SEC Info  
    Home      Search      My Interests      Help      Sign In      Please Sign In

Wells Fargo Funds Trust – ‘N-CSR’ for 9/30/15

On:  Friday, 11/27/15, at 2:12pm ET   ·   Effective:  11/27/15   ·   For:  9/30/15   ·   Accession #:  1193125-15-389566   ·   File #:  811-09253

Previous ‘N-CSR’:  ‘N-CSR’ on 11/3/15 for 8/31/15   ·   Next:  ‘N-CSR’ on 12/29/15 for 10/31/15   ·   Latest:  ‘N-CSR’ on 4/2/24 for 1/31/24

Find Words in Filings emoji
 
  in    Show  and   Hints

  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

11/27/15  Wells Fargo Funds Trust           N-CSR       9/30/15    4:9.6M                                   RR Donnelley/FAAllspring C&B Mid Cap Value Fund Administrator Class (CBMIX) — Class A (CBMAX) — Class B (CBMBX) — Class C (CBMCX) — Institutional Class (CBMSX) — Investor Class (CBMDX)Allspring Common Stock Fund Administrator Class (SCSDX) — Class A (SCSAX) — Class B (SCSKX) — Class C (STSAX) — Class R6 (SCSRX) — Institutional Class (SCNSX) — Investor Class (STCSX)Allspring Discovery Mid Cap Growth Fund Administrator Class (SEPKX) — Class A (SENAX) — Class B (WENBX) — Class C (WENCX) — Class R6 (WENRX) — Institutional Class (WFEIX) — Investor Class (SENTX)Allspring Discovery SMID Cap Growth Fund Administrator Class (WFDDX) — Class A (WFDAX) — Class C (WDSCX) — Class R6 (WFDRX) — Institutional Class (WFDSX) — Investor Class (STDIX)Allspring Diversified Capital Builder Fund Administrator Class (EKBDX) — Class A (EKBAX) — Class B (EKBBX) — Class C (EKBCX) — Institutional Class (EKBYX)Allspring Diversified Income Builder Fund Administrator Class (EKSDX) — Class A (EKSAX) — Class B (EKSBX) — Class C (EKSCX) — Institutional Class (EKSYX)Allspring Index Asset Allocation Fund Administrator Class (WFAIX) — Class A (SFAAX) — Class B (SASBX) — Class C (WFALX)Allspring Opportunity Fund Administrator Class (WOFDX) — Class A (SOPVX) — Class B (SOPBX) — Class C (WFOPX) — Institutional Class (WOFNX) — Investor Class (SOPFX)Allspring Special Mid Cap Value Fund Administrator Class (WFMDX) — Class A (WFPAX) — Class C (WFPCX) — Class R (WFHHX) — Class R6 (WFPRX) — Institutional Class (WFMIX) — Investor Class (SMCDX)

Certified Annual Shareholder Report of a Management Investment Company   —   Form N-CSR
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: N-CSR       Certified Annual Shareholder Report of a            HTML   4.53M 
                          Management Investment Company                          
 2: EX-99.(A)(1)  Code of Ethics                                    HTML    166K 
 4: EX-99.906CERT  Section 906 Certifications                       HTML      9K 
 3: EX-99.CERT  Section 302 Certifications                          HTML     17K 


N-CSR   —   Certified Annual Shareholder Report of a Management Investment Company
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page   -   Filing Submission
"Table of Contents
"Letter to shareholders
"Performance highlights
"Fund expenses
"Portfolio of investments
"Statement of assets and liabilities
"Statement of operations
"Statement of changes in net assets
"Financial highlights
"Notes to financial statements
"Report of independent registered public accounting firm
"Other information
"List of abbreviations

This is an HTML Document rendered as filed.  [ Alternative Formats ]



  Form N-CSR  
Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

 

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: 811-09253

 

 

Wells Fargo Funds Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

C. David Messman

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

525 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94105

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

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

Date of fiscal year end: September 30

 

 

Registrant is making a filing for 9 of its series:

Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund, Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund, and Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund.

Date of reporting period: September 30, 2015

 

 

 


Table of Contents

ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage

Diversified Capital Builder Fund

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    16   

Statement of operations

    17   

Statement of changes in net assets

    18   

Financial highlights

    19   

Notes to financial statements

    24   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    29   

Other information

    30   

List of abbreviations

    36   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Further adding to the positive tone, the U.S. unemployment rate continued its slow improvement, easing from 5.7% in October 2014 to 5.1% in September 2015.

 

 

 

 

Throughout most of the reporting period, signs of an improving domestic economy supported stocks and high-yield bonds.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. The period was marked by continued low global interest rates and a sluggish economic recovery in the U.S. However, late-period concerns about global growth, sparked by an unexpected slowdown in China, as well as an expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) would soon raise its key interest rate resulted in considerable volatility for stock and bond markets in the final months of the fiscal year.

U.S. economic growth slowed early in the reporting period, but later data suggested that the recovery remained on track.

Although the final estimate for U.S. annualized gross domestic product (GDP) growth came in at a modest 0.6% in the first quarter of 2015, the low number was attributed to short-term factors such as a harsh winter and a long-lived strike at West Coast ports. Annualized GDP growth rebounded to 3.9% in the second quarter, validating the consensus view of steady, if unexceptional, domestic growth. Further adding to the positive tone, the U.S. unemployment rate continued its slow improvement, easing from 5.7% at the beginning of the reporting period (October 2014) to 5.1% at the end (September 2015).

Toward the end of the reporting period, growing signs of an economic slowdown in China sparked investor concerns about global economic growth. China is a major importer, and a slowdown in the country’s growth could affect its trading partners. The country is also a major consumer of commodities; China’s slowdown thus had the potential to keep commodity prices low and the pressure on commodity producers high.

Major central banks continued to provide liquidity to the markets.

As the reporting period progressed, various comments by Fed Chair Janet Yellen led investors to believe that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which is the Fed’s monetary policymaking body, would soon raise its key federal funds rate. The Fed remained on hold at its September 2015 meeting, however, citing concerns about a weaker global economy and subdued U.S. inflation. The Fed’s decision caused some uncertainty about when it would raise rates, but by the end of the period most investors expected a modest Fed rate hike in late 2015 or early 2016. Throughout the reporting period, the FOMC kept its key interest rate effectively at zero.

In contrast, the European Central Bank (ECB) showed no signs of raising rates in the near future. Rather, the ECB maintained a variety of measures aimed at encouraging lending, including making funds available to banks at low interest rates and imposing a negative interest rate on bank deposits held at the central bank.

Long-term Treasury bonds outperformed U.S. stocks and high-yield bonds for the 12-month period.

Throughout most of the reporting period, signs of an improving domestic economy supported stocks and high-yield bonds. Worries about slower global growth hit the stock market hard in August, though, and the S&P 500 Index,1 a measure of U.S. large-cap stocks, lost 6.03% in that month alone; the index ended the full period with a return of -0.61%. High-yield bonds also weakened in the final months of the fiscal year, challenged not only by slowing economic growth but also by the prospect of increased defaults among commodity-related issuers as commodity prices remained low. The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S.

 

 

 

1  The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     3   

Corporates, Cash Pay Index2 lost 3.54% for the reporting period. By contrast, long-term Treasury bonds ended the period with a 9.12% gain, as measured by the Barclays 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Index,3 aided by low interest rates and their lack of credit risk.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds and other investments spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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

 

 

2  The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index is an unmanaged market index that provides a broad-based performance measure of the non-investment-grade U.S. domestic bond index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3  The Barclays 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Index is an unmanaged index composed of securities in the U.S. Treasury Index with maturities of 20 years or greater. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio manager

Margaret Patel

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (EKBAX)   1-20-1998     (6.76     9.03        4.15        (1.05     10.34        4.78        1.16        1.16   
Class B (EKBBX)*   9-11-1935     (6.76     9.21        4.29        (1.86     9.49        4.29        1.91        1.91   
Class C (EKBCX)   1-22-1998     (2.88     9.51        4.00        (1.88     9.51        4.00        1.91        1.91   
Administrator Class (EKBDX)   7-30-2010                          (0.92     10.59        4.96        1.08        0.95   
Institutional Class (EKBYX)   1-26-1998                          (0.75     10.81        5.15        0.83        0.78   
Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index4                            (1.29     11.56        7.08                 
BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index5                            (3.54     5.90        7.04                 
Russell 1000® Index6                            (0.61     13.42        6.95                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest-rate changes and their impact on the fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk, high-yield securities risk, and smaller-company securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     5   

Growth of $10,000 investment7 as of September 30, 2015

LOGO

 

 

 

1  Historical performance shown for Administrator Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares and has been adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Administrator Class shares. Historical performance shown for all classes of the Fund prior to July 12, 2010, is based on the performance of the Fund’s predecessor, Evergreen Diversified Capital Builder Fund.

 

2  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3  The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 1.20% for Class A, 1.95% for Class B, 1.95% for Class C, 0.95% for Administrator Class, and 0.78% for Institutional Class. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4  Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index is composed of the following indexes: Russell 1000® Index (75%) and BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index (25%). You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index is an unmanaged market index that provides a broad-based performance measure of the non-investment grade U.S. domestic bond index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6  The Russell 1000® Index measures the performance of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 92% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index, BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index, and the Russell 1000 Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund (Class A, excluding sales charges) outperformed two of its benchmarks, the Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index and the BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. However, the Fund underperformed the Russell 1000® Index.

 

n   The Fund outperformed the Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index, in part, because of its above-benchmark weighting in stocks versus the 75% equity/25% fixed-income weighting of the Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index during a period in which stocks outperformed the high-yield market.

 

n   While the Fund held only modest stock positions in the energy and materials sectors, several holdings had sharp price declines, which detracted from the performance of the equity portfolio. In the bond portfolio, holdings in basic-materials companies were considerable detractors because the companies’ financial results were pressured by declining demand and falling prices for their products.

Stocks held up better than high-yield bonds in a volatile period.

The period was marked by short-term swings in equity prices, as measured by the Russell 1000 Index, with August and September particularly tough months as investors became increasingly concerned about the future policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) in normalizing interest rates and the slowing pace of global economic growth. Despite the late-period losses, the Russell 1000 Index ended the fiscal year with a relatively modest 0.61% decline. Interest rates, as measured by 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, declined from around 2.5% on September 30, 2014, to just over 2.0% on September 30, 2015. Lower yields reflected continued sluggish global economic growth, inflation that was generally below the Fed’s target level of 2%, monetary easing in other countries, and growing desire for the relative protection that U.S. Treasury securities have historically provided to investors. In contrast to falling Treasury rates, yields in the high-yield bond market rose, especially in the energy, metals and mining, and basic-materials sectors; continued low prices for energy and commodities sparked investor concerns about the viability of many highly leveraged companies. Outside of those sectors, further sluggish economic growth raised the prospect of deteriorating fundamentals even for those companies with stable to improving financial results. Investors therefore demanded a higher yield advantage to purchase or hold below-investment-grade debt.

 

Ten largest holdings8 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

FEI Company

     3.04   

Automatic Data Processing Incorporated

     2.85   

Amphenol Corporation Class A

     2.71   

The Home Depot Incorporated

     2.56   

Tronox Finance LLC, 6.38%, 8-15-2020

     2.54   

Jarden Corporation

     2.43   

Sempra Energy

     2.23   

ServiceNow Incorporated

     2.03   

Akamai Technologies Incorporated

     2.02   

The Estee Lauder Companies Incorporated Class A

     2.00   

In the Fund’s stock portfolio, several holdings in the health care, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples sectors were major contributors to performance. CVS Health Corporation; Covidien plc (acquired during the year by Medtronic, Incorporated); and Becton, Dickinson and Company were all strong performers in the health-related sector. The Home Depot, Incorporated, benefited from improving sales in the housing sector. In the industrials sector, Pall Corporation outperformed as a result of its acquisition by Danaher Corporation.

Detractors included energy-related holdings Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.;* EOG Resources, Incorporated;* and Bristow Group Incorporated. In the poorly performing materials space, Westlake Chemical

 

Corporation detracted from results. Despite the general outperformance of health care issues, two specialty pharmaceutical companies, Mylan N.V. and Mallinckrodt plc, were detractors during the fiscal year.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     7   
Portfolio allocation9 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

Specific to the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio, over the past year, we raised the average quality of the high-yield holdings, believing that higher-quality issues that were available for modestly lower yields represented better relative investment value compared with higher-yielding but lower-rated bonds. Fixed-income contributors included bonds of Crown Castle International Corporation, Lear Corporation, and The AES Corporation.* Detractors included bonds from Mallinckrodt plc and Horizon Pharma plc as well as from commodity-related issuers Rayonier A.M. Products Incorporated, Tronox Limited, and Olin Corporation.

We continue to focus on high-yield bonds of U.S.-based

companies that have publicly issued common stock and

 

that we judge to have competitive business positions and flexible balance sheets. We believe such companies should be able to withstand a slowdown in their sales and profits or diminished access to credit should there be a reduction in liquidity provided by financial lenders. We continue to minimize exposure to the energy, energy services, and metals and mining sectors because these areas face continued challenges from declining demand and soft pricing for their products.

Our outlook continues to be one of cautious optimism.

While the pace of economic growth is low compared with previous recoveries after recessions, we believe the intrinsic dynamism, creativity, and basic strengths of the U.S. economy should provide opportunities for both the stock and high-yield bond markets over the next year. The housing and automobile sectors are on multiyear upswings. Slow but steady gains in employment should help stimulate demand for goods and services. Furthermore, the expansion of low-cost shale gas and petroleum liquids provided a boon to both businesses and consumers, improving the competitive positions of U.S. companies and offering some cost relief to consumers for utility and fuel costs. Despite current financial uncertainties, we believe the strong fundamentals of the U.S. economy will provide attractive investment potential for stocks over time.

In our view, the high-yield bond market may benefit from relatively attractive fundamentals—improving albeit slow business conditions, ample financial liquidity, and historically low default rates, excluding high-risk sectors such as energy. We are cautious given that high-yield interest rates could rise further against the backdrop of a slowing economy. However, with the currently wide yield differentials for high-yield versus investment-grade bonds, we think high-yield bonds could provide enough income to compensate for their credit risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
9-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 914.97       $ 5.66         1.18

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.15       $ 5.97         1.18

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 910.81       $ 9.20         1.92

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.44       $ 9.70         1.92

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 910.68       $ 9.24         1.93

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.39       $ 9.75         1.93

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 915.05       $ 4.56         0.95

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.31       $ 4.81         0.95

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 916.45       $ 3.75         0.78

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.16       $ 3.95         0.78

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 74.09%

           

Consumer Discretionary: 11.06%

           
Auto Components: 1.53%            

Gentex Corporation

           450,000       $ 6,975,000   

Lear Corporation

           15,000         1,631,700   
              8,606,700   
           

 

 

 
Distributors: 1.54%            

Genuine Parts Company

           105,000         8,703,450   
           

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.60%            

Marriott International Incorporated Class A

           50,000         3,410,000   
           

 

 

 
Household Durables: 4.83%            

Harman International Industries Incorporated

           70,000         6,719,300   

Jarden Corporation †

           280,000         13,686,400   

Leggett & Platt Incorporated

           165,000         6,806,250   
              27,211,950   
           

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 2.56%            

The Home Depot Incorporated

           125,000         14,436,250   
           

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 5.92%

           
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.97%            

CVS Health Corporation

           115,000         11,095,200   
           

 

 

 
Food Products: 1.73%            

ConAgra Foods Incorporated

           240,000         9,722,400   
           

 

 

 
Household Products: 0.22%            

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated

           15,000         1,258,500   
           

 

 

 
Personal Products: 2.00%            

The Estee Lauder Companies Incorporated Class A

           140,000         11,295,200   
           

 

 

 

Energy: 0.85%

           
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.14%            

Bristow Group Incorporated

           30,000         784,800   
           

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.71%            

Columbia Pipeline Group Incorporated

           220,000         4,023,800   
           

 

 

 

Financials: 2.81%

           
Banks: 0.71%            

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated

           45,000         4,014,000   
           

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 1.31%            

CBRE Group Incorporated Class A †

           230,000         7,360,000   
           

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  
REITs: 0.79%            

Boston Properties Incorporated

           20,000       $ 2,368,000   

Saul Centers Incorporated «

           40,000         2,070,000   
              4,438,000   
           

 

 

 

Health Care: 15.69%

           
Biotechnology: 1.41%            

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

           55,000         2,185,150   

Amgen Incorporated

           10,000         1,383,200   

Baxalta Incorporated

           70,000         2,205,700   

Celgene Corporation †

           20,000         2,163,400   
              7,937,450   
           

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 4.86%            

Baxter International Incorporated

           20,000         657,000   

Becton Dickinson & Company

           61,942         8,217,226   

C.R. Bard Incorporated

           30,000         5,589,300   

Hologic Incorporated †

           60,000         2,347,800   

Medtronic plc

           150,000         10,041,000   

West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated

           10,000         541,200   
              27,393,526   
           

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.49%            

McKesson Corporation

           15,000         2,775,450   
           

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 2.62%            

Quintiles Transnational Holdings Incorporated †

           100,000         6,957,000   

Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated

           30,000         3,668,400   

Waters Corporation †

           35,000         4,137,350   
              14,762,750   
           

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 6.31%            

AbbVie Incorporated

           100,000         5,441,000   

Allergan plc †

           10,000         2,718,100   

Eli Lilly & Company

           110,000         9,205,900   

Endo International plc †

           75,000         5,196,000   

Mallinckrodt plc †

           50,000         3,197,000   

Mylan NV †

           245,000         9,863,700   
              35,621,700   
           

 

 

 

Industrials: 6.30%

           
Aerospace & Defense: 0.94%            

Curtiss-Wright Corporation

           35,000         2,184,700   

Lockheed Martin Corporation

           15,000         3,109,650   
              5,294,350   
           

 

 

 
Building Products: 1.11%            

Apogee Enterprises Incorporated

           90,000         4,018,500   

Lennox International Incorporated

           20,000         2,266,600   
              6,285,100   
           

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  
Electrical Equipment: 0.64%            

AMETEK Incorporated

           45,000       $ 2,354,400   

Regal-Beloit Corporation

           10,000         564,500   

Sensata Technologies Holding NV †

           15,000         665,100   
              3,584,000   
           

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 0.97%            

Danaher Corporation

           55,000         4,686,550   

Roper Industries Incorporated

           5,000         783,500   
              5,470,050   
           

 

 

 
Machinery: 2.64%            

Donaldson Company Incorporated

           40,000         1,123,200   

IDEX Corporation

           80,000         5,704,000   

John Bean Technologies Corporation

           210,000         8,032,500   
              14,859,700   
           

 

 

 

Information Technology: 19.70%

           
Communications Equipment: 0.54%            

CommScope Holdings Incorporated †

           15,000         450,450   

Palo Alto Networks Incorporated †

           15,000         2,580,000   
              3,030,450   
           

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 6.17%            

Amphenol Corporation Class A

           300,000         15,288,000   

Belden Incorporated

           50,000         2,334,500   

FEI Company

           235,000         17,164,400   
              34,786,900   
           

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 2.02%            

Akamai Technologies Incorporated †

           165,000         11,394,900   
           

 

 

 
IT Services: 3.96%            

Automatic Data Processing Incorporated

           200,000         16,072,000   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Class A †

           100,000         6,261,000   
              22,333,000   
           

 

 

 
Software: 6.22%            

Adobe Systems Incorporated †

           120,000         9,866,400   

CDK Global Incorporated

           20,000         955,600   

FireEye Incorporated †

           35,000         1,113,700   

Mentor Graphics Corporation

           80,000         1,970,400   

Salesforce.com Incorporated †

           20,000         1,388,600   

ServiceNow Incorporated †

           165,000         11,459,250   

Splunk Incorporated †

           150,000         8,302,500   
              35,056,450   
           

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.79%            

Seagate Technology plc

           100,000         4,480,000   
           

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name                 Shares      Value  

Materials: 1.06%

          
Chemicals: 0.81%           

LyondellBasell Industries NV Class A

          10,000       $ 833,600   

The Valspar Corporation

          10,000         718,800   

Westlake Chemical Corporation

          35,000         1,816,150   

Westlake Chemical Partners LP

          70,000         1,225,000   
             4,593,550   
          

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 0.25%           

Sealed Air Corporation

          30,000         1,406,400   
          

 

 

 

Utilities: 10.70%

          
Electric Utilities: 3.61%           

American Electric Power Company Incorporated

          110,000         6,254,600   

Edison International

          100,000         6,307,000   

NextEra Energy Incorporated

          50,000         4,877,500   

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

          45,000         2,886,300   
             20,325,400   
          

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.46%           

Atmos Energy Corporation

          45,000         2,618,100   
          

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 6.63%           

CMS Energy Corporation

          180,000         6,357,600   

Dominion Resources Incorporated

          100,000         7,038,000   

DTE Energy Company

          110,000         8,840,700   

NiSource Incorporated

          140,000         2,597,000   

Sempra Energy

          130,000         12,573,600   
             37,406,900   
          

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $387,698,945)

             417,776,376   
          

 

 

 
     Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal         

Corporate Bonds and Notes: 17.84%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 3.29%

          
Auto Components: 1.82%           

Dana Holding Corporation

     5.50     12-15-2024       $ 500,000         481,250   

Lear Corporation

     5.25        1-15-2025             10,000,000         9,800,000   
             10,281,250   
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 0.35%           

Speedway Motorsports Incorporated

     5.13        2-1-2023         2,000,000         1,960,000   
          

 

 

 
Media: 0.15%           

DISH DBS Corporation

     5.00        3-15-2023         1,000,000         837,500   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     13   

      

 

 

Security name    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Specialty Retail: 0.97%           

Group 1 Automotive Incorporated

     5.00     6-1-2022       $     2,280,000       $ 2,245,800   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

     5.75        10-1-2022         3,200,000         3,208,000   
             5,453,800   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 0.46%

          
Beverages: 0.46%           

Constellation Brands Incorporated

     4.75        11-15-2024         2,600,000         2,626,000   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 0.47%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.30%           

Bristow Group Incorporated

     6.25        10-15-2022         2,000,000         1,720,000   
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.17%           

Oneok Incorporated

     7.50        9-1-2023         1,000,000         963,120   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 0.45%

          
REITs: 0.45%           

Crown Castle International Corporation

     4.88        4-15-2022         2,000,000         2,079,000   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

     5.75        8-15-2024         500,000         482,500   
             2,561,500   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 3.16%

          
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.91%           

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

     5.13        7-15-2024         1,000,000         982,000   

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated 144A

     5.88        1-31-2022         3,000,000         3,217,500   

HealthSouth Corporation

     5.13        3-15-2023         1,000,000         962,500   
             5,162,000   
          

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 0.53%           

Quintiles Transnational Corporation 144A

     4.88        5-15-2023         3,000,000         2,970,000   
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 1.72%           

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 144A

     7.88        9-1-2023         3,000,000         2,872,500   

Endo Limited 144A

     6.00        2-1-2025         1,300,000         1,269,125   

Horizon Pharma plc 144A

     6.63        5-1-2023         6,300,000         5,559,750   
             9,701,375   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 1.07%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 0.62%           

Moog Incorporated 144A

     5.25        12-1-2022         1,500,000         1,500,000   

Orbital ATK Incorporated 144A

     5.50        10-1-2023         2,000,000         2,005,000   
             3,505,000   
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.09%           

Clean Harbors Incorporated

     5.13        6-1-2021         500,000         505,000   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.36%           

Oshkosh Corporation

     5.38        3-1-2025             2,000,000         2,005,000   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Information Technology: 2.63%

          
Communications Equipment: 1.18%           

CommScope Incorporated 144A

     5.50     6-15-2024       $ 7,000,000       $ 6,685,000   
          

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.67%           

Anixter International Incorporated

     5.13        10-1-2021         1,000,000         992,500   

Belden Incorporated 144A

     5.25        7-15-2024         3,000,000         2,775,000   
             3,767,500   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 0.53%           

Neustar Incorporated «

     4.50        1-15-2023         3,500,000         2,966,250   
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 0.25%           

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

     5.25        8-1-2023         1,500,000         1,395,000   
          

 

 

 

Materials: 5.90%

          
Chemicals: 4.93%           

A. Schulman Incorporated 144A

     6.88        6-1-2023         1,500,000         1,413,750   

Celanese U.S. Holdings LLC

     4.63        11-15-2022         1,000,000         942,500   

Kraton Polymers LLC

     6.75        3-1-2019         1,770,000         1,752,300   

Olin Corporation

     5.50        8-15-2022         5,000,000         4,218,750   

Rayonier Advanced Materials Products Incorporated 144A

     5.50        6-1-2024         6,835,000         5,126,250   

Tronox Finance LLC

     6.38        8-15-2020             22,588,000         14,343,380   
             27,796,930   
          

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 0.97%           

Berry Plastics Corporation

     5.13        7-15-2023         3,120,000         2,948,400   

Berry Plastics Corporation 144A%%

     6.00        10-15-2022         2,000,000         2,005,000   

Sealed Air Corporation 144A

     5.25        4-1-2023         500,000         501,250   
             5,454,650   
          

 

 

 

Utilities: 0.41%

          
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 0.41%           

NRG Energy Incorporated

     6.63        3-15-2023         2,500,000         2,300,000   
          

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $114,913,119)

             100,616,875   
          

 

 

 

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 1.46%

          

Health Care: 0.48%

          
Pharmaceuticals: 0.48%           

Mallinckrodt plc 144A

     5.50        4-15-2025         3,000,000         2,673,750   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 0.34%

          
Electrical Equipment: 0.34%           

Sensata Technologies BV 144A

     4.88        10-15-2023         2,000,000         1,910,000   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     15   

      

 

 

Security name    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Information Technology: 0.64%

          
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 0.64%           

Seagate HDD Cayman 144A

     4.88     6-1-2027       $ 3,896,000       $ 3,625,563   
          

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $8,613,041)

             8,209,313   
          

 

 

 
     Yield            Shares         

Short-Term Investments: 6.83%

          
Investment Companies: 6.83%           

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

     0.15           1,618,733         1,618,733   

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

     0.16           36,866,929         36,866,929   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $38,485,662)

             38,485,662   
          

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $549,710,767) *     100.22        565,088,226   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (0.22        (1,221,345
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 563,866,881   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

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

 

%% The security is issued on a when-issued basis.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $549,596,020 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 57,480,948   

Gross unrealized losses

     (41,988,742
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 15,492,206   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $1,593,609 of securities loaned), at value (cost $511,225,105)

  $ 526,602,564   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $38,485,662)

    38,485,662   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $549,710,767)

    565,088,226   

Receivable for investments sold

    1,131,892   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    118,876   

Receivable for dividends and interest

    2,226,106   

Receivable for securities lending income

    2,089   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    101,815   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    568,669,004   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    2,011,375   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    397,638   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    1,618,733   

Management fee payable

    301,935   

Distribution fees payable

    35,572   

Administration fees payable

    93,073   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    343,797   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    4,802,123   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 563,866,881   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 494,932,439   

Overdistributed net investment income

    (109,688

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    53,666,671   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    15,377,459   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 563,866,881   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 402,303,088   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    44,124,808   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $9.12   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $9.68   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 3,041,573   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    330,859   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $9.19   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 53,373,122   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    5,850,110   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $9.12   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 7,898,461   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    865,654   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $9.12   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 97,250,637   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    10,723,493   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $9.07   

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     17   
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $13,950)

  $ 8,439,346   

Interest

    6,019,724   

Securities lending income, net

    69,111   

Income from affiliated securities

    5,680   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    14,533,861   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    3,949,500   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    1,100,925   

Class B

    10,802   

Class C

    130,303   

Administrator Class

    10,639   

Institutional Class

    97,099   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    1,111,149   

Class B

    10,593   

Class C

    132,038   

Administrator Class

    24,824   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    32,396   

Class C

    396,114   

Custody and accounting fees

    43,858   

Professional fees

    48,589   

Registration fees

    76,814   

Shareholder report expenses

    120,888   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    11,100   

Other fees and expenses

    23,035   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    7,330,666   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (31,705
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    7,298,961   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    7,234,900   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    59,544,695   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (71,976,899
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (12,432,204
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (5,197,304
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Statement of changes in net assets
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 7,234,900        $ 6,831,298   

Net realized gains on investments

      59,544,695          96,756,071   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (71,976,899       4,940,816   
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      (5,197,304       108,528,185   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

       

Class A

      (4,369,242       (4,033,418

Class B

      (7,771       (8,084

Class C

      (141,210       (88,171

Administrator Class

      (120,391       (103,627

Institutional Class

      (1,482,197       (1,515,475
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (6,120,811       (5,748,775
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    2,083,460        20,605,565        728,328        6,498,461   

Class B

    13,876        136,786        9,822        87,796   

Class C

    1,628,588        15,975,268        437,137        3,902,359   

Administrator Class

    597,936        5,892,607        425,317        3,836,616   

Institutional Class

    1,457,516        14,260,256        1,479,563        12,740,863   
 

 

 

 
      56,870,482          27,066,095   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    423,836        4,106,343        418,375        3,783,044   

Class B

    676        6,705        798        7,137   

Class C

    12,912        126,376        8,677        78,106   

Administrator Class

    12,215        118,673        8,642        78,753   

Institutional Class

    140,068        1,347,977        159,610        1,422,476   
 

 

 

 
      5,706,074          5,369,516   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (4,696,961     (46,170,825     (5,460,105     (48,487,352

Class B

    (235,677     (2,347,105     (276,744     (2,452,684

Class C

    (690,709     (6,779,827     (579,714     (5,096,202

Administrator Class

    (754,084     (7,409,406     (289,957     (2,557,101

Institutional Class

    (1,683,456     (16,493,344     (9,909,257     (87,233,593
 

 

 

 
      (79,200,507       (145,826,932
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (16,623,951       (113,391,321
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

      (27,942,066       (10,611,911
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      591,808,947          602,420,858   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 563,866,881        $ 591,808,947   
 

 

 

 

Undistributed (overdistributed) net investment income

    $ (109,688     $ 21,748   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.31        $7.89        $6.93        $5.65        $6.02   

Net investment income

    0.11        0.09        0.12        0.15        0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.20     1.41        0.96        1.29        (0.36
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.09     1.50        1.08        1.44        (0.26

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.10     (0.08     (0.12     (0.16     (0.11

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.12        $9.31        $7.89        $6.93        $5.65   

Total return1

    (1.05 )%      19.10     15.75     25.58     (4.53 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.19     1.21     1.20     1.21     1.21

Net expenses

    1.19     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20

Net investment income

    1.17     1.09     1.66     2.40     1.57

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    69     82     70     79     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $402,303        $431,388        $399,535        $390,705        $364,533   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.38        $7.95        $6.98        $5.69        $6.05   

Net investment income

    0.04 1      0.03 1      0.07 1      0.11 1      0.06 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.21     1.41        0.96        1.28        (0.37
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.17     1.44        1.03        1.39        (0.31

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.02     (0.01     (0.06     (0.10     (0.05

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.19        $9.38        $7.95        $6.98        $5.69   

Total return2

    (1.86 )%      18.15     14.87     24.62     (5.20 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.94     1.96     1.95     1.96     1.96

Net expenses

    1.94     1.95     1.95     1.95     1.95

Net investment income

    0.44     0.34     0.94     1.65     0.81

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    69     82     70     79     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $3,042        $5,180        $6,502        $8,077        $10,360   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.32        $7.90        $6.94        $5.66        $6.02   

Net investment income

    0.05        0.03        0.07        0.10        0.05   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.22     1.41        0.96        1.29        (0.35
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.17     1.44        1.03        1.39        (0.30

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.03     (0.02     (0.07     (0.11     (0.06

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.12        $9.32        $7.90        $6.94        $5.66   

Total return1

    (1.88 )%      18.21     14.86     24.63     (5.14 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.94     1.96     1.95     1.96     1.96

Net expenses

    1.94     1.95     1.95     1.95     1.95

Net investment income

    0.41     0.34     0.91     1.65     0.79

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    69     82     70     79     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $53,373        $45,670        $39,758        $38,279        $35,665   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.32        $7.90        $6.94        $5.66        $5.99   

Net investment income

    0.14 1      0.12 1      0.14 1      0.17 1      0.13 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.22     1.41        0.96        1.28        (0.37
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.08     1.53        1.10        1.45        (0.24

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.12     (0.11     (0.14     (0.17     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.12        $9.32        $7.90        $6.94        $5.66   

Total return

    (0.92 )%      19.39     16.06     25.84     (4.25 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.05     1.04     1.04     1.03     1.04

Net expenses

    0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95     0.95

Net investment income

    1.41     1.33     1.84     2.65     1.86

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    69     82     70     79     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $7,898        $9,411        $6,836        $3,015        $3,632   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     23   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $9.27        $7.85        $6.90        $5.62        $5.99   

Net investment income

    0.15        0.13 1      0.15        0.18 1      0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.21     1.41        0.95        1.28        (0.37
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.06     1.54        1.10        1.46        (0.23

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.14     (0.12     (0.15     (0.18     (0.14

Net asset value, end of period

    $9.07        $9.27        $7.85        $6.90        $5.62   

Total return

    (0.75 )%      19.68     16.17     26.23     (4.08 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.79     0.78     0.77     0.78     0.78

Net expenses

    0.77     0.78     0.77     0.78     0.77

Net investment income

    1.58     1.52     2.08     2.80     1.99

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    69     82     70     79     56

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $97,251        $100,160        $149,790        $142,256        $71,195   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Notes to financial statements

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     25   

by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

When-issued transactions

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

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

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

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The primary permanent differences causing such reclassifications are due to certain distributions paid, dividends from certain securities and recognition of partnership income. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Paid-in capital    Overdistributed net
investment income
   Accumulated net
realized gains
on investments
$(3,852)    $(1,245,525)    $1,249,377


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Notes to financial statements

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

    

Quoted prices

(Level 1)

    

Other significant

observable inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant

unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 62,368,350       $ 0       $ 0       $ 62,368,350   

Consumer staples

     33,371,300         0         0         33,371,300   

Energy

     4,808,600         0         0         4,808,600   

Financials

     15,812,000         0         0         15,812,000   

Health care

     88,490,876         0         0         88,490,876   

Industrials

     35,493,200         0         0         35,493,200   

Information technology

     111,081,700         0         0         111,081,700   

Materials

     5,999,950         0         0         5,999,950   

Utilities

     60,350,400         0         0         60,350,400   

Corporate bonds and notes

     0         100,616,875         0         100,616,875   

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0         8,209,313         0         8,209,313   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     36,866,929         1,618,733         0         38,485,662   

Total assets

   $ 454,643,305       $ 110,444,921       $ 0       $ 565,088,226   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services,


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     27   

implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.65% and declining to 0.48% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.60% and declined to 0.45% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.64% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.35% and declining to 0.20% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate        Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.20% for Class A shares, 1.95% for Class B shares, 1.95% for Class C shares, 0.95% for Administrator Class shares and 0.78% for Institutional Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $38,310 from the sale of Class A shares and $44 and $647 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares, respectively.


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Notes to financial statements

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class B, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $417,124,467 and $456,769,344, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $901 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 5,395,444       $ 5,748,775   

Long-term capital gain

     725,367         0   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
long-term
gain
   Unrealized
gains
$53,551,924    $15,492,206

8. INDEMNIFICATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     29   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Other information (unaudited)

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $725,367 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $5,395,444 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $2,574,862 has been designated as interest-related dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     31   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years
William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is Chair of Taproot Foundation (non-profit organization), a Board Member of Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization) and an inactive chartered financial analyst.   Asset Allocation Trust; Harding Loevner Funds; Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust
Peter G. Gordon
(Born 1942)
  Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Delux Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust
Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Other information (unaudited)
Name and
year of birth
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust
Michael S. Scofield (Born 1943)   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds complex (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust
Donald C. Willeke (Born 1940)   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    
Karla M. Rabusch (Born 1959)   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    
C. David Messman (Born 1960)   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

  Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management LLC since 2014, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer from 2007 to 2014.    
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.    

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling
1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     33   

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement applicable to Fund-level administrative services (the “Administration Agreement”). The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

The Board evaluated the ability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   Other information (unaudited)

programs and compliance records of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the full range of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and its affiliates.

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Class A) was higher than or in range of the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than its benchmark, the Diversified Capital Builder Blended Index, for all periods under review except the five- and ten-year periods.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than, equal to, or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to increase the net operating expense ratio cap for the Administrator Class. In accepting such proposed new net operating expense ratio cap, the Board noted that the Fund’s new net operating expense ratios would still be lower than, equal to, or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than or in range of the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes except for Class A. The Board noted that the net operating expense ratio of the Class A was in range of the median net operating expense ratio of its expense Group.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund     35   

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

The Board received and considered information concerning the profitability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser, as well as the profitability of Wells Fargo as a whole, from providing services to the Fund and the fund family as a whole.

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

36   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Capital Builder Fund   List of abbreviations

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

 

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


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237454 11-15

A225/AR225 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage

Diversified Income Builder Fund

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    16   

Statement of operations

    17   

Statement of changes in net assets

    18   

Financial highlights

    19   

Notes to financial statements

    24   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    29   

Other information

    30   

List of abbreviations

    36   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Further adding to the positive tone, the U.S. unemployment rate continued its slow improvement, easing from 5.7% in October 2014 to 5.1% in September 2015.

 

 

 

 

Throughout most of the reporting period, signs of an improving domestic economy supported stocks and high-yield bonds.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. The period was marked by continued low global interest rates and a sluggish economic recovery in the U.S. However, late-period concerns about global growth, sparked by an unexpected slowdown in China, as well as an expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) would soon raise its key interest rate resulted in considerable volatility for stock and bond markets in the final months of the fiscal year.

U.S. economic growth slowed early in the reporting period, but later data suggested that the recovery remained on track.

Although the final estimate for U.S. annualized gross domestic product (GDP) growth came in at a modest 0.6% in the first quarter of 2015, the low number was attributed to short-term factors such as a harsh winter and a long-lived strike at West Coast ports. Annualized GDP growth rebounded to 3.9% in the second quarter, validating the consensus view of steady, if unexceptional, domestic growth. Further adding to the positive tone, the U.S. unemployment rate continued its slow improvement, easing from 5.7% at the beginning of the reporting period (October 2014) to 5.1% at the end (September 2015).

Toward the end of the reporting period, growing signs of an economic slowdown in China sparked investor concerns about global economic growth. China is a major importer, and a slowdown in the country’s growth could affect its trading partners. The country is also a major consumer of commodities; China’s slowdown thus had the potential to keep commodity prices low and the pressure on commodity producers high.

Major central banks continued to provide liquidity to the markets.

As the reporting period progressed, various comments by Fed Chair Janet Yellen led investors to believe that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which is the Fed’s monetary policymaking body, would soon raise its key federal funds rate. The Fed remained on hold at its September 2015 meeting, however, citing concerns about a weaker global economy and subdued U.S. inflation. The Fed’s decision caused some uncertainty about when it would raise rates, but by the end of the period most investors expected a modest Fed rate hike in late 2015 or early 2016. Throughout the reporting period, the FOMC kept its key interest rate effectively at zero.

In contrast, the European Central Bank (ECB) showed no signs of raising rates in the near future. Rather, the ECB maintained a variety of measures aimed at encouraging lending, including making funds available to banks at low interest rates and imposing a negative interest rate on bank deposits held at the central bank.

Long-term Treasury bonds outperformed U.S. stocks and high-yield bonds for the 12-month period.

Throughout most of the reporting period, signs of an improving domestic economy supported stocks and high-yield bonds. Worries about slower global growth hit the stock market hard in August, though, and the S&P 500 Index,1 a measure of U.S. large-cap stocks, lost 6.03% in that month alone; the index ended the full period with a return of -0.61%. High-yield bonds also weakened in the final months of the fiscal year, challenged not only by slowing economic growth but also by the prospect of increased defaults among commodity-related issuers as commodity

 

 

 

1  The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     3   

prices remained low. The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index2 lost 3.54% for the reporting period. By contrast, long-term Treasury bonds ended the period with a 9.12% gain, as measured by the Barclays 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Index,3 aided by low interest rates and their lack of credit risk.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds and other investments spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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

 

 

2  The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index is an unmanaged market index that provides a broad-based performance measure of the non-investment-grade U.S. domestic bond index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3  The Barclays 20+ Year U.S. Treasury Index is an unmanaged index composed of securities in the U.S. Treasury Index with maturities of 20 years or greater. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term total return, consisting of current income and capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio manager

Margaret Patel

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (EKSAX)   4-14-1987     (7.58     5.29        3.72        (1.92     6.55        4.33        1.08        1.08   
Class B (EKSBX)*   2-1-1993     (7.28     5.42        3.80        (2.80     5.75        3.80        1.83        1.83   
Class C (EKSCX)   2-1-1993     (3.81     5.75        3.56        (2.81     5.75        3.56        1.83        1.83   
Administrator Class (EKSDX)   7-30-2010                          (1.69     6.79        4.45        1.00        0.90   
Institutional Class (EKSYX)   1-13-1997                          (1.65     6.96        4.63        0.75        0.71   
Diversified Income Builder Blended Index4                            (2.76     7.80        7.12                 
BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index5                            (3.54     5.90        7.04                 
Russell 1000® Index6                            (0.61     13.42        6.95                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class and Institutional Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest-rate changes and their impact on the fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk, high-yield securities risk, and smaller-company securities risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment7 as of September 30, 2015

LOGO

 

 

1  Historical performance shown for Administrator Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares and has been adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Administrator Class shares. Historical performance shown for all classes of the Fund prior to July 12, 2010, is based on the performance of the Fund’s predecessor, Evergreen Diversified Income Builder Fund.

 

2  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3  The manager has committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at the amounts shown. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4  Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. The Diversified Income Builder Blended Index is composed of the following indexes: Russell 1000® Index (25%) and BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index (75%). You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index is an unmanaged market index that provides a broad-based performance measure of the non-investment grade U.S. domestic bond index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6  The Russell 1000® Index measures the performance of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 92% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Diversified Income Builder Blended Index, BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index, and the Russell 1000 Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund (Class A, excluding sales charges), outperformed the Diversified Income Builder Blended Index and the BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index and underperformed the Russell 1000® Index for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   Our preference for higher-quality high-yield bonds contributed to outperformance versus the BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index. In the Fund’s stock portfolio several holdings in the health care, consumer discretionary, and information technology sectors contributed to performance.

 

n   Holdings in bonds from basic-materials companies were considerable detractors to fixed-income performance because the companies’ financial results came under pressure from declining demand and falling prices for their products. In the stock portfolio, while the Fund held only modest positions in the energy and materials sectors, several holdings had sharp price declines, which detracted from the performance of the equity holdings.

Stocks held up better than high-yield bonds in a volatile period.

Interest rates, as measured by 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, declined from around 2.5% on September 30, 2014, to just over 2.0% on September 30, 2015. Lower yields reflected continued sluggish global economic growth, inflation that was generally below the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) target level of 2%, monetary easing in other countries, and growing desire for the relative protection that U.S. Treasury securities have historically provided to investors. In contrast to falling Treasury rates, yields in the high-yield bond market rose, especially in the energy, metals and mining, and basic-materials sectors; continued low prices for energy and commodities sparked investor concerns about the viability of many highly leveraged companies. Outside of those sectors, further sluggish economic growth raised the prospect of deteriorating fundamentals even for those companies with stable to improving financial results. Investors therefore demanded a higher yield advantage to purchase or hold below-investment-grade debt.

For the stock market, the period was marked by short-term swings in equity prices, as measured by the Russell 1000 Index, with August and September particularly tough months as investors became increasingly concerned about the future policy of the Fed in normalizing interest rates and the slowing pace of global economic growth. Despite the late-period losses, the Russell 1000 Index ended the fiscal year with a relatively modest 0.61% decline.

