NPORT-EX 2 fp0069005_nportex-cef.htm

 

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
 
   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS 90.57%          
Consumer Discretionary 6.83%          
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   50,000   $1,089,285 
DR Horton, Inc.(a)   40,600    3,874,458 
Lennar Corp. - Class A(a)(b)   36,540    3,842,181 
         8,805,924 
           
Energy 1.79%          
Exxon Mobil Corp.(a)(b)   40,100    2,308,557 
           
Financials 21.92%          
Barings BDC, Inc.(a)   103,400    1,108,448 
Equitable Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)   87,500    2,701,125 
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.(a)(b)   95,400    4,255,794 
First American Financial Corp.(a)   112,390    7,564,971 
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.(a)   105,630    6,643,071 
Redwood Trust, Inc.(a)(b)   318,500    3,780,595 
Walker & Dunlop, Inc.   21,300    2,204,124 
         28,258,128 
           
Health Care 17.10%          
Anthem, Inc.(a)   4,055    1,557,160 
Cigna Corp.   7,940    1,822,151 
Eli Lilly & Co.(a)(b)   12,013    2,925,165 
Humana, Inc.(a)   3,445    1,467,088 
Johnson & Johnson(a)(b)   8,480    1,460,256 
McKesson Corp.(a)(b)   14,484    2,952,274 
Pfizer, Inc.(a)(b)   85,400    3,655,974 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(a)   3,280    1,771,233 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(a)(b)   3,355    1,382,998 
Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B   5,120    821,299 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   5,800    947,836 
Zoetis, Inc.(a)(b)   6,330    1,283,091 
         22,046,525 
           
Industrials 10.69%          
Airbus SE(c)   12,139    1,666,072 
Raytheon Technologies Corp.(a)(b)   73,800    6,416,910 
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   6,217    3,985,657 
Xinyi Glass Holdings, Ltd.   458,000    1,709,142 
         13,777,781 
           
Information Technology 23.33%          
Cisco Systems, Inc./Delaware(a)(b)   36,500    2,021,005 
Mastercard, Inc. - Class A(a)   18,582    7,171,537 
MediaTek, Inc.   42,100    1,369,962 
Microsoft Corp.(a)(b)   27,480    7,829,327 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   39,859    2,720,219 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.   112,000    2,322,904 
Visa, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   26,960    6,642,674 
         30,077,628 
           

 

   Shares   Value 
Real Estate 8.54%          
Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.(a)   69,700   $3,473,151 
Physicians Realty Trust(a)   94,000    1,781,300 
Ventas, Inc.(a)(b)   46,120    2,757,053 
Welltower, Inc.(a)(b)   24,110    2,094,195 
Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.   159,000    897,184 
         11,002,883 
           
Utilities 0.37%          
Towngas China Co., Ltd.(c)   729,000    479,362 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $98,975,037)        116,756,788 
           
PREFERRED STOCKS 0.89%          
Gabelli Equity Trust, Inc.          
Series K, Perpetual Maturity 5.000%(d)   21,200    566,466 
Trinity Capital, Inc., 01/16/2025 7.000%(a)   22,400    589,120 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $1,090,000)        1,155,586 
           
Underlying Security/Expiration Date/ Exercise Price/Notional Amount   Contracts     Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS 0.05%          
Call Options Purchased 0.05%          
Eurodollar Future Option          
12/14/21, $100, $356,017,063   1,441    9,006 
12/14/21, $99.875, $518,831,250   2,100    52,500 
           
Total Call Options Purchased          
(Cost $1,006,039)        61,506 
           
    Principal      
Description/Maturity Date/Rate   Amount     Value 
CORPORATE BONDS 23.82%          
Aerospace & Defense          
Boeing Co.          
05/01/2050, 5.805%(a)  $1,500,000    2,049,462 
           
Auto Components          
Magna International, Inc.          
06/15/2030, 2.450%   750,000    779,253 
           
Banks          
Bank of America Corp.          
07/23/2031, 1D US SOFR + 1.53%(a)(e)   750,000    738,530 
Citizens Financial Group, Inc.          
04/30/2030, 3.250%   500,000    549,440 
Valley National Bancorp          
06/15/2031, 1D US SOFR + 2.36%(e)   500,000    510,581 
         1,798,551 

 

 

 

 

   Principal     
Description/Maturity Date/Rate  Amount   Value 
CORPORATE BONDS (continued)          
Building Products          
Masco Corp.          
10/01/2030, 2.000%(a)  $1,000,000   $996,357 
02/15/2031, 2.000%   3,250,000    3,222,892 
         4,219,249 
           
Capital Markets          
Main Street Capital Corp.          
07/14/2026, 3.000%(a)   1,100,000    1,139,765 
Owl Rock Capital Corp.          
01/15/2027, 2.625%   1,260,000    1,276,202 
Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp.          
06/30/2025, 6.750%(a)(f)   1,000,000    1,161,234 
SLR Investment Corp.          
01/20/2023, 4.500%   500,000    517,331 
USB Capital IX          
Perpetual Maturity, 3M US L + 1.020%(a)(d)(e)   1,770,000    1,758,477 
         5,853,009 
           
Chemicals          
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.          
11/01/2030, 2.300%(f)   750,000    768,485 
           
Communications Equipment          
Motorola Solutions, Inc.          
05/24/2031, 2.750%   1,000,000    1,038,792 
           
Equity Real Estate Investment          
Equinix, Inc.          
11/18/2029, 3.200%(a)(b)   1,000,000    1,089,700 
           
Food & Staples Retailing          
Kroger Co.          
05/01/2030, 2.200%   1,000,000    1,019,952 
           
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure          
Marriott International, Inc.          
Series AA, 12/01/2028, 4.650%   270,000    312,812 
Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd.          
07/21/2028, 5.750%(f)   250,000    259,555 
         572,367 
           
Household Durables          
PulteGroup, Inc.          
01/15/2027, 5.000%   500,000    586,877 
           
Insurance          
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.          
03/15/2031, 2.450%(a)   950,000    959,742 
New York Life Insurance Co.          
05/15/2069, 4.450%(f)   500,000    644,058 
         1,603,800 

 

   Principal     
Description/Maturity Date/Rate  Amount   Value 
CORPORATE BONDS (continued)          
Pharmaceuticals          
Johnson & Johnson          
09/01/2040, 2.100%  $500,000   $490,643 
           
Professional Services          
IHS Markit, Ltd.          
05/01/2029, 4.250%   300,000    351,130 
           
