Form N-CSR
Table of Contents

 

 

 

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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: 811-21507

 

 

Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

C. David Messman

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

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

Date of fiscal year end: October 31

Date of reporting period: October 31, 2015

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS

 

2


Table of Contents

Annual Report

October 31, 2015

 

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Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund (ERC)

 

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Table of Contents

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Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Summary portfolio of investments*

    7   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    19   

Statement of operations

    20   

Statement of changes in net assets

    21   

Statement of cash flows

    22   

Financial highlights

    23   

Notes to financial statements

    24   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    31   

Other information

    32   

Automatic dividend reinvestment plan

    38   

List of abbreviations

    39   

 

* A complete schedule of portfolio holdings as of the report date may be obtained, free of charge, by accessing the following website: https://www.wellsfargofunds.com/assets/edocs/regulatory/holdings/multi-sector-income-ann.pdf or by calling Wells Fargo Funds at 1-800-222-8222. This complete schedule, filed on Form N-CSR, is also available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of October 31, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. The views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



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2   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

 

Major central banks continued to inject liquidity into global banks and markets through various accommodative monetary policies, including quantitative easing.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund for the 12-month period that ended October 31, 2015. The period was marked by low interest rates; sustained weakness in commodity prices; and concerns about slowing growth in China, which in turn hurt other emerging markets and their currencies.

Major central banks continued to provide stimulus.

Major central banks continued to inject liquidity into global banks and markets through various accommodative monetary policies, including quantitative easing. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (Fed) kept its key interest rate near zero in order to support the economy and the financial system. It set expectations for it to begin normalizing monetary policy with higher target ranges for the federal funds rate by the end of 2015 but also emphasized that any action would be slow and cautious. In anticipation of Fed action, the U.S. dollar has been an outperformer. Meanwhile, European markets continued to benefit from the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) willingness to maintain low interest rates. The ECB held its key rate at a historic low of 0.05%. In addition to its targeted longer-term refinancing operations that are designed to increase bank lending, the ECB expanded its quantitative easing program to include the buying of eurozone government bonds. In Japan, the Bank of Japan maintained an aggressive monetary program aimed at combating deflation.

Global economic growth was below trend, and oil prices plummeted.

Developed countries experienced modest growth and subdued inflation, with commodity prices trending even lower over the course of the year. In the U.S., however, economic growth advanced during the reporting period, the unemployment rate ticked lower to 5.0% as of October 2015, and inflation remained below the Fed’s longer-run objective of a 2% pace. The period was also marked by dramatically lower oil prices, which fell from more than $80 per barrel at the beginning of the reporting period to less than $50 per barrel at the end of October 2015. While lower oil prices benefited consumers of oil products, the lower prices pressured companies within the energy sector.

U.S. Treasuries rallied while high-yield and emerging markets sectors faced challenges.

Ten-year U.S. Treasury rates declined during the period, from 2.35% at the end of October 2014 to 2.16% by the end of October 2015, benefiting from safe-haven status as well as relative attractiveness to global investors due to its higher yields than were available in other developed countries. Investment-grade corporate bonds returned 0.90% during the 12-month reporting period, according to the Barclays Credit Index.1 In contrast, high-yield bonds returned -1.94%, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index,2 dragged down by the energy and mining-related sectors that were negatively affected by lower oil prices. Investor trepidation about weak global growth caused both investment-grade spreads and high-yield spreads to widen over the reporting period.

 

 

 

1  The Barclays U.S. Credit Index measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, taxable corporate and government-related bond markets. It is comprised of the U.S. Corporate Index and a non-corporate component that includes foreign agencies, sovereigns, supranationals and local authorities. The U.S. Credit Index was called the U.S. Corporate Index until July 2000, when it was renamed to reflect its inclusion of both corporate and non-corporate issuers. The U.S. Credit Index is a subset of the U.S. Government/Credit Index and the U.S. Aggregate Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

2  The Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index is an unmanaged, U.S. dollar-denominated, nonconvertible, non-investment-grade debt index. The index consists of domestic and corporate bonds rated Ba and below with a minimum outstanding amount of $150 million. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     3   

The U.S. dollar was one of the top-performing currencies, particularly compared with commodity currencies, such as the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Russian ruble, and South African rand. The health and prospects of the Chinese economy remained a topic of investor interest. Chinese officials continued their efforts to rebalance the economy away from net exports and toward domestic consumption. The renminbi was devalued modestly in August 2015.

Since the end of the financial crisis, structural changes in the fixed-income markets have reduced trading liquidity (the degree to which assets can be bought or sold without affecting the price). New regulations and capital requirements have caused traditional liquidity suppliers (banks and broker/dealers) to be more risk averse and hold less inventory. Meanwhile, corporate-debt issuance has spiked as companies finance themselves at record-low yields, bond mutual funds hold larger amounts of this new debt supply, trading volumes are lower, and large-size trades are more difficult to execute. However, fixed-income markets appear to have functioned well over the past year with sufficient liquidity and muted volatility.

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

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

Thank you for choosing to invest with Wells Fargo Funds. We appreciate your confidence in us and remain committed to helping you meet your financial needs.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Funds

 

 

 

 

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future.

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

At a meeting held August 11-12, 2015, the Board of Trustees of the Fund approved a change in the name of the Fund whereby the word “Advantage” was removed from its name, effective December 15, 2015.

 

Notice to shareholders

On December 17, 2015, the Fund announced an open-market share repurchase program (the “Buyback Program”). Under the Buyback Program, the Fund may repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding shares within one year of December 17, 2015. The Fund’s Board of Trustees has delegated to Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, the Fund’s adviser, full discretion to administer the Buyback Program including the determination of the amount and timing of repurchases in accordance with the best interests of the Fund and subject to applicable legal limitations.

 

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


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4   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks a high level of current income consistent with limiting its overall exposure to domestic interest rate risk.

Adviser

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadvisers

First International Advisors, LLC

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Ashok Bhatia, CFA

Christopher Y. Kauffman, CFA

Michael Lee

Niklas Nordenfelt, CFA

Tony Norris

Alex Perrin

Phillip Susser

Christopher Wightman

Peter Wilson

Noah Wise

Average annual total returns (%) as of October 31, 20151

 

     1 Year      5 Year      10 Year  

Based on market value

     (7.34      2.25         5.28   

Based on net asset value (NAV)

     (4.40      4.89         7.05   

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

The Fund’s expense ratio for the year ended October 31, 2015 was 1.24% which includes 0.24% of interest expense.

 

Comparison of NAV vs. market value2

LOGO

 

The Fund is leveraged through a revolving credit facility and also may incur leverage by issuing preferred shares in the future. The use of leverage results in certain risks including, among others, the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and the market value of common shares. Foreign investments are especially volatile and can rise or fall dramatically due to differences in the political and economic conditions of the host country. These risks are generally intensified in emerging markets. Derivatives involve additional risks including interest rate risk, credit risk, the risk of improper valuation, and the risk of non-correlation to the relevant instruments that they are designed to hedge or to closely track. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. High-yield securities have a greater risk of default and tend to be more volatile than higher-rated debt securities. The Fund is exposed to mortgage- and asset-backed securities risk. This closed-end fund is no longer offered as an initial public offering and is only offered through broker/dealers on the secondary market. A closed-end fund is not required to buy its shares back from investors upon request.

 

 

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

 

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


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Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     5   

MANAGERS’ DISCUSSION

The Fund’s return based on market value was -7.34% during the 12-month period that ended October 31, 2015. During the same period, the Fund’s return based on net asset value was -4.40%.

Overview

The Fund contains the following asset classes: mortgage/corporate bonds, high-yield bonds, and international/emerging markets bonds.

During the reporting period, U.S. investment-grade corporate bonds underperformed U.S. Treasuries, with the majority of this underperformance happening in the third quarter of 2015. Securitized sectors, especially commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS), fared somewhat better. We see opportunities in the credit and securitized sectors given current valuations, and our credit exposure was centered on industrials and financials, particularly banks.

High-yield bond performance was hurt primarily due to the poor performance of the energy and metals and mining sectors as oil prices declined. From a fundamental perspective, leverage levels moved higher over the past several years, although they are not at record highs. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) accommodative monetary policies allowed high-yield companies to take advantage of historically low interest rates to keep their interest costs low.

Within the international portion of the Fund, we favored smaller economies, with overweight allocations to Australian and New Zealand bonds at the expense of Japanese bonds. In the emerging markets portion, the Fund was overweight Mexican, Romanian, and South African bonds but underweight Russian bonds. The U.S. dollar was one of the top-performing currencies during the period, particularly versus commodity currencies, such as the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Russian ruble, and South African rand. While the Fund was overweight the U.S. dollar for much of the year, we reduced the overweight in recent months.

 

Ten largest holdings (%) as of October 31, 20153

Mexico, 4.75%, 6-14-2018

  1.98

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

  1.92

Poland, 1.50%, 4-25-2020

  1.76

Poland, 3.25%, 7-28-2025

  1.70

Brazil, 10.00%, 1-1-2017

  1.66

Indonesia, 7.88%, 4-15-2019

  1.60

Republic of South Africa, 8.00%, 12-21-2018

  1.60

Romania, 5.85%, 4-26-2023

  1.56

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

  1.42

Dell Incorporated, 4.00%, 4-29-2020

  1.40

Contributors to performance

Within the mortgage/corporate portion, securitized holdings generally added value during the period with commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) the largest contributor. Our focus on senior residential MBS also contributed to performance as higher-rated securities outperformed lower-rated ones. Security selection within the electric utility and independent oil and gas industries improved performance in the credit sector, along with an underweight to sovereign issuers.

 

 

Within the high-yield portion, the Fund’s performance was aided by its lower-than-benchmark exposure to energy exploration and production and metals and mining companies. Security selection within the oil-field services sector benefited results. The Fund was also aided by its exposure to both shorter- and longer-term securities rather than intermediate-term securities.

Within the international portion, currency allocation and duration positioning were the largest sources of outperformance, with country positioning also adding value. Australian and New Zealand bonds contributed to performance versus the benchmark. In the emerging markets portion, overweight allocations to Mexican, Romanian, and South African bonds added to performance. The Fund’s shorter-than-benchmark duration also contributed to results.

Detractors from performance

The mortgage/corporate holdings in certain residential MBS and CMBS positions modestly detracted from performance during the period due to security-specific prepayment and ratings changes. Overweight exposures to the metals and mining and oil-field services industries in the credit sectors detracted from returns.

Within the high-yield portion of the Fund, a greater-than-market exposure to oil-field services companies hurt performance. Its underweight to higher-rated credits and overweight to lower-rated credits also detracted from results but was offset by positive security selection within those credit tiers.

 

 

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


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6   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)
Credit quality distribution as of October 31, 20154
LOGO

Within the international/emerging markets portion, an underweight allocation to Russian fixed-income securities detracted from performance. The cost of currency hedges and issuer selection, such as investments in the mining and commodities trading company Glencore Plc* and Brazilian bank Itau Unibanco Holding SA,* modestly held back results.

Management outlook

We continue to expect moderate U.S. growth and low, stable inflation and believe the Fed’s interest-rate policy will be cautious and gradual. Within the mortgage/

 

corporate portion we therefore expect to focus on the medium-quality credit tiers of A-rated and BBB-rated securities as compelling sources of yield.

With respect to the high-yield market, our base case is that high-yield bonds are relatively stable and may potentially outperform other fixed-income asset classes that may be more affected by a rising-rate environment. In the long run, we expect high yield’s relative performance will be primarily driven by corporate fundamentals and defaults. Over a full cycle, we believe the best way to protect against periodic bouts of systemic fears will be our continued focus on a bottom-up approach that attempts to minimize downside risk while capturing the return potential of high-yield issuers.

With global growth likely to remain on the moderate side in 2016, we continue to see value in the smaller economies that offer better yields—both nominal and real. Commodity prices appear to be close to finding something of a floor, and many emerging markets (and commodity-linked) currencies could also be close to stabilizing. Currencies such as the Brazilian real and South African rand look cheap on both real equilibrium and nominal exchange-rate measures, having lost significant ground against the U.S. dollar over the past year. While it might be too early to speak of sustained emerging markets currency gains, we believe stability will reduce the need for investors to hedge holdings in these higher-yielding bonds.

 

Effective maturity distribution as of October 31, 20155
LOGO
Country allocation as of October 31, 20166
LOGO
 

 

 

4  The credit quality distribution of portfolio holdings reflected in the chart is based on ratings from Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and/ or Fitch Ratings Ltd. Credit quality ratings apply to the underlying holdings of the Fund and not to the Fund itself. The percentages of the Fund’s portfolio with the ratings depicted in the chart are calculated based on the total market value of fixed income securities held by the Fund. If a security was rated by all three rating agencies, the middle rating was utilized. If rated by two of three rating agencies, the lower rating was utilized, and if rated by one of the rating agencies, that rating was utilized. Standard & Poor’s rates the creditworthiness of bonds, ranging from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Ratings from A to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories. Standard & Poor’s rates the creditworthiness of short-term notes from SP-1 (highest) to SP-3 (lowest). Moody’s rates the creditworthiness of bonds, ranging from Aaa (highest) to C (lowest). Ratings Aa to B may be modified by the addition of a number 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest) to show relative standing within the ratings categories. Moody’s rates the creditworthiness of short-term U.S. tax-exempt municipal securities from MIG 1/VMIG 1 (highest) to SG (lowest). Fitch rates the creditworthiness of bonds, ranging from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Credit quality distribution is subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

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

 

6  Amounts are calculated based on the total long-term investments of the Fund. These amounts are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified.

 

* This security was not held in the Fund at the end of the reporting period.


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Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     7   

      

 

 

The Summary portfolio of investments shows the 50 largest portfolio holdings in unaffiliated issuers and any holdings exceeding 1% of the total net assets as of the report date. The remaining securities held are grouped as “Other securities” in each category.

 

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 

Agency Securities: 2.54%

            

FHLMC

    0.60-8.50     4-25-2020 to 7-25-2048       $     20,386,998       $ 13,448,999         2.31

Other securities

            1,584,132         0.23   

Total Agency Securities (Cost $14,069,463)

            15,033,131         2.54   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset-Backed Securities: 0.15%

            

Other securities

            891,679         0.15   

Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $885,241)

            891,679         0.15   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Common Stocks: 0.08%

            

Materials: 0.00%

            
Chemicals: 0.00%             

Other securities

            836         0.00   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 0.08%

            
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.08%             

Other securities

            463,604         0.08   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $649,736)

            464,440         0.08   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds and Notes: 72.75%

            

Consumer Discretionary: 12.41%

            
Auto Components: 0.55%             

Other securities

            3,252,555         0.55   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.13%             

Other securities

            786,000         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 1.13%             

Service Corporation International

    7.00-8.00        6-15-2017 to 11-15-2021         2,565,000         2,855,413         0.49   

Service Corporation International

    7.50        4-1-2027         2,993,000         3,501,810         0.59   

Other securities

            325,313         0.05   
            6,682,536         1.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 3.01%             

CCM Merger Incorporated 144A

    9.13        5-1-2019         6,270,000         6,646,200         1.12   

Greektown Holdings LLC 144A

    8.88        3-15-2019         7,625,000         7,739,375         1.31   

Other securities

            3,392,706         0.58   
            17,778,281         3.01   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.41%             

Other securities

            2,428,856         0.41   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Internet & Catalog Retail: 0.14%             

Other securities

            831,396         0.14   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


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8   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Leisure Products: 0.11%             

Other securities

          $ 625,500         0.11
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Media: 5.73%             

CCO Holdings LLC

    5.13-7.38     6-1-2020 to 5-1-2027       $ 4,605,000         4,712,008         0.79   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.38        5-1-2025         4,150,000         4,108,500         0.69   

Gray Television Incorporated

    7.50        10-1-2020         6,380,000         6,658,806         1.13   

Other securities

            18,391,737         3.12   
            33,871,051         5.73   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.10%             

Other securities

            610,831         0.10   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 1.10%             

Other securities

            6,475,851         1.10   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.97%

            
Beverages: 0.14%             

Other securities

            837,400         0.14   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.10%             

Other securities

            613,784         0.10   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Food Products: 0.58%             

Other securities

            3,426,542         0.58   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Household Products: 0.02%             

Other securities

            106,625         0.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.13%             

Other securities

            752,380         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Energy: 15.64%

            
Energy Equipment & Services: 5.46%             

Bristow Group Incorporated

    6.25        10-15-2022         4,478,000         3,895,860         0.66   

Era Group Incorporated

    7.75        12-15-2022         4,425,000         4,093,125         0.69   

NGPL PipeCo LLC

    7.12-9.63        12-15-2017 to 6-1-2019         2,495,000         2,327,450         0.39   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    7.77        12-15-2037             10,215,000         8,376,300         1.42   

PHI Incorporated

    5.25        3-15-2019         5,525,000         4,889,625         0.83   

Other securities

            8,700,585         1.47   
            32,282,945         5.46   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 10.18%             

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    5.63        4-15-2020         3,625,000         3,665,781         0.62   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    6.88        4-15-2040         4,038,000         3,856,290         0.65   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A(i)

    7.50        7-15-2038         2,350,000         2,279,500         0.39   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.63-5.75        2-1-2021 to 5-15-2024         3,495,000         3,400,276         0.57   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    6.25        3-15-2022         3,550,000         3,523,375         0.60   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     9   

      

 

 

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

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    6.50     11-1-2020       $ 4,245,000       $ 4,276,838         0.72

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    7.50        11-30-2016         4,635,000         4,782,741         0.81   

Other securities

            34,414,063         5.82   
            60,198,864         10.18   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financials: 15.07%

            
Banks: 0.89%             

Other securities

            5,287,149         0.89   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 1.15%             

Other securities

            6,807,759         1.15   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 4.11%             

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    5.40-8.25        12-1-2015 to 10-1-2023             6,230,000         6,430,291         1.08   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.90        12-15-2017         4,550,000         4,788,875         0.81   

Other securities

            13,078,974         2.22   
            24,298,140         4.11   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.87%             

Denali Borrower LLC 144A

    5.63        10-15-2020         3,510,000         3,733,763         0.63   

Other securities

            7,295,367         1.24   
            11,029,130         1.87   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Insurance: 1.74%             

Other securities

            10,254,459         1.74   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.54%             

Other securities

            3,213,013         0.54   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
REITs: 4.77%             

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated LP

    5.63        6-15-2023         2,975,000         3,056,813         0.52   

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated LP

    5.88        9-15-2021         4,655,000         4,887,750         0.83   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2024         4,850,000         4,874,250         0.82   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    6.00        8-15-2023         2,960,000         3,104,300         0.53   

Other securities

            12,286,661         2.07   
            28,209,774         4.77   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Health Care: 5.79%

            
Biotechnology: 0.13%             

Other securities

            770,157         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.50%             

Other securities

            2,982,313         0.50   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Health Care Providers & Services: 3.02%             

Select Medical Corporation

    6.38     6-1-2021       $ 6,215,000       $ 5,500,275         0.93

Other securities

            12,385,853         2.09   
            17,886,128         3.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 0.95%             

Emdeon Incorporated

    11.00        12-31-2019         4,325,000         4,606,125         0.78   

Other securities

            1,018,750         0.17   
            5,624,875         0.95   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 0.14%             

Other securities

            848,225         0.14   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 1.05%             

Other securities

            6,203,456         1.05   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Industrials: 4.87%

            
Aerospace & Defense: 0.17%             

Other securities

            1,011,885         0.17   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.36%             

Other securities

            2,142,566         0.36   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.79%             

Other securities

            10,596,092         1.79   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 0.83%             

Other securities

            4,918,668         0.83   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Professional Services: 0.15%             

Other securities

            842,791         0.15   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.11%             

Other securities

            646,620         0.11   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 1.46%             

Ashtead Capital Incorporated 144A

    6.50        7-15-2022             4,100,000         4,397,250         0.74   

H&E Equipment Services Incorporated

    7.00        9-1-2022         4,065,000         4,125,975         0.70   

Other securities

            83,063         0.02   
            8,606,288         1.46   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Information Technology: 5.80%

            
Communications Equipment: 0.30%             

Other securities

            1,807,079         0.30   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 1.24%             

Jabil Circuit Incorporated

    8.25        3-15-2018         5,275,000         5,921,188         1.00   

Other securities

            1,439,783         0.24   
            7,360,971         1.24   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Internet Software & Services: 0.17%             

Other securities

          $ 997,216         0.17
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
IT Services: 2.43%             

First Data Corporation

    11.75     8-15-2021       $ 4,125,000         4,702,500         0.80   

Other securities

            9,643,824         1.63   
            14,346,324         2.43   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.24%             

Other securities

            1,398,809         0.24   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Software: 0.57%             

Other securities

            3,353,447         0.57   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.85%             

NCR Corporation

    6.38        12-15-2023         3,950,000         4,063,563         0.69   

Other securities

            979,246         0.16   
            5,042,809         0.85   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Materials: 1.34%

            
Chemicals: 0.13%             

Other securities

            792,845         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.21%             

Other securities

            7,152,823         1.21   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.00%             

Other securities

            0         0.00   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 8.64%

            
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 3.29%             

Syniverse Holdings Incorporated

    9.13        1-15-2019         6,305,000         5,296,200         0.90   

Other securities

            14,134,978         2.39   
            19,431,178         3.29   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 5.35%             

