Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

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            811-21529             

                               The Gabelli Global Utility & Income 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:   June 30, 2017

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 Global Utility & Income Trust

Semiannual Report — June 30, 2017

To Our Shareholders,

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the net asset value (“NAV”) total return of The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (the “Fund”) was 11.7%, compared with a total return of 8.8% for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Utilities Index. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was 19.7%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $21.52, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $20.24 on the NYSE American. See below for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of June 30, 2017.

Comparative Results

 

Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2017 (a) (Unaudited)

 

     

Year to Date

 

1 Year

 

3 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

 

Since
Inception
(05/28/04)

    

Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

                          

NAV Total Return (b)

       11.67 %       4.72 %       2.50 %       8.01 %       5.01 %       7.46 %  

Investment Total Return (c)

       19.74       16.35       5.77       7.45       6.44       7.17  

S&P 500 Utilities Index

       8.75       2.47       9.37       11.17       6.97       10.44  

Lipper Utility Fund Average

       7.45       3.10       3.91       9.82       5.75       9.90  

S&P 500 Index

       9.34       17.90       9.61       14.63       7.18       8.30  
  (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. Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. 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 indicator of electric and gas utility stock performance. 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 the rights offering and are net of expenses. Since inception return is based on an initial NAV of $19.06.

 
  (c)

Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in closing market values on the NYSE American , reinvestment of distributions, and adjustments for the rights offering. Since inception return is based on an initial offering price of $20.00.

 


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of June 30, 2017:

The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

 

Energy and Utilities: Integrated

     23.2

Telecommunications

     13.9

U.S. Government Obligations

     13.8

Cable and Satellite

     7.9

Food and Beverage

     6.1

Wireless Communications

     3.9

Water

     3.5

Electric Transmission and Distribution

     3.4

Natural Gas Utilities

     3.3

Electronics

     3.0

Natural Gas Integrated

     2.5

Financial Services

     2.3

Services

     2.1

Diversified Industrial

     1.7

Hotels and Gaming

     1.4

Entertainment

     1.0

Machinery

     0.9

Oil

     0.8

Aerospace

     0.8

Health Care

     0.8

Alternative Energy

     0.7

Business Services

     0.6

Consumer Products

     0.5

Building and Construction

     0.3

Transportation

     0.3

Natural Resources

     0.3

Real Estate

     0.3

Specialty Chemicals

     0.2

Environmental Services

     0.2

Independent Power Producers and Energy
Traders

     0.1

Automotive: Parts and Accessories

     0.1

Automotive

     0.1

Metals and Mining

     0.0 %* 

Retail

     0.0 %* 
  

 

 

 
         100.0
  

 

 

 

 

*

Amount represents less than 0.05%

 

 

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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.

Certifications

The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that, as of June 9, 2017, he was not aware of any violation by the Fund of applicable NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The Fund reports to the SEC on Form N-CSR which contains certifications by the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that relate to the Fund’s disclosure in such reports and that are required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act.

 

2


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Schedule of Investments — June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

      

Cost

 

Market

Value

     COMMON STOCKS — 85.8%        
     ENERGY AND UTILITIES — 41.8%        
     Alternative Energy — 0.7%        
     U.S. Companies        
    15,000      NextEra Energy Partners LP     $ 362,974     $ 554,850
    6,000      Ormat Technologies Inc.       164,111       352,080
        

 

 

     

 

 

 
           527,085       906,930
        

 

 

     

 

 

 
    

 

Electric Transmission and Distribution — 3.4%

 

     Non U.S. Companies        
    6,000      Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.       30,772       63,155
    55,000      EDP Renovaveis SA       408,107       437,404
    28,000      Enersis Chile SA, ADR       78,326       154,000
    11,000      Fortis Inc.       336,284       386,629
    20,000      Red Electrica Corp. SA       227,553       417,914
    

 

U.S. Companies

       
    3,000      Consolidated Edison Inc.       143,440       242,460
    13,000      Twin Disc Inc.†       215,142       209,820
    4,000      Unitil Corp.       175,048       193,240
    42,000      WEC Energy Group Inc.       1,584,719       2,577,960
        

 

 

     

 

 

 
               3,199,391           4,682,582
        

 

 

     

 

 

 
    

 

Energy and Utilities: Integrated — 23.2%

 

     Non U.S. Companies        
    150,000      A2A SpA       276,010       249,103
    3,000      Areva SA†       57,303       15,035
    20,000      BP plc, ADR       749,559       693,000
    180      Brookfield Business Partners LP       5,048       4,869
    11,000      Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.       194,672       145,966
    152,000     

Datang International Power Generation Co. Ltd., Cl. H†

      59,610       48,477
    2,000      E.ON SE       20,087       18,841
    13,000      E.ON SE, ADR       174,442       122,200
    9,760     

EDP - Energias de Portugal SA, ADR

      262,599       319,689
    10,000     

Electric Power Development Co. Ltd.