 

Ten largest holdings8 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

CommScope Incorporated, 5.50%, 6-15-2024

     3.15   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated, 5.75%, 10-1-2022

     3.11   

Kraton Polymers LLC, 6.75%, 3-1-2019

     2.92   

Tronox Finance LLC, 6.38%, 8-15-2020

     2.44   

Rayonier Advanced Materials Products Incorporated, 5.50%, 6-1-2024

     2.39   

Group 1 Automotive Incorporated, 5.00%, 6-1-2022

     2.23   

Seagate HDD (Cayman), 4.75%, 6-1-2023

     2.12   

Olin Corporation, 5.50%, 8-15-2022

     2.06   

DISH DBS Corporation, 5.00%, 3-15-2023

     1.96   

Horizon Pharma plc, 6.63%, 5-1-2023

     1.94   

Specific to the Fund’s fixed-income portfolio, over the past year, we raised the average quality of the high-yield holdings, believing that higher-quality issues that were available for modestly lower yields represented better relative investment value compared with higher-yielding but lower-rated bonds. Bonds that contributed to performance included The Hertz Corporation;* Penske Automotive Group, Incorporated; and Dycom Investments Incorporated. Detractors included bonds of specialty pharmaceuticals company Horizon Pharma Financing Incorporated and commodity companies Olin Corporation, Rayonier Advanced Materials Incorporated, and Tronox Finance LLC.

We continue to focus on high-yield bonds of U.S.-based companies that have publicly issued common stock and

 

that we judge to have competitive business positions and flexible balance sheets. We believe such companies should be able to withstand a slowdown in their sales and profits or diminished access to credit should there be a reduction in liquidity provided by financial lenders. We continue to minimize exposure to the energy, energy services, and metals and mining sectors because these areas face continued challenges from declining demand and soft pricing for their products.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     7   
Portfolio allocation9 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

In the Fund’s stock portfolio, several holdings in the health care, consumer discretionary, and information technology sectors contributed to performance. Becton, Dickinson and Company; CVS Health Corporation;* The Home Depot, Incorporated; Adobe Systems Incorporated; and Automatic Data Processing, Incorporated added to relative performance. Detractors from equity performance included Columbia Pipeline Group, Incorporated, and Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.,* as well as specialty pharmaceutical companies Mylan N.V and Mallinckrodt plc.

Our outlook continues to be one of cautious optimism.

While the pace of economic growth is low compared with

 

previous recoveries after recessions, we believe the intrinsic dynamism, creativity, and basic strengths of the U.S. economy should provide opportunities for both the stock and high-yield bond markets over the next year. The housing and automobile sectors are on multiyear upswings. Slow but steady gains in employment should help stimulate demand for goods and services. Furthermore, the expansion of low-cost shale gas and petroleum liquids provided a boon to both businesses and consumers, improving the competitive positions of U.S. companies and offering some cost relief to consumers for utility and fuel costs. Despite current financial uncertainties, we believe the strong fundamentals of the U.S. economy will provide attractive investment potential for stocks over time.

In our view, the high-yield bond market may benefit from relatively attractive fundamentals—improving albeit slow business conditions, ample financial liquidity, and historically low default rates, excluding high-risk sectors such as energy. We are cautious given that high-yield interest rates could rise further against the backdrop of a slowing economy. However, with the currently wide yield differentials for high-yield versus investment-grade bonds, we think high-yield bonds could provide enough income to compensate for their credit risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    

Beginning

account value

4-1-2015

    

Ending

account value

9-30-2015

    

Expenses

paid during

the period1

    

Net annualized

expense ratio

 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 943.96       $ 5.26         1.08

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.65       $ 5.47         1.08

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 940.62       $ 8.90         1.83

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.89       $ 9.25         1.83

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 940.51       $ 8.90         1.83

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.89       $ 9.25         1.83

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 945.06       $ 4.39         0.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.56       $ 4.56         0.90

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 945.90       $ 3.41         0.70

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.56       $ 3.55         0.70

 

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 21.66%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 3.18%

          
Auto Components: 0.44%           

Gentex Corporation

          100,000       $ 1,550,000   
          

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.12%           

Genuine Parts Company

          5,000         414,450   
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 1.82%           

Harman International Industries Incorporated

          15,000         1,439,850   

Jarden Corporation †

          45,000         2,199,600   

Leggett & Platt Incorporated

          65,000         2,681,250   
             6,320,700   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 0.80%           

The Home Depot Incorporated

          24,000         2,771,760   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.45%

          
Food Products: 0.64%           

ConAgra Foods Incorporated

          55,000         2,228,050   
          

 

 

 
Personal Products: 0.81%           

The Estee Lauder Companies Incorporated Class A

          35,000         2,823,800   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 0.21%

          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.21%           

Columbia Pipeline Group Incorporated

          40,000         731,600   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 0.53%

          
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.37%           

CBRE Group Incorporated Class A †

          40,000         1,280,000   
          

 

 

 
REITs: 0.16%           

Saul Centers Incorporated

          11,000         569,250   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 5.04%

          
Biotechnology: 0.24%           

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          5,000         198,650   

Baxalta Incorporated

          20,000         630,200   
             828,850   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 1.06%           

Becton Dickinson & Company

          2,000         265,320   

C.R. Bard Incorporated

          8,000         1,490,480   

Medtronic plc

          25,000         1,673,500   

West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated

          5,000         270,600   
             3,699,900   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 1.14%           

Quintiles Transnational Holdings Incorporated †

          40,000       $ 2,782,800   

Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated

          5,000         611,400   

Waters Corporation †

          5,000         591,050   
             3,985,250   
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 2.60%           

Eli Lilly & Company

          35,000         2,929,150   

Endo International plc †

          15,000         1,039,200   

Mallinckrodt plc †

          15,000         959,100   

Mylan NV †

          102,000         4,106,520   
             9,033,970   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 1.31%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 0.09%           

Curtiss-Wright Corporation

          5,000         312,100   
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 0.06%           

Apogee Enterprises Incorporated

          5,000         223,250   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 0.06%           

Sensata Technologies Holding NV †

          5,000         221,700   
          

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 0.49%           

Danaher Corporation

          20,000         1,704,200   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.61%           

John Bean Technologies Corporation

          55,000         2,103,750   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 5.60%

          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 1.63%           

Amphenol Corporation Class A

          40,000         2,038,400   

Belden Incorporated

          15,000         700,350   

FEI Company

          40,000         2,921,600   
             5,660,350   
          

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 0.70%           

Akamai Technologies Incorporated †

          35,000         2,417,100   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 1.60%           

Automatic Data Processing Incorporated

          50,000         4,018,000   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Class A †

          25,000         1,565,250   
             5,583,250   
          

 

 

 
Software: 1.67%           

Adobe Systems Incorporated †

          15,000         1,233,300   

FireEye Incorporated †

          17,000         540,940   

Mentor Graphics Corporation

          25,000         615,750   

Salesforce.com Incorporated †

          7,000         486,010   

ServiceNow Incorporated †

          20,000         1,389,000   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name                Shares      Value  
Software (continued)          

Splunk Incorporated †

         28,000       $ 1,549,800   
            5,814,800   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 0.11%

         
Containers & Packaging: 0.11%          

Sealed Air Corporation

         8,000         375,040   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 4.23%

         
Electric Utilities: 0.66%          

American Electric Power Company Incorporated

         15,000         852,900   

NextEra Energy Incorporated

         15,000         1,463,250   
            2,316,150   
         

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.17%          

Atmos Energy Corporation

         10,000         581,800   
         

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 3.40%          

CMS Energy Corporation

         55,000         1,942,600   

Dominion Resources Incorporated

         20,000         1,407,600   

DTE Energy Company

         30,000         2,411,100   

NiSource Incorporated

         30,000         556,500   

Sempra Energy

         57,000         5,513,040   
            11,830,840   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $76,902,476)

            75,381,910   
         

 

 

 
    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal         

Corporate Bonds and Notes: 62.96%

         

Consumer Discretionary: 12.26%

         
Auto Components: 3.63%          

Dana Holding Corporation

    5.50     12-15-2024       $ 3,925,000         3,777,813   

Lear Corporation

    4.75        1-15-2023         5,000,000         4,900,000   

Lear Corporation

    5.25        1-15-2025         2,000,000         1,960,000   

Lear Corporation

    5.38        3-15-2024         2,000,000         2,000,000   
            12,637,813   
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 1.32%          

Speedway Motorsports Incorporated

    5.13        2-1-2023         4,700,000         4,606,000   
         

 

 

 
Media: 1.97%          

DISH DBS Corporation

    5.00        3-15-2023         8,160,000         6,834,000   
         

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 5.34%          

Group 1 Automotive Incorporated

    5.00        6-1-2022         7,873,000         7,754,905   

Penske Auto Group Incorporated

    5.75        10-1-2022             10,813,000         10,840,033   
            18,594,938   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Consumer Staples: 1.41%

         
Beverages: 1.41%          

Constellation Brands Incorporated

    4.75     11-15-2024       $     4,850,000       $ 4,898,500   
         

 

 

 

Energy: 2.00%

         
Energy Equipment & Services: 1.23%          

Bristow Group Incorporated

    6.25        10-15-2022         5,000,000         4,300,000   
         

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.77%          

ONEOK Incorporated

    7.50        9-1-2023         1,000,000         963,120   

ONEOK Partners LP

    4.25        2-1-2022         2,000,000         1,705,000   
            2,668,120   
         

 

 

 

Financials: 2.72%

         
REITs: 2.72%          

Crown Castle International Corporation

    4.88        4-15-2022         4,000,000         4,158,000   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2024         3,927,000         3,789,555   

Sabra Health Care Incorporated

    5.38        6-1-2023         1,500,000         1,533,750   
            9,481,305   
         

 

 

 

Health Care: 10.23%

         
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 2.00%          

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated 144A

    5.88        1-31-2022         5,000,000         5,362,500   

Halyard Health Incorporated

    6.25        10-15-2022         1,000,000         1,020,000   

Hologic Incorporated 144A

    5.25        7-15-2022         555,000         559,856   
            6,942,356   
         

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 2.93%          

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.13        7-15-2024         3,000,000         2,946,000   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated

    5.75        8-15-2022         3,700,000         3,848,000   

HCA Incorporated

    5.38        2-1-2025         1,500,000         1,488,750   

HealthSouth Corporation

    5.13        3-15-2023         2,000,000         1,925,000   
            10,207,750   
         

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 1.14%          

Quintiles Transnational Corporation 144A

    4.88        5-15-2023         4,000,000         3,960,000   
         

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 4.16%          

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 144A

    7.88        9-1-2023         3,700,000         3,542,750   

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco Incorporated 144A

    7.25        12-15-2020         2,440,000         2,528,450   

Endo Limited 144A

    6.00        2-1-2025         1,700,000         1,659,625   

Horizon Pharma plc 144A

    6.63        5-1-2023         7,650,000         6,751,125   
            14,481,950   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 6.48%

         
Aerospace & Defense: 3.31%          

Moog Incorporated 144A

    5.25        12-1-2022         5,500,000         5,500,000   

Orbital ATK Incorporated 144A

    5.50        10-1-2023         6,000,000         6,015,000   
            11,515,000   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     13   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
Commercial Services & Supplies: 1.16%          

Clean Harbors Incorporated

    5.13     6-1-2021       $ 4,000,000       $ 4,040,000   
         

 

 

 
Machinery: 2.01%          

Actuant Corporation

    5.63        6-15-2022         1,165,000         1,162,088   

Oshkosh Corporation

    5.38        3-1-2022         3,100,000         3,146,500   

Oshkosh Corporation

    5.38        3-1-2025         2,675,000         2,681,688   
            6,990,276   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 9.26%

         
Communications Equipment: 3.15%          

CommScope Incorporated 144A

    5.50        6-15-2024         11,479,000         10,962,445   
         

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 2.76%          

Anixter International Incorporated

    5.13        10-1-2021         3,000,000         2,977,500   

Belden Incorporated 144A

    5.25        7-15-2024         3,000,000         2,775,000   

Belden Incorporated 144A

    5.50        9-1-2022         4,000,000         3,870,000   
            9,622,500   
         

 

 

 
IT Services: 1.83%          

Neustar Incorporated «

    4.50        1-15-2023         7,500,000         6,356,250   
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 1.52%          

Micron Technology Incorporated 144A

    5.25        8-1-2023         1,000,000         930,000   

Micron Technology Incorporated

    5.50        2-1-2025         4,750,000         4,346,250   
            5,276,250   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 16.98%

         
Chemicals: 9.45%          

A. Schulman Incorporated 144A

    6.88        6-1-2023         3,540,000         3,336,450   

Celanese U.S. Holdings LLC

    4.63        11-15-2022         3,125,000         2,945,313   

Huntsman International LLC

    4.88        11-15-2020         1,100,000         955,790   

Kraton Polymers LLC

    6.75        3-1-2019         10,250,000         10,147,500   

Olin Corporation

    5.50        8-15-2022         8,500,000         7,171,875   

Rayonier Advanced Materials Products Incorporated 144A

    5.50        6-1-2024             11,100,000         8,325,000   
            32,881,928   
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 4.59%          

Ball Corporation

    5.00        3-15-2022         1,500,000         1,503,750   

Berry Plastics Corporation

    5.13        7-15-2023         2,500,000         2,362,500   

Berry Plastics Corporation 144A%%

    6.00        10-15-2022         5,100,000         5,112,750   

Greif Incorporated

    7.75        8-1-2019         1,200,000         1,320,000   

Sealed Air Corporation 144A

    5.25        4-1-2023         5,150,000         5,162,875   

Sealed Air Corporation 144A

    5.50        9-15-2025         500,000         507,500   
            15,969,375   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 2.94%          

Commercial Metals Company

    4.88        5-15-2023         2,000,000         1,750,000   

Tronox Finance LLC

    6.38        8-15-2020             13,400,000         8,509,000   
            10,259,000   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Telecommunication Services: 0.24%

         
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 0.24%          

SBA Communications Corporation

    5.63     10-1-2019       $ 800,000       $ 824,000   
         

 

 

 

Utilities: 1.38%

         
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 1.38%          

NRG Energy Incorporated

    6.63        3-15-2023         1,000,000         920,000   

NRG Energy Incorporated

    7.88        5-15-2021         3,838,000         3,890,773   
            4,810,773   
         

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $236,767,948)

            219,120,529   
         

 

 

 

Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes: 6.89%

         

Health Care: 1.19%

         
Pharmaceuticals: 1.19%          

Mallinckrodt plc 144A

    5.50        4-15-2025         4,655,000         4,148,769   
         

 

 

 

Industrials: 2.91%

         
Electrical Equipment: 2.91%          

Sensata Technologies BV 144A

    4.88        10-15-2023         6,700,000         6,398,500   

Sensata Technologies BV 144A

    5.63        11-1-2024         3,750,000         3,740,625   
            10,139,125   
         

 

 

 

Information Technology: 2.79%

         
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 2.79%          

Seagate HDD (Cayman)

    4.75        6-1-2023         7,500,000         7,366,265   

Seagate HDD (Cayman) 144A

    4.88        6-1-2027         2,500,000         2,326,465   
            9,692,730   
         

 

 

 

Total Yankee Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost $24,848,851)

            23,980,624   
         

 

 

 
    Yield            Shares         

Short-Term Investments: 10.09%

         
Investment Companies: 10.09%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15           7,577,207         7,577,207   

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

    0.16               27,525,188         27,525,188   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $35,102,395)

            35,102,395   
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $373,621,670) *     101.60        353,585,458   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (1.60 )          (5,563,661
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 348,021,797   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     15   

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

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

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

%% The security is issued on a when-issued basis.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.
(u) The rate represents the 7-day annualized yield at period end.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $373,624,356 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 6,081,635   

Gross unrealized losses

     (26,120,533
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized losses

   $ (20,038,898

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $5,712,888 of securities loaned), at value (cost $338,519,275)

  $ 318,483,063   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $35,102,395)

    35,102,395   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $373,621,670)

    353,585,458   

Receivable for investments sold

    4,389,724   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    386,717   

Receivable for dividends and interest

    3,873,720   

Receivable for securities lending income

    7,939   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    72,121   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    362,315,679   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Dividends payable

    130,525   

Payable for investments purchased

    5,129,375   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    1,031,350   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    7,577,207   

Management fee payable

    152,436   

Distribution fees payable

    70,344   

Administration fees payable

    54,158   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    148,487   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    14,293,882   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 348,021,797   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 355,739,249   

Overdistributed net investment income

    (145,081

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    12,463,841   

Net unrealized losses on investments

    (20,036,212
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 348,021,797   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 127,241,808   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    22,289,160   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $5.71   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $6.06   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 1,398,442   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    243,958   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $5.73   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 110,457,033   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    19,307,550   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $5.72   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 31,366,828   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    5,601,806   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $5.60   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 77,557,686   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    13,871,589   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $5.59   

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     17   
         

Investment income

 

Interest

  $ 14,732,367   

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $5,979)

    1,702,646   

Securities lending income, net

    106,169   

Income from affiliated securities

    5,667   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    16,546,849   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    2,042,753   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    349,003   

Class B

    6,086   

Class C

    286,082   

Administrator Class

    50,156   

Institutional Class

    61,248   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    351,940   

Class B

    6,050   

Class C

    288,980   

Administrator Class

    117,967   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    18,149   

Class C

    866,941   

Custody and accounting fees

    26,895   

Professional fees

    56,249   

Registration fees

    73,110   

Shareholder report expenses

    48,936   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    21,472   

Other fees and expenses

    10,499   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    4,682,516   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (123,373
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    4,559,143   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    11,987,706   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    12,354,202   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (31,717,824
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (19,363,622
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (7,375,916
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Statement of changes in net assets
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 11,987,706        $ 12,903,945   

Net realized gains on investments

      12,354,202          20,717,391   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (31,717,824       2,411,963   
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      (7,375,916       36,033,299   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

       

Class A

      (4,749,720       (5,703,926

Class B

      (63,936       (110,164

Class C

      (3,030,262       (3,231,700

Administrator Class

      (1,676,989       (1,771,560

Institutional Class

      (2,456,799       (2,086,603

Net realized gains

       

Class A

      (7,807,842       (3,535,975

Class B

      (161,998       (92,463

Class C

      (6,201,022       (2,482,437

Administrator Class

      (2,904,026       (1,001,962

Institutional Class

      (3,326,577       (1,121,083
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (32,379,171       (21,137,873
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    4,241,152        26,154,843        2,927,346        18,644,254   

Class B

    23,198        143,786        49,956        318,746   

Class C

    3,886,301        23,984,622        1,927,375        12,272,203   

Administrator Class

    4,464,133        26,956,519        4,175,618        26,041,091   

Institutional Class

    7,757,218        46,139,832        2,923,588        18,567,990   
 

 

 

 
      123,379,602          75,844,284   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    1,878,275        11,337,103        1,330,020        8,372,667   

Class B

    30,536        185,089        27,558        173,716   

Class C

    1,238,763        7,487,729        728,044        4,584,672   

Administrator Class

    626,804        3,713,014        350,052        2,165,734   

Institutional Class

    930,533        5,503,062        469,844        2,898,770   
 

 

 

 
      28,225,997          18,195,559   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (6,277,811     (38,460,578     (7,800,503     (49,886,728

Class B

    (318,762     (1,971,499     (309,633     (1,964,287

Class C

    (3,207,318     (19,688,593     (3,531,538     (22,472,694

Administrator Class

    (7,273,755     (43,352,349     (3,912,694     (24,411,797

Institutional Class

    (4,599,131     (27,541,817     (1,899,453     (11,854,456
 

 

 

 
      (131,014,836       (110,589,962
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      20,590,763          (16,550,119
 

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

      (19,164,324       (1,654,693
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      367,186,121          368,840,814   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 348,021,797        $ 367,186,121   
 

 

 

 

Overdistributed net investment income

    $ (145,081     $ (184,553
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $6.37        $6.13        $6.00        $5.26        $5.57   

Net investment income

    0.21        0.23        0.25        0.28        0.28   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.31     0.38        0.13        0.74        (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.10     0.61        0.38        1.02        0.01   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.21     (0.23     (0.25     (0.28     (0.32

Net realized gains

    (0.35     (0.14     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.56     (0.37     (0.25     (0.28     (0.32

Net asset value, end of period

    $5.71        $6.37        $6.13        $6.00        $5.26   

Total return1

    (1.92 )%      10.13     6.37     19.86     (0.28 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.11     1.13     1.12     1.14     1.13

Net expenses

    1.08     1.08     1.08     1.08     1.08

Net investment income

    3.38     3.60     4.03     4.93     4.86

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    63     52     60     72     65

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $127,242        $143,062        $159,229        $145,156        $134,340   

 

 

 

1  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $6.40        $6.15        $6.02        $5.28        $5.59   

Net investment income

    0.16 1      0.18 1      0.21 1      0.24 1      0.24 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.32     0.39        0.12        0.74        (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.16     0.57        0.33        0.98        (0.03

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.16     (0.18     (0.20     (0.24     (0.28

Net realized gains

    (0.35     (0.14     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.51     (0.32     (0.20     (0.24     (0.28

Net asset value, end of period

    $5.73        $6.40        $6.15        $6.02        $5.28   

Total return2

    (2.80 )%      9.46     5.57     18.92     (1.01 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.86     1.88     1.87     1.88     1.88

Net expenses

    1.83     1.83     1.83     1.83     1.83

Net investment income

    2.65     2.86     3.31     4.21     4.11

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    63     52     60     72     65

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,398        $3,256        $4,557        $6,449        $7,971   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $6.39        $6.14        $6.01        $5.27        $5.58   

Net investment income

    0.16 1      0.18        0.20        0.24        0.24   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.32     0.39        0.13        0.74        (0.27
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.16     0.57        0.33        0.98        (0.03

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.16     (0.18     (0.20     (0.24     (0.28

Net realized gains

    (0.35     (0.14     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.51     (0.32     (0.20     (0.24     (0.28

Net asset value, end of period

    $5.72        $6.39        $6.14        $6.01        $5.27   

Total return2

    (2.81 )%      9.47     5.58     18.94     (1.02 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.86     1.88     1.87     1.89     1.88

Net expenses

    1.83     1.83     1.83     1.83     1.83

Net investment income

    2.62     2.85     3.29     4.18     4.12

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    63     52     60     72     65

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $110,457        $111,045        $112,113        $114,896        $101,140   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $6.25        $6.01        $5.89        $5.16        $5.46   

Net investment income

    0.21 1      0.24        0.26        0.28        0.29 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.30     0.38        0.12        0.74        (0.26
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.09     0.62        0.38        1.02        0.03   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.21     (0.24     (0.26     (0.29     (0.33

Net realized gains

    (0.35     (0.14     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.56     (0.38     (0.26     (0.29     (0.33

Net asset value, end of period

    $5.60        $6.25        $6.01        $5.89        $5.16   

Total return

    (1.69 )%      10.46     6.43     20.15     0.00

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.97     0.96     0.96     0.97     0.89

Net expenses

    0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90     0.87

Net investment income

    3.56     3.77     4.21     5.10     5.09

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    63     52     60     72     65

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $31,367        $48,690        $43,135        $35,727        $35,157   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     23   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $6.25        $6.01        $5.88        $5.16        $5.46   

Net investment income

    0.24        0.25 1      0.27 1      0.30 1      0.30   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.32     0.38        0.13        0.72        (0.26
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.08     0.63        0.40        1.02        0.04   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.23     (0.25     (0.27     (0.30     (0.34

Net realized gains

    (0.35     (0.14     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.58     (0.39     (0.27     (0.30     (0.34

Net asset value, end of period

    $5.59        $6.25        $6.01        $5.88        $5.16   

Total return

    (1.65 )%      10.68     6.83     20.18     0.18

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.71     0.70     0.69     0.71     0.70

Net expenses

    0.69     0.70     0.69     0.71     0.69

Net investment income

    3.76     3.98     4.43     5.32     5.27

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    63     52     60     72     65

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $77,558        $61,133        $49,807        $59,031        $61,029   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Notes to financial statements

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     25   

securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

When-issued transactions

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

Security transactions and income recognition

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

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The primary permanent differences causing such reclassifications are due to certain distributions paid and


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Notes to financial statements

recognition of partnership income. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Overdistributed net
investment income
   Accumulated net
realized gains
on investments

$29,472

   $(29,472)

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

    

Quoted prices

(Level 1)

    

Other significant

observable inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant

unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 11,056,910       $ 0       $ 0       $ 11,056,910   

Consumer staples

     5,051,850         0         0         5,051,850   

Energy

     731,600         0         0         731,600   

Financials

     1,849,250         0         0         1,849,250   

Health care

     17,547,970         0         0         17,547,970   

Industrials

     4,565,000         0         0         4,565,000   

Information technology

     19,475,500         0         0         19,475,500   

Materials

     375,040         0         0         375,040   

Utilities

     14,728,790         0         0         14,728,790   

Corporate bonds and notes

     0         219,120,529         0         219,120,529   

Yankee corporate bonds and notes

     0         23,980,624         0         23,980,624   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     27,525,188         7,577,207         0         35,102,395   

Total assets

   $ 102,907,098       $ 250,678,360       $ 0       $ 353,585,458   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     27   

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.55% and declining to 0.43% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.50% and declined to 0.40% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.35% and declining to 0.20% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate       

Rate prior to

July 1, 2015

 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.08% for Class A shares, 1.83% for Class B shares, 1.83% for Class C shares, 0.90% for Administrator Class shares, and 0.71% for Institutional Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $33,890 from the sale of Class A shares and $748 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares.


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Notes to financial statements

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class B, Class C, and Administrator Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $230,008,688 and $249,289,069, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $688 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 18,803,192       $ 12,903,953   

Long-term capital gain

     13,575,979         8,233,920   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

ordinary

income

  

Undistributed

long-term

gain

  

Unrealized

losses

$2,517,098

   $9,949,431    $(20,040,160)

8. INDEMNIFICATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     29   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Other information (unaudited)

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 8.16% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $13,575,979 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $1,748,219 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $10,555,674 has been designated as interest-related dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $7,274,094 has been designated as short-term capital gain dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     31   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or

investment company

directorships during

past 5 years

William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

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

Peter G. Gordon

(Born 1942)

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

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

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

CIGNA Corporation;

Asset Allocation Trust

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

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

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

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

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

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


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Name and

year of birth

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or

investment company

directorships during

past 5 years

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

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

Michael S. Scofield

(Born 1943)

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

Donald C. Willeke

(Born 1940)

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

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

Name and

year of birth

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    

Karla M. Rabusch

(Born 1959)

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

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

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

C. David Messman

(Born 1960)

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

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

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

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     33   

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement applicable to Fund-level administrative services (the “Administration Agreement”). The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

The Board evaluated the ability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   Other information (unaudited)

programs and compliance records of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the full range of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and its affiliates.

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Class A) was higher than the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was lower than its benchmark, the Diversified Income Builder Blended Index, for the three-, five- and ten-year periods under review, and higher than or in range of the average performance of the Universe for the first quarter of 2015 and the one-year period.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than or in range of the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund     35   

Profitability

The Board received and considered information concerning the profitability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser, as well as the profitability of Wells Fargo as a whole, from providing services to the Fund and the fund family as a whole.

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

36   Wells Fargo Advantage Diversified Income Builder Fund   List of abbreviations

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

 

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


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237457 11-15

A226/AR226 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage

Index Asset Allocation Fund

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    30   

Statement of operations

    31   

Statement of changes in net assets

    32   

Financial highlights

    33   

Notes to financial statements

    37   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    45   

Other information

    46   

List of abbreviations

    52   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Further adding to the positive tone, the U.S. unemployment rate continued its slow improvement, easing from 5.7% in October 2014 to 5.1% in September 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout most of the reporting period, signs of an improving domestic economy supported stocks and high-yield bonds.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. The period was marked by continued low global interest rates and a sluggish economic recovery in the U.S. However, late-period concerns about global growth, sparked by an unexpected slowdown in China, as well as an expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) would soon raise its key interest rate resulted in considerable volatility for stock and bond markets in the final months of the fiscal year.

U.S. economic growth slowed early in the reporting period, but later data suggested that the recovery remained on track.

Although the final estimate for U.S. annualized gross domestic product (GDP) growth came in at a modest 0.6% in the first quarter of 2015, the low number was attributed to short-term factors such as a harsh winter and a long-lived strike at West Coast ports. Annualized GDP growth rebounded to 3.9% in the second quarter, validating the consensus view of steady, if unexceptional, domestic growth. Further adding to the positive tone, the U.S. unemployment rate continued its slow improvement, easing from 5.7% at the beginning of the reporting period (October 2014) to 5.1% at the end (September 2015).

Toward the end of the reporting period, growing signs of an economic slowdown in China sparked investor concerns about global economic growth. China is a major importer, and a slowdown in the country’s growth could affect its trading partners. The country is also a major consumer of commodities; China’s slowdown thus had the potential to keep commodity prices low and the pressure on commodity producers high.

Major central banks continued to provide liquidity to the markets.

As the reporting period progressed, various comments by Fed Chair Janet Yellen led investors to believe that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which is the Fed’s monetary policymaking body, would soon raise its key federal funds rate. The Fed remained on hold at its September 2015 meeting, however, citing concerns about a weaker global economy and subdued U.S. inflation. The Fed’s decision caused some uncertainty about when it would raise rates, but by the end of the period most investors expected a modest Fed rate hike in late 2015 or early 2016. Throughout the reporting period, the FOMC kept its key interest rate effectively at zero.

In contrast, the European Central Bank (ECB) showed no signs of raising rates in the near future. Rather, the ECB maintained a variety of measures aimed at encouraging lending, including making funds available to banks at low interest rates and imposing a negative interest rate on bank deposits held at the central bank.

Long-term Treasury bonds outperformed U.S. stocks and high-yield bonds for the 12-month period.

Throughout most of the reporting period, signs of an improving domestic economy supported stocks and high-yield bonds. Worries about slower global growth hit the stock market hard in August, though, and the S&P 500 Index,1 a measure of U.S. large-cap stocks, lost 6.03% in that month alone; the index ended the full period with a return of -0.61%. High-yield bonds also weakened in the final months of the fiscal year, challenged not only by slowing economic growth but also by the prospect of increased defaults among commodity-related issuers as

 

 

 

1  The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value-weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     3   

commodity prices remained low. The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index2 lost 3.54% for the reporting period. By contrast, long-term Treasury bonds ended the period with a 9.12% gain, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index3 aided by low interest rates and their lack of credit risk.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds and other investments spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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

 

 

2  The BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield U.S. Corporates, Cash Pay Index is an unmanaged market index that provides a broad-based performance measure of the non-investment-grade U.S. domestic bond index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

3  The Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index is an unmanaged index composed of securities in the U.S. Treasury Index with maturities of 20 years or greater. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Kandarp Acharya, CFA, FRM

Christian Chan, CFA

Average annual total returns (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios1 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net2  
Class A (SFAAX)   11-13-1986     (2.34     10.70        5.77        3.62        12.02        6.40        1.15        1.15   
Class B (SASBX)*   1-1-1995     (2.15     10.92        5.85        2.85        11.18        5.85        1.90        1.90   
Class C (WFALX)   4-1-1998     1.86        11.18        5.62        2.86        11.18        5.62        1.90        1.90   
Administrator Class (WFAIX)   11-8-1999                          3.89        12.31        6.67        1.07        0.90   
Index Asset Allocation Composite Index3                            5.48        11.60        7.74                 
Barclays U.S. Treasury Index4                            3.76        2.55        4.35                 
Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index5                            9.12        6.57        6.98                 
S&P 500 Index6                            (0.61     13.34        6.80                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Balanced funds may invest in stocks and bonds. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Bond values fluctuate in response to the financial condition of individual issuers, general market and economic conditions, and changes in interest rates. Changes in market conditions and government policies may lead to periods of heightened volatility in the bond market and reduced liquidity for certain bonds held by the Fund. In general, when interest rates rise, bond values fall and investors may lose principal value. Interest-rate changes and their impact on the Fund and its share price can be sudden and unpredictable. The use of derivatives may reduce returns and/or increase volatility. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment7 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

 

1  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

2  The manager has committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at the amounts shown. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

3  Source: Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Effective April 1, 2015, the Index Asset Allocation Composite Index is weighted 60% in the S&P 500 Index and 40% in the Barclays U.S. Treasury Index. Prior to April 1, 2015, the Index Asset Allocation Composite Index was weighted 60% in the S&P 500 Index and 40% in the Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

4  Effective April 1, 2015, the Fund changed its benchmark from the Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index to the Barclays U.S. Treasury Index to better align with its duration range. The Barclays U.S. Treasury Index is an unmanaged index composed of public obligations of the U.S. Treasury with remaining maturity of one year or more. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index is an unmanaged index composed of securities in the U.S. Treasury Index with maturities of 20 years or greater. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6  The S&P 500 Index consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index with each stock’s weight in the index proportionate to its market value. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

7  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Index Asset Allocation Composite Index, Barclays U.S. Treasury Index, Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index, and the S&P 500 Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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

 

10  Target allocations are subject to change and may have changed since the date specified. Cash and cash equivalents are not reflected in the calculations of target allocations. Neutral target allocation is the target allocation of the Fund as stated in the Fund’s prospectus. Current target allocation is the current allocation of the Fund based on our Tactical Asset Allocation Model as of the date specified.

 

11  The Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia, Far East (MSCI EAFE) Free Index is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Free Index consists of the following 21 developed markets country indexes: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

12  The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Markets Index (Net) is a free-float-adjusted market-capitalization-weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index consists of the following 23 emerging markets country indexes: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates. You cannot invest directly in an index.


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund underperformed the Index Asset Allocation Composite Index and the Barclays U.S. Treasury Index and the Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index but outperformed the S&P 500 Index for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   The Fund’s tactical asset allocation shifts between stocks and bonds contributed positively to relative performance. Meanwhile, a lower duration relative to the Treasury benchmarks detracted from performance during the period.

Heightened volatility drove stocks lower during the 12-month period.

The 12-month period was marked by several bouts of heightened volatility as investors grappled with an economic slowdown overseas, weaker corporate earnings growth, and the possibility of tighter monetary conditions in the U.S. Central bank policies continued to diverge as the Federal Reserve (Fed) inched closer to its first rate hike in more than nine years, while the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan implemented massive stimulus programs to combat subdued inflationary pressures. The period was also shaped by the debt crisis in Greece and turmoil in Chinese equity markets. Meanwhile, inflation expectations fell sharply as a result of weaker global demand and plunging commodity prices.

The uncertain macroeconomic environment led to wild gyrations in global stock markets, which—save for a sell-off in early January—rose steadily for most of the period until the fallout from China drove equity markets into correction territory. Volatility spiked to levels last seen in 2011, and the S&P 500 Index fell by 12.35% from its highest level to its lowest level during the period.

For the period as a whole, the S&P 500 Index posted a modestly negative return of -0.61%. Other segments of the global equity market, however, did not fare quite as well. International developed stocks and emerging markets stocks declined by 8.66% and 19.28%, respectively, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Free Index11 and the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net),12 respectively, in large part due to a strengthening U.S. dollar. Government bond prices rose during the period as yields fell across the curve. The Barclays U.S. Treasury Index, a broad measure of U.S. Treasury notes and bonds, gained 3.76% during the 12-month period.

 

Ten largest holdings8 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

Apple Incorporated

     2.15   

Microsoft Corporation

     1.21   

Exxon Mobil Corporation

     1.06   

Johnson & Johnson

     0.88   

General Electric Company

     0.87   

Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated Class B

     0.84   

Wells Fargo & Company

     0.82   

JPMorgan Chase & Company

     0.77   

Facebook Incorporated Class A

     0.70   

AT&T Incorporated

     0.69   

Tactical shifts between stocks and bonds contributed positively while a lower duration detracted from performance.

The Fund’s stock holdings seek to replicate the holdings of the S&P 500 Index, and its bond holdings seek to replicate the holdings of the Barclays U.S. Treasury Index. The Fund’s neutral target allocation is 60% stocks and 40% bonds. As of year-end, the Fund had an effective target allocation of 64% stocks and 36% bonds. Because of price fluctuations, the Fund’s actual allocation on a particular day may have differed slightly from the target allocation.

During the period, the portfolio management team implemented tactical shifts between stocks and bonds in

 

order to adjust the Fund’s effective allocations based on the relative attractiveness of stocks and bonds. The allocation changes are implemented as an overlay with liquid futures contracts which are contracts to buy or sell an asset for a price agreed upon today with delivery and payment occurring at a future point. They can be used to mitigate the risk of price or exchange rate movements or as an investment opportunity based on accurately anticipating how the price of an asset will move in the future. While the S&P 500 Index futures contracts underperformed the U.S. Treasury bond futures contracts during the 12-month period, the adjustments in weightings made by the portfolio management team managed to turn a potential negative into a positive: The net impact of the tactical futures overlay was positive.

On April 1, 2015, the Fund changed its fixed-income benchmark from the Barclays U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Index to the Barclays U.S. Treasury Index in an effort to reduce the overall interest-rate risk of the portfolio. In anticipation of this

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     7   

change, the portfolio management team took some initial steps in late 2014 and early 2015 to gradually lower the duration of its bond portfolio, an adjustment that the team considered prudent from a risk mitigation standpoint. The reduced exposure to longer-term bonds during this period detracted from performance as bond yields fell.

Relative to its benchmark, the Fund maintained a tilt toward stocks and lower bond duration at the close of the period.

The Fund’s effective allocation is determined by a combination of inputs from multiple quantitative and qualitative factors. As of the close of the period, the Fund had a small overweight to stocks relative to bonds and a slightly lower duration relative to its benchmark. All of the changes to the effective allocation were implemented with liquid futures contracts.

 

Sector distribution9 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO
Neutral target allocation10 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO
 

 

Current target allocation10 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

    

 

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
9-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 961.55       $ 5.65         1.15

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.30       $ 5.82         1.15

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 957.61       $ 9.32         1.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.54       $ 9.60         1.90

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 957.85       $ 9.33         1.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.54       $ 9.60         1.90

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 962.84       $ 4.43         0.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.56       $ 4.56         0.90

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

Agency Securities: 0.01%

         

FHLMC

    10.50     1-1-2016       $ 15       $ 15   

FNMA Series 2002-T1 Class A4

    9.50        11-25-2031             77,234         94,286   

Total Agency Securities (Cost $80,491)

            94,301   
         

 

 

 
                 Shares         
Common Stocks: 57.90%          

Consumer Discretionary: 7.58%

         
Auto Components: 0.23%          

BorgWarner Incorporated

         6,846         284,725   

Delphi Automotive plc

         8,603         654,172   

Johnson Controls Incorporated

         19,785         818,308   

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

         8,152         239,098   
            1,996,303   
         

 

 

 
Automobiles: 0.37%          

Ford Motor Company

         117,897         1,599,862   

General Motors Company

         43,608         1,309,112   

Harley-Davidson Incorporated

         6,233         342,192   
            3,251,166   
         

 

 

 
Distributors: 0.04%          

Genuine Parts Company

         4,587         380,216   
         

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.03%          

H&R Block Incorporated

         8,356         302,487   
         

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 1.09%          

Carnival Corporation

         14,003         695,949   

Chipotle Mexican Grill Incorporated †

         943         679,196   

Darden Restaurants Incorporated

         3,449         236,394   

Marriott International Incorporated Class A

         6,034         411,519   

McDonald’s Corporation

         28,494         2,807,514   

Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited

         5,190         462,377   

Starbucks Corporation

         44,903         2,552,287   

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Incorporated

         5,153         342,571   

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

         3,575         257,043   

Wynn Resorts Limited

         2,458         130,569   

Yum! Brands Incorporated

         13,043         1,042,788   
            9,618,207   
         

 

 

 
Household Durables: 0.26%          

D.R. Horton Incorporated

         9,877         289,989   

Garmin Limited

         3,580         128,450   

Harman International Industries Incorporated

         2,154         206,762   

Leggett & Platt Incorporated

         4,141         170,816   

Lennar Corporation Class A

         5,263         253,308   

Mohawk Industries Incorporated †

         1,924         349,764   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Household Durables (continued)           

Newell Rubbermaid Incorporated

          8,099       $ 321,611   

PulteGroup Incorporated

          9,714         183,303   

Whirlpool Corporation

          2,374         349,595   
             2,253,598   
          

 

 

 
Internet & Catalog Retail: 1.10%           

Amazon.com Incorporated †

          11,602         5,938,948   

Expedia Incorporated

          3,025         355,982   

Netflix Incorporated †

          12,886         1,330,608   

The Priceline Group Incorporated †

          1,536         1,899,817   

TripAdvisor Incorporated †

          3,418         215,402   
             9,740,757   
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 0.05%           

Hasbro Incorporated

          3,402         245,420   

Mattel Incorporated

          10,244         215,739   
             461,159   
          

 

 

 
Media: 1.85%           

Cablevision Systems Corporation New York Group Class A

          6,726         218,393   

CBS Corporation Class B

          13,447         536,535   

Comcast Corporation Special Class A

          11,140         637,654   

Comcast Corporation Class A

          63,981         3,639,239   

Discovery Communications Incorporated Class A †

          4,519         117,630   

Discovery Communications Incorporated Class C †

          7,801         189,486   

Interpublic Group of Companies Incorporated

          12,414         237,480   

News Corporation Class A

          11,528         145,483   

News Corporation Class B

          3,260         41,793   

Omnicom Group Incorporated

          7,350         484,365   

Scripps Networks Interactive Incorporated Class A

          2,852         140,290   

Tegna Incorporated

          6,852         153,416   

The Walt Disney Company

          46,979         4,801,254   

Time Warner Cable Incorporated

          8,561         1,535,587   

Time Warner Incorporated

          24,672         1,696,200   

Twenty-First Century Fox Incorporated Class A

          36,940         996,641   

Twenty-First Century Fox Incorporated Class B

          13,043         353,074   

Viacom Incorporated Class B

          10,511         453,550   
             16,378,070   
          

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 0.42%           

Dollar General Corporation

          8,912         645,585   

Dollar Tree Incorporated †

          7,098         473,153   

Kohl’s Corporation

          5,987         277,258   

Macy’s Incorporated

          10,013         513,867   

Nordstrom Incorporated

          4,215         302,258   

Target Corporation

          19,010         1,495,327   
             3,707,448   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Specialty Retail: 1.56%           

Advance Auto Parts Incorporated

          2,217       $ 420,188   

AutoNation Incorporated †

          2,369         137,828   

AutoZone Incorporated †

          933         675,333   

Bed Bath & Beyond Incorporated †

          5,132         292,627   

Best Buy Company Incorporated

          9,284         344,622   

CarMax Incorporated †

          6,296         373,479   

GameStop Corporation Class A «

          3,229         133,067   

L Brands Incorporated

          7,774         700,671   

Lowe’s Companies Incorporated

          27,990         1,929,071   

O’Reilly Automotive Incorporated †

          3,009         752,250   

Ross Stores Incorporated

          12,519         606,796   

Signet Jewelers Limited

          2,406         327,529   

Staples Incorporated

          19,471         228,395   

The Gap Incorporated

          7,198         205,143   

The Home Depot Incorporated

          38,848         4,486,556   

The TJX Companies Incorporated

          20,404         1,457,254   

Tiffany & Company

          3,392         261,930   

Tractor Supply Company

          4,110         346,555   

Urban Outfitters Incorporated †

          2,867         84,232   
             13,763,526   
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 0.58%           

Coach Incorporated

          8,367         242,057   

Fossil Group Incorporated †

          1,253         70,018   

HanesBrands Incorporated

          12,178         352,431   

Michael Kors Holdings Limited †

          5,850         247,104   

Nike Incorporated Class B

          20,509         2,521,992   

PVH Corporation

          2,495         254,340   

Ralph Lauren Corporation

          1,808         213,633   

Under Armour Incorporated Class A †

          5,441         526,580   

VF Corporation

          10,301         702,631   
             5,130,786   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 5.75%

          
Beverages: 1.32%           

Brown-Forman Corporation Class B

          3,208         310,855   

Coca-Cola Enterprises Incorporated

          6,375         308,231   

Constellation Brands Incorporated Class A

          5,200         651,092   

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Incorporated

          5,777         456,672   

Molson Coors Brewing Company Class B

          4,781         396,919   

Monster Beverage Corporation †

          4,603         622,049   

PepsiCo Incorporated

          44,442         4,190,881   

The Coca-Cola Company

          118,443         4,751,933   
             11,688,632   
          

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.42%           

Costco Wholesale Corporation

          13,295         1,922,058   

CVS Health Corporation

          33,715         3,252,823   

Sysco Corporation

          16,739         652,319   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Food & Staples Retailing (continued)           

The Kroger Company

          29,390       $ 1,060,097   

Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated

          47,740         3,095,462   

Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated

          26,438         2,196,998   

Whole Foods Market Incorporated

          10,826         342,643   
             12,522,400   
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 0.99%           

