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 811-09243
The Gabelli Utility Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Bruce N. Alpert
Gabelli Funds, LLC
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
(Name and address of agent for service)
registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-422-3554
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2016
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Annual Report — December 31, 2016
To Our Shareholders,
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the net asset value (“NAV”) total return of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the “Fund”) was 18.6%. The total return for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Utilities Index was 16.3%. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was 22.1%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $5.45, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $6.30 on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
Comparative Results
| Average Annual Returns through December 31, 2016 (a) (Unaudited) | Since Inception (07/09/99) |
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| 1 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | 15 Year | |||||||||
| Gabelli Utility Trust |
||||||||||||
| NAV Total Return (b) |
18.62% | 9.84% | 7.40% | 9.10% | 9.07% | |||||||
| Investment Total Return (c) |
22.08 | 5.15 | 5.26 | 6.55 | 8.32 | |||||||
| S&P 500 Utilities Index |
16.29 | 10.35 | 6.98 | 7.72 | 6.42 | |||||||
| Lipper Utility Fund Average |
14.93 | 9.44 | 6.11 | 7.78 | 6.04 | |||||||
| S&P 500 Index |
11.96 | 14.66 | 6.95 | 6.69 | 4.69 | |||||||
| (a) | Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are sold, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The S&P 500 Utilities Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index of large capitalization stocks that may include facilities generation and transmission or distribution of electricity, gas, or water. The Lipper Utility Fund Average reflects the average performance of mutual funds classified in this particular category. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged indicator of stock market performance. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
| (b) | Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in the NAV per share, reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date, and adjustments for rights offerings and are net of expenses. Since inception return is based on an initial NAV of $7.50. |
| (c) | Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in closing market values on the NYSE, reinvestment of distributions, and adjustments for rights offerings. Since inception return is based on an initial offering price of $7.50. |
Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)
The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of December 31, 2016:
The Gabelli Utility Trust
The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554).The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed 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.
Proxy Voting
The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
2
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments — December 31, 2016
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
3
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
4
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
The Gabelli Utility Trust
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders
| Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
| Operations: |
||||||||||
| Net investment income |
$ | 4,761,350 | $ | 5,673,050 | ||||||
| Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions |
23,638,526 | 11,801,743 | ||||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations |
16,451,602 | (34,211,540 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
44,851,478 | (16,736,747 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: |
||||||||||
| Net investment income |
(610,389 | ) | (563,356 | ) | ||||||
| Net realized gain |
(3,041,549 | ) | (1,427,583 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders |
(3,651,938 | ) | (1,990,939 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations |
41,199,540 | (18,727,686 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Distributions to Common Shareholders: |
||||||||||
| Net investment income |
(4,112,071 | ) | (4,575,789 | ) | ||||||
| Net realized gain |
(20,490,312 | ) | (11,595,377 | ) | ||||||
| Return of capital |
(1,232,005 | ) | (9,279,908 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total Distributions to Common Shareholders |
(25,834,388 | ) | (25,451,074 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Fund Share Transactions: |
||||||||||
| Net increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions |
3,826,133 | 3,643,963 | ||||||||
| Offering costs for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital |
(1,868,970 | ) | — | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions |
1,957,163 | 3,643,963 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders |
17,322,315 | (40,534,797 | ) | |||||||
| Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders: |
||||||||||
| Beginning of year |
219,176,115 | 259,710,912 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively) |
$ | 236,498,430 | $ | 219,176,115 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 |
|
2014 |
|
|
2013 |
|
|
2012 |
| ||||||||||
| Operating Performance: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ 5.13 | $ 6.16 | $ 5.98 | $ 5.48 | $ 5.69 | |||||||||||||||
| Net investment income (a) |
0.11 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | |||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions |
0.92 | (0.53 | ) | 0.69 | 1.01 | 0.19 | ||||||||||||||
| Total from investment operations |
1.03 | (0.40 | ) | 0.82 | 1.15 | 0.34 | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a) |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income |
(0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net realized gain |
(0.07 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total distributions to preferred shareholders |
(0.08 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations |
0.95 | (0.44 | ) | 0.77 | 1.10 | 0.28 | ||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Common Shareholders: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income |
(0.09 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.14 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net realized gain |
(0.48 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.40 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.26 | ) | ||||||||||
| Return of capital |
(0.03 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total distributions to common shareholders |
(0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | ||||||||||
| Fund Share Transactions: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Increase in net asset value from common share transactions |
0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | (b) | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||
| Increase in net asset value from common shares issued in rights offering |
— | — | — | — | 0.11 | |||||||||||||||
| Offering costs for issuance of rights charged to paid-in capital |
— | — | — | 0.00 | (b) | (0.02 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Offering costs for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital |
(0.04 | ) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total Fund share transactions |
(0.03 | ) | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | (b) | 0.11 | |||||||||||||
| Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Year |
$ 5.45 | $ 5.13 | $ 6.16 | $ 5.98 | $ 5.48 | |||||||||||||||
| NAV total return† |
18.62 | % | (7.12 | )% | 13.87 | % | 20.99 | % | 4.56 | % | ||||||||||
| Market value, end of year |
$ 6.30 | $ 5.70 | $ 7.32 | $ 6.39 | $ 6.16 | |||||||||||||||
| Investment total return†† |
22.08 | % | (14.15 | )% | 25.32 | % | 14.13 | % | (14.26 | )% | ||||||||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Financial Highlights (Continued)
Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | 2015 |
|
2014 |
|
|
2013 |
|
|
2012 |
| ||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of year (in 000’s) |
$337,831 | $270,508 | $311,044 | $300,389 | $277,069 | |||||||||||||||
| Net assets attributable to common shares, end of year (in 000’s) |
$236,498 | $219,176 | $259,711 | $249,057 | $225,737 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets attributable to common shares before preferred share distributions |
2.02 | % | 2.41 | % | 2.06 | % | 2.36 | % | 2.84 | % | ||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares before fee waived |
1.71 | %(c) | 1.57 | %(c) | 1.59 | % | 1.55 | % | 1.75 | % | ||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any |
1.71 | %(c) | 1.35 | %(c) | 1.59 | % | 1.55 | % | 1.59 | % | ||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares before fee waived |
1.27 | %(c) | 1.29 | %(c) | 1.32 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.36 | % | ||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any |
1.27 | %(c) | 1.11 | %(c) | 1.32 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.23 | % | ||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate |
22 | % | 9 | % | 17 | % | 16 | % | 3 | % | ||||||||||
| Preferred Shares: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquidation value, end of year (in 000’s) |
$ 28,832 | $ 28,832 | $ 28,832 | $ 28,832 | $ 28,832 | |||||||||||||||
| Total shares outstanding (in 000’s) |
1,153 | 1,153 | 1,153 | 1,153 | 1,153 | |||||||||||||||
| Liquidation preference per share |
$ 25.00 | $ 25.00 | $ 25.00 | $ 25.00 | $ 25.00 | |||||||||||||||
| Average market value (d) |
$ 25.88 | $ 25.55 | $ 25.14 | $ 25.25 | $ 26.00 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per share (e) |
$ 83.35 | $ 131.74 | $ 151.49 | $ 146.30 | $ 134.94 | |||||||||||||||
| Series B Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquidation value, end of year (in 000’s) |
$ 22,500 | $ 22,500 | $ 22,500 | $ 22,500 | $ 22,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Total shares outstanding (in 000’s) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Liquidation preference per share |
$ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Liquidation value (f) |
$ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | $ 25,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per share (e) |
$ 83,347 | $131,744 | $151,486 | $146,297 | $134,939 | |||||||||||||||
| 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquidation value, end of year (in 000’s) |
$ 50,000 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ — | |||||||||||||||
| Total shares outstanding (in 000’s) |
2,000 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Liquidation preference per share |
$ 25.00 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ — | |||||||||||||||
| Average market value (d) |
$ 25.28 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ — | |||||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per share (e) |
$ 83.35 | $ — | $ — | $ — | $ — | |||||||||||||||
| Asset Coverage (g) |
333 | % | 527 | % | 606 | % | 585 | % | 540 | % | ||||||||||
| † | For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date. The year ended 2012 was based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, and adjustments for rights offerings. |
| †† | Based on market value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. |
| (a) | Calculated based upon average common shares outstanding on the record dates throughout the year. |
| (b) | Amount represents less than $0.005 per share. |
| (c) | The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios. |
| (d) | Based on weekly prices. |
| (e) | Asset coverage per share is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares. |
| (f) | Since February 2008, the weekly auctions have failed. Holders that have submitted orders have not been able to sell any or all of their shares in the auction. |
| (g) | Asset coverage is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization. The Gabelli Utility Trust (the “Fund”) operates as a diversified closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 25, 1999 and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Investment operations commenced on July 9, 1999.