      252,321       246,988
    5,500      Emera Inc.       152,289       204,469
    10,000      Endesa SA       238,331       230,372
    80,000      Enel SpA       449,756       428,901
    28,000      Enersis Americas SA, ADR       88,325       264,040
    1,000      Eni SpA       20,630       15,031
    217,100      Hera SpA       426,556       663,544
    12,000      Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc.       127,300       91,327
    18,000      Hokuriku Electric Power Co.       247,654       162,116
    17,000     

Huaneng Power International Inc., ADR

      504,017       472,430
    106,482      Iberdrola SA       565,071       843,182
    5,000      Iberdrola SA, ADR       158,624       158,625

Shares

      

Cost

 

Market

Value

    34,000      Korea Electric Power Corp., ADR     $ 392,916     $ 610,980
    22,000      Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc.       297,967       266,797
    10,000      Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc.       171,759       117,715
    12,000     

The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

      188,947       132,189
    18,000      The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.       233,505       247,575
    8,000      Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc.       126,339       110,602
    100      Uniper SE       1,124       1,877
    2,000      Verbund AG       33,429       38,125
    

 

U.S. Companies

       
    2,000      ALLETE Inc.       71,269       143,360
    21,000      Ameren Corp.       816,820       1,148,070
    28,000      American Electric Power Co. Inc.       880,267       1,945,160
    1,000      Avangrid Inc.       44,083       44,150
    5,000      Avista Corp.       145,830       212,300
    4,500      Black Hills Corp.       120,509       303,615
    9,500      Dominion Energy Inc.       383,435       727,985
    17,000      Duke Energy Corp.       754,741       1,421,030
    4,000      El Paso Electric Co.       77,953       206,800
    32,000      Eversource Energy       700,615       1,942,720
    14,000      Great Plains Energy Inc.       295,613       409,920
    16,000      Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.       394,905       518,080
    15,500      MGE Energy Inc.       339,986       997,425
    9,500      NextEra Energy Inc.       469,460       1,331,235
    45,000      NiSource Inc.       354,194       1,141,200
    11,000      NorthWestern Corp.       321,444       671,220
    39,000      OGE Energy Corp.       481,892       1,356,810
    26,000      Otter Tail Corp.       689,260       1,029,600
    1,000      PG&E Corp.       33,930       66,370
    15,000      Pinnacle West Capital Corp.       610,094       1,277,400
    7,000      PPL Corp.       197,367       270,620
    29,000     

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.

      965,990       1,247,290
    17,000      SCANA Corp.       611,080       1,139,170
    38,000      The AES Corp.       356,432       422,180
    32,400      The Southern Co.       957,957       1,551,312
    15,000      Vectren Corp.       360,570       876,600
    34,000      Westar Energy Inc.       725,359       1,802,680
    27,000      Xcel Energy Inc.       457,904       1,238,760
        

 

 

     

 

 

 
               19,095,149           32,367,127
        

 

 

     

 

 

 
    

 

Natural Gas Integrated — 2.5%

       
     Non U.S. Companies        
    80,000      Snam SpA       288,733       348,676
    

 

U.S. Companies

       
    6,000      Anadarko Petroleum Corp.       527,039       272,040
    3,000      Apache Corp.       145,616       143,790
    20,000      CONSOL Energy Inc.†       285,624       298,800
    1,000      Energen Corp.†       30,935       49,370
    10,000      Kinder Morgan Inc.       185,160       191,600
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
   COMMON STOCKS (Continued)    
   ENERGY AND UTILITIES (Continued)    
   Natural Gas Integrated (Continued)    
   U.S. Companies (Continued)    
  35,000      National Fuel Gas Co.   $     1,593,566     $     1,954,400  
  4,000      ONEOK Inc.     45,265       208,640  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       3,101,938       3,467,316  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Natural Gas Utilities — 3.3%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  1,500      Enagas SA     37,053       42,060  
  1,890      Engie     49,337       28,527  
  9,954      Engie, ADR     302,490       150,803  
  16,000      Italgas SpA     72,388       80,810  
  55,000      National Grid plc     860,924       681,823  
  21,816      National Grid plc, ADR     1,495,916       1,370,481  
   U.S. Companies    
  10,000      Atmos Energy Corp.     246,554       829,500  
  2,400      Chesapeake Utilities Corp.     46,490       179,880  
  2,000      Delta Natural Gas Co. Inc.     60,590       60,940  
  1,000      ONE Gas Inc.     6,172       69,810  
  14,000      Southwest Gas Holdings Inc.     547,985       1,022,840  
  2,000      Spire Inc.     70,415       139,500  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       3,796,314       4,656,974  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Natural Resources — 0.3%    
   U.S. Companies    
  30,000      California Resources Corp.†     430,423       256,500  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Oil — 0.8%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  3,600      PetroChina Co. Ltd., ADR     253,612       220,608  
  10,000      Petroleo Brasileiro SA, ADR†     104,830       79,900  
  9,000      Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. A, ADR     460,931       478,710  
   U.S. Companies    
  1,000      Chevron Corp.     60,050       104,330  
  2,000      ConocoPhillips     57,019       87,920  
  4,000      Devon Energy Corp.     119,654       127,880  
  1,000      Exxon Mobil Corp.     45,500       80,730  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       1,101,596       1,180,078  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Services — 2.1%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  10,000      ABB Ltd., ADR     123,092       249,000  
  29,520      Enbridge Inc.     634,201       1,175,191  
  200,000      Weatherford International plc†     1,184,508       774,000  
   U.S. Companies    
  10,000      AZZ Inc.     359,505       558,000  

