Edgar Filing: NUVEEN TAX ADVANTAGED TOTAL RETURN STRATEGY FUND

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number			811-21471

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Nuveen Investments 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Kevin J. McCarthy Nuveen Investments 333 West Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606
(Name and address of agent for service)

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

Date of fiscal year end:	December 31

Date of reporting period:		June 30, 2013

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

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

ITEM 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS.

Closed-End Funds

Nuveen Investments

Closed-End Funds

Seeks Opportunities for Capital Appreciation and Tax-Advantaged Distributions
from a Portfolio of Value Equities and Senior Loans

Semi-Annual Report

June 30, 2013

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged
Total Return Strategy
Fund

JTA

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Table of Contents

Letter to Shareholders					4
Portfolio Managers' Comments					5
Fund Leverage					8
Common Share Information					9
Risk Considerations					12
Performance Overview and Holding Summaries					14
Shareholder Meeting Report					15
Portfolio of Investments					16
Statement of Assets & Liabilities					23
Statement of Operations					24
Statement of Changes in Net Assets					25
Statement of Cash Flows					26
Financial Highlights					28
Notes to Financial Statements					30
Annual Investment Management Agreement Approval Process					40
Reinvest Automatically, Easily and Conveniently					48
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report					49
Additional Fund Information					51

Letter to Shareholders

Dear Shareholders,

After nine years of serving as lead director and independent chairman of the Nuveen Fund Board, my term of office has come to an end as of June 30, 2013. It has been a privilege to use this space to communicate with you on some of the broad economic trends in the U.S. and abroad and how they are impacting the investment environment in which your funds operate. In addition, I have enjoyed offering some perspective on how your Board views the various Nuveen investment teams as they apply their investment disciplines in that investment environment.

My term has coincided with a particularly challenging period for both mutual fund sponsors and investors. Since 2000 there have been three periods of unusually strong stock market growth and two major market declines. Recent years have been characterized by a search for yield in fixed income securities to compensate for an extended period of very low interest rates. Funds are investing more in foreign and emerging markets that require extensive research capabilities to overcome the more limited transparency and higher volatility in those markets. New fund concepts often incorporate derivative financial instruments that offer efficient ways to hedge investment risk or gain exposure to selected markets. Fund trading teams operate in many new domestic and international venues with quite different characteristics. Electronic trading and global communication networks mean that fund managers must be able to thrive in financial markets that react instantaneously to newsworthy events and are more interconnected than ever.

Nuveen has committed additional resources to respond to these changes in the fund industry environment. It has added IT and research resources to assemble and evaluate the increased flow of detailed information on economies, markets and individual companies. Based on its experience during the financial crisis of 2008-09, Nuveen has expanded its resources dedicated to valuing and trading portfolio securities with a particular focus on stressed financial market conditions. It has added systems and experienced risk management professionals to work with investment teams to better help evaluate whether their funds' risk exposures are appropriate in view of the return targets. The investment teams have also reflected on recent experience to reaffirm or modify their investment disciplines. Finally, experienced professionals and IT resources have been added to address new regulatory requirements designed to better inform and protect investors. The Nuveen Fund Board has enthusiastically encouraged these initiatives.

The Board has always viewed itself as your representatives to assure that Nuveen brings together experienced people, proven technologies and effective processes designed to produce results that meet investor expectations. It is important to note that our activities are highlighted by the annual contract renewal process. Despite its somewhat formal language, I strongly encourage you to read the summary because it offers an insight into our oversight process. The report is included in the back of this shareholder report. The renewal process is very comprehensive and includes a number of evaluations and discussions between the Board and Nuveen during the year. The summary also describes what has been achieved across the Nuveen fund complex and at individual funds such as yours.

As I leave the chairmanship and resume my role as a member of the Board, please be assured that I and my fellow Board members will continue to hold your interests uppermost in our minds as we oversee the management of your funds and that we greatly appreciate your confidence in your Nuveen fund.

Very sincerely,

Robert P. Bremner
August 22, 2013

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Portfolio Managers' Comments

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (JTA)

The Fund features management by two affiliates of Nuveen Investments. The Fund's investments in dividend-paying common and preferred stocks and call options written are managed by NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC (NWQ), while the Fund's investments in senior corporate loans and other debt instruments are managed by Symphony Asset Management LLC (Symphony). Jon Bosse, Chief Investment Officer of NWQ, leads the Fund's management team at that firm. The Symphony team is led by Gunther Stein, who serves as the firm's Chief Investment Officer. Here Jon and Gunther talk about their management strategies and the performance of the Fund for the six-month reporting period ending June 30, 2013.

What key strategies were used to manage the Fund during this six-month reporting period ended June 30, 2013?

The Fund is designed to seek a high level of after-tax total return consisting primarily of tax-advantaged dividend income and capital appreciation. In an effort to achieve this, the Fund invests primarily in common stocks whose dividends may be eligible for favorable income tax treatment. The Fund also invests to a more limited extent in preferred stocks that are eligible to pay tax-advantaged dividends, as well as in senior loans and other debt instruments.

For the common and preferred equity portion of the Fund's portfolio, NWQ continued to employ an opportunistic, bottom-up strategy that focused on identifying undervalued companies possessing favorable risk/reward characteristics as well as what we thought were emerging catalysts that could unlock value or improve profitability. These catalysts included management changes, restructuring efforts, recognition of hidden assets and/or a positive change in the underlying fundamentals. We also focused on downside risk management and paid a great deal of attention to a company's balance sheet and cash flow statement, not just the income statement. We believed that cash flow analysis offered a more objective picture of a company's financial position than an evaluation based on earnings alone.

For the preferred securities portion of the Fund's portfolio, we look at the specific characteristics of the preferred stocks available for investment and evaluate the effect on holding such an investment. These characteristics might include price, yield, issuer, rating, liquidity premium/discount and any other potential issues that can affect the value of the position. Additionally, because the preferred market is very concentrated both by issuer and industry, we pay particular attention to the diversification of the Fund.

In the senior loan and other debt portion of the Fund's portfolio, Symphony continued to manage and monitor senior loan market risks. Credit risk remained low during the period and defaults averaged below 2% for the senior loan

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

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

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market. All industries had positive returns during the reporting period, despite many with negative credit events. For example, home-improvement retailer Orchard Supply Hardware was downgraded during the reporting period.

The Fund's capital remained invested in issuers who maintain strong credit profiles among non-investment-grade debt while offering attractive current income and yield. Fundamentally, Symphony feels that many of these companies have stable businesses, good asset coverage for senior debt holders and could perform well in a stable to slow growth environment.

How did the Fund perform during this six-month reporting period ended June 30, 2013?

The table in the Performance Overview and Holding Summaries section of this report provides total return performance for the Fund for the six-month, one-year, five-year and since inception periods ended June 30, 2013. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 the total return on common share net asset value (NAV) for the Fund outperformed its comparative benchmark and the S&P 500 Index.

For the equity portion of the Fund managed by NWQ, most of our financial holdings outperformed on the strength of improving fundamentals, including stronger capital positions, ongoing cost cutting initiatives and a steady recovery in the housing market. Two notable investments in the sector included Hartford Financial and Unum Group. Hartford benefited from improving fundamental performance, rising interest rates, strengthening equity markets (particularly in Japan) and continued execution of its strategy to focus on its property and casualty business and reducing exposure to its variable annuity business. Hartford recently increased its dividend and increased its share repurchase, in addition to announcing further asset sales and steps to reduce risk in its run-off variable annuity businesses.

Unum Group appreciated as investors began to recognize that the company was earning its cost of capital while trading at a significant discount to its book value. In addition, Unum has been returning a substantial part of its earnings to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. We believe Unum's underwriting discipline combined with active capital management and higher interest rates have brought the stock's valuation more in line with the company's solid fundamentals.

Shares of CA Technologies have rebounded from their year-end sell-off in 2012 on the back of improving cash flows and earnings results as well as the announcement of a turnaround strategy by new CEO Michael Gregoire. While we believe much of his new strategy will focus on reducing non-core expenses, he is also looking to reinvest in higher growth, higher margin business initiatives and we expect him to reorganize the sales force to enhance productivity and revenue growth. If successful, these efforts should increase the potential for CA Technology to achieve industry standard operating margins of 20% in its growth businesses.

Gold mining stocks AngloGold Ashanti and Barrick Gold performed poorly for the period. The most recent decline in miners was largely driven by the commodity weakness, in our view. In turn, the gold weakness has likely been driven by Fed comments regarding future potential stimulus tapering, dollar strength, Japan easing crowding out other stimulus, and higher interest rates. However, we think there is significant optionality in the valuations of the miners at these levels, with much more upside potential than downside risk. We think a reversal in gold back to the $1400-1500 range could drive a significant upward move in the mining stock prices. We believe there is enough uncertainty in the macro environment that this type of reversal is quite possible. Our gold mining positions are modest at this point and given the attractive risk/reward profile at these levels, we remain positively biased toward the stocks.

Also detracting from performance were shares of Mosaic, which weakened in June as a general sell-off in commodities put pressure on potash and phosphate prices. In July (subsequent to the close of this reporting period), the shares weakened even further after Russian potash producer, Uralkali, pulled out of their potash cartel marketing agreement with Belaruskali, BPC. This calls into question the ability of cartel producers to maintain market prices above the industry cost curve. The lower prices should stimulate additional demand, however, which could provide an offset to the loss in

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profitability. Also, although recently delayed, the Cargill Trust's sale of Mosaic stock should remove constraints on the company's ability to return substantial amounts of capital to shareholders.

We opportunistically added several new holdings to the Fund based on attractive valuations and dividend yield. We increased the Fund's financial sector weight with new purchases of Bank of New York, Medley Capital and PennyMac Mortgage, while eliminating Symetra. In the consumer staples sector, we increased exposure with the addition of Proctor & Gamble and Tyson Foods. We later eliminated Tyson at a profit. New purchases in the technology sector included Analog Devices and Microchip Technology, and AstraZeneca and Roche Holding in pharmaceuticals.

Several holdings were eliminated or trimmed during the year based on valuation, deteriorating fundamentals or to raise cash as we rotated into new investment opportunities. Among the holdings eliminated were Occidental Petroleum, Symetra Financial, Tyson Foods and Teva Pharmaceutical. We rotated out of Newmont Mining and put the proceeds into AuRico Gold, and eliminated Halliburton based on valuation.

During the period, NWQ wrote (sold) covered call options on individual stocks held in the Fund's portfolio to enhance returns while foregoing some upside potential. The effect on performance for the period was slightly negative, as covered call strategies perform worse than strategies that do not sell calls when equity prices are rising, which they did during the period.

The senior loan sleeve managed by Symphony positively contributed to the Fund's performance during the reporting period. The senior loan portion of the Fund benefited from credit selection and strong market technicals, including robust retail demand and collateralized loan obligation issuance. The Fund's positions in Federal-Mogul Corporation and Clear Channel performed well during the period. Detracting from performance was TXU Corporation, whose loans traded down as investors await regulatory changes to the local power market. Additionally, exposure to Charter Communications lagged the overall market as the company has dealt with various debt facilities through refinancing.

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Fund Leverage

IMPACT OF THE FUND'S LEVERAGE STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE

One important factor impacting the return of the Fund relative to the comparative index was the Fund's use of leverage through the use of bank borrowings. The Fund uses leverage because its managers believe that, over time, leveraging provides opportunities for additional income and total return for common shareholders. However, use of leverage also can expose common shareholders to additional volatility. For example, as the prices of securities held by the Fund decline, the negative impact of these valuation changes on common share net asset value and common shareholder total return is magnified by the use of leverage. Conversely, leverage may enhance common share returns during periods when the prices of securities held by the Fund generally are rising. During the period, the Fund held swap contracts in order to hedge leverage costs, which slightly detracted from the overall positive contribution of leverage.

THE FUND'S REGULATORY LEVERAGE

Bank Borrowings

As discussed previously, the Fund employs regulatory leverage through the use of bank borrowings. As of June 30, 2013, the Fund has outstanding bank borrowings of $77,000,000.

Refer to Notes to Financial Statements, Footnote 9—Borrowing Arrangements for further details.

As of June 30, 2013, the Fund's percentages of leverage are as shown in the accompanying table.

				Effective Leverage*				Regulatory Leverage*
JTA					29.85	%			29.85	%

* Effective leverage is the Fund's effective economic leverage, and includes both regulatory leverage and the leverage effects of certain derivative and other investments in a Fund's portfolio that increase the Fund's investment exposure. Regulatory leverage consists of preferred shares issued or borrowings of the Fund. Both of these are part of the Fund's capital structure. Regulatory leverage is sometimes referred to as "'40 Act Leverage" and is subject to asset coverage limits set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

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Common Share Information

Distribution Information

The following information regarding the Fund's distributions is current as of June 30, 2013, and likely will vary over time based on the Fund's investment activities and portfolio investment value changes.

During the current reporting period, the Fund's quarterly dividends to common shareholders were shown in the accompanying table.

	Per Common Share Amounts
March	$	0.2300
June		0.2300
Current Distribution Rate*		7.43	%

* Current Distribution Rate is based on the Fund's current annualized quarterly distribution divided by the Fund's current market price. The Fund's quarterly distributions to its shareholders may be comprised of ordinary income, net realized capital gains and, if at the end of the fiscal year the Fund's cumulative net ordinary income and net realized gains are less than the amount of the Fund's distributions, a return of capital for tax purposes.

The Fund employs financial leverage through the use of bank borrowings. Financial leverage provides the potential for higher earnings (net investment income), total returns and distributions over time, but also increases the variability of common shareholders' net asset value per share in response to changing market conditions.

The Fund has a managed distribution program. The goal of this program is to provide common shareholders with relatively consistent and predictable cash flow by systematically converting the Fund's expected long-term return potential into regular distributions. As a result, regular distributions throughout the year are likely to include a portion of expected long-term gains (both realized and unrealized), along with net investment income.

Important points to understand about the managed distribution program are:

• The Fund seeks to establish a relatively stable common share distribution rate that roughly corresponds to the projected total return from its investment strategy over an extended period of time. However, you should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's past or future investment performance from its current distribution rate.