Sprint Capital Corporation

    6.88        11-15-2028             13,665,000         11,341,919         1.92   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    8.75        3-15-2032         2,575,000         2,317,500         0.39   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.00-6.84        4-28-2019 to 3-1-2025         4,140,000         4,234,797         0.72   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.73        4-28-2022         3,490,000         3,603,425         0.61   

Other securities

            10,082,186         1.71   
            31,579,827         5.35   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Utilities: 2.22%

            
Electric Utilities: 0.47%             

Other securities

            2,797,002         0.47   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.45%             

Other securities

            2,678,069         0.45   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 1.05%              

Other securities

          $ 6,179,820         1.05
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 0.25%             

Other securities

            1,444,319         0.25   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $433,867,984)

            430,103,423         72.75   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes @: 2.57%

            

Consumer Discretionary: 0.08%

            
Auto Components: 0.02%             

Other securities

            115,408         0.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.02%             

Other securities

            131,742         0.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Internet & Catalog Retail: 0.04%             

Other securities

            221,806         0.04   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.11%

            
Food Products: 0.11%             

Other securities

            667,177         0.11   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Energy: 0.29%

            
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.02%             

Other securities

            111,593         0.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.27%             

Other securities

            1,602,178         0.27   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financials: 1.63%

            
Banks: 1.53%             

KfW (TRY)

    5.00     1-16-2017         11,400,000         3,664,497         0.62   

Other securities

            5,365,990         0.91   
            9,030,487         1.53   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 0.10%             

Other securities

            609,964         0.10   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Materials: 0.11%

            
Chemicals: 0.11%             

Other securities

            636,203         0.11   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 0.35%

            
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.06%             

Other securities

            369,803         0.06   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     13   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.29%             

Other securities

          $ 1,721,100         0.29
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $20,012,280)

   

          15,217,461         2.57   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign Government Bonds @: 23.98%

            

Brazil (BRL)

    10.00     1-1-2017         38,525,000         9,445,577         1.60   

Brazil (BRL)

    10.00        1-1-2025         32,800,000         6,226,484         1.05   

Colombia (COP)

    7.00        5-4-2022         18,650,000,000         6,294,887         1.06   

Colombia (COP)

    7.75        4-14-2021         5,250,000,000         1,844,024         0.31   

Hungary (HUF)

    6.75        11-24-2017         1,305,000,000         5,139,208         0.87   

Indonesia (IDR)

    7.88        4-15-2019             133,640,000,000         9,491,833         1.61   

Indonesia (IDR)

    10.00        7-15-2017         50,000,000,000         3,735,854         0.63   

Malaysia (MYR)

    3.66        10-15-2020         20,700,000         4,804,125         0.81   

Malaysia (MYR)

    4.18        7-15-2024         19,850,000         4,625,087         0.78   

Mexico (MXN)

    4.75        6-14-2018         191,800,000         11,701,625         1.98   

Mexico (MXN)

    6.50        6-10-2021         40,000,000         2,550,960         0.43   

Mexico (MXN)

    10.00        12-5-2024         76,220,000         5,906,526         1.00   

Poland (PLN)

    1.50        4-25-2020         41,200,000         10,422,187         1.76   

Poland (PLN)

    3.25        7-25-2025         37,100,000         10,083,191         1.71   

Queensland Treasury (AUD)

    5.75        7-22-2024         4,100,000         3,521,807         0.60   

Republic of South Africa (ZAR)

    7.75        2-28-2023         103,000,000         7,308,765         1.24   

Republic of South Africa (ZAR)

    8.00        12-21-2018         129,000,000         9,473,889         1.60   

Romania (RON)

    5.85        4-26-2023         31,550,000         9,212,836         1.56   

Thailand (THB)

    3.25-3.85        6-16-2017 to 12-12-2025         218,500,000         6,549,758         1.11   

Turkey (TRY)

    6.30        2-14-2018         7,325,000         2,330,362         0.39   

Turkey (TRY)

    9.00        3-8-2017         13,600,000         4,604,240         0.78   

Other securities

            6,502,253         1.10   

Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $169,688,653)

            141,775,478         23.98   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loans: 17.12%

            

Consumer Discretionary: 4.34%

            
Auto Components: 0.58%             

Other securities

            3,446,009         0.58   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.50%             

Other securities

            2,978,759         0.50   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.11%             

Other securities

            648,385         0.11   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.02%             

Other securities

            104,685         0.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.02%             

Other securities

            110,362         0.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Household Products: 0.03%             

Other securities

          $ 168,361         0.03
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.33%             

Other securities

            1,973,846         0.33   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Media: 2.17%             

TWCC Holdings Corporation ±

    5.75     2-11-2020       $ 386,510         386,544         0.07   

TWCC Holdings Corporation ±

    7.00        6-26-2020             6,035,000         6,021,783         1.02   

Other securities

            6,390,796         1.08   
            12,799,123         2.17   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.12%             

Other securities

            721,298         0.12   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 0.46%             

Other securities

            2,710,116         0.46   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.40%

            
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.40%             

Other securities

            2,362,201         0.40   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Energy: 0.49%

            
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.49%             

Other securities

            2,919,125         0.49   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financials: 2.79%

            
Capital Markets: 0.23%             

Other securities

            1,366,481         0.23   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.05%             

Other securities

            6,223,261         1.05   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Insurance: 0.10%             

Other securities

            589,230         0.10   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.83%             

Other securities

            4,923,655         0.83   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
REITs: 0.58%             

Other securities

            3,405,040         0.58   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Health Care: 0.74%

            
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.15%             

Other securities

            870,344         0.15   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.37%             

Other securities

            2,215,690         0.37   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     15   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Health Care Technology: 0.07%             

Other securities

          $ 406,488         0.07
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.15%             

Other securities

            871,271         0.15   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Industrials: 2.25%

            
Aerospace & Defense: 0.51%             

Other securities

            2,983,845         0.51   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.01%             

Other securities

            86,767         0.01   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Chemicals: 0.04%             

Other securities

            255,280         0.04   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.02%             

Other securities

            6,037,732         1.02   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 0.17%             

Other securities

            974,109         0.17   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.09%             

Other securities

            537,107         0.09   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure: 0.41%             

Other securities

            2,402,374         0.41   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Information Technology: 3.06%

            
Internet Software & Services: 0.43%             

Other securities

            2,541,639         0.43   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.66%             

Other securities

            3,918,262         0.66   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Software: 0.17%             

Other securities

            985,972         0.17   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 1.80%             

Dell Incorporated ±

    4.00     4-29-2020       $     8,302,653         8,298,004         1.40   

Other securities

            2,358,164         0.40   
            10,656,168         1.80   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 1.66%

            
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 1.08%             

Other securities

            6,404,742         1.08   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.58%             

Syniverse Holdings Incorporated ±

    4.00        4-23-2019         1,129,493         1,014,780         0.17   

Other securities

            2,382,965         0.41   
            3,397,745         0.58   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 

Utilities: 1.39%

            
Electric Utilities: 1.30%             

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Company LLC ±(s)

    4.66     10-10-2016       $     20,096,983       $ 6,422,594         1.08

Other securities

            1,283,450         0.22   
            7,706,044         1.30   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 0.09%             

Other securities

            496,551         0.09   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Loans (Cost $115,502,743)

            101,198,067         17.12   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Municipal Obligations: 0.06%

            
New York: 0.06%             

Other securities

            342,354         0.06   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Municipal Obligations (Cost $345,000)

            342,354         0.06   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities: 7.77%

            

Other securities

            45,932,700         7.77   

Total Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $45,058,459)

  

          45,932,700         7.77   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Preferred Stocks: 0.19%

            

Financials: 0.19%

            
Banks: 0.19%             

Other securities

            1,146,852         0.19   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $1,130,339)

            1,146,852         0.19   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 8.67%

            

Consumer Discretionary: 0.59%

            
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.10%             

Other securities

            615,333         0.10   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Media: 0.49%             

Other securities

            2,903,479         0.49   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.47%

            
Beverages: 0.34%             

Other securities

            2,017,294         0.34   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.13%             

Other securities

            766,271         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Energy: 0.58%

            
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.11%             

Other securities

            671,438         0.11   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     17   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels : 0.47%             

Other securities

          $ 2,779,511         0.47
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Financials: 1.53%

            
Banks: 1.33%             

Other securities

            7,891,209         1.33   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 0.20%             

Other securities

            1,167,426         0.20   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Health Care: 1.08%

            
Pharmaceuticals: 1.08%             

Other securities

            6,388,807         1.08   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Industrials: 0.49%

            
Building Products: 0.04%             

Other securities

            219,975         0.04   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.27%             

Other securities

            1,608,469         0.27   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.04%             

Other securities

            229,419         0.04   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.14%             

Other securities

            807,622         0.14   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Information Technology: 0.26%

            
Communications Equipment: 0.13%             

Other securities

            778,660         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services : 0.13%             

Other securities

            773,987         0.13   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Materials: 1.25%

            
Containers & Packaging: 0.40%             

Other securities

            2,375,106         0.40   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.60%             

Other securities

            3,521,838         0.60   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.25%             

Other securities

            1,450,800         0.25   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 2.30%

            
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 2.04%             

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    5.50     8-1-2023       $     6,775,000         5,623,250         0.95   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    7.25-7.50        10-15-2020 to 4-1-2021         1,675,000         1,516,563         0.26   

Other securities

            4,944,669         0.83   
            12,084,482         2.04   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Summary portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

      

 

 

Security name                     Value      Percent of
net assets
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.26%             

Other securities

          $ 1,532,875         0.26
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Utilities: 0.12%

            
Electric Utilities: 0.12%             

Other securities

            681,688         0.12   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $56,757,742)

            51,265,689         8.67   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
    Yield          Shares                
Short-Term Investments: 2.47%             
Investment Companies: 2.47%             

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

    0.16        14,571,777         14,571,777         2.47   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $14,571,777)

            14,571,777         2.47   
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Total investments in securities (Cost $872,539,417) *              817,943,051         138.35   

Other assets and liabilities, net

            (226,717,263      (38.35
         

 

 

    

 

 

 
Total net assets           $ 591,225,788         100.00
         

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

@ Foreign bond principal is denominated in the local currency of the issuer.

 

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

 

(i) Illiquid security for which the designation as illiquid is unaudited.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $877,787,209 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 18,064,530   

Gross unrealized losses

     (77,908,688
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses

   $ (59,844,158

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of assets and liabilities—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     19   
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities, at value (cost $857,967,640)

  $ 803,371,274   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $14,571,777)

    14,571,777   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $872,539,417)

    817,943,051   

Cash

    8,191   

Foreign currency, at value (cost $974,126)

    971,431   

Receivable for investments sold

    4,883,808   

Principal paydown receivable

    7,192   

Receivable for interest

    13,082,247   

Unrealized gains on forward foreign currency contracts

    196,852   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    15,691   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    837,108,463   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Dividends payable

    4,066,719   

Payable for investments purchased

    9,939,924   

Unrealized losses on forward foreign currency contracts

    1,121,532   

Secured borrowing payable

    230,143,090   

Advisory fee payable

    395,260   

Administration fee payable

    35,933   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    180,217   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    245,882,675   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 591,225,788   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 749,374,610   

Overdistributed net investment income

    (4,610,988

Accumulated net realized losses on investments

    (97,889,862

Net unrealized losses on investments

    (55,647,972
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 591,225,788   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

 

Based on $591,225,788 divided by 42,055,000 shares issued and outstanding (100,000,000 shares authorized)

    $14.06   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Statement of operations—year ended October 31, 2015
         

Investment income

 

Interest (net of foreign withholding taxes of $173,164)

  $ 54,248,776   

Dividends

    90,214   

Income from affiliated securities

    16,904   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    54,355,894   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Advisory fee

    4,746,390   

Administration fee

    431,490   

Custody and accounting fees

    228,145   

Professional fees

    122,042   

Shareholder report expenses

    91,545   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    17,921   

Transfer agent fees

    35,946   

Interest expense

    1,530,078   

Secured borrowing fees

    634,892   

Other fees and expenses

    47,630   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    7,886,079   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    46,469,815   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains (losses) on:

 

Unaffiliated securities

    (18,961,924

Forward foreign currency contract transactions

    2,973,435   
 

 

 

 

Net realized losses on investments

    (15,988,489
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on:

 

Unaffiliated securities

    (66,813,483

Forward foreign currency contract transactions

    (507,037
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (67,320,520
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (83,309,009
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (36,839,194
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of changes in net assets   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     21   
     Year ended
October 31, 2015
       Year ended
October 31, 2014
 

Operations

      

Net investment income

  $ 46,469,815         $ 47,904,280   

Net realized losses on investments

    (15,988,489        (10,992,976

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (67,320,520        985,722   
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

    (36,839,194        37,897,026   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

      

Net investment income

    (36,559,777        (38,167,582

Tax basis return of capital

    (12,379,627        (12,298,418
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (48,939,404        (50,466,000
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

    (85,778,598        (12,568,974
 

 

 

 

Net assets

      

Beginning of period

    677,004,386           689,573,360   
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 591,225,788         $ 677,004,386   
 

 

 

 

Overdistributed net investment income

  $ (4,610,988      $ (4,088,672
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Statement of cash flows—year ended October 31, 2015
         

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (36,839,194

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

 

Purchases of investment securities

    (355,656,431

Proceeds from the sales of investment securities

    342,289,005   

Paydowns

    3,686,549   

Amortization

    (943,650

Proceeds from sales of short-term investment securities, net

    8,910,722   

Increase in receivable for investments sold

    (1,946,413

Decrease in principal paydown receivable

    4,248   

Decrease in receivable for dividends and interest

    202,121   

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

    10,776   

Increase in payable for investments purchased

    5,878,313   

Decrease in advisory fee payable

    (15,881

Decrease in administration fee payable

    (1,443

Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities

    (73,881

Litigation payments received

    121,256   

Net realized losses on investments

    15,988,489   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    67,320,520   
 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    48,935,106   
 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

Cash distributions paid

    (49,078,186

Decrease in secured borrowing payable

    (220,389
 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

    (49,298,575
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash

    (363,469
 

 

 

 

Cash (including foreign currency):

 

Beginning of period

  $ 1,343,091   
 

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 979,622   
 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash disclosure

 

Cash paid for interest

  $ 1,750,467   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     23   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended October 31  
     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $16.10        $16.40        $17.01        $16.16        $16.67   

Net investment income

    1.10 1      1.14 1      1.18        1.16        1.11   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.98     (0.24     (0.59     0.89        (0.39
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.88     0.90        0.59        2.05        0.72   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.87     (0.91     (1.20     (1.20     (1.23

Tax basis return of capital

    (0.29     (0.29     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (1.16     (1.20     (1.20     (1.20     (1.23

Net asset value, end of period

    $14.06        $16.10        $16.40        $17.01        $16.16   

Market value, end of period

    $12.02        $14.19        $14.47        $16.54        $14.97   

Total return based on market value2

    (7.34 )%      6.55     (5.44 )%      19.33     0.33

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses3

    1.24     1.21     1.24     1.24     1.14

Net expenses3

    1.24     1.21     1.24     1.24     1.14

Net investment income3

    7.33     6.95     7.04     7.13     6.75

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    31     41     40     78     35

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $591,226        $677,004        $689,573        $715,368        $679,497   

Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000s omitted)

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

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

    $3,570        $3,944        $3,998        $4,110        $3,954   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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

 

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

 

Year ended October 31, 2015

    0.24

Year ended October 31, 2014

    0.07

Year ended October 31, 2013

    0.07

Year ended October 31, 2012

    0.11

Year ended October 31, 2011

    0.09

 

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


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Notes to financial statements

1. ORGANIZATION

The Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a statutory trust under the laws of the state of Delaware on April 10, 2003 and is registered as a diversified closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. As an investment company, the Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

Equity securities that are not listed on a foreign or domestic exchange or market, but have a public trading market, are valued at the quoted bid price from an independent broker-dealer that the Management Valuation Team of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”) has determined is an acceptable source.

The values of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Management Valuation Team.

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

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

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

Foreign currency translation

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Management Valuation Team. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are converted at the rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     25   

settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually paid or received. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities resulting from changes in exchange rates. The changes in net assets arising from changes in exchange rates and the changes in net assets resulting from changes in market prices of securities are not separately presented. Such changes are included in with net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments.

Forward foreign currency contracts

The Fund is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to purchase or sell a specific currency for an agreed-upon price at a future date. The Fund enters into forward foreign currency contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign-denominated securities and to attempt to minimize the risk to the Fund from adverse changes in the relationship between currencies. Forward foreign currency contracts are recorded at the forward rate and marked-to-market

daily. When the contracts are closed, realized gains and losses arising from such transactions are recorded as realized gains or losses on forward foreign currency contract transactions. The Fund could be exposed to risks if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts or if the value of the foreign currency changes unfavorably. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the unrealized gains or losses on the contracts. This risk may be mitigated if there is a master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty.

When-issued transactions

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

Loans

The Fund may invest in direct debt instruments which are interests in amounts owed to lenders by corporate or other borrowers. The loans pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. Investments in loans may be in the form of participations in loans or assignments of all or a portion of loans from third parties. When the Fund purchases participations, it generally has no rights to enforce compliance with terms of the loan agreement with the borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. When the Fund purchases assignments from lenders, it acquires direct rights against the borrower on the loan and may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement. Loans may include fully funded term loans or unfunded loan commitments, which are contractual obligations for future funding.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

Income from foreign securities is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Notes to financial statements

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or the net asset value per share. The primary permanent differences causing such reclassifications are due to bond premiums, foreign currency transactions, and paydown losses. At October 31, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Paid-in capital    Overdistributed net
investment income
   Accumulated net
realized losses
on investments

$(85,583)

   $(10,432,354)    $10,517,937

Capital loss carryforwards that do not expire are required to be utilized prior to capital loss carryforwards that expire. As of October 31, 2015, capital loss carryforwards available to offset future net realized capital gains were as follows through the indicated expiration dates:

 

     No expiration
2018    Short-term    Long-term
$86,701,155    $4,490,558    $1,934,103

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 


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Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     27   

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of October 31, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Agency securities

   $ 0       $ 15,033,131       $ 0       $ 15,033,131   

Asset-backed securities

     0         891,679         0         891,679   

Common stocks

           

Materials

     836         0         0         836   

Telecommunication services

     463,604         0         0         463,604   

Corporate bonds and notes

     0         430,103,423         0         430,103,423   

Foreign corporate bonds and notes

     0         15,217,461         0         15,217,461   

Foreign government bonds

     0         141,775,478         0         141,775,478   

Loans

     0         84,543,076         16,654,991         101,198,067   

Municipal obligations

     0         342,354         0         342,354   

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities

     0         45,932,700         0         45,932,700   

Preferred stocks

           

Financials

     1,146,852         0         0         1,146,852   

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0         50,536,408         729,281         51,265,689   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     14,571,777         0         0         14,571,777   
     16,183,069         784,375,710         17,384,272         817,943,051   

Forward foreign currency contracts

     0         196,852         0         196,852   

Total assets

   $ 16,183,069       $ 784,572,562       $ 17,384,272       $ 818,139,903   

Liabilities

           

Forward foreign currency contracts

   $ 0       $ 1,121,532       $ 0       $ 1,121,532   

Total liabilities

   $ 0       $ 1,121,532       $ 0       $ 1,121,532   

Forward foreign currency contracts are reported at their unrealized gains (losses) at measurement date, which represents the change in the contract’s value from trade date. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At October 31, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1 or Level 2.

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

 

     Loans      Yankee corporate
bonds and notes
     Total  

Balance as of October 31, 2014

   $ 14,853,033       $ 0       $ 14,853,033   

Accrued discounts (premiums)

     8,871         0         8,871   

Realized gains (losses)

     (46,796      0         (46,796

Change in unrealized gains (losses)

     (136,034      0         (136,034

Purchases

     9,749,263         0         9,749,263   

Sales

     (6,426,038      0         (6,426,038

Transfers into Level 3

     3,295,545         729,281         4,024,826   

Transfers out of Level 3

     (4,642,853      0         (4,642,853

Balance as of October 31, 2015

   $ 16,654,991       $ 729,281       $ 17,384,272   

Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to securities still held at October 31, 2015

   $ (108,949    $ 0       $ (108,949


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28   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Notes to financial statements

The investment types categorized above were valued using indicative broker quotes. These indicative broker quotes are considered Level 3 inputs. Quantitative unobservable inputs used by the brokers are often proprietary and not provided to the Fund and therefore the disclosure that would address these inputs is not included above.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Advisory fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”) is the adviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee at an annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund’s average daily total assets. Total assets consist of net assets of the Fund plus borrowings or other leverage for investment purposes to the extent excluded in calculating net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of certain subadvisers to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fees for subadvisory services are borne by Funds Management. Wells Capital Management Incorporated, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is a subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily total assets. First International Advisors, LLC, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is also a subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily total assets.

Administration fee

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

5. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

The Fund has authorized capital of 100,000,000 shares with no par value. For the year ended October 31, 2015 and year ended October 31, 2014, the Fund did not issue any shares.