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  3,500      Halliburton Co.   $ 110,825     $ 149,485  
  1,400      National Oilwell Varco Inc.     40,391       46,116  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       2,452,522       2,951,792  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Water — 3.5%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  5,000      Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.     60,554       62,000  
  115,000      Severn Trent plc     2,731,939       3,268,254  
  37,090      United Utilities Group plc     366,828       419,073  
   U.S. Companies    
  10,000      Aqua America Inc.     119,790       333,000  
  5,400      California Water Service Group     76,295       198,720  
  4,000      Middlesex Water Co.     75,033       158,400  
  8,500      SJW Group     150,810       418,030  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       3,581,249       4,857,477  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Natural Resources — 0.0%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  14,000      Cameco Corp.     142,290       127,400  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Diversified Industrial — 1.7%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  11,000      Bouygues SA     377,360       463,851  
  15,800      Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd.     858,553       1,014,360  
  17,000      Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd.     566,077       708,730  
   U.S. Companies    
  7,000      General Electric Co.     179,490       189,070  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       1,981,480       2,376,011  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Environmental Services — 0.2%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  500      Suez     0       9,260  
  12,000      Veolia Environnement SA     184,423       253,558  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       184,423       262,818  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — 0.1%  
   U.S. Companies    
  10,000      NRG Energy Inc.     236,049       172,200  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   TOTAL ENERGY AND UTILITIES     39,829,909       58,265,205  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   COMMUNICATIONS — 25.6%    
   Cable and Satellite — 7.9%    
   Non U.S. Companies    
  10,000      Cogeco Inc.     195,069       520,512  
  15,000      ITV plc     40,909       35,440  
  25,105      Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†     509,910       806,372  
  65,000      Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†     1,318,204       2,026,702  
  7,028      Liberty Global plc LiLAC, Cl. A†     170,795       153,000  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

   
  

COMMUNICATIONS (Continued)

   
  

Cable and Satellite (Continued)

   
  

Non U.S. Companies (Continued)

   
  15,018     

Liberty Global plc LiLAC,
Cl. C†

  $ 371,179     $ 321,535  
  59,000     

Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B

    2,337,872       2,785,390  
  85,000     

Sky plc

    1,045,152       1,100,445  
  

U.S. Companies

   
  723     

Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A†

    98,844       243,543  
  24,000     

Comcast Corp., Cl. A

    260,264       934,080  
  26,000     

DISH Network Corp., Cl. A†

    444,440       1,631,760  
  6,000     

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

    150,819       364,200  
  168     

Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl. B†

    8,321       14,574  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       6,951,778       10,937,553  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Telecommunications — 13.8%

 

 
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  48,641     

BCE Inc., Toronto

    1,562,690       2,190,791  
  48,000     

BT Group plc, ADR

    797,409       931,680  
  40,000     

Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR

    658,775       720,600  
  128,255     

Global Telecom Holding SAE†

    78,433       49,122  
  1,375,000     

Koninklijke KPN NV

    4,141,296       4,398,857  
  15,000     

Koninklijke KPN NV, ADR

    114,993       48,600  
  5,000     

Orange SA, ADR

    59,302       79,900  
  29,651     

Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, GDR

    43,481       8,895  
  80,000     

Pharol SGPS SA†

    19,399       27,868  
  13,000     

Proximus SA

    331,463       454,794  
  1,200     

Swisscom AG

    384,765       579,038  
  1,000     

Swisscom AG, ADR

    43,980       48,500  
  20,000     

Telecom Italia SpA†

    19,045       18,457  
  9,000     

Telefonica Brasil SA, ADR

    151,115       121,410  
  39,300     

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG

    212,007       196,289  
  51,063     

Telefonica SA, ADR

    738,740       530,545  
  70,000     

Telekom Austria AG

    606,149       550,060  
  23,000     

Telenet Group Holding NV†

    1,047,596       1,448,763  
  1,000     

Telesites SAB de CV†

    759       735  
  60,000     

VEON Ltd., ADR

    317,695       234,600  
  

U.S. Companies

   
  60,000     

AT&T Inc.

    2,118,827       2,263,800  
  21,000     

CenturyLink Inc.

    658,367       501,480  
  20,000     

Cincinnati Bell Inc.†

    321,280       391,000  
  20,000     

Level 3 Communications Inc.†

    768,703       1,186,000  
  36,000     

Sprint Corp.†

    188,325       295,560  
  1,000     

T-Mobile US Inc.†

    22,694       60,620  
  41,725     

Verizon Communications Inc.

    1,709,411       1,863,439  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
         17,116,699       19,201,403  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market
Value

 
  

Wireless Communications — 3.9%

 

 
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  1,000     

America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR

  $ 15,150     $ 15,920  
  34,000     

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

    2,362,456       2,008,190  
  4,000     

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR

    54,874       33,520  
  2,000     

SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR

    40,399       51,340  
  22,000     

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR

    254,375       180,400  
  100,000     

Vodafone Group plc, ADR

    3,938,532       2,873,000  
  

U.S. Companies

   
  8,000     

United States Cellular Corp.†

    284,005       306,560  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       6,949,791       5,468,930  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS

    31,018,268       35,607,886  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

OTHER — 18.4%

   
  

Aerospace — 0.8%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  101,300     

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

    830,752       1,175,575  
  7,192,300     

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C†

    9,243       9,368  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       839,995       1,184,943  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Automotive — 0.1%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  1,000     

Ferrari NV

    40,882       86,020  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 0.1%

 

 
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  2,000     

Linamar Corp.

    85,551       98,581  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Building and Construction — 0.0%

 

 
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  500     

Acciona SA

    25,414       44,007  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Business Services — 0.6%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  46,000     

Sistema PJSC, GDR

    336,473       192,280  
  

U.S. Companies

   
  22,000     

Diebold Nixdorf Inc.

    705,584       616,000  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       1,042,057       808,280  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Consumer Products — 0.5%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  35,000     

Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S

    547,569       569,862  
  

 

U.S. Companies

   
  1,000     

The Procter & Gamble Co.

    80,450       87,150  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       628,019       657,012  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

   
  

OTHER (Continued)

   
  

Electronics — 3.0%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  110,000     

Sony Corp., ADR

  $ 2,105,643     $ 4,200,900  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Entertainment — 1.0%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  25,000     

Grupo Televisa SAB, ADR

    701,675       609,250  
  33,000     

Vivendi SA

    855,063       734,598  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       1,556,738       1,343,848  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Financial Services — 2.3%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  12,000     

Deutsche Bank AG

    144,814       213,480  
  6,000     

GAM Holding AG

    57,606       80,405  
  16,000     

Kinnevik AB, Cl. A

    450,893       566,145  
  82,000     

Resona Holdings Inc.

