gugg63508-ncsr.htm
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  811-22715
 
Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
 
227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
 
Amy J. Lee
227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606
(Name and address of agent for service)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(312) 827-0100 
 
Date of fiscal year end:  May 31
 
Date of reporting period:  June 1, 2015 - November 30, 2015
 
 
 

 
 
Item 1.  Reports to Stockholders.
 
The registrant's semi-annual report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), is as follows:
 
 
 
 

 
 
GUGGENHEIMINVESTMENTS.COM/GGM
 
... YOUR LINK TO THE LATEST, MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND
 
The shareholder report you are reading right now is just the beginning of the story.
 
Online at guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm, you will find:
Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC are constantly updating and expanding shareholder information services on the Fund’s website in an ongoing effort to provide you with the most current information about how your Fund’s assets are managed and the results of our efforts. It is just one more small way we are working to keep you better informed about your investment in the Fund.
 
 
 

 

 
 
November 30, 2015
 
DEAR SHAREHOLDER
 
We thank you for your investment in the Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (the “Fund”). This report covers the Fund’s performance for the six-month period ended November 30, 2015.
 
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.
 
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities, debt securities, loans and investments with economic characteristics similar to fixed-income securities, debt securities and loans (collectively, “credit securities”). The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of credit securities selected from a variety of sectors and credit qualities. The Fund may invest in credit securities of any duration or maturity. Credit securities in which the Fund may invest may pay fixed or variable rates of interest. The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of non-U.S. issuers, including issuers in emerging markets.
 
All Fund returns cited—whether based on net asset value (“NAV”) or market price—assume the reinvestment of all distributions. For the six-month period ended November 30, 2015, the Fund provided a total return based on market price of -13.25% and a total return based on NAV of -6.97%. NAV return includes the deduction of management fees, operating expenses, and all other Fund expenses.
 
As of November 30, 2015, the Fund’s market price of $18.99 represented a discount of 8.08% to its NAV of $20.66. The market value of the Fund’s shares fluctuates from time to time and may be higher or lower than the Fund’s NAV. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
From June 2015 through November 2015, the Fund paid a monthly distribution of $0.1813. The November distribution represents an annualized distribution rate of 11.46% based on the Fund’s closing market price of $18.99 on November 30, 2015. The Fund’s distribution rate is not constant, and the amount of distributions, when declared by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, is subject to change based on the performance of the Fund. Please see Note 2(e) on page 36 for more information on distributions for the period.
 
Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“GPIM” or the “Sub-Adviser”) serves as the Fund’s investment sub-adviser and is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio of investments. Each of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser is an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (“Guggenheim”), a global diversified financial services firm.
 
We encourage shareholders to consider the opportunity to reinvest their distributions from the Fund through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”), which is described in detail on page 53 of this report. When shares trade at a discount to NAV, the DRIP takes advantage of the discount by reinvesting the monthly distribution in common shares of the Fund purchased in the market at a price less than NAV. Conversely, when the market price of the Fund’s common shares is at a premium above NAV, the DRIP reinvests participants’ distributions in newly-issued common shares at the greater of NAV per share or
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 3
 
 
 

 
 
 
November 30, 2015
 
95% of the market price per share. The DRIP provides a cost-effective means to accumulate additional shares and enjoy the benefits of compounding returns over time. Since the Fund endeavors to maintain a stable monthly distribution, the DRIP effectively provides an income averaging technique, which causes shareholders to accumulate a larger number of Fund shares when the market price is depressed than when the price is higher.
 
To learn more about the Fund’s performance and investment strategy, we encourage you to read the Questions & Answers section of this report, which begins on page 5. You’ll find information on GPIM’s investment philosophy, views on the economy and market environment, and detailed information about the factors that impacted the Fund’s performance.
 
We appreciate your investment and look forward to serving your investment needs in the future. For the most up-to-date information on your investment, please visit the Fund’s website at guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Donald C. Cacciapaglia
President and Chief Executive Officer
Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund
December 31, 2015
 
 

4 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 
 

 
 
   
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
November 30, 2015
 
Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (the “Fund”) is managed by a team of seasoned professionals at Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“GPIM”). This team includes B. Scott Minerd, Chairman of Guggenheim Investments and Global Chief Investment Officer; Anne B. Walsh, CFA, JD, Senior Managing Director and Assistant Chief Investment Officer; Jeffrey B. Abrams, Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager; Kevin H. Gundersen, Senior Managing Director and Portfolio Manager; and James W. Michal, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. In the following interview, the investment team discusses the market environment and the Fund’s performance for the six months ended November 30, 2015.
 
What is the Fund’s investment objective and how is it pursued?
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.
 
Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities, debt securities, loans and investments with economic characteristics similar to fixed-income securities (collectively, “credit securities”). Credit securities in which the Fund may invest consist of corporate bonds, loans and loan participations, asset-backed securities (all or a portion of which may consist of collateralized loan obligations), mortgage-backed securities (both residential mortgage-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities), U.S. Government and agency securities, mezzanine and preferred securities, convertible securities, commercial paper, municipal securities and sovereign government and supranational debt securities. The Fund will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of credit securities selected from a variety of sectors and credit qualities. The Fund may invest in credit securities that are rated below investment grade, or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality (also known as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”). The Fund may invest in credit securities of any duration or maturity. Credit securities in which the Fund may invest may pay fixed or variable rates of interest. The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of non-U.S. issuers, including issuers in emerging markets.
 
The Fund may, but is not required to, use various derivatives transactions for hedging and risk management purposes, to facilitate portfolio management and to earn income or enhance total return. The Fund may use such transactions as a means to synthetically implement the Fund’s investment strategies. In addition, as an alternative to holding investments directly, the Fund may also obtain investment exposure by investing in other investment companies. To the extent that the Fund invests in synthetic investments with economic characteristics similar to credit securities, the value of such investments will be counted as credit securities for purposes of the Fund’s policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in credit securities (the “80% Policy”).
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 5
 
 
 

 
 
   
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS continued
November 30, 2015
 
The Fund may invest in open-end funds, closed-end funds and exchange traded funds. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% Policy, the Fund will include its investments in other investment companies that have a policy of investing at least 80% of their net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in one or more types of credit securities.
 
The Fund uses financial leverage (borrowing) to finance the purchase of additional securities. Although financial leverage may create an opportunity for increased return for shareholders, it also results in additional risks and can magnify the effect of any losses. There is no assurance that the strategy will be successful. If income and gains on securities purchased with the financial leverage proceeds are greater than the cost of the financial leverage, common shareholders’ return will be greater than if financial leverage had not been used. Conversely, if the income or gains from the securities purchased with the proceeds of financial leverage are less than the cost of financial leverage, common shareholders’ return will be less than if financial leverage had not been used.
 
What were the significant events affecting the economy and market environment over the past six months?
The European Central Bank (ECB) announcement in early December, after the period ended, was generally a negative surprise to the markets, which had expected a more dovish tone and greater action. While the ECB cut its deposit rate, extended the duration of quantitative easing, and said it will reinvest the proceeds of maturing debt, it didn’t increase monthly debt purchases from the current 60 billion euros (US$66 billion), as was expected. This caused an immediate bounce in the value of the euro, causing the unwinding of short interest and upsetting market sentiment.
 
The ECB actions coincided with the continued decline in the price of oil, which was precipitated by a recent announcement by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that they would not reduce production in an oversupplied market. In early December, after the period ended, oil declined steadily, piercing through $40/barrel and later dipping down to $36.5/barrel.
 
With these macro factors as a backdrop and with risk sentiment in the market already being relatively volatile, in mid-December, a $788MM Distressed Credit Fund decided to shut down and return capital to investors over time because it was no longer able to meet the daily liquidity conventions expected of a typical mutual fund structure. These headlines caused high yield bonds to sell off and drove large redemptions from high yield mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). It is important to note that despite being described loosely by the financial media as a “high yield fund,” the Distressed Credit Fund differed significantly from the broader high-yield market. It was a “distressed fund,” comprising securities that are lower in credit quality and already in, or potentially headed for, a credit event and therefore not heavily traded.
 
As of the end of the period, high-yield bond spreads—excluding commodity-sensitive sectors, namely Energy and Metals & Mining—were in the 600 basis point (bps) range, wider compared with average spreads below 400 bps at the beginning of the last three Fed tightening cycles. The premium to be gained from high yield compared with investment grade bonds is also attractive by historical standards. High yield bond spreads were over 400 bps higher than investment grade bond spreads at the end of the
 
 

6 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS continued
November 30, 2015
 
period, wider versus a differential of less than 300 bps at the beginning of the last three Fed tightening cycles.
 
As of the FOMC meeting on December 16, the Fed raised their target Fed Funds rate by 25 bps. This decision to tighten monetary policy was in recognition that growth in the U.S. economy is sufficient to meet expectations in the current recovery. Historically, the period when the Fed begins to tighten leads to an initial sell-off in the bond market, as investors brace themselves for the ill-effects of restrictive monetary policy on the economy. Then, as investors realize the Fed is raising rates because the economy is strong, the fear of defaults diminishes and credit spreads tighten again.
 
At the end of the period, U.S. investors could draw optimism from the fundamental strength of the U.S. economy, seasonal factors that continue to kick in support for equity prices, and expectations that the holiday retail season will be a good one. Among positives for the U.S. economy, the consumer price index rose by 0.2% in October after two months of declines, and has begun to accelerate in year-over-year terms due to positive base effects. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey posted its strongest growth since July, and September job openings of 5.52 million beat expectations. Although October retail sales growth of just 0.1% was disappointing, consumer sentiment rebounded in October and November, and the outlook for consumer spending is bright. Another positive could be El Niño, the massive weather pattern that, as it gains strength, should actually become a boon to the U.S. economy, potentially adding 1.5% to gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter.
 
While the potential for more volatility ahead remains, fundamental metrics of issuers remain stable. For example, gross leverage ratios, while roughly 4X, are higher than average, but by no means troubling. Interest coverage ratios of issuers are very good by any measure at 4.4X versus an average of below 3.5X over the last 15 years.
 
For the six months ended November 30, 2015, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index returned -0.21%; the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returned -0.12%; the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index returned -5.84%; and the Barclays 1–3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index returned 0.01%. All returns are total return.
 
How did the Fund perform for the six months ended November 30, 2015?
All Fund returns cited—whether based on net asset value (“NAV”) or market price—assume the reinvestment of all distributions. For the six-month period ended November 30, 2015, the Fund provided a total return based on market price of -13.25% and a total return based on NAV of -6.97%. NAV return includes the deduction of management fees, operating expenses, and all other Fund expenses.
 
As of November 30, 2015, the Fund’s market price of $18.99 represented a discount of 8.08% to its NAV of $20.66. As of May 31, 2015, the Fund’s market price of $23.07 represented a discount of 1.16% to its NAV of $23.34. The market value of the Fund’s shares fluctuates from time to time and may be higher or lower than the Fund’s NAV. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
From June 2015 through November 2015, the Fund paid a monthly distribution of $0.1813. The November distribution represents an annualized distribution rate of 11.46% based on the Fund’s closing
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 7
 
 
 

 
 
   
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS continued
November 30, 2015
 
market price of $18.99 on November 30, 2015. The Fund’s distribution rate is not constant, and the amount of distributions, when declared by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, is subject to change based on the performance of the Fund. Please see Note 2(e) on page 36 for more information on distributions for the period.
 
Why did the Fund accrue excise tax during the period?
As a registered investment company, the Fund is subject to a 4% excise tax that is imposed if the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year and (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use the fund’s fiscal year). The Fund generally intends to distribute income and capital gains in the manner necessary to minimize (but not necessarily eliminate) the imposition of such excise tax. While the Fund’s income and capital gains can vary significantly from year to year, the Fund seeks to maintain more stable monthly distributions over time. The Fund may retain income or capital gains and pay excise tax when it is determined that doing so is in the best interest of shareholders. Management, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, evaluates the costs of the excise tax relative to the benefits of retaining income and capital gains, including that such undistributed amounts (net of the excise tax paid) remain available for investment by the Fund and are available to supplement future distributions, which may facilitate the payment of more stable monthly distributions year over year.
 
What factors influenced the Fund’s performance?
The Fund is composed primarily of high yield corporate bonds and bank loans. The allocation mix varies according to the relative attractiveness of the two asset classes and availability of attractively priced assets. As proxies for the two markets, the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index returned -5.84% for the six-month period, and the Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index returned -2.54%.
 
Among contributors to performance during the period were an overweight to the consumer non-cyclical sector and an underweight to the metals and mining sector. Another contributor to performance was exposure to asset-backed securities (ABS), as the asset class generally outperformed high yield and bank loans during the period.
 
