ggnit_n2a.htm
As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20,
2007
Securities
Act File No. 333-143009
Investment
Company Act File No. 811-21698
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
____________________
FORM
N-2
____________________
(Check
Appropriate Box or Boxes)
[X] REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[X] Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 2
[ ] Post-Effective
Amendment No.
and/or
[X] REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
[X] Amendment
No. 7
____________________
THE
GABELLI GLOBAL GOLD, NATURAL RESOURCES & INCOME TRUST
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
____________________
One
Corporate CenterRye, New York 10580-1422
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s
Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) 422-3554
Bruce
N. Alpert
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust
One
Corporate Center
Rye,
New York 10580-1422
(914)
921-5100
(Name
and Address of Agent for Service)
____________________
Copies
to:
Richard
T. Prins, Esq.
|
James
E. McKee, Esq.
|
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher &
|
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural
|
Flom
LLP
|
Resources
& Income Trust
|
4
Times Square
|
One
Corporate Center
|
New
York, New York 10036
|
Rye,
New York 10580-1422
|
(212)
735-3000
|
(914)
921-5100
|
____________________
Approximate
date of proposed public offering: From time to time after the effective date
of
this Registration Statement.
If
any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or
continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as
amended, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend
reinvestment plan, check the following box. [X]
It
is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box)
[X]
When declared effective pursuant to section 8(c).
If
appropriate, check the following box:
[ ]
This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously
filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement].
[ ]
This form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to
Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act registration number
of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is
__________.
____________________
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Title
of Securities
|
Amount
Being
Registered
|
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per Share
|
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)
|
Amount
of
Registration
Fee(2)
|
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
|
[ ]
Shares
|
$[ ]
|
$250
million
|
$7,675
|
Preferred
Shares of Beneficial Interest
|
[ ]
Shares
|
$[ ]
|
$100
million
|
$3,070
|
(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
fee. In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all
shares offered from time to time pursuant to the prospectus included as a part
of this Registration Statement exceed $350 million.
(2)
Previously paid in connection with filing of the initial registration statement
for these securities on May 16, 2007.
____________________
THE
REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS
MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A
FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
Subject
to Completion,
Preliminary
Base Prospectus dated _________, 2007
PROSPECTUS
$350,000,000
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
Preferred
Shares of Beneficial Interest
Investment
Objectives. The Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources
& Income Trust (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high
level of current income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is
to seek capital appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary
objective. The Fund’s investment adviser is Gabelli Funds, LLC (the
“Investment Adviser”). An investment in the Fund is not appropriate
for all investors. We cannot assure you that the Fund’s objectives
will be achieved.
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its objectives
by
investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies
principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources
industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the
equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, mining,
fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the financing,
managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in “gold-related”
activities. In addition, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its
assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the
exploration, production or distribution of natural resources, such as gas,
oil,
paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well
as
related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The
Fund may invest in the securities of companies located anywhere in the world
and
under normal conditions will invest at least 40% of its assets in the securities
of issuers located in at least three countries other than the U.S. As
part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to earn income through
an
option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities
in its portfolio. When the Fund sells a covered call option, it
receives income in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the call
option,
but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase in the
value
of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of the
option. See “Investment Objectives and Policies.”
We
may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, our common shares or
preferred shares, each having a par value of $0.001 per share. Shares
may be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements
to this Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”). You should read
this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you
invest in our shares.
Our
shares may be offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents
designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or
dealers. The Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering will
identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our shares, and
will
set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement
between us and our agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or
the
basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The Prospectus
Supplement relating to any sale of preferred shares will set forth the
liquidation preference and information about the dividend period, dividend
rate,
any call protection or non-call period and other matters. We may not
sell any of our shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery
of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the particular
offering of our shares. Our common shares are listed on the American
Stock Exchange under the symbol “GGN.” On September 19, 2007, the
last reported sale price of our common shares was
$27.60. Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount
from net asset value. This creates a risk of loss for an investor
purchasing shares in a public offering.
Investing
in the Fund’s shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations” on page for factors that should be
considered before investing in shares of the
Fund.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission
has
approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
This
prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of shares by us through agents,
underwriters or dealers unless accompanied by a Prospectus
Supplement.
This
prospectus sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that a
prospective investor should know before investing. You should read
this prospectus, which contains important information about the Fund, before
deciding whether to invest in the shares, and retain it for future
reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated September 20,
2007, containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with
the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference in its
entirety into this prospectus. You may request a free copy of our
annual and semi-annual reports, request a free copy of the Statement of
Additional Information, the table of contents of which is on page 58 of this
prospectus, request other information about us and make shareholder inquiries
by
calling (800) GABELLI (422-3554) or by writing to the Fund, or obtain a copy
(and other information regarding the Fund) from the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).
Our
shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed
or
endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not
federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal
Reserve Board or any other government agency.
You
should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference
in
this prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you
with different information. The Fund is not making an offer to sell
these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in
this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this
prospectus.
This
is only a summary. This summary may not contain all of the
information that you should consider before investing in our
shares. You should review the more detailed information
contained in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information,
dated September 20, 2007 (the “SAI”).
|
The
Fund
|
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust is a
non-diversified, closed-end management investment company organized
under
the laws of the State of Delaware. Throughout this prospectus,
we refer to The Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust
as the “Fund” or as “we.” See “The Fund.”
|
The
Offering
|
We
may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, our common
or
preferred shares, $0.001 par value per share. The shares may be
offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements
to this Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”). The
offering price per share of our common shares will not be less
than the
net asset value per share of our common shares at the time we make
the
offering, exclusive of any underwriting commissions or
discounts. You should read this Prospectus and the applicable
Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in our
shares. Our shares may be offered directly to one or more
purchasers, through agents designated from time to time by us or
to or
through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus Supplement
relating to the offering will identify any agents, underwriters
or dealers
involved in the sale of our shares, and will set forth any applicable
purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between
us and our
agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or the basis
upon which such amount may be calculated. The Prospectus
Supplement relating to any sale of preferred shares will set forth
the
liquidation preference and information about the dividend period,
dividend
rate, any call protection or non-call period and other
matters. We may not sell any of our shares through agents,
underwriters or dealers without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement
describing the method and terms of the particular offering of our
shares. Our common shares are listed on the American Stock
Exchange under the symbol “GGN.” On September 19, 2007, the
last reported sale price of our common shares was $27.60.
|
Investment
Objectives and Policies
|
The
Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current
income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek
capital appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary
objective.
|
|
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its
objectives
by investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of
companies
principally engaged in the gold and natural resources
industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in
the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration,
mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold
or the
financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged
in
“gold-related” activities (“Gold Companies”). In addition, the
Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities
of
companies principally engaged in the exploration, production or
distribution of natural resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food
and
agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well as
related
transportation companies and equipment manufacturers (“Natural Resources
Companies”). The Fund may invest in the securities of companies
located anywhere in the world and under normal market conditions
will
invest at least 40% of its assets in the securities of issuers
located in
at least three countries other than the U.S.
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|
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|
Principally
engaged, as used in this prospectus, means a company that derives
at least
50% of its revenues or earnings or devotes at least 50% of its assets
to
the indicated businesses. An issuer will be treated as being
located outside the U.S. if it is either organized or headquartered
outside of the U.S. and has a substantial portion of its operations
or
sales outside the U.S. Equity securities may include common
stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depository
receipts and equity interests in trusts and other
entities. Other Fund investments may include investment
companies, including exchange-traded funds, securities of issuers
subject
to reorganization, derivative instruments, debt (including obligations
of
the U.S. Government) and money market instruments. As part of
its investment strategy, the Fund intends to earn income through
an option
strategy which will normally consist of writing (selling) call options
on
equity securities in its portfolio (“covered calls”), but may, in amounts
up to 15% of the Fund’s assets, consist of writing uncovered call options
on securities not held by the Fund, indices comprised of Gold Companies
or
Natural Resources Companies or exchange traded funds comprised of
such
issuers and put options on securities in its portfolio. When
the Fund sells a call option, it receives income in the form of the
premium paid by the buyer of the call option, but the Fund forgoes
the
opportunity to participate in any increase in the value of the underlying
equity security above the exercise price of the option. When
the Fund sells a put option, it receives income in the form of the
premium
paid by the buyer of the put option, but the Fund will have the obligation
to buy the underlying security at the exercise price if the price
of the
security decreases below the exercise price of the option. See
“Investment Objectives and Policies.”
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|
The
Fund is not intended for those who wish to exploit short-term swings
in
the stock market.
|
|
The
Investment Adviser’s investment philosophy with respect to selecting
investments in the gold industry and the natural resources industries
is
to emphasize quality and value, as determined by such factors as
asset
quality, balance sheet leverage, management ability, reserve life,
cash
flow, and commodity hedging exposure. In addition, in making
stock selections, the Investment Adviser looks for securities that
it
believes may have a superior yield as well as capital gains potential
and
that allow the Fund to earn income from writing covered calls on
such
stocks.
|
Preferred
Shares and Borrowings
|
The
Fund has not issued preferred shares or borrowed money to leverage
its
investments. If the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of
Trustees”, each member of the Board of Trustees individually a “Trustee”)
determines that it may be advantageous to the holders of the Fund’s common
shares for the Fund to utilize such leverage, the Fund may issue
preferred
shares or borrow money. Any preferred shares issued by the Fund
will pay distributions either at a fixed rate or at rates that
will be
reset frequently based on short-term interest rates. Any
borrowings may also be at fixed or floating rates. Leverage
creates a greater risk of loss as well as a potential for more
gains for
the common shares than if leverage were not used. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations – Leverage Risks.” The
Fund may also engage in investment management techniques which
will not be
considered senior securities if the Fund establishes in a segregated
account cash or other liquid securities equal to the Fund’s obligations in
respect of such techniques.
|
Dividends
and Distributions
|
The
Fund intends to make regular monthly cash distributions of all or
a
portion of its investment company taxable income (which includes
ordinary
income and realized short-term capital gains) to common
shareholders. The Fund also intends to make annual
distributions of its realized capital gains (which is the excess
of net
long-term capital gains over net short-term capital
losses). Various factors will affect the level of the Fund’s
income, such as its asset mix and use of covered call
strategies. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable monthly
distributions, the Fund may from time to time distribute less than
the
entire amount of income earned in a particular period, which would
be
available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the
distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period
may be
more or less than the amount of income actually earned by the Fund
during
that period. Because the Fund’s distribution policy may be
changed by the Board of Trustees at any time and the Fund’s income will
fluctuate, there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay dividends
or
distributions at a particular rate. See “Dividends and
Distributions.”
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|
Investment
company taxable income (including dividend income) and capital
gain
distributions paid by the Fund are automatically reinvested in
additional
shares of the Fund unless a shareholder elects to receive cash
or the
shareholder’s broker does not provide reinvestment
services. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary
Cash Purchase Plan.”
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
The
Fund will use the net proceeds from the offering to purchase portfolio
securities in accordance with its investment objectives and
policies. See “Use of Proceeds.”
|
Exchange
Listing
|
The
Fund’s common shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange (“Amex”)
under the trading or “ticker” symbol “GGN.” See “Description of the
Shares.” Any fixed rate preferred shares would also likely be
listed on a stock exchange.
|
Market
Price of Shares
|
Common
shares of closed-end investment companies often trade at prices lower
than
their net asset value. Common shares of closed-end investment
companies may trade during some periods at prices higher than their
net
asset value and during other periods at prices lower than their net
asset
value. The Fund cannot assure you that its common shares will
trade at a price higher than or equal to net asset value. The
Fund’s net asset value will be reduced immediately following this offering
by the sales load and the amount of the offering expenses paid by
the
Fund. See “Use of Proceeds.”
|
|
In
addition to net asset value, the market price of the Fund’s common shares
may be affected by such factors as the Fund’s dividend and distribution
levels (which are affected by expenses) and stability, market liquidity,
market supply and demand, unrealized gains, general market and economic
conditions and other factors. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations,” “Description of the Shares” and “Repurchase of Common
Shares.”
|
|
The
common shares are designed primarily for long-term investors, and
you
should not purchase common shares of the Fund if you intend to sell
them
shortly after purchase.
|
|
Fixed
rate preferred shares may also trade at premiums to or discounts
from
their liquidation preference for a variety of reasons, including
changes
in interest rates.
|
Risk
Factors and Special Considerations
|
Risk
is inherent in all investing. Therefore, before investing in
shares of the Fund, you should consider the risks carefully.
|
|
Industry
Risks. The Fund’s investments will be concentrated in each
of the gold industry and in the natural resources
industries. Because the Fund is concentrated in these
industries, it may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified
over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. A downturn
in the gold or natural resources industries would have a larger impact
on
the Fund than on an investment company that does not concentrate
in such
industries.
|
|
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its
assets
in equity securities of Gold Companies. Equity securities of
Gold Companies may experience greater volatility than companies not
involved in the gold industry. Investments related to gold are
considered speculative and are affected by a variety of worldwide
economic, financial and political factors. The price of gold
may fluctuate sharply over short periods of time due to changes in
inflation or expectations regarding inflation in various countries,
the
availability of supplies of gold, changes in industrial and commercial
demand, gold sales by governments, central banks or international
agencies, investment speculation, monetary and other economic policies
of
various governments and government restrictions on private ownership
of
gold. The Investment Adviser’s judgments about trends in the
prices of securities of Gold Companies may prove to be
incorrect. It is possible that the performance of securities of
Gold Companies may lag the performance of other industries or the
broader
market as a whole.
|
|
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its
assets
in equity securities of Natural Resources Companies. A downturn
in the indicated natural resources industries would have a larger
impact
on the Fund than on an investment company that does not invest
significantly in such industries. Such industries can be
significantly affected by supply and demand for the indicated commodities
and related services, exploration and production spending, government
regulations, world events and economic conditions. The oil,
paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals
industries can be significantly affected by events relating to
international political developments, the success of exploration
projects,
commodity prices, and tax and government regulations. The stock
prices of Natural Resources Companies may also experience greater
price
volatility than other types of common stocks. Securities issued
by Natural Resources Companies are sensitive to changes in the prices
of,
and in supply and demand for, the indicated commodities. The
value of securities issued by Natural Resources Companies may be
affected
by changes in overall market movements, changes in interest rates,
or
factors affecting a particular
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|
industry
or commodity, such as weather, embargoes, tariffs, policies of commodity
cartels and international economic, political and regulatory
developments. The Investment Adviser’s judgments about trends
in the prices of these securities and commodities may prove to be
incorrect. It is possible that the performance of securities of
Natural Resources Companies may lag the performance of other industries
or
the broader market as a whole. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations — Industry Risks.”
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|
Supply
and Demand Risk. A decrease in the production of, or
exploitation of, gold, gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry
products, metals or minerals or a decrease in the volume of such
commodities available for transportation, mining, processing, storage
or
distribution may adversely impact the financial performance of
the Fund’s investments. Production declines and volume
decreases could be caused by various factors, including catastrophic
events affecting production, depletion of resources, labor difficulties,
environmental proceedings, increased regulations, equipment failures
and
unexpected maintenance problems, import supply disruption, increased
competition from alternative energy sources or commodity
prices. Sustained declines in demand for the indicated
commodities could also adversely affect the financial performance
of Gold
and Natural Resources Companies over the long-term. Factors
which could lead to a decline in demand include economic recession
or
other adverse economic conditions, higher fuel taxes or governmental
regulations, increases in fuel economy, consumer shifts to the use
of
alternative fuel sources, changes in commodity prices, or
weather.
|
|
Depletion
and Exploration Risk. Many Gold and Natural Resources
Companies are either engaged in the production or exploitation of
the
particular commodities or are engaged in transporting, storing,
distributing and processing such commodities. To maintain or
increase their revenue level, these companies or their customers
need to
maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources
of
supply, through the development of existing sources, through acquisitions,
or through long-term contracts to acquire reserves. The
financial performance of Gold and Natural Resources Companies may
be
adversely affected if they, or the companies to whom they provide
products
or services, are unable to cost-effectively acquire additional products
or
reserves sufficient to replace the natural decline.
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Regulatory
Risk. Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies may
be subject to extensive government regulation in virtually every
aspect of
their operations, including how facilities are constructed, maintained
and
operated, environmental and safety controls, and in some cases the
prices
they may charge for the products and services they
provide. Various governmental authorities have the power to
enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued
under
them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal
penalties, including civil fines, injunctions or both. Stricter
laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be enacted in the
future,
which would likely increase compliance costs and may adversely affect
the
financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources
Companies.
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|
Commodity
Pricing Risk. The operations and financial performance of
Gold and Natural Resources Companies may be directly affected by
the
prices of the indicated commodities, especially those Gold and Natural
Resources Companies for whom the commodities they own are significant
assets. Commodity prices fluctuate for several reasons,
including changes in market and economic conditions, levels of domestic
production, impact of governmental regulation and taxation, the
availability of transportation systems and, in the case of oil and
gas
companies in particular, conservation measures and the impact of
weather. Volatility of commodity prices which may lead to a
reduction in production or supply, may also negatively affect the
performance of Gold and Natural Resources Companies which are solely
involved in the transportation, processing, storing, distribution
or
marketing of commodities. Volatility of commodity prices may
also make it more difficult for Gold and Natural Resources Companies
to
raise capital to the extent the market perceives that their performance
may be directly or indirectly tied to commodity prices.
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|
Risks
Associated with Covered Calls and Other Option
Transactions. There are several risks associated with
writing covered calls and entering into other types of option
transactions. For example, there are significant differences
between the securities and options markets that could result in an
imperfect correlation between these markets, resulting in a given
transaction not achieving its objectives. In addition, a
decision as to whether, when and how to use covered call options
involves
the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction
may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected
events. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund
forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from
increases in the market value of the security covering the call option
above the exercise price of the call option, but has retained the
risk of
loss should the price of the underlying security decline. As
the writer of an uncovered call option, the Fund has no risk of loss
should the price of the underlying security decline, but bears unlimited
risk of loss should the price of the underlying security increase
above
the exercise price until the Fund covers its exposure.
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|
There
can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund
seeks to
close out an option position. If the Fund were unable to close
out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would
not
be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired
without
exercise. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market
for exchange-traded options include the following: (i) there may
be
insufficient trading interest; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an
exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both;
(iii)
trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with
respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual
or
unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange;
(v) the trading facilities may not be adequate to handle current
trading
volume; or (vi) the relevant exchange could discontinue the trading
of
options. In addition, the Fund’s ability to terminate
over-the-counter options may be more limited than with exchange-traded
options and may involve the risk that counterparties participating
in such
transactions will not fulfill their obligations. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations — Risks Associated with Covered Calls
and Other Option Transactions.”
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|
Limitation
on Covered Call Writing Risk. The number of covered call
options the Fund can write is limited by the number of shares of
common
stock the Fund holds. Furthermore, the Fund’s covered call
options and other options transactions will be subject to limitations
established by the exchanges on which such options are
traded. As a result, the number of covered call options that
the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written
or
purchased by it and other investment advisory clients of the Investment
Adviser. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Risks
Associated with Covered Calls and Other Option Transactions — Limitation
on Covered Call Writing Risk.”
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|
Equity
Risk. Investing in the Fund involves equity risk, which is
the risk that the securities held by the Fund will fall in market
value
due to adverse market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding
the
industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate
and the particular circumstances and performance of particular companies
whose securities the Fund holds. An investment in the Fund
represents an indirect economic stake in the securities owned by
the Fund,
which are for the most part traded on securities exchanges or in the
over-the-counter markets. The market value of these securities,
like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly
and
unpredictably. The net asset value of the Fund may at any point
in time be worth less than the amount at the time the shareholder
invested
in the Fund, even after taking into account any reinvestment of
distributions. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Equity Risk.”
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Foreign
Securities Risk. Because many of the world’s Gold
Companies and Natural Resources Companies are located outside of
the
United States, the Fund may have a significant portion of its investments
in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets and that
are
not subject to the requirements of the U.S. securities laws, markets
and accounting requirements (“Foreign Securities”). Such
investments involve certain risks not involved in domestic
investments. Securities markets in certain foreign countries
are not as developed, efficient or liquid as securities markets in
the
U.S. Therefore, the prices of Foreign Securities may be more
volatile. In addition, with respect to these securities, the
Fund will be subject to risks associated with adverse political and
economic developments in foreign countries, which could cause the
Fund to
lose money on its investments in Foreign Securities. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations — Foreign Securities
Risk.”
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Emerging
Markets Risk. The Fund may invest without limit in
securities of issuers whose primary operations or principal trading
market
is in an “emerging market.” An “emerging market” country is any country
that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “World
Bank”). Investing in securities of companies in emerging
markets may entail special risks relating to potential political
and
economic instability and the risks of expropriation, nationalization,
confiscation or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investment,
the
lack of hedging instruments and restrictions on repatriation of capital
invested. Emerging securities markets are substantially
smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the major
securities markets. The limited size of emerging securities
markets and limited trading
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value
compared to the volume of trading in U.S. securities could cause
prices to
be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the quality
of the
securities. For example, limited market size may cause prices
to be unduly influenced by traders who control large
positions. Adverse publicity and investors’ perceptions,
whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value
and
liquidity of portfolio securities, especially in these
markets. Other risks include high concentration of market
capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers
representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high
concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; overdependence
on
exports, including gold and natural resources exports, making these
economies vulnerable to changes in commodity prices; overburdened
infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental
problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable securities
custodial services and settlement practices.
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Foreign
Currency Risk. The Fund expects to invest in companies
whose securities are denominated or quoted in currencies other than
U.S.
dollars or have significant operations or markets outside of the
U.S. In such instances, the Fund will be exposed to currency
risk, including the risk of fluctuations in the exchange rate between
U.S.
dollars (in which the Fund’s shares are denominated) and such foreign
currencies and the risk of currency devaluations. Certain
non-U.S. currencies, primarily in developing countries, have been
devalued
in the past and might face devaluation in the future. Currency
devaluations generally have a significant and adverse impact on the
devaluing country’s economy in the short and intermediate term and on the
financial condition and results of companies’ operations in that
country. Currency devaluations may also be accompanied by
significant declines in the values and liquidity of equity and debt
securities of affected governmental and private sector entities
generally. To the extent that affected companies have
obligations denominated in currencies other than the devalued currency,
those companies may also have difficulty in meeting those obligations
under such circumstances, which in turn could have an adverse effect
upon
the value of the Fund’s investments in such companies. There
can be no assurance that current or future developments with respect
to
foreign currency devaluations will not impair the Fund’s investment
flexibility, its ability to achieve its investment objectives or
the value
of certain of its foreign currency denominated investments. See
“Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Foreign Currency
Risk.”
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Market
Discount Risk. Whether investors will realize gains or
losses upon the sale of common shares of the Fund will depend upon
the
market price of the shares at the time of sale, which may be less
or more
than the Fund’s net asset value per share. Since the market
price of the common shares will be affected by such factors as the
Fund’s
dividend and distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses)
and stability, net asset value, market liquidity, the relative demand
for
and supply of the common shares in the market, unrealized gains,
general
market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control
of the
Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the common shares will trade
at,
below or above net asset value or at, below or above the public offering
price. Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount
from their net asset value and the Fund’s shares may trade at such a
discount. This risk may be greater for investors expecting to
sell their common shares of the Fund soon after the completion of
the
public offering. The common shares of the Fund are designed
primarily for long-term
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|
investors,
and investors in the common shares should not view the Fund as a
vehicle
for trading purposes. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations — Market Discount Risk.”
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Common
Stock Risk. Common stock of an issuer in the Fund’s
portfolio may decline in price for a variety of reasons including
if the
issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments. Common
stock is structurally subordinated as to income and residual value
to
preferred stock and debt in a company’s capital structure, and therefore
will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stock or
debt
instruments of such issuers. While common stock has
historically generated higher average returns over long measurement
periods than fixed income securities, common stock has also experienced
significantly more volatility in those returns. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations — Common Stock Risk.”
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Convertible
Securities Risk. Convertible securities generally offer
lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities
of
similar quality. The market values of convertible securities
tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase
as
interest rates decline. In the absence of adequate
anti-dilution provisions in a convertible security, dilution in the
value
of the Fund’s holding may occur in the event the underlying stock is
subdivided, additional equity securities are issued for below market
value, a stock dividend is declared, or the issuer enters into another
type of corporate transaction that has a similar effect. See
“Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Convertible Securities
Risk.”
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Income
Risk. The income shareholders receive from the Fund is
expected to be based primarily on income the Fund earns from its
investment strategy of writing covered calls and dividends and other
distributions received from its investments. If the Fund’s
covered call strategy fails to generate sufficient income or the
distribution rates or yields of the Fund’s holdings decrease,
shareholders’ income from the Fund could decline. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations — Income Risk.”
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Distribution
Risk for Equity Income Portfolio Securities. The Fund
intends to invest in the shares of issuers that pay dividends or
other
distributions. Such dividends or other distributions are not
guaranteed, and an issuer may forgo paying dividends or other
distributions at any time and for any reason. See “Risk Factors
and Special Considerations — Distribution Risk for Equity Income Portfolio
Securities.”
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Special
Risks Related to Preferred Securities. Special risks
associated with investing in preferred securities include deferral
of
distributions or dividend payments, in some cases the right of an
issuer
never to pay missed dividends, subordination to debt and other
liabilities, illiquidity, limited voting rights and redemption by
the
issuer. Because the Fund has no limit on its investment in
non-cumulative preferred securities, the amount of dividends the
Fund pays
may be adversely affected if an issuer of a non-cumulative preferred
stock
held by the Fund determines not to pay dividends on such
stock. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on
preferred stock in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise
made payable. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Special Risks Related to Preferred Securities.”
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Interest
Rate Risk. Rising interest rates generally adversely
affect the financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural
Resources
Companies by increasing their costs of capital. This may reduce
their ability to execute acquisitions or expansion projects in
a
cost-effective manner.
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During
periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a preferred
stock or
fixed income security may be able to exercise an option to prepay
principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest
in lower
yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment
risk. During periods of rising interest rates, the average
life of certain types of securities may be extended because of
slower than
expected principal payments. This may prolong the length of
time the security pays a below market interest rate, increase the
security’s duration and reduce the value of the security. This
is known as extension risk. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations — Interest Rate Risk.”