Real Estate Management & Development          
Sunac China Holdings, Ltd.          
04/19/2023, 8.350%(g)   750,000    758,541 
           
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment          
Broadcom, Inc.          
09/15/2028, 4.110%   500,000    564,682 
02/15/2031, 2.450%(f)   2,000,000    1,994,680 
         2,559,362 
           
Software          
Oracle Corp.          
11/15/2037, 3.800%   1,000,000    1,112,588 
           
Specialty Retail          
Carvana Co.          
10/01/2025, 5.625%(f)   500,000    519,785 
10/01/2028, 5.875%(a)(b)(f)   1,000,000    1,060,660 
Tractor Supply Co.          
11/01/2030, 1.750%   1,000,000    973,879 
         2,554,324 
           
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance          
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc.          
12/15/2030, 5.125%(a)(f)   1,500,000    1,500,000 
           
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $30,192,709)        30,706,085 
           
CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS 2.30%          
Biotechnology          
Gossamer Bio, Inc.          
06/01/2027, 5.000%(a)(b)   1,070,000    853,004 
           
Health Care Technology          
Teladoc Health, Inc.          
06/01/2027, 1.250%(a)(b)   700,000    749,910 
           
Mortgage Real Estate Investment          
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.          
04/01/2023, 4.375%(a)(b)   977,000    1,046,660 

 

 

 

 

   Principal     
Description/Maturity Date/Rate  Amount   Value 
CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS (continued)          
Two Harbors Investment Corp.          
01/15/2022, 6.250%  $314,000   $319,495 
         1,366,155 
           
           
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $3,074,423)        2,969,069 
           
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 0.04%          
United States Small Business Administration          
Series 2008-20L, Class 1, 12/01/2028, 6.220%(a)(b)   43,768    49,231 
           
TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES          
(Cost $43,768)        49,231 
           
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 24.30%          
Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corp.          
03/14/2033, 2.150%   1,000,000    1,000,859 
06/28/2034, 2.290%   1,000,000    1,000,703 
06/16/2036, 2.350%   1,000,000    1,001,982 
U.S. Treasury Bonds          
08/15/2049, 2.250%(a)   2,500,000    2,688,867 
U.S. Treasury Notes          
06/30/2024, 1.750%   3,000,000    3,123,516 
02/28/2025, 1.125%(a)   3,900,000    3,991,254 
02/28/2027, 1.125%(a)   6,600,000    6,723,750 
11/15/2027, 2.250%(a)   6,200,000    6,715,859 
02/29/2028, 1.125%   1,000,000    1,011,797 
06/30/2028, 1.250%   4,000,000    4,068,750 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $31,275,975)        31,327,337 
           
    Shares    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 3.38%          
Money Market Funds 3.38%          
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (0.010% 7-day yield)   4,353,076    4,353,076 
           
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $4,353,076)        4,353,076 
           
           
           
           
Total Investments - 145.35%          
(Cost $170,011,027)        187,378,678 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (45.35%)(h)        (58,464,086)
           
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $128,914,592 

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD
SHORT(c)
  Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (8.45%)          
Financials (0.56%)          
Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA   (40,686)  $(477,137)
Societe Generale S.A.   (8,443)   (247,634)
         (724,771)
           
Health Care (3.53%)          
AbbVie, Inc.   (12,610)   (1,466,543)
AstraZeneca PLC - Sponsored ADR   (31,600)   (1,808,784)
Figs, Inc. - Class A   (11,900)   (433,160)
Novocure, Ltd.   (5,450)   (839,355)
         (4,547,842)
           
Information Technology (3.80%)          
International Business Machines Corp.   (25,800)   (3,636,768)
Temenos AG   (7,935)   (1,261,401)
         (4,898,169)
           
Real Estate (0.56%)          
KE Holdings, Inc. - ADR   (32,800)   (721,272)
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Proceeds $10,706,698)        (10,892,054)
           
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (6.19%)          
iShares® U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF   (11,170)   (3,000,597)
SPDR S&P® Biotech ETF   (31,530)   (3,891,117)
VanEck Vectors® Semiconductor ETF   (4,130)   (1,086,768)
           
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Proceeds $7,980,844)        (7,978,482)
           
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $18,687,542)       $(18,870,536)

 

Investment Abbreviations:
1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)
LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate
SOFR - Secured Overnight Financing Rate
 
FEDEF Rates:
1D FEDEF - 1 Day FEDEF as of July 31, 2021 was 0.07%
 
LIBOR Rates:
3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of July 31, 2021 was 0.12%
 
SOFR Rates:
1D SOFR as of July 31, 2021 was 0.05%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short, total return swap contracts, or borrowings. As of July 31, 2021, the aggregate value of those securities was $117,311,489, representing 91.00% of net assets. (See Note 1)
(b) Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of July 31, 2021.
(c) Non-income producing security.
(d) This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.
(e) Variable rate investment. Interest rates reset periodically. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at July 31, 2021. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in the description above.
(f) Security is exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $7,908,457 or 6.13% of net assets.
(g) Securities were purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such securities cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of July 31, 2021, the aggregate value of those securities was $758,541, representing 0.59% of net assets.
(h) Includes cash which is being held as collateral for futures contracts, total return swap contracts and securities sold short.

 

 

 

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS              

 

Description  Counterparty  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value   Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) 
WTI CRUDE FUTURE  Morgan Stanley   Long    24   February 2022  $1,682,400   $61,821   $61,821 
                   $1,682,400   $61,821   $61,821 

 

 

 

Clough Global Equity Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
 
   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS 127.55%          
Communication Services 11.08%          
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C(a)(b)(c)   1,373   $3,713,169 
Facebook, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   25,555    9,105,246 
Sea, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   23,850    6,586,416 
T-Mobile US, Inc.(a)(b)   29,700    4,277,394 
ViacomCBS, Inc. - Class B(b)   151,700    6,209,081 
         29,891,306 
           
Consumer Discretionary 22.31%          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   3,696    12,298,773 
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   112,000    2,439,999 
Carnival Corp.(a)(b)   279,000    6,040,350 
Carvana Co.(a)(b)(c)   26,310    8,881,204 
DR Horton, Inc.(b)   66,100    6,307,923 
Lennar Corp. - Class A(b)   59,530    6,259,579 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a)(b)(c)   89,620    6,889,089 
Tesla, Inc.(a)(b)   13,545    9,308,124 
Wayfair, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   7,250    1,749,860 
         60,174,901 
           