• Actual common share returns will differ from projected long-term returns (and therefore the Fund's distribution rate), at least over shorter time periods. Over a specific timeframe, the difference between actual returns and total distributions will be reflected in an increasing (returns exceed distributions) or a decreasing (distributions exceed returns) Fund net asset value.

• Each distribution is expected to be paid from some or all of the following sources:

• net investment income (regular interest and dividends),

• realized capital gains, and

• unrealized gains, or, in certain cases, a return of principal (non-taxable distributions).

• A non-taxable distribution is a payment of a portion of the Fund's capital. When the Fund's returns exceed distributions, it may represent portfolio gains generated, but not realized as a taxable capital gain. In periods when the Fund's returns fall short of distributions, the shortfall will represent a portion of your original principal, unless the shortfall is

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offset during other time periods over the life of your investment (previous or subsequent) when the Fund's total return exceeds distributions.

• Because distribution source estimates are updated during the year based on the Fund's performance and forecast for its current fiscal year (which is the calendar year for the Fund), estimates on the nature of your distributions provided at the time the distributions are paid may differ from both the tax information reported to you in your Fund's IRS Form 1099 statement provided at year end, as well as the ultimate economic sources of distributions over the life of your investment.

The following table provides information regarding the Fund's common share distributions and total return performance for the six months ended June 30, 2013. This information is provided on a tax basis rather than a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. This information is intended to help you better understand whether the Fund's returns for the specified time period were sufficient to meet the Fund's distributions.

As of June 30, 2013 (Common Shares)	JTA
Inception date		1/27/04
Six months ended June 30, 2013:
Per share distribution:
From net investment income	$	0.18
From realized capital gains		0.28
Return of capital		0.00
Total per share distribution	$	0.46
Annualized distribution rate on NAV		7.03	%
Average annual total returns:
Excluding retained gain tax credit/refund***:
6-Month (Cumulative) on NAV		16.15	%
1-Year on NAV		25.24	%
5-Year on NAV		2.08	%
Since inception on NAV		3.77	%
Including retained gain tax credit/refund***:
6-Month (Cumulative) on NAV		16.15	%
1-Year on NAV		25.24	%
5-Year on NAV		2.08	%
Since inception on NAV		4.03	%

*** The Fund elected to retain a portion of its realized long-term capital gains for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and pay required federal corporate income taxes on these amounts. As reported on Form 2439, Common shareholders on record date must include their pro-rata share of these gains on their applicable federal tax returns, and are entitled to take offsetting tax credits, for their pro-rata share of the taxes paid by the Fund. The total returns "Including retained gain tax credit/refund" include the economic benefit to Common shareholders on record date of these tax credits/refunds. The Fund had no retained capital gains for the tax years ended December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2008 or for the tax years ended prior to December 31, 2006.

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Common Share Repurchases

As of June 30, 2013, and since the inception of the Fund's repurchase program, the Fund has cumulatively repurchased and retired its outstanding common shares as shown in the accompanying table.

				Common Shares Repurchased and Retired				% of Shares Authorized for Repurchase
JTA					122,745				8.9	%

During the current reporting period, the Fund did not repurchase any of its outstanding common shares.

Common Share Other Information

As of June 30, 2013, and during the current reporting period, the Fund's common share price was trading at a premium/(discount) to its common share NAV as shown in the accompanying table.

	JTA
Common Share NAV	$	13.08
Common Share Price	$	12.38
Premium/(Discount) to NAV		(5.35	)%
6-Month Average Premium/(Discount) to NAV		(6.99	)%

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Risk Considerations

Fund shares are not guaranteed or endorsed by any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Shares of closed-end funds are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of principal invested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Fund common shares are subject to a variety of risks, including:

Investment, Market and Price Risk. An investment in common shares is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Your investment in common shares represents an indirect investment in the corporate securities owned by the Fund, which generally trade in the over-the-counter markets. Shares of closed-end investment companies like the Fund frequently trade at a discount to their NAV. Your common shares at any point in time may be worth less than your original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions.

Leverage Risk. The Fund's use of leverage creates the possibility of higher volatility for the Fund's per share NAV, market price and distributions. Leverage risk can be introduced through regulatory leverage (issuing preferred shares or debt borrowings at the Fund level) or through certain derivative investments held in the Fund's portfolio. Leverage typically magnifies the total return of a Fund's portfolio, whether that return is positive or negative. The use of leverage creates an opportunity for increased common share net income, but there is no assurance that the Fund's leveraging strategy will be successful.

Tax Risk: The Fund's investment program and the tax treatment of Fund distributions may be affected by IRS interpretations of the Internal Revenue Code and future changes in tax laws and regulations that may alter the existing favorable tax treatment of tax-advantaged dividends. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 increased the maximum rate on tax-advantaged dividends to 20% effective January 1, 2013 on persons earning over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for married couples filing jointly. There can be no assurance as to the percentage of the Fund's distributions that will qualify as tax-advantaged dividends.

Common Stock Risk. Common stock returns often have experienced significant volatility.

Issuer Credit Risk. This is the risk that a security in the Fund's portfolio will fail to make dividend or interest payments when due.

Illiquid Securities Risk. This is the risk that the Fund may not be able to sell securities in its portfolio at the time or price desired by the Fund.

Below-Investment Grade Risk. Investments in securities below investment grade quality are predominantly speculative and subject to greater volatility and risk of default.

Unrated Investment Risk. In determining whether an unrated security is an appropriate investment for the Fund, the manager will consider information from industry sources, as well as its own quantitative and qualitative analysis, in making such a determination. However, such a determination by the manager is not the equivalent of a rating by a rating agency.

Dividend Income Risk. There is no guarantee that the issuers of common stocks in which the Fund invests will declare dividends in the future or that, if declared, they will remain at current levels or increase over time.

Risks from Unsecured Adjustable Rate Loans or Insufficient Collateral Securing Adjustable Rate Loans. Some of the adjustable rate loans in which the Fund may invest will be unsecured or insufficiently collateralized, thereby increasing the risk of loss to the Fund in the event of issuer default.

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Value Stock Risk. Value stocks are securities that the manager believes to be undervalued or mispriced. If the manager's assessment of a company's prospects is wrong, the price of the company's common stock or other equity securities may fall, or may not approach the value that the manager has placed on them.

Derivatives Strategy Risk. Derivative securities, such as calls, puts, warrants, swaps and forwards, carry risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with the underlying investments.

Interest Rate Swaps Risk. The risk that yields will move in the direction opposite to the direction anticipated by a Fund, which would cause a Fund to make payments to its counterparty in the transaction that could adversely affect the Fund's performance.

Reinvestment Risk. If market interest rates decline, income earned from the Fund's portfolio may be reinvested at rates below that of the original bond that generated the income.

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Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (JTA)

Performance Overview and Holding Summaries as of June 30, 2013

Average Annual Total Returns as of June 30, 2013

	Cumulative			Average Annual
	6-Month			1-Year			5-Year			Since Inception³
JTA at Common Share NAV		16.15	%		25.24	%		2.08	%		3.77	%
JTA at Common Share Price		22.32	%		32.77	%		3.89	%		3.34	%
JTA Blended Index (Comparative Index)		9.52	%		18.96	%		5.81	%		6.05	%
S&P 500 Index		13.82	%		20.60	%		7.01	%		5.83	%

Average Annual Total Returns as of June 30, 2013⁴ (including retained gain tax credit/refund)

	Cumulative			Average Annual
	6-Month			1-Year			5-Year			Since Inception³
JTA at Common Share NAV		16.15	%		25.24	%		2.08	%		4.03	%
JTA at Common Share Price		22.32	%		32.77	%		3.89	%		3.60	%

Past performance is not predictive of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund's shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

Common Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

Portfolio Allocation^1,2

(as a % of total investments)

Common Stocks	71.6	%
Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests	17.9	%
$25 Par (or similar) Retail Structures	4.9	%
Short-Term Investments	4.5	%
$1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Structures	0.7	%
Convertible Preferred Securities	0.3	%
Corporate Bonds	0.1	%

Portfolio Composition^1,2(as a % of total investments)

Pharmaceuticals	12.6	%
Media	11.4	%
Insurance	9.0	%
Diversified Financial Services	6.3	%
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels	6.1	%
Software	5.2	%
Commercial Banks	4.6	%
Communications Equipment	3.9	%
Consumer Finance	2.8	%

Semiconductors & Equipment	2.3	%
Wireless Telecommunication Services	2.2	%
Automobiles	2.0	%
Food & Staples Retailing	2.0	%
Capital Markets	1.8	%
Food Products	1.8	%
Health Care Providers & Services	1.7	%
Short-Term Investments	4.5	%
Other	19.8	%

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

1 Holdings are subject to change.

2 Excluding investments in derivatives.

3 Since inception returns are from 1/27/04.

4 As previously explained in the Common Share Information section of this report, the Fund elected to retain a portion of its realized long-term capital gains for the tax years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and pay required federal corporate income taxes on these amounts. These standardized total returns include the economic benefit to Common shareholders of record of this tax credit/refund. The Fund had no retained capital gains for the tax years ended December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2008 or for the tax years ended prior to December 31, 2006.

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JTA

Shareholder Meeting Report

The annual meeting of shareholders was held in the offices of Nuveen Investments on April 3, 2013; at this meeting the shareholders were asked to vote on the election of Board Members.

	JTA
	Common Shares
Approval of the Board Members was reached as follows:
William C. Hunter
For		12,132,462
Withhold		587,134
Total		12,719,596
Judith M. Stockdale
For		12,137,527
Withhold		582,069
Total		12,719,596
Carole E. Stone
For		12,085,887
Withhold		633,709
Total		12,719,596
Virginia L. Stringer
For		12,119,375
Withhold		600,221
Total		12,719,596

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JTA

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund

Portfolio of Investments

June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Shares		Description (1)	Value
		Common Stocks – 103.0% (71.6% of Total Investments)
		Aerospace & Defense – 1.7%
	48,000	Raytheon Company	$	3,173,760
		Automobiles – 2.9%
	158,000	General Motors Company, (2)		5,262,980
		Capital Markets – 2.3%
	87,000	Bank of New York Company, Inc.		2,440,350
	126,500	Medley Capital Corporation		1,717,870
		Total Capital Markets		4,158,220
		Chemicals – 1.4%
	48,000	Mosaic Company		2,582,880
		Commercial Banks – 4.2%
	185,000	Wells Fargo & Company		7,634,950
		Communications Equipment – 5.4%
	285,000	Cisco Systems, Inc.		6,928,350
	254,000	Ericsson LM Telefonaktiebolaget, Sponsored ADR		2,865,120
		Total Communications Equipment		9,793,470
		Consumer Finance – 3.5%
	100,200	Capital One Financial Corporation		6,293,562
		Diversified Financial Services – 8.0%
	151,000	Citigroup Inc.		7,243,470
	136,000	JPMorgan Chase & Co.		7,179,440
		Total Diversified Financial Services		14,422,910
		Diversified Telecommunication Services – 0.8%
	356,700	Frontier Communications Corporation		1,444,635
		Food & Staples Retailing – 2.9%
	92,000	CVS Caremark Corporation		5,260,560
		Household Products – 1.3%
	30,200	Procter & Gamble Company		2,325,098
		Industrial Conglomerates – 1.2%
	93,500	General Electric Company		2,168,265
		Insurance – 10.4%
	182,000	American International Group		8,135,400
	187,700	Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.		5,803,684
	164,800	Unum Group		4,840,176
		Total Insurance		18,779,260

Nuveen Investments
16

Shares		Description (1)	Value
		Machinery – 2.2%
	37,500	Ingersoll Rand Company Limited, Class A	$	2,082,000
	34,700	PACCAR Inc.		1,862,002
		Total Machinery		3,944,002
		Media – 12.5%
	300,000	Interpublic Group Companies, Inc.		4,365,000
	16,393	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, (2)		819,650
	211,300	National CineMedia, Inc.		3,568,857
	98,800	Time Warner Inc.		5,712,616
	3,958	Tribune Company, (2)		225,210
	3,185	Tribune Company, (4)		—
	61,100	Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., Class A Shares		1,991,860
	87,000	Viacom Inc., Class B		5,920,350
		Total Media		22,603,543
		Metals & Mining – 2.3%
	79,400	AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Sponsored ADR		1,135,420
	298,900	AuRico Gold Inc.		1,306,193
	111,600	Barrick Gold Corporation		1,756,584
		Total Metals & Mining		4,198,197
		Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 8.3%
	58,600	Canadian Natural Resources Limited		1,656,036
	79,200	Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Class A		5,052,960
	338,800	Talisman Energy Inc.		3,872,484
	90,000	Total S.A., Sponsored ADR		4,383,000
		Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels		14,964,480
		Pharmaceuticals – 16.5%
	57,400	AstraZeneca PLC, Sponsored ADR		2,715,020
	141,625	GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Sponsored ADR		7,077,001
	61,200	Merck & Company Inc.		2,842,740
	307,600	Pfizer Inc.		8,615,876
	32,400	Roche Holdings AG, Sponsored ADR, (3)		2,004,426
	130,000	Sanofi-Aventis		6,696,300
		Total Pharmaceuticals		29,951,363
		Semiconductors & Equipment – 2.3%
	21,500	Analog Devices, Inc.		968,790
	151,000	Applied Materials, Inc.		2,251,410
	27,000	Microchip Technology Incorporated		1,005,750
		Total Semiconductors & Equipment		4,225,950
		Software – 6.0%
	175,400	CA Technologies, Inc.		5,021,702
	170,000	Microsoft Corporation, (5)		5,870,100
		Total Software		10,891,802
		Thrifts & Mortgage Finance – 1.7%
	142,100	PennyMac Financial Services Inc., (2)		3,022,467
		Tobacco – 2.4%
	49,400	Philip Morris International		4,279,028
		Wireless Telecommunication Services – 2.8%
	176,700	Vodafone Group PLC, Sponsored ADR		5,078,358
		Total Common Stocks (cost $150,718,367)		186,459,740