Archer Daniels Midland Company

          18,422         763,592   

Campbell Soup Company

          5,447         276,054   

ConAgra Foods Incorporated

          13,059         529,020   

General Mills Incorporated

          18,113         1,016,683   

Hormel Foods Corporation

          4,078         258,178   

Kellogg Company

          7,701         512,502   

Keurig Green Mountain Incorporated

          3,633         189,425   

McCormick & Company Incorporated

          3,507         288,205   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

          6,133         431,763   

Mondelez International Incorporated Class A

          48,746         2,040,995   

The Hershey Company

          4,419         406,018   

The JM Smucker Company

          3,114         355,276   

The Kraft Heinz Company

          17,977         1,268,817   

Tyson Foods Incorporated Class A

          9,206         396,779   
             8,733,307   
          

 

 

 
Household Products: 1.05%           

Colgate-Palmolive Company

          27,230         1,728,016   

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

          11,020         1,201,621   

The Clorox Company

          3,890         449,412   

The Procter & Gamble Company

          82,064         5,903,684   
             9,282,733   
          

 

 

 
Personal Products: 0.06%           

The Estee Lauder Companies Incorporated Class A

          6,831         551,125   
          

 

 

 
Tobacco: 0.91%           

Altria Group Incorporated

          59,315         3,226,736   

Philip Morris International

          46,869         3,718,118   

Reynolds American Incorporated

          25,075         1,110,070   
             8,054,924   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 4.01%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 0.64%           

Baker Hughes Incorporated

          13,185         686,147   

Cameron International Corporation †

          5,793         355,227   

Diamond Offshore Drilling Incorporated «

          1,950         33,735   

Ensco plc Class A

          7,130         100,390   

FMC Technologies Incorporated †

          6,941         215,171   

Halliburton Company

          25,857         914,045   

Helmerich & Payne Incorporated «

          3,260         154,068   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     13   

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Energy Equipment & Services (continued)           

National Oilwell Varco Incorporated

          11,612       $ 437,192   

Schlumberger Limited

          38,282         2,640,310   

Transocean Limited «

          10,338         133,567   
             5,669,852   
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 3.37%           

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

          15,371         928,255   

Apache Corporation

          11,434         447,755   

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

          12,519         273,665   

Chesapeake Energy Corporation «

          15,644         114,671   

Chevron Corporation

          56,930         4,490,638   

Cimarex Energy Company

          2,857         292,785   

Columbia Pipeline Group Incorporated

          9,609         175,749   

ConocoPhillips Company

          37,317         1,789,723   

CONSOL Energy Incorporated «

          6,925         67,865   

Devon Energy Corporation

          11,685         433,397   

EOG Resources Incorporated

          16,614         1,209,499   

EQT Corporation

          4,608         298,460   

Exxon Mobil Corporation

          126,139         9,378,435   

Hess Corporation

          7,292         365,038   

Kinder Morgan Incorporated

          54,377         1,505,155   

Marathon Oil Corporation

          20,488         315,515   

Marathon Petroleum Corporation

          16,220         751,473   

Murphy Oil Corporation

          4,912         118,870   

Newfield Exploration Company †

          4,928         162,131   

Noble Energy Incorporated

          12,860         388,115   

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

          23,109         1,528,660   

ONEOK Incorporated

          6,327         203,729   

Phillips 66

          14,485         1,113,027   

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

          4,519         549,691   

Range Resources Corporation

          5,122         164,519   

Southwestern Energy Company †

          11,628         147,559   

Spectra Energy Corporation

          20,310         533,544   

Tesoro Corporation

          3,722         361,927   

The Williams Companies Incorporated

          20,640         760,584   

Valero Energy Corporation

          15,041         903,964   
             29,774,398   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 9.57%

          
Banks: 3.49%           

Bank of America Corporation

          316,711         4,934,357   

BB&T Corporation

          23,586         839,662   

Citigroup Incorporated

          91,060         4,517,487   

Comerica Incorporated

          5,384         221,282   

Fifth Third Bancorp

          24,299         459,494   

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

          24,294         257,516   

JPMorgan Chase & Company

          111,879         6,821,263   

KeyCorp

          25,437         330,935   

M&T Bank Corporation

          4,031         491,580   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Banks (continued)           

People’s United Financial Incorporated

          9,379       $ 147,532   

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated

          15,539         1,386,079   

Regions Financial Corporation

          40,085         361,166   

SunTrust Banks Incorporated

          15,670         599,221   

US Bancorp

          50,078         2,053,699   

Wells Fargo & Company (l)

          141,327         7,257,141   

Zions Bancorporation

          6,175         170,060   
             30,848,474   
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 1.24%           

Affiliated Managers Group Incorporated †

          1,640         280,424   

Ameriprise Financial Incorporated

          5,389         588,102   

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation

          33,474         1,310,507   

BlackRock Incorporated

          3,874         1,152,399   

Charles Schwab Corporation

          36,221         1,034,472   

E*TRADE Financial Corporation †

          8,776         231,072   

Franklin Resources Incorporated

          11,701         435,979   

Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated

          12,178         2,116,049   

Invesco Limited

          12,970         405,053   

Legg Mason Incorporated

          3,318         138,062   

Morgan Stanley

          46,093         1,451,930   

Northern Trust Corporation

          6,621         451,287   

State Street Corporation

          12,346         829,775   

T. Rowe Price Group Incorporated

          7,753         538,834   
             10,963,945   
          

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 0.44%           

American Express Company

          25,746         1,908,551   

Capital One Financial Corporation

          16,409         1,189,981   

Discover Financial Services

          13,169         684,656   

Navient Corporation

          11,313         127,158   
             3,910,346   
          

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 1.22%           

Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated Class B †

          56,678         7,390,811   

CME Group Incorporated

          10,218         947,617   

Intercontinental Exchange Incorporated

          3,344         785,807   

Leucadia National Corporation

          10,202         206,693   

McGraw Hill Financial Incorporated

          8,241         712,847   

Moody’s Corporation

          5,274         517,907   

The NASDAQ OMX Group Incorporated

          3,575         190,655   
             10,752,337   
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 1.60%           

ACE Limited

          9,798         1,013,113   

AFLAC Incorporated

          13,028         757,318   

American International Group Incorporated

          39,147         2,224,333   

Aon plc

          8,472         750,704   

Assurant Incorporated

          2,023         159,837   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     15   

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Insurance (continued)           

Cincinnati Financial Corporation

          4,466       $ 240,271   

Genworth Financial Incorporated Class A †

          15,046         69,513   

Lincoln National Corporation

          7,591         360,269   

Loews Corporation

          8,676         313,551   

Marsh & McLennan Companies Incorporated

          16,032         837,191   

MetLife Incorporated

          33,789         1,593,151   

Principal Financial Group Incorporated

          8,293         392,591   

Prudential Financial Incorporated

          13,646         1,039,962   

The Allstate Corporation

          12,115         705,578   

The Chubb Corporation

          6,867         842,238   

The Hartford Financial Services Group Incorporated

          12,551         574,585   

The Progressive Corporation

          17,725         543,094   

The Travelers Companies Incorporated

          9,415         937,075   

Torchmark Corporation

          3,517         198,359   

Unum Group

          7,465         239,477   

XL Group plc

          9,148         332,255   
             14,124,465   
          

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 0.03%           

CBRE Group Incorporated Class A †

          8,771         280,672   
          

 

 

 
REITs: 1.53%           

American Tower Corporation

          12,807         1,126,760   

Apartment Investment & Management Company Class A

          4,728         175,031   

AvalonBay Communities Incorporated

          4,021         702,951   

Boston Properties Incorporated

          4,645         549,968   

Crown Castle International Corporation

          10,097         796,350   

Equinix Incorporated

          1,724         471,342   

Equity Residential

          11,014         827,372   

Essex Property Trust Incorporated

          1,986         443,712   

General Growth Properties Incorporated

          17,683         459,228   

HCP Incorporated

          13,992         521,202   

Host Hotels & Resorts Incorporated

          22,721         359,219   

Iron Mountain Incorporated

          5,803         180,009   

Kimco Realty Corporation

          12,498         305,326   

Plum Creek Timber Company

          5,284         208,771   

Prologis Incorporated

          15,859         616,915   

Public Storage Incorporated

          4,445         940,695   

Realty Income Corporation «

          7,103         336,611   

Simon Property Group Incorporated

          9,358         1,719,252   

SL Green Realty Corporation

          3,014         325,994   

The Macerich Company

          4,073         312,888   

Ventas Incorporated

          10,060         563,964   

Vornado Realty Trust

          5,358         484,470   

Welltower Incorporated

          10,647         721,015   

Weyerhaeuser Company

          15,555         425,274   
             13,574,319   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance: 0.02%           

Hudson City Bancorp Incorporated

          14,579       $ 148,268   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 8.50%

          
Biotechnology: 1.77%           

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          6,841         1,069,864   

Amgen Incorporated

          22,942         3,173,337   

Baxalta Incorporated

          16,383         516,228   

Biogen Incorporated †

          7,114         2,075,936   

Celgene Corporation †

          23,917         2,587,102   

Gilead Sciences Incorporated

          44,400         4,359,636   

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          2,338         1,087,497   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          7,402         770,844   
             15,640,444   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 1.19%           

Abbott Laboratories

          45,092         1,813,600   

Baxter International Incorporated

          16,504         542,156   

Becton Dickinson & Company

          6,359         843,585   

Boston Scientific Corporation †

          40,657         667,181   

C.R. Bard Incorporated

          2,243         417,893   

DENTSPLY International Incorporated

          4,230         213,911   

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation †

          3,250         462,053   

Intuitive Surgical Incorporated †

          1,121         515,189   

Medtronic plc

          42,785         2,864,028   

St. Jude Medical Incorporated

          8,524         537,779   

Stryker Corporation

          9,567         900,255   

Varian Medical Systems Incorporated †

          2,988         220,455   

Zimmer Holdings Incorporated

          5,169         485,524   
             10,483,609   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 1.63%           

Aetna Incorporated

          10,548         1,154,057   

AmerisourceBergen Corporation

          6,212         590,078   

Anthem Incorporated

          7,916         1,108,240   

Cardinal Health Incorporated

          9,903         760,748   

Cigna Corporation

          7,790         1,051,806   

DaVita HealthCare Partners Incorporated †

          5,148         372,355   

Express Scripts Holding Company †

          20,441         1,654,903   

HCA Holdings Incorporated †

          9,672         748,226   

Henry Schein Incorporated †

          2,521         334,587   

Humana Incorporated

          4,482         802,278   

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings †

          3,046         330,400   

McKesson Corporation

          7,030         1,300,761   

Patterson Companies Incorporated

          2,626         113,575   

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

          4,340         266,780   

Tenet Healthcare Corporation †

          3,014         111,277   

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

          28,850         3,346,889   

Universal Health Services Incorporated Class B

          2,773         346,098   
             14,393,058   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     17   

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Health Care Technology: 0.06%           

Cerner Corporation †

          9,290       $ 557,028   
          

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 0.26%           

Agilent Technologies Incorporated

          10,024         344,124   

PerkinElmer Incorporated

          3,428         157,551   

Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated

          12,058         1,474,452   

Waters Corporation †

          2,490         294,343   
             2,270,470   
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 3.59%           

AbbVie Incorporated

          50,078         2,724,744   

Allergan plc †

          11,911         3,237,529   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

          50,450         2,986,640   

Eli Lilly & Company

          29,511         2,469,776   

Endo International plc †

          6,301         436,533   

Johnson & Johnson

          83,773         7,820,210   

Mallinckrodt plc †

          3,549         226,923   

Merck & Company Incorporated

          85,214         4,208,719   

Mylan NV †

          12,493         502,968   

Perrigo Company plc

          4,424         695,762   

Pfizer Incorporated

          186,582         5,860,541   

Zoetis Incorporated

          13,887         571,867   
             31,742,212   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 5.82%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 1.56%           

General Dynamics Corporation

          9,179         1,266,243   

Honeywell International Incorporated

          23,649         2,239,324   

L-3 Communications Holdings Incorporated

          2,432         254,193   

Lockheed Martin Corporation

          8,079         1,674,857   

Northrop Grumman Corporation

          5,667         940,439   

Precision Castparts Corporation

          4,157         954,904   

Raytheon Company

          9,185         1,003,553   

Rockwell Collins Incorporated

          3,984         326,051   

Textron Incorporated

          8,362         314,746   

The Boeing Company

          19,324         2,530,478   

United Technologies Corporation

          25,060         2,230,089   
             13,734,877   
          

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics: 0.43%           

C.H. Robinson Worldwide Incorporated

          4,288         290,641   

Expeditors International of Washington Incorporated

          5,725         269,361   

FedEx Corporation

          7,947         1,144,209   

United Parcel Service Incorporated Class B

          21,128         2,085,122   
             3,789,333   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Airlines: 0.37%           

American Airlines Group Incorporated

          20,325       $ 789,220   

Delta Air Lines Incorporated

          24,063         1,079,707   

Southwest Airlines Company

          19,948         758,822   

United Continental Holdings Incorporated †

          11,429         606,308   
             3,234,057   
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 0.05%           

Allegion plc

          2,899         167,156   

Masco Corporation

          10,406         262,023   
             429,179   
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 0.25%           

Cintas Corporation

          2,699         231,439   

Pitney Bowes Incorporated

          6,107         121,224   

Republic Services Incorporated

          7,282         300,018   

Stericycle Incorporated †

          2,568         357,748   

The ADT Corporation «

          5,143         153,776   

Tyco International plc

          12,750         426,615   

Waste Management Incorporated

          12,724         633,782   
             2,224,602   
          

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 0.05%           

Fluor Corporation

          4,382         185,578   

Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporated †

          3,743         140,100   

Quanta Services Incorporated †

          6,175         149,497   
             475,175   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 0.27%           

AMETEK Incorporated

          7,324         383,192   

Eaton Corporation plc

          14,144         725,587   

Emerson Electric Company

          19,880         878,100   

Rockwell Automation Incorporated

          4,057         411,664   
             2,398,543   
          

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 1.40%           

3M Company

          18,899         2,679,311   

Danaher Corporation

          17,987         1,532,672   

General Electric Company

          305,455         7,703,575   

Roper Industries Incorporated

          3,046         477,308   
             12,392,866   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.71%           

Caterpillar Incorporated

          18,234         1,191,774   

Cummins Incorporated

          5,027         545,832   

Deere & Company

          9,431         697,894   

Dover Corporation

          4,734         270,690   

Flowserve Corporation

          4,036         166,041   

Illinois Tool Works Incorporated

          9,966         820,301   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     19   

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Machinery (continued)           

Ingersoll-Rand plc

          8,026       $ 407,480   

Joy Global Incorporated

          2,946         43,984   

Paccar Incorporated

          10,737         560,149   

Parker-Hannifin Corporation

          4,188         407,492   

Pentair plc

          5,447         278,015   

Snap-on Incorporated

          1,761         265,805   

Stanley Black & Decker Incorporated

          4,634         449,405   

Xylem Incorporated

          5,489         180,314   
             6,285,176   
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 0.13%           

Dun & Bradstreet Corporation

          1,090         114,450   

Equifax Incorporated

          3,575         347,419   

Nielsen Holdings plc

          11,098         493,528   

Robert Half International Incorporated

          4,068         208,119   
             1,163,516   
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.50%           

CSX Corporation

          29,762         800,598   

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Incorporated

          2,778         198,349   

Kansas City Southern

          3,339         303,448   

Norfolk Southern Corporation

          9,117         696,539   

Ryder System Incorporated

          1,614         119,501   

Union Pacific Corporation

          26,250         2,320,763   
             4,439,198   
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 0.10%           

Fastenal Company «

          8,776         321,289   

United Rentals Incorporated †

          2,883         173,124   

W.W. Grainger Incorporated «

          1,834         394,328   
             888,741   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 11.82%

          
Communications Equipment: 0.88%           

Cisco Systems Incorporated

          153,868         4,039,035   

F5 Networks Incorporated †

          2,149         248,854   

Harris Corporation

          3,753         274,532   

Juniper Networks Incorporated

          10,700         275,097   

Motorola Solutions Incorporated

          4,865         332,669   

QUALCOMM Incorporated

          47,535         2,554,056   
             7,724,243   
          

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.22%           

Amphenol Corporation Class A

          9,352         476,578   

Corning Incorporated

          37,086         634,912   

FLIR Systems Incorporated

          4,241         118,706   

TE Connectivity Limited

          12,173         729,041   
             1,959,237   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Internet Software & Services: 2.19%           

Akamai Technologies Incorporated †

          5,405       $ 373,269   

Alphabet Incorporated Class A †

          8,771         5,599,143   

Alphabet Incorporated Class C †

          8,949         5,444,751   

eBay Incorporated

          33,909         828,736   

Facebook Incorporated Class A †

          68,364         6,145,924   

VeriSign Incorporated †

          3,019         213,021   

Yahoo! Incorporated †

          26,203         757,529   
             19,362,373   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 2.18%           

Accenture plc Class A

          18,884         1,855,542   

Alliance Data Systems Corporation †

          1,861         481,962   

Automatic Data Processing Incorporated

          14,092         1,132,433   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Class A †

          18,438         1,154,403   

Computer Sciences Corporation

          4,183         256,753   

Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated

          8,519         571,455   

Fiserv Incorporated †

          7,098         614,758   

International Business Machines Corporation

          27,262         3,952,172   

MasterCard Incorporated Class A

          30,192         2,720,903   

Paychex Incorporated

          9,725         463,202   

PayPal Holdings Incorporated †

          33,553         1,041,485   

Teradata Corporation †

          4,283         124,036   

The Western Union Company

          15,471         284,048   

Total System Services Incorporated

          5,122         232,692   

Visa Incorporated Class A

          59,038         4,112,587   

Xerox Corporation

          30,397         295,763   
             19,294,194   
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 1.40%           

Altera Corporation

          9,148         458,132   

Analog Devices Incorporated

          9,489         535,274   

Applied Materials Incorporated

          36,321         533,555   

Avago Technologies Limited

          7,858         982,329   

Broadcom Corporation Class A

          16,912         869,784   

First Solar Incorporated †

          2,291         97,940   

Intel Corporation

          143,828         4,334,976   

KLA-Tencor Corporation

          4,765         238,250   

Lam Research Corporation

          4,786         312,669   

Linear Technology Corporation

          7,255         292,739   

Microchip Technology Incorporated «

          6,385         275,130   

Micron Technology Incorporated †

          32,567         487,854   

NVIDIA Corporation

          15,492         381,878   

Qorvo Incorporated †

          4,524         203,806   

Skyworks Solutions Incorporated

          5,772         486,060   

Texas Instruments Incorporated

          31,052         1,537,695   

Xilinx Incorporated

          7,827         331,865   
             12,359,936   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     21   

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Software: 2.30%           

Activision Blizzard Incorporated

          15,219       $ 470,115   

Adobe Systems Incorporated †

          15,057         1,237,987   

Autodesk Incorporated †

          6,841         301,962   

CA Incorporated

          9,478         258,749   

Citrix Systems Incorporated †

          4,859         336,632   

Electronic Arts Incorporated †

          9,431         638,950   

Intuit Incorporated

          8,388         744,435   

Microsoft Corporation

          241,966         10,709,415   

Oracle Corporation

          98,384         3,553,630   

Red Hat Incorporated †

          5,552         399,078   

Salesforce.com Incorporated †

          18,768         1,303,062   

Symantec Corporation

          20,698         402,990   
             20,357,005   
          

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 2.65%           

Apple Incorporated

          172,526         19,029,618   

EMC Corporation

          58,230         1,406,837   

Hewlett-Packard Company

          54,649         1,399,561   

NetApp Incorporated

          9,080         268,768   

SanDisk Corporation

          6,186         336,085   

Seagate Technology plc

          9,138         409,382   

Western Digital Corporation

          6,972         553,856   
             23,404,107   
          

 

 

 

Materials: 1.63%

          
Chemicals: 1.21%           

Air Products & Chemicals Incorporated

          5,856         747,108   

Airgas Incorporated

          2,034         181,697   

CF Industries Holdings Incorporated

          7,051         316,590   

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company

          27,372         1,319,330   

Eastman Chemical Company

          4,498         291,111   

Ecolab Incorporated

          8,037         881,820   

FMC Corporation

          4,042         137,064   

International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated

          2,437         251,645   

LyondellBasell Industries NV Class A

          11,277         940,051   

Monsanto Company

          14,155         1,207,988   

PPG Industries Incorporated

          8,189         718,093   

Praxair Incorporated

          8,666         882,719   

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation

          3,612         501,779   

The Dow Chemical Company

          35,036         1,485,526   

The Mosaic Company

          10,202         317,384   

The Sherwin-Williams Company

          2,395         533,558   
             10,713,463   
          

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 0.08%           

Martin Marietta Materials Incorporated

          2,028         308,155   

Vulcan Materials Company

          4,031         359,565   
             667,720   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Containers & Packaging: 0.14%           

Avery Dennison Corporation

          2,768       $ 156,586   

Ball Corporation

          4,178         259,872   

Owens-Illinois Incorporated †

          4,865         100,803   

Sealed Air Corporation

          6,228         291,969   

WestRock Company

          7,921         407,456   
             1,216,686   
          

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 0.15%           

Alcoa Incorporated

          39,624         382,768   

Freeport-McMoRan Incorporated

          31,471         304,954   

Newmont Mining Corporation

          16,005         257,200   

Nucor Corporation

          9,667         362,996   
             1,307,918   
          

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 0.05%           

International Paper Company

          12,640         477,666   
          

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 1.40%

          
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 1.40%           

AT&T Incorporated

          186,089         6,062,780   

CenturyLink Incorporated

          17,033         427,869   

Frontier Communications Corporation

          35,341         167,870   

Level 3 Communications Incorporated †

          8,718         380,889   

Verizon Communications Incorporated

          123,004         5,351,904   
             12,391,312   
          

 

 

 

Utilities: 1.82%

          
Electric Utilities: 1.04%           

American Electric Power Company Incorporated

          14,842         843,916   

Duke Energy Corporation

          20,824         1,498,079   

Edison International

          9,856         621,618   

Entergy Corporation

          5,431         353,558   

Eversource Energy

          9,594         485,648   

Exelon Corporation

          26,066         774,160   

FirstEnergy Corporation

          12,781         400,173   

NextEra Energy Incorporated

          13,924         1,358,286   

Pepco Holdings Incorporated

          7,670         185,767   

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation

          3,350         214,869   

PPL Corporation

          20,268         666,615   

The Southern Company

          27,482         1,228,445   

Xcel Energy Incorporated

          15,345         543,366   
             9,174,500   
          

 

 

 
Gas Utilities: 0.02%           

AGL Resources Incorporated

          3,633         221,758   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     23   

  

 

 

Security name                Shares      Value  
Independent Power & Renewable Electricity Producers: 0.04%          

AES Corporation

         20,656       $ 202,222   

NRG Energy Incorporated

         10,003         148,545   
            350,767   
         

 

 

 
Multi-Utilities: 0.72%          

Ameren Corporation

         7,339         310,220   

CenterPoint Energy Incorporated

         13,017         234,827   

CMS Energy Corporation

         8,372         295,699   

Consolidated Edison Incorporated

         8,860         592,291   

Dominion Resources Incorporated

         17,982         1,265,573   

DTE Energy Company

         5,431         436,489   

NiSource Incorporated

         9,615         178,358   

PG&E Corporation

         14,800         781,440   

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated

         15,303         645,174   

SCANA Corporation

         4,325         243,325   

Sempra Energy

         7,124         689,033   

TECO Energy Incorporated

         7,114         186,814   

WEC Energy Group Incorporated

         9,552         498,800   
            6,358,043   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $323,725,239)

  

          511,746,932   
         

 

 

 
    Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal         
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities: 0.00%           

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Incorporated Series 2004-HYB4 Class AA ±

    0.52     12-25-2034       $     22,219         19,286   
         

 

 

 

Total Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost $22,207)

            19,286   
         

 

 

 
          Expiration date      Shares         
Rights: 0.00%          

Consumer Staples: 0.00%

         
Food & Staples Retailing: 0.00%          

Safeway Casa Ley Contingent Value Rights †(a)(i)

      1-30-2019         6,765         0   

Safeway PDC Contingent Value Rights †(a)(i)

      1-30-2017         6,765         0   

Total Rights (Cost $7,171)

            0   
         

 

 

 
                 Principal         
U.S. Treasury Securities: 40.16%          

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.00        8-15-2025       $     2,421,000         2,408,611   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.50        2-15-2045         2,399,000         2,210,204   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.75        8-15-2042         1,210,000         1,180,758   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.75        11-15-2042         1,659,000         1,616,445   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.88        5-15-2043         2,348,000         2,341,581   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    2.88        8-15-2045         1,579,000         1,580,110   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.00        5-15-2042         800,000         821,146   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.00        11-15-2044         2,388,000         2,440,300   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.00        5-15-2045         1,583,000         1,621,174   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.13        11-15-2041         713,000         752,400   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

U.S. Treasury Securities (continued)

         

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.13     2-15-2042       $ 940,000       $ 989,791   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.13        2-15-2043         1,578,000         1,653,406   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.13        8-15-2044         2,382,000         2,494,276   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.38        5-15-2044         2,384,000         2,617,868   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.50        2-15-2039         653,000         736,870   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.63        8-15-2043         1,942,000         2,236,232   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.63        2-15-2044             2,360,000         2,715,045   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.75        8-15-2041         779,000         914,777   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.75        11-15-2043         2,351,000         2,768,853   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    3.88        8-15-2040         796,000         948,670   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.25        5-15-2039         575,000         725,099   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.25        11-15-2040         835,000         1,053,339   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.38        2-15-2038         353,000         454,138   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.38        11-15-2039         652,000         836,886   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.38        5-15-2040         932,000         1,196,941   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.38        5-15-2041         720,000         928,556   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.50        2-15-2036         756,000         991,561   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.50        5-15-2038         389,000         509,175   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.50        8-15-2039         635,000         828,824   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.63        2-15-2040         1,132,000         1,505,117   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.75        2-15-2037         264,000         358,091   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    4.75        2-15-2041         958,000         1,299,762   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    5.00        5-15-2037         320,000         448,842   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    5.25        11-15-2028         479,000         641,373   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    5.25        2-15-2029         349,000         468,769   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    5.38        2-15-2031         752,000         1,044,125   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    5.50        8-15-2028         369,000         503,185   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.00        2-15-2026         445,000         608,503   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.13        11-15-2027         525,000         745,364   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.13        8-15-2029         272,000         395,863   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.25        5-15-2030         478,000         710,440   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.38        8-15-2027         224,000         322,887   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.50        11-15-2026         296,000         424,660   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.63        2-15-2027         197,000         286,615   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.75        8-15-2026         221,000         321,227   

U.S. Treasury Bond

    6.88        8-15-2025         224,000         321,831   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        11-30-2016         1,979,000         1,988,972   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        2-29-2020         1,963,000         1,972,150   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        1-31-2022         1,625,000         1,607,481   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.50        11-30-2016         1,558,000         1,559,075   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.50        1-31-2017         1,452,000         1,452,549   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.50        2-28-2017         1,453,000         1,453,094   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.50        3-31-2017         1,454,000         1,453,811   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.50        4-30-2017         1,456,000         1,454,844   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.50        7-31-2017         1,713,000         1,709,788   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        11-15-2016         1,699,000         1,702,806   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        12-15-2016         1,700,000         1,703,585   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        12-31-2016         1,520,000         1,523,008   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        2-15-2017         1,667,000         1,670,234   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        5-31-2017         3,382,000         3,384,597   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     25   

  

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

U.S. Treasury Securities (continued)

         

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63     6-30-2017       $ 1,440,000       $ 1,440,788   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        7-31-2017         1,401,000         1,401,876   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        8-31-2017         1,965,000         1,964,949   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        9-30-2017         1,712,000         1,711,197   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        11-30-2017         1,966,000         1,962,416   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.63        4-30-2018         1,753,000         1,744,326   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        1-15-2017         1,697,000         1,703,253   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        3-15-2017         1,700,000         1,705,889   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        6-30-2017         1,845,000         1,849,996   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        10-31-2017         1,673,000         1,675,613   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        12-31-2017         1,742,000         1,742,908   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        2-28-2018         1,638,000         1,637,083   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        3-31-2018         1,422,000         1,420,112   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.75        4-15-2018         1,350,000         1,347,997   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        12-31-2016         1,980,000         1,989,977   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        1-31-2017         1,946,000         1,955,958   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        2-28-2017         1,911,000         1,921,027   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        4-15-2017         1,697,000         1,705,551   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        4-30-2017         1,951,000         1,960,704   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        5-15-2017         1,620,000         1,628,142   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        6-15-2017         1,586,000         1,593,703   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        7-15-2017         1,515,000         1,521,963   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        8-15-2017         1,518,000         1,524,996   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        10-15-2017         1,521,000         1,527,259   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        11-15-2017         1,445,000         1,450,099   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        1-15-2018         1,339,000         1,342,487   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        1-31-2018         1,231,000         1,234,302   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        7-15-2018         1,294,000         1,294,000   

U.S. Treasury Note

    0.88        7-31-2019         811,000         802,108   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        3-31-2017         1,836,000         1,849,269   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        9-15-2017         1,515,000         1,525,790   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        12-15-2017         1,405,000         1,413,818   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        2-15-2018         1,336,000         1,343,220   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        3-15-2018         1,338,000         1,345,107   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        5-15-2018             1,328,000         1,333,534   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        5-31-2018         1,878,000         1,885,091   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        8-15-2018         1,291,000         1,294,581   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        9-15-2018         1,292,000         1,295,180   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        6-30-2019         622,000         619,036   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        8-31-2019         845,000         839,224   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        9-30-2019         1,067,000         1,058,608   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.00        11-30-2019         1,249,000         1,236,835   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.13        6-15-2018         1,326,000         1,335,306   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.13        5-31-2019         690,000         690,152   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.13        12-31-2019         1,247,000         1,239,986   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.13        3-31-2020         996,000         988,297   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.13        4-30-2020         1,330,000         1,318,553   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25        10-31-2018         1,759,000         1,774,140   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25        11-30-2018         1,654,000         1,667,482   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25        1-31-2019         1,335,000         1,344,005   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

U.S. Treasury Securities (continued)

         

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25     4-30-2019       $ 540,000       $ 542,960   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25        10-31-2019         804,000         805,309   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25        1-31-2020         1,967,000         1,965,259   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.25        2-29-2020         1,098,000         1,095,970   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        6-30-2018         1,357,000         1,375,412   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        7-31-2018         1,610,000         1,631,782   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        9-30-2018         2,656,000         2,690,791   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        11-30-2018         787,000         796,715   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        12-31-2018         968,000         979,054   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        2-28-2019         1,295,000         1,308,372   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        1-31-2020             1,307,000         1,312,446   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        3-31-2020         1,967,000         1,973,454   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        4-30-2020         1,962,000         1,967,441   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        5-31-2020         1,380,000         1,382,749   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        8-31-2020         1,904,000         1,906,231   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.38        9-30-2020         1,909,000         1,909,224   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        8-31-2018         2,569,000         2,612,753   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        12-31-2018         1,855,000         1,883,840   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        1-31-2019         1,716,000         1,742,008   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        2-28-2019         1,826,000         1,852,820   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        3-31-2019         645,000         654,272   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        5-31-2019         1,966,000         1,992,572   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        10-31-2019         1,969,000         1,991,126   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        11-30-2019         1,972,000         1,993,209   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.50        5-31-2020         1,953,000         1,970,419   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        3-31-2019         1,892,000         1,927,057   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        4-30-2019         1,703,000         1,734,155   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        6-30-2019         1,958,000         1,992,698   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        7-31-2019         1,926,000         1,959,204   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        8-31-2019         1,965,000         1,999,055   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        12-31-2019         1,964,000         1,993,766   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        6-30-2020         1,945,000         1,969,894   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        7-31-2020         1,880,000         1,902,986   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        8-15-2022         1,250,000         1,239,746   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.63        11-15-2022         1,908,000         1,889,964   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        10-31-2018         704,000         721,014   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        9-30-2019         1,959,000         2,000,731   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        10-31-2020         1,585,000         1,610,054   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        2-28-2022         1,637,000         1,643,011   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        3-31-2022         1,640,000         1,644,741   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        4-30-2022         1,612,000         1,615,611   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        5-15-2022         1,448,000         1,450,828   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        9-30-2022         1,586,000         1,585,442   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.75        5-15-2023         2,880,000         2,856,076   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88        8-31-2017         1,517,000         1,552,615   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88        9-30-2017         1,307,000         1,338,586   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88        10-31-2017         1,485,000         1,521,506   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88        6-30-2020         921,000         942,898   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88        11-30-2021         1,649,000         1,670,729   

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88        5-31-2022         1,601,000         1,616,259   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     27   

  

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

U.S. Treasury Securities (continued)

         

U.S. Treasury Note

    1.88     8-31-2022       $ 1,569,000       $ 1,581,687   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        7-31-2020         1,306,000         1,344,737   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        9-30-2020         1,135,000         1,168,016   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        11-30-2020         1,306,000         1,341,541   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        2-28-2021         1,457,000         1,493,728   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        5-31-2021         1,559,000         1,596,513   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        8-31-2021         1,641,000         1,677,688   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        10-31-2021         1,649,000         1,683,570   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        11-15-2021             2,302,000         2,349,569   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        2-15-2022         1,679,000         1,713,389   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        7-31-2022         1,588,000         1,615,232   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        2-15-2023         2,830,000         2,867,880   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.00        2-15-2025         3,703,000         3,689,403   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        8-31-2020         1,477,000         1,528,618   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        1-31-2021         1,409,000         1,454,278   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        6-30-2021         1,516,000         1,562,033   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        8-15-2021         2,258,000         2,324,417   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        9-30-2021         1,633,000         1,680,545   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        12-31-2021         1,626,000         1,670,164   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        6-30-2022         1,615,000         1,657,310   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.13        5-15-2025         2,493,000         2,508,873   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25        11-30-2017         1,250,000         1,291,211   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25        7-31-2018         521,000         540,890   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25        3-31-2021         1,440,000         1,495,012   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25        4-30-2021         1,514,000         1,571,406   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25        7-31-2021         1,648,000         1,709,457   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.25        11-15-2024         3,705,000         3,775,625   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38        7-31-2017         1,253,000         1,293,494   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38        5-31-2018         621,000         646,196   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38        6-30-2018         795,000         827,483   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38        12-31-2020         1,317,000         1,377,020   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.38        8-15-2024         3,716,000         3,828,543   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.50        6-30-2017         1,144,000         1,181,791   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.50        8-15-2023         2,457,000         2,569,005   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.50        5-15-2024         3,619,000         3,771,110   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63        1-31-2018         861,000         897,749   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63        4-30-2018         657,000         687,112   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63        8-15-2020         1,918,000         2,029,958   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.63        11-15-2020         3,093,000         3,270,807   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        11-30-2016         1,353,000         1,389,309   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        5-31-2017         1,136,000         1,176,795   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        12-31-2017         960,000         1,003,000   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        2-28-2018         756,000         791,595   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        2-15-2019         1,365,000         1,441,301   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        11-15-2023         3,237,000         3,447,153   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.75        2-15-2024         2,787,000         2,962,929   

U.S. Treasury Note

    2.88        3-31-2018         858,000         902,240   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.00        2-28-2017         1,211,000         1,253,890   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.13        1-31-2017         1,483,000         1,535,059   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.13        4-30-2017         1,142,000         1,188,751   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

  

 

 

Security name   Interest rate     Maturity date      Principal      Value  

U.S. Treasury Securities (continued)

         

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.13     5-15-2019       $ 1,768,000       $ 1,893,602   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.13        5-15-2021         1,657,000         1,797,025   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.25        12-31-2016         1,273,000         1,316,792   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.25        3-31-2017         1,276,000         1,328,186   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.38        11-15-2019         2,038,000         2,213,883   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.50        2-15-2018         1,278,000         1,359,889   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.50        5-15-2020         1,761,000         1,930,748   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.63        8-15-2019         1,545,000         1,687,651   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.63        2-15-2020             2,451,000         2,692,973   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.63        2-15-2021         2,562,000         2,842,785   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.75        11-15-2018         1,505,000         1,634,237   

U.S. Treasury Note

    3.88        5-15-2018         689,000         743,618   

U.S. Treasury Note

    4.00        8-15-2018         788,000         858,078   

U.S. Treasury Note

    4.25        11-15-2017         919,000         987,662   

U.S. Treasury Note

    4.50        5-15-2017         694,000         738,134   

U.S. Treasury Note

    4.63        2-15-2017         839,000         886,390   

U.S. Treasury Note

    4.75        8-15-2017         857,000         922,681   

U.S. Treasury Note

    6.25        8-15-2023         378,000         500,131   

U.S. Treasury Note

    7.13        2-15-2023         260,000         356,847   

U.S. Treasury Note

    7.25        8-15-2022         261,000         355,035   

U.S. Treasury Note

    7.50        11-15-2024         240,000         351,113   

U.S. Treasury Note

    7.63        11-15-2022         126,000         176,228   

U.S. Treasury Note

    7.63        2-15-2025         216,000         320,417   

U.S. Treasury Note

    7.88        2-15-2021         160,000         212,863   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.00        11-15-2021         511,000         701,434   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.13        8-15-2019         307,000         388,199   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.13        5-15-2021         181,000         245,293   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.13        8-15-2021         156,000         213,233   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.50        2-15-2020         162,000         211,855   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.75        5-15-2017         452,000         511,737   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.75        5-15-2020         130,000         173,179   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.75        8-15-2020         288,000         388,178   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.88        8-15-2017         271,000         312,733   

U.S. Treasury Note

    8.88        2-15-2019         306,000         386,018   

U.S. Treasury Note

    9.00        11-15-2018         193,000         240,581   

U.S. Treasury Note

    9.13        5-15-2018         169,000         205,623   

Total U.S. Treasury Securities (Cost $351,275,004)

            354,938,504   
         

 

 

 
    Yield            Shares         
Short-Term Investments: 1.61%          
Investment Companies: 1.27%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15           1,851,700         1,851,700   

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

    0.16           9,339,136         9,339,136   
            11,190,836   
         

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     29   

  

 

 

Security name   Yield     Maturity date      Principal      Value  
U.S. Treasury Securities: 0.34%          

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    0.06     3-24-2016       $     2,183,000       $ 2,182,404   

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    0.04        3-17-2016         140,000         139,974   

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    0.06        11-27-2015         160,000         160,001   

U.S. Treasury Bill (z)#

    0.09        11-5-2015         537,000         537,004   
            3,019,383   
         

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $14,210,158)

            14,210,219         
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $689,320,270) *     99.68        881,009,242   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.32           2,818,154   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 883,827,396   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

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

 

(a) The security is fair valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

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

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

(z) Zero coupon security. The rate represents the current yield to maturity.

 

# All or a portion of this security is segregated as collateral for investments in derivative instruments.

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $713,472,591 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 202,573,888   

Gross unrealized losses

     (35,037,237
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 167,536,651   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $1,835,618 of securities loaned), at value (cost $673,652,104)

  $ 862,561,265   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $15,668,166)

    18,447,977   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $689,320,270)

    881,009,242   

Cash

    6,652   

Receivable for investments sold

    23,083,093   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    1,213,474   

Receivable for dividends and interest

    2,235,598   

Receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    785,701   

Receivable for securities lending income

    2,001   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    3,024   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    908,338,785   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    20,928,341   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    670,771   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    1,851,700   

Payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts

    313   

Management fee payable

    391,417   

Distribution fees payable

    37,881   

Administration fees payable

    147,781   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    483,185   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    24,511,389   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 883,827,396   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 670,054,357   

Undistributed net investment income

    1,416,982   

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    20,768,571   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    191,587,486   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 883,827,396   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 736,275,939   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    25,637,710   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $28.72   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $30.47   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 152,021   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    8,627   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $17.62   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 62,019,291   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    3,550,363   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $17.47   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 85,380,145   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    2,969,785   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $28.75   

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     31   
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,139)

  $ 11,037,713   

Interest

    7,331,740   

Income from affiliated securities

    244,308   

Securities lending income, net

    27,096   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    18,640,857   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    5,710,930   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    1,898,709   

Class B

    578   

Class C

    115,989   

Administrator Class

    102,445   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    1,918,141   

Class B

    575   

Class C

    118,908   

Administrator Class

    237,763   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    1,725   

Class C

    356,724   

Custody and accounting fees

    84,296   

Professional fees

    41,070   

Registration fees

    67,689   

Shareholder report expenses

    106,817   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    14,947   

Other fees and expenses

    587,315   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    11,364,621   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (777,153
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    10,587,468   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    8,053,389   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on:

 

Unaffiliated securities

    59,540,495   

Affiliated securities

    24,552   

Futures transactions

    9,398,596   
 

 

 

 

Net realized gains on investments

    68,963,643   
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on:

 

Unaffiliated securities

    (49,393,102

Affiliated securities

    (131,749

Futures transactions

    35,622   
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (49,489,229
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    19,474,414   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 27,527,803   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Statement of changes in net assets
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 8,053,389        $ 10,668,244   

Net realized gains on investments

      68,963,643          13,299,627   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (49,489,229       92,137,846   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      27,527,803          116,105,717   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

       

Class A

      (5,736,797       (9,743,367

Class B

      (465       (3,563

Class C

      (112,773       (152,334

Administrator Class

      (895,510       (724,385

Net realized gains

       

Class A

      (7,330,092       0   

Class B

      (2,581       0   

Class C

      (323,336       0   

Administrator Class

      (748,042       0   
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (15,149,596       (10,623,649
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    3,196,418        94,634,140        591,267        16,074,038   

Class B

    8,812        160,971        747        12,307   

Class C

    2,545,026        46,057,126        330,562        5,479,355   

Administrator Class

    2,296,361        67,965,420        981,981        26,838,964   
 

 

 

 
      208,817,657          48,404,664   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    433,559        12,743,979        355,763        9,552,879   

Class B

    119        2,135        197        3,194   

Class C

    22,174        396,402        8,563        140,435   

Administrator Class

    37,826        1,115,474        18,586        500,182   
 

 

 

 
      14,257,990          10,196,690   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (3,132,440     (92,758,439     (2,675,484     (71,220,899

Class B

    (21,993     (397,688     (51,475     (831,865

Class C

    (417,663     (7,559,550     (221,022     (3,546,915

Administrator Class

    (1,483,497     (44,036,539     (291,552     (7,845,444
 

 

 

 
      (144,752,216       (83,445,123
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      78,323,431          (24,843,769
 

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

      90,701,638          80,638,299   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      793,125,758          712,487,459   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 883,827,396        $ 793,125,758   
 

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    $ 1,416,982        $ 249,270   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     33   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $28.20        $24.48        $22.17        $18.12        $17.56   

Net investment income

    0.27        0.38        0.34        0.29        0.30   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.76        3.72        2.31        4.05        0.56   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.03        4.10        2.65        4.34        0.86   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.22     (0.38     (0.34     (0.29     (0.30

Net realized gains

    (0.29     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.51     (0.38     (0.34     (0.29     (0.30

Net asset value, end of period

    $28.72        $28.20        $24.48        $22.17        $18.12   

Total return1

    3.62     16.83     12.02     24.07     4.84

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.22     1.20     1.18     1.17     1.18

Net expenses

    1.15     1.15     1.15     1.15     1.15

Net investment income

    0.90     1.42     1.43     1.39     1.54

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    43     9     11     16     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $736,276        $708,873        $657,702        $644,365        $575,248   

 

 

 

 

1  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $17.33        $15.03        $13.59        $11.10        $10.74   

Net investment income

    0.04 1      0.11 1      0.10 1      0.08 1      0.09 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.46        2.28        1.42        2.48        0.35   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.50        2.39        1.52        2.56        0.44   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.03     (0.09     (0.08     (0.07     (0.08

Net realized gains

    (0.18     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.21     (0.09     (0.08     (0.07     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

    $17.62        $17.33        $15.03        $13.59        $11.10   

Total return2

    2.85     15.90     11.22     23.08     4.11

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.97     1.94     1.93     1.93     1.93

Net expenses

    1.90     1.90     1.90     1.90     1.90

Net investment income

    0.21     0.67     0.68     0.65     0.78

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    43     9     11     16     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $152        $376        $1,085        $2,171        $4,500   

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     35   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $17.20        $14.94        $13.53        $11.06        $10.72   

Net investment income

    0.05        0.11        0.10        0.08        0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.45        2.27        1.41        2.47        0.34   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.50        2.38        1.51        2.55        0.43   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.05     (0.12     (0.10     (0.08     (0.09

Net realized gains

    (0.18     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.23     (0.12     (0.10     (0.08     (0.09

Net asset value, end of period

    $17.47        $17.20        $14.94        $13.53        $11.06   

Total return1

    2.86     15.96     11.20     23.11     4.02

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.98     1.95     1.93     1.92     1.93

Net expenses

    1.90     1.90     1.90     1.90     1.90

Net investment income

    0.10     0.67     0.68     0.64     0.79

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    43     9     11     16     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $62,019        $24,093        $19,164        $16,699        $15,895   

 

 

 

 

1  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

36   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $28.21        $24.49        $22.18        $18.14        $17.57   

Net investment income

    0.35        0.45        0.40        0.34        0.34   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.76        3.72        2.30        4.04        0.58   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    1.11        4.17        2.70        4.38        0.92   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.28     (0.45     (0.39     (0.34     (0.35

Net realized gains

    (0.29     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (0.57     (0.45     (0.39     (0.34     (0.35

Net asset value, end of period

    $28.75        $28.21        $24.49        $22.18        $18.14   

Total return

    3.89     17.12     12.31     24.30     5.18

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.09     1.04     1.02     1.01     1.02

Net expenses

    0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90

Net investment income

    1.12     1.68     1.69     1.63     1.79

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    43     9     11     16     18

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $85,380        $59,783        $34,536        $29,920        $20,726   

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     37   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the


Table of Contents

 

38   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Notes to financial statements

securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Futures contracts

The Fund is subject to interest rate risk and equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts in order to gain exposure to, or protect against, changes in security values and interest rates. The primary risks associated with the use of futures contracts are the imperfect correlation between changes in market values of securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts, and the possibility of an illiquid market.