Energy 1.25%          
Exxon Mobil Corp.(b)   58,500    3,367,845 
           
Financials 15.95%          
Barings BDC, Inc.(b)   120,846    1,295,469 
Equitable Holdings, Inc.(b)(c)   198,900    6,140,043 
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.(b)   204,500    9,122,745 
First American Financial Corp.(b)   207,290    13,952,690 
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.(b)   199,080    12,520,141 
         43,031,088 
           
Health Care 39.42%(d)          
1Life Healthcare, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   89,000    2,406,560 
AbCellera Biologics, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   95,400    1,447,218 
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.(a)(b)   59,400    3,666,168 
Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc. - Series C(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   334,425    1,466,052 
Anthem, Inc.(b)(c)   6,955    2,670,790 
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   29,697    1,900,311 
Arcellx, Inc. - Series C(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   78,692    165,017 
Arcellx, Inc. - Series B(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   421,845    884,609 
Arvinas, Inc.(a)(b)   42,000    4,246,200 
C4 Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)   32,600    1,406,364 
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.(a)(f)(g)(h)   4,336    54,022 
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   66,719    831,252 
Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)   330,872    1,660,978 
Cigna Corp.(b)(c)   17,150    3,935,754 
Community Health Systems, Inc.(a)(b)   117,312    1,562,596 
Covetrus, Inc.(a)(b)   78,300    1,993,518 
CRISPR Therapeutics AG(a)(b)   40,960    4,956,979 

 

   Shares   Value 
Health Care (continued)          
Hologic, Inc.(a)(b)   33,840   $2,539,354 
Humana, Inc.(b)   6,820    2,904,365 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)(b)(c)   31,520    5,343,270 
Johnson & Johnson(b)(c)   18,140    3,123,708 
Kymera Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   27,155    1,634,188 
McKesson Corp.(b)(c)   30,396    6,195,617 
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)   23,600    3,777,416 
Moderna, Inc.(a)   7,690    2,719,184 
Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   42,900    1,318,746 
Pfizer, Inc.(b)(c)   172,400    7,380,444 
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   10,490    6,027,659 
Repare Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)   76,400    2,551,760 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(b)(c)   6,370    3,439,864 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(b)   6,020    2,481,564 
Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B(b)(c)   37,020    5,938,378 
Veracyte, Inc.(a)(b)   73,845    3,290,533 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   24,135    4,865,133 
Zai Lab, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   9,030    1,305,828 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.(b)   12,500    2,042,750 
Zoetis, Inc.(b)   10,920    2,213,484 
         106,347,633 
           
Industrials 6.97%          
Airbus SE(a)   26,060    3,576,723 
The Boeing Co.(a)(b)   23,345    5,287,176 
Raytheon Technologies Corp.(b)   44,800    3,895,360 
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   9,444    6,054,454 
         18,813,713 
           
Information Technology 25.89%(d)          
Bill.com Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)   17,500    3,619,350 
Cisco Systems, Inc./Delaware(b)   81,800    4,529,266 
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   16,990    4,308,834 
Dynatrace, Inc.(a)(b)   63,600    4,062,132 
Euronet Worldwide, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   14,740    2,105,167 
HubSpot, Inc.(a)(b)   7,180    4,279,424 
Mastercard, Inc. - Class A(b)   18,924    7,303,528 
MediaTek, Inc.   91,500    2,977,472 
Microsoft Corp.(b)(c)   31,570    8,994,609 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   11,490    4,596,000 
RingCentral, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   23,310    6,230,064 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   16,770    4,057,166 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   51,471    3,512,691 
Shopify, Inc. - Class A(a)   1,400    2,099,902 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.   173,000    3,588,056 
Twilio, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   9,530    3,560,313 
         69,823,974 
           
Real Estate 4.30%          
Ventas, Inc.(b)(c)   103,490    6,186,632 
Welltower, Inc.(b)   39,580    3,437,919 

 

 

 

 

   Shares   Value 
Real Estate (continued)          
Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.   349,000   $1,969,290 
         11,593,841 
           
Utilities 0.38%          
Towngas China Co., Ltd.(a)   1,570,000    1,032,370 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $307,675,489)        344,076,671 
           
Underlying Security/Expiration Date/ Exercise Price/Notional Amount   Contracts     Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS 0.04%          
Call Options Purchased 0.04%          
Eurodollar Future Option          
12/14/21, $100, $648,044,938   2,623    16,394 
12/14/21, $99.875, $988,250,000   4,000    100,000 
           
Total Call Options Purchased          
(Cost $1,885,275)        116,394 
           
           
    Principal      
Description/Maturity Date/Rate   Amount     Value 
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 7.44%          
U.S. Treasury Bonds          
08/15/2049, 2.250%(b)  $4,500,000    4,839,961 
U.S. Treasury Notes          
06/30/2024, 1.750%   7,000,000    7,288,203 
02/29/2028, 1.125%(b)   1,800,000    1,821,234 
06/30/2028, 1.250%   6,000,000    6,103,125 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $19,633,684)        20,052,523 
           
    Shares    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 10.08%          
Money Market Funds 10.08%          
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (0.010% 7-day yield)   27,191,264    27,191,264 
           
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $27,191,264)        27,191,264 
           
           
           
           
Total Investments - 145.11%          
(Cost $356,385,712)        391,436,852 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (45.11%)(i)        (121,685,631)
           
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $269,751,221 

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD
SHORT(a)
  Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (8.50%)          
Financials (0.45%)          
Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA   (67,513)  $(791,746)
Societe Generale S.A.   (14,196)   (416,370)
         (1,208,116)
           
Health Care (3.66%)          
AbbVie, Inc.   (27,250)   (3,169,175)
AstraZeneca PLC - Sponsored ADR   (68,500)   (3,920,940)
Figs, Inc. - Class A   (25,600)   (931,840)
Novocure, Ltd.   (12,105)   (1,864,291)
         (9,886,246)
           
Information Technology (3.82%)          
International Business Machines Corp.   (55,800)   (7,865,568)
Temenos AG   (15,397)   (2,447,610)
         (10,313,178)
           
Real Estate (0.57%)          
KE Holdings, Inc. - ADR   (69,900)   (1,537,101)
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Proceeds $22,713,855)        (22,944,641)
           
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (6.44%)          
iShares® U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF   (24,690)   (6,632,475)
SPDR S&P® Biotech ETF   (67,640)   (8,347,453)
VanEck Vectors® Semiconductor ETF   (9,060)   (2,384,048)
           
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Proceeds $17,355,389)        (17,363,976)
           
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $40,069,244)       $(40,308,617)

 

Investment Abbreviations:
1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)
 
FEDEF Rates:
1D FEDEF - 1 Day FEDEF as of July 31, 2021 was 0.07%

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short, total return swap contracts, or borrowings. As of July 31, 2021, the aggregate value of those securities was $271,424,555, representing 100.62% of net assets. (See Note 1)
(c) Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of July 31, 2021.
(d) When sector categorization is categorized by industry, no industry exceeds the 25% maximum specified in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

 

 

 

 

(e) All or a portion of the security is exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $3,346,930 or 1.24% of net assets.
(f) Private Placement; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $3,400,952 or 1.26% of net assets.