Nuveen Investments
17

JTA

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Shares		Description (1)	Coupon			Ratings (6)	Value
		Convertible Preferred Securities – 0.5% (0.3% of Total Investments)
		Commercial Banks – 0.5%
	700	Wells Fargo & Company, Convertible Bond		7.500	%	BBB+	$	835,800
		Total Convertible Preferred Securities (cost $635,761)						835,800
Shares		Description (1)	Coupon			Ratings (6)	Value
		$25 Par (or similar) Retail Structures – 7.1% (4.9% of Total Investments)
		Capital Markets – 0.4%
	25,000	State Street Corporation		5.250	%	BBB+	$	625,000
		Commercial Banks – 1.6%
	25,000	BB&T Corporation		5.850	%	BBB		626,500
	6,525	CoBank, ACB, (7)		6.250	%	A-		670,240
	25,000	First Republic Bank of San Francisco		6.200	%	BBB		621,250
	10,000	PNC Financial Services		6.125	%	BBB		268,900
	25,000	U.S. Bancorp.		6.500	%	BBB+		702,500
		Total Commercial Banks						2,889,390
		Consumer Finance – 0.4%
	25,000	HSBC Finance Corporation		6.360	%	A		621,000
		Diversified Consumer Services – 0.3%
	25,000	Gabelli Equity Trust		5.000	%	AAA		614,750
		Diversified Financial Services – 0.1%
	10,000	JPMorgan Chase & Company		5.500	%	BBB		240,100
		Electric Utilities – 1.5%
	10,000	Alabama Power Company, (7)		6.450	%	A-		279,063
	18,150	Alabama Power Company, (7)		6.500	%	A-		490,050
	12,000	Connecticut Power & Light Company, (7)		4.960	%	BBB		554,626
	5,000	Georgia Power Company, (7)		6.500	%	A-		528,282
	5,000	Gulf Power Company, (7)		6.450	%	BBB+		529,131
	3,600	SCE Trust I		5.625	%	BBB+		84,960
	11,600	SCE Trust II		5.100	%	BBB+		261,000
		Total Electric Utilities						2,727,112
		Insurance – 2.5%
	25,000	Arch Capital Group Limited		6.750	%	BBB		644,250
	15,410	Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited		7.250	%	BBB-		406,824
	3,800	Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited		7.401	%	BBB-		101,118
	25,000	Axis Capital Holdings Limited		6.875	%	BBB		653,500
	5,000	Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited		7.500	%	BBB-		134,300
	25,000	Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited		7.750	%	BBB-		675,000
	25,000	MetLife Inc.		6.500	%	Baa2		632,000
	25,000	PartnerRe Limited		7.250	%	BBB+		677,500
	25,000	Principal Financial Group		6.518	%	BBB		645,500
		Total Insurance						4,569,992
		Thrifts & Mortgage Finance – 0.3%
	25,000	Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation		5.875	%	N/R		593,500
		Total $25 Par (or similar) Retail Structures (cost $12,360,193)						12,880,844

Nuveen Investments
18

Principal Amount (000)		Description (1)	Coupon			Maturity (8)	Ratings (6)	Value
		Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests – 25.7% (17.9% of Total Investments) (9)
		Aerospace & Defense – 0.2%
$	438	Hamilton Sundstrand, Term Loan, First Lien		4.000	%	12/13/19	B1	$	435,317
		Airlines – 0.3%
	499	Delta Air Lines, Inc., Term Loan B1		4.000	%	10/18/18	Ba1		498,750
		Auto Components – 1.0%
	1,294	Federal-Mogul Corporation, Tranche B, Term Loan		2.128	%	12/29/14	B1		1,237,858
	660	Federal-Mogul Corporation, Tranche C, Term Loan		2.128	%	12/28/15	B1		631,560
	1,954	Total Auto Components							1,869,418
		Beverages – 0.6%
	1,000	Constellation Brands, Inc., Term Loan		2.750	%	5/01/20	BB+		997,375
		Biotechnology – 0.5%
	878	Grifols, Inc., Term Loan		4.250	%	6/01/17	BB		883,840
		Chemicals – 0.5%
	975	Univar, Inc., Term Loan		5.000	%	6/30/17	B+		955,966
		Communications Equipment – 0.1%
	249	Arris Group, Inc., Term Loan B		3.500	%	4/17/20	BB-		248,024
		Consumer Finance – 0.2%
	407	Springleaf Financial Funding Company, Term Loan		5.500	%	5/10/17	B		408,091
		Containers & Packaging – 1.6%
	1,000	Pact Group, Inc., Term Loan B		3.750	%	5/22/20	Ba3		996,250
	1,587	Reynolds Group Holdings, Inc., Term Loan		4.750	%	9/28/18	B+		1,592,804
	355	Sealed Air Corporation, Term Loan B1		4.000	%	10/03/18	Ba1		358,487
	2,942	Total Containers & Packaging							2,947,541
		Diversified Financial Services – 0.2%
	437	WideOpenWest Finance LLC, Term Loan B		4.750	%	4/01/19	B1		438,480
		Diversified Telecommunication Services – 0.5%
	852	Intelsat Jackson Holdings, Ltd., Term Loan B1		4.250	%	4/02/18	BB–		854,482
		Electric Utilities – 0.7%
	1,860	TXU Corporation, 2014 Term Loan		3.720	%	10/10/14	B2		1,333,207
		Food Products – 2.6%
	998	AdvancePierre Foods, Inc., Term Loan, First Lien		5.750	%	7/10/17	B1		1,005,397
	1,400	H.J. Heinz Company, Term Loan B2		3.500	%	6/05/20	BB+		1,401,659
	1,238	Michael Foods Group, Inc., Term Loan		4.250	%	2/25/18	Ba3		1,251,824
	973	US Foods, Inc., Incremental Term Loan, WI/DD	TBD			TBD	B2		966,583
	4,609	Total Food Products							4,625,463
		Health Care Equipment & Supplies – 0.8%
	1,478	Kinetic Concepts, Inc., Term Loan D1		4.500	%	5/04/18	Ba2		1,480,345
		Health Care Providers & Services – 2.4%
	995	DaVita, Inc., New Term Loan B2		4.000	%	11/01/19	Ba2		998,639
	979	Golden Living, Term Loan		5.000	%	5/04/18	B1		942,494
	1,000	HCA, Inc., Tranche B4, Term Loan		2.945	%	5/01/18	BB		997,188
	76	HCA, Inc., Tranche B5, Term Loan		3.026	%	3/31/17	BB		75,642
	901	Kindred Healthcare, Inc., Term Loan B1		4.250	%	6/01/18	Ba3		894,996
	464	Select Medical Corporation, Term Loan B		4.002	%	6/01/18	Ba2		467,144
	4,415	Total Health Care Providers & Services							4,376,103

Nuveen Investments
19

JTA

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Principal Amount (000)		Description (1)	Coupon			Maturity (8)	Ratings (6)	Value
		Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 2.3%
$	950	24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc., Term Loan B		5.250	%	4/22/16	Ba3	$	959,712
	996	MGM Resorts International, Term Loan B		3.500	%	12/20/19	BB		989,647
	1,209	Seaworld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., Term Loan B2, WI/DD	TBD			TBD	BB-		1,203,265
	1,010	Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc., Term Loan B, First Lien		4.000	%	12/20/18	BB+		1,017,850
	4,165	Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure							4,170,474
		Household Durables – 0.5%
	811	Tempur-Pedic International, Inc., New Term Loan B		3.500	%	3/18/20	BB		806,264
		Industrial Conglomerates – 0.6%
	998	DuPont Performance Coatings, Dollar Term Loan B		4.750	%	1/17/20	B+		999,549
		IT Services – 0.1%
	206	SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Term Loan B		1.942	%	2/28/14	BB		205,916
		Media – 3.8%
	581	Bresnan Broadband Holdings LLC, Term Loan B		5.250	%	12/14/17	BB+		583,818
	494	Cequel Communications LLC, Term Loan		3.500	%	2/14/19	Ba2		491,546
	247	Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Tranche D, Term Loan		6.945	%	1/30/19	CCC+		226,015
	726	Cumulus Media, Inc., Term Loan, Second Lien		7.500	%	9/16/19	B3		743,116
	1,246	Interactive Data Corporation, Term Loan		3.750	%	1/31/18	Ba3		1,242,570
	1,000	Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Term Loan F1		3.250	%	1/20/19	Ba2		999,500
	262	Nielsen Finance LLC, Term Loan E		2.943	%	5/25/16	BBB-		262,693
	846	Tribune Company, Exit Term Loan B		4.000	%	12/17/19	BB+		853,495
	1,560	Univision Communications, Inc., Term Loan C1		4.500	%	3/01/20	B+		1,548,372
	6,962	Total Media							6,951,125
		Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 0.6%
	387	Energy Transfer Partners LP, Term Loan B		3.750	%	3/24/17	BB		388,965
	500	EP Energy LLC, Term Loan B3, Second Lien		3.500	%	5/24/18	Ba3		497,890
	131	Frac Tech International LLC, Term Loan		8.500	%	5/06/16	B+		126,435
	1,018	Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels							1,013,290
		Personal Products – 0.4%
	653	Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, Term Loan B2		4.250	%	2/16/17	B+		655,318
		Pharmaceuticals – 1.6%
	735	Quintiles Transnational Corp., Term Loan B2		4.500	%	6/08/18	BB-		737,168
	1,500	Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Term Loan E, WI/DD	TBD			TBD	BB		1,499,331
	133	Warner Chilcott Company LLC, Term Loan B1 Additional		4.250	%	3/15/18	BBB-		133,167
	305	Warner Chilcott Corporation, Term Loan B1		4.250	%	3/15/18	BBB-		305,904
	41	Warner Chilcott Corporation, Term Loan B2		4.250	%	3/15/18	BBB-		41,138
	240	Warner Chilcott Corporation, Term Loan B3		4.250	%	3/15/18	BBB-		241,057
	2,954	Total Pharmaceuticals							2,957,765
		Real Estate Investment Trust – 0.5%
	878	iStar Financial Inc., Term Loan		4.500	%	10/15/17	BB-		889,568
		Road & Rail – 0.2%
	404	Swift Transportation Company, Inc., Term Loan B2		4.000	%	12/01/17	BB		407,262
		Semiconductors & Equipment – 1.0%
	746	NXP Semiconductor LLC, Incremental Term Loan C		4.750	%	1/10/20	B+		757,755
	978	NXP Semiconductor LLC, Term Loan		4.500	%	3/03/17	B1		993,792
	1,724	Total Semiconductors & Equipment							1,751,547

Nuveen Investments
20

Principal Amount (000)		Description (1)	Coupon			Maturity (8)		Ratings (6)	Value
		Software – 1.5%
$	870	Datatel Parent Corp, Term Loan B		4.500	%	7/19/18		B+	$	873,575
	985	Emdeon Business Services LLC, Term Loan B2		3.750	%	11/02/18		BB-		982,840
	788	Infor Enterprise Applications, Term Loan B		5.250	%	4/05/18		Ba3		794,055
	2,643	Total Software								2,650,470
		Wireless Telecommunication Services – 0.4%
	500	Charter Communications Operating Holdings LLC, Term Loan E, WI/DD	TBD			TBD		Baa3		496,446
	194	Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Tranche B, Term Loan		3.845	%	1/29/16		CCC+		178,078
	694	Total Wireless Telecommunication Services								674,524
$	47,103	Total Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests (cost $46,708,808)								46,485,474
Principal Amount (000)		Description (1)	Coupon			Maturity		Ratings (6)	Value
		Corporate Bonds – 0.1% (0.1% of Total Investments)
		Media – 0.1%
$	133	Clear Channel Communications, Inc., 144A		9.000	%	12/15/19		CCC+	$	129,010
$	133	Total Corporate Bonds (cost $110,230)								129,010
Principal Amount (000)/ Shares		Description (1)	Coupon			Maturity		Ratings (6)	Value
		$1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Structures – 1.0% (0.7% of Total Investments)
		Commercial Banks – 0.3%
	500	PNC Financial Services Inc.		6.750	%		N/A (10)	BBB	$	542,500
		Diversified Financial Services – 0.7%
	600	General Electric Capital Corporation		7.125	%		N/A (10)	AA-		678,000
	25	JPMorgan Chase & Company		5.150	%		N/A (10)	BBB		23,812
	500	JPMorgan Chase & Company		7.900	%		N/A (10)	BBB		565,000
		Total Diversified Financial Services								1,266,812
		Insurance – 0.0%
	22	Prudential PLC		7.750	%		N/A (10)	A-		23,342
		Total $1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Structures (cost $1,634,554)								1,832,654
Principal Amount (000)		Description (1)	Coupon			Maturity			Value
		Short-Term Investments – 6.5% (4.5% of Total Investments)
$	9,172	Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 6/28/13, repurchase price $9,172,242, collateralized by $9,210,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.750%, due 10/31/18, value $9,359,663		0.010	%	7/01/13			$	9,172,234
	2,641	Repurchase Agreement with Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, dated 6/28/13, repurchase price $2,640,855, collateralized by $2,690,000 U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.500%, due 10/15/13, value $2,696,725		0.010	%	7/01/13				2,640,853
$	11,813	Total Short-Term Investments (cost $11,813,087)								11,813,087
		Total Investments (cost $223,981,000) – 143.9%								260,436,609
		Borrowings – (42.6)% (11), (12)								(77,000,000	)
		Other Assets Less Liabilities – (1.3)% (13)								(2,506,578	)
		Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares – 100%							$	180,930,031

Nuveen Investments
21

JTA

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (continued)

Portfolio of Investments June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Investments in Derivatives as of June 30, 2013

Call Options Written outstanding:

Number of Contracts			Type	Notional Amount (14)			Expiration Date	Strike Price		Value (13)
	(360	)	Capital One Financial Corporation	$	(2,340,000	)	9/21/13	$	65	$	(67,500	)
	(960	)	Interpublic Group Companies, Inc.		(1,440,000	)	10/19/13		15		(72,000	)
	(1,038	)	Talisman Energy Inc.		(1,245,600	)	7/20/13		12		(28,545	)
	(2,358	)	Total Call Options Written (premiums received $212,088)	$	(5,025,600	)				$	(168,045	)

Swaps outstanding:

Counterparty

Notional
Amount

Fund
Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

Floating Rate Index

Fixed Rate
(Annualized)

Fixed Rate
Payment
Frequency

Effective
Date (15)

Termination
Date

Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation) (13)

JPMorgan

13,975,000

Receive

1-Month USD-LIBOR

1.412

Monthly

3/29/11

3/29/14

(126,058

)

JPMorgan

18,475,000

Receive

1-Month USD-LIBOR

1.255

Monthly

12/01/14

12/01/18

586,889

JPMorgan

18,475,000

Receive

1-Month USD-LIBOR

1.673

Monthly

12/01/14

12/01/20

972,122

Morgan Stanley

13,975,000

Receive

1-Month USD-LIBOR

2.323

Monthly

3/29/11

3/29/16

(656,685

)

64,900,000

776,268

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

(1) All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets applicable to Common shares unless otherwise noted.

