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-2, 144A

    2.244%         12/01/21         N/R         3,394,151   
  4,737     

LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2015-2, 144A

    2.193%         1/01/20         N/R         4,676,853   
  7,040     

LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2015-3, 144A

    2.244%         3/01/20         N/R         6,938,602   
  1,460     

Magnetite CLO Limited, Series 2012-6A, 144A

    4.112%         9/15/23         BBB         1,448,983   
  1,215     

Marine Park CLO Limited, Series 2012-1A, 144A

    3.914%         10/12/23         BBB         1,193,558   
  3,437     

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-2

    2.900%         8/25/36         Caa2         3,166,615   
  5,652     

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-3

    2.954%         6/25/37         D         4,759,371   
  3,900     

ML_CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-8

    5.880%         8/12/49         BB         3,930,824   
  7,381     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006- HE1

    0.712%         1/25/36         B2         6,646,906   
  4,130     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-HQ8

    5.511%         3/12/44         Ba1         4,119,663   
  2,045     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2006-TOP21, 144A

    5.400%         10/12/52         Baa1         1,917,714   
  1,525     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2006-TOP21, 144A

    5.400%         10/12/52         Baa2         1,430,080   
  4,000     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-IQ14

    5.680%         4/15/49         Ba2         4,067,274   
  3,850     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-TOP25

    5.574%         11/12/49         B1         3,798,678   
  2,025     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2008-T29, 144A

    6.268%         1/11/43         BB         2,069,581   
  2,696     

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-3AR

    2.862%         3/25/36         Caa3         2,180,916   
  4,736     

Mortgage IT Trust, Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2005-5

    0.682%         12/25/35         BB+         4,287,661   
  5,678     

Mortgage-IT Trust 2005-4

    0.702%         10/25/35         BB+         5,184,557   

 

  20      Nuveen Investments


Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 1,215     

Nationstar HECM Loan Trust, Series 2015-1A, 144A

    7.021%         5/25/18         N/R       $ 1,220,468   
  2,574     

Opteum Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, Asset backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-1

    0.722%         4/25/36         CCC         2,109,685   
  4,685     

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust Asset Backed Certificates, Series 2007-3

    6.998%         9/25/37         C         2,796,882   
  3,561     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages, 2006-QA6

    0.612%         7/25/36         Caa3         2,772,726   
  5,865     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-QA10 A31

    3.633%         9/25/35         Caa3         4,861,042   
  3,300     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-QS1

    5.750%         1/25/36         Caa3         2,896,908   
  2,050     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., RALI Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-QS2

    6.250%         1/25/37         Caa3         1,677,297   
  1,537     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., RALI Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-QA6

    3.213%         5/25/35         Caa3         1,218,692   
  3,500     

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc. Asset Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-RS7

    0.922%         7/25/35         A         3,227,198   
  7,295     

Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-NC2

    0.712%         2/25/36         B2         6,366,137   
  2,461     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I Inc., Mortgage Pass Through Certificates Series 2007-SA3

    3.876%         7/27/37         D         2,004,663   
  1,495     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I Inc., Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-SA3

    3.850%         9/25/36         D         1,237,777   
  2,466     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Mortgage Pass-Through Securities Series 2006-S1

    5.750%         1/25/36         Caa3         2,014,920   
  2,518     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-SA2

    3.151%         4/25/37         Caa2         2,197,130   
  2,693     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-SA2

    3.151%         4/25/37         Caa2         2,350,064   
  1,941     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities Inc. Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2006-SA2

    3.749%         8/25/36         D         1,700,139   
  4,531     

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    2.543%         2/20/47         CC         3,912,150   
  313     

Sierra Receivables Funding Company, Series 2011-1A, 144A

    6.190%         4/20/26         BB         313,086   
  953     

Soundview Home Equity Loan Trust 2004-WMC1 M1

    1.172%         1/25/35         B1         853,748   
  4,652     

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Pass Through Trust, Series 2007-6 2A1

    0.612%         7/25/37         CCC         3,356,840   
  250     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes 2014-DN2

    3.821%         4/25/24         N/R         233,105   
  9,550     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, 2013-DN2

    4.672%         11/25/23         N/R         9,460,634   
  1,360     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA1

    9.622%         10/25/27         N/R         1,515,296   
  4,360     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA2

    7.771%         12/25/27         N/R         4,070,419   
  1,210     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA3

    9.772%         4/25/28         N/R         1,184,253   
  2,070     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA3

    3.272%         4/25/28         BBB–         2,065,901   
  3,650     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-HQ2

    8.372%         5/25/25         N/R         3,533,034   
  3,045     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Notes, Series 2015-HQA1

    2.871%         3/25/28         BBB–         3,016,007   
  2,445     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Notes, Series 2015-HQA2

    3.222%         5/25/28         BBB–         2,443,163   
  2,674     

SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-2

    2.682%         4/25/37         D         2,233,644   
  588     

SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-4

    3.028%         10/25/37         Caa1         521,503   
  1,608     

SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-4

    3.156%         10/25/37         Caa1         1,480,237   
  4,355     

SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    2.784%         2/25/37         D         3,746,856   
  2,315     

Voya CLO Limited, Series 2012-3AR, 144A

    4.271%         10/15/22         BBB         2,313,664   
  4,200     

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C30

    5.413%         12/15/43         B3         4,206,046   
  1,366     

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C31

    5.680%         4/15/47         CCC         1,325,065   
  3,650     

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C31

    5.660%         4/15/47         B1         3,646,430   
  3,825     

Wachovia Commercial Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-C21, 144A

    5.300%         10/15/44         B+         3,697,818   

 

Nuveen Investments     21   


JLS    Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund   
   Portfolio of Investments (continued)    December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 1,672     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust 2006-AR14

    2.176%         11/25/36         D       $ 1,448,352   
  3,299     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR17

    1.063%         12/25/46         Caa3         2,538,977   
  2,420     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR

    1.825%         1/25/37         D         2,036,916   
  1,492     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-HY6

    2.231%         6/25/37         D         1,298,381   
  1,575     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-HY1

    0.582%         2/25/37         Caa3         1,148,549   
  2,248     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-5

    6.000%         7/25/36         Ca         1,791,213   
  5,169     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR

    2.258%         12/25/36         D         4,426,576   
  3,729     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR

    2.185%         12/25/36         D         3,304,867   
  2,705     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation. Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR7

    1.237%         7/25/46         Caa3         2,201,931   
  1,159     

Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-PA1

    6.000%         3/25/37         Caa3         1,050,202   
  2,723     

Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-PA6

    2.739%         12/28/37         D         2,342,268   
  685     

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-NXS1

    4.105%         5/15/48         BBB–         551,200   
  2,426     

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR8

    2.809%         11/25/37         Caa2         2,134,168   
  3,883     

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities, Collateralized Mortgage Obligation, Series 2007-AR7 A1

    2.767%         12/28/37         Caa3         3,570,113   
  3,417     

Wells Fargo Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR10

    2.645%         7/25/36         D         3,208,873   
  2,430     

Wells Fargo-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2014-C20, 144A

    3.986%         5/15/47         N/R         1,964,694   
$ 712,408     

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $515,980,314)

                               524,877,988   
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity              Value  
 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 5.1% (3.7% of Total Investments)

  

  
      REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 5.1% (3.7% of Total Investments)                           
$ 20,318     

Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 12/31/15, repurchase price $20,317,578,
collateralized by $20,100,000 U.S. Treasury Bonds,
3.125%, due 2/15/43, value $20,724,708

    0.030%         1/04/16                $ 20,317,510   
 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $20,317,510)

                               20,317,510   
 

Total Investments (cost $536,297,824) – 136.8%

                               545,195,498   
 

Borrowings – (36.9)% (3), (4)

                               (147,200,000
 

Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.1% (5)

                               605,063   
 

Net Assets – 100%

                             $ 398,600,561   

Investments in Derivatives as of December 31, 2015

Futures Contracts outstanding:

 

Description      Contract
Position
       Number of
Contracts
       Contract
Expiration
       Notional
Amount
at Value
       Variation Margin
Receivable/
(Payable)
       Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. 5-Year Treasury Note

       Short           (29        3/16         $ (3,431,289      $ (4,078      $ 11,273   

U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note

       Short           (23        3/16           (2,895,844        (6,828        8,327   
                                        $ (6,327,133      $ (10,906      $ 19,600   

 

  22      Nuveen Investments


For Fund portfolio compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report which may combine industry sub-classifications into sectors for reporting ease.

 

(1) All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.

 

(2) Ratings (not covered by the report of independent registered public accounting firm): Using the highest of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) rating. Ratings below BBB by Standard & Poor’s, Baa by Moody’s or BBB by Fitch are considered to be below investment grade. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by any of these national rating agencies.

 

(3) Borrowings as a percentage of Total Investments is 27.0%.

 

(4) The Fund segregates 100% of its eligible investments (excluding any investments separately pledged as collateral for specific investments in derivatives, when applicable) in the Portfolio of Investments as collateral for borrowings.

 

(5) Other assets less liabilities includes the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of certain over-the-counter derivatives as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of exchange-cleared and exchange-traded derivatives is recognized as part of the cash collateral at brokers and/or the receivable or payable for variation margin as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, when applicable.

 

(I/O) Interest only security

 

144A Investment is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These investments may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, which are normally those transactions with qualified institutional buyers.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Nuveen Investments     23   


JMT

 

Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2

  

Portfolio of Investments

   December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
 

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS – 133.0% (95.7% of Total Investments)

  

     
 

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES – 133.0% (95.7% of Total Investments)

  

  
      Residential – 133.0%                           
$ 1,085     

Ares Collateralized Loan Obligation, Series 2012-2A, 144A

    3.021%         10/12/23         A       $ 1,072,978   
  2,000     

Argent Securities Inc., Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-W2

    0.912%         10/25/35         B1         1,634,012   
  2,676     

Asset Backed Funding Corporation, Asset-Backed Certificates Series 2006-OPT1

    0.662%         9/25/36         CCC         1,877,933   
  505     

Babson CLO Limited, Series 2012-2A, 144A

    3.962%         5/15/23         BBB         486,107   
  717     

Banc of America Alternative Loan Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-6

    6.000%         7/25/46         Caa3         588,028   
  1,220     

Banc of America Funding Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-G

    0.692%         7/20/36         Ba1         1,137,870   
  925     

Banc of America Merrill Lynch Large Loan Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-200P, 144A

    3.596%         4/14/33         BB–         802,947   
  805     

Banc of America Mortgage Securities Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    6.000%         3/25/37         Caa3         727,810   
  600     

Bank of America Commercial Mortgage Inc., Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-1

    5.508%         9/10/45         Ba2         600,034   
  245     

Bank of America Funding Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C

    2.814%         5/20/36         Caa2         230,453   
  1,987     

Bank of America Funding Trust, 2007-A 2A1

    0.562%         2/20/47         CCC         1,608,300   
  2,287     

BCAP LLC Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AA2

    0.592%         1/25/37         Caa3         1,830,159   
  1,807     

BCAP LLC Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007 AA1 2A1

    0.602%         3/25/37         Caa3         1,531,481   
  804     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2005-3

    2.746%         6/25/35         Caa2         744,240   
  269     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2006-2

    2.749%         7/25/36         D         227,352   
  1,618     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2006-4

    2.687%         10/25/36         D         1,376,802   
  431     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates Series 2005-12

    2.500%         2/25/36         Caa3         360,331   
  1,615     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates Series 2005-12

    2.654%         2/25/36         Caa3         1,444,256   
  713     

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    2.760%         2/25/47         D         615,169   
  1,608     

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-8

    3.151%         8/25/46         Ca         1,207,232   
  650     

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass Through Certificates 2007-WR16

    5.722%         6/11/40         B1         648,703   
  2,000     

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust, Asset Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-NC5

    0.902%         10/25/35         BB–         1,757,179   
  1,897     

Carrington Securities LP, Mortgage Loan Trust Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-HE1

    0.572%         6/25/37         Caa1         1,725,066   
  615     

CDGJ Commercial Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-BXCH, 144A

    4.581%         12/15/27         BB–         602,186   
  1,652     

Chaseflex Trust Series 2007-2

    0.702%         5/25/37         CCC         1,479,229   
  825     

CIFC Funding Limited, Series 2012-2A, 144A

    3.152%         12/05/24         A         804,550   
  416     

Citicorp Mortgage Securities Inc., CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust, Senior and Subordinated REMIC Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-A6