The aggregate principal amounts of the contracts are not recorded in the financial statements. Fluctuations in the value of the contracts are recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset or liability and in the Statement of Operations as unrealized gains or losses until the contracts are closed, at which point they are recorded as net realized gains or losses on futures contracts. With futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty risk to the Fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

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

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     39   

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Undistributed net
investment income
  

Accumulated net
realized gains

on investments

$(140,132)    $140,132

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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


Table of Contents

 

40   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Notes to financial statements

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Agency securities

   $ 0       $ 94,301       $ 0       $ 94,301   

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

     66,983,723         0         0         66,983,723   

Consumer staples

     50,833,121         0         0         50,833,121   

Energy

     35,444,250         0         0         35,444,250   

Financials

     84,602,826         0         0         84,602,826   

Health care

     75,086,821         0         0         75,086,821   

Industrials

     51,455,263         0         0         51,455,263   

Information technology

     104,461,095         0         0         104,461,095   

Materials

     14,383,453         0         0         14,383,453   

Telecommunication services

     12,391,312         0         0         12,391,312   

Utilities

     16,105,068         0         0         16,105,068   

Rights

           

Consumer staples

     0         0         0         0   

Non-agency mortgage-backed securities

     0         19,286         0         19,286   

U.S. Treasury securities

     354,938,504         0         0         354,938,504   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     9,339,136         1,851,700         0         11,190,836   

U.S. Treasury securities

     3,019,383         0         0         3,019,383   
     879,043,955         1,965,287         0         881,009,242   

Futures contracts

     785,701         0         0         785,701   

Total assets

   $ 879,829,656       $ 1,965,287       $ 0       $ 881,794,943   

Liabilities

           

Futures contracts

   $ 313       $ 0       $ 0       $ 313   

Total liabilities

   $ 313       $ 0       $ 0       $ 313   

Futures contracts are reported at their variation margin at measurement date, which represents the amount due to/from the Fund at that date. All other assets and liabilities are reported at their market value at measurement date.

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.65% and declining to 0.48% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.60% and declined to 0.45% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     41   

of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.63% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.15% and declining to 0.10% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate        Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.15% for Class A shares, 1.90% for Class B shares, 1.90% for Class C shares, and 0.90% for Administrator Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $132,023 from the sale of Class A shares and $1,621 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby each class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were as follows:

 

Purchases at cost

     Sales proceeds
U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
     U.S.
government
     Non-U.S.
government
$366,751,092      $89,147,151      $345,458,085      $22,745,062


Table of Contents

 

42   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Notes to financial statements

6. INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES

An affiliated investment is a company which is under common ownership or control of the Fund or which the Fund has ownership of at least 5% of the outstanding voting shares. The following is a summary of transactions for the long-term holdings of issuers that were either affiliates of the Fund at the beginning of the period or the end of the period.

 

    Shares, beginning
of period
  Shares
purchased
  Shares
sold
   

Shares, end

of period

   

Value, end

of period

    Income from
affiliated securities
    Realized
gains
 

Wells Fargo & Company

  126,668   18,341     3,682        141,327      $ 7,257,141      $ 199,746      $ 24,552   

7. DERIVATIVE TRANSACTIONS

During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund entered into futures contracts to gain market exposure to certain asset classes in accordance with an active asset allocation strategy.

At September 30, 2015, the Fund had long and short futures contracts outstanding as follows:

 

Expiration date      Counterparty      Contracts      Type     

Contract
value at

September 30, 2015

       Unrealized
gains
(losses)
 

12-17-2015

     Goldman Sachs      83 Long      S&P 500 Index      $ 39,605,525         $ 197,352   

12-21-2015

     Goldman Sachs      71 Short      U.S. Treasury Bonds        11,388,844           (111,147

12-21-2015

     Goldman Sachs      423 Short      10-Year U.S. Treasury Notes        54,454,641           (195,252

12-31-2015

     Goldman Sachs      11 Long      5-Year U.S. Treasury Notes        1,325,672           7,561   

The Fund had an average notional amount of $67,118,928 and $53,568,576 in long and short futures contracts, respectively, during the year ended September 30, 2015.

On September 30, 2015, the cumulative unrealized losses on futures contracts in the amount of $101,486 are reflected in net unrealized gains on investments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The receivable and payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities only represents the current day’s variation margin. The realized gains and change in unrealized gains (losses) on futures contracts are reflected in the Statement of Operations.

A summary of derivative instruments by primary risk exposure is outlined in the following tables.

The fair value of derivative instruments as of September 30, 2015 was as follows for the Fund:

 

    

Asset derivatives

    

Liability derivatives

 
     Statement of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value      Statement of Assets and
Liabilities location
   Fair value  

Equity contracts

   Receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts    $ 703,821    Payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts    $ 0   

Interest rate contracts

   Receivable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts      81,880    Payable for daily variation margin on open futures contracts      313
          $ 785,701            $ 313   

 

* Only the current day’s variation margin as of September 30, 2015 is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended September 30, 2015 was as follows for the Fund:

 

       Amount of realized
gains on
derivatives
       Change in unrealized
gains (losses) on
derivatives
 

Equity contracts

     $ 6,472,947         $ 912,672   

Interest rate contracts

       2,925,649           (877,050
       $ 9,398,596         $ 35,622   


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     43   

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

 

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

Futures – variation margin

     Goldman Sachs      $785,701      $ (313      $ 0         $ 785,388   

 

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

Futures – variation margin

     Goldman Sachs      $313      $ (313      $ 0         $ 0   

8. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $1,271 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

9. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 8,393,216       $ 10,623,649   

Long-term capital gain

     6,756,380         0   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

ordinary

income

  

Undistributed

long-term
gain

  

Unrealized

gains

$9,985,342    $39,183,366    $164,604,331


Table of Contents

 

44   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Notes to financial statements

10. INDEMNIFICATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     45   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

46   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Other information (unaudited)

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 57.28% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $6,756,380 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $4,987,640 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $2,718,616 has been designated as interest-related dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $1,647,671 has been designated as short-term capital gain dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, 39.61% of the ordinary income distributed was derived from interest on U.S. government securities.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     47   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years
William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA ® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is Chair of Taproot Foundation (non-profit organization), a Board Member of Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization) and an inactive chartered financial analyst.   Asset Allocation Trust; Harding Loevner Funds; Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust
Peter G. Gordon (Born 1942)   Trustee, since 2010; Chairman, since 2010   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

  Trustee, since 2010   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)   Trustee, since 2010; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2010   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

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


Table of Contents

 

48   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Other information (unaudited)
Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

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

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

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

Michael S. Scofield

(Born 1943)

  Trustee, since 2005   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds complex (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust

Donald C. Willeke

(Born 1940)

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

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    
Karla M. Rabusch (Born 1959)   President, since 2010   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Treasurer, since 2012   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    

C. David Messman

(Born 1960)

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

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

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

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

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

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     49   

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement applicable to Fund-level administrative services (the “Administration Agreement”). The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.


Table of Contents

 

50   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   Other information (unaudited)

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

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Administrator Class) was higher than or in range of the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was lower than its benchmark, the Index Asset Allocation Composite Index, for all periods under review except the three-year period.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes except for Class A. The Board noted that the net operating expense ratio of Class A was in range of the median net operating expense ratio of its expense Group.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund     51   

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

The Board received and considered information concerning the profitability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser, as well as the profitability of Wells Fargo as a whole, from providing services to the Fund and the fund family as a whole.

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

52   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Asset Allocation Fund   List of abbreviations

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

 

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


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237458 11-15

A227/AR227 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    12   

Statement of operations

    13   

Statement of changes in net assets

    14   

Financial highlights

    15   

Notes to financial statements

    21   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    26   

Other information

    27   

List of abbreviations

    33   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started. Small-cap stocks performed best, followed by mid caps and large caps. Markets outside the U.S. faced deeper ongoing challenges and generally delivered weaker results.

The fourth quarter of 2014 brought continued improvement in the U.S.; international economies remained challenged.

Strong quarterly U.S. stock results were spurred by investor optimism following U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen’s comment that the Fed would be patient in its timing of an interest-rate increase. U.S. stocks also were boosted by positive economic data; November’s 5.8% unemployment rate was down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the number of new jobs continued to expand. In addition, the U.S. economy’s third-quarter 2014 growth rate was revised upward, and U.S. companies reported strong earnings. The steadily brightening U.S. economy energized consumers, who were further buoyed by much lower prices at the gasoline pump. As the U.S. moved forward, major economies elsewhere confronted ongoing challenges. While Japan eased out of a two-quarter contraction, growth in China continued to slow, Russia’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and eurozone growth remained sluggish.

In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. small caps and mid caps outperformed large caps; major markets elsewhere rallied.

U.S. small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks tended to move similarly during the first quarter until early March, when results began to diverge by market capitalization. Larger caps slipped as investor concern grew over the strengthening U.S. dollar’s potentially negative effect on the profits of large U.S. multinational firms; stocks of small and midsize companies, which tend to be less affected by movements in the dollar, performed better. Positive stock results were supported by the gradually improving economy. The labor market continued to grow, along with personal income and consumer confidence. For U.S. businesses, the quarter’s data were mixed; while many companies reported strong earnings, other data indicated potential weakening in manufacturing. Elsewhere in the world, major markets enjoyed positive returns spurred by accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and signs of improvement in some struggling economies.

U.S. stocks experienced challenges during the second quarter of 2015.

The broad U.S. stock market fluctuated widely, eventually eking out a small quarterly gain. Mid- and large-cap stocks at times were pressured by investor concerns over the potentially negative effects of financially troubled overseas economies and of a strengthening U.S. dollar on the profits of U.S. multinational firms. The U.S. economy picked up traction during the quarter; consumer spending improved, and positive trends were evident in construction and new-home sales. Jobs growth remained a bright spot as well. Fed officials, who have kept interest rates low while waiting for the U.S. jobs market to sufficiently improve and for inflation to approach their 2% target, made clear they could take action soon. Throughout the quarter, non-U.S. markets also experienced volatility, triggered by uncertainty over the potential impact of financial challenges in other locations—most notably in Greece and Puerto Rico. Questions over slower growth in China caused investor concern as well.

 


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     3   

In the third quarter of 2015, China’s slowdown took a toll on economies and markets worldwide.

U.S. stocks sagged during the quarter, experiencing the most volatility since 2011. Economic data released during the quarter suggested the U.S. economy remains solid but has lost some steam, burdened by the drag of the strong U.S. dollar coupled with global economic turmoil. The fact that the Fed left the federal funds interest rate unchanged at its September meeting fueled increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy’s stamina to remain healthy while facing the challenges of slowing in China and troubles elsewhere in the world. Outside the U.S., markets were even more volatile and delivered generally weaker quarterly results, also largely due to increasing anxiety over China’s weakened economy. Because China is the world’s largest importer of many commodities, a number of emerging markets—key commodities exporters—are struggling under the dual strains of reduced demand for commodities and, because of weaker demand, lower prices for the commodities they do sell. In the eurozone, however, where only about 3% of exports are sent to China, household spending and business investment appeared relatively unaffected.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks maximum long-term total return (current income and capital appreciation), consistent with minimizing risk to principal.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Cooke and Biele, L.P.

Portfolio managers

Andrew B. Armstrong, CFA

Steve Lyons, CFA

Micahel M. Meyer, CFA

Edward W. O’Connor, CFA

R. James O’Neil, CFA

Mehul Trivedi, CFA

William Weber, CFA

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (CBMAX)   7-26-2004     (6.08     11.45        6.15        (0.36     12.78        6.78        1.31        1.21   
Class B (CBMBX)*   7-26-2004     (6.11     11.67        6.23        (1.11     11.93        6.23        2.06        1.96   
Class C (CBMCX)   7-26-2004     (2.11     11.93        5.98        (1.11     11.93        5.98        2.06        1.96   
Administrator Class (CBMIX)   7-26-2004                          (0.30     12.84        6.88        1.23        1.16   
Institutional Class (CBMSX)   7-26-2004                          (0.05     13.11        7.15        0.98        0.91   
Investor Class (CBMDX)+   2-18-1998                          (0.39     12.71        6.78        1.42        1.26   
Russell Midcap® Value Index4                            (2.07     13.15        7.42                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.
  +   Effective at the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund were converted to Class A shares and Investor Class shares are no longer offered.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment5 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

 

 

 

1 Effective June 20, 2008, Class D was renamed Investor Class and modified to assume the features and attributes of Investor Class. Historical performance shown for the Investor Class shares through June 19, 2008, includes Class D expenses.

 

2 Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.01% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

3 The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 1.20% for Class A, 1.95% for Class B, 1.95% for Class C, 1.15% for Administrator Class, 0.90% for Institutional Class, and 1.25% for Investor Class. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4 The Russell Midcap® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell Midcap® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The stocks are also members of the Russell 1000® Value Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5 The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Russell Midcap Value Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund outperformed the Russell Midcap® Value Index for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015, primarily because of positive stock selection.

 

n   Stock selection contributed positively due in large part to holdings in the materials, energy, and consumer discretionary sectors as well as the insurance industry.

 

n   Sector allocation detracted from relative performance.

Stock selection was the primary contributor to relative performance during the 12-month period.

Stock selection’s contribution to Fund performance was overwhelmingly positive during a challenging third quarter. The U.S. stock market pulled back meaningfully amid growing concerns about the health of the global economy. Selling pressures took hold in mid-August when Chinese investors, spooked by weak Chinese export data and a reactive yuan devaluation, raced for the exits, triggering equity selling around the globe. As a result, equity markets saw their first correction—defined as a reverse movement in value of 10% or more—in 48 months, the third-longest stretch since the Great Depression. The Fund’s holdings showed strong fundamental progress, especially in two economic sectors that fared the poorest—materials and energy. In addition, stock selection also was strong in the consumer discretionary sector, due in large part to the Fund’s Helen of Troy Limited holding.

The Fund’s sector allocation, always the result of our bottom-up analysis, was responsible for most of the drag on performance. Overweighting in industrials and underweighting in utilities and real estate investment trusts (REITs) were the primary detractors. These detractors were partially offset by an underweight in the energy sector and an overweight in the insurance industry.

 

Ten largest holdings6 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

RenaissanceRe Holdings Limited

     4.02   

Schweitzer-Mauduit International Incorporated

     3.39   

Commerce Bancshares Incorporated

     3.33   

TCF Financial Corporation

     3.22   

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

     3.13   

First Cash Financial Services Incorporated

     3.07   

State Street Corporation

     3.01   

Omnicom Group Incorporated

     2.95   

Cardinal Health Incorporated

     2.75   

FNF Group

     2.67   

Among individual stocks, contributors included consumer products manufacturer Helen of Troy; physician services provider MEDNAX, Incorporated; insurance provider Stewart Information Services Corporation; toymaker Hasbro, Incorporated; and commercial and residential mortgage provider Fidelity National Financial, Incorporated.* Detractors included software application provider Rovi Corporation;* crude oil producer Noble Energy, Incorporated; pawn store operator First Cash Financial Services, Incorporated; money transfer company MoneyGram International Incorporated; and communication equipment manufacturer Knowles Corporation.

 

 

We are pleased with the extent to which the Fund has held up in what has turned out to be a very challenging year through September 30, 2015. Furthermore, with interest rates down a bit from the beginning of 2015, the nine-month period supported our contention that the Fund does not need interest rates to rise in order to perform well.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     7   
Sector distribution7 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

We continue to value companies whose high-quality business characteristics should stand them in good stead if the economy turns down or interest rates rise.

During the period, we sought to enhance the Fund’s underlying fundamental portfolio strength and its potential for appreciation. Beyond our normal, valuation-driven adds and trims, we initiated positions in companies we believed were attractive. Purchases included independent oil and gas exploration and production company Devon Energy Corporation; filtration systems and replacement parts manufacturer Donaldson Company, Incorporated; power management

 

company Eaton Corporation plc; analog integrated circuits manufacturer and marketer Linear Technology Corporation; consumer debt recovery company PRA Group, Incorporated;* aviation electronic and communication systems producer Rockwell Collins, Incorporated; beauty supplies specialty retailer and distributer Sally Beauty Holdings, Incorporated; financial holding company State Street Corporation; maintenance, repair, and operations distributor W.W. Grainger, Incorporated; electrical, industrial, and commercial products distributor WESCO International, Incorporated; as well as energy control and optimization solutions provider Woodward, Incorporated.*

To make room for these investments, several positions were trimmed and others eliminated after they reached our valuation targets. American security and protection company Brink’s Company was eliminated since we determined it was unlikely to see meaningful fundamental improvement over our investment horizon. Despite software application provider Rovi Corporation’s attractive valuation and strong balance sheet, we eliminated the position based on our determination that the company’s future had become largely dependent on an uncertain legal appeal process and therefore binary. We also eliminated bank holding company City National Corporation, which had been the subject of a takeover offer.

Looking ahead, we continue to expect the equity investing environment to offer favorable investing opportunities.

Few expected the path back to normalcy—moderate inflation, higher interest rates, self-supporting bond and equity markets—would be completely smooth, and it is likely there are more bumps ahead. Indeed, after the market’s extended run, the recent sell-off was hardly shocking. But, we continue to believe the positive, if sluggish, economic backdrop will dominate over the medium term. U.S. housing starts, auto sales, employment data, and various indicators of consumer spending still suggest an economic advance with slow, but sure traction.

In the context of measured economic growth and somewhat above average valuation levels, we expect equity returns to continue to be more widely dispersed as they are more dependent on more disparate company-specific fundamentals. Although never a pleasant experience, the recent sell-off and related volatility have created opportunities for long-term, fundamental investors like us, and we are excited about the Fund’s current positioning and its collection of reasonably valued, financially strong, well-positioned companies that, in our view, can dependably grow earnings and cash flows. As stock prices ultimately are driven by underlying fundamentals, we expect the Fund’s portfolio to continue compounding value at an above average rate.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
9-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 908.17       $ 5.74         1.20

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.05       $ 6.07         1.20

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 904.99       $ 9.31         1.95

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.29       $ 9.85         1.95

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 904.71       $ 9.31         1.95

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.29       $ 9.85         1.95

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 908.51       $ 5.50         1.15

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.30       $ 5.82         1.15

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 909.58       $ 4.31         0.90

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.56       $ 4.56         0.90

Investor Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 908.27       $ 5.98         1.25

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.80       $ 6.33         1.25

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 99.39%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 11.64%

          
Automobiles: 1.71%           

Winnebago Industries Incorporated «

          140,205       $ 2,684,926   
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 2.01%           

Helen of Troy Limited †

          35,500         3,170,150   
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 1.02%           

Hasbro Incorporated

          22,300         1,608,722   
          

 

 

 
Media: 2.95%           

Omnicom Group Incorporated

          70,500         4,645,950   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 1.44%           

Sally Beauty Holdings Incorporated †

          95,700         2,272,875   
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 2.51%           

Gildan Activewear Incorporated

          131,000         3,950,960   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 3.93%

          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 3.93%           

Devon Energy Corporation

          41,400         1,535,526   

Noble Energy Incorporated

          52,100         1,572,378   

World Fuel Services Corporation

          86,200         3,085,960   
             6,193,864   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 28.47%

          
Banks: 6.55%           

Commerce Bancshares Incorporated

          115,100         5,243,956   

TCF Financial Corporation

          335,000         5,078,600   
             10,322,556   
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 3.01%           

State Street Corporation

          70,500         4,738,305   
          

 

 

 
Consumer Finance: 5.14%           

First Cash Financial Services Incorporated †

          120,800         4,839,248   

Portfolio Recovery Associates Incorporated Ǡ

          61,410         3,249,817   
             8,089,065   
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 13.77%           

Endurance Specialty Holdings Limited

          58,300         3,558,049   

FNF Group

          118,500         4,203,195   

RenaissanceRe Holdings Limited

          59,500         6,326,040   

Stewart Information Services Corporation

          42,300         1,730,493   

The Progressive Corporation

              109,190         3,345,582   

Torchmark Corporation

          44,800         2,526,720   
             21,690,079   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Health Care: 11.82%

          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 3.97%           

Becton Dickinson & Company

          21,880       $ 2,902,601   

Teleflex Incorporated

          26,990         3,352,428   
             6,255,029   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 7.85%           

Cardinal Health Incorporated

          56,300         4,324,966   

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings †

          45,400         4,924,538   

MEDNAX Incorporated †

          40,550         3,113,834   
             12,363,338   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 25.83%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 1.57%           

Rockwell Collins Incorporated

          30,100         2,463,384   
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 2.46%           

Quanex Building Products Corporation

          213,200         3,873,844   
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 4.52%           

G&K Services Incorporated Class A

          24,800         1,652,176   

Steelcase Incorporated Class A

          91,700         1,688,197   

Tetra Tech Incorporated

              155,600         3,782,636   
             7,123,009   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 2.30%           

Eaton Corporation plc

          70,500         3,616,650   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 9.91%           

Donaldson Company Incorporated

          135,100         3,793,607   

Graco Incorporated

          48,100         3,224,143   

Kennametal Incorporated

          78,000         1,941,420   

Parker-Hannifin Corporation

          36,800         3,580,640   

Woodward Governor Company

          75,500         3,072,850   
             15,612,660   
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 5.07%           

Aercap Holdings NV †

          93,900         3,590,736   

W.W. Grainger Incorporated «

          11,700         2,515,617   

WESCO International Incorporated †

          40,500         1,882,035   
             7,988,388   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 8.20%

          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 2.53%           

Knowles Corporation Ǡ

          216,400         3,988,252   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 2.85%           

MoneyGram International Incorporated †

          304,100         2,438,882   

The Western Union Company

          111,800         2,052,648   
             4,491,530   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 2.82%          

Entegris Incorporated †

         182,100       $ 2,401,899   

Linear Technology Corporation

         50,300         2,029,605   
            4,431,504   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 9.50%

         
Containers & Packaging: 3.68%          

Ball Corporation

         25,700         1,598,540   

Crown Holdings Incorporated †

         91,800         4,199,850   
            5,798,390   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 2.43%          

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Company

         70,900         3,829,309   
         

 

 

 
Paper & Forest Products: 3.39%          

Schweitzer-Mauduit International Incorporated

         155,100         5,332,338   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $144,601,292)

            156,535,077   
         

 

 

 
    Yield                    
Short-Term Investments: 7.72%          
Investment Companies: 7.72%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15        8,169,975         8,169,975   

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

    0.16           3,989,331         3,989,331   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $12,159,306)

            12,159,306   
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $156,760,598) *     107.11        168,694,383   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (7.11        (11,192,020
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 157,502,363   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

Non-income-earning security

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $157,099,783 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 25,250,382   

Gross unrealized losses

     (13,655,782
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 11,594,600   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $8,177,431 of securities loaned), at value (cost $144,601,292)

  $ 156,535,077   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $12,159,306)

    12,159,306   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $156,760,598)

    168,694,383   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    73,788   

Receivable for dividends

    84,588   

Receivable for securities lending income

    5,614   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    34,042   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    168,892,415   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    2,879,711   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    141,059   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    8,169,975   

Management fee payable

    76,110   

Distribution fees payable

    4,391   

Administration fees payable

    35,656   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    83,150   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    11,390,052   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 157,502,363   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 227,250,231   

Undistributed net investment income

    263,500   

Accumulated net realized losses on investments

    (81,945,153

Net unrealized gains on investments

    11,933,785   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 157,502,363   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 19,861,913   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    790,734   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $25.12   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $26.65   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 109,082   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    4,527   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $24.10   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 6,736,744   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    280,450   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $24.02   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 9,724,644   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    382,599   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $25.42   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 18,228,961   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    719,280   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $25.34   

Net assets – Investor Class

  $ 102,841,019   

Shares outstanding – Investor Class1

    4,073,903   

Net asset value per share – Investor Class

    $25.24   

 

 

1 The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2 Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     13   
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $10,042)

  $ 2,531,786   

Securities lending income, net

    62,848   

Income from affiliated securities

    6,426   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    2,601,060   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    1,420,105   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    55,007   

Class B

    329   

Class C

    18,608   

Administrator Class

    13,096   

Institutional Class

    26,092   

Investor Class

    376,412   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    55,498   

Class B

    331   

Class C

    18,773   

Administrator Class

    30,617   

Investor Class

    293,583   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    993   

Class C

    56,318   

Custody and accounting fees

    16,780   

Professional fees

    40,504   

Registration fees

    64,601   

Shareholder report expenses

    44,563   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    19,771   

Other fees and expenses

    9,364   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    2,561,345   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (268,068
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    2,293,277   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    307,783   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    21,451,778   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (19,714,772
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    1,737,006   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 2,044,789   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Statement of changes in net assets
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

     

Net investment income

    $ 307,783        $ 454,334   

Net realized gains on investments

      21,451,778          24,479,648   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (19,714,772       (11,793,931
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      2,044,789          13,140,051   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

     

Net investment income

       

Class A

      (42,042       (73,341

Administrator Class

      (21,549       (81,051

Institutional Class

      (168,429       (190,145

Investor Class

      (138,589       (348,778
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (370,609       (693,315
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    72,922        1,938,440        174,168        4,405,613   

Class B

    307        8,000        4,480        107,700   

Class C

    25,429        655,305        54,969        1,340,346   

Administrator Class

    32,971        883,924        372,293        9,355,473   

Institutional Class

    316,984        8,567,375        683,926        17,392,989   

Investor Class

    538,848        14,534,157        829,732        21,063,218   
 

 

 

 
      26,587,201          53,665,339   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    1,632        41,628        2,955        72,492   

Administrator Class

    502        12,938        2,703        67,052   

Institutional Class

    4,856        124,658        6,054        149,526   

Investor Class

    5,349        137,151        14,029        345,955   
 

 

 

 
      316,375          635,025   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (133,726     (3,568,794     (147,227     (3,752,688

Class B

    (2,747     (69,330     (28,005     (679,757

Class C

    (55,081     (1,405,528     (76,355     (1,890,511

Administrator Class

    (153,262     (4,133,075     (685,800     (17,215,898

Institutional Class

    (931,932     (25,602,156     (388,999     (10,000,809

Investor Class

    (1,121,227     (30,196,090     (1,258,667     (32,039,199
 

 

 

 
      (64,974,973       (65,578,862
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (38,071,397       (11,278,498
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      (36,397,217       1,168,238   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

   

Beginning of period

      193,899,580          192,731,342   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 157,502,363        $ 193,899,580   
 

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    $ 263,500        $ 326,326   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     15   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.26        $23.74        $18.22        $14.06        $14.16   

Net investment income

    0.05 1      0.06        0.10 1      0.16        0.06   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.14     1.55        5.60        4.10        (0.06
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.09     1.61        5.70        4.26        0.00   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.05     (0.09     (0.18     (0.10     (0.10

Net asset value, end of period

    $25.12        $25.26        $23.74        $18.22        $14.06   

Total return2

    (0.36 )%      6.78     31.59     30.42     (0.10 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.35     1.35     1.38     1.38     1.35

Net expenses

    1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20

Net investment income

    0.18     0.24     0.49     0.97     0.48

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    41     55     48     25     44

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $19,862        $21,465        $19,468        $13,466        $11,174   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.36        $22.99        $17.61        $13.60        $13.72   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.15 )1      (0.14 )1      (0.05 )1      0.02 1      (0.04 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.11     1.51        5.43        3.99        (0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.26     1.37        5.38        4.01        (0.12

Net asset value, end of period

    $24.10        $24.36        $22.99        $17.61        $13.60   

Total return2

    (1.11 )%      6.00     30.55     29.49     (0.87 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.10     2.10     2.13     2.12     2.10

Net expenses

    1.95     1.95     1.95     1.95     1.95

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.59 )%      (0.56 )%      (0.26 )%      0.14     (0.28 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    41     55     48     25     44

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $109        $170        $701        $1,338        $2,622   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     17   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.29        $22.92        $17.60        $13.59        $13.71   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.15 )1      (0.13 )1      (0.05 )1      0.03 1      (0.04 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.12     1.50        5.42        3.98        (0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.27     1.37        5.37        4.01        (0.12

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    0.00        0.00        (0.05     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $24.02        $24.29        $22.92        $17.60        $13.59   

Total return2

    (1.11 )%      5.98     30.58     29.51     (0.88 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.10     2.10     2.13     2.13     2.10

Net expenses

    1.95     1.95     1.95     1.95     1.95

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.57 )%      (0.52 )%      (0.26 )%      0.21     (0.27 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    41     55     48     25     44

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $6,737        $7,531        $7,598        $5,254        $4,611   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.54        $24.01        $18.42        $14.22        $14.32   

Net investment income

    0.06 1      0.07 1      0.11 1      0.17 1      0.09 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.13     1.56        5.67        4.14        (0.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.07     1.63        5.78        4.31        0.02   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.05     (0.10     (0.19     (0.11     (0.12

Net asset value, end of period

    $25.42        $25.54        $24.01        $18.42        $14.22   

Total return

    (0.30 )%      6.82     31.65     30.44     0.01

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.21     1.19     1.21     1.21     1.18

Net expenses

    1.15     1.15     1.15     1.15     1.15

Net investment income

    0.22     0.26     0.53     1.00     0.55

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    41     55     48     25     44

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $9,725        $12,830        $19,525        $10,636        $10,299   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.49        $23.95        $18.38        $14.19        $14.29   

Net investment income

    0.10        0.14        0.17 1      0.23        0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.12     1.55        5.64        4.11        (0.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.02     1.69        5.81        4.34        0.05   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.13     (0.15     (0.24     (0.15     (0.15

Net asset value, end of period

    $25.34        $25.49        $23.95        $18.38        $14.19   

Total return

    (0.09 )%2      7.09     31.98     30.80     0.21

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.94     0.92     0.95     0.95     0.92

Net expenses

    0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90     0.90

Net investment income

    0.47     0.54     0.82     1.31     0.76

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    41     55     48     25     44

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $18,229        $33,881        $24,628        $24,983        $22,704   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return reflects adjustments to conform with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INVESTOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.38        $23.85        $18.30        $14.12        $14.22   

Net investment income

    0.04        0.05        0.10        0.16        0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.15     1.55        5.62        4.11        (0.09
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.11     1.60        5.72        4.27        (0.02

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.03     (0.07     (0.17     (0.09     (0.08

Net asset value, end of period

    $25.24        $25.38        $23.85        $18.30        $14.12   

Total return

    (0.43 )%1      6.72     31.55     30.34     (0.19 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.42     1.41     1.44     1.45     1.42

Net expenses

    1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25

Net investment income

    0.12     0.18     0.44     0.91     0.42

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    41     55     48     25     44

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $102,841        $118,022        $120,811        $91,201        $80,622   

 

 

1  Total return reflects adjustments to conform with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     21   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Notes to financial statements

may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

As of September 30, 2015, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future net realized capital gains in the amount of $81,605,968 with $62,387,296 expiring in 2017; and $19,218,672 expiring in 2018.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     23   

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 18,333,583       $ 0       $ 0       $ 18,333,583   

Energy

     6,193,864         0         0         6,193,864   

Financials

     44,840,005         0         0         44,840,005   

Health care

     18,618,367         0         0         18,618,367   

Industrials

     40,677,935         0         0         40,677,935   

Information technology

     12,911,286         0         0         12,911,286   

Materials

     14,960,037         0         0         14,960,037   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     3,989,331         8,169,975         0         12,159,306   

Total assets

   $ 160,524,408       $ 8,169,975       $ 0       $ 168,694,383   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.75% and declining to 0.63% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.70% and declined to 0.60% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. Cooke & Bieler, L.P. is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.45% and declining to 0.35% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Notes to financial statements

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current
rate
       Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Investor Class

     0.32           0.32   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31. 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.20% for Class A shares, 1.95% for Class B shares, 1.95% for Class C shares, 1.15% for Administrator Class shares, 0.90% for Institutional Class shares, and 1.25% for Investor Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $1,939 from the sale of Class A shares and $300 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class B, Class C, Administrator Class, and Investor Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $74,325,887 and $107,542,028, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $290 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     25   

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid was $370,609 and $693,315 of ordinary income for the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
ordinary
income
   Unrealized
gains
   Capital loss
carryforward
$263,500    $11,594,600    $(81,605,968)

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

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

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

After the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund became Class A shares in a tax-free conversion. Shareholders of Investor Class of the Fund received Class A shares at a value equal to the value of their Investor Class shares immediately prior to the conversion.


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Report of independent registered public accounting firm

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     27   

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $370,609 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other public
company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years
William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA ® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

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

Peter G. Gordon

(Born 1942)

  Trustee, since 1998; Chairman, since 2005   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

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

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

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

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     29   
Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other public
company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2006   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

  Trustee, since 1996   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust

Michael S. Scofield

(Born 1943)

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

Donald C. Willeke

(Born 1940)

  Trustee, since 1996   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

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

Karla M. Rabusch

(Born 1959)

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

Nancy Wiser1

(Born 1967)

  Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.    

C. David Messman

(Born 1960)

  Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

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

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

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

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

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

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Cooke & Bieler L.P. (the “Sub-Adviser”). The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) applicable to Fund-level administrative services. The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

The Board evaluated the ability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     31   

programs and compliance records of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the full range of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and its affiliates.

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Administrator Class) was higher than the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review except the one- and three-year periods. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was lower than its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Value Index, for all periods under review except the first quarter of 2015.

The Board received information concerning, and discussed factors contributing to, the underperformance of the Fund relative to the Universe and benchmark for the periods noted above. The Board took note of the explanations for the relative underperformance in these periods, including with respect to sector allocations and investment decisions that affected the Fund’s performance and of longer term and recent outperformance.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to increase the net operating expense ratio caps for Class A, Class B and Class C, and to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares. In accepting such proposed new net operating expense ratio caps, the Board noted that the Fund’s new net operating expense ratios would still be lower than the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates for the Fund were lower than or in range of the Fund’s expense Groups.

The Board also received and considered information about the portion of the total advisory fee that was retained by Funds Management after payment of the fee to the Sub-Adviser for sub-advisory services. The Board considered this amount in comparison to the median amount retained by advisers to funds in a sub-advised expense universe that was determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund. In assessing the reasonableness of this amount, the Board received and evaluated information about the nature and extent of responsibilities retained and risks assumed by Funds Management and not delegated to or assumed by the Sub-Adviser, and about Funds Management’s on-going oversight services. The Board also considered that the sub-advisory fees paid to the Sub-Adviser had been negotiated by Funds Management on an arm’s length basis.


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund   Other information (unaudited)

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

The Board received and considered information concerning the profitability of Funds Management, as well as the profitability of Wells Fargo as a whole, from providing services to the Fund and the fund family as a whole. Funds Management reported on the methodologies and estimates used in calculating profitability. Among other things, the Board noted that the levels of profitability reported on a fund-by-fund basis varied widely, depending on factors such as the size and type of fund. The Board did not consider profitability with respect to the Sub-Adviser, as the sub-advisory fees paid to the Sub-Adviser had been negotiated by Funds Management on an arm’s-length basis.

Based on its review, the Board did not deem the profits reported by Funds Management to be at a level that would prevent it from approving the continuation of the Advisory Agreements.

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management, the Sub-Adviser, and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

List of abbreviations   Wells Fargo Advantage C&B Mid Cap Value Fund     33   

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237461 11-15

A228/AR228 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    13   

Statement of operations

    14   

Statement of changes in net assets

    15   

Financial highlights

    16   

Notes to financial statements

    23   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    28   

Other information

    29   

List of abbreviations

    35   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started. Small-cap stocks performed best, followed by mid caps and large caps. Markets outside the U.S. faced deeper ongoing challenges and generally delivered weaker results.

The fourth quarter of 2014 brought continued improvement in the U.S.; international economies remained challenged.

Strong quarterly U.S. stock results were spurred by investor optimism following U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen’s comment that the Fed would be patient in its timing of an interest-rate increase. U.S. stocks also were boosted by positive economic data; November’s 5.8% unemployment rate was down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the number of new jobs continued to expand. In addition, the U.S. economy’s third-quarter 2014 growth rate was revised upward, and U.S. companies reported strong earnings. The steadily brightening U.S. economy energized consumers, who were further buoyed by much lower prices at the gasoline pump. As the U.S. moved forward, major economies elsewhere confronted ongoing challenges. While Japan eased out of a two-quarter contraction, growth in China continued to slow, Russia’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and eurozone growth remained sluggish.

In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. small caps and mid caps outperformed large caps; major markets elsewhere rallied.

U.S. small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks tended to move similarly during the first quarter until early March, when results began to diverge by market capitalization. Larger caps slipped as investor concern grew over the strengthening U.S. dollar’s potentially negative effect on the profits of large U.S. multinational firms; stocks of small and midsize companies, which tend to be less affected by movements in the dollar, performed better. Positive stock results were supported by the gradually improving economy. The labor market continued to grow, along with personal income and consumer confidence. For U.S. businesses, the quarter’s data were mixed; while many companies reported strong earnings, other data indicated potential weakening in manufacturing. Elsewhere in the world, major markets enjoyed positive returns spurred by accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and signs of improvement in some struggling economies.

U.S. stocks experienced challenges during the second quarter of 2015.

The broad U.S. stock market fluctuated widely, eventually eking out a small quarterly gain. Mid- and large-cap stocks at times were pressured by investor concerns over the potentially negative effects of financially troubled overseas economies and of a strengthening U.S. dollar on the profits of U.S. multinational firms. The U.S. economy picked up traction during the quarter; consumer spending improved, and positive trends were evident in construction and new-home sales. Jobs growth remained a bright spot as well. Fed officials, who have kept interest rates low while waiting for the U.S. jobs market to sufficiently improve and for inflation to approach their 2% target, made clear they could take action soon. Throughout the quarter, non-U.S. markets also experienced volatility, triggered by uncertainty over the potential impact of financial challenges in other locations—most notably in Greece and Puerto Rico. Questions over slower growth in China caused investor concern as well.

 


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     3   

In the third quarter of 2015, China’s slowdown took a toll on economies and markets worldwide.

U.S. stocks sagged during the quarter, experiencing the most volatility since 2011. Economic data released during the quarter suggested the U.S. economy remains solid but has lost some steam, burdened by the drag of the strong U.S. dollar coupled with global economic turmoil. The fact that the Fed left the federal funds interest rate unchanged at its September meeting fueled increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy’s stamina to remain healthy while facing the challenges of slowing in China and troubles elsewhere in the world. Outside the U.S., markets were even more volatile and delivered generally weaker quarterly results, also largely due to increasing anxiety over China’s weakened economy. Because China is the world’s largest importer of many commodities, a number of emerging markets—key commodities exporters—are struggling under the dual strains of reduced demand for commodities and, because of weaker demand, lower prices for the commodities they do sell. In the eurozone, however, where only about 3% of exports are sent to China, household spending and business investment appeared relatively unaffected.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio manager

Ann M. Miletti

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (SCSAX)   11-30-2000     (7.40     9.71        7.96        (1.76     11.01        8.60        1.25        1.25   
Class B (SCSKX)*   11-30-2000     (7.49     9.91        8.02        (2.49     10.18        8.02        2.00        2.00   
Class C (STSAX)   11-30-2000     (3.49     10.18        7.78        (2.49     10.18        7.78        2.00        2.00   
Class R6 (SCSRX)   06-28-2013                          (1.29     11.48        8.84        0.82        0.82   
Administrator Class (SCSDX)   7-30-2010                          (1.62     11.19        8.69        1.17        1.11   
Institutional Class (SCNSX)   7-30-2010                          (1.38     11.45        8.82        0.92        0.86   
Investor Class (STCSX)+   12-29-1989                          (1.80     10.98        8.57        1.36        1.30   
Russell 2500™ Index4                            0.38        12.69        7.40                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.
  +   Effective at the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund were converted to Class A shares and Investor Class shares are no longer offered.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment5 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

 

 

1  Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, the returns would be higher. Historical performance shown for Administrator Class and Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Class A shares. If these expenses had not been included, the returns would be higher.

 

2  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.01% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

3  The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 1.26% for Class A, 2.01% for Class B, 2.01% for Class C, 0.85% for Class R6, 1.10% for Administrator Class, 0.85% for Institutional Class, and 1.29% for Investor Class. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4  The Russell 2500TM Index measures the performance of the 2,500 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index, which represents approximately 16% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Russell 2500 Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2500® Index, for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   Weak results from holdings in the consumer discretionary, energy, and industrials sectors detracted from performance.

 

n   Favorable results from holdings in the information technology (IT), health care, and financials sectors benefited performance.

The broad U.S. stock market rose for the first three quarters of the period, hitting all-time highs in the summer of 2015, then declined sharply in a highly volatile final quarter, ending the 12-month period close to the level at which it started. A number of factors influenced the stock market. While the U.S. Federal Reserve had been expected to increase the federal funds target interest rate during the period, no action was taken as of September 30. The plummeting price of crude oil negatively affected stocks within the energy sector and nearly every commodity-related industry. China’s economy, previously a big driver of global growth, showed signs of slowing down, prompting the country’s government to devalue its currency and take steps to control China’s stock market. The U.S. dollar rose more than every major currency for most of the period. The U.S. economy remained strong, with favorable trends in unemployment, gross domestic product, wages, disposable income, housing, and inflation. In this environment and with the expectation of tighter U.S. monetary policy and higher volatility to come, we continued to seek well-positioned companies (those with good business models, strong management teams, and healthy cash flows) trading at attractive discounts to their private market values (PMVs). (The PMV represents the expected price an investor would pay for the entire company as a stand-alone private entity.)

 

Ten largest holdings6 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

The Progressive Corporation

     1.95   

CNO Financial Group Incorporated

     1.87   

E*TRADE Financial Corporation

     1.81   

First Horizon National Corporation

     1.80   

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

     1.77   

Reinsurance Group of America Incorporated

     1.75   

Steelcase Incorporated Class A

     1.71   

Haemonetics Corporation

     1.66   

Harman International Industries Incorporated

     1.65   

Diebold Incorporated

     1.56   

 

Stock selection within the consumer discretionary and energy sectors held back Fund performance.

Overall, the Fund’s consumer discretionary holdings did not keep pace with the consumer discretionary sector within the Russell 2500 Index. In the for-profit education industry, Apollo Education Group, Inc., declined sharply for the period. The company faced a number of unfavorable regulatory and labor market trends during the period. Apollo recently delivered disappointing fiscal-year-end results; the company also exited the associate’s degree business, resulting in lowered expectations for its 2016 fiscal year. The Russell 2500 Index’s energy sector declined 54% for the period; nearly every company within it was hurt by the sharp decline in crude-oil prices. The Fund’s energy-sector holdings also experienced weak results

 

overall, and our overweight to the sector hindered performance; notable detractors from relative results included SM Energy Company;* Superior Energy Services, Incorporated; and Southwestern Energy Company.*

Favorable stock selection drove outperformance in the IT and health care sectors relative to the Fund’s benchmark index.

