11/06/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/06/2025 14:51
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Investment Company Act file number
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811-08333
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| Item 1. |
Reports to Stockholders.
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Annual Shareholder Report
August 31, 2025
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Cost of a
$10,000 investment
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Costs paid as a percentage of $10,000 investment* |
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Class A Shares
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$230 | 2.16% | ||
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Performance Highlights
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The Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund returned 12.94% for Class A Shares at net asset value (NAV) for the 12 months ended August 31, 2025. The Fund performed in line with the Equity Long/Short Blended Benchmark, which returned 12.77%. The Fund's blended benchmark consists of 1) 70% Russell 1000® Index, and 2) 30% ICE BofA U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index.
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Top contributors to relative performance
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Security selection in the industrials sector, led by overweight long positions in Howmet Aerospace Inc. and nVent Electric plc.
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Security selection and an overweight in the communication services sector, led by overweight long positions in Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Netflix Inc.
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Security selection in the consumer discretionary sector, led by a short position in RH (formerly Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc.).
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Top detractors from relative performance
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Security selection and an overweight in the financials sector, including overweight long positions in Fiserv, Inc. and Arch Capital Group Ltd.
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Overweight long position in Marvell Technology, Inc.
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Security selection in the health care sector, including overweight long positions in BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.
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| 1 | continued» |
| 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||
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Class A Shares at NAV (excluding maximum sales charge)
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12.94% | 12.34% | 8.87% | |||
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Class A Shares at maximum sales charge (Offering Price)
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6.45% | 11.02% | 8.23% | |||
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Russell 1000® Index
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16.24% | 14.34% | 14.33% | |||
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Equity Long/Short Blended Benchmark
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12.77% | 11.09% | 10.79% | |||
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Lipper Alternative Long/Short Equity Funds Classification Average
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9.30% | 8.89% | 6.21% | |||
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Fund net assets
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$ | 146,903,514 | ||
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Total number of portfolio holdings
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177 | |||
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Portfolio turnover (%)
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65% | |||
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Total management fees paid for the year
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$ | 1,773,403 | ||
| 2 | continued» |
| 3 | continued» |
| • |
prospectus • financial statements and other information • fund holdings • proxy voting information
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67065W183_AR_0825
4786782
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| 4 |
|
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Annual Shareholder Report
August 31, 2025
|
|
Cost of a
$10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of $10,000 investment* |
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Class C Shares
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$309 | 2.91% | ||
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Performance Highlights
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The Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund returned 12.09% for Class C Shares at net asset value (NAV) for the 12 months ended August 31, 2025. The Fund underperformed the Equity Long/Short Blended Benchmark, which returned 12.77%. The Fund's blended benchmark consists of 1) 70% Russell 1000® Index, and 2) 30% ICE BofA U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index.
•
Top contributors to relative performance
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Security selection in the industrials sector, led by overweight long positions in Howmet Aerospace Inc. and nVent Electric plc.
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Security selection and an overweight in the communication services sector, led by overweight long positions in Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Netflix Inc.
•
Security selection in the consumer discretionary sector, led by a short position in RH (formerly Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc.).
•
Top detractors from relative performance
•
Security selection and an overweight in the financials sector, including overweight long positions in Fiserv, Inc. and Arch Capital Group Ltd.
•
Overweight long position in Marvell Technology, Inc.
•
Security selection in the health care sector, including overweight long positions in BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.
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| 1 | continued» |
| 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||
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Class C Shares at NAV (excluding maximum sales charge)
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12.09 | % | 11.50 | % | 8.22 | % | ||||||
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Russell 1000® Index
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16.24 | % | 14.34 | % | 14.33 | % | ||||||
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Equity Long/Short Blended Benchmark
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12.77 | % | 11.09 | % | 10.79 | % | ||||||
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Lipper Alternative Long/Short Equity Funds Classification Average
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9.30 | % | 8.89 | % | 6.21 | % | ||||||
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Fund net assets
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$ | 146,903,514 | ||
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Total number of portfolio holdings
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177 | |||
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Portfolio turnover (%)
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65% | |||
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Total management fees paid for the year
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$ | 1,773,403 | ||
| 2 | continued» |
| 3 | continued» |
| • |
prospectus • financial statements and other information • fund holdings • proxy voting information
|
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67065W175_AR_0825
4786782
|
| 4 |
|
|
Annual Shareholder Report
August 31, 2025
|
|
Cost of a
$10,000 investment
|
Costs paid as a percentage of
$10,000 investment*
|
|||
|
Class I Shares
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$204 | 1.91% | ||
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Performance Highlights
•
The Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund returned 13.24% for Class I Shares at net asset value (NAV) for the 12 months ended August 31, 2025. The Fund outperformed the Equity Long/Short Blended Benchmark, which returned 12.77%. The Fund's blended benchmark consists of 1) 70% Russell 1000® Index, and 2) 30% ICE BofA U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index.
•
Top contributors to relative performance
•
Security selection in the industrials sector, led by overweight long positions in Howmet Aerospace Inc. and nVent Electric plc.
•
Security selection and an overweight in the communication services sector, led by overweight long positions in Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Netflix Inc.
•
Security selection in the consumer discretionary sector, led by a short position in RH (formerly Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc.).
•
Top detractors from relative performance
•
Security selection and an overweight in the financials sector, including overweight long positions in Fiserv, Inc. and Arch Capital Group Ltd.
•
Overweight long position in Marvell Technology, Inc.
•
Security selection in the health care sector, including overweight long positions in BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated.