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Inflation
Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets
or income from investments will be worth less in the future as
inflation
decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real
value of the Fund’s shares and distributions thereon can
decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation,
dividend rates of any variable rate preferred shares or debt securities
issued by the Fund would likely increase, which would tend to further
reduce returns to common shareholders. See “Risk Factors and
Special Considerations — Inflation Risk.”
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Illiquid
Investments. Although the Fund expects that its portfolio
will primarily be comprised of liquid securities, the Fund may
invest up
to 15% of its assets in unregistered securities and otherwise illiquid
investments. Unregistered securities are securities that cannot
be sold publicly in the United States without registration under
the
Securities Act of 1933. An illiquid investment is a security or
other investment that cannot be disposed of within seven days in
the
ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which
the Fund
has valued the investment. Unregistered securities often can be
resold only in privately negotiated transactions with a limited
number of
purchasers or in a public offering registered under the Securities
Act of
1933. Considerable delay could be encountered in either event
and, unless otherwise contractually provided for, the Fund’s proceeds upon
sale may be reduced by the costs of registration or underwriting
discounts. The difficulties and delays associated with such
transactions could result in the Fund’s inability to realize a favorable
price upon disposition of unregistered securities, and at times
might make
disposition of such securities impossible. In addition, the
Fund may be unable to sell other illiquid investments when it desires
to
do so, resulting in the Fund obtaining a lower price or being required
to
retain the investment. Illiquid investments generally must be
valued at fair value, which is inherently less precise than utilizing
market values for liquid investments, and may lead to differences
between
the price a security is valued for determining the Fund’s net asset value
and the price the Fund actually receives upon sale. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations — Illiquid Investments.”
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Investment
Companies. The Fund may invest in the securities of other
investment companies, including exchange traded funds. To the
extent the Fund invests in the common equity of investment companies,
the
Fund will bear its ratable share of any such investment company’s
expenses, including management fees. The Fund will also remain
obligated to pay management fees to the Investment Adviser with
respect to
the assets invested in the securities of other investment
companies. In these circumstances, holders of the Fund’s common
shares will be in effect subject to duplicative investment
expenses. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Investment Companies.”
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Special
Risks of Derivative Transactions. The Fund may participate
in derivative transactions. Such transactions entail certain
execution, market, liquidity, hedging and tax
risks. Participation in the options or futures markets and in
currency exchange transactions involves investment risks and transaction
costs to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of
these strategies. If the Investment Adviser’s prediction
of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency
and
interest rate markets is inaccurate, the consequences to the Fund
may
leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used such
strategies. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Special Risks of Derivative Transactions.”
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Lower
Grade Securities. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its
assets in fixed income and convertible securities rated in the
lower
rating categories of recognized statistical rating agencies, such
as
securities rated “CCC” or lower by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services
(“S&P”) or “Caa” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or
non-rated securities of comparable quality. These high yield
securities, also sometimes referred to as “junk bonds,” generally pay a
premium above the yields of U.S. government securities or debt
securities of investment grade issuers because they are subject
to greater
risks than these securities. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations — Lower Grade Securities.”
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Leverage
Risk. The use of leverage, which can be described as
exposure to changes in price at a ratio greater than the amount of
equity
invested, either through the issuance of preferred shares, borrowing
or
other forms of market exposure, magnifies both the favorable and
unfavorable effects of price movements in the investments made by
the
Fund. To the extent that the Fund determines to employ leverage in
its
investment operations, the Fund will be subject to substantial risk
of
loss. The Fund cannot assure you that borrowings or the
issuance of preferred shares will result in a higher yield or return
to
the holders of the common shares.
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—
|
Preferred
Share Risk. The issuance of preferred shares causes the
net asset value and market value of the common shares to become
more
volatile. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares
approaches the net rate of return on the Fund’s investment portfolio, the
benefit of leverage to the holders of the common shares would be
reduced. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares plus the
management fee annual rate of 1.00% exceeds the net rate of return
on the
Fund’s portfolio, the leverage will result in a lower rate of return
to
the holders of common shares than if the Fund had not issued preferred
shares.
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Any
decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s investments would be borne
entirely by the holders of common shares. Therefore, if the
market value of the Fund’s portfolio declines, the leverage will result in
a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of common shares
than
if the Fund were not leveraged. This greater net asset value
decrease will also tend to cause a greater decline in the market
price for
the common shares. The Fund might be in danger of failing to
maintain the required asset coverage of the preferred shares or of
losing
its ratings on the preferred shares or, in an extreme case, the Fund’s
current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the dividend
requirements on the preferred shares. In order to counteract
such an event, the Fund might need to liquidate investments in order
to
fund a redemption of some or all of the preferred shares.
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In
addition, the Fund would pay (and the holders of common shares
will bear)
all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance
of
the preferred shares, including additional advisory fees. Holders
of
preferred shares may have different interests than holders of common
shares and at times may have disproportionate influence over the
Fund’s
affairs. Holders of preferred shares, voting separately as a
single class, would have the right to elect two members of the
Board of
Trustees at all times and in the event dividends become in arrears
for two
full years would have the right to elect a majority of the Trustees
until
the arrearage is completely eliminated. In addition, preferred
shareholders have class voting rights on certain matters, including
changes in fundamental investment restrictions and conversion of the
Fund to open-end status, and accordingly can veto any such
changes.
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—
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Portfolio
Guidelines of Rating Agencies for Preferred Shares and/or Credit
Facility. In order to obtain attractive credit quality
ratings for preferred shares or borrowings, the Fund must comply
with
investment quality, diversification and other guidelines established
by
the relevant rating agencies. These guidelines could affect
portfolio decisions and may be more stringent than those imposed
by the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940
Act”).
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Dependence
on Key Personnel. The Investment Adviser is dependent upon
the expertise of Mr. Mario J. Gabelli. If the Investment
Adviser were to lose the services of Mr. Gabelli, it could be adversely
affected. There can be no assurance that a suitable replacement
could be found for Mr. Gabelli in the event of his death, resignation,
retirement or inability to act on behalf of the Investment
Adviser. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Dependence on Key Personnel.”
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Long-Term
Objective; Not a Complete Investment Program. The Fund is
intended for investors seeking a high level of current
income. The Fund is not meant to provide a vehicle for those
who wish to exploit short-term swings in the stock market. An
investment in shares of the Fund should not be considered a complete
investment program. Each shareholder should take into account
the Fund’s investment objectives as well as the shareholder’s other
investments when considering an investment in the Fund. See
“Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Long-Term Objective; Not a
Complete Investment Program.”
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Management
Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because its
portfolio is actively managed. The Investment Adviser applies
investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions
for
the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce
the
desired results. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Management Risk.”
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Portfolio
Turnover. The Fund’s high turnover ratio may
result in higher expenses and lower after-tax return to shareholders
than
if the Fund had a lower turnover ratio.
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Non-Diversified
Status. As a non-diversified investment company under the
1940 Act, the Fund may invest a greater portion of its assets in
a more
limited number of issuers than may a diversified fund, and accordingly,
an
investment in the Fund may present greater risk to an investor than
an
investment in a diversified company. See “Risk Factors and
Special Considerations — Non-Diversified Status.”
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Current
Developments. As a result of the terrorist attacks on the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, some of
the
U.S. securities markets were closed for a four-day
period. These terrorists attacks, the war in Iraq and its
aftermath and other geopolitical events have led to, and may in the
future
lead to, increased short-term market volatility and may have long-term
effects on U.S. and world economies and markets. The nature,
scope and duration of the war and occupation cannot be predicted
with any
certainty. Similar events in the future or other disruptions of
financial markets could affect interest rates, securities exchanges,
auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation, energy
prices and other factors relating to the common shares. See
“Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Current
Developments.”
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Anti-Takeover
Provisions. The Fund’s governing documents include
provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons
to
acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to an open-end
fund. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations —
Anti-Takeover Provisions” and “Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s
Governing Documents.”
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Management
and Fees
|
Gabelli
Funds, LLC serves as the Fund’s Investment Adviser and is compensated for
its services and its related expenses at an annual rate of 1.00%
of the
Fund’s average weekly net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation
preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Consequently,
if the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, the management fee
as a
percentage of net assets attributable to the common shares will
be
higher. The Investment Adviser is responsible for
administration of the Fund and currently utilizes and pays the
fees of a
third party sub-administrator. See “Management of the
Fund.”
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The
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the New York Attorney
General and officials of other states have been conducting inquiries
into,
and bringing enforcement and other proceedings regarding, trading
abuses
involving open-end investment companies. The Investment Adviser
has received information requests and subpoenas from the SEC and
the New
York Attorney General in connection with these inquiries. The
Investment Adviser and its affiliates have been complying with
these
requests and have implemented additional compliance policies and
procedures in response to recent industry initiatives and their
internal
reviews of their mutual fund practices in a variety of
areas. In February 2007, the Investment Adviser made an offer
of settlement to the SEC staff for communication to the SEC for
consideration to resolve this matter. This offer of settlement
is subject to final agreement regarding the specific language of
the SEC’s
administrative order and other settlement documents. For
further details, see “Management of the Fund — Regulatory
Matters.”
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Repurchase
of Common Shares and
Anti-Takeover Provisions
|
The
Fund’s Board of Trustees has authorized the Fund (and the Fund accordingly
reserves freedom of action) to repurchase its common shares in
the open
market when the common shares are trading at a discount of 7.5%
or more
from net asset value (or such other percentage as the Board of
Trustees
may determine from time to time). Although the Board of
Trustees has authorized such repurchases, the Fund is not required
to
repurchase its common shares. The Board of Trustees has not
established a limit on the number of shares that could be purchased
during
such period. Such repurchases are subject to certain notice and
other requirements under the 1940 Act. See “Repurchase of
Common Shares.”
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Certain
provisions of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws
(collectively, the “Governing Documents”) may be regarded as
“anti-takeover” provisions. Pursuant to these provisions, only
one of three classes of Trustees is elected each year, and the
affirmative
vote of the holders of 75% of the outstanding shares of the Fund
are
necessary to authorize the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end
to an
open-end investment company or to authorize certain transactions
between
the Fund and a beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of
the Fund’s
capital stock. The overall effect of these provisions is to
render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger with, or the
assumption of control by, a principal shareholder. These
provisions may have the effect of depriving Fund common shareholders
of an
opportunity to sell their shares at a premium to the prevailing
market
price. The issuance of preferred shares could make it more
difficult for the holders of common shares to avoid the effect
of these
provisions. See “Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s
Governing Documents.”
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Custodian,
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
|
The
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“Mellon”), located at 135 Santilli
Highway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149, serves as the custodian
(the
“Custodian”) of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody
agreement. Under the custody agreement, the Custodian holds the
Fund’s assets in compliance with the 1940 Act. For its
services, the Custodian will receive a monthly fee paid by the
Fund based
upon, among other things, the average value of the total assets
of the
Fund, plus certain charges for securities transactions and out-of-pocket
expenses..
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American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“American Stock Transfer”), located at
59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038, serves as the Fund’s
distribution disbursing agent, as agent under the Fund’s automatic
dividend reinvestment and voluntary cash purchase plan and as transfer
agent and registrar with respect to the common shares of the
Fund.
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The
following table shows the Fund’s expenses, including preferred share offering
expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to common
shares.
Shareholder
Transaction Expenses
|
|
Sales
Load (as a percentage of offering price)
|
4.50%(1)
|
Offering
Expenses (excluding Preferred Share Offering Expenses) (as a percentage
of
offering price)
|
0.18%(1)
|
Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Fees
|
None(2)
|
Preferred
Share Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of net
assets
attributable to common shares)
|
0.07%(3)
|
|
|
|
Percentage
of Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares
|
Annual
Expenses
|
|
Management
Fees
|
1.14%(4)
|
Other
Expenses
|
0.12%(4)
|
Total
Annual Expenses
|
1.26%(4)
|
Dividends
on Preferred Shares
|
0.81%(5)
|
Other
Preferred Share Expenses
|
0.01%(5)
|
Total
Annual Expenses and Dividends on Preferred Shares
|
2.08%
|
(1)
|
Estimated
maximum amount based on offering of $250 million in common shares.
The actual amounts in connection with any offering will be set forth
in
the Prospectus Supplement if
applicable.
|
(2)
|
You
will be charged a $1.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges
if you
direct the plan agent to sell your common shares held in a dividend
reinvestment account.
|
(3)
|
Assumes
issuance of $50 million in liquidation preference of fixed rate
preferred
shares and $50 million in liquidation preference of variable rate
preferred shares and net assets attributable to common shares of
$735
million (which includes issuance of $250 million in common
shares). The actual amount in connection with any offering will
be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement if
applicable.
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(4)
|
The
Investment Adviser’s fee is 1.00% annually of the Fund’s average weekly
net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred shares. Consequently, if the Fund has
preferred shares outstanding, the investment management fees and
other
expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares
will
be higher than if the Fund does not utilize a leveraged capital
structure. ”Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for
the current year assuming completion of the proposed
issuances.
|
(5)
|
Assumes
issuance of $50 million in liquidation preference of fixed rate
preferred
shares and $50 million in liquidation preference of variable rate
preferred shares at an annual dividend rate of 6.50% and 5.45%
(inclusive
of an annual 0.25% remarketing fee), respectively, and net assets
attributable to common shares of $735 million (which includes issuance
of
$250 million in common shares). Preferred share expenses do not
include potential expenses the Fund may incur in connection with
hedging
its obligations to the Variable Rate Preferred Shares or any benefits
associated with such hedging instruments because the Fund cannot
predict
the likelihood of using such hedging instruments or the related
costs and
benefits. The actual amount in connection with any offering
will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement if
applicable.
|
The
purpose of the table above and the example below is to help you understand
all
fees and expenses that you, as a holder of common shares, would bear directly
or
indirectly.
The
following example illustrates the expenses (including the maximum estimated
sales load of $45 and estimated offering expenses of $1.80 from the issuance
of
$250 million in common shares) you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common
shares, assuming a 5% annual portfolio total return.* The actual
amounts in connection with any offering will be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement if applicable.
|
1
Year
|
3
Years
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
Total
Expenses Incurred
|
$ 67
|
$ 109
|
$ 153
|
$ 277
|
*
|
The
example should not be considered a representation of future
expenses. The example assumes that the amounts set
forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all distributions
are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be
greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual
rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return
shown in the example.
|
The
Investment Adviser expects that it will initially invest the proceeds of
the
offering in high quality short-term debt securities and
instruments. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment
of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives
and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which
is
expected to substantially be completed within three months; however, changes
in
market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period
extending to as long as six months.
The
selected data below sets forth the per share operating performance and ratios
for the period presented. The financial information was derived from
and should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements of the Fund
and
Notes thereto, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and
the
SAI. The financial information for the year ended December 31, 2006,
and for each of the preceding fiscal periods since inception, has been audited
by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Fund’s independent registered public
accounting firm, whose unqualified report on such Financial Statements is
incorporated by reference into the SAI.
Selected
data for a common share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each
period:
|
Six
Months Ended
June
30, 2007
(Unaudited)
|
Year
Ended
December
31, 2006
|
Period
Ended
December
31, 2005(d)
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Performance:
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value, beginning of period
|
$24.10
|
$21.99
|
$19.06
(e)
|
Net
investment income
|
0.02
|
0.08
|
0.08
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain on investments, swap contracts,
securities
sold short, written options, and foreign currency
transactions
|
3.63
|
3.77
|
4.01
|
Total
from investment operations
|
3.65
|
3.85
|
4.09
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
to Common Shareholders:
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income
|
(0.06)*
|
-
|
(0.07)
|
Net
realized gains on investments, swap contracts, securities sold
short,
written
options, and foreign currency transactions
|
(0.78)*
|
(1.74)
|
(1.09)
|
Total
distributions to common shareholders
|
(0.84)
|
(1.74)
|
(1.16)
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
Share Transactions:
|
|
|
|
Increase/(decrease)
in net asset value from common share transactions
|
0.00
(b)
|
-
|
0.00
(b)
|
Total
fund share transactions
|
0.00
(b)
|
-
|
0.00
(b)
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Asset Value, End of Period
|
$26.91
|
$24.10
|
$21.99
|
NAV
Total return †
|
15.48%
|
18.29%
|
22.0%
**
|
Market
value, end of period
|
$26.43
|
$24.60
|
$21.80
|
Investment
total return ††
|
11.07%
|
21.86%
|
15.2%
***
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios
to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:
|
|
|
|
Net
assets end of period (in 000’s)
|
$486,478
|
$432,741
|
$390,209
|
Ratio
of net investment income to average net assets
|
0.18%
(c)
|
0.42%
|
0.47% (c)
|
Ratio
of operating expenses to average net assets (a)
|
1.17%
(c)
|
1.17%
|
1.15%
(c)
|
Portfolio
turnover rate
|
36.3%
|
114.8%
|
142.5%
|
|
|
|
|
†
|
Based
on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions
at the net asset value per share on the ex-dividend
dates. Total return for a period of less than one year is not
annualized.
|
††
|
Based
on market value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions
at
prices obtained under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment
plan. Total return for a period of less than one year is not
annualized.
|
(a)
|
The
Fund incurred interest expense during the six months ended June 30,
2007
and the year ended December 31, 2006. If interest expense had
not been incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net
assets
would have been 1.14% and 1.16%,
respectively.
|
(b)
|
Amount
represents less than $0.005 per
share.
|
(d)
|
The
Fund commenced investment operations on March 31,
2005.
|
(e)
|
The
beginning of period NAV reflects a $0.04 reduction for costs associated
with the initial public offering.
|
*
|
Based
on fiscal year to date book income. Amounts are subject to
change and recharacterization at fiscal year
end.
|
**
|
Based
on net asset value per share at commencement of operations of $19.06
per
share.
|
***
|
Based
on market value per share at initial public offering of $20.00 per
share.
|
The
Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered
under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Delaware statutory
trust on January 4, 2005, pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Fund commenced
investment operations on March 31, 2005. The Fund’s principal office
is located at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York, 10580-1422 and its telephone
number is (800) 422-3554.
Investment
Objectives
The
Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current
income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital
appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary
objective. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to
achieve its objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in equity
securities of companies principally engaged in the gold industry and the
natural
resources industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets
in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration,
mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the
financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in
“gold-related” activities. In addition, the Fund will invest at least
25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged
in
the exploration, production or distribution of natural resources, such as
gas,
oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals
as well
as related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The
Fund may invest in the securities of companies located anywhere in the
world. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least
40% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three
countries other than the U.S. For this purpose an issuer will be
treated as located outside the U.S. if it is either organized or headquartered
outside the U.S. and has a substantial portion of its operations or sales
outside the U.S. Equity securities may include common stocks,
preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depository receipts and
equity interests in trusts and other entities. Other Fund investments
may include investment companies, securities of issuers subject to
reorganization or other risk arbitrage investments, certain derivative
instruments, debt (including obligations of the U.S. Government) and money
market instruments.
As
part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to earn income through an
option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities
in its portfolio. When the Fund sells a covered call option, it
receives income in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the call option,
but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase in the
value of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of the
option.
Investment
Methodology of the Fund
In
selecting securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser normally will consider
the following factors, among others:
• the
industry of the issuer of a security;
• the
ability of the Fund to earn income from writing covered call options on such
securities;
• the
interest or dividend income generated by the securities;
• the
potential for capital appreciation of the securities;
• the
prices of the securities relative to other comparable securities;
• whether
the securities are entitled to the benefits of call protection or other
protective covenants;
• the
existence of any anti-dilution protections or guarantees of the security;
and
• the
number and size of investments of the portfolio as to issuers.
The
Investment Adviser’s investment philosophy with respect to selecting investments
in the gold industry and the natural resources industries is to emphasize
quality and value, as determined by such factors as asset quality, balance
sheet
leverage, management ability, reserve life, cash flow, and commodity hedging
exposure. In addition, in making stock selections, the Investment
Adviser looks for securities that it believes may have a superior yield as
well
as capital gains potential.
Certain
Investment Practices
Gold
Industry Concentration. Under normal market conditions
the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of
Gold
Companies. “Gold Companies” are those that are principally engaged in the
exploration, mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold,
or the financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in
“gold-related” activities. The Fund’s investments in Gold Companies
will generally be in the common equity of Gold Companies, but the Fund may
also
invest in preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, and
securities such as rights and warrants that have common stock
characteristics.
In
selecting investments in Gold Companies for the Fund, the Investment Adviser
focuses on stocks that are undervalued, but which appear to have favorable
prospects for growth. Factors considered in this determination
include capitalization per ounce of gold production, capitalization per ounce
of
recoverable reserves, quality of management and ability to create shareholder
wealth. Because most of the world’s gold production is outside of the
United States, the Fund may have a significant portion of its investments in
Gold Companies in securities of foreign issuers, including those located in
developed as well as emerging markets. The percentage of Fund assets
invested in particular countries or regions will change from time to time based
on the Investment Adviser’s judgment. Among other things, the
Investment Adviser will consider the economic stability and economic outlook
of
these countries and regions. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations — Industry Risks.”
Natural
Resources Industries Concentration. Under normal market
conditions, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in equity securities
of Natural Resources Companies. “Natural Resources Companies” are those that are
principally engaged in the exploration, production or distribution of energy
or
natural resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry
products, metals and minerals as well as related transportation companies and
equipment manufacturers.
Principally
engaged, as used in this prospectus, means a company that derives at least
50%
of its revenues or earnings or devotes at least 50% of its assets to gold or
natural resources related activities, as the case may be.
Covered
Calls and Other Option Transactions. The Fund intends
to earn income through an option strategy which will normally consist of
writing
(selling) call options on equity securities in its portfolio (“covered calls”),
but may, in amounts up to 15% of the Fund’s assets, consist of writing uncovered
call options on additional amounts of such securities beyond the amounts
held in
its portfolio, on other securities not held in its portfolio, on indices
comprised of Gold Companies or Natural Resources Companies or on exchange
traded
funds comprised of such issuers and also may consist of writing put options
on
securities in its portfolio. Writing a covered call is the selling of
an option contract entitling the buyer to purchase an underlying security
that
the Fund owns, while writing an
uncovered call is the selling of such a contract
entitling the buyer to purchase a security the Fund does not own or in an amount
in excess of the amount the Fund owns. When the Fund sells a call
option, it receives income in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of
the
call option, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase
in the value of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of
the
option. The writer of the call option has the obligation, upon
exercise of the option, to deliver the underlying security or currency upon
payment of the exercise price during the option period.
A
put option is the reverse of a call option, giving the buyer the right, in
return for a premium, to sell the underlying security to the writer, at a
specified price, and obligating the writer to purchase the underlying security
from the holder at that price. When the Fund sells a put option, it
receives income in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the put option,
but the Fund will have the obligation to buy the underlying security at the
exercise price if the price of the security decreases below the exercise price
of the option.
If
the Fund has written a call option, it may terminate its obligation by effecting
a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by purchasing a
call option with the same terms as the option previously
written. However, once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice,
the Fund will be unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction. Similarly, if the Fund is the holder of an option, it
may liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale
transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option with the same
terms as the option previously purchased. There can be no assurance
that either a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the
Fund
so desires.
The
Fund will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of the
transaction is less than the premium it received from writing the option or
is
more than the premium it paid to purchase the option; the Fund will realize
a
loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is more than
the
premium it received from writing the option or is less than the premium it
paid
to purchase the option. Since call option prices generally reflect
increases in the price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from
the
repurchase of a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized
appreciation of the underlying security. Other principal factors
affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand,
interest rates, the current market price and price volatility of the underlying
security and the time remaining until the expiration date. Gains and
losses on investments in options depend, in part, on the ability of the
Investment Adviser to predict correctly the effect of these
factors. The use of options cannot serve as a complete hedge since
the price movement of securities underlying the options will not necessarily
follow the price movements of the portfolio securities subject to the
hedge.
An
option position may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary
market for an option with the same terms or in a private
transaction. Although the Fund will generally purchase or write
options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is
no
assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any
particular option. In such event, it might not be possible to effect
closing transactions in particular options, so that the Fund would have to
exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur brokerage
commissions upon the exercise of call options and upon the subsequent
disposition of underlying securities for the exercise of put
options.
Although
the Investment Adviser will attempt to take appropriate measures to minimize
the
risks relating to the Fund’s writing and purchasing of put and call options,
there can be no assurance that the Fund will succeed in any option-writing
program it undertakes.
When
the Fund writes an uncovered call option or put option, it will segregate liquid
assets with its custodian in an amount equal to the amount, adjusted daily,
by
which such option is in the money or will treat the unsegregated amount as
borrowings.
Foreign
Securities. Because many of the world’s Gold Companies
and Natural Resources Companies are located outside of the U.S., the Fund may
have a significant portion of its investments in securities of foreign issuers,
which are generally denominated in foreign currencies. See “Risk
Factors and Special Considerations — Foreign Securities Risk.”
The
Fund may also purchase sponsored American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) or
U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign
issuers. ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust companies in
respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use in the U.S.
securities markets.
Emerging
Markets. The Fund may invest without limit in
securities of emerging market issuers. These securities may be U.S.
dollar denominated or non-U.S. dollar denominated, including emerging market
country currency denominated. An “emerging market” country is any
country that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “World
Bank”). Emerging market countries generally include every nation in
the world except the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most
countries located in Western Europe.
Registered
Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in registered
investment companies in accordance with the 1940 Act, to the extent consistent
with the Fund’s investment objectives, including exchange traded funds that
concentrate in investments in the gold or natural resources
industries. The 1940 Act generally prohibits the Fund from investing
more than 5% of its assets in any one other investment company or more than
10%
of its assets in all other investment companies. However, many
exchange-traded funds are exempt from these limitations.
Illiquid
Investments. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net
assets in securities for which there is no readily available trading market
or
are otherwise illiquid. Illiquid securities include, among other
things, securities legally restricted as to resale such as commercial paper
issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, 144A securities, written
over-the-counter options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess
of
seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which
are
not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment
(other than overnight deposits), and other securities whose disposition is
restricted under the federal securities laws. Section 4(2) and Rule
144A securities may, however, be treated as liquid by the Investment
Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, which require
consideration of factors such as trading activity, availability of market
quotations and number of dealers willing to purchase the security. If
the Fund invests in Rule 144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity
may
be increased to the extent that eligible buyers become uninterested in
purchasing such securities.
It
may be more difficult to sell illiquid securities at an attractive price until
such time as such securities may be sold publicly. Where registration
is desired, a considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the
securities and the time when registration is complete. Thus, the Fund
may not be able to obtain as favorable a price as that prevailing at the time
of
the decision to sell. The Fund may also acquire securities with
contractual restrictions on the resale of such securities. Such
restrictions might prevent their sale at a time when such sale would otherwise
be desirable.