The Fund’s primary objective is long term growth of capital and income. The Fund will invest 80% of its assets, under normal market conditions, in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies involved in providing products, services, or equipment for (i) the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, and water and (ii) telecommunications services or infrastructure operations (the “80% Policy”). The 80% Policy may be changed without shareholder approval. However, the Fund has adopted a policy to provide shareholders with notice at least sixty days prior to the implementation of any change in the 80% Policy.
2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”). Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at each Underlying Fund’s NAV per share as of the report date.
Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and
11
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.
The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:
| ● | Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; |
| ● | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and |
| ● | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments). |
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities and other financial instruments by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
| Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 Quoted Prices |
Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs |
Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Total Market Value at 12/31/16 |
|||||||||||||
| INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES: |
||||||||||||||||
| ASSETS (Market Value): |
||||||||||||||||
| Common Stocks: |
||||||||||||||||
| ENERGY AND UTILITIES |
||||||||||||||||
| Merchant Energy |
$ 3,253,600 | — | $ 0 | $ 3,253,600 | ||||||||||||
| Other Industries (a) |
220,585,725 | — | — | 220,585,725 | ||||||||||||
| COMMUNICATIONS |
||||||||||||||||
| Other Industries (a) |
44,858,036 | — | — | 44,858,036 | ||||||||||||
| OTHER |
||||||||||||||||
| Aerospace |
823,248 | $ 5,669 | — | 828,917 | ||||||||||||
| Other Industries (a) |
4,842,520 | — | — | 4,842,520 | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Total Common Stocks |
274,363,129 | 5,669 | 0 | 274,368,798 | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| Convertible Preferred Stocks (a) |
— | 79,828 | 79,828 | |||||||||||||
| Warrants (a) |
1,122 | 71,998 | 73,120 | |||||||||||||
| U.S. Government Obligations |
— | 63,821,795 | — | 63,821,795 | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS |
$274,364,251 | $63,979,290 | $ 0 | $338,343,541 | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
12
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
| Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 Quoted Prices |
Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs |
Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Total Market Value at 12/31/16 |
|||||||||||||
| OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:* |
||||||||||||||||
| ASSETS (Unrealized Appreciation): |
||||||||||||||||
| EQUITY CONTRACT: |
||||||||||||||||
| Contract for Difference Swap Agreements |
— | $ 48 | — | $ 48 | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES (Unrealized Depreciation): |
||||||||||||||||
| EQUITY CONTRACT: |
||||||||||||||||
| Contract for Difference Swap Agreements |
— | (17,159) | — | (17,159) | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
— | $(17,111) | — | $(17,111) | ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Please refer to the Schedule of Investments (“SOI”) for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings. |
| * | Other financial instruments are derivatives reflected in the SOI, such as options, futures, forwards, and swaps, which may be valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of the instrument. |
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund had transfers of $406,656 or 0.19% of net assets as of December 31, 2015 from Level 2 to Level 1. Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 are due to an increase in market activity (e.g. frequency of trades), which resulted in an increase in available market inputs to determine price. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.
Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.
General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.
Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.
The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.
Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes
13
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.
Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives, while collateral terms are contract specific for derivatives traded over-the-counter. Securities pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments. Cash collateral, if any, pledged for the same purpose will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Fund’s policy with respect to offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the master agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.
The Fund’s derivative contracts held at December 31, 2016, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.
Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is exchanged between two counterparties. One of these cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time an equity contract for difference swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction.
Unrealized gains related to swaps are reported as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in the value of swaps, including the accrual of periodic amounts of interest to be received or paid on swaps, is reported as unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon receipt or payment of a periodic payment or termination of swap agreements.
14
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The Fund has entered into equity contract for difference swap agreements with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Details of the swaps at December 31, 2016 are reflected within the Schedule of Investments and further details are as follows:
| Notional Amount |
Equity Security Received |
Interest Rate/ Equity Security Paid |
Termination Date |
Net Unrealized Depreciation |
||||||||||||
| Market Value Appreciation on: |
One month LIBOR plus 90 bps plus Market Value Depreciation on: |
|||||||||||||||
| $ 5,621 | (4,600,000 Shares) | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C | 06/28/17 | $ 48 | |||||||||||
| $838,930 | (100,000 Shares) | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc | 06/28/17 | (17,159) | |||||||||||
| $(17,111) | ||||||||||||||||
The Fund’s volume of activity in equity contract for difference swap agreements during the year ended December 31, 2016 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately $914,022.
At December 31, 2016, the Fund’s derivative assets and liabilities (by type) are as follows:
| Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
Gross Amounts Available for Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
Net Amount of Assets Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Assets |
||||||||||||
| Equity Contract for Difference Swap Agreements |
$48 | $(48) | — | |||||||||
| Gross Amounts of and Liabilities |
Gross Amounts Available for Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||
| Liabilities |
||||||||||||
| Equity Contract for Difference Swap Agreements |
$17,159 | $(48) | $17,111 | |||||||||
The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of the related collateral segregated by the Fund for the benefit of the counterparty as of December 31, 2016:
| Net Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Net Amounts of Recognized Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
Financial Instruments |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Counterparty |
||||||||||||||||
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. |
$17,111 | $(17,111) | — | — | ||||||||||||
At December 31, 2016, the value of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under Assets, Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts, and under Liabilities, Unrealized depreciation on swap contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the effect of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Operations, under Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency, Net realized loss on swap contracts and Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts.
15
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Limitations on the Purchase and Sale of Futures Contracts, Certain Options, and Swaps. Subject to the guidelines of the Board, the Fund may engage in “commodity interest” transactions (generally, transactions in futures, certain options, certain currency transactions, and certain types of swaps) only for bona fide hedging or other permissible transactions in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Pursuant to amendments by the CFTC to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), the Adviser has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund. The Fund and the Adviser are therefore not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. In addition, certain trading restrictions are now applicable to the Fund as of January 1, 2013. These trading restrictions permit the Fund to engage in commodity interest transactions that include (i) “bona fide hedging” transactions, as that term is defined and interpreted by the CFTC and its staff, without regard to the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to margin and options premiums and (ii) non-bona fide hedging transactions, provided that the Fund does not enter into such non-bona fide hedging transactions if, immediately thereafter, either (a) the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits on the Fund’s existing futures positions or swaps positions and option or swaption premiums would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions, or (b) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest transactions would not exceed 100% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions. Therefore, in order to claim the Rule 4.5 exemption, the Fund is limited in its ability to invest in commodity futures, options, and certain types of swaps (including securities futures, broad based stock index futures, and financial futures contracts). As a result, in the future the Fund will be more limited in its ability to use these instruments than in the past, and these limitations may have a negative impact on the ability of the Adviser to manage the Fund, and on the Fund’s performance.
Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest, from time to time, in shares of other investment companies (or entities that would be considered investment companies but are excluded from the definition pursuant to certain exceptions under the 1940 Act) (the “Acquired Funds”) in accordance with the 1940 Act and related rules. Shareholders in the Fund would bear the pro rata portion of the periodic expenses of the Acquired Funds in addition to the Fund’s expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund had no periodic expenses charged by Acquired Funds.
Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.
16
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Restricted Securities. The Fund is not subject to an independent limitation on the amount it may invest in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and, accordingly, the Board will monitor their liquidity. At December 31, 2016, the Fund held no restricted securities.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain/(loss) on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.
Custodian Fee Credits and Interest Expense. When cash balances are maintained in the custody account, the Fund receives credits which are used to offset custodian fees. The gross expenses paid under the custody arrangement are included in custodian fees in the Statement of Operations with the corresponding expense offset, if any, shown as “Custodian fee credits.” When cash balances are overdrawn, the Fund is charged an overdraft fee equal to 110% of the 90 day Treasury Bill rate on outstanding balances. This amount, if any, would be included in the Statement of Operations.