6. BORROWING AND LEVERAGE TRANSACTIONS

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

Prior to March 6, 2015, the Fund borrowed under a secured debt financing agreement and was charged interest at a rate based on the rates of the commercial paper notes issued to fund the Fund’s borrowings or at LIBOR plus 1.00%. The Fund had pledged all of its assets to secure the borrowings and paid both a usage fee and a commitment fee each at an annual rate of 0.40% of the daily average outstanding principal amount of borrowings.

At October 31, 2015, the Fund had borrowings outstanding in the amount of $230,143,090 (including accrued interest payable). For the year ended October 31, 2015, the borrowing fees on the Statement of Operations of $634,892 represents the usage and commitment fees incurred under the prior agreement. During the year ended October 31, 2015, an effective interest rate of 0.67% was incurred on the borrowings and the Fund incurred interest expense in the amount of $1,530,078, representing 0.24% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

7. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended October 31, 2015 were $320,470,662 and $262,987,840, respectively.

As of October 31, 2015, the Fund had unfunded term loan commitments of $5,310,594.

8. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the year ended October 31, 2015, the Fund entered into forward foreign currency contracts for economic hedging purposes.


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Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     29   

At October 31, 2015, the Fund had forward foreign currency contracts outstanding as follows:

Forward foreign currency contracts to buy:

 

Exchange date      Counterparty      Contracts to
receive
     U.S. value at
October 31, 2015
       In exchange
for U.S. $
       Unrealized
gains
(losses)
 

11-12-2015

     State Street Bank      31,500,000 MYR      $ 7,325,850         $ 8,082,104         $ (756,254

11-24-2015

     State Street Bank      132,600,000 THB        3,725,227           3,672,113           53,114   

Forward foreign currency contracts to sell:

 

Exchange Date      Counterparty      Contracts to
deliver
     U.S. value at
October 31, 2015
       In exchange
for U.S. $
       Unrealized
gains
(losses)
 

11-10-2015

     State Street Bank      4,600,000,000 COP      $ 1,586,679         $ 1,567,825         $ (18,854

11-12-2015

     State Street Bank      16,250,000 MYR        3,779,208           3,901,561           122,353   

11-24-2015

     State Street Bank      18,250,000,000 IDR        1,325,427           1,262,539           (62,888

11-24-2015

     State Street Bank      14,475,000 BRL        3,728,272           3,520,613           (207,659

12-9-2015

     State Street Bank      1,525,000,000 HUF        5,393,163           5,414,548           21,385   

12-11-2015

     State Street Bank      4,000,000 TRY        1,356,494           1,292,985           (63,509

1-29-2016

     State Street Bank      86,600,000 MXN        5,210,836           5,198,468           (12,368

The Fund had average contract amounts of $24,761,113 and $42,695,867 in forward foreign currency contracts to buy and forward foreign currency contracts to sell, respectively, during the year ended October 31, 2015.

The fair value, realized gains or losses and change in unrealized gains or losses, if any, on derivative instruments are reflected in the appropriate financial statements.

For certain types of derivative transactions, the Fund has entered into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. master agreements (“ISDA Master Agreements”) or similar agreements with approved counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements or similar agreements may have requirements to deliver/deposit securities or cash to/with an exchange or broker-dealer as collateral and allows the Fund to offset, with each counterparty, certain derivative financial instrument’s assets and/or liabilities with collateral held or pledged. Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives while collateral terms are contract specific for over-the-counter traded derivatives. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under ISDA Master Agreements or similar agreements, if any, are reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, are noted in the Summary Portfolio of Investments. With respect to balance sheet offsetting, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are not offset across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. A reconciliation of the gross amounts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to the net amounts by derivative type, including any collateral exposure, is as follows:

 

Derivative type    Counterparty      Gross amounts
of assets in the
Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities
     Amounts
subject to
netting
agreements
       Collateral
received
       Net amount
of assets
 

Forward foreign currency contracts

   State Street Bank      $196,852*      $ (196,852      $ 0         $ 0   
  * Amount represents net unrealized gains.  

 

Derivative type    Counterparty    Gross amounts
of liabilities in the
Statement of
Assets and
Liabilities
     Amounts
subject to
netting
agreements
       Collateral
pledged
       Net amount
of liabilities
 

Forward foreign currency contracts

   State Street Bank    $1,121,532**      $ (196,852      $ 0         $ 924,680   
  ** Amount represents net unrealized losses.  


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30   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Notes to financial statements

9. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended October 31  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 36,559,777       $ 38,167,582   

Tax basis return of capital

   $ 12,379,627         12,298,418   

As of October 31, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Unrealized
losses
   Capital loss
carryforward

$(60,895,764)

   $(93,125,816)

10. INDEMNIFICATION

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

11. SUBSEQUENT DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund declared the following distributions to shareholders:

 

Declaration date    Record date    Payable date    Per share amount
October 30, 2015    November 16, 2015    December 1, 2015    $0.0967

November 18, 2015

   December 15, 2015    January 4, 2016    $0.0967

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


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Report of independent registered public accounting firm   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     31   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO MULTI-SECTOR INCOME FUND:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments and the summary portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund (the “Fund”), as of October 31, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, the statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund as of October 31, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, its cash flows for the year then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

December 22, 2015


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32   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Other information (unaudited)

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, $29,333,157 has been designated as interest-related dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, visiting our website at wellsfargofunds.com, or visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the Fund’s website at wellsfargofunds.com or by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The complete portfolio holdings for the Fund are publicly available monthly on the Fund’s website (wellsfargofunds.com), on a one-month delayed basis. The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q, which is available by visiting the SEC website at sec.gov. In addition, the Fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and at regional offices in New York City, at 233 Broadway, and in Chicago, at 175 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900. Information about the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.


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Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     33   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The following table provides basic information about the Board of Trustees (the “Trustees”) and Officers of the Fund. Each of the Trustees and Officers listed below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, and four closed-end funds, including the Fund (collectively the “Fund Complex”). The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. The Board of Trustees is classified into three classes of which one is elected annually. Each Trustee serves a three-year term concurrent with the class from which the Trustee is elected. Each Officer serves an indefinite term.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

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

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

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

Peter G. Gordon

(Born 1942)

  Trustee, since 2010; Chairman, since 2010   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

  Trustee, since 2010   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

  Trustee, since 2010; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2010   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

  Trustee, since 2010   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust


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34   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Other information (unaudited)
Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2010   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

  Trustee, since 2010   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust

Michael S. Scofield

(Born 1943)

  Trustee, since 2003   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds complex (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust

Donald C. Willeke

(Born 1940)

  Trustee, since 2010**   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* William R. Ebsworth and Jane A. Freeman each became a Trustee effective January 1, 2015.

 

** Donald Willeke will retire as a Trustee effective December 31, 2015.

Officers

 

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

Karla M. Rabusch

(Born 1959)

  President, since 2010   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

  Treasurer, since 2012   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    

C. David Messman

(Born 1960)

  Secretary, since 2010; Chief Legal Officer, since 2010   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2010   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2014, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer from 2007 to 2014.    

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

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

 

 

1  Jeremy DePalma acts as Treasurer of 72 funds and Assistant Treasurer of 72 funds in the Fund Complex.


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Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     35   

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Advantage Multi-Sector Income Fund (the “Fund”) must determine whether to approve the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved: (i) an investment advisory agreement with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”), (ii) an investment sub-advisory agreement with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”), an affiliate of Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement with First International Advisors, LLC (“FIA”), and affiliate of Funds Management. The investment advisory agreement with Funds Management and the investment sub-advisory agreements with WellsCap and FIA (each, a “Sub-Adviser” and together, the “Sub-Advisers”) are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

At the Meeting, the Board considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of Funds Management and the Sub-Advisers and the continuation of the Advisory Agreements. Prior to the Meeting, including at an in-person meeting in March 2015, the Trustees conferred extensively among themselves and with representatives of Funds Management about these matters. Also, the Board has adopted a team-based approach, with each team consisting of a sub-set of Trustees, to assist the full Board in the discharge of its duties in reviewing performance and other matters throughout the year. The Independent Trustees were assisted in their evaluation of the Advisory Agreements by independent legal counsel, from whom they received separate legal advice and with whom they met separately.

In providing information to the Board, Funds Management and the Sub-Advisers were guided by a detailed set of requests for information submitted to them by independent legal counsel on behalf of the Independent Trustees at the start of the Board’s annual contract renewal process earlier in 2015. In considering and approving the Advisory Agreements, the Trustees considered the information they believed relevant, including but not limited to the information discussed below. The Board considered not only the specific information presented in connection with the Meeting, but also the knowledge gained over time through interaction with Funds Management and the Sub-Advisers about various topics. In this regard, the Board reviewed reports of Funds Management at each of its quarterly meetings, which included, among other things, portfolio reviews and performance reports. In addition, the Board and the teams mentioned above confer with portfolio managers at various times throughout the year. The Board did not identify any particular information or consideration that was all-important or controlling, and each individual Trustee may have attributed different weights to various factors.

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

Nature, extent and quality of services

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

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

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a custom peer group that included funds selected by Lipper, Inc. (“Lipper”) and additional funds that were determined by Funds Management to be similar to the Fund (the “Custom Peer Group”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper and Funds Management to select the funds in the Custom


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36   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Peer Group and discussed the limitations inherent in the use of other peer groups. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than the average performance of the Custom Peer Group for all periods under review. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than its benchmark, the ERC Blended Index, which is a proprietary index used by the Board to help it assess the Fund’s relative performance, for all periods under review.

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

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

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

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

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

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

Profitability

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

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

Economies of scale

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


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Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     37   

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Advisers

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Advisers, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Advisers’ business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by WellsCap and commissions earned by affiliated brokers from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

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


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38   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Automatic dividend reinvestment plan

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

All common shareholders are eligible to participate in the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“the Plan”). Pursuant to the Plan, unless a common shareholder is ineligible or elects otherwise, all cash dividends and capital gains distributions are automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as agent for shareholders in administering the Plan (“Plan Agent”), in additional common shares of the Fund. Whenever the Fund declares an ordinary income dividend or a capital gain dividend (collectively referred to as “dividends”) payable either in shares or in cash, nonparticipants in the Plan will receive cash, and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in common shares. The shares are acquired by the Plan Agent for the participant’s account, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized common shares from the Fund (“newly issued common shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common shares on the open-market (open-market purchases) on the NYSE Amex or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any dividend or distribution, the net asset value per share of the common shares is equal to or less than the market price per common share plus estimated brokerage commissions (“market premium”), the Plan Agent will invest the amount of such dividend or distribution in newly issued shares on behalf of the participant. The number of newly issued common shares to be credited to the participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the net asset value per share on the date the shares are issued, provided that the maximum discount from the then current market price per share on the date of issuance may not exceed 5%. If on the dividend payment date the net asset value per share is greater than the market value (“market discount”), the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in shares acquired on behalf of the participant in open-market purchases. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to shares issued directly by the Fund as a result of dividends or capital gains distributions payable either in shares or in cash. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends. The automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170 or by calling 1-800-730-6001.


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List of abbreviations   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     39   

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

 

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


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LOGO

 

LOGO

Transfer Agent, Registrar, Shareholder Servicing

Agent & Dividend Disbursing Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 30170

College Station, TX 77842-3170

1-800-730-6001

Website: wellsfargofunds.com

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company and is an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company’s broker/dealer subsidiaries. Certain material contained in this report may be considered marketing material and has been reviewed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

© 2015 Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

LOGO     

238513 12-15

AMSI/AR143 10-15

 


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS

(a) As of the end of the period covered by the report, Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its President and Treasurer. A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

(c) During the period covered by this report, there were no amendments to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in Item 2(a) above.

(d) During the period covered by this report, there were no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in Item 2(a) above.

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

The Board of Trustees of Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund has determined that Judith Johnson is an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR. Mrs. Johnson is independent for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

(a), (b), (c), (d) The following table presents aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to the Registrant by the Registrant’s principal accountant. These fees were billed to the registrant and were approved by the Registrant’s audit committee.

 

     Fiscal
year ended
October 31, 2015
     Fiscal
year ended
October 31, 2014
 

Audit fees

   $ 50,150       $ 50,150   

Audit-related fees(1)

     —           16,585   

Tax fees (2)

     4,030         3,830   

All other fees

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 54,180       $ 70,565   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Audit-related fees consist of agreed-upon procedures performed that are not reported under audit fees. Effective with the 2015 fiscal year end, agreed-upon procedures are no longer necessary under the financing agreement.
(2) Tax fees consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice, tax planning and excise tax.

(e) The Chairman of the Audit Committees is authorized to pre-approve: (1) audit services for the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund; (2) non-audit tax or compliance consulting or training services provided to the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund by the independent auditors (“Auditors”) if the fees for any particular engagement are not anticipated to exceed $50,000; and (3) non-audit tax or compliance consulting or training services provided by the Auditors to Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund’s investment adviser and its controlling entities (where pre-approval is required because the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund) if the fee to the Auditors for any particular engagement is not anticipated to exceed $50,000. For any such pre-approval sought from the Chairman, Management shall prepare a brief description of the proposed services. If the Chairman approves of such service, he or she shall sign the statement prepared by Management. Such written statement shall be presented to the full Committees at their next regularly scheduled meetings.

(f) Not applicable

(g) Not applicable

(h) Not applicable

 

3


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ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS

Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund included a Summary Portfolio of Investments under Item 1. A Portfolio of Investments for Wells Fargo Multi-sector Income Fund is filed under this Item.

 

4


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     1   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Agency Securities: 2.54%

         

FHLMC ±

    4.54     9-1-2032       $ 1,247,013       $ 1,325,883   

FHLMC

    8.50        7-1-2028         57,450         70,671   

FHLMC

    8.50        3-1-2030         36,804         37,589   

FHLMC Series 1383 ±

    2.40        2-1-2037         440,068         468,461   

FHLMC Series 196 Class A ±

    1.00        12-15-2021         31,782         32,172   

FHLMC Series 2011-K16 Class B 144A±

    4.59        11-25-2046             1,000,000         1,083,655   

FHLMC Series 2011-K701 Class B 144A±

    4.29        7-25-2048         165,000         172,394   

FHLMC Series 2011-K702 Class B 144A±

    4.77        4-25-2044         740,000         784,755   

FHLMC Series 2012-K17 Class B 144A±

    4.35        12-25-2044         675,000         722,452   

FHLMC Series 2012-K18 Class B 144A±

    4.26        1-25-2045         810,000         862,733   

FHLMC Series 2012-K501 Class C 144A±

    3.42        11-25-2046         800,000         805,051   

FHLMC Series 2012-K705 Class B 144A±

    4.16        9-25-2044         1,000,000         1,037,791   

FHLMC Series 2012-K706 Class B 144A±

    4.03        11-25-2044         500,000         523,576   

FHLMC Series 2012-K706 Class C 144A±

    4.03        11-25-2044         805,000         832,943   

FHLMC Series 2012-K707 Class B 144A±

    3.88        1-25-2047         930,000         957,761   

FHLMC Series 2012-K709 Class B 144A±

    3.74        4-25-2045         1,000,000         1,032,791   

FHLMC Series 2012-K711 Class B 144A±

    3.56        8-25-2045         264,000         271,852   

FHLMC Series 2013-K30 Class B 144A±

    3.56        6-25-2045         700,000         712,184   

FHLMC Series 2013-K713 Class B 144A±

    3.16        4-25-2046         1,000,000         1,015,329   

FHLMC Series 2390 Class FD ±

    0.65        12-15-2031         27,694         27,845   

FHLMC Series 2567 Class FH ±

    0.60        2-15-2033         85,347         86,231   

FHLMC Series K007 Class X1 ±(c)

    1.17        4-25-2020         952,743         36,373   

FHLMC Series K016 Class X1 ±(c)

    1.55        10-25-2021         378,788         28,799   

FHLMC Series K020 Class X1 ±(c)

    1.46        5-25-2022         6,740,309         519,708   

FNMA ±

    2.05        9-1-2037         691,310         731,728   

FNMA

    6.00        4-1-2033         66,446         73,366   

FNMA

    6.50        11-1-2032         59,152         61,343   

FNMA

    7.50        7-1-2017         8,126         8,191   

FNMA

    7.50        10-1-2028         3,609         3,653   

FNMA

    7.50        2-1-2030         32,538         33,270   

FNMA

    7.50        9-1-2030         79,795         85,135   

FNMA

    8.00        6-1-2030         12,721         13,004   

FNMA Series 1996-46 Class FA ±

    0.70        8-25-2021         18,284         18,409   

FNMA Series 1997-20 Class IO ±(c)

    1.84        3-25-2027         1,394,573         43,041   

FNMA Series 2001-25 Class Z

    6.00        6-25-2031         174,503         197,548   

FNMA Series 2001-35 Class F ±

    0.80        7-25-2031         7,550         7,676   

FNMA Series 2001-57 Class F ±

    0.70        6-25-2031         7,601         7,700   

FNMA Series 2002-77 Class FH ±

    0.60        12-18-2032         58,933         59,486   

FNMA Series 2002-97 Class FR ±

    0.75        1-25-2033         13,850         14,027   

FNMA Series G91-16 Class F ±

    0.65        6-25-2021         17,514         17,622   

FNMA Series G92-17 Class F ±

    1.25        3-25-2022         58,636         59,653   

GNMA

    6.50        6-15-2028         38,373         44,037   

GNMA

    7.25        7-15-2017         2,869         2,878   

GNMA

    7.25        8-15-2017         13,331         13,462   

GNMA

    7.25        8-15-2017         8,555         8,641   

GNMA

    7.25        9-15-2017         10,878         10,998   

GNMA

    7.25        10-15-2017         20,143         20,722   

GNMA

    7.25        10-15-2017         8,432         8,518   

GNMA

    7.25        11-15-2017         10,370         10,483   

GNMA

    7.25        1-15-2018         3,468         3,479   


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2   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Agency Securities (continued)

         

GNMA

    7.25     1-15-2018       $ 6,404       $ 6,426   

GNMA

    7.25        2-15-2018         12,444         12,590   

GNMA

    7.25        5-15-2018         7,021         7,046   

Total Agency Securities (Cost $14,069,463)

            15,033,131   
         

 

 

 

Asset-Backed Securities: 0.15%

         

CVS Pass-Through Trust Series T

    6.04        12-10-2028         557,624         623,353   

Structured Asset Securities Corporation Series 1998-2 Class A ±

    0.72        2-25-2028         272,206         268,326   

Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $885,241)

            891,679   
         

 

 

 
                 Shares         
Common Stocks: 0.08%          

Materials: 0.00%

         
Chemicals: 0.00%          

LyondellBasell Industries NV Class A

         9         836   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 0.08%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.08%          

Fairpoint Communications Incorporated †

         28,903         463,604   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $649,736)

            464,440   
         

 

 

 
                 Principal         
Corporate Bonds and Notes: 72.75%          

Consumer Discretionary: 12.41%

         
Auto Components: 0.55%          

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (i)

    7.63        3-15-2027       $ 1,680,000         1,755,600   

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (i)

    8.00        12-15-2019         450,000         507,375   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

    7.00        5-15-2022         400,000         435,000   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

    8.75        8-15-2020         468,000         554,580   
            3,252,555   
         

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.13%          

LKQ Corporation

    4.75        5-15-2023         800,000         786,000   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 1.13%          

Monitronics International

    9.13        4-1-2020         375,000         325,313   

Service Corporation International

    7.00        6-15-2017             1,410,000         1,520,149   

Service Corporation International

    7.50        4-1-2027         2,993,000         3,501,810   

Service Corporation International

    7.63        10-1-2018         680,000         769,420   

Service Corporation International

    8.00        11-15-2021         475,000         565,844   
            6,682,536   
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 3.01%          

CCM Merger Incorporated 144A

    9.13        5-1-2019         6,270,000         6,646,200   

Greektown Holdings LLC 144A

    8.88        3-15-2019         7,625,000         7,739,375   


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Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     3   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (continued)          

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

    5.63     10-15-2021       $ 195,000       $ 204,756   

Pinnacle Entertainment Incorporated

    7.50        4-15-2021         2,620,000         2,760,825   

Speedway Motorsports Incorporated

    5.13        2-1-2023         425,000         427,125   
            17,778,281   
         

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.41%          

American Greetings Corporation (i)

    7.38        12-1-2021         2,000,000         2,105,000   

Tempur Sealy International Incorporated 144A

    5.63        10-15-2023         105,000         109,856   

Tempur Sealy International Incorporated

    6.88        12-15-2020         200,000         214,000   
            2,428,856   
         

 

 

 
Internet & Catalog Retail: 0.14%          

Expedia Incorporated

    5.95        8-15-2020         750,000         831,396   
         

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.11%          

Vista Outdoor Incorporated 144A

    5.88        10-1-2023         600,000         625,500   
         

 

 

 
Media: 5.73%          

Altice US Finance I Corporation 144A

    5.38        7-15-2023         1,395,000         1,411,740   

Altice US Finance II Corporation 144A

    7.75        7-15-2025         2,030,000         1,953,875   

Cable One Incorporated 144A

    5.75        6-15-2022         375,000         384,375   

Cablevision Systems Corporation

    8.63        9-15-2017             1,310,000         1,398,425   

CCO Holdings LLC

    5.13        2-15-2023         300,000         300,750   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.13        5-1-2023         475,000         477,375   