Income
Securities. The Fund may invest in other equity
securities that are expected to periodically accrue or generate income for
their
holders such as common and preferred stocks of issuers that have historically
paid periodic dividends or otherwise made distributions to
stockholders. Unlike fixed income securities, dividend payments
generally are not guaranteed and so may be discontinued by the issuer at
its
discretion or because of the issuer’s inability to satisfy its
liabilities. Further, an issuer’s history of paying dividends does
not guarantee that it will continue to pay dividends in the
future. In addition to dividends, under certain circumstances the
holders of common stock may benefit from the capital appreciation of the
issuer.
In
addition, the Fund also may invest in fixed income securities such as
convertible securities, bonds, debentures, notes, stock, short-term discounted
Treasury Bills or certain securities of the U.S. government sponsored
instrumentalities, as well as money market mutual funds that invest in those
securities, which, in the absence of an applicable exemptive order, will not
be
affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Fixed income securities
obligate the issuer to pay to the holder of the security a specified return,
which may be either fixed or reset periodically in accordance with the
terms of the security. Fixed income securities generally are senior
to an issuer’s common stock and their holders generally are entitled to receive
amounts due before any distributions are made to common
stockholders. Common stocks, on the other hand, generally do not
obligate an issuer to make periodic distributions to holders.
The
Fund may also invest in obligations of government sponsored
instrumentalities. Unlike non-U.S. government securities, obligations
of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, such as
the
Government
National Mortgage Association, are supported by the “full faith and credit” of
the U.S. government; others, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of the
U.S., are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury;
others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association, are
supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase
the
agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan
Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the
instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government
would provide financial support to U.S. government
sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by
law. Although the Fund may invest in all types of obligations of
agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, the Fund currently
intends to invest only in obligations of government sponsored instrumentalities
that are supported by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S.
government.
When
Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward
Commitments. The Fund may enter into
forward commitments for the purchase or sale of securities, including on a
“when
issued” or “delayed delivery” basis, in excess of customary settlement periods
for the type of security involved. In some cases, a forward
commitment may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such
as
approval and consummation of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt
restructuring (i.e., a when, as and if issued security). When such
transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment,
with payment and delivery taking place in the future, generally a month or
more after the date of the commitment. While it will only enter into
a forward commitment with the intention of actually acquiring the security,
the
Fund may sell the security before the settlement date if it is deemed
advisable.
Securities
purchased under a forward commitment are subject to market fluctuation, and
no
interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to the settlement
date. The Fund will segregate with its custodian cash or liquid
securities in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of its
outstanding forward commitments.
Short
Sales. The Fund may make short sales as a form of
hedging to offset potential declines in long positions in the same or similar
securities, including short sales against the box. The short sale of
a security is considered a speculative investment technique. At the
time of the sale, the Fund will own, or have the immediate and unconditional
right to acquire at no additional cost, identical or similar securities or
establish a hedge against a security of the same issuer which may involve
additional cost, such as an “in the money” warrant.
Short
sales “against the box” are subject to special tax rules, one of the effects of
which may be to accelerate the recognition of income by the
Fund. Other than with respect to short sales against the box, the
Fund will limit short sales of securities to not more than 5% of the Fund’s
assets. When the Fund makes a short sale, it must deliver the
security to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale in order
to
satisfy its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the
sale.
Repurchase
Agreements. Repurchase agreements may be seen as loans
by the Fund collateralized by underlying debt securities. Under the
terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund would acquire an underlying
debt obligation for a relatively short period (usually not more than one
week)
subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and the Fund to resell,
the obligation at an agreed price and time. This arrangement results
in a fixed rate of return to the Fund that is not subject to market fluctuations
during the holding period. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event
that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations
and
the Fund is delayed in or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose
of the
collateral securities, including the risk of a possible decline in the value
of
the underlying securities during the period in which it seeks to assert these
rights. The Investment Adviser, acting under the supervision of the
Board of Trustees, reviews the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers
with
which the Fund enters into repurchase agreements to evaluate these risks
and
monitors on an ongoing basis the value of the securities subject to repurchase
agreements to ensure that the value is maintained at the required
level. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements with the
Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates.
Convertible
Securities. A convertible security is a bond,
debenture, note, stock or other similar security that may be converted into
or
exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other equity security
of
the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified
price or formula. Before conversion, convertible securities have
characteristics similar to non-convertible debt securities in that they
ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally higher yields than those
of
common stock of the same or similar issuers. Convertible securities
are senior in rank to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and,
therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock,
although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure
upon
the degree
to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income
security. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Convertible
Securities Risk.”
Lower
Grade Securities. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its
net assets in fixed income and convertible securities rated in the lower
rating
categories of recognized statistical rating agencies, such as securities
rated
“CCC” or lower by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) or “Caa” by
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or non-rated securities of
comparable quality. These debt securities are predominantly
speculative and involve major risk exposure to adverse
conditions. Debt securities that are not rated or rated lower than
“BBB” by S&P or lower than “Baa” by Moody’s (or unrated securities of
comparable quality) are referred to in the financial press as “junk
bonds.”
Generally,
such lower grade securities and unrated securities of comparable quality offer
a
higher current yield than is offered by higher rated securities, but also (i)
will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the
judgment of the rating organizations, are outweighed by large uncertainties
or
major risk exposures to adverse conditions and (ii) are predominantly
speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay
principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. The market
values of certain of these securities also tend to be more sensitive to
individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher
quality bonds. In addition, such lower grade securities and
comparable unrated securities generally present a higher degree of credit
risk. The risk of loss due to default by these issuers is
significantly greater because such lower grade securities and unrated securities
of comparable quality generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated
to
the prior payment of senior indebtedness. In light of these risks,
the Investment Adviser, in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issue, whether
rated or unrated, will take various factors into consideration, which may
include, as applicable, the issuer’s operating history, financial resources and
its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the market support for the
facility financed by the issue, the perceived ability and integrity of the
issuer’s management and regulatory matters.
In
addition, the market value of securities in lower grade categories is more
volatile than that of higher quality securities, and the markets in which such
lower grade or unrated securities are traded are more limited than those in
which higher rated securities are traded. The existence of limited
markets may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market
quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset
value. Moreover, the lack of a liquid trading market may restrict the
availability of securities for the Fund to purchase and may also have the effect
of limiting the ability of the Fund to sell securities at their fair value
to
respond to changes in the economy or the financial markets.
Lower-rated
debt obligations also present risks based on payment expectations. If
an issuer calls the obligation for redemption (often a feature of fixed income
securities), the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding
security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. Also, as the
principal value of bonds moves inversely with movements in interest rates,
in
the event of rising interest rates the value of the securities held by the
Fund
may decline proportionately more than a portfolio consisting of higher rated
securities. Investments in zero coupon bonds may be more speculative
and subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates
than bonds that pay interest currently. Interest rates are at
historical lows and, therefore, it is likely that they will rise in the
future.
As
part of its investments in lower grade securities, the Fund may invest without
limit in securities of issuers in default. The Fund will make an
investment in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser
believes that such issuers will honor their obligations or emerge from
bankruptcy protection and the value of these securities will
appreciate. By investing in securities of issuers in default, the
Fund bears the risk that these issuers will not continue to honor their
obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection or that the value of the
securities will not appreciate.
In
addition to using recognized rating agencies and other sources, the Investment
Adviser also performs its own analysis of issues in seeking investments that
it
believes to be underrated (and thus higher-yielding) in light of the financial
condition of the issuer. Its analysis of issuers may include, among
other things, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements,
value of assets in relation to historical cost, strength of management,
responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing and current anticipated
results of operations. In selecting investments for the Fund, the
Investment Adviser may also consider general business conditions, anticipated
changes in interest rates and the outlook for specific
industries.
Subsequent
to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or
its
rating may be reduced. In addition, it is possible that statistical
rating agencies might change their ratings of a particular issue to reflect
subsequent events on a timely basis. Moreover, such ratings do not
assess the risk of a decline in market value. None of these events
will require the sale of the securities by the Fund, although the Investment
Adviser will consider these events in determining whether the Fund
should continue to hold the securities.
Fixed
income securities, including lower grade securities and comparable unrated
securities, frequently have call or buy-back features that permit their issuers
to call or repurchase the securities from their holders, such as the
Fund. If an issuer exercises these rights during periods of declining
interest rates, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding
security, thus resulting in a decreased return for the Fund.
The
market for lower grade and comparable unrated securities has at various times,
particularly during times of economic recession, experienced substantial
reductions in market value and liquidity. Past recessions have
adversely affected the ability of certain issuers of such securities to repay
principal and pay interest thereon. The market for those securities
could react in a similar fashion in the event of any future economic
recession.
Other
Derivative Instruments. The Fund may also utilize other
types of derivative instruments, primarily for hedging or risk management
purposes. These instruments include futures, forward contracts,
options on such contracts and interest rate, total return and other kinds of
swaps. These investment management techniques generally will not be
considered senior securities if the Fund establishes in a segregated account
cash or other liquid securities equal to the Fund’s obligations in respect of
such techniques. For a further description of such derivative
instruments, see “Investment Objectives and Policies — Additional Investment
Policies” in the SAI.
Borrowings
and Issuance of Preferred Shares. The Fund may, with
the approval of the Board of Trustees, borrow money or issue preferred shares
in
an effort to earn incremental total return for the holders of the Fund’s common
shares. The 1940 Act permits the Fund to issue a single class of debt
and a single class of preferred stock. Under the 1940 Act, such debt
or preferred shares may be issued only if immediately after such issuance
the
value of the Fund’s total assets (less ordinary course liabilities) is at least
300% of the amount of any debt outstanding and at least 200% of the amount
of
any preferred stock and debt outstanding. Under the 1940 Act the
holders of any such debt or preferred stock have certain mandatory voting
rights
and other protections of their senior rights to the assets of the
Fund.
Temporary
Defensive Investments. Although under normal market
conditions the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its assets in equity
securities of companies principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural
resources industries, when a temporary defensive posture is believed by the
Investment Adviser to be warranted (“temporary defensive periods”), the Fund may
without limitation hold cash or invest its assets in money market instruments
and repurchase agreements in respect of those instruments. The money
market instruments in which the Fund may invest are obligations of the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper rated A-1
or higher by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s; and certificates of deposit and
bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic branches of U.S. banks that are members
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. During temporary
defensive periods, the Fund may also invest to the extent permitted by
applicable law in shares of money market mutual funds. Money market
mutual funds are investment companies and the investments in those companies
by
the Fund are in some cases subject to applicable law. See “Investment
Restrictions” in the SAI. The Fund may find it more difficult to
achieve the long-term growth of capital component of its investment objective
during temporary defensive periods.
Portfolio
Turnover. The Fund will buy and sell securities to
accomplish its investment objectives. The investment policies of the
Fund, including its strategy of writing covered call options on securities
in
its portfolio, is expected to result in portfolio turnover that is higher
than
that of other investment companies, and is expected to be higher than
100%. For the fiscal periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, the
portfolio turnover rates were 142.5% and 114.8%,
respectively.
Portfolio
turnover generally involves expense to the Fund, including brokerage commissions
or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and
reinvestment in other securities. The portfolio turnover rate is
computed by dividing the lesser of the amount of the securities purchased or
securities sold by the average monthly value of securities owned during the
year
(excluding securities whose maturities at acquisition were one year
or
less). Higher
portfolio turnover may decrease the after-tax return to individual investors
in
the Fund to the extent it results in a decrease in the portion of the Fund’s
distributions that is attributable to long-term capital gain.
Interest
Rate Transactions
If
the Fund borrows money or issues variable rate preferred shares, the Fund
may
enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions in relation to all or a
portion of such borrowings or shares in order to manage the impact on its
portfolio of changes in the interest or dividend rate of such borrowings
or
shares. Through these transactions the Fund may, for example, obtain
the equivalent of a fixed rate for such variable rate preferred shares that
is
lower than the Fund would have to pay if it issued fixed rate preferred
shares.
The
use of interest rate swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that
involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated
with
ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an interest rate swap,
the Fund would agree to pay to the other party to the interest rate swap
(which
is known as the “counterparty”) periodically a fixed rate payment in exchange
for the counterparty agreeing to pay to the fund periodically a variable
rate
payment that is intended to approximate the Fund’s variable rate payment
obligation on its borrowings or variable rate preferred shares. In an
interest rate cap, the Fund would pay a premium to the counterparty to the
interest rate cap and, to the extent that a specified variable rate index
exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, would receive from the counterparty payments
of the difference based on the notional amount of such cap. Interest
rate swap and cap transactions introduce additional risk because the Fund
would
remain obligated to pay interest or preferred shares dividends when due even
if
the counterparty defaulted. Depending on the general state of
short-term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at
that point in time, such a default could negatively affect the Fund’s ability to
make interest payments or dividend payments on the preferred
shares. In addition, at the time an interest rate swap or cap
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. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the
Fund’s ability to make interest payments or dividend payments on the preferred
shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value
of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, resulting in a decline in
the
asset coverage for the borrowings or preferred shares. A sudden and
dramatic decline in interest rates may result in a significant decline in
the
asset coverage. If the Fund fails to maintain the required asset
coverage on any outstanding preferred shares or fails to comply with other
covenants, the Fund may be required to redeem some or all of these
shares. Any redemption would likely result in the Fund seeking to
terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap
transactions. Early termination of a swap could result in a
termination payment by the Fund to the counterparty, while early termination
of
a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund.
The
Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two
payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date
or
dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the
case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund
intends to segregate cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal
to
the value of the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction,
marked to market daily. The Fund will monitor any such swap with a
view to ensuring that the Fund remains in compliance with all applicable
regulatory investment policy and tax requirements.
RISK
FACTORS
AND SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Investors
should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated
with investing in the Fund:
Industry
Risks
Industry
Risks. The Fund’s investments will be concentrated in
each of the gold and natural resources industries. Because the Fund
is concentrated in these industries, it may present more risks than if it were
broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the
economy. A downturn in the gold or natural resources industries would
have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not
concentrate in such industries.
Under
normal market conditions the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in
equity securities of Gold Companies. Equity securities of Gold
Companies may experience greater volatility than companies not involved in
the
gold industry. Investments related to gold are considered speculative
and are affected by a variety of worldwide economic, financial and political
factors. The price of gold may fluctuate sharply over short periods
of time due to changes in inflation or expectations regarding inflation in
various countries, the availability of supplies of gold, changes in industrial
and commercial demand, gold sales by governments, central banks or international
agencies, investment speculation, monetary and other economic policies of
various governments and government restrictions on private ownership of
gold. In times of significant inflation or great economic
uncertainty, Gold Companies have historically outperformed securities markets
generally. However, in times of stable economic growth, traditional
equity and debt investments could offer greater appreciation potential and
the
value of gold and the prices of equity securities of Gold Companies may be
adversely affected, which could in turn affect the Fund’s
returns. Some Gold Companies hedge, to varying degrees, their
exposure to declines in the price of gold. Such hedging limits a Gold
Company’s ability to benefit from future rises in the price of
gold. The Investment Adviser’s judgments about trends in the prices
of securities of Gold Companies may prove to be incorrect. It is
possible that the performance of securities of Gold Companies may lag the
performance of other industries or the broader market as a whole.
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in
equity securities of Natural Resources Companies. A downturn in the
indicated natural resources industries would have a larger impact on the Fund
than on an investment company that does not invest significantly in such
industries. Such industries can be significantly affected by the
supply of and demand for the indicated commodities and related services,
exploration and production spending, government regulation, world events and
economic conditions. The oil, gas, paper, food and agriculture,
forestry products, metals and minerals industries can be significantly affected
by events relating to international political developments, the success of
exploration projects, commodity prices, and tax and government
regulations. The stock prices of Natural Resources Companies may also
experience greater price volatility than other types of common
stocks. Securities issued by Natural Resources Companies are
sensitive to changes in the prices of, and in supply and demand for, the
indicated commodities. The value of securities issued by Natural
Resources Companies may be affected by changes in overall market movements,
changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or
commodity, such as weather, embargoes, tariffs, policies of commodity cartels
and international economic, political and regulatory
developments. The Investment Adviser’s judgments about trends in the
prices of these securities and commodities may prove to be
incorrect. It is possible that the performance of securities of
Natural Resources Companies may lag the performance of other industries or
the
broader market as a whole.
Supply
and Demand Risk. A decrease in the production of or
exploitation of, gold, gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products,
metals or minerals or a decrease in the volume of such commodities available
for
transportation, mining, processing, storage or distribution may adversely impact
the financial performance of the Fund’s investments. Production
declines and volume decreases could be caused by various factors, including
catastrophic events affecting production, depletion of resources, labor
difficulties, environmental proceedings, increased regulations, equipment
failures and unexpected maintenance problems, import supply disruption,
increased competition from alternative energy sources or commodity
prices. Sustained declines in demand for the indicated commodities
could also adversely affect the financial performance of Gold and Natural
Resources Companies over the long-term. Factors which could lead to a
decline in demand include economic recession or other adverse economic
conditions, higher fuel taxes or governmental regulations, increases in fuel
economy, consumer shifts to the use of alternative fuel sources, changes in
commodity prices, or weather.
Depletion
and Exploration Risk. Many
Gold and Natural Resources Companies are either engaged in the production or
exploitation of the particular commodities or are engaged in transporting,
storing, distributing and processing such commodities. To maintain or
increase their revenue level, these companies or their customers need to
maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources of supply,
through the development of existing sources, through acquisitions, or through
long-term contracts to acquire reserves. The financial
performance of Gold and Natural Resources Companies may be adversely affected
if
they, or the companies to whom they provide products or services, are unable
to
cost-effectively acquire additional products or reserves sufficient to replace
the natural decline.
Regulatory
Risk. Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies
may be subject to extensive government regulation in virtually every aspect
of
their operations, including how facilities are constructed, maintained and
operated, environmental and safety controls, and in some cases the prices they
may charge for the products and
services
they provide. Various governmental authorities have the power to
enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them,
and
violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including
civil fines, injunctions or both. Stricter laws, regulations or
enforcement policies could be enacted in the future, which would likely increase
compliance costs and may adversely affect the financial performance of Gold
Companies and Natural Resources Companies.
Commodity
Pricing Risk. The operations and financial performance
of Gold and Natural Resources Companies may be directly affected by the prices
of the indicated commodities, especially those Gold and Natural Resources
Companies for whom the commodities they own are significant
assets. Commodity prices fluctuate for several reasons, including
changes in market and economic conditions, levels of domestic production, impact
of governmental regulation and taxation, the availability of transportation
systems and, in the case of oil and gas companies in particular, conservation
measures and the impact of weather. Volatility of commodity prices,
which may lead to a reduction in production or supply, may also negatively
affect the performance of Gold and Natural Resources Companies which are solely
involved in the transportation, processing, storing, distribution or marketing
of commodities. Volatility of commodity prices may also make it more
difficult for Gold and Natural Resources Companies to raise capital to the
extent the market perceives that their performance may be directly or indirectly
tied to commodity prices.
Risks
Associated with Covered Calls and Other Option
Transactions
There
are several risks associated with transactions in options on
securities. For example, there are significant differences between
the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation
between these markets, causing a given covered call option transaction not
to
achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use
covered calls (or other options) involves the exercise of skill and judgment,
and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful because of market
behavior or unexpected events. As the writer of a covered call
option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit
from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option
above the exercise price of the call option, but has retained the risk of loss
should the price of the underlying security decline, although such loss would
be
offset in part by the option premium received. The writer of an
option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its
obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has
received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction
in
order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the
underlying security at the exercise price. As the writer of an
uncovered call option, the Fund has no risk of loss should the price of the
underlying security decline but bears unlimited risk of loss should the price
of
the underlying security increase above the exercise price until the Fund covers
its exposure.
There
can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to
close
out a covered call position. Reasons for the absence of a liquid
secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be
insufficient trading interest; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange
on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts,
suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular
classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may
interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the trading facilities of an
exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”) may not at all times be
adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) the relevant exchange could,
for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to
discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of
options). If trading were discontinued, the secondary market
on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to
exist. However, outstanding options on that exchange that had been
issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to
be exercisable in accordance with their terms. The Fund’s ability to
terminate over-the-counter options may be more limited than with exchange-traded
options and may involve the risk that counterparties participating in such
transactions will not fulfill their obligations. If the Fund were
unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security,
it
would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired
without exercise.
The
hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the
underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options
markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant
price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot
be
reflected in the options markets. Call options are marked to market
daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend
rates of the underlying common stocks, an increase in interest rates, changes
in
the actual or perceived volatility of the stock
market
and the underlying common stocks and the remaining time to the options’
expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be
adjusted downward before the option’s expiration as a result of the occurrence
of certain corporate events affecting the underlying equity security, such
as
extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary
distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an
option would reduce the Fund’s capital appreciation potential on the underlying
security.
Limitation
on Covered Call Writing Risk. The number of covered
call options the Fund can write is limited by the number of shares of common
stock the Fund holds. Furthermore, the Fund’s covered options
transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the
exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options
are
traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in
each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group
of
investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written
or
purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading
facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or
more
brokers. Thus, the number of covered call options that the Fund may
write may be affected by options written or purchased by other investment
advisory clients of the Investment Adviser. An exchange, board of
trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found
to
be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other
sanctions.
Equity
Risk
Investing
in the Fund involves equity risk, which is the risk that the securities held
by
the Fund will fall in market value due to adverse market and economic
conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of
securities held by the Fund participate and the particular circumstances and
performance of particular companies whose securities the Fund
holds. An investment in the Fund represents an indirect economic
stake in the securities owned by the Fund, which are for the most part traded
on
securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. The market
value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down,
sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The net asset value of the Fund
may at any point in time be worth less than the amount at the time the
shareholder invested in the Fund, even after taking into account any
reinvestment of distribution.
Foreign
Securities Risk
Because
many of the world’s Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies are located
outside of the U.S., the Fund may have a significant portion of its investments
in securities that are traded in foreign markets and that are not subject to
the
requirements of the U.S. securities laws, markets and accounting requirements
(“Foreign Securities”). Investments in the securities of foreign
issuers involve certain considerations and risks not ordinarily associated
with
investments in securities of domestic issuers. Foreign companies are
not generally subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial standards
and requirements as those applicable to U.S. companies. Foreign
Securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies may be subject to less
government supervision and regulation than exists in the U.S. Dividend and
interest income may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which
may
adversely affect the net return on such investments. There may be
difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad, and it may be
difficult to effect repatriation of capital invested in certain
countries. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there are
risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability
or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign
countries.
There
may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than a U.S.
company. Foreign Securities markets may have substantially less
volume than U.S. securities markets and some foreign company securities are
less
liquid than securities of otherwise comparable U.S. companies. A
portfolio of Foreign Securities may also be adversely affected by
fluctuations in the rates of exchange between the currencies of different
nations and by exchange control regulations. Foreign markets also
have different clearance and settlement procedures that could cause the Fund
to
encounter difficulties in purchasing and selling securities on such markets
and
may result in the Fund missing attractive investment opportunities or
experiencing loss. In addition, a portfolio that includes Foreign
Securities can expect to have a higher expense ratio because of the increased
transaction costs on non-U.S. securities markets and the increased costs of
maintaining the custody of Foreign Securities.
Investments
in Foreign Securities will expose the Fund to the direct or indirect
consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that
issue the securities or in which the issuers are located. Certain
countries in which the Fund may invest have historically experienced, and may
continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high
interest
rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt, balance
of
payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and
unemployment. Many of these countries are also characterized by
political uncertainty and instability. The cost of servicing external
debt will generally be adversely affected by rising international interest
rates
because many external debt obligations bear interest at rates which are adjusted
based upon international interest rates.
The
Fund also may purchase sponsored ADRs or U.S. dollar-denominated securities
of
foreign issuers. ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust
companies in respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use
in
the U.S. securities markets. While ADRs may not necessarily be
denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be
converted, many of the risks associated with Foreign Securities may also apply
to ADRs. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary
receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are
under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders
of
such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to
the
deposited securities.
Emerging
Markets Risk
The
Fund may invest in securities of issuers located or having significant
operations in “emerging markets.” An “emerging market” country is any country
that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the World
Bank. Investing in securities of companies in emerging markets may
entail special risks relating to potential political and economic instability
and the risks of expropriation, nationalization, confiscation or the imposition
of restrictions on foreign investment, the lack of hedging instruments and
restrictions on repatriation of capital invested. Emerging securities
markets are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile
than the major securities markets. The limited size of emerging
securities markets and limited trading value compared to the volume of trading
in U.S. securities could cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from
factors that affect the quality of the securities. For example,
limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who
control large positions. Adverse publicity and investors’
perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the
value and liquidity of portfolio securities, especially in these
markets. Other risks include high concentration of market
capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing
a
limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors
and
financial intermediaries; over-dependence on exports, including gold and
natural
resources exports, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodity
prices; overburdened infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial
systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable
securities custodial services and settlement practices.
Foreign
Currency Risk
The
Fund expects to invest in companies whose securities are denominated or quoted
in currencies other than U.S. dollars or have significant operations or markets
outside of the U.S. In such instances, the Fund will be exposed to
currency risk, including the risk of fluctuations in the exchange rate between
U.S. dollars (in which the Fund’s shares are denominated) and such foreign
currencies, the risk of currency devaluations and the risks of
non-exchangeability and blockage. As non-U.S. securities may be
purchased with and payable in currencies of countries other than the U.S.
dollar, the value of these assets measured in U.S. dollars may be affected
favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and exchange control
regulations. Fluctuations in currency rates may adversely affect the
ability of the Investment Adviser to acquire such securities at advantageous
prices and may also adversely affect the performance of such
assets.
Certain
non-U.S. currencies, primarily in developing countries, have been devalued
in
the past and might face devaluation in the future. Currency
devaluations generally have a significant and adverse impact on the devaluing
country’s economy in the short and intermediate term and on the financial
condition and results of companies’ operations in that
country. Currency devaluations may also be accompanied by significant
declines in the values and liquidity of equity and debt securities of affected
governmental and private sector entities generally. To the extent
that affected companies have obligations denominated in currencies other
than the devalued currency, those companies may also have difficulty in meeting
those obligations under such circumstances, which in turn could have an adverse
effect upon the value of the Fund’s investments in such
companies. There can be no assurance that current or future
developments with respect to foreign currency devaluations will not impair
the
Fund’s investment flexibility, its ability to achieve its investment objectives
or the value of certain of its foreign currency denominated
investments.