Detracting from performance was exposure to energy credits, as oil prices fell by 32% and natural gas prices fell by 16% over the period. The Fund expects further stress in the energy and metals/mining sectors and continues to focus on individual credits that can survive our stress tests.
 
An overweight to higher-yielding, lower-rated credits also detracted from performance, as high-quality issues outperformed during the period. For the six-month period, BB rated bonds returned -2.83%, B rated bonds returned –6.52%, and CCC rated bonds returned -11.70%.
 
Given the variation of fundamental metrics within high yield, the Fund currently favors investments in companies with recurring revenue stream and high-quality margins, including technology, consumer
 
 

8 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS continued
November 30, 2015
 
retail (which should also benefit from declining gas prices), and healthcare. We focus on strong quality credits and analyze potentially oversold bonds for attractive entry points. Upper middle-market high-yield bonds and bank loans (tranches of $300 to $750 million) remain attractive, as they are often overlooked and underfollowed. A selloff in risk assets, like the one that occurred in the last part of the period, creates opportunities to pick up strong credits at attractive valuations.
 
The Fund remains conservatively positioned in terms of its exposure to interest rates. It maintains a higher exposure to shorter-dated bonds and is overweight floating rate securities (bank loans).
 
Any comments on the fixed income market generally or sectors the Fund invests in?
We continue to have a positive view of the fixed income asset class. With the Fed’s first rate hike in seven years now decided, the tailwinds of positive economic data, accommodative global central banks, and positive seasonal forces are bolstering market resilience and reaffirming a positive environment backdrop for credit markets.
 
The trailing 12-month high-yield default rate at the end of the period was about 2.9% and the institutional bank loan default rate about 1.3%, which are below long-term averages. Excluding energy and metals/mining, the trailing default rates for high-yield bonds and bank loans were closer to 1.5% and 0.9%, respectively. We believe the low default rate environment (ex-commodity-sensitive sectors) will likely continue through the upcoming Fed tightening cycle.
 
Issuance of high yield bonds and leveraged loans through November 2015 is ~15% below that of 2014, at about $280 billion and $330 billion, respectively. Newly formed collateralized loan obligations (CLO) have been supporting the loan market, and CLO issuance is expected to total about $100 billion in 2015, down from $124 billion in 2014.
 
Fund flows through the end of the period were slightly positive for high yield and modestly negative for loans.
 
What is the Fund’s duration?
The effective duration for GGM as of November 30, 2015, was approximately two years. Our view is that we are unlikely to see rates move in a sudden and aggressive upward trajectory, as the Fed is providing ample guidance about the future path of interest rates. The Fund may invest in credit securities of any duration or maturity and is not required to maintain any particular maturity or duration for its portfolio as a whole. It typically maintains a leverage-adjusted average portfolio duration of one to four years. However, average portfolio duration is adjusted based on market conditions.
 
Discuss the impact of leverage for the period.
The Fund utilizes leverage as part of its investment strategy, to finance the purchase of additional securities that provide increased income and potentially greater appreciation potential to common shareholders than could be achieved from a portfolio that is not leveraged.
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 9
 
 
 

 
 
   
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS continued
November 30, 2015
 
The Fund currently employs leverage through reverse repurchase agreements, under which the Fund temporarily transfers possession of portfolio securities and receives cash that can be used for additional investments.
 
As of November 30, 2015, the amount of leverage was approximately 33% of total managed assets. While leverage increases the income of the Fund in yield terms, it also amplifies the effects of changing market prices in the portfolio and can cause the Fund’s NAV to change to a greater degree than the market as a whole. This can create volatility in Fund pricing but should not affect the Fund’s ability to pay dividends under normal circumstances.
 
Index Definitions
Indices are unmanaged and reflect no expenses. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
 
The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index represents securities that are U.S. domestic, taxable, and dollar denominated. The index covers the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market, with index components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities.
 
The Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index is an unmanaged index of below investment grade bonds issued by U.S. corporations.
 
The Barclays 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index tracks the performance of U.S. Treasury bills with a remaining maturity of one to three months. U.S. Treasury bills, which are short-term loans to the U.S. government, are full faith-and-credit obligations of the U.S. Treasury and are generally regarded as being free of any risk of default.
 
The Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index is an index designed to mirror the investable universe of the $US-denominated leveraged loan market.
 
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.
 
Risks and Other Considerations
The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio managers only through the report period as stated on the cover. These views are subject to change at any time, based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as a recommendation of any kind. The material may also include forward looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty, and there is no guarantee that any predictions will come to pass. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The value of the Fund will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. Historically, closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value.
 
Please see guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm for a detailed discussion of the Fund’s risks and considerations.
 
 

10 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
FUND SUMMARY (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
 
   
Fund Statistics
 
Share Price
$18.99
Net Asset Value
$20.66
Discount to NAV
-8.08%
Net Assets ($000)
$136,961

 
       
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
     
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2015
     
 
Six
 
Since
 
Month
One
Inception
 
(non-annualized)
Year
(06/26/13)
Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund
     
NAV
-6.97%
-3.44%
2.41%
Market
-13.25%
-8.10%
-2.74%
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. All NAV returns include the deduction of management fees, operating expenses and all other Fund expenses. The deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares is not reflected in the total returns. For the most recent month-end performance figures, please visit guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate with changes in market conditions and other factors so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
 
Portfolio Breakdown
% of Net Assets
Investments:
 
Common Stocks
0.2%
Preferred Stocks
6.0%
Short Term Investments
1.3%
Corporate Bonds
71.8%
Senior Floating Rate Interests
53.0%
Asset Backed Securities
13.2%
Mortgage Backed Securities
1.5%
Total Investments
147.0%
Other Assets & Liabilities, net
-47.0%
Net Assets
100.0%
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 11
 
 
 

 
 
   
FUND SUMMARY (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 

12 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
FUND SUMMARY (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
   
Ten Largest Holdings
% of Total Net Assets
Central Garden & Pet Co., 8.25%, 03/01/18
2.7%
Cengage Learning Acquisitions, Inc., 7.00%, 03/31/20
2.6%
First Data Corp., 5.75%, 01/15/24
2.4%
HRG Group, Inc., 7.88%, 07/15/19
2.3%
CTI Foods Holding Co. LLC, 8.25%, 06/28/21
2.3%
LMI Aerospace, Inc., 7.38%, 07/15/19
2.2%
ContourGlobal Power Holdings S.A., 7.13%, 06/01/19
2.2%
Epicor Software, 9.25%, 06/21/23
2.1%
Vector Group Ltd., 7.75%, 02/15/21
2.0%
WMG Acquisition Corp., 6.75%, 04/15/22
2.0%
Top Ten Total
22.8%
 
“Ten Largest Holdings” excludes any temporary cash or derivative investments.
 
Holdings diversification and holdings are subject to change daily. For more information, please visit guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm. The above summaries are provided for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as recommendations. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
 
Portfolio Composition by Quality Rating*
 
 
 
% of Total
Rating
Investments
Fixed Income Instruments
 
AA
1.2%
A
1.2%
BBB
5.2%
BB
25.0%
B
39.5%
CCC
19.5%
C
0.1%
NR**
7.2%
Other Instruments
 
Short Term Investments
0.9%
Common Stock
0.2%
Total Investments
100.0%
   
*
Source: BlackRock Solutions. Credit quality ratings are measured on a scale that generally ranges from AAA (highest) to D
 
(lowest). All securities except for those labeled “NR” have been rated by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), or Fitch, which
 
are all a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”). For purposes of this presentation, when ratings
 
are available from more than one agency, the highest rating is used. Guggenheim Investments has converted Moody’s and
 
Fitch ratings to the equivalent S&P rating. Security ratings are determined at the time of purchase and may change thereafter.
   
** NR securities do not necessarily indicate low credit quality.
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 13
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Shares
   
Value
 
   
COMMON STOCKS– 0.2%
           
             
Industrial – 0.2%
           
Project Silverback Holdings*,†††,1
    228     $ 251,786  
Project Silverback Holdings*,†††,1,3
    94,522       84,165  
Ursa Insulation B.V.*,†††,1
    5,282       1  
Total Industrial
            335,952  
   
Basic Materials – 0.0%**
               
Mirabela Nickel Ltd.*,†††,1
    4,839,202       350  
Total Common Stocks
               
(Cost $2,060,958)
            336,302  
                 
PREFERRED STOCKS– 6.0%
               
                 
Financial – 4.4%
               
Morgan Stanley, Series I, 6.38%3,4,5
    80,000       2,111,200  
Kemper Corp.7.38%3
    44,000       1,168,640  
Bank of America Corp., Series X, 6.25%4,5
    1,150,000       1,166,905  
Citigroup, Inc., Series M, 6.30%4,5
    1,100,000       1,082,125  
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Series M, 5.38%3,4,5
    600,000       599,250  
Total Financial
            6,128,120  
   
Transportation – 1.6%
               
Seaspan Corp., 6.38%3
    88,000       2,156,000  
Total Preferred Stocks
               
(Cost $8,141,621)
            8,284,120  
   
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS– 1.3%
               
Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management Institutional Shares
               
(Cost $1,756,156)
    1,756,156       1,756,156  
   
Face
         
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS†† – 71.8%
 
                 
Consumer, Non-cyclical – 11.0%
               
Central Garden & Pet Co.
               
8.25% due 03/01/18
    3,666,000       3,744,451  
6.13% due 11/15/23
    1,150,000       1,164,375  
Vector Group Ltd.
               
7.75% due 02/15/21
    2,631,000       2,795,438  
Bumble Bee Holdings, Inc.
               
9.00% due 12/15/173,6
    1,950,000       1,991,438  
ADT Corp.
               
6.25% due 10/15/21
    1,700,000       1,776,500  
KeHE Distributors LLC / KeHE Finance Corp.
               
7.63% due 08/15/216
    1,400,000       1,462,122  
Midas Intermediate Holdco II LLC / Midas Intermediate Holdco II Finance, Inc.
               
7.88% due 10/01/226
    900,000       873,000  
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
 

14 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015

 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
CORPORATE BONDS†† – 71.8% (continued)
           
             
Consumer, Non-cyclical – 11.0% (continued)
           
Verisure Holding AB
           
6.00% due 11/01/226
 
650,000 EUR
    $ 720,169  
Jaguar Holding Company II / Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC
             
6.38% due 08/01/233,6
    425,000       408,000  
R&R Ice Cream plc
               
8.25% due 05/15/202
 
200,000 AUD
      149,713  
Total Consumer, Non-cyclical
            15,085,206  
   
Energy – 10.8%
               
ContourGlobal Power Holdings S.A.
               
7.13% due 06/01/196
    3,000,000       2,985,000  
CONSOL Energy, Inc.
               
8.00% due 04/01/236
    2,500,000       1,762,500  
Atlas Energy Holdings Operating Company LLC / Atlas Resource Finance Corp.
               
7.75% due 01/15/21
    2,051,000       697,340  
9.25% due 08/15/21
    1,975,000       691,250  
Keane Group Holdings LLC
               
8.50% due 08/08/19†††,1
    1,560,000       1,185,600  
Comstock Resources, Inc.
               
10.00% due 03/15/206
    2,025,000       1,184,624  
FTS International, Inc.
               
7.84% due 06/15/204,6
    1,100,000       816,735  
6.25% due 05/01/22
    1,175,000       352,500  
Crestwood Midstream Partners Limited Partnership / Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp.
               
6.00% due 12/15/20
    1,200,000       1,041,000  
SandRidge Energy, Inc.
               
8.75% due 06/01/206
    2,300,000       874,000  
EP Energy LLC / Everest Acquisition Finance, Inc.
               
9.38% due 05/01/20
    650,000       552,500  
6.38% due 06/15/233
    400,000       306,000  
BreitBurn Energy Partners Limited Partnership / BreitBurn Finance Corp.
               
7.88% due 04/15/223
    2,200,000       638,000  
Gibson Energy, Inc.
               
6.75% due 07/15/216
    650,000       628,875  
Legacy Reserves Limited Partnership / Legacy Reserves Finance Corp.
               
6.63% due 12/01/213
    750,000       294,375  
Ultra Petroleum Corp.
               
5.75% due 12/15/183,6
    500,000       210,000  
Schahin II Finance Company SPV Ltd.
               
5.88% due 09/25/222,3,7
    796,100       203,006  
TerraForm Power Operating LLC
               
6.13% due 06/15/253,6
    250,000       177,500  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 15
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
CORPORATE BONDS†† – 71.8% (continued)
           
             
Energy – 10.8% (continued)
           
IronGate Energy Services LLC
           
11.00% due 07/01/182,3
  $ 240,000     $ 143,400  
Total Energy
            14,744,205  
   
Consumer, Cyclical – 9.8%
               
WMG Acquisition Corp.
               
6.75% due 04/15/226
    3,050,000       2,706,875  
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.
               