    6.000%         6/25/37         Caa3         362,117   
  210     

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-GC29, 144A

    3.110%         4/10/48         BBB–         146,761   
  156     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Inc., Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006- AR2

    2.726%         3/25/36         Caa3         142,277   
  224     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-3

    2.792%         8/25/35         Caa2         208,978   
  2,291     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR1

    0.642%         1/25/37         CCC         1,619,974   

 

  24      Nuveen Investments


Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 450     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-AR8

    2.797%         7/25/37         Caa3       $ 420,976   
  263     

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR7

    2.685%         11/25/36         D         218,014   
  1,180     

Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates Series 2012-CR4, 144A

    4.574%         10/15/45         BBB         1,100,456   
  350     

Core Industrial Trust, Series 2015-CALW, 144A

    3.850%         2/10/34         B         312,007   
  676     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-63

    2.731%         11/25/35         Ca         545,626   
  487     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-25CB

    1.022%         10/25/36         Ca         358,585   
  1,415     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-6CB

    5.750%         5/25/36         Ca         1,114,205   
  548     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-6CB

    5.500%         5/25/36         Ca         424,163   
  1,440     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-19

    6.000%         8/25/37         D         1,191,316   
  564     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-3T1

    6.000%         4/25/37         Ca         439,717   
  1,657     

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust, Securitization Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-HY7C A1

    0.562%         8/25/37         Ca         1,417,117   
  643     

Countrywide Alternative Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-18CB

    0.892%         8/25/37         D         424,343   
  1,797     

Countrywide CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust 2006-HYB1

    2.526%         3/20/36         Ca         1,548,079   
  1,323     

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-HYB7

    2.615%         11/20/35         Caa3         1,180,613   
  209     

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass Through Trust Certificates Series 2007-HY5

    4.674%         9/25/37         D         191,485   
  1,716     

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass- Through Trust, Series 2007-HY1 1A1

    2.632%         4/25/37         D         1,609,564   
  1,262     

Countrywide Home Loans, Mortgage Pass Through Trust Series 2007-HY04

    2.718%         9/25/47         D         1,130,536   
  1,257     

Credit Suisse Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2005-9

    0.692%         11/25/35         BBB+         1,145,570   
  1,563     

Credit Suisse Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2006-3, Pass Through Certificates

    0.542%         8/25/36         CCC         944,261   
  247     

Credit Suisse Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2007-2

    0.632%         6/25/37         Caa3         213,162   
  496     

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-12

    2.881%         3/25/36         Caa3         383,667   
  311     

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corporation, Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-2

    2.843%         5/25/36         D         288,150   
  620     

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-C1, 144A

    3.801%         4/15/50         BBB–         487,439   
  1,400     

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-C3

    3.362%         8/15/48         BBB–         1,012,052   
  315     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities , Series 2014-C02

    3.022%         5/25/24         Aaa         276,638   
  455     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities , Series 2014-C02

    3.022%         5/25/24         Aaa         409,431   
  1,200     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities , Series 2014-C04

    5.322%         11/25/24         Aaa         1,222,607   
  795     

Fannie Mae Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2013-C01

    5.672%         10/25/23         Aaa         823,878   
  977     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Ave Securities, Series 2015-C04

    6.122%         4/25/28         Aaa         995,281   
  295     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities Series 2014-C01

    4.822%         1/25/24         Aaa         292,841   
  1,090     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2014-C03

    3.422%         7/25/24         Aaa         988,367   
  1,825     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2015-C01

    4.972%         2/25/25         Aaa         1,836,367   
  1,575     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2015-C02

    4.422%         5/25/25         Aaa         1,496,551   
  385     

Fannie Mae, Connecticut Avenue Securities, Series 2015-C03

    5.422%         7/25/25         Aaa         382,343   
  740     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2006-FA3

    6.000%         7/25/36         Ca         604,697   
  397     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-FA2

    5.500%         4/25/37         D         287,708   
  1,697     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-FA8

    0.922%         2/25/37         Caa3         917,571   
  1,569     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates Series 2005-A7

    2.254%         9/25/35         Caa2         1,397,220   

 

Nuveen Investments     25   


JMT

   Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2   
   Portfolio of Investments (continued)    December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 438     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-FA10

    1.222%         1/25/36         Caa2       $ 302,597   
  1,076     

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AA2

    2.325%         5/25/36         Ca         866,566   
  229     

First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, Series 2007-AR1

    2.732%         5/25/37         D         181,598   
  125     

First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-AR2

    2.698%         8/25/37         D         99,826   
  2,180     

Freddie Mac Collateralized Mortgage REMIC Series 4338, (I/O)

    2.490%         6/25/42         Aaa         360,652   
  535     

Freddie Mac Mortgage Trust, Multifamily Mortgage-Pass Through Certificates, Series K720, 144A

    3.389%         7/25/22         AAA         468,272   
  2,070     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates K036, (I/O)

    2.111%         12/25/41         Aaa         280,565   
  5,375     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K025, (I/O)

    1.751%         11/25/40         Aaa         539,807   
  3,520     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K031, (I/O)

    1.661%         7/25/41         Aaa         333,026   
  5,015     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K034, (I/O)

    1.726%         9/25/41         Aaa         540,465   
  2,775     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K037, (I/O)

    2.206%         1/25/42         Aaa         397,918   
  3,305     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series K715, (I/O)

    2.017%         2/25/41         Aaa         304,960   
  1,912     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates Series KF01, (I/O)

    1.969%         7/25/40         Aaa         208,414   
  1,300     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates, Series K013, (I/O)

    2.807%         1/25/43         Aaa         165,989   
  4,577     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structures Pass- Through Certificates, Series 2011-K012, (I/O)

    2.251%         1/25/41         Aaa         475,037   
  225     

Freddie Mac Multifamily Trust, Structured Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-K37, 144A

    4.558%         1/25/47         Aaa         228,771   
  4,885     

Freddie Mac Structured Pass-Through Certificates, Series K711 X3, (I/O)

    1.619%         8/25/40         Aaa         254,443   
  1,450     

General Electric Capital Commercial Mortgage Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C1

    5.606%         12/10/49         Ba3         1,474,385   
  1,054     

GMACM Mortgage Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-AF2

    6.000%         12/25/35         D         928,883   
  940     

GMACM Mortgage Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR1

    3.100%         4/19/36         Caa3         848,471   
  560     

Goldman Sachs GSAA Home Equity Trust, Series 2006-4 4A2

    0.652%         3/25/36         Caa3         527,388   
  1,722     

Goldman Sachs GSAA Home Equity Trust, Series 2007-8

    0.872%         8/25/37         CCC         1,556,225   
  398     

Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation, GSR Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-AR1

    2.835%         3/25/47         D         342,595   
  2,247     

Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR1 2A4

    2.869%         1/25/36         D         2,062,251   
  615     

Goldman Sachs Mortgage Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-GC20, 144A

    4.867%         4/10/47         BBB–         524,690   
  566     

Government National Mortgage Association Pool, (I/O)

    4.500%         10/20/39         Aaa         66,603   
  750     

Gramercy Park CLO Limited, Series 2012-1AR, 144A

    3.265%         7/17/23         A         743,705   
  622     

GSAA Home Equity Trust Series 2007-5

    0.522%         3/25/47         Caa3         330,145   
  828     

GSAA Home Equity Trust Series 2007-5

    5.788%         3/25/47         Caa3         539,336   
  1,427     

GSR Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass- Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR2

    2.558%         4/25/36         D         1,203,216   
  355     

GSR Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR2

    2.775%         5/25/37         D         291,403   
  1,411     

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-12

    0.640%         12/19/36         Ca         978,424   
  1,200     

Hilton USA Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2013-HLT, 144A

    4.453%         11/05/30         Ba1         1,199,677   
  1,901     

HomeBanc Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Backed Notes 2005-5

    0.682%         1/25/36         Caa1         1,648,308   
  1,321     

HomeBanc Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Backed Notes 2006-2

    0.602%         12/25/36         CCC         1,164,396   
  871     

IndyMac INDA Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2007-AR3

    5.067%         7/25/37         Caa2         765,348   
  173     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust 2006 AR25

    2.923%         9/25/36         Ca         127,881   
  1,097     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 07-AR5

    2.782%         5/25/37         Ca         835,186   
  1,290     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-AR11

    2.652%         8/25/35         Caa3         1,053,548   

 

  26      Nuveen Investments


Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 1,877     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-AR23

    2.511%         11/25/35         Caa3       $ 1,596,082   
  512     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR15

    0.632%         7/25/36         Caa3         408,475   
  845     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR15

    0.542%         7/25/36         Caa3         668,332   
  955     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR27

    0.612%         10/25/36         CCC         629,765   
  434     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR35

    0.592%         1/25/37         Caa3         354,343   
  798     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR39

    0.602%         2/25/37         Caa3         650,316   
  663     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2006-AR3

    2.656%         3/25/36         Ca         501,174   
  2,023     

IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2007-AR7 2A1

    2.302%         6/25/37         Ca         1,529,159   
  444     

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-A4

    2.696%         6/25/36         Caa2         384,834   
  969     

JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2006-S4

    5.960%         12/25/36         Ca         778,754   
  905     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-LDP8

    5.480%         5/15/45         Baa1         920,283   
  306     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-S4 A5

    6.000%         1/25/37         Caa3         259,817   
  1,358     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-S4 A8

    0.802%         1/25/37         Caa3         832,341   
  575     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corporation, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2011-C5, 144A

    5.323%         8/15/46         Baa3         592,321   
  1,300     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, Pass Through Certificates Series 2006-LDP9

    5.337%         5/15/47         Ba1         1,297,273   
  700     

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-CB17 AM

    5.464%         12/12/43         Ba1         704,165   
  1,250     

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Corporation, Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-CH5

    0.682%         5/25/37         B3         996,676   
  1,039     

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust, Series 2006-A6

    2.971%         10/25/36         Caa2         908,095   
  800     

LB UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Series 2006-C4

    5.840%         6/15/38         Ba2         810,953   
  1,026     

LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2014-2, 144A

    2.244%         12/01/21         N/R         1,014,877   
  1,410     

LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2015-2, 144A

    2.193%         1/01/20         N/R         1,392,242   
  2,099     

LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2015-3, 144A

    2.244%         3/01/20         N/R         2,069,248   
  360     

Marine Park CLO Limited, Series 2012-1A, 144A

    3.914%         10/12/23         BBB         353,647   
  1,500     

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-2

    2.900%         8/25/36         Caa2         1,381,605   
  1,728     

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Notes, Series 2007-3

    2.954%         6/25/37         D         1,454,726   
  1,100     

ML_CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust, Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-8

    5.880%         8/12/49         BB         1,108,694   
  2,255     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006- HE1

    0.712%         1/25/36         B2         2,030,516   
  1,230     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-HQ8

    5.511%         3/12/44         Ba1         1,226,921   
  625     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2006-TOP21, 144A

    5.400%         10/12/52         Baa1         586,099   
  440     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2006-TOP21, 144A

    5.400%         10/12/52         Baa2         412,613   
  1,200     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-IQ14

    5.680%         4/15/49         Ba2         1,220,182   
  1,150     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-TOP25

    5.574%         11/12/49         B1         1,134,670   
  600     

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2008-T29, 144A

    6.268%         1/11/43         BB         613,209   
  216     

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-3AR

    2.862%         3/25/36         Caa3         174,802   
  1,539     

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-13

    6.000%         10/25/37         D         1,264,129   
  807     

Mortgage Asset Securitization Transactions Inc., Adjustable Rate Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-HF2

    0.732%         9/25/37         Caa1         729,722   
  632     

Mortgage IT Trust, Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2005-5

    0.682%         12/25/35         BB+         571,741   
  1,743     

Mortgage-IT Trust 2005-4

    0.702%         10/25/35         BB+         1,591,310   

 

Nuveen Investments     27   


JMT

   Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2   
   Portfolio of Investments (continued)    December 31, 2015

 

Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 360     

Nationstar HECM Loan Trust, Series 2015-1A, 144A

    7.021%         5/25/18         N/R       $ 361,620   
  494     

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corporation, Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-AP3