CCO Holdings LLC

    5.25        9-30-2022         1,250,000         1,266,133   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.38        5-1-2025         4,150,000         4,108,500   

CCO Holdings LLC 144A

    5.88        5-1-2027         705,000         705,000   

CCO Holdings LLC

    6.63        1-31-2022         775,000         821,500   

CCO Holdings LLC

    7.38        6-1-2020         1,100,000         1,141,250   

Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC 144A

    5.13        12-15-2021         1,170,000         1,123,200   

Cinemark USA Incorporated

    7.38        6-15-2021         775,000         819,563   

CSC Holdings LLC

    7.88        2-15-2018         1,000,000         1,060,000   

CSC Holdings LLC

    8.63        2-15-2019         383,000         405,980   

DIRECTV Holdings LLC

    3.80        3-15-2022         750,000         768,169   

DISH DBS Corporation

    7.88        9-1-2019         480,000         526,699   

EchoStar DBS Corporation

    7.13        2-1-2016         125,000         126,519   

Gray Television Incorporated

    7.50        10-1-2020         6,380,000         6,658,806   

Interpublic Group of Companies

    4.00        3-15-2022         750,000         752,591   

Lamar Media Corporation

    5.88        2-1-2022         690,000         731,400   

LIN Television Corporation

    6.38        1-15-2021         275,000         287,375   

Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated 144A

    7.00        9-1-2020         200,000         212,000   

National CineMedia LLC

    6.00        4-15-2022         1,710,000         1,780,452   

National CineMedia LLC

    7.88        7-15-2021         1,000,000         1,055,000   

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Incorporated 144A

    6.13        2-15-2022         175,000         175,000   

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Incorporated

    6.88        11-15-2020         1,750,000         1,809,063   

Outfront Media Capital Corporation

    5.63        2-15-2024         20,000         20,813   

Outfront Media Capital Corporation

    5.88        3-15-2025         775,000         804,063   

Time Warner Cable Incorporated

    4.00        1-15-2022         750,000         785,435   
            33,871,051   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Multiline Retail: 0.10%          

Macy’s Retail Holdings Incorporated

    3.88     1-15-2022       $ 600,000       $ 610,831   
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 1.10%          

ABC Supply Company Incorporated 144A

    5.63        4-15-2021         450,000         462,375   

Advance Auto Parts Incorporated

    4.50        1-15-2022         600,000         627,273   

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

    9.75        2-15-2019         300,000         310,125   

L Brands Incorporated

    6.63        4-1-2021         750,000         849,375   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.38        12-1-2024         1,130,000         1,146,950   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.75        10-1-2022             1,155,000         1,192,538   

Sonic Automotive Incorporated

    5.00        5-15-2023         1,174,000         1,141,715   

Sonic Automotive Incorporated

    7.00        7-15-2022         700,000         745,500   
            6,475,851   
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.97%

         
Beverages: 0.14%          

Cott Beverages Incorporated

    6.75        1-1-2020         790,000         837,400   
         

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.10%          

SABMiller Holdings Incorporated 144A

    3.75        1-15-2022         600,000         613,784   
         

 

 

 
Food Products: 0.58%          

B&G Foods Incorporated

    4.63        6-1-2021         300,000         298,875   

Darling Ingredients Incorporated

    5.38        1-15-2022         180,000         178,650   

Kraft Foods Group Incorporated

    3.50        6-6-2022         750,000         765,092   

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 144A

    5.75        3-15-2025         1,130,000         1,155,425   

Simmons Foods Incorporated 144A

    7.88        10-1-2021         1,100,000         1,028,500   
            3,426,542   
         

 

 

 
Household Products: 0.02%          

Spectrum Brands Incorporated 144A

    5.75        7-15-2025         100,000         106,625   
         

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.13%          

Reynolds American Incorporated 144A

    6.88        5-1-2020         650,000         752,380   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 15.64%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 5.46%          

Bristow Group Incorporated

    6.25        10-15-2022         4,478,000         3,895,860   

Cleaver Brooks Incorporated 144A

    8.75        12-15-2019         95,000         91,447   

Era Group Incorporated

    7.75        12-15-2022         4,425,000         4,093,125   

Forum Energy Technologies Incorporated

    6.25        10-1-2021         1,000,000         837,500   

Gulfmark Offshore Incorporated

    6.38        3-15-2022         4,225,000         2,608,938   

Hilcorp Energy Company 144A

    5.00        12-1-2024         325,000         294,125   

Hilcorp Energy Company 144A

    5.75        10-1-2025         1,300,000         1,202,500   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    5.00        3-1-2021         2,835,000         2,168,775   

Hornbeck Offshore Services Incorporated

    5.88        4-1-2020         1,860,000         1,497,300   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    7.12        12-15-2017         2,060,000         1,905,500   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    7.77        12-15-2037         10,215,000         8,376,300   

NGPL PipeCo LLC 144A

    9.63        6-1-2019         435,000         421,950   

PHI Incorporated

    5.25        3-15-2019         5,525,000         4,889,625   
            32,282,945   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     5   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 10.18%          

Alpha Natural Resources Incorporated

    6.25     6-1-2021       $ 475,000       $ 16,625   

Arch Coal Incorporated

    7.00        6-15-2019             1,200,000         34,500   

Arch Coal Incorporated

    7.25        6-15-2021         475,000         13,063   

Berry Petroleum Company LLC

    6.38        9-15-2022         3,175,000         1,143,000   

Berry Petroleum Company LLC

    6.75        11-1-2020         320,000         124,800   

CSI Compressco LP

    7.25        8-15-2022         1,425,000         1,182,750   

CVR Refining LLC

    6.50        11-1-2022         1,599,000         1,571,018   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    4.63        7-15-2023         2,975,000         1,985,813   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    5.50        5-1-2022         655,000         458,500   

Denbury Resources Incorporated

    6.38        8-15-2021         960,000         700,800   

El Paso LLC

    6.50        4-1-2020         750,000         815,780   

Energy Transfer Partners LP

    5.20        2-1-2022         750,000         752,089   

Exterran Partners LP

    6.00        4-1-2021         2,500,000         2,162,500   

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP

    3.95        9-1-2022         750,000         698,302   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated

    6.50        9-15-2020         285,000         310,044   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated

    7.00        6-15-2017         530,000         561,205   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated (i)

    7.42        2-15-2037         800,000         795,296   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated

    7.80        8-1-2031         1,850,000         1,875,665   

Nabors Industries Incorporated

    4.63        9-15-2021         750,000         682,850   

Northern Tier Energy LLC

    7.13        11-15-2020         2,900,000         2,950,750   

Overseas Shipholding Group Incorporated

    7.50        2-15-2021         1,700,000         1,700,000   

Overseas Shipholding Group Incorporated

    8.13        3-30-2018         2,375,000         2,428,438   

Phillips 66

    4.30        4-1-2022         625,000         663,460   

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    3.95        7-15-2022         750,000         746,216   

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

    7.50        1-15-2020         1,220,000         1,395,248   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    5.63        4-15-2020         3,625,000         3,665,781   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A

    6.88        4-15-2040         4,038,000         3,856,290   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC 144A(i)

    7.50        7-15-2038         2,350,000         2,279,500   

Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation (i)(s)

    7.25        6-15-2019         520,000         72,800   

Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation (i)(s)

    7.50        9-15-2020         3,500,000         490,000   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.63        2-1-2021         850,000         843,625   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.63        4-15-2023         1,020,000         992,588   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    5.75        5-15-2024         1,625,000         1,564,063   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

    6.25        3-15-2022         3,550,000         3,523,375   

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    6.50        11-1-2020         4,245,000         4,276,838   

Sabine Pass LNG LP

    7.50        11-30-2016         4,635,000         4,782,741   

SemGroup Corporation

    7.50        6-15-2021         2,755,000         2,617,250   

Southern Star Central Corporation 144A

    5.13        7-15-2022         50,000         48,500   

Suburban Propane Partners LP

    7.38        8-1-2021         309,000         324,450   

Swift Energy Company (i)

    7.13        6-1-2017         5,696,000         1,594,880   

Swift Energy Company (i)

    8.88        1-15-2020         1,075,000         258,000   

Ultra Petroleum Corporation 144A

    5.75        12-15-2018         410,000         274,700   

Ultra Petroleum Corporation 144A

    6.13        10-1-2024         1,985,000         1,111,600   

Weatherford International Incorporated

    6.35        6-15-2017         650,000         655,688   

Western Gas Partners LP

    5.38        6-1-2021         503,000         533,107   

Williams Partners LP

    3.35        8-15-2022         750,000         664,376   
            60,198,864   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Financials: 15.07%

         
Banks: 0.89%          

Bank of America Corporation

    5.70     1-24-2022       $ 250,000       $ 285,968   

CIT Group Incorporated

    5.25        3-15-2018         100,000         104,875   

CIT Group Incorporated 144A

    5.50        2-15-2019             1,275,000         1,354,688   

CIT Group Incorporated 144A

    6.63        4-1-2018         550,000         592,625   

Citigroup Incorporated

    4.50        1-14-2022         250,000         270,472   

Citigroup Incorporated

    6.00        8-15-2017         650,000         699,427   

City National Bank

    5.38        7-15-2022         500,000         546,141   

HSBC Bank USA

    6.00        8-9-2017         650,000         696,891   

JPMorgan Chase & Company

    3.38        5-1-2023         750,000         736,062   
            5,287,149   
         

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 1.15%          

Ace Securities Corporation ±

    2.82        6-25-2033         412,766         405,932   

Blackstone Holdings Finance Company LLC 144A

    5.88        3-15-2021         750,000         860,345   

Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated

    5.75        1-24-2022         750,000         859,676   

Jefferies Finance LLC 144A

    6.88        4-15-2022         3,560,000         3,346,400   

Jefferies Finance LLC 144A

    7.38        4-1-2020         200,000         196,000   

Jefferies Finance LLC 144A

    7.50        4-15-2021         475,000         460,156   

Neuberger Berman Group LLC 144A

    5.88        3-15-2022         650,000         679,250   
            6,807,759   
         

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 4.11%          

Ally Financial Incorporated

    8.00        12-31-2018         1,155,000         1,299,375   

Ally Financial Incorporated

    8.00        3-15-2020         755,000         892,788   

Discover Financial Services

    5.20        4-27-2022         750,000         803,279   

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    5.00        5-15-2018         650,000         690,330   

Ford Motor Credit Company LLC

    8.00        12-15-2016         250,000         267,164   

Homer City Generation LLC

    8.73        10-1-2026         1,267,475         1,254,800   

Navient Corporation

    5.88        3-25-2021         610,000         576,831   

Navient Corporation

    8.00        3-25-2020         3,280,000         3,476,800   

SLM Corporation

    6.13        3-25-2024         1,220,000         1,101,050   

SLM Corporation

    7.25        1-25-2022         930,000         920,119   

SLM Corporation

    8.45        6-15-2018         1,675,000         1,796,438   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    5.40        12-1-2015         1,535,000         1,537,878   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    5.75        9-15-2016         1,100,000         1,116,500   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.00        6-1-2020         1,735,000         1,756,688   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.50        9-15-2017         200,000         208,000   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    6.90        12-15-2017         4,550,000         4,788,875   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    7.75        10-1-2021         500,000         538,125   

Springleaf Finance Corporation

    8.25        10-1-2023         1,160,000         1,273,100   
            24,298,140   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.87%          

Denali Borrower LLC 144A

    5.63        10-15-2020         3,510,000         3,733,763   

General Electric Capital Corporation

    4.65        10-17-2021         187,000         209,148   

Infinity Acquisition LLC 144A(i)

    7.25        8-1-2022         2,615,000         2,340,425   

ING US Incorporated

    5.50        7-15-2022         750,000         849,440   

Moody’s Corporation

    5.50        9-1-2020         1,302,000         1,452,479   

Newstar Financial Incorporated

    7.25        5-1-2020         2,450,000         2,443,875   
            11,029,130   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     7   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Insurance: 1.74%          

American International Group Incorporated

    4.88     6-1-2022       $ 750,000       $ 834,259   

Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited

    7.00        7-15-2034         575,000         686,474   

Hartford Financial Services Group Incorporated

    5.13        4-15-2022         650,000         719,471   

Hub Holdings LLC (PIK at 8.88%) 144A¥

    8.13        7-15-2019         2,900,000         2,820,250   

Hub International Limited 144A

    7.88        10-1-2021         2,295,000         2,289,263   

Liberty Mutual Group Incorporated 144A

    4.95        5-1-2022         750,000         808,471   

ProAssurance Corporation

    5.30        11-15-2023         750,000         802,814   

Progressive Corporation ±

    6.70        6-15-2067         600,000         603,000   

W.R. Berkley Corporation

    4.63        3-15-2022         650,000         690,457   
            10,254,459   
         

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.54%          

Onex Corporation 144A

    7.75        1-15-2021         3,205,000         3,213,013   
         

 

 

 
REITs: 4.77%          

Alexandria Real Estate Company

    4.60        4-1-2022         650,000         679,210   

American Tower Corporation

    5.90        11-1-2021         650,000         722,165   

Crown Castle International Corporation

    4.88        4-15-2022         460,000         487,025   

Crown Castle International Corporation

    5.25        1-15-2023         95,000         102,244   

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated LP

    5.63        6-15-2023         2,975,000         3,056,813   

DuPont Fabros Technology Incorporated LP

    5.88        9-15-2021             4,655,000         4,887,750   

ESH Hospitality Incorporated 144A

    5.25        5-1-2025         1,000,000         1,003,700   

Essex Portfolio LP

    3.63        8-15-2022         750,000         757,439   

Health Care REIT Incorporated

    5.25        1-15-2022         650,000         711,315   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2024         4,850,000         4,874,250   

Iron Mountain Incorporated 144A

    6.00        10-1-2020         230,000         243,800   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    6.00        8-15-2023         2,960,000         3,104,300   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    5.38        6-1-2023         850,000         882,938   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    5.50        2-1-2021         1,100,000         1,149,170   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.13        4-1-2023         500,000         490,000   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.88        1-15-2022         2,640,000         2,682,900   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    5.88        10-15-2024         465,000         469,650   

The Geo Group Incorporated

    6.63        2-15-2021         1,190,000         1,231,650   

Ventas Realty LP

    4.25        3-1-2022         650,000         673,455   
            28,209,774   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 5.79%

         
Biotechnology: 0.13%          

Amgen Incorporated

    3.63        5-15-2022         750,000         770,157   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.50%          

Crimson Merger Sub Incorporated 144A

    6.63        5-15-2022         2,400,000         2,079,000   

Hill-Rom Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.75        9-1-2023         200,000         204,000   

Hologic Incorporated 144A

    5.25        7-15-2022         670,000         699,313   
            2,982,313   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 3.02%          

Acadia Healthcare Company Incorporated

    5.63        2-15-2023         195,000         195,244   

Acadia Healthcare Company Incorporated 144A

    5.63        2-15-2023         75,000         75,094   


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

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

Centene Corporation

    5.75     6-1-2017       $ 1,000,000       $ 1,042,500   

Community Health Systems Incorporated

    6.88        2-1-2022         60,000         60,450   

Coventry Health Care Incorporated

    5.45        6-15-2021         750,000         835,545   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.00        5-1-2025         445,000         441,751   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2022         525,000         551,250   

Express Scripts Holding Company

    3.90        2-15-2022         665,000         687,288   

HCA Incorporated

    6.50        2-15-2020         1,875,000         2,097,656   

HealthSouth Corporation 144A

    5.75        11-1-2024         500,000         500,000   

HealthSouth Corporation

    5.75        11-1-2024         30,000         30,000   

HealthSouth Corporation 144A

    5.75        9-15-2025         650,000         643,500   

HealthSouth Corporation

    7.75        9-15-2022         818,000         850,720   

Humana Incorporated

    7.20        6-15-2018         750,000         847,636   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    6.38        2-15-2022             1,075,000         1,123,375   

MPT Operating Partnership LP

    6.88        5-1-2021         775,000         810,844   

Select Medical Corporation

    6.38        6-1-2021         6,215,000         5,500,275   

Tenet Healthcare Corporation

    6.00        10-1-2020         1,475,000         1,593,000   
            17,886,128   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 0.95%          

Emdeon Incorporated

    11.00        12-31-2019         4,325,000         4,606,125   

MedAssets Incorporated

    8.00        11-15-2018         1,000,000         1,018,750   
            5,624,875   
         

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 0.14%          

Life Technologies Corporation

    6.00        3-1-2020         750,000         848,225   
         

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 1.05%          

Endo Finance LLC 144A

    5.38        1-15-2023         375,000         367,763   

Endo Finance LLC 144A

    5.75        1-15-2022         715,000         698,913   

Endo Finance LLC 144A

    6.00        7-15-2023         525,000         525,000   

Endo Finance LLC 144A

    7.75        1-15-2022         2,385,000         2,474,438   

Endo Limited 144A

    6.00        2-1-2025         775,000         771,125   

Pinnacle Incorporated 144A

    9.50        10-1-2023         500,000         564,375   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    7.25        7-15-2022         75,000         67,125   

Watson Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

    3.25        10-1-2022         750,000         734,717   
            6,203,456   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 4.87%

         
Aerospace & Defense: 0.17%          

BAE Systems Holdings Incorporated 144A

    3.80        10-7-2024         1,000,000         1,011,885   
         

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.36%          

Aviation Capital Group Corporation 144A

    6.75        4-6-2021         1,320,000         1,493,250   

Delta Air Lines Incorporated

    4.75        11-7-2021         615,466         649,316   
            2,142,566   
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.79%          

ADT Corporation

    3.50        7-15-2022         750,000         703,125   

ADT Corporation

    4.13        6-15-2023         1,075,000         1,034,688   


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     9   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Commercial Services & Supplies (continued)          

ADT Corporation

    6.25     10-15-2021       $ 1,605,000       $ 1,733,400   

Berry Plastics Corporation 144A

    6.00        10-15-2022         215,000         224,675   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    5.88        3-1-2024         2,260,000         2,243,050   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    6.38        10-1-2022         1,500,000         1,575,000   

Covanta Holding Corporation

    7.25        12-1-2020         1,480,000         1,539,200   

Penske Truck Leasing Company 144A

    3.75        5-11-2017         750,000         770,972   

Republic Services Incorporated

    3.55        6-1-2022         750,000         771,982   
            10,596,092   
         

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 0.83%          

AECOM

    5.75        10-15-2022         215,000         215,000   

AECOM

    5.88        10-15-2024             2,610,000         2,650,549   

United Rentals North America Incorporated

    4.63        7-15-2023         1,200,000         1,205,244   

United Rentals North America Incorporated

    5.50        7-15-2025         850,000         847,875   
            4,918,668   
         

 

 

 
Professional Services: 0.15%          

Ascent Capital Group Incorporated

    4.00        7-15-2020         375,000         253,359   

Verisk Analytics Incorporated

    5.80        5-1-2021         530,000         589,432   
            842,791   
         

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.11%          

TTX Company 144A

    2.60        6-15-2020         650,000         646,620   
         

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 1.46%          

Ashtead Capital Incorporated 144A

    6.50        7-15-2022         4,100,000         4,397,250   

H&E Equipment Services Incorporated

    7.00        9-1-2022         4,065,000         4,125,975   

International Lease Finance Corporation 144A

    7.13        9-1-2018         75,000         83,063   
            8,606,288   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 5.80%

         
Communications Equipment: 0.30%          

CommScope Technologies Finance LLC 144A

    6.00        6-15-2025         1,100,000         1,116,500   

Motorola Solutions Incorporated

    3.75        5-15-2022         750,000         690,579   
            1,807,079   
         

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 1.24%          

Jabil Circuit Incorporated

    8.25        3-15-2018         5,275,000         5,921,188   

L-3 Communications Corporation

    4.95        2-15-2021         750,000         786,533   

Zebra Technologies Corporation

    7.25        10-15-2022         600,000         653,250   
            7,360,971   
         

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 0.17%          

Infor Software Parent LLC 144A

    6.50        5-15-2022         550,000         521,125   

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

    7.13        5-1-2021         550,000         476,091   
            997,216   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
IT Services: 2.43%          

Audatex North America Incorporated 144A

    6.00     6-15-2021       $ 2,725,000       $ 2,744,102   

Audatex North America Incorporated 144A

    6.13        11-1-2023         1,900,000         1,911,875   

First Data Corporation 144A

    6.75        11-1-2020         585,000         616,444   

First Data Corporation 144A%%

    7.00        12-1-2023         275,000         280,500   

First Data Corporation

    11.75        8-15-2021             4,125,000         4,702,500   

SunGard Data Systems Incorporated

    6.63        11-1-2019         525,000         543,375   

SunGard Data Systems Incorporated

    7.38        11-15-2018         2,457,000         2,515,354   

SunGard Data Systems Incorporated

    7.63        11-15-2020         990,000         1,032,174   
            14,346,324   
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.24%          

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.25        8-1-2023         375,000         366,371   

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.25        1-15-2024         175,000         167,563   

Micron Technology Incorporated

    5.88        2-15-2022         850,000         864,875   
            1,398,809   
         

 

 