(2) Non-income producing; issuer has not declared a dividend within the past twelve months.

(3) For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, Common Stock classified as Level 2. See Notes to Financial Statements, Footnote 2—Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

(4) Investment valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by, or at the discretion of, the Board of Trustees. For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, investment classified as Level 3. See Notes to Financial Statements, Footnote 2—Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

(5) Investment, or portion of investment, has been pledged to collateralize the net payment obligations for investments in derivatives.

(6) Ratings: Using the highest of Standard & Poor's Group ("Standard & Poor's"), Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch") rating. Ratings below BBB by Standard & Poor's, Baa by Moody's or BBB by Fitch are considered to be below investment grade. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by any of these national rating agencies.

(7) For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, $25 Par (or similar) Retail Structures classified as Level 2. See Notes to Financial Statements, Footnote 2—Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements for more information.

(8) Senior Loans generally are subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment. Because of these mandatory prepayment conditions and because there may be significant economic incentives for a borrower to prepay, prepayments of Senior Loans may occur. As a result, the actual remaining maturity of Senior Loans held may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown.

(9) Senior Loans generally pay interest at rates which are periodically adjusted by reference to a base short-term, floating lending rate plus an assigned fixed rate. These floating lending rates are generally (i) the lending rate referenced by the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), or (ii) the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks.

Senior Loans may be considered restricted in that the Fund ordinarily is contractually obligated to receive approval from the Agent Bank and/or borrower prior to the disposition of a Senior Loan.

(10) Perpetual security. Maturity date is not applicable.

(11) Borrowings as a percentage of Total Investments is 29.6%.

(12) The Fund may pledge up to 100% of its eligible investments in the Portfolio of Investments as collateral for Borrowings. As of the end of the reporting period, investments with a value of $161,702,649 have been pledged as collateral for Borrowings.

(13) Other Assets Less Liabilities includes the Value and the Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of derivative instruments as listed within Investments in Derivatives as of the end of the reporting period.

(14) For disclosure purposes, Notional Amount is calculated by multiplying the Number of Contracts by the Strike Price by 100.

(15) Effective date represents the date on which both the Fund and Counterparty commence interest payment accruals on each swap contract.

N/A Not applicable.

N/R Not rated.

WI/DD Purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis.

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

ADR American Depositary Receipt.

TBD Senior Loan purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Certain details associated with this purchase are not known prior to the settlement date of the transaction. In addition, Senior Loans typically trade without accrued interest and therefore a coupon rate is not available prior to settlement. At settlement, if still unknown, the borrower or counterparty will provide the Fund with the final coupon rate and maturity date.

USD-LIBOR United States Dollar—London Inter-Bank Offered Rate.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

Nuveen Investments
22

Statement of

ASSETS & LIABILITIES

June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Assets
Investments, at value (cost $223,981,000)	$	260,436,609
Unrealized appreciation on swaps, net		1,432,953
Receivables:
Dividends		545,032
Interest		166,943
Investments sold		3,568,938
Reclaims		124,749
Other assets		34,843
Total assets		266,310,067
Liabilities
Borrowings		77,000,000
Call options written, at value (premiums received $212,088)		168,045
Unrealized depreciation on swaps		656,685
Payables:
Dividends		3,087,272
Investments purchased		4,149,629
Accrued expenses:
Interest on borrowings		9,631
Management fees		185,811
Trustees fees		31,769
Other		91,194
Total liabilities		85,380,036
Net assets applicable to Common shares	$	180,930,031
Common shares outstanding		13,835,522
Net asset value per Common share outstanding (net assets applicable to Common shares, divided by Common shares outstanding)	$	13.08
Net assets applicable to Common shares consist of:
Common shares, $.01 par value per share	$	138,355
Paid-in surplus		235,600,061
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income		(3,901,004	)
Accumulated net realized gain (loss)		(88,183,301	)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)		37,275,920
Net assets applicable to Common shares	$	180,930,031
Authorized shares:
Common		Unlimited
Preferred		Unlimited

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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Statement of

OPERATIONS

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Investment Income
Dividends (net of foreign tax withheld of $98,633)	$	2,873,607
Interest		1,221,858
Total investment income		4,095,465
Expenses
Management fees		1,070,576
Interest expense on borrowings		424,993
Shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses		339
Custodian fees and expenses		50,187
Trustees fees and expenses		4,230
Professional fees		18,491
Shareholder reporting expenses		35,495
Stock exchange listing fees		4,258
Investor relations expenses		24,229
Other expenses		7,650
Total expenses		1,640,448
Net investment income (loss)		2,455,017
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) from:
Investments		1,824,963
Call options written		591,247
Swaps		(229,931	)
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:
Investments		19,541,835
Call options written		26,274
Swaps		1,690,126
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)		23,444,514
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common shares from operations	$	25,899,531

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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Statement of

CHANGES in NET ASSETS (Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended 6/30/13			Year Ended 12/31/12
Operations
Net investment income (loss)	$	2,455,017		$	5,031,697
Net realized gain (loss) from:
Investments		1,824,963			(196,132	)
Call options written		591,247			1,674,628
Swaps		(229,931	)		(460,782	)
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:
Investments		19,541,835			15,791,195
Call options written		26,274			(201,995	)
Swaps		1,690,126			179,612
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common shares from operations		25,899,531			21,818,223
Distributions to Common Shareholders
From and in excess of net investment income		(6,364,340	)		—
From net investment income		—			(6,614,524	)
Return of capital		—			(5,569,304	)
Decrease in net assets applicable to Common shares from distributions to Common shareholders		(6,364,340	)		(12,183,828	)
Capital Share Transactions
Common shares repurchased and retired		—			(129,819	)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common shares from capital share transactions		—			(129,819	)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common shares		19,535,191			9,504,576
Net assets applicable to Common shares at the beginning of period		161,394,840			151,890,264
Net assets applicable to Common shares at the end of period	$	180,930,031		$	161,394,840
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income at the end of period	$	(3,901,004	)	$	8,319

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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25

Statement of

CASH FLOWS

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares from Operations	$	25,899,531
Adjustments to reconcile the net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common shares from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Purchases of investments		(47,502,565	)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments		45,828,209
Proceeds from (Purchases of) short-term investments, net		(4,230,254	)
Proceeds from (Payments for) swap contracts, net		(229,931	)
Premiums received for call options written		1,021,799
Cash paid for call options written		(259,534	)
Amortization (Accretion) of premiums and discounts, net		(333,776	)
(Increase) Decrease in:
Receivable for dividends		(130,976	)
Receivable for interest		68,662
Receivable for investments sold		(3,514,661	)
Receivable for matured senior loans		283,093
Receivable for reclaims		(10,566	)
Other assets		(4,656	)
Increase (Decrease) in:
Payable for investments purchased		719,406
Accrued interest on borrowings		370
Accrued management fees		17,303
Accrued Trustees fees		1,809
Accrued other expenses		(1,681	)
Net realized (gain) loss from:
Investments		(1,824,963	)
Call options written		(591,247	)
Swaps		229,931
Change in net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation of:
Investments		(19,541,835	)
Call options written		(26,274	)
Swaps		(1,690,126	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(5,822,932	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase in borrowings		9,100,000
Cash distributions paid to shareholders		(3,277,068	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		5,822,932
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash		—
Cash at the beginning of period		—
Cash at the End of Period	$	—

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

Cash paid for interest on borrowings (excluding borrowing costs) was $424,623.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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Intentionally Left Blank

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27

Financial

HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)

Selected data for a Common share outstanding throughout each period:


					Investment Operations													Less Distributions
			Beginning Common Share Net Asset Value		Net Investment Income (Loss)(a)		Net Realized/ Unrealized Gain (Loss)			Distributions from Net Investment Income to FundPreferred Share- holders(b)			Distributions from Accumulated Net Realized Gains to FundPreferred Share- holders(b)		Total			From Net Investment Income to Common Share- holders			From Accum- ulated Net Realized Gains to Common Share- holders			Return of Capital to Common Share- holders			Total
Year Ended 12/31:
	2013	(g)	$	11.67	$	.18	$	1.69		$	—		$	—	$	1.87		$	(.46	)**	$	—		$	—		$	(.46	)
	2012			10.97		.37		1.21			—			—		1.58			(.48	)		—			(.40	)		(.88	)
	2011			12.34		.36		(.83	)		—			—		(0.47	)		(.40	)		—			(.50	)		(.90	)
	2010			11.63		.27		1.38			—			—		1.65			(.94	)		—			—			(.94	)
	2009			9.42		.40		2.75			(.02	)		—		3.13			(.38	)		—			(.55	)		(.93	)
	2008			23.54		.77		(13.06	)		(.12	)		—		(12.41	)		(.70	)		(.21	)		(.80	)		(1.71	)

			FundPreferred Shares at the End of Period						Borrowings at the End of Period
			Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)		Liquidation and Market Value Per Share		Asset Coverage Per Share		Aggregate Amount Outstanding (000)		Asset Coverage Per $1,000
Year Ended 12/31:
	2013	(g)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	77,000	$	3,350
	2012			—		—		—		67,900		3,377
	2011			—		—		—		67,900		3,237
	2010			—		—		—		52,600		4,255
	2009			—		—		—		52,600		4,069
	2008			28,850		25,000		138,992		35,000		5,583

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28

																Ratios/Supplemental Data
										Total Returns								Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares Before Reimbursement(d)						Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares After Reimbursement(d)(e)
			Discount from Common Shares Repurchased and Retired			Ending Common Share Net Asset Value		Ending Market Value		Based on Market Value(c)			Based on Common Share Net Asset Value(c)			Ending Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares (000)		Expenses			Net Investment Income (Loss)			Expenses			Net Investment Income (Loss)			Portfolio Turnover Rate(h)
Year Ended 12/31:
	2013	(g)	$	—		$	13.08	$	12.38		22.32	%		16.15	%	$	180,930		1.88	%***		2.81	%***		N/A			N/A			11	%
	2012			—	*		11.67		10.51		19.31			14.54			161,395		2.00			3.11			1.99	%		3.12	%		37
	2011			—	*		10.97		9.56		(7.48	)		(3.87	)		151,890		1.85			2.96			1.73			3.08			56
	2010			—			12.34		11.24		14.73			14.99			171,220		1.77			2.14			1.55			2.36			48
	2009			.01			11.63		10.66		56.47			35.50			161,404		1.86			3.71			1.53			4.04			55
	2008			—			9.42		7.58		(60.54	)		(55.29	)		131,546		3.74			4.03			3.24			4.53			24

(a) Per share Net Investment Income (Loss) is calculated using the average daily shares method.

(b) The amounts shown are based on Common share equivalents.

(c) Total Return Based on Market Value is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period takes place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.

Total Return Based on Common Share Net Asset Value is the combination of changes in Common share net asset value, reinvested dividend income at net asset value and reinvested capital gains distributions at net asset value, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending net asset value. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund's market price (and not its net asset value), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.

(d) • Ratios do not reflect the effect of dividend payments to FundPreferred shareholders, where applicable.

• Net Investment Income (Loss) ratios reflect income earned and expenses incurred on assets attributable to FundPreferred Shares, FundNotes and/or borrowings, where applicable.

• Each Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares and each Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares includes the effect of interest expense paid on FundNotes and all interest expense and other costs related to borrowings, where applicable as follows:

			Ratios of FundNotes Interest Expense to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares(f)			Ratios of Borrowings Interest Expense to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares
Year Ended 12/31:
	2013	(g)		—	%		.49	%***
	2012			—			.58
	2011			—			.48
	2010			—			.45
	2009			—			.44
	2008			1.12			1.00

(e) After expense reimbursement from the Adviser, where applicable. As of January 31, 2012, the Adviser is no longer reimbursing the Fund for any fees or expenses.

(f) The Fund redeemed all $78 million of its outstanding FundNotes during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

(g) For the six months ended June 30, 2013.

(h) Portfolio Turnover Rate is calculated based on the lesser of long-term purchases or sales (as disclosed in Footnote 5—Investment Transactions) divided by the average long-term market value during the period.

* Rounds to less than $.01 per share.

** Represents distributions paid "From and in excess of net investment income" for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

*** Annualized.

N/A Fund no longer has a contractual reimbursement agreement with the Adviser.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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29

Notes to

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. General Information and Significant Accounting Policies

General Information

Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified closed-end registered investment company. The Fund's Common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and trade under the ticker symbol "JTA." The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on October 1, 2003.

The Fund's investment adviser is Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the "Adviser"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. ("Nuveen"). The Adviser is responsible for the Fund's overall investment strategy and asset allocation decisions. The Adviser has entered into sub-advisory agreements with NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC ("NWQ") and Symphony Asset Management LLC ("Symphony") (collectively, the "Sub-Advisers"), each an affiliate of Nuveen. NWQ manages the portion of the Fund's investment portfolio allocated to dividend-paying common and preferred stocks, including ADRs and the Fund's options strategy. Symphony manages the portion of the Fund's investment portfolio allocated to senior loans and other debt instruments. The Adviser is responsible for managing the Fund's investments in swap contracts.