    421,319       450,918  
  53     

Trisura Group Ltd.†

    1,495       884  
  

 

U.S. Companies

   
  1,500     

M&T Bank Corp.

    167,637       242,925  
  10,000     

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

    398,640       510,200  
  600     

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

    96,127       133,140  
  10,000     

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

    343,640       525,700  
  3,000     

The PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

    250,251       374,610  
  1,500     

UGI Corp.

    41,980       72,615  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
         2,374,402         3,171,022  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Food and Beverage — 6.1%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  160     

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG

    818,335       927,730  
  3,000     

Chr. Hansen Holding A/S

    114,931       218,191  
  80,000     

Davide Campari-Milano SpA

    346,184       563,766  
  5,000     

Diageo plc

    145,283       147,731  
  12,500     

Diageo plc, ADR

    1,490,848       1,497,875  
  7,500     

Heineken NV

    513,513       729,236  
  17,000     

Nestlé SA

    1,241,281       1,479,456  
  50,000     

Parmalat SpA

    163,027       173,036  
  3,000     

Pernod Ricard SA

    345,918       401,752  
  1,000     

Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd.

    51,696       68,015  
  

 

U.S. Companies

   
  75,000     

Cott Corp.

    595,645       1,083,000  
  5,000     

General Mills Inc.

    250,420       277,000  
  1,200     

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

    120,743       162,000  

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  8,000     

McCormick & Co. Inc., Non-Voting

  $ 565,286     $ 780,080  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       6,763,110       8,508,868  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Health Care — 0.8%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  8,000     

Johnson & Johnson

    785,388       1,058,320  
  4,000     

Owens & Minor Inc.

    140,388       128,760  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       925,776       1,187,080  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Hotels and Gaming — 1.4%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  115,000     

Genting Singapore plc

    118,736       90,630  
  340,000     

Mandarin Oriental International Ltd.

    560,861       680,000  
  330,000     

The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd.

    395,985       595,969  
  

 

U.S. Companies

   
  10,000     

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.

    458,079       640,100  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       1,533,661       2,006,699  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Machinery — 0.9%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  80,000     

CNH Industrial NV

    595,967       910,400  
  

 

U.S. Companies

   
  6,000     

Xylem Inc.

    173,899       332,580  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       769,866       1,242,980  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Metals and Mining — 0.0%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  3,500     

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.

    68,602       51,625  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Real Estate — 0.3%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  9,000     

Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Cl. A

    147,999       352,890  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Specialty Chemicals — 0.2%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  11,000     

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.†

    321,223       352,440  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

Transportation — 0.3%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  6,000     

GATX Corp.

    225,750       385,620  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

TOTAL OTHER

    19,454,688       25,682,815  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

      90,302,865         119,555,906  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares          Cost    

Market

Value

 
  

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.1%

 

 
  

COMMUNICATIONS — 0.1%

   
  

Telecommunications — 0.1%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  1,600     

Cincinnati Bell Inc., 6.750%, Ser. B

  $ 36,882     $ 80,016  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

RIGHTS — 0.0%

   
  

OTHER — 0.0%

   
  

Retail — 0.0%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  60,000     

Safeway Casa Ley, CVR, expire 01/30/19†

    10,159       29,100  
  60,000     

Safeway PDC, CVR, expire 01/30/18†

    0       900  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

TOTAL RIGHTS

    10,159       30,000  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

WARRANTS — 0.0%

   
  

COMMUNICATIONS — 0.0%

   
  

Telecommunications — 0.0%

   
  

Non U.S. Companies

   
  6,000     

Bharti Airtel Ltd., expire
11/30/20†(a)

    32,855       30,000  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

                  
  

CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS — 0.3%

 

 
  

OTHER — 0.3%

   
  

Building and Construction — 0.3%

   
  

U.S. Companies

   
  $    525,000     

Layne Christensen Co.
4.250%, 11/15/18

    520,556       469,547  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 13.8%

 

 
  19,219,000     

U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.622% to 1.106%††, 07/06/17 to
12/21/17(b)

    19,185,914       19,184,690  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%

  $ 110,089,231       139,350,159  
    

 

 

   
Notional
Amount
         Termination
  Date  
    

Unrealized
Appreciation/

(Depreciation)

 
 

EQUITY CONTRACT FOR DIFFERENCE SWAP AGREEMENTS (c) — 0.0%

 

  
  $ 599,215    

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

     06/28/18      $ (19,112
 

(50,000 Shares)

     
  4,615    

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C

     06/28/18        9  
 

(3,550,000 Shares)

     
       

 

 

 
 

TOTAL EQUITY CONTRACT FOR DIFFERENCE SWAP AGREEMENTS

 

     (19,103
       

 

 

 

 

    

Market

Value

 

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

     445,867  

PREFERRED STOCK

  

(1,026,082 preferred shares outstanding)

     (51,304,100
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — COMMON SHARES

  

(4,111,297 common shares outstanding)

   $ 88,472,823  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE

  

($88,472,823 ÷ 4,111,297 shares outstanding)

   $ 21.52  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2017, the market value of Rule 144A securities amounted to $30,000 or 0.02% of total investments.

(b)

At June 30, 2017, $3,350,000 of the principal amount was pledged as collateral for equity contract for difference swap agreements.

(c)

At June 30, 2017, the Fund had entered into equity contract for difference swap agreements with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Non-income producing security.