(g) As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets. (See Note 1)
(h) Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $3,400,952 or 1.26% of total net assets.
(i) Includes cash which is being held as collateral for futures contracts, total return swap contracts and securities sold short.

 

 

 

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

Description  Counterparty  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value   Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) 
WTI CRUDE FUTURE  Morgan Stanley   Long    53   February 2022  $3,715,300   $136,520   $136,520 
                   $3,715,300   $136,520   $136,520 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS

 

   Reference  Notional  

Floating Rate

Paid by

  Floating Rate  Termination       Upfront Premiums Paid/   Net Unrealized 
Counter Party  Entity/Obligation  Amount  

the Fund*

  Index  Date   Value   (Received)   Appreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.  $10,248,008   1D FEDEF - 250 bps  1D FEDEF   01/06/2022   $11,065,459   $   $817,451 
TOTAL     $10,248,008              $11,065,459   $   $817,451 

 

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN

 

      Expiration   Strike       Notional     
Underlying Security  Counterparty  Date   Price   Contracts   Amount   Value 
Moderna, Inc.  Morgan Stanley   08/20/2021   $350    (76)  $(2,687,360)  $(186,390)
                     $(2,687,360)  $(186,390)

 

 

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
July 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
 
   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS 127.11%          
Communication Services 10.52%          
Alphabet, Inc. - Class C(a)(b)(c)   1,339   $3,621,218 
Facebook, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   47,565    16,947,410 
Sea, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)   44,490    12,286,358 
T-Mobile US, Inc.(a)(b)   55,200    7,949,904 
ViacomCBS, Inc. - Class B(b)(c)   285,700    11,693,701 
         52,498,591 
           
Consumer Discretionary 22.27%          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   6,881    22,897,147 
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   221,000    4,814,641 
Carnival Corp.(a)(b)   523,440    11,332,476 
Carvana Co.(a)(b)(c)   51,833    17,496,747 
DR Horton, Inc.(b)   110,800    10,573,644 
Lennar Corp. - Class A(b)   98,829    10,391,869 
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.(a)(b)(c)   169,647    13,040,765 
Tesla, Inc.(a)(b)   25,250    17,351,800 
Wayfair, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)   13,510    3,260,774 
         111,159,863 
           
Energy 1.33%          
Exxon Mobil Corp.(b)   115,400    6,643,578 
           
Financials 16.23%          
Barings BDC, Inc.(b)   244,400    2,619,968 
Equitable Holdings, Inc.(b)(c)   391,200    12,076,344 
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.(b)   380,500    16,974,105 
First American Financial Corp.(b)   385,970    25,979,641 
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.(b)   371,192    23,344,265 
         80,994,323 
           
Health Care 38.61%(d)          
1Life Healthcare, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   168,400    4,553,536 
AbCellera Biologics, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   177,197    2,688,078 
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.(a)(b)(c)   111,040    6,853,389 
Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc. - Series C(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   780,326    3,420,793 
Anthem, Inc.(b)(c)   12,985    4,986,370 
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   55,016    3,520,474 
Arcellx, Inc. - Series C(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   180,924    379,398 
Arcellx, Inc. - Series B(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   969,881    2,033,840 
Arvinas, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   79,000    7,986,900 
C4 Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   60,335    2,602,852 
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.(a)(f)(g)(h)   14,166    176,494 
Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.(a)(e)(f)(g)(h)   217,952    2,715,464 
Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   637,346    3,199,477 
Cigna Corp.(b)   32,460    7,449,245 
Covetrus, Inc.(a)(b)   147,300    3,750,258 
CRISPR Therapeutics AG(a)(b)(c)   76,498    9,257,788 
Hologic, Inc.(a)(b)   63,790    4,786,802 
Humana, Inc.(b)   12,650    5,387,129 

 

   Shares   Value 
Health Care (continued)          
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC(a)(b)   58,920   $9,988,118 
Johnson & Johnson(b)(c)   34,120    5,875,464 
Kymera Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   50,544    3,041,738 
McKesson Corp.(b)(c)   56,576    11,531,886 
Mirati Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)   44,700    7,154,682 
Moderna, Inc.(a)(b)   14,260    5,042,336 
Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   79,854    2,454,712 
Pfizer, Inc.(b)(c)   322,600    13,810,506 
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   19,565    11,242,245 
Repare Therapeutics, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   143,579    4,795,539 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.(b)(c)   12,153    6,562,741 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.(b)   11,280    4,649,842 
Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B(b)(c)   69,165    11,094,758 
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   45,903    9,253,127 
Zai Lab, Ltd. - ADR(a)(b)(c)   17,250    2,494,522 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.(b)   23,700    3,873,054 
Zoetis, Inc.(b)   20,295    4,113,796 
         192,727,353 
           
Industrials 7.12%          
Airbus SE(a)   49,013    6,727,012 
The Boeing Co.(a)(b)   45,255    10,249,353 
Raytheon Technologies Corp.(b)   83,400    7,251,630 
TransDigm Group, Inc.(a)(b)(c)   17,623    11,297,929 
         35,525,924 
           
Information Technology 26.29%(d)          
Bill.com Holdings, Inc.(a)(b)   32,650    6,752,673 
Cisco Systems, Inc./Delaware(b)(c)   152,100    8,421,777 
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   31,610    8,016,612 
Dynatrace, Inc.(a)(b)   125,000    7,983,750 
Euronet Worldwide, Inc.(a)(b)   27,430    3,917,553 
HubSpot, Inc.(a)(b)   13,370    7,968,787 
Mastercard, Inc. - Class A(b)   35,295    13,621,752 
MediaTek, Inc.   170,900    5,561,201 
Microsoft Corp.(b)   58,790    16,749,859 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)(b)   21,380    8,552,000 
RingCentral, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   43,170    11,538,046 
salesforce.com, Inc.(a)(b)   31,170    7,540,958 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   96,977    6,618,296 
Shopify, Inc. - Class A(a)   2,700    4,049,811 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.   334,000    6,927,230 
Twilio, Inc. - Class A(a)(b)(c)   18,750    7,004,813 
         131,225,118 
           