The Fund's investment objective is to achieve a high level of after-tax total return consisting primarily of tax-advantaged dividend income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a portfolio of dividend-paying common stocks that the Fund believes at the time of investment are eligible to pay dividends that may be eligible for favorable federal income taxation at rates applicable to long-term capital gains ("tax-advantaged dividends"). The Fund also invests, to a more limited extent, in preferred securities that are eligible to pay tax-advantaged dividends, as well as in senior loans (both secured and unsecured), domestic corporate bonds, notes and debentures, convertible debt securities and other similar types of corporate instruments, including high-yield debt securities, that are not eligible to pay tax-advantaged dividends. Certain dividends received by the Fund may be eligible for favorable federal income taxation at rates applicable to long-term capital gains ("tax-advantaged dividends").

Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP").

Investment Transactions

Investment transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Trade date for senior and subordinated loans purchased in the "primary market" is considered the date on which the loan allocations are determined. Trade date for senior and subordinated loans purchased in the "secondary market" is the date on which the transaction is entered into. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are determined on the specific identification method, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Investments purchased on a when-issued/delayed delivery basis may have extended settlement periods. Any investments so purchased are subject to market fluctuation during this period. The Fund has instructed the custodian to earmark securities in the Fund's portfolio with a current value at least equal to the amount of the when-issued/delayed delivery purchase commitments. As of June 30, 2013, the Fund had outstanding when-issued/delayed delivery purchase commitments of $4,149,629.

Investment Income

Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for foreign securities, when information is available. Interest income, which reflects the amortization of premiums and includes accretion of discounts for financial reporting purposes, is recorded on an accrual basis. Fee income consists primarily of amendment fees. Amendment fees are earned as compensation for evaluating and accepting changes to an original senior loan agreement and are recognized when received. Fee income and amendment fees are a component of "Interest income," if any.

Professional Fees

Professional fees presented on the Statement of Operations consist of legal fees incurred in the normal course of operations, audit fees, tax consulting fees and, in some cases, workout expenditures. Workout expenditures are incurred in an attempt to protect or enhance an investment, or to pursue other claims or legal actions on behalf of Fund shareholders. Should the Fund receive a refund of workout expenditures paid in a prior reporting period, such amounts will be recognized as "Legal fee refund" on the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders

Distributions to Common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.

The Fund makes quarterly cash distributions to Common shareholders of a stated dollar amount per share. Subject to approval and oversight by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Fund seeks to maintain a stable distribution level designed to deliver the long-term return potential of the Fund's investment strategy through regular quarterly distributions (a "Managed Distribution Program"). Total distributions during a calendar year generally will be made from the Fund's net investment income, net realized capital gains and net unrealized capital gains in the Fund's portfolio, if any. The portion of distributions paid

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30

attributed to net unrealized gains, if any, is distributed from the Fund's assets and is treated by shareholders as a non-taxable distribution ("Return of Capital") for tax purposes. In the event that total distributions during a calendar year exceed the Fund's total return on net asset value, the difference will reduce net asset value per share. If the Fund's total return on net asset value exceeds total distributions during a calendar year, the excess will be reflected as an increase in net asset value per share. The final determination of the source and character of all distributions for the fiscal year are made after the end of the fiscal year and are reflected in the financial statements contained in the annual report as of December 31 each year.

The actual character of distributions made by the Fund during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, is reflected in the accompanying statements.

The distributions made by the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2013, are provisionally classified as being "From and in excess of net investment income," and those distributions will be classified as being from net investment income, net realized capital gains and/or a return of capital for tax purposes after the fiscal year end. For purposes of calculating "Undistributed (over distribution of) net investment income" as of June 30, 2013, the distribution amounts provisionally classified as "From and in excess of net investment income" were treated as being entirely from net investment income. Consequently, the financial statements as of June 30, 2013 reflect an over-distribution of net investment income.

FundPreferred Shares

The Fund is authorized to issue auction rate preferred ("FundPreferred") shares. During prior fiscal periods, the Fund redeemed all of its outstanding FundPreferred shares, at liquidation value.

Indemnifications

Under the Fund's organizational documents, its officers and trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Netting Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, the Fund has entered into transactions subject to enforceable netting agreements or other similar arrangements ("netting agreements"). Generally, the right to offset in netting agreements allows the Fund to offset any exposure to a specific counterparty with any collateral received or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the agreements. Generally, the Fund manages its cash collateral and securities collateral on a counterparty basis. As of June 30, 2013, the Fund was not invested in any portfolio securities or derivatives, other than the swap contracts further described in Footnote 3—Portfolio Securities and Investments in Derivatives, with gross exposures on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities that could be netted subject to netting agreements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets applicable to Common shares from operations during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

2. Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements

Investment Valuation

Common stocks and other equity-type securities are valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange on which such securities are primarily traded and are generally classified as Level 1 for fair value measurement purposes. Securities primarily traded on the NASDAQ National Market ("NASDAQ") are valued, except as indicated below, at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price and are generally classified as Level 1. However, securities traded on a securities exchange or NASDAQ for which there were no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on a securities exchange or NASDAQ are valued at the quoted bid price and are generally classified as Level 2. Prices of certain American Depositary Receipts ("ADR") held by the Fund that trade in the United States are valued based on the last traded price, official closing price or the most recent bid price of the underlying non-U.S.-traded stock, adjusted as appropriate for the underlying-to-ADR conversion ratio and foreign exchange rate, and from time-to-time may also be adjusted further to take into account material events that may take place after the close of the local non-U.S. market but before the close of the NYSE. These securities may represent a transfer from a Level 1 to a Level 2 security.

Prices of fixed-income securities, senior loans and swap contracts are provided by a pricing service approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. These securities are generally classified as Level 2. The pricing service establishes a security's fair value using methods that may include consideration of the following: yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor's credit characteristics considered relevant. In pricing certain securities, particularly less liquid and lower quality securities, the pricing service may consider information about a security, its issuer, or market activity provided by the Adviser. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.

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31

Notes to

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)

Like most fixed-income securities, the senior and subordinated loans in which the Fund invests are not listed on an organized exchange. The secondary market of such investments may be less liquid relative to markets for other fixed-income securities. Consequently, the value of senior and subordinated loans, determined as described above, may differ significantly from the value that would have been determined had there been an active market for that senior loan. These securities are generally classified as Level 2.

The value of exchange-traded options are based on the mean of the closing bid and ask prices. Exchange-traded options are generally classified as Level 1. Options traded in the over-the-counter market are valued using an evaluated mean price and are generally classified as Level 2.

Repurchase agreements are valued at contract amount plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. These securities are generally classified as Level 2.

Certain securities may not be able to be priced by the pre-established pricing methods as described above. Such securities may be valued by the Fund's Board of Trustees or its designee at fair value. These securities generally include, but are not limited to, restricted securities (securities which may not be publicly sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) for which a pricing service is unable to provide a market price; securities whose trading has been formally suspended; debt securities that have gone into default and for which there is no current market quotation; a security whose market price is not available from a pre-established pricing source; a security with respect to which an event has occurred that is likely to materially affect the value of the security after the market has closed but before the calculation of the Fund's net asset value (as may be the case in non-U.S. markets on which the security is primarily traded) or make it difficult or impossible to obtain a reliable market quotation; and a security whose price, as provided by the pricing service, is not deemed to reflect the security's fair value. As a general principle, the fair value of a security would appear to be the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive for it in a current sale. A variety of factors may be considered in determining the fair value of such securities, which may include consideration of the following: yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor's credit characteristics considered relevant. These securities are generally classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs. Regardless of the method employed to value a particular security, all valuations are subject to review by the Fund's Board of Trustees or its designee.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment or transferring a liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. A three-tier hierarchy is used to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are based on the best information available in the circumstances. The following is a summary of the three-tiered hierarchy of valuation input levels.

Level 1 — Inputs are unadjusted and prices are determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2 — Prices are determined using other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).

Level 3 — Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs (including management's assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of the Fund's fair value measurements as of the end of the reporting period:

	Level 1			Level 2		Level 3			Total
Long-Term Investments*:
Common Stocks	$	184,455,314		$	2,004,426	$	—	***	$	186,459,740
Convertible Preferred Securities		835,800			—		—			835,800
$25 Par (or similar) Retail Structures		9,829,452			3,051,392		—			12,880,844
Variable Rate Senior Loan Interests		—			46,485,474		—			46,485,474
Corporate Bonds		—			129,010		—			129,010
$1,000 Par (or similar) Institutional Structures		—			1,832,654		—			1,832,654
Short-Term Investments:
Repurchase Agreements		—			11,813,087		—			11,813,087
Derivatives:
Call Options Written		(168,045	)		—		—			(168,045	)
Swaps**		—			776,268		—			776,268
Total	$	194,952,521		$	66,092,311	$	—		$	261,044,832

* Refer to the Fund's Portfolio of Investments for industry classifications and breakdown of Common Stocks and $25 Par (or similar) Retail Structures classified as Level 2.

Nuveen Investments
32

** Represents net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) as reported in the Fund's Portfolio of Investments.

*** Value equals zero as of the end of the reporting period.

The Nuveen funds' Board of Directors/Trustees is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the oversight of the daily valuation process to the Adviser's Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the valuation policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors/Trustees, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the funds' pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Directors/Trustees. The Valuation Committee is aided in its efforts by the Adviser's dedicated Securities Valuation Team, which is responsible for administering the daily valuation process and applying fair value methodologies as approved by the Valuation Committee. When determining the reliability of independent pricing services for investments owned by the funds, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of the pricing services and monitors the quality of security prices received through various testing reports conducted by the Securities Valuation Team.

The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and appropriate when making a fair value determination, based on the facts and circumstances specific to the portfolio instrument. Fair value determinations generally will be derived as follows, using public or private market information:

(i.) If available, fair value determinations shall be derived by extrapolating from recent transactions or quoted prices for identical or comparable securities.

(ii.) If such information is not available, an analytical valuation methodology may be used based on other available information including, but not limited to: analyst appraisals, research reports, corporate action information, issuer financial statements and shelf registration statements. Such analytical valuation methodologies may include, but are not limited to: multiple of earnings, discount from market value of a similar freely-traded security, discounted cash flow analysis, book value or a multiple thereof, risk premium/yield analysis, yield to maturity and/or fundamental investment analysis.

The purchase price of a portfolio instrument will be used to fair value the instrument only if no other valuation methodology is available or deemed appropriate, and it is determined that the purchase price fairly reflects the instrument's current value.

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Directors/Trustees, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such testing and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board of Directors/Trustees.

3. Portfolio Securities and Investments in Derivatives

Portfolio Securities

Repurchase Agreements

In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, it is the Fund's policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the fair value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest, at all times. If the counterparty defaults, and the fair value of the collateral declines, realization of the collateral may be delayed or limited.

Zero Coupon Securities

The Fund is authorized to invest in zero coupon securities. A zero coupon security does not pay a regular interest coupon to its holders during the life of the security. Income to the holder of the security comes from accretion of the difference between the original purchase price of the security at issuance and the par value of the security at maturity and is effectively paid at maturity. The market prices of zero coupon securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically.

Investments in Derivatives

The Fund is authorized to invest in certain derivative instruments, such as futures, options and swap contracts. The Fund will limit its investments in futures, options on futures and swap contracts to the extent necessary for the Adviser to claim the exclusion from regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund. The Fund records derivative instruments at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized on the Statement of Operations, when applicable. Even though the Fund's investments in derivatives may represent economic hedges, they are not considered to be hedge transactions for financial reporting purposes.

Options Transactions

The Fund is authorized to purchase and write (sell) call and put options on securities, futures, swaps ("swaptions") or currencies. The purchase of options involves the risk of loss of all or a part of the cash paid for the options (the premium). The market risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium paid. The counterparty credit risk of purchasing options, however, needs also to take into account the current value of the option, as this is the performance expected from the counterparty. When the Fund purchases an option, an amount equal to the premium paid (the premium plus commission) is recognized as a component of "Call and/or Put options purchased, at value" on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the net premium received (the premium less commission) is recognized as a component of "Call

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Notes to

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)

and/or Put options written, at value" on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and is subsequently adjusted to reflect the current value of the written option until the option is exercised or expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. The changes in the value of options purchased during the fiscal period are recognized as a component of "Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of call and/or put options purchased" on the Statement of Operations. The changes in the value of options written during the fiscal period are recognized as a component of "Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of call and/or put options written" on the Statement of Operations. When an option is exercised or expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, the difference between the net premium received and any amount paid at expiration or on executing a closing purchase transaction, including commission, is recognized as a component of "Net realized gain (loss) from call/put options purchased and/or written" on the Statement of Operations. The Fund, as a writer of an option, has no control over whether the underlying instrument may be sold (called) or purchased (put) and as a result bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the market value of the instrument underlying the written option. There is also the risk the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid market.

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund wrote call options on individual stocks, while investing in these same stocks, to enhance returns while foregoing some upside potential. The Fund did not purchase call or put options or write put options during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

The average notional amount of outstanding call options written during the six months ended June 30, 2013, was as follows:

Average notional amount of outstanding call options written*

(5,507,600

)

* The average notional amount is calculated based on the outstanding notional amount at the beginning of the fiscal year and at the end of each fiscal quarter within the current fiscal year.

The following table presents the fair value of all call options written by the Fund as of June 30, 2013, the location of these instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the primary underlying risk exposure.

Location on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Underlying

Derivative

Asset Derivatives

(Liability) Derivatives

Risk Exposure

Instrument

Location

Value

Location

Value

Equity price

Options

—

Call options written, at value

(168,045

)

The following table presents the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized on call options written for the six months ended June 30, 2013, and the primary underlying risk exposure.