††

Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

 

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

CVR

Contingent Value Right

GDR

Global Depositary Receipt

PJSC

Public Joint Stock Company

SDR

Swedish Depositary Receipt

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Geographic Diversification

  

% of Total
Investments

 

Market

Value

 

United States

   53.2%   $ 74,074,256  

Europe

   31.3        43,685,827  

Canada

   6.5      8,988,892  

Japan

   4.5      6,241,109  

Latin America

   3.1      4,302,254  

Asia/Pacific

   1.4      1,999,804  

Africa/Middle East

   0.0      58,017  
  

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments

   100.0%   $ 139,350,159  
  

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Assets:

 

Investments, at value (cost $110,089,231)

  $ 139,350,159  

Cash

    76,836  

Dividends and interest receivable

    538,675  

Prepaid expenses

    18,881  

Deferred offering expense

    4,539  

Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts

    9  
 

 

 

 

Total Assets

    139,989,099  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

Distributions payable

    27,077  

Payable for payroll expenses

    31,117  

Payable for investment advisory fees

    58,398  

Payable for accounting fees

    11,250  

Payable for legal and audit fees

    30,718  

Unrealized depreciation on swap contracts

    19,112  

Payable for shareholder communications expenses

    17,532  

Payable for custodian fees

    10,923  

Other accrued expenses

    6,049  
 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

    212,176  
 

 

 

 

Preferred Shares:

 

Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares ($50 liquidation value, $0.001 par value, 1,200,000 shares authorized with 1,026,082 shares issued and outstanding)

    51,304,100  
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

  $ 88,472,823  
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Consist of:

 

Paid-in capital

  $ 59,547,226  

Accumulated net investment income

    90,093  

Accumulated net realized loss on investments, swaps contracts, and foreign currency transactions

    (407,944

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

    29,260,928  

Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts

    (19,103

Net unrealized appreciation on foreign currency translations

    1,623  
 

 

 

 

Net Assets

  $ 88,472,823  
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value per Common Share:

 

($88,472,823 ÷ 4,111,297 shares outstanding at $0.001 par value; unlimited number of shares authorized)

    $21.52  
 

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Unaudited)

 

 

Investment Income:

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $118,284)

  $ 2,134,052  

Interest

    74,282  
 

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

    2,208,334  
 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

Investment advisory fees

    348,363  

Payroll expenses

    60,792  

Shareholder communications expenses

    38,960  

Trustees’ fees

    25,864  

Legal and audit fees

    25,656  

Accounting fees

    22,500  

Custodian fees

    16,217  

Shareholder services fees

    14,737  

Interest expense

    1,557  

Miscellaneous expenses

    27,536  
 

 

 

 

Total Expenses

    582,182  
 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Expenses paid indirectly by broker
(See Note 3)

    (940
 

 

 

 

Net Expenses

    581,242  
 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

    1,627,092  
 

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency:

 

Net realized gain on investments

    305,628  

Net realized gain on swap contracts

    175,013  

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

    (191,478
 

 

 

 

Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions

    289,163  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:

 

on investments

    8,250,970  

on swap contracts

    (10,997

on foreign currency translations

    215,642  
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations

    8,455,615  
 

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency

    8,744,778  
 

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

    10,371,870  
 

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Stock Shareholders

    (974,778
 

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations

  $ 9,397,092  
 

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2017
(Unaudited)
         Year Ended
December 31, 2016

Operations:

               

Net investment income

       $  1,627,092              $  3,211,140

Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions

       289,163              3,548,842

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations

       8,455,615              1,025,046
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

       10,371,870              7,785,028
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders:

               

Net investment income

       (880,378 )*              (960,299 )

Net realized gain

       (94,400 )*              (794,017 )
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

       (974,778 )              (1,754,316 )
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations

       9,397,092              6,030,712
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

               

Net investment income

       (666,030 )*              (2,423,489 )

Net realized gain

       (74,003 )*              (2,003,843 )

Return of capital

       (1,726,745 )*              (506,224 )
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

       (2,466,778 )              (4,933,556 )
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

       6,930,314              1,097,156

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders:

               

Beginning of year

       81,542,509              80,445,353
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $90,093 and $9,409, respectively)

       $88,472,823              $81,542,509
    

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

*

Based on year to date book income. Amounts are subject to change and recharacterization at year end.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a common share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2017
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended December 31,
                      2016                   2015                   2014                   2013                   2012

Operating Performance:

                       

Net asset value, beginning of year

      $19.83       $19.57       $21.93       $22.36       $20.44       $20.57
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income

      0.40       0.78       0.60       0.86       0.44       0.51

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions

      2.12       1.11       (1.39 )       0.47       4.13       0.56
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

      2.52       1.89       (0.79 )       1.33       4.57       1.07
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a)

                       

Net investment income

      (0.21 )*       (0.24 )       (0.25 )       (0.30 )       (0.29 )      

Net realized gain

      (0.02 )*       (0.19 )       (0.12 )       (0.26 )       (0.17 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total distributions to preferred shareholders

      (0.23 )       (0.43 )       (0.37 )       (0.56 )       (0.46 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations

      2.29       1.46       (1.16 )       0.77       4.11       1.07
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

                       

Net investment income

      (0.16 )*       (0.59 )       (0.22 )       (0.39 )       (0.25 )       (0.55 )

Net realized gain

      (0.02 )*       (0.49 )       (0.11 )       (0.33 )       (0.15 )       (0.32 )

Return of capital

      (0.42 )*       (0.12 )       (0.87 )       (0.48 )       (0.80 )       (0.33 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total distributions to common shareholders