    5.607%         8/25/35         Caa3         335,133   
  750     

Opteum Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, Asset backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-1

    0.722%         4/25/36         CCC         614,710   
  2,065     

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust Asset Backed Certificates, Series 2007-3

    7.238%         9/25/37         C         1,232,131   
  1,107     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages, 2006-QA6

    0.612%         7/25/36         Caa3         862,250   
  399     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 1006-QS10

    0.722%         8/25/36         Caa3         247,104   
  1,823     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-QA10 A31

    3.633%         9/25/35         Caa3         1,511,205   
  1,018     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-QS1

    5.750%         1/25/36         Caa3         894,076   
  642     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., RALI Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-QS2

    6.250%         1/25/37         Caa3         525,123   
  906     

Residential Accredit Loans Inc., RALI Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-QA1

    3.811%         1/25/36         Caa3         728,935   
  950     

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc. Asset Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-RS7

    0.922%         7/25/35         A         875,954   
  2,255     

Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-NC2

    0.712%         2/25/36         B2         1,967,874   
  157     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-SA4

    2.980%         9/25/35         Caa1         146,702   
  335     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-SA2

    3.151%         4/25/37         Caa2         292,297   
  1,445     

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Mortgage Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-SA2

    3.151%         4/25/37         Caa2         1,260,969   
  1,389     

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    2.543%         2/20/47         CC         1,199,031   
  101     

Sierra Receivables Funding Company, Series 2011-1A, 144A

    6.190%         4/20/26         BB         101,292   
  291     

Soundview Home Equity Loan Trust 2004-WMC1 M1

    1.172%         1/25/35         B1         260,867   
  1,429     

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Pass Through Trust, Series 2007-6 2A1

    0.612%         7/25/37         CCC         1,031,029   
  280     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes 2014-DN2

    3.821%         4/25/24         N/R         261,078   
  2,850     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, 2013-DN2

    4.672%         11/25/23         N/R         2,823,338   
  405     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA1

    9.622%         10/25/27         N/R         451,246   
  1,315     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA2

    7.771%         12/25/27         N/R         1,227,661   
  370     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA3

    9.772%         4/25/28         N/R         362,127   
  615     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-DNA3

    3.272%         4/25/28         BBB–         613,782   
  1,079     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, Series 2015-HQ2

    8.372%         5/25/25         N/R         1,043,961   
  910     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Notes, Series 2015-HQA1

    2.871%         3/25/28         BBB–         901,335   
  725     

Structured Agency Credit Risk Notes, Series 2015-HQA2

    3.222%         5/25/28         BBB–         724,455   
  57     

SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate Series 2007-4

    3.028%         10/25/37         Caa1         50,849   
  1,630     

SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-1

    2.784%         2/25/37         D         1,401,872   
  685     

Voya CLO Limited, Series 2012-3AR, 144A

    4.271%         10/15/22         BBB         684,605   
  1,300     

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C30

    5.413%         12/15/43         B3         1,301,871   
  455     

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C31

    5.680%         4/15/47         CCC         441,689   
  1,100     

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C31

    5.660%         4/15/47         B1         1,098,924   
  1,175     

Wachovia Commercial Mortgage Trust, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2005-C21, 144A

    5.300%         10/15/44         B+         1,135,931   
  501     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust 2006-AR14

    2.176%         11/25/36         D         433,983   
  988     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR17

    1.063%         12/25/46         Caa3         760,267   
  422     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR

    1.825%         1/25/37         D         355,234   

 

  28      Nuveen Investments


Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity      Ratings (2)      Value  
      Residential (continued)                           
$ 387     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-HY6

    2.231%         6/25/37         D       $ 337,004   
  466     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-HY1

    0.582%         2/25/37         Caa3         339,692   
  1,417     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation, Pass Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR

    2.185%         12/25/36         D         1,255,575   
  812     

Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation. Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-AR7

    1.237%         7/25/46         Caa3         660,930   
  1,491     

Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-PA1

    6.000%         3/25/37         Caa3         1,351,348   
  835     

Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust, Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates Series 2007-PA6

    2.739%         12/28/37         D         717,840   
  205     

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2015-NXS1

    4.105%         5/15/48         BBB-         164,958   
  746     

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-AR8

    2.809%         11/25/37         Caa2         655,998   
  787     

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities, Collateralized Mortgage Obligation, Series 2007-AR7 A1

    2.767%         12/28/37         Caa3         723,459   
  730     

Wells Fargo-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2014-C20, 144A

    3.986%         5/15/47         N/R         590,217   
$ 214,449     

Total Long-Term Investments (cost $154,371,245)

                               157,327,729   
Principal
Amount (000)
    Description (1)   Coupon      Maturity              Value  
 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 6.0% (4.3% of Total Investments)

  

     
      REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS – 6.0% (4.3% of Total Investments)                           
$ 7,078     

Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 12/31/15, repurchase price $7,077,529,
collateralized by $7,005,000 U.S. Treasury Bonds,
3.125%, due 2/15/43, value $7,222,715

    0.030%         1/04/16                $ 7,077,505   
 

Total Short-Term Investments (cost $7,077,505)

                               7,077,505   
 

Total Investments (cost $161,448,750) – 139.0%

                               164,405,234   
 

Borrowings – (39.1)% (3), (4)

                               (46,200,000
 

Other Assets Less Liabilities – 0.1% (5)

                               74,046   
 

Net Assets – 100%

                             $ 118,279,280   

Investment in Derivatives as of December 31, 2015

Futures Contracts outstanding:

 

Description      Contract
Position
       Number of
Contracts
       Contract
Expiration
       Notional
Amount
at Value
       Variation Margin
Receivable/
(Payable)
       Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. 5-Year Treasury Note

       Short           (17 )        3/16         $ (2,011,445 )      $ (2,391 )      $ 6,605   

 

Nuveen Investments     29   


JMT

   Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2   
   Portfolio of Investments (continued)    December 31, 2015

 

 

For Fund portfolio compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report which may combine industry sub-classifications into sectors for reporting ease.

 

(1) All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.

 

(2) Ratings: Using the highest of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) rating. Ratings below BBB by Standard & Poor’s, Baa by Moody’s or BBB by Fitch are considered to be below investment grade. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by any of these national rating agencies.

 

(3) Borrowings Payable as a percentage of total investments is 28.1%.

 

(4) The Fund segregates 100% of its eligible investments (excluding any investments separately pledged as collateral for specific investments in derivatives, when applicable) in the Portfolio of Investments as collateral for borrowings.

 

(5) Other assets less liabilities includes the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of certain over-the-counter derivatives as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of exchange-cleared and exchange-traded derivatives is recognized as part of the cash collateral at brokers and/or the receivable or payable for variation margin as presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, when applicable.

 

(I/O) Interest only security

 

144A Investment is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These investments may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, which are normally those transactions with qualified institutional buyers.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

  30      Nuveen Investments


Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

   December 31, 2015

 

      Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund 2
(JMT)
 

Assets

       

Long-term investments, at value (cost $515,980,314 and $154,371,245, respectively)

   $ 524,877,988         $ 157,327,729   

Short-term investments, at value (cost approximates value)

     20,317,510           7,077,505   

Cash

     57,150           15,300   

Receivable for:

       

Interest

     1,423,004           442,172   

Investments sold

     119           12,715   

Other assets

     32,643           1,235   

Total assets

     546,708,414           164,876,656   

Liabilities

       

Borrowings

     147,200,000           46,200,000   

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

     10,906           2,391   

Accrued expenses:

       

Management fees

     508,677           155,668   

Interest on borrowings

     223,935           70,284   

Trustees fees

     32,941           903   

Other

     131,394           168,130   

Total liabilities

     148,107,853           46,597,376   

Net assets

   $ 398,600,561         $ 118,279,280   

Shares outstanding

     15,888,417           4,871,277   

Net asset value ("NAV") per share outstanding

   $ 25.09         $ 24.28   

Net assets consist of:

                   

Shares, $0.01 par value per share

   $ 158,884         $ 48,713   

Paid-in surplus

     365,417,520           110,689,128   

Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income

     169,086           53,963   

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

     23,937,797           4,524,387   

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     8,917,274           2,963,089   

Net assets

   $ 398,600,561         $ 118,279,280   

Authorized shares

     Unlimited           Unlimited   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Nuveen Investments     31   


Statement of

Operations

   Year Ended December 31, 2015

 

      Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund 2
(JMT)
 

Investment Income

   $ 29,562,479         $ 8,860,137   

Expenses

       

Management fees

     6,095,718           1,868,874   

Interest expense

     2,575,542           808,356   

Custodian fees

     134,036           94,730   

Trustees fees

     14,047           4,218   

Professional fees

     160,459           142,647   

Shareholder reporting expenses

     47,828           19,103   

Shareholder servicing agent fees

     166           165   

Stock exchange listing fees

     7,947           7,947   

Investor relations expenses

     143,561           53,447   

Other

     23,024           16,194   

Total expenses

     9,202,328           3,015,681   

Net investment income (loss)

     20,360,151           5,844,456   

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

       

Net realized gain (loss) from:

       

Investments

     5,290,623           1,302,117   

Futures contracts

     (133,341        (39,063

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:

       

Investments

     (18,409,232        (5,160,819

Futures contracts

     36,123           5,787   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     (13,215,827        (3,891,978

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

   $ 7,144,324         $ 1,952,478   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

  32      Nuveen Investments


Statement of

Changes in Net Assets

  

 

     Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)       

  Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)  

 
      Year
Ended
12/31/15
       Year
Ended
12/31/14
       Year
Ended
12/31/15
       Year
Ended
12/31/14
 

Operations

                 

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 20,360,151         $ 19,828,874         $ 5,844,456         $ 5,920,240   

Net realized gain (loss) from:

                 

Investments

     5,290,623           8,364,325           1,302,117           1,725,831   

Futures contracts

     (133,341        (181,621        (39,063        (34,073

Options purchased

               151,585                     45,309   

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:

                 

Investments

     (18,409,232        1,614,714           (5,160,819        1,568,736   

Futures contracts

     36,123           (171,900        5,787           (39,733

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     7,144,324           29,605,977           1,952,478           9,186,310   

Distributions to Shareholders

                 

From net investment income

     (17,876,463        (15,857,562        (4,900,338        (4,110,509

From accumulated net realized gains

     (3,982,922        (3,597,175        (948,412        (19,993

Return of capital

     (2,259,232        (5,108,756        (1,604,304        (3,468,690

Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders

     (24,118,617        (24,563,493        (7,453,054        (7,599,192

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

     (16,974,293        5,042,484           (5,500,576        1,587,118   

Net assets at the beginning of period

     415,574,854           410,532,370           123,779,856           122,192,738   

Net assets at the end of period

   $ 398,600,561         $ 415,574,854         $ 118,279,280         $ 123,779,856   

Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income at the end of period

   $ 169,086         $ (110,436      $ 53,963         $ (31,602

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Nuveen Investments     33   


Statement of

Cash Flows

   Year Ended December 31, 2015

 

      Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund 2
(JMT)
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

       

Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets from Operations

   $ 7,144,324         $ 1,952,478   

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

       

Purchases of investments

     (131,464,142        (39,177,850

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments

     147,419,930           44,787,922   

Proceeds from (Purchases of) short-term investments, net

     (2,614,550        (1,269,008

Amortization (Accretion) of premiums and discounts, net

     (4,386,794        (1,377,197

(Increase) Decrease in:

       

Receivable for interest

     95,845           37,437   

Other assets

     (7,238        (2

Increase (Decrease) in:

       

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts

     (407        (890

Accrued management fees

     (14,590        (4,917

Accrued interest on borrowings

     10,212           3,205   

Accrued Trustees fees

     6,564           (224

Accrued other expenses

     14,877           9,028   

Net realized (gain) loss from:

       

Investments

     (5,290,623        (1,302,117

Paydowns

     (5,210,474        (1,369,231

Change in net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of investments

     18,409,232           5,160,819   

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     24,112,166           7,449,453   

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

       

Cash distributions paid to shareholders

     (24,118,617        (7,453,054

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (24,118,617        (7,453,054

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash

     (6,451        (3,601

Cash at beginning of period

     63,601           18,901   

Cash at end of period

   $ 57,150         $ 15,300   
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information    Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term Fund 2
(JMT)
 