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| 1 | continued» |
| 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||
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Class I Shares at NAV
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13.24% | 12.62% | 9.15% | |||
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Russell 1000® Index
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16.24% | 14.34% | 14.33% | |||
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Equity Long/Short Blended Benchmark
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12.77% | 11.09% | 10.79% | |||
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Lipper Alternative Long/Short Equity Funds Classification Average
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9.30% | 8.89% | 6.21% | |||
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Fund net assets
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$ | 146,903,514 | ||
|
Total number of portfolio holdings
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177 | |||
|
Portfolio turnover (%)
|
65% | |||
|
Total management fees paid for the year
|
$ | 1,773,403 | ||
| 2 | continued» |
| 3 | continued» |
| • |
prospectus • financial statements and other information • fund holdings • proxy voting information
|
|
67065W167_AR_0825
4786782
|
| 4 |
| Item 2. |
Code of Ethics. |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. There were no amendments to or waivers from the code during the period covered by this report. Upon request, a copy of the registrant's code of ethics is available without charge by calling 800-257-8787.
| Item 3. |
Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant's Board of Directors or Trustees ("Board") had determined that the registrant has at least one "audit committee financial expert" (as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR)serving on its Audit Committee. The members of the registrant's audit committee that have been designated as audit committee financial experts are Joseph A. Boateng, John K. Nelson, Loren M. Starr and Robert L. Young, who are "independent" for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Mr. Boateng has served as the Chief Investment Officer for Casey Family Programs since 2007. He was previously Director of U.S. Pension Plans for Johnson & Johnson from 2002-2006. Mr. Boateng is a board member of the Lumina Foundation and Waterside School, an emeritus board member of Year Up Puget Sound, member of the Investment Advisory Committee and former Chair for the Seattle City Employees' Retirement System, and an Investment Committee Member for The Seattle Foundation. Mr. Boateng previously served on the Board of Trustees for the College Retirement Equities Fund (2018-2023) and on the Management Committee for TIAA Separate Account VA-1(2019-2023).
Mr. Nelson formerly served on the Board of Directors of Core12, LLC from 2008 to 2023, a private firm which develops branding, marketing, and communications strategies for clients. Mr. Nelson has extensive experience in global banking and markets, having served in several senior executive positions with ABN AMRO Holdings N.V. and its affiliated entities and predecessors, including LaSalle Bank Corporation from 1996 to 2008, ultimately serving as Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO N.V. North America. During his tenure at the bank, he also served as Global Head of its Financial Markets Division, which encompassed the bank's Currency, Commodity, Fixed Income, Emerging Markets, and Derivatives businesses. He was a member of the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States and during his tenure with ABN AMRO served as the bank's representative on various committees of The Bank of Canada, European Central Bank, and The Bank of England. Mr. Nelson previously served as a senior, external advisor to the financial services practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP. (2012-2014).
Mr. Starr was Vice Chair, Senior Managing Director from 2020 to 2021, and Chief Financial Officer, Senior Managing Director from 2005 to 2020, for Invesco Ltd. Mr. Starr is also a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for AMG. He is former Chair and member of the Board of Directors, Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI); former Chair and member of the Board of Trustees, Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE). Mr. Starr previously served on the Board of Trustees for the College Retirement Equities Fund and on the Management Committee for TIAA Separate Account VA-1(2022-2023).
Mr. Young has more than 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. From 1997 to 2017, he held various positions with J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. ("J.P. Morgan Investment") and its affiliates (collectively, "J.P. Morgan"). Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of J.P. Morgan Investment (from 2010 to 2016) and as President and Principal Executive Officer of the J.P. Morgan Funds (from 2013 to 2016). As Chief Operating Officer of J.P. Morgan Investment, Mr. Young led service, administration and business platform support activities for J.P. Morgan's domestic retail mutual fund and institutional commingled and separate account businesses and co-ledthese activities for J.P. Morgan's global retail and institutional investment management businesses. As President of the J.P. Morgan Funds, Mr. Young interacted with various service providers to these funds, facilitated the relationship between such funds and their boards, and was directly involved in establishing board agendas, addressing regulatory matters, and establishing policies and procedures. Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Young, a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA), was a Senior Manager (Audit) with Deloitte & Touche LLP (formerly, Touche Ross LLP), where he was employed from 1985 to 1996. During his tenure there, he actively participated in creating, and ultimately led, the firm's midwestern mutual fund practice.
| Item 4. |
Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
Nuveen Investment Trust II
The following tables show the amount of fees that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC"), the Registrant's current independent registered public accounting firm, billed to the Registrant during the Registrant's fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, and the amount of fees that KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), the Registrant's former independent registered public accounting firm, billed to the Registrant during the Registrant's fiscal year ended August 31, 2024. The Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-auditservices that PwC and KPMG provided to the Registrant, except for those non-auditservices that were subject to the pre-approvalexception under Rule 2-01of Regulation S-X(the "pre-approvalexception"). The pre-approvalexception for services provided directly to the Registrant waives the pre-approvalrequirement for services other than audit, review or attest services if: (A) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Registrant during the fiscal year in which the services are provided; (B) the Registrant did not recognize the services as non-auditservices at the time of the engagement; and (C) the services are promptly brought to the Audit Committee's attention, and the Committee (or its delegate) approves the services before the audit is completed.
The Audit Committee has delegated certain pre-approvalresponsibilities to its Chair.
SERVICES THAT THE REGISTRANT'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
BILLED TO THE REGISTRANT
| Fiscal Year Ended5 |
Audit Fees Billed to Registrant1 |
Audit-Related Fees Billed to Registrant2 |
Tax Fees Billed to Registrant3 |
All Other Fees Billed to Registrant4 |
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| August 31, 2025 (PwC) | $26,628 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
| Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approvalexception | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | ||||||||||||
| August 31, 2024 (KPMG) | $26,600 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
| Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approvalexception | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | ||||||||||||
| 1 |
"Audit Fees" are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of the Registrant's annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. |
| 2 |
"Audit-Related Fees" are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements that are not reported under "Audit Fees". |
| 3 |
"Tax Fees" are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. |
| 4 |
"All Other Fees" are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than "Audit Fees", "Audit-Related Fees" and "Tax Fees". |
| 5 |
The Registrant changed audit firm from KPMG to PwC on October 24, 2024. |
SERVICES THAT THE REGISTRANT'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
BILLED TO THE ADVISER AND AFFILIATED REGISTRANT SERVICE PROVIDERS
The following tables show the amount of fees billed by PwC to Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC (the "Adviser"), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant ("Affiliated Fund Service Provider"), for engagements directly related to the Registrant's operations and financial reporting, during the Registrant's fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, and the amount of fees billed by KPMG to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider, for engagements directly related to the Registrant's operations and financial reporting, during the Registrant's fiscal year ended August 31, 2024.