Underlying Risk Exposure				Derivative Instrument				Net Realized Gain (Loss)				Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
Equity price				Options				$	591,247			$	26,274

Swap Contracts

The Fund is authorized to invest in interest rate swap and forward interest rate swap contracts ("swap contracts") in an attempt to mitigate the negative impact that an increase in short-term interest rates could have on Common share net earnings as a result of leverage. Forward interest rate swap transactions involve the Fund's agreement with a counterparty to pay, in the future, a fixed or variable rate payment in exchange for the counterparty paying the Fund a variable or fixed rate payment, the accruals for which would begin at a specified date in the future (the "effective date"). Interest rate swap contracts involve the Fund's agreement with the counterparty to pay or receive a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty receiving or paying a variable rate payment that is intended to approximate the Fund's variable rate payment obligation on any variable rate borrowing. The payment obligation is based on the notional amount of the swap contract. Swap contracts do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to the swap counterparty on such transactions is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Fund is to receive. Swap contracts are valued daily. Upon entering into an interest rate swap (and beginning on the effective date for a forward interest rate swap), the Fund accrues the fixed rate payment expected to be paid or received and the variable rate payment expected to be received or paid on swap contracts on a daily basis, and recognizes the daily change in the fair value of the Fund's contractual rights and obligations under the contracts. The net amount recorded for these transactions for each counterparty is recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a component of "Unrealized appreciation or depreciation on swaps (, net)" with the change during the fiscal period recognized on the Statement of Operations as a component of "Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of swaps." Income received or paid by the Fund is recognized as a component of "Net realized gain (loss) from swaps" on the Statement of Operations, in addition to the net realized gains or losses recognized upon the termination of the swap contracts and are equal to the difference between the Fund's basis in the swap and the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction. Payments received or made at the beginning of the measurement period are recognized as a component of "swap premiums paid and/or received" on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, when applicable. For tax purposes, periodic payments are treated as ordinary income or expense.

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During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund continued to use swap contracts to partially fix its interest cost of leverage, which the Fund uses through the use of bank borrowings.

The average notional amount of swap contracts outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2013, was as follows:

Average notional amount of swap contracts outstanding*

64,900,000

* The average notional amount is calculated based on the outstanding notional amount at the beginning of the fiscal year and at the end of each fiscal quarter within the current fiscal year.

The following table presents the fair value of all swap contracts held by the Fund as of June 30, 2013, the location of these instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the primary underlying risk exposure.

		Location on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Underlying	Derivative	Asset Derivatives				(Liability) Derivatives
Risk Exposure	Instrument	Location	Value			Location		Value
Interest rate	Swaps	Unrealized appreciation on swaps, net	$	1,559,011		Unrealized depreciation on swaps		$	(656,685	)
Interest rate	Swaps	Unrealized appreciation on swaps, net		(126,058	)		—		—
Total			$	1,432,953				$	(656,685	)

The following table presents the swap contacts, which are subject to netting agreements, as well as the collateral delivered related to those swap contracts.

Counterparty	Gross Unrealized Appreciation on Swaps*		Gross Unrealized (Depreciation) on Swaps*			Amounts Netted on Statement of Assets and Liabilities			Net Unrealized Appreciation on Swaps			Collateral Pledged to Counterparty		Net Exposure
JPMorgan	$	1,559,011	$	(126,058	)	$	(126,058	)	$	1,432,953		$	—	$	1,432,953
Morgan Stanley		—		(656,685	)		—			(656,685	)		656,685		—
Total	$	1,559,011	$	(782,743	)	$	(126,058	)	$	776,268		$	656,685	$	1,432,953

* Represents gross unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for the counterparty as reported in the Fund's Portfolio of Investments.

The following table presents the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized on swap contracts for the six months ended June 30, 2013, and the primary underlying risk exposure.

Underlying Risk Exposure				Derivative Instrument				Net Realized Gain (Loss)				Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
Interest rate				Swaps				$	(229,931	)		$	1,690,126

Market and Counterparty Credit Risk

In the normal course of business the Fund may invest in financial instruments and enter into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the other party to the transaction to perform (counterparty credit risk). The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets recorded on the financial statements. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to counterparty credit risk, consist principally of cash due from counterparties on forward, option and swap transactions, when applicable. The extent of the Fund's exposure to counterparty credit risk in respect to these financial assets approximates their carrying value as recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Credit risk is generally higher when a non-exchange-traded financial instrument is involved because the counterparty for exchange-traded financial instruments is the exchange's clearinghouse.

The Fund helps manage counterparty credit risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties the Adviser believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by having the Adviser monitor the financial stability of the counterparties. Additionally, counterparties may be required to pledge collateral daily (based on the daily valuation of the financial asset) on behalf of the Fund with a value approximately equal to the amount of any unrealized gain above a pre-determined threshold. Reciprocally, when the Fund has an unrealized loss, the Fund has instructed the custodian to pledge assets of the Fund as collateral with a value approximately equal to the amount of the unrealized loss above a pre-determined threshold. Collateral pledges are monitored and subsequently adjusted if and when the valuations fluctuate, either up or down, by at least the pre-determined threshold amount.

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Notes to

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)

4. Fund Shares

Common Shares

Transactions in Common shares were as follows:

	Six Months Ended 6/30/13			Year Ended 12/31/12
Common shares repurchased and retired		—			(12,983	)
Weighted average:
Price per Common share repurchased and retired	$	—		$	9.98
Discount per Common share repurchased and retired		—	%		11.07	%

5. Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales (including maturities but excluding short-term investments and derivative transactions) during the six months ended June 30, 2013, aggregated $47,502,565 and $45,828,209, respectively.

Transactions in call options written during the six months ended June 30, 2013, were as follows:

	Number of Contracts			Premiums Received
Options outstanding, beginning of the period		894		$	41,069
Options written		10,911			1,021,799
Options terminated in closing purchase transactions		(2,351	)		(241,464	)
Options exercised		(3,955	)		(400,533	)
Options expired		(3,141	)		(208,783	)
Options outstanding, end of the period		2,358		$	212,088

6. Income Tax Information

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income to shareholders and to otherwise comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. In any year when the Fund realizes net capital gains, the Fund may choose to distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains to shareholders, or alternatively, to retain all or a portion of its net capital gains and pay federal corporate income taxes on such retained gains.

For all open tax years and all major taxing jurisdictions, management of the Fund has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities (i.e., generally the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then). Furthermore, management of the Fund is also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.

The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes are primarily due to the recognition of premium amortization and timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses on investment transactions. To the extent that differences arise that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts as detailed below. Temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the net asset value of the Fund.

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36

As of June 30, 2013, the cost and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (excluding investments in derivatives), as determined on a federal income tax basis, were as follows:

Cost of investments	$	226,068,211
Gross unrealized:
Appreciation	$	44,103,653
Depreciation		(9,735,255	)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments	$	34,368,398

Permanent differences, primarily due to tax basis earnings and profits adjustments, treatment of notional principal contracts, and return of capital resulted in reclassifications among the Fund's components of Common share net assets as of December 31, 2012, the Fund's last tax year end, as follows:

Paid-in-surplus	$	(7,641,172	)
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income		7,180,420
Accumulated net realized gain (loss)		460,752

The tax components of undistributed net ordinary income and net long-term capital gains as of December 31, 2012, the Fund's last tax year end, were as follows:

Undistributed net ordinary income				$	—
Undistributed net long-term capital gains					—

The tax character of distributions paid during the Fund's last tax year ended December 31, 2012, was designated for purposes of the dividends paid deduction as follows:

Distributions from net ordinary income*	$	6,614,524
Distributions from net long-term capital gains		—
Return of capital		5,569,304

* Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from dividends and interest, and current year earnings and profits attributable to realized gains.

As of December 31, 2012, the Fund's last tax year end, the Fund had unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future capital gains, if any. If not applied, the carryforwards will expire as follows:

Expiration:
December 31, 2016	$	55,052,098
December 31, 2017		32,157,951
Total	$	87,210,049

During the last tax year ended December 31, 2012, the Fund utilized $2,071,868 of its capital loss carryforwards.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, capital losses incurred by the Fund after December 31, 2010, will not be subject to expiration. During the Fund's last tax year ended December 31, 2012, there were no post-enactment capital losses generated.

The Fund has elected to defer losses incurred from November 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012, the Fund's last tax year end, in accordance with federal income tax rules. These losses are treated as having arisen on the first day of the current fiscal year. The Fund has elected to defer losses as follows:

Post-October capital losses				$	1,057,044
Late-year ordinary losses					—

7. Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

The Fund's management fee compensates the Adviser for overall investment advisory and administrative services and general office facilities. The Sub-Advisers are compensated for their services to the Fund from the management fees paid to the Adviser.

The Fund's management fee consists of two components—a fund-level fee, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund, and a complex-level fee, based on the aggregate amount of all eligible fund assets managed by the Adviser. This pricing structure enables Fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within the Fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by the Adviser.

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Notes to

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) (continued)

The annual fund-level fee, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

Average Daily Managed Assets *	Fund-Level Fee Rate
For the first $500 million		.7000	%
For the next $500 million		.6750
For the next $500 million		.6500
For the next $500 million		.6250
For managed assets over $2 billion		.6000

The annual complex-level fee, payable monthly, is calculated according to the following schedule:

Complex-Level Managed Asset Breakpoint Level *	Effective Rate at Breakpoint Level
$55 billion		.2000	%
$56 billion		.1996
$57 billion		.1989
$60 billion		.1961
$63 billion		.1931
$66 billion		.1900
$71 billion		.1851
$76 billion		.1806
$80 billion		.1773
$91 billion		.1691
$125 billion		.1599
$200 billion		.1505
$250 billion		.1469
$300 billion		.1445

* For the fund-level and complex-level fees, managed assets include closed-end fund assets managed by the Adviser that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes, financial leverage includes the funds' use of preferred stock and borrowings and certain investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by a TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust's issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Adviser as to certain funds to limit the amount of such assets for determining managed assets in certain circumstances. The complex-level fee is calculated based upon the aggregate daily managed assets of all Nuveen Funds that constitute "eligible assets". Eligible assets do not include assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen Funds or assets in excess of $2 billion added to the Nuveen Fund complex in connection with the Adviser's assumption of the management of the former First American Funds effective January 1, 2011. As of June 30, 2013, the complex-level fee rate for the Fund was .1679%.

The Fund pays no compensation directly to those of its trustees who are affiliated with the Adviser or to its officers, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the Fund from the Adviser or its affiliates. The Board of Trustees has adopted a deferred compensation plan for independent trustees that enables trustees to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual compensation they are entitled to receive from certain Nuveen-advised funds. Under the plan, deferred amounts are treated as though equal dollar amounts had been invested in shares of select Nuveen-advised funds.

8. Senior Loan Commitments

Unfunded Commitments

Pursuant to the terms of certain of the variable rate senior loan agreements, the Fund may have unfunded senior loan commitments. The Fund will maintain with its custodian, cash, liquid securities and/or liquid senior loans having an aggregate value at least equal to the amount of unfunded senior loan commitments. As of June 30, 2013, the Fund had no unfunded senior loan commitments.

Participation Commitments

With respect to the senior loans held in the Fund's portfolio, the Fund may: 1) invest in assignments; 2) act as a participant in primary lending syndicates; or 3) invest in participations. If the Fund purchases a participation of a senior loan interest, the Fund would typically enter into a contractual agreement with the lender or other third party selling the participation, rather than directly with the borrower. As such, the Fund not only assumes the credit risk of the borrower, but also that of the selling participant or other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. As of June 30, 2013, there were no such outstanding participation commitments.

9. Borrowing Arrangements

The Fund has entered into a $77 million (maximum commitment amount) prime brokerage facility ("Borrowings") with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage, Inc. ("BNP") as a means of financial leverage. As of June 30, 2013, the Fund's outstanding balance on these Borrowings was $77 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the average daily balance outstanding and average annual interest rate on these Borrowings were $72.7 million and 1.13%, respectively.

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On August 12, 2013 (subsequent to the close of this reporting period), the Fund increased its maximum commitment amount from $77 million to $87 million. The Fund also incurred a one-time .15% amendment fee on the increase to the maximum commitment amount, which will be fully expensed in the current fiscal period. All other terms remain unchanged.

In order to maintain these Borrowings, the Fund must meet certain collateral, asset coverage and other requirements. Borrowings outstanding are fully secured by securities held in the Fund's portfolio of investments. Interest is charged on these Borrowings at 3-Month LIBOR (London Inter-bank Offered Rate) plus .85% on the amount borrowed and .50% on the undrawn balance.

Borrowings outstanding are recognized as "Borrowings" on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Interest expense incurred on the borrowed amount and undrawn balance and the one-time amendment fee are recognized as a component of "Interest expense on borrowings" on the Statement of Operations.

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Annual Investment Management
Agreement Approval Process (Unaudited)

The Board of Trustees (the "Board" and each Trustee, a "Board Member") of the Fund, including the Board Members who are not parties to the Fund's advisory or sub-advisory agreement or "interested persons" of any such parties (the "Independent Board Members"), is responsible for approving the advisory agreement (the "Investment Management Agreement") between the Fund and Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the "Advisor") and the sub-advisory agreements (each, a "Sub-Advisory Agreement") between (a) the Advisor and NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC ("NWQ"), and (b) the Advisor and Symphony Asset Management LLC ("Symphony" and, together with NWQ, the "Sub-Advisors") (the Investment Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreements are referred to collectively as the "Advisory Agreements") and their periodic continuation. Pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), the Board is required to consider the continuation of the Advisory Agreements on an annual basis. Accordingly, at an in-person meeting held on May 20-22, 2013 (the "May Meeting"), the Board, including a majority of the Independent Board Members, considered and approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund for an additional one-year period.

In preparation for its considerations at the May Meeting, the Board requested and received extensive materials prepared in connection with the review of the Advisory Agreements. The materials provided a broad range of information regarding the Fund, the Advisor and the Sub-Advisors (the Advisor and the Sub-Advisors are collectively, the "Fund Advisers" and each, a "Fund Adviser"). As described in more detail below, the information provided included, among other things, a review of Fund performance, including Fund investment performance assessments against peer groups and appropriate benchmarks; a comparison of Fund fees and expenses relative to peers; a description and assessment of shareholder service levels for the Fund; a summary of the performance of certain service providers; a review of product initiatives and shareholder communications; and an analysis of the Advisor's profitability with comparisons to comparable peers in the managed fund business. As part of its annual review, the Board also held a separate meeting on April 17-18, 2013, to review the Fund's investment performance and consider an analysis provided by the Advisor of the Sub-Advisors which generally evaluated the Sub-Advisors' investment teams, investment mandate, organizational structure and history, investment philosophy and process, performance of the Fund, and significant changes to the foregoing. As a result of its review of the materials and discussions, the Board presented the Advisor with questions and the Advisor responded.