Market
Discount Risk
Whether
investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of common shares of the
Fund will depend upon the market price of the shares at the time of sale, which
may be less or more than the Fund’s net asset value per share. Since
the market price of the common shares will be affected by such factors as the
Fund’s dividend and distribution levels (which are in turn affected by
expenses), dividend and distribution stability, net asset value, market
liquidity, the relative demand for and supply of the shares in the market,
general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control
of
the Fund, we cannot predict whether the common shares will trade at, below
or
above net asset value or at, below or above the public offering
price. Common shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to
their net asset values and the Fund’s common shares may trade at such a
discount. This risk may be greater for investors expecting to sell
their common shares of the Fund soon after completion of the public
offering. The common shares of the Fund are designed primarily for
long-term investors, and investors in the shares should not view the Fund as
a
vehicle for trading purposes.
Common
Stock Risk
Common
stock of an issuer in the Fund’s portfolio may decline in price for a variety of
reasons, including if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments
because, among other reasons, the issuer of the security experiences a decline
in its financial condition. Common stock in which the Fund will
invest is structurally subordinated to preferred stock, bonds and other debt
instruments in a company’s capital structure, in terms of priority to corporate
income, and therefore will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred
stock or debt instruments of such issuers. In addition, while common
stock has historically generated higher average returns than fixed income
securities, common stock has also experienced significantly more volatility
in
those returns.
Convertible
Securities Risk
Convertible
securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than
non-convertible securities of similar quality. The market values of
convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and,
conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. In the absence of
adequate anti-dilution provisions in a convertible security, dilution in the
value of the Fund’s holding may occur in the event the underlying stock is
subdivided, additional equity securities are issued for below market value,
a
stock dividend is declared or the issuer enters into another type of corporate
transaction that has a similar effect.
Income
Risk
The
income shareholders receive from the Fund is expected to be based primarily
on
income the Fund earns from its investment strategy of writing covered calls
and
dividends and other distributions received from its investments. If
the Fund’s covered call strategy fails to generate sufficient income or the
distribution rates or yields of the Fund’s holdings decrease, shareholders’
income from the Fund could decline.
Distribution
Risk for Equity Income Portfolio Securities
In
selecting equity income securities in which the Fund will invest, the Investment
Adviser will consider the issuer’s history of making regular periodic
distributions (i.e., dividends) to its equity holders. An issuer’s
history of paying dividends or other distributions, however, does not guarantee
that the issuer will continue to pay dividends or other distributions in
the future. The dividend income stream associated with equity income
securities generally is not guaranteed and will be subordinate to payment
obligations of the issuer on its debt and other
liabilities. Accordingly, an issuer may forgo paying
dividends on its equity securities. In addition, because in most
instances issuers are not obligated to make periodic distributions to the
holders of their equity securities, such distributions or dividends generally
may be discontinued at the issuer’s discretion.
Special
Risks Related to Preferred Securities
There
are special risks associated with investing in preferred securities,
including:
Deferral. Preferred
securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion,
to
defer distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to
the
issuer. If the Fund owns a preferred security on which distributions
are being deferred by the issuer, the Fund may be required to report income
for
tax purposes although it has not yet received such deferred
distributions.
Non-Cumulative
Dividends. Some preferred stocks are non-cumulative,
meaning that the dividends do not accumulate and need not ever be
paid. A portion of the portfolio may include investments in
non-cumulative preferred securities, whereby the issuer does not have an
obligation to make up any arrearages to its shareholders. Should an
issuer of a non-cumulative preferred stock held by the Fund determine not to
pay
dividends on such stock, the Fund’s return from that security may be adversely
affected. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on
non-cumulative preferred stocks in which the Fund invests will be declared
or
otherwise made payable.
Subordination. Preferred
securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s
capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation
payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior
debt security instruments.
Liquidity. Preferred
securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such
as
common stocks or U.S. Government securities.
Limited
Voting Rights. Generally, preferred security holders
(such as the Fund) have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company
unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of
periods, at which time the preferred security holders may be entitled to elect
a
number of Trustees to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the
arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting
rights.
Special
Redemption Rights. In certain varying circumstances, an
issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities prior to a specified
date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a
redemption may be triggered by a change in federal income tax or securities
laws. As with call provisions, a redemption by the issuer may
negatively impact the return of the security held by the Fund.
Interest
Rate Risk
Rising
interest rates generally adversely affect the financial performance of Gold
Companies and Natural Resources Companies by increasing their costs of
capital. This may reduce their ability to execute acquisitions or
expansion projects in a cost-effective manner.
During
periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a preferred stock or fixed
income security may be able to exercise an option to prepay principal earlier
than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding
securities. This is known as call or prepayment
risk. Preferred stock and debt securities frequently have call
features that allow the issuer to redeem the securities prior to their stated
maturities. An issuer may redeem such a security if the issuer can
refinance it at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement
in the credit standing of the issuer. During periods of rising
interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended
because of slower than expected principal payments. This may prolong
the length of time the security pays a below market interest rate, increase
the
security’s duration and reduce the value of the security. This is
known as extension risk.
Inflation
Risk
Inflation
risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be
worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of
money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s shares
and distributions thereon can decline. In addition, during any
periods of rising inflation, dividend rates of any variable rate preferred
stock
or debt securities issued by the Fund would likely increase, which would tend
to
further reduce returns to common shareholders.
Illiquid
Investments
Although
the Fund expects that its portfolio will primarily be comprised of liquid
securities, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in unregistered
securities and otherwise illiquid investments. Unregistered
securities are securities that cannot be sold publicly in the United States
without registration under the Securities Act of 1933. An illiquid
investment is a security or other investment that cannot be disposed of within
seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value
at
which the Fund has valued the securities. Unregistered and illiquid
securities often can be resold only in privately negotiated transactions
with a
limited number of purchasers or in a public offering registered under the
Securities Act of 1933. Considerable delay could be encountered in
either event and, unless otherwise contractually provided for, the Fund’s
proceeds upon sale may be reduced by the costs of registration or underwriting
discounts. The difficulties and delays associated with such
transactions could result in the Fund’s inability to realize a favorable price
upon disposition of unregistered securities, and at times might make disposition
of such securities impossible. In addition, the Fund may be unable to
sell other illiquid investments when it desires to do so, resulting in the
Fund
obtaining a lower price or being required to retain the
investment. Illiquid investments generally must be valued at fair
value, which is inherently less precise than utilizing market values for
liquid
investments, and may lead to differences between the price a security is
valued
for determining the Fund’s net asset value and the price the Fund actually
receives upon sale.
Investment
Companies
The
Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including
exchange traded funds, to the extent permitted by law. To the extent
the Fund invests in the common equity of investment companies, the Fund will
bear its ratable share of any such investment company’s expenses, including
management fees. The Fund will also remain obligated to pay
management fees to the Investment Adviser with respect to the assets invested
in
the securities of other investment companies. In these circumstances
holders of the Fund’s common shares will be in effect subject to duplicative
investment expenses.
Special
Risks of Derivative Transactions
Participation
in the options or futures markets, in currency exchange transactions and in
other derivatives transactions involves investment risks and transaction costs
to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these
strategies. If the Investment Adviser’s prediction of movements in
the direction of the securities, foreign currency, interest rate or other
referenced instruments or markets is inaccurate, the consequences to the Fund
may leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used such
strategies. Risks inherent in the use of options, foreign currency,
futures contracts and options on futures contracts, securities indices and
foreign currencies include:
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•
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dependence
on the Investment Adviser’s ability to predict correctly movements in the
direction of the relevant measure;
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•
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imperfect
correlation between the price of the derivative instrument and movements
in the prices of the referenced
assets;
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•
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the
fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from
those
needed to select portfolio
securities;
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•
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the
possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular
instrument at any time;
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•
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the
possible need to defer closing out certain hedged positions to avoid
adverse tax consequences;
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•
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the
possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a security or
instrument at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to
do so, or
the possible need for the Fund to sell a security or instrument
at a
disadvantageous time due to a need for the Fund to maintain “cover” or to
segregate securities in connection with the hedging techniques;
and
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the
creditworthiness of
counterparties.
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Forward
Currency Exchange Contracts. There is no independent
limit on the Fund’s ability to invest in foreign currency exchange
contracts. The use of forward currency contracts may involve certain
risks, including the failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations
under the contract and that the use of forward contracts may not serve as a
complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation between movements in the
prices of the contracts and the prices of the currencies hedged or used for
cover.
Counterparty
Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with
respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the
Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to
perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial
difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any
recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other reorganization
proceeding. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain
no recovery in such circumstances.
Lower
Grade Securities
The
Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets in fixed income and convertible
securities rated in the lower rating categories of recognized statistical
rating
agencies or unrated securities of comparable quality. These high
yield securities, also sometimes referred to as “junk bonds,” generally pay a
premium above the yields of U.S. government securities or debt securities
of
investment grade issuers because they are subject to greater risks than these
securities. These risks, which reflect their speculative character,
include the following:
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greater
credit risk and risk of default;
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•
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potentially
greater sensitivity to general economic or industry
conditions;
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•
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potential
lack of attractive resale opportunities (illiquidity);
and
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additional
expenses to seek recovery from issuers who
default.
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In
addition, the prices of these lower grade securities are more sensitive to
negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general
economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade
securities. Lower grade securities tend to be less liquid than
investment grade securities. The market value of lower grade
securities may be more volatile than the market value of investment grade
securities and generally tends to reflect the market’s perception of the
creditworthiness of the issuer and short-term market developments to a greater
extent than investment grade securities, which primarily reflect fluctuations
in
general levels of interest rates.
Ratings
are relative, subjective and not absolute standards of
quality. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer’s
historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ analysis at the time of
rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security
is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial
condition.
As
a part of its investments in lower grade securities, the Fund may invest in
securities of issuers in default. The Fund will invest in securities
of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such
issuers will honor their obligations, emerge from bankruptcy protection and
the
value of these securities will appreciate. By investing in the
securities of issuers in default, the Fund bears the risk that these issuers
will not continue to honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy
protection or that the value of these securities will not otherwise
appreciate.
Leverage
Risk
The
use of leverage, which can be described as exposure to changes in price at
a
ratio greater than the amount of equity invested, either through the issuance
of
preferred shares, borrowing or other forms of market exposure, magnifies both
the favorable and unfavorable effects of price movements in the investments
made
by the Fund. To the extent the Fund determines to employ leverage in its
investment operations, the Fund will be subject to substantial risks of
loss. The Fund cannot assure that borrowings or the issuance of
preferred shares will result in a higher yield or return to the holders of
the
common shares.
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Preferred
Share Risk. The issuance of preferred shares causes
the net asset value and market value of the common shares to become
more
volatile. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares
approaches the net rate of return on the Fund’s investment portfolio, the
benefit of leverage to the holders of the common shares would be
reduced. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares plus the
management fee annual rate of 1.00% exceeds the net rate of return on
the Fund’s portfolio, the leverage will result in a lower rate of return
to the holders of common shares than if the Fund had not issued
preferred
shares.
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Any
decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s investments would be borne entirely
by the holders of common shares. Therefore, if the market value of
the Fund’s portfolio declines, the leverage will result in a greater decrease in
net asset value to the holders of common shares than if the Fund were not
leveraged. This greater net asset value decrease will also tend to
cause a greater decline in the market price for the common shares. In
such a case, the Fund might be in danger of failing to maintain the required
asset coverage of the preferred shares or of losing its ratings on the preferred
shares or, in an extreme case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be
sufficient to meet the dividend requirements on the preferred
shares. In order to counteract such an event, the Fund might need to
liquidate investments in order to fund a redemption of some or all of the
preferred shares.
In
addition, the Fund would pay (and the holders of common shares will bear)
all
costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the
preferred shares, including the advisory fees on the incremental assets
attributable to such shares..
Holders
of preferred shares may have different interests than holders of common shares
and may at times have disproportionate influence over the Fund’s
affairs. Holders of preferred shares, voting separately as a single
class, would have the right to elect two members of the Board of Trustees at
all
times and in the event dividends become two full years in arrears would have
the
right to elect a majority of the Trustees until such arrearage is completely
eliminated. In addition, preferred shareholders have class voting
rights on certain matters, including changes in fundamental investment
restrictions and conversion of the fund to open-end status, and accordingly
can
veto any such changes.
Restrictions
imposed on the declarations and payment of dividends or other distributions
to
the holders of the Fund’s common shares and preferred shares, both by the 1940
Act and by requirements imposed by rating agencies, might impair the Fund’s
ability to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company for
federal income tax purposes. While the Fund intends to redeem its
preferred shares to the extent necessary to enable the Fund to distribute
its
income as required to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment
company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), there
can be no assurance that such actions can be effected in time to meet the
Code
requirements.
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Portfolio
Guidelines of Rating Agencies for Preferred Shares and/or Credit
Facility. In order to obtain and maintain attractive
credit quality ratings for preferred shares or borrowings, the Fund
must
comply with investment quality, diversification and other guidelines
established by the relevant rating agencies. These guidelines
could affect portfolio decisions and may be more stringent than those
imposed by the 1940 Act.
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Impact
on Common Shares. The following table is furnished in
response to requirements of the SEC. It is designed to
illustrate the effect of leverage on common share total return,
assuming
investment portfolio total returns (comprised of net investment
income of
the Fund, realized gains or losses of the Fund and changes in the
value of
the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio) of –10%, –5%, 0%, 5% and
10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are
hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the
investment
portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by
the
Fund. See “Risks.” The table further reflects
leverage representing 33% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund’s current
projected blended annual average leverage dividend or interest
rate of
5.975%, a management fee at an annual rate of 1.00% of the
liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares and
estimated
annual incremental expenses attributable to any outstanding preferred
shares of 0.01% of the Fund’s net assets attributable to common
shares.
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Assumed
Portfolio Total Return (Net of Expenses)
|
(10)%
|
(5)%
|
0%
|
5%
|
10%
|
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Common
Share Total Return
|
(18.40)%
|
(10.94)%
|
(3.48)%
|
3.99%
|
11.45%
|
Common
share total return is composed of two elements—the common share distributions
paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the taxable
income of the Fund (including realized gains or losses) after paying interest
on
any debt and/or dividends on any preferred shares) and unrealized gains or
losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by
SEC rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital
losses than to enjoy total return. For example, to assume a total
return of 0% the Fund must assume that the income it receives on its investments
is entirely offset by expenses and losses in the value of those
investments.
Until
the Fund borrows or issues preferred shares, the Fund’s shares will not be
leveraged, and the risks and special considerations related to leverage
described in this prospectus will not apply. Such leveraging of the
shares cannot be fully achieved until the proceeds resulting from the use of
leverage have been invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment
objectives and policies.
Special
Risks to Holders of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares
Illiquidity
Prior to Exchange Listing. Prior to
the offering, there will be no public market for any fixed rate preferred
shares. In the event any fixed rate preferred shares are issued,
prior application will have been made to list such shares on the Amex or
New
York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). However, during an initial period,
which is not expected to exceed 30 days after the date of its initial issuance,
such shares may not be listed on any securities exchange. During such
period, the underwriters may make a market in such shares, though, they will
have no obligation to do so. Consequently, an investment in such
shares may be illiquid during such period.
Market
Price Fluctuation. Fixed rate
preferred shares may trade at a premium to or discount from liquidation
preference for a variety of reasons, including changes in interest
rates.
Special
Risks for Holders of Variable Rate Preferred Shares
Auction
Risk. In the event any auction rate
preferred shares are issued, you may not be able to sell your auction rate
preferred shares at an auction if the auction fails, i.e., if more auction
rate
preferred shares are offered for sale than there are buyers for those
shares. Also, if you place an order (a hold order) at an auction
to retain auction rate preferred shares only at a specified rate that exceeds
the rate set at the auction, you will not retain your auction rate preferred
shares. Additionally, if you place a hold order without specifying a
rate below which you would not wish to continue to hold your shares and the
auction sets a below-market rate, you will receive a lower rate of return on
your shares than the market rate. Finally, the dividend period may be
changed, subject to certain conditions and with notice to the holders of the
auction rate preferred shares, which could also affect the liquidity of your
investment.
Secondary
Market Risk. In the event any auction rate preferred
shares are issued, if you try to sell your auction rate preferred shares between
auctions, you may not be able to sell them for their liquidation preference
per
share or such amount per share plus accumulated dividends. If the
Fund has designated a special dividend period of more than seven days, changes
in interest rates could affect the price you would receive if you sold your
shares in the secondary market. Broker-dealers that maintain a
secondary trading market for the auction rate preferred shares are not required
to maintain this market, and the Fund is not required to redeem auction rate
preferred shares if either an auction or an attempted secondary market sale
fails because of a lack of buyers. The auction rate preferred shares
will not be registered on a stock exchange. If you sell your auction
rate preferred shares to a broker-dealer between auctions, you may receive
less than the price you paid for them, especially when market interest rates
have risen since the last auction or during a special dividend
period.
Dependence
on Key Personnel
The
Investment Adviser is dependent upon the expertise of Mr. Mario J.
Gabelli. If the Investment Adviser were to lose the services of Mr.
Gabelli, it could be adversely affected. There can be no assurance
that a suitable replacement could be found for Mr. Gabelli in the event of
his death, resignation, retirement or inability to act on behalf of the
Investment Adviser.
Long-Term
Objective; Not a Complete Investment Program
The
Fund is intended for investors seeking a high level of current
income. The Fund is not meant to provide a vehicle for those who wish
to exploit short-term swings in the stock market. An investment in
shares of the Fund should not be considered a complete investment
program. Each shareholder should take into account the Fund’s
investment objectives as well as the shareholder’s other investments when
considering an investment in the Fund.
Management
Risk
The
Fund is subject to management risk because its portfolio will be actively
managed. The Investment Adviser will apply investment techniques and
risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be
no
guarantee that these will produce the desired results.
Portfolio
Turnover
The
Fund’s high turnover ratio may result in higher expenses and lower after-tax
return to shareholders than if the Fund had a lower turnover ratio.
Non-Diversified
Status
The
Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act,
which means the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act in the proportion of its
assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. As
a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may invest in the securities
of
individual issuers to a greater degree than a diversified investment
company. As a result, the Fund may be more vulnerable to events
affecting a single issuer and therefore, subject to greater volatility than
a
fund that is more broadly diversified. Accordingly, an investment in
the Fund may present greater risk to an investor than an investment in a
diversified company.
Current
Developments
As
a result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
on
September 11, 2001, some of the U.S. securities markets were closed for a
four-day period. These terrorists attacks, the war in Iraq and its
aftermath and other geopolitical events have led to, and may in the future
lead
to, increased short-term market volatility and may have long-term effects
on
U.S. and world economies and markets. The nature, scope and duration
of the war and occupation cannot be predicted with any
certainty. Similar events in the future or other disruptions of
financial markets could affect interest rates, securities exchanges, auctions,
secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation, energy prices and other
factors relating to the common shares or preferred shares.
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
The
Fund’s governing documents include provisions that could limit the ability of
other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund
to
an open-end fund. See “Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s
Governing Documents.”
Investment
Restrictions
The
Fund has adopted certain investment limitations designed to limit investment
risk and maintain portfolio diversification. These limitations are
fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a
majority, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding shares and preferred
shares, if any, voting together as a single class. See “Investment
Restrictions” in the SAI for a complete list of the fundamental investment
policies of the Fund. Should the Fund decide to issue preferred
shares in the future, it may become subject to rating agency guidelines that
are
more limiting than its fundamental investment restrictions in order to obtain
and maintain a desired rating on its preferred shares.
General
The
Fund’s Board of Trustees (who, with its officers, are described in the SAI) has
overall responsibility for the management of the Fund. The Board of
Trustees decides upon matters of general policy and reviews the actions of
the
Investment Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, located at One Corporate Center,
Rye,
New York 10580-1422, and the Sub-Administrator (as defined
below). Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the
Fund and the Investment Adviser (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), the
Investment Adviser, under the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees,
provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio; provides
investment research and makes and executes recommendations for the purchase
and
sale of securities; and provides all facilities and personnel, including
officers required for its administrative management, and pays the compensation
of Trustees of the Fund who are officers or employees of the Investment Adviser
or its affiliates. As compensation for its services and the related
expenses borne by the Investment Adviser, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser
a
fee, computed daily and payable monthly, equal, on an annual basis, to 1.00%
of
the Fund’s average weekly net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation
preference of any outstanding preferred shares. A discussion regarding the
basis
for the most recent approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement by the
Board
of Trustees of the Fund is available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to
shareholders for the period ending June 30, 2007.
The
Investment Adviser
Gabelli
Funds, LLC acts as the Fund’s Investment Adviser pursuant to the Investment
Advisory Agreement with the Fund. The Investment Adviser is a New
York limited liability company with principal offices located at One Corporate
Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422. The Investment Adviser was
organized in 1999 and is the successor to Gabelli Funds, Inc., which was
organized in 1980. As of June 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser acted
as registered investment adviser to 24 management investment companies with
aggregate net assets of $16.2 billion. The Investment Adviser,
together with the other affiliated investment advisers noted below had assets
under management totaling approximately $30.6 billion as of June 30,
2007. GAMCO Asset Management Inc., an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser, acts as investment adviser for individuals, pension trusts, profit
sharing trusts and endowments, and as a sub-adviser to management
investment companies having aggregate assets of $13.5 billion under management
as of June 30, 2007. Gabelli Securities, Inc., an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser, acts as investment adviser for investment partnerships
and
entities having aggregate assets of approximately $486 million as of June 30,
2007. Gabelli Fixed Income LLC, an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser, acts as investment adviser for separate accounts having aggregate
assets of approximately $21 million under management as of June 30,
2007. Gabelli Advisers, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser,
acts as investment manager to the Westwood Funds having aggregate assets of
approximately $433 million under management as of June 30, 2007.
The
Investment Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc.,
a New
York corporation, whose Class A Common Stock is traded on the NYSE under
the
symbol “GBL.” Mr. Mario J. Gabelli may be deemed a “controlling
person” of the Investment Adviser on the basis of his ownership of a majority of
the stock of GGCP, Inc., which owns a majority of the capital stock of GAMCO
Investors, Inc.
Payment
of Expenses
The
Investment Adviser is obligated to pay expenses associated with providing
the
services contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement including
compensation of and office space for its officers and employees connected
with
investment and economic research, trading and investment management and
administration of the Fund (but excluding costs associated with the calculation
of the net asset value and allocated costs of the chief compliance officer
function and officers of the Fund that are employed by the Fund and are
not
employed by the Investment Adviser although such officers may receive
incentive-based variable compensation from affiliates of the Investment
Adviser), as well as the fees of all Trustees of the Fund who are officers
or
employees of the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates.
In
addition to the fees of the Investment Adviser, the Fund is responsible for
the
payment of all its other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, which
include, among other things, expenses for legal and the Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm’s services, stock exchange listing fees, costs of
printing proxies, share certificates and shareholder reports, charges of the
Fund’s custodian, charges of the transfer agent and distribution disbursing
agent, SEC fees, fees and expenses of Trustees who are not officers or employees
of the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates,
accounting and printing costs, the Fund’s pro rata portion of membership fees
in trade organizations, the Fund’s pro rata portion of the Chief Compliance
Officer’s compensation, fidelity bond coverage for the Fund’s officers and
employees, Trustees and officers liability policy, interest, brokerage costs,
taxes, expenses of qualifying the Fund for sale in various states, expenses
of
personnel performing shareholder servicing functions, litigation and other
extraordinary or non-recurring expenses and other expenses properly payable
by
the Fund.
Selection
of Securities Brokers
The
Investment Advisory Agreement contains provisions relating to the selection
of
securities brokers to effect the portfolio transactions of the
Fund. Under those provisions, the Investment Adviser may (i) direct
Fund portfolio brokerage to Gabelli & Company, Inc. or other broker-dealer
affiliates of the Investment Adviser and (ii) pay commissions to brokers other
than Gabelli & Company, Inc. that are higher than might be charged by
another qualified broker to obtain brokerage and/or research services considered
by the Investment Adviser to be useful or desirable for its investment
management of the Fund and/or its other investment advisory accounts or
those of any investment adviser affiliated with it. The SAI contains
further information about the Investment Advisory Agreement, including a more
complete description of the investment advisory and expense arrangements,
exculpatory and brokerage provisions, as well as information on the brokerage
practices of the Fund.
Portfolio
Management
As
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc., Mr. Gabelli
ultimately has oversight over the investment professionals responsible for
the
day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Gabelli has served as Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and its predecessors
since
1976. Mr. Gabelli is the Chief Investment Officer—Value Products for
the Investment Adviser and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. Mr.
Gabelli serves as Portfolio Manager for several funds in the Gabelli fund
family
and is a director of most of the funds in the family. Mr. Gabelli is
also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc., a private company
owning the majority of the shares of GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Vincent
Hugonnard-Roche serves as a Co-Lead Portfolio Manager for the Fund and is
primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s option
strategy. Mr. Roche joined GAMCO Investors, Inc. in 2000 as Director
of Quantitative Strategies and Head of Risk Management. Prior
thereto, Mr. Roche worked at Credit Lyonnais in New York as a proprietary
equity
analyst focused on Risk Arbitrage.
Caesar
M.P. Bryan serves as a Co-Lead Portfolio Manager for the Fund and is primarily
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Gold Companies portion of
the
Fund’s portfolio. Mr. Bryan joined GAMCO Investors, Inc. in 1994 and
has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day investment management of
the
GAMCO Gold Fund, Inc., a registered open-end investment company, since its
inception in 1994. Mr. Bryan has been Portfolio Manager of the GAMCO
International Growth Fund, Inc., a registered open-end investment company,
since
1995 and Co-Portfolio Manager of The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund, a registered
open-end investment company, since 1998. Mr. Bryan is also a
Portfolio Manager for The GAMCO Global Growth Fund and The Gabelli Equity
Trust
Inc.
Barbara
G. Marcin and Joshua W. Fenton are jointly and primarily responsible for the
day-to-day management of the Natural Resources Companies portion of the Fund’s
portfolio.
Ms.