The Fund’s top-performing sector, IT, benefited from positive stock selection as well as overweight positioning in the sector. A number of outperforming stocks could be found in the IT services and semiconductor industries. Global Payments Incorporated, which provides electronic payment processing services, continued to gain market share, expand margins, and buy back stock. Sabre Corporation, a technology-solutions provider to the global travel and tourism industry, benefited from overall revenue growth and increased market share in Europe. CoreLogic, Incorporated, appreciated due to a strong housing market and new product offerings for the banking and insurance industries. The Fund’s semiconductor holdings experienced growth as mobile communication devices, usage, services, and infrastructure continued to expand.

Within the health care sector, the Fund’s top performers included Thoratec Corporation; Hologic, Incorporated; and CareFusion Corporation. Thoratec rose dramatically in the period on an acquisition announcement by St. Jude Medical,

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     7   

Incorporated. Hologic benefited from continued positive trends in the development, reimbursement, and adoption of its 3-D breast-imaging product. CareFusion, a health care IT company, was acquired by Becton, Dickinson and Company, adding to its portfolio of medical technologies.

 

Portfolio allocation7 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

Our focus remains constant: to add value for shareholders through attractively priced high-quality Fund holdings.

Our methodology includes buying stocks at a discount to their estimated PMVs and selling stocks as they approach or exceed 80% of their PMVs.

Our process typically leads us to overweights in the IT and consumer discretionary sectors and to underweights in the financials (due to lower exposure to real estate investment trusts) and utilities sectors. Through our disciplined investment process, we remain keenly aware of both price and enterprise values on a company-by-company basis.

 

Our proprietary database of company acquisitions across industries, sectors, and time frames enables us to maintain a steady foundation for assessing the PMVs of companies compared with their public stock prices. We strive to take advantage of those price discrepancies for the benefit of Fund shareholders by purchasing stocks when we believe they are selling at a discount to their PMVs.

An improving economy and favorable investor sentiment helped broadly lift stock prices and keep multiples high over most of the 12-month period; however, events at the end of the period led the market downward and stock prices closer to the level at which they began. With the probability of rising interest rates over the near term, we believe stock investors will be more discerning going forward. In our view, companies with attractive stock prices relative to their PMVs should be brought to the forefront by our process, potentially allowing us to add value through our unique bottom-up research.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
9-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 908.40       $ 5.98         1.25

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.80       $ 6.33         1.25

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 905.30       $ 9.55         2.00

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.04       $ 10.10         2.00

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 905.30       $ 9.55         2.00

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.04       $ 10.10         2.00

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 910.58       $ 3.83         0.80

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.06       $ 4.05         0.80

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 908.86       $ 5.26         1.10

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.55       $ 5.57         1.10

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 910.06       $ 4.07         0.85

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.81       $ 4.31         0.85

Investor Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 908.35       $ 6.17         1.29

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.60       $ 6.53         1.29

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     9   

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 95.89%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 16.45%

          
Diversified Consumer Services: 2.05%           

Apollo Education Group Incorporated †

          870,785       $ 9,630,882   

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company †

          859,149         17,449,316   
             27,080,198   
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 2.96%           

Buffalo Wild Wings Incorporated †

          53,294         10,308,658   

Panera Bread Company Class A †

          66,872         12,933,714   

Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited

          179,278         15,971,877   
             39,214,249   
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 4.29%           

Harman International Industries Incorporated

          227,823         21,868,730   

MDC Holdings Incorporated

          675,794         17,692,287   

Mohawk Industries Incorporated †

          94,993         17,268,777   
             56,829,794   
          

 

 

 
Media: 2.39%           

Interpublic Group of Companies Incorporated

          843,436         16,134,931   

Scripps Networks Interactive Incorporated Class A

          316,264         15,557,026   
             31,691,957   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 3.24%           

Tractor Supply Company

          163,003         13,744,413   

Urban Outfitters Incorporated †

          526,526         15,469,334   

Vitamin Shoppe Incorporated †

          419,545         13,693,949   
             42,907,696   
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 1.52%           

PVH Corporation

          197,512         20,134,373   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.25%

          
Household Products: 1.25%           

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated

          197,845         16,599,196   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 5.61%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 1.07%           

Superior Energy Services Incorporated

          1,118,945         14,132,275   
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 4.54%           

Cimarex Energy Company

          177,382         18,178,107   

Concho Resources Incorporated †

          122,873         12,078,416   

Pioneer Natural Resources Company

          139,532         16,972,672   

Range Resources Corporation

          400,586         12,866,822   
             60,096,017   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Financials: 21.42%

          
Banks: 7.33%           

Bank of the Ozarks Incorporated

          388,551       $ 17,002,992   

First Horizon National Corporation

          1,679,596         23,816,671   

MB Financial Incorporated

          601,887         19,645,592   

National Bank Holdings Corporation Class A

          794,504         16,311,167   

TCF Financial Corporation

          1,335,937         20,252,805   
             97,029,227   
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 4.50%           

E*TRADE Financial Corporation †

          912,017         24,013,408   

Evercore Partners Incorporated Class A

          328,263         16,491,933   

Raymond James Financial Incorporated

          384,109         19,063,330   
             59,568,671   
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 9.59%           

Arch Capital Group Limited †

          271,382         19,938,436   

CNO Financial Group Incorporated

          1,312,781         24,693,411   

Reinsurance Group of America Incorporated

          256,048         23,195,388   

RenaissanceRe Holdings Limited

          144,424         15,355,160   

The Progressive Corporation

          842,295         25,807,919   

Willis Group Holdings plc

          437,963         17,943,344   
             126,933,658   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 9.89%

          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 5.66%           

Cyberonics Incorporated †

          276,453         16,802,813   

DENTSPLY International Incorporated

          385,617         19,500,652   

Haemonetics Corporation †

          679,460         21,960,147   

Hologic Incorporated †

          427,688         16,735,431   
             74,999,043   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 2.97%           

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings †

          216,094         23,439,716   

Universal Health Services Incorporated Class B

          127,294         15,887,564   
             39,327,280   
          

 

 

 
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 1.26%           

PerkinElmer Incorporated

          361,732         16,625,203   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 15.27%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 2.18%           

B/E Aerospace Incorporated

          260,076         11,417,336   

BWX Technologies Incorporated

          663,424         17,487,857   
             28,905,193   
          

 

 

 
Airlines: 1.19%           

United Continental Holdings Incorporated †

          296,446         15,726,460   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     11   

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Commercial Services & Supplies: 3.21%           

Republic Services Incorporated

          481,809       $ 19,850,531   

Steelcase Incorporated Class A

          1,226,760         22,584,652   
             42,435,183   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 2.09%           

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Incorporated †

          719,943         12,095,042   

Sensata Technologies Holding NV †

          351,967         15,606,217   
             27,701,259   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 2.22%           

Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated

          643,529         17,175,789   

Wabash National Corporation †

          1,149,594         12,174,200   
             29,349,989   
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 2.26%           

Hertz Global Holdings Incorporated †

          1,000,706         16,741,811   

Ryder System Incorporated

          178,203         13,194,150   
             29,935,961   
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 2.12%           

GATX Corporation

          396,555         17,507,903   

MRC Global Incorporated †

          949,149         10,583,011   
             28,090,914   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 20.94%

          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.48%           

Trimble Navigation Limited †

          389,262         6,391,682   
          

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 2.26%           

Cornerstone OnDemand Incorporated †

          324,045         10,693,485   

HomeAway Incorporated †

          724,791         19,235,953   
             29,929,438   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 6.54%           

Amdocs Limited

          319,789         18,189,598   

CoreLogic Incorporated †

          524,701         19,534,618   

Gartner Incorporated †

          189,743         15,925,130   

Global Payments Incorporated

          145,872         16,735,895   

Sabre Corporation

          596,096         16,201,889   
             86,587,130   
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 4.96%           

Integrated Device Technology Incorporated †

          644,671         13,086,821   

Maxim Integrated Products Incorporated

          604,527         20,191,202   

ON Semiconductor Corporation †

          1,722,129         16,188,013   

Skyworks Solutions Incorporated

          191,857         16,156,278   
             65,622,314   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

    

 

 

Security name                Shares      Value  
Software: 5.14%          

Ansys Incorporated †

         213,230       $ 18,794,092   

Nuance Communications Incorporated †

         1,129,306         18,486,739   

Red Hat Incorporated †

         275,727         19,819,257   

Zendesk Incorporated †

         553,796         10,915,319   
            68,015,407   
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 1.56%          

Diebold Incorporated

         694,419         20,672,854   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 5.06%

         
Chemicals: 1.76%          

Huntsman Corporation

         878,866         8,516,212   

International Flavors & Fragrances Incorporated

         143,675         14,835,881   
            23,352,093   
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.26%          

Crown Holdings Incorporated †

         364,166         16,660,595   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 2.04%          

Royal Gold Incorporated

         174,102         8,179,312   

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

         1,092,222         18,764,374   
            26,943,686   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,031,674,765)

            1,269,488,995   
         

 

 

 
Exchange-Traded Funds: 1.33%          

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF «

         204,527         17,624,092   
         

 

 

 

Total Exchange-Traded Funds (Cost $17,787,793)

            17,624,092   
         

 

 

 
    Yield                      

Short-Term Investments: 2.58%

         
Investment Companies: 2.58%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15        10,872,275         10,872,275   

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

    0.16                                             23,318,173         23,318,173   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $34,190,448)

            34,190,448         
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $1,083,653,006) *     99.80        1,321,303,535   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    0.20           2,620,723   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,323,924,258   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $1,088,961,090 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 332,616,417   

Gross unrealized losses

     (100,273,972
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 232,342,445   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     13   
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $163,723 of securities loaned), at value (cost $1,049,462,558)

  $ 1,287,113,087   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $34,190,448)

    34,190,448   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $1,083,653,006)

    1,321,303,535   

Receivable for investments sold

    19,154,328   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    450,164   

Receivable for dividends

    879,242   

Receivable for securities lending income

    28,719   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    53,926   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,341,869,914   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    4,332,102   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    1,337,236   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    10,872,275   

Management fee payable

    804,873   

Distribution fees payable

    16,570   

Administration fees payable

    285,004   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    297,596   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    17,945,656   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,323,924,258   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 958,543,203   

Accumulated net investment loss

    (1,271,083

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    129,001,609   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    237,650,529   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,323,924,258   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 127,731,762   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    5,908,616   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $21.62   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $22.94   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 116,385   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    6,547   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $17.78   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 25,668,494   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    1,444,080   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $17.77   

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 95,037,162   

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    4,281,743   

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $22.20   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 18,050,069   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    826,464   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $21.84   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 226,728,718   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    10,230,384   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $22.16   

Net assets – Investor Class

  $ 830,591,668   

Shares outstanding – Investor Class1

    37,412,819   

Net asset value per share – Investor Class

    $22.20   

 

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $4,141)

  $ 15,911,197   

Securities lending income, net

    529,260   

Income from affiliated securities

    55,695   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    16,496,152   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    11,469,628   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    481,125   

Class B

    467   

Class C

    72,842   

Class R6

    29,855   

Administrator Class

    35,861   

Institutional Class

    208,500   

Investor Class

    3,045,832   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    479,569   

Class B

    465   

Class C

    73,426   

Administrator Class

    85,330   

Investor Class

    2,366,309   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    1,395   

Class C

    220,276   

Custody and accounting fees

    85,959   

Professional fees

    46,921   

Registration fees

    66,003   

Shareholder report expenses

    67,864   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    10,257   

Other fees and expenses

    23,498   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    18,871,382   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (518,183
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    18,353,199   
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (1,857,047
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    159,523,664   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (167,912,693
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (8,389,029
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (10,246,076
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of changes in net assets   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     15   
    

Year ended

September 30, 2015

   

Year ended

September 30, 2014

 

Operations

       

Net investment loss

    $ (1,857,047     $ (3,506,640

Net realized gains on investments

      159,523,664          180,261,128   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (167,912,693       (21,569,457
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      (10,246,076       155,185,031   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net realized gains

       

Class A

      (31,096,050       (23,563,784

Class B

      (33,224       (48,358

Class C

      (3,921,593       (2,863,640

Class R6

      (10,389,501       (6,412,457

Administrator Class

      (4,624,038       (3,093,791

Institutional Class

      (24,118,158       (16,364,757

Investor Class

      (103,908,119       (76,153,892
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (178,090,683       (128,500,679
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    1,110,029        26,112,093        1,906,863        47,333,361   

Class B

    706        13,849        1,604        34,770   

Class C

    109,312        2,111,040        151,598        3,204,286   

Class R6

    812,069        19,433,857        4,157,524        108,751,854   

Administrator Class

    182,887        4,316,363        960,741        24,486,805   

Institutional Class

    2,720,584        66,290,199        2,110,163        53,200,949   

Investor Class

    1,169,258        28,309,355        1,403,415        35,757,343   
 

 

 

 
      146,586,756          272,769,368   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    1,388,863        30,846,648        981,487        23,202,372   

Class B

    1,808        33,224        2,398        48,358   

Class C

    180,879        3,322,741        119,275        2,405,786   

Class R6

    457,284        10,389,501        266,963        6,412,457   

Administrator Class

    204,831        4,590,258        117,649        2,800,043   

Institutional Class

    1,043,559        23,678,356        681,502        16,362,862   

Investor Class

    4,384,158        100,002,451        3,036,465        73,573,529   
 

 

 

 
      172,863,179          124,805,407   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (7,785,918     (180,271,804     (3,669,323     (91,720,868

Class B

    (10,025     (196,353     (14,528     (305,818

Class C

    (285,089     (5,585,432     (224,248     (4,766,078

Class R6

    (754,917     (18,105,595     (658,275     (16,801,202

Administrator Class

    (1,376,984     (33,031,475     (274,181     (6,849,148

Institutional Class

    (2,385,778     (57,674,780     (1,910,120     (49,279,081

Investor Class

    (5,674,483     (137,556,202     (4,259,222     (108,394,726
 

 

 

 
      (432,421,641       (278,116,921
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (112,971,706       119,457,854   
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      (301,308,465       146,142,206   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      1,625,232,723          1,479,090,517   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,323,924,258        $ 1,625,232,723   
 

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss

    $ (1,271,083     $ (4,912
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.79        $24.45        $21.18        $17.15        $18.20   

Net investment loss

    (0.04 )1      (0.07     (0.02     (0.04     (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.32     2.48        4.72        5.33        (0.74
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.36     2.41        4.70        5.29        (0.80

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     (1.43     (1.26     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $21.62        $24.79        $24.45        $21.18        $17.15   

Total return2

    (1.76 )%      10.26     23.72     31.90     (4.61 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.27     1.28     1.30     1.31     1.30

Net expenses

    1.26     1.26     1.26     1.26     1.26

Net investment loss

    (0.19 )%      (0.27 )%      (0.05 )%      (0.16 )%      (0.24 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40     30     41

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $127,732        $277,517        $292,806        $207,668        $153,921   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     17   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.02        $21.18        $18.67        $15.35        $16.44   

Net investment loss

    (0.18 )1      (0.22 )1      (0.15 )1      (0.17 )1      (0.20 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.25     2.13        4.09        4.75        (0.64
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.43     1.91        3.94        4.58        (0.84

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     (1.43     (1.26     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $17.78        $21.02        $21.18        $18.67        $15.35   

Total return2

    (2.49 )%      9.42     22.78     30.87     (5.29 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.02     2.03     2.05     2.05     2.05

Net expenses

    2.00     2.01     2.01     2.01     2.01

Net investment loss

    (0.94 )%      (1.03 )%      (0.78 )%      (0.96 )%      (1.13 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40     30     41

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $116        $296        $521        $806        $1,655   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $21.02        $21.18        $18.67        $15.35        $16.44   

Net investment loss

    (0.18     (0.22 )1      (0.16 )1      (0.16 )1      (0.18 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.26     2.13        4.10        4.74        (0.66
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.44     1.91        3.94        4.58        (0.84

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     (1.43     (1.26     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $17.77        $21.02        $21.18        $18.67        $15.35   

Total return2

    (2.49 )%      9.42     22.78     30.95     (5.35 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.02     2.03     2.05     2.06     2.05

Net expenses

    2.00     2.01     2.01     2.01     2.01

Net investment loss

    (0.93 )%      (1.01 )%      (0.81 )%      (0.92 )%      (1.01 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40     30     41

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $25,668        $30,245        $29,483        $20,080        $17,887   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS R6   2015     2014     20131  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.27        $24.78        $22.83   

Net investment income

    0.05        0.07 2      0.01   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.31     2.49        1.94   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.26     2.56        1.95   

Distributions to shareholders from

     

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $22.20        $25.27        $24.78   

Total return3

    (1.29 )%      10.76     8.54

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

     

Gross expenses

    0.80     0.80     0.81

Net expenses

    0.80     0.80     0.81

Net investment income

    0.28     0.27     0.18

Supplemental data

     

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $95,037        $95,213        $27   

 

 

 

 

1  For the period from June 28, 2013 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2013

 

2  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3  Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $24.98        $24.59        $21.26        $17.18        $18.20   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.01 )1      (0.02 )1      0.01        0.01        (0.01 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.32     2.48        4.75        5.33        (0.76
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.33     2.46        4.76        5.34        (0.77

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     (1.43     (1.26     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $21.84        $24.98        $24.59        $21.26        $17.18   

Total return

    (1.62 )%      10.41     23.92     32.15     (4.44 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.12     1.11     1.11     1.10     1.10

Net expenses

    1.10     1.09     1.09     1.07     1.09

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.03 )%      (0.07 )%      0.11     0.01     (0.05 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40     30     41

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $18,050        $45,364        $24,871        $19,428        $19,044   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.25        $24.77        $21.37        $17.23        $18.21   

Net investment income

    0.03        0.03        0.07 1      0.06 1      0.01   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.31     2.52        4.76        5.34        (0.74
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.28     2.55        4.83        5.40        (0.73

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     (1.43     (1.26     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $22.16        $25.25        $24.77        $21.37        $17.23   

Total return

    (1.38 )%      10.72     24.14     32.42     (4.22 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.86     0.85     0.87     0.88     0.87

Net expenses

    0.85     0.85     0.87     0.88     0.87

Net investment income

    0.24     0.14     0.33     0.28     0.29

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40     30     41

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $226,729        $223,525        $197,453        $86,645        $16,475   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INVESTOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $25.39        $25.00        $21.64        $17.50        $18.57   

Net investment loss

    (0.05     (0.08     (0.02     (0.04     (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (0.33     2.54        4.81        5.44        (0.76
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.38     2.46        4.79        5.40        (0.82

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.81     (2.07     (1.43     (1.26     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $22.20        $25.39        $25.00        $21.64        $17.50   

Total return

    (1.80 )%      10.23     23.63     31.89     (4.62 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.34     1.34     1.35     1.37     1.36

Net expenses

    1.29     1.29     1.29     1.29     1.29

Net investment loss

    (0.21 )%      (0.29 )%      (0.08 )%      (0.20 )%      (0.29 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    51     38     40     30     41

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $830,592        $953,073        $933,930        $817,678        $723,711   

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     23   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Notes to financial statements

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The primary permanent differences causing such reclassifications are due to dividends from certain securities and net operating losses. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Paid-in capital   

Accumulated net
investment loss

   Accumulated net
realized gains
on investments
$(1,969,225)    $590,876    $1,378,349

As of September 30, 2015, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future net realized capital gains in the amount of $691,459 expiring in 2016.

As of September 30, 2015, the Fund had a qualified late-year ordinary loss of $1,267,133 which will be recognized on the first day of the following fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     25   

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 217,858,267       $ 0       $ 0       $ 217,858,267   

Consumer staples

     16,599,196         0         0         16,599,196   

Energy

     74,228,292         0         0         74,228,292   

Financials

     283,531,556         0         0         283,531,556   

Health care

     130,951,526         0         0         130,951,526   

Industrials

     202,144,959         0         0         202,144,959   

Information technology

     277,218,825         0         0         277,218,825   

Materials

     66,956,374         0         0         66,956,374   

Exchange-traded funds

     17,624,092         0         0         17,624,092   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     23,318,173         10,872,275         0         34,190,448   

Total assets

   $ 1,310,431,260       $ 10,872,275       $ 0       $ 1,321,303,535   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND OTHER EXPENSES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.80% and declining to 0.63% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.75% and declined to 0.60% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Notes to financial statements

administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.45% and declining to 0.30% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate        Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Class R6

     0.03           0.03   

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Investor Class

     0.32           0.32   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.26% for Class A shares, 2.01% for Class B shares, 2.01% for Class C shares, 0.85% for Class R6 shares, 1.10% for Administrator Class shares, 0.85% for Institutional Class Shares, and 1.29% for Investor Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Prior to July 1, 2015, the Fund’s expenses were capped at 0.90% for Institutional Class shares.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $4,425 from the sale of Class A shares and $400 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class B, Class C, Administrator Class, and Investor Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     27   

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $742,355,399 and $981,953,620, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $2,348 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 8,684,768       $ 4,937,404   

Long-term capital gain

     169,405,915         123,563,275   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
long-term
gain
  

Unrealized
gains

   Late-year
ordinary
losses
deferred
   Capital loss
carryforward
$135,001,152    $232,342,445    $(1,267,133)    $(691,459)

8. INDEMNIFICATION

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

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

After the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund became Class A shares in a tax-free conversion. Shareholders of Investor Class of the Fund received Class A shares at a value equal to the value of their Investor Class shares immediately prior to the conversion.


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Report of independent registered public accounting firm

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     29   

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $169,405,915 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $8,684,768 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $8,684,768 has been designated as short-term capital gain dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

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

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

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

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

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

Peter G. Gordon

(Born 1942)

  Trustee, since 1998; Chairman, since 2005   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee, since 2009   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

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

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2006   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     31   
Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

  Trustee, since 1996   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust

Michael S. Scofield

(Born 1943)

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

Donald C. Willeke

(Born 1940)

  Trustee, since 1996   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

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

Karla M. Rabusch

(Born 1959)

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

Nancy Wiser1

(Born 1967)

  Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.    

C. David Messman

(Born 1960)

  Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

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

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

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

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

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

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) applicable to Fund-level administrative services. The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

The Board evaluated the ability of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment professionals, including research, advisory and supervisory personnel. The Board further considered the compliance


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     33   

programs and compliance records of Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser. In addition, the Board took into account the full range of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and its affiliates.

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Class A) was higher than or in range of the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review except the one- and three-year periods. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was lower than its benchmark, the Russell 2500™ Index, for all periods under review except the ten-year period.

The Board received information concerning, and discussed factors contributing to, the underperformance of the Fund relative to the Universe and benchmark for the periods noted above. The Board took note of the explanations for the relative underperformance in these periods, including with respect to market factors, overall investment approach, sector allocations and investment decisions that affected the Fund’s performance and of longer term outperformance.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than, equal to or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to reduce the net operating expense ratio caps for the Institutional Class, and to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than, in range of or equal to the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

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

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

List of abbreviations   Wells Fargo Advantage Common Stock Fund     35   

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237462 11-15

A229/AR229 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery FundSM

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    14   

Statement of operations

    15   

Statement of changes in net assets

    16   

Financial highlights

    17   

Notes to financial statements

    23   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    28   

Other information

    29   

List of abbreviations

    35   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started. Small-cap stocks performed best, followed by mid caps and large caps. Markets outside the U.S. faced deeper ongoing challenges and generally delivered weaker results.

The fourth quarter of 2014 brought continued improvement in the U.S.; international economies remained challenged.

Strong quarterly U.S. stock results were spurred by investor optimism following U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen’s comment that the Fed would be patient in its timing of an interest-rate increase. U.S. stocks also were boosted by positive economic data; November’s 5.8% unemployment rate was down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the number of new jobs continued to expand. In addition, the U.S. economy’s third-quarter 2014 growth rate was revised upward, and U.S. companies reported strong earnings. The steadily brightening U.S. economy energized consumers, who were further buoyed by much lower prices at the gasoline pump. As the U.S. moved forward, major economies elsewhere confronted ongoing challenges. While Japan eased out of a two-quarter contraction, growth in China continued to slow, Russia’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and eurozone growth remained sluggish.

In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. small caps and mid caps outperformed large caps; major markets elsewhere rallied.

U.S. small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks tended to move similarly during the first quarter until early March, when results began to diverge by market capitalization. Larger caps slipped as investor concern grew over the strengthening U.S. dollar’s potentially negative effect on the profits of large U.S. multinational firms; stocks of small and midsize companies, which tend to be less affected by movements in the dollar, performed better. Positive stock results were supported by the gradually improving economy. The labor market continued to grow, along with personal income and consumer confidence. For U.S. businesses, the quarter’s data were mixed; while many companies reported strong earnings, other data indicated potential weakening in manufacturing. Elsewhere in the world, major markets enjoyed positive returns spurred by accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and signs of improvement in some struggling economies.

U.S. stocks experienced challenges during the second quarter of 2015.

The broad U.S. stock market fluctuated widely, eventually eking out a small quarterly gain. Mid- and large-cap stocks at times were pressured by investor concerns over the potentially negative effects of financially troubled overseas economies and of a strengthening U.S. dollar on the profits of U.S. multinational firms. The U.S. economy picked up traction during the quarter; consumer spending improved, and positive trends were evident in construction and new-home sales. Jobs growth remained a bright spot as well. Fed officials, who have kept interest rates low while waiting for the U.S. jobs market to sufficiently improve and for inflation to approach their 2% target, made clear they could take action soon. Throughout the quarter, non-U.S. markets also experienced volatility, triggered by uncertainty over the potential impact of financial challenges in other locations—most notably in Greece and Puerto Rico. Questions over slower growth in China caused investor concern as well.

 


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     3   

In the third quarter of 2015, China’s slowdown took a toll on economies and markets worldwide.

U.S. stocks sagged during the quarter, experiencing the most volatility since 2011. Economic data released during the quarter suggested the U.S. economy remains solid but has lost some steam, burdened by the drag of the strong U.S. dollar coupled with global economic turmoil. The fact that the Fed left the federal funds interest rate unchanged at its September meeting fueled increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy’s stamina to remain healthy while facing the challenges of slowing in China and troubles elsewhere in the world. Outside the U.S., markets were even more volatile and delivered generally weaker quarterly results, also largely due to increasing anxiety over China’s weakened economy. Because China is the world’s largest importer of many commodities, a number of emerging markets—key commodities exporters—are struggling under the dual strains of reduced demand for commodities and, because of weaker demand, lower prices for the commodities they do sell. In the eurozone, however, where only about 3% of exports are sent to China, household spending and business investment appeared relatively unaffected.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

The Fund is closed to most new investors1.

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term total capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Thomas J. Pence, CFA

Michael T. Smith, CFA

Chris Warner, CFA

Average annual total returns2 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios3 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net4  
Class A (WFDAX)   7-31-2007     (3.77     12.09        8.30        2.09        13.42        8.94        1.20        1.20   
Class C (WDSCX)   7-31-2007     0.35        12.57        8.12        1.35        12.57        8.12        1.95        1.95   
Class R6 (WFDRX)   6-28-2013                          2.53        13.88        9.36        0.77        0.77   
Administrator Class (WFDDX)   4-8-2005                          2.24        13.56        9.10        1.12        1.12   
Institutional Class (WFDSX)   8-31-2006                          2.47        13.85        9.34        0.87        0.87   
Investor Class (STDIX)+   12-31-1987                          2.04        13.34        8.87        1.31        1.28   
Russell 2500™ Growth Index5                            3.35        13.93        8.38                 
  +   Effective at the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund were converted to Class A shares and Investor Class shares are no longer offered.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment6 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

 

1  Please see the Fund’s current Statement of Additional Information for further details.

 

2  Historical performance shown for Class A and shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Investor Class shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Investor Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns would be higher. Historical performance shown for Class C shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Investor Class shares and has been adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, the returns would be higher. Historical performance shown for Institutional Class shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Administrator Class shares and includes the higher expenses applicable to Administrator Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns would be higher.

 

3  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

4  The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 1.22% for Class A, 1.97% for Class C, 0.84% for Class R6, 1.15% for Administrator Class, 0.89% for Institutional Class, and 1.28% for Investor Class. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

5  The Russell 2500™ Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 2500™ companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

6  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Russell 2500 Growth Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2500 Growth Index, for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   Challenging stock selection in the information technology (IT) and consumer discretionary sectors more than offset effective stock selection in the materials and consumer staples sectors.

 

n   Despite the relative strength of the U.S. economy, macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties drove increased volatility in the stock markets, causing periods when investors inconsistently rewarded companies delivering strong earnings growth.

Although mixed U.S. economic data worried investors at times during the period, the data overall pointed to a continuing U.S. economic recovery. Most other countries could not match the pace of U.S. economic improvement, and many continued to face slowing growth; as a result, U.S. stocks remained a more attractive investment to us. In recent years, frequent periods of heightened macroeconomic or geopolitical concerns—combined with the resultant investor risk aversion—at times caused investors to inconsistently reward companies delivering strong earnings growth. Nevertheless, we continue to adhere to our disciplined investment process through all market environments and to invest the Fund in companies that in our view either dominate their respective markets, establish new markets through innovation, or are undergoing dynamic change. Our investment style leads to a portfolio that varies from the benchmark in both composition and return. Under certain market conditions, our investment style can go out of favor, which occasionally occurred during the reporting period.

 

Ten largest holdings7 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

ServiceMaster Global Holdings Incorporated

     2.36   

Jarden Corporation

     2.22   

Wabtec Corporation

     2.20   

SEI Investments Company

     2.15   

Carlisle Companies Incorporated

     2.06   

Tyler Technologies Incorporated

     2.03   

CoStar Group Incorporated

     2.03   

Euronet Worldwide Incorporated

     1.99   

Alere Incorporated

     1.76   

Vantiv Incorporated Class A

     1.75   

Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector detracted the most from Fund performance.

Our original investment thesis for Polaris Industries Incorporated centered on sustainable growth from a family of power-sports products benefiting from increased consumer demand for large-ticket durables, innovative new products, and expanding international demand. We also believed internal cost initiatives and improving scale in motorcycles from the company’s previous acquisition of the Indian Motorcycle brand could drive margin leverage over time. While our revenue thesis played out through the end of 2014 and into 2015, with solid sales in key growth markets, first-quarter 2015 results showed stagnant market share in Polaris’ core off-road vehicle segment due to competitors’ increased promotional efforts, which led Polaris to increase promotional

 

spending. Foreign exchange headwinds further pressured the company’s margins. These factors raised concern for us, and we sold the stock in favor of companies with greater earnings visibility.

While the IT sector contains some of the most innovative U.S. companies, these types of firms tend to have premium valuations that can suffer during periods of heightened volatility, which was the case at times during the reporting period. Several holdings in the internet software and services industry displayed weakness—especially Yelp Incorporated, which declined significantly; after the company reported decelerating growth trends, investors questioned its longer-term profitability potential. Shutterstock Incorporated also declined, despite reporting strong quarterly results, as investor concern mounted regarding increased competition and the negative effect of a strengthening U.S. dollar on international sales. Based on their disappointing results, both Yelp and Shutterstock were sold from the Fund during the reporting period.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     7   
Sector distribution8 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

Stock selection in the materials and consumer staples sectors benefited performance.

Although the materials sector typically offers few companies that are a fit for our true-growth style, Vulcan Materials Company—a provider of raw materials for asphalt and cement construction—proved beneficial to Fund performance. Vulcan’s stock rose as investors began appreciating strength in the company’s end markets, including nonresidential construction and infrastructure improvements. Within the consumer staples sector, beer and wine manufacturer Constellation Brands, Incorporated, outperformed, reflecting both a strengthening U.S. consumer and revenue and cost synergies from the company’s acquisition of the U.S. beer business of Grupo Modelo S.A.B. de C.V.

 

 

Our outlook for growth stocks remains strong despite some near-term volatility.

Turbulent markets have prompted us to seek higher certainty in Fund positioning. To this end, we use market weakness as an opportunity to upgrade portfolio quality. We believe companies with true organic growth should command a scarcity premium when global growth is weak and are selectively adding to positions with secular growth outlooks—companies we believe have strong catalysts that can help them power through a variety of market environments. These types of companies can be vulnerable to changing market sentiment because they command premium valuations at times; however, we believe the likelihood they could deliver long-term superior earnings growth serves as a floor to their valuation multiples. Common themes evident in the companies we seek include e-commerce, cloud computing, network security, credit card and payment processing, and biotechnology. Based on our experience, we believe these stocks potentially can provide long-term compounding of earnings growth that can be a foundation during volatile markets. We also are adding positions in select companies benefiting from the U.S. economic recovery; we remain believers in U.S. consumers, who are benefiting from a confluence of factors, including an improving job market, modest wage gains, falling inflation, and rising home values.

These remain challenging times for stock investors. Growth is scarce, and investor sentiment shifts rapidly in a market structure that empowers short-term trading and speculation. What have not changed, however, are the fundamentals of companies with innovative products, strong business models, and free cash flow. These fundamentals, which remain the driving factor to long-term excess returns, have been at the heart of our investment process for more than two decades and will remain our key areas of focus going forward.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
9-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 910.67       $ 5.80         1.21

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.00       $ 6.12         1.21

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 907.46       $ 9.37         1.96

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.24       $ 9.90         1.96

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 912.66       $ 3.64         0.76

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.26       $ 3.85         0.76

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 911.40       $ 5.22         1.09

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.60       $ 5.52         1.09

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 912.28       $ 4.03         0.84

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.86       $ 4.26         0.84

Investor Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 910.27       $ 6.13         1.28

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.65       $ 6.48         1.28

 

 

1  Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 97.68%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 25.64%

          
Auto Components: 1.32%           

Gentherm Incorporated †

          936,834       $ 42,082,583   
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 4.00%           

Bright Horizons Family Solutions Incorporated †

          812,956         52,224,293   

ServiceMaster Global Holdings Incorporated †

          2,237,178         75,057,322   
     127,281,615   
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 5.08%           

Aramark

          1,485,200         44,021,328   

Dave & Buster Entertainment Incorporated †

          1,210,475         45,792,269   

Domino’s Pizza Incorporated

          248,073         26,769,557   

Vail Resorts Incorporated

          430,920         45,108,706   
     161,691,860   
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 3.12%           

Harman International Industries Incorporated

          300,800         28,873,792   

Jarden Corporation †

          1,443,590         70,562,679   
     99,436,471   
          

 

 

 
Internet & Catalog Retail: 0.53%           

Vipshop Holdings Limited ADR †

          1,006,310         16,906,008   
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 1.02%           

Brunswick Corporation

          676,600         32,402,374   
          

 

 

 
Media: 1.59%           

Cinemark Holdings Incorporated

          1,562,651         50,770,531   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 6.41%           

Caleres Incorporated

          1,154,240         35,238,947   

Lithia Motors Incorporated Class A

          495,818         53,602,884   

The Men’s Wearhouse Incorporated

          869,000         36,949,880   

The Michaels Companies Incorporated †

          1,453,771         33,582,110   

ULTA Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrance Incorporated †

          272,900         44,578,215   
     203,952,036   
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 2.57%           

Columbia Sportswear Company

          726,591         42,716,285   

lululemon athletica Incorporated †«

          771,086         39,055,506   
     81,771,791   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 1.30%

          
Beverages: 1.30%           

Constellation Brands Incorporated Class A

          329,957         41,313,916   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Energy: 1.25%

          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 1.25%           

Diamondback Energy Incorporated †

          616,365       $ 39,817,179   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 4.41%

          
Capital Markets: 4.41%           

Evercore Partners Incorporated Class A

          686,000         34,464,640   

Raymond James Financial Incorporated

          752,160         37,329,701   

SEI Investments Company

          1,418,799         68,428,676   
     140,223,017   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 18.70%

          
Biotechnology: 7.01%           

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          329,663         26,491,719   

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          700,847         27,844,651   

bluebird bio Incorporated †

          170,400         14,577,720   

Cepheid Incorporated †

          955,810         43,202,612   

Clovis Oncology Incorporated †

          350,600         32,241,176   

Insys Therapeutics Incorporation †«

          459,200         13,068,832   

Medivation Incorporated †

          724,830         30,805,275   

Novavax Incorporated †

          1,754,948         12,407,482   

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Incorporated †

          232,100         22,353,551   
     222,993,018   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 6.35%           

Alere Incorporated †

          1,165,571         56,122,244   

Align Technology Incorporated †

          959,020         54,433,975   

DexCom Incorporated †

          610,773         52,440,970   

The Cooper Companies Incorporated

          262,194         39,030,199   
     202,027,388   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 4.76%           

Community Health Systems Incorporated †

          810,500         34,665,085   

Envision Healthcare Holdings Incorporated †

          1,497,468         55,091,848   

HealthEquity Incorporated †

          441,441         13,044,582   

VCA Incorporated †

          926,713         48,791,439   
     151,592,954   
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 0.58%           

GW Pharmaceuticals plc †«

          159,161         14,542,541   

Intersect ENT Incorporated †

          169,356         3,962,930   
     18,505,471   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 17.53%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 2.32%           

Huntington Ingalls Industries Incorporated

          333,300         35,713,095   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Aerospace & Defense (continued)           

TASER International Incorporated †«

          1,738,700       $ 38,294,868   
     74,007,963   
          

 

 

 
Airlines: 0.89%           

Spirit Airlines Incorporated †

          602,718         28,508,561   
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 3.04%           

A.O. Smith Corporation

          690,900         45,039,771   

Allegion plc

          896,600         51,697,956   
     96,737,727   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 1.50%           

Acuity Brands Incorporated

          272,092         47,773,913   
          

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 2.06%           

Carlisle Companies Incorporated

          749,979         65,533,165   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 3.91%           

Proto Labs Incorporated †«

          309,764         20,754,188   

WABCO Holdings Incorporated †

          319,700         33,514,151   

Wabtec Corporation

          796,015         70,089,121   
     124,357,460   
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 1.36%           

Old Dominion Freight Line Incorporated †

          710,199         43,322,139   
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 2.45%           

Air Lease Corporation

          1,077,600         33,319,392   

HD Supply Holdings Incorporated †

          1,558,077         44,592,164   
     77,911,556   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 24.40%

          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.91%           

Cognex Corporation

          844,590         29,028,558   
          

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 2.03%           

CoStar Group Incorporated †

          373,107         64,569,897   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 7.62%           

Black Knight Financial Services Incorporated Class A †

          801,025         26,073,364   

EPAM Systems Incorporated †

          730,847         54,462,718   

Euronet Worldwide Incorporated †

          854,450         63,306,201   

Vantiv Incorporated Class A †

          1,240,885         55,740,554   

WEX Incorporated †

          493,900         42,890,276   
     242,473,113   
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 1.14%           

Ambarella Incorporated †«

          430,700         24,890,153   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (continued)          

Cavium Incorporated †

         13,356       $ 810,188   

Tower Semiconductor Limited †«

         825,869         10,628,934   
     36,329,275   
         

 

 

 
Software: 12.70%          

CyberArk Software Limited †«

         844,644         42,350,450   

Fleetmatics Group plc †

         752,765         36,953,235   

Guidewire Software Incorporated †

         860,166         45,227,528   

Imperva Incorporated †

         472,266         30,923,978   

Paycom Software Incorporated †

         1,387,663         49,830,978   

Splunk Incorporated †

         902,000         49,925,700   

Tableau Software Incorporated Class A †

         536,890         42,833,084   

Take-Two Interactive Software Incorporated †

         1,448,500         41,615,405   

Tyler Technologies Incorporated †

         433,067         64,661,234   
     404,321,592   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 2.83%

         
Chemicals: 1.55%          

Axalta Coating Systems Limited †

         1,955,496         49,552,269   
         

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 1.28%          

Vulcan Materials Company

         456,000         40,675,200   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 1.62%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 1.62%          

Zayo Group Holdings Incorporated †

         2,031,800         51,526,448   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $2,864,710,229)

  

     3,109,397,048   
         

 

 

 
    Yield                    

Short-Term Investments: 7.11%

         
Investment Companies: 7.11%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15        155,369,825         155,369,825   

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

    0.16           71,077,614         71,077,614   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $226,447,439)

            226,447,439       
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $3,091,157,668) *     104.79        3,335,844,487   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (4.79        (152,461,861
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 3,183,382,626   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     13   

      

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $3,098,065,001 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 438,104,261   

Gross unrealized losses

     (200,324,775
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 237,779,486   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $154,878,944 of securities loaned), at value (cost $2,864,710,229)

  $ 3,109,397,048   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $226,447,439)

    226,447,439   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $3,091,157,668)

    3,335,844,487   

Cash

    89,660   

Receivable for investments sold

    32,631,448   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    2,909,831   

Receivable for dividends

    268,727   

Receivable for securities lending income

    214,848   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    100,079   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    3,372,059,080   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    27,838,314   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    2,666,497   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    155,369,825   

Management fee payable

    1,961,619   

Distribution fee payable

    43,910   

Administration fees payable

    450,222   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    346,067   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    188,676,454   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 3,183,382,626   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 2,703,408,023   

Accumulated net investment loss

    (15,952,398

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    251,240,182   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    244,686,819   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 3,183,382,626   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 294,661,447   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    9,668,134   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $30.48   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $32.34   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 66,772,295   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    2,364,826   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $28.24   

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 273,940,804   

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    8,538,962   

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $32.08   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 575,567,922   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    18,467,427   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $31.17   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 1,436,125,394   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    44,829,173   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $32.04   

Net assets – Investor Class

  $ 536,314,764   

Shares outstanding – Investor Class1

    17,741,572   

Net asset value per share – Investor Class

    $30.23   

 

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     15   
         

Investment income

 

Dividends

  $ 17,552,454   

Securities lending income, net

    1,890,464   

Income from affiliated securities

    61,213   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    19,504,131   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    24,555,814   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    829,849   

Class C

    198,681   

Class R6

    79,506   

Administrator Class

    720,440   

Institutional Class

    1,391,152   

Investor Class

    1,942,706   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    837,932   

Class C

    200,186   

Administrator Class

    1,669,347   

Investor Class

    1,512,797   

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    600,559   

Custody and accounting fees

    186,742   

Professional fees

    48,304   

Registration fees

    220,956   

Shareholder report expenses

    160,720   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    12,319   

Other fees and expenses

    48,367   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    35,216,377   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (185,433
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    35,030,944   
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (15,526,813
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    275,982,733   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (179,089,579
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    96,893,154   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 81,366,341   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Statement of changes in net assets
    

Year ended

September 30, 2015

    

Year ended

September 30, 2014

 

Operations

          

Net investment loss

     $ (15,526,813       $ (24,674,953

Net realized gains on investments

       275,982,733            251,309,104   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

       (179,089,579         (163,265,630
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

       81,366,341            63,368,521   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

          

Net realized gains

          

Class A

       (25,776,649         (18,511,657

Class C

       (6,863,393         (3,908,122

Class R6

       (17,262,427         (229,375

Administrator Class

       (50,657,190         (43,636,565

Institutional Class

       (106,198,751         (67,126,218

Investor Class

       (47,364,646         (44,953,612
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

       (254,123,056         (178,365,549
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares            Shares      

Proceeds from shares sold

          

Class A

    2,233,465         73,592,537         7,194,353         239,880,930   

Class C

    138,248         4,164,875         1,622,065         51,372,776   

Class R6

    2,308,430         80,634,658         6,927,824         238,614,217   

Administrator Class

    3,535,503         118,624,154         9,555,255         322,630,260   

Institutional Class

    9,758,577         338,209,673         21,122,614         729,415,487   

Investor Class

    1,282,386         42,218,844         6,373,102         212,464,614   
 

 

 

 
       657,444,741            1,794,378,284   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

          

Class A

    794,342         24,513,393         538,849         17,583,098   

Class C

    192,115         5,525,235         96,590         2,976,900   

Class R6

    533,450         17,262,427         6,756         229,375   

Administrator Class

    1,597,396         50,349,928         1,265,085         42,051,507   

Institutional Class

    3,201,342         103,499,406         1,949,307         66,159,461   

Investor Class

    1,517,879         46,477,457         1,369,482         44,412,550   
 

 

 

 
       247,627,846            173,412,891   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