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized
17
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to sale of investments no longer considered passive foreign investment companies, reclassifications due to investments in swaps, foreign currency transactions, and investments in partnerships. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2016, reclassifications were made to decrease accumulated net investment income by $80,533 and increase accumulated net realized loss on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions by $45,579, with an offsetting adjustment to paid-in capital.
The Fund declares and pays monthly distributions from net investment income, capital gains, and paid-in capital. The actual source of the distribution is determined after the end of the year. Distributions during the year may be made in excess of required distributions. To the extent such distributions are made from current earnings and profits, they are considered ordinary income or long term capital gains. This may restrict the Fund’s ability to pass through to shareholders all of its net realized long term capital gains as a Capital Gain Dividend and may cause such gains to be treated as ordinary income, subject to the maximum federal income tax rate. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered as dividend yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund. The Board will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution level, taking into consideration the Fund’s NAV and the financial market environment. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board at any time.
Distributions to shareholders of the Fund’s 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Series A Preferred”), the Series B Auction Market Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Series B Preferred”), and the 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Series C Preferred”) are recorded on a daily basis and are determined as described in Note 5.
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2015 |
|||||||||||||||
| Common | Preferred | Common | Preferred | |||||||||||||
| Distributions paid from: |
||||||||||||||||
| Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains) |
$ | 4,651,153 | $ | 690,410 | $ | 5,456,485 | $ | 671,784 | ||||||||
| Net long term capital gains |
19,951,230 | 2,961,528 | 10,714,681 | 1,319,155 | ||||||||||||
| Return of capital |
1,232,005 | — | 9,279,908 | — | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Total distributions paid |
$ | 25,834,388 | $ | 3,651,938 | $ | 25,451,074 | $ | 1,990,939 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
18
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
At December 31, 2016, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
| Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations |
$ | 71,974,976 | ||
| Other temporary differences* |
(72,845 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 71,902,131 | ||
|
|
|
| * | Other temporary differences are primarily due to adjustments on preferred share class distribution payables. |
At December 31, 2016, the temporary differences between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation on investments were primarily due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes.
The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at December 31, 2016:
| Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments |
$266,365,245 | $86,816,199 | $ | (14,837,903 | ) | $71,978,296 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of December 31, 2016, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.
3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to 1.00% of the value of its average weekly net assets including the liquidation value of the preferred stock. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs. The Adviser has agreed to reduce the management fee on the incremental assets attributable to the Series A and Series B Preferred if the total return of the NAV of the common shares of the Fund, including distributions and advisory fee subject to reduction, does not exceed the stated dividend rate or corresponding swap rate of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the year.
The Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares is monitored on a monthly basis to assess whether the total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeds the stated dividend rate or corresponding swap rate of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the period. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeded the stated dividend rate of the Series A and Series B Preferred. Thus, advisory fees with respect to the liquidation value of the Preferred Shares were paid on these assets.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid $38,140 in brokerage commissions on security trades to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser.
19
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $2,995.
The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid or accrued $45,000 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.
As per the approval of the Board, the Fund compensates officers of the Fund, who are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Adviser (although the officers may receive incentive based variable compensation from affiliates of the Adviser). For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid or accrued $90,533 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund pays each Trustee who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,500 for each Board meeting attended. Each Trustee is reimbursed by the Fund for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman and the Lead Trustee each receive an annual fee of $2,000. A Trustee may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for participation in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Trustees who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.
4. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2016, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $59,719,286 and $86,784,818 respectively.
5. Capital. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (par value $0.001). The Board has authorized the repurchase of its common shares on the open market when the shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more (or such other percentage as the Board may determine from time to time) from the NAV of the shares. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Fund did not repurchase any common shares of beneficial interest in the open market.
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31, 2015 |
|||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||
| Net increase from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions |
636,637 | $ | 3,826,133 | 596,586 | $ | 3,643,963 | ||||||||||
The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of
$0.001 par value Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on shares of the Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Statement of Additional Information to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Series A, Series B, and Series C Preferred Shares at redemption prices of $25, $25,000, and $25, respectively, per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated
20
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed and variable rates, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common shareholders.
The Fund may redeem at any time, in whole or in part, the Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred at the redemption price. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Fund did not repurchase any shares of Series A Preferred or Series B Preferred.
The Series B Preferred dividend rates, as set by the auction process that is generally held every seven days, are expected to vary with short term interest rates. Since February 2008, the number of Series B Preferred subject to bid orders by potential holders has been less than the number of Series B Preferred subject to sell orders. Therefore, the weekly auctions have failed, and the dividend rate since then has been the maximum rate. Holders that have submitted sell orders have not been able to sell any or all of the Series B Preferred for which they have submitted sell orders. The current maximum rate is 150 basis points greater than the seven day Telerate/British Bankers Association LIBOR rate on the day of such auction. Existing shareholders may submit an order to hold, bid, or sell such shares on each auction date. Shareholders of the Series B Preferred may also trade their shares in the secondary market.
The Fund has an effective shelf registration authorizing the offering of an additional $300 million of common or preferred shares.
On May 31, 2016, the Fund received $48,100,000 (after underwriting discounts of $1,575,000 and estimated offering expenses of $294,000) from the public offering of 2,000,000 shares of Series C Preferred. Commencing May 31, 2021 and at any time thereafter, the Fund, at its option, may redeem the Series C Preferred in whole or in part at the redemption price plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund did not repurchase any of the Series C Preferred.
As of December 31, 2016 after considering the Series C Preferred offering, the Fund has $250 million available for issuance under the current shelf.
The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Stock information:
| Series | Issue Date | Issued/ Authorized |
Number of Shares Outstanding at 12/31/16 |
Net Proceeds | 2016 Dividend Rate Range |
Dividend Rate at 12/31/16 |
Accrued Dividends at 12/31/16 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A 5.625% |
July 31, 2003 | 1,200,000 | 1,153,288 | $28,895,026 | Fixed Rate | 5.625% | $22,525 | |||||||||||||||||
| B Auction Market |
July 31, 2003 | 1,000 | 900 | 24,590,026 | 1.886% to 2.211% | 2.211% | 5,528 | |||||||||||||||||
| C 5.375% |
May 31, 2016 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 48,100,000 | Fixed Rate | 5.375% | 44,792 | |||||||||||||||||
The holders of Preferred Shares generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common stock as a single class. The holders of Preferred Shares voting together as a single class also have the right currently to elect two Trustees and under certain circumstances are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred shares, voting as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely
21
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
affecting the preferred shares, and the approval of two-thirds of each class, voting separately, of the Fund’s outstanding voting stock must approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. The approval of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding preferred shares and a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are required to approve certain other actions, including changes in the Fund’s investment objectives or fundamental investment policies.
6. Industry Concentration. Because the Fund primarily invests in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies in the utility industry, its portfolio may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio of securities representing a broad range of investments.
7. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
8. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
22
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of
The Gabelli Utility Trust:
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets attributable to common shareholders and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the “Fund”) as of December 31, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets attributable to common shareholders for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities as of December 31, 2016 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2017
23
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers of the Fund is set forth below. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Trustees and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The Gabelli Utility Trust at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.
| Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 |
Number of Funds in |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee4 | ||||
| INTERESTED TRUSTEES3: |
||||||||
| Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Trustee and Chief Investment Officer Age: 74 |
Since 1999*** | 31 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. | Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012) | ||||
| John D. Gabelli Trustee Age: 72 |
Since 1999** | 10 | Senior Vice President of G.research, LLC | — | ||||
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES5: |
||||||||
| Anthony J. Colavita Trustee Age: 81 |
Since 1999* | 36 | President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C. | — | ||||
| James P. Conn Trustee Age: 78 |
Since 1999** | 22 | Former Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd. (1992-1998) | — | ||||
| Vincent D. Enright Trustee Age: 73 |
Since 1999*** | 17 | Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corp. (public utility) (1994-1998) | Director of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics) (2008-2014); Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2011-2014) | ||||
| Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. Trustee Age: 77 |
Since 1999* | 11 | Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates; Former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (1995-2013); Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1983- 1989) | Director of First Republic Bank (banking) | ||||
| Michael J. Melarkey Trustee Age: 67 |
Since 2016*** | 9 | Owner in Pioneer Crossing Casino Group; Of Counsel McDonald Carano Wilson LLP; Former Partner in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel, Mulligan & McKenzie (1980-2015) | Director of Southwest Gas Corporation (natural gas utility) | ||||
| Robert J. Morrissey Trustee Age: 77 |
Since 1999* | 6 | Partner in the law firm of Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch | Chairman of the Board of Directors, Belmont Savings Bank | ||||
| Kuni Nakamura Trustee Age: 48 |
Since 2012*** | 20 | President of Advanced Polymer, Inc. (chemical manufacturing company); President of KEN Enterprises, Inc. (real estate) | — | ||||
24
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)
| Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 |
Number of Funds in |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee4 | ||||
| Anthony R. Pustorino Trustee Age: 91 |
Since 1999** | 13 | Certified Public Accountant; Professor Emeritus, Pace University | Director of The LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2004-2011) | ||||
| Salvatore J. Zizza Trustee Age: 71 |
Since 1999* | 30 | President of Zizza & Associates Corp. (private holding company); Chairman of Harbor Diversified, Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Chairman of BAM (semiconductor and aerospace manufacturing); Chairman of Bergen Cove Realty Inc.; Chairman of Metropolitan Paper Recycling Inc. (recycling) (2005-2014) | Director and Vice Chairman of Trans-Lux Corporation (business services); Director and Chairman of Harbor Diversified Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Director, Chairman, and CEO of General Employment Enterprises (staffing services) (2009-2012) | ||||
| Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||||
| OFFICERS: |
||||||
| Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 65 |
Since 2003 | Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1988; Officer of registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008; Director of Teton Advisors, Inc., 1998-2012; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc., 2008-2010 | ||||
| Andrea R. Mango Vice President and Secretary Age: 44 |
Since 2013 | Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2016; Counsel of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2013; Secretary of all registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2013; Vice President of all closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2014; Corporate Vice President within the Corporate Compliance Department of New York Life Insurance Company, 2011-2013; Vice President and Counsel of Deutsche Bank, 2006-2011 | ||||
| Agnes Mullady Treasurer Age: 58 |
Since 2006 | President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2010; Chief Executive Officer of G.distributors, LLC since 2010; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Executive Vice President of Associated Capital Group, Inc. since November 2016; Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex | ||||
25
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)
| Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||||
| Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 57 |
Since 2013 | Chief Compliance Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2013; Chief Compliance Officer of AEGON USA Investment Management, 2011-2013; Chief Compliance Officer of Cutwater Asset Management, 2004- 2011 | ||||
| David I. Schachter Vice President and Ombudsman Age: 63 |
Since 1999 | Vice President and/or Ombudsman of closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2015 and Vice President (1999-2015) of G.research, LLC | ||||
| 1 | Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted. |
| 2 | The Fund’s Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one class expires and the successor or successors elected to such class serve for a three year term. The three year term for each class expires as follows: |
| * | — | Term expires at the Fund’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. | ||
| ** | — | Term expires at the Fund’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. | ||
| *** | — | Term expires at the Fund’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. |
| Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. |
| 3 | “Interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers. |
| 4 | This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
| 5 | Trustees who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Trustees. |
26
THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
INCOME TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)
December 31, 2016
Cash Dividends and Distributions
| Payable Date |
Record Date |
Total Amount Paid Per Share (a) |
Ordinary Investment Income (a) |
Long Term Capital Gains (a) |
Return of Capital (c) |
Dividend Reinvestment Price |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/22/16 | 01/14/16 | $0.05000 | $0.00890 | $0.03870 | $0.00240 | $5.43400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/22/16 | 02/12/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 5.43400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03/23/16 | 03/16/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 5.91850 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 04/22/16 | 04/15/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 5.76650 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05/23/16 | 05/16/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.18450 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 06/23/16 | 06/16/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.26050 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07/22/16 | 07/15/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.54550 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/24/16 | 08/17/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.38400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 09/23/16 | 09/16/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.39350 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10/24/16 | 10/17/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.18450 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/22/16 | 11/15/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 6.00400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/16/16 | 12/09/16 | 0.05000 | 0.00890 | 0.03870 | 0.00240 | 5.84250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| $0.60000 | $0.10680 | $0.46440 | $0.02880 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03/28/16 | 03/21/16 | $0.35156 | $0.06593 | $0.28563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 06/27/16 | 06/20/16 | 0.35156 | 0.06593 | 0.28563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 09/26/16 | 09/19/16 | 0.35156 | 0.06593 | 0.28563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/27/16 | 12/19/16 | 0.35156 | 0.06593 | 0.28563 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| $1.40625 | $0.26374 | $1.14251 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 09/26/16 | 09/19/16 | $0.43298 | $0.08120 | $0.35178 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/27/16 | 12/29/16 | 0.33594 | 0.06300 | 0.27293 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| $0.76892 | $0.14421 | $0.62471 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Form 1099-DIV has been mailed to all shareholders of record which sets forth specific amounts to be included in your 2016 tax returns. Ordinary distributions include net investment income and realized net short term capital gains. Ordinary income is reported in box 1a of Form 1099-DIV. Capital gain distributions are reported in box 2a of Form 1099-DIV.
The long term gain distributions for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 were $22,912,758 or the maximum amount.
Corporate Dividends Received Deduction, Qualified Dividend Income, and U.S. Government Securities Income
In 2016, the Fund paid to common, 5.625% Series A, and 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred shareholders ordinary income dividends of $0.10680 , $0.26374, and $0.14421 per share, respectively. For 2016, 100% of the ordinary dividend qualified for the dividend received deduction available to corporations, 100% of the ordinary income distribution was deemed qualified dividend income, and 2.22% of ordinary income distribution was qualified interest income and 100% of ordinary income distribution was qualified short term capital gain. The percentage of ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund during 2016 derived from U.S. Government securities was 1.84%. Such income is exempt from state and local taxes in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of its fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2016. The percentage of U.S. Government securities held as of December 31, 2016 was 18.9%.
27
THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
INCOME TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited) (Continued)
December 31, 2016
Historical Distribution Summary
| Investment Income (b) |
Short Term Capital Gains (b) |
Long Term Capital Gains |
Return of Capital (c) |
Total Distributions (a) |
Adjustment to Cost Basis (d) |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 |
$ 0.09360 | $ 0.01320 | $ 0.46440 | $0.02880 | $ 0.60000 | $0.02880 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 |
0.10800 | 0.02160 | 0.25200 | 0.21840 | 0.60000 | 0.21840 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 |
0.09960 | 0.00804 | 0.40104 | 0.09132 | 0.60000 | 0.09132 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 |
0.14232 | 0.00576 | 0.39180 | 0.06012 | 0.60000 | 0.06012 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 |
0.13920 | — | 0.26520 | 0.19560 | 0.60000 | 0.19560 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 |
0.11520 | 0.05880 | 0.01080 | 0.41520 | 0.60000 | 0.41520 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 |
0.07788 | — | — | 0.64212 | 0.72000 | 0.64212 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 |
0.07596 | — | — | 0.64404 | 0.72000 | 0.64404 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 |
0.10716 | 0.00360 | 0.04212 | 0.56712 | 0.72000 | 0.56712 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 |
0.15458 | 0.03985 | 0.28795 | 0.23762 | 0.72000 | 0.23762 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 |
$ 0.23026 | $ 0.03347 | $ 1.14252 | — | $ 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 |
0.39725 | 0.07765 | 0.93135 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 |
0.27528 | 0.02227 | 1.10870 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 |
0.37067 | 0.01489 | 1.02069 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 |
0.48293 | — | 0.92332 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 |
0.87922 | 0.44909 | 0.07794 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 |
1.40625 | — | — | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 |
1.40625 | — | — | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 |
0.98590 | 0.03309 | 0.38726 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 |
0.44768 | 0.11663 | 0.84194 | — | 1.40625 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Series B Auction Market Cumulative Preferred Stock |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 |
$ 80.27810 | $ 11.66970 | $398.32200 | — | $ 490.26980 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 |
118.61073 | 23.18474 | 278.08453 | — | 419.88000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 |
80.26781 | 6.49443 | 323.28776 | — | 410.05000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 |
110.25405 | 4.42978 | 303.60617 | — | 418.29000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 |
137.82644 | — | 263.51356 | — | 401.34000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 |
228.93287 | 116.93418 | 20.29295 | — | 366.16000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 |
381.65000 | — | — | — | 381.65000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 |
388.12000 | — | — | — | 388.12000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 |
663.22018 | 22.26115 | 260.50866 | — | 945.99000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 |
426.72648 | 111.17336 | 802.52016 | — | 1,340.42000 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 |
$ 0.12591 | $ 0.01830 | $ 0.62471 | — | $ 0.76892 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
(a) Total amounts may differ due to rounding.