Cash paid for interest (excluding borrowing costs)

   $ 2,565,330         $ 805,151   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

  34      Nuveen Investments


THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

Nuveen Investments     35   


Financial

Highlights

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

           Investment Operations      Less Distributions                
     Beginning
NAV
     Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)(a)
     Net
Realized/
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
     Total      From
Net
Investment
Income
     From
Accumulated
Net
Realized
Gains
     Return
of
Capital
     Total      Ending
NAV
     Ending
Share
Price
 

Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)

  

Year ended 12/31:

  

                       

2015

  $ 26.16       $ 1.28       $ (0.83    $ 0.45       $ (1.13    $ (0.25    $ (0.14    $ (1.52    $ 25.09       $ 22.71   

2014

    25.84         1.25         0.62         1.87         (1.00      (0.23      (0.32      (1.55      26.16         23.15   

2013

    26.59         1.08         0.99         2.07         (1.44      (1.32      (0.06      (2.82      25.84         23.14   

2012

    21.89         1.27         5.50         6.77         (1.42      (0.65              (2.07      26.59         27.22   

2011

    25.63         1.91         (3.58      (1.67      (1.87              (0.20      (2.07      21.89         20.35   

Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)

  

Year ended 12/31:

  

                       

2015

    25.41         1.20         (0.80      0.40         (1.01      (0.19      (0.33      (1.53      24.28         22.29   

2014

    25.08         1.22         0.67         1.89         (0.85           (0.71      (1.56      25.41         23.17   

2013

    26.95         1.06         0.79         1.85         (1.43      (2.26      (0.03      (3.72      25.08         22.97   

2012

    21.78         1.19         6.05         7.24         (1.51      (0.56              (2.07      26.95         27.18   

2011

    25.64         1.90         (3.73      (1.83      (1.92      (0.07      (0.04      (2.03      21.78         20.40   

 

    Borrowings at the End of Period(b)  
     Aggregate
Amount
Outstanding
(000)
       Asset
Coverage
Per $1,000
 

Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)

  

Year Ended 12/31:

  

2015

  $ 147,200         $ 3,708   

2014

    147,200           3,823   

2013

    124,550           4,296   

Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)

  

Year Ended 12/31:

  

2015

    46,200           3,560   

2014

    46,200           3,679   

2013

    39,450           4,097   

 

  36      Nuveen Investments


            Ratios/Supplemental Data  
Total Returns           Ratios to Average Net Assets(d)        
Based
on
NAV(c)
    Based
on
Share
Price(c)
    Ending
Net
Assets
(000)
    Expenses     Net
Investment
Income (Loss)
    Portfolio
Turnover
Rate(e)(f)
 
                                             
         
  1.71     4.82   $ 398,601        2.24     4.96     24
  7.31        6.72        415,575        2.20        4.72        17   
  7.96        (4.85     410,532        2.22        3.99        22   
  32.15        45.47        422,117        1.45        5.22        12   
  (6.90     (12.68     346,832        1.44        7.90        23   
                                             
         
  1.56        3.01        118,279        2.47        4.79        23   
  7.63        7.81        123,780        2.42        4.72        16   
  7.05        (1.84     122,193        2.38        3.91        21   
  34.56        44.87        130,855        1.61        4.84        12   
  (7.48     (8.51     104,621        1.58        7.86        35   

 

(a) Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.
(b) The Fund did not use borrowings prior to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.
(c) Total Return Based on NAV is the combination of changes in NAV, reinvested dividend income at NAV and reinvested capital gains distributions at NAV, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending NAV. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its NAV), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.

Total Return Based on Share Price is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.

(d)     • Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to reverse repurchase agreements and/or borrowings, where applicable. The Funds’ current borrowings are described in Note 8 – Borrowing Arrangements.
  Each ratio includes the effect of all interest expense paid and other costs related to borrowings and/or reverse repurchase agreements, where applicable, as follows:

 

     Ratios of Interest Expense to
Average Net Assets(b)(g)
 

Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)

  

Year ended 12/31:

  

2015

      0.63

2014

      0.60   

2013

      0.65   

2012

        0.02   
     Ratios of Interest Expense to
Average Net Assets(b)(g)
 

Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)

  

Year ended 12/31:

  

2015

      0.66

2014

      0.63   

2013

      0.66   

2012

        0.01   
 

 

(e) Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales (as disclosed in Note 5 – Investment Transactions) divided by the average long-term market value during the period.
(f) For the fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2011, the Funds no longer exclude dollar roll transactions, where applicable.
(g) The Fund did not invest in reverse repurchase agreements prior to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.
* Rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

Nuveen Investments     37   


Notes to

Financial Statements

 

1. General Information and Significant Accounting Policies

General Information

Fund Information

The funds covered in this report and their corresponding New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) symbols are as follows (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

    Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS) (“Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS)”)

 

    Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT) (“Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT)”)

The Funds are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as non-diversified closed-end management investment companies. Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS) and Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT) were organized as Massachusetts business trusts on September 10, 2009 and December 16, 2009, respectively. It is anticipated that Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS) and Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT) will terminate on November 30, 2019 and February 28, 2020, respectively. Upon termination, the Funds will distribute all of their assets to shareholders of record as of the date of termination.

The end of the reporting period for the Funds is December 31, 2015, and the period covered by these Notes to Financial Statements is the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (the “current fiscal period”).

Investment Adviser

The Funds’ investment adviser is Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”). The Adviser is responsible for each Fund’s overall investment strategy and asset allocation decisions. The Adviser has entered into sub-advisory agreements with Wellington Management Company LLP (“Wellington Management”) and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“NAM”), a subsidiary of the Adviser, (each a “Sub-Adviser” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”). Wellington Management manages the Funds’ investments in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and other permitted investments. NAM manages the Funds’ investments in futures, options and swap contracts.

Investment Objectives and Principal Investment Strategies

Each Fund’s investment objective is to generate attractive total returns through opportunistic investments in MBS. Each Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”). Each Fund may also invest up to 20% of its managed assets (as defined in Note 7 – Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates) in other permitted investments, including cash and cash equivalents, U.S. treasury securities, non-mortgage related asset-backed securities, inverse floating rate securities, municipal securities, interest rate futures, interest rate swaps and swaptions, non-MBS credit default swaps (including swaps based on a credit default swap index, such as the CMBX index) and other synthetic mortgage-related exposure, including equity investments in mortgage real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), as permitted by the 1940 Act.

Significant Accounting Policies

Each Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies.” The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

Investment Transactions

Investment transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are determined on the specific identification method, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Investments purchased on a when-issued/delayed delivery basis may have extended settlement periods. Any investments so purchased are subject to market fluctuation during this period. The Funds have earmarked securities in their portfolios with a current value at least equal to the amount of the when-issued/delayed delivery purchase commitments.

As of the end of the reporting period, the Funds did not have any when issued/delayed purchase commitments.

 

  38      Nuveen Investments


 

Investment Income

Investment income, which reflects the amortization of premiums and includes accretion of discounts for financial reporting purposes, is recorded on an accrual basis. Investment income also reflects paydown gains and losses, if any.

Professional Fees

Professional fees presented on the Statement of Operations consist of legal fees incurred in the normal course of operations, audit fees, tax consulting fees and, in some cases, workout expenditures. Workout expenditures are incurred in an attempt to protect or enhance an investment or to pursue other claims or legal actions on behalf of Fund shareholders. If a refund is received for workout expenditures paid in a prior reporting period, such amounts will be recognized as “Legal fee refund” on the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders

Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

Each Fund makes monthly cash distributions to shareholders of a stated dollar amount per share. Subject to approval and oversight by the Funds’ Board of Trustees (the “Board”), each Fund seeks to establish a distribution rate that roughly corresponds to the cash flows from its investment strategies through regular distributions (a “Cash Flow-Based Distribution Program”). Each Fund seeks to establish a relatively stable common share distribution rate that roughly corresponds to the Funds’ net cash flows after expense from their investments over an extended period of time. Actual net cash flows the Funds receive may differ from each Fund’s distribution rate over shorter time periods over a specific timeframe. The portion of distributions paid attributed to net unrealized gains, if any, is distributed from a Fund’s assets and is treated by shareholders as a non-taxable distribution (“Return of Capital”) for tax purposes. In the event that total distributions during a calendar year exceed a Fund’s total return on net asset value (“NAV”), the difference will reduce NAV per share. If a Fund’s total return on NAV exceeds total distributions during a calendar year, the excess will be reflected as an increase in NAV per share. The final determination of the source and character of all distributions for the fiscal year is made after the end of the fiscal year and is reflected in the financial statements contained in the annual report as of December 31 each year.

The actual character of distributions made by the Funds during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, are reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

Leverage

Each Fund intends to use leverage to enhance the total return potential of its overall investment strategy. Each Fund intends to limit its combined effective leverage ratio (measured by the aggregate dollar amount of all leverage facilities, whether direct or indirect) to 33% of its managed assets.

Indemnifications

Under the Funds’ organizational documents, their officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Funds. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, the Funds have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expect the risk of loss to be remote.

Netting Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, the Funds may enter into transactions subject to enforceable master repurchase agreements, International Swaps and Derivative Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) master agreements or other similar arrangements (“netting agreements”). Generally, the right to offset in netting agreements allows each Fund to offset certain securities and derivatives with a specific counterparty as well as any collateral received or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the agreements. Generally, each Fund manages its cash collateral and securities collateral on a counterparty basis.

The Funds’ investments subject to netting agreements as of the end of the reporting period, if any, are further described in Note 3 – Portfolio Securities and Investments in Derivatives.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Nuveen Investments     39   


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

2. Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements

The fair valuation input levels as described below are for fair value measurement purposes.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon selling an investment or transferring a liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. A three-tier hierarchy is used to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are based on the best information available in the circumstances. The following is a summary of the three-tiered hierarchy of valuation input levels.

 

Level 1 –   Inputs are unadjusted and prices are determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2 –   Prices are determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3 –   Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs (including management’s assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

Prices of fixed-income securities are provided by a pricing service approved by the Board. The pricing service establishes a security’s fair value using methods that may include consideration of the following: yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant. These securities are generally classified as Level 2. In pricing certain securities, particularly less liquid and lower quality securities, the pricing service may consider information about a security, its issuer or market activity provided by the Adviser. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the priority of significant inputs.

Futures contracts are valued using the closing settlement price or, in the absence of such a price, the last traded price and are generally classified as Level 1.

Repurchase agreements are valued at contract amount plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. These securities are generally classified as Level 2.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by the pre-established pricing methods as described above. Such securities may be valued by the Board and/or its appointee at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; debt securities that have gone into default and for which there is no current market quotation; a security whose market price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of a Fund’s NAV (as may be the case in non-U.S. markets on which the security is primarily traded) or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, is not deemed to reflect the security’s fair value. As a general principle, the fair value of a security would appear to be the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive for it in a current sale. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, which may include consideration of the following: yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs. Regardless of the method employed to value a particular security, all valuations are subject to review by the Board and/or its appointee.

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of each Fund’s fair value measurements as of the end of the reporting period:

 

Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS)    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Long-Term Investments*:

           

Mortgage-Backed Securities

   $       $ 524,877,988       $       $ 524,877,988   

Short-Term Investments:

           

Repurchase Agreements

             20,317,510                 20,317,510   

Investments in Derivatives:

           

Futures Contracts**

     19,600                         19,600   

Total

   $ 19,600       $ 545,195,498       $       $ 545,215,098   

 

  40      Nuveen Investments


 

Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT)    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Long-Term Investments*:

           

Mortgage-Backed Securities

   $       $ 157,327,729       $       $ 157,327,729   

Short-Term Investments:

           

Repurchase Agreements

             7,077,505                 7,077,505   

Investments in Derivatives:

           

Futures Contracts**

     6,605                         6,605   

Total

   $ 6,605       $ 164,405,234       $       $ 164,411,839   
* Refer to the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments for industry classifications.
** Represents net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments.

The Board is responsible for the valuation process and has appointed the oversight of the daily valuation process to the Adviser’s Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the valuation policies and procedures adopted by the Board, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Funds’ pricing policies and reporting to the Board. The Valuation Committee is aided in its efforts by the Adviser’s dedicated Securities Valuation Team, which is responsible for administering the daily valuation process and applying fair value methodologies as approved by the Valuation Committee. When determining the reliability of independent pricing services for investments owned by the Funds, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of the pricing services and monitors the quality of security prices received through various testing reports conducted by the Securities Valuation Team.