 
Software: 0.57%          

Activision Blizzard Incorporated 144A

    5.63        9-15-2021         705,000         745,679   

Activision Blizzard Incorporated 144A

    6.13        9-15-2023         175,000         190,531   

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

    9.00        10-15-2019         2,160,000         1,544,400   

CA Incorporated

    5.38        12-1-2019         750,000         815,087   

SS&C Technologies Incorporated 144A

    5.88        7-15-2023         55,000         57,750   
            3,353,447   
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.85%          

Hewlett-Packard Company

    4.05        9-15-2022         750,000         746,946   

NCR Corporation

    5.88        12-15-2021         230,000         232,300   

NCR Corporation

    6.38        12-15-2023         3,950,000         4,063,563   
            5,042,809   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 1.34%

         
Chemicals: 0.13%          

Dow Chemical Company

    4.13        11-15-2021         750,000         792,845   
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.21%          

Ball Corporation

    5.25        7-1-2025         190,000         193,088   

Crown Cork & Seal Company Incorporated

    7.38        12-15-2026         35,000         38,194   

Crown Cork & Seal Company Incorporated (i)

    7.50        12-15-2096         600,000         553,500   

Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated 144A

    5.88        8-15-2023         425,000         451,031   

Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated 144A

    6.38        8-15-2025         2,600,000         2,769,000   

Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated 144A

    5.38        1-15-2025         575,000         577,875   

Owens-Illinois Incorporated

    7.80        5-15-2018         1,295,000         1,439,885   

Sealed Air Corporation 144A

    5.13        12-1-2024         1,100,000         1,130,250   
            7,152,823   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.00%          

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

    11.50        2-1-2020         3,170,000         0   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Telecommunication Services: 8.64%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 3.29%          

CenturyLink Incorporated

    5.80     3-15-2022       $ 600,000       $ 583,500   

Citizens Communications Company

    7.88        1-15-2027         355,000         301,750   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.13        10-1-2018         845,000         891,475   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.25        4-15-2017         1,040,000         1,110,970   

Frontier Communications Corporation

    8.50        4-15-2020         525,000         540,750   

GCI Incorporated

    6.75        6-1-2021         2,330,000         2,411,550   

GCI Incorporated

    6.88        4-15-2025         1,200,000         1,236,000   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.63        2-1-2023         350,000         359,625   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated 144A

    5.13        5-1-2023         975,000         985,969   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    5.38        8-15-2022         300,000         305,250   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated 144A%%

    5.38        1-15-2024         700,000         708,750   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated 144A

    5.38        5-1-2025         975,000         977,438   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    6.13        1-15-2021         175,000         184,406   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated

    7.00        6-1-2020         180,000         190,800   

Qwest Corporation (i)

    7.63        8-3-2021         230,000         241,500   

Syniverse Holdings Incorporated

    9.13        1-15-2019         6,305,000         5,296,200   

Windstream Corporation

    6.38        8-1-2023         800,000         634,000   

Windstream Corporation

    7.88        11-1-2017         2,330,000         2,471,245   
            19,431,178   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 5.35%          

Crown Castle Towers LLC 144A

    6.11        1-15-2040         750,000         828,342   

MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated

    6.63        11-15-2020             3,300,000         3,399,000   

SBA Communications Corporation

    4.88        7-15-2022         640,000         654,368   

SBA Communications Corporation

    5.63        10-1-2019         160,000         167,200   

SBA Communications Corporation

    5.75        7-15-2020         2,000,000         2,087,500   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    6.88        11-15-2028         13,665,000         11,341,919   

Sprint Capital Corporation

    8.75        3-15-2032         2,575,000         2,317,500   

Sprint Communications Incorporated

    7.00        8-15-2020         475,000         440,563   

Sprint Communications Incorporated

    11.50        11-15-2021         625,000         656,250   

Sprint Corporation

    7.13        6-15-2024         960,000         843,600   

Sprint Corporation

    7.63        2-15-2025         400,000         355,000   

Sprint Corporation

    7.88        9-15-2023         705,000         650,363   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.00        3-1-2023         300,000         299,063   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.13        1-15-2022         85,000         86,488   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.25        4-1-2021         165,000         170,346   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.38        3-1-2025         700,000         701,750   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.46        4-28-2019         160,000         164,600   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.50        1-15-2024         80,000         81,200   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.54        4-28-2020         165,000         169,125   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.63        4-1-2023         505,000         515,575   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.63        4-28-2021         920,000         952,200   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.73        4-28-2022         3,490,000         3,603,425   

T-Mobile USA Incorporated

    6.84        4-28-2023         1,060,000         1,094,450   
            31,579,827   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Utilities: 2.22%

         
Electric Utilities: 0.47%          

Great Plains Energy Incorporated

    4.85     6-1-2021       $ 750,000       $ 815,672   

Otter Tail Corporation (i)

    9.00        12-15-2016         1,835,000         1,981,330   
            2,797,002   
         

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.45%          

AmeriGas Finance LLC

    6.75        5-20-2020         1,775,000         1,839,344   

AmeriGas Finance LLC

    7.00        5-20-2022         795,000         838,725   
            2,678,069   
         

 

 

 
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 1.05%          

Calpine Corporation 144A

    6.00        1-15-2022         515,000         541,265   

Calpine Corporation 144A

    7.88        1-15-2023         530,000         569,088   

NSG Holdings LLC 144A

    7.75        12-15-2025             2,460,378         2,718,718   

Reliant Energy Incorporated

    9.24        7-2-2017         394,314         403,186   

Reliant Energy Incorporated

    9.68        7-2-2026         410,000         412,050   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC 144A

    5.88        2-1-2023         445,000         410,513   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC 144A

    6.13        6-15-2025         1,250,000         1,125,000   
            6,179,820   
         

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 0.25%          

Ameren Illinois Company

    9.75        11-15-2018         500,000         611,976   

CMS Energy Corporation

    5.05        3-15-2022         750,000         832,343   
            1,444,319   
         

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $433,867,984)

            430,103,423   
         

 

 

 

Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes @: 2.57%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 0.08%

         
Auto Components: 0.02%          

HP Pelzer Holding GmbH (EUR)

    7.50        7-15-2021         100,000         115,408   
         

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.02%          

GHD Bondco plc (GBP)

    7.00        4-15-2020         100,000         131,742   
         

 

 

 
Internet & Catalog Retail: 0.04%          

Priceline Group Incorporated (EUR)

    2.38        9-23-2024         200,000         221,806   
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.11%

         
Food Products: 0.11%          

BRF SA 144A (BRL)

    7.75        5-22-2018         3,100,000         667,177   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 0.29%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.02%          

Rapid Holding GmbH 144A (EUR)

    6.63        11-15-2020         100,000         111,593   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.27%          

Petroleos Mexicanos 144A (MXN)

    7.19        9-12-2024         28,200,000         1,602,178   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     13   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Financials: 1.63%

         
Banks: 1.53%          

Eurofima (AUD)

    6.25     12-28-2018       $ 2,450,000       $ 1,945,788   

European Investment Bank (ZAR)

    9.00        3-31-2021         17,400,000         1,295,476   

KfW (TRY)

    5.00        1-16-2017         11,400,000         3,664,497   

KfW (AUD)

    5.00        3-19-2024         1,300,000         1,055,357   

Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank (ZAR)

    8.25        5-23-2022         15,000,000         1,069,369   
            9,030,487   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 0.10%          

AA Bond Company Limited (GBP)

    4.25        7-31-2043         200,000         318,602   

TES Finance plc (GBP)

    6.75        7-15-2020         200,000         291,362   
            609,964   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 0.11%

         
Chemicals: 0.11%          

Albemarle Corporation (EUR)

    1.88        12-8-2021         600,000         636,203   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 0.35%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 0.06%          

Verizon Communications Incorporated (EUR)

    3.25        2-17-2026         300,000         369,803   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.29%          

America Movil SAB de CV (MXN)

    7.13        12-9-2024         28,850,000         1,721,100   
         

 

 

 

Total Foreign Corporate Bonds and Notes
(Cost $20,012,280)

            15,217,461   
         

 

 

 
Foreign Government Bonds @: 23.98%          

Brazil (BRL)

    10.00        1-1-2017         38,525,000         9,445,577   

Brazil (BRL)

    10.00        1-1-2025         32,800,000         6,226,484   

Colombia (COP)

    7.00        5-4-2022             18,650,000,000         6,294,887   

Colombia (COP)

    7.75        4-14-2021         5,250,000,000         1,844,024   

Hungary (HUF)

    6.75        11-24-2017         1,305,000,000         5,139,208   

Indonesia (IDR)

    7.88        4-15-2019         133,640,000,000         9,491,833   

Indonesia (IDR)

    10.00        7-15-2017         50,000,000,000         3,735,854   

Korea (KRW)

    5.25        3-10-2027         2,830,000,000         3,254,380   

Malaysia (MYR)

    3.66        10-15-2020         20,700,000         4,804,125   

Malaysia (MYR)

    4.18        7-15-2024         19,850,000         4,625,087   

Mexico (MXN)

    4.75        6-14-2018         191,800,000         11,701,625   

Mexico (MXN)

    6.50        6-10-2021         40,000,000         2,550,960   

Mexico (MXN)

    10.00        12-5-2024         76,220,000         5,906,526   

Poland (PLN)

    1.50        4-25-2020         41,200,000         10,422,187   

Poland (PLN)

    3.25        7-25-2025         37,100,000         10,083,191   

Queensland Treasury (AUD)

    5.75        7-22-2024         4,100,000         3,521,807   

Republic of South Africa (ZAR)

    7.75        2-28-2023         103,000,000         7,308,765   

Republic of South Africa (ZAR)

    8.00        12-21-2018         129,000,000         9,473,889   

Romania (RON)

    5.85        4-26-2023         31,550,000         9,212,836   

State of New South Wales Australia (AUD)

    5.00        8-20-2024         3,900,000         3,247,873   

Thailand (THB)

    3.25        6-16-2017         110,000,000         3,178,252   

Thailand (THB)

    3.85        12-12-2025         108,500,000         3,371,506   


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Foreign Government Bonds (continued)          

Turkey (TRY)

    6.30     2-14-2018       $ 7,325,000       $ 2,330,362   

Turkey (TRY)

    9.00        3-8-2017         13,600,000         4,604,240   

Total Foreign Government Bonds (Cost $169,688,653)

  

     141,775,478   
         

 

 

 

Loans: 17.12%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 4.34%

         
Auto Components: 0.58%          

Allison Transmission Incorporated ±

    3.50        8-23-2019         3,375,780         3,376,826   

TI Group Automotive Systems ±

    4.50        6-30-2022         70,000         69,183   
     3,446,009   
         

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.50%          

Spin Holdco Incorporated ±

    4.25        11-14-2019         3,017,749         2,978,759   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.11%          

CCM Merger Incorporated ±

    4.50        8-8-2021         650,663         648,385   
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.02%          

TGI Friday’s Incorporated ±

    5.25        7-15-2020         104,554         104,685   
         

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.02%          

Tempur-Pedic International Incorporated ±

    3.50        3-18-2020         110,402         110,362   
         

 

 

 
Household Products: 0.03%          

Anchor Glass Container Corporation ±

    4.50        7-1-2022         168,602         168,361   
         

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.33%          

AMF Bowling Centers Incorporated ±

    7.25        9-18-2021         1,724,994         1,701,276   

Life Time Fitness Incorporated ±

    4.25        6-10-2022         274,688         272,570   
     1,973,846   
         

 

 

 
Media: 2.17%          

Altice US Finance I Corporation ±%%<

    0.00        12-14-2022         425,000         416,632   

Charter Communications Operating LLC ±

    3.50        1-24-2023         445,000         444,373   

Entercom Radio LLC ±

    4.00        11-23-2018         1,054,857         1,052,662   

Learfield Communications Incorporated ±%%<

    4.50        10-9-2020         1,440,985         1,437,382   

Learfield Communications Incorporated ±

    8.75        10-9-2021         2,803,297         2,773,526   

Mission Broadcasting Incorporated ±

    3.75        10-1-2020         125,483         124,751   

Nexstar Broadcasting Incorporated ±

    3.75        10-1-2020         142,300         141,470   

TWCC Holdings Corporation ±

    5.75        2-11-2020         386,510         386,544   

TWCC Holdings Corporation ±

    7.00        6-26-2020             6,035,000         6,021,783   
     12,799,123   
         

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.12%          

Doosan Infracore International Incorporated ±

    4.50        5-28-2021         200,327         200,203   

New Albertson’s Incorporated ±

    4.75        6-27-2021         524,700         521,095   
            721,298   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     15   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Specialty Retail: 0.46%          

Focus Brands Incorporated ±

    4.25     2-21-2018       $ 698,118       $ 696,373   

Focus Brands Incorporated ±

    10.25        8-21-2018         2,023,863         2,013,743   
            2,710,116   
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.40%

         
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.40%          

Albertson’s Holdings LLC ±

    5.50        8-25-2021         1,613,353         1,612,433   

B&G Foods Incorporated ±%%<

    0.00        10-7-2022         750,000         749,768   
            2,362,201   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 0.49%

         
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.49%          

Hummel Station LLC ±%%<

    0.00        9-23-2022         3,025,000         2,919,125   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 2.79%

         
Capital Markets: 0.23%          

American Capital Limited ±

    3.50        8-22-2017         1,373,348         1,366,481   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.05%          

American Beacon Advisors Incorporated ±

    5.50        4-30-2022         2,400,555         2,390,545   

American Beacon Advisors Incorporated ±

    9.75        3-3-2023         440,000         437,800   

Ipreo Holdings LLC ±

    4.00        8-6-2021         143,553         140,083   

LPL Holdings Incorporated ±

    3.25        3-29-2019             1,202,885         1,187,849   

Neptune Finco Corporation ±

    5.00        10-9-2022         700,000         702,002   

Sophia Holding Finance ±

    4.75        9-30-2022         151,835         151,502   

TMFS Holdings LLC ±

    5.50        7-30-2021         1,222,650         1,213,480   
            6,223,261   
         

 

 

 
Insurance: 0.10%          

Asurion LLC ±

    8.50        3-3-2021         360,000         323,251   

Hub International Limited ±

    4.00        10-2-2020         273,441         265,979   
            589,230   
         

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.83%          

Capital Automotive LP ±

    4.00        4-10-2019         3,063,546         3,066,610   

Capital Automotive LP ±

    6.00        4-30-2020         1,849,333         1,857,045   
            4,923,655   
         

 

 

 
REITs: 0.58%          

Crown Castle Operating Company ±

    3.00        1-31-2021         3,406,471         3,405,040   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 0.74%

         
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.15%          

DJO Finance LLC ±

    4.25        6-8-2020         568,575         563,458   

Prestige Brands Incorporated ±

    3.50        9-3-2021         307,104         306,886   
            870,344   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.37%          

Acadia Healthcare Company Incorporated ±

    4.25     2-11-2022       $ 158,800       $ 158,800   

Community Health Systems Incorporated ±%%<

    4.00        1-27-2021         950,000         946,837   

Surgery Center Holdings Incorporated ±

    5.25        11-3-2020         1,116,563         1,110,053   
            2,215,690   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Technology: 0.07%          

Alere Incorporated ±

    4.25        6-18-2022         109,725         109,725   

Hill-Rom Holdings Incorporated ±

    3.50        9-8-2022         73,125         73,177   

MedAssets Incorporated ±

    4.00        12-12-2019         225,087         223,586   
            406,488   
         

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.15%          

Endo Luxembourg Finance Company ±

    3.75        9-26-2022         300,000         294,516   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated ±

    3.75        12-11-2019         172,765         161,131   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated ±

    4.00        4-1-2022         447,750         415,624   
            871,271   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 2.25%

         
Aerospace & Defense: 0.51%          

TransDigm Incorporated ±

    3.75        2-28-2020         3,026,734         2,983,845   
         

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.01%          

LM U.S. Corp Acquisition Incorporated ±

    8.25        1-25-2021         87,203         86,767   
         

 

 

 
Chemicals: 0.04%          

The Chemours Company ±

    3.75        5-12-2022         279,300         255,280   
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.02%          

ADS Waste Holdings Incorporated ±

    3.75        10-9-2019             1,016,091         1,002,759   

Gates Global LLC ±

    4.25        7-5-2021         866,250         811,624   

Interactive Data Corporation ±

    4.75        5-2-2021         1,836,750         1,835,979   

Owens-lIlinois Incorporated ±

    3.50        8-6-2022         169,575         169,928   

Sedgwick Claims Management Services Incorporated ±

    3.75        3-1-2021         530,957         521,002   

W3 Company ±(i)

    9.25        9-13-2020         289,275         196,707   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    4.25        5-14-2022         1,095,007         1,080,641   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    4.25        5-14-2022         191,768         189,252   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    8.00        5-12-2023         17,885         17,170   

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC ±

    8.00        5-14-2023         102,115         98,030   

Waste Industries USA Incorporated ±

    4.25        2-27-2020         114,425         114,640   
            6,037,732   
         

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 0.17%          

Nusil Technology LLC ±

    5.25        4-7-2017         982,460         974,109   
         

 

 

 

Machinery: 0.09%

         

Onex Wizard Acquisition Company ±

    4.25        3-13-2022         537,300         537,107   
         

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure: 0.41%          

HGIM Corporation ±

    5.50        6-18-2020         2,955,104         1,917,124   

OSG Bulk Ships Incorporated ±

    5.25        8-5-2019         88,875         87,820   

OSG International Incorporated ±

    5.75        8-5-2019         400,434         397,430   
            2,402,374   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     17   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Information Technology: 3.06%

         
Internet Software & Services: 0.43%          

Black Knight InfoServ LLC ±

    3.75     5-27-2022       $ 374,063       $ 374,298   

CCC Information Services Incorporated ±

    4.00        12-20-2019         584,475         576,988   

Infor US Incorporated ±%%<

    3.75        6-3-2020         704,147         684,565   

Vertafore Incorporated ±

    9.75        10-29-2017         510,000         509,490   

Zayo Group LLC ±

    3.75        5-6-2021         396,981         396,298   
            2,541,639   
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.66%          

Avago Technologies ±

    3.75        5-6-2021         2,461,781         2,461,091   

Freescale Semiconductor Incorporated ±

    4.25        3-1-2020         1,458,864         1,457,171   
            3,918,262   
         

 

 

 
Software: 0.17%          

Emdeon Business Services LLC ±

    3.75        11-2-2018         997,442         985,972   
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 1.80%          

CDW LLC ±

    3.25        4-29-2020         877,751         874,679   

Dell Incorporated ±

    4.00        4-29-2020             8,302,653         8,298,004   

Kronos Incorporated ±

    4.50        10-30-2019         579,078         577,485   

Peak 10 Incorporated ±(i)

    8.25        6-17-2022         430,000         408,500   

Riverbed Technology Incorporated ±

    6.00        4-24-2022         497,500         497,500   
            10,656,168   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 1.66%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 1.08%          

Avaya Incorporated ±

    4.82        10-26-2017         199,261         166,383   

Level 3 Financing Incorporated ±

    4.00        1-15-2020         1,700,000         1,702,975   

nTelos Incorporated ±

    5.75        11-9-2019         2,009,315         1,994,245   

Telesat Canada ±

    3.50        3-28-2019         2,564,372         2,541,139   
            6,404,742   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.58%          

LTS Buyer LLC ±

    4.00        4-13-2020         1,862,660         1,832,392   

LTS Buyer LLC ±

    8.00        4-12-2021         566,625         550,573   

Syniverse Holdings Incorporated ±

    4.00        4-23-2019         1,129,493         1,014,780   
            3,397,745   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 1.39%

         
Electric Utilities: 1.30%          

Green Energy Partners ±

    6.50        11-13-2021         1,330,000         1,283,450   

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Company LLC ±(s)

    4.66        10-10-2016         20,096,983         6,422,594   
            7,706,044   
         

 

 

 
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 0.09%          

Calpine Corporation ±

    4.00        10-9-2019         496,164         496,551   
         

 

 

 

Total Loans (Cost $115,502,743)

            101,198,067   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Municipal Obligations: 0.06%

         
New York: 0.06%          

Build New York City Resource Corporation Bronx Charter School for Excellence Project Series B (Education Revenue)

    5.00     4-1-2018       $ 345,000       $ 342,354   
         

 

 

 

Total Municipal Obligations (Cost $345,000)

            342,354   
         

 

 

 
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities: 7.77%          

American General Mortgage Loan Series 2010 Class 1A-A3 144A±

    5.65        3-25-2058         294,441         296,743   

American Home Mortgage Assets Series 2006-2 Class 1A1 ±

    1.18        9-25-2046         3,215,453         2,280,285   

Argent Securities Incorporated Series 2004-W5 Class AV3B ±

    1.10        4-25-2034         74,810         72,491   

Asset Backed Funding Certificates Series 2003-AHL1 Class A1

    4.18        3-25-2033         221,284         220,818   

Asset Backed Securities Corporation Home Equity Series 2002-HE3 Class M2 ±

    2.52        10-15-2032         168,567         167,026   

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Securities Incorporated Series 2006-03 Class AM ±

    5.84        7-10-2044             1,340,000         1,360,201   

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Securities Incorporated Series 2007-1 Class AMFX ±

    5.48        1-15-2049         500,000         515,765   

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Securities Incorporated Series 2008-1 Class AM ±