Marcin joined GAMCO Investors, Inc. in 1999 to manage larger capitalization
value style portfolios. Ms. Marcin currently serves as the Portfolio
Manager for The Gabelli Blue Chip Value Fund and The GAMCO Westwood Income
Fund, registered open-end investment companies, and as a Portfolio Manager
for
The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust, a registered closed-end investment
company. Prior thereto, she worked at Citibank Global Asset
Management where she was head of value investments and was a member of
the
Global Investment Policy Committee and co-Chair of the U.S. Equity Policy
Committee.
Mr.
Fenton is currently the Director of Buy-Side Research for GAMCO Investors,
Inc. Mr. Fenton was a Securities Analyst for Gabelli & Company,
Inc. from 2001 through 2002. Mr. Fenton is among those primarily
responsible for the day-to-day management of The GAMCO Global Convertible
Securities Fund, a registered open-end investment company. Prior
thereto, Mr. Fenton was a Director of Research at Douglas, Noyes & Co., Inc.
from 1996 through 2001.
The
Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the
Portfolio Managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio
Managers, and the Portfolio Managers’ ownership of securities of the
Fund.
Non-Resident
Trustees
Messrs.
d’Urso and van Ekris are not U.S. residents and substantially all of each of
their assets may be located outside of the United States. Messrs.
d’Urso and van Ekris do not have agents for service of process in the United
States. As a result, it may be difficult for U.S. investors to effect
service of process upon Messrs. d’Urso or van Ekris within the United States or
to realize judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil
liabilities under the federal securities laws of the United
States. In addition, it is not certain that civil liabilities
predicated upon the federal securities laws on which a valid judgment of a
court
in the United States is obtained would be enforceable in the courts of the
jurisdictions in which Messrs. d’Urso or van Ekris reside.
Sub-Administrator
The
Investment Adviser has entered into a sub-administration agreement with PFPC
Inc. (the “Sub-Administrator”) pursuant to which the Sub-Administrator provides
certain administrative services necessary for the Fund’s operations that do not
include the investment and portfolio management services provided by the
Investment Adviser. For these services and the related expenses borne
by the Sub-Administrator, the Investment Adviser pays a prorated monthly
fee at
the annual rate of 0.0275% of the first $10 billion of the aggregate average
net
assets of the Fund and all other funds advised by the Investment Adviser
and Gabelli Advisers, Inc. and administered by the Sub-Administrator, 0.0125%
of
the aggregate average net assets exceeding $10 billion and 0.01% of the
aggregate average net assets in excess of $15 billion. The
Sub-Administrator has its principal office at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia,
Pennsylvania 19406.
Regulatory
Matters
The
Fund has received the following information from the Investment
Adviser:
Over
the past several years, the staff of the SEC (the “Staff”), the staff of the New
York Attorney General’s office (the “NYAG”), and officials of other states have
been conducting industry-wide inquiries into, and bringing enforcement and
other
proceedings regarding, trading abuses involving open-end investment
companies. The Investment Adviser and its affiliates have received
information requests and subpoenas for documents and testimony from the Staff
and the NYAG in connection with these inquiries and have responded to these
requests. The Investment Adviser has implemented additional
compliance policies and procedures in response to recent industry initiatives
and its internal reviews of its mutual fund practices in a variety of
areas. The Investment Adviser has not found any information that it
believes would be material to the ability of the Investment Adviser to fulfill
its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement. More
specifically, the Investment Adviser has found no evidence of arrangements
for
trading in the Gabelli mutual funds after the 4:00 p.m. pricing time and
no
evidence of improper short-term trading in these funds by its investment
professionals or senior executives. The Investment Adviser did find
that one investor, who had been engaged in short-term trading in one of the
Gabelli mutual funds (the prospectus of which did not at that time impose
limits
on short-term trading) and who had subsequently made an investment in a hedge
fund managed by an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, was banned from the
mutual fund only after certain other investors were banned. The
Investment Adviser believes that this relationship was not material to the
Investment Adviser. The Investment Adviser also found that certain
discussions took place in 2002 and 2003 between the Investment Adviser’s staff
and personnel of an investment advisor regarding possible frequent trading
in
certain Gabelli domestic equity funds. In June 2006, the Investment
Adviser began discussions with the Staff regarding a possible resolution
of
their inquiry. In February 2007, the Investment Adviser made an offer
of settlement to the Staff for communication to the SEC for its consideration
to
resolve this matter. This offer of settlement is subject to final
agreement regarding the specific language of the SEC’s administrative order and
other settlement documents. Since these discussions are ongoing, the
Investment Adviser cannot determine whether they will ultimately result in
a
settlement of this matter and, if so, what the terms of the settlement might
be. There can be no assurance that any resolution of this matter will
not have a material adverse impact on the Investment Adviser or on its ability
to fulfill its obligations under the Investment Advisory
Agreement.
The
Investment Adviser was informed by the Staff that they may recommend to the
SEC
that the Investment Adviser be held accountable for the actions of two of
the
closed-end funds managed by the Investment Adviser relating to Section 19(a)
and
Rule 19a-1 of the 1940 Act. These provisions require registered
investment companies to provide written statements to shareholders when a
distribution is made from a source other than net investment
income. While the two funds sent annual statements containing the
required information and Form 1099-DIV statements as required by the IRS,
the
funds did not send written statements to shareholders with each distribution
in
2002 and 2003. The then existing closed-end funds managed by the
Investment Adviser changed their notification procedures in 2004 and the
Investment Adviser believes that all of the funds have been in compliance
with Section 19(a) and Rule 19a-1 of the 1940 Act since that
time. The Staff’s notice to the Investment Adviser did not relate to
the Fund. The Staff indicated that they may recommend to the SEC that
administrative remedies be sought, including a monetary penalty. The
Investment Adviser cannot predict whether an administrative proceeding will
be
instituted and, if so, what the ultimate resolution might be. The
Investment Adviser currently expects that any resolution of this matter will
not
have a material adverse effect on the Investment Adviser’s ability to fulfill
its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement.
Principal
transactions are not entered into with affiliates of the
Fund. However, Gabelli & Company, Inc., an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser, may execute portfolio transactions on stock exchanges and
in
the over-the-counter markets on an agency basis and receive a stated commission
therefor. For a more detailed discussion of the Fund’s brokerage
allocation practices, see “Portfolio Transactions” in the SAI.
The
Fund intends to make regular monthly cash distributions of all or a portion
of
its investment company taxable income (which includes ordinary income and
realized short-term capital gains) to common shareholders. The Fund
also intends to make annual distributions of its realized capital gains (which
is the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital
losses). The Fund will pay common shareholders at least annually all,
or at least 90%, of its investment company taxable income. Various
factors will affect the level of the Fund’s income, such as its asset mix and
use of option strategies. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable
monthly distributions, the Fund may from time to time distribute less than
the
entire amount of income earned in a particular period, which would be available
to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions
paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than
the
amount of income actually earned by the Fund during that
period. However, as the Fund is covered by an exemption from the 1940
Act which allows the Board of Trustees to implement a managed distribution
policy, the Board of Trustees in the future may determine to cause the Fund
to
distribute a fixed percentage of the Fund’s average net asset value or market
price per common share over a specified period of time at or about the time
of
distribution or to distribute a fixed dollar amount. The Board of
Trustees has no present intention to implement such a policy. Because
the Fund’s distribution policy may be changed by the Board of Trustees at any
time and the Fund’s income will fluctuate, there can be no assurance that the
Fund will pay dividends or distributions at a particular rate. See
“Dividends and Distributions” in the SAI.
Shareholders
will automatically have all dividends and distributions reinvested in common
shares of the Fund issued by the Fund or purchased in the open market in
accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan unless an election is made
to receive cash. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary
Cash Purchase Plan.”
AND
VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLAN
Under
the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan (the
“Plan”), a shareholder whose common shares are registered in his or her own name
will have all distributions reinvested automatically by the transfer agent,
which is agent under the Plan, unless the shareholder elects to receive
cash. Distributions with respect to shares registered in the name of
a broker-dealer or other nominee (that is, in “street name”) will be reinvested
by the broker or nominee in additional shares under the Plan, unless the service
is not provided by the broker or nominee or the shareholder elects to receive
distributions in cash. Investors who own common shares registered in
street name should consult their broker-dealers for details regarding
reinvestment. All distributions
to investors who do not participate in the Plan will be paid by check mailed
directly to the record holder by the transfer agent as dividend disbursing
agent.
Under
the Plan, whenever the market price of the common shares is equal to or exceeds
net asset value at the time shares are valued for purposes of determining the
number of shares equivalent to the cash distribution, participants in the Plan
will receive newly issued common shares. The number of shares to be
issued will be computed at a per share rate equal to the greater of (i) the
net
asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then-current market
price of the common shares. The valuation date is the distribution
payment date or, if that date is not an Amex trading day, the next trading
day. If the net asset value of the common shares at the time of
valuation exceeds the market price of the common shares, participants will
receive shares purchased by the Plan agent in the open
market. If the Fund should declare a distribution payable only in
cash, the Plan agent will buy the common shares for such Plan in the open
market, on the Amex or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts, except that
the Plan agent will terminate purchases in the open market and instead the
Fund
will distribute newly issued shares at a per share rate equal to the greater
of
net asset value or 95% of market value if, following the commencement of such
purchases, the market value of the common shares plus estimated brokerage
commissions exceeds net asset value.
Participants
in the Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to the Plan
agent, semi-monthly, for investment in the shares as applicable. Such
payments may be made in any amount from $250 to $10,000. The Plan
agent will use all funds received from participants to purchase shares of
the
Fund in the open market on or about the 1st or 15th of each
month. The Plan agent will charge each shareholder who participates
$1.00, plus a pro rata share of the brokerage commissions. Brokerage
charges for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual brokerage
charge for such transactions. It is suggested that participants send
voluntary cash payments to the Plan agent in a manner that ensures that the
Plan
agent will receive these payments approximately ten days before the investment
date. A participant may without charge withdraw a voluntary cash
payment by written notice, if the notice is received by the Plan agent at
least
48 hours before such payment is to be invested.
The
Plan agent maintains all shareholder accounts in the Plan and furnishes written
confirmations of all transactions in the account, including information needed
by shareholders for personal and tax records. Shares in the account
of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan agent in noncertificated
form
in the name of the participant. A Plan participant may send its share
certificates to the Plan agent so that the shares represented by such
certificates will be held by the Plan agent in the participant’s shareholder
account under the Plan.
In
the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees, that hold shares
for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan agent will administer the
Plan on the basis of the number of shares certified from time to time by the
shareholder as representing the total amount registered in the shareholder’s
name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the
Plan.
The
automatic reinvestment of dividends and other distributions will not relieve
participants of any U.S. federal, state or local income tax that may be
payable
(or required to be withheld) on such dividends or other
distributions.
The
Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate its Plan as applied to any
voluntary cash payments made and any distribution paid with at least 90 days
written notice to the participants in such Plan. The Plan also may be
amended or terminated by the Plan agent, with the Fund’s prior written consent,
on at least 90 days written notice to the participants in such
Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to
the transfer agent.
The
following is a brief description of the terms of the Fund’s
shares. This description does not purport to be complete and is
qualified by reference to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and its
By-Laws. For complete terms of the shares, please refer to the actual
terms of such series, which are set forth in the Agreement and Declaration
of
Trust.
Common
Shares
The
Fund is an unincorporated statutory trust organized under the laws of Delaware
pursuant to a Certificate of Trust dated as of January 4, 2005. The
Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares of beneficial
interest, par value $0.001 per share. Each common share has one vote
and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this offering,
will be fully paid and non-assessable. Though the Fund expects to
pay distributions monthly on the common shares, it is not obligated to do
so. All common shares are equal as to
distributions,
assets and voting privileges and have no conversion, preemptive or other
subscription rights. The Fund will send annual and semi-annual
reports, including financial statements, to all holders of its
shares.
Offerings
of shares require approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Any
additional offering of common shares will be subject to the requirements of
the
1940 Act, which provides that common shares may not be issued at a price below
the then current net asset value, exclusive of sales load, except in connection
with an offering to existing holders of common shares or with the consent of
a
majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.
The
Fund’s common shares are listed on the Amex under the symbol “GGN.”
The
Fund’s net asset value per share will be reduced immediately following the
offering of common shares by the amount of the offering expenses paid by
the
Fund. See “Use of Proceeds.” Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds
like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily
redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional
common shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may do so by trading
through a broker on the Amex or otherwise.
Shares
of closed-end investment companies often trade on an exchange at prices lower
than net asset value. Because the market value of the common shares
may be influenced by such factors as dividend and distribution levels (which
are
in turn affected by expenses), dividend and distribution stability, net asset
value, market liquidity, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the
market, unrealized gains, general market and economic conditions and other
factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that common
shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the
future. The common shares are designed primarily for long-term
investors and you should not purchase the common shares if you intend to sell
them soon after purchase.
The
Fund’s common shareholders will vote as a single class to elect the Fund’s Board
of Trustees and on additional matters with respect to which the 1940 Act, the
Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or resolutions adopted by the Trustees
provide for a vote of the Fund’s common shareholders. See
“Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s Governing Documents.”
Book
Entry
The
common shares sold through this offering will initially be held in the name
of
Cede & Co. as nominee for the Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”). The Fund will treat Cede & Co. as the holder of record
of the common shares for all purposes. In accordance with the
procedures of DTC, however, purchasers of common shares will be deemed the
beneficial owners of shares purchased for purposes of distributions, voting
and
liquidation rights. Purchasers of common shares may obtain registered
certificates by contacting the transfer agent.
Preferred
Shares
Currently,
an unlimited number of the Fund’s shares have been classified by the Board of
Trustees as preferred shares, par value $0.001 per share. The terms of such
preferred shares may be fixed by the Board of Trustees and would materially
limit and/or qualify the rights of the holders of the Fund’s common
shares.
If
the Fund issues preferred shares, it will pay dividends to the holders of the
preferred shares at either a fixed rate or a rate that will be reset frequently
based on short-term interest rates, as described in a Prospectus Supplement
accompanying each preferred share offering.
Upon
a liquidation, each holder of the preferred shares will be entitled to receive
out of the assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders (after
payment of claims of the Fund’s creditors but before any distributions with
respect to the Fund’s common shares or any other shares of the Fund ranking
junior to the preferred shares as to liquidation payments) an amount per share
equal to such share’s liquidation preference plus any accumulated but unpaid
distributions (whether or not earned or declared, excluding interest thereon)
to
the date of distribution, and such shareholders shall be entitled to no further
participation in any distribution or payment in connection with such
liquidation. Each series of the preferred shares will rank on a parity with
any
other series of preferred shares of the Fund as to the payment of distributions
and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, and will be junior to the
Fund’s obligations with respect to any outstanding senior securities
representing debt. The preferred shares carry one
vote
per
share on all matters on which such shares are entitled to vote. The preferred
shares will, upon issuance, be fully paid and nonassessable and will have no
preemptive, exchange or conversion rights. The Board of Trustees may by
resolution classify or reclassify any authorized but unissued capital shares
of
the Fund from time to time by setting or changing the preferences, conversion
or
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions
or
terms or conditions of redemption. The Fund will not issue any class of shares
senior to the preferred shares.
Rating
Agency Guidelines. Upon issuance, it is expected that
the preferred shares will be rated “Aaa” by Moody’s and/or “AAA” by
S&P. The Fund expects that it will be required under Moody’s and
S&P guidelines to maintain assets having in the aggregate a discounted value
at least equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount (as defined below) for its
outstanding preferred shares, with respect to the separate guidelines Moody’s
and S&P has each established for determining discounted value. To the extent
any particular portfolio holding does not satisfy the applicable rating agency’s
guidelines, all or a portion of such holding’s value will not be included in the
calculation of discounted value (as defined by such rating agency). The Moody’s
and S&P guidelines also impose certain diversification requirements and
industry concentration limitations on the Fund’s overall portfolio, and apply
specified discounts to securities held by the Fund (except certain money
market
securities). The “Basic Maintenance Amount” is equal to (i) the sum of (a) the
aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred shares then outstanding
plus
(to the extent not included in the liquidation preference of such preferred
shares) an amount equal to the aggregate accumulated but unpaid distributions
(whether or not earned or declared) in respect of such preferred shares,
(b) the
total principal of any debt (plus accrued and projected interest), (c) certain
Fund expenses and (d) certain other current liabilities (excluding any unmade
distributions on the Fund’s common shares) less (ii) the Fund’s (a) cash and (b)
assets consisting of indebtedness which (y) mature prior to or on the date
of
redemption or repurchase of the preferred shares and are U.S. government
securities or evidences of indebtedness rated at least “Aaa,” “P-1”,
“VMIG-1” or “MIG-1” by Moody’s or “AAA”, “SP-1+” or “A-1+” by S&P, and (z)
is held by the Fund for distributions, the redemption or repurchase of preferred
shares or the Fund’s liabilities.
If
the Fund does not cure in a timely manner a failure to maintain a discounted
value of its portfolio equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount in accordance
with
the requirements of the applicable rating agency or agencies then rating the
preferred shares at the request of the Fund, the Fund may, and in certain
circumstances will be required to, mandatorily redeem preferred shares, as
described below under “— Redemption.”
The
Fund may, but is not required to, adopt any modifications to the rating agency
guidelines that may hereafter be established by Moody’s and S&P (or such
other rating agency then rating the preferred shares at the request of the
Fund). Failure to adopt any such modifications, however, may result in a
change
in the relevant rating agency’s ratings or a withdrawal of such ratings
altogether. In addition, any rating agency providing a rating for the preferred
shares at the request of the Fund may, at any time, change or withdraw any
such
rating. The Board of Trustees, without further action by the shareholders,
may
amend, alter, add to or repeal certain of the definitions and related provisions
that have been adopted by the Fund pursuant to the rating agency guidelines
if
the Board of Trustees determines that such modification is necessary to prevent
a reduction in rating of the preferred shares by Moody’s and S&P, as the
case may be, is in the best interests of the holders of common shares and
is not
adverse to the holders of preferred shares in view of advice to the Fund
by
Moody’s and S&P (or such other rating agency then rating the preferred
shares at the request of the Fund) that such modification would not adversely
affect, as the case may be, its then current rating of the preferred
shares.
The
Board of Trustees may amend the Statement of Preferences definition of “Maximum
Rate” (the “maximum rate” as defined below under “— Distributions on the
Preferred Shares — Maximum Rate”) to increase the percentage amount by which the
applicable reference rate is multiplied or to increase the applicable spread
to
which the reference rate is added to determine the maximum rate without the
vote
or consent of the holders of the preferred shares or any other shareholder
of
the Fund, but only after consultation with the broker-dealers and with
confirmation from each applicable rating agency that the Fund could meet
applicable rating agency asset coverage tests immediately following any such
increase.
As
described by Moody’s and S&P, the ratings assigned to the preferred shares
are assessments of the capacity and willingness of the Fund to pay the
obligations of each of the preferred shares. The ratings on the preferred shares
are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell shares of either series,
inasmuch as the ratings do not comment as to market price or suitability for
a
particular investor. The rating agency guidelines also do not address the
likelihood that an owner of preferred shares will be able to sell such shares
on
an exchange, in an auction or otherwise. The ratings are
based
on current information furnished to Moody’s and S&P by the Fund and the
Investment Adviser and information obtained from other sources. The ratings
may
be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or the
unavailability of, such information.
The
rating agency guidelines will apply to the preferred shares, as the case may
be,
only so long as such rating agency is rating such shares at the request of
the
Fund. The Fund will pay fees to Moody’s and S&P for rating the preferred
shares.
Asset
Maintenance Requirements. In addition to the
requirements summarized under “— Rating Agency Guidelines” above, the Fund must
also satisfy asset maintenance requirements under the 1940 Act with respect
to
its preferred shares. Under the 1940 Act, such debt or preferred
shares may be issued only if immediately after such issuance the value of the
Fund’s total assets (less ordinary course liabilities) is at least 300% of the
amount of any debt outstanding and at least 200% of the amount of any preferred
stock and debt outstanding.
The
Fund will be required under the preferred shares’ Statement of Preferences (the
“Statement of Preferences”) to determine whether it has, as of the last business
day of each March, June, September and December of each year, an “asset
coverage” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of at least 200% (or such higher or lower
percentage as may be required at the time under the 1940 Act) with respect
to
all outstanding senior securities of the Fund that are debt or stock, including
any outstanding preferred shares. If the Fund fails to maintain the asset
coverage required under the 1940 Act on such dates and such failure is not
cured
within 60 calendar days, the Fund may, and in certain circumstances will be
required to, mandatorily redeem the number of preferred shares sufficient to
satisfy such asset coverage. See “— Redemption” below.
Distributions. In
connection with the offering of one or more series of preferred shares, an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement will specify whether dividends on such
preferred shares will be based on a fixed or variable rate. If such
Prospectus Supplement specifies that dividends will be paid at a fixed rate
(“Fixed Rate Preferred Shares”), holders of such preferred shares will be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out
of funds legally available therefor, cumulative cash distributions, at an
annual
rate set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payable with such
frequency as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such
distributions will accumulate from the date on which such shares are
issued.
In
the alternative, the Prospectus Supplement may state that the holders of one
or
more series of the preferred shares are entitled to receive cash distributions
at annual rates stated as a percentage of liquidation preference, that will
vary
from dividend period to dividend period (“Variable Rate Preferred Shares”). The
liquidation preference per share and the dividend rate for the initial dividend
period for any such series of preferred shares will be the rate set out in
the
Prospectus Supplement for such series. For subsequent dividend periods, each
such series of preferred shares will pay distributions based on a rate set
at an
auction, normally held weekly, but not in excess of a maximum rate. Dividend
periods generally will be seven days, and the dividend periods generally will
begin on the first business day after an auction. In most instances,
distributions are also paid weekly, on the business day following the end of
the
dividend period. The Fund, subject to some limitations, may change the length
of
the dividend periods, designating them as “special dividend periods,” as
described below under “— Designation of Special Dividend Periods”.
Distribution
Payments. Except as described below, the dividend
payment date for a series of Variable Rate Preferred Shares will be the first
business day after the dividend period ends. The dividend payment dates for
special dividend periods of more (or less) than seven days will be set out
in
the notice designating a special dividend period. See “ — Designation of
Special Dividend Periods” for a discussion of payment dates for a special
dividend period.
If
a dividend payment date for a series of Variable Rate Preferred Shares is not
a
business day because the NYSE is closed for business for more than three
consecutive business days due to an act of God, natural disaster, act of war,
civil or military disturbance, act of terrorism, sabotage, riots or a loss
or
malfunction of utilities or communications services, or the dividend payable
on
such date can not be paid for any such reason, then:
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•
|
the
dividend payment date for the affected dividend period will be the
next
business day on which the Fund and its paying agent, if any, are
able to
cause the distributions to be paid using their reasonable best
efforts;
|
|
•
|
the
affected dividend period will end on the day it would have ended
had such
event not occurred and the dividend payment date had remained the
scheduled date; and
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•
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the
next dividend period will begin and end on the dates on which it
would
have begun and ended had such event not occurred and the dividend
payment
date remained the scheduled date.
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Determination
of Dividend Rates. The Fund computes the distributions
per share for a series of Variable Rate Preferred Shares by multiplying the
applicable rate determined at the auction by a fraction, the numerator of which
normally is the number of days in such dividend period and the denominator
of
which is 360. This applicable rate is then multiplied by the liquidation
preference per share of such series to arrive at the distribution per
share.
Maximum
Rate. The dividend rate for a series of Variable Rate
Preferred Shares that results from an auction for such shares will not be
greater than the applicable “maximum rate.” The maximum rate for any standard
dividend period will be the greater of the applicable percentage of the
reference rate or the reference rate plus the applicable spread. The reference
rate will be the applicable LIBOR Rate (as defined below) for a dividend period
of fewer than 365 days or the Treasury Index Rate (as defined below) for a
dividend period of 365 days or more. The applicable percentage and the
applicable spread will be determined based on the lower of the credit ratings
assigned to such series of preferred shares by Moody’s and S&P on the
auction date for such period (as set forth in the table below). If Moody’s
and/or S&P do not make such rating available, the rate will be determined by
reference to equivalent ratings issued by a substitute rating agency. In the
case of a special dividend period, (1) the Fund will communicate the maximum
applicable rate in a notice of special rate period for such dividend payment
period, (2) the applicable percentage and applicable spread will be determined
on the date two business days before the first day of such special dividend
period and (3) the reference rate will be the applicable LIBOR Rate for a
dividend period of fewer than 365 days or the Treasury Index Rate for a dividend
period of 365 days or more.
The
“LIBOR Rate,” as described in greater detail in the Statement of Preferences, is
the applicable London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars
for
the period most closely approximating the applicable dividend period for
the
preferred shares.
The
“Treasury Index Rate,” as described in greater detail in the Statement of
Preferences, is the average yield to maturity for certain U.S. Treasury
securities having substantially the same length to maturity as the applicable
dividend period for the preferred shares.
Credit
Ratings
|
|
Applicable
Percentage
|
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Applicable
Spread
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Moody’s
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S&P
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Aaa
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|
AAA
|
|
150%
|
|
1.50%
|
Aa3
to Aa1
|
|
AA–
to AA+
|
|
250%
|
|
2.50%
|
A3
to A1
|
|
A–
to A+
|
|
350%
|
|
3.50%
|
Baa1
or lower
|
|
BBB+
or lower
|
|
550%
|
|
5.50%
|
Assuming
the Fund maintains an “AAA” and “Aaa” rating on the preferred shares, the
practical effect of the different methods used to determine the maximum rate
is
shown in the table below:
Reference
Rate
|
|
Maximum
Applicable
Rate
Using the
Applicable
Percentage
|
|
Maximum
Applicable
Rate
Using the
Applicable
Spread
|
|
Method
Used to
Determine
the
Maximum
Applicable Rate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1%
|
|
1.50%
|
|
2.50%
|
|
Spread
|
2%
|
|
3.00%
|
|
3.50%
|
|
Spread
|
3%
|
|
4.50%
|
|
4.50%
|
|
Either
|
4%
|
|
6.00%
|
|
5.50%
|
|
Percentage
|
5%
|
|
7.50%
|
|
6.50%
|
|
Percentage
|
6%
|
|
9.00%
|
|
7.50%
|
|
Percentage
|
There
is no minimum dividend rate in respect of any dividend period.
