UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number: 811-21980

ALPINE TOTAL DYNAMIC DIVIDEND FUND

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215, Purchase, New York 10577

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC

2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215

Purchase, New York 10577

(Name and address of agent for service)

Copies of information to:

     
Rose F. DiMartino, Esq.   Sarah E. Cogan, Esq.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP   Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett LLP
787 Seventh Avenue   425 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10019-6099   New York, NY 10174

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 914-251-0880

Date of fiscal year end: October 31, 2015

Date of reporting period: January 31, 2015

 

Item 1. Schedule of Investments.

 

Schedule of Portfolio Investments Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund
January 31, 2015 (Unaudited)  

 

Shares   Security
Description
  Value
         
Common Stocks-98.4%     
        
Aerospace & Defense-1.1%     
 54,500   Raytheon Co.  $5,452,725 
 51,500   United Technologies Corp.   5,911,170 
         11,363,895 
           
Air Freight & Logistics-1.1%     
 68,000   FedEx Corp.   11,499,480 
           
Airlines-0.6%    
 200,000   Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.   6,771,119 
           
Auto Components-2.0%     
 50,000   BorgWarner, Inc.   2,700,500 
 84,000   Delphi Automotive PLC   5,773,320 
 2,342,000   GKN PLC   12,934,470 
         21,408,290 
           
Automobiles-0.6%     
 109,000   Thor Industries, Inc.   6,142,150 
           
Banks-4.0%     
 941,919   Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA   8,046,204 
 466,000   Bangkok Bank PCL-NVDR   2,709,025 
 204,000   Hana Financial Group, Inc.   5,963,069 
 461,000   Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.   2,449,876 
 1,040,000   Regions Financial Corp.   9,048,000 
 361,500   Standard Chartered PLC   4,820,562 
 55,000   Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.   1,845,626 
 147,500   Wells Fargo & Co.   7,658,200 
         42,540,562 
           
Beverages-2.4%     
 109,000   Anheuser-Busch InBev NV-ADR   13,305,630 
 414,900   Diageo PLC   12,281,297 
         25,586,927 
           
Capital Markets-2.6%     
 295,500   Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.   2,147,033 
 292,000   Invesco, Ltd.   10,725,160 
 106,500   Lazard, Ltd.-Class A   4,877,700 
 425,811   Mediobanca SpA   3,688,465 
 140,000   Schroders PLC   6,083,783 
         27,522,141 
Chemicals-1.7%     
 673,000   Clariant AG (a)   10,812,599 
 106,000   Symrise AG   6,938,005 
         17,750,604 
           
Commercial Services & Supplies-2.5%     
 294,000   ISS A/S (a)   8,686,330 
 339,000   KAR Auction Services, Inc.   11,563,290 
 396,000   RR Donnelley & Sons Co.   6,522,120 
         26,771,740 
           
Communications Equipment-2.0%     
 388,500   Cisco Systems, Inc.   10,242,803 
 173,500   QUALCOMM, Inc.   10,836,810 
         21,079,613 
 
Schedule of Portfolio Investments Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund
January 31, 2015 (Unaudited)  

 

Construction & Engineering-1.8%     
 9,375,000   China Railway Construction Corp., Ltd.-Class H   10,721,502 
 164,500   Vinci SA   8,641,872 
         19,363,374 
           
Containers & Packaging-1.2%     
 2,803,000   DS Smith PLC   13,331,579 
           
Diversified Financial Services-1.5%     
 403,000   Bank of America Corp.   6,105,450 
 204,000   Citigroup, Inc.   9,577,800 
         15,683,250 
           
Electric Utilities-1.3%     
 245,000   Northeast Utilities   13,617,100 
           
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components-1.4%     
 219,000   TE Connectivity, Ltd.   14,539,410 
           
Energy Equipment & Services-0.9%     
 90,000   Halliburton Co.   3,599,100 
 74,000   Schlumberger, Ltd.   6,096,860 
         9,695,960 
           
Food & Staples Retailing-1.8%     
 30,000   Costco Wholesale Corp.   4,289,700 
 199,000   Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.   14,676,250 
         18,965,950 
           