    6.26        2-10-2051         550,000         593,484   

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006-5
Class AM

    5.45        9-10-2047         750,000         768,471   

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-3
Class AM ±

    5.56        6-10-2049         430,000         452,208   

Banc of America Funding Corporation Series 2005 Class 5-1A1

    5.50        9-25-2035         415,298         433,069   

Banc of America Funding Corporation Series 2009 Class R6-3A1 144A±

    2.06        1-26-2037         78,878         78,952   

Banc of America Mortgage Securities Series 2003 Class A-3A1 ±

    2.80        2-25-2033         81,921         79,364   

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Series 2007-PW17 Class AM ±

    5.88        6-11-2050         318,000         337,698   

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Series 2007-PW18 Class AM ±

    6.08        6-11-2050         100,000         107,429   

Centex Home Equity Series 2002-A Class AF6

    5.54        1-25-2032         107,876         107,667   

Centex Home Equity Series 2002-D Class AF6 ±

    4.66        12-25-2032         41,137         41,562   

Centex Home Equity Series 2004-B Class AF6

    4.69        3-25-2034         216,725         222,146   

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006 Class C4 ±

    5.79        3-15-2049         680,000         693,361   

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-C6 Class AM ±

    5.71        12-10-2049         450,000         467,873   

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2012-GC8 Class C 144A±

    4.88        9-10-2045         1,000,000         1,058,988   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Incorporated Series 2003-HE3
Class A3 ±

    0.58        12-25-2033         63,869         61,373   

Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2012-CR2 Class C ±

    4.85        8-15-2045         1,000,000         1,053,203   

Countrywide Asset Backed Certificates Series 2003-5 Class AF5

    5.52        2-25-2034         97,099         100,869   

Countrywide Home Loans Series 2003-48 Class 2A2 ±

    2.80        10-25-2033         127,734         125,565   

Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006-C3
Class AM ±

    5.82        6-15-2038         1,045,000         1,066,809   

Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006-C4 Class AM

    5.51        9-15-2039         1,500,000         1,541,612   

Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006-C5 Class AM

    5.34        12-15-2039         1,000,000         1,035,510   

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Series 2002-AR25 Class 1A1 ±

    2.24        9-25-2032         594,819         555,999   

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Series 2003-AR15 Class 3A1 ±

    2.89        6-25-2033         165,059         163,988   

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Series 2003-AR9 Class 2A2 ±

    2.39        3-25-2033         43,066         42,106   

Credit-Based Asset Servicing & Securitization LLC Series 2005-CB2 Class M1 ±

    0.86        4-25-2036         149,425         149,023   

Equity One Asset Backed Securities Series 2004-2 Class AF4 ±

    4.62        7-25-2034         423,501         428,639   

First Horizon Mortgage Pass Through Series 2004-AR1 Class 1A1 ±

    2.59        2-25-2034         442,047         437,669   

First Horizon Mortgage Pass Through Series 2004-AR4 Class 3A1 ±

    2.71        8-25-2034         13,754         13,500   

GCCFC Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-GG9 Class AM

    5.48        3-10-2039         248,914         257,523   

GCCFC Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-GG9 Class AMFX

    5.48        3-10-2039         100,000         103,113   

Global Mortgage Securitization Limited Series 2004-A Class A2 144A±

    0.52        11-25-2032         244,171         236,561   

GMAC Mortgage Corporation Loan Series 2003-GH1 Class A5

    5.50        7-25-2034         80,226         81,426   

Great Wolf Trust Series 2015 Class A 144A±

    1.65        5-15-2034         1,015,000         1,009,904   


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     19   

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued)          

Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corporation Series 2006-GG7 Class AM ±

    5.82     7-10-2038       $ 2,600,000       $ 2,655,020   

Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corporation Series 2007-GG11 Class A4

    5.74        12-10-2049         470,464         490,853   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2006-GG6 Class AM ±

    5.55        4-10-2038         835,000         836,895   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2007-GG10 Class A4 ±

    5.79        8-10-2045         896,595         937,839   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2010-C1 Class X 144A±(c)

    1.48        8-10-2043         5,518,703         310,345   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2012-GCJ7 Class XA ±(c)

    2.53        5-10-2045         4,737,674         442,856   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust Series 2014-New Class C 144A

    3.79        1-10-2031         1,000,000         1,009,632   

GSAA Home Equity Trust Series 2004-5 Class AF5 ±

    4.87        6-25-2034         14,055         14,145   

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2005-AHL Class M1 ±

    0.63        4-25-2035         12,606         12,489   

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2006-1 Class A1 144A±

    0.50        3-25-2035         141,808         139,166   

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2006-SEA1 Class A 144A±

    0.50        5-25-2036         122,333         121,092   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-CB18 Class AM ±

    5.47        6-12-2047         875,000         906,230   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-LDPX Class AM ±

    5.46        1-15-2049         550,000         563,767   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust Series 2004-A3 Class 2A1 ±

    2.67        7-25-2034         73,816         72,718   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust Series 2004-A3 Series 3A3 ±

    2.83        7-25-2034         73,805         71,665   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust Series 2005-A3 Class 11A2 ±

    2.74        6-25-2035         296,864         302,178   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust Series 2009-7 Class 2A1 144A±

    6.00        2-27-2037         50,652         51,704   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust Series 2009-7 Class 5A1 144A±

    6.00        2-27-2037         230,712         236,347   

Lehman Brothers-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-C1 Class AM

    5.46        2-15-2040         750,000         778,876   

Lehman Brothers-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2008-C1 Class AM ±

    6.10        4-15-2041         820,000         884,591   

Lehman XS Trust Series 2006-18N Class A5A ±

    0.37        12-25-2036             2,888,115         2,366,604   

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust Series 2003-6
Class 3A1 ±

    2.49        12-25-2033         504,511         498,912   

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust Series 2003-6
Class 4A2 ±

    2.64        1-25-2034         20,206         19,547   

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust Series 2004-13
Class 3A7 ±

    2.77        11-21-2034         30,037         30,720   

MASTR Alternative Loans Trust Series 2005-1 Class 5A1

    5.50        1-25-2020         49,538         51,372   

Merrill Lynch Countrywide Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006-4 Class AM

    5.20        12-12-2049         340,000         351,556   

Merrill Lynch Countrywide Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2007-9 Class A4

    5.70        9-12-2049         826,733         864,759   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust Series 2005-A8 Class A1B3 ±

    5.25        8-25-2036         97,076         100,318   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust Series 2006-C1 Class AM ±

    5.67        5-12-2039         565,000         572,025   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust Series 2007-C1 Class A1A ±

    5.84        6-12-2050         630,948         654,380   

Mesa Trust Asset Backed Certificates Series 2001-5 Class A 144A±

    1.00        12-25-2031         18,652         17,041   

Mid State Trust Series 11 Class A1

    4.86        7-15-2038         243,395         257,989   

MLCC Mortgage Investors Incorporated Series 2003-G Class A2 ±

    1.10        1-25-2029         123,290         115,710   

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust Series 2012-C5 Class XA 144A±(c)

    1.81        8-15-2045         5,642,379         400,995   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2004-NC1 Class M1 ±

    1.25        12-27-2033         561,060         541,280   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2006-HQ10 Class AM

    5.36        11-12-2041         500,000         512,731   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2006-HQ9 Class AJ ±

    5.79        7-12-2044         1,000,000         1,022,427   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2006-HQ9 Class AM ±

    5.77        7-12-2044         25,000         25,557   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2006-IQ12 Class AM

    5.37        12-15-2043         500,000         516,764   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2007-HQ13 Class A3

    5.57        12-15-2044         1,251,155         1,315,375   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2010-GG10 Class A4B 144A±

    5.79        8-15-2045         615,000         643,400   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust Series 2012-C4 Class C 144A±

    5.52        3-15-2045         900,000         970,589   

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust Series 2004-3 Class M1 ±

    1.13        11-25-2034         1,165,049         1,029,616   

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust Series 2005-1 Class A1MZ ±

    0.78        3-25-2035         62,015         61,893   

Provident Funding Mortgage Loan Series 2005-1 Class 2A1 ±

    2.49        5-25-2035         45,296         45,705   

RBSSP Resecuritization Trust Series 2010-3 Class 4A1 144A±

    2.93        12-26-2035         30,926         30,946   

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust Series 2004-4 Class AF4

    4.88        2-25-2035         468,842         471,744   

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities Trust Series 03-S12 Class 2A1

    4.00        12-25-2032         69,530         69,186   

Saxon Asset Securities Trust Series 2002-1 Class AF5

    6.44        12-25-2030         163,660         169,448   

Saxon Asset Securities Trust Series 2003-1 Class AF7

    4.03        6-25-2033         585,783         592,852   


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (continued)          

Sequoia Mortgage Trust Series 2003-1 Class 1A ±

    0.95     4-20-2033       $ 22,165       $ 21,221   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2004-2 Class 2A ±

    2.57        3-25-2034         68,924         68,245   

Structured Asset Securities Corporation Series 2002-9
Class A2 ±

    0.80        10-25-2027         79,957         78,139   

Terwin Mortgage Trust Series 2003-6HE Class A3 ±

    1.34        11-25-2033         173,407         173,412   

Vendee Mortgage Trust Series 2003-2 Class IO ±(c)

    0.76        5-15-2033             5,967,866         191,867   

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust Series 2006-C23 Class AM ±

    5.47        1-15-2045         1,220,000         1,221,644   

Washington Mutual Mortgage Trust Series 2004-RA4
Class 3A

    7.50        7-25-2034         185,624         198,330   

Total Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $45,058,459)

            45,932,700   
         

 

 

 
    Dividend yield            Shares         

Preferred Stocks: 0.19%

         

Financials: 0.19%

         
Banks: 0.19%          

GMAC Capital Trust I ±

    7.86           44,400         1,146,852   
         

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $1,130,339)

            1,146,852   
         

 

 

 
    Interest rate            Principal         

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 8.67%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 0.59%

         
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.10%          

Anglo American Capital Company 144A

    4.13        9-27-2022       $ 750,000         615,333   
         

 

 

 
Media: 0.49%          

Grupo Televisa SAB

    6.00        5-15-2018         750,000         818,292   

Myriad International Holdings BV

    6.00        7-18-2020         500,000         532,580   

Myriad International Holdings BV 144A

    6.38        7-28-2017         750,000         786,423   

WPP Finance 2010

    3.63        9-7-2022         750,000         766,184   
            2,903,479   
         

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.47%

         
Beverages: 0.34%          

Anadolu Efes

    3.38        11-1-2022         1,400,000         1,222,662   

Pernod Ricard SA 144A

    4.45        1-15-2022         760,000         794,632   
            2,017,294   
         

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.13%          

BAT International Finance plc 144A

    3.25        6-7-2022         750,000         766,271   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 0.58%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.11%          

Ensco plc

    4.70        3-15-2021         750,000         671,438   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.47%          

Baytex Energy Corporation 144A

    5.63        6-1-2024         325,000         268,125   

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

    9.50        12-1-2016         1,685,411         674,164   


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     21   

    

 

 

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

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

    9.50     12-1-2016       $ 137,792       $ 55,117   

Petrobras International Finance Company

    5.38        1-27-2021         670,000         545,213   

Petroleos Mexicanos

    4.88        1-24-2022         750,000         763,313   

Woodside Finance Limited 144A

    8.75        3-1-2019         405,000         473,579   
            2,779,511   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 1.53%

         
Banks: 1.33%          

Banco del Estado de Chile 144A

    3.88        2-8-2022         650,000         662,072   

Corporación Andina de Fomento

    4.38        6-15-2022         958,000         1,033,107   

Export Import Bank of Korea

    5.00        4-11-2022         750,000         845,361   

Macquarie Bank Limited 144A

    5.00        2-22-2017         750,000         782,847   

Nielsen Holding and Finance BV 144A

    5.50        10-1-2021         415,000         430,563   

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

    1.00        12-24-2033         635,000         0   

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

    4.38        3-16-2016         750,000         759,488   

Standard Chartered Bank 144A

    6.40        9-26-2017         650,000         698,946   

Teekay Corporation

    8.50        1-15-2020             2,685,000         2,678,825   
            7,891,209   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 0.20%          

General Electric Capital Corporation 144A

    2.34        11-15-2020         527,000         528,382   

Tyco Electronics Group SA

    3.50        2-3-2022         625,000         639,044   
            1,167,426   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 1.08%

         
Pharmaceuticals: 1.08%          

Mallinckrodt plc 144A

    5.50        4-15-2025         500,000         455,000   

Mallinckrodt plc 144A

    5.63        10-15-2023         275,000         258,500   

Perrigo Finance plc

    3.90        12-15-2024         1,000,000         962,754   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    5.63        12-1-2021         85,000         73,738   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    5.88        5-15-2023         985,000         827,400   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    6.13        4-15-2025         395,000         331,306   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    6.75        8-15-2018         680,000         649,400   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Incorporated 144A

    7.50        7-15-2021         3,130,000         2,830,709   
            6,388,807   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 0.49%

         
Building Products: 0.04%          

Allegion plc

    5.88        9-15-2023         210,000         219,975   
         

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.27%          

GFL Environmental Incorporated 144A

    7.88        4-1-2020         1,575,000         1,608,469   
         

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.04%          

Sensata Technologies BV 144A

    5.00        10-1-2025         235,000         229,419   
         

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.14%          

Canadian Pacific Railway Company

    4.50        1-15-2022         750,000         807,622   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund   Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015

    

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Information Technology: 0.26%

         
Communications Equipment: 0.13%          

Ericsson LM

    4.13     5-15-2022       $ 750,000       $ 778,660   
         

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 0.13%          

Tencent Holdings Limited 144A

    4.63        12-12-2016         750,000         773,987   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 1.25%

         
Containers & Packaging: 0.40%          

Ardagh Finance Holdings SA (PIK at 8.63%) 144A¥

    8.63        6-15-2019         1,286,489         1,305,371   

Ardagh Packaging Finance plc 144A

    9.13        10-15-2020         1,020,000         1,069,735   
            2,375,106   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.60%          

ArcelorMittal SA

    5.25        2-25-2017         725,000         730,438   

ArcelorMittal SA

    6.13        6-1-2025         100,000         86,218   

ArcelorMittal SA

    7.00        2-25-2022         355,000         337,250   

Novelis Incorporated

    8.38        12-15-2017         550,000         556,119   

Novelis Incorporated

    8.75        12-15-2020             1,125,000         1,127,813   

Vale Overseas Limited

    4.38        1-11-2022         750,000         684,000   
            3,521,838   
         

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.25%          

Sappi Limited 144A

    7.50        6-15-2032         1,560,000         1,450,800   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 2.30%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 2.04%          

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    5.50        8-1-2023         6,775,000         5,623,250   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    7.25        10-15-2020         650,000         591,500   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA

    7.50        4-1-2021         1,025,000         925,063   

Intelsat Luxembourg SA

    7.75        6-1-2021         1,435,000         846,650   

Intelsat Luxembourg SA

    8.13        6-1-2023         5,440,000         3,223,200   

Qtel International Finance Limited

    5.00        10-19-2025         300,000         328,769   

Virgin Media Finance plc 144A

    5.38        4-15-2021         162,000         170,100   

Virgin Media Finance plc 144A

    6.38        4-15-2023         365,000         375,950   
            12,084,482   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.26%          

Globo Communicacoes Participacoes SA 144A

    4.88        4-11-2022         750,000         746,250   

Telesat Canada Incorporated 144A

    6.00        5-15-2017         775,000         786,625   
            1,532,875   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 0.12%

         
Electric Utilities: 0.12%          

Comision Federal de Electricidad 144A

    4.88        5-26-2021         650,000         681,688   
         

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $56,757,742)

            51,265,689   
         

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—October 31, 2015   Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund     23   

    

 

 

Security name    Yield           Shares      Value  
                           

Short-Term Investments: 2.47%

           
Investment Companies: 2.47%            

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

     0.16         14,571,777       $ 14,571,777   
           

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $14,571,777)

              14,571,777   
           

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $872,539,417) *     138.35        817,943,051   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (38.35        (226,717,263
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 591,225,788   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

(c) Investment in an interest-only security entitles holders to receive only the interest payments on the underlying mortgages. The principal amount shown is the notional amount of the underlying mortgages. The rate represents the coupon rate.

 

Non-income-earning security

 

(i) Illiquid security for which the designation as illiquid is unaudited.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

@ Foreign bond principal is denominated in the local currency of the issuer.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $877,787,209 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 18,064,530   

Gross unrealized losses

     (77,908,688
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses

   $ (59,844,158


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Trustees and Shareholders of

Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund:

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund (the “Fund”), including the summary portfolio of investments, as of October 31, 2015, and the related statement of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended (collectively, the “financial statements”), the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended (the financial statements and financial highlights are included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR), and the portfolio of investments as of October 31, 2015 (included in Item 6 of this Form N-CSR). These financial statements, financial highlights, and portfolio of investments are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements, financial highlights, and portfolio of investments based on our audits.

We conducted our audit 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, financial highlights, and portfolio of investments are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and portfolio of investments. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements, financial highlights, and portfolio of investments referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund as of October 31, 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

December 22, 2015


Table of Contents

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

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES

REVISED AS OF AUGUST 13,

2014

1. Scope of Policies and Procedures. These Policies and Procedures (“Procedures”) are used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the series of Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Asset Allocation Trust, Wells Fargo Advantage Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Income Opportunities Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Multi-Sector Income Fund, and Wells Fargo Advantage Utilities & High Income Fund (the “Trusts”) except for those series that exclusively hold non-voting securities (hereafter, all such series, and all such Trusts not having separate series, holding voting securities are referred to as the “Funds”).

2. Voting Philosophy. The Funds and Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”) have adopted these Procedures to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of Fund shareholders, without regard to any relationship that any affiliated person of the Fund (or an affiliated person of such affiliated person) may have with the issuer. Funds Management exercises its voting responsibility, as a fiduciary, with the goal of maximizing value to shareholders consistent with governing laws and the investment policies of each Fund. While securities are not purchased to exercise control or to seek to effect corporate change through share ownership, the Funds support sound corporate governance practices within companies in which they invest.

3. Responsibilities

(a) Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (the “Board”) has delegated the responsibility for voting proxies relating to the Funds’ portfolio securities to Funds Management. The Board retains the authority to make or ratify any voting decisions or approve any changes to these Procedures as the Board deems appropriate. Funds Management will provide reports to the Board regarding voting matters when and as reasonably requested by the Board. The Board shall review these Procedures as often as it deems appropriate to consider whether any revisions are warranted. On an annual basis, the Board shall receive and review a report from Funds Management on the proxy voting process.

 

5


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(b) Funds Management Proxy Committee

 

  (i) Responsibilities. The Funds Management Proxy Voting Committee (the “Proxy Committee”) shall be responsible for overseeing the proxy voting process to ensure its implementation in conformance with these Procedures. The Proxy Committee shall monitor Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), the proxy voting agent for Funds Management, to determine that ISS is accurately applying the Procedures as set forth herein. The Proxy Committee shall review the continuing appropriateness of the Procedures set forth herein, recommend revisions to the Board as necessary and provide an annual update to the Board on the proxy voting process.

 

  (ii) Voting Guidelines. Appendix A hereto sets forth guidelines regarding how proxies will be voted on the issues specified. ISS will vote proxies for or against as directed by the guidelines. Where the guidelines specify a “case by case” determination for a particular issue, ISS will forward the proxy to the Proxy Committee for a vote determination by the Proxy Committee. Finally, with respect to issues for which a vote for or against is specified by the Procedures, the Proxy Committee shall have the authority to direct ISS to forward the proxy to the Proxy Committee for a discretionary vote by the Proxy Committee if the Proxy Committee determines that a case-by-case review of such matter is warranted. The Proxy Committee may also consult Fund sub-advisers on certain proxy voting issues on a case-by-case basis as the Proxy Committee deems appropriate or to the extent that a sub-adviser of a Fund makes a recommendation regarding a proxy voting issue. As a general matter, however, proxies are voted consistently on the same matter when securities of an issuer are held by multiple Funds.

 

  (iii) Proxy Committee. In all cases, the Proxy Committee will exercise its voting discretion in accordance with the voting philosophy of the Funds. In cases where a proxy is forwarded by ISS to the Proxy Committee, the Proxy Committee may be assisted in its voting decision through receipt of: (i) independent research and voting recommendations provided by ISS or other independent sources; (ii) input from the investment sub-adviser responsible for purchasing the security; and (iii) information provided by company management and shareholder groups.

Voting decisions made by the Proxy Committee will be reported to ISS to ensure that the vote is registered in a timely manner and included in Form N-PX reporting.

 

  (iv)

Securities on Loan. As a general matter, securities on loan will not be recalled to facilitate proxy voting (in which case the borrower of the security shall be entitled to vote the proxy). However, if the Proxy

 

6


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  Committee is aware of an item in time to recall the security and has determined in good faith that the importance of the matter to be voted upon outweighs the loss in lending revenue that would result from recalling the security (i.e., if there is a controversial upcoming merger or acquisition, or some other significant matter), the security will be recalled for voting.