(b) Taxable as ordinary income.
(c) Non-taxable.
(d) Decrease in cost basis.
All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.
28
AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS
Enrollment in the Plan
It is the policy of The Gabelli Utility Trust to automatically reinvest dividends payable to common shareholders. As a “registered” shareholder, you automatically become a participant in the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan authorizes the Fund to credit shares of common stock to participants upon an income dividend or a capital gains distribution regardless of whether the shares are trading at a discount or a premium to net asset value. All distributions to shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund. Plan participants may send their stock certificates to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) to be held in their dividend reinvestment account. Registered shareholders wishing to receive their distribution in cash must submit this request in writing to:
The Gabelli Utility Trust
c/o Computershare
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170
Shareholders requesting this cash election must include the shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the share certificate. Shareholders with additional questions regarding the Plan or requesting a copy of the terms of the Plan may contact Computershare at (800) 336-6983.
If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, or nominee, you should contact such institution. If such institution is not participating in the Plan, your account will be credited with a cash dividend. In order to participate in the Plan through such institution, it may be necessary for you to have your shares taken out of “street name” and re-registered in your own name. Once registered in your own name, your dividends will be automatically reinvested. Certain brokers participate in the Plan. Shareholders holding shares in “street name” at participating institutions will have dividends automatically reinvested. Shareholders wishing a cash dividend at such institution must contact their broker to make this change.
The number of shares of common stock distributed to participants in the Plan in lieu of cash dividends is determined in the following manner. Under the Plan, whenever the market price of the Fund’s common stock is equal to or exceeds net asset value at the time shares are valued for purposes of determining the number of shares equivalent to the cash dividends or capital gains distribution, participants are issued shares of common stock valued at the greater of (i) the net asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then current market price of the Fund’s common stock. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) trading day, the next trading day. If the net asset value of the common stock at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the common stock, participants will receive shares from the Fund valued at market price. If the Fund should declare a dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, Computershare will buy common stock in the open market, or on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts, except that Computershare will endeavor to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the Fund to issue shares at net asset value if, following the commencement of such purchases, the market value of the common stock exceeds the then current net asset value.
The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such distributions. A participant in the Plan will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received, on a dividend payment date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash the participant could have received instead of shares.
Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan
The Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan is yet another vehicle for our shareholders to increase their investment in the Fund. In order to participate in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, shareholders must have their shares registered in their own name.
Participants in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to Computershare for investments in the Fund’s shares at the then current market price. Shareholders may send an amount from $250 to $10,000. Computershare will use these funds to purchase shares in the open market on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. Computershare will charge each shareholder who participates $0.75, plus a pro rata share of the brokerage commissions. Brokerage charges for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions. It is suggested that any voluntary cash payments be sent to Computershare, P.O. Box 43010, Providence, RI 02940–3010 such that Computershare receives such payments approximately 10 days before the 1st and 15th of the month. Funds not received at least five days before the investment date shall be held for investment until the next purchase date. A payment may be withdrawn without charge if notice is received by Computershare at least 48 hours before such payment is to be invested.
Shareholders wishing to liquidate shares held at Computershare must do so in writing or by telephone. Please submit your request to the above mentioned address or telephone number. Include in your request your name, address, and account number. The cost to liquidate shares is $2.50 per transaction as well as the brokerage commission incurred. Brokerage charges are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions.
For more information regarding the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, brochures are available by calling (914) 921-5070 or by writing directly to the Fund.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by Computershare on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan.
29
THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
AND YOUR PERSONAL PRIVACY
Who are we?
The Gabelli Utility Trust is a closed-end management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, which is affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. GAMCO Investors, Inc. is a publicly held company that has subsidiaries that provide investment advisory services for a variety of clients.
What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a Fund shareholder?
When you purchase shares of the Fund on the New York Stock Exchange, you have the option of registering directly with our transfer agent in order, for example, to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.
| ● | Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information. |
| ● | Information about your transactions with us. This would include information about the shares that you buy or sell; it may also include information about whether you sell or exercise rights that we have issued from time to time. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them. |
What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.
What do we do to protect your personal information?
We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the Fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.
THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1422
Portfolio Manager Biography
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
We have separated the portfolio manager’s commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager’s commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.
The Net Asset Value per share appears in the Publicly Traded Funds column, under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds,” in Monday’s The Wall Street Journal. It is also listed in Barron’s Mutual Funds/Closed End Funds section under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds.”
The Net Asset Value per share may be obtained each day by calling (914) 921-5070 or visiting www.gabelli.com.
The NASDAQ symbol for the Net Asset Value is “XGUTX.”
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may from time to time purchase its common shares in the open market when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. The Fund may also, from time to time, purchase its preferred shares in the open market when the preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
| (a) | The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. |
| (c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description. |
| (d) | The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions. |
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that Anthony R. Pustorino is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Effective February 22, 2017, Mr. Pustorino retired from the Board of Trustees, Mr. Michael Melarkey was appointed as a member of the audit committee and Mr. Vincent D. Enright was appointed as the chairman of the audit committee. The Board of Trustees has determined that Mr. Enright is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Audit Fees
| (a) | The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $35,817 for 2015 and $36,712 for 2016. |
Audit-Related Fees
| (b) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $0 for 2015 and $0 for 2016. Audit-related fees represent services provided in the preparation of Preferred Shares Reports. |
Tax Fees
| (c) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning are $3,996 for 2015 and $4,096 for 2016. Tax fees represent tax compliance services provided in connection with the review of the Registrant’s tax returns. |
All Other Fees
| (d) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $0 for 2015 and $0 for 2016. |
| (e)(1) |
Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
| Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee (“Committee”) of the registrant is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the registrant and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, and any affiliate of Gabelli Funds, LLC (“Gabelli”) that provides services to the registrant (a “Covered Services Provider”) if the independent registered public accounting firm’s engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson must report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to the other persons (other than Gabelli or the registrant’s officers). Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (ii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee or Chairperson prior to the completion of the audit. |
| (e)(2) |
The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows: |
(b) N/A
(c) 100%
(d) N/A
| (f) | The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%. |
| (g) | The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant was $0 for 2015 and $0 for 2016. |
| (h) | The registrant’s audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence. |
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed registrants.
Mr. Pustorino was a member of the registrant’s audit committee for the entire fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Effective February 22, 2017, Mr. Pustorino retired from the Board of Trustees, Mr. Michael Melarkey was appointed as a member of the audit committee and Mr. Enright was appointed as the chairman of the audit committee.
The registrant has a separately designated audit committee consisting of the following members: Anthony J. Colavita, Vincent D. Enright, Anthony R. Pustorino.
Item 6. Investments.
| (a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. |
| (b) | Not applicable. |
| Item 7. |
Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
The Proxy Voting Policies are attached herewith.
SECTION HH
The Voting of Proxies on Behalf of Clients
Rules 204(4)-2 and 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 require investment advisers to adopt written policies and procedures governing the voting of proxies on behalf of their clients.
These procedures will be used by GAMCO Asset Management Inc., Gabelli Funds, LLC, Gabelli Securities, Inc., and Teton Advisors, Inc. (collectively, the “Advisers”) to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by their clients, including the procedures that the Advisers use when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of the shareholders of an investment company managed by one of the Advisers, on the one hand, and those of the Advisers; the principal underwriter; or any affiliated person of the investment company, the Advisers, or the principal underwriter. These procedures will not apply where the Advisers do not have voting discretion or where the Advisers have agreed to with a client to vote the client’s proxies in accordance with specific guidelines or procedures supplied by the client (to the extent permitted by ERISA).
| I. | Proxy Voting Committee |
The Proxy Voting Committee was originally formed in April 1989 for the purpose of formulating guidelines and reviewing proxy statements within the parameters set by the substantive proxy voting guidelines originally published in 1988 and updated periodically, a copy of which are appended as Exhibit A. The Committee will include representatives of Research, Administration, Legal, and the Advisers. Additional or replacement members of the Committee will be nominated by the Chairman and voted upon by the entire Committee.