The tables also show the percentage of fees subject to the pre-approvalexception. The pre-approvalexception for services provided to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider (other than audit, review or attest services) waives the pre-approvalrequirement if: (A) the aggregate amount of all such services provided constitutes no more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Registrant, the Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers during the fiscal year in which the services are provided that would have to be pre-approvedby the Audit Committee; (B) the Registrant did not recognize the services as non-auditservices at the time of the engagement; and (C) the services are promptly brought to the Audit Committee's attention, and the Committee (or its delegate) approves the services before the Registrant's audit is completed.
| Fiscal Year Ended |
Audit-Related Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers |
Tax Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers |
All Other Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers |
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| August 31, 2025 (PwC) | $0 | $0 | $0 | |||||||||
| Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approvalexception | 0% | 0% | 0% | |||||||||
| August 31, 2024 (KPMG) | $0 | $0 | $0 | |||||||||
| Percentage approved pursuant to pre-approvalexception | 0% | 0% | 0% | |||||||||
NON-AUDITSERVICES
The following table shows the amount of fees that PwC billed during the Registrant's fiscal year ended August 31, 2025 for non-auditservices, and the amount of fees that KPMG billed during the Registrant's fiscal year ended August 31, 2024 for non-auditservices. The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve non-auditservices that the Registrant's independent registered public accounting firm provides to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider, if the engagement related directly to the Registrant's operations and financial reporting (except for those subject to the pre-approvalexception described above). The Audit Committee requested and received information from PwC and KPMG about any non-auditservices rendered during the Registrant's last fiscal year to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider. The Committee considered this information in evaluating PwC's and KPMG's independence.
| Fiscal Year Ended |
Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Registrant |
Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant) |
Total Non-Audit Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (all other engagements) |
Total | ||||||||||||
| August 31, 2025 (PwC) | $0 | $0 | $11,084,014 | $11,084,014 | ||||||||||||
| August 31, 2024 (KPMG) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||||||||||
"Non-AuditFees billed to Registrant" for both fiscal year ends represent "Tax Fees" and "All Other Fees" billed to the Registrant in their respective amounts from the previous table.
Less than 50 percent of the hours expended on the independent registered public accounting firm's engagement to audit the Registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the independent registered public accounting firm's full-time, permanent employees.
Audit Committee Pre-ApprovalPolicies and Procedures. Generally, the Audit Committee must approve (i) all non-auditservices to be performed for the Registrant by the Registrant's independent registered public accounting firm and (ii) all audit and non-auditservices to be performed by the Registrant's independent registered public accounting firm for the Affiliated Fund Service Providers with respect to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant.
Item 4(i) and Item 4(j) are not applicable to the Registrant.
| Item 5. |
Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. |
Not applicable to this registrant.
| Item 6. |
Investments. |
| (a) |
Schedule of Investments is included as part of the financial statements filed under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR. |
| (b) |
Not applicable. |
| Item 7. |
Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
| Item 8. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
Changes in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(a) Previous independent registered public accounting firm:On October 24, 2024, the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board"), upon recommendation from the Audit Committee, notified KPMG LLP ("KPMG") that it would be dismissed as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund effective upon (i) completion of KPMG's audit of the Fund's financial statements to be included in the Fund's Annual Report on Form N-CSR(the "2024 Annual Report") for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2024 and (ii) the issuance of KPMG's report on the same. KPMG's dismissal as the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm was effective on October 29, 2024, which is the date on which KPMG issued their report on their audit of the Fund's financial statements to be included in the 2024 Annual Report. KPMG's audit reports on the Fund's financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the Fund's fiscal years ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim period through October 29, 2024, there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement. During the Fund's fiscal years ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023 and the subsequent interim period through October 29, 2024, there were no reportable events (as defined in Regulation S-KItem 304(a)(1)(v)).
The Fund provided KPMG with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested that KPMG furnish the Fund with a letter addressed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether KPMG agrees with the above statements.
(b) New independent registered public accounting firm:On October 24, 2024, the Board, upon recommendation from the Audit Committee, appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PwC") as the new independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. During the Fund's fiscal years ended August 31, 2024 and August 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim period through October 29, 2024, the Fund has not consulted with PwC regarding any of the matters described in Regulation S-KItem 304 ("S-K304"), S-K304(a)(2)(i) or S-K304(a)(2)(ii) disclosure.
| Item 9. |
Proxy Disclosures for Open-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
Not applicable.
| Item 10. |
Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
The aggregate remuneration paid to the trustees (all of whom are independent) by the Fund is reported as "Trustees fees" on the Statement of Operations under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
The Fund does not pay any remuneration to its officers. The aggregate remuneration paid to Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC, the Fund's investment adviser and an affiliate of the Fund's officers, is reported as "Management fees" on the Statement of Operations under Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.
Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund
The Approval Process
At meetings held on April 28 and 29, 2025 (the "Meeting"), the Board of Trustees (the "Board" and each Trustee, a "Board Member") of Nuveen Investment Trust II approved, for each applicable series thereof, the renewal of the investment management agreement (each an "Investment Management Agreement") with Nuveen Fund Advisors, LLC ("NFAL" or the "Adviser"). Similarly, for each respective series, the Board approved the renewal of the sub-advisoryagreement (each a "Sub-AdvisoryAgreement") with Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (the "Sub-Adviser").NFAL is a subsidiary of Nuveen, LLC, the investment management arm of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ("TIAA"). The Sub-Adviseris also an affiliate of the Adviser. The Board Members are not "interested persons" (as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act")) and, therefore, the Board is deemed to be comprised of all disinterested Board Members. References to the Board and the Board Members are interchangeable. Below is a summary of the annual review process the Board undertook related to its most recent renewal of the Investment Management Agreement and Sub-AdvisoryAgreement with respect to Nuveen Equity Long/Short Fund (the "Fund").