Effect
of Failure to Pay Distributions in a Timely Manner. If
the Fund fails to pay the paying agent the full amount of any distribution
or
redemption price, as applicable, for a series of variable rate preferred
shares
in a timely manner, the dividend rate for the dividend period following such
a
failure to pay (such period referred to as the default period) and any
subsequent dividend period for which such default is continuing will be the
default rate. In the event that the Fund fully pays all default amounts due
during a dividend period, the dividend rate for the remainder of that dividend
period will be, as the case may be, the applicable rate (for the first dividend
period following a dividend default) or the then maximum rate (for any
subsequent dividend period for which such default is
continuing).
The
default rate is 550% of the applicable LIBOR Rate for a dividend period of
364
days or fewer and 550% of the applicable Treasury Index Rate for a dividend
period of longer than 364 days.
Designation
of Special Dividend Periods. The Fund may instruct the
auction agent to hold auctions more or less frequently than weekly and may
designate dividend periods longer or shorter than one week. The Fund may do
this
if, for example, the Fund expects that short-term rates might increase or market
conditions otherwise change, in an effort to optimize the potential benefit
of
the Fund’s leverage for holders of its common shares. The Fund does not
currently expect to hold auctions and pay distributions less frequently than
weekly or establish dividend periods longer or shorter than one week. If the
Fund designates a special dividend period, changes in interest rates could
affect the price received if preferred shares are sold in the secondary
market.
Any
designation of a special dividend period for a series of Variable Rate Preferred
Shares will be effective only if (i) notice thereof has been given as provided
for in the governing documents, (ii) any failure to pay in a timely manner
to
the auction agent the full amount of any distribution on, or the redemption
price of, any preferred shares has been cured as provided for in the governing
documents, (iii) the auction immediately preceding the special dividend period
was not a failed auction, (iv) if the Fund has mailed a notice of redemption
with respect to any preferred shares, the Fund has deposited with the paying
agent all funds necessary for such redemption and (v) the Fund has
confirmed that as of the auction date next preceding the first day of such
special dividend period, it has assets with an aggregate discounted value
at
least equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount, and the Fund has provided notice
of
such designation and a Basic Maintenance Report to each rating agency then
rating the preferred shares at the request of the Fund.
The
dividend payment date for any such special dividend period will be set out
in
the notice designating the special dividend period. In addition, for special
dividend periods of at least 91 days, dividend payment dates will occur on
the
first business day of each calendar month within such dividend period and on
the
business day following the last day of such dividend period.
Before
the Fund designates a special dividend period: (i) at least seven business
days
(or two business days in the event the duration of the dividend period prior
to
such special dividend period is less than eight days) and not more than 30
business days before the first day of the proposed special dividend period,
the
Fund will issue a press release stating its intention to designate a special
dividend period and inform the auction agent of the proposed special dividend
period by telephonic or other means and confirm it in writing promptly
thereafter and (ii) the Fund must inform the auction agent of the proposed
special dividend period by 3:00 p.m., New York City time on the second business
day before the first day of the proposed special dividend period.
Restrictions
on Dividends and Other Distributions for the Preferred
Shares
So
long as any preferred shares are outstanding, the Fund may not pay any dividend
or distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in common shares
or
in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase common shares)
in
respect of the common shares or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration any common shares (except by conversion
into
or exchange for shares of the Fund ranking junior to the preferred shares as
to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation),
unless:
|
•
|
the
Fund has declared and paid (or provided to the relevant dividend
paying
agent) all cumulative distributions on the Fund’s outstanding preferred
shares due on or prior to the date of such common share dividend
or
distribution;
|
|
•
|
the
Fund has redeemed the full number of preferred shares to be redeemed
pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision in the Fund’s governing
documents; and
|
|
•
|
after
making the distribution, the Fund meets applicable asset coverage
requirements described under “— Rating Agency Guidelines” and “— Asset
Maintenance Requirements.”
|
No
full distribution will be declared or made on any series of the preferred shares
for any dividend period, or part thereof, unless full cumulative distributions
due through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor for all outstanding
series of preferred shares of the Fund ranking on a parity with such series
as
to distributions have been or contemporaneously are declared and made. If full
cumulative distributions due have not been made on all outstanding preferred
shares of the Fund ranking on a parity with such series of preferred shares
as
to the payment of distributions, any distributions being paid on the
preferred shares will be paid as nearly pro rata as possible in proportion
to
the respective amounts of distributions accumulated but unmade on each such
series of preferred shares on the relevant dividend payment date. The
Fund’s obligation to make distributions on the preferred shares will be
subordinate to its obligations to pay interest and principal, when due, on
any
of the Fund’s senior securities representing debt.
Redemption
Mandatory
Redemption Relating to Asset Coverage
Requirements. The Fund may, at its option, consistent with its
Governing Documents and the 1940 Act, and in certain circumstances will be
required to, mandatorily redeem preferred shares in the event
that:
|
•
|
the
Fund fails to maintain the asset coverage requirements specified
under the
1940 Act on a quarterly valuation date and such failure is not cured
on or
before 60 days, in the case of the Fixed Rate Preferred Shares, or
10
business days, in the case of the Variable Rate Preferred Shares,
following such failure; or
|
|
•
|
the
Fund fails to maintain the asset coverage requirements as calculated
in
accordance with the applicable rating agency guidelines as of any
monthly
valuation date, and such failure is not cured on or before 10 business
days after such valuation date.
|
The
redemption price for preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption will
be
the liquidation preference, as stated in the Prospectus Supplement accompanying
the issuance of such preferred shares, plus an amount equal to any accumulated
but unpaid distributions (whether or not earned or declared) to the date
fixed
for redemption, plus (in the case of Variable Rate Preferred Shares having
a
dividend period of more than one year) any applicable redemption premium
determined by the Board of Trustees and included in the Statement of
Preferences.
The
number of preferred shares that will be redeemed in the case of a mandatory
redemption will equal the minimum number of outstanding preferred shares, the
redemption of which, if such redemption had occurred immediately prior to the
opening of business on the applicable cure date, would have resulted in the
relevant asset coverage requirement having been met or, if the required asset
coverage cannot be so restored, all of the preferred shares. In the event that
preferred shares are redeemed due to a failure to satisfy the 1940 Act asset
coverage requirements, the Fund may, but is not required to, redeem a sufficient
number of preferred shares so that the Fund’s assets exceed the asset coverage
requirements under the 1940 Act after the redemption by 10% (that is, 220%
asset
coverage). In the event that preferred shares are redeemed due to a failure
to
satisfy applicable rating agency guidelines, the Fund may, but is not required
to, redeem a sufficient number of preferred shares so that the Fund’s discounted
portfolio value (as determined in accordance with the applicable rating agency
guidelines) after redemption exceeds the asset coverage requirements of each
applicable rating agency by up to 10% (that is, 110% rating agency asset
coverage). In addition, as discussed under “— Optional Redemption of the
Preferred Shares” below, the Fund generally may redeem Variable Rate Preferred
Shares subject to a variable rate, in whole or in part, at its option at any
time (usually on a dividend or distribution payment date), other than during
a
non-call period.
If
the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of, or is
otherwise unable to redeem, all the preferred shares to be redeemed on any
redemption date, the Fund will redeem on such redemption date that number of
shares for which it has legally available funds, or is otherwise able to redeem,
from the holders whose shares are to be redeemed ratably on the basis of the
redemption price of such shares, and the remainder of those shares to be
redeemed will be redeemed on the earliest practicable date on which the
Fund will have funds legally available for the redemption of, or is otherwise
able to redeem, such shares upon written notice of redemption.
If
fewer than all of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares are to be redeemed,
the Fund, at its discretion and subject to the limitations of its Governing
Documents and the 1940 Act, will select the one or more series of preferred
shares from which shares will be redeemed and the amount of preferred shares
to
be redeemed from each such series. If less than all preferred shares of a
series
are to be redeemed, such redemption will be made as among the holders of
that
series pro rata in accordance with the respective number of shares of such
series held by each such holder on the record date for such redemption (or
by
such other equitable method as the Fund may determine). If fewer than all
the
preferred shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption
mailed to such holder will specify the number of shares to be redeemed from
such
holder, which may be expressed as a percentage of shares held on the applicable
record date.
Optional
Redemption of Fixed Rate Preferred
Shares. Fixed Rate Preferred
Shares will not be subject to optional redemption by the Fund until the date,
if
any, specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, unless such redemption
is necessary, in the judgment of the Fund, to maintain the Fund’s status as a
regulated investment company under the Code. Commencing on such date and
thereafter, the Trust may at any time redeem such Fixed Rate Preferred Shares
in
whole or in part for cash at a redemption price per share equal to the initial
liquidation preference per share plus accumulated and unpaid distributions
(whether or not earned or declared) to the redemption date. Such redemptions
are
subject to the notice requirements set forth under “— Redemption Procedures” and
the limitations of the Governing Documents and 1940 Act.
Optional
Redemption of Variable Rate Preferred Shares. The Fund
generally may redeem Variable Rate Preferred Shares, if issued, in whole
or in
part, at its option at any time (usually on a dividend or distribution payment
date), other than during a non-call period. The Fund may designate a non-call
period during a dividend period of more than seven days. In the case of such
preferred shares having a dividend period of one year or less, the redemption
price per share will equal the initial liquidation preference plus an amount
equal to any accumulated but unpaid distributions thereon (whether or not
earned
or declared) to the redemption date, and in the case of such Preferred Shares
having a dividend period of more than one year, the redemption price per
share
will equal the initial liquidation preference plus any redemption premium
applicable during such dividend period. Such redemptions are subject to the
notice requirements set forth under “— Redemption Procedures” and the
limitations of the Governing Documents and 1940 Act.
Redemption
Procedures. A notice of redemption with respect to an
optional redemption will be given to the holders of record of preferred shares
selected for redemption not less than 15 days (subject to Amex or NYSE
requirements), in the case of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares, and not less than
seven days in the case of Variable Rate Preferred Shares, nor, in both cases,
more than 40 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Preferred shareholders
may receive shorter notice in the event of a mandatory redemption. Each notice
of redemption will state (i) the redemption date, (ii) the number or percentage
of preferred shares to be redeemed (which may be expressed as a percentage
of
such shares outstanding), (iii) the CUSIP number(s) of such shares, (iv)
the
redemption price (specifying the amount of accumulated distributions to be
included therein), (v) the place or places where such shares are to be redeemed,
(vi) that distributions on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate
on
such redemption date, (vii) the provision of the Statement of Preferences,
as
applicable, under which the redemption is being made and (viii) any conditions
precedent to such redemption. No defect in the notice of redemption or in
the
mailing thereof will affect the validity of the redemption proceedings, except
as required by applicable law.
The
holders of any preferred shares, whether subject to a variable or fixed rate,
will not have the right to redeem any of their shares at their
option.
Liquidation
Preference. In the event of any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the
Fund,
the holders of preferred shares will be entitled to receive a preferential
liquidating distribution, which is expected to equal the original purchase
price
per preferred share plus accumulated and unpaid
dividends,
whether
or not declared, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of
common
shares. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution
to
which they are entitled, the holders of preferred shares will not be entitled
to
any further participation in any distribution of assets by the
Fund.
Voting
Rights. The 1940 Act requires that the holders of any
preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, have the right to elect
at least two Trustees at all times. The remaining Trustees will be elected
by
holders of common shares and preferred shares, voting together as a single
class. In addition, subject to the prior rights, if any, of the holders of
any
other class of senior securities outstanding, the holders of any preferred
shares have the right to elect a majority of the Trustees at any time two years’
dividends on any preferred shares are unpaid. The 1940 Act also requires that,
in addition to any approval by shareholders that might otherwise be required,
the approval of the holders of a majority of any outstanding preferred shares,
voting separately as a class, would be required to (i) adopt any plan of
reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred shares, and (ii) take
any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the
1940
Act, including, among other things, changes in the Fund’s subclassification as a
closed-end investment company to an open-end company or changes in its
fundamental investment restrictions. As a result of these voting rights, the
Fund’s ability to take any such actions may be impeded to the extent that there
are any preferred shares outstanding. The Board of Trustees presently intends
that, except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus and except as otherwise
required by applicable law, holders of preferred shares will have equal voting
rights with holders of common shares (one vote per share, unless otherwise
required by the 1940 Act) and will vote together with holders of common shares
as a single class.
The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred
shares, voting as a separate class, will be required to amend, alter or repeal
any of the preferences, rights or powers of holders of preferred shares so
as to
affect materially and adversely such preferences, rights or powers, or to
increase or decrease the authorized number of preferred shares. The class vote
of holders of preferred shares described above will in each case be in
addition to any other vote required to authorize the action in
question.
The
foregoing voting provisions will not apply to any preferred shares if, at or
prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote otherwise would
be required will be effected, such shares will have been redeemed or called
for
redemption and sufficient cash or cash equivalents provided to the applicable
paying agent to effect such redemption.
Book Entry. Fixed
Rate Preferred Shares will initially be held in the name of Cede & Co. as
nominee for DTC. The Fund will treat Cede & Co. as the holder of
record of preferred shares for all purposes. In accordance with the
procedures of DTC, however, purchasers of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares will
be
deemed the beneficial owners of stock purchased for purposes of dividends,
voting and liquidation rights.
Variable
Rate Preferred Shares will initially be held by the auction agent as custodian
for Cede & Co., in whose name the Variable Rate Preferred Shares will be
registered. The Fund will treat Cede & Co. as the holder of
record of the Variable Rate Preferred Shares for all
purposes.
ANTI-TAKEOVER
PROVISIONS OF THE FUND’S GOVERNING
DOCUMENTS
The
Fund presently has provisions in its Governing Documents which could have
the
effect of limiting, in each case, (i) the ability of other entities or
persons
to acquire control of the Fund, (ii) the Fund’s freedom to engage in certain
transactions or (iii) the ability of the Fund’s Trustees or shareholders to
amend the Governing Documents or effectuate changes in the Fund’s
management. These provisions of the Governing Documents of the Fund
may be regarded as “anti-takeover” provisions. The Board of Trustees
of the Fund is divided into three classes, each having a term of no more
than
three years (except, to ensure that the term of a class of the Fund’s Trustees
expires each year, one class of the Fund’s Trustees will serve an initial
one-year term and three-year terms thereafter and another class of its
Trustees
will serve an initial two-year term and three-year terms
thereafter). Each year the term of one class of Trustees will
expire. Accordingly, only those Trustees in one class may be changed
in any one year, and it would require a minimum of two years to change
a
majority of the Board of Trustees. Such system of electing
Trustees may have the effect of maintaining the continuity of management
and,
thus, make it more difficult for the shareholders of the Fund to change
the
majority of Trustees. See “Management of the Fund — Trustees and
Officers” in the SAI. A trustee of the Fund may be removed with or
without cause by two-thirds of
the remaining Trustees and, without cause,
by
66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast for the election of such
Trustees. Special voting requirements of 75% of the outstanding
voting shares (in addition to any required class votes) apply to certain mergers
or a sale of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets, liquidation,
conversion of the Fund into an open-end fund or interval fund and amendments
to
several provisions of the Declaration of Trust, including the foregoing
provisions. In addition, after completion of the offering, 80% of the
holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund voting as a class
is
generally required in order to authorize any of the following
transactions:
|
•
|
merger
or consolidation of the Fund with or into any other
entity;
|
|
•
|
issuance
of any securities of the Fund to any person or entity for cash, other
than
pursuant to the Dividend and Reinvestment Plan or any offering if
such
person or entity acquires no greater percentage of the securities
offered
than the percentage beneficially owned by such person or entity
immediately prior to such offering or, in the case of a class or
series
not then
beneficially owned by such person or entity, the percentage of common
shares beneficially owned by such person or entity immediately prior
to
such offering;
|
|
•
|
sale,
lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of
the Fund
to any entity or person (except assets having an aggregate
fair market value of less than
$5,000,000);
|
|
•
|
sale,
lease or exchange
to the Fund, in exchange for securities of the Fund, of any assets
of any
entity or person (except assets having an aggregate fair market value
of
less than $5,000,000); or
|
|
•
|
the
purchase of the Fund’s common shares by the Fund from any person or entity
other than pursuant to a tender offer equally available to other
shareholders in which such person or entity tenders no greater percentage
of common shares than are tendered by all other shareholders; if
such
person or entity is directly, or indirectly through affiliates, the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the
Fund.
|
However,
such vote would not be required when, under certain conditions, the Board of
Trustees approves the transaction.
In
addition, shareholders have no authority to adopt, amend or repeal
By-Laws. The Board of Trustees has authority to adopt, amend and
repeal By-Laws consistent with the Declaration of Trust (including to require
approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares for the election
of Trustees).
The
provisions of the Governing Documents described above could have the effect
of
depriving the owners of shares in the Fund of opportunities to sell their shares
at a premium over prevailing market prices, by discouraging a third party from
seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar
transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is to render more
difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a
principal shareholder.
The
Governing Documents of the Fund are on file with the SEC. For the
full text of these provisions, see “Additional Information.”
The
Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company (commonly
referred to as a closed-end fund). Closed-end funds differ from
open-end funds (which are generally referred to as mutual funds) in that
closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a stock exchange
and
do not redeem their shares at the request of the shareholder. This
means that if you wish to sell your shares of a closed-end fund you must trade
them on the market like any other stock at the prevailing market price at
that time. In a mutual fund, if the shareholder wishes to sell shares
of the Fund, the mutual fund will redeem or buy back the shares at “net asset
value.” Also, mutual funds generally offer new shares on a continuous basis to
new investors, and closed-end funds generally do not. The continuous
inflows and outflows of assets in a mutual fund can make it difficult to manage
the Fund’s investments. By comparison, closed-end funds are generally
able to stay more fully invested in securities that are consistent with their
investment objectives, to have greater flexibility to make certain types of
investments and to use certain investment strategies such as financial leverage
and investments in illiquid securities.
Shares
of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset
value. Because of this possibility and the recognition that any such
discount may not be in the interest of shareholders, the Fund’s Board of
Trustees might consider from time to time engaging in open-market repurchases,
tender offers for shares or other programs intended to reduce a
discount. We cannot guarantee or assure, however, that the Fund’s
Board of Trustees will decide to engage in any of these
actions. Nor is there any guarantee or assurance that such actions,
if undertaken, would result in the shares trading at a price equal or close
to
net asset value per share. The Board of Trustees might also consider
converting the Fund to an open-end mutual fund, which would also require a
supermajority vote of the shareholders of the Fund and a separate vote of any
outstanding preferred shares. We cannot assure you that the Fund’s
common shares will not trade at a discount.
The
Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company and as
such
its shareholders do not, and will not, have the right to require the Fund
to
repurchase their shares. The Fund, however, may repurchase its common
shares from time to time as and when it deems such a repurchase
advisable. The Board of Trustees has authorized such repurchases to
be made when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount from net asset
value of 7.5% or more (or such other percentage as the Board of Trustees
of the
Fund may determine from time to time). Although the Board of Trustees
has authorized such repurchases, the Fund is not required to repurchase its
common shares. The Board of Trustees has not established a limit on
the number of shares that could be purchased during such
period. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may repurchase its common
shares on a securities exchange (provided that the Fund has informed its
shareholders within the preceding six months of its intention to repurchase
such
shares) or pursuant to tenders and may also repurchase shares privately if
the
Fund meets certain conditions regarding, among other things, distribution
of net
income for the preceding fiscal year, status of the seller, price paid,
brokerage commissions, prior notice to shareholders of an intention to purchase
shares and purchasing in a manner and on a basis that does not discriminate
unfairly against the other shareholders through their interest in the
Fund.
When
the Fund repurchases its common shares for a price below net asset value, the
net asset value of the common shares that remain outstanding shares will be
enhanced, but this does not necessarily mean that the market price of the
outstanding common shares will be affected, either positively or
negatively. The repurchase of common shares will reduce the total
assets of the Fund available for investment and may increase the Fund’s expense
ratio.
For
purposes of determining the Fund’s net asset value per share, 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 such day, the security is valued at the most recently
available
price or, if the Board of Trustees so determines, by such other method
as the
Board of Trustees 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 the Investment
Adviser.
Portfolio
securities primarily traded on foreign markets 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 of Trustees
if
market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market
but
prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being
valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less that
are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board
of
Trustees determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair
value, in which case these securities will be fair valued by or under the
direction of the Board of Trustees. Debt instruments having a
maturity greater than 60 days for which market quotations are readily available
are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If
there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using
the
closing bid price. Futures contracts are valued at the closing
settlement price of the exchange or board of trade on which the applicable
contract is traded.
Securities
and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are valued
at
their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established
by and
under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees. 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 to the valuation and changes in valuation
of
similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities to the
equivalent U.S. dollar value ADR 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
Fund obtains valuations on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service
approved by the Board of Trustees. All other investment assets,
including restricted and not readily marketable securities, are valued in
good
faith at fair value under procedures established by and under the general
supervision and responsibility of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
In
addition, whenever developments in one or more securities markets after the
close of the principal markets for one or more portfolio securities and before
the time as of which the Fund determines its net asset value would, if such
developments had been reflected in such principal markets, likely have more
than
a minimal effect on the Fund’s net asset value per share, the Fund may fair
value such portfolio securities based on available market information as
of the
time the Fund determines its net asset value.
Amex
Closings. The holidays (as observed) on which the Amex is
closed, and therefore days upon which shareholders cannot purchase or sell
shares, currently are: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’
Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving
Day
and Christmas Day and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when a
holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively.
The
following discussion is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income
tax
considerations affecting the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition
of
the Fund’s shares. A more complete discussion of the tax rules
applicable to the Fund and its shareholders can be found in the SAI that
is
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This discussion
assumes you are a U.S. person and that you hold your shares as capital
assets. This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code,
the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative
authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations
by
the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with
retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed
explanation of all U.S. federal tax concerns affecting the Fund and its
shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the
Fund).
The
discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice and potential
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the
tax
consequences to them of investing in the Fund.
Taxation
of the Fund
The
Fund has elected to be treated and has qualified, and intends to continue
to
qualify annually, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M
of the
Code. Accordingly, the Fund must, among other things, meet the
following requirements regarding the source of its income and the
diversification of its assets:
|
(i)
|
The
Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income
from the following sources, which are referred to herein as “Qualifying
Income”: (a) dividends, interest (including tax-exempt interest), payments
with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale
or other
disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other
income
(including but not limited to gain from options, futures and forward
contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such
stock, securities or foreign currencies; and (b) interests in publicly
traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal
income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross
income from the items described in (a) above (each a “Qualified Publicly
Traded Partnership”).
|
|
(ii) |
The
Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter
of
each taxable year (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total
assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities,
the securities of other regulated investment companies and other
securities, with such other securities
limited,
|
in
respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of
the
Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities
of such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund’s total
assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities
and
the securities of other regulated investment companies) of (I) any one
issuer, (II) any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are
determined to be engaged in the same business or similar or related trades
or
businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly Traded
Partnerships.
Income
from the Fund’s investments in grantor trusts and equity interest of MLPs that
are not Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships (if any) will be Qualifying
Income to the extent it is attributable to items of income of such trust or
MLP
that would be Qualifying Income if earned directly by the Fund.
The
Fund's investments in partnerships, including in Qualified Publicly Traded
Partnerships, may result in the Fund being subject to state,
local
or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax
liabilities.
As
a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject
to U.S.
federal income tax on income and gains that the Fund distributes to its
shareholders, provided that it distributes each taxable year at least the
sum of
(i) 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (which includes, among
other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short-term capital
gain over net long-term capital loss and other taxable income, other than
any
net long-term capital gain, reduced by deductible expenses) determined
without
regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) 90% of the Fund’s net
tax-exempt interest income (the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest
over
certain disallowed deductions). The Fund intends to distribute
substantially all of such income at least annually. The Fund will be
subject to income tax at regular corporate rates on any taxable income
or gains
that it does not distribute to its shareholders.
The
Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to the extent the Fund
does not distribute by the end of any calendar year an amount at least equal
to
the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital
gain or loss) for the calendar year and (ii) 98% of its capital gain in excess
of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period
generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election is
made
to use the Fund’s fiscal year). In addition, the minimum amounts that
must be distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or
decreased to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case
may be, from the previous year. While the Fund intends to distribute
any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition
of
the 4% excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the
Fund’s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the
imposition of the excise tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable
for the excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing
distribution requirement.
If
for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment
company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be
subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for
distributions to shareholders.
Taxation
of Shareholders
Distributions
paid to you by the Fund from its net realized long-term capital gains, if any,
that the Fund designates as capital gains dividends (“capital gain dividends”)
are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held
your common shares. All other dividends paid to you by the Fund
(including dividends from short-term capital gains) from its current or
accumulated earnings and profits (“ordinary income dividends”) are generally
subject to tax as ordinary income.
Special
rules apply, however, to ordinary income dividends paid to individuals with
respect to taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. If
you are an individual, any such ordinary income dividend that you receive from
the Fund generally will be eligible for taxation at the Federal rates applicable
to long-term capital gains (currently at a maximum rate of 15%) to the extent
that (i) the ordinary income dividend is attributable to “qualified dividend
income” (i.e., generally dividends paid by U.S. corporations and certain foreign
corporations) received by the Fund, (ii) the Fund satisfies certain holding
period and other requirements with respect to the stock on which such qualified
dividend income was paid and (iii) you satisfy certain holding period and other
requirements with respect to your common shares. There can be no
assurance as to what portion of the Fund’s ordinary income dividends will
constitute qualified dividend income.
Any
distributions you receive that are in excess of the Fund’s current or
accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a tax-free return of capital
to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, and thereafter
as
capital
gain from the sale of common shares. The amount of any Fund
distribution that is treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce your
adjusted tax basis in your common shares, thereby increasing your potential
gain
or reducing your potential loss on any subsequent sale or other disposition
of
your common shares.
Dividends
and other taxable distributions are taxable to you even though they are
reinvested in additional common shares of the Fund. Dividends and
other distributions paid by the Fund are generally treated under the Code as
received by you at the time the dividend or distribution is
made. If, however, the Fund pays you a dividend in January that was
declared in the previous October, November or December and you were the
shareholder of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such
dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by the Fund and received
by you on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was
declared.
The
Fund will send you information after the end of each year setting forth the
amount and tax status of any distributions paid to you by the Fund.