The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and appropriate when making a fair value determination, based on the facts and circumstances specific to the portfolio instrument. Fair value determinations generally will be derived as follows, using public or private market information:

 

  (i) If available, fair value determinations shall be derived by extrapolating from recent transactions or quoted prices for identical or comparable securities.

 

  (ii) If such information is not available, an analytical valuation methodology may be used based on other available information including, but not limited to: analyst appraisals, research reports, corporate action information, issuer financial statements and shelf registration statements. Such analytical valuation methodologies may include, but are not limited to: multiple of earnings, discount from market value of a similar freely-traded security, discounted cash flow analysis, book value or a multiple thereof, risk premium/yield analysis, yield to maturity and/or fundamental investment analysis.

The purchase price of a portfolio instrument will be used to fair value the instrument only if no other valuation methodology is available or deemed appropriate, and it is determined that the purchase price fairly reflects the instrument’s current value.

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such testing and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board.

3. Portfolio Securities and Investments in Derivatives

Portfolio Securities

Repurchase Agreements

In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, it is each Fund’s policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the fair value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest, at all times. If the counterparty defaults, and the fair value of the collateral declines, realization of the collateral may be delayed or limited.

The following table presents the repurchase agreements for the Funds that are subject to netting agreements as of the end of the reporting period, and the collateral delivered related to those repurchase agreements.

 

Fund    Counterparty    Short-Term
Investments, at Value
       Collateral
Pledged (From)
Counterparty*
       Net
Exposure
 
Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS)   

Fixed Income Clearing Corporation

   $ 20,317,510         $ (20,317,510      $   
Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT)   

Fixed Income Clearing Corporation

     7,077,505           (7,077,505          
* As of the end of the reporting period, the value of the collateral pledged from the counterparty exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements. Refer to the Fund’s Portfolio of Investments for details on the repurchase agreements.

 

Nuveen Investments     41   


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Investments in Derivatives

Each Fund is authorized to invest in certain derivative instruments such as futures, options and swap contracts. Each Fund limits its investments in futures, options on futures and swap contracts to the extent necessary for the Adviser to claim the exclusion from registration by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund. The Funds record derivative instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized on the Statement of Operations, when applicable. Even though the Funds’ investments in derivatives may represent economic hedges, they are not considered to be hedge transactions for financial reporting purposes.

Futures Contracts

Upon execution of a futures contract, a Fund is obligated to deposit cash or eligible securities, also known as “initial margin,” into an account at its clearing broker equal to a specified percentage of the contract amount. Cash held by the broker to cover initial margin requirements on open futures contracts, if any, is recognized as “Cash collateral at brokers” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Investments in futures contracts obligate a Fund and the clearing broker to settle monies on a daily basis representing changes in the prior days “mark-to-market” of the open contracts. If a Fund has unrealized appreciation the clearing broker would credit the Fund’s account with an amount equal to appreciation and conversely if a Fund has unrealized depreciation the clearing broker would debit the Fund’s account with an amount equal to depreciation. These daily cash settlements are also known as “variation margin.” Variation margin is recognized as a receivable and/or payable for “Variation margin on futures contracts” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as an unrealized gain or loss by “marking-to-market” on a daily basis to reflect the changes in market value of the contract, which is recognized as a component of “Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expired, a Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract on the closing date and value of the contract when originally entered into, which is recognized as a component of “Net realized gain (loss) from futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.

Risks of investments in futures contracts include the possible adverse movement in the price of the securities or indices underlying the contracts, the possibility that there may not be a liquid secondary market for the contracts and/or that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with a change in the value of the underlying securities or indices.

During the current fiscal period, the Funds shorted short-term U.S. Treasury futures contracts to hedge against potential increases in interest rates.

The average notional amount of futures contracts outstanding during the current fiscal period was as follows:

 

     Mortgage
Opportunity
Term
(JLS)
     Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)

Average notional amount of futures contracts outstanding*

  $6,952,924      $2,269,673
* The average notional amount is calculated based on the absolute aggregate notional amount of contracts outstanding at the beginning of the fiscal period and at the end of each quarter within the current fiscal period.

The following table presents the fair value of all futures contracts held by the Funds as of the end of the reporting period, the location of these instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the primary underlying risk exposure.

 

        

Location on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

Underlying

Risk Exposure

  

Derivative

Instrument

 

Asset Derivatives

       

(Liability) Derivatives

 
     Location    Value          Location    Value  
Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS)   
Interest rate    Futures contracts  

   $         

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*

   $ 19,600   
Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT)   
Interest rate    Futures contracts  

   $         

Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*

   $ 6,605   
* Value represents unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Fund’s Portfolios of Investments and not the asset and/or liability derivatives location as described in the table above.

 

  42      Nuveen Investments


 

The following table presents the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized on futures contracts on the Statement of Operations during the current fiscal period and the primary underlying risk exposure.

 

Fund      Underlying
Risk Exposure
     Derivative
Instrument
     Net Realized
Gain (Loss) from
Futures Contracts
       Change in Net Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation) of
Futures Contracts
 
Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund (JLS)      Interest rate      Futures contracts        $(133,341      $
36,123
  
Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund 2 (JMT)      Interest rate      Futures contracts        (39,063        5,787   

Market and Counterparty Credit Risk

In the normal course of business each Fund may invest in financial instruments and enter into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the other party to the transaction to perform (counterparty credit risk). The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets recorded on the financial statements. Financial assets, which potentially expose each Fund to counterparty credit risk, consist principally of cash due from counterparties on forward, option and swap transactions, when applicable. The extent of each Fund’s exposure to counterparty credit risk in respect to these financial assets approximates their carrying value as recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Each Fund helps manage counterparty credit risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties the Adviser believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by having the Adviser monitor the financial stability of the counterparties. Additionally, counterparties may be required to pledge collateral daily (based on the daily valuation of the financial asset) on behalf of each Fund with a value approximately equal to the amount of any unrealized gain above a pre-determined threshold. Reciprocally, when each Fund has an unrealized loss, the Funds have instructed the custodian to pledge assets of the Funds as collateral with a value approximately equal to the amount of the unrealized loss above a pre-determined threshold. Collateral pledges are monitored and subsequently adjusted if and when the valuations fluctuate, either up or down, by at least the pre-determined threshold amount.

4. Fund Shares

Share Transactions

The Funds did not have any transactions in shares during the current and prior fiscal periods.

5. Investment Transactions

Long-term purchases and sales (including maturities but excluding derivative transactions) during the current fiscal period were as follows:

 

     Mortgage
Opportunity
Term
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)
 

Purchases

  $ 131,464,142         $ 39,177,850   

Sales and maturities

    147,419,930           44,787,922   

6. Income Tax Information

Each Fund is a separate taxpayer for federal income tax purposes. Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income to shareholders and to otherwise comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

For all open tax years and all major taxing jurisdictions, management of the Funds has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities (i.e., generally the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then). Furthermore, management of the Funds is also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes are primarily due to recognition of market discount accretion on investments, recognition of unrealized gain or loss for tax (mark-to-market) on futures contracts and timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses on investment transactions. To the extent that differences arise that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts as detailed below. Temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the NAVs of the Funds.

 

Nuveen Investments     43   


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2015, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (excluding investments in derivatives), as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:

 

     

Mortgage
Opportunity

Term

(JLS)

      

Mortgage
Opportunity

Term 2

(JMT)

 

Cost of investments

     $512,073,091           $156,843,238   

Gross unrealized:

       

Appreciation

   $ 46,246,427         $ 11,489,492   

Depreciation

     (13,124,020        (3,927,496

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments

   $ 33,122,407         $ 7,561,996   

Permanent differences, primarily due to investments in MBS and treatment of notional principal contracts, resulted in reclassifications among the Funds’ components of net assets as of December 31, 2015, the Funds’ tax year-end, as follows:

 

       

Mortgage
Opportunity
Term

(JLS)

     Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)
 

Paid-in surplus

     $       $   

Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income

       (2,204,167      (858,553

Accumulated net realized gain (loss)

       2,204,167         858,553   
The tax components of undistributed net ordinary income and net long-term capital gains as of December 31, 2015, the Funds’ tax year end, were as follows:    
       

Mortgage
Opportunity
Term

(JLS)

    

Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2

(JMT)

 

Undistributed net ordinary income

     $   —       $   —   

Undistributed net long-term capital gains

                 
The tax character of distributions paid during the Funds’ tax years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was designated for purposes of the dividends paid deduction as follows:    
2015      Mortgage
Opportunity
Term
(JLS)
     Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)
 

Distributions from net ordinary income1

     $ 17,876,463       $ 4,900,338   

Distributions from net long-term capital gains2

       3,982,922         948,412   

Return of capital

       2,259,232         1,604,304   

2014

    

Mortgage
Opportunity
Term

(JLS)

    

Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2

(JMT)

 

Distributions from net ordinary income1

     $ 15,857,562       $ 4,110,509   

Distributions from net long-term capital gains

       3,597,175         19,993   

Return of capital

       5,108,756         3,468,690   
1  Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from dividends and interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.
2  The Funds designate as long-term capital gain dividend, pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code Section 852(b)(3), the amount necessary to reduce earnings and profits of the Funds related to net capital gain to zero for the tax year ended December 31, 2015.

 

  44      Nuveen Investments


 

7. Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between each Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser receives 40% of each Fund’s total annual management fee. The Adviser’s portion of the management fee compensates the Adviser for overall investment advisory and administrative services provided to each Fund and general office facilities. Pursuant to an investment sub-advisory agreement between each Fund and Wellington Management, Wellington Management receives 60% of each Fund’s total annual management fee. NAM is compensated for its services to the Funds from the management fees paid to the Adviser.

Each Fund’s management fee consists of two components – a fund-level fee, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund, and a complex-level fee, based on the aggregate amount of all eligible fund assets managed by the Adviser. This pricing structure enables Fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within their Fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by the Adviser.

The annual Fund-level fee, payable monthly, for each Fund is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Average Daily Managed Assets1      Fund-Level Fee  

For the first $125 million

       0.9500

For the next $125 million

       0.9375   

For the next $150 million

       0.9250   

For managed assets over $400 million

       0.9125   

The annual complex-level fee, payable monthly, for each Fund is calculated according to the following schedule:

 

Complex-Level Managed Asset Breakpoint Level2      Effective Rate at Breakpoint Level  

$55 billion

       0.2000

$56 billion

       0.1996   

$57 billion

       0.1989   

$60 billion

       0.1961   

$63 billion

       0.1931   

$66 billion

       0.1900   

$71 billion

       0.1851   

$76 billion

       0.1806   

$80 billion

       0.1773   

$91 billion

       0.1691   

$125 billion

       0.1599   

$200 billion

       0.1505   

$250 billion

       0.1469   

$300 billion

       0.1445   
1  “Managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (other than the Fund liabilities incurred for the express purpose of creating effective leverage). Total assets for this purpose shall include assets attributable to each Fund’s use of effective leverage (whether or not those assets are reflected in the Fund’s financial statements for the purposes of U.S. GAAP).
2  The complex-level fee is based on the aggregate daily managed assets (as “managed assets” is defined in each Nuveen fund’s investment management agreement with the Adviser, which generally includes assets attributable to any preferred shares that may be outstanding and any borrowings (including the issuance of commercial paper or notes)) of the Nuveen funds that constitute “eligible assets.” Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds or assets in excess of $2 billion added to the Nuveen fund complex in connection with the Adviser’s assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. As of December 31, 2015, the complex-level fee for each Fund was 0.1639%.

The Funds pay no compensation directly to those of their trustees who are affiliated with the Adviser or to its officers, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the Funds from the Adviser or its affiliates. The Board has adopted a deferred compensation plan for independent trustees that enables trustees to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual compensation they are entitled to receive from certain Nuveen-advised funds. Under the plan, deferred amounts are treated as though equal dollar amounts had been invested in shares of select Nuveen-advised funds.