11.00% due 12/01/176
    2,400,000       2,526,000  
Ferrellgas Limited Partnership / Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
               
6.50% due 05/01/21
    1,750,000       1,575,000  
6.75% due 01/15/223
    350,000       315,000  
6.75% due 06/15/233,6
    50,000       44,740  
Hanesbrands, Inc.
               
6.38% due 12/15/20
    1,400,000       1,447,250  
Petco Animal Supplies, Inc.
               
9.25% due 12/01/186
    1,375,000       1,412,813  
Nathan’s Famous, Inc.
               
10.00% due 03/15/206
    1,300,000       1,365,000  
NPC International Incorporated / NPC Operating Company A Inc /
               
NPC Operating Co B Inc
               
10.50% due 01/15/20
    1,120,000       1,170,400  
Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.
               
8.00% due 05/01/22
    400,000       425,500  
L Brands, Inc.
               
6.88% due 11/01/353,6
    250,000       256,250  
Men’s Wearhouse, Inc.
               
7.00% due 07/01/22
    200,000       155,000  
Total Consumer, Cyclical
            13,399,828  
   
Technology – 9.7%
               
First Data Corp.
               
5.75% due 01/15/246
    3,300,000       3,300,000  
8.75% due 01/15/226,8
    2,500,000       2,627,500  
7.00% due 12/01/236
    550,000       554,813  
Epicor Software
               
9.25% due 06/21/23†††,1,3
    3,000,000       2,915,882  
Infor US, Inc.
               
6.50% due 05/15/226
    2,150,000       1,908,125  
Audatex North America, Inc.
               
6.13% due 11/01/236
    1,000,000       1,007,500  
Aspect Software, Inc.
               
10.63% due 05/15/17
    1,100,000       918,500  
Total Technology
            13,232,320  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

16 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
CORPORATE BONDS†† – 71.8% (continued)
           
             
Financial – 7.9%
           
Jefferies Finance LLC / JFIN Company-Issuer Corp.
           
7.50% due 04/15/216
  $ 2,150,000     $ 2,036,050  
7.38% due 04/01/203,6
    1,200,000       1,162,500  
National Financial Partners Corp.
               
9.00% due 07/15/216
    2,000,000       1,920,000  
Majid AL Futtaim Holding
               
7.13% due 12/31/49
    1,500,000       1,540,875  
NewStar Financial, Inc.
               
7.25% due 05/01/203
    1,125,000       1,113,750  
Garfunkelux Holding Co. 3 S.A.
               
8.50% due 11/01/22
 
450,000 GBP
      701,536  
Prosight Global Inc.
               
7.50% due 11/26/20†††,3
    650,000       673,179  
Lock AS
               
7.00% due 08/15/21
 
600,000 EUR
      671,834  
Ultra Resources, Inc.
               
4.66% due 10/12/22†††,3
    700,000       427,308  
Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC
               
8.25% due 12/01/226
    400,000       421,000  
Quicken Loans, Inc.
               
5.75% due 05/01/256
    200,000       193,250  
Total Financial
            10,861,282  
   
Communications – 7.7%
               
Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.
               
8.88% due 01/01/206
    2,000,000       2,142,500  
Avaya, Inc.
               
7.00% due 04/01/196
    2,200,000       1,732,500  
Interoute Finco plc
               
7.38% due 10/15/20
 
1,500,000 EUR
      1,704,153  
T-Mobile USA, Inc.
               
6.50% due 01/15/26
    1,150,000       1,148,562  
Neptune Finco Corp.
               
6.63% due 10/15/256
    900,000       932,625  
TIBCO Software, Inc.
               
11.38% due 12/01/216
    1,000,000       930,000  
CCOH Safari LLC
               
5.75% due 02/15/266
    750,000       753,750  
Midcontinent Communications & Midcontinent Finance Corp.
               
6.88% due 08/15/233,6
    500,000       508,750  
CSC Holdings LLC
               
6.75% due 11/15/21
    400,000       378,000  
Numericable-SFR SAS
               
6.00% due 05/15/223,6
    250,000       246,875  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 17
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
CORPORATE BONDS†† – 71.8% (continued)
           
             
Communications – 7.7% (continued)
           
Sprint Corp.
           
7.63% due 02/15/253
  $ 100,000     $ 78,563  
Total Communications
            10,556,278  
   
Industrial – 6.6%
               
LMI Aerospace, Inc.
               
7.38% due 07/15/193
    3,110,000       3,047,800  
Novelis, Inc.
               
8.75% due 12/15/203
    1,400,000       1,361,500  
8.38% due 12/15/17
    150,000       148,500  
Unifrax I LLC / Unifrax Holding Co.
               
7.50% due 02/15/196
    1,401,000       1,323,945  
CEVA Group plc
               
7.00% due 03/01/216
    1,350,000       1,167,750  
StandardAero Aviation Holdings, Inc.
               
10.00% due 07/15/236
    1,000,000       1,000,000  
CNH Industrial Capital LLC
               
4.38% due 11/06/20
    600,000       582,000  
Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V.
               
5.50% due 12/20/27†††,3,6
    436,140       433,959  
Total Industrial
            9,065,454  
   
Diversified – 4.1%
               
HRG Group, Inc.
               
7.88% due 07/15/19
    3,000,000       3,183,390  
Opal Acquisition, Inc.
               
8.88% due 12/15/216
    2,800,000       2,415,000  
Total Diversified
            5,598,390  
   
Basic Materials – 2.5%
               
Eldorado Gold Corp.
               
6.13% due 12/15/206
    1,750,000       1,612,187  
TPC Group, Inc.
               
8.75% due 12/15/206
    2,025,000       1,407,375  
Mirabela Nickel Ltd.
               
9.50% due 06/24/19†††,1,3
    1,166,383       361,579  
1.00% due 09/10/44†††,1
    25,570        
Total Basic Materials
            3,381,141  
   
Utilities – 1.7%
               
Terraform Global Operating LLC
               
9.75% due 08/15/226
    3,150,000       2,315,250  
Total Corporate Bonds
               
(Cost $112,503,391)
            98,239,354  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

18 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
SENIOR FLOATING RATE INTERESTS†† – 53.0%
           
             
Industrial – 14.3%
           
Ursa Insulation B.V.
           
7.75% due 04/26/20†††,1,3
  1,511,071 EUR     $ 1,596,736  
7.75% due 04/26/21†††,1,3
  1,144,366 EUR       1,396,675  
25.00% due 04/26/21†††,1,3
 
150,240 EUR
      173,268  
Flakt Woods
             
4.75% due 03/20/17†††,1,3
 
2,501,384 EUR
      2,609,459  
Mitchell International, Inc.
             
8.50% due 10/11/213
    2,350,000       2,300,062  
NVA Holdings, Inc.
               
8.00% due 08/12/223
    1,650,000       1,626,620  
AlliedBarton Security Services LLC
               
8.00% due 08/13/213
    1,452,055       1,368,562  
Doncasters Group Ltd.
               
9.50% due 10/09/203
    1,351,724       1,324,690  
NaNa Development Corp.
               
8.00% due 03/15/183
    1,156,863       1,104,804  
Camp Systems International
               
8.25% due 11/29/193
    1,000,000       975,630  
HBC Hardware Holdings
               
6.75% due 03/30/20†††,3
    990,000       960,300  
Ranpak
               
8.25% due 10/03/223
    900,000       888,750  
National Technical
               
7.00% due 06/12/21†††,1,3
    887,188       878,467  
Wencor Group
               
7.75% due 06/19/223
    900,000       810,000  
API Technologies Corp.
               
9.00% due 02/06/18†††,1,3
    550,045       546,946  
Hillman Group, Inc.
               
2.04% due 06/28/193
    398,571       367,283  
LSFP Cypress
               
7.25% due 10/09/223
    250,000       238,750  
Wencor (Jazz Acq)
               
1.58% due 06/19/193
    169,231       155,153  
Omnitracs, Inc.
               
8.75% due 05/25/213
    150,000       144,470  
Total Industrial
            19,466,625  
   
Consumer, Non-cyclical – 9.9%
               
CTI Foods Holding Co. LLC
               
8.25% due 06/28/213
    3,430,000       3,121,301  
Reddy Ice Holdings, Inc.
               
10.75% due 10/01/193
    4,000,000       2,400,000  
Taxware Holdings
               
7.50% due 04/01/22†††,1,3
    1,695,750       1,680,374  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 19
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
SENIOR FLOATING RATE INTERESTS†† – 53.0% (continued)
           
             
Consumer, Non-cyclical – 9.9% (continued)
           
AdvancePierre Foods, Inc.
           
9.50% due 10/10/173
  $ 1,332,000     $ 1,316,456  
IHC Holding Corp.
               
7.00% due 04/30/21†††,1,3
    1,246,875       1,229,990  
Arctic Glacier Holdings, Inc.
               
6.00% due 05/10/193
    1,116,974       1,055,540  
American Seafoods Group LLC / American Seafoods Finance, Inc.
               
6.00% due 08/19/213
    1,000,000       982,500  
1.40% due 08/19/213
    60,000       51,484  
Affordable Care Holding
               
5.75% due 10/24/223
    850,000       833,000  
Pelican Products, Inc.
               
9.25% due 04/09/213
    550,000       536,250  
Targus Group International, Inc.
               
13.75% due 05/24/16†††,1,3
    564,317       353,545  
Phillips-Medsize Corp.
               
0.84% due 06/14/193
    31,429       28,928  
Targus Group International, Inc.
               
13.75% due 05/24/163
    785       492  
Total Consumer, Non-cyclical
            13,589,860  
   
Technology – 9.0%
               
Greenway Medical Technologies
               
9.25% due 11/04/213
    2,200,000       2,134,000  
6.00% due 11/04/203
    1,965,000       1,906,050  
TIBCO Software, Inc.
               
6.50% due 12/04/203
    2,679,750       2,451,972  
Advanced Computer Software
               
10.50% due 01/31/233
    1,600,000       1,538,000  
6.50% due 03/18/223
    893,250       879,851  
Sparta Holding Corp.
               
6.50% due 07/28/20†††,1,3
    1,782,000       1,768,163  
Aspect Software, Inc.
               
7.25% due 05/07/163
    1,832,958       1,672,574  
Total Technology
            12,350,610  
   
Communications – 6.0%
               
Cengage Learning Acquisitions, Inc.
               
7.00% due 03/31/203
    3,607,817       3,548,072  
GOGO LLC
               
11.25% due 03/21/183
    1,988,074       1,988,074  
7.50% due 03/21/183
    605,055       580,853  
Anaren, Inc.
               
9.25% due 08/18/213
    2,200,000       2,161,500  
Total Communications
            8,278,499  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

20 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
SENIOR FLOATING RATE INTERESTS†† – 53.0% (continued)
           
             
Consumer, Cyclical – 6.0%
           
Sky Bet Cyan Blue HoldCo
           
6.50% due 02/25/223
 
1,500,000 GBP
    $ 2,262,901  
ABRA Auto Body
             
8.25% due 09/19/223
    2,350,000       2,256,000  
Sears Holdings Corp.
               
5.50% due 06/30/18†††,1,3
    1,979,798       1,859,367  
DLK Acquisitions BV
               
8.50% due 08/28/193
 
400,000 EUR
      415,702  
4.28% due 02/28/193
 
250,000 EUR
      260,301  
Transfirst
               
9.00% due 11/11/223
    600,000       589,998  
BBB Industries, LLC
               
2.80% due 11/04/193
    644,286       573,865  
Total Consumer, Cyclical
            8,218,134  
   
Energy – 2.6%
               
Invenergy Thermal
               
6.50% due 10/19/223
    2,500,000       2,437,500  
Cactus Wellhead
               
7.00% due 07/31/203
    1,386,000       1,074,150  
Total Energy
            3,511,650  
   
Utilities – 2.2%
               
Panda Temple II Power
               
7.25% due 04/03/193
    3,000,000       2,580,000  
Stonewall (Green Energy)
               
6.50% due 11/12/213
    450,000       429,750  
Total Utilities
            3,009,750  
   
Transportation – 1.1%
               
OneSky
               
15.00% due 06/03/19†††,1,3
    511,419       526,762  
Ceva Logistics US Holdings
               
6.50% due 03/19/213
    474,074       408,496  
Ceva Logistics Holdings BV (Dutch)
               
6.50% due 03/19/213
    343,704       296,159  
Ceva Group Plc (United Kingdom)
               
6.50% due 03/19/213
    330,889       285,117  
Ceva Logistics Canada, ULC
               
6.50% due 03/19/213
    59,259       51,062  
Total Transportation
            1,567,596  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 21
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
SENIOR FLOATING RATE INTERESTS†† – 53.0% (continued)
           
             
Financial – 1.1%
           
Expert Global Solutions, Inc.
           