      (0.60 )       (1.20 )       (1.20 )       (1.20 )       (1.20 )       (1.20 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions:

                       

Increase/(Decrease) in net asset value from common share transactions

                              0.01       (0.00 )(b)

Decrease in net asset value from common shares issued in rights offering

                              (0.88 )      

Increase/(Decrease) in net asset value from repurchase of common shares

                  0.00 (b)       (0.00 )(b)            

Net decrease from costs charged to repurchase of common shares

                  (0.00 )(b)                  

Offering expenses charged to paid-in capital

                        (0.00 )(b)       (0.12 )      
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Fund share transactions

                  0.00 (b)       (0.00 )(b)       (0.99 )       (0.00 )(b)
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Period

      $21.52       $19.83       $19.57       $21.93       $22.36       $20.44
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

NAV total return †

      11.67 %       7.53 %       (5.52 )%       3.53 %       21.54 %       5.42 %
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

      $20.24       $16.80       $16.70       $19.43       $20.04       $20.88
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment total return **

      19.74 %       7.81 %       (8.16 )%       2.98 %       7.32 %       5.09 %
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Selected data for a common share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2017

(Unaudited)
    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 period (in 000’s)

    $139,777       $132,847       $131,749       $141,789       $143,724        

Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (in 000’s)

    $  88,473       $  81,543       $  80,445       $  90,167       $  92,103       $63,256  

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets attributable to common shares before preferred share distributions

    3.80 %(c)      3.83     2.81     3.85     2.40     2.50

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares

    1.36 %(c)(d)      1.39 %(d)(e)      1.41 %(d)      1.39     1.22     1.24

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares

    0.85 %(c)(d)      0.86 %(d)(e)      0.89 %(d)      0.89     0.74      

Portfolio turnover rate

    3.0     21.8     14.2     26.6     28.2     6.0

Preferred Shares:

           

Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares

           

Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)

    $  51,304       $  51,304       $  51,304       $  51,621       $  51,621        

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

    1,026       1,026       1,026       1,032       1,032        

Liquidation preference per share

    $    50.00       $    50.00       $    50.00       $    50.00       $    50.00        

Average market value(f)

    $    51.13       $    51.17       $    50.49       $    50.55       $    50.88        

Asset coverage per share

    $  136.22       $  129.47       $  128.40       $  137.34       $  139.21        

Asset coverage

    272     259     257     275     278      

 

Based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at the net asset value per share on the ex-dividend dates and adjustments for the rights offering. Total return for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

*

Based on year to date book income. Amounts are subject to change and recharacterization at year end.

**

Based on market value per share at initial public offering of $20.00 per share, adjusted for reinvestments of distributions at prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan and adjustments for the rights offering. Total return for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

(a)

Calculated based on average common shares outstanding on the record dates through each period.

(b)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(c)

Annualized.

(d)

The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2017 and the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios.

(e)

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the fund received one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. Had such reimbursement been included in 2016, the expense ratios would have been 1.18% attributable to common shares and 0.73% including liquidation value of preferred shares.

(f)

Based on weekly prices.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

12


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 8, 2004 and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Investment operations commenced on May 28, 2004.

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a consistent level of after-tax total return over the long term with an emphasis currently on qualified dividends. The Fund will attempt to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in equity securities (including preferred securities) of domestic and foreign companies involved to a substantial extent in providing products, services, or equipment for the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, or water and infrastructure operations, and in equity securities (including preferred securities) of companies in other industries, in each case in such securities that are expected to pay periodic dividends.

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”).

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 obligations 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, 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. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations. Futures contracts are valued at the closing settlement price of the exchange or board of trade on which the applicable contract is traded. OTC futures and options on futures for which market quotations are readily available will be valued by quotations received from a pricing service or, if no quotations are available from a pricing service, by quotations obtained from one or more dealers in the instrument in question by the Adviser.

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

 

13


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (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 June 30, 2017 is as follows:

 

     Valuation Inputs         
     Level 1
 Quoted Prices 
     Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
     Total Market Value
at 06/30/17
 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

           

ASSETS (Market Value):

           

Common Stocks:

           

ENERGY AND UTILITIES (a)

     $  58,265,205        —                —                $  58,265,205      

COMMUNICATIONS

           

Cable and Satellite

           

U.S. Companies

     3,173,583      $        14,574                —                3,188,157      

Other Industries (a)

     32,419,729        —                —                32,419,729      

OTHER

           

Aerospace

           

Non U.S. Companies

     1,175,575        —              $ 9,368                1,184,943      

Other Industries (a)

     24,497,872        —                —                24,497,872      

Total Common Stocks

     119,531,964        14,574                9,368                119,555,906      

Convertible Preferred Stocks (a)

     80,016        —                —                80,016      

Rights (a)

            30,000                —                30,000      

Warrants (a)

            30,000                —                30,000      

Convertible Corporate Bonds (a)

            469,547                —                469,547      

U.S. Government Obligations

            19,184,690                —                19,184,690      

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

     $119,611,980        $19,728,811              $ 9,368                $139,350,159      

 

14


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

     Valuation Inputs         
     Level 1
 Quoted Prices 
     Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
     Total Market Value
at 06/30/17
 

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:*

           

ASSETS (Unrealized Appreciation):

           

EQUITY CONTRACT

           

Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

     —                $           9                —                $           9          

LIABILITIES (Unrealized Depreciation):

           

EQUITY CONTRACT

           

Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

     —                (19,112)               —                (19,112)          

TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

     —                $(19,103)               —                $(19,103)          

 

(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.

The Fund did not have material transfers among Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2017. 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 are 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

 

15


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (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 June 30, 2017 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 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.