 

Nuveen Investments     45   


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

8. Borrowing Arrangements

Each Fund has entered into a credit agreement (“Borrowings”) with Societe Generale as a means of leverage. Each Fund’s maximum commitment amount under its Borrowings is as follows:

 

        Mortgage
Opportunity
Term
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)
 

Maximum commitment amount

       $148,000,000           $46,500,000   

As of the end of the reporting period, each Fund’s outstanding balance on its Borrowings was as follows:

 

        Mortgage
Opportunity
Term
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)
 

Outstanding balance on Borrowings

       $147,200,000           $46,200,000   

Interest charged on the outstanding balance on Borrowings for each Fund its equal to the 3-Month LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) plus 1.45% per annum on the amount borrowed. In addition to interest expense, each Fund may also pay a fee of 1.45%, which shall accrue daily based on the amount of the difference between 90% of the maximum commitment amount and the drawn balance, when such drawn balance is less than 90% of the maximum commitment amount.

During the current fiscal period, the average daily balance outstanding and average annual interest rate on each Fund’s Borrowings were as follows:

 

        Mortgage
Opportunity
Term
(JLS)
       Mortgage
Opportunity
Term 2
(JMT)
 

Average daily balance outstanding

       $147,200,000           $46,200,000   

Average annual interest rate

       1.73        1.73

In order to maintain these Borrowings, each Fund must meet certain collateral, asset coverage and other requirements. Each Fund’s Borrowings outstanding are fully secured by securities held in its Portfolio of Investments.

Each Fund’s Borrowings outstanding is recognized as “Borrowings” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Interest expense incurred on the borrowed amount and undrawn balance are recognized as a component of “Interest expense” on the Statement of Operations.

 

  46      Nuveen Investments


Additional

Fund Information (Unaudited)

 

Board of Trustees          
William Adams IV*   Jack B. Evans   William C. Hunter   David J. Kundert   John K. Nelson   William J. Schneider
Thomas S. Schreier, Jr.*   Judith M. Stockdale   Carole E. Stone  

Terence J. Toth

 

Margaret L. Wolff**

 

 

* Interested Board Member.
** Effective February 15, 2016.

 

         

Fund Manager

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC

333 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

    

Custodian

State Street Bank

& Trust Company

Boston, MA 02111

 

Legal Counsel

Chapman and Cutler LLP

Chicago, IL 60603

 

Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, IL 60606

  

Transfer Agent and
Shareholder Services

State Street Bank
& Trust Company

Nuveen Funds

P.O. Box 43071

Providence, RI 02940-3071

(8oo) 257-8787

 

 

Distribution Information:

The Funds hereby designate their percentages of dividends paid from net ordinary income as dividends qualifying as Interest-Related Dividends as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 871(k) for the taxable year ended December 31, 2015:

 

     JLS        JMT  

% of Interest-Related Dividends

    100%           100%   

Quarterly Form N-Q Portfolio of Investments Information

Each Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. You may obtain this information directly from the SEC. Visit the SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov or in person at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC toll-free at (800) SEC-0330 for room hours and operation.

Nuveen Funds’ Proxy Voting Information

You may obtain (i) information regarding how each fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen Investments toll-free at (800) 257-8787 or on Nuveen’s website at www.nuveen.com and (ii) a description of the policies and procedures that each fund used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen Investments toll free at (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain this information directly from the SEC. Visit the SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov.

 

 

CEO Certification Disclosure

Each Fund’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the annual CEO certification as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. Each Fund has filed with the SEC the certification of its CEO and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

 

Share Repurchases

Each Fund intends to repurchase, through its open-market share repurchase program, shares of its own common stock at such times and in such amounts as is deemed advisable. During the period covered by this report, each Fund repurchased shares of its common stock, as shown in the accompanying table. Any future repurchases will be reported to shareholders in the next annual or semi-annual report.

 

     JLS        JMT  

Shares repurchased

                

FINRA BrokerCheck

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) provides information regarding the disciplinary history of FINRA member firms and associated investment professionals. This information as well as an investor brochure describing FINRA BrokerCheck is available to the public by calling the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline number at (800) 289-9999 or by visiting www.FINRA.org.

 

Nuveen Investments     47   


Glossary of Terms

Used in this Report (Unaudited)

 

n   Average Annual Total Return: This is a commonly used method to express an investment’s performance over a particular, usually multi-year time period. It expresses the return that would have been necessary each year to equal the investment’s actual cumulative performance (including change in NAV or market price and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, if any) over the time period being considered.

 

n   Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index: An unmanaged index that includes all investment-grade, publicly issued, fixed-rate, dollar denominated, non-convertible debt issues and commercial mortgage backed securities with maturities of at least one year and outstanding par values of $150 million or more. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not include the effects of any applicable sales charges or management fees.

 

n   Barclays Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) Aggregate Index: An index that measures the performance of the commercial mortgage-backed securities market. Benchmark returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

 

n   Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS): Commercial mortgage-backed securities are backed by cash flows of a mortgage or pool of mortgages on commercial real estate. CMBS generally are structured to provide protection to the senior class investors against potential losses on the underlying mortgage loans. CMBS are typically characterized by the following: i) loans on multi-family housing, non-residential property, ii) payments based on the amortization schedule of 25-30 years with a balloon payment due usually after 10 years, and iii) restrictions on prepayments.

 

n   Duration: Duration is a measure of the expected period over which a bond’s principal and interest will be paid, and consequently is a measure of the sensitivity of a bond’s or bond Fund’s value to changes when market interest rates change. Generally, the longer a bond’s or Fund’s duration, the more the price of the bond or Fund will change as interest rates change.

 

n   Effective Leverage: Effective leverage is a fund’s effective economic leverage, and includes both regulatory leverage (see below) and the leverage effects of certain derivative investments in the fund’s portfolio that increase the fund’s investment exposure.

 

n   Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country/region in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports.

 

n   Leverage: Leverage is created whenever a fund has investment exposure (both reward and/or risk) equivalent to more than 100% of the investment capital.

 

n   Moody’s/RCA Commercial Property Price Index (CPPI): An index that measures price changes in U.S. commercial real estate based on completed sales of the same commercial properties over time, or the “repeat-sales” methodology. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect of any applicable sales charges or management fees.

 

n   Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS): Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are bonds backed by pools of mortgages, usually with similar characteristics, and which return principal and interest in each payment. MBS are composed of residential mortgages (RMBS) or commercial mortgages (CMBS). RMBS are further divided into agency RMBS and non-agency RMBS, depending on the issuer.

 

n   Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share: A fund’s Net Assets is equal to its total assets (securities, cash, accrued earnings and receivables) less its total liabilities. NAV per share is equal to the fund’s Net Assets divided by its number of shares outstanding.

 

n   Regulatory Leverage: Regulatory leverage consists of preferred shares issued by or borrowings of a fund. Both of these are part of a fund’s capital structure. Regulatory leverage is subject to asset coverage limits set in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

 

  48      Nuveen Investments


n   Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS): Residential mortgage-backed securities are securities the payments on which depend primarily on the cash flow from residential mortgage loans made to borrowers that are secured by residential real estate. RMBS consist of agency and non-agency RMBS. Agency RMBS have agency guarantees that assure investors that they will receive timely payment of interest and principal, regardless of delinquency or default rates on the underlying loans. Agency RMBS include securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and other federal agencies, or issues guaranteed by them. Non-agency RMBS do not have agency guarantees. Non-agency RMBS have credit enhancement built into the structure to shield investors from borrower delinquencies. The spectrum of non-agency residential mortgage loans includes traditional jumbo loans (prime), alternative-A loans (Alt-A), and home equity loans (subprime).

 

Nuveen Investments     49   


Reinvest Automatically,

Easily and Conveniently

 

Nuveen makes reinvesting easy. A phone call is all it takes to set up your reinvestment account.

 

 

Nuveen Closed-End Funds Automatic Reinvestment Plan

Your Nuveen Closed-End Fund allows you to conveniently reinvest distributions in additional Fund shares.

By choosing to reinvest, you’ll be able to invest money regularly and automati- cally, and watch your investment grow through the power of compounding. Just like distributions in cash, there may be times when income or capital gains taxes may be payable on distributions that are reinvested.

It is important to note that an automatic reinvestment plan does not ensure a profit, nor does it protect you against loss in a declining market.

Easy and convenient

To make recordkeeping easy and convenient, each quarter you’ll receive a statement showing your total distributions, the date of investment, the shares acquired and the price per share, and the total number of shares you own.

How shares are purchased

The shares you acquire by reinvesting will either be purchased on the open market or newly issued by the Fund. If the shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the greater of the net asset value or 95% of the then-current market price. If the shares are trading at less than net asset value, shares for your account will be purchased on the open market. If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset value, but the Fund’s shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution in newly-issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares’ net asset value or 95% of the shares’ market value on the last business day immediately prior to the purchase date. Distributions received to purchase shares in the open market will normally be invested shortly after the distribution payment date. No interest will be paid on distributions awaiting reinvestment. Because the market price of the shares may increase before purchases are completed, the average purchase price per share may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund. A pro rata portion of any applicable brokerage commissions on open market purchases will be paid by Plan participants. These commissions usually will be lower than those charged on individual transactions.

Flexible

You may change your distribution option or withdraw from the Plan at any time,

should your needs or situation change.

You can reinvest whether your shares are registered in your name, or in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee. Ask your investment advisor if his or her firm will participate on your behalf. Participants whose shares are registered in the name of one firm may not be able to transfer the shares to another firm and continue to participate in the Plan.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time. Although the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants, there is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan at this time.

Call today to start reinvesting distributions

For more information on the Nuveen Automatic Reinvestment Plan or to enroll in or withdraw from the Plan, speak with your financial advisor or call us at (8oo) 257-8787.

 

 

  50      Nuveen Investments


Board

Members & Officers (Unaudited)

 

The management of the Funds, including general supervision of the duties performed for the Funds by the Adviser, is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the Funds. The number of trustees of the Funds is currently set at eleven. None of the trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Funds (referred to herein as “independent trustees”) has ever been a director or employee of, or consultant to, Nuveen or its affiliates. The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Funds, their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years, the number of portfolios each oversees and other directorships they hold are set forth below.

 

                     
Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed
and Term(1)
   Principal
Occupation(s)
Including other
Directorships
During Past 5 Years
   Number
of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by
Board Member
                     
Independent Board Members:

n  WILLIAM J. SCHNEIDER

         Chairman of Miller-Valentine Partners, a real estate investment company; formerly, Senior Partner and Chief Operating Officer (retired (2004) of Miller-Valentine Group; an owner in several other Miller Valentine entities; Board Member of Med-America Health System, and WDPR Public Radio station; formerly, member, Business Advisory Council, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank and University of Dayton Business School Advisory Council   

1944

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Chairman and Board Member   

    
1996

Class III

          
197
           

 

n  JACK B. EVANS

         President, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, a private philanthropic corporation (since 1996); Director and Chairman, United Fire Group, a publicly held company; formerly, President Pro-Tem of the Board of Regents for the State of Iowa University System; Director, Source Media Group; Life Trustee of Coe College; formerly, Director, Alliant Energy; formerly, Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; formerly, President and Chief Operating Officer, SCI Financial Group, Inc., a regional financial services firm.   

1948

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
1999
Class III
          
197
           

 

           

 

n  WILLIAM C. HUNTER

         Dean Emeritus, formerly, Dean, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa (2006-2012); Director (since 2004) of Xerox Corporation; Director (since 2005), and past President (2010-2014) Beta Gamma Sigma, Inc., The International Business Honor Society; Director of Wellmark, Inc. (since 2009); formerly, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Connecticut (2003-2006); previously, Senior Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (1995-2003); formerly, Director (1997-2007), Credit Research Center at Georgetown University.   