8.50% due 04/03/183
  $ 1,020,404     $ 1,011,047  
Integro Parent, Inc.
               
6.75% due 10/31/223
    550,000       532,293  
Total Financial
            1,543,340  
   
Basic Materials – 0.8%
               
Ennis Flint Road Infrastructure
               
7.75% due 09/30/213
    960,000       912,000  
Noranda Aluminum Acquisition Corp.
               
5.75% due 02/28/193
    395,897       202,236  
Total Basic Materials
            1,114,236  
Total Senior Floating Rate Interests
               
(Cost $78,269,869)
            72,650,300  
   
ASSET BACKED SECURITIES†† – 13.2%
               
                 
Collateralized Loan Obligations – 7.9%
               
Newstar Commercial Loan Funding LLC
               
2013-1A, 5.65% due 09/20/233,4,6
    1,500,000       1,471,098  
KKR Financial CLO Ltd.
               
2007-1X, 5.36% due 05/15/213
    750,000       755,024  
2007-1A, 5.36% due 05/15/213,4,6
    500,000       503,349  
COA Summit CLO Limited
               
2014-1A, 4.14% due 04/20/233,4,6
    1,000,000       987,547  
Monroe Capital CLO 2014-1 Ltd.
               
2014-1A, 5.05% due 10/22/263,4,6
    1,000,000       947,796  
NewStar Arlington Senior Loan Program LLC
               
2014-1A, 4.57% due 07/25/253,4,6
    750,000       696,270  
Babson CLO Limited 2012-II
               
2012-2A, due 05/15/233,6,9
    1,000,000       599,658  
Dryden 41 Senior Loan Fund
               
2015-41A, due 01/15/283,6,9
    600,000       523,598  
Cent CLO 16, LP
               
2014-16A, 4.58% due 08/01/243,4,6
    500,000       494,616  
Highbridge Loan Management 2012-1 Ltd.
               
2014-1A, 4.57% due 09/20/223,4,6
    500,000       494,234  
NXT Capital CLO 2013-1 LLC
               
2013-1A, 4.47% due 04/25/243,4,6
    500,000       486,062  
Cerberus Onshore II CLO-2 LLC
               
2014-1A, 4.43% due 10/15/233,4,6
    500,000       485,057  
Cerberus Onshore II CLO LLC
               
2014-1A, 4.32% due 10/15/233,4,6
    500,000       480,487  
Fortress Credit Opportunities VI CLO Ltd.
               
2015-6A, 5.27% due 10/10/263,4,6
    500,000       480,471  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

22 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
   
ASSET BACKED SECURITIES†† – 13.2% (continued)
           
             
Collateralized Loan Obligations – 7.9% (continued)
           
Fortress Credit Opportunities V CLO Ltd.
           
2014-5A, 5.22% due 10/15/263,4,6
  $ 500,000     $ 478,550  
Treman Park CLO Ltd.
               
2015-1A, due 04/20/273,6,9
    500,000       454,118  
TCW Global Project Fund II Ltd.
               
2004-1A, 2.27% due 06/24/163,4,6
    481,081       399,057  
Total Collateralized Loan Obligations
            10,736,992  
   
Transportation – 3.3%
               
AASET
               
2014-1, 7.38% due 12/15/294
    929,487       918,519  
2014-1 C, 10.00% due 12/15/29†††
    476,295       476,295  
Emerald Aviation Finance Ltd.
               
2013-1, 6.35% due 10/15/383,6,10
    1,304,688       1,327,213  
Castlelake Aircraft Securitization Trust
               
2014-1, 5.25% due 02/15/296
    612,103       602,371  
2014-1, 7.50% due 02/15/296
    468,079       462,228  
Rise Ltd.
               
2014-1AB, 6.50% due 02/12/39†††,3
    445,312       443,086  
Turbine Engines Securitization Ltd.
               
2013-1A, 6.38% due 12/13/483,6
    350,710       348,290  
Total Transportation
            4,578,002  
   
Collateralized Debt Obligations – 1.6%
               
Anchorage Credit Funding 1 Ltd.
               
2015-1A, 6.30% due 07/28/302,3
    1,000,000       1,001,661  
RAIT CRE CDO I Ltd.
               
2006-1X, 0.52% due 11/20/463
    810,721       760,889  
FDF I Ltd.
               
2015-1A, 6.88% due 11/12/306
    500,000       493,325  
Total Collateralized Debt Obligations
            2,255,875  
   
Financial – 0.4%
               
NCBJ 2015-1 A
               
5.88% due 07/08/22†††,3
    500,000       502,020  
Total Asset Backed Securities
               
(Cost $18,191,879)
            18,072,889  
   
MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES†† – 1.5%
               
                 
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities – 1.5%
               
Structured Asset Securities Corporation Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-BC6
               
2006-BC6, 0.39% due 01/25/373,4
    2,000,000       1,696,995  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 23
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Face
       
   
Amount~
   
Value
 
MORTGAGE BACKED SECURITIES†† – 1.5% (continued)
           
             
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities – 1.5% (continued)
           
Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates WMALT Series 2006-8 Trust
           
2006-8, 4.66% due 10/25/363,10
  $ 495,155     $ 320,810  
Total Residential Mortgage Backed Securities
            2,017,805  
Total Mortgage Backed Securities
               
(Cost $1,951,291)
            2,017,805  
Total Investments – 147.0%
               
(Cost $222,875,165)
          $ 201,356,926  
Other Assets & Liabilities, net – (47.0)%
            (64,395,783 )
Total Net Assets – 100.0%
          $ 136,961,143  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

24 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015

 
 
     
~
 
The face amount is denominated in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise noted.
*
 
Non-income producing security.
**
 
Less than 0.1%
 
Value determined based on Level 1 inputs, unless otherwise noted — See Note 4.
††
 
Value determined based on Level 2 inputs, unless otherwise noted — See Note 4.
†††
 
Value determined based on Level 3 inputs — See Note 4.
1
 
Security was fair valued by the Valuation Committee at November 30, 2015. The total market value
   
of fair valued securities amounts to $19,419,115, (cost $23,724,247) or 14.2% of total net assets.
2
 
Security is a 144A or Section 4(a)(2) security. These securities are considered illiquid and restricted
   
under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees. The total market value of 144A or Section
   
4(a)(2) securities is $1,497,780 (cost $2,173,416), or 1.1% of total net assets – see Note 12.
3
 
All or a portion of these securities have been physically segregated or earmarked on the Fund’s records
   
in connection with reverse repurchase agreements and unfunded loan commitments. As of November
   
30, 2015, the total market value of the segregated or earmarked securities was $104,776,109.
4
 
Variable rate security. Rate indicated is rate effective at November 30, 2015.
5
 
Perpetual maturity.
6
 
Security is a 144A or Section 4(a)(2) security. The total market value of 144A or Section 4(a)(2)
   
securities is $68,954,071, (cost $75,905920), or 50.3% of total net assets. These securities have been
   
determined to be liquid under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees.
7
 
Security is in default of interest and/or principal obligations.
8
 
Paid-in-kind toggle note. The issuer in each interest period has the option to pay interest in cash or
   
to issue payment-in-kind shares of the note.
9
 
Security has no stated coupon. However, it is expected to receive residual cash flow payments on
   
defined deal dates.
10
 
Security is a step up/step down bond. The coupon increases or decreases at regular intervals until
   
the bond reaches full maturity.

 
   
AUD
Australian Dollar
BV
Limited Liability Company
CDO
Collateralized Debt Obligation
CLO
Collateralized Loan Obligation
EUR
Euro
GBP
Great Britain Pound
LLC
Limited Liability Company
LP
Limited Partnership
NV
Publicly Traded Company
plc
Public Limited Company
SA
Corporation
 
 
See Sector Classification in Supplemental Information section.
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 25
 
 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
The following table represents the Fund’s investments carried on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities by caption and by level within the fair value hierarchy at November 30, 2015.
 
                         
         
Level 2
   
Level 3
       
         
Significant
   
Significant
       
   
Level 1
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
       
Description
 
Quoted Prices
   
Inputs
   
Inputs
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Common Stocks
  $     $     $ 336,302     $ 336,302  
Preferred Stocks
    8,284,120                   8,284,120  
Corporate Bonds
          92,241,847       5,997,507       98,239,354  
Senior Floating Rate Interests
          57,070,248       15,580,052       72,650,300  
Asset Backed Securities
          16,651,488       1,421,401       18,072,889  
Mortgage Backed Securities
          2,017,805             2,017,805  
Short Term Investments
    1,756,156                   1,756,156  
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
          299,217 *           299,217  
Total Assets
  $ 10,040,276     $ 168,280,605     $ 23,335,262     $ 201,656,143  
   
Liabilities:
                               
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
  $     $ 2,987 *   $     $ 2,987  
Unfunded Commitments
          1,224,114             1,224,114  
Total Liabilities
  $     $ 1,227,101     $     $ 1,227,101  
*Other financial instruments may include forward foreign currency exchange contracts, which are reported as unrealized gain/loss at period end.
 
The following is a summary of the significant unobservable input used in the fair valuation of assets and liabilities categorized within the Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:
 
 
           
   
Ending Balance at
     
Category
 
11/30/2015
 
Valuation Technique
Unobservable Inputs
Asset Backed Securities
  $ 443,086  
Option adjusted
Indicative Quote
         
spread off the month
 
         
end broker quote over
 
         
the 3 month LIBOR
 
Asset Backed Securities
    978,315  
Enterprise Value
Valuation Multiple*
Corporate Bonds
    1,534,446  
Option adjusted
Indicative Quote
         
spread off the month
 
         
end broker quote over
 
         
the 3 month LIBOR
 
Corporate Bonds
    4,463,061  
Enterprise Value
Valuation Multiple*
Common Stocks
    336,302  
Enterprise Value
Valuation Multiple*
Senior Floating Rate Interests
    960,300  
Option adjusted
Indicative Quote
         
spread off the month
 
         
end broker quote over
 
         
the 3 month LIBOR
 
Senior Floating Rate Interests
    14,619,752  
Enterprise Value
Valuation Multiple*
*Valuation multiples utilized ranged from 4.4 to 13.8.
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

26 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT

 
 

 
 
   
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Significant changes in an indicative quote or valuation multiple would generally result in significant changes in the fair value of the security.
 
Transfers between investment levels may occur as the markets fluctuate and/or the availability of data used in an investment’s valuation changes. Transfers between valuation levels, if any, are in comparison to the valuation levels at the end of the previous fiscal year, and are effective using the fair value as of the end of the current period.
 
As of November 30, 2015, the Fund had securities with a total value of $6,966,489 transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 due to lack of multiple vendor prices.
 
Summary of Fair Value of Level 3 Activity
 
Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value for the six months ended November 30, 2015:
 
LEVEL 3 – Fair Value measurement using significant unobservable inputs
 
                               
   
Senior Floating
   
Asset-Backed
   
Corporate
   
Common
       
   
Rate Interests
   
Securities
   
Bonds
   
Stocks
   
Total
 
Assets:
                             
Beginning Balance
  $ 10,253,395     $     $ 3,868,867     $ 229,590     $ 14,351,852  
Purchases
    4,135,502       976,295             285,121       5,396,918  
Paydowns Received
    (38,227 )           (20,000 )           (58,227 )
Payment-in-kind
                                       
Distributions Received
    (21,810 )           (52,891 )           (74,701 )
Total change in unrealized gains or
                                       
losses included in earnings
    105,145       2,020       (1,148,310 )     (178,759 )     (1,219,904 )
Sales
    (2,027,165 )                       (2,027,165 )
Transfers into Level 3
    3,173,212       443,086       3,349,841       350       6,966,489  
Ending Balance
  $ 15,580,052     $ 1,421,401     $ 5,997,507     $ 336,302     $ 23,335,262  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 27
 
 
 

 

 
   
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
 
       
ASSETS:
     
Investments, at value (cost $222,875,165)
  $ 201,356,926  
Foreign currency, at value (cost $1)
    1  
Cash
    131,301  
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts
    299,217  
Receivables:
       
Interest
    3,391,820  
Investments sold
    3,294,937  
Tax reclaims
    21,576  
Other assets
    8,827  
Total assets
    208,504,605  
         
LIABILITIES:
       
Reverse repurchase agreements
    67,300,156  
Unfunded loan commitments, at value (Note 10) (commitment fees
       
received $1,706,488)
    1,224,114  
Interest payable on borrowings
    90,775  
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts
    2,987  
Payable for:
       
Investments purchased
    2,476,420  
Investment advisory fees
    168,421  
Excise tax payable
    130,000  
Fund accounting fees
    11,388  
Administration fees
    4,645  
Trustee’s fees and expenses*
    3,346  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    131,210  
Total liabilities
    71,543,462  
NET ASSETS
  $ 136,961,143  
         