The
sale or other disposition of common shares of the Fund will generally result
in
capital gain or loss to you, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if
you
have held such common shares for more than one year at the time of
sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of common shares held for
six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent
of
any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an
undistributed capital gain dividend) by you with respect to such common
shares. Any loss you realize on a sale or exchange of common shares
will be disallowed if you acquire other common shares (whether through the
automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period
beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after your sale or exchange of
the common shares. In such case, your tax basis in the common shares
acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
The
Fund may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal backup withholding tax
purposes, a portion of the dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds
payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund (or its agent) with their
correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, generally,
their social security number) or to make required certifications, or who have
been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup
withholding. Certain shareholders are exempt from backup
withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any
amount withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income
tax
liability, if any, provided that you furnish the required information to the
IRS.
AND
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
Mellon,
located at 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149, serves as
the
Custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody agreement. Under
the custody agreement, the Custodian holds the Fund’s assets in compliance with
the 1940 Act. For its services, the Custodian will receive a monthly
fee paid by the Fund based upon, among other things, the average value of
the
total assets of the Fund, plus certain charges for securities transactions
and
out-of-pocket expenses..
American
Stock Transfer, located at 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038, serves
as
the Fund’s dividend disbursing agent, as agent under the Fund’s Plan and as
transfer agent and registrar for the common shares of the Fund.
We
may sell our shares through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more
purchasers, through agents, to or through underwriters or dealers, or through
a
combination of any such methods of sale. The applicable Prospectus
Supplement will identify any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and
sale
of our shares, any sales loads, discounts, commissions, fees or other
compensation paid to any underwriter, dealer or agent, the offering price,
net
proceeds and use of proceeds and the terms of any sale.
The
distribution of our shares may be effected from time to time in one or more
transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at prevailing
market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices, provided, however, that
the offering price per share in the case of common shares, must equal or exceed
the net asset value per share, exclusive of any underwriting commissions or
discounts, of our common shares.
We
may sell our common shares directly to, and solicit offers from, institutional
investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the
1933
Act for any resales of the securities. In this case, no underwriters
or agents would be involved. We may use electronic media, including
the Internet, to sell offered securities directly.
In
connection with the sale of our shares, underwriters or agents may receive
compensation from us in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions. Underwriters may sell our shares to or through dealers,
and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions
or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers
for
whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that
participate in the distribution of our shares may be deemed to be underwriters
under the Securities Act of 1933, and any discounts and commissions they receive
from us and any profit realized by them on the resale of our shares may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act
of
1933. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified and any such
compensation received from us will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. The maximum commission or discount to be received by any
NASD member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed eight
percent. We will not pay any compensation to any underwriter or
agent in the form of warrants, options, consulting or structuring fees or
similar arrangements.
If
a Prospectus Supplement so indicates, we may grant the underwriters an option
to
purchase additional shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting
discounts and commissions, within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus
Supplement, to cover any overallotments.
To
facilitate an offering of common shares in an underwritten transaction and
in
accordance with industry practice, the underwriters may engage in transactions
that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the
shares. Those transactions may include overallotment, entering
stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions, and reclaiming
selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer.
|
•
|
An
overallotment in connection with an offering creates a short position
in
the shares for the underwriter’s own
account.
|
|
•
|
An
underwriter may place a stabilizing bid to purchase the shares
for the
purpose of pegging, fixing, or maintaining the price of the
shares.
|
|
•
|
Underwriters
may engage in syndicate covering transactions to cover overallotments
or
to stabilize the price of the shares subject to the offering by bidding
for, and purchasing, the shares or any other securities in the open
market
in order to reduce a short position created in connection with the
offering.
|
|
•
|
The
managing underwriter may impose a penalty bid on a syndicate member
to
reclaim a selling concession in connection with an offering when
the
shares originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in
syndicate covering transactions or
otherwise.
|
Any
of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities
above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to
engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any
time.
Any
underwriters to whom the offered securities are sold for offering and sale
may
make a market in the offered securities, but the underwriters will not be
obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making at any time without
notice. The offered securities may or may not be listed on a
securities exchange. We cannot assure you that there will be a liquid
trading market for the offered securities.
Any
common shares sold pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement will be listed on the
Amex.
Under
agreements into which we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who
participate in the distribution of our common shares may be entitled to
indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters, dealers and agents may
engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary
course of business.
If
so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will ourselves, or
will
authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers
by certain institutions to purchase our common shares from us pursuant
to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future
date. Institutions with which such contacts may be made include
commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment
companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases
such institutions must be approved by us. The obligation of any
purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the
purchase of the common shares shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited
under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is
subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any
responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such
contracts. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus Supplement will
set
forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
To
the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, the underwriters may from time to time act as brokers
or
dealers and receive fees in connection with the execution of our portfolio
transactions after the underwriters have ceased to be underwriters and, subject
to certain restrictions, each may act as a broker while it is an
underwriter.
A
Prospectus and accompanying Prospectus Supplement in electronic form may be
made
available on the websites maintained by underwriters. The
underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their
online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for
Internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other
allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters
to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account
holders.
In
order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable,
our
shares offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered
or licensed brokers or dealers.
Certain
legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP,
counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of the Fund's
shares.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund
and
audits the financial statements of the Fund. PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP is located at 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York
10017.
The
Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act, and in accordance therewith files
reports
and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by the Fund with the SEC pursuant to the informational
requirements of such Acts can be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. The SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov containing
reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
registrants, including the Fund, that file electronically with the
SEC.
The
common shares are listed on the Amex under the symbol “GGN.” Reports,
proxy statements and other information concerning the Fund and filed with
the
SEC by the Fund will be available for inspection at the Amex, 86 Trinity
Place,
New York, New York 10006.
This
prospectus constitutes part of a Registration Statement filed by the Fund with
the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act. This
prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration
Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and
related exhibits for further information with respect to the Fund and the common
shares offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning
the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each
instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit
to
the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such
statement is
qualified
in its entirety by such reference. The complete Registration
Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed
by its rules and regulations or free of charge through the SEC’s web site
(http://www.sec.gov).
The
Fund is committed to maintaining the privacy of its shareholders and to
safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following
information is provided to help you understand what personal information the
Fund collects, how the Fund protects that information and why, in certain cases,
the Fund may share information with select other parties.
Generally,
the Fund does not receive any non-public personal information relating to its
shareholders, although certain non-public personal information of its
shareholders may become available to the Fund. The Fund does not
disclose any non-public personal information about its shareholders or former
shareholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in
order to service shareholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or
third party administrator).
The
Fund restricts access to non-public personal information about its shareholders
to employees of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and its affiliates with
a
legitimate business need for the information. The Fund maintains
physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the
non-public personal information of its shareholders.
An
SAI dated as of September 20, 2007, has been filed with the SEC and is
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. An SAI may be obtained
without charge by writing to the Fund at its address at One Corporate Center,
Rye, New York 10580-1422 or by calling the Fund toll-free at (800) GABELLI
(422-3554). The Table of Contents of the SAI is as
follows:
|
Page
|
THE
FUND
|
3
|
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
|
3
|
INVESTMENT
RESTRICTIONS
|
13
|
MANAGEMENT
OF THE FUND
|
14
|
AUCTIONS
FOR AUCTION RATE PREFERRED SHARES
|
23
|
DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS
|
25
|
PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS
|
26
|
PORTFOLIO
TURNOVER
|
27
|
TAXATION
|
27
|
GENERAL
INFORMATION
|
34
|
APPENDIX
A - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
|
A-1
|
No
person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations in connection with this offering other than those contained
in
this Prospectus in connection with the offer contained herein, and, if given
or
made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the
underwriters. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale
made hereunder will, under any circumstances, create any implication that
there
has been no change in the affairs of the Fund since the date hereof or that
the
information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its
date. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities
to
which it relates. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to
sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstance
in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.
$350,000,000
The
Gabelli Global Gold,
Natural
Resources & Income Trust
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
Preferred
Shares of Beneficial Interest
_______________
PROSPECTUS
________,
2007
_______________
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 497
Registration
Statement No. 333-143009
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
(To
Prospectus dated __________, 2007)
__________
Shares
[GRAPHIC
OMITTED]
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
We
are offering for sale ________ shares of our common shares. Our
common shares are traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “GGN.”
The last reported sale price for our common shares on ________, ____ was $_____
per share.
You
should review the information set forth under “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations” on page __ of the accompanying Prospectus before investing in
our common shares.
|
Per
Share
|
Total
(1)
|
Public
offering price
|
$____
|
$
____
|
Underwriting
discounts and commissions
|
$____
|
$
____
|
Proceeds,
before expenses, to us
|
$____
|
$
____
|
(1)
|
The
aggregate expenses of the
offering are estimated to be $________, which represents
approximately $____
per share.
|
The
underwriters may also purchase up to an additional _____________ common shares
from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and
commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any, within 30 days after the date
of
this Prospectus Supplement. If the over-allotment option is exercised
in full, the total proceeds, before expenses, to the Fund would be $________
and
the total underwriting discounts and commissions would be
$________. The common shares will be ready for delivery on or
about __________, ____.
You
should read this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus before
deciding whether to invest in our common shares and retain it for future
reference. The Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus
contain important information about us. Material that has been
incorporated by reference and other information about us can be obtained from
us
by calling 1-800-GABELLI (422-3554) or from the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s (“SEC”) website (http://www.sec.gov).
Neither
the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this Prospectus Supplement is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
____________,
____
You
should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference
in
this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We have not
authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone
provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely
on
it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction
in
which the offer or sale is not permitted.
In
this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus, unless otherwise
indicated, “Fund,” “us,” “our” and “we” refer to The Gabelli Global
Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust. This Prospectus
Supplement also includes trademarks owned by other persons.
Prospectus
Supplement
Prospectus
|
26
|
|
37
|
|
41
|
|
41
|
|
41
|
|
42
|
|
50
|
|
51
|
|
52
|
|
52
|
|
53
|
|
55
|
|
55
|
|
57
|
The
following tables are intended to assist you in understanding the various costs
and expenses directly or indirectly associated with investing in our common
shares as a percentage of net assets attributable to common
shares. Amounts are for the current fiscal year after giving effect
to anticipated net proceeds of the offering, assuming that we incur the
estimated offering expenses, including preferred share offering
expenses.
Shareholder
Transaction Expenses
Sales
Load (as a percentage of offering price)
|
[___]%
|
Offering
Expenses (excluding Preferred Share Offering Expenses) (as a percentage
of
offering price)
|
[___]%
|
Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Fees
|
None(1)
|
Preferred
Share Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of net
assets
attributable to common shares)
|
0.07%(2)
|
|
Percentage
of Net Assets
Attributable
to Common Shares
|
Annual
Expenses
|
|
Management
Fees
|
1.14%(3)
|
Other
Expenses
|
0.12%(3)
|
Total
Annual Expenses
|
1.26%(3)
|
Dividends
on Preferred Shares
|
0.81%(4)
|
Other
Preferred Share Expenses
|
0.01%(4)
|
Total
Annual Expenses and Dividends on Preferred Shares
|
2.08%
|
(1)
|
You
will be charged a $1.00 service charge and pay brokerage charges
if you
direct the plan agent to sell your common shares held in a dividend
reinvestment account.
|
(2)
|
Assumes
issuance of $50 million in liquidation preference of fixed rate
preferred
shares and $50 million in liquidation preference of variable rate
preferred shares and net assets attributable to common shares of
$735
million (which includes issuance of $250 million in common
shares).
|
(3)
|
The
Investment Adviser’s fee is 1.00% annually of the Fund’s average weekly
net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred shares. Consequently, if the Fund has
preferred shares outstanding, the investment management fees and
other
expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares
will be higher than if the Fund does not utilize a leveraged capital
structure. ”Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for
the current year assuming completion of the proposed
issuances.
|
(4)
|
Assumes
issuance of $50 million in liquidation preference of fixed rate
preferred
shares and $50 million in liquidation preference of variable
rate
preferred shares at an annual dividend rate of 6.50% and 5.45%
(inclusive
of an annual 0.25% remarketing fee), respectively, and net assets
attributable to common shares of $735 million (which includes
issuance of
$250 million in common shares). Preferred shares expenses do not
include potential expenses the Fund may incur in connection with
hedging
its obligations to the variable rate preferred shares or any
benefits
associated with such hedging instruments because the Fund cannot
predict
the likelihood of using such hedging instruments or the related
costs and
benefits.
|
Example
The
following example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment
in common shares, assuming a 5% annual portfolio total return.*
|
1
Year
|
3
Years
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
Total
Expenses Incurred
|
_____
|
_____
|
_____
|
_____
|
*
|
The
example should not be considered a representation of future
expenses. The example assumes that the amounts set
forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all distributions
are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be
greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual
rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return
shown in the example.
|
We
estimate the total net proceeds of the offering to be
$_________ ($________ if the over-allotment option is exercised in
full), based on the public offering price of $_____ per share and after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses
payable by us.
The
Investment Adviser expects that it will initially invest the proceeds of the
offering in high-quality short-term debt securities and
instruments. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment
of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives
and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which
is
expected to be substantially completed within three months; however, changes
in
market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period
extending to as long as six months.
[To
be provided.]
The
following table sets forth for the quarters indicated, the high and low sale
prices on the American Stock Exchange per share of our common shares and the
net
asset value and the premium or discount from net asset value per share at which
the common shares were trading, expressed as a percentage of net asset value,
at
each of the high and low sale prices provided.
|
Market
Price
|
Corresponding
Net
Asset Value
(“NAV”)
Per Share
|
Corresponding
Premium
or Discount as a %
of NAV
|
Quarter
Ended
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Low
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31, 2005
|
$
20.01
|
$
20.00
|
$ 19.06
|
$ 19.06
|
4.98
|
4.93
|
June
30, 2005
|
20.05
|
18.03
|
19.06
|
18.68
|
5.19
|
-3.48
|
September
30, 2005
|
21.93
|
19.80
|
21.60
|
19.78
|
1.53
|
0.10
|
December
31, 2005
|
21.81
|
20.22
|
21.03
|
20.11
|
3.71
|
0.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31, 2006
|
23.90
|
21.45
|
22.99
|
21.75
|
3.96
|
-1.38
|
June
30, 2006
|
23.93
|
19.98
|
24.56
|
20.62
|
-2.57
|
-3.10
|
September
30, 2006
|
22.89
|
21.15
|
23.90
|
21.40
|
-4.23
|
-1.17
|
December
31, 2006
|
24.77
|
21.00
|
24.14
|
21.11
|
2.61
|
-0.52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31, 2007
|
26.74
|
22.92
|
25.10
|
22.81
|
6.53
|
0.48
|
June
30, 2007
|
27.81
|
25.20
|
25.88
|
26.61
|
7.46
|
-5.30
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
|
|
|
through
______, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
last reported price for our common shares on _____, ____ was $____ per
share.
[To
be provided.]
Certain
legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP,
New York, New York, counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of
the
common shares. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will
be
passed upon for the underwriters by
__________________________.
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 497
Registration
Statement No. 333-143009
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
(To
Prospectus dated __________, 2007)
__________
Shares
[GRAPHIC
OMITTED]
Series [
] Cumulative Preferred Shares
We
are offering for sale ________ shares of our Series __ Preferred
Shares. Our common shares are traded on the American Stock Exchange
under the symbol “GGN.” The last reported sale price for our common shares on
________, ____ was $_____ per share.
You
should review the information set forth under “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations” on page __ of the accompanying Prospectus before investing in
our preferred shares.
|
Per
Share
|
Total
(1)
|
Public
offering price
|
$____
|
$
____
|
Underwriting
discounts and commissions
|
$____
|
$
____
|
Proceeds,
before expenses, to us
|
$____
|
$
____
|
(1)
|
The
aggregate expenses of the
offering are estimated to be $________, which represents approximately
$____ per share.
|
The
Series __ Preferred Shares will be ready for delivery on or about __________,
____.
You
should read this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus before
deciding whether to invest in our preferred shares and retain it for future
reference. The Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus
contain important information about us. Material that has been
incorporated by reference and other information about us can be obtained
from us
by calling 800-GABELLI (422-3554) or from the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s (“SEC”) website (http://www.sec.gov).
Neither
the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this Prospectus Supplement is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
____________,
____
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Prospectus
Supplement
|
Page
|
TERMS
OF THE SERIES – PREFERRED SHARES
|
P-3
|
USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
P-4
|
UNDERWRITING
|
P-4
|
LEGAL
MATTERS
|
P-4
|
TERMS
OF THE SERIES ___ PREFERRED SHARES
Dividend
Rate
|
The
dividend rate [for the initial dividend period]1 will be
___%.
|
Dividend
Payment Rate
|
[Dividends
will be paid when, as and if declared on __________, __________,
__________, and __________, commencing
__________.]2 The payment date for the initial
dividend period will be __________.]1
|
[Regular
Dividend Period
|
Regular
dividend periods will be ____ days.]1
|
[Regular
Auction Date
|
Auctions
will be held on __________.]1
|
Liquidation
Preference
|
$______
per share
|
[Non-Call
Period
|
The
shares may not be called for redemption at the option of the Fund
prior to
__________.]2
|
[Stock
Exchange Listing]2
|
|
Rating
|
It
is a condition of issuance that the preferred shares be rated “AAA” by
S&P and “Aaa” by
Moody’s.
|
1 Applicable
only if the preferred shares being offered are auction rate
shares.
2 Applicable
only if the preferred shares being offered are fixed rate
shares.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
We
estimate the total net proceeds of the offering to be $_________ , based
on the
public offering price of $_____ per share and after deduction of the
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable
by us.
The
Investment Adviser expects that it will initially invest the proceeds of the
offering in high-quality short-term debt securities and
instruments. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment
of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives
and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which
is
expected to be substantially completed within three months; however, changes
in
market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period
extending to as long as six months.
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
[To
be provided.]
UNDERWRITING
[To
be provided.]
LEGAL
MATTERS
Certain
legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP,
New York, New York, counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of
the
preferred shares. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering
will be
passed upon for the underwriters by
__________________________.
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION
Dated
September 20, 2007
THE
GABELLI GLOBAL GOLD, NATURAL RESOURCES & INCOME TRUST
STATEMENT
OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THE
INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND
MAY
BE CHANGED. THE FUND MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS
EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
This
Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) does not constitute a
prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus
relating thereto dated _______, 2007, and as it may be
supplemented. This SAI does not include all information that a
prospective investor should consider before investing in the Fund’s common
shares, and investors should obtain and read the Fund’s prospectus prior to
purchasing such shares. A copy of the Fund’s Registration Statement,
including the prospectus and any supplement, may be obtained from the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) upon payment of the fee prescribed, or
inspected at the SEC’s office or via its website (www.sec.gov) at no
charge.
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust, or the “Fund,” is a
non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under
the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The
Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current
income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital
appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary
objective. An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all
investors. We cannot assure you that the Fund’s objectives will be
achieved. Gabelli Funds, LLC serves as Investment Adviser to the
Fund. See “Management of the Fund.”
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its objectives
by
investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies
principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources
industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the
equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, mining,
fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the financing,
managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in “gold-related”
activities. In addition, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its
assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the
exploration, production or distribution of natural resources, such as gas, oil,
paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well
as
related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The
Fund may invest in the securities of companies located anywhere in the
world. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least
40% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three
countries, other than the U.S. As part of its investment strategy,
the Fund intends to earn income through an option strategy of writing (selling)
covered call options on equity securities in its portfolio. When the
Fund sells a covered call option, it receives income in the form of the premium
paid by the buyer of the call, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to
participate in any increase in the value of the underlying equity security
above
the exercise price of the option. See “Investment Objectives and
Policies.”
This
Statement of Additional Information is dated September 20,
2007.
|
Page
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
13
|
|
14
|
|
23
|
|
25
|
|
26
|
|
27
|
|
27
|
|
33
|
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust is a non-diversified,
closed-end management investment company organized under the laws of the
State
of Delaware. The Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest, par
value $0.001 per share, are listed on the American Stock Exchange (the "Amex")
under the symbol “GGN.”
Investment
Objectives and Policies
The
Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current
income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital
appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary
objective.
Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its objectives
by
investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies
principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources
industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in
the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration,
mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the
financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in
“gold-related” activities (“Gold Companies”). In addition, the Fund
will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies
principally engaged in the exploration, production or distribution of natural
resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products,
metals and minerals as well as related transportation companies and equipment
manufacturers (“Natural Resources Companies”). The Fund may invest in
the securities of companies located anywhere in the world. Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 40% of its assets
in the
securities of issuers located in at least three countries other than the
U.S.
Principally
engaged, as used in this SAI, means a company that derives at least 50% of
its
revenues or earnings or devotes at least 50% of its assets to the indicated
businesses. An issue will be treated as being located outside the
U.S. if it is either organized or headquartered outside of the U.S. and has
a
substantial portion of its operations or sales outside the
U.S. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks,
convertible securities, warrants, depository receipts and equity interests
in
trusts and other entities. Other Fund investments may include
investment companies, including exchange-traded funds, securities of issuers
subject to reorganization or other risk arbitrage investments, derivative
instruments, debt (including obligations of the U.S. Government) and money
market instruments. As part of its investment strategy, the Fund
intends to earn income through an option strategy of writing (selling) covered
call options on equity securities in its portfolio. When the Fund
sells a covered call option, it receives income in the form of the premium
paid
by the buyer of the call option, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to
participate in any increase in the value of the underlying equity security
above
the exercise price of the option. See “Investment Objectives and
Policies.”
The
Fund is not intended for those who wish to exploit short-term swings in the
stock market.
The
Investment Adviser’s investment philosophy with respect to selecting investments
in the gold industry and the natural resources industries is to emphasize
quality and value, as determined by such factors as asset quality, balance
sheet
leverage, management ability, reserve life, cash flow and commodity hedging
exposure. In addition, in making stock selections, the Investment
Adviser looks for securities that it believes may have a superior yield, as
well
as capital gains potential and that allow the Fund to earn income from writing
covered calls on such stocks.
Additional
Investment Policies
Canadian
Royalty Trusts. The Fund may invest in equity interests in
Canadian Royalty Trusts. A Canadian Royalty Trust is a royalty trust
whose securities are generally listed on a Canadian securities exchange and
which controls an underlying company whose business is the acquisition,
exploitation, production and sale of oil and natural gas. These
trusts generally pay out to unitholders the majority of the cash flow that
they
receive from the production and sale of underlying oil and natural gas
reserves. The amount of distributions paid on a Canadian Royalty
Trust’s units will vary from time to time based on production levels, commodity
prices, royalty rates and certain expenses, deductions and costs, as well as
on
the distribution payout ratio policy adopted. As a result of
distributing the bulk of its cash flow to unitholders, the ability of a Canadian
Royalty Trust to finance internal growth through exploration is
limited. Therefore,
Canadian Royalty Trusts typically grow through acquisition of additional oil
and
gas properties or producing companies with proven reserves of oil and gas,
funded through the issuance of additional equity or, where the trust is able,
additional debt.
Canadian
Royalty Trusts, like other types of Natural Resources Companies, are exposed
to
pricing risk, supply and demand risk and depletion and exploration risk with
respect to their underlying commodities, among other risks. An
investment in units of Canadian Royalty Trusts involves some risks which differ
from an investment in common stock of a corporation, including increased
liability for the obligations of the trust. There are certain
regulatory and tax risks associated with an investment in Canadian Royalty
Trusts resulting from reliance on beneficial Canadian incentive programs and
tax
laws that may be changed in the future. In addition, securities of
certain Canadian Royalty Trusts may not be qualifying assets for the Fund’s
asset diversification requirements.
Master
Limited Partnerships
(“MLPs”). MLPs in which the
Fund intends to invest will be limited partnerships (or limited liability
companies taxable as partnerships), the units of which will generally be listed
and traded on a U.S. securities exchange. MLPs normally derive income
and gains from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing,
refining, transportation (including pipeline transporting gas, oil, or products
thereof), or the marketing of mineral or natural resources. MLPs
generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited
partners. When investing in an MLP, the Fund intends to purchase
publicly traded common units issued to limited partners of the
MLP. The general partner typically controls the operations and
management of the MLP. MLPs are typically structured such that common
units and general partner interests have first priority to receive quarterly
cash distributions up to an established minimum amount (“minimum quarterly
distributions” or “MQD”). Common and general partner interests also
accrue arrearages in distributions to the extent the MQD is not
paid. Once common and general partner interests have been paid,
subordinated units receive distributions of up to the MQD; however, subordinated
units do not accrue arrearages. Distributable cash in excess of the
MQD paid to both common and subordinated units is distributed to both common
and
subordinated units generally on a pro rata basis. The general partner
is also eligible to receive incentive distributions if the general partner
operates the business in a manner that results in distributions paid per common
unit surpassing specified target levels.
MLPs,
like other types of Natural Resources Companies, are exposed to pricing risk,
supply and demand risk and depletion and exploration risk with respect to their
underlying commodities, among other risks. An investment in MLP units
involves some risks which differ from an investment in the common stock of
a
corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting
rights on matters affecting the partnership. In addition, there are
certain tax risks associated with an investment in MLP units and conflicts
of
interest may exist between common unit holders and the general partner,
including those arising from incentive distribution payments.
Risk
Arbitrage. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets at the
time of investment in securities pursuant to “risk arbitrage” strategies or in
other investment funds managed pursuant to such strategies. Risk
arbitrage investments are made in securities of companies for which a tender
or
exchange offer has been made or announced and in securities of companies for
which a merger, consolidation, liquidation or reorganization proposal has been
announced if, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, there is a reasonable
prospect of total return significantly greater than the brokerage and other
transaction expenses involved. Risk arbitrage strategies attempt to
exploit merger activity to capture the spread between current market values
of
securities and their values after successful completion of a merger,
restructuring or similar corporate transaction. Transactions
associated with risk arbitrage strategies typically involve the purchases or
sales of securities in connection with announced corporate actions which may
include, but are not limited to, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions,
transfers of assets, tender offers, exchange offers, re-capitalizations,
liquidations, divestitures, spin-offs and similar
transactions. However, a merger or other restructuring or tender or
exchange offer anticipated by the Fund and in which it holds an arbitrage
position may not be completed on the terms contemplated or within the time
frame
anticipated, resulting in losses to the Fund.
In
general, securities which are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell
at a
premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement
of
the offer but may trade at a discount or premium to what the stated or appraised
value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved
or
consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount
significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved; significantly
undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders as
a
result of the contemplated transaction; or fails adequately to recognize the
possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an
offer
or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies
requires unusually broad knowledge and
experience
on the part of the Investment Adviser which must appraise not only the value
of
the issuer and its component businesses as well as the assets or securities
to
be received as a result of the contemplated transaction but also the
financial resources and business motivation behind the offer and/or the dynamics
and business climate when the offer or proposal is in process. Since
such investments are ordinarily short-term in nature, they will tend to increase
the turnover ratio of the Fund, thereby increasing its brokerage and other
transaction expenses. Risk arbitrage strategies may also involve
short selling, options hedging and other arbitrage techniques to capture price
differentials.