In accordance with applicable law, following up to an initial two-yearperiod, the Board considers the renewal of the Investment Management Agreement and Sub-AdvisoryAgreement on behalf of the Fund on an annual basis. The Investment Management Agreement and Sub-AdvisoryAgreement are collectively referred to as the "Advisory Agreements," and the Adviser and the Sub-Adviserare collectively, the "Fund Advisers" and each a "Fund Adviser."
To reach their determination, the Board Members considered the review of the Advisory Agreements to be an ongoing process. The Board Members employed the accumulated information, knowledge and experience they had gained during their tenure as disinterested Board Members on the respective boards of the funds in the Nuveen complex and their committees in overseeing the applicable funds and working with the respective investment advisers and sub-advisersin their review of the advisory agreements for the fund complex. The fund complex consists of the group of funds advised by NFAL, including the Fund, and the group of funds advised by Teachers Advisors, LLC ("TAL" and collectively, the "Nuveen funds" or the "funds"). The Board and its committees meet regularly throughout the year and at these meetings, the Board Members received materials and discussed information covering a wide range of topics pertinent to the annual consideration of the renewal of the Advisory Agreements. Such topics include, but are not limited to, the investment performance of the funds over various periods; investment oversight matters; economic, market and regulatory developments; any significant organizational or other developments impacting a Fund Adviser and its strategic plans for its business; product initiatives for various funds; fund expenses; compliance, regulatory and risk management matters; trading practices, including soft dollar arrangements and reimbursements to the funds; the liquidity and derivatives risk management programs; management of distributions; valuation of securities; payments to financial intermediaries, including 12b-1expenses (as applicable); and securities lending (as applicable). The Board also seeks to meet at its regular quarterly meetings with members of senior management to discuss various topics, including market conditions, industry developments and any significant developments or strategic plans for a Fund Adviser, if any.
To help with the review of performance, the Board and/or its committees periodically received and discussed presentations from member(s) of investment teams throughout the year, culminating in an annual performance review of the Nuveen funds at the Board's meeting held on February 25-26,2025 (the "February Meeting"). The presentations, discussions and meetings during the year provide a means for the Board Members to evaluate and consider the level, breadth and quality of services provided by the Fund Advisers and any changes to such services over time in light of new or modified regulatory requirements, changes to market conditions or other factors.
In addition to the materials and discussions that occurred at prior meetings, the Board, through its independent legal counsel, requested and received extensive materials and information prepared specifically for its review of the Advisory Agreements. During the year, management worked with an ad hoc committee established by the Board to help enhance and streamline the materials provided in connection with the annual review of the Advisory Agreements. The materials provided at the Meeting and/or prior meetings covered a wide range of matters including, but not limited to, a description of the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Fund Advisers; a review of the Sub-Adviserand/or applicable investment team; an analysis of fund performance with a focus on funds considered to have met certain challenged performance measurements; an analysis of the fees and expense ratios of the funds with a focus on funds considered to have certain expense characteristics; a list of management fee and sub-advisoryfee schedules; an analysis of advisory fees compared to fees assessed to other types of clients; a review of temporary and/ or permanent expense caps and fee waivers (as applicable); a description of portfolio manager compensation; certain profitability and/or financial data; and a description of indirect benefits received by the Fund Advisers as a result of their relationships with the funds. The Board also considered information provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. ("Broadridge"), an independent provider of investment company data, comparing fee and expense levels of the Fund to those of a peer universe and to a group of peers selected by Broadridge.
The information prepared specifically for the annual review supplemented the information provided to the Board and its committees and the evaluations of the Nuveen funds by the Board and its committees during the year. The Board's review of the Advisory Agreements is based on all the information provided to the Board and its committees over time. The performance, fee and expense data and other information provided by a Fund Adviser, Broadridge or other service providers were not independently verified by the Board Members.
As part of their review, the Board Members and independent legal counsel met in executive session on April 9, 2025 to review and discuss materials provided in connection with their annual review of the Advisory Agreements. After reviewing this information, the Board Members requested, directly or through independent legal counsel, additional information, and the Board subsequently reviewed and discussed the responses to these follow-upquestions and requests. The Board Members and independent legal counsel met again in executive session on April 17, 2025 (together with the April 9, 2025 executive session, the "Executive Sessions") to discuss the responses to the initial supplemental information request and, following their review of the data provided, requested management present certain additional information at the Meeting. In addition to the Executive Sessions, the Board Members met in additional executive sessions prior to and during the Meeting. During the Meeting, the Board Members considered the responses, invited representatives of management to provide additional information and determined that the information provided (whether oral or written) was responsive to their requests.
1
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract. (continued)
The Board Members were advised by independent legal counsel during the annual review process as well as throughout the year, including meeting in executive sessions with such counsel at which no representatives of management were present. In connection with their annual review, the Board Members also received a memorandum from independent legal counsel outlining their fiduciary duties and legal standards in reviewing the Advisory Agreements, including guidance from court cases evaluating advisory fees.
After the discussions and with the background and knowledge described above, the Board Members approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements on behalf of the Fund for an additional one-yearperiod. The Board did not identify any single factor as all-importantor controlling, but rather each decision reflected the comprehensive consideration of all the information (written or oral) provided to the Board and its committees throughout the year as well as the materials prepared specifically in connection with the annual review process. The contractual arrangements may reflect the results of prior year(s) of review, negotiation and information provided in connection with the Board's annual review of the Fund's advisory arrangements and oversight of the Fund. Each Board Member may have attributed different levels of importance to the various factors and information considered in connection with the annual review process and may have placed different emphasis on the relevant information year to year in light of, among other things, changing market and economic conditions. A summary of the principal factors and information, but not all the factors, the Board considered in deciding to renew the Advisory Agreements is set forth below.
A. Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
In evaluating the renewal of the Advisory Agreements, the Board Members received and considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of the applicable Fund Adviser's services provided to the Fund. With this approach, they considered the roles of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser in providing services to the Fund.