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:
       
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; unlimited number of shares authorized,
       
6,629,724 shares issued and outstanding
  $ 66,297  
Additional paid-in capital
    157,725,662  
Undistributed net investment income
    2,705,155  
Accumulated net realized loss on investments
    (2,797,633 )
Net unrealized depreciation on investments
    (20,738,338 )
NET ASSETS
  $ 136,961,143  
Net asset value
  $ 20.66  
* Relates to Trustees not deemed “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

28 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
For the Six Months Ended November 30, 2015
 
       
INVESTMENT INCOME:
     
Interest
  $ 8,053,289  
Dividends
    154,054  
Total investment income
    8,207,343  
EXPENSES:
       
Investment advisory fees
    1,039,567  
Interest expense
    269,077  
Excise tax expense
    130,000  
Professional fees
    41,716  
Trustees’ fees and expenses*
    39,948  
Fund accounting fees
    33,822  
Administration fees
    28,306  
Printing fees
    17,331  
Registration and filings
    11,895  
Custodian fees
    10,746  
Transfer agent fees
    8,717  
Insurance
    6,578  
Miscellaneous
    430  
Total expenses
    1,638,133  
Net investment income
    6,569,210  
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS):
       
Net realized gain (loss) on:
       
Investments
    (1,363,679 )
Foreign currency transactions
    527,733  
Net realized gain (loss)
    (835,946 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
       
Investments
    (16,286,644 )
Foreign currency translations
    (26,603 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
    (16,313,247 )
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    (17,149,193 )
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
  $ (10,579,983 )
* Relates to Trustees not deemed “interested persons” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
 
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 29
 
 
 

 
 
   
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
November 30, 2015
 
             
   
Period Ended
       
November 30, 2015
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
May 31, 2015
 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS:
           
Net investment income
  $ 6,569,210     $ 12,912,397  
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
    (835,946 )     136,907  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
               
on investments
    (16,313,247 )     (7,833,771 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
    (10,579,983 )     5,215,533  
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
               
Net investment income
    (7,211,814 )     (10,401,790 )
Capital gains
          (3,888,548 )
Total distributions to shareholders
    (7,211,814 )     (14,290,338 )
                 
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTIONS:
               
Net proceeds from the issuance of common shares
           
Reinvestments
          12,591  
Common share offering costs charged to paid-in capital
           
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from share transactions
          12,591  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
    (17,791,797 )     (9,062,214 )
                 
NET ASSETS:
               
Beginning of period
    154,752,940       163,815,154  
End of period
  $ 136,961,143     $ 154,752,940  
Undistributed net investment income at end of period
  $ 2,705,155     $ 3,347,759  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
30 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
For the Six Months November 30, 2015
 
 
       
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
     
Net Decrease in net assets resulting from operations
  $ (10,579,983 )
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to
       
Net Cash Provided by Operating and Investing Activities:
       
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments
    16,286,644  
Net change in unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations
    26,603  
Net realized loss on investments
    1,363,679  
Net accretion of bond discount and amortization of bond premium
    (66,565 )
Purchase of long-term investments
    (68,660,702 )
Paydowns received on mortgage and asset backed securities
    7,933,294  
Proceeds from sales of long-term investments
    66,285,331  
Net sales of short-term investments
    286,716  
Other payments
    30,497  
Increase in unfunded loan commitments, at value
    128,365  
Decrease in segregated cash from broker
    (384,000 )
Increase in interest receivable
    (34,759 )
Increase in investments sold receivable
    (1,085,615 )
Increase in tax reclaims receivable
    (11,847 )
Decrease in other assets
    6,323  
Decrease in payable for investments purchased
    (5,734,346 )
Decrease in investment advisory fees payable
    (22,905 )
Increase in excise tax payable
    130,000  
Decrease in fund accounting fees payable
    (2,266 )
Increase in interest payable on borrowings
    78,137  
Decrease in administration fees payable
    (499 )
Increase in trustee fees and expenses payable
    2,257  
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (5,911 )
Net Cash Provided by Operating and Investing Activities
    5,968,448  
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
       
Distributions to common shareholders
    (7,211,814 )
Increase in reverse repurchase agreements
    1,357,422  
Net Cash Provided in Financing Activities
    (5,854,392 )
Net increase in cash
    114,056  
Cash at Beginning of Period (including foreign currency)
    17,246  
Cash at End of Period (including foreign currency)
  $ 131,302  
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Cash paid during the period
       
for interest
  $ 190,940  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 31
 
 
 

 

 
   
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
November 30, 2015

 
                   
   
Period
         
Period
 
   
Ended
         
Ended
 
   
November 30, 2015
   
Year Ended
   
May 31,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
May 31, 2015
   
2014(a)
 
Per Share Data:
                 
Net asset value, beginning of period
  $ 23.34     $ 24.71     $ 23.82  
Income from investment operations:
                       
Net investment income(b)
    1.01       1.95       1.64  
Net gain (loss) on investments (realized and unrealized)
    (2.60 )     (1.16 )     0.71  
Total from investment operations
    (1.59 )     0.79       2.35  
Less distributions from:
                       
Net investment income
    (1.09 )     (1.57 )     (1.46 )
Capital gains
          (0.59 )      
Total distributions to shareholders
    (1.09 )     (2.16 )     (1.46 )
Net asset value, end of period
  $ 20.66     $ 23.34     $ 24.71  
Market value, end of period
  $ 18.99     $ 23.07     $ 24.68  
   
Total Return(c)
                       
Net asset value
    -6.97 %     3.45 %     10.12 %
Market value
    -13.25 %     2.54 %     5.08 %
                         
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
                       
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)
  $ 136,961     $ 154,753     $ 163,815  
Ratios to average net assets of:
                       
Total expenses, including interest expense(d)
    2.15 %(g)     2.04 %     1.73 %
Net investment income, including interest expense
    9.18 %(g)     8.23 %     7.28 %
Portfolio turnover rate(e)
    32 %     55 %     54 %
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
32 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS continued
November 30, 2015
 
 
    Period           Period  
   
Ended
         
Ended
 
   
November 30, 2015
   
Year Ended
   
May 31,
 
    (Unaudited)    
May 31, 2015
   
2014(a)
 
Senior Indebtedness
                 
Total Borrowings outstanding (in thousands)
  $ 67,300     $ 65,572     $ 53,344  
Asset Coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness(f)
  $ 3,035     $ 3,360     $ 4,071  
 
 
(a)
Since commencement of operations: June 26, 2013. Percentage amounts for the period, except total return and portfolio turnover rate, have been annualized.
(b)
Based on average shares outstanding.
(c)
Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the beginning of the period and a sale on the last day of the period reported either at net asset value (“NAV”) or market price per share. Dividends and distribution are assumed to be reinvested at NAV for NAV returns or the prices obtained under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan for market value returns. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions. A return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized.
(d)
Excluding interest expense, the annualized operation expense ratio would be 1.87%, 1.76% and 1.55% for the periods ended November 30, 2015, May 31, 2015, and May 31, 2014, respectively.
(e)
Portfolio turnover is not annualized for periods of less than one year.
(f)
Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities (not including borrowings) from the Fund’s total assets and dividing by the total borrowings.
(g)
Annualized.
 
See notes to financial statements.

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 33
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
 
Note 1 – Organization:
Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on June 7, 2012, and commenced investment operations on June 26, 2013. The Fund is registered as a diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
 
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.
 
Note 2 – Accounting Policies:
The Fund operates as an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services – Investment Companies.
 
The following significant accounting policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and are consistently followed by the Fund. This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and 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 these estimates. All time references are based on Eastern Time.
 
(a) Valuation of Investments
The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Fund’s investments (the “Valuation Procedures”). Pursuant to the Valuation Procedures, the Board has delegated to a valuation committee, consisting of representatives from Guggenheim’s investment management, fund administration, legal and compliance departments (the “Valuation Committee”), the day-to-day responsibility for implementing the Valuation Procedures, including, under most circumstances, the responsibility for determining the fair value of the Fund’s securities or other assets.
 
Valuations of the Fund’s securities are supplied primarily by pricing services appointed pursuant to the processes set forth in the Valuation Procedures. The Valuation Committee convenes monthly, or more frequently as needed and will review the valuation of all assets which have been fair valued for reasonableness. The Fund’s officers, through the Valuation Committee and consistent with the monitoring and review responsibilities set forth in the Valuation Procedures, regularly review procedures used by, and valuations provided by, the pricing services.
 
If the pricing service cannot or does not provide a valuation for a particular investment or such valuation is deemed unreliable, such investment is fair valued by the Valuation Committee.
 
Equity securities listed on an exchange (New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or American Stock Exchange) are valued at the last quoted sales price as of the close of business on the NYSE, usually 4:00 p.m. on the valuation date. Equity securities listed on the NASDAQ market system are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price on the valuation date, which may not necessarily represent the last sale price. If there has been no sale on such exchange or NASDAQ on such day, the security is valued at the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices on such day.
 
 

34 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Open-end investment companies (“Mutual Funds”) are valued at their NAV as of the close of business on the valuation date. Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end investment companies are valued at the last quoted sales price.
 
Debt securities with a maturity of greater than 60 days at acquisition are valued at prices that reflect broker/dealer supplied valuations or are obtained from independent pricing services, which may consider the trade activity, treasury spreads, yields or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Short-term debt securities with a maturity of 60 days or less at acquisition and repurchase agreements are valued at amortized cost, provided such amount approximates market value.
 
Typically loans are valued using information provided by an independent third party pricing service which uses broker quotes in a non-active market.
 
Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. The values of foreign securities are determined as of the close of such foreign markets or the close of the NYSE, if earlier. All investments quoted in foreign currency are valued in U.S. dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the close of U.S. business at 4:00 p.m. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. The Valuation Committee will determine the current value of such foreign securities by taking into consideration certain factors which may include those discussed above, as well as the following factors, among others: the value of the securities traded on other foreign markets, ADR trading, closed-end fund trading, foreign currency exchange activity, and the trading prices of financial products that are tied to foreign securities such as World Equity Benchmark Securities. In addition, under the Valuation Procedures, the Valuation Committee and the Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (“GFIA or the “Adviser”) are authorized to use prices and other information supplied by a third party pricing vendor in valuing foreign securities.
 
Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to review by the Valuation Committee, pursuant to methods established or ratified by the Board. Valuations in accordance with these methods are intended to reflect each security’s (or asset’s) “fair value.” Each such determination is based on a consideration of all relevant factors, which are likely to vary from one pricing context to another. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to: (i) the type of security, (ii) the initial cost of the security, (iii) the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition, (iv) the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies, (v) quotations or evaluated prices from broker-dealers and/or pricing services, (vi) information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange traded securities), (vii) an analysis of the company’s financial statements, and (viii) an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold (e.g. the existence of pending merger activity, public offerings or tender offers that might affect the value of the security).
 
(b) Investment Transactions and Investment Income
Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage and asset-backed securities are treated as an adjustment to interest income. Dividend income is
 
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 35
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
recorded net of applicable withholding taxes on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts or premiums on debt securities purchased are accreted or amortized to interest income over the lives of the respective securities using the effective interest method.
 
(c) Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the mean of the bid and asked price of respective exchange rates on the last day of the period. Purchases and sales of investments denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate on the bid and asked price of respective exchange rates on the date of the transaction.
 
The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
 
Foreign exchange realized gain or loss resulting from holding of a foreign currency, expiration of a currency exchange contract, difference in exchange rates between the trade date and settlement date of an investment purchased or sold, and the difference between dividends or interest actually received compared to the amount shown in the Fund’s accounting records on the date of receipt is shown as net realized gains or losses on foreign currency transactions on the Fund’s Statement of Operations.
 
Foreign exchange unrealized gain or loss on assets and liabilities, other than investments, is shown as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency translation on the Fund’s Statement of Operations.
 
(d) Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are agreements between two parties to buy and sell currencies at a set price on a future date. Fluctuations in the value of open forward foreign currency exchange contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and depreciation by the Fund until the contracts are closed. When the contracts are closed, realized gains and losses are recorded, and included on the Statement of Operations in foreign currency transactions.
 
(e) Distributions to Shareholders
The Fund declares and pays monthly distributions to common shareholders. These distributions consist of investment company taxable income, which generally includes qualified dividend income, ordinary income and short-term capital gains. Any net realized long-term capital gains are distributed annually to common shareholders. To the extent distributions exceed taxable income, the excess will be deemed a return of capital.
 
Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.
 
(f) Indemnifications
Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Trustees and Officers are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, throughout
 
 
 

36 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund and/or its affiliates that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.
 