 

  (v) Practical Limitations to Proxy Voting. While Funds Management uses its best efforts to vote proxies, in certain circumstances it may be impractical or impossible for Funds Management to vote proxies (e.g., limited value or unjustifiable costs). For example, in accordance with local law or business practices, many foreign companies prevent the sales of shares that have been voted for a certain period beginning prior to the shareholder meeting and ending on the day following the meeting (“share blocking”). Due to these restrictions, Funds Management must balance the benefits to its clients of voting proxies against the potentially serious portfolio management consequences of a reduced flexibility to sell the underlying shares at the most advantageous time. As a result, Funds Management will generally not vote those proxies in the absence of an unusual, significant vote or compelling economic importance. Additionally, Funds Management may not be able to vote proxies for certain foreign securities if Funds Management does not receive the proxy statement in time to vote the proxies due to custodial processing delays.

 

  (vi)

Conflicts of Interest. Funds Management may have a conflict of interest regarding a proxy to be voted upon if, for example, Funds Management or its affiliates have other relationships with the issuer of the proxy. In most instances, conflicts of interest are avoided through a strict and objective application of the voting guidelines attached hereto. However, when the Proxy Committee is aware of a material conflict of interest regarding a matter that would otherwise require a vote by the Proxy Committee, the Proxy Committee shall address the material conflict by using any of the following methods: (1) instructing ISS to vote in accordance with the recommendation ISS makes to its clients; (2) disclosing the conflict to the Board and obtaining their consent before voting; (3) submitting the matter to the Board to exercise its authority to vote on such matter; (4) engaging an independent fiduciary who will direct the Proxy Committee on voting instructions for the proxy; (5) consulting with outside legal counsel for guidance on resolution of the conflict of interest; (6) erecting information barriers around the person or persons making voting decisions; (7) voting in proportion to other shareholders (“mirror voting”); or (8) voting in other ways that are consistent with each Fund’s obligation to vote in the best interests of its shareholders. Additionally, the Proxy Committee will not permit its votes to be influenced by any conflict of interest that exists for any other affiliated person of the Fund (such as a sub-adviser or principal

 

7


Table of Contents
  underwriter) or any affiliated persons of such affiliated persons and the Proxy Committee will vote all such matters without regard to the conflict.

 

     Funds Management may also have a conflict of interest regarding a proxy to be voted on if a member of the Board has an affiliation, directly or indirectly, with a public or private company (an “Identified Company”). Identified Companies include a Board member’s employer, as well as any company of which the Board member is a director or officer or a 5% or more shareholder. The Proxy Committee shall address such a conflict by instructing ISS to vote in accordance with the recommendation ISS makes to its clients.

 

  (vii) Meetings. The Proxy Committee shall convene as needed and when discretionary voting determinations need to be considered, and shall have the authority to act by vote of a majority of the Proxy Committee members available at that time. The Proxy Committee shall also meet at least semi- annually to review the Procedures and the performance of ISS in exercising its proxy voting responsibilities.

 

  (viii) Membership. The voting members of the Proxy Committee shall be Tom Biwer, Travis Keshemberg, Erik Sens, Aldo Ceccarelli and Melissa Duller. Changes to the membership of the Proxy Committee will be made only with Board approval. Upon departure from Funds Management, a member’s position on the Proxy Committee will automatically terminate.

4. Disclosure of Policies and Procedures. Each Fund shall disclose in its statement of additional information a description of the policies and procedures it uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to securities held in its portfolio. In addition, each Fund shall disclose in its semi- and annual reports that a description of its proxy voting policies and procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222, on the Fund’s web site at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

5. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Record. Each Trust shall file with the Commission an annual report on Form N-PX not later than August 31 of each year (beginning August 31, 2004), containing the Trust’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30.

Each Fund shall disclose in its statement of additional information and semi- and annual reports that information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge on the Funds’ web site at www.wellsfargo.com/advantagefunds or by accessing the Commission’s web site at www.sec.gov.

 

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Each Fund shall disclose the following information on Form N-PX for each matter relating to a portfolio security considered at any shareholder meeting held during the period covered by the report and with respect to which the Fund was entitled to vote:

 

    The name of the issuer of the portfolio security;

 

    The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security;

 

    The Council of Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) number for the portfolio security (unless the CUSIP is not available through reasonably practicable means, in which case it will be omitted);

 

    The shareholder meeting date;

 

    A brief identification of the matter voted on;

 

    Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;

 

    Whether the Fund cast its vote on the matter;

 

    How the Fund cast its vote (e.g. for or against a proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors); and

 

    Whether the Fund cast its vote for or against management.

Form N-PX shall be made available to Fund shareholders through the SEC web site.

 

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APPENDIX A

TO

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES

Funds Management will vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Trusts in accordance with the following proxy voting guidelines. To the extent the specific guidelines below do not address a proxy voting proposal, Funds Management will vote pursuant to ISS’ current U.S. and International proxy voting guidelines. Proxies related to issues not addressed by the specific guidelines below or by ISS’ current U.S. and International proxy voting guidelines will be forwarded to the Proxy Committee for a vote determination by the Proxy Committee.

 

Uncontested Election of Directors or Trustees

  
THE FUNDS will generally vote for all uncontested director or trustee nominees. The Nominating Committee is in the best position to select nominees who are available and capable of working well together to oversee management of the company. THE FUNDS will not require a performance test for directors.    FOR
THE FUNDS will generally vote for reasonably crafted shareholder proposals calling for directors to be elected with an affirmative majority of votes cast and/or the elimination of the plurality standard for electing directors, unless the company has adopted formal corporate governance principles that present a meaningful alternative to the majority voting standard.    FOR
THE FUNDS will withhold votes for a director if the nominee fails to attend at least 75% of the board and committee meetings without a valid excuse.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will vote against routine election of directors if any of the following apply: company fails to disclose adequate information in a timely manner, serious issues with the finances, questionable transactions, conflicts of interest, record of abuses against minority shareholder interests, bundling of director elections, and/or egregious governance practices.    AGAINST
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from the entire board (except for new nominees) where the director(s) receive more than 50% withhold votes out of those cast and the issue that was the underlying cause of the high level of withhold votes has not been addressed.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if poor accounting practices, which rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures, are identified.    WITHHOLD

 

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THE FUNDS will withhold votes from members of the Audit Committee if the company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from members of the Audit Committee if there is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from all directors (except for new nominees) if the company has adopted or renewed a poison pill without shareholder approval since the company’s last annual meeting, does not put the pill to a vote at the current annual meeting, and does not have a requirement or does not commit to put the pill to shareholder vote within 12 months. In addition, THE FUNDS will withhold votes on all directors at any company that responds to the majority of the shareholders voting by putting the poison pill to a shareholder vote with a recommendation other than to eliminate the pill.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from compensation committee members if they fail to submit one-time transferable stock options (TSO’s) to shareholders for approval.    WITHHOLD

Limitation on Number of Boards a Director May Sit On

  
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from directors who sit on more than six boards.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from CEO directors who sit on more than two outside boards besides their own.    WITHHOLD
Ratification of Auditors   
THE FUNDS will vote against auditors and withhold votes from audit committee members if non-audit fees are greater than audit fees, audit- related fees, and permitted tax fees, combined. THE FUNDS will follow the disclosure categories being proposed by the SEC in applying the above formula.    AGAINST/WITHHOLD
With the above exception, THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to ratify auditors unless:    FOR

•       an auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent, or

   AGAINST

•       there is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position.

   AGAINST

 

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THE FUNDS will vote against proposals that require auditors to attend annual meetings as auditors are regularly reviewed by the board audit committee, and such attendance is unnecessary.    AGAINST
THE FUNDS will vote for shareholder proposals requesting a shareholder vote for audit firm ratification.    FOR
THE FUNDS will vote against shareholder proposals asking for audit firm rotation. This practice is viewed as too disruptive and too costly to implement for the benefit achieved.    AGAINST
Company Name Change/Purpose   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to change the company name as management and the board is best suited to determine if such change in company name is necessary.    FOR
However, where the name change is requested in connection with a reorganization of the company, the vote will be based on the merits of the reorganization.    CASE-BY-CASE
In addition, THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to amend the purpose of the company. Management is in the best position to know whether the description of what the company does is accurate, or whether it needs to be updated by deleting, adding or revising language.    FOR
Employee Stock Purchase Plans/401(k) Employee Benefit Plans   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to adopt, amend or increase authorized shares for employee stock purchase plans and 401(k) plans for employees as properly structured plans enable employees to purchase common stock at a slight discount and thus own a beneficial interest in the company, provided that the total cost of the company’s plan is not above the allowable cap for the company.    FOR
Similarly, THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to adopt or amend thrift and savings plans, retirement plans, pension plans and profit plans.    FOR
Anti-Hedging/Pledging/Speculative Investments Policy   
THE FUNDS will consider proposals prohibiting named executive officers from engaging in derivative or speculative transactions involving company stock, including hedging, holding stock in a margin account, or pledging stock as collateral for a loan on a case-by-case basis. The company’s existing policies regarding responsible use of company stock will be considered.    CASE-BY-CASE

 

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Approve Other Business   
THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to approve other business. This transfer of authority allows the corporation to take certain ministerial steps that may arise at the annual or special meeting.    FOR
However, THE FUNDS retains the discretion to vote against such proposals if adequate information is not provided in the proxy statement, or the measures are significant and no further approval from shareholders is sought.    AGAINST
Independent Board of Directors/Board Committees   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals requiring that two-thirds of the board be independent directors. An independent board faces fewer conflicts and is best prepared to protect stockholders’ interests.    FOR
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from insiders and affiliated outsiders on boards that are not at least majority independent.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from compensation committee members where there is a pay-for- performance disconnect (for Russell 3000 companies).    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals requesting that the board audit, compensation and/or nominating committees be composed of independent directors, only. Committees should be composed entirely of independent directors in order to avoid conflicts of interest.    FOR
THE FUNDS will withhold votes from any insiders or affiliated outsiders on audit, compensation or nominating committees. THE FUNDS will withhold votes from any insiders or affiliated outsiders on the board if any of these key committees has not been established.    WITHHOLD
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals from shareholders requesting an independent compensation consultant.    AGAINST
Director Fees   
THE FUNDS, will vote for proposals to set director fees.    FOR

 

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Minimum Stock Requirements by Directors   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals requiring directors to own a minimum number of shares of company stock in order to qualify as a director, or to remain on the board. Minimum stock ownership requirements can impose an across-the-board requirement that could prevent qualified individuals from serving as directors.    AGAINST
Indemnification and Liability Provisions for Directors and Officers   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to allow indemnification of directors and officers, when the actions taken were on behalf of the company and no criminal violations occurred. THE FUNDS will also vote in favor of proposals to purchase liability insurance covering liability in connection with those actions. Not allowing companies to indemnify directors and officers to the degree possible under the law would limit the ability of the company to attract qualified individuals.    FOR
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will vote against indemnity proposals that are overly broad. For example, THE FUNDS will oppose proposals to indemnify directors for acts going beyond mere carelessness, such as gross negligence, acts taken in bad faith, acts not otherwise allowed by state law or more serious violations of fiduciary obligations.    AGAINST
Nominee Statement in the Proxy   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals that require board nominees to have a statement of candidacy in the proxy, since the proxy statement already provides adequate information pertaining to the election of directors.    AGAINST
Director Tenure/Retirement Age   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals to limit the tenure of directors as such limitations based on an arbitrary number could prevent qualified individuals from serving as directors. However, THE FUNDS is in favor of inserting cautionary language when the average director tenure on the board exceeds 15 years for the entire board.    AGAINST
The Funds will vote for proposals to establish a mandatory retirement age for directors provided that such retirement age is not less than 65.    FOR
Board Powers/Procedures/Qualifications   
THE FUNDS will consider on a case-by-case basis proposals to amend the corporation’s By-laws so that the Board of Directors shall have the power,    CASE-BY-CASE

 

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without the assent or vote of the shareholders, to make, alter, amend, or rescind the By-laws, fix the amount to be reserved as working capital, and fix the number of directors and what number shall constitute a quorum of the Board. In determining these issues, THE FUNDS will rely on the proxy voting Guidelines.   
Adjourn Meeting to Solicit Additional Votes   
THE FUNDS will examine proposals to adjourn the meeting to solicit additional votes on a case-by-case basis. As additional solicitation may be costly and could result in coercive pressure on shareholders, THE FUNDS will consider the nature of the proposal and its vote recommendations for the scheduled meeting.    CASE-BY-CASE
THE FUNDS will vote for this item when:   
THE FUNDS is supportive of the underlying merger proposal; the company provides a sufficient, compelling reason to support the adjournment proposal; and the authority is limited to adjournment proposals requesting the authority to adjourn solely to solicit proxies to approve a transaction THE FUNDS supports.    FOR
Reimbursement of Solicitation Expenses   
THE FUNDS will consider contested elections on a case-by-case basis, considering the following factors: long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry; management’s track record; background of the proxy contest; qualifications of director or trustee nominees (both slates); evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders as well as the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met; and stock ownership positions.    CASE-BY-CASE
Board Structure: Staggered vs. Annual Elections   
THE FUNDS will consider the issue of classified boards on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, the division of the board into classes, elected for staggered terms, can entrench the incumbent management and make them less responsive to shareholder concerns. On the other hand, in some cases, staggered elections may provide for the continuity of experienced directors on the Board.    CASE-BY-CASE
Removal of Directors   
THE FUNDS will consider on a case-by-case basis proposals to eliminate shareholders’ rights to remove directors with or without cause or only with approval of two-thirds or more of the shares entitled to vote.    CASE-BY-CASE

 

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However, a requirement that a 75% or greater vote be obtained for removal of directors is abusive and will warrant a vote against the proposal.    AGAINST
Board Vacancies   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals that allow the board to fill vacancies without shareholder approval as these authorizations run contrary to basic shareholders’ rights.    AGAINST
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will vote for proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies.    FOR
Cumulative Voting   
THE FUNDS will vote on proposals to permit or eliminate cumulative voting on a case-by-case basis based upon the existence of a counter balancing governance structure and company performance, in accordance with its proxy voting guideline philosophy.    CASE-BY-CASE
THE FUNDS will vote for against cumulative voting if the board is elected annually.    AGAINST
Board Size   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals that seek to fix the size of the board, as the ability for management to increase or decrease the size of the board in the face of a proxy contest may be used as a takeover defense.    FOR
However, if the company has cumulative voting, downsizing the board may decrease a minority shareholder’s chances of electing a director.   
By increasing the size of the board, management can make it more difficult for dissidents to gain control of the board. Fixing the size of the board also prevents a reduction in the board size as a means to oust independent directors or those who cause friction within an otherwise homogenous board.   
Shareholder Rights Plan (Poison Pills)   
THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals that request a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification.    FOR
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will analyze proposals to redeem a company’s poison pill, or requesting the ratification of a poison pill on a case-by-case basis.    CASE-BY-CASE

 

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Poison pills are one of the most potent anti-takeover measures and are generally adopted by boards without shareholder approval. These plans harm shareholder value and entrench management by deterring stock acquisition offers that are not favored by the board.   
Fair Price Provisions   
THE FUNDS will consider fair price provisions on a case-by-case basis, evaluating factors such as the vote required to approve the proposed mechanism, the vote required to approve the proposed acquisition, the vote required to repeal the fair price provision, and the mechanism for determining the fair price.    CASE-BY-CASE
THE FUNDS will vote against fair price provisions with shareholder vote requirements of 75% or more of disinterested shares.    AGAINST
Greenmail   
THE FUNDS will generally vote in favor of proposals limiting the corporation’s authority to purchase shares of common stock (or other outstanding securities) from a holder of a stated interest (5% or more) at a premium unless the same offer is made to all shareholders. These are known as “anti-greenmail” provisions. Greenmail discriminates against rank-and-file shareholders and may have an adverse effect on corporate image.    FOR
If the proposal is bundled with other charter or bylaw amendments, THE FUNDS will analyze such proposals on a case-by-case basis. In addition, THE FUNDS will analyze restructurings that involve the payment of pale greenmail on a case-by-case basis.    CASE-BY-CASE
Voting Rights   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure as such a principle ensures that management is accountable to all the company’s owners.    FOR
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will vote against any proposals to cap the number of votes a shareholder is entitled to. Any measure that places a ceiling on voting may entrench management and lessen its interest in maximizing shareholder value.    AGAINST
Dual Class/Multiple-Voting Stock   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals that authorize, amend or increase dual class or multiple-voting stock which may be used in exchanges or    AGAINST

 

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recapitalizations. Dual class or multiple-voting stock carry unequal voting rights, which differ from those of the broadly traded class of common stock.   
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will vote for the elimination of dual class or multiple-voting stock, which carry different rights than the common stock.    FOR
Confidential Voting   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to adopt confidential voting.    FOR
Vote Tabulations   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals asking corporations to refrain from counting abstentions and broker non-votes in their vote tabulations and to eliminate the company’s discretion to vote unmarked proxy ballots. Vote counting procedures are determined by a number of different standards, including state law, the federal proxy rules, internal corporate policies, and mandates of the various stock exchanges.    AGAINST
Equal Access to the Proxy   
THE FUNDS will evaluate Shareholder proposals requiring companies to give shareholders access to the proxy ballot for the purpose of nominating board members, on a case-by-case basis taking into account the ownership threshold proposed in the resolution and the proponent’s rationale for the proposal at the targeted company in terms of board and director conduct.    CASE-BY-CASE
Disclosure of Information   
THE FUNDS will vote against shareholder proposals requesting fuller disclosure of company policies, plans, or business practices. Such proposals rarely enhance shareholder return and in many cases would require disclosure of confidential business information.    AGAINST
Annual Meetings   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to amend procedures or change date or location of the annual meeting. Decisions as to procedures, dates or locations of meetings are best placed with management.    FOR
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will vote against proposals from shareholders calling for a change in the location or date of annual meetings as no date or location proposed will be acceptable to all shareholders.    AGAINST
THE FUNDS will generally vote in favor of proposals to reduce the quorum necessary for shareholders’ meetings, subject to a minimum of a simple    FOR

 

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majority of the company’s outstanding voting shares.   
Shareholder Advisory Committees/Independent Inspectors   
THE FUNDS will vote against proposals seeking to establish shareholder advisory committees or independent inspectors. The existence of such bodies dilutes the responsibility of the board for managing the affairs of the corporation.    AGAINST
Technical Amendments to the Charter of Bylaws   
THE FUNDS will generally vote in favor of charter and bylaw amendments proposed solely to conform to modern business practices, for simplification, or to comply with what management’s counsel interprets as applicable law.    FOR
However, amendments that have a material effect on shareholder’s rights will be considered on a case-by-case basis.    CASE-BY-CASE
Bundled Proposals   
THE FUNDS will vote for bundled or “conditional” proxy proposals on a case-by-case basis, as THE FUNDS will examine the benefits and costs of the packaged items, and determine if the effect of the conditioned items are in the best interests of shareholders.    CASE-BY-CASE
Dividends   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to allocate income and set dividends.    FOR
THE FUNDS will also vote for proposals that authorize a dividend reinvestment program as it allows investors to receive additional stock in lieu of a cash dividend.    FOR
However, if a proposal for a special bonus dividend is made that specifically rewards a certain class of shareholders over another, THE FUNDS will vote against the proposal.    AGAINST
THE FUNDS will also vote against proposals from shareholders requesting management to redistribute profits or restructure investments. Management is best placed to determine how to allocate corporate earnings or set dividends.    AGAINST

 

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Reduce the Par Value of the Common Stock   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.    FOR
Preferred Stock Authorization   
THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to create preferred stock in cases where the company expressly states that the stock will not be used as a takeover defense or carry superior voting rights, or where the stock may be used to consummate beneficial acquisitions, combinations or financings.    FOR
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will vote against proposals to authorize or issue preferred stock if the board has asked for the unlimited right to set the terms and conditions for the stock and may issue it for anti-takeover purposes without shareholder approval (blank check preferred stock).    AGAINST
In addition, THE FUNDS will vote against proposals to issue preferred stock if the shares to be used have voting rights greater than those available to other shareholders.    AGAINST
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to require shareholder approval of blank check preferred stock issues for other than general corporate purposes (white squire placements).    FOR
Preemptive Rights   
THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to eliminate preemptive rights. Preemptive rights are unnecessary to protect shareholder interests due to the size of most modern companies, the number of investors and the liquidity of trading.    FOR
Share Repurchase Plans   
THE FUNDS will vote for share repurchase plans, unless:    FOR

•    there is clear evidence of past abuse of the authority; or

   AGAINST

•    the plan contains no safeguards against selective buy-backs.

   AGAINST
Corporate stock repurchases are a legitimate use of corporate funds and can add to long-term shareholder returns.   
Executive and Director Compensation Plans   
THE FUNDS will analyze on a case-by-case basis proposals on executive or director compensation plans, with the view that viable compensation programs reward the creation of stockholder wealth by having high payout    CASE-BY-CASE

 

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sensitivity to increases in shareholder value. Such proposals may seek shareholder approval to adopt a new plan, or to increase shares reserved for an existing plan.   
THE FUNDS will review the potential cost and dilutive effect of the plan. After determining how much the plan will cost, ISS evaluates whether the cost is reasonable by comparing the cost to an allowable cap. The allowable cap is industry-specific, market cap-base, and pegged to the average amount paid by companies performing in the top quartile of their peer groups. If the proposed cost is below the allowable cap, THE FUNDS will vote for the plan. ISS will also apply a pay for performance overlay in assessing equity-based compensation plans for Russell 3000 companies.    FOR
If the proposed cost is above the allowable cap, THE FUNDS will vote against the plan.    AGAINST
Among the plan features that may result in a vote against the plan are:    AGAINST

•       plan administrators are given the authority to reprice or replace underwater options; repricing guidelines will conform to changes in the NYSE and NASDAQ listing rules.