The Board considered that the Adviser provides a wide array of management, oversight and other services to manage and operate the funds. The Board considered the Adviser's and its affiliates' dedication of resources, time, people and capital as well as consistent program of improvement and innovation aimed at keeping the Nuveen fund complex relevant and attractive for existing and new investors and meeting the needs of an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Among the information provided in connection with the review of services at the Meeting and/or prior meetings, the Board considered a description of the organizational changes at the Adviser during the year, the management teams that comprise the various support and investment functions for the funds and the background of certain personnel who support the funds. The Board considered the significant resources, both financial and personnel, the Adviser and its affiliates had committed over the past several years in working to bring the asset management businesses of Nuveen and TIAA under one centralized umbrella and to consolidate their respective fund families to the benefit of the funds through, among other things, enhanced operating efficiencies, centralized investment leadership and a centralized shared resources and support model. To help ensure the continuation of services, the Board considered, among other things, management's emphasis on succession planning and key person risk evaluation pursuant to which certain management team(s) meet annually to conduct a comprehensive review of successors to key positions, to develop and monitor corporate-wide standards and procedures in seeking to help ensure the firm may continue to operate in the event of business disruptions, and to review staffing and compensation levels to help remain competitive with peers in the industry. The Board considered a description of the application of business continuity plans and the periodic testing and review of such plans. As noted below, the Board also considered certain financial data of the Adviser and TIAA in assessing the financial stability and condition of the Adviser to provide a high level of quality services to the funds.
In its review, the Board considered that the Fund operated in a highly regulated industry and the scope and complexity of the services and resources that the Adviser and its affiliates must provide to manage and operate the funds have expanded over the years due to regulatory, market and other developments. Such services included maintaining and monitoring the Nuveen funds' compliance programs, risk management programs, liquidity risk management programs, derivatives risk management programs and cybersecurity programs. The Board and/or its Compliance, Risk Management and Regulatory Oversight Committee received reports regarding the funds' compliance policies and procedures and matters undertaken thereunder as well as other compliance initiatives on a regular basis.
In considering the breadth and quality of services the Adviser and its various teams provide, the Board considered that the Adviser provides investment advisory services. The Fund utilizes the Sub-Adviserto manage its portfolio subject to the supervision of the Adviser. Accordingly, the Board considered that the Adviser and its affiliates, among other things, oversee and review the performance of the Sub-Adviserand its investment team(s); evaluate Fund performance and market conditions; evaluate investment strategies and recommend changes thereto; oversee trade execution and, as applicable, securities lending; evaluate investment risks; and manage valuation matters. As noted below, the Board also considered the Nuveen funds' performance over various time periods throughout the year.
In addition to the portfolio management services provided to the Fund (including indirectly by overseeing the Sub-Adviser),the Board considered the extensive compliance, regulatory, administrative and other services the Adviser and its various teams or affiliates provide to manage and operate the applicable funds, including but not limited to: distribution management services pursuant to which management seeks to implement distribution policies and set distribution levels consistent with each fund's product design and positioning; compliance services including establishing and maintaining broad-based compliance policies across the Nuveen fund complex, evaluating the compliance programs of various fund services providers, conducting ongoing risk assessments and testing, monitoring portfolio compliance with investment and regulatory requirements and providing a comprehensive compliance training program; providing regulatory advocacy services, including submitting comments on regulatory proposals and monitoring regulatory developments that may impact the fund(s); providing support to the Board and its committees throughout the year, including providing reports on a wide range of topics relating to the operations and management of the funds, helping to refine the materials provided to the Board and/or its committees and providing educational sessions on various topics; establishing and reviewing the services provided by other fund service providers (such as a fund's custodian, accountant, and transfer agent); providing legal support services; and evaluating trade allocation and execution.
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Aside from the services provided, the Board considered the financial resources of the Adviser and/or its affiliates and their willingness to make investments to support the funds. The Board considered the funds' access to a seed capital budget provided by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to support new or existing funds and/or facilitate changes for a respective fund. The Board considered the benefits to shareholders of investing in a fund that is a part of a large fund complex with a variety of investment disciplines, capabilities, and expertise. The Board considered the overall reputation and capabilities of the Adviser and its affiliates and the Adviser's continuing commitment to provide high quality services.
In its review, the Board also considered the significant risks borne by the Adviser and its affiliates in connection with their services to the Nuveen funds, including entrepreneurial risks in sponsoring and supporting new funds and smaller funds and ongoing risks with managing the funds, such as investment, operational, reputational, regulatory, compliance and litigation risks.
The Board considered the division of responsibilities between the Adviser and the Sub-Adviserand considered that the Sub-Adviserand its investment personnel, as noted, generally are responsible for the management of the Fund's portfolio under the oversight of the Adviser and the Board. The Board considered an analysis of the Sub-Adviserprovided by the Adviser which included, among other things, a summary of changes (if any) in the leadership teams and/or portfolio manager teams; the performance of the funds sub-advisedby the Sub-Adviserover various periods of time that met certain performance screening measurements; and data reflecting product changes (if any) taken with respect to certain funds. The Board considered that the Adviser recommended the renewal of the Sub-AdvisoryAgreement.
Based on its review, the Board determined, in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment, that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund under each Advisory Agreement.
B. The Investment Performance of the Fund and Fund Advisers
In evaluating the quality of the services provided by the Fund Advisers, the Board also considered a variety of investment performance data of the Fund. In leading up to the annual review, the Board and/or its Investment Committee considered, among other things, Fund performance over the quarter, one-,three- and five-year periods ending December 31, 2024 on an absolute basis and as compared to the performance of comparable peers (the "Performance Peer Group") and to a benchmark for the prescribed periods. For the Fund, which has multiple share classes, the performance data was based on Class I shares; however, the performance of other share classes was expected to be substantially similar as they invest in the same portfolio of securities and differences in performance among the classes of a fund generally may be principally attributed to the variations in the expense structures of the share classes. Prior to the Meeting, the Board also received updated Fund performance over the quarter, one-,three- and five-year periods ended March 31, 2025 on an absolute basis and in comparison to the Performance Peer Group and a benchmark for the prescribed periods. In its review of relative performance, the Board considered the Fund's performance relative to its Performance Peer Group, among other things, by evaluating its quartile ranking with the 1st quartile representing the top performing funds within the Performance Peer Group and the 4th quartile representing the lowest performing funds.