Food Products-5.5%     
 341,000   Dean Foods Co.   6,178,920 
 325,000   Mondelez International, Inc.-Class A   11,453,000 
 173,000   Nestle SA   13,212,176 
 589,370   Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.   16,001,396 
 332,000   Pinnacle Foods, Inc.   11,942,040 
         58,787,532 
           
Health Care Equipment & Supplies-1.2%     
 176,000   Medtronic PLC   12,566,400 
           
Health Care Providers & Services-3.6%     
 80,000   HCA Holdings, Inc. (a)   5,664,000 
 65,500   Humana, Inc.   9,591,820 
 79,300   McKesson Corp.   16,863,145 
 57,000   UnitedHealth Group, Inc.   6,056,250 
         38,175,215 
           
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure-0.9%     
 41,500   Las Vegas Sands Corp.   2,256,355 
 58,000   McDonald’s Corp.   5,361,520 
 94,000   Melco Crown Entertainment, Ltd.-ADR   2,256,000 
         9,873,875 
           
Household Durables-1.7%     
 199,500   Lennar Corp.-Class A   8,959,545 
 216,700   Ryland Group, Inc.   8,700,505 
         17,660,050 
           
Household Products-2.2%     
 79,700   Colgate-Palmolive Co.   5,381,344 
 91,000   Energizer Holdings, Inc.   11,648,910 
 55,200   The Clorox Co.   5,890,392 
         22,920,646 
 
Schedule of Portfolio Investments Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund
January 31, 2015 (Unaudited)  

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders-0.6%     
 42,673   Abengoa Yield PLC   1,404,795 
 157,256   Pattern Energy Group, Inc.   4,595,020 
         5,999,815 
           
Industrial Conglomerates-0.5%     
 47,200   Siemens AG   4,986,060 
           
Insurance-2.1%     
 32,100   Allianz SE   5,293,012 
 378,500   BB Seguridade Participacoes SA   4,147,172 
 91,000   Prudential Financial, Inc.   6,905,080 
 18,000   Zurich Insurance Group AG (a)   5,968,407 
         22,313,671 
           
Internet & Catalog Retail-0.8%     
 110,000   HSN, Inc.   8,518,400 
           
Internet Software & Services-0.6%     
 31,770   Equinix, Inc.   6,889,642 
           
IT Services-1.9%     
 132,000   Accenture PLC-Class A   11,091,960 
 58,000   International Business Machines Corp.   8,891,980 
         19,983,940 
           
Life Sciences Tools & Services-1.3%     
 114,500   Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.   14,336,545 
           
Machinery-2.3%     
 8,121,500   China CNR Corp., Ltd.-Class H (a)(b)   10,358,626 
 102,500   Snap-on, Inc.   13,602,775 
         23,961,401 
           
Media-4.1%     
 99,000   CBS Corp.-Class B   5,426,190 
 99,000   Comcast Corp.-Class A   5,261,355 
 1,600,000   ITV PLC   5,295,231 
 145,500   The Walt Disney Co.   13,234,680 
 38,000   Time Warner Cable, Inc.   5,172,940 
 396,000   WPP PLC   8,708,267 
         43,098,663 
Multi-Utilities-1.3%     
 355,000   CMS Energy Corp.   13,394,150 
           
Multiline Retail-1.0%     
 27,500   Kering   5,548,490 
 725,500   Marks & Spencer Group PLC   5,273,753 
         10,822,243 
           
Office Electronics-0.6%     
 485,000   Xerox Corp.   6,387,450 
           
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels-6.5%     
 75,000   Chevron Corp.   7,689,750 
 235,500   Enbridge, Inc.   11,405,265 
 117,500   Exxon Mobil Corp.   10,271,850 
 40,500   Marathon Petroleum Corp.   3,749,895 
 84,000   Occidental Petroleum Corp.   6,720,000 
 105,500   Phillips 66   7,418,760 
 832,000   Scorpio Tankers, Inc.   6,547,840 
 228,500   The Williams Cos., Inc.   10,022,010 
 108,000   Total SA   5,543,701 
         69,369,071 
 