  
THE FUNDS will vote against equity plans that have high average three- year burn rate. (The burn rate is calculated as the total number of stock awards and stock options granted any given year divided by the number of common shares outstanding.) THE FUNDS will define a high average three-year burn rate as the following: The company’s most recent three-year burn rate exceeds one standard deviation of its four-digit GICS peer group segmented by Russell 3000 index and non-Russell 3000 index; and the company’s most recent three-year burn rate exceeds 2% of common shares outstanding. For companies that grant both full value awards and stock options to their employees, THE FUNDS shall apply a premium on full value awards for the past three fiscal years.    AGAINST
Even if the equity plan fails the above burn rate, THE FUNDS will vote for the plan if the company commits in a public filing to a three-year average burn rate equal to its GICS group burn rate mean plus one standard deviation. If the company fails to fulfill its burn rate commitment, THE FUNDS will consider withholding from the members of the compensation committee.    FOR
THE FUNDS will calculate a higher award value for awards that have Dividend Equivalent Rights (DER’s) associated with them.    CASE-BY-CASE
THE FUNDS will generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring performance-based stock options unless the proposal is overly restrictive or    FOR

 

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the company demonstrates that it is using a substantial portion of performance-based awards for its top executives.   
THE FUNDS will vote for shareholder proposals asking the company to expense stock options, as a result of the FASB final rule on expensing stock options.    FOR
THE FUNDS will generally vote for shareholder proposals to exclude pension fund income in the calculation of earnings used in determining executive bonuses/compensation.    FOR
THE FUNDS will generally vote for TSO awards within a new equity plan if the total cost of the equity plan is less than the company’s allowable cap.    FOR
THE FUNDS will generally vote against shareholder proposals to ban future stock option grants to executives. This may be supportable in extreme cases where a company is a serial repricer, has a huge overhang, or has highly dilutive, broad-based (non-approved) plans and is not acting to correct the situation.    AGAINST
THE FUNDS will evaluate shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt holding periods for their executives on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the company’s current holding period or officer share ownership requirements, as well as actual officer stock ownership in the company.    CASE-BY-CASE
For certain OBRA-related proposals, THE FUNDS will vote for plan provisions that (a) place a cap on annual grants or amend administrative features, and (b) add performance criteria to existing compensation plans to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.    FOR
In addition, director compensation plans may also include stock plans that provide directors with the option of taking all or a portion of their cash compensation in the form of stock. THE FUNDS will consider these plans based on their voting power dilution.    CASE-BY-CASE
THE FUNDS will generally vote for retirement plans for directors.    FOR
THE FUNDS will evaluate compensation proposals (Tax Havens) requesting share option schemes or amending an existing share option scheme on a case-by-case basis.    CASE-BY-CASE
Stock options align management interests with those of shareholders by motivating executives to maintain stock price appreciation. Stock options, however, may harm shareholders by diluting each owner’s interest. In   

 

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addition, exercising options can shift the balance of voting power by increasing executive ownership.   
Bonus Plans   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to adopt annual or long-term cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans on a case-by-case basis. These plans enable companies qualify for a tax deduction under the provisions of Section 162(m) of the IRC. Payouts under these plans may either be in cash or stock and are usually tied to the attainment of certain financial or other performance goals. THE FUNDS will consider whether the plan is comparable to plans adopted by companies of similar size in the company’s industry and whether it is justified by the company’s performance.    CASE-BY-CASE
Deferred Compensation Plans   
THE FUNDS will generally vote for proposals to adopt or amend deferred compensation plans as they allow the compensation committee to tailor the plan to the needs of the executives or board of directors, unless    FOR

•       the proposal is embedded in an executive or director compensation plan that is contrary to guidelines

   AGAINST
Disclosure on Executive or Director Compensation Cap or Restrict Executive or Director Compensation   
THE FUNDS will generally vote for shareholder proposals requiring companies to report on their executive retirement benefits (deferred compensation, split-dollar life insurance, SERPs, and pension benefits.    FOR
THE FUNDS will generally vote for shareholder proposals requesting to put extraordinary benefits contained in SERP agreements to a shareholder vote, unless the company’s executive pension plans do not contain excessive benefits beyond what is offered under employee-wide plans.    FOR
THE FUNDS will generally vote against proposals seek to limit executive and director pay.    AGAINST
Tax-Gross-Up Payments   
THE FUNDS will examine on a case-by-case basis proposals calling for companies to adopt a policy of not providing tax gross-up payments to executives.    CASE-BY-CASE

 

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Relocation Benefits   
The FUNDS will not consider relocation benefits as a problematic pay practice in connection with management say-on-pay proposals.   
Exchange Offers/Re-Pricing   
The FUNDS will not vote against option exchange programs made available to executives and directors that are otherwise found acceptable.   
Golden and Tin Parachutes   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals that seek shareholder ratification of golden or tin parachutes as shareholders should have the opportunity to approve or disapprove of these severance agreements.    FOR
Alternatively, THE FUNDS will examine on a case-by-case basis proposals that seek to ratify or cancel golden or tin parachutes. Effective parachutes may encourage management to consider takeover bids more fully and may also enhance employee morale and productivity. Among the arrangements that will be considered on their merits are:    CASE-BY-CASE

•       arrangements guaranteeing key employees continuation of base salary for more than three years or lump sum payment of more than three times base salary plus retirement benefits;

  

•       guarantees of benefits if a key employee voluntarily terminates;

  

•       guarantees of benefits to employees lower than very senior management; and

  

•       indemnification of liability for excise taxes.

  
By contrast, THE FUNDS will vote against proposals that would guarantee benefits in a management-led buyout.    AGAINST
Stakeholder Laws   
THE FUNDS will vote against resolutions that would allow the Board to consider stakeholder interests (local communities, employees, suppliers, creditors, etc.) when faced with a takeover offer.    AGAINST
Similarly, THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to opt out of stakeholder laws, which permit directors, when taking action, to weight the interests of constituencies other than shareholders in the process of corporate decision-making. Such laws allow directors to consider nearly any factor they deem relevant in discharging their duties.    FOR

 

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Mergers/Acquisitions and Corporate Restructurings   
THE FUNDS will consider proposals on mergers and acquisitions on a case-by-case basis. THE FUNDS will determine if the transaction is in the best economic interests of the shareholders. THE FUNDS will take into account the following factors:    CASE-BY-CASE

•       anticipated financial and operating benefits;

  

•       offer price (cost versus premium);

  

•       prospects for the combined companies;

  

•       how the deal was negotiated;

  

•       changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder rights.

  
In addition, THE FUNDS will also consider whether current shareholders would control a minority of the combined company’s outstanding voting power, and whether a reputable financial advisor was retained in order to ensure the protection of shareholders’ interests.    CASE-BY-CASE
On all other business transactions, i.e. corporate restructuring, spin-offs, asset sales, liquidations, and restructurings, THE FUNDS will analyze such proposals on a case-by-case basis and utilize the majority of the above factors in determining what is in the best interests of shareholders. Specifically, for liquidations, the cost versus premium factor may not be applicable, but THE FUNDS may also review the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.    CASE-BY-CASE
Appraisal Rights   
THE FUNDS will vote for proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with rights of appraisal.    FOR
Rights of appraisal provide shareholders who are not satisfied with the terms of certain corporate transactions (such as mergers) the right to demand a judicial review in order to determine the fair value of their shares.   
Mutual Fund Proxies   
THE FUNDS will vote mutual fund proxies on a case-by-case basis. Proposals may include, and are not limited to, the following issues:    CASE-BY-CASE

•       eliminating the need for annual meetings of mutual fund shareholders;

  

•       entering into or extending investment advisory agreements and management contracts;

  

•       permitting securities lending and participation in repurchase agreements;

  

•       changing fees and expenses; and

  

•       changing investment policies.

  

 

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APPENDIX

B TO

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES

Members of Funds Management Proxy Voting Committee

Thomas C. Biwer, CFA

Mr. Biwer has over 38 years of investment industry experience. He has served as an investment analyst, portfolio strategist, and corporate pension officer. He received B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Illinois and has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

Erik J. Sens, CFA

Mr. Sens has over 22 years of investment industry experience. He has served as an investment analyst and portfolio manager. He received undergraduate degrees in Finance and Philosophy from the University of San Francisco and has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

Travis L. Keshemberg, CFA

Mr. Keshemberg has over 17 years of investment industry experience. He has served as an overlay portfolio manager and investment consultant. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Bachelor’s degree from Marquette University. He has earned the right to use the CFA, CIPM and CIMA designations.

Aldo Ceccarelli, CFA

Mr. Ceccarelli has over 14 years of investment industry experience. He has served as Fixed Income Analyst with responsibilities including portfolio manager selection and performance. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in economics from Santa Clara University. He has earned the right to use the CFA designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA society of San Francisco.

Melissa Duller, CIMA, CFA

Ms. Duller has over 16 years of experience in the investment industry. She has served as an investment analyst, provides oversight for domestic equity strategies and assists with investment communications for core equity mutual funds, sector specific mutual funds, and closed-end funds. She has also provided research and communications for growth equity and international equity strategies as well as short-term and tax advantaged fixed income products. In addition, she has served as a regional investment manager for high net worth individuals, personal trusts, and charitable foundations.

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

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Ashok Bhatia, CFA

Ashok Bhatia is co-lead of the Wells Capital Management Customized Fixed Income team and senior portfolio manager. He joined Wells Capital Management from Balyasny Asset Management where he oversaw a discretionary global macro portfolio for 5 years and prior to this also worked at Stark Investments for 5 years as co-head of global macro, fixed income, emerging markets and commodities strategies. Ashok left Strong Capital Management in 2004 where he was a portfolio manager on what is now the WellsCap Customized Fixed Income Team (Strong was acquired by Wells Fargo on 1/1/05 and the investment teams became part of Wells Capital Management). Ashok previously worked for Morgan Stanley and LaSalle Advisors, focusing on


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commercial and residential mortgage backed securities trading. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and MBA from the University of Chicago. Ashok has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

Christopher Y. Kauffman, CFA

Mr. Kauffman is a portfolio manager for the Wells Capital Management Fixed Income team. He joined WellsCap from Tattersall Advisory Group (TAG), where he served in a similar role since 2003. He began his investment industry career in 1997 as an investment officer for NISA Investment Advisors, where he was responsible for MBS analysis, risk assessment, and trading. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Washington University in St. Louis. He has earned the right to use the CFA designation and is a member of the St. Louis Society of Financial Analysts and the CFA Institute.

Michael Lee

Mr. Lee is a senior portfolio manager with the First International Advisors team at Wells Capital Management. Mike is one of five senior members of the investment team that forms the Senior Strategy Team. His responsibilities include the day-to-day management and implementation of portfolio strategies. He joined WellsCap from Evergreen Investments, where he served in a similar role since 1992. Prior to this, he worked at Northern Trust Co. Earlier, he held investment positions at JPMorganChase and National Westminster Bank. Michael began his investment industry career in 1982. He is a member of the U.K. Society of Investment Professionals.

Niklas Nordenfelt, CFA

Mr. Nordenfelt is currently managing director, senior portfolio manager with the Sutter High Yield Fixed Income team at Wells Capital Management. Niklas joined the Sutter High Yield Fixed Income team of Wells Capital Management in February 2003 as investment strategist. Niklas began his investment career in 1991 and has managed portfolios ranging from quantitative-based and tactical asset allocation strategies to credit driven portfolios. Previous to joining Sutter, Niklas was at Barclays Global Investors (BGI) from 1996-2002 where he was a principal. At BGI, he worked on their international and emerging markets equity strategies after having managed their asset allocation products. Prior to this, Niklas was a quantitative analyst at Fidelity and a portfolio manager and group leader at Mellon Capital Management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

Tony Norris

Mr. Norris is a managing director and senior portfolio manager with the First International Advisors team at Wells Capital Management. Tony is one of five senior members of the investment team that forms the Senior Strategy Team. His responsibilities include developing investment strategies, macro-portfolio allocation, portfolio positioning, and risk management. He joined WellsCap from Evergreen Investments, where he served in a similar role since 1990. Previously, he spent several years in banking, with particular emphasis on foreign exchange. Tony served in senior executive positions at Reserve Asset Managers and Gillett Brothers Fund Management. He began his investment industry career in 1967 at Wallace Brothers Bank. He is a member of the Society of Technical Analysts and is an associate of the International Federation of Technical Analysts.

Alex Perrin

Mr. Perrin is a senior portfolio manager with the First International Advisors team at Wells Capital Management. Alex is one of five senior members of the investment team that forms the Senior Strategy Team. His responsibilities include developing investment strategies, macro-portfolio allocation, portfolio positioning, and risk management. He joined First International Advisors in 1992. Alex earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Hull University in the U.K. He is a member of the Society of Technical Analysts and an Associate Member of the U.K. Society of Investment Professionals.

Philip Susser

Mr. Susser is currently managing director, senior portfolio manager, and co-head of the Sutter High Yield Fixed Income team at Wells Capital Management. Philip joined the Sutter High Yield Fixed Income team as a senior research analyst in 2001. He has extensive research experience in the cable/satellite, gaming, hotels, restaurants, printing/publishing, telecom, REIT, lodging and distressed sectors. Philip’s investment experience began in 1995 spending three years as a securities lawyer at Cahill Gordon and Shearman & Sterling representing underwriters and issuers of high yield debt. Later, Philip evaluated venture investment opportunities for MediaOne Ventures before joining Deutsche Bank as a research analyst. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Christopher Wightman

Mr. Wightman is a senior portfolio manager with the First International Advisors team at Wells Capital Management. Chris is one of five senior members of the investment team that forms the Senior Strategy Team. His responsibilities include macro-portfolio allocation, portfolio positioning, and risk management. He joined First International Advisors in 2011 from JP Morgan Chase, where he served as a senior investment manager specializing in global fixed income strategies. Earlier, Chris served as a


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senior fixed income trader at Fidelity International. He began his investment industry career in 1997 as a Graduate Analyst at Morgan Stanley. Chris earned a B.A. (Hons) in business studies at Staffordshire University (UK).

Peter Wilson

Mr. Wilson is a managing director and senior portfolio manager with the First International Advisors team at Wells Capital Management. Peter is one of five senior members of the investment team that forms the Senior Strategy Team. His responsibilities include macro-portfolio allocation, portfolio positioning, and risk management. He joined WellsCap from Evergreen Investments, where he served in a similar role since 1989. Previously, he served as treasurer and portfolio manager for Axe-Houghton, vice president at Bankers Trust in London and New York, and portfolio manager at Merchant Bankers Kleinwort Benson Ltd. Peter began his investment industry career in 1978 at international stockbrokers James Capel & Co. He was educated in Canada, Hong Kong, and England.

Noah Wise, CFA

Noah Wise is a portfolio manager for the Wells Capital Management Customized Fixed Income team. Noah joined Wells Capital Management in 2008 as a research analyst and later became a portfolio manager in 2013. Prior to joining WellsCap, Noah worked as a lead market maker for Interactive Brokers. He began his investment industry career as an intern for Capital Financial Services in 2001. Noah earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in securities analysis from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

OTHER FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS MANAGED

The following table provides information about the registered investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles and accounts managed by the portfolio manager of the Fund as of the most recent year ended October 31, 2015 for each portfolio manager

Ashok Bhatia

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   3    0    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,803    $0    $0

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    0    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $0    $0

Niklas Nordenfelt

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    5    11

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,246.20    $293.20    $1,396.30

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    0    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $0    $0


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Philip Susser

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    5    11

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,246.20    $293.20    $1,396.30

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    0    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $0    $0

Christopher Y. Kauffman

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   5    $0    3

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $5,250    $0    $984

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    0    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $0    $0

Tony Norris

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    12    8

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,243.25    $1,092    $3,765

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    1    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $219    $0


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Peter Wilson

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    12    8

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,243.25    $1,092    $3,765

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    1    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $219    $0

Michael Lee

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    12    8

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,243.25    $1,092    $3,765

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    1    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $219    $0

Alex Perrin

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    12    8

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,243.25    $1,092    $3,765

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    1    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $219    $0

Christopher Wightman

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    12    8

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $1,243.25    $1,092    $3,765


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performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    1    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $219    $0

Noah Wise

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   4    1    11

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $2,689.63    $ 72    $900

performance based fee accounts:

 

I manage the following types of accounts:    Other Registered
Investment Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts

Number of above accounts

   0    0    0

Total assets of above accounts (millions)

   $0    $0    $0

MATERIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The Portfolio Managers face inherent conflicts of interest in their day-to-day management of the Funds and other accounts because the Funds may have different investment objectives, strategies and risk profiles than the other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers. For instance, to the extent that the Portfolio Managers manage accounts with different investment strategies than the Funds, they may from time to time be inclined to purchase securities, including initial public offerings, for one account but not for a Fund. Additionally, some of the accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers may have different fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher or lower, in some cases significantly higher or lower, than the fees paid by the Funds. The differences in fee structures may provide an incentive to the Portfolio Managers to allocate more favorable trades to the higher-paying accounts.

To minimize the effects of these inherent conflicts of interest, the Sub-Advisers have adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that they believe address the potential conflicts associated with managing portfolios for multiple clients and ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equitably. Additionally, some of the Sub-Advisers minimize inherent conflicts of interest by assigning the Portfolio Managers to accounts having similar objectives. Accordingly, security block purchases are allocated to all accounts with similar objectives in proportionate weightings. Furthermore, the Sub-Advisers have adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) to address potential conflicts associated with managing the Funds and any personal accounts the Portfolio Managers may maintain.

First International Advisors

First International Advisors’ Portfolio Managers often provide investment management for separate accounts advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to mutual funds. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, First International Advisors has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.

Wells Capital Management

Wells Capital Management’s Portfolio Managers often provide investment management for separate accounts advised in the same or similar investment style as that provided to mutual funds. While management of multiple accounts could potentially lead to conflicts of interest over various issues such as trade allocation, fee disparities and research acquisition, Wells Capital Management has implemented policies and procedures for the express purpose of ensuring that clients are treated fairly and that potential conflicts of interest are minimized.

COMPENSATION


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The Portfolio Managers were compensated by their employing sub-adviser from the fees the Adviser paid the Sub-Adviser using the following compensation structure:

First International Advisors Compensation. The compensation structure for First International Advisors’s Portfolio Managers includes a competitive fixed base salary plus variable incentives (First International Advisors utilizes investment management compensation surveys as confirmation). Incentive bonuses are typically tied to pretax relative investment performance of all accounts under his or her management within acceptable risk parameters. Relative investment performance is generally evaluated for 1, 3, and 5 year performance results, with a predominant weighting on the 3-and 5- year time periods, versus the relevant benchmarks and/or peer groups consistent with the investment style. This evaluation takes into account relative performance of the accounts to each account’s individual benchmark and/or the relative composite performance of all accounts to one or more relevant benchmarks consistent with the overall investment style. In the case of each Fund, the benchmark(s) against which the performance of the Fund’s portfolio may be compared for these purposes generally are indicated in the Performance” sections of the Prospectuses.

Wells Capital Management Compensation. The compensation structure for Wells Capital Management’s Portfolio Managers includes a competitive fixed base salary plus variable incentives (Wells Capital Management utilizes investment management compensation surveys as confirmation). Incentive bonuses are typically tied to pretax relative investment performance of all accounts under his or her management within acceptable risk parameters. Relative investment performance is generally evaluated for 1, 3, and 5 year performance results, with a predominant weighting on the 3- and 5- year time periods, versus the relevant benchmarks and/or peer groups consistent with the investment style. This evaluation takes into account relative performance of the accounts to each account’s individual benchmark and/or the relative composite performance of all accounts to one or more relevant benchmarks consistent with the overall investment style. In the case of each Fund, the benchmark(s) against which the performance of the Fund’s portfolio may be compared for these purposes generally are indicated in the Performance” sections of the Prospectuses.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE FUND

The following table shows for each Portfolio Manager the dollar value of the Fund beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager as of October 31, 2015 DID WE GET THIS INFO FOR 10/31?

MISSING NOAH INFO?

 

Ashok Bhatia

     none   

Niklas Nordenfelt

     none   

Philip Susser

     none   

Christopher Kauffman

     none   

Tony Norris

     none   

Peter Wilson

     none   

Michael Lee

     none   

Alex Perrin

     none   

Christopher Wightman

     none   

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

Not applicable.

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

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

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

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


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

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS

(a)(1) Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit COE.

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

(a)(3) Not applicable.

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


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LOGO

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund

By:

 
 

/s/ Karla M. Rabusch

 

Karla M. Rabusch

 

President

Date:

 

December 22, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Wells Fargo Multi-Sector Income Fund

By:

 
  /s/ Karla M. Rabusch
  Karla M. Rabusch
  President

Date:

  December 22, 2015

By:

 
  /s/ Jeremy DePalma
  Jeremy DePalma
  Treasurer

Date:

  December 22, 2015