Real Estate 4.35%          
Ventas, Inc.(b)(c)   192,420    11,502,868 
Welltower, Inc.(b)(c)   75,580    6,564,879 
Wharf Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd.   647,000    3,650,804 
         21,718,551 

 

 

 

 

   Shares   Value 
Utilities 0.39%          
Towngas China Co., Ltd.(a)   2,948,000   $1,938,488 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $567,312,045)        634,431,789 
           
Underlying Security/Expiration Date/ Exercise Price/Notional Amount   Contracts    Value 
PURCHASED OPTIONS 0.05%          
Call Options Purchased 0.05%          
Eurodollar Future Option          
12/14/21, $100, $1,310,172,438   5,303    33,144 
12/14/21, $99.875, $1,951,793,750   7,900    197,500 
           
Total Call Options Purchased          
(Cost $3,754,614)        230,644 
           
    Principal      
Description/Maturity Date/Rate   Amount    Value 
CORPORATE BONDS 3.64%          
Capital Markets          
Main Street Capital Corp.          
07/14/2026, 3.000%  $2,000,000    2,072,301 
USB Capital IX          
Perpetual Maturity, 3M US L + 1.020%(b)(i)(j)   7,700,000    7,649,870 
         9,722,171 
           
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure          
Marriott International, Inc.          
Series FF, 06/15/2030, 4.625%   1,000,000    1,159,439 
           
Household Durables          
PulteGroup, Inc.          
01/15/2027, 5.000%   2,500,000    2,934,388 
           
Real Estate Management & Development          
Sunac China Holdings, Ltd.          
04/19/2023, 8.350%(k)   2,250,000    2,275,622 
           
Semiconductor & Semiconductor Equipment          
Broadcom Corp. / Broadcom Cayman Finance, Ltd.          
01/15/2027, 3.875%   500,000    554,803 
           
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance          
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc.          
12/15/2030, 5.125%(e)   1,510,000    1,510,000 
           
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $18,094,859)        18,156,423 

 

   Principal     
Description/Maturity Date/Rate  Amount   Value 
CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS 0.25%          
Mortgage Real Estate Investment          
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.          
04/01/2023, 4.375%(b)(c)  $1,200,000   $1,285,560 
           
           
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $1,211,066)        1,285,560 
           
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS 5.14%          
U.S. Treasury Bonds          
08/15/2049, 2.250%(b)   3,700,000    3,979,524 
U.S. Treasury Notes          
06/30/2024, 1.750%   13,000,000    13,535,234 
06/30/2028, 1.250%   8,000,000    8,137,500 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $25,296,820)        25,652,258 
           
    Shares    Value 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 9.10%          
Money Market Funds 9.10%          
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, T-Fund Portfolio - Institutional Class (0.010% 7-day yield)   45,414,009    45,414,009 
           
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $45,414,009)        45,414,009 
           
           
           
           
Total Investments - 145.29%          
(Cost $661,083,413)        725,170,683 
           
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (45.29%)(l)        (226,060,258)
           
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $499,110,425 
           
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD
SHORT(a)
    Shares     Value 
COMMON STOCKS (8.70%)          
Financials (0.55%)          
Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA   (157,505)   (1,847,109)
Societe Generale S.A.   (30,516)   (895,038)
         (2,742,147)
           
Health Care (3.72%)          
AbbVie, Inc.   (51,580)   (5,998,754)
AstraZeneca PLC - Sponsored ADR   (128,500)   (7,355,340)
Figs, Inc. - Class A   (47,700)   (1,736,280)
Novocure, Ltd.   (22,680)   (3,492,947)
         (18,583,321)
           
Information Technology (3.86%)          
International Business Machines Corp.   (103,800)   (14,631,648)
Temenos AG   (28,969)   (4,605,107)
         (19,236,755)

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD
SHORT(a) (continued)
  Shares   Value 
Real Estate (0.57%)          
KE Holdings, Inc. - ADR   (130,172)  $(2,862,482)
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Proceeds $42,706,562)        (43,424,705)
           
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (6.62%)          
iShares® U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF   (48,600)   (13,055,418)
SPDR S&P® Biotech ETF   (125,910)   (15,538,553)
VanEck Vectors® Semiconductor ETF   (16,830)   (4,428,646)
           
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Proceeds $32,947,448)        (33,022,617)
           
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $75,654,010)       $(76,447,322)

 

Investment Abbreviations:
1D FEDEF - Federal Funds Effective Rate (Daily)
 
FEDEF Rates:
1D FEDEF - 1 Day FEDEF as of July 31, 2021 was 0.07%

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Pledged security; a portion or all of the security is pledged as collateral for securities sold short, total return swap contracts, or borrowings. As of July 31, 2021, the aggregate value of those securities was $534,082,114, representing 107.01% of net assets. (See Note 1)

 

 

 

(c) Loaned security; a portion or all of the security is on loan as of July 31, 2021.
(d) When sector categorization is categorized by industry, no industry exceeds the 25% maximum specified in the Statement of Additional Information.
(e) Security is exempt from registration of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration under Rule 144A, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $10,059,495 or 2.02% of net assets.
(f) Private Placement; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $8,725,989 or 1.75% of net assets.
(g) As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets. (See Note 1)
(h) Fair valued security; valued by management in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. As of July 31, 2021, these securities had an aggregate value of $8,725,989 or 1.75% of total net assets.
(i) Variable rate investment. Interest rates reset periodically. Interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect at July 31, 2021. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread are indicated in the description above.
(j) This security has no contractual maturity date, is not redeemable and contractually pays an indefinite stream of interest.
(k) Securities were purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such securities cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of July 31, 2021, the aggregate value of those securities was $2,275,622, representing 0.46% of net assets.
(l) Includes cash which is being held as collateral for futures contracts, total return swap contracts and securities sold short.

 

 

 

 

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

Description  Counterparty  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value   Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) 
WTI CRUDE FUTURE  Morgan Stanley   Long    103   February 2022  $7,220,300   $265,313   $265,313 
                   $7,220,300   $265,313   $265,313 

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS

 

Counter  Reference  Notional   Floating Rate Paid by the  Floating Rate  Termination       Upfront Premiums   Net Unrealized 
Party  Entity/Obligation  Amount   Fund*  Index  Date   Value   Paid/(Received)   Appreciation 
Morgan Stanley  Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.  $19,029,788   1D FEDEF - 250 bps  1D FEDEF   01/06/2022   $20,594,029   $   $1,564,241 
TOTAL     $19,029,788              $20,594,029   $   $1,564,241 

 

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN

 

      Expiration   Strike       Notional     
Underlying Security  Counterparty  Date   Price   Contracts   Amount   Value 
Moderna, Inc.  Morgan Stanley   08/20/2021   $350    (142)  $(5,021,120)  $(348,255)
                     $(5,021,120)  $(348,255)

 

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

 

See Notes to Quarterly Statement of Investments.