Schedule of Portfolio Investments Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund
January 31, 2015 (Unaudited)  

 

Paper & Forest Products-0.3%     
 123,000   Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA-B Shares   2,964,806 
           
Pharmaceuticals-5.4%     
 38,000   Bayer AG   5,473,189 
 90,000   Merck & Co., Inc.   5,425,200 
 176,000   Novartis AG-ADR   17,142,400 
 38,200   Roche Holding AG   10,295,564 
 114,500   Sanofi-ADR   5,277,305 
 247,000   Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.-ADR   14,044,420 
         57,658,078 
           
Real Estate Investment Trusts-5.9%     
 100,000   American Homes 4 Rent-Class A   1,669,000 
 118,500   American Tower Corp.   11,488,575 
 163,500   Corrections Corp. of America   6,428,820 
 116,000   Digital Realty Trust, Inc.   8,461,040 
 700,000   Fibra Uno Administracion SA de CV   2,110,811 
 780   Nippon Building Fund, Inc.   3,837,988 
 840,723   Scentre Group (a)   2,470,276 
 220,000   Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust   5,332,800 
 167,500   The Geo Group, Inc.   7,289,600 
 796,000   Two Harbors Investment Corp.   8,214,720 
 674,738   Westfield Corp.   5,147,011 
         62,450,641 
           
Real Estate Management & Development-2.5%     
 577,000   BR Malls Participacoes SA   3,275,025 
 319,000   Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.   6,087,405 
 4,210,000   Global Logistic Properties, Ltd.   7,854,971 
 357,000   Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.   9,025,529 
         26,242,930 
           
Road & Rail-3.2%     
 2,334,000   All America Latina Logistica SA   3,348,887 
 76,000   Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.   13,274,920 
 111,500   Ryder System, Inc.   9,231,085 
 71,160   Union Pacific Corp.   8,340,663 
         34,195,555 
           
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment-2.5%     
 387,500   Applied Materials, Inc.   8,850,500 
 177,000   Avago Technologies, Ltd.   18,209,760 
         27,060,260 
           
Specialty Retail-1.9%     
 174,000   Penske Automotive Group, Inc.   8,412,900 
 176,000   TJX Cos., Inc.   11,605,440 
         20,018,340 
           
Technology, Hardware, Storage & Peripherals-3.3%     
 205,000   Apple, Inc.   24,017,800 
 438,000   EMC Corp.   11,357,340 
         35,375,140 
           
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods-1.0%     
 131,800   Carter’s, Inc.   10,740,382 
           
Trading Companies & Distributors-1.2%     
 756,000   Ashtead Group PLC   12,302,016 
           
Water Utilities-0.6%     
 108,500   American Water Works Co., Inc.   6,091,190 
 
Schedule of Portfolio Investments Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund
January 31, 2015 (Unaudited)  

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services-1.4%     
 432,500   Vodafone Group PLC-SP ADR   15,193,725 
     Total Common Stocks (Cost $935,236,312)   1,043,970,976 
           
Equity-Linked Structured Notes-1.0%     
      
Multi-Utilities-1.0%         
 560,500   Veolia Environnement SA-Morgan Stanley BV   10,267,867 
     Total Equity-Linked Structured Notes (Cost $10,991,901)   10,267,867 
           
Principal
Amount
         
          
Short-Term Investments-1.2%     
$12,506,000   State Street Eurodollar Time Deposit, 0.01%   12,506,000 
     Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $12,506,000)   12,506,000 
           
Total Investments (Cost $958,734,213)-100.6%   1,066,744,843 
      
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets-(0.6)%   (6,378,900)
      
TOTAL NET ASSETS 100.0%  $1,060,365,943 

 

Percentages are stated as a percent of net assets.

(a) Non-income producing security.

(b) Security fair valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. These securities comprised 1.0% of the Fund’s net assets.

ADR-American Depositary Receipt

AG-Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e., owned by shareholders.

A/S-Aktieselskab is the Danish term for a stock-based corporation.

BV-Besloten Vennootschap is the Dutch equivalent of a private limited liability company.