The Board took into account the performance data, presentations and discussions (written and oral) that were provided at the Meeting and in prior meetings over time in evaluating fund performance, including particular focus on management's analysis of the performance of funds that met certain screening measurements as determined pursuant to a methodology approved by the Board or additional measurements as determined by management's investment analysts. As various Nuveen funds have modified their portfolio teams and/or made significant changes to their portfolio strategies over time, the Board reviewed, among other things, certain tracking performance data over specific periods comparing performance before and after such changes.
In evaluating performance, the Board considered some of the limitations of the performance data. The Board considered, among other things, that performance data reflects performance over a specified period which may differ significantly depending on the ending dates selected, particularly during periods of market volatility. Further, the Board considered that regardless of the performance period reviewed by the Board, shareholders may evaluate performance based on their own respective holding periods which may differ from the performance periods reviewed by the Board and lead to differing results. With respect to comparative performance, the Board considered that differing investment objectives, investment strategies, dates of inception, type and cost of leverage (if any), asset size and other factors between the Performance Peer Group and a fund necessarily lead to differences in performance results. Similarly, differences in the investment objective(s) and strategies of a fund and its benchmark (particularly an actively managed fund that does not directly follow an index) as well as the costs of operating a fund would contribute to differences in performance results. To assist the Board in its review of the comparability of the relative performance, management generally has ranked the relevancy of the Performance Peer Groups to the applicable funds as low, medium or high.
The Board evaluated performance in light of various relevant factors which may include, among other things, general market conditions, issuer- specific information, asset class information, leverage and fund cash flows. The Board considered that long-term performance could be impacted by even one period of significant outperformance or underperformance and that a single investment theme could disproportionately affect performance. Further, the Board considered that market and economic conditions may significantly impact a fund's performance, particularly over shorter periods, and such performance may be more reflective of such economic or market events and not necessarily reflective of management skill. Although the Board reviews short-, intermediate- and longer-term performance data, the Board considered that longer periods of performance may reflect full market cycles.
In their review from year to year, the Board Members consider and may place different emphasis on the relevant information in light of changing circumstances in market and economic conditions. In evaluating performance, the Board focused particular attention on funds with less favorable performance records. However, depending on the facts and circumstances, including any differences between the respective fund and its benchmark and/or Performance Peer Group, the Board may be satisfied with a fund's performance notwithstanding that its performance may be below that of its benchmark and/or peer group for certain periods. With respect to any funds for which the Board has identified performance issues, the Board seeks to monitor such funds more closely until performance improves, discuss with the Adviser the reasons for such results, consider whether any steps are necessary or appropriate to address such issues, discuss and evaluate the potential consequences of such steps and review the results of any steps undertaken.
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Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract. (continued)
The performance determinations with respect to the Fund are summarized below:
| • |
The Board considered that although the Fund's performance was below the performance of its benchmark for the five-year period ended December 31, 2024, the Fund outperformed its benchmark for the one- and three-year periods ended December 31, 2024. In addition, the Fund ranked in the first quartile of its Performance Peer Group for the one-,three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2024. On the basis of the Board's ongoing review of investment performance and all relevant factors, including the relative market conditions during certain reporting periods, the Fund's investment objective(s) and management's discussion of performance, the Board concluded that the Fund's performance supported renewal of the Advisory Agreements. |
C. Fees, Expenses and Profitability
| 1. |
Fees and Expenses |
As part of the annual review, the Board Members considered, among other things, the management fee schedules and the expense reimbursements and/or fee waivers agreed to by the Adviser for the Fund (if any). In addition to the management fee arrangements, the Board Members considered the Fund's operating expense ratio as it more directly reflected a shareholder's total costs in investing in the Fund.
In its review, the Board considered that the management fees of the Fund were generally comprised of two components, a fund-level component and a complex-level component, each with its own breakpoint schedule. The Board considered that in 2024, the Board approved a revised complex- wide breakpoint schedule which simplified and reduced the complex-level fee rates at various thresholds and expanded the eligible funds whose assets would be included in calculating the complex-level fee, effective May 1, 2024. The Board considered that the complex-level component is intended to be an efficient mechanism designed to help share cost efficiencies with shareholders as the complex-wide assets grow.
The Board also considered comparative fee and expense information prepared by an independent third-party provider of fund data. More specifically, the Board Members generally reviewed, among other things, the Fund's management fee rates and net total expense ratio in relation to similar data for a comparable universe of peers (the "Expense Universe") and a more focused group of comparable peers (the "Expense Group") established by Broadridge. With respect to the Broadridge comparative expense data, Broadridge applied Class I shares of the Fund. In its review of such comparative fee and expense data, the Board considered, among other things, the Fund's quartile rankings of its contractual management fee rate, actual management fee rate and net total expense ratio within its Expense Universe and Expense Group (as applicable) with the first quartile representing the range of funds with the lowest management fee rate or net total expense ratio, respectively, and the fourth quartile representing the range of funds with the highest management fee rate or net total expense ratio, respectively. In their review, the Board Members considered, in particular, each fund with a net total expense ratio meeting certain expense screening criteria adopted by the Board when compared to its Expense Universe and Expense Group (if any) and management's commentary as to the factors contributing to each such fund's relative net total expense ratio. The Board also considered, in relevant part, a fund's management fee in light of its performance history with particular focus on any fund identified as having a higher management fee and/or expense ratio compared to peers coupled with experiencing a period of challenged performance.
In their review, the Board Members considered the methodology Broadridge employed to establish its Expense Universe and Expense Group (as applicable). The Board further considered that differences between a fund and its respective Expense Universe and/or Expense Group, as well as changes to the composition of the Expense Universe and/or Expense Group from year to year, may limit some of the value of the comparative data. The Board Members also considered that it can be difficult to compare management fees among funds with peers as there are variations in the services that are included for the fees paid. The Board Members took these limitations and differences into account when reviewing comparative peer data.
With respect to the Sub-Adviser,the Board also considered, among other things, the sub-advisoryfee schedule paid to the Sub-Adviserin light of the sub-advisoryservices provided to the Fund. In its review, the Board considered that the compensation paid to the Sub-Adviseris the responsibility of the Adviser, not the Fund.