          

Class A

    (3,720,446      (122,265,640      (4,521,227      (147,714,590

Class C

    (750,393      (22,961,276      (467,017      (14,485,281

Class R6

    (845,623      (29,124,505      (392,681      (13,289,526

Administrator Class

    (7,503,991      (251,365,044      (9,001,522      (300,190,618

Institutional Class

    (9,499,972      (326,555,506      (10,163,663      (348,731,781

Investor Class

    (4,251,475      (138,396,041      (7,579,456      (245,701,164
 

 

 

 
       (890,668,012         (1,070,112,960
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

       14,404,575            897,678,215   
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

       (158,352,140         782,681,187   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

          

Beginning of period

       3,341,734,766            2,559,053,579   
 

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 3,183,382,626          $ 3,341,734,766   
 

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss

     $ (15,952,398       $ (12,579,383
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     17   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $32.35        $33.50        $26.89        $21.20        $20.71   

Net investment loss

    (0.24     (0.30     (0.08 )1      (0.14 )1      (0.21 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.96        1.36        8.14        6.82        0.70   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.72        1.06        8.06        6.68        0.49   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.59     (2.21     (1.45     (0.99     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.48        $32.35        $33.50        $26.89        $21.20   

Total return2

    2.09     3.15     31.86     32.05     2.37

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

       

Gross expenses

    1.23     1.25     1.27     1.29     1.34

Net expenses

    1.21     1.22     1.22     1.22     1.30

Net investment loss

    (0.64 )%      (0.95 )%      (0.29 )%      (0.53 )%      (0.86 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    87     84     86     104     111

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $294,661        $335,221        $239,506        $114,882        $41,507   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $30.37        $31.81        $25.79        $20.51        $20.19   

Net investment loss

    (0.43 )1      (0.35     (0.30 )1      (0.31 )1      (0.38 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.89        1.12        7.77        6.58        0.70   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.46        0.77        7.47        6.27        0.32   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.59     (2.21     (1.45     (0.99     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $28.24        $30.37        $31.81        $25.79        $20.51   

Total return2

    1.35     2.33     30.89     31.10     1.59

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.98     2.00     2.02     2.04     2.09

Net expenses

    1.96     1.97     1.97     1.97     2.07

Net investment loss

    (1.39 )%      (1.70 )%      (1.08 )%      (1.28 )%      (1.62 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    87     84     86     104     111

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $66,772        $84,585        $48,768        $16,803        $5,205   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS R6   2015     2014     20131  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $33.78        $34.73        $31.03   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.07     (0.17     0.02 2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.96        1.43        3.68   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.89        1.26        3.70   

Distributions to shareholders from

     

Net realized gains

    (2.59     (2.21     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $32.08        $33.78        $34.73   

Total return3

    2.53     3.60     11.96

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

     

Gross expenses

    0.76     0.77     0.77

Net expenses

    0.76     0.77     0.77

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.21 )%      (0.45 )%      0.30

Supplemental data

     

Portfolio turnover rate

    87     84     86

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $273,941        $221,043        $28   

 

 

1  For the period from June 28, 2013 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2013

 

2  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3  Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $32.99        $34.08        $27.30        $21.50        $20.96   

Net investment loss

    (0.20     (0.27 )1      (0.04     (0.12 )1      (0.20

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.97        1.39        8.27        6.91        0.74   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.77        1.12        8.23        6.79        0.54   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.59     (2.21     (1.45     (0.99     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $31.17        $32.99        $34.08        $27.30        $21.50   

Total return

    2.24     3.25     32.01     32.12     2.58

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.09     1.08     1.10     1.13     1.17

Net expenses

    1.09     1.08     1.10     1.13     1.15

Net investment loss

    (0.52 )%      (0.81 )%      (0.13 )%      (0.45 )%      (0.70 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    87     84     86     104     111

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $575,568        $687,537        $648,228        $478,673        $203,820   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $33.76        $34.74        $27.73        $21.76        $21.17   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.09     (0.20     0.01        (0.07     (0.14

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.96        1.43        8.45        7.03        0.73   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.87        1.23        8.46        6.96        0.59   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.59     (2.21     (1.45     (0.99     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $32.04        $33.76        $34.74        $27.73        $21.76   

Total return

    2.47     3.51     32.36     32.53     2.79

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.82     0.82     0.84     0.86     0.91

Net expenses

    0.82     0.82     0.84     0.86     0.90

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.26 )%      (0.54 )%      0.11     (0.19 )%      (0.45 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    87     84     86     104     111

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,436,125        $1,396,603        $988,615        $524,506        $274,039   

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INVESTOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $32.13        $33.31        $26.76        $21.12        $20.64   

Net investment loss

    (0.28     (0.33 )1      (0.09 )1      (0.15 )1      (0.24

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.97        1.36        8.09        6.78        0.72   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.69        1.03        8.00        6.63        0.48   

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (2.59     (2.21     (1.45     (0.99     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.23        $32.13        $33.31        $26.76        $21.12   

Total return

    2.04     3.04     31.78     31.93     2.33

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.30     1.30     1.32     1.36     1.40

Net expenses

    1.28     1.28     1.28     1.29     1.37

Net investment loss

    (0.71 )%      (1.01 )%      (0.30 )%      (0.61 )%      (0.93 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    87     84     86     104     111

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $536,315        $616,746        $633,908        $459,028        $279,715   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     23   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Notes to financial statements

may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The primary permanent differences causing such reclassifications are due to net operating losses. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Paid-in capital    Accumulated net
investment loss
   Accumulated net
realized gains
on investments
$(12,071,091)    $12,153,798    $(82,707)

As of September 30, 2015, the Fund had a qualified late-year ordinary loss of $15,951,990 which will be recognized on the first day of the following fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     25   

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 816,295,269       $ 0       $ 0       $ 816,295,269   

Consumer staples

     41,313,916         0         0         41,313,916   

Energy

     39,817,179         0         0         39,817,179   

Financials

     140,223,017         0         0         140,223,017   

Health care

     595,118,831         0         0         595,118,831   

Industrials

     558,152,484         0         0         558,152,484   

Information technology

     776,722,435         0         0         776,722,435   

Materials

     90,227,469         0         0         90,227,469   

Telecommunication services

     51,526,448         0         0         51,526,448   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     71,077,614         155,369,825         0         226,447,439   

Total assets

   $ 3,180,474,662       $ 155,369,825       $ 0       $ 3,335,844,487   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.80% and declining to 0.63% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.75% and declined to 0.60% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Notes to financial statements

administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.71% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.45% and declining to 0.35% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate        Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Class R6

     0.03           0.03   

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Investor Class

     0.32           0.32   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.22% for Class A shares, 1.97% for Class C shares, 0.84% for Class R6 shares, 1.15% for Administrator Class shares, 0.89% for Institutional Class shares, and 1.28% for Investor Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $7,603 from the sale of Class A shares and $678 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions Class C shares, respectively.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, Administrator Class, and Investor Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     27   

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $2,944,734,556 and $3,258,618,908, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $4,998 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 0       $ 62,752,815   

Long-term capital gain

     254,123,056         115,612,734   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
long-term
gain
   Unrealized
gains
   Late-year
ordinary losses
deferred
$258,147,512    $237,779,486    $(15,951,990)

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

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

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

After the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund became Class A shares in a tax-free conversion. Shareholders of Investor Class of the Fund received Class A shares at a value equal to the value of their Investor Class shares immediately prior to the conversion.


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Report of independent registered public accounting firm

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     29   

TAX INFORMATION

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $254,123,056 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

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

William R. Ebsworth

(Born 1957)

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

Jane A. Freeman

(Born 1953)

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

Peter G. Gordon

(Born 1942)

  Trustee, since 1998; Chairman, since 2005   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust

Isaiah Harris, Jr.

(Born 1952)

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

Judith M. Johnson

(Born 1949)

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

David F. Larcker

(Born 1950)

  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     31   
Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service*
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer   Other
public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell

(Born 1953)

  Trustee, since 2006   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust

Timothy J. Penny

(Born 1951)

  Trustee, since 1996   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust

Michael S. Scofield

(Born 1943)

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

Donald C. Willeke

(Born 1940)

  Trustee, since 1996   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

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

Karla M. Rabusch

(Born 1959)

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

Nancy Wiser1

(Born 1967)

  Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.    

C. David Messman

(Born 1960)

  Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    

Debra Ann Early

(Born 1964)

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

David Berardi

(Born 1975)

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

Jeremy DePalma1

(Born 1974)

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

 

 

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

 

2  The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) applicable to Fund-level administrative services. The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

 


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     33   

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

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Administrator Class) was lower than the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review except for the five- and ten-year periods. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than or in range of its benchmark, the Russell 2500™ Growth Index, for all periods under review except the one-year period.

The Board received information concerning, and discussed factors contributing to, the underperformance of the Fund relative to the Universe and benchmark for the periods identified above. The Board took note of the explanations for the relative underperformance in these periods, including with respect to market factors and investment decisions that affected the Fund’s performance, and of longer term recent outperformance.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than or in range of the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund   Other information (unaudited)

compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

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

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

List of abbreviations   Wells Fargo Advantage Discovery Fund     35   

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237463 11-15

A230/AR230 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise FundSM

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    13   

Statement of operations

    14   

Statement of changes in net assets

    15   

Financial highlights

    16   

Notes to financial statements

    23   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    28   

Other information

    29   

List of abbreviations

    35   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started. Small-cap stocks performed best, followed by mid caps and large caps. Markets outside the U.S. faced deeper ongoing challenges and generally delivered weaker results.

The fourth quarter of 2014 brought continued improvement in the U.S.; international economies remained challenged.

Strong quarterly U.S. stock results were spurred by investor optimism following U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen’s comment that the Fed would be patient in its timing of an interest-rate increase. U.S. stocks also were boosted by positive economic data; November’s 5.8% unemployment rate was down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the number of new jobs continued to expand. In addition, the U.S. economy’s third-quarter 2014 growth rate was revised upward, and U.S. companies reported strong earnings. The steadily brightening U.S. economy energized consumers, who were further buoyed by much lower prices at the gasoline pump. As the U.S. moved forward, major economies elsewhere confronted ongoing challenges. While Japan eased out of a two-quarter contraction, growth in China continued to slow, Russia’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and eurozone growth remained sluggish.

In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. small caps and mid caps outperformed large caps; major markets elsewhere rallied.

U.S. small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks tended to move similarly during the first quarter until early March, when results began to diverge by market capitalization. Larger caps slipped as investor concern grew over the strengthening U.S. dollar’s potentially negative effect on the profits of large U.S. multinational firms; stocks of small and midsize companies, which tend to be less affected by movements in the dollar, performed better. Positive stock results were supported by the gradually improving economy. The labor market continued to grow, along with personal income and consumer confidence. For U.S. businesses, the quarter’s data were mixed; while many companies reported strong earnings, other data indicated potential weakening in manufacturing. Elsewhere in the world, major markets enjoyed positive returns spurred by accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and signs of improvement in some struggling economies.

U.S. stocks experienced challenges during the second quarter of 2015.

The broad U.S. stock market fluctuated widely, eventually eking out a small quarterly gain. Mid- and large-cap stocks at times were pressured by investor concerns over the potentially negative effects of financially troubled overseas economies and of a strengthening U.S. dollar on the profits of U.S. multinational firms. The U.S. economy picked up traction during the quarter; consumer spending improved, and positive trends were evident in construction and new-home sales. Jobs growth remained a bright spot as well. Fed officials, who have kept interest rates low while waiting for the U.S. jobs market to sufficiently improve and for inflation to approach their 2% target, made clear they could take action soon. Throughout the quarter, non-U.S. markets also experienced volatility, triggered by uncertainty over the potential impact of financial challenges in other locations—most notably in Greece and Puerto Rico. Questions over slower growth in China caused investor concern as well.

 


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     3   

In the third quarter of 2015, China’s slowdown took a toll on economies and markets worldwide.

U.S. stocks sagged during the quarter, experiencing the most volatility since 2011. Economic data released during the quarter suggested the U.S. economy remains solid but has lost some steam, burdened by the drag of the strong U.S. dollar coupled with global economic turmoil. The fact that the Fed left the federal funds interest rate unchanged at its September meeting fueled increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy’s stamina to remain healthy while facing the challenges of slowing in China and troubles elsewhere in the world. Outside the U.S., markets were even more volatile and delivered generally weaker quarterly results, also largely due to increasing anxiety over China’s weakened economy. Because China is the world’s largest importer of many commodities, a number of emerging markets—key commodities exporters—are struggling under the dual strains of reduced demand for commodities and, because of weaker demand, lower prices for the commodities they do sell. In the eurozone, however, where only about 3% of exports are sent to China, household spending and business investment appeared relatively unaffected.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

Thomas J. Pence, CFA

Michael T. Smith, CFA

Chris Warner, CFA

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (SENAX)   2-24-2000     (6.37     10.08        6.17        (0.67     11.39        6.80        1.24        1.18   
Class B (WENBX)*   8-26-2011     (6.38     10.30        6.45        (1.38     10.57        6.45        1.99        1.93   
Class C (WENCX)   3-31-2008     (2.41     10.57        6.02        (1.41     10.57        6.02        1.99        1.93   
Class R6 (WENRX)   10-31-2014                          (0.28     11.78        7.26        0.81        0.80   
Administrator Class (SEPKX)   8-30-2002                          (0.46     11.51        6.99        1.16        1.10   
Institutional Class (WFEIX)   6-30-2003                          (0.32     11.77        7.25        0.91        0.85   
Investor Class (SENTX)+   9-30-1998                          (0.72     11.32        6.71        1.35        1.24   
Russell Midcap® Growth Index4                            1.45        13.58        8.09                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.
  +   Effective at the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund were converted to Class A shares and Investor Class shares are no longer offered.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R6, Administrator Class, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment5 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

 

 

 

1  Effective June 20, 2008, Advisor Class was renamed Class A and modified to assume the features and attributes of Class A. Historical performance shown for Class A shares through June 19, 2008, includes Advisor Class expenses. Historical performance shown for Class B shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares. Historical performance shown for Class C shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Investor Class shares and has been adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of the Institutional Class shares, and is not adjusted to reflect Class R6 expenses. If these expenses had been included, returns for Class R6 would be higher.

 

2  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report.

 

3  The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2016, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at the amounts shown. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4  The Russell Midcap® Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell Midcap® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The stocks are also members of the Russell 1000® Growth index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Russell Midcap Growth Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index, for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   Challenging stock selection in the health care and telecommunication services sectors more than offset effective stock selection in the materials and financials sectors.

 

n   Despite the relative strength of the U.S. economy, macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties drove increased volatility in the stock markets, causing periods when investors inconsistently rewarded companies delivering strong earnings growth.

Although mixed U.S. economic data worried investors at times during the period, the data overall pointed to a continuing U.S. economic recovery. Most other countries could not match the pace of U.S. economic improvement, and many continued to face slowing growth; as a result, U.S. stocks remained a more attractive investment to us. In recent years, frequent periods of heightened macroeconomic or geopolitical concerns—combined with the resultant investor risk aversion—at times caused investors to inconsistently reward companies delivering strong earnings growth. Nevertheless, we continue to adhere to our disciplined investment process through all market environments and to invest the Fund in companies that in our view either dominate their respective markets, establish new markets through innovation, or are undergoing dynamic change. Our investment style leads to a portfolio that varies from the benchmark in both composition and return. Under certain market conditions, our investment style can go out of favor, which occasionally occurred during the reporting period.

 

Ten largest holdings6 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

SBA Communications Corporation Class A

     2.65   

McGraw Hill Financial Incorporated

     2.38   

Constellation Brands Incorporated Class A

     2.38   

ServiceMaster Global Holdings Incorporated

     2.27   

Carlisle Companies Incorporated

     2.08   

Intercontinental Exchange Incorporated

     2.04   

Akamai Technologies Incorporated

     2.01   

Jarden Corporation

     1.98   

Alliance Data Systems Corporation

     1.97   

Wabtec Corporation

     1.97   

Stock selection in the health care sector detracted the most from Fund performance; selection in telecommunication services also held back results.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Limited, a gastroenterology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, hindered results due primarily to management’s reduction in its forward-guidance expectations, citing an unexpected increase in inventory within the wholesaler channel. Despite a positive outlook for approval of new indications for Salix’s existing drugs, this reduction in visibility of end-market demand and management’s ability to forecast it led us to conclude our thesis was at risk; consistent with our sell discipline, we exited the position. Within the telecommunication services sector, shares of Level 3 Communications, Incorporated, declined following

 

quarterly results that did not meet investor expectations and the company’s poor communication of a salesforce reorganization. Level 3 should enjoy synergies and salesforce productivity improvements from its acquisition of Time Warner Telecom LLC. However, with the increased uncertainty regarding when these benefits may be realized, we sold the position in the stock.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     7   
Sector distribution7 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

Stock selection in the materials and financials sectors aided performance.

Although the materials sector typically offers few companies that are a fit for our true-growth style, Vulcan Materials Company—a provider of raw materials for asphalt and cement construction—proved beneficial to Fund performance. Vulcan’s stock rose as investors began appreciating strength in the company’s end markets, including nonresidential construction and infrastructure improvements. Within the financials sector, shares of SEI Investments Company advanced as the company continued to execute on its private bank–focused platform. Over the past several years, SEI developed a new back-office processing solution for trust banks that integrates and streamlines the recordkeeping process; this

 

innovative platform has been well received in the market, and the company announced it is actively discussing potential conversions with multiple large banks.

Our outlook for growth stocks remains strong despite some near-term volatility.

Turbulent markets have prompted us to seek higher certainty in Fund positioning. To this end, we use market weakness as an opportunity to upgrade portfolio quality. We believe companies with true organic growth should command a scarcity premium when global growth is weak and are selectively adding to positions with secular growth outlooks—companies we believe have strong catalysts that can help them power through a variety of market environments. These types of companies can be vulnerable to changing market sentiment because they command premium valuations at times; however, we believe the likelihood they could deliver long-term superior earnings growth serves as a floor to their valuation multiples. Common themes evident in the companies we seek include e-commerce, cloud computing, network security, credit card and payment processing, and biotechnology. Based on our experience, we believe these stocks potentially can provide long-term compounding of earnings growth that can be a foundation during volatile markets. We also are adding positions in select companies benefiting from the U.S. economic recovery; we remain believers in U.S. consumers, who are benefiting from a confluence of factors, including an improving job market, modest wage gains, falling inflation, and rising home values.

These remain challenging times for stock investors. Growth is scarce, and investor sentiment shifts rapidly in a market structure that empowers short-term trading and speculation. What have not changed, however, are the fundamentals of companies with innovative products, strong business models, and free cash flow. These fundamentals, which remain the driving factor to long-term excess returns, have been at the heart of our investment process for more than two decades and will remain our key areas of focus going forward.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
9-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 897.02       $ 5.61         1.18

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.15       $ 5.97         1.18

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 893.89       $ 9.16         1.93

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.39       $ 9.75         1.93

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 893.68       $ 9.16         1.93

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.39       $ 9.75         1.93

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 898.70       $ 3.81         0.80

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.06       $ 4.05         0.80

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 898.19       $ 5.14         1.08

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.65       $ 5.47         1.08

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 898.48       $ 4.05         0.85

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.81       $ 4.31         0.85

Investor Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 896.73       $ 5.90         1.24

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.85       $ 6.28         1.24

 

 

1  Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     9   

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 98.52%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 26.21%

          
Auto Components: 1.85%           

Delphi Automotive plc

          159,485       $ 12,127,239   
          

 

 

 
Automobiles: 0.54%           

Tesla Motors Incorporated Ǡ

          14,200         3,527,280   
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 2.27%           

ServiceMaster Global Holdings Incorporated †

          443,198         14,869,293   
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 8.07%           

Aramark

          269,859         7,998,621   

Chipotle Mexican Grill Incorporated †

          12,720         9,161,580   

Dave & Buster Entertainment Incorporated †

          228,700         8,651,721   

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Incorporated

          468,020         10,736,379   

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Limited †

          149,500         8,566,350   

Vail Resorts Incorporated

          73,035         7,645,304   
             52,759,955   
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 3.03%           

Harman International Industries Incorporated

          71,700         6,882,483   

Jarden Corporation †

          264,900         12,948,312   
             19,830,795   
          

 

 

 
Media: 2.51%           

Cinemark Holdings Incorporated

          305,000         9,909,450   

Liberty Global plc Class C †

          157,842         6,474,679   
             16,384,129   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 4.36%           

Lithia Motors Incorporated Class A

          77,200         8,346,092   

O’Reilly Automotive Incorporated †

          22,900         5,679,853   

The Men’s Wearhouse Incorporated

          159,900         6,798,948   

ULTA Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrance Incorporated †

          47,200         7,710,120   
             28,535,013   
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 3.58%           

Columbia Sportswear Company

          142,981         8,405,853   

lululemon athletica Incorporated Ǡ

          131,697         6,670,453   

Under Armour Incorporated Class A †

          85,760         8,299,853   
             23,376,159   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 3.76%

          
Beverages: 2.38%           

Constellation Brands Incorporated Class A

          124,200         15,551,082   
          

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.38%           

The Kroger Company

          250,800         9,046,356   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Energy: 0.71%

          
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 0.71%           

Diamondback Energy Incorporated †

          72,300       $ 4,670,580   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 9.19%

          
Capital Markets: 2.99%           

Raymond James Financial Incorporated

          157,100         7,796,873   

SEI Investments Company

          244,300         11,782,589   
             19,579,462   
          

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services: 4.42%           

Intercontinental Exchange Incorporated

          56,805         13,348,607   

McGraw Hill Financial Incorporated

          180,041         15,573,547   
             28,922,154   
          

 

 

 
Real Estate Management & Development: 1.78%           

CBRE Group Incorporated Class A †

          363,315         11,626,080   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 14.93%

          
Biotechnology: 3.51%           

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Incorporated †

          87,693         9,235,827   

Incyte Corporation †

          83,900         9,256,687   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated †

          42,500         4,425,950   
             22,918,464   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 4.63%           

Alere Incorporated †

          235,939         11,360,463   

Align Technology Incorporated †

          145,200         8,241,552   

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation †

          75,300         10,705,401   
             30,307,416   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 3.60%           

Community Health Systems Incorporated †

          116,000         4,961,320   

Envision Healthcare Holdings Incorporated †

          248,422         9,139,445   

VCA Incorporated †

          179,700         9,461,205   
             23,561,970   
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 3.19%           

Endo International plc †

          122,300         8,472,944   

Zoetis Incorporated

          301,100         12,399,298   
             20,872,242   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 15.84%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 2.15%           

Huntington Ingalls Industries Incorporated

          60,100         6,439,715   

TASER International Incorporated Ǡ

          346,500         7,631,663   
             14,071,378   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     11   

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Airlines: 1.37%           

Delta Air Lines Incorporated

          199,000       $ 8,929,130   
          

 

 

 
Building Products: 1.58%           

Allegion plc

          174,300         10,050,138   

Builders FirstSource Incorporated †

          24,138         306,070   
             10,356,208   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 1.18%           

Acuity Brands Incorporated

          44,100         7,743,078   
          

 

 

 
Industrial Conglomerates: 2.08%           

Carlisle Companies Incorporated

          155,933         13,625,426   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 2.92%           

WABCO Holdings Incorporated †

          59,200         6,205,936   

Wabtec Corporation

          146,300         12,881,715   
             19,087,651   
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 1.95%           

Verisk Analytics Incorporated Class A †

          172,500         12,749,475   
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 1.30%           

Old Dominion Freight Line Incorporated †

          138,800         8,466,800   
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 1.31%           

HD Supply Holdings Incorporated †

          299,801         8,580,305   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 21.01%

          
Communications Equipment: 1.41%           

Palo Alto Networks Incorporated †

          53,691         9,234,852   
          

 

 

 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 0.86%           

Cognex Corporation

          163,900         5,633,243   
          

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 5.45%           

Akamai Technologies Incorporated †

          190,700         13,169,742   

CoStar Group Incorporated †

          74,163         12,834,649   

LinkedIn Corporation Class A †

          50,800         9,658,604   
             35,662,995   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 4.63%           

Alliance Data Systems Corporation †

          49,850         12,910,153   

EPAM Systems Incorporated †

          101,319         7,550,292   

Vantiv Incorporated Class A †

          217,981         9,791,707   
             30,252,152   
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 1.51%           

Ambarella Incorporated Ǡ

          67,100         3,877,709   

Avago Technologies Limited

          48,000         6,000,480   
             9,878,189   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

    

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  
Software: 7.15%          

CyberArk Software Limited †

         67,500       $ 3,384,450   

Electronic Arts Incorporated †

         176,200         11,937,550   

Paycom Software Incorporated †

         98,879         3,550,745   

ServiceNow Incorporated †

         163,450         11,351,603   

Tableau Software Incorporated Class A †

         105,700         8,432,746   

Workday Incorporated Class A †

         117,100         8,063,506   
            46,720,600   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 2.66%

         
Chemicals: 1.49%          

Axalta Coating Systems Limited †

         384,402         9,740,747   
         

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 1.17%          

Vulcan Materials Company

         85,400         7,617,680   
         

 

 

 

Telecommunication Services: 4.21%

         
Diversified Telecommunication Services: 1.56%          

Zayo Group Holdings Incorporated †

         401,600         10,184,572   
         

 

 

 
Wireless Telecommunication Services: 2.65%          

SBA Communications Corporation Class A †

         165,280         17,311,427   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $588,190,188)

            644,311,577   
         

 

 

 
    Yield                    
Short-Term Investments: 4.35%          
Investment Companies: 4.35%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15        21,401,650         21,401,650   

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

    0.16           7,070,842         7,070,842   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $28,472,492)

            28,472,492       
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $616,662,680) *     102.87        672,784,069   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (2.87        (18,801,390
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 653,982,679   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

Non-income-earning security

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $617,567,830 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 90,374,632   

Gross unrealized losses

     (35,158,393
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 55,216,239   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     13   
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $21,301,679 of securities loaned), at value (cost $588,190,188)

  $ 644,311,577   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $28,472,492)

    28,472,492   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $616,662,680)

    672,784,069   

Cash

    17,680   

Receivable for investments sold

    17,718,059   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    771,890   

Receivable for dividends

    28,709   

Receivable for securities lending income

    22,853   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    107,095   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    691,450,355   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    14,539,620   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    822,310   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    21,401,650   

Management fee payable

    360,743   

Distribution fees payable

    6,704   

Administration fees payable

    130,403   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    206,246   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    37,467,676   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 653,982,679   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 552,463,951   

Accumulated net investment loss

    (4,295,244

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    49,692,583   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    56,121,389   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 653,982,679   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 370,743,497   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    8,847,571   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $41.90   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $44.46   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 886,429   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    22,878   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $38.75   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 9,398,541   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    242,515   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $38.75   

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 24,041   

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    536   

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $44.89   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 3,542,463   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    81,281   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $43.58   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 87,278,660   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    1,944,987   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $44.87   

Net assets – Investor Class

  $ 182,109,048   

Shares outstanding – Investor Class1

    4,424,037   

Net asset value per share – Investor Class

    $41.16   

 

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,895)

  $ 4,273,212   

Securities lending income, net

    68,761   

Income from affiliated securities

    5,428   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    4,347,401   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    5,588,329   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    1,048,319   

Class B

    3,197   

Class C

    25,374   

Class R6

    7 1 

Administrator Class

    39,819   

Institutional Class

    71,857   

Investor Class

    652,046   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    1,057,862   

Class B

    3,199   

Class C

    25,650   

Administrator Class

    76,298   

Investor Class

    508,840   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    9,598   

Class C

    76,948   

Custody and accounting fees

    49,425   

Professional fees

    43,008   

Registration fees

    122,099   

Shareholder report expenses

    97,356   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    21,905   

Other fees and expenses

    19,324   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    9,540,460   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (736,583
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    8,803,877   
 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

    (4,456,476
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    60,042,406   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (53,364,165
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    6,678,241   
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

  $ 2,221,765   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1  For the period from October 31, 2014 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2015

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of changes in net assets   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     15   
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

       

Net investment loss

    $ (4,456,476     $ (6,533,393

Net realized gains on investments

      60,042,406          112,335,438   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (53,364,165       (67,208,817
 

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

      2,221,765          38,593,228   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net realized gains

       

Class A

      (50,757,257       (35,681,689

Class B

      (181,113       (211,712

Class C

      (1,277,712       (778,785

Class R6

      (2,811 )1        N/A   

Administrator Class

      (5,027,746       (1,012,394

Institutional Class

      (8,785,678       (6,714,365

Investor Class

      (24,434,273       (17,198,764
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (90,466,590       (61,597,709
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    125,100        5,768,841        287,962        13,896,895   

Class B

    115        5,022        1,507        69,241   

Class C

    29,071        1,259,547        50,976        2,361,005   

Class R6

    475 1      25,000 1      N/A        N/A   

Administrator Class

    127,718        6,003,464        880,332        44,626,697   

Institutional Class

    876,223        41,657,557        355,524        18,623,743   

Investor Class

    229,245        10,496,364        204,862        9,916,261   
 

 

 

 
      65,215,795          89,493,842   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    1,085,457        47,076,276        689,941        32,861,871   

Class B

    4,370        176,274        4,480        201,822   

Class C

    30,217        1,219,238        16,106        725,586   

Class R6

    61 1      2,811 1      N/A        N/A   

Administrator Class

    111,310        5,012,290        15,743        774,411   

Institutional Class

    126,526        5,860,663        79,143        3,981,687   

Investor Class

    557,032        23,740,725        356,862        16,751,082   
 

 

 

 
      83,088,277          55,296,459   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (1,083,157     (49,981,902     (894,749     (43,816,066

Class B

    (17,274     (754,198     (28,086     (1,302,951

Class C

    (31,076     (1,334,211     (32,725     (1,502,681

Administrator Class

    (1,061,267     (49,413,536     (189,422     (9,521,181

Institutional Class

    (570,369     (28,005,911     (478,070     (24,984,493

Investor Class

    (559,225     (25,524,047     (509,391     (24,457,262
 

 

 

 
      (155,013,805       (105,584,634
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (6,709,733       39,205,667   
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      (94,954,558       16,201,186   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      748,937,237          732,736,051   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 653,982,679        $ 748,937,237   
 

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss

    $ (4,295,244     $ (4,115,510
 

 

 

 

 

 

1  For the period from October 31, 2014 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2015

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $47.93        $49.54        $37.67        $29.10        $30.21   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.29     (0.43 )1      0.01 1      (0.18     (0.17 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.18        3.00        11.86        8.75        (0.94
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.11     2.57        11.87        8.57        (1.11

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.92     (4.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $41.90        $47.93        $49.54        $37.67        $29.10   

Total return2

    (0.67 )%      5.27     31.55     29.46     (3.71 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.29     1.29     1.30     1.29     1.34

Net expenses

    1.18     1.18     1.18     1.18     1.18

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.60 )%      (0.87 )%      0.01     (0.49 )%      (0.51 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    101     98     91     102     104

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $370,743        $417,971        $427,860        $359,068        $307,735   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     17   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     20111  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $45.06        $47.14        $36.11        $28.10        $29.17   

Net investment loss

    (0.58 )2      (0.76 )2      (0.27 )2      (0.42 )2      (0.04 )2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.19        2.86        11.30        8.43        (1.03
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.39     2.10        11.03        8.01        (1.07

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.92     (4.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $38.75        $45.06        $47.14        $36.11        $28.10   

Total return3

    (1.38 )%      4.46     30.55     28.51     (3.67 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.04     2.04     2.05     2.04     2.09

Net expenses

    1.93     1.93     1.93     1.93     1.93

Net investment loss

    (1.34 )%      (1.63 )%      (0.68 )%      (1.25 )%      (1.26 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    101     98     91     102     104

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $886        $1,607        $2,723        $3,235        $4,695   

 

 

 

 

 

1  For the period from August 26, 2011 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2011

 

2  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $45.07        $47.14        $36.11        $28.10        $29.39   

Net investment loss

    (0.59 )1      (0.75 )1      (0.29 )1      (0.42 )1      (0.44 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.19        2.86        11.32        8.43        (0.85
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.40     2.11        11.03        8.01        (1.29

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.92     (4.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $38.75        $45.07        $47.14        $36.11        $28.10   

Total return2

    (1.41 )%      4.49     30.55     28.51     (4.39 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.04     2.04     2.05     2.04     2.09

Net expenses

    1.93     1.93     1.93     1.93     1.97

Net investment loss

    (1.36 )%      (1.62 )%      (0.72 )%      (1.24 )%      (1.35 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    101     98     91     102     104

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $9,399        $9,658        $8,483        $7,508        $6,428   

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout the period)

 

CLASS R6  

Period ended

September 30, 20151

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $52.65   

Net investment loss

    (0.08

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.76
 

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (1.84

Distributions to shareholders from

 

Net realized gains

    (5.92

Net asset value, end of period

    $44.89   

Total return2

    (3.84 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

 

Gross expenses

    0.81

Net expenses

    0.80

Net investment loss

    (0.19 )% 

Supplemental data

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    101

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $24   

 

 

 

 

 

1  For the period from October 31, 2014 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2015

 

2  Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $49.54        $51.03        $38.77        $29.93        $31.03   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.23 )1      (0.37 )1      0.02 1      (0.16 )1      (0.24

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.19        3.06        12.24        9.00        (0.86
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.04     2.69        12.26        8.84        (1.10

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.92     (4.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $43.58        $49.54        $51.03        $38.77        $29.93   

Total return

    (0.46 )%      5.33     31.62     29.54     (3.54 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.09     1.12     1.13     1.12     1.17

Net expenses

    1.07     1.09     1.11     1.12     1.15

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.47 )%      (0.74 )%      0.05     (0.46 )%      (0.62 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    101     98     91     102     104

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $3,542        $44,760        $10,046        $6,757        $22,811   

 

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $50.77        $52.07        $39.46        $30.38        $31.42   

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.13 )1      (0.28 )1      0.18 1      (0.06 )1      (0.13 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.15        3.16        12.43        9.14        (0.91
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.02        2.88        12.61        9.08        (1.04

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.92     (4.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $44.87        $50.77        $52.07        $39.46        $30.38   

Total return

    (0.32 )%      5.61     31.96     29.89     (3.31 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.88     0.86     0.87     0.86     0.90

Net expenses

    0.85     0.85     0.85     0.85     0.89

Net investment income (loss)

    (0.27 )%      (0.54 )%      0.41     (0.17 )%      (0.37 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    101     98     91     102     104

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $87,279        $76,790        $81,021        $93,367        $121,618   

 

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INVESTOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $47.21        $48.88        $37.19        $28.75        $29.87   

Net investment loss

    (0.30 )1      (0.45     (0.02 )1      (0.19 )1      (0.29 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.17        2.96        11.71        8.63        (0.83
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.13     2.51        11.69        8.44        (1.12

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.92     (4.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $41.16        $47.21        $48.88        $37.19        $28.75   

Total return

    (0.72 )%      5.21     31.43     29.36     (3.75 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.36     1.35     1.36     1.36     1.40

Net expenses

    1.24     1.24     1.24     1.25     1.36

Net investment loss

    (0.67 )%      (0.93 )%      (0.05 )%      (0.56 )%      (0.84 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    101     98     91     102     104

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $182,109        $198,152        $202,602        $169,111        $144,883   

 

 

 

 

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     23   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Notes to financial statements

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The primary permanent difference causing such reclassification is due to net operating losses. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Paid-in capital   

Accumulated net

investment loss

$(4,276,742)    $4,276,742

As of September 30, 2015, the Fund had a qualified late-year ordinary loss of $4,272,398 which will be recognized on the first day of the following fiscal year.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     25   

hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs are summarized into three broad levels as follows:

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 171,409,863       $ 0       $ 0       $ 171,409,863   

Consumer staples

     24,597,438         0         0         24,597,438   

Energy

     4,670,580         0         0         4,670,580   

Financials

     60,127,696         0         0         60,127,696   

Health care

     97,660,092         0         0         97,660,092   

Industrials

     103,609,451         0         0         103,609,451   

Information technology

     137,382,031         0         0         137,382,031   

Materials

     17,358,427         0         0         17,358,427   

Telecommunication services

     27,495,999         0         0         27,495,999   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     7,070,842         21,401,650         0         28,472,492   

Total assets

   $ 651,382,419       $ 21,401,650       $ 0       $ 672,784,069   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.75% and declining to 0.63% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.70% and declined to 0.60% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.74% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Notes to financial statements

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.45% and declining to 0.30% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate        Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Class R6

     0.03           0.03   

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Investor Class

     0.32           0.32   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2016 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.18% for Class A shares, 1.93% for Class B shares, 1.93% for Class C shares, 0.80% for Class R6 shares, 1.10% for Administrator Class shares, 0.85% for Institutional Class shares, and 1.24% for Investor Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $6,417 from the sale of Class A shares and $21 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B shares.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class B, Class C, Administrator Class, and Investor Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $745,689,596 and $849,657,554, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     27   

in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $1,120 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 0       $ 9,333,410   

Long-term capital gain

     90,466,590         52,264,299   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
long-term

gain

   Unrealized
gains
   Late-year ordinary
losses deferred
$50,597,733    $55,216,239    $(4,272,398)

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

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

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

After the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund became Class A shares in a tax-free conversion. Shareholders of Investor Class of the Fund received Class A shares at a value equal to the value of their Investor Class shares immediately prior to the conversion.


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Report of independent registered public accounting firm

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     29   

TAX INFORMATION

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $90,466,590 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or

investment company

directorships during

past 5 years

William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA ® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is Chair of Taproot Foundation (non-profit organization), a Board Member of Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization) and an inactive chartered financial analyst.   Asset Allocation Trust; Harding Loevner Funds; Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust
Peter G. Gordon
(Born 1942)
  Trustee, since 1998; Chairman, since 2005   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee, since 2009   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Trustee, since 2008;
Audit Committee Chairman, since 2008
  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     31   

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or

investment company

directorships during

past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2006   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust
Timothy J. Penny
(Born 1951)
  Trustee, since 1996   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust
Michael S. Scofield
(Born 1943)
  Trustee, since 2010   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds complex (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust
Donald C. Willeke
(Born 1940)
  Trustee, since 1996   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    
Karla M. Rabusch
(Born 1959)
  President, since 2003   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    
Nancy Wiser1
(Born 1967)
  Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.    
C. David Messman
(Born 1960)
  Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    
Debra Ann Early
(Born 1964)
  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2007   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2014, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer from 2007 to 2014.    
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.    
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    

 

 

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

 

2  The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling
1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) applicable to Fund-level administrative services. The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     33   

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Administrator Class) was higher than the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review except for the one- and three-year periods. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was lower than its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, for all periods under review except the first quarter of 2015.

The Board received information concerning, and discussed factors contributing to, the underperformance of the Fund relative to the Universe and benchmark for the periods identified above. The Board took note of the explanations for the relative underperformance in these periods, including with respect to market factors that affected the Fund’s performance, and of longer term and recent outperformance.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than or equal to the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than or in range of the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Profitability

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

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

List of abbreviations   Wells Fargo Advantage Enterprise Fund     35   

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237464 11-15

A231/AR231 09-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity FundSM

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    14   

Statement of operations

    15   

Statement of changes in net assets

    16   

Financial highlights

    17   

Notes to financial statements

    23   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    29   

Other information

    30   

List of abbreviations

    36   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started. Small-cap stocks performed best, followed by mid caps and large caps. Markets outside the U.S. faced deeper ongoing challenges and generally delivered weaker results.

The fourth quarter of 2014 brought continued improvement in the U.S.; international economies remained challenged.

Strong quarterly U.S. stock results were spurred by investor optimism following U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen’s comment that the Fed would be patient in its timing of an interest-rate increase. U.S. stocks also were boosted by positive economic data; November’s 5.8% unemployment rate was down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the number of new jobs continued to expand. In addition, the U.S. economy’s third-quarter 2014 growth rate was revised upward, and U.S. companies reported strong earnings. The steadily brightening U.S. economy energized consumers, who were further buoyed by much lower prices at the gasoline pump. As the U.S. moved forward, major economies elsewhere confronted ongoing challenges. While Japan eased out of a two-quarter contraction, growth in China continued to slow, Russia’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and eurozone growth remained sluggish.

In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. small caps and mid caps outperformed large caps; major markets elsewhere rallied.

U.S. small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks tended to move similarly during the first quarter until early March, when results began to diverge by market capitalization. Larger caps slipped as investor concern grew over the strengthening U.S. dollar’s potentially negative effect on the profits of large U.S. multinational firms;

stocks of small and midsize companies, which tend to be less affected by movements in the dollar, performed better. Positive stock results were supported by the gradually improving economy. The labor market continued to grow, along with personal income and consumer confidence. For U.S. businesses, the quarter’s data were mixed; while many companies reported strong earnings, other data indicated potential weakening in manufacturing. Elsewhere in the world, major markets enjoyed positive returns spurred by accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and signs of improvement in some struggling economies.

U.S. stocks experienced challenges during the second quarter of 2015.

The broad U.S. stock market fluctuated widely, eventually eking out a small quarterly gain. Mid- and large-cap stocks at times were pressured by investor concerns over the potentially negative effects of financially troubled overseas economies and of a strengthening U.S. dollar on the profits of U.S. multinational firms. The U.S. economy picked up traction during the quarter; consumer spending improved, and positive trends were evident in construction and new-home sales. Jobs growth remained a bright spot as well. Fed officials, who have kept interest rates low while waiting for the U.S. jobs market to sufficiently improve and for inflation to approach their 2% target, made clear they could take action soon. Throughout the quarter, non-U.S. markets also experienced volatility, triggered by uncertainty over the potential impact of financial challenges in other locations—most notably in Greece and Puerto Rico. Questions over slower growth in China caused investor concern as well.

 


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     3   

In the third quarter of 2015, China’s slowdown took a toll on economies and markets worldwide.

U.S. stocks sagged during the quarter, experiencing the most volatility since 2011. Economic data released during the quarter suggested the U.S. economy remains solid but has lost some steam, burdened by the drag of the strong U.S. dollar coupled with global economic turmoil. The fact that the Fed left the federal funds interest rate unchanged at its September meeting fueled increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy’s stamina to remain healthy while facing the challenges of slowing in China and troubles elsewhere in the world. Outside the U.S., markets were even more volatile and delivered generally weaker quarterly results, also largely due to increasing anxiety over China’s weakened economy. Because China is the world’s largest importer of many commodities, a number of emerging markets—key commodities exporters—are struggling under the dual strains of reduced demand for commodities and, because of weaker demand, lower prices for the commodities they do sell. In the eurozone, however, where only about 3% of exports are sent to China, household spending and business investment appeared relatively unaffected.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term of capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio manager

Ann M. Miletti

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (SOPVX)   2-24-2000     (7.88     8.24        5.46        (2.27     9.53        6.09        1.22        1.22   
Class B (SOPBX)*   8-26-2011     (7.98     8.43        5.50        (2.98     8.72        5.50        1.97        1.97   
Class C (WFOPX)   3-31-2008     (4.01     8.72        5.30        (3.01     8.72        5.30        1.97        1.97   
Administrator Class (WOFDX)   8-30-2002                          (2.04     9.79        6.35        1.14        1.01   
Institutional Class (WOFNX)   7-30-2010                          (1.81     10.05        6.47        0.89        0.76   
Investor Class (SOPFX)+   12-31-1985                          (2.30     9.47        6.03        1.33        1.24   
Russell 3000® Index4                            (0.49     13.28        6.92                 
*   Class B shares are closed to investment, except in connection with the reinvestment of any distributions and permitted exchanges.
  +   Effective at the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund were converted to Class A shares and Investor Class shares are no longer offered.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 5.00%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Administrator Class, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Certain investment strategies tend to increase the total risk of an investment (relative to the broader market). The Fund is exposed to foreign investment risk. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment5 as of September 30, 2015

LOGO

 

 

1  Effective June 20, 2008, Advisor Class was renamed Class A and modified to assume the features and attributes of Class A. Historical performance shown for the Class A shares through June 19, 2008, includes Advisor Class expenses. Historical performance shown for Class B shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class C shares. Historical performance shown for Class C shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Class A shares and has been adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. Historical performance shown for Institutional Class prior to their inception reflects the performance of Administrator Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Administrator Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns would be higher.