NV-Naamloze Vennootschap is the Dutch term for a public limited liability corporation.

NVDR-Non-Voting Depositary Receipts

PCL-Public Company Limited

PLC-Public Limited Company

SA-Generally designates corporations in various countries, mostly those employing the civil law.

SA de CV-Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable is the Spanish equivalent to Variable Capital Company.

SCA-Societe en Commandite par actions is the French equivalent of a limited partnership.

SE-SE Regulation. A European Company which can operate on a Europe-wide basis and be governed by Community law directly applicable in all Member States.

SP ADR-Sponsored American Depositary Receipt

 

Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

Notes to Schedule of Portfolio Investments

January 31, 2015 (Unaudited)

 

1. Organization:

 

Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund was organized as a Delaware Statutory Trust on October 27, 2006, and had no operating history prior to January 26, 2007. The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) authorized an unlimited number of shares with no par value. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek high current dividend income. The Fund also focuses on long-term growth of capital as a secondary investment objective.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies:

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported herein. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ.

 

A. Valuation of Securities:

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) of shares of the Fund is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s net assets by the number of outstanding shares. NAV is determined each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open as of the close of regular trading (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). In computing NAV, portfolio securities of the Fund are valued at their current market values determined on the basis of market quotations or if market quotations are not readily available or determined to be unreliable, through procedures and/or guidelines established by the Board. In computing the Fund’s NAV, equity securities that are traded on a securities exchange in the United States, except for option securities, are valued at the last reported sale price as of the time of valuation or, lacking any current reported sale at the time of valuation, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations. For equity investments traded on more than one exchange, the last reported sale price on the exchange where the stock is primarily traded is used. Equity-linked structured notes are valued by referencing the last reported sale or settlement price of the underlying security on the day of valuation. Foreign exchange adjustments are applied to the last reported price to convert the underlying security’s trading currency to the equity-linked structured note’s settlement currency. These investments are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Each option security traded on a securities exchange in the United States is valued at the mid-point of the consolidated bid/ask quote for the option security. Forward currency contracts are valued based on third-party vendor quotations. Each security traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System is valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), as determined by NASDAQ, or lacking an NOCP, the last current reported sale price as of the time of valuation by NASDAQ, or lacking any current reported sale on NASDAQ at the time of valuation, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations. Each over-the-counter option that is not traded through the Options Clearing Corporation is valued by the counterparty, or if the counterparty’s price is not readily available, then by using the Black-Scholes method. Debt securities are valued based on an evaluated mean price as furnished by pricing services approved by the Board, which may be based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities that are generally recognized by institutional traders, a computerized matrix system, or appraisals derived from information concerning the securities or similar securities received from recognized dealers in those securities. Each other security traded over-the-counter is valued at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations. Short-term securities with maturities of less than one year are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

 

Equity securities that are principally traded in a foreign market are valued at the last current sale price at the time of valuation or lacking any current or reported sale, at the time of valuation, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations as of the close of the appropriate exchange or other designated time. Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern securities exchanges and over-the-counter markets is normally completed at various times before the close of business on each day on which the NYSE is open. Trading of these securities may not take place on every NYSE business day. In addition, trading may take place in various foreign markets on Saturdays or on other days when the NYSE is not open and on which the Fund’s NAV is not calculated.

 

When market quotations are not readily available or when the valuation methods mentioned above are not reflective of a fair value of the security, the security is valued at fair value following procedures and/or guidelines approved by the Board. The Fund may also use fair value pricing, if the value of a security it holds is, pursuant to the Board guidelines, materially affected by events occurring before the Fund’s NAV is calculated but after the close of the primary market or market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities that are generally recognized by institutional traders, a computerized matrix system, or appraisals derived from information concerning the securities or similar securities received from recognized dealers in those securities. The Board has approved the use of a third-party pricing vendor’s proprietary fair value pricing model to assist in determining current valuation for foreign equities and OTC derivatives traded in markets that close prior to the NYSE. When fair value pricing is employed, the value of the portfolio security used to calculate the Fund’s NAV may differ from quoted or official closing prices. The Fund may also fair value a security if the Fund or Adviser believes that the market price is stale. Other types of securities that the Fund may hold for which fair value pricing might be required include illiquid securities including restricted securities and private placements for which there is no public market.