 

 

 

Clough Global FundS

Notes to Quarterly Statement of Investments

july 31, 2021 (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND OPERATING POLICIES

 

 

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”), are closed-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). The Funds were organized under the laws of the state of Delaware on April 27, 2004, January 25, 2005, and January 12, 2006, respectively for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund. The Funds were previously registered as non- diversified investment companies. As a result of ongoing operations, each of the Funds became a diversified company. The Funds may not resume operating in a non-diversified manner without first obtaining shareholder approval. Each Fund’s investment objective is to provide a high level of total return. Each Declaration of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The common shares of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, and Clough Global Opportunities Fund are listed on the NYSE American LLC and trade under the ticker symbols “GLV”, “GLQ” and “GLO” respectively.

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Funds. These policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of the Statement of Investments in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the Statement of Investments during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the Statement of Investments may differ from the value the Funds ultimately realize upon sale of the securities. Each Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies as codified in Accounting Standards Codification Topic (“ASC”) 946 – Investment Companies.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that a Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;
Level 2 Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3 Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of July 31, 2021, in valuing each Fund’s investments carried at value.

 

Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $116,756,788   $   $   $116,756,788 
Preferred Stocks   1,155,586            1,155,586 
Purchased Options   61,506            61,506 
Corporate Bonds       30,706,085        30,706,085 
Convertible Corporate Bonds       2,969,069        2,969,069 
Asset-Backed Securities       49,231        49,231 
Government & Agency Obligations       31,327,337        31,327,337 
Short-Term Investments   4,353,076            4,353,076 
TOTAL  $122,326,956   $65,051,722   $   $187,378,678 

 

Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets                    
Futures Contracts**  $61,821   $   $   $61,821 
Liabilities
Securities Sold Short                    
Common Stocks   (10,892,054)           (10,892,054)
Exchange Traded Funds   (7,978,482)           (7,978,482)
TOTAL  $(18,808,715)  $   $   $(18,808,715)

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Common Stocks                    
Communication Services  $29,891,306   $   $   $29,891,306 
Consumer Discretionary   60,174,901            60,174,901 
Energy   3,367,845            3,367,845 
Financials   43,031,088            43,031,088 
Health Care   102,946,681        3,400,952    106,347,633 
Industrials   18,813,713            18,813,713 
Information Technology   69,823,974            69,823,974 
Real Estate   11,593,841            11,593,841 
Utilities   1,032,370            1,032,370 
Purchased Options   116,394            116,394 
Government & Agency Obligations       20,052,523        20,052,523 
Short-Term Investments   27,191,264            27,191,264 
TOTAL  $367,983,377   $20,052,523   $3,400,952   $391,436,852 

 

Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets                    
Futures Contracts**  $136,520   $   $   $136,520 
Total Return Swap Contracts**       817,451        817,451 
Liabilities
Written Options   (186,390)           (186,390)
Securities Sold Short                    
Common Stocks   (22,944,641)           (22,944,641)
Exchange Traded Funds   (17,363,976)           (17,363,976)
TOTAL  $(40,358,487)  $817,451   $   $(39,541,036)

 

 

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund
                     
Investments in Securities at Value*   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Common Stocks                    
Communication Services  $52,498,591   $   $   $52,498,591 
Consumer Discretionary   111,159,863            111,159,863 
Energy   6,643,578            6,643,578 
Financials   80,994,323            80,994,323 
Health Care   184,001,364        8,725,989    192,727,353 
Industrials   35,525,924            35,525,924 
Information Technology   131,225,118            131,225,118 
Real Estate   21,718,551            21,718,551 
Utilities   1,938,488            1,938,488 
Purchased Options   230,644            230,644 
Corporate Bonds       18,156,423        18,156,423 
Convertible Corporate Bonds       1,285,560        1,285,560 
Government & Agency Obligations       25,652,258        25,652,258 
Short-Term Investments   45,414,009            45,414,009 
TOTAL  $671,350,453   $45,094,241   $8,725,989   $725,170,683 

 

Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Assets                    
Futures Contracts**  $265,313   $   $   $265,313 
Total Return Swap Contracts**       1,564,241        1,564,241 
Liabilities
Written Options   (348,255)           (348,255)
Securities Sold Short                    
Common Stocks   (43,424,705)           (43,424,705)
Exchange Traded Funds   (33,022,617)           (33,022,617)
TOTAL  $(76,530,264)  $1,564,241   $   $(74,966,023)

 

*For detailed sector descriptions, see the accompanying Statements of Investments.
**Futures contracts and swap contracts are reported at their unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) at measurement date, which represents the change in the contract's value from trade date.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

Clough Global Equity Fund

 

Investments in Securities  Balance as of October 31, 2020   Realized
Gain/(Loss)
   Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
   Purchases   Sales Proceeds   Transfer
into
Level 3
   Transfer
out of
Level 3
   Balance as of July 31, 2021  

Net change in unrealized

appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at July 31, 2021

 
Common Stocks  $2,576,815   $   $293,307   $530,830   $   $   $   $3,400,952   $293,307 
Total  $2,576,815   $   $293,307   $530,830   $   $   $   $3,400,952   $293,307 

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund

 

Investments in Securities  Balance as of October 31, 2020   Realized
Gain/(Loss)
   Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
   Purchases   Sales Proceeds   Transfer
into
Level 3
   Transfer
out of
Level 3
   Balance as of July 31, 2021  

Net change in unrealized

appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at July 31, 2021

 
Common Stocks  $6,789,627   $   $715,910   $1,220,452   $   $   $   $8,725,989   $715,910 
Total  $6,789,627   $   $715,910   $1,220,452   $   $   $   $8,725,989   $715,910 

 

The following is a summary of valuation techniques and quantitative information used in determining the fair value of the Fund’s Level 3 investments at July 31, 2021:

 

Fund Sector Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Input(a) Range/Premium
Clough Global Equity Fund Health Care $2,351,326 Accomplishment & Goals and Index Performance Method Transaction Price N/A
    $1,049,626 Common Stock Equivalent Transaction Price N/A
           