 

16


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The Fund has entered into equity contract for difference swap agreements with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Details of the swaps at June 30, 2017 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
Appreciation/(Depreciation)

  

Market Value

Appreciation on:

  

One month LIBOR plus 90 bps plus

Market Value Depreciation on:

         

$599,215 (50,000 Shares)

   Rolls-Royce Holdings plc    Rolls-Royce Holdings plc        06/28/18            $(19,112)  

$    4,615 (3,550,000 Shares)

   Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C    Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C        06/28/18                      9  
               

 

 

 
                  $(19,103)  
               

 

 

 

The Fund’s volume of activity in equity contract for difference swap agreements during the six months ended June 30, 2017 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately $497,183.

As of June 30, 2017, 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 six months ended June 30, 2017, 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 gain on swap contracts and Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts.

Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Fund may engage in forward foreign exchange contracts for the purpose of hedging a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Forward foreign exchange contracts are valued at the forward rate and are marked-to-market daily. The change in market value is included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

The use of forward foreign exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the Fund’s portfolio securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign exchange contracts limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. There were no forward foreign exchange contracts outstanding at June 30, 2017. The Fund’s volume of activity in forward foreign exchange contracts during the six months ended June 30, 2017 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately $3,500,000, while outstanding.

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, the effect of forward foreign exchange contracts 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 foreign currency transactions and Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations.

 

17


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

At June 30, 2017, 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 Amounts of
Assets Presented
in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
 

Assets

       

Equity Contract for Difference
Swap Agreements

     $9        $(9)        

 

    

Gross Amounts of
Recognized Liabilities
Presented in the
Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

    

Gross Amounts
Available for

Offset in the
Statement of Assets
and Liabilities

    Net Amounts of
Liabilities Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
 

Liabilities

       

Equity Contract for Difference
Swap Agreements

     $19,112        $(9)       $19,103  

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 June 30, 2017:

 

    

Net Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

 
     Net Amounts of
Liabilities Presented in
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
     Financial Instruments     Cash Collateral
Pledged
     Net Amount  

Counterparty

          

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

     $19,103        $(19,103)               

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

 

18


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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.

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.

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 June 30, 2017, 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

 

19


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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.

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to 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, and timing differences. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized 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. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund.

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2016 was as follows:

 

     Common      Preferred  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term gains)

   $ 2,520,340      $ 998,676  

Net long term capital gains

     1,906,992        755,640  

Return of capital

     506,224         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 4,933,556      $ 1,754,316  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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.

At December 31, 2016, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations.

   $ 20,295,615  

Other temporary differences*

     (27,077
  

 

 

 

Total.

   $ 20,268,538  
  

 

 

 

 

*

Other temporary differences were primarily due to current year dividends payable.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at June 30, 2017:

 

     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Investments

   $ 110,609,891      $ 34,138,896      $ (5,398,628   $ 28,740,268  

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 six months ended June 30, 2017, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2017, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to

 

20


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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, currently equal on an annual basis to 0.50% of the value of the Fund’s average weekly total assets. 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.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Fund paid $3,152 in brokerage commissions on security trades to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, 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 $940.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Fund paid or accrued $22,500 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). During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Fund paid or accrued $60,792 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.

The Fund pays each Trustee who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $3,000 plus $1,000 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 $500 per meeting attended. The Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $2,000, and the Lead Trustee receives an annual fee of $1,000. 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 six months ended June 30, 2017, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $4,034,174 and $3,458,752, respectively.

5. Capital. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares of beneficial interest (par value $0.001). The Board has authorized the repurchase of its 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 six months ended June 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund did not repurchase and retire any shares in the open market.

 

21


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

In April 2013, the Fund distributed transferable rights for each of the 3,097,284 common shares outstanding. Three rights were required to purchase one additional common share and one newly issued Series A Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Share (“Series A Preferred”) at the combined subscription price of $68.50 (consisting of $18.50 for each common share plus $50.00 for each Series A Preferred share). On June 19, 2013, the Fund issued 1,032,428 common shares and 1,032,428 Series A Preferred, receiving $70,286,465, after the deduction of offering expenses and solicitation fees of $369,721 and $65,132, respectively. The NAV per share of the Fund was reduced by approximately $1.00 as a result of the issuance of common shares below NAV.

The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of $0.001 par value Preferred Shares. 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 the Series A Preferred are cumulative and the liquidation value is $50 per share. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Fund’s Statement of Preferences 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 Preferred Shares at the redemption price of $50 per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated 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 Series A Preferred had an annual dividend rate of 6.00% for the four dividend periods beginning in September 2013 ending on or prior to June 26, 2014, and 3.00% for the subsequent eight dividend periods ending on or prior to June 26, 2016. The Board increased the annual dividend rate to 3.8%, effective for the dividend periods after the dividend period ended June 26, 2016. The annual dividend rate of 3.8% was determined based on the terms of the Series A Preferred shares. During the year ended December 31, 2015, 6,346 Series A Preferred were put back to the Fund at $50 liquidation value plus accrued dividends. The Fund will redeem all or any part of the Series A Preferred that holders have properly submitted for redemption during the thirty day period prior to June 26, 2018 at the liquidation value plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. The Series A Preferred is noncallable before June 19, 2018. At June 30, 2017, 1,026,082 Series A Preferred were outstanding and accrued dividends amounted to $27,077.

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 shares 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 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

 

22


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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.