1948

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2004
Class I
          
197
           

 

           

 

           

 

n  DAVID J. KUNDERT

         Formerly, Director, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (2006-2013), retired (since 2004) as Chairman, JPMorgan Fleming Asset Management, President and CEO, Banc One Investment Advisors Corporation, and President, One Group Mutual Funds; prior thereto, Executive Vice President, Banc One Corporation and Chairman and CEO, Banc One Investment Management Group; Regent Emeritus, Member of Investment Committee, Luther College; member of the Wisconsin Bar Association; member of Board of Directors and Chair of Investment Committee, Greater Milwaukee Foundation; member of the Board of Directors (Milwaukee), College Possible   

1942

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2005
Class II
          
197
           

 

 

Nuveen Investments     51   


Board Members & Officers (continued)

 

                     
Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed(1)
   Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number
of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by
Board Member
                     
Independent Board Members (continued):

n  JOHN K. NELSON

         Member of Board of Directors of Core12 LLC (since 2008), a private firm which develops branding, marketing and communications strategies for clients; Director of The Curran Center for Catholic American Studies (since 2009) and The President’s Council, Fordham University (since 2010); formerly, senior external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP (2012- 2014): formerly, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Marian University (2010 as trustee, 2011-2014 as Chairman); formerly, Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America, and Global Head of its Financial Markets Division (2007-2008); prior senior positions held at ABN AMRO include Corporate Executive Vice President and Head of Global Markets-the Americas (2006- 2007), CEO of Wholesale Banking North America and Global Head of Foreign Exchange and Futures Markets (2001-2006), and Regional Commercial Treasurer and Senior Vice President Trading – North America (1996-2001); formerly, Trustee at St. Edmund Preparatory School in New York City.   

1962

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2013
Class II
          
197
           

 

n  JUDITH M. STOCKDALE

         Board Member, Land Trust Alliance (since 2013) and U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (since 2013); formerly, Executive Director (1994-2012), Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; prior thereto, Executive Director, Great Lakes Protection Fund (1990-1994).   

1947

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
1997
Class I
          
197

n  CAROLE E. STONE

         Director, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc. (since 2006); Director, C2 Options Exchange, Incorporated (since 2009); Director, CBOE Holdings, Inc. (since 2010); formerly, Commissioner, New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform (2005-2010).   

1947

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2007
Class I
          
197

n  TERENCE J. TOTH

         Managing Partner, Promus Capital (since 2008); Director, Fulcrum IT Service LLC (since 2010), Quality Control Corporation (since 2012) and LogicMark LLC (since 2012); formerly, Director, Legal & General Investment Management America, Inc. (2008-2013); formerly, CEO and President, Northern Trust Global Investments (2004-2007): Executive Vice President, Quantitative Management & Securities Lending (2000-2004); prior thereto, various positions with Northern Trust Company (since 1994); member: Chicago Fellowship Board (since 2005), Catalyst Schools of Chicago Board (since 2008) and Mather Foundation Board (since 2012), and chair of its investment committee; formerly, Member, Northern Trust Mutual Funds Board (2005-2007), Northern Trust Global Investments Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Japan Board (2004-2007), Northern Trust Securities Inc. Board (2003-2007) and Northern Trust Hong Kong Board (1997-2004).   

1959

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2008
Class II
          
197
           

 

n  MARGARET L. WOLFF

        

Member of the Board of Directors (since 2013) of Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company (each, a part of Travelers Canada, the Canadian operation of The Travelers Companies, Inc.); formerly, Of Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (Mergers & Acquisitions Group) (2005-2014); Member of the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian Hospital (since 2005); Member (since 2004) and Chair (since 2015) of the Board of Trustees of The John A. Hartford Foundation (a philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults); formerly, Member (2005-2015) and Vice Chair (2011-2015) of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Holyoke College.

  

1955

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2016
Class I
          
197
           

 

 

  52      Nuveen Investments


 

                     
Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed(1)
   Principal
Occupation(s)
Including other
Directorships
During Past 5 Years
   Number
of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by
Board Member
                     
Interested Board Members:

n  WILLIAM ADAMS IV(2)

         Senior Executive Vice President, Global Structured Products (since 2010); formerly, Executive Vice President, U.S. Structured Products, of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (1999-2010); Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2011); Executive Vice President of Nuveen Securities, LLC; President (since 2011), formerly, Managing Director (2010-2011) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Board Member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and of Gilda’s Club Chicago.   

1955

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2013
Class II
          
197
           

 

n  THOMAS S. SCHREIER, JR.(2)

         Vice Chairman, Wealth Management of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (since 2011); Co-President of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chairman of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nuveen Securities, LLC (since 2011); Member of Board of Governors and Chairman’s Council of the Investment Company Institute; Director of Allina Health and a member of its Finance, Audit and Investment Committees: formerly, Chief Executive Officer (2000-2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2007-2010) of FAF Advisors, Inc.; formerly, President of First American Funds (2001-2010).   

1962

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Board Member
       
2013
Class III
          
197
           

 

                     
Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed(3)
   Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number
of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by Officer
                     
Officers of the Funds:

n  GIFFORD R. ZIMMERMAN

         Managing Director (since 2002), and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2004) and Assistant Secretary (since 1994) of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Managing Director (since 2002), Assistant Secretary (since 1997) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director and Assistant Secretary of Symphony Asset Management LLC (since 2003); Vice President and Assistant Secretary of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (since 2002), Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc. (since 2002), Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC (since 2006), and of Winslow Capital Management, LLC, (since 2010); Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2013), formerly, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (2006-2013) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.   

1956

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Chief Administrative Officer        
1988
          
198
           

 

n  CEDRIC H. ANTOSIEWICZ

         Managing Director of Nuveen Securities, LLC. (since 2004); Managing Director of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2014).   

1962

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Vice President
       
2007
          
90

n  MARGO L. COOK

         Senior Executive Vice President of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President, Investment Services of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (since 2011); Managing Director – Investment Services of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC (since 2011); Co-Chief Executive Officer (since 2015); previously, Executive Vice President (2013-2015) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Chartered Financial Analyst.   

1964

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Vice President
       
2009
          
198
           

 

 

Nuveen Investments     53   


Board Members & Officers (continued)

 

                     
Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed(3)
   Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number
of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by Officer
                     
Officers of the Funds (continued):

n  LORNA C. FERGUSON

         Managing Director (since 2004) of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.   

1945

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Vice President
       
1998
          
198

n  STEPHEN D. FOY

         Managing Director (since 2014), formerly, Senior Vice President (2013-2014) and Vice President (2005-2013) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Chief Financial Officer of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC (since 2010); Certified Public Accountant.   

1954

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
and Controller
       
1998
          
198

n  SHERRI A. HLAVACEK

         Executive Vice President (since May 2015, formerly, Managing Director) and Controller of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director and Controller of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC; Executive Vice President (since May 2015, formerly, Managing Director), Treasurer and Controller of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Executive Vice President, Principal Financial Officer (since July 2015, formerly, Managing Director), Treasurer and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Executive Vice President (since May 2015, formerly, Managing Director), Treasurer and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc. and Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc.; Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller of Nuveen Securities, LLC; Vice President, Controller and Treasurer of NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC; Vice President and Controller of Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC and Winslow Capital Management, LLC; Certified Public Accountant.   

1962

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
and Treasurer
       
2015
          
198
           

 

n  WALTER M. KELLY

         Senior Vice President (since 2008) of Nuveen Investment Holdings, Inc.   

1970

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President        
2003
          
198

n  TINA M. LAZAR

         Senior Vice President of Nuveen Investments Holdings, Inc. and Nuveen Securities, LLC.   

1961

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

       
Vice President
       
2002
          
198

n  KEVIN J. MCCARTHY

         Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2008), Nuveen Securities, LLC; Managing Director (since 2008), Assistant Secretary since 2007) and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Managing Director and Assistant Secretary, Nuveen Investments, Inc.; Vice President (since 2007) and Assistant Secretary of Nuveen Investments Advisers Inc., NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC, Symphony Asset Management LLC, Santa Barbara Asset Management, LLC, and of Winslow Capital Management, LLC. (since 2010); Vice President and Secretary (since 2010) of Nuveen Commodities Asset Management, LLC.   

1966

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President
and Secretary
       
2007
          
198
           

 

n  KATHLEEN L.  PRUDHOMME

         Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Co-General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC; Managing Director, Assistant Secretary and Associate General Counsel (since 2011) of Nuveen Asset Management, LLC; Managing Director and Assistant Secretary (since 2011) of Nuveen Securities, LLC; formerly, Deputy General Counsel, FAF Advisors, Inc. (2004-2010).   

1953

901 Marquette Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55402

   Vice President
and Assistant
Secretary
       
2011
          
198
           

 

 

  54      Nuveen Investments


 

                     
Name,
Year of Birth
& Address
   Position(s) Held
with the Funds
   Year First
Elected or
Appointed(3)
   Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
   Number
of Portfolios
in Fund Complex
Overseen by Officer
                     
Officers of the Funds (continued):

n  JOEL T. SLAGER

         Fund Tax Director for Nuveen Funds (since 2013); previously, Vice President of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc., Assistant Treasurer of the Morgan Stanley Funds (from 2010 to 2013).   

1978

333 W. Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary        
2013
          
198

 

(1) The Board Members serve three year terms. The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes. Class I, Class II, and Class III, with each being elected to serve until the third succeeding annual shareholders’ meeting subsequent to its election or thereafter in each case when its respective successors are duly elected or appointed. The first year elected or appointed represents the year in which the board member was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Nuveen Complex.
(2) “Interested person” as defined in the 1940 Act, by reason of his position with Nuveen Investments, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries, which are affiliates of the Nuveen Funds.
(3) Officers serve one year terms through August of each year. The year first elected or appointed represents the year in which the Officer was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Nuveen Complex.

 

Nuveen Investments     55   


LOGO

 

    

 

     
           

 

           
  Nuveen Investments:   
     Serving Investors for Generations   
    

 

     Since 1898, financial advisors and their clients have relied on Nuveen Investments to provide dependable investment solutions through continued adherence to proven, long-term investing principles. Today, we offer a range of high quality equity and fixed-income solutions designed to be integral components of a well-diversified core portfolio.   
       

 

       

Focused on meeting investor needs.

 

Nuveen Investments provides high-quality investment services designed to help secure the long-term goals of institutional and individual investors as well as the consultants and financial advisors who serve them. Nuveen Investments markets a wide range of specialized investment solutions which provide investors access to capabilities of its high-quality boutique investment affiliates – Nuveen Asset Management, Symphony Asset Management, NWQ Investment Management Company, Santa Barbara Asset Management, Tradewinds Global Investors, Winslow Capital Management and Gresham Investment Management. In total, Nuveen Investments managed approximately $225 billion as of December 31, 2015.

  
    

 

     
       

Find out how we can help you.

 

To learn more about how the products and services of Nuveen Investments may be able to help you meet your financial goals, talk to your financial advisor, or call us at (800) 257-8787. Please read the information provided carefully before you invest. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of any investment carefully. Where applicable, be sure to obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other relevant information. To obtain a prospectus, please contact your securities representative or Nuveen Investments, 333 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

 

Learn more about Nuveen Funds at: www.nuveen.com/cef

  

 

                 

Distributed by    Nuveen Securities, LLC    |    333 West Wacker Drive    |    Chicago, IL 60606    |    www.nuveen.com/cef

 

EAN-K-1215D        14103-INV-Y-02/17


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. There were no amendments to or waivers from the Code during the period covered by this report. The registrant has posted the code of ethics on its website at www.nuveen.com/CEF/Shareholder/FundGovernance.aspx. (To view the code, click on Code of Conduct.)

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

The registrant’s Board of Directors or Trustees (“Board”) determined that the registrant has at least one “audit committee financial expert” (as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR) serving on its Audit Committee. The registrant’s audit committee financial experts are Carole E. Stone and Jack B. Evans, who are “independent” for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

Ms. Stone served for five years as Director of the New York State Division of the Budget. As part of her role as Director, Ms. Stone was actively involved in overseeing the development of the State’s operating, local assistance and capital budgets, its financial plan and related documents; overseeing the development of the State’s bond-related disclosure documents and certifying that they fairly presented the State’s financial position; reviewing audits of various State and local agencies and programs; and coordinating the State’s system of internal audit and control. Prior to serving as Director, Ms. Stone worked as a budget analyst/examiner with increasing levels of responsibility over a 30 year period, including approximately five years as Deputy Budget Director. Ms. Stone has also served as Chair of the New York State Racing Association Oversight Board, as Chair of the Public Authorities Control Board, as a Commissioner on the New York State Commission on Public Authority Reform and as a member of the Boards of Directors of several New York State public authorities. These positions have involved overseeing operations and finances of certain entities and assessing the adequacy of project/entity financing and financial reporting. Currently, Ms. Stone is on the Board of Directors of CBOE Holdings, Inc., of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and of C2 Options Exchange. Ms. Stone’s position on the boards of these entities and as a member of both CBOE Holdings’ Audit Committee and its Finance Committee has involved, among other things, the oversight of audits, audit plans and preparation of financial statements.