Note 3 – Investment Advisory Agreement, Sub-Advisory Agreement and Other Agreements:
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the Fund and Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, the Adviser furnishes offices, necessary facilities and equipment, provides administrative services, oversees the activities of Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“GPIM” or the “Sub-Adviser”), provides personnel including certain officers required for the Fund’s administrative management and compensates the officers or trustees of the Fund who are affiliates of the Adviser. As compensation for these services, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets.
 
Pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) among the Fund, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, GPIM under provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio; provides investment research, makes and executes recommendations for the purchase and sale of securities; and provides certain facilities and personnel, including certain officers required for its administrative management and pays the compensation of all officers and trustees of the Fund who are GPIM’s affiliates. As compensation for its services, the Adviser pays GPIM a fee, payable monthly, in an annual amount equal to 0.50% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets.
 
Certain officers and trustees of the Fund may also be officers, directors and/or employees of the Adviser or GPIM. The Fund does not compensate its officers or trustees who are officers, directors and/or employees of the aforementioned firms.
 
Rydex Fund Services, LLC (“RFS”), an affiliate of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, provides fund administration services to the Fund. As compensation for these services RFS receives a fund administration fee payable monthly at the annual rate set forth below as a percentage of the average daily managed assets of the Fund.
 
   
Managed Assets
Rate
First $200,000,000
0.0275%
Next $300,000,000
0.0200%
Next $500,000,000
0.0150%
Over $1,000,000,000
0.0100%
 
For purposes of calculating the fees payable under the foregoing agreements, “average daily managed assets” means the average daily value of the Fund’s total assets minus the sum of its accrued liabilities. “Total assets” means all of the Fund’s assets and is not limited to its investment securities. “Accrued liabilities” means all of the Fund’s liabilities other than borrowings for investment purposes.
 
The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”) acts as the Fund’s custodian. As custodian, BNY is responsible for the custody of the Fund’s assets.
 
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 37
 

 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
RFS acts as the Fund’s accounting agent. As accounting agent, RFS is responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Fund’s securities and cash. RFS receives a fund accounting fee payable monthly at the annual rate set forth below as a percentage of the average daily managed assets of the Fund.
 
   
Managed Assets
Rate
First $200,000,000
0.0300%
Next $300,000,000
0.0150%
Next $500,000,000
0.0100%
Over $1,000,000,000
0.0075%
Minimum Annual Charge
$50,000
Certain out-of-pocket charges
Varies
 
Note 4 – Fair Value Measurement:
In accordance with GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the types of inputs used to value assets and liabilities and requires corresponding disclosure. The hierarchy and the corresponding inputs are summarized below:
 
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2 — significant other observable inputs (for example quoted prices for securities that are similar based on characteristics such as interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
 
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available under the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available, which may include assumptions.
 
The types of inputs available depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of security and the characteristics of the markets in which it trades, if any. Fair valuation determinations that rely on fewer or no observable inputs require greater judgment. Accordingly, fair value determinations for Level 3 securities require the greatest amount of judgment.
 
Independent pricing services are used to value a majority of the Fund’s investments. When values are not available from a pricing service, they will be determined under the valuation policies that have been reviewed and approved by the Board. In any event, values are determined using a variety of sources and techniques, including: market prices; broker quotes; and models which derive prices based on inputs such as prices of securities with comparable maturities and characteristics or based on inputs such as anticipated cash flows or collateral, spread over Treasuries, and other information and analysis. A significant portion of the Funds’ assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 2 or Level 3, as indicated in this report.
 
Indicative quotes from broker-dealers, adjusted for fluctuations in criteria such as credit spreads and interest rates, may be also used to value the Fund’s assets and liabilities, i.e. prices provided by a broker-dealer or other market participant who has not committed to trade at that price. Although indicative quotes are typically received from established market participants, the Fund may not have the transparency to view the underlying inputs which support the market quotations.
 
 
 

38 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT

 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Certain fixed income securities are valued by obtaining a monthly indicative quote from a broker-dealer, adjusted for fluctuations in criteria such as credit spreads and interest rates.
 
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The suitability of the techniques and sources employed to determine fair valuation are regularly monitored and subject to change.
 
Note 5 – Federal Income Taxes:
 
The Fund intends to continue to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies.
 
The Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which 98% of the Fund’s annual taxable income and 98.2% of net realized gains exceed the distributions from such taxable income and realized gains for the calendar year.
 
As of November 30, 2015, the cost of investments and accumulated unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
 
       
Cost of
   
Net Tax
Investments
Gross tax
Gross tax
Unrealized
for Tax
Unrealized
Unrealized
Depreciation on
Purposes
Appreciation
Depreciation
Investments
$ 223,054,095
$ 1,547,618
$ (23,244,787)
$ (21,697,169)
The net tax unrealized appreciation on unfunded commitments is $482,374.
 
The differences between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is primarily attributable to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the mark to market of PFIC investments, and equity to debt accruals of income.
 
As of May 31, 2015 (the most recent fiscal year end for federal income tax purposes), the components of accumulated earnings/(losses) (excluding paid-in capital) on a tax basis were as follows:
 
     
 
Accumulated Long-Term
 
Undistributed
Gains/(Accumulated
Net Unrealized
Ordinary Income
Capital Losses)
Appreciation (Depreciation
$ 3,687,828
$ (1,945,160)
$ (4,781,687)
For the year ended May 31, 2015 (the most recent fiscal year end for federal income tax purposes), the tax character of distributions paid to shareholders as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets was as follows:
 
   
Distributions paid from
 
Ordinary Income
$ 14,290,338
Note: For federal income tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are treated as ordinary income distributions.
 
For all open tax years and all major jurisdictions, management of the Fund has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Uncertain tax positions are tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the
 
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 39
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Fund’s tax returns that would not meet a more-likely-than not threshold of being sustained by the applicable tax authority and would be recorded as a tax expense in the current year. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities (i.e. generally the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then).
 
Note 6 – Investments in Securities:
During the six months ended November 30, 2015, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments, excluding short-term investments were $68,660,702 and $66,285,331 respectively.
 
Note 7 – Derivatives:
The Fund is required by GAAP to disclose: a) how and why a fund uses derivative instruments, b) how derivative instruments and related hedge fund items are accounted for, and c) how derivative instruments and related hedge items affect a fund’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
 
(a) Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
The Fund enters into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain firm purchases and sales commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for investment purposes.
 
A forward foreign currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency on a future date at a negotiated forward rate. Risk may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars, reflects the total exposure the Fund has in that particular currency contract.
 
At November 30, 2015, the following forward foreign currency exchange contracts were outstanding:
 
                             
                         
Net Unrealized
 
         
Settlement
 
Settlement
   
Value as of
   
Appreciation
 
Contracts to Buy
 
Counterparty
Date
 
Value
   
11/30/15
   
(Depreciation)
 
GBP
    240,000                        
for USD
    362,616  
The Bank of New York Mellon
12/09/2015
  $ 362,616     $ 361,517     $ (1,009 )
   
                               
Net Unrealized
 
           
Settlement
 
Settlement
   
Value as of
   
Appreciation
 
Contracts to Sell
 
Counterparty
Date
 
Value
   
11/30/15
   
(Depreciation)
 
AUD
    203,000                              
for USD
    144,863  
The Bank of New York Mellon
12/09/2015
  $ 144,863     $ 146,751     $ (1,888 )
EUR
    8,760,000                              
for USD
    9,528,252  
The Bank of New York Mellon
12/09/2015
    9,528,252       9,260,585       267,667  
GBP
    2,200,000                              
for USD
    3,345,452  
The Bank of New York Mellon
12/09/2015
    3,345,452       3,313,902       31,550  
                                $ 297,329  
Total unrealized appreciation for forward foreign currency exchange contracts
            $ 296,230  
 
 

40 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
(b) Summary of Derivatives Information
The following table presents the types of derivatives in the Fund by location as presented on the Statement of Assets Liabilities at November 30, 2015.
 
         
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Presentation of Fair Values of Derivative Instruments ($000s):
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
           
 
Statement of Assets
   
Statement of Assets
 
Primary Risk Exposure
and Liabilities Location
Fair Value
 
and Liabilities Location
Fair Value
 
Unrealized appreciation on
   
Unrealized depreciation on
 
 
forward foreign currency
   
forward foreign currency
 
Foreign exchange risk
exchange contracts
$299
 
exchange contracts
$3
The following table presents the effect of derivatives instruments on the Statement of Operations for six months ended November 30, 2015.
 
   
 
Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statement of Operations:
 
Amount of Realized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives (value in $000s)
Primary Risk Exposure
Foreign Currency Transactions
Foreign exchange risk
$528
 
Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Derivatives (value in $000s)
Primary Risk Exposure
Foreign Currency Translations
Foreign exchange risk
$(27)
 
Derivative Volume
 
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts:
The Fund had the following activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts during the six months ended May 31, 2015:
 
       
Average Settlement Value Purchased
  $ 2,594,474  
Average Settlement Value Sold
    2,989,326  
 
Note 8 – Offsetting:
In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into transactions subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or other similar arrangements. Generally, the right to offset in those agreements allows the Fund to counteract the exposure to a specific counterparty with collateral received or delivered to that counterparty based on the terms of the arrangements. These arrangements provide for the right to liquidate upon the occurrence of an event of default, credit event upon merger or additional termination event.
 
In order to better define their contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate their counterparty risk, the Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with their derivative contract counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between a Fund and a counterparty that governs OTC derivatives, including foreign exchange contracts, and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 41
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
default and/or termination event. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of a default (close-out netting) or similar event, including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty.
 
For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark to market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Funds and the counterparty. For financial reporting purposes, cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Funds and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as segregated cash with broker/ receivable for variation margin, or payable for swap settlement/variation margin. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a counter party must exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold (e.g., $300,000) before a transfer is required to be made. To the extent amounts due to the Funds from their counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Funds bear the risk of loss from counterparty nonperformance. The Funds attempt to mitigate counterparty risk by only entering into agreements with counterparties that they believe to be of good standing and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.
 
For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
 
The following tables present derivative financial instruments and secured financing transactions that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements and offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities in conformity with GAAP.
 
             
   
Gross
Net Amounts
     
   
Amounts
of Assets
 
Gross Amounts Not
 
 
Gross
Offset in the
Presented in the
 
Offset in the Statement
 
 
Amounts
Statement of
Statement of
 
of Assets & Liabilities
 
 
of Recognized
Assets and
Assets and
 
Financial
Net
Description
Assets
Liabilities
Liabilities
 
Instruments
Amount
 
Forward Foreign
           
Currency Exchange
           
Contracts
$299,217
$ –
$299,217
 
$(2,997)
$296,220
 
 
   
Gross
Net Amounts
     
   
Amounts
of Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Not
 
 
Gross
Offset in the
Presented in the
 
Offset in the Statement
 
 
Amounts
Statement of
Statement of
 
of Assets & Liabilities
 
 
of Recognized
Assets and
Assets and
 
Financial
Net
Description
Liabilities
Liabilities
Liabilities
 
Instruments
Amount
 
Reverse Repurchase
           
Agreements
$67,300,156
$ –
$67,300,156
 
$(67,300,156)
$ –
Forward Foreign
           
Currency Exchange
           
Contracts
2,997
2,997
 
(2,997)
 
 

42 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Note 9 – Leverage:
 
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements as part of its financial leverage strategy. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund temporarily transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash. At the same time, the Fund agrees to repurchase the instrument at an agreed upon time and price, which reflects an interest payment. Such agreements have the economic effect of borrowings. The Fund may enter into such agreements when it is able to invest the cash acquired at a rate higher than the cost of the agreement, which would increase earned income. When the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the instruments transferred to another party or the instruments in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. As a result, such transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of the Fund’s assets. For the six months ended November 30, 2015, the average daily balance for which reverse repurchase agreements were outstanding amounted to $61,066,291. The weighted average interest rate was 0.87%. At November 30, 2015, there was $67,300,156 in reverse repurchase agreements outstanding.
 
In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-11, Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures (ASU 2014-11) that expanded secured borrowing accounting for certain repurchase agreements. The ASU also sets forth additional disclosure requirements for certain transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, which applies to the reverse repurchase agreements held by the Fund. The ASU became effective prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and for interim periods beginning after March 15, 2015.
 