The Board's considerations regarding the comparative fee data for the Fund are set forth below:
| • |
The Fund's contractual management fee rate, actual management fee rate and net total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile of its Expense Group. In addition, the Fund's contractual management fee rate, actual management fee rate and net total expense ratio ranked in the third quartile, second quartile and second quartile of its Expense Universe, respectively. Further, the Fund's contractual management fee rate, actual management fee rate and net total expense ratio were each below the Expense Group median. The Fund's contractual management fee rate was slightly above (within 5 basis points) the Expense Universe median, and the Fund's actual management fee rate and net total expense ratio were each below the Expense Universe median, respectively. |
Based on its review of the information provided, the Board determined that the Fund's management fees (as applicable) to a Fund Adviser were reasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund.
2. Comparisons with the Fees of Other Clients
In evaluating the appropriateness of fees, the Board also considered that the Adviser, Sub-Adviserand/or their affiliate(s) provide investment management services to other types of clients which may include, among others: separately managed accounts ("SMAs"), retail managed accounts, foreign funds (UCITS), other investment companies (as sub-advisers),limited partnerships and collective investment trusts. The Board considered certain fee data for these other types of clients managed in a similar manner to certain of the funds compared to the management fee of the
4
applicable fund. The Board considered a description of various factors which contribute to the differences in the management fee rates of the funds compared to those charged to these other types of clients which limited the comparability of the data. In this regard, the Board considered that the differences in, among other things, the breadth of services provided by the Adviser and its affiliates to the funds compared to those provided to other clients; the expenses the Adviser and its affiliates incur in launching, operating and supporting a fund; the support services provided to shareholders; the extensive regulatory, disclosure and governance requirements applicable to funds; the establishment and maintenance of servicing relationships with various service providers for the funds; the manner of managing such assets; investment policies; investor profiles; and account sizes all may contribute to the variations in relative fee rates. Differences in the level of advisory services required for passively managed funds also contribute to differences in the management fee levels of such funds compared to actively managed funds. In addition, differences in the client base; governing bodies, regulatory and legal requirements; distribution; jurisdiction and operational complexities also would contribute to variations in management fees assessed the funds compared to foreign fund clients. Further, differences in the level of advisory and non-advisoryservices required and risk incurred when serving as a sub-adviserto other investment companies compared to serving as the Adviser to a Nuveen fund contribute to differences in the fees assessed. In this regard, the Board further considered the significant entrepreneurial, legal and regulatory risks that the Adviser incurs in sponsoring and managing the funds. As a general matter, higher fee levels reflect higher levels of service provided by the Adviser, increased investment management complexity, greater product management requirements, and higher levels of business risk or some combination of these factors. The Board further considered that the Sub-Adviser'sfee is essentially for portfolio management services and therefore more comparable to the fees received for retail wrap accounts and other external sub-advisorymandates. The Board concluded that the varying levels of fees were reasonable given the foregoing.
| 3. |
Profitability of the Fund Advisers |
In considering the costs of services to be provided and profits to be realized by the Adviser (which encompassed its affiliated sub-advisers)from its relationship with the Fund, the Board Members considered a variety of estimated profitability data from various perspectives including, among other things, (a) historical pre-distributionand post-distribution margins over specified periods for the Adviser's services to the applicable funds; (b) certain profitability data on behalf of the Adviser attributable to servicing all applicable funds for 2024 and 2023; (c) certain profitability data of both the Adviser and TAL (as an adviser for other Nuveen funds) on a combined basis derived from types of funds in the aggregate (i.e., from closed-endfunds, exchange-traded funds, interval funds and open-endfunds) for 2024 and 2023; and (d) certain profitability data of both the Adviser and TAL (as an adviser for other Nuveen funds) on a combined basis by asset grouping of Nuveen funds in the aggregate (i.e., from equity, fund of funds, index, municipal bond and taxable fixed income funds). In addition, the Board considered profitability data at the per fund level for the respective adviser.
In reviewing the profitability data, the Board Members considered the subjective nature of calculating profitability as the information is not audited and is necessarily dependent on cost allocation methodologies to allocate expenses throughout the complex and among the various advisory products. The Board reviewed, among other things, a description of the cost allocation methodology employed to develop the profitability data. However, the Board Members considered that given there is no single universally recognized expense allocation methodology, other reasonable and valid allocation methodologies could be employed and could lead to significantly different profit and loss results and therefore developing profitability data is difficult, particularly on a per fund level.
Further, in considering the comparative margin data with peers, the Board Members considered the limitations of the comparative data given that peer data is not generally public and the calculation of profitability is subjective and affected by numerous factors (such as types of funds a peer manages, its business mix, its cost of capital, the numerous assumptions underlying the methodology used to allocate expenses and other factors) that can have a significant impact on the results. Given that the peer profitability data may reflect the different business mix of the respective peer firm, the Board also considered the pre-and post-distribution margins of Nuveen, LLC for each of the calendar years from 2020 through 2024.
Aside from the foregoing profitability data, the Board also considered, among other things, the audited statutory-basis financial statements of TIAA as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the related statutory-basis statements of operations, of changes in capital and contingency reserves and of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Board considered the benefit of an investment adviser and its parent with significant resources, particularly during periods of market volatility. The Board also considered the investments the Adviser, its parent and/or other affiliates made into their business.
In evaluating the reasonableness of the compensation, the Board Members also considered the indirect benefits the Adviser or Sub-Adviserreceived that were directly attributable to the management of the applicable funds as discussed in further detail below. Based on its review, the Board was satisfied that the Adviser's (together with its affiliated sub-advisers)level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of services provided.
D. Economies of Scale and Whether Fee Levels Reflect These Economies of Scale
The Board considered whether there have been economies of scale with respect to the management of the funds, whether these economies of scale have been appropriately shared with the funds and whether there is potential for realization of further economies of scale. Although the Board considered that economies of scale are difficult to measure with any precision and the rates at which certain expenses are incurred may not decline with a rise in assets, the Board considered that there are a variety of methods that may be employed to help share the benefits of economies of scale, including, among other things, through the use of breakpoints in the management fee schedule, fee waivers and/or expense limitations, the pricing of funds at scale at inception and investments in the Adviser's business which can enhance the services provided to the funds for the fees paid. The Board considered such factors that were applicable to the Fund's advisory fee structure.