Meetings are held on an as needed basis to form views on the manner in which the Advisers should vote proxies on behalf of their clients.
In general, the Director of Proxy Voting Services, using the Proxy Guidelines, recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) other third-party services and the analysts of G.research, Inc., will determine how to vote on each issue. For non-controversial matters, the Director of Proxy Voting Services may vote the proxy if the vote is: (1) consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and not contrary to the Proxy Guidelines; (2) consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and is a non-controversial issue not covered by the Proxy Guidelines; or (3) the vote is contrary to the recommendations of the Board of Directors but is consistent with the Proxy Guidelines. In those instances, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Chairman of the Committee may sign and date the proxy statement indicating how each issue will be voted.
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All matters identified by the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Legal Department as controversial, taking into account the recommendations of ISS, Glass Lewis, or other third party services and the analysts of G.research, Inc., will be presented to the Proxy Voting Committee. If the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Legal Department has identified the matter as one that (1) is controversial; (2) would benefit from deliberation by the Proxy Voting Committee; or (3) may give rise to a conflict of interest between the Advisers and their clients, the Chairman of the Committee will initially determine what vote to recommend that the Advisers should cast and the matter will go before the Committee.
| A. | Conflicts of Interest. |
The Advisers have implemented these proxy voting procedures in order to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing their proxy voting decisions. By following the Proxy Guidelines, as well as the recommendations of ISS, Glass Lewis, other third-party services and the analysts of G.research, the Advisers are able to avoid, wherever possible, the influence of potential conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, circumstances may arise in which one or more of the Advisers are faced with a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest in connection with its vote. In general, a conflict of interest may arise when an Adviser knowingly does business with an issuer, and may appear to have a material conflict between its own interests and the interests of the shareholders of an investment company managed by one of the Advisers regarding how the proxy is to be voted. A conflict also may exist when an Adviser has actual knowledge of a material business arrangement between an issuer and an affiliate of the Adviser.
In practical terms, a conflict of interest may arise, for example, when a proxy is voted for a company that is a client of one of the Advisers, such as GAMCO Asset Management Inc. A conflict also may arise when a client of one of the Advisers has made a shareholder proposal in a proxy to be voted upon by one or more of the Advisers. The Director of Proxy Voting Services, together with the Legal Department, will scrutinize all proxies for these or other situations that may give rise to a conflict of interest with respect to the voting of proxies.
| B. | Operation of Proxy Voting Committee |
For matters submitted to the Committee, each member of the Committee will receive, prior to the meeting, a copy of the proxy statement, any relevant third party research, a summary of any views provided by the
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Chief Investment Officer and any recommendations by G.research, Inc. analysts. The Chief Investment Officer or the G.research, Inc. analysts may be invited to present their viewpoints. If the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Legal Department believe that the matter before the committee is one with respect to which a conflict of interest may exist between the Advisers and their clients, counsel will provide an opinion to the Committee concerning the conflict. If the matter is one in which the interests of the clients of one or more of the Advisers may diverge, counsel will so advise and the Committee may make different recommendations as to different clients. For any matters where the recommendation may trigger appraisal rights, counsel will provide an opinion concerning the likely risks and merits of such an appraisal action.
Each matter submitted to the Committee will be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting. Should the vote concerning one or more recommendations be tied in a vote of the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee will cast the deciding vote. The Committee will notify the proxy department of its decisions and the proxies will be voted accordingly.
Although the Proxy Guidelines express the normal preferences for the voting of any shares not covered by a contrary investment guideline provided by the client, the Committee is not bound by the preferences set forth in the Proxy Guidelines and will review each matter on its own merits. The Advisers subscribe to ISS and Glass Lewis which supply current information on companies, matters being voted on, regulations, trends in proxy voting and information on corporate governance issues.
If the vote cast either by the analyst or as a result of the deliberations of the Proxy Voting Committee runs contrary to the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the issuer, the matter will be referred to legal counsel to determine whether an amendment to the most recently filed Schedule 13D is appropriate.
| II. | Social Issues and Other Client Guidelines |
If a client has provided special instructions relating to the voting of proxies, they should be noted in the client’s account file and forwarded to the proxy department. This is the responsibility of the investment professional or sales assistant for the client. In accordance with Department of Labor guidelines, the Advisers’ policy is to vote on behalf of ERISA accounts in the best interest of the plan participants with regard to social issues that carry an economic impact. Where an account is not governed by ERISA, the Advisers will vote shares held on behalf of the client in a manner consistent with any individual investment/voting guidelines provided by the client. Otherwise the Advisers may abstain with respect to those shares.
Specific to the Gabelli ESG Fund, the Proxy Voting Committee will rely on the advice of the portfolio managers of the Gabelli ESG Fund to provide voting recommendations on the securities held in the portfolio.
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| III. | Client Retention of Voting Rights |
If a client chooses to retain the right to vote proxies or if there is any change in voting authority, the following should be notified by the investment professional or sales assistant for the client.
- Operations
- Proxy Department
- Investment professional assigned to the account
In the event that the Board of Directors (or a Committee thereof) of one or more of the investment companies managed by one of the Advisers has retained direct voting control over any security, the Proxy Voting Department will provide each Board Member (or Committee member) with a copy of the proxy statement together with any other relevant information including recommendations of ISS or other third-party services.
| IV. | Proxies of Certain Non-U.S. Issuers |
Proxy voting in certain countries requires “share-blocking.” Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting with a designated depository. During the period in which the shares are held with a depository, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the clients’ custodian. Absent a compelling reason to the contrary, the Advisers believe that the benefit to the client of exercising the vote is outweighed by the cost of voting and therefore, the Advisers will not typically vote the securities of non-U.S. issuers that require share-blocking.
In addition, voting proxies of issuers in non-US markets may also give rise to a number of administrative issues to prevent the Advisers from voting such proxies. For example, the Advisers may receive the notices for shareholder meetings without adequate time to consider the proposals in the proxy or after the cut-off date for voting. In these cases the Advisers will look to Glass Lewis or other third party service for recommendations on how to vote. Other markets require the Advisers to provide local agents with power of attorney prior to implementing their respective voting instructions on the proxy. Although it is the Advisers’ policies to vote the proxies for its clients for which they have proxy voting authority, in the case of issuers in non-US markets, we vote client proxies on a best efforts basis.
| V. | Voting Records |
The Proxy Voting Department will retain a record of matters voted upon by the Advisers for their clients. The Advisers will supply information on how they voted a client’s proxy upon request from the client.
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The complete voting records for each registered investment company (the “Fund”) that is managed by the Advisers will be filed on Form N-PX for the twelve months ended June 30th, no later than August 31st of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to Gabelli Funds, LLC at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Advisers’ proxy voting records will be retained in compliance with Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act.
| VI. | Voting Procedures |
1. Custodian banks, outside brokerage firms and clearing firms are responsible for forwarding proxies directly to the Advisers.
Proxies are received in one of two forms:
| ● | Shareholder Vote Instruction Forms (“VIFs”) - Issued by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). Broadridge is an outside service contracted by the various institutions to issue proxy materials. |
| ● | Proxy cards which may be voted directly. |
2. Upon receipt of the proxy, the number of shares each form represents is logged into the proxy system, electronically or manually, according to security.
3. Upon receipt of instructions from the proxy committee, the votes are cast and recorded for each account.
Records have been maintained on the ProxyEdge system.
ProxyEdge records include:
Security Name and Cusip Number
Date and Type of Meeting (Annual, Special, Contest)
Client Name
Adviser or Fund Account Number
Directors’ Recommendation
How the Adviser voted for the client on item
4. VIFs are kept alphabetically by security. Records for the current proxy season are located in the Proxy Voting Department office. In preparation for the upcoming season, files are transferred to an offsite storage facility during January/February.