Clough Global Opportunities Fund Health Care $6,312,751 Accomplishment & Goals and Index Performance Method Transaction Price N/A
    $2,413,238 Common Stock Equivalent Transaction Price N/A

 

(a)A change to the unobservable input may result in a significant change to the value of the investment as follows:

 

Unobservable Input Impact to Value if Input Increases Impact to Value if Input Decreases
Transaction Price Increase Decrease

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Exchange Traded Funds: Each Fund may invest in exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), which are funds whose shares are traded on a national exchange. ETFs may be based on underlying equity or fixed income securities, as well as commodities or currencies. ETFs do not sell individual shares directly to investors and only issue their shares in large blocks known as “creation units.” The investor purchasing a creation unit then sells the individual shares on a secondary market. Although similar diversification benefits may be achieved through an investment in another investment company, ETFs generally offer greater liquidity and lower expenses. Because an ETF incurs its own fees and expenses, shareholders of a Fund investing in an ETF will indirectly bear those costs. Such Funds will also incur brokerage commissions and related charges when purchasing or selling shares of an ETF. Unlike typical investment company shares, which are valued once daily, shares in an ETF may be purchased or sold on a securities exchange throughout the trading day at market prices that are generally close to the NAV of the ETF.

 

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

 

Each Fund's obligation to replace the borrowed security will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker-dealer, usually cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities. Each Fund will also be required to designate on its books and records similar collateral with its custodian to the extent, if any, necessary so that the aggregate collateral value is at all times at least equal to the current value of the security sold short. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to short sales.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Risk of Investing in Derivatives: The Funds’ use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Funds are using derivatives to decrease or hedge exposures to market risk factors for securities held by the Funds, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected, resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk: Foreign exchange rate risk relates to the change in the U.S. dollar value of a security held that is denominated in a foreign currency. The value of a foreign currency denominated security will decrease as the dollar appreciates against the currency, while the value of the foreign currency denominated security will increase as the dollar depreciates against the currency.

 

Option Writing/Purchasing: Each Fund may purchase or write (sell) put and call options. One of the risks associated with purchasing an option among others, is that a Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, a Fund bears the risk of loss of premium and change in value should the counterparty not perform under the contract. The cost of securities acquired through the exercise of call options is increased by premiums paid. The proceeds from securities sold through the exercise of put options are decreased by the premiums paid. Each Fund is obligated to pay interest to the broker for any debit balance of the margin account relating to options. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to written options.

 

When a Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by a Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by a Fund on the expiration date as realized gains. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is recorded as a realized gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security or currency in determining whether a Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by a Fund. Each Fund, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. The Funds engaged in purchased and written options during the reporting period ended July 31, 2021.

 

Futures Contracts: Each Fund may enter into futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or currency (or to deliver a final cash settlement price in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract) for a set price at a future date. If a Fund buys a security futures contract, the Fund enters into a contract to purchase the underlying security and is said to be "long" under the contract. If a Fund sells a security futures contact, the Fund enters into a contract to sell the underlying security and is said to be "short" under the contract. The price at which the contract trades (the "contract price") is determined by relative buying and selling interest on a regulated exchange. Futures contracts are marked to market daily and an appropriate payable or receivable for the change in value (“variation margin”) is recorded by the Fund. Such payables or receivables are recorded for financial statement purposes as variation margin payable or variation margin receivable by each Fund. Each Fund pledges cash or liquid assets as collateral to satisfy the current obligations with respect to futures contracts. Management has reviewed the futures agreement under which the futures contracts are traded and has determined that the Funds do not have the right to set-off, and therefore the futures contracts are not subject to enforceable netting arrangements.

 

The Funds enter into such transactions for hedging and other appropriate risk-management purposes or to increase return. While a Fund may enter into futures contracts for hedging purposes, the use of futures contracts might result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If, for example, the Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell a portion of its underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily variation margin requirements on its futures contracts or options on futures contracts at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. There may be an imperfect correlation between the Funds’ portfolio holdings and futures contracts entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss.

 

Futures contract transactions may result in losses substantially in excess of the variation margin. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the hedging vehicle and in the portfolio securities being hedged. An incorrect correlation could result in a loss on both the hedged securities in a Fund and the hedging vehicle so that the portfolio return might have been greater had hedging not been attempted. There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures contract. Lack of a liquid market for any reason may prevent a Fund from liquidating an unfavorable position, and the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risk if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts. With exchange-traded futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Funds since futures contracts are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures contracts, guarantees the futures contracts against default. The Funds invested in futures during the reporting period ended July 31, 2021.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreements”) govern OTC financial derivative transactions entered into by a Fund and those counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral and events of default or termination. Events of termination include conditions that may entitle counterparties to elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable ISDA Master Agreement. Any election to early terminate could be material to the financial statements. During the period ended July 31, 2021, the Funds invested in swap agreements consistent with the Funds’ investment strategies to gain exposure to certain markets or indices.

 

Warrants/Rights: Each Fund may purchase or otherwise receive warrants or rights. Warrants and rights generally give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise, a security of the issuer at a set price. Funds typically use warrants and rights in a manner similar to their use of purchased options on securities, as described in options above. Risks associated with the use of warrants and rights are generally similar to risks associated with the use of purchased options. However, warrants and rights often do not have standardized terms, and may have longer maturities and may be less liquid than exchange-traded options. In addition, the terms of warrants or rights may limit each Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants or rights at such times and in such quantities as each Fund would otherwise wish. During the period ended July 31, 2021, each Fund held rights and did not hold warrants. As of the period ended July 31, 2021, the Funds held no warrants or rights.

 

Restricted Securities: Although the Funds will invest primarily in publicly traded securities, they may invest a portion of their assets (generally, 10% of its value) in restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or, if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration.