As noted above, the Board considered that the management fee of the Adviser for the Fund generally was comprised of a fund-level component and a complex-level component each with its own breakpoint schedule. The Board also approved a revised complex-wide breakpoint schedule in 2024 which reduced the complex-level fee rates at various thresholds and expanded the assets included when calculating the complex-level fee.
5
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract. (continued)
With this structure, the Board considered that the complex-level breakpoint schedule was designed to deliver the benefits of economies of scale to shareholders when the assets of the eligible participating funds in the complex pass certain thresholds even if the assets of a particular fund are unchanged or have declined, and the fund-level breakpoint schedules were designed to share economies of scale with shareholders if the particular fund grows. The Board reviewed the fund-level and complex-level fee schedules.
In addition to the fund-level and complex-level fee schedules, the Board Members considered the temporary and/or permanent expense caps applicable to the Fund (if any). The Board considered that such waivers and reimbursements are another means for potential economies of scale to be shared with shareholders of such funds and can provide a protection from an increase in expenses if the assets of the applicable funds decline.
The Board Members also considered the continued reinvestment in Nuveen's business to enhance its capabilities and services to the benefit of its various clients. The Board considered that many of these investments were not specific to individual Nuveen funds, but rather initiatives from which the family of funds as a whole may benefit. The Board further considered that the scope of the services of the Adviser and its affiliates have expanded over time without raising advisory fees to the funds, and this was also a means of sharing economies of scale with the funds and their shareholders. The Board considered the Adviser's and/or its affiliates' ongoing efforts to streamline the product line-up,among other things, to create more scaled funds which may help improve both expense and trading economies for participating funds.
Based on its review, the Board was satisfied that the current fee arrangements together with the reinvestment in management's business appropriately shared any economies of scale with shareholders.
E. Indirect Benefits
The Board Members received and considered information regarding various indirect benefits the respective Fund Adviser or its affiliates may receive as a result of their relationship with the funds. These benefits included, among other things, economies of scale to the extent the Adviser or its affiliates share investment resources and/or personnel with other clients of the Adviser. Certain funds may also be used as investment options for other products or businesses offered by the Adviser and/or its affiliates, such as variable products, fund of funds and 529 education savings plans, and affiliates of the Adviser may serve as sub-adviserto various funds in which case all advisory and sub-advisoryfees generated by such funds stay within Nuveen.
Further, the funds may pay the Adviser and/or its affiliates for other services, such as distribution. In this regard, the Board Members considered that an affiliate of the Adviser serves as principal underwriter providing distribution and/or shareholder services to the open-endfunds for which it may be compensated. To the extent an open-endfund pays 12b-1fees, the Board Members considered that some of those fees may be retained by the Adviser's affiliate. In addition, the Board considered that an affiliate of the Adviser received compensation in 2024 for serving as an underwriter on shelf offerings of existing closed-endfunds and reviewed the amounts paid for such services in 2024 and 2023.
In addition, the Board Members considered that the Adviser and Sub-Advisermay utilize soft dollar brokerage arrangements attributable to the respective fund(s) to obtain research and other services for any or all of their clients, although the Board Members also considered reimbursements of such costs by the Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser.
The Adviser and its affiliates may also benefit from the advisory relationships with the funds in the fund complex to the extent this relationship results in potential investors viewing the TIAA group of companies as a leading retirement plan provider in the academic and nonprofit market and a single source for all their financial service needs. The Adviser and/or its affiliates may further benefit to the extent that they have pricing or other information regarding vendors the funds utilize in establishing arrangements with such vendors for other products.
Based on its review, the Board concluded that any indirect benefits received by a Fund Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund were reasonable in light of the services provided.
F. Other Considerations
The Board Members did not identify any single factor discussed previously as all-importantor controlling. The Board Members concluded that the terms of each Advisory Agreement were reasonable, that the respective Fund Adviser's fees were reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund and that the Advisory Agreements be renewed for an additional one-yearperiod.
6
| Item 12. |
Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
Not applicable to open-endinvestment companies.
| Item 13. |
Portfolio Managers of Closed-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
Not applicable to open-endinvestment companies.
| Item 14. |
Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-EndManagement Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable to open-endinvestment companies.
| Item 15. |
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 implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this Item.
| Item 16. |
Controls and Procedures. |
| (a) |
The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c)under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c)))are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b)under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b))and Rules 13a-15(b)or 15d-15(b)under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b)or 240.15d-15(b)). |
| (b) |
There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d)under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. |
| Item 17. |
Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-EndManagement Investment Companies. |
| (a) |
Not applicable to open-endinvestment companies. |
| (b) |
Not applicable to open-endinvestment companies. |
| Item 18. |
Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. |
| (a) |
Not applicable. |
| (b) |
Not applicable. |
| Item 19. |
Exhibits. |
| (a)(1) |
Not applicable because the code of ethics is available, upon request and without charge, by calling 800-257-8787and there were no amendments during the period covered by this report. |
| (a)(2) |
Not applicable. |
| (a)(3) |
Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a)under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (a)(4) |
Not applicable. |
| (a)(5) |
Change in the registrant's independent public accountant. Filed herewith. |
| (b) |
Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b)under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is attached hereto. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Nuveen Investment Trust II
| Date: November 6, 2025 | By: | /s/ Jordan M. Farris | ||||
| Jordan M. Farris | ||||||
| Chief Administrative Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Date: November 6, 2025 | By: | /s/ Jordan M. Farris | ||||
| Jordan M. Farris | ||||||
| Chief Administrative Officer | ||||||
| (principal executive officer) | ||||||
| Date: November 6, 2025 | By: | /s/ Marc Cardella | ||||
| Marc Cardella | ||||||
| Vice President and Controller | ||||||
| (principal financial officer) | ||||||