 

2  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.01% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

3  The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2017, to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 1.21% for Class A, 1.96% for Class B, 1.96% for Class C, 1.00% for Administrator class, 0.75% for Institutional Class, and 1.23% for Investor Class. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4  The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Russell 3000 Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 3000® Index, for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   Stock selection in the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors detracted the most from performance.

 

n   Stock selection added significant value in the information technology (IT) sector and, to a lesser extent, in the financials sector.

The broad U.S. stock market rose for the first three quarters of the period, hitting all-time highs in the summer of 2015, then declined sharply in a highly volatile final quarter, ending the 12-month period close to the level at which it started. A number of factors influenced the stock market. While the U.S. Federal Reserve had been expected to increase the federal funds target interest rate during the period, no action was taken as of September 30. The plummeting price of crude oil negatively affected stocks within the energy sector and nearly every commodity-related industry. China’s economy, previously a big driver of global growth, showed signs of slowing down, prompting the country’s government to devalue its currency and take steps to control China’s stock market. The U.S. dollar rose more than every major currency for most of the period. The U.S. economy remained strong, with favorable trends in employment, gross domestic product, wages, disposable income, housing, and inflation. In this environment and with the expectation of tighter U.S. monetary policy and higher volatility to come, we continued to seek well-positioned companies (those with good business models, strong management teams, and healthy cash flows) trading at attractive discounts to their private market values (PMVs). (The PMV represents the expected price an investor would pay for the entire company as a stand-alone private entity.)

 

Ten largest holdings6 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

Apple Incorporated

     2.50   

Alphabet Incorporated Class C

     2.24   

Medtronic plc

     2.15   

American International Group Incorporated

     2.09   

Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated Class A

     2.03   

ACE Limited

     1.77   

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated

     1.77   

The Progressive Corporation

     1.73   

Citigroup Incorporated

     1.61   

Comcast Corporation Class A

     1.57   

Stock selection within the consumer discretionary and industrials sectors held back Fund performance.

Overall, the Fund’s holdings in the consumer discretionary sector did not keep pace with the consumer discretionary sector within the Russell 3000 Index. In the for-profit education industry, Apollo Education Group, Inc., declined sharply for the period. The company faced a number of unfavorable regulatory and labor market trends during the period. Apollo recently delivered disappointing fiscal-year-end results; the company also exited the associate’s degree business, resulting in lowered expectations for its 2016 fiscal year. In the industrials sector, the road and rail and the aerospace and defense industries underperformed. Lower demand for commodities negatively affected the rail industry,

 

including Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. Also, Hertz Global Holdings, Incorporated, declined due to uncertainty caused by management turnover and missed regulatory financial filings.

Fund performance benefited from positive stock selection in multiple sectors.

The Fund’s top-performing sector, IT, benefited from positive stock selection as well as overweight positioning in the sector. A number of outperforming stocks could be found in the IT services and semiconductor industries. Global Payments Incorporated, which provides electronic payment processing services, continued to gain market share, expand margins, and buy back stock. The Fund’s semiconductor holdings benefited from merger and acquisition (M&A) activity and from continued expansion in mobile communication devices, usage, services, and infrastructure. Avago Technologies Limited’s acquisitions of Broadcom Corporation and LSI Corporation were accretive to earnings, and the Fund also benefited from its position in semiconductor firm Altera Corporation, which was acquired by Intel Corporation during the period. M&A activity proved beneficial as well in the materials sector, where Cytec Industries Incorporated, a specialty-materials and chemicals company for the aerospace and other industries, agreed to be acquired by Solvay SA. In the insurance industry, First American Financial Corporation rose in tandem with an improving housing market and increasing margins. Also, The Progressive Corporation benefited from a rise in auto insurance premiums and effective advertising that ultimately helped its bottom line. Select Fund holdings in the consumer staples sector, including The Kroger Company and Church & Dwight Company, Incorporated, benefited from increased consumer spending within its U.S. client base.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     7   
Sector distribution7 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

Our focus remains constant: to add value for shareholders through attractively priced, high-quality Fund holdings.

Our methodology includes buying stocks at a discount to their estimated PMVs and selling stocks as they approach or exceed 80% of their PMVs.

Our process typically leads us to overweights in the IT and consumer discretionary sectors and to underweights in the financials (due to lower exposure to real estate investment trusts) and utilities sectors. Through our disciplined investment process, we remain keenly aware of both price and enterprise values on a company-by-company basis. Our proprietary database of company acquisitions across industries, sectors, and time frames

 

enables us to maintain a steady foundation for assessing the PMVs of companies compared with their public stock prices. We strive to take advantage of those price discrepancies for the benefit of Fund shareholders by purchasing stocks when we believe they are selling at a discount to their PMVs.

An improving economy and favorable investor sentiment helped broadly lift stock prices and keep multiples high over most of the 12-month period; however, events at the end of the period led the market downward and stock prices closer to the level at which they began. With the probability of rising interest rates over the near term, we believe stock investors will be more discerning going forward. In our view, companies with attractive stock prices relative to their PMVs should be brought to the forefront by our process, potentially allowing us to add value through our unique bottom-up research.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

    

Beginning

account value

4-1-2015

    

Ending

account value

9-30-2015

    

Expenses

paid during

the period¹

    

Net annualized

expense ratio

 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 899.38       $ 5.76         1.21

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.00       $ 6.12         1.21

Class B

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 896.16       $ 9.32         1.96

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.24       $ 9.90         1.96

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 895.97       $ 9.32         1.96

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.24       $ 9.90         1.96

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 900.59       $ 4.76         1.00

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.05       $ 5.06         1.00

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 901.48       $ 3.58         0.75

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.31       $ 3.80         0.75

Investor Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 899.27       $ 5.86         1.23

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.90       $ 6.23         1.23

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     9   

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 98.87%

          

Consumer Discretionary: 18.00%

          
Auto Components: 1.48%           

Johnson Controls Incorporated

          608,170       $ 25,153,911   
          

 

 

 
Diversified Consumer Services: 0.65%           

Apollo Education Group Incorporated †

          1,006,111         11,127,588   
          

 

 

 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 2.56%           

Carnival Corporation

          401,671         19,963,049   

McDonald’s Corporation

          240,312         23,677,941   
             43,640,990   
          

 

 

 
Household Durables: 1.35%           

Harman International Industries Incorporated

          239,726         23,011,299   
          

 

 

 
Media: 5.01%           

Comcast Corporation Class A

          467,504         26,759,929   

Discovery Communications Incorporated Class C †

          658,157         15,986,634   

Omnicom Group Incorporated

          286,178         18,859,130   

Twenty First Century Fox Incorporated Class B

          870,618         23,567,629   
             85,173,322   
          

 

 

 
Multiline Retail: 3.50%           

Macy’s Incorporated

          322,797         16,565,942   

Nordstrom Incorporated

          294,558         21,122,754   

Target Corporation

          277,345         21,815,958   
             59,504,654   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 2.17%           

Dick’s Sporting Goods Incorporated

          378,351         18,769,993   

Lowe’s Companies Incorporated

          262,627         18,100,253   
             36,870,246   
          

 

 

 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods: 1.28%           

Ralph Lauren Corporation

          183,787         21,716,272   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 7.19%

          
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.18%           

The Kroger Company

          555,255         20,028,048   
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 3.52%           

General Mills Incorporated

          286,557         16,084,444   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Company

          295,787         20,823,405   

The Hershey Company

          250,651         23,029,814   
             59,937,663   
          

 

 

 
Household Products: 1.14%           

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated

          230,540         19,342,306   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Personal Products: 1.35%           

The Estee Lauder Companies Incorporated Class A

          285,811       $ 23,059,231   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 7.98%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 3.01%           

Cameron International Corporation †

          229,493         14,072,511   

Schlumberger Limited

          283,812         19,574,514   

Weatherford International plc †

          2,063,808         17,501,092   
             51,148,117   
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 4.97%           

Cimarex Energy Company

          218,099         22,350,786   

EOG Resources Incorporated

          333,600         24,286,080   

Newfield Exploration Company †

          683,604         22,490,572   

Southwestern Energy Company †

          1,222,608         15,514,896   
             84,642,334   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 16.79%

          
Banks: 6.17%           

Citigroup Incorporated

          552,602         27,414,585   

KeyCorp

          1,889,710         24,585,127   

PNC Financial Services Group Incorporated

          336,737         30,036,940   

Regions Financial Corporation

          2,541,321         22,897,302   
             104,933,954   
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 2.47%           

Invesco Limited

          672,405         20,999,208   

TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

          663,727         21,133,068   
             42,132,276   
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 6.60%           

ACE Limited

          291,295         30,119,903   

American International Group Incorporated

          625,416         35,536,137   

First American Financial Corporation

          438,631         17,137,313   

The Progressive Corporation

          960,103         29,417,556   
             112,210,909   
          

 

 

 
REITs: 1.55%           

American Tower Corporation

          299,691         26,366,814   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 11.06%

          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 3.08%           

Medtronic plc

          545,951         36,545,960   

Zimmer Holdings Incorporated

          168,025         15,782,588   
             52,328,548   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 0.83%           

Patterson Companies Incorporated

          325,312         14,069,744   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     11   

    

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Life Sciences Tools & Services: 4.38%           

Agilent Technologies Incorporated

          525,236       $ 18,031,352   

Bio-Rad Laboratories Incorporated Class A †

          257,615         34,600,271   

Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated

          179,511         21,950,605   
             74,582,228   
          

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals: 2.77%           

Merck & Company Incorporated

          438,868         21,675,691   

Novartis AG ADR

          276,189         25,387,293   
             47,062,984   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 12.70%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 2.92%           

B/E Aerospace Incorporated

          318,276         13,972,316   

BWX Technologies Incorporated

          655,550         17,280,298   

United Technologies Corporation

          205,964         18,328,736   
             49,581,350   
          

 

 

 
Airlines: 1.15%           

United Continental Holdings Incorporated †

          369,447         19,599,163   
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 2.59%           

Republic Services Incorporated

          576,667         23,758,680   

Tyco International plc

          603,967         20,208,736   
             43,967,416   
          

 

 

 
Electrical Equipment: 1.80%           

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Incorporated †

          803,713         13,502,378   

Regal-Beloit Corporation

          303,200         17,115,640   
             30,618,018   
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 1.34%           

Towers Watson & Company Class A

          194,073         22,780,289   
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 2.90%           

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

          70,779         10,161,741   

Hertz Global Holdings Incorporated †

          1,230,500         20,586,265   

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Incorporated

          261,081         18,641,183   
             49,389,189   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 20.82%

          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: 2.58%           

Amphenol Corporation Class A

          412,470         21,019,471   

TE Connectivity Limited

          381,343         22,838,632   
             43,858,103   
          

 

 

 
Internet Software & Services: 2.24%           

Alphabet Incorporated Class C †

          62,652         38,118,730   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

    

 

 

Security name              Shares      Value  
IT Services: 3.66%          

Alliance Data Systems Corporation †

         94,703       $ 24,526,183   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation Class A †

         272,098         17,036,056   

Global Payments Incorporated

         180,565         20,716,222   
            62,278,461   
         

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 3.46%          

ARM Holdings plc

         1,142,497         16,414,497   

Avago Technologies Limited

         187,483         23,437,250   

ON Semiconductor Corporation †

         2,016,712         18,957,093   
            58,808,840   
         

 

 

 
Software: 6.38%          

Check Point Software Technologies Limited †«

         300,862         23,867,382   

Citrix Systems Incorporated †

         303,598         21,033,269   

Oracle Corporation

         550,817         19,895,510   

Red Hat Incorporated †

         341,204         24,525,744   

Salesforce.com Incorporated †

         277,020         19,233,499   
            108,555,404   
         

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 2.50%          

Apple Incorporated

         384,936         42,458,441   
         

 

 

 

Materials: 4.33%

         
Chemicals: 2.21%          

PPG Industries Incorporated

         200,779         17,606,311   

Praxair Incorporated

         196,209         19,985,849   
            37,592,160   
         

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 1.10%          

Crown Holdings Incorporated †

         407,279         18,633,014   
         

 

 

 
Metals & Mining: 1.02%          

Steel Dynamics Incorporated

         1,012,607         17,396,588   
         

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,344,565,819)

            1,681,678,604   
         

 

 

 
    Yield                    
Short-Term Investments: 2.77%          
Investment Companies: 2.77%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15        23,006,900         23,006,900   

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

    0.16           24,116,741         24,116,741   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $47,123,641)

            47,123,641   
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $1,391,689,460) *     101.64        1,728,802,245   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (1.64        (27,976,121
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 1,700,826,124   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     13   

    

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $1,401,288,234 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 416,140,970   

Gross unrealized losses

     (88,626,959
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 327,514,011   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $22,672,514 of securities loaned), at value (cost $1,344,565,819)

  $ 1,681,678,604   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $47,123,641)

    47,123,641   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $1,391,689,460)

    1,728,802,245   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    140,447   

Receivable for dividends

    2,473,246   

Receivable for securities lending income

    1,849   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    68,660   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,731,486,447   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    5,685,736   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    23,006,900   

Management fee payable

    939,923   

Distribution fees payable

    25,965   

Administration fees payable

    381,776   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    620,023   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    30,660,323   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,700,826,124   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 1,129,072,662   

Undistributed net investment income

    24,803,981   

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    209,837,172   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    337,112,309   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 1,700,826,124   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 390,153,838   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    8,999,133   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $43.35   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $45.99   

Net assets – Class B

  $ 3,558,638   

Shares outstanding – Class B1

    85,548   

Net asset value per share – Class B

    $41.60   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 37,196,120   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    894,042   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $41.60   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 223,280,804   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    4,842,806   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $46.11   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 11,905,589   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    254,614   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $46.76   

Net assets – Investor Class

  $ 1,034,731,135   

Shares outstanding – Investor Class1

    23,318,401   

Net asset value per share – Investor Class

    $44.37   

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     15   
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $126,540)

  $ 48,318,449   

Income from affiliated securities

    36,293   

Securities lending income, net

    23,447   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    48,378,189   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    13,833,141   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    1,096,387   

Class B

    12,661   

Class C

    105,409   

Administrator Class

    271,190   

Institutional Class

    19,406   

Investor Class

    3,706,411   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    1,105,075   

Class B

    12,661   

Class C

    106,232   

Administrator Class

    632,159   

Investor Class

    2,894,415   

Distribution fees

 

Class B

    37,983   

Class C

    318,696   

Custody and accounting fees

    97,999   

Professional fees

    47,465   

Registration fees

    60,039   

Shareholder report expenses

    157,487   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    2,168   

Other fees and expenses

    28,557   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    24,545,541   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (1,101,763
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    23,443,778   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    24,934,411   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    221,473,940   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (257,879,486
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (36,405,546
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (11,471,135
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Statement of changes in net assets
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

       

Net investment income (loss)

    $ 24,934,411        $ (2,954,606

Net realized gains on investments

      221,473,940          205,518,589   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (257,879,486       54,060,891   
 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      (11,471,135       256,624,874   
 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net realized gains

       

Class A

      (46,799,012       (27,911,632

Class B

      (617,936       (558,187

Class C

      (4,663,792       (2,837,875

Administrator Class

      (25,429,048       (15,349,123

Institutional Class

      (2,498,291       (975,990

Investor Class

      (119,041,800       (69,491,598
 

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (199,049,879       (117,124,405
 

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    160,357        7,615,018        201,825        9,694,873   

Class B

    46        2,206        386        19,149   

Class C

    19,132        863,333        17,900        841,189   

Administrator Class

    127,668        6,594,713        178,209        9,063,496   

Institutional Class

    270,104        13,636,292        353,517        18,588,366   

Investor Class

    472,972        22,990,522        445,121        22,019,130   
 

 

 

 
      51,702,084          60,226,203   
 

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    998,030        45,340,511        590,219        27,067,521   

Class B

    13,977        612,904        12,223        547,196   

Class C

    97,150        4,260,996        57,486        2,574,239   

Administrator Class

    497,170        23,978,499        297,637        14,369,886   

Institutional Class

    46,857        2,287,085        20,045        975,990   

Investor Class

    2,493,408        115,943,517        1,444,831        67,704,787   
 

 

 

 
      192,423,512          113,239,619   
 

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (1,094,612     (56,454,349     (1,183,365     (57,478,700

Class B

    (59,795     (2,828,077     (80,536     (3,797,215

Class C

    (114,995     (5,685,281     (137,010     (6,485,555

Administrator Class

    (624,551     (33,952,919     (730,685     (37,488,128

Institutional Class

    (617,715     (31,505,421     (105,359     (5,489,013

Investor Class

    (2,321,853     (124,633,589     (2,334,126     (115,474,402
 

 

 

 
      (255,059,636       (226,213,013
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      (10,934,040       (52,747,191
 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

      (221,455,054       86,753,278   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      1,922,281,178          1,835,527,900   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 1,700,826,124        $ 1,922,281,178   
 

 

 

 

Undistributed (accumulated) net investment income (loss)

    $ 24,803,981        $ (130,577
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     17   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $49.56        $46.23        $38.99        $32.08        $34.08   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.64        (0.07     (0.04     (0.03     0.06 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.52     6.46        8.80        6.94        (2.06
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.88     6.39        8.76        6.91        (2.00

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.33     (3.06     (1.52     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $43.35        $49.56        $46.23        $38.99        $32.08   

Total return2

    (2.27 )%      14.35     23.31     21.54     (5.87 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.24     1.26     1.26     1.25     1.27

Net expenses

    1.22     1.22     1.23     1.25     1.25

Net investment income (loss)

    1.30     (0.13 )%      (0.08 )%      (0.08 )%      0.15

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42     32     26     41     31

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $390,154        $442,840        $431,201        $399,828        $394,194   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS B   2015     2014     2013     2012     20111  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $48.09        $45.27        $38.49        $31.91        $33.61   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.30 2      (0.43 )2      (0.35 )2      (0.31 )2      (0.01

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.46     6.31        8.65        6.89        (1.69
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (1.16     5.88        8.30        6.58        (1.70

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.33     (3.06     (1.52     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $41.60        $48.09        $45.27        $38.49        $31.91   

Total return3

    (2.98 )%      13.48     22.39     20.62     (5.06 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.99     2.01     2.01     2.00     2.02

Net expenses

    1.97     1.97     1.98     2.00     2.00

Net investment income (loss)

    0.64     (0.90 )%      (0.83 )%      (0.83 )%      (0.45 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42     32     26     41     31

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $3,559        $6,316        $9,020        $11,743        $16,154   

 

 

1  For the period from August 26, 2011 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2011

 

2  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges. Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $48.10        $45.27        $38.49        $31.91        $34.15   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.26        (0.42 )1      (0.35 )1      (0.31 )1      (0.18 )1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.43     6.31        8.65        6.89        (2.06
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (1.17     5.89        8.30        6.58        (2.24

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.33     (3.06     (1.52     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $41.60        $48.10        $45.27        $38.49        $31.91   

Total return2

    (3.01 )%      13.48     22.41     20.62     (6.56 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.99     2.01     2.01     2.00     2.02

Net expenses

    1.97     1.97     1.98     2.00     2.00

Net investment income (loss)

    0.55     (0.88 )%      (0.83 )%      (0.83 )%      (0.50 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42     32     26     41     31

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $37,196        $42,940        $43,209        $42,720        $45,096   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $52.27        $48.50        $40.74        $33.44        $35.44   

Net investment income

    0.79        0.08        0.06 1      0.09        0.07 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.62     6.75        9.22        7.21        (2.07
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.83     6.83        9.28        7.30        (2.00

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.33     (3.06     (1.52     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $46.11        $52.27        $48.50        $40.74        $33.44   

Total return

    (2.04 )%      14.60     23.59     21.83     (5.64 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.10     1.10     1.10     1.09     1.09

Net expenses

    1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.03

Net investment income

    1.52     0.09     0.13     0.17     0.17

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42     32     26     41     31

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $223,281        $253,121        $247,230        $395,493        $360,968   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $52.82        $48.86        $40.93        $33.52        $35.45   

Net investment income

    0.92 1      0.19 1      0.17        0.21        0.24 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.65     6.83        9.28        7.20        (2.17
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.73     7.02        9.45        7.41        (1.93

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.33     (3.06     (1.52     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $46.76        $52.82        $48.86        $40.93        $33.52   

Total return

    (1.81 )%      14.89     23.91     22.11     (5.44 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.83     0.83     0.83     0.82     0.83

Net expenses

    0.75     0.75     0.75     0.75     0.78

Net investment income

    1.79     0.36     0.41     0.39     0.61

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42     32     26     41     31

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $11,906        $29,335        $14,030        $10,804        $14,027   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INVESTOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $50.62        $47.19        $39.79        $32.76        $34.82   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.63        (0.10     (0.08     (0.07     (0.07

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (1.55     6.59        9.00        7.10        (1.99
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    (0.92     6.49        8.92        7.03        (2.06

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net realized gains

    (5.33     (3.06     (1.52     0.00        0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $44.37        $50.62        $47.19        $39.79        $32.76   

Total return

    (2.30 )%      14.27     23.24     21.46     (5.92 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.31     1.32     1.32     1.32     1.32

Net expenses

    1.25     1.28     1.29     1.32     1.32

Net investment income (loss)

    1.27     (0.19 )%      (0.14 )%      (0.15 )%      (0.15 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    42     32     26     41     31

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $1,034,731        $1,147,730        $1,090,838        $1,006,114        $941,172   

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     23   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

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

Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange and therefore may not fully reflect trading or events that occur after the close of the principal exchange in which the foreign securities are traded, but before the close of the New York Stock Exchange. If such trading or events are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, then fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund are applied. These procedures take into account multiple factors including movements in U.S. securities markets after foreign exchanges close. Foreign securities that are fair valued under these procedures are categorized as Level 2 and the application of these procedures may result in transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. Depending on market activity, such fair valuations may be frequent. Such fair value pricing may result in net asset values that are higher or lower than net asset values based on the last reported sales price or latest quoted bid price. On September 30, 2015, such fair value pricing was used in pricing foreign securities.

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Notes to financial statements

used in determining fair valuations are identified based on the type of security, taking into consideration factors utilized by market participants in valuing the investment, knowledge about the issuer and the current market environment.

Foreign currency translation

The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at rates provided by an independent foreign currency pricing source at a time each business day specified by the Management Valuation Team. Purchases and sales of securities, and income and expenses are converted at the rate of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually paid or received. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities resulting from changes in exchange rates. The changes in net assets arising from changes in exchange rates and the changes in net assets resulting from changes in market prices of securities are not separately presented. Such changes are included in net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments.

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities, which are recorded as soon as the custodian verifies the ex-dividend date. Dividend income from foreign securities is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     25   

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Undistributed net
investment income
   Accumulated net
realized gains
on investments
$147    $(147)

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Notes to financial statements

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

    

Quoted prices

(Level 1)

    

Other significant

observable inputs

(Level 2)

    

Significant

unobservable inputs

(Level 3)

     Total  

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 306,198,282       $ 0       $ 0       $ 306,198,282   

Consumer staples

     122,367,248         0         0         122,367,248   

Energy

     135,790,451         0         0         135,790,451   

Financials

     285,643,953         0         0         285,643,953   

Health care

     188,043,504         0         0         188,043,504   

Industrials

     215,935,425         0         0         215,935,425   

Information technology

     337,663,482         16,414,497         0         354,077,979   

Materials

     73,621,762         0         0         73,621,762   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     24,116,741         23,006,900         0         47,123,641   

Total assets

   $ 1,689,380,848       $ 39,421,397       $ 0       $ 1,728,802,245   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.75% and declining to 0.63% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.70% and declined to 0.60% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.72% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.45% and declining to 0.30% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     27   

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate       

Rate prior to

July 1, 2015

 

Class A, Class B, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Investor Class

     0.32           0.32   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed through January 31, 2017 to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s expenses at 1.21% for Class A shares, 1.96% for Class B shares, 1.96% for Class C shares, 1.00% for Administrator Class shares, 0.75% for Institutional Class shares, and 1.23% for Investor Class shares. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Prior to July 1, 2015, the Fund’s expenses were capped at 1.22% for Class A shares, 1.97% for Class B shares, and 1.97% for Class C shares. Prior to January 31, 2015, the Fund’s expenses were capped at 1.28% for Investor Class shares.

Distribution fees

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class B and Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Distribution fees are charged to Class B and Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class B and Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $7,990 from the sale of Class A shares and $171 and $19 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class B and Class C shares, respectively.

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class B, Class C, Administrator Class, and Investor Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $780,020,026 and $909,332,344, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Notes to financial statements

annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $2,872 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 15,991,178       $ 0   

Long-term capital gain

     183,058,701         117,124,405   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

ordinary

income

  

Undistributed

long-term

gain

  

Unrealized

gains

$25,071,157    $219,607,289    $327,180,012

8. INDEMNIFICATION

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

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

After the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund became Class A shares in a tax-free conversion. Shareholders of Investor Class of the Fund received Class A shares at a value equal to the value of their Investor Class shares immediately prior to the conversion.


Table of Contents

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     29   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Other information (unaudited)

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 100% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $183,058,701 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $15,991,178 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $15,991,178 has been designated as short-term capital gain dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     31   

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

William R. Ebsworth (Born 1957)   Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a
CFA ® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.
  Asset Allocation Trust
Jane A. Freeman (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is Chair of Taproot Foundation (non-profit organization), a Board Member of Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization) and an inactive chartered financial analyst.   Asset Allocation Trust; Harding Loevner Funds; Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust
Peter G. Gordon (Born 1942)   Trustee, since 1998; Chairman, since 2005   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Isaiah Harris, Jr. (Born 1952)   Trustee, since 2009   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust
Judith M. Johnson (Born 1949)  

Trustee, since 2008;

Audit Committee Chairman, since 2008

  Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust
David F. Larcker (Born 1950)   Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell (Born 1953)   Trustee, since 2006   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust
Timothy J. Penny (Born 1951)   Trustee, since 1996   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust
Michael S. Scofield (Born 1943)   Trustee, since 2010   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds complex (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust
Donald C. Willeke (Born 1940)   Trustee, since 1996   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.

 

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

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    
Karla M. Rabusch (Born 1959)   President, since 2003   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    
Nancy Wiser1 (Born 1967)   Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.    
C. David Messman (Born 1960)   Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    
Debra Ann Early (Born 1964)   Chief Compliance Officer, since 2007   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2014, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer from 2007 to 2014.    
David Berardi (Born 1975)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.    
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     33   

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) applicable to Fund-level administrative services. The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   Other information (unaudited)

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

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Administrator Class) was higher than the average performance of the Universe for all periods under review except the three- and five-year periods. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was lower than its benchmark, the Russell 3000™ Growth Index, for all periods under review except the first quarter of 2015 and the ten-year period.

The Board received information concerning, and discussed factors contributing to, the underperformance of the Fund relative to the Universe and benchmark for the periods noted above. The Board took note of the explanations for the relative underperformance in these periods, including with respect to overall investment approach, sector allocations and investment decisions that affected the Fund’s performance, and of longer term and recent outperformance.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares and, to lower the net operating expense ratio caps for the Class A, Class B and Class C.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than or in range of the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes except for the Investor Class and Class A. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares and to lower the net operating expense ratio caps for the Class A, Class B and Class C.

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund     35   

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.

Profitability

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

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

36   Wells Fargo Advantage Opportunity Fund   List of abbreviations

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

 

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


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237465 11-15

A232/AR232 9-15


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Wells Fargo Advantage

Special Mid Cap Value Fund

 

LOGO

 

Annual Report

September 30, 2015

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

Reduce clutter. Save trees.

Sign up for electronic delivery of prospectuses and shareholder reports at wellsfargo.com/advantagedelivery

Contents

 

 

 

Letter to shareholders

    2   

Performance highlights

    4   

Fund expenses

    8   

Portfolio of investments

    9   
Financial statements  

Statement of assets and liabilities

    13   

Statement of operations

    14   

Statement of changes in net assets

    15   

Financial highlights

    16   

Notes to financial statements

    23   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

    28   

Other information

    29   

List of abbreviations

    35   

 

The views expressed and any forward-looking statements are as of September 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted, and are those of the Fund managers and/or Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC. Discussions of individual securities, or the markets generally, or any Wells Fargo Advantage Fund are not intended as individual recommendations. Future events or results may vary significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statements; the views expressed are subject to change at any time in response to changing circumstances in the market. Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC and the Fund disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any views expressed or forward-looking statements.

 

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE



Table of Contents

 

2   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Letter to shareholders (unaudited)

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started.

 

 

Dear Valued Shareholder:

We are pleased to offer you this annual report for the Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015. Despite generally improving U.S. economic data, the broad U.S. stock market experienced heightened volatility that caused U.S. stocks to end the period close to where they started. Small-cap stocks performed best, followed by mid caps and large caps. Markets outside the U.S. faced deeper ongoing challenges and generally delivered weaker results.

The fourth quarter of 2014 brought continued improvement in the U.S.; international economies remained challenged.

Strong quarterly U.S. stock results were spurred by investor optimism following U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen’s comment that the Fed would be patient in its timing of an interest-rate increase. U.S. stocks also were boosted by positive economic data; November’s 5.8% unemployment rate was down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the number of new jobs continued to expand. In addition, the U.S. economy’s third-quarter 2014 growth rate was revised upward, and U.S. companies reported strong earnings. The steadily brightening U.S. economy energized consumers, who were further buoyed by much lower prices at the gasoline pump. As the U.S. moved forward, major economies elsewhere confronted ongoing challenges. While Japan eased out of a two-quarter contraction, growth in China continued to slow, Russia’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and eurozone growth remained sluggish.

In the first quarter of 2015, U.S. small caps and mid caps outperformed large caps; major markets elsewhere rallied.

U.S. small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks tended to move similarly during the first quarter until early March, when results began to diverge by market capitalization. Larger caps slipped as investor concern grew over the strengthening U.S. dollar’s potentially negative effect on the profits of large U.S. multinational firms;

stocks of small and midsize companies, which tend to be less affected by movements in the dollar, performed better. Positive stock results were supported by the gradually improving economy. The labor market continued to grow, along with personal income and consumer confidence. For U.S. businesses, the quarter’s data were mixed; while many companies reported strong earnings, other data indicated potential weakening in manufacturing. Elsewhere in the world, major markets enjoyed positive returns spurred by accommodative monetary policies from major central banks and signs of improvement in some struggling economies.

U.S. stocks experienced challenges during the second quarter of 2015.

The broad U.S. stock market fluctuated widely, eventually eking out a small quarterly gain. Mid- and large-cap stocks at times were pressured by investor concerns over the potentially negative effects of financially troubled overseas economies and of a strengthening U.S. dollar on the profits of U.S. multinational firms. The U.S. economy picked up traction during the quarter; consumer spending improved, and positive trends were evident in construction and new-home sales. Jobs growth remained a bright spot as well. Fed officials, who have kept interest rates low while waiting for the U.S. jobs market to sufficiently improve and for inflation to approach their 2% target, made clear they could take action soon. Throughout the quarter, non-U.S. markets also experienced volatility, triggered by uncertainty over the potential impact of financial challenges in other locations—most notably in Greece and Puerto Rico. Questions over slower growth in China caused investor concern as well.

 


Table of Contents

 

Letter to shareholders (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     3   

In the third quarter of 2015, China’s slowdown took a toll on economies and markets worldwide.

U.S. stocks sagged during the quarter, experiencing the most volatility since 2011. Economic data released during the quarter suggested the U.S. economy remains solid but has lost some steam, burdened by the drag of the strong U.S. dollar coupled with global economic turmoil. The fact that the Fed left the federal funds interest rate unchanged at its September meeting fueled increased uncertainty about the U.S. economy’s stamina to remain healthy while facing the challenges of slowing in China and troubles elsewhere in the world. Outside the U.S., markets were even more volatile and delivered generally weaker quarterly results, also largely due to increasing anxiety over China’s weakened economy. Because China is the world’s largest importer of many commodities, a number of emerging markets—key commodities exporters—are struggling under the dual strains of reduced demand for commodities and, because of weaker demand, lower prices for the commodities they do sell. In the eurozone, however, where only about 3% of exports are sent to China, household spending and business investment appeared relatively unaffected.

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

Periods of uncertainty can present challenges, but experience has taught us that maintaining long-term investment goals can be an effective way to plan for the future. To help you create a sound strategy based on your personal goals and risk tolerance, Wells Fargo Advantage Funds offers more than 100 mutual funds spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment styles. Although diversification cannot guarantee an investment profit or prevent losses, we believe it can be an effective way to manage investment risk and potentially smooth out overall portfolio performance. We encourage investors to know their investments and to understand that appropriate levels of risk-taking may unlock opportunities.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

Notice to shareholders

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

4   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

Investment objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

Manager

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC

Subadviser

Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio managers

James M. Tringas, CFA, CPA

Bryant VanCronkhite, CFA, CPA

Average annual total returns1 (%) as of September 30, 2015

 

        Including sales charge     Excluding sales charge     Expense ratios2 (%)  
    Inception date   1 year     5 year     10 year     1 year     5 year     10 year     Gross     Net3  
Class A (WFPAX)   7-31-2007     (5.09     12.93        7.36        0.69        14.27        8.00        1.24        1.24   
Class C (WFPCX)   7-31-2007     (1.05     13.42        7.21        (0.05     13.42        7.21        1.99        1.99   
Class R (WFHHX)   9-30-2015                          0.44        14.01        7.76        1.49        1.49   
Class R6 (WFPRX)   6-28-2013                          1.14        14.76        8.44        0.81        0.81   
Administrator Class (WFMDX)   4-8-2005                          0.84        14.41        8.14        1.16        1.15   
Institutional Class (WFMIX)   4-8-2005                          1.10        14.73        8.43        0.91        0.88   
Investor Class (SMCDX)+   12-31-1998                          0.65        14.20        7.94        1.35        1.32   
Russell Midcap® Value Index4                            (2.07     13.15        7.42                 
  +   Effective at the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund were converted to Class A shares and Investor Class shares are no longer offered.

Figures quoted represent past performance, which is no guarantee of future results, and do not reflect taxes that a shareholder may pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance shown without sales charges would be lower if sales charges were reflected. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted, which assumes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Current month-end performance is available on the Fund’s website, wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.

Index returns do not include transaction costs associated with buying and selling securities, any mutual fund fees or expenses, or any taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

For Class A shares, the maximum front-end sales charge is 5.75%. For Class C shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge is 1.00%. Performance including a contingent deferred sales charge assumes the sales charge for the corresponding time period. Class R, Class R6, Administrator Class, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares are sold without a front-end sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge.

Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions. Smaller-company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than those of larger companies. Consult the Fund’s prospectus for additional information on these and other risks.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     5   
Growth of $10,000 investment5 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

 

 

 

1  Historical performance shown for Class A shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Investor Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to the Investor Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, returns would be higher. Historical performance shown for Class C shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Investor Class shares and has been adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class C shares. Historical performance shown for the Class R shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of the Institutional Class shares, adjusted to reflect the higher expenses applicable to Class R shares. Historical performance shown for Class R6 shares prior to their inception reflects the performance of Institutional Class shares, and includes the higher expenses applicable to Institutional Class shares. If these expenses had not been included, the returns would be higher.

 

2  Reflects the expense ratios as stated in the most recent prospectuses, which include the impact of 0.01% in acquired fund fees and expenses. The expense ratios shown are subject to change and may differ from the annualized expense ratios shown in the financial highlights of this report, which do not include acquired fund fees and expenses.

 

3  The manager has contractually committed through January 31, 2016 (January 31, 2017 for Class R), to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap the Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver at 1.25% for Class A, 2.00% for Class C, 1.50% for Class R, 0.82% for Class R6, 1.14% for Administrator Class, 0.87% for Institutional Class, and 1.31% for Investor Class. After this time, the cap may be increased or the commitment to maintain the cap may be terminated only with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Brokerage commissions, stamp duty fees, interest, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses are excluded from the cap. Without this cap, the Fund’s returns would have been lower.

 

4  The Russell Midcap®Value Index measures the performance of those Russell Midcap companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The stocks are also members of the Russell 1000® Value Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

5  The chart compares the performance of Class A shares for the most recent ten years with the Russell Midcap Value Index. The chart assumes a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in Class A shares and reflects all operating expenses and assumes the maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%.

 

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

 

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

6   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Performance highlights (unaudited)

MANAGER’S DISCUSSION

Fund highlights

n   The Fund outperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Value Index, for the 12-month period that ended September 30, 2015.

 

n   Contributors to outperformance included stock selection in information technology (IT), health care, and industrials, as well as an underweight to energy. Detractors included stock selection in consumer discretionary and underweights to the interest-rate-sensitive real estate investment trusts (REITs) and utilities stocks.

 

n   Our investment process is based on evaluating companies according to their relative risk and return profiles, a process that we believe has proven successful over time, especially during times of market stress.

Global forces make for volatile markets and handcuffed the Federal Reserve.

The complexities of a more globalized economy kept the market guessing during the past 12 months. Whether it was the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ decision to increase oil production in pursuit of market share, the ongoing Greek debt crisis, or China’s yuan devaluation, markets around the world remained volatile. Geopolitical tension in the Middle East and the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) also added to investor concerns. Toward the end of the period, weakness in emerging markets and their related currencies began to take hold and was cited as a factor in the decision of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) to refrain from raising rates. As bottom-up investors, we evaluate how these macroeconomic events will affect our individual holdings, but we do not derive our security selection from macroeconomic musings. We look to use the volatility opportunistically, and we will continue to use any future volatility to the advantage of our bottom-up stock selection process.

 

Ten largest holdings6 (%) as of September 30, 2015  

Molson Coors Brewing Company Class B

     3.16   

Republic Services Incorporated

     2.97   

Loews Corporation

     2.78   

Brown & Brown Incorporated

     2.76   

Synopsys Incorporated

     2.58   

ProAssurance Corporation

     2.52   

Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated

     2.44   

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated

     2.42   

WellCare Health Plans Incorporated

     2.40   

EMCOR Group Incorporated

     2.38   

Our stock selection process led to modest changes to the portfolio’s sector weightings during the period. We remained overweight the industrials and IT sectors because both groups offer an eclectic set of companies that, in our view, create unique investment opportunities. We increased the Fund’s consumer staples overweight and decreased the health care overweight. We remained heavily underweight utilities because our bottom-up stock analysis led us to conclude they were overvalued, offering low potential returns relative to expected risk over our three-year investment horizon. In the materials sector, we reduced our underweight and added new names Packaging Corporation of America and Eagle Materials Incorporated. Our underweight to energy widened over the year, but that was mainly due to an increase in the

 

Russell Midcap Value Index energy weighting with the annual summer rebalance. Our energy positioning in absolute terms actually increased by almost 150 basis points (bps; 100 bps equals 1.00%), including new names Anadarko Petroleum Corporation; Frank’s International N.V.; Patterson-UTI Energy, Incorporated; and Superior Energy Services, Incorporated, despite having exited our position in offshore driller Enso Limited due to the deteriorating fundamental outlook for offshore drillers.

The IT and health care sectors aided relative performance, but the consumer discretionary and financials sectors detracted.

Stock selection in IT contributed to the Fund’s outperformance. At DST Systems, Incorporated, an increasingly frustrated board of directors and shareholder base pressed for change at the senior management level, which resulted in monetizing several of the company’s assets. The proceeds from the transactions were used to buy back a significant amount of stock. Through this process, the true value of the assets was reflected in a higher stock price, leading us to trim our position. In health care, the acquisition of clinical research provider Covance Incorporated* resulted in a strong contribution to Fund performance. The firm’s sustainable competitive advantage, consistent cash flows, and deployable balance sheet compelled the acquirer to pay a 31% premium for Covance shares.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

Performance highlights (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     7   

Stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector detracted from performance. Tribune Media Company underperformed the benchmark because of investor concerns around cord-cutting—a nascent trend of consumers discontinuing cable television subscriptions and accessing programming through alternative sources—and it might affect television advertising revenues. Tribune underinvested in its content assets and delayed fee negotiations throughout its bankruptcy process. After emerging from bankruptcy in 2013, it spun off publishing assets and is in the process of securing higher affiliate-fee payments and improving internal content. We believe the company’s potential with the proper amount of investment is not reflected in its current stock price and continue to view the reward/risk relationship favorably. The financials sector was a key detractor largely due to an underweight to REITs, which benefited from the Fed’s decision to delay hiking the federal funds rate.

 

Sector distribution7 as of September 30, 2015
LOGO

We will continue to do what we always strive to do—protect our investors from risk that they are not compensated for taking.

As we look to the end of 2015, there are numerous market forces at play that will likely bring further volatility. In the U.S., aside from growth concerns, politics will continue to make front-page news. A potential government shutdown and the negotiations of a longer-term highway-spending bill present uncertainties, as do the upcoming presidential primaries and the market anxiety that usually accompanies a significant change in leadership. Abroad, investors will be intently watching data points from China and other emerging markets, with close attention to the behavior of those economies and currencies. Tension in the Middle East

 

and the fight against ISIS will also be monitored. All these issues are affecting perhaps the biggest question mark facing investors—whether or not the Fed will raise rates in 2015. The labor market has improved substantially, but inflation goals remain unmet; market swings in the months ahead will likely correlate the latest comments from the Fed and interpretations of them as hawkish or dovish. Predicting these moves is often a fool’s game and better left for economists, which we are not.

We believe our fundamental analysis, risk management, and active investment process are well suited to take advantage of new opportunities as the equity market evolves. If merger and acquisition activity continues at an accelerated pace, the portfolio should benefit because the company characteristics we seek can provide the resources that companies need to initiate acquisitions while, at the same time, proving attractive to acquirers. While volatility may remain elevated, the strong balance sheets and stable cash flow of the companies in our portfolio should support consistent long-term performance. We maintain a favorable outlook for the portfolio as we enter the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

 

Please see footnotes on page 5.


Table of Contents

 

8   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Fund expenses (unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and contingent deferred sales charges (if any) on redemptions and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (12b-1) and/or shareholder servicing fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period from April 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Actual expenses

The “Actual” line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the “Actual” line under the heading entitled “Expenses paid during period” for your applicable class of shares to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The “Hypothetical” line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and contingent deferred sales charges. Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

     Beginning
account value
4-1-2015
     Ending
account value
09-30-2015
     Expenses
paid during
the period¹
     Net annualized
expense ratio
 

Class A

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 915.24       $ 5.91         1.23

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.90       $ 6.23         1.23

Class C

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 911.66       $ 9.49         1.98

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,015.14       $ 10.00         1.98

Class R

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 913.95       $ 7.20         1.50

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,017.55       $ 7.59         1.50

Class R6

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 917.26       $ 3.80         0.79

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,021.11       $ 4.00         0.79

Administrator Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 915.79       $ 5.38         1.12

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.45       $ 5.67         1.12

Institutional Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 916.97       $ 4.08         0.85

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,020.81       $ 4.31         0.85

Investor Class

           

Actual

   $ 1,000.00       $ 914.99       $ 6.29         1.31

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,018.50       $ 6.63         1.31

 

 

1 Expenses paid is equal to the annualized expense ratio of each class multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by the number of days in the fiscal year (to reflect the one-half-year period).