The following is a summary of the remaining contractual maturities of the reverse repurchase agreements outstanding as of November 30, 2015, aggregated by asset class of the related collateral pledged by the Fund:
                               
   
Overnight and
               
Greater than
       
   
Continuous
   
Up to 30 days
   
31 – 90 days
   
90 days
   
Total
 
   
Preferred Stock
  $     $ 943,000     $ 818,689     $     $ 1,761,689  
                                         
Corporate Bonds
    13,384,938       21,325,145       23,494,170       7,334,214       65,538,467  
Gross amount of
                                       
recognized
                                       
liabilities for
                                       
reverse repurchase
                                       
agreements
  $ 13,384,938     $ 22,268,145     $ 24,312,859     $ 7,334,214     $ 67,300,156  
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 43
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
At November 30, 2015, the Fund had outstanding reverse repurchase agreements with various counterparties. Details of the reverse repurchase agreements by counterparty are as follows:
               
Counterparty
 
Interest Rates
 
Maturity Dates
 
Face Value
 
Barclays Capital, Inc.
    0.70% - 0.95 %
12/01/15 – 01/06/16
  $ 9,997,914  
Barclays Capital, Inc.
    0.75% - 0.80 %
Open Maturity
    4,169,375  
Bank of America
    0.75 %
12/09/15 – 02/29/16
    8,119,294  
Citigroup, Inc.
    0.75 %
12/17/15 – 01/05/16
    2,667,863  
Credit Suisse First Boston
    0.75% - 0.80 %
12/14/15 – 02/18/16
    5,843,975  
Credit Suisse First Boston
    0.75% - 0.80 %
Open Maturity
    4,429,812  
Paribas Bank
    0.80% - 0.95 %
12/04/15 – 02/03/16
    3,249,000  
Royal Bank of Canada
    0.75% - 0.80 %
12/07/15 – 05/06/16
    24,037,173  
Royal Bank of Canada
    0.80% - 0.95 %
Open Maturity
    4,785,750  
              $ 67,300,156  
 
There is no guarantee that the Fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. The Fund’s use of leverage may cause the Fund’s NAV and market price of common shares to be more volatile and can magnify the effect of any losses.
 
Note 10 – Loan Commitments:
Pursuant to the terms of certain Term Loan agreements, the Fund held unfunded loan commitments as of November 30, 2015. The Fund is obligated to fund these loan commitments at the borrower’s discretion. The Fund reserves against such contingent obligations by designating cash, liquid securities, and liquid term loans as a reserve. As of November 30, 2015, the total amount segregated in connection with reverse repurchase agreements and unfunded commitments was $104,776,109.
 
 
 
 

44 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 

 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
At November 30, 2015, the Fund had the following unfunded loan commitments which could be extended at the option of the borrower:
 
               
Borrower
Maturity Date
 
Face Amount
   
Value
 
Acosta, Inc.
09/26/2019
  $ 2,000,000     $ 203,453  
Advantage Sales and Marketing
07/25/2019
    900,000       84,691  
American Seafood
08/19/2021
    390,000       55,351  
American Stock Transfer
06/26/2018
    400,000       27,456  
BBB Industries, LLC
10/17/2019
    455,714       49,810  
CEVA Group, PLC
03/19/2019
    500,000       67,281  
Eyemart Express
12/18/2019
    1,000,000       98,278  
Hillman Group, Inc.
06/13/2019
    501,429       39,363  
IntraWest Holdings, S.A.R
12/10/2018
    1,100,000       26,578  
Learning Care Group
05/05/2019
    500,000       47,384  
Lincoln Finance Limited
12/31/2015
    2,000,000        
McGraw-Hill Global Education
03/22/2018
    1,000,000       62,659  
National Financial Partners
07/01/2018
    1,500,000       109,047  
National Technical
06/12/2021
    160,588       1,579  
Phillips Medsize Corp.
06/14/2019
    1,068,571       90,313  
PowerSchool, Inc.
07/29/2021
    450,000       53,116  
ProMach Group, Inc.
10/22/2019
    650,000       60,976  
Signode Industrial Group
05/01/2019
    1,400,000       119,263  
Wencor Jazz Acquisition
06/19/2019
    330,769       27,516  
      $ 16,307,071     $ 1,224,114  
 
Note 11 – Capital:
In connection with its organization process, the Fund sold 4,189 shares of beneficial interest to Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser, for consideration of $100,012 at a price of $23.88 per share. The Fund issued 6,000,000 shares of common stock in its initial public offering. These shares were issued at $23.88 per share after deducting the sales load but before underwriters’ expense reimbursement.
 
In connection with the initial public offering of the Fund’s common shares, the underwriters were granted an option to purchase additional common shares. The underwriters purchased, at a price of $23.88 per common share (after deducting the sales load but before offering expenses incurred by the Fund), 625,000 common shares of the Fund and 125,000 common shares on July 19, 2013, and August 13, 2013, respectively, pursuant to the over-allotment option.
 
Offering costs, estimated at $331,250 or $0.05 per share, in connection with the issuance of common shares have been borne by the Fund and were charged to paid-in capital. The Adviser and GPIM have agreed to pay offering expenses (other than sales load, but including reimbursement of expenses to the underwriters) in excess of $0.05 per common share.
 
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 45
 
 
 
 

 
 
   
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Common Shares
The Fund has an unlimited amount of common shares, $0.01 par value, authorized and 6,629,724 issued and outstanding.
 
     
Transactions in common shares were as follows:
   
 
 
Six Months Ended
Year Ended
 
November 30, 2015
May 31, 2015
Beginning Shares
6,629,724
6,629,724
Common shares issued through dividend reinvestment
535
Ending shares
6,629,724
6,629,724
 
Note 12 – Restricted Securities:
The securities below are considered illiquid and restricted under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees:
 
       
Restricted Securities
Acquisition Date
Cost
Value
Anchorage Credit Funding 1 Ltd., 6.30%
     
due 07/28/30
05/07/15
$ 1,000,000
$ 1,001,661
IronGate Energy Services LLC, 11%
     
due 07/01/2018
07/10/13
229,161
143,400
R&R Ice Cream plc, 8.25% due
     
05/15/20
06/16/14
187,926
149,713
Schahin II Finance Company SPV Ltd.,
     
5.88% due 09/25/22
01/18/14
756,329
203,006
   
$ 2,173,416
$ 1,497,780
 
Note 13 – Subsequent Event:
The Fund evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available for issue and determined there were no additional material events that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the Fund’s financial statements.
 

46 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
 
Federal Income Tax Information
In January 2016, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099 DIV or substitute 1099 DIV as to the federal tax status of the distributions received by you in the calendar year 2015.
 
Sector Classification
Information in the “Schedule of Investments” is categorized by sectors using sector-level classifications used by Bloomberg Industry Classification System, a widely recognized industry classifica -tion system provider. In the Fund’s registration statement, the Fund has investment policies relating to concentration in specific industries. For purposes of these investment policies, the Fund usually classifies industries based on industry-level classifications used by widely recognized industry classification system providers such as Bloomberg Industry Classification System, Global Industry Classification Standards and Barclays Global Classification Scheme.
 
Trustees (a)
The Trustees of the Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund and their principal occupations during the past five years:
 
           
 
Position(s)
Term of Office
 
Number of
 
 
Held
and Length
 
Portfolios in
 
Name, Address*
with
of Time
Principal Occupation(s)
Fund Complex
Other Directorships
and Year of Birth
Trust
Served**
During Past Five Years
Overseen
Held by Trustees
Independent Trustees:
       
Randall C. Barnes
Trustee
Since 2013
Current: Private Investor (2001-present).
102
Current: Trustee, Purpose Investments
(1951)
       
Funds (2014-present).
     
Former: Senior Vice President and Treasurer, PepsiCo, Inc. (1993-1997);
   
     
President, Pizza Hut International (1991-1993); Senior Vice President,
   
      Strategic Planning and New Business Development, PepsiCo, Inc. (1987-1990).    
 
Donald A.
Trustee
Since 2014
Current: Business broker and manager of commercial real estate,
98
Current: Midland Care, Inc.
Chubb, Jr.
   
Griffith & Blair, Inc. (1997-present).
 
(2011-present).
(1946 )
         
Jerry B. Farley
Trustee
Since 2014
Current: President, Washburn University (1997-present).
98
Current: Westar Energy, Inc.
(1946)
       
(2004-present);
         
CoreFirst Bank & Trust
          (2000-present).
Roman
Trustee and
Since 2013
Current: Founder and Managing Partner,
98
Current: Zincore Metals, Inc.
Friedrich III
Chairman
 
Roman Friedrich & Company (1998-present).
 
(2009-present).
(1946)
of the Contracts
       
 
Review
 
Former: Senior Managing Director, MLV & Co. LLC (2010-2011).
 
Former: Axiom Gold and
 
Committee
     
Silver Corp. (2011-2012).
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 47
 
 
 

 
 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015

 
           
 
Position(s)
Term of Office
 
Number of
 
 
Held
and Length
 
Portfolios in
 
Name, Address*
with
of Time
Principal Occupation(s)
Fund Complex
Other Directorships
and Year of Birth
Trust
Served**
During Past Five Years
Overseen
Held by Trustees
Independent Trustees continued:
       
 
Robert B. Karn III
Trustee and
Since 2013
Current: Consultant (1998-present).
98
Current: Peabody Energy
(1942)
Chairman of
     
Company (2003-present);
  the Audit   Former: Arthur Andersen (1965-1997) and Managing Partner, Financial   GP Natural Resource
 
Committee
 
and Economic Consulting, St. Louis office (1987-1997).
 
Partners, LLC (2002- present).
Ronald A. Nyberg
Trustee and
Since 2013
Current: Partner, Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC (2000-present).
104
Current: Edward-Elmhurst
(1953)
Chairman of
      Healthcare
 
the Nominating
  Former: Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate   System (2012-present).
 
and
 
Secretary, Van Kampen Investments (1982-1999).
   
  Governance        
 
Committee
       
Maynard F. Oliverius
Trustee
Since 2014
Current: Retired.
98
Current: Fort Hays State
(1943)
        University
     
Former: President and CEO, Stormont-Vail HealthCare (1996-2012).
 
Foundation (1999-present);
         
Stormont-Vail Foundation
         
(2013-present); University of Minnesota
         
MHA Alumni Philanthropy Committee
         
(2009-present).
 
         
Former: Topeka Community Foundation
         
(2009-2014).
Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.
Trustee and
Since 2013
Current: Portfolio Consultant (2010-present).
101
Former: Bennett Group of Funds
(1958)
Chairman of
     
(2011-2013).
 
the Board
 
Former: Vice President, Manager and Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Asset
   
     
Management (1998-1999); Vice President, Nuveen Investment Advisory
   
     
Corp. (1992-1999); Vice President and Manager, Nuveen Unit Investment
   
     
Trusts (1991-1999); and Assistant Vice President and Portfolio Manager,
   
     
Nuveen Unit Investment Trusts (1988-1999), each of John Nuveen &
   
     
Co., Inc. (1982-1999).
   
 

48 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015

 
           
 
Position(s)
Term of Office
 
Number of
 
 
Held
and Length
 
Portfolios in
 
Name, Address*
with
of Time
Principal Occupation(s)
Fund Complex
Other Directorships
and Year of Birth
Trust
Served**
During Past Five Years
Overseen
Held by Trustees
Interested Trustee:
         
Donald C.
President,
Since 2013
Current: President and CEO, certain other funds in the Fund Complex
233
Current: Clear Spring
Cacciapaglia***
Chief
 
(2012-present); Vice Chairman, Guggenheim Investments (2010-present).
  Life Insurance
(1951)
Executive
     
Company (2015-
 
Officer
 
Former: Chairman and CEO, Channel Capital Group, Inc. (2002-2010).
  present); Guggenheim
 
and Trustee
     
Partners Japan, Ltd.
          (2014-present);
         
Delaware Life
          (2013-present);
         
Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company
         
(2011-present); Paragon Life Insurance
         
Company of Indiana (2011-present).

 
     
*
 
The business address of each Trustee is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606.
     
**
 
This is the period for which the Trustee began serving the Fund. After a Trustee’s initial term, each Trustee is expected to serve a three year term concurrent
   
with the class of Trustees for which he serves:
     
   
—Messrs. Karn, Oliverius and Toupin are Class III Trustees. Class III Trustees are expected to stand for re-election at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders
   
for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2016.
     
   
—Messrs. Barnes, Cacciapaglia and Chubb are Class I Trustees. Class I Trustees are expected to stand for re-election at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders
   
for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2017.
     
   
—Messrs. Farley, Friedrich and Nyberg are Class II Trustees. Class II Trustees are expected to stand for re-election at the Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders
   
for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2018.
     
***
 
This Trustee is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Funds under the 1940 Act by reason of his position with the Funds’ Investment Manager and/or
   
the parent of the Investment Manager.
     