 

As of January 31, 2015, the Fund held a security that was fair valued, which comprised 1.0% of the Fund’s net assets.

 

Fair Value Measurement:

 

In accordance with GAAP, the Fund uses a three-tier hierarchy to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entities’ own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Level 1  -  Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets/exchanges for identical investments.
     
Level 2  -  Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates, etc.).
     
Level 3  -  Significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

 

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

 

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments as of the reporting period end. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under GAAP.

 

The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s assets and liabilities carried at fair value as of January 31, 2015:

 

   Valuation Inputs          
Investments in Securities at Value*  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total Value 
Common Stocks                    
Consumer Discretionary  $110,522,182   $37,760,211   $   $148,282,393 
Consumer Staples   100,767,582    28,458,279        129,225,861 
Energy   73,521,330    5,543,701        79,065,031 
Financials   113,314,953    83,438,242        196,753,195 
Health Care   106,967,485    15,768,753        122,736,238 
Industrials   88,747,115    62,467,525        151,214,640 
Information Technology   131,315,455            131,315,455 
Materials       31,082,183        31,082,183 
Telecommunication Services   15,193,725            15,193,725 
Utilities   39,102,255            39,102,255 
Equity-Linked Structured Notes       10,267,867        10,267,867 
Short-Term Investment       12,506,000        12,506,000 
Total  $779,452,082   $287,292,761   $   $1,066,744,843 
 
   Valuation Inputs          
Other Financial Instruments  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total Value 
Assets                    
Forward Currency Contracts  $   $3,242,641   $   $3,242,641 
Liabilities                    
Forward Currency Contracts       (2,379,494)       (2,379,494)
Total  $   $863,147   $   $863,147 

 

* For detailed industry descriptions, see accompanying Schedule of Portfolio Investments.

 

For the period ended January 31, 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The Funds recognize transfers as of the beginning of the year.

 

B. Federal and Other Income Taxes:

 

It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the Federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and to timely distribute, all of its investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains to shareholders in accordance with the timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no Federal income tax provision is required. Capital gains realized on some foreign securities are subject to foreign taxes. Dividends and interest from non-U.S. sources received by the Fund are generally subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes at rates ranging up to 30%. Such capital gains and withholding taxes, which are accrued as applicable, may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of applicable U.S. income tax treaties, and the Fund intend to undertake procedural steps to claim the benefits of such treaties. Where available, the Fund will file refund claims for foreign taxes withheld.

 

As of January 31, 2015, net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments, excluding foreign currency, based on Federal tax costs was as follows:*

 

Cost of
investments
   Gross unrealized
appreciation
   Gross unrealized
depreciation
  Net unrealized
appreciation
 
$958,734,213   $168,780,550   $(60,769,920)  $108,010,630   

 

* Because tax adjustments are calculated annually, the above table reflects the tax adjustments outstanding at the Fund’s previous fiscal year end. For the previous fiscal year’s Federal income tax information, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements section in the Fund’s most recent semi-annual or annual report.

 

C. Distributions to Shareholders:

 

The Fund intends to make a level distribution each month to its shareholders of the net investment income of the Fund after payment of Fund operating expenses. The level distribution rate may be modified or eliminated by the Board from time to time. If a monthly distribution exceeds the Fund’s monthly estimated investment company taxable income (which may include net short-term capital gain) and net tax-exempt income, the excess could result in a tax-free return of capital distribution from the Fund’s assets. The determination of a tax-free return of capital is made on an annual basis as further described below. The Fund’s final distribution for each calendar year will include any remaining investment company taxable income and net tax-exempt income undistributed during the year, as well as all net capital gains, if any, realized during the year. If the total distributions made in any fiscal year exceed annual investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt income and net capital gain, such excess distributed amount would be treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of the accumulated investment company taxable income, net tax-exempt income and net capital gain would first be a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the adjusted tax basis in the shares. After such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, the distribution would constitute capital gain (assuming the shares are held as capital assets). Distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Fund on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

 

D. Foreign Currency Translation Transactions:

 

The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in foreign securities. In the event that the Fund executes a foreign security transaction, the Fund will generally enter into a forward foreign currency contract to settle the foreign security transaction. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Non-U.S. dollar-denominated amounts are translated into U.S. dollars as follows, with the resultant translations gains and losses recorded in the Statement of Operations:

 

i) market value of investment securities and other assets and liabilities at the exchange rate on the valuation date.