Mr. Evans was formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of SCI Financial Group, Inc., a full service registered broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (“SCI”). As part of his role as President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Evans actively supervised the Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”) and actively supervised the CFO’s preparation of financial statements and other filings with various regulatory authorities. In such capacity, Mr. Evans was actively involved in the preparation of SCI’s financial statements and the resolution of issues raised in connection therewith. Mr. Evans has also served on the audit committee of various reporting companies. At such companies, Mr. Evans was involved in the oversight of audits, audit plans, and the preparation of financial statements. Mr. Evans also formerly chaired the audit committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

NUVEEN MORTGAGE OPPORTUNITY TERM FUND

The following tables show the amount of fees that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s auditor, billed to the Fund during the Fund’s last two full fiscal years. For engagements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provided to the Fund, except for those non-audit services that were subject to the pre-approval exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (the “pre-approval exception”). The pre-approval exception for services provided directly to the Fund waives the pre-approval requirement for services other than audit, review or attest services if: (A) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its accountant during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; (B) the Fund did not recognize the services as non-audit services at the time of the engagement; and (C) the services are promptly brought to the Audit Committee’s attention, and the Committee (or its delegate) approves the services before the audit is completed.

The Audit Committee has delegated certain pre-approval responsibilities to its Chairman (or, in his absence, any other member of the Audit Committee).

 

Fiscal Year Ended

   Audit Fees Billed
to Fund 1
    Audit-Related Fees
Billed to Fund 2
    Tax Fees
Billed to Fund 3
    All Other Fees
Billed to Fund 4
 

December 31, 2015

   $ 49,747      $ 1,017      $ 94,493      $ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
        

Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approval exception

     0     0     0     0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
        

December 31, 2014

   $ 48,526      $ 0   $ 97,275      $ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
        

Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approval exception

     0     0     0     0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 “Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Fund’s annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

2 “Audit Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements that are not reported under “Audit Fees”. These fees include offerings related to the Fund’s common shares and leverage.

3 “Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax advice, tax compliance, and tax planning. These fees include: all global withholding tax services; excise and state tax reviews; capital gain, tax equalization and taxable basis calculation performed by the principal accountant.

4 “All Other Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than “Audit Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees”. These fees represent all “Agreed-Upon Procedures” engagements pertaining to the Fund’s use of leverage.

SERVICES THAT THE FUND’S AUDITOR BILLED TO THE

ADVISER AND AFFILIATED FUND SERVICE PROVIDERS

The following tables show the amount of fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (formerly Nuveen Fund Advisors, Inc.) (the “Adviser”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Fund Service Provider”), for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, during the Fund’s last two full fiscal years.


The tables also show the percentage of fees subject to the pre-approval exception. The pre-approval exception for services provided to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider (other than audit, review or attest services) waives the pre-approval requirement if: (A) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP by the Fund, the Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers during the fiscal year in which the services are provided that would have to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee; (B) the Fund did not recognize the services as non-audit services at the time of the engagement; and (C) the services are promptly brought to the Audit Committee’s attention, and the Committee (or its delegate) approves the services before the Fund’s audit is completed.

 

Fiscal Year Ended

   Audit-Related Fees
    Billed to Adviser and    
Affiliated Fund Service
Providers
        Tax Fees Billed to    
Adviser and

Affiliated Fund
Service Providers
    All Other Fees
Billed to Adviser
    and Affiliated Fund    
Service  Providers
 

December 31, 2015

   $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approval exception

     0     0     0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

December 31, 2014

   $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approval exception

     0     0     0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


NON-AUDIT SERVICES

The following table shows the amount of fees that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed during the Fund’s last two full fiscal years for non-audit services. The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve non-audit services that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP provides to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Services Provider, if the engagement related directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting (except for those subject to the pre-approval exception described above). The Audit Committee requested and received information from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP about any non-audit services that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP rendered during the Fund’s last fiscal year to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider. The Committee considered this information in evaluating PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s independence.

 

Fiscal Year Ended

       Total Non-Audit Fees    
Billed to Fund
     Total Non-Audit Fees
billed to Adviser and
Affiliated Fund Service
     Providers (engagements    
related directly to the
operations and financial
reporting of the Fund)
     Total Non-Audit Fees
billed to Adviser and
    Affiliated Fund Service    
Providers (all other
engagements)
             Total          

December 31, 2015

   $ 94,493       $ 0       $ 0       $ 94,493   

December 31, 2014

   $ 97,275       $ 0       $ 0       $ 97,275   

“Non-Audit Fees billed to Fund” for both fiscal year ends represent “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” billed to Fund in their respective amounts from the previous table.

Less than 50 percent of the hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, the Audit Committee must approve (i) all non-audit services to be performed for the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants and (ii) all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Fund’s independent accountants for the Affiliated Fund Service Providers with respect to operations and financial reporting of the Fund. Regarding tax and research projects conducted by the independent accountants for the Fund and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (with respect to operations and financial reports of the Fund) such engagements will be (i) pre-approved by the Audit Committee if they are expected to be for amounts greater than $10,000; (ii) reported to the Audit Committee chairman for his verbal approval prior to engagement if they are expected to be for amounts under $10,000 but greater than $5,000; and (iii) reported to the Audit Committee at the next Audit Committee meeting if they are expected to be for an amount under $5,000.

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

The registrant’s Board has a separately designated Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)). The members of the audit committee are Jack B. Evans, David J. Kundert, John K. Nelson, Carole E. Stone and Terence J. Toth.

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

(a) See Portfolio of Investments in Item 1.

(b) Not applicable.


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

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC is the registrant’s investment adviser (also referred to as the “Adviser”). The Adviser is responsible for the on-going monitoring of the Fund’s investment portfolio, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services. The Adviser has engaged Wellington Management Company, LLP (“Wellington Management”) and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”) (Wellington Management and Nuveen Asset Management are collectively referred to herein as “Sub-Advisers”) as Sub-Advisers to provide discretionary investment advisory services. As part of these services, the Adviser has delegated to each Sub-Adviser the full responsibility for proxy voting and related duties in accordance with each Sub-Adviser’s policies and procedures. The Adviser periodically monitors each Sub-Adviser’s voting to ensure that it is carrying out its duties. Each Sub-Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures are attached to this filing as an exhibit.


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

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (“NFALLC”) is the registrant’s investment adviser (NFALLC is also referred to as the “Adviser”). NFALLC is responsible for the selection and on-going monitoring of the Fund’s investment portfolio, managing the Fund’s business affairs and providing certain clerical, bookkeeping and administrative services. The Adviser has engaged Wellington Management Company, LLP (“Wellington Management”) and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (“Nuveen Asset Management”) as Sub-Advisers to provide discretionary investment advisory services. Wellington Management exercises day-to-day responsibility for managing the registrant’s direct investments in mortgage-backed securities and other permitted investments. Nuveen Asset Management is responsible for the registrant’s investments in futures, options and swap contracts. The following section provides information on the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the registrant’s portfolio:

Wellington Management

 

Item 8(a)(1). PORTFOLIO MANAGER BIOGRAPHY

Michael F. Garrett, Senior Managing Director and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager of Wellington Management, has served as a portfolio manager of the registrant since its inception. Mr. Garrett joined Wellington Management as an investment professional in 1999.

 

Item 8(a)(2). OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY PORTFOLIO MANAGER AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015

 

Portfolio Manager

   All Accounts (includes registrant)  
   Registered
Investment
Companies
     Other
Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
     Other
Accounts
 
   Number
of
Accounts
     Total
Assets
($billions)
     Number
of
Accounts
     Total
Assets
($billions)
     Number
of
Accounts
     Total
Assets
($billions)
 

Michael F. Garrett

     11       $ 28.75         11       $ 1.90         18       $ 8.31   

Portfolio Manager

   Accounts with Performance Fees  
   Registered
Investment
Companies
     Other
Pooled
Investment
Vehicles
     Other
Accounts
 
   Number
of
Accounts
     Total
Assets
     Number
of
Accounts
     Total
Assets
($millions)
     Number
of
Accounts
     Total
Assets
($millions)
 

Michael F. Garrett

     0         0         2       $ 524         1       $ 523   


POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Individual investment professionals at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions, such as pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and hedge funds. The Fund’s manager listed in the prospectus who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund (“Portfolio Manager”) generally manages accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk profiles that differ from those of the Fund. The Portfolio Manager makes investment decisions for each account, including the Fund, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, tax and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, the Portfolio Manager may purchase or sell securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the performance of securities purchased for one account may vary from the performance of securities purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus the accounts may have similar, and in some cases nearly identical, objectives, strategies and/or holdings to that of the Fund.

The Portfolio Manager or other investment professionals at Wellington Management may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Fund depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, the Portfolio Manager may purchase the same security for the Fund and one or more other accounts at or about the same time. In those instances the other accounts will have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing the Fund. Mr. Garrett also manages accounts which pay performance allocations to Wellington Management or its affiliates. Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Portfolio Manager are tied to revenues earned by Wellington Management and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager. Finally, the Portfolio Manager may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts identified above.

Wellington Management’s goal is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high quality investment services to all of its clients. Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management’s investment professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess


whether an investment professional has adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional’s various client mandates.

 

Item 8(a)(3). PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMPENSATION

Wellington Management receives a fee based on the assets under management of the Fund as set forth in the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Wellington Management and Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund. Wellington Management pays its investment professionals out of its total revenues, including the advisory fees earned with respect to the Fund. The following information relates to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Wellington Management’s compensation structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services to its clients. Wellington Management’s compensation of the Fund’s manager listed in the prospectus who is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund (“Portfolio Manager”) includes a base salary and incentive components. The base salary for each Portfolio Manager who is a partner (a “Partner”) of Wellington Management Group LLP, the ultimate holding company of Wellington Management, is generally a fixed amount that is determined by the managing partners of Wellington Management Group LLP. The Portfolio Manager is eligible to receive an incentive payment based on the revenues earned by Wellington Management from the Fund managed by the Portfolio Manager and generally each other account managed by such Portfolio Manager. The incentive paid to the Portfolio Manager, which has no performance-related component, is based on the revenues earned by Wellington Management.

Portfolio-based incentives across all accounts managed by an investment professional can, and typically do, represent a significant portion of an investment professional’s overall compensation; incentive compensation varies significantly by individual and can vary significantly from year to year. The Portfolio Manager may also be eligible for bonus payments based on his overall contribution to Wellington Management’s business operations. Senior management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on other factors. Each Partner is eligible to participate in a Partner-funded tax qualified retirement plan, the contributions to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Mr. Garrett is a Partner.

 

Item 8(a)(4). OWNERSHIP OF JLS SECURITIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015

 

Name of Portfolio

Manager

   None    $1 -
$10,000
   $10,001-
      $50,000      
   $50,001-
      $100,000      
         $100,001-      
$500,000
   $500,001-
$1,000,000
   Over
$1,000,000

Michael F. Garrett

               X      


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

Not applicable.

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

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this Item.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

  (a) The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, 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 (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15 (b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15 (b)).

 

  (b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the 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.

File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form.

(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Not applicable because the code is posted on registrant’s website at www.nuveen.com/CEF/Shareholder/FundGovernance.aspx and there were no amendments during the period covered by this report. (To view the code, click on Code of Conduct.)

(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) in the exact form set forth below: Ex-99.CERT Attached hereto.

(a)(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable.

(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)); Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference. Ex-99.906 CERT attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

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

(Registrant) Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term Fund

 

By (Signature and Title)   

/s/ Kevin J. McCarthy

  
   Kevin J. McCarthy   
   Vice President and Secretary   
Date: March 9, 2016   

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

 

By (Signature and Title)   

/s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman

  
   Gifford R. Zimmerman   
   Chief Administrative Officer   
   (principal executive officer)   
Date: March 9, 2016   
By (Signature and Title)   

/s/ Stephen D. Foy

  
   Stephen D. Foy   
   Vice President and Controller   
   (principal financial officer)   
Date: March 9, 2016