 

23


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Shareholder Meeting – May 15, 2017 – Final Results

The Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 15, 2017 at the Greenwich Library in Greenwich, Connecticut. At that meeting, common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class, elected Salvatore J. Zizza as Trustee of the Fund. A total of 4,454,329 votes were cast in favor of the Trustee and a total of 243,517 votes were withheld for the Trustee. In addition, preferred shareholders, voting as a separate class, elected Anthony J. Colavita, as a Trustee of the Fund. A total of 805,271 votes were cast in favor of this Trustee and a total of 107,377 votes were withheld for this Trustee.

James P. Conn, Vincent D. Enright, Michael J. Melarkey, and Salvatore M. Salibello, CPA, continue to serve in their capacities as Trustees of the Fund.

We thank you for your participation and appreciate your continued support.

 

24


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)

At its meeting on May 17, 2017, the Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the Fund approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund (the “Independent Board Members”). The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the portfolio manager, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the portfolio manager, the scope of supervisory, administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the portfolio manager.

Investment Performance of the Fund and the Adviser. The Independent Board Members reviewed the performance of the Fund for the one, three, five, and ten year periods ended March 31, 2017 against a peer group of utility and infrastructure funds selected by the Adviser (the “Adviser Peer Group”) and against a peer group consisting of funds in the Fund’s Lipper category (the “Lipper Peer Group”). The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s performance for these periods generally ranked below the median and was the most favorable relative to the Adviser Peer Group and the Lipper Peer Group for the ten year period.

Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with an administrative overhead charge and without such charge and found such profitability to be reasonable. The Independent Board Members also noted that a portion of the Fund’s portfolio transactions was executed by the Adviser’s affiliated broker, resulting in incremental profits to the broker.

Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund was a closed-end fund and unlikely to realize any economies of scale potentially available through growth in the absence of additional offerings.

Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential economies of scale.

Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the expense ratios of the investment advisory fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expense ratios of the Adviser Peer Group and the Lipper Peer Group and noted that the advisory fee includes substantially all administrative services of the Fund as well as investment advisory services of the Adviser. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s total expense ratio was above average and the Fund’s size was below average within the applicable peer groups. The Independent Board Members were presented with, but did not consider material to their decision, various information comparing the advisory fee with the fee for other types of accounts managed by the Adviser.

Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio advisory services, good ancillary services, and a reasonable performance record within its conservative stance. The Independent Board Members also concluded that the Fund’s expense ratios were reasonable in light of the Fund’s size, and that, in part due to the Fund’s structure as a closed-end fund, economies of scale were not a significant factor in their thinking. The Independent Board Members did not view the potential profitability

 

25


The Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

of ancillary services as material to their decision. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the investment advisory agreement to the full Board.

Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board Members deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board Members determined to approve the continuation of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based their decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.

 

26


THE GABELLI GLOBAL UTILITY & INCOME 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 “XGLUX.”

 

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.


 
 
 
 
 
THE GABELLI GLOBAL UTILITY & INCOME TRUST

One Corporate Center

 
Rye, NY 10580-1422  
t  800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)
f  914-921-5118  
e info@gabelli.com  
   GABELLI.COM  
 
 
 
     
TRUSTEES   OFFICERS
Anthony J. Colavita   Bruce N. Alpert
President,   President
Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.  
  Andrea R. Mango
James P. Conn   Secretary & Vice President
Former Managing Director &  
Chief Investment Officer,   Agnes Mullady
Financial Security Assurance   Vice President
Holdings Ltd.  
  John C. Ball
Vincent D. Enright   Treasurer
Former Senior Vice President &  
Chief Financial Officer,   Richard J. Walz
KeySpan Corp.   Chief Compliance Officer
 
Michael J. Melarkey   David I. Schachter
Of Counsel,   Vice President
McDonald Carano Wilson LLP  
  Adam E. Tokar
Salvatore M. Salibello, CPA   Vice President & Ombudsman
Senior Partner,  
Bright Side Consulting  

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 
Salvatore J. Zizza   Gabelli Funds, LLC
Chairman,   One Corporate Center
Zizza & Associates Corp.   Rye, New York 10580-1422
 
  CUSTODIAN
 
  State Street Bank and Trust
  Company
 
  COUNSEL
 
  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
  Flom LLP
 
  TRANSFER AGENT AND
  REGISTRAR
 
  Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
GLU Q2/2017  
 

LOGO

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

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.

Not applicable.


Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

There has been no change, as of the date of this filing, in any of the portfolio managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in the registrant’s most recently filed annual report on Form N-CSR.

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
Shares (or Units)
Purchased

 

 

(b) Average Price Paid
per Share (or Unit)

 

 

(c) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs

 

 

(d) Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units) that May
Yet Be Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs

 

Month #1

01/01/17

through

01/31/17

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – 4,111,297

 

Preferred Series A – 1,026,082

Month #2

02/01/17

through

02/28/17

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – 4,111,297

 

Preferred Series A – 1,026,082

 

Month #3

03/01/17

through

03/31/17

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – 4,111,297

 

Preferred Series A – 1,026,082

 

Month #4

04/01/17

through

04/30/17

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – 4,111,297

 

Preferred Series A – 1,026,082

 

Month #5

05/01/17

through

05/31/17

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – 4,111,297

 

Preferred Series A – 1,026,082

 

Month #6

06/01/17

through

06/30/17

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Common – 4,111,297

 

Preferred Series A – 1,026,082

 

Total

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – 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 $50.00.

 

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)

Not applicable.

 

  (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.

 


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 Global Utility & Income Trust                                                  
By (Signature and Title)*    /s/ Bruce N. Alpert                                                                    

 Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

Date      8/24/2017                                                                                                                   

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      8/24/2017                                                                                                                   
By (Signature and Title)*    /s/ John C. Ball                                                                          

 John C. Ball, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date      8/24/2017                                                                                                                   

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.