The materials and information prepared in connection with the annual review of the Advisory Agreements supplement the information and analysis provided to the Board during the year. In this regard, throughout the year, the Board, acting directly or through its committees, regularly reviews the performance and various services provided by the Advisor and the Sub-Advisors. The Board meets at least quarterly as well as at other times as the need arises. At its quarterly meetings, the Board reviews reports by the Advisor regarding, among other things, fund performance, fund expenses, premium and discount levels of closed-end funds, the performance of the investment teams, and compliance, regulatory and risk management matters. In addition to regular reports, the Advisor provides special reports to the Board or a committee thereof from time to time to enhance the Board's understanding of various topics that impact some or all the Nuveen funds (such as accounting and financial statement presentations of the various forms of leverage that may be used by a closed-end fund or an update on the valuation policies and procedures), to update the Board on regulatory developments impacting the investment company industry or to update the Board on the business plans or other matters impacting the Advisor. The Board also meets with key investment personnel managing the fund portfolios during the year. In October 2011, the Board also created two standing committees (the Open-End Fund Committee and the Closed-End Fund Committee) to assist the full Board in monitoring and gaining a deeper insight into the distinctive business practices of open-end and closed-end funds. These Committees meet prior to each quarterly Board meeting,

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and the Advisor provides presentations to these Committees permitting them to delve further into specific matters or initiatives impacting the respective product line.

In addition, the Board continues its program of seeking to have the Board Members or a subset thereof visit each sub-advisor to the Nuveen funds at least once over a multiple year rotation, meeting with key investment and business personnel. In this regard, the Independent Board Members made a site visit to Symphony in October 2012. In addition, the ad hoc Securities Lending Committee of the Board met with certain service providers and the Audit Committee of the Board made a site visit to three pricing service providers.

The Board considers the information provided and knowledge gained at these meetings and visits during the year when performing its annual review of the Advisory Agreements. The Independent Board Members also are assisted throughout the process by independent legal counsel. Counsel provided materials describing applicable law and the duties of directors or trustees in reviewing advisory contracts. During the course of the year and during their deliberations regarding the review of advisory contracts, the Independent Board Members met with independent legal counsel in executive sessions without management present. In addition, it is important to recognize that the management arrangements for the Nuveen funds are the result of many years of review and discussion between the Independent Board Members and fund management and that the Board Members' conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of fee arrangements and other factors developed in previous years.

The Board considered all factors it believed relevant with respect to the Fund, including among other factors: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Fund Advisers, (b) the investment performance of the Fund and Fund Advisers, (c) the advisory fees and costs of the services to be provided to the Fund and the profitability of the Fund Advisers, (d) the extent of any economies of scale, (e) any benefits derived by the Fund Advisers from the relationship with the Fund and (f) other factors. Each Board Member may have accorded different weight to the various factors in reaching his or her conclusions with respect to the Fund's Advisory Agreements. The Independent Board Members did not identify any single factor as all important or controlling. The Independent Board Members' considerations were instead based on a comprehensive consideration of all the information presented. The principal factors considered by the Board and its conclusions are described below.

A. Nature, Extent and Quality of Services

In considering renewal of the Advisory Agreements, the Independent Board Members considered the nature, extent and quality of the Fund Adviser's services, including advisory services and the resulting Fund performance and administrative services. The Independent Board Members further considered the overall reputation and capabilities of the Advisor and its affiliates, the commitment of the Advisor to provide high quality service to the Fund, their overall confidence in the capability and integrity of the Advisor and its staff and the Advisor's responsiveness to questions and concerns raised by them. The Independent Board Members reviewed materials outlining, among other things, the Fund Adviser's organization and business; the types of services that the Fund Adviser or its affiliates provide to the Fund; the performance record of the Fund (as described in further detail below); and any applicable initiatives Nuveen had taken for the closed-end fund product line.

In considering advisory services, the Board recognized that the Advisor provides various oversight, administrative, compliance and other services for the Fund and the Sub-Advisors generally provide the portfolio investment management services to the Fund. In reviewing the portfolio management services provided to the Fund, the Board reviewed the materials provided by the Nuveen Investment Services Oversight Team analyzing, among other things, the Sub-Advisors' investment teams and changes thereto, organization and history, assets under management, the investment teams' philosophies and strategies in managing the Fund, developments affecting the Sub-Advisors or Fund and Fund performance (or the portion of the Fund's portfolio allocated to the respective Sub-Advisor). The Independent

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Annual Investment Management Agreement
Approval Process (Unaudited) (continued)

Board Members also reviewed portfolio manager compensation arrangements to evaluate each Fund Adviser's ability to attract and retain high quality investment personnel, preserve stability, and reward performance but not provide an inappropriate incentive to take undue risks. In addition, the Board considered the Advisor's execution of its oversight responsibilities over the Sub-Advisors. Given the importance of compliance, the Independent Board Members also considered Nuveen's compliance program, including the report of the chief compliance officer regarding the Fund's compliance policies and procedures; the resources dedicated to compliance; and the record of compliance with the policies and procedures. Given the Advisor's emphasis on business risk, the Board also appointed an Independent Board Member as a point person to review and keep the Board apprised of developments in this area during the year.

In addition to advisory services, the Board considered the quality and extent of administrative and other non-investment advisory services the Advisor and its affiliates provide to the Fund, including product management, investment services (such as oversight of investment policies and procedures, risk management, and pricing), fund administration, oversight of service providers, shareholder services and communications, administration of Board relations, regulatory and portfolio compliance, legal support, managing leverage and promoting an orderly secondary market for common shares. The Board further recognized Nuveen's additional investments in personnel, including in compliance and risk management.

In reviewing the services provided, the Board considered the new services and service enhancements that the Advisor has implemented since the various advisory agreements were last reviewed. In reviewing the activities of 2012, the Board recognized the Advisor's focus on product rationalization for both closed-end and open-end funds during the year, consolidating certain Nuveen funds through mergers that were designed to improve efficiencies and economies of scale for shareholders, repositioning various Nuveen funds through updates in their investment policies and guidelines with the expectation of bringing greater value to shareholders, and liquidating certain Nuveen funds. The Board recognized the Advisor's significant investment in technology initiatives to, among other things, create a central repository for fund and other Nuveen product data, develop a group within the Advisor designed to handle and analyze fund performance data, and implement a data system to support the risk oversight group. The Board also recognized the enhancements in the valuation group within the Advisor, including upgrading the team and process and automating certain basic systems, and in the compliance group with the addition of personnel, particularly within the testing group. With the advent of the Open-End Fund Committee and Closed-End Fund Committee, the Board also noted the enhanced support and comprehensive in-depth presentations provided by the Advisor to these committees.

In addition to the foregoing actions, the Board also considered other initiatives related to the Nuveen closed-end funds, including the significant level of oversight and administration necessary to manage leverage that has become increasingly varied and complex and the ongoing redesign of technology systems to manage and track the various forms of leverage; continued capital management services, including developing shelf offering programs for various funds; the implementation of projects designed to enhance data integrity for information published on the web and to increase the use of data received from third parties to gain market intelligence; and the continued communication efforts with shareholders, fund analysts and financial advisers. With respect to the latter, the Independent Board Members noted Nuveen's continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end funds through a comprehensive secondary market communication program and campaigns designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. Nuveen's support services included, among other things: developing materials covering the Nuveen closed-end fund product line and educational materials regarding closed-end funds; designing and executing various marketing campaigns; supporting and promoting the alternative minimum tax (AMT)-free funds; sponsoring and participating in conferences; communicating with closed-end fund analysts and financial advisors throughout the year; providing marketing and product updates for the closed-end funds; and maintaining and enhancing a closed-end fund website.

Based on their review, the Independent Board Members found that, overall, the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under each Advisory Agreement were satisfactory.

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B. The Investment Performance of the Fund and Fund Advisers

The Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the performance history of the Fund over various time periods. The Board reviewed reports, including an analysis of the Fund's performance and the applicable investment team. In general, in considering a fund's performance, the Board recognized that a fund's performance can be reviewed through various measures including the fund's absolute return, the fund's return compared to the performance of other peer funds, and the fund's performance compared to its respective benchmark. Accordingly, the Board reviewed, among other things, the Fund's historic investment performance as well as information comparing the Fund's performance information with that of other funds (the "Performance Peer Group") and with recognized and/or customized benchmarks (i.e., benchmarks derived from multiple recognized benchmarks) for the quarter, one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012 as well as performance information reflecting the first quarter of 2013. The Board also reviewed the returns of each sleeve of the Fund relative to the benchmark of such sleeve for the quarter, one-, three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2012 as well as performance information reflecting the first quarter of 2013. In addition, with respect to closed-end funds (such as the Fund), the Independent Board Members also reviewed historic premium and discount levels, including a summary of actions taken to address or discuss other developments affecting the secondary market discounts of various funds. This information supplemented the fund performance information provided to the Board at each of its quarterly meetings.

In evaluating performance, the Board recognized several factors that may impact the performance data as well as the consideration given to particular performance data. The Board recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of time, in this case as of the end of the most recent calendar year or quarter. The Board noted that selecting a different performance period could derive significantly different results. Further, the Board recognized that it is possible that long-term performance can be adversely affected by even one period of significant underperformance so that a single investment decision or theme has the ability to disproportionately affect long-term performance. The Independent Board Members also noted that the investment experience of a particular shareholder in the Nuveen funds will vary depending on when such shareholder invests in the applicable fund, the class held (if multiple classes are offered in a fund) and the performance of the fund (or respective class) during that shareholder's investment period.

With respect to the comparative performance information, the Board recognized that the usefulness of comparative performance data as a frame of reference to measure a fund's performance may be limited because the Performance Peer Group, among other things, does not adequately reflect the objectives and strategies of the fund, has a different investable universe, or the composition of the peer set may be limited in size or number as well as other factors. In this regard, the Board noted that the Advisor classified, in relevant part, the Performance Peer Groups of certain funds (including the Fund) as having significant differences from the funds but to still be somewhat relevant while the Performance Peer Groups of other funds were classified as having such significant differences as to be irrelevant. Accordingly, while the Board is cognizant of the relative performance of a fund's peer set and/or benchmark(s), the Board evaluated fund performance in light of the respective fund's investment objectives, investment parameters and guidelines and considered that the variations between the objectives and investment parameters or guidelines of the funds with their peers and/or benchmarks result in differences in performance results. In addition, with respect to any Nuveen funds for which the Board has identified performance concerns, the Board monitors such funds closely until performance improves, discusses with the Advisor the reasons for such results, considers those steps necessary or appropriate to address such issues, and reviews the results of any efforts undertaken.

In considering the performance data for the Fund, the Independent Board Members determined that the Fund had demonstrated satisfactory performance in comparison to peers. In this regard, the Independent Board Members noted that although the Fund performed in the fourth quartile and underperformed its benchmark over various periods, it was in the second quartile in the one- and three-year periods.

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Annual Investment Management Agreement
Approval Process (Unaudited) (continued)

Based on their review, the Independent Board Members determined that the Fund's investment performance had been satisfactory.

C. Fees, Expenses and Profitability

1. Fees and Expenses

The Board evaluated the management fees and expenses of the Fund reviewing, among other things, the Fund's gross management fee, net management fee and net expense ratio in absolute terms as well as compared to the fees and expenses of a comparable universe of funds provided by an independent fund data provider (the "Peer Universe") and any expense limitations.

The Independent Board Members further reviewed the methodology regarding the construction of the applicable Peer Universe. In reviewing the comparisons of fee and expense information, the Independent Board Members took into account that in certain instances various factors such as: the limited size and particular composition of the Peer Universe (including the inclusion of other Nuveen funds in the peer set); expense anomalies; changes in the funds comprising the Peer Universe from year to year; levels of reimbursement or fee waivers; the timing of information used; and the differences in the type and use of leverage may impact the comparative data, thereby limiting somewhat the ability to make a meaningful comparison with peers.

In reviewing the fee schedule for the Fund, the Independent Board Members also considered the fund-level and complex-wide breakpoint schedules (described in further detail below) and any fee waivers and reimbursements provided by Nuveen. In reviewing fees and expenses (excluding leverage costs and leveraged assets, as applicable), the Board considered the expenses and fees to be higher if they were over 10 basis points higher, slightly higher if they were approximately 6 to 10 basis points higher, in line if they were within approximately 5 basis points higher than the peer average and below if they were below the peer average of the Peer Universe. In reviewing the reports, the Board noted that the majority of the Nuveen funds were at, close to or below their peer set average based on the net total expense ratio.

The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund had a net management fee and a net expense ratio (including fee waivers and expense reimbursements) that were below its peer averages.

Based on their review of the fee and expense information provided, the Independent Board Members determined that the Fund's management fees were reasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to it.

2. Comparisons with the Fees of Other Clients

The Board recognized that all Nuveen funds have at least one sub-advisor (including the Fund, which has two affiliated sub-advisors), and therefore, the overall fund management fee can be divided into two components, the fee retained by the Advisor and the fee paid to the sub-advisor(s). In general terms, the fee to the Advisor reflects the administrative services it provides to support the funds, and while some administrative services may occur at the sub-advisor level, the fee generally reflects the portfolio management services provided by the sub-advisor(s). The Independent Board Members reviewed information regarding the nature of services provided by the Advisor, including through the Sub-Advisors, and the range of fees and average fee such affiliated Sub-Advisors assessed for such services to other clients. Such other clients include separately managed accounts (both retail and institutional accounts), hedge funds, foreign investment funds offered by Nuveen and funds that are not offered by Nuveen but are sub-advised by one of Nuveen's investment management teams. In evaluating the comparisons of fees, the Independent Board Members noted that the fee rates charged to the Fund and other clients vary, among other things, because of the different services involved and the additional regulatory and compliance requirements associated with registered investment companies, such as the Fund. Accordingly, the Independent Board Members considered the differences in the product types, including, but not limited to, the services provided, the structure

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44

and operations, product distribution and costs thereof, portfolio investment policies, investor profiles, account sizes and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members noted, in particular, that the range of services provided to the Fund (as discussed above) is much more extensive than that provided to separately managed accounts. Many of the additional administrative services provided by the Advisor are not required for institutional clients. The Independent Board Members further noted that the management fee rates of the foreign funds advised by the Advisor may vary due to, among other things, differences in the client base, governing bodies, operational complexities and services covered by the management fee. The Independent Board Members also reviewed the fees that Symphony assesses for equity and taxable fixed income hedge funds it manages, which include a performance fee. Given the inherent differences in the various products, particularly the extensive services provided to the Fund, the Independent Board Members believe such facts justify the different levels of fees.