 

Restricted securities as of July 31, 2021 were as follows:

 

Fund  Security  % of
Net Assets
   Acquisition
Date
  Shares   Cost   Value 
Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund  Broadcom, Inc.   1.55%  7/6/2021   500,000   $1,982,289   $1,994,680 
   Carvana Co.   0.40%  11/16/2020   500,000    504,357    519,785 
   Carvana Co.   0.82%  9/25/2020   1,000,000    988,538    1,060,660 
   International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.   0.60%  6/23/2021   750,000    746,086    768,485 
   Melco Resorts Finance, Ltd.   0.20%  9/21/2020   250,000    259,857    259,555 
   Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc.   1.16%  3/16/2021 - 6/28/2021   1,500,000    1,498,736    1,500,000 
   New York Life Insurance Co.   0.50%  7/29/2021   500,000    647,000    644,058 
   Owl Rock Technology Finance Corp.   0.90%  5/14/2021   1,000,000    1,153,371    1,161,234 
   Sunac China Holdings, Ltd.   0.59%  1/16/2020   750,000    778,608    758,541 
Total      6.72%          $8,558,842   $8,666,998 

 

 

 

 

 

Clough Global Equity Fund  Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc.   0.54%   4/8/2019    334,425   $1,199,997   $1,466,052 
   Arcellx, Inc. Series B   0.33%   8/8/2019 - 12/22/2020    421,845    731,625    884,609 
   Arcellx, Inc. Series C   0.06%   3/26/2021    78,692    165,017    165,017 
   Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.   0.31%   12/18/2017    66,719    701,250    831,252 
   Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.   0.02%   3/19/2019    4,336    48,741    54,022 
Total      1.26%            $2,846,630   $3,400,952 

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund  Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc.   0.69%   4/8/2019    780,326   $2,799,997   $3,420,793 
   Arcellx, Inc. Series B   0.41%   8/8/2019 - 12/22/2020    969,881    1,682,109    2,033,840 
   Arcellx, Inc. Series C   0.08%   3/26/2021    180,924    379,398    379,398 
   Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.   0.04%   3/19/2019    14,166    159,240    176,494 
   Centrexion Therapeutics Corp.   0.54%   12/18/2017    217,952    2,290,759    2,715,464 
   Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc.   0.30%   6/28/2021    1,510,000    1,510,000    1,510,000 
   Sunac China Holdings, Ltd.   0.46%   1/16/2020    2,250,000    2,335,824    2,275,622 
Total      2.51%            $11,157,327   $12,511,611 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Funds may have elements of risk due to concentrated investments in foreign issuers located in a specific country. Such concentrations may subject the Funds to additional risks resulting from future political or economic conditions and/or possible impositions of adverse foreign governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers have unique risks not present in securities of U.S. issuers, such as greater price volatility and less liquidity.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

A novel coronavirus and the resulting COVID-19 respiratory infection have resulted in a global pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the world. The pandemic has led to extreme short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies. Liquidity for many instruments has been reduced, and some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. The economic impacts of the global pandemic may adversely impact the Funds’ ability to reach their investment objectives and may adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Funds’ investments. Because of uncertainties in valuation, values reflected in these financial statements may differ from the value received upon sales of those investments. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and may adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Funds’ investments.

 

2. CommitTed facility agreement

 

 

Each Fund entered into a financing package that includes a Committed Facility Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated January 16, 2009, as amended, between each Fund and BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. (“BNP”) that allows each Fund to borrow funds from BNP. Each Fund entered a Special Custody and Pledge Agreement (the “Pledge Agreement”) dated December 9, 2013, as amended, between each Fund, the Funds’ custodian, and BNP. As of October 31, 2016, the Pledge Agreement was assigned from BNP to BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd. Per the Pledge Agreement, borrowings under the Agreement are secured by assets of each Fund that are held by the Fund’s custodian in a separate account (the “pledged collateral”). On July 31, 2021, the pledged collateral was valued at $108,067,213, $251,083,152 and $494,358,156 for the Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. Each Fund may, with 30 days notice, reduce the Maximum Commitment Financing (Initial Limit amount plus the increased borrowing amount in excess of the Initial Limit) to a lesser amount if drawing on the full amount would result in a violation of the applicable asset coverage requirement of Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Interest is charged at the three month LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus 0.70% on the amount borrowed and 0.65% on the undrawn balance. Each Fund also pays a one-time arrangement fee of 0.25% on (i) the initial Limit and (ii) any increased borrowing amount in the excess of the initial Limit, paid in monthly installments for the six months immediately following the date on which borrowings were drawn by the Fund.

 

The Maximum Commitment Financing allowed under the Agreement is $60,500,000, $129,500,000 and $242,500,000 for the Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and the Clough Global Opportunities Fund, respectively. For the period ended July 31, 2021, the average borrowings outstanding for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund under the agreement were $51,635,531, $106,333,333 and $208,672,161, respectively, and the average interest rate for the borrowings was 0.88%. As of July 31, 2021, the outstanding borrowings for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $60,500,000, $129,500,000 and $242,500,000, respectively. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund on July 31, 2021, was 0.83%.

 

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

 

Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, the Lent Securities are marked to market daily, and if the value of the Lent Securities exceeds the value of the then-outstanding borrowings owed by a Fund to BNP under the Agreement (the “Current Borrowings”), BNP must, on that day, either
(1) return Lent Securities to each Fund’s custodian in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings; or (2) post cash collateral with each Fund’s custodian equal to the difference between the value of the Lent Securities and the value of the Current Borrowings. If BNP fails to perform either of these actions as required, each Fund will recall securities, as discussed below, in an amount sufficient to cause the value of the outstanding Lent Securities to equal the Current Borrowings. Each Fund can recall any of the Lent Securities and BNP shall, to the extent commercially possible, return such security or equivalent security to each Fund’s custodian no later than three business days after such request. If a Fund recalls a Lent Security pursuant to the Lending Agreement, and BNP fails to return the Lent Securities or equivalent securities in a timely fashion, BNP shall remain liable for the ultimate delivery to each Fund’s custodian of such Lent Securities, or equivalent securities, and for any buy-in costs that the executing broker for the sales transaction may impose with respect to the failure to deliver. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Funds have the right to reduce the outstanding amount of the Current Borrowings against which the pledged collateral has been secured. Although risk is mitigated by the collateral, the Funds could experience a delay in recovering their securities and possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the borrowed securities. Under the terms of the Lending Agreement, each Fund shall have the right to apply and set-off an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the then current fair value of such Lent Securities against the Current Borrowings. As of July 31, 2021, the value of the Lent Securities for Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund and Clough Global Opportunities Fund were $52,564,897, $112,399,176 and $217,260,306, respectively.

 

 

 

The Board has approved each Agreement and the Lending Agreement. No violations of the Agreement or the Lending Agreement have occurred during the period ended July 31, 2021.

 

On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced that the FCA will no longer persuade nor require banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. Such announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is expected that market participants will focus on the transition mechanisms by which references to LIBOR in existing contracts or instruments may be amended. When LIBOR is discontinued, the successor reference rate may be lower or higher than market expectations. This may cause the Funds to pay more or less interest on borrowings and could impact the Funds’ performance or NAV.