 

ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective date of such transactions.

 

E. Risks Associated with Foreign Securities and Currencies:

 

Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of domestic issuers. Such risks include future political and economic developments and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is a possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments, which could adversely affect investments in those countries. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the Fund’s investments denominated in that currency will lose value because that currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value.

 

Certain countries may also impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets by foreign entities, including restrictions on investments in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests. These factors may limit the investment opportunities available to the Fund or result in a lack of liquidity and high price volatility with respect to securities of issuers from developing countries.

 

F. Equity-Linked Structured Notes:

 

The Fund may invest in equity-linked structured notes. Equity-linked structured notes are securities which are specially designed to combine the characteristics of one or more underlying securities and their equity derivatives in a single note form. The return and/or yield or income component may be based on the performance of the underlying equity securities, and equity index, and/or option positions. Equity-linked structured notes are typically offered in limited transactions by financial institutions in either registered or non-registered form. An investment in equity-linked structured notes creates exposure to the credit risk of the issuing financial institution, as well as to the market risk of the underlying securities. There is no guaranteed return of principal with these securities and the appreciation potential of these securities may be limited by a maximum payment or call right. In certain cases, equity-linked structured notes may be more volatile and less liquid than complex securities or other types of fixed-income securities. Such securities may exhibit price behavior that does not correlate with other fixed-income securities.

 

G. Forward Currency Contracts:

 

The Fund is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. The Fund may use forward currency contracts to gain exposure, to or economically hedge against, changes in the value of foreign currencies. A forward currency contract (“forward”) is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set price on a future date. The market value of the forward contract fluctuates with changes in forward currency exchange rates. The forward contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded by the Fund as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When the forward contract is closed, a Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the fluctuation in value during the period the forward contract was open. A Fund could be exposed to risk if a counterparty is unable to meet the terms of a forward or if the value of the currency changes unfavorably. The Fund’s forward contracts are not subject to a master netting agreement or similar agreement.

 

The following forward contracts were held as of January 31, 2015:

 

Description  Counterparty  Settlement
Date
   Currency     Settlement
Value
   Current
Value
   Unrealized
Gain/Loss
 
Contracts Sold:                   
Swiss Franc  State Street Bank and Trust Company  06/25/15   21,700,000  CHF  $21,577,011   $23,790,059   $(2,213,048)
Euro  State Street Bank and Trust Company  06/25/15   52,100,000  EUR   62,097,469    58,960,865    3,136,604 
British Pound  State Street Bank and Trust Company  06/25/15   12,000,000  GBP   18,163,200    18,057,163    106,037 
Japanese Yen  State Street Bank and Trust Company  06/25/15   2,340,000,000  JPY   19,796,284    19,962,730    (166,446)
                     $120,770,817   $863,147 
 

Item 2 - 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 of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date.

 

  (b) There was no change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the Registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3 – Exhibits.

Separate certifications for the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached as Ex99.CERT.

 

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.

 

    ALPINE TOTAL DYNAMIC DIVIDEND FUND
     
      By:  

/s/ Samuel A. Lieber

        Samuel A. Lieber
        President (Principal Executive Officer)
     
      Date:   March 25, 2015

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

      By:  

/s/ Samuel A. Lieber

        Samuel A. Lieber
        President (Principal Executive Officer)
     
      Date:    March 25, 2015
     
      By:  

/s/ Ronald G. Palmer, Jr.

        Ronald G. Palmer, Jr.
       

Chief Financial Officer (Principal

Financial Officer)

     
      Date:   March 25, 2015