3. Profitability of Fund Advisers

In conjunction with their review of fees, the Independent Board Members also considered the profitability of Nuveen for its advisory activities and its financial condition. The Independent Board Members reviewed the revenues and expenses of Nuveen's advisory activities for the last two calendar years, the allocation methodology used in preparing the profitability data and an analysis of the key drivers behind the changes in revenues and expenses that impacted profitability in 2012. The Independent Board Members noted this information supplemented the profitability information requested and received during the year to help keep them apprised of developments affecting profitability (such as changes in fee waivers and expense reimbursement commitments). In this regard, the Independent Board Members noted that they have an Independent Board Member serve as a point person to review and keep them apprised of changes to the profitability analysis and/or methodologies during the year. The Independent Board Members also considered Nuveen's revenues for advisory activities, expenses, and profit margin compared to that of various unaffiliated management firms with comparable assets under management (based on asset size and asset composition).

In reviewing profitability, the Independent Board Members recognized the Advisor's continued investment in its business to enhance its services, including capital improvements to investment technology, updated compliance systems, and additional personnel. In addition, in evaluating profitability, the Independent Board Members also recognized the subjective nature of determining profitability which may be affected by numerous factors including the allocation of expenses and that various allocation methodologies may each be reasonable but yield different results. Further, the Independent Board Members recognized the difficulties in making comparisons as the profitability of other advisers generally is not publicly available and the profitability information that is available for certain advisers or management firms may not be representative of the industry and may be affected by, among other things, the adviser's particular business mix, capital costs, types of funds managed and expense allocations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Independent Board Members reviewed Nuveen's methodology and assumptions for allocating expenses across product lines to determine profitability. Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded that the Advisor's level of profitability for its advisory activities was reasonable in light of the services provided.

With respect to each Sub-Advisor, the Independent Board Members reviewed its revenues, expenses and profitability margins (pre- and post-tax) for its advisory activities and the methodology used for allocating expenses among the internal sub-advisors. Based on their review, the Independent Board Members were satisfied that each Sub-Advisor's level of profitability was reasonable in light of the services provided.

In evaluating the reasonableness of the compensation, the Independent Board Members also considered other amounts paid to a Fund Adviser by the Fund as well as indirect benefits (such as soft dollar arrangements), if any, the Fund Adviser and its affiliates receive, or are expected to receive, that are directly attributable to the management

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Annual Investment Management Agreement
Approval Process (Unaudited) (continued)

of the Fund. See Section E below for additional information on indirect benefits a Fund Adviser may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. Based on their review of the overall fee arrangements of the Fund, the Independent Board Members determined that the advisory fees and expenses of the Fund were reasonable.

D. Economies of Scale and Whether Fee Levels Reflect These Economies of Scale

With respect to economies of scale, the Independent Board Members have recognized the potential benefits resulting from the costs of a fund being spread over a larger asset base, although economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, particularly on a fund-by-fund basis. One method to help ensure the shareholders share in these benefits is to include breakpoints in the advisory fee schedule. Generally, management fees for funds in the Nuveen complex are comprised of a fund-level component and a complex-level component, subject to certain exceptions. Accordingly, the Independent Board Members reviewed and considered the applicable fund-level breakpoints in the advisory fee schedules that reduce advisory fees as asset levels increase. Further, the Independent Board Members noted that although closed-end funds may from time-to-time make additional share offerings, the growth of their assets will occur primarily through the appreciation of such funds' investment portfolio.

In addition to fund-level advisory fee breakpoints, the Board also considered the Fund's complex-wide fee arrangement. Pursuant to the complex-wide fee arrangement, the fees of the funds in the Nuveen complex are generally reduced as the assets in the fund complex reach certain levels. The complex-wide fee arrangement seeks to provide the benefits of economies of scale to fund shareholders when total fund complex assets increase, even if assets of a particular fund are unchanged or have decreased. The approach reflects the notion that some of Nuveen's costs are attributable to services provided to all its funds in the complex and therefore all funds benefit if these costs are spread over a larger asset base. In addition, with the acquisition of the funds previously advised by FAF Advisors, Inc. at the end of 2010, the Board noted that a portion of such funds' assets at the time of acquisition were deemed eligible to be included in the complex-wide fee calculation in order to deliver fee savings to shareholders in the combined complex and such funds were subject to differing complex-level fee rates.

Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded that the breakpoint schedules and complex-wide fee arrangement were acceptable and reflect economies of scale to be shared with shareholders when assets under management increase.

E. Indirect Benefits

In evaluating fees, the Independent Board Members received and considered information regarding potential "fall out" or ancillary benefits the respective Fund Adviser or its affiliates may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. In this regard, the Independent Board Members considered any revenues received by affiliates of the Advisor for serving as co-manager in initial public offerings of new closed-end funds as well as revenues received in connection with secondary offerings.

In addition to the above, the Independent Board Members considered whether the Fund Advisers received any benefits from soft dollar arrangements whereby a portion of the commissions paid by the Fund for brokerage may be used to acquire research that may be useful to the Fund Adviser in managing the assets of the Fund and other clients. The Fund's portfolio transactions are determined by the Sub-Advisors. Accordingly, the Independent Board Members considered that each Sub-Advisor may benefit from its soft dollar arrangements pursuant to which it receives research from brokers that execute the Fund's portfolio transactions. With respect to fixed income securities, however, the Board recognized that such securities generally trade on a principal basis that does not generate soft dollar credits. Nevertheless, the Sub-Advisors may also engage in soft dollar arrangements on behalf of other clients, and the Fund as well as the Sub-Advisors may benefit from the research or other services received. Similarly, the Board recognized that the research received pursuant to soft dollar arrangements by the Sub-Advisors may also benefit the Fund and shareholders

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46

to the extent the research enhances the ability of the Sub-Advisors to manage the Fund. The Independent Board Members noted that the Sub-Advisors' profitability may be somewhat lower if they did not receive the research services pursuant to the soft dollar arrangements and had to acquire such services directly.

Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded that any indirect benefits received by a Fund Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund were reasonable and within acceptable parameters.

F. Other Considerations

The Independent Board Members did not identify any single factor discussed previously as all-important or controlling. The Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously concluded that the terms of each Advisory Agreement are fair and reasonable, that the respective Fund Adviser's fees are reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund and that the Advisory Agreements be renewed.

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Reinvest Automatically,
Easily and Conveniently

Nuveen makes reinvesting easy. A phone call is all it takes to set up your reinvestment account.

Nuveen Closed-End Funds Automatic Reinvestment Plan

Your Nuveen Closed-End Fund allows you to conveniently reinvest distributions in additional Fund shares.

By choosing to reinvest, you'll be able to invest money regularly and automatically, and watch your investment grow through the power of compounding. Just like distributions in cash, there may be times when income or capital gains taxes may be payable on distributions that are reinvested.

It is important to note that an automatic reinvestment plan does not ensure a profit, nor does it protect you against loss in a declining market.

Easy and convenient

To make recordkeeping easy and convenient, each quarter you'll receive a statement showing your total distributions, the date of investment, the shares acquired and the price per share, and the total number of shares you own.

How shares are purchased

The shares you acquire by reinvesting will either be purchased on the open market or newly issued by the Fund. If the shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the greater of the net asset value or 95% of the then-current market price. If the shares are trading at less than net asset value, shares for your account will be purchased on the open market. If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset value, but the Fund's shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution in newly-issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares' net asset value or 95% of the shares' market value on the last business day immediately prior to the purchase date. Distributions received to purchase shares in the open market will normally be invested shortly after the distribution payment date. No interest will be paid on distributions awaiting reinvestment. Because the market price of the shares may increase before purchases are completed, the average purchase price per share may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund. A pro rata portion of any applicable brokerage commissions on open market purchases will be paid by Plan participants. These commissions usually will be lower than those charged on individual transactions.

Flexible

You may change your distribution option or withdraw from the Plan at any time, should your needs or situation change.

You can reinvest whether your shares are registered in your name, or in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee. Ask your investment advisor if his or her firm will participate on your behalf. Participants whose shares are registered in the name of one firm may not be able to transfer the shares to another firm and continue to participate in the Plan.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time. Although the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants, there is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan at this time.

Call today to start reinvesting distributions

For more information on the Nuveen Automatic Reinvestment Plan or to enroll in or withdraw from the Plan, speak with your financial advisor or call us at (800) 257-8787.

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48

Glossary of Terms
Used in this Report

• Average Annual Total Return: This is a commonly used method to express an investment's performance over a particular, usually multi-year time period. It expresses the return that would have been necessary each year to equal the investment's actual cumulative performance (including change in NAV or market price and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, if any) over the time period being considered.

• Comparative Benchmark: A blended return comprised of: 1) 56% of the return of the Russell 3000^® Value Index, which measures the performance of those Russell 3000^® Index companies with lower price-to book ratios and lower forecasted growth values, 2) 16% of the return of the MSCI EAFE ex-Japan Value Index, a capitalization weighted index that selects the lower 50% of the price-to-book ranked value stocks traded in the developed markets of Europe, Asia and the Far East, excluding Japan, 3) 8% of the return of the Merrill Lynch DRD (dividends received deduction) Preferred Index, which consists of investment-grade, DRD-eligible, exchange-traded preferred stocks with one year or more to maturity, and 4) 20% of the return of the CSFB Leveraged Loan Index, which consists of approximately $150 billion of tradable term loans with at least one year to maturity and rated BBB or lower. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not include the effects of any applicable sales charges or management fees.

• Current Distribution Rate: An investment's current annualized distribution divided by its current market price.

• Effective Leverage: Effective leverage is a Fund's effective economic leverage, and includes both Regulatory Leverage (see below) and the leverage effects of certain derivative investments in the Fund's portfolio that increase the Fund's investment exposure.

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country/region in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports.

• Leverage: Using borrowed money to invest in securities or other assets, seeking to increase the return of an investment or portfolio.

• Net Asset Value (NAV): The net market value of all securities held in a portfolio.

• Net Asset Value (NAV) Per Share: The market value of one share of a mutual fund or closed-end fund. For a Fund, the NAV is calculated daily by taking the Fund's total assets (securities, cash, and accrued earnings), subtracting the Fund's liabilities, and dividing by the number of shares outstanding.

• Regulatory Leverage: Regulatory Leverage consists of preferred shares issued by or borrowings of a Fund. Both of these are part of the Fund's capital structure. Regulatory Leverage is sometimes referred to as "'40 Act Leverage" and is subject to asset coverage limits set in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

• S&P 500^® Index: An unmanaged index generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Index returns assume reinvestment of distributions, but do not reflect any applicable sales charges or management fees.

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49

Notes

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50

Additional Fund Information

Board of Trustees

John P. Amboian
Robert P. Bremner
Jack B. Evans
William C. Hunter
David J. Kundert
William J. Schneider
Judith M. Stockdale
Carole E. Stone
Virginia L. Stringer
Terence J. Toth

Fund Manager

Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

Custodian

State Street Bank & Trust Company
Boston, MA

Transfer Agent and
Shareholder Services

State Street Bank & Trust Company
Nuveen Funds
P.O. Box 43071
Providence, RI 02940-3071
(800) 257-8787

Legal Counsel

Chapman and Cutler LLP
Chicago, IL

Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP
Chicago, IL

Quarterly Form N-Q Portfolio of Investments Information

The Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. You may obtain this information directly from the SEC. Visit the SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov or in person at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC toll-free at (800) SEC -0330 for room hours and operation.

Nuveen Funds' Proxy Voting Information

You may obtain (i) information regarding how each fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen Investments toll-free at (800) 257-8787 or on Nuveen's website at www.nuveen.com and (ii) a description of the policies and procedures that each fund used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen Investments toll free at (800) 257-8787. You may also obtain this information directly from the SEC. Visit the SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov.

CEO Certification Disclosure

The Fund's Chief Executive Officer has submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the annual CEO certification as required by Section 303A.12(a) of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

The Fund has filed with the SEC the certification of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Common Share Information

The Fund intends to repurchase shares of its own common stock in the future at such times and in such amounts as is deemed advisable. During the period covered by this report, the Fund repurchased shares of its common stock as shown in the accompanying table.

				Common Shares Repurchased
JTA					—

Any future repurchases will be reported to shareholders in the next annual or semi-annual report.

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51

Nuveen Investments:
Serving Investors for Generations

Since 1898, financial advisors and their clients have relied on Nuveen Investments to provide dependable investment solutions through continued adherence to proven, long-term investing principles. Today, we offer a range of high quality equity and fixed-income solutions designed to be integral components of a well-diversified core portfolio.

Focused on meeting investor needs.

Nuveen Investments provides high-quality investment services designed to help secure the long-term goals of institutional and individual investors as well as the consultants and financial advisors who serve them. Nuveen Investments markets a wide range of specialized investment solutions which provide investors access to capabilities of its high-quality boutique investment affiliates—Nuveen Asset Management, Symphony Asset Management, NWQ Investment Management Company, Santa Barbara Asset Management, Tradewinds Global Investors, Winslow Capital Management and Gresham Investment Management. In total, Nuveen Investments managed approximately $216 billion as of ?June 30, 2013.

Find out how we can help you.

To learn more about how the products and services of Nuveen Investments may be able to help you meet your financial goals, talk to your financial advisor, or call us at (800) 257-8787. Please read the information provided carefully before you invest. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of any investment carefully. Where applicable, be sure to obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other relevant information. To obtain a prospectus, please contact your securities representative or Nuveen Investments, 333 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Learn more about Nuveen Funds at: www.nuveen.com/cef

Distributed by
Nuveen Securities, LLC
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
www.nuveen.com/cef

_ESA-C-0613D

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.