5. If a proxy card or VIF is received too late to be voted in the conventional matter, every attempt is made to vote including:
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| ● | When a solicitor has been retained, the solicitor is called. At the solicitor’s direction, the proxy is faxed or sent electronically. |
| ● | In some circumstances VIFs can be faxed or sent electronically to Broadridge up until the time of the meeting. |
6. In the case of a proxy contest, records are maintained for each opposing entity.
7. Voting in Person
a) At times it may be necessary to vote the shares in person. In this case, a “legal proxy” is obtained in the following manner:
| ● | Banks and brokerage firms using the services at Broadridge: |
Broadridge is notified that we wish to vote in person. Broadridge issues individual legal proxies and sends them back via email or overnight (or the Adviser can pay messenger charges). A lead-time of at least two weeks prior to the meeting is needed to do this. Alternatively, the procedures detailed below for banks not using Broadridge may be implemented.
| ● | Banks and brokerage firms issuing proxies directly: |
The bank is called and/or faxed and a legal proxy is requested.
All legal proxies should appoint:
“Representative of [Adviser name] with full power of substitution.”
b) The legal proxies are given to the person attending the meeting along with the limited power of attorney.
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Appendix A
Proxy Guidelines
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
General Policy Statement
It is the policy of GAMCO Investors, Inc, and its affiliated advisers (collectively “the Advisers”) to vote in the best economic interests of our clients. As we state in our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights, established in May 1988, we are neither for nor against management. We are for shareholders.
At our first proxy committee meeting in 1989, it was decided that each proxy statement should be evaluated on its own merits within the framework first established by our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights. The attached guidelines serve to enhance that broad framework.
We do not consider any issue routine. We take into consideration all of our research on the company, its directors, and their short and long-term goals for the company. In cases where issues that we generally do not approve of are combined with other issues, the negative aspects of the issues will be factored into the evaluation of the overall proposals but will not necessitate a vote in opposition to the overall proposals.
Board of Directors
We do not consider the election of the Board of Directors a routine issue. Each slate of directors is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Factors taken into consideration include:
| ● | Historical responsiveness to shareholders |
This may include such areas as:
-Paying greenmail
-Failure to adopt shareholder resolutions receiving a majority of shareholder votes
| ● | Qualifications |
| ● | Nominating committee in place |
| ● | Number of outside directors on the board |
| ● | Attendance at meetings |
| ● | Overall performance |
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Selection of Auditors
In general, we support the Board of Directors’ recommendation for auditors.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
We oppose the issuance of blank check preferred stock.
Blank check preferred stock allows the company to issue stock and establish dividends, voting rights, etc. without further shareholder approval.
Classified Board
A classified board is one where the directors are divided into classes with overlapping terms. A different class is elected at each annual meeting.
While a classified board promotes continuity of directors facilitating long range planning, we feel directors should be accountable to shareholders on an annual basis. We will look at this proposal on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the board’s historical responsiveness to the rights of shareholders.
Where a classified board is in place we will generally not support attempts to change to an annually elected board.
When an annually elected board is in place, we generally will not support attempts to classify the board.
Increase Authorized Common Stock
The request to increase the amount of outstanding shares is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Factors taken into consideration include:
| ● | Future use of additional shares |
-Stock split
-Stock option or other executive compensation plan
-Finance growth of company/strengthen balance sheet
-Aid in restructuring
-Improve credit rating
-Implement a poison pill or other takeover defense
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| ● | Amount of stock currently authorized but not yet issued or reserved for stock option plans |
| ● | Amount of additional stock to be authorized and its dilutive effect |
We will support this proposal if a detailed and verifiable plan for the use of the additional shares is contained in the proxy statement.
Confidential Ballot
We support the idea that a shareholder’s identity and vote should be treated with confidentiality.
However, we look at this issue on a case-by-case basis.
In order to promote confidentiality in the voting process, we endorse the use of independent Inspectors of Election.
Cumulative Voting
In general, we support cumulative voting.
Cumulative voting is a process by which a shareholder may multiply the number of directors being elected by the number of shares held on record date and cast the total number for one candidate or allocate the voting among two or more candidates.
Where cumulative voting is in place, we will vote against any proposal to rescind this shareholder right.
Cumulative voting may result in a minority block of stock gaining representation on the board. When a proposal is made to institute cumulative voting, the proposal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. While we feel that each board member should represent all shareholders, cumulative voting provides minority shareholders an opportunity to have their views represented.
Director Liability and Indemnification
We support efforts to attract the best possible directors by limiting the liability and increasing the indemnification of directors, except in the case of insider dealing.
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Equal Access to the Proxy
The SEC’s rules provide for shareholder resolutions. However, the resolutions are limited in scope and there is a 500 word limit on proponents’ written arguments. Management has no such limitations. While we support equal access to the proxy, we would look at such variables as length of time required to respond, percentage of ownership, etc.
Fair Price Provisions
Charter provisions requiring a bidder to pay all shareholders a fair price are intended to prevent two-tier tender offers that may be abusive. Typically, these provisions do not apply to board-approved transactions.
We support fair price provisions because we feel all shareholders should be entitled to receive the same benefits.
Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Golden Parachutes
Golden parachutes are severance payments to top executives who are terminated or demoted after a takeover.
We support any proposal that would assure management of its own welfare so that they may continue to make decisions in the best interest of the company and shareholders even if the decision results in them losing their job. We do not, however, support excessive golden parachutes. Therefore, each proposal will be decided on a case-by- case basis.
Anti-Greenmail Proposals
We do not support greenmail. An offer extended to one shareholder should be extended to all shareholders equally across the board.
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Limit Shareholders’ Rights to Call Special Meetings
We support the right of shareholders to call a special meeting.
Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Consideration of Nonfinancial Effects of a Merger
This proposal releases the directors from only looking at the financial effects of a merger and allows them the opportunity to consider the merger’s effects on employees, the community, and consumers.
As a fiduciary, we are obligated to vote in the best economic interests of our clients. In general, this proposal does not allow us to do that. Therefore, we generally cannot support this proposal.
Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Mergers, Buyouts, Spin-Offs, Restructurings
Each of the above is considered on a case-by-case basis. According to the Department of Labor, we are not required to vote for a proposal simply because the offering price is at a premium to the current market price. We may take into consideration the long term interests of the shareholders.
Military Issues
Shareholder proposals regarding military production must be evaluated on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA clients. As such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
In voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote according to the client’s direction when applicable. Where no direction has been given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not our duty to impose our social judgment on others.
Northern Ireland
Shareholder proposals requesting the signing of the MacBride principles for the purpose of countering the discrimination of Catholics in hiring practices must be evaluated on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA clients. As such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
In voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote according to client direction when applicable. Where no direction has been given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not our duty to impose our social judgment on others.
Opt Out of State Anti-Takeover Law
This shareholder proposal requests that a company opt out of the coverage of the state’s takeover statutes. Example: Delaware law requires that a buyer must acquire at least 85% of the company’s stock before the buyer can exercise control unless the board approves.
We consider this on a case-by-case basis. Our decision will be based on the following:
| ● | State of Incorporation |
| ● | Management history of responsiveness to shareholders |
| ● | Other mitigating factors |
Poison Pill
In general, we do not endorse poison pills.
In certain cases where management has a history of being responsive to the needs of shareholders and the stock is very liquid, we will reconsider this position.
Reincorporation
Generally, we support reincorporation for well-defined business reasons. We oppose reincorporation if proposed solely for the purpose of reincorporating in a state with more stringent anti-takeover statutes that may negatively impact the value of the stock.
Stock Incentive Plans
Director and Employee Stock incentive plans are an excellent way to attract, hold and motivate directors and employees. However, each incentive plan must be evaluated on its own merits, taking into consideration the following:
| ● | Dilution of voting power or earnings per share by more than 10%. |
| ● | Kind of stock to be awarded, to whom, when and how much. |
| ● | Method of payment. |
| ● | Amount of stock already authorized but not yet issued under existing stock plans. |
| ● | The successful steps taken by management to maximize shareholder value. |
Supermajority Vote Requirements
Supermajority vote requirements in a company’s charter or bylaws require a level of voting approval in excess of a simple majority of the outstanding shares. In general, we oppose supermajority-voting requirements. Supermajority requirements often exceed the average level of shareholder participation. We support proposals’ approvals by a simple majority of the shares voting.
Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Limit Shareholders Right to Act by Written Consent
Written consent allows shareholders to initiate and carry on a shareholder action without having to wait until the next annual meeting or to call a special meeting. It permits action to be taken by the written consent of the same percentage of the shares that would be required to effect proposed action at a shareholder meeting.
Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
“Say-on-Pay” / “Say-When-on-Pay” / “Say-on-Golden-Parachutes”
Required under the Dodd-Frank Act; these proposals are non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation. We will generally vote with the Board of Directors’ recommendation(s) on advisory votes on executive compensation (“Say-on-Pay”), advisory votes on the frequency of voting on executive compensation (“Say-When-on-Pay”) and advisory votes relating to extraordinary transaction executive compensation (“Say-on-Golden-Parachutes”). In those instances when we believe that it is in our clients’ best interest, we may abstain or vote against executive compensation and/or the frequency of votes on executive compensation and/or extraordinary transaction executive compensation advisory votes.
Proxy Access
We generally believe that proxy access is a useful tool to promote board accountability by requiring that a company’s proxy materials contain not only the names of management nominees, but also any candidates nominated by long-term shareholders holding at least a certain stake in the company. We will review proposals regarding proxy access on a case by case basis taking into account the provisions of the proposal, the company’s current governance structure, the successful steps taken by management to maximize shareholder value, as well as other applicable factors.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc., and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
MANAGEMENT OF OTHER ACCOUNTS
The table below shows the number of other accounts managed by Mario J. Gabelli and the total assets in each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other paid investment vehicles and other accounts as of December 31, 2016. For each category, the table also shows the number of accounts and the total assets in the accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on account performance.
| Name of Portfolio Manager | Type of Accounts |
Total No. of Accounts Managed |
Total Assets | No. of Accounts where Advisory Fee is Based on Performance |
Total Assets in Accounts where Advisory Fee is Based on Performance | |||||
| 1. Mario J. Gabelli | Registered Investment Companies: | 26 | 22.2B | 6 | 5.1B | |||||
| Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: | 29 | 1.2B | 18 | 1.1B | ||||||
| Other Accounts: |
1,559 | 15.2B | 13 | 1.3B |
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
As reflected above, Mr. Gabelli manages accounts in addition to the Trust. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a Portfolio Manager also has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other accounts. These potential conflicts include:
ALLOCATION OF LIMITED TIME AND ATTENTION. As indicated above, Mr. Gabelli manages multiple accounts. As a result, he will not be able to devote all of his time to management of the Trust. Mr. Gabelli, therefore, may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those accounts as might be the case if he were to devote all of his attention to the management of only the Trust.
ALLOCATION OF LIMITED INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. As indicated above, Mr. Gabelli manages managed accounts with investment strategies and/or policies that are similar to the Trust. In these cases, if the he identifies an investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple accounts, a Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity because the opportunity may be allocated among all or many of these accounts or other accounts managed primarily by other Portfolio Managers of the Adviser, and their affiliates. In addition, in the event Mr. Gabelli determines to purchase a security for more than one account in an aggregate
amount that may influence the market price of the security, accounts that purchased or sold the security first may receive a more favorable price than accounts that made subsequent transactions.
SELECTION OF BROKER/DEALERS. Because of Mr. Gabelli’s indirect majority ownership interest in G.research LLC., he may have an incentive to use G.research to execute portfolio transactions for a Fund.
PURSUIT OF DIFFERING STRATEGIES. At times, Mr. Gabelli may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the accounts for which he exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, he may execute differing or opposite transactions for one or more accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of one or more other accounts.
VARIATION IN COMPENSATION. A conflict of interest may arise where the financial or other benefits available to Mr. Gabelli differ among the accounts that he manages. If the structure of the Adviser’s management fee or the Portfolio Manager’s compensation differs among accounts (such as where certain accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the Portfolio Manager may be motivated to favor certain accounts over others. The Portfolio Manager also may be motivated to favor accounts in which he has an investment interest, or in which the Adviser, or their affiliates have investment interests. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management or to enhance a Portfolio Manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the Portfolio Manager in affording preferential treatment to those accounts that could most significantly benefit the Portfolio Manager. For example, as reflected above, if Mr. Gabelli manages accounts which have performance fee arrangements, certain portions of his compensation will depend on the achievement of performance milestones on those accounts. Mr. Gabelli could be incented to afford preferential treatment to those accounts and thereby by subject to a potential conflict of interest.
The Adviser, and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to address the various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Adviser and their staff members. However, there is no guarantee that such policies and procedures will be able to detect and prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may arise.
COMPENSATION STRUCTURE FOR MARIO J. GABELLI
Mr. Gabelli receives incentive-based variable compensation based on a percentage of net revenues received by the Adviser for managing the Trust. Net revenues are determined by deducting from gross investment management fees the firm’s expenses (other than Mr. Gabelli’s compensation) allocable to this Trust. Five closed-end registered investment companies (including this Trust) managed by Mr. Gabelli have arrangements whereby the Adviser will only receive its investment advisory fee attributable to the liquidation value of outstanding preferred stock (and Mr. Gabelli would only receive his percentage of such advisory fee) if certain performance levels are met. Additionally, he receives similar incentive based variable compensation for managing other accounts within the firm and its affiliates. This method of compensation is based on the premise that superior long-term performance in managing a portfolio should be rewarded with higher compensation as a result of growth of assets through appreciation and net investment activity. The level of compensation is not determined with specific reference to the performance of any account against any specific benchmark. One of the other closed-end registered investment companies managed by Mr. Gabelli has a performance (fulcrum) fee arrangement for which his compensation is adjusted up or down based on the performance of the investment company relative to an index. Mr. Gabelli manages other accounts with performance fees. Compensation for managing these accounts has two components. One component is based on a percentage of net revenues to the investment adviser for managing the account. The second component is based on absolute performance of the account, with respect to which a percentage of such performance fee is paid to Mr. Gabelli. As an executive officer of the Adviser’s parent company, GBL, Mr. Gabelli also receives ten percent of the net operating profits of the parent company. He receives no base salary, no annual bonus, and no stock options.
OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN THE FUND
Mario J. Gabelli owned over $1,000,000 of shares of the Trust as of December 31, 2016.
| (b) | Not applicable. |
| Item 9. |
Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
|
Period
|
(a) Total Number of
|
(b) Average Price Paid
|
(c) Total Number of
|
(d) Maximum Number (or
| ||||
| Month #1 07/01/16 through 07/31/16 |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – 43,136,841
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288
Preferred Series C –2,000,000 | ||||
| Month #2 08/01/16 through 08/31/16 |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – 43,186,837
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288
Preferred Series C –2,000,000 | ||||
| Month #3 09/01/16 through 09/30/16 |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – 43,236,760
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288
Preferred Series C –2,000,000 | ||||
| Month #4 10/01/16 through 10/31/16 |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – 43,288,226
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288
Preferred Series C –2,000,000 | ||||
| Month #5 11/01/16 through 11/30/16 |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – 43,341,463
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288
Preferred Series C –2,000,000 | ||||
| Month #6 12/01/16 through 12/31/16 |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – 43,397,586
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288
Preferred Series C –2,000,000 |
| Total | Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
Preferred Series C – N/A |
N/A |
Footnote columns (c) and (d) of the table, by disclosing the following information in the aggregate for all plans or programs publicly announced:
| a. | The date each plan or program was announced – The notice of the potential repurchase of common and preferred shares occurs quarterly in the Fund’s quarterly report in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
| b. | The dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved – Any or all common shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. |
Any or all preferred shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value of $25.00.
| c. | The expiration date (if any) of each plan or program – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing. |
| d. | Each plan or program that has expired during the period covered by the table – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing. |
| e. | Each plan or program the registrant has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under which the registrant does not intend to make further purchases. – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing. |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
| (b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Exhibits.
| (a)(1) | Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto. |
| (a)(2) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (a)(3) | Not applicable. |
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
(12.other) Not applicable.
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.
| (Registrant) The Gabelli Utility Trust |
| By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Bruce N. Alpert |
| Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer |
| Date 3/09/2017 |
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 (Signature and Title)* /s/ Bruce N. Alpert |
| Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer |
| Date 3/09/2017 |
| By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Agnes Mullady |
| Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| Date 3/09/2017 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.