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     9   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  

Common Stocks: 94.59%

        

Consumer Discretionary: 5.77%

          
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure: 1.56%         

The Wendy’s Company

          3,620,400       $ 31,316,460   
          

 

 

 
Leisure Products: 1.35%           

Vista Outdoor Incorporated †

          606,800         26,960,124   
          

 

 

 
Media: 2.02%           

Tribune Media Company Class A

          1,136,600         40,462,960   
          

 

 

 
Specialty Retail: 0.84%           

Guess? Incorporated

          787,125         16,812,990   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Staples: 9.55%

          
Beverages: 3.16%           

Molson Coors Brewing Company Class B

          762,000         63,261,240   
          

 

 

 
Food & Staples Retailing: 1.99%           

Sysco Corporation

          1,020,600         39,772,782   
          

 

 

 
Food Products: 1.99%           

TreeHouse Foods Incorporated †

          511,600         39,797,364   
          

 

 

 
Household Products: 2.41%           

Church & Dwight Company Incorporated

          576,400         48,359,960   
          

 

 

 

Energy: 5.95%

          
Energy Equipment & Services: 2.43%           

Frank’s International N.V. «

          895,700         13,731,081   

Patterson-UTI Energy Incorporated

          1,486,400         19,531,296   

Superior Energy Services Incorporated

          1,212,000         15,307,560   
     48,569,937   
          

 

 

 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: 3.52%           

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

          508,000         30,678,120   

Cimarex Energy Company

          292,110         29,935,433   

Southwestern Energy Company †

          776,500         9,853,785   
     70,467,338   
          

 

 

 

Financials: 24.41%

          
Banks: 3.33%           

PacWest Bancorp

          694,607         29,736,126   

Regions Financial Corporation

          4,097,200         36,915,772   
     66,651,898   
          

 

 

 
Capital Markets: 1.81%           

Northern Trust Corporation

          533,000         36,329,280   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

10   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Consumer Finance: 2.00%           

Ally Financial Incorporated †

          1,961,361       $ 39,972,537   
          

 

 

 
Insurance: 14.86%           

Arch Capital Group Limited †

          568,460         41,764,756   

Brown & Brown Incorporated

          1,781,300         55,166,861   

FNF Group

          1,150,800         40,818,876   

Loews Corporation

          1,537,900         55,579,706   

ProAssurance Corporation

          1,026,900         50,389,983   

The Allstate Corporation

          534,900         31,152,576   

Validus Holdings Limited

          502,069         22,628,250   
             297,501,008   
          

 

 

 
REITs: 2.41%           

Hatteras Financial Corporation

          2,213,200         33,529,980   

Host Hotels & Resorts Incorporated

          934,500         14,774,445   
             48,304,425   
          

 

 

 

Health Care: 7.03%

          
Health Care Equipment & Supplies: 0.45%           

C.R. Bard Incorporated

          48,200         8,980,142   
          

 

 

 
Health Care Providers & Services: 6.58%           

Cigna Corporation

          154,775         20,897,721   

Humana Incorporated

          158,800         28,425,200   

Patterson Companies Incorporated

          792,400         34,271,300   

WellCare Health Plans Incorporated †

          558,700         48,148,766   
             131,742,987   
          

 

 

 

Industrials: 19.64%

          
Aerospace & Defense: 1.29%           

B/E Aerospace Incorporated

          588,700         25,843,930   
          

 

 

 
Air Freight & Logistics: 1.00%           

Expeditors International of Washington Incorporated

          424,700         19,982,135   
          

 

 

 
Commercial Services & Supplies: 5.01%           

Pitney Bowes Incorporated

          2,053,300         40,758,005   

Republic Services Incorporated

          1,444,775         59,524,730   
             100,282,735   
          

 

 

 
Construction & Engineering: 4.56%           

EMCOR Group Incorporated

          1,074,709         47,555,873   

Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporated †

          1,170,000         43,793,100   
             91,348,973   
          

 

 

 
Machinery: 0.64%           

Joy Global Incorporated «

          851,700         12,715,881   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     11   

      

 

 

Security name             Shares      Value  
Marine: 1.57%           

Kirby Corporation †

          506,900       $ 31,402,455   
          

 

 

 
Professional Services: 1.76%           

Towers Watson & Company Class A

          300,400         35,260,952   
          

 

 

 
Road & Rail: 0.98%           

Ryder System Incorporated

          264,400         19,576,176   
          

 

 

 
Trading Companies & Distributors: 1.25%           

W.W. Grainger Incorporated «

          116,700         25,091,667   
          

 

 

 
Transportation Infrastructure: 1.58%           

Macquarie Infrastructure Company LLC

          424,406         31,686,152   
          

 

 

 

Information Technology: 14.43%

          
Communications Equipment: 3.54%           

ARRIS Group Incorporated †

          1,153,800         29,964,186   

Harris Corporation

          559,200         40,905,480   
             70,869,666   
          

 

 

 
IT Services: 3.85%           

DST Systems Incorporated

          268,220         28,200,651   

Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated

          727,700         48,814,116   
             77,014,767   
          

 

 

 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: 1.71%           

Lam Research Corporation

          523,800         34,219,854   
          

 

 

 
Software: 3.66%           

Check Point Software Technologies Limited Ǡ

          271,800         21,561,894   

Synopsys Incorporated †

          1,120,700         51,753,926   
             73,315,820   
          

 

 

 
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: 1.67%           

Western Digital Corporation

          422,400         33,555,456   
          

 

 

 

Materials: 5.81%

          
Chemicals: 1.84%           

FMC Corporation

          1,088,200         36,900,862   
          

 

 

 
Construction Materials: 1.73%           

Eagle Materials Incorporated

          507,500         34,723,150   
          

 

 

 
Containers & Packaging: 2.24%           

Packaging Corporation of America

          744,200         44,771,070   
          

 

 

 

Utilities: 2.00%

          
Multi-Utilities: 2.00%           

Ameren Corporation

          949,350         40,129,026   
          

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,879,604,004)

             1,893,954,159   
          

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

12   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Portfolio of investments—September 30, 2015

      

 

 

Security name   Yield          Shares      Value  

Short-Term Investments: 6.92%

         
Investment Companies: 6.92%          

Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (l)(r)(u)

    0.15        14,300,900       $ 14,300,900   

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

    0.16           124,185,489         124,185,489   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $138,486,389)

            138,486,389   
         

 

 

 

 

Total investments in securities (Cost $2,018,090,393) *     101.51        2,032,440,548   

Other assets and liabilities, net

    (1.51        (30,196,495
 

 

 

      

 

 

 
Total net assets     100.00      $ 2,002,244,053   
 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-income-earning security

 

« All or a portion of this security is on loan.

 

(l) The security represents an affiliate of the Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(r) The investment is a non-registered investment vehicle purchased with cash collateral received from securities on loan.

 

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

 

* Cost for federal income tax purposes is $2,021,203,262 and unrealized gains (losses) consists of:

 

Gross unrealized gains

   $ 185,746,528   

Gross unrealized losses

     (174,509,242
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized gains

   $ 11,237,286   

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of assets and liabilities—September 30, 2015   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     13   
         

Assets

 

Investments

 

In unaffiliated securities (including $14,109,230 of securities loaned), at value (cost $1,879,604,004)

  $ 1,893,954,159   

In affiliated securities, at value (cost $138,486,389)

    138,486,389   
 

 

 

 

Total investments, at value (cost $2,018,090,393)

    2,032,440,548   

Receivable for investments sold

    5,232,435   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    22,686,597   

Receivable for dividends

    3,570,960   

Receivable for securities lending income

    1,814   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    93,040   
 

 

 

 

Total assets

    2,064,025,394   
 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

Payable for investments purchased

    41,513,059   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    4,108,472   

Payable upon receipt of securities loaned

    14,300,900   

Management fee payable

    1,173,471   

Distribution fee payable

    38,619   

Administration fees payable

    327,221   

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    319,599   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    61,781,341   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 2,002,244,053   
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 1,896,525,909   

Undistributed net investment income

    10,602,293   

Accumulated net realized gains on investments

    80,765,696   

Net unrealized gains on investments

    14,350,155   
 

 

 

 

Total net assets

  $ 2,002,244,053   
 

 

 

 

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE

 

Net assets – Class A

  $ 509,386,178   

Shares outstanding – Class A1

    17,028,805   

Net asset value per share – Class A

    $29.91   

Maximum offering price per share – Class A2

    $31.73   

Net assets – Class C

  $ 63,430,829   

Shares outstanding – Class C1

    2,187,109   

Net asset value per share – Class C

    $29.00   

Net assets – Class R

  $ 25,000   

Shares outstanding – Class R1

    814   

Net asset value per share – Class R

    $30.70   

Net assets – Class R6

  $ 105,972,813   

Shares outstanding – Class R61

    3,450,816   

Net asset value per share – Class R6

    $30.71   

Net assets – Administrator Class

  $ 394,187,715   

Shares outstanding – Administrator Class1

    12,946,877   

Net asset value per share – Administrator Class

    $30.45   

Net assets – Institutional Class

  $ 411,919,281   

Shares outstanding – Institutional Class1

    13,416,653   

Net asset value per share – Institutional Class

    $30.70   

Net assets – Investor Class

  $ 517,322,237   

Shares outstanding – Investor Class1

    16,986,308   

Net asset value per share – Investor Class

    $30.46   

 

 

1  The Fund has an unlimited number of authorized shares.

 

2  Maximum offering price is computed as 100/94.25 of net asset value. On investments of $50,000 or more, the offering price is reduced.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

14   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Statement of operations—year ended September 30, 2015
         

Investment income

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $33,555)

  $ 34,364,360   

Income from affiliated securities

    120,730   

Securities lending income, net

    117,957   
 

 

 

 

Total investment income

    34,603,047   
 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

Management fee

    12,116,218   

Administration fees

 

Class A

    1,131,501   

Class C

    113,185   

Class R6

    11,815   

Administrator Class

    292,862   

Institutional Class

    292,309   

Investor Class

    1,800,336   

Shareholder servicing fees

 

Class A

    1,151,050   

Class C

    116,198   

Administrator Class

    666,029   

Investor Class

    1,405,383   

Distribution fee

 

Class C

    348,594   

Custody and accounting fees

    103,169   

Professional fees

    44,306   

Registration fees

    222,827   

Shareholder report expenses

    117,452   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

    18,033   

Other fees and expenses

    27,401   
 

 

 

 

Total expenses

    19,978,668   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements

    (136,304
 

 

 

 

Net expenses

    19,842,364   
 

 

 

 

Net investment income

    14,760,683   
 

 

 

 

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS

 

Net realized gains on investments

    99,137,662   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (138,463,872
 

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    (39,326,210
 

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

  $ (24,565,527
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Statement of changes in net assets   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     15   
     Year ended
September 30, 2015
    Year ended
September 30, 2014
 

Operations

       

Net investment income

    $ 14,760,683        $ 3,213,841   

Net realized gains on investments

      99,137,662          113,573,174   

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments

      (138,463,872       8,254,196   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

      (24,565,527       125,041,211   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from

       

Net investment income

       

Class A

      (2,404,466       (153,521

Class R6

      (45,443       (162

Administrator Class

      (922,301       (401,318

Institutional Class

      (1,465,190       (404,780

Investor Class

      (963,123       (867,730

Net realized gains

       

Class A

      (36,145,688       (3,308,750

Class C

      (3,059,339       (1,219,837

Class R6

      (527,423       (1,896

Administrator Class

      (17,119,649       (8,600,693

Institutional Class

      (17,898,031       (5,036,509

Investor Class

      (47,391,502       (40,164,061
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

      (127,942,155       (60,159,257
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital share transactions

    Shares          Shares     

Proceeds from shares sold

       

Class A

    15,633,402        498,183,836        2,877,231        92,744,955   

Class C

    1,444,914        45,340,872        471,148        14,868,700   

Class R

    814 1      25,000 1      N/A        N/A   

Class R6

    3,639,150        120,551,746        132,701        4,514,252   

Administrator Class

    12,563,219        406,786,505        3,236,966        106,014,219   

Institutional Class

    9,959,577        330,102,387        4,004,579        132,390,867   

Investor Class

    3,146,655        104,038,226        4,602,000        149,483,779   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,505,028,572          500,016,772   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reinvestment of distributions

       

Class A

    1,195,510        37,042,885        98,387        2,992,506   

Class C

    93,002        2,799,357        37,117        1,103,131   

Class R6

    18,058        572,866        66        2,058   

Administrator Class

    572,229        18,011,446        286,133        8,814,496   

Institutional Class

    542,244        17,199,534        175,401        5,441,063   

Investor Class

    1,519,579        47,828,295        1,317,664        40,576,456   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      123,454,383          58,929,710   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Payment for shares redeemed

       

Class A

    (3,172,402     (102,128,564     (859,046     (28,107,230

Class C

    (268,920     (8,411,582     (91,752     (2,901,821

Class R6

    (326,593     (10,742,055     (13,437     (451,461

Administrator Class

    (5,860,843     (190,655,125     (1,663,467     (53,560,740

Institutional Class

    (2,327,220     (76,918,868     (1,075,224     (34,962,383

Investor Class

    (4,421,468     (145,795,400     (7,561,660     (243,590,617
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      (534,651,594       (363,574,252
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

      1,093,831,361          195,372,230   
 

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

      941,323,679          260,254,184   
 

 

 

 

Net assets

       

Beginning of period

      1,060,920,374          800,666,190   
 

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 2,002,244,053        $ 1,060,920,374   
 

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    $ 10,602,293        $ 2,342,269   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1  The class commenced operations on September 30, 2015. Information represents activity for the one day of operation.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

16   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS A   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $32.68        $30.36        $22.83        $17.84        $18.60   

Net investment income

    0.25        0.12 1      0.15 1      0.08 1      0.03   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.07        4.47        7.60        4.94        (0.52
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.32        4.59        7.75        5.02        (0.49

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.18     (0.09     (0.22     (0.03     (0.27

Net realized gains

    (2.91     (2.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (3.09     (2.27     (0.22     (0.03     (0.27

Net asset value, end of period

    $29.91        $32.68        $30.36        $22.83        $17.84   

Total return2

    0.69     15.70     34.23     28.18     (2.82 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.25     1.28     1.29     1.30     1.29

Net expenses

    1.24     1.25     1.25     1.25     1.25

Net investment income

    0.85     0.38     0.54     0.38     0.14

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    58     58     87     87     78

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $509,386        $110,219        $38,119        $9,545        $9,850   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     17   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS C   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $31.82        $29.73        $22.38        $17.60        $18.40   

Net investment income (loss)

    0.02 1      (0.04     (0.07 )1      (0.03     (0.13

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.07        4.31        7.49        4.81        (0.49
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.09        4.27        7.42        4.78        (0.62

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    0.00        0.00        (0.07     0.00        (0.18

Net realized gains

    (2.91     (2.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (2.91     (2.18     (0.07     0.00        (0.18

Net asset value, end of period

    $29.00        $31.82        $29.73        $22.38        $17.60   

Total return2

    (0.05 )%      14.86     33.23     27.16     (3.52 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    2.00     2.03     2.04     2.06     2.04

Net expenses

    1.99     2.00     2.00     2.00     2.00

Net investment income (loss)

    0.08     (0.38 )%      (0.25 )%      (0.35 )%      (0.60 )% 

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    58     58     87     87     78

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $63,431        $29,217        $14,913        $2,770        $1,714   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

2  Total return calculations do not include any sales charges.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

18   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout the period)

 

CLASS R   Period ended
September 30, 20151
 

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $30.70   

Net investment income

    0.00   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.00   
 

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.70   

Total return2

    0.00

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

 

Gross expenses

    0.00

Net expenses

    0.00

Net investment income

    0.00

Supplemental data

 

Portfolio turnover rate

    58

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $25   

 

 

 

 

1  The class commenced operations on September 30, 2015. Information represents activity for the one day of operation.

 

2  Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     19   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
CLASS R6   2015     2014     20131  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $33.39        $30.90        $28.69   

Net investment income

    0.41 2      0.41 2      0.06 2 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.05        4.43        2.15   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.46        4.84        2.21   

Distributions to shareholders from

     

Net investment income

    (0.23     (0.17     0.00   

Net realized gains

    (2.91     (2.18     0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (3.14     (2.35     0.00   

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.71        $33.39        $30.90   

Total return3

    1.14     16.29     7.70

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

     

Gross expenses

    0.79     0.80     0.81

Net expenses

    0.79     0.80     0.81

Net investment income

    1.26     1.22     0.73

Supplemental data

     

Portfolio turnover rate

    58     58     87

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $105,973        $4,013        $27   

 

 

 

 

1  For the period from June 28, 2013 (commencement of class operations) to September 30, 2013

 

2  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

3  Returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

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


Table of Contents

 

20   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
ADMINISTRATOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $33.14        $30.71        $23.09        $18.04        $18.80   

Net investment income

    0.31 1      0.15        0.20 1      0.11 1      0.06 1 

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.05        4.55        7.67        4.99        (0.54
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.36        4.70        7.87        5.10        (0.48

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.14     (0.09     (0.25     (0.05     (0.28

Net realized gains

    (2.91     (2.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (3.05     (2.27     (0.25     (0.05     (0.28

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.45        $33.14        $30.71        $23.09        $18.04   

Total return

    0.84     15.89     34.41     28.30     (2.72 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.12     1.12     1.13     1.14     1.13

Net expenses

    1.11     1.12     1.13     1.13     1.13

Net investment income

    0.95     0.48     0.71     0.50     0.26

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    58     58     87     87     78

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $394,188        $187,968        $117,087        $61,596        $62,122   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Financial highlights   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     21   

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INSTITUTIONAL CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $33.38        $30.91        $23.15        $18.10        $18.86   

Net investment income

    0.41 1      0.24        0.20 1      0.16        0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.04        4.57        7.81        5.01        (0.52
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.45        4.81        8.01        5.17        (0.42

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.22     (0.16     (0.25     (0.12     (0.34

Net realized gains

    (2.91     (2.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (3.13     (2.34     (0.25     (0.12     (0.34

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.70        $33.38        $30.91        $23.15        $18.10   

Total return

    1.10     16.17     34.90     28.65     (2.46 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    0.85     0.85     0.85     0.87     0.86

Net expenses

    0.85     0.85     0.85     0.87     0.86

Net investment income

    1.23     0.81     0.72     0.76     0.52

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    58     58     87     87     78

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $411,919        $174,989        $66,056        $125,623        $104,360   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

22   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Financial highlights

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year ended September 30  
INVESTOR CLASS   2015     2014     2013     2012     2011  

Net asset value, beginning of period

    $33.12        $30.70        $23.08        $18.04        $18.80   

Net investment income

    0.24        0.08        0.15        0.07 1      0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments

    0.06        4.56        7.67        4.99        (0.53
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

    0.30        4.64        7.82        5.06        (0.51

Distributions to shareholders from

         

Net investment income

    (0.05     (0.04     (0.20     (0.02     (0.25

Net realized gains

    (2.91     (2.18     0.00        0.00        0.00   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to shareholders

    (2.96     (2.22     (0.20     (0.02     (0.25

Net asset value, end of period

    $30.46        $33.12        $30.70        $23.08        $18.04   

Total return

    0.65     15.67     34.14     28.04     (2.88 )% 

Ratios to average net assets (annualized)

         

Gross expenses

    1.32     1.34     1.35     1.37     1.36

Net expenses

    1.31     1.31     1.31     1.31     1.31

Net investment income

    0.72     0.24     0.53     0.32     0.08

Supplemental data

         

Portfolio turnover rate

    58     58     87     87     78

Net assets, end of period (000s omitted)

    $517,322        $554,514        $564,465        $315,791        $336,239   

 

 

1  Calculated based upon average shares outstanding

 

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


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     23   

1. ORGANIZATION

Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on March 10, 1999, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). As an investment company, the Trust follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. These financial statements report on the Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) which is a diversified series of the Trust.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

Securities valuation

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

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

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

Investments in registered open-end investment companies are valued at net asset value. Interests in non-registered investment vehicles that are redeemable at net asset value are fair valued at net asset value when available.

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

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

Security loans

The Fund may lend its securities from time to time in order to earn additional income in the form of fees or interest on securities received as collateral or the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Fund continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The Fund receives collateral in the form of cash or securities with a value at least equal to the value of the securities on loan. The value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of each business day and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. In a securities lending transaction, the net asset value of the Fund will be affected by an increase or decrease in the value of the securities loaned and by an increase or decrease in the value of the instrument in which collateral is invested. The amount of securities lending activity undertaken by the Fund fluctuates from time to time. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the borrower, the Fund may be prevented from recovering the loaned securities or gaining access to the collateral or


Table of Contents

 

24   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Notes to financial statements

may experience delays or costs in doing so. In addition, the investment of any cash collateral received may lose all or part of its value. The Fund has the right under the lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.

The Fund lends its securities through an unaffiliated securities lending agent. Cash collateral received in connection with its securities lending transactions is invested in Securities Lending Cash Investments, LLC (the “Securities Lending Fund”). The Securities Lending Fund is exempt from registration under Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act and is managed by Funds Management and is subadvised by Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Funds Management receives an advisory fee starting at 0.05% and declining to 0.01% as the average daily net assets of the Securities Lending Fund increase. All of the fees received by Funds Management are paid to WellsCap for its services as subadviser. The Securities Lending Fund seeks to provide a positive return compared to the daily Fed Funds Open rate by investing in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated short-term money market instruments. Securities Lending Fund investments are fair valued based upon the amortized cost valuation technique. Income earned from investment in the Securities Lending Fund is included in securities lending income on the Statement of Operations.

Security transactions and income recognition

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

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date. Dividend income is recorded net of foreign taxes withheld where recovery of such taxes is not assured.

Distributions to shareholders

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

Federal and other taxes

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

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

Reclassifications are made to the Fund’s capital accounts for permanent tax differences to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryforwards) under federal income tax regulations. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles require that certain components of net assets be adjusted to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset values per share. The primary permanent differences causing such reclassifications are due to dividends from certain securities. At September 30, 2015, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, the following reclassification adjustments were made on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:

 

Undistributed net

investment income

   Accumulated net
realized gains
on investments

$(700,136)

   $700,136

As of September 30, 2015, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards available to offset future net realized capital gains in the amount of $124,975 expiring in 2017.

Class allocations

The separate classes of shares offered by the Fund differ principally in applicable sales charges, distribution, shareholder servicing, and administration fees. Class specific expenses are charged directly to that share class. Investment income, common expenses, and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets of each class.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     25   

3. FAIR VALUATION MEASUREMENTS

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2015:

 

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

Assets

           

Investments in:

           

Common stocks

           

Consumer discretionary

   $ 115,552,534       $ 0       $ 0       $ 115,552,534   

Consumer staples

     191,191,346         0         0         191,191,346   

Energy

     119,037,275         0         0         119,037,275   

Financials

     488,759,148         0         0         488,759,148   

Health care

     140,723,129         0         0         140,723,129   

Industrials

     393,191,056         0         0         393,191,056   

Information technology

     288,975,563         0         0         288,975,563   

Materials

     116,395,082         0         0         116,395,082   

Utilities

     40,129,026         0         0         40,129,026   

Short-term investments

           

Investment companies

     124,185,489         14,300,900         0         138,486,389   

Total assets

   $ 2,018,139,648       $ 14,300,900       $ 0       $ 2,032,440,548   

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. At September 30, 2015, the Fund did not have any transfers into/out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Management fee

Funds Management, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (“Wells Fargo”), is the manager of the Fund and provides advisory and fund-level administrative services under an investment management agreement. Under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is responsible for, among other services, implementing the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, supervising the applicable subadviser, providing fund-level administrative services in connection with the Fund’s operations, and providing any other fund-level administrative services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund. As compensation for its services under the investment management agreement, Funds Management is entitled to receive an annual management fee starting at 0.75% and declining to 0.63% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Prior to July 1, 2015, Funds Management provided advisory services pursuant to an investment advisory agreement and was entitled to receive an annual fee which started at 0.70% and declined to 0.60% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. In addition, fund-level administrative services were provided by Funds Management under a separate


Table of Contents

 

26   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Notes to financial statements

administration agreement at an annual fee which started at 0.05% and declined to 0.03% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increased. For financial statement purposes, the advisory fee and fund-level administration fee for the year ended September 30, 2015 have been included in management fee on the Statement of Operations.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, the management fee was equivalent to an annual rate of 0.72% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Funds Management has retained the services of a subadviser to provide daily portfolio management to the Fund. The fee for subadvisory services is borne by Funds Management. WellsCap, an affiliate of Funds Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo, is the subadviser to the Fund and is entitled to receive a fee from Funds Management at an annual rate starting at 0.45% and declining to 0.30% as the average daily net assets of the Fund increase.

Administration fees

Under a class-level administration agreement, Funds Management provides class-level administrative services to the Fund, which includes paying fees and expenses for services provided by the transfer agent, sub-transfer agents, omnibus account servicers and record-keepers. As compensation for its services under the class-level administration agreement, Funds Management receives an annual fee which is calculated based on the average daily net assets of each class as follows:

 

     Class-level administration fee  
     Current rate        Rate prior to
July 1, 2015
 

Class A, Class C

     0.21        0.26

Class R

     0.21           N/A   

Class R6

     0.03           0.03   

Administrator Class

     0.13           0.10   

Institutional Class

     0.13           0.08   

Investor Class

     0.32           0.32   

Funds Management has contractually waived and/or reimbursed management and administration fees to the extent necessary to maintain certain net operating expense ratios for the Fund. Waiver of fees and/or reimbursement of expenses by Funds Management were made first from fund level expenses on a proportionate basis and then from class specific expenses. Funds Management has committed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to cap expenses as follows:

 

     Expense
ratio cap
       Expiration date  

Class A

     1.25        January 31, 2016   

Class C

     2.00           January 31, 2016   

Class R

     1.50           January 31, 2017   

Class R6

     0.82           January 31, 2016   

Administrator Class

     1.14           January 31, 2016   

Institutional Class

     0.87           January 31, 2016   

Investor Class

     1.31           January 31, 2016   

Distribution fee

The Trust has adopted a distribution plan for Class C shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. A distribution fee is charged to Class C shares and paid to Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC (“Funds Distributor”), the principal underwriter, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In addition, Funds Distributor is entitled to receive the front-end sales charge from the purchase of Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge on the redemption of certain Class A shares. Funds Distributor is also entitled to receive the contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares. For the year ended September 30, 2015, Funds Distributor received $39,574 from the sale of Class A shares and $1,393 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of Class C shares.


Table of Contents

 

Notes to financial statements   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     27   

Shareholder servicing fees

The Trust has entered into contracts with one or more shareholder servicing agents, whereby Class A, Class C, Administrator Class, and Investor Class of the Fund is charged a fee at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each respective class.

A portion of these total shareholder servicing fees were paid to affiliates of Wells Fargo.

5. INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Purchases and sales of investments, excluding U.S. government obligations (if any) and short-term securities, for the year ended September 30, 2015 were $1,858,454,929 and $913,504,427, respectively.

6. BANK BORROWINGS

The Trust (excluding the money market funds) and Wells Fargo Variable Trust are parties to a $200,000,000 revolving credit agreement whereby the Fund is permitted to use bank borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, such as to fund shareholder redemption requests. Interest under the credit agreement is charged to the Fund based on a borrowing rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds rate in effect on that day plus 1.25% or the overnight LIBOR rate in effect on that day plus 1.25%. In addition, an annual commitment fee equal to 0.20% of the unused balance is allocated to each participating fund. Prior to September 1, 2015, the revolving credit agreement amount was $150,000,000 and the annual commitment fee was equal to 0.10% of the unused balance which was allocated to each participating fund. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid $2,070 in commitment fees.

For the year ended September 30, 2015, there were no borrowings by the Fund under the agreement.

7. DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 were as follows:

 

     Year ended September 30  
     2015      2014  

Ordinary income

   $ 50,726,509       $ 18,393,127   

Long-term capital gain

     77,215,646         41,766,130   

As of September 30, 2015, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
ordinary
income
   Undistributed
long-term
gain
   Unrealized
gains
   Capital loss
carryforward

$30,590,383

   $64,015,440    $11,237,286    $(124,975)

8. CONCENTRATION RISK

Concentration risks result from exposure to a limited number of sectors. A fund that invests a substantial portion of its assets in any sector may be more affected by changes in that sector than would be a fund whose investments are not heavily weighted in any sector.

9. INDEMNIFICATION

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

10. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

After the close of business on October 23, 2015, Investor Class shares of the Fund became Class A shares in a tax-free conversion. Shareholders of Investor Class of the Fund received Class A shares at a value equal to the value of their Investor Class shares immediately prior to the conversion.


Table of Contents

 

28   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Report of independent registered public accounting firm

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SHAREHOLDERS OF WELLS FARGO FUNDS TRUST:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund as of September 30, 2015, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

Boston, Massachusetts

November 24, 2015


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     29   

TAX INFORMATION

For corporate shareholders, pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, 32.63% of ordinary income dividends qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, $77,215,646 was designated as long-term capital gain distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015.

Pursuant to Section 854 of the Internal Revenue Code, $18,039,596 of income dividends paid during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 has been designated as qualified dividend income (QDI).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, $44,925,985 has been designated as short-term capital gain dividends for nonresident alien shareholders pursuant to Section 871 of the Internal Revenue Code.

PROXY VOTING INFORMATION

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

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

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


Table of Contents

 

30   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

Each of the Trustees and Officers1 listed in the table below acts in identical capacities for each fund in the Wells Fargo Advantage family of funds, which consists of 144 mutual funds comprising the Wells Fargo Funds Trust, Wells Fargo Variable Trust, Wells Fargo Master Trust and four closed-end funds (collectively the “Fund Complex”). This table should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information2. The mailing address of each Trustee and Officer is 525 Market Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. Each Trustee and Officer serves an indefinite term, however, each Trustee serves such term until reaching the mandatory retirement age established by the Trustees.

Independent Trustees

 

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

William R. Ebsworth
(Born 1957)
  Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 1984 to 2013, equities analyst, portfolio manager, research director at Fidelity Management and Research Company and retired in 2013 as Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity Strategic Advisers, Inc. in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong where he led a team of investment professionals managing client assets. Prior thereto, Board member of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. Mr. Ebsworth is a CFA ® charterholder and an Adjunct Lecturer, Finance, at Babson College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Jane A. Freeman
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2015**   Retired. From 2012 to 2014 and 1999 to 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Scientific Learning Corporation. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Freeman provided consulting services related to strategic business projects. Prior to 1999, Portfolio Manager at Rockefeller & Co. and Scudder, Stevens & Clark. Board member of the Harding Loevner Funds from 1996 to 2014, serving as both Lead Independent Director and chair of the Audit Committee. Board member of the Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust from 2011 to 2012 and the chair of the Audit Committee. Ms. Freeman is Chair of Taproot Foundation (non-profit organization), a Board Member of Ruth Bancroft Garden (non-profit organization) and an inactive chartered financial analyst.   Asset Allocation Trust; Harding Loevner Funds; Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust
Peter G. Gordon
(Born 1942)
  Trustee, since 1998; Chairman, since 2005   Co-Founder, Retired Chairman, President and CEO of Crystal Geyser Water Company. Trustee Emeritus, Colby College.   Asset Allocation Trust
Isaiah Harris, Jr.
(Born 1952)
  Trustee, since 2009   Retired. Chairman of the Board of CIGNA Corporation since 2009, and Director since 2005. From 2003 to 2011, Director of Deluxe Corporation. Prior thereto, President and CEO of BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. from 2005 to 2007, President and CEO of BellSouth Enterprises from 2004 to 2005 and President of BellSouth Consumer Services from 2000 to 2003. Emeritus member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors. Emeritus Member of the Advisory Board of Iowa State University School of Business. Advisory Board Member, Palm Harbor Academy (charter school). Mr. Harris is a certified public accountant.   CIGNA Corporation; Asset Allocation Trust
Judith M. Johnson
(Born 1949)
  Trustee, since 2008; Audit Committee Chairman, since 2008   Retired. Prior thereto, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1996 to 2008. Ms. Johnson is an attorney, certified public accountant and a certified managerial accountant.   Asset Allocation Trust
David F. Larcker
(Born 1950)
  Trustee, since 2009   James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Morgan Stanley Director of the Center for Leadership Development and Research and Senior Faculty of The Rock Center for Corporate Governance since 2006. From 2005 to 2008, Professor of Accounting at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Prior thereto, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 2005.   Asset Allocation Trust


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     31   

Name and

year of birth

 

Position held and

length of service*

  Principal occupations during past five years or longer  

Other

public company or
investment company
directorships during
past 5 years

Olivia S. Mitchell
(Born 1953)
  Trustee, since 2006   International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Professor, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Director of Wharton’s Pension Research Council and Boettner Center on Pensions & Retirement Research, and Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Previously, Cornell University Professor from 1978 to 1993.   Asset Allocation Trust
Timothy J. Penny
(Born 1951)
  Trustee, since 1996   President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, a non-profit organization, since 2007 and Senior Fellow at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum at the University of Minnesota since 1995. Member of the Board of Trustees of NorthStar Education Finance, Inc., a non-profit organization, since 2007.   Asset Allocation Trust
Michael S. Scofield
(Born 1943)
  Trustee, since 2010   Served on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors and Executive Committee from 2008-2011 as well the Governing Council of the Independent Directors Council from 2006-2011 and the Independent Directors Council Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Chairman of the IDC from 2008-2010. Institutional Investor (Fund Directions) Trustee of Year in 2007. Trustee of the Evergreen Funds complex (and its predecessors) from 1984 to 2010. Chairman of the Evergreen Funds from 2000-2010. Former Trustee of the Mentor Funds. Retired Attorney, Law Offices of Michael S. Scofield.   Asset Allocation Trust
Donald C. Willeke
(Born 1940)
  Trustee, since 1996   Principal of the law firm of Willeke & Daniels. General Counsel of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund from 1984 until its consolidation into the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association on June 30, 2010. Director and Vice Chair of The Tree Trust (non-profit corporation). Director of the American Chestnut Foundation (non-profit corporation).   Asset Allocation Trust

 

* Length of service dates reflect the Trustee’s commencement of service with the Trust’s predecessor entities, where applicable.
** William R. Ebsworth and Jane A. Freeman each became a Trustee effective January 1, 2015.

Officers

 

Name and
year of birth
  Position held and
length of service
  Principal occupations during past five years or longer    
Karla M. Rabusch (Born 1959)   President, since 2003   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2003.    
Nancy Wiser1
(Born 1967)
  Treasurer, since 2012   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2011. Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LightBox Capital Management LLC, from 2008 to 2011.    
C. David Messman (Born 1960)   Secretary, since 2000; Chief Legal Officer, since 2003   Senior Vice President and Secretary of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2001. Assistant General Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. since 2013 and Vice President and Managing Counsel of Wells Fargo Bank N.A. from 1996 to 2013.    
Debra Ann Early
(Born 1964)
  Chief Compliance Officer, since 2007   Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2014, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer from 2007 to 2014.    
David Berardi
(Born 1975)
  Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010. Manager of Fund Reporting and Control for Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2004 to 2010.    
Jeremy DePalma1 (Born 1974)   Assistant Treasurer, since 2009   Senior Vice President of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC since 2009. Senior Vice President of Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC from 2008 to 2010 and head of the Fund Reporting and Control Team within Fund Administration from 2005 to 2010.    

 

 

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

 

2 The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-222-8222 or by visiting the website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com.


Table of Contents

 

32   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Other information (unaudited)

BOARD CONSIDERATION OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENTS:

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) must determine annually whether to approve the continuation of the Trust’s investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements. In this regard, at an in-person meeting held on May 19-20, 2015 (the “Meeting”), the Board, all the members of which have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory and sub-advisory agreements and are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), reviewed and approved for Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”): (i) an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (“Funds Management”); (ii) an investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Funds Management; and (iii) an investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with Wells Capital Management Incorporated (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of Funds Management. The Management Agreement combines the terms of the Advisory Agreement with the terms of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Administration Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) applicable to Fund-level administrative services. The Advisory Agreement, the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.”

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

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

After its deliberations, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable. The Board considered the approval of the Advisory Agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for funds across the complex, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis. The following summarizes a number of important, but not necessarily all, factors considered by the Board in support of its approvals.

Nature, extent and quality of services

The Board received and considered various information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under the Advisory Agreements. This information included, among other things, a summary of the background and experience of senior management of Funds Management, and the qualifications, background, tenure and responsibilities of each of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board noted that the services to be provided to the Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement combined the advisory services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Fund-level administrative services previously provided to the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Administration Agreement. The Board received a representation from Funds Management that combining these services would not result in any change to the nature or level of services provided by Funds Management to the Fund.

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


Table of Contents

 

Other information (unaudited)   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     33   

Fund performance and expenses

The Board considered the performance results for the Fund over various time periods ended March 31, 2015. The Board considered these results in comparison to the performance of funds in a universe that was determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) to be similar to the Fund (the “Universe”), and in comparison to the Fund’s benchmark index and to other comparative data. Lipper is an independent provider of investment company data. The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the performance Universe. The Board noted that the performance of the Fund (Administrator Class) was higher than the performance of the Universe for all periods under review. The Board also noted that the performance of the Fund was higher than its benchmark, the Russell Midcap® Value Index, for all periods under review.

The Board also received and considered information regarding the Fund’s net operating expense ratios and their various components, including actual management fees (which reflect fee waivers, if any, and include advisory, administration and transfer agent fees), custodian and other non-management fees, and Rule 12b-1 and non-Rule 12b-1 service fees. The Board considered these ratios in comparison to the median ratios of funds in class-specific expense groups that were determined by Lipper to be similar to the Fund (the “Groups”). The Board received a description of the methodology used by Lipper to select the mutual funds in the expense Groups and an explanation of how funds comprising expense groups and their expense ratios may vary from year-to-year. Based on the Lipper reports, the Board noted that the net operating expense ratios of the Fund were lower than or in range of the median net operating expense ratios of the expense Groups. The Board discussed and accepted Funds Management’s proposal to convert the Investor Class shares into Class A shares.

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

Investment advisory and sub-advisory fee rates

The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rates that are payable by the Fund to Funds Management for investment advisory services (the “Advisory Agreement Rates”), both on a stand-alone basis and on a combined basis with the Fund’s fund-level and class-level contractual administration fee rates (the “Management Rates”). The Board noted that the Management Rates include transfer agency and sub-transfer agency costs. The Board also noted that the fee rate to be paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement will incorporate the advisory fee and Fund-level administration fee previously payable separately by the Fund under the Fund’s Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement with Funds Management. The Board also reviewed and considered the contractual investment sub-advisory fee rates that are payable by Funds Management to the Sub-Adviser for investment sub-advisory services (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement Rates”).

Among other information reviewed by the Board was a comparison of the Management Rates of the Fund with those of other funds in the expense Groups at a common asset level. The Board noted that the Management Rates of the Fund were lower than, equal to, or in range of the average rates for the Fund’s expense Groups for all share classes except Class A. The Board noted that the net operating expense ratio of Class A was lower than the median net operating expense ratio of its expense Group.

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

The Board also received and considered information about the nature and extent of services offered and fee rates charged by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser to other types of clients with investment strategies similar to those of the Fund. In this regard, the Board received information about the significantly greater scope of services, and compliance, reporting and other legal burdens and risks of managing mutual funds compared with those associated with managing assets of non-mutual fund clients such as collective funds or institutional separate accounts.

Based on its consideration of the factors and information it deemed relevant, including those described here, the Board determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management under the Management Agreement and Advisory Agreement and to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement was reasonable, in light of the services covered by the Advisory Agreements.


Table of Contents

 

34   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund   Other information (unaudited)

Profitability

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

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

Economies of scale

With respect to possible economies of scale, the Board noted the existence of breakpoints in the Fund’s advisory and management fee structures, and the Fund’s administration fee structure, which operate generally to reduce the Fund’s expense ratios as the Fund grows in size. It considered that, for a small fund or a fund that shrinks in size, breakpoints conversely can result in higher fee levels. The Board also considered that fee waiver and expense reimbursement arrangements and competitive fee rates at the outset are means of sharing potential economies of scale with shareholders of the Fund and the fund family as a whole. The Board considered Funds Management’s view that any analyses of potential economies of scale in managing a particular fund are inherently limited in light of the joint and common costs and investments that Funds Management incurs across the fund family as a whole.

The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee and expense arrangements, including contractual breakpoints, constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.

Other benefits to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser

The Board received and considered information regarding potential “fall-out” or ancillary benefits received by Funds Management and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, as a result of their relationships with the Fund. Ancillary benefits could include, among others, benefits directly attributable to other relationships with the Fund and benefits potentially derived from an increase in Funds Management’s and the Sub-Adviser’s business as a result of their relationships with the Fund. The Board noted that various affiliates of Funds Management may receive distribution-related fees, shareholder servicing payments and sub-transfer agency fees in respect of shares sold or held through them and services provided.

The Board also reviewed information about soft dollar credits earned and utilized by the Sub-Adviser, fees earned by Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser from managing a private investment vehicle for the fund family’s securities lending collateral and commissions earned by an affiliated broker from portfolio transactions.

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

Conclusion

At the Meeting, after considering the above-described factors and based on its deliberations and its evaluation of the information described above, the Board unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreement for the period from June 1, 2015 through June 30, 2015, approved the Management Agreement for the period from July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016, and approved the continuation of the Sub-Advisory Agreement for a one-year term through May 31, 2016. The Board also determined that the compensation payable to Funds Management and the Sub-Adviser under each of the Advisory Agreements was reasonable.


Table of Contents

 

List of abbreviations   Wells Fargo Advantage Special Mid Cap Value Fund     35   

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

 

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


Table of Contents

 

This page is intentionally left blank.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

 

LOGO

For more information

More information about Wells Fargo Advantage Funds is available free upon request. To obtain literature, please write, email, visit the Fund’s website, or call:

Wells Fargo Advantage Funds

P.O. Box 8266

Boston, MA 02266-8266

Email: wfaf@wellsfargo.com

Website: wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com

Individual investors: 1-800-222-8222

Retail investment professionals: 1-888-877-9275

Institutional investment professionals: 1-866-765-0778

 

This report and the financial statements contained herein are submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. If this report is used for promotional purposes, distribution of the report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus. Before investing, please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the investment. For a current prospectus and, if available, a summary prospectus, containing this information, call 1-800-222-8222 or visit the Fund’s website at wellsfargoadvantagefunds.com. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo Advantage Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and other services for the Funds. The Funds are distributed by Wells Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

NOT FDIC INSURED  ¡  NO BANK GUARANTEE  ¡   MAY LOSE VALUE

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

 

LOGO     

237466 11-15

A234/AR234 09-15


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS

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

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

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

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

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

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

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

     Fiscal year
ended
September 30,
2015
     Fiscal year
ended
September 30,
2014
 

Audit fees

   $ 270,080       $ 270,080   

Audit-related fees

     —           —     

Tax fees (1)

     36,770         34,470   

All other fees

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 306,850         304,550   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)  Tax fees consist of fees for tax compliance, tax advice, tax planning and excise tax.

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

(f) Not applicable


Table of Contents

(g) Not applicable

(h) Not applicable

ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INVESTMENTS

A Portfolio of Investments for each series of Wells Fargo Funds Trust is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.


Table of Contents

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees that have been implemented since the registrant’s last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of this Item.

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) The President and Treasurer have concluded that the Wells Fargo Funds Trust (the “Trust”) disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) provide reasonable assurances that material information relating to the Trust is made known to them by the appropriate persons based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report.

(b) There were no significant changes in the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12. EXHIBITS

(a)(1) Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit COE.

(a)(2) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT.


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Wells Fargo Funds Trust
By:  
 

Karla M. Rabusch

President

Date:  

November 24, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Wells Fargo Funds Trust
By:   /s/ Karla M. Rabusch
 

President

Date:  

November 24, 2015

By:   /s/ Nancy Wiser
 

Treasurer

Date:  

November 24, 2015

By:   /s/ Jeremy DePalma
 

Treasurer

Date:  

November 24, 2015


Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

This ‘N-CSR’ Filing    Date    Other Filings
1/31/17
5/31/16
1/31/16
12/15/15
Filed on / Effective on:11/27/15
11/24/15485BPOS,  497K
10/23/15497
For Period End:9/30/15497K,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
9/1/15485BPOS
7/1/15485BPOS,  497,  497K
6/30/1524F-2NT,  485BPOS,  497,  DEFA14A,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-MFP,  N-PX,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
6/1/15485BPOS
4/1/15
3/31/1524F-2NT,  485APOS,  497,  497K,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-MFP,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
1/31/1524F-2NT,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-MFP,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-A/A,  NSAR-B
1/1/15485BPOS
10/31/1424F-2NT,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-MFP,  N-MFP/A,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B,  NSAR-B/A
9/30/1424F-2NT,  24F-2NT/A,  497,  497K,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-MFP,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
9/30/1324F-2NT,  497K,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-MFP,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B,  NSAR-B/A
6/28/13497,  NSAR-A
9/30/1124F-2NT,  497,  497K,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-CSRS/A,  N-MFP,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
8/26/1124F-2NT,  497,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
7/12/10485BPOS,  497K
6/30/1024F-2NT,  497,  497K,  N-CSR,  N-CSRS,  N-Q,  NSAR-A,  NSAR-B
6/20/08485BPOS,  497
6/19/08
3/10/99
 List all Filings 
Top
Filing Submission 0001193125-15-389566   –   Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, et al.)

Copyright © 2024 Fran Finnegan & Company LLC – All Rights Reserved.
AboutPrivacyRedactionsHelp — Sun., Apr. 28, 2:01:14.6am ET