(a)
 
As of April 3, 2014. At a special meeting of the shareholders held in April 2014, shareholders of the Trust elected the following individuals to serve as Trustees:
   
Donald A. Chubb, Jerry B. Farley and Maynard F. Oliverius.
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 49
 
 
 

 
 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
Principal Executive Officers
 
The Principal Executive Officers, of the Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund, who are not trustees, and their principal occupations during the past five years:
 
       
 
Position(s)
   
 
held
Term of Office
 
Name, Address*
with the
and Length of
 
and Year of Birth
Trust
Time Served**
Principal Occupations During Past Five Years
Officers:
     
 
Joseph M. Arruda
Assistant
Since 2014
Current: Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-present);
(1966)
Treasurer
  LLC Vice President, Security Investors, (2010-present); CFO and Manager,
     
Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC (2009-present).
 
     
Former: Vice President, Security Global Investors, LLC (2010-2011); Vice President, Rydex Advisors, LLC (2010);
     
Vice President, Rydex Advisors II, LLC (2010).
William H.
Vice President
Since 2014
Current: Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim
Belden, III
   
Funds Investment Advisors, LLC (2005-present).
(1965)
     
     
Former: Vice President of Management, Northern Trust Global Investments (1999-2005).
Joanna M. Catalucci
Chief
Since 2013
Current: Chief Compliance Officer, certain funds in the Fund Complex (2012-present); Senior Managing Director,
(1966)
Compliance
 
Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).
 
Officer
   
     
Former: Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2008-2012);
      Senior Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, Security Investors, LLC and certain affiliates
     
(2010-2012); Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President, Rydex Advisors, LLC
     
and certain affiliates (2010-2011).
James M. Howley
Assistant
Since 2013
Current: Director, Guggenheim Investments (2004-present) ; Assistant Treasurer,
(1972)
Treasurer
  certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2006-present).
       
     
Former: Manager of Mutual Fund Administration, Van Kampen Investments, Inc. (1996-2004).
 
 

50 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 

 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015

 
       
 
Position(s)
   
 
held
Term of Office
 
Name, Address*
with the
and Length of
 
and Year of Birth
Trust
Time Served**
Principal Occupations During Past Five Years
Officers continued:
     
Amy J. Lee
Chief Legal
Since 2013
Current: Chief Legal Officer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2013-present); Senior Managing Director,
(1961)
Officer
 
Guggenheim Investments (2012-present).
 
     
Former: Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Security Benefit Life Insurance Company
     
and Security Benefit Corporation (2004-2012).
Mark E. Mathiasen
Secretary
Since 2013
Current: Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2007-present); Managing Director, Guggenheim
(1978)
    Investments (2007-present).
Michael P. Megaris
Assistant
Since 2014
Current: Assistant Secretary, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Senior Associate, Guggenheim
(1984)
Secretary
  Investments(2012-present).
       
     
Former: J.D., University of Kansas School of Law (2009-2012).
Adam Nelson
Assistant
Since 2015
Current: Vice President, Guggenheim Investments (2015-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund
(1979)
Treasurer
  Complex (2015-present).
       
     
Former: Assistant Vice President and Fund Administration Director, State Street Corporation (2013-2015); Fund
     
Administration Assistant Director, State Street (2011-2013); Fund Administration Manager, State Street (2009-2011).
Kimberly J. Scott
Assistant
Since 2013
Current: Vice President, Guggenheim Investments (2012-present); Assistant Treasurer, certain other funds in the
(1974)
Treasurer
  Fund Complex (2012-present).
       
     
Former: Financial Reporting Manager, Invesco, Ltd. (2010-2011); Vice President/Assistant Treasurer of
      Mutual Fund Administration, Van Kampen Investments, Inc./Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2009-2010);
     
Manager of Mutual Fund Administration, Van Kampen Investments,
     
Inc./Morgan Stanley Investment Management (2005-2009).
Bryan Stone
Vice President
Since 2014
Current: Vice President, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2014-present); Director,
(1979)
    Guggenheim Investments (2013-present).
       
     
Former: Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman Group LLC (2009-2013); Vice President,
      Morgan Stanley (2002-2009).
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 51
 
 
 

 
 
   
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
       
 
Position(s)
   
 
held
Term of Office
 
Name, Address*
with the
and Length of
 
and Year of Birth
Trust
Time Served**
Principal Occupations During Past Five Years
Officers continued:
     
 
John L. Sullivan
Chief Financial
Since 2013
Current: CFO, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, certain other funds in the Fund Complex (2010-present);
(1955)
Officer, Chief
 
Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Investments (2010-present).
 
Accounting
   
 
Officer and
 
Former: Managing Director and CCO, each of the funds in the Van Kampen Investments fund complex (2004-2010);
 
Treasurer
 
Managing Director and Head of Fund Accounting and Administration, Morgan Stanley
     
Investment Management (2002-2004); CFO and Treasurer, Van Kampen Funds (1996-2004).
 
     
*
 
The business address of each officer is c/o Guggenheim Investments, 227 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60606.
     
**
 
Each officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. The data reflects the commencement date upon which the
   
officer held any officer position with the Fund.
 
 
 

52 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT

 
 
 

 
 
   
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (Unaudited)
November 30, 2015
 
Unless the registered owner of common shares elects to receive cash by contacting the Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Plan Administrator”), all dividends declared on common shares of the Fund will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Administrator, Administrator for shareholders in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”), in additional common shares of the Fund. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Administrator prior to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on your behalf and may re-invest that cash in additional common shares of the Fund for you. If you wish for all dividends declared on your common shares of the Fund to be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, please contact your broker.
 
The Plan Administrator will open an account for each common shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such common shareholder’s common shares are registered. Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or other distribution (together, a “Dividend”) payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in common shares. The common shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized common shares from the Fund (“Newly Issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common shares on the open market (“Open-Market Purchases”) on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commission per common share is equal to or greater than the net asset value per common share, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the net asset value per common share on the payment date; provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per common share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the net asset value per common share is greater than the closing market value plus estimated brokerage commission, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in common shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open-Market Purchases.
 
If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its Open-Market Purchases, the market price per common share exceeds the net asset value per common share, the average per common share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator may exceed the net asset value of the common shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer common shares than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open-Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full Dividend amount in Open-Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Administrator may cease making Open-Market Purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares at net asset value per common share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per common share; the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.
 
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 53
 
 
 

 
 
   
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN (Unaudited) continued
November 30, 2015
 
The Plan Administrator maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Administrator on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instruction of the participants.
 
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to common shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commission incurred in connection with Open-Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any Federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends.
 
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.
 
All correspondence or questions concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 30170 College Station, TX 77842-3170; Attention: Shareholder Services Department, Phone Number: (866) 488-3559 or online at www.computershare.com/investor.
 
 
 

54 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 

 
   
FUND INFORMATION
November 30, R2015

 
   
Board of Trustees
Investment Adviser
Randall C. Barnes
Guggenheim Funds Investment
 
Advisors, LLC
Donald C. Cacciapaglia*
Chicago, IL
 
 
Donald A. Chubb
Investment Sub-Adviser
 
Guggenheim Partners Investment
Jerry B. Farley
Management, LLC
 
Santa Monica, CA
Roman Friedrich III
 
 
Administrator and Accounting Agent
Robert B. Karn III
Rydex Fund Services, LLC
 
Rockville, MD
Ronald A. Nyberg
 
 
Custodian
Maynard F. Oliverius
The Bank of New York Mellon Corp
 
New York, NY
Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.,
 
Chairperson
Legal Counsel
 
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
* Trustee is an “interested person” (as defined
& Flom LLP
in section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act)
New York, NY
(“Interested Trustee”) of the Trust because of
 
his position as the President and CEO of the
Independent Registered Public
Investment Adviser and Distributor.
Accounting Firm
 
Ernst & Young LLP
Principal Executive Officers
McLean, VA
   
Donald C. Cacciapaglia
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
   
Joanna M. Catalucci
 
Chief Compliance Officer
 
 
Amy J. Lee
 
Chief Legal Officer
 
 
Mark E. Mathiasen
 
Secretary
 
 
John L. Sullivan
 
Chief Financial Officer,
 
Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 55
 
 
 

 
 
   
FUND INFORMATION continued
November 30, 2015
 
Privacy Principles of the Fund
The Fund is committed to maintaining the privacy of its shareholders and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information the Fund collects, how the Fund protects that information and why, in certain cases, the Fund may share information with select other parties.
 
Generally, the Fund does not receive any non-public personal information relating to its shareholders, although certain non-public personal information of its shareholders may become available to the Fund. The Fund does not disclose any non-public personal information about its shareholders or former shareholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service shareholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party administrator).
 
The Fund restricts access to non-public personal information about its shareholders to employees of the Fund’s investment advisor and its affiliates with a legitimate business need for the information. The Fund maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the non-public personal information of its shareholders.
 
Questions concerning your shares of Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund?
 
   ● If your shares are held in a Brokerage Account, contact your Broker.
   ● If you have physical possession of your shares in certificate form, contact the Fund’s Transfer Agent:
     Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 30170 College Station, TX 77842-3170; (866) 488-3559 or online at www.computershare.com/investor.
 
This report is sent to shareholders of Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund for their information. It is not a Prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities mentioned in this report.
 
A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures related to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at (800) 345-7999.
 
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies for portfolio securities, if applicable, during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, is also available, without charge and upon request by calling (800) 345-7999, by visiting the Fund’s website at guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm or by accessing the Fund’s Form N-PX on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website at www.sec.gov.
 
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. The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or by visiting the Fund’s website at guggenheiminvestments.com/ggm. The Fund’s Form N-Q may also be viewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330 or at www.sec.gov.
 
Notice to Shareholders
 
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund from time to time may purchase shares of its common stock in the open market.
 
 
 

56 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 
 

 
This Page Intentionally Left Blank.
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 57
 
 
 

 

 
 
This Page Intentionally Left Blank.
 
 
 

58 l GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT
 
 
 

 

 
This Page Intentionally Left Blank.
 
 

GGM l GUGGENHEIM CREDIT ALLOCATION FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT l 59
 
 
 

 

 
 
ABOUT THE FUND MANAGERS
 
Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC
Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“GPIM”) is an indirect subsidiary of Guggenheim Partners, LLC, a diversified financial services firm. The firm provides capital markets services, portfolio and risk management expertise, wealth management, and investment advisory services. Clients of Guggenheim Partners, LLC subsidiaries are an elite mix of individuals, family offices, endowments, foundations, insurance companies and other institutions.
 
Investment Philosophy
GPIM’s investment philosophy is predicated upon the belief that thorough research and independent thought are rewarded with performance that has the potential to outperform benchmark indexes with both lower volatility and lower correlation of returns over time as compared to such benchmark indexes.
 
Investment Process
GPIM’s investment process is a collaborative effort between various groups including the Portfolio Construction Group, which utilize proprietary portfolio construction and risk modeling tools to determine allocation of assets among a variety of sectors, and its Sector Specialists, who are responsible for security selection within these sectors and for implementing securities transactions, including the structuring of certain securities directly with the issuers or with investment banks and dealers involved in the origination of such securities.
 
 
Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC
227 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60606 Member
FINRA/SIPC
(01/16)
 
NOT FDIC-INSURED l NOT BANK-GUARANTEED l MAY LOSE VALUE
 
CEF-GGM-SAR-1115
 
 
 

 
 
Item 2.  Code of Ethics.
 
Not applicable for a semi-annual reporting period.
 
Item 3.  Audit Committee Financial Expert.
 
Not applicable for a semi-annual reporting period.
 
Item 4.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
 
Not applicable for a semi-annual reporting period.
 
Item 5.  Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
 
Not applicable for a semi-annual reporting period.
 
Item 6.  Schedule of Investments.
 
The Schedule of Investments is included as part of Item 1.
 
Item 7.  Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
 
Not applicable for a semi-annual reporting period.
 
Item 8.  Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
 
(a) Not applicable for a semi-annual reporting period.
 
(b) There has been no change, as of the date of filing, in any of the Portfolio Managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in the registrant’s most recent annual report on Form N-CSR.
 
Item 9.  Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
 
None.
 
Item 10.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
 
The registrant has not made any material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees.
 
Item 11.  Controls and Procedures.
 
(a)      The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act) as of a date within 90 days of this filing and have concluded based on such evaluation, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Investment Company Act, that the registrant's
 
 
 

 
 
disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
 
(b)      There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 12.  Exhibits.
 
(a)(1)  Not applicable.
 
(a)(2)  Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) of the Investment Company Act.
 
(a)(3)  Not applicable.
 
(b)       Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 

 
 
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.
 
Guggenheim Credit Allocation Fund
 
By:      /s/ Donald C. Cacciapaglia      
 
Name: Donald C. Cacciapaglia
 
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date:    February 5, 2016
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
By:      /s/ Donald C. Cacciapaglia      
 
Name: Donald C. Cacciapaglia
 
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date:   February 5, 2016
 
By:      /s/ John L. Sullivan                   
 
Name: John L. Sullivan
 
Title:   Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
 
Date:   February 5, 2016