Derivative
Instruments
Options. The
Fund may, from time to time, subject to guidelines of the Board of Trustees
and
the limitations set forth in the prospectus, purchase or sell (i.e., write)
options on securities, securities indices and foreign currencies which are
listed on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”)
market, as a means of achieving additional return or of hedging the value of
the
Fund’s portfolio.
A
call option is a contract that gives the holder of the option the right to
buy
from the writer of the call option, in return for a premium, the security or
currency underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during
the term of the option. The writer of the call option has the
obligation, upon exercise of the option, to deliver the underlying security
or
currency upon payment of the exercise price during the option
period.
A
put option is a contract that gives the holder of the option the right, in
return for a premium, to sell to the seller the underlying security at a
specified price. The seller of the put option has the obligation to
buy the underlying security upon exercise at the exercise price.
A
call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying instrument covered by
the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that instrument
without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration
held
in a segregated account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other
instruments held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if
the Fund holds a call option on the same instrument as the call option written
where the exercise price of the call option held is (i) equal to or less
than the exercise price of the call option written or (ii) greater than the
exercise price of the call option written if the difference is maintained by
the
Fund in cash, U.S. Government Securities or other high-grade short-term
obligations in a segregated account with its custodian. A put option
is “covered” if the Fund maintains cash or other liquid securities with a value
equal to the exercise price in a segregated account with its custodian, or
else
holds a put option on the same instrument as the put option written where the
exercise price of the put option held is equal to or greater than the exercise
price of the put option written.
If
the Fund has written an option, it may terminate its obligation by effecting
a
closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by purchasing an
option of the same series as the option previously written. However,
once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable
to
effect a closing purchase transaction. Similarly, if the Fund is the
holder of an option it may liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale
transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option of the same
series as the option previously purchased. There can be no assurance
that either a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the
Fund
so desires.
The
Fund will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of the
transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or is
more
than the premium paid to purchase the option; the Fund will realize a loss
from
a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is more than the premium
received from writing the option or is less than the premium paid to purchase
the option. Since call option prices generally reflect increases in
the price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase
of
a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation
of the underlying security. Other principal factors affecting the
market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest
rates, the current market price and price volatility of the underlying security
and the time remaining until the expiration date. Gains and losses on
investments in options depend, in part, on the ability of the Investment Adviser
to predict correctly the effect of these factors. The use of options
cannot serve as a complete hedge since the price movement of securities
underlying the options will not necessarily follow the price movements of the
portfolio securities subject to the hedge.
An
option position may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary
market for an option of the same series or in a private
transaction. Although the Fund will generally purchase or write only
those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there
is
no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an
exchange
will exist for any particular option. In such event it might not be
possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, so that the
Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and
would
incur brokerage commissions upon the exercise of call options and upon the
subsequent disposition of underlying securities for the exercise of put
options. If the Fund, as a covered call option writer, is unable to
effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be
able
to sell the underlying security until the option expires or it delivers the
underlying security upon exercise or otherwise covers the position.
To
the extent that the Fund purchases options pursuant to a hedging strategy,
the
Fund will be subject to the following additional risks. If a put or
call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value,
and
if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater
than
the exercise price (in the case of a put), or remains less than or equal to
the
exercise price (in the case of a call), the Fund will lose its entire investment
in the option.
Where
a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against
price movements in that or a related security, the price of the put or call
option may move more or less than the price of the security. If
restrictions on exercise are imposed, the Fund may be unable to exercise an
option it has purchased. If the Fund is unable to close out an option
that it has purchased on a security, it will have to exercise the option in
order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless.
Options
on Securities Indices. The Fund may purchase and sell securities
index options. One effect of such transactions may be to hedge all or
part of the Fund’s securities holdings against a general decline in the
securities market or a segment of the securities market. Options on
securities indices are similar to options on stocks except that, rather than
the
right to take or make delivery of stock at a specified price, an option on
a
securities index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise
of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the securities
index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call
option, or less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the
option.
The
Fund’s successful use of options on indices depends upon its ability to predict
the direction of the market and is subject to various additional
risks. The correlation between movements in the index and the price
of the securities being hedged against is imperfect and the risk from imperfect
correlation increases as the composition of the Fund diverges from the
composition of the relevant index. Accordingly, a decrease in the
value of the securities being hedged against may not be wholly offset by a
gain
on the exercise or sale of a securities index put option held by the
Fund.
Options
on Foreign Currencies. Instead of purchasing or selling currency
futures (as described below), the Fund may attempt to accomplish similar
objectives by purchasing put or call options on currencies or by writing put
options or call options on currencies either on exchanges or in OTC
markets. A put option gives the Fund the right to sell a currency at
the exercise price until the option expires. A call option gives the
Fund the right to purchase a currency at the exercise price until the option
expires. Both types of options serve to insure against adverse
currency price movements in the underlying portfolio assets designated in a
given currency. The Fund’s use of options on currencies will be
subject to the same limitations as its use of options on securities, described
above and in the prospectus. Currency options may be subject to
position limits that may limit the ability of the Fund to fully hedge its
positions by purchasing the options.
As
in the case of interest rate futures contracts and options thereon, described
below, the Fund may hedge against the risk of a decrease or increase in the
U.S.
dollar value of a foreign currency denominated debt security that the Fund
owns
or intends to acquire by purchasing or selling options contracts, futures
contracts or options thereon with respect to a foreign currency other than
the
foreign currency in which such debt security is denominated, where the values
of
such different currencies (vis-а-vis
the U.S.
dollar) historically have a high degree of positive
correlation.
Futures
Contracts and Options on Futures. The Fund may purchase and sell
financial futures contracts and options thereon which are traded on a
commodities exchange or board of trade for certain hedging, yield enhancement
and risk management purposes. A financial futures contract is an
agreement to purchase or sell an agreed amount of securities or currencies
at a
set price for delivery in the future. These futures contracts and
related options may be on debt securities, financial indices, securities
indices, U.S. government securities and foreign currencies. The
Investment Adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term
“commodity pool operator” under the
Commodity
Exchange Act and therefore is not subject to registration under the
Commodity Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Fund’s investments in
derivative instruments described in this prospectus and the Statement of
Additional Information (the “SAI”) are not limited by or subject to regulation
under the Commodity Exchange Act or otherwise regulated by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission.
The
Fund will not enter into futures contracts or options on futures contracts
unless (i) the aggregate initial margins and premiums do not exceed 5% of the
fair market value of its assets and (ii) the aggregate market value of its
outstanding futures contracts and the market value of the currencies and futures
contracts subject to outstanding options written by the Fund, as the case may
be, do not exceed 50% of its total assets. It is anticipated that
these investments, if any, will be made by the Fund solely for the purpose
of
hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the
value of securities it intends to purchase. Such investments will
only be made if they are economically appropriate to the reduction of risks
involved in the management of the Fund. In this regard, the Fund may
enter into futures contracts or options on futures for the purchase or sale
of
securities indices or other financial instruments including but not limited
to
U.S. Government Securities.
A
“sale” of a futures contract (or a “short” futures position) means the
assumption of a contractual obligation to deliver the securities underlying
the
contract at a specified price at a specified future time. A
“purchase” of a futures contract (or a “long” futures position) means the
assumption of a contractual obligation to acquire the securities underlying
the
contract at a specified price at a specified future time. Certain
futures contracts, including stock and bond index futures, are settled on a
net
cash payment basis rather than by the sale and delivery of the securities
underlying the futures contracts.
No
consideration will be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale
of
a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit
with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents equal to approximately
1%
to 10% of the contract amount (this amount is subject to change by the exchange
or board of trade on which the contract is traded and brokers or members of
such
board of trade may charge a higher amount). This amount is known as
the “initial margin” and is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith
deposit on the contract. Subsequent payments, known as “variation
margin,” to and from the broker will be made daily as the price of the index or
security underlying the futures contract fluctuates. At any time
prior to the expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close
the
position by taking an opposite position, which will operate to terminate its
existing position in the contract.
An
option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the
premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise
price at any time prior to the expiration of the option. Upon
exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of
the
option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the
accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account attributable to that
contract, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures
contract exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case
of
a put option, the exercise price of the option on the futures
contract. The potential loss related to the purchase of an option on
a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option (plus
transaction costs). Because the value of the option purchased is
fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments by the purchaser
to
reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value
of
the option does change daily and that change would be reflected in the net
assets of the Fund.
Futures
and options on futures entail certain risks, including but not limited to the
following: no assurance that futures contracts or options on futures can be
offset at favorable prices, possible reduction of the yield of the Fund due
to
the use of hedging, possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged
and the hedging instrument, possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits
on
price fluctuations, imperfect correlation between the contracts and the
securities being hedged, losses from investing in futures transactions that
are
potentially unlimited and the segregation requirements described
below.
In
the event the Fund sells a put option or enters into long futures contracts,
under current interpretations of the 1940 Act, an amount of cash, U.S.
Government Securities or other liquid securities equal to the market value
of
the contract must be deposited and maintained in a segregated account with
the
Fund’s custodian (the “Custodian”) to collateralize the positions, in order for
the Fund to avoid being treated as having issued a senior security in the amount
of its obligations. For short positions in futures contracts and
sales of call options, the Fund may establish a segregated account (not with
a
futures commission merchant or broker) with cash, U.S. Government Securities
or
other high grade debt securities that, when added to amounts deposited with
a
futures commission merchant or a
broker
as margin, equal the market value of the instruments or currency underlying
the
futures contracts or call options, respectively (but are no less than the stock
price of the call option or the market price at which the short positions were
established).
Interest
Rate Futures Contracts and Options Thereon. The Fund
may purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts to take advantage of or
to
protect the Fund against fluctuations in interest rates affecting the value
of
debt securities which the Fund holds or intends to acquire. For
example, if interest rates are expected to increase, the Fund might sell futures
contracts on debt securities, the values of which historically have a high
degree of positive correlation to the values of the Fund’s portfolio
securities. Such a sale would have an effect similar to selling an
equivalent value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. If interest
rates increase, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities will decline, but
the value of the futures contracts to the Fund will increase at approximately
an
equivalent rate thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining
as much as it otherwise would have. The Fund could accomplish similar
results by selling debt securities with longer maturities and investing in
debt
securities with shorter maturities when interest rates are expected to
increase. However, since the futures market may be more liquid than
the cash market, the use of futures contracts as a risk management technique
allows the Fund to maintain a defensive position without having to sell its
portfolio securities.
Similarly,
the Fund may purchase interest rate futures contracts when it is expected that
interest rates may decline. The purchase of futures contracts for
this purpose constitutes a hedge against increases in the price of debt
securities (caused by declining interest rates), which the Fund intends to
acquire. Since fluctuations in the value of appropriately selected
futures contracts should approximate that of the debt securities that will
be
purchased, the Fund can take advantage of the anticipated rise in the cost
of the debt securities without actually buying them. Subsequently,
the Fund can make its intended purchase of the debt securities in the cash
market and currently liquidate its futures position. To the extent
the Fund enters into futures contracts for this purpose, it will maintain in
a
segregated asset account with the Fund’s Custodian, assets sufficient to cover
the Fund’s obligations with respect to such futures contracts, which will
consist of cash or other liquid securities from its portfolio in an amount
equal
to the difference between the fluctuating market value of such futures contracts
and the aggregate value of the initial margin deposited by the Fund with its
Custodian with respect to such futures contracts.
The
purchase of a call option on a futures contract is similar in some respects
to
the purchase of a call option on an individual security. Depending on
the pricing of the option compared to either the price of the futures contract
upon which it is based or the price of the underlying debt securities, it may
or
may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or underlying
debt
securities. As with the purchase of futures contracts, when the Fund
is not fully invested it may purchase a call option on a futures contract to
hedge against a market advance due to declining interest rates.
The
purchase of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of
protective put options on portfolio securities. The Fund will
purchase a put option on a futures contract to hedge the Fund’s portfolio
against the risk of rising interest rates and a consequent reduction in the
value of portfolio securities.
The
writing of a call option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge
against declining prices of the securities that are deliverable upon exercise
of
the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of the
option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of
the
option premium, which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may
have
occurred in the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The writing of a put
option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against increasing
prices of the securities that are deliverable upon exercise of the futures
contract. If the futures price at expiration of the option is higher
than the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option
premium, which provides a partial hedge against any increase in the price of
debt securities that the Fund intends to purchase. If a put or call
option the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will incur a loss which
will
be reduced by the amount of the premium it received. Depending on the
degree of correlation between changes in the value of its portfolio securities
and changes in the value of its futures positions, the Fund’s losses from
options on futures it has written may to some extent be reduced or increased
by
changes in the value of its portfolio securities.
Currency
Futures and Options Thereon. Generally, foreign
currency futures contracts and options thereon are similar to the interest
rate
futures contracts and options thereon discussed previously. By
entering into currency futures and options thereon, the Fund will seek to
establish the rate at which it will be entitled to exchange U.S.
dollars
for
another currency at a future time. By selling currency futures, the
Fund will seek to establish the number of dollars it will receive at delivery
for a certain amount of a foreign currency. In this way, whenever the
Fund anticipates a decline in the value of a foreign currency against the
U.S. dollar, the Fund can attempt to “lock in” the U.S. dollar value of some or
all of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated in that
currency. By purchasing currency futures, the Fund can establish the
number of dollars it will be required to pay for a specified amount of a foreign
currency in a future month. Thus, if the Fund intends to buy
securities in the future and expects the U.S. dollar to decline against the
relevant foreign currency during the period before the purchase is effected,
the
Fund can attempt to “lock in” the price in U.S. dollars of the securities it
intends to acquire.
The
purchase of options on currency futures will allow the Fund, for the price
of
the premium and related transaction costs it must pay for the option, to decide
whether or not to buy (in the case of a call option) or to sell (in the case
of
a put option) a futures contract at a specified price at any time during
the period before the option expires. If the Investment Adviser, in
purchasing an option, has been correct in its judgment concerning the direction
in which the price of a foreign currency would move against the U.S. dollar,
the
Fund may exercise the option and thereby take a futures position to hedge
against the risk it had correctly anticipated or close out the option position
at a gain that will offset, to some extent, currency exchange losses otherwise
suffered by the Fund. If exchange rates move in a way the Fund did
not anticipate, however, the Fund will have incurred the expense of the option
without obtaining the expected benefit; any such movement in exchange rates
may
also thereby reduce rather than enhance the Fund’s profits on its underlying
securities transactions.
Securities
Index Futures Contracts and Options Thereon. Purchases or sales
of securities index futures contracts are used for hedging purposes to attempt
to protect the Fund’s current or intended investments from broad fluctuations in
stock or bond prices. For example, the Fund may sell securities index
futures contracts in anticipation of or during a market decline to attempt
to
offset the decrease in market value of the Fund’s securities portfolio that
might otherwise result. If such decline occurs, the loss in value of
portfolio securities may be offset, in whole or part, by gains on the futures
position. When the Fund is not fully invested in the securities
market and anticipates a significant market advance, it may purchase securities
index futures contracts in order to gain rapid market exposure that may, in
part
or entirely, offset increases in the cost of securities that the Fund intends
to
purchase. As such purchases are made, the corresponding positions in
securities index futures contracts will be closed out. The Fund may
write put and call options on securities index futures contracts for hedging
purposes.
Forward
Currency Exchange Contracts. Subject to guidelines of the Board
of Trustees, the Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts
to protect the value of its portfolio against uncertainty in the level of future
currency exchange rates between a particular foreign currency and the U.S.
dollar or between foreign currencies in which its securities are or may be
denominated. The Fund may enter into such contracts on a spot (i.e.,
cash) basis at the rate then prevailing in the currency exchange market or
on a
forward basis by entering into a forward contract to purchase or sell
currency. A forward contract on foreign currency is an obligation to
purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed
number of days agreed upon by the parties from the date of the contract at
a
price set on the date of the contract. Forward currency contracts (i)
are traded in a market conducted directly between currency traders (typically,
commercial banks or other financial institutions) and their customers, (ii)
generally have no deposit requirements and (iii) are typically consummated
without payment of any commissions. The Fund, however, may enter into
forward currency contracts requiring deposits or involving the payment of
commissions. To assure that its forward currency contracts are not
used to achieve investment leverage, the Fund will segregate liquid assets
consisting of cash, U.S. Government Securities or other liquid securities with
its Custodian, or a designated sub-custodian, in an amount at all times equal
to
or exceeding its commitment with respect to the contracts.
The
dealings of the Fund in forward foreign currency exchange are limited to hedging
involving either specific transactions or portfolio
positions. Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of one forward
foreign currency for another currency with respect to specific receivables
or
payables of the Fund accruing in connection with the purchase and sale of its
portfolio securities or its payment of dividends and
distributions. Position hedging is the purchase or sale of one
forward foreign currency for another currency with respect to portfolio security
positions denominated or quoted in the foreign currency to offset the effect
of
an anticipated substantial appreciation or depreciation, respectively, in the
value of the currency relative to the U.S. dollar. In this situation,
the Fund also may, for example, enter into a forward contract to sell or
purchase a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount when it
is
believed that the U.S. dollar value of the currency to be sold or bought
pursuant to the forward contract will fall or rise,
as
the case may be, whenever there is a decline or increase, respectively, in
the
U.S. dollar value of the currency in which its portfolio securities are
denominated (this practice being referred to as a “cross-hedge”).
In
hedging a specific transaction, the Fund may enter into a forward contract
with
respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or
another currency deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser. The
amount the Fund may invest in forward currency contracts is limited to the
amount of its aggregate investments in foreign currencies.
The
use of forward currency contracts may involve certain risks, including the
failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the contract,
and
such use may not serve as a complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation
between movements in the prices of the contracts and the prices of the
currencies hedged or used for cover. The Fund will only enter into
forward currency contracts with parties that the Investment Adviser believes
to
be creditworthy institutions.
Special
Risk Considerations Relating to Futures and Options Thereon. The
Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions in futures contracts and
options thereon will be subject to the development and maintenance of liquid
markets. Although the Fund generally will purchase or sell only those
futures contracts and options thereon for which there appears to be a liquid
market, there is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange will
exist for any particular futures contract or option thereon at any particular
time. In the event no liquid market exists for a particular futures
contract or option thereon in which the Fund maintains a position, it
will not be possible to effect a closing transaction in that contract or to
do so at a satisfactory price and the Fund would have to either make or take
delivery under the futures contract or, in the case of a written option, wait
to
sell the underlying securities until the option expires or is exercised or,
in
the case of a purchased option, exercise the option. In the case of a
futures contract or an option thereon which the Fund has written and which
the
Fund is unable to close, the Fund would be required to maintain margin deposits
on the futures contract or option thereon and to make variation margin payments
until the contract is closed.
Successful
use of futures contracts and options thereon and forward contracts by the Fund
is subject to the ability of the Investment Adviser to predict correctly
movements in the direction of interest and foreign currency rates. If
the Investment Adviser’s expectations are not met, the Fund will be in a worse
position than if a hedging strategy had not been pursued. For
example, if the Fund has hedged against the possibility of an increase in
interest rates that would adversely affect the price of securities in its
portfolio and the price of such securities increases instead, the Fund will
lose
part or all of the benefit of the increased value of its securities because
it
will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in
such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation
margin requirements, it may have to sell securities to meet the
requirements. These sales may be, but will not necessarily be, at
increased prices that reflect the rising market. The Fund may have to
sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so.
Additional
Risks of Foreign Options, Futures Contracts, Options on Futures
Contracts and Forward Contracts. Options, futures contracts and
options thereon and forward contracts on securities and currencies may be traded
on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as
effectively as similar transactions in the U.S., may not involve a clearing
mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental
actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, securities of foreign issuers
(“Foreign Securities”). The value of such positions also could be
adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic
factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on which to make
trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic
events occurring in the foreign markets during non-business hours in the U.S.,
(iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures
and margin requirements than in the U.S. and (v) less trading
volume.
Exchanges
on which options, futures and options on futures are traded may impose limits
on
the positions that the Fund may take in certain circumstances.
Swaps. The
Fund may enter into total rate of return, credit default or other types of
swaps
and related derivatives for the purpose of hedging and risk
management. These transactions generally provide for the transfer
from one counterparty to another of certain risks inherent in the ownership
of a
financial asset such as a common stock or debt instrument. Such risks
include, among other things, the risk of default and insolvency of the obligor
of such asset, the risk that the credit of the obligor or the underlying
collateral will decline or the risk that the common stock of
the
underlying
issuer will decline in value. The transfer of risk pursuant to a
derivative of this type may be complete or partial, and may be for the life
of the related asset or for a shorter period. These derivatives may
be used as a risk management tool for a pool of financial assets, providing
the
Fund with the opportunity to gain or reduce exposure to one or more reference
securities or other financial assets (each, a “Reference Asset”) without
actually owning or selling such assets in order, for example, to increase or
reduce a concentration risk or to diversify a portfolio. Conversely,
these derivatives may be used by the Fund to reduce exposure to an owned asset
without selling it.
Because
the Fund would not own the Reference Assets, the Fund may not have any voting
rights with respect to the Reference Assets, and in such cases all decisions
related to the obligors or issuers of the Reference Assets, including whether
to
exercise certain remedies, will be controlled by the swap
counterparties.
Total
rate of return swaps and similar derivatives are subject to many risks,
including the possibility that the market will move in a manner or direction
that would have resulted in gain for the Fund had the swap or other derivative
not been utilized (in which case it would have been better had the Fund not
engaged in the interest rate hedging transactions), the risk of imperfect
correlation between the risk sought to be hedged and the derivative transactions
utilized, the possible inability of the counterparty to fulfill its obligations
under the swap and potential illiquidity of the hedging instrument utilized,
which may make it difficult for the Fund to close out or unwind one or more
hedging transactions.
Total
rate of return swaps and related derivatives are a relatively recent development
in the financial markets. Consequently, there are certain legal, tax
and market uncertainties that present risks in entering into such
arrangements. There is currently little or no case law or litigation
characterizing total rate of return swaps or related derivatives, interpreting
their provisions, or characterizing their tax treatment. In addition,
additional regulations and laws may apply to these types of derivatives that
have not previously been applied. There can be no assurance that
future decisions construing similar provisions to those in any swap agreement
or
other related documents or additional regulations and laws will not have an
adverse effect on the Fund that utilizes these instruments.
Commodities-Linked
Equity Derivative Instrument Risk. The Fund may invest in
structured notes that are linked to one or more underlying
commodities. Such structured notes provide exposure to the investment
returns of physical commodities without actually investing directly in physical
commodities. Such structured notes in which the Fund expects to
invest are hybrid instruments that have substantial risks, including risk of
loss of all or a significant portion of their principal
value. Because the payouts on these notes are linked to the price
change of the underlying commodities, these investments are subject to market
risks that relate to the movement of prices in the commodities
markets. They may also be subject to additional special risks that do
not affect traditional equity and debt securities that may be greater than
or in
addition to the risks of derivatives in general, including risk of loss of
interest, risk of loss of principal, lack of liquidity and risk of greater
volatility.
Risk
of Loss of Interest. If payment of interest on a structured note
or other hybrid instrument is linked to the value of a particular commodity,
futures contract, index or other economic variable, the Fund might not receive
all (or a portion) of the interest due on its investment if there is a loss
in
value of the underlying instrument.
Risk
of Loss of Principal. To the extent that the amount of the
principal to be repaid upon maturity is linked to the value of a particular
commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable, the Fund might
not receive all or a portion of the principal at maturity of the
investment. At any time, the risk of loss associated with a
particular instrument in the Fund’s portfolio may be significantly higher than
50% of the value of the investment.
Lack
of Secondary Market. A liquid secondary market may not exist for
the specially created hybrid instruments the Fund buys, which may make it
difficult for the Fund to sell them at an acceptable price or accurately value
them.
Risk
of Greater Volatility. The value of the commodities-linked
equity derivative investments the Fund buys may fluctuate significantly because
the values of the underlying investments to which they are linked are themselves
extremely volatile. Additionally, economic leverage will increase the
volatility of these hybrid instruments, as they may increase or decrease in
value more quickly than the underlying commodity index, futures contract or
other economic variable.
The
Investment Adviser is Not Registered as a Commodity Pool
Operator. The Investment Adviser has claimed an exclusion from
the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity
Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Fund’s investments in derivative
instruments described in the prospectus and this SAI are not limited by or
subject to regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act or otherwise regulated
by
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Risks
of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are also subject
to risks different from those of other portfolio
transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the
issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases
and
sales of currency and related instruments can be adversely affected by
government exchange controls, limitations or restrictions on
repatriation of currency, and manipulation, or exchange restrictions
imposed by governments. These forms of governmental action can result
in losses to the Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or monies
in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered
into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as
incurring transaction costs.
Repurchase
Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase
agreements. A repurchase agreement is an instrument under which the
purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires a debt security and the seller agrees,
at
the time of the sale, to repurchase the obligation at a mutually agreed upon
time and price, thereby determining the yield during the purchaser’s holding
period. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market
fluctuations during such period. The underlying securities are
ordinarily U.S. Treasury or other government obligations or high quality money
market instruments. The Fund will require that the value of such
underlying securities, together with any other collateral held by the Fund,
always equals or exceeds the amount of the repurchase obligations of the counter
party. The Fund’s risk is primarily that, if the seller defaults, the
proceeds from the disposition of the underlying securities and other collateral
for the seller’s obligation are less than the repurchase price. If
the seller becomes insolvent, the Fund might be delayed in or prevented from
selling the collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a
seller, the Fund will promptly seek to liquidate the collateral. To
the extent that the proceeds from any sale of such collateral upon a default
in
the obligation to repurchase are less than the repurchase price, the Fund will
experience a loss.
The
Investment Adviser, acting under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of
the
Fund, reviews the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the
Fund enters into repurchase agreements to evaluate these risks and monitors
on
an ongoing basis the value of the securities subject to repurchase agreements
to
ensure that the value is maintained at the required level. The Fund
will not enter into repurchase agreements with the Investment Adviser or any
of
its affiliates.
If
the financial institution which is a party to the repurchase agreement petitions
for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the
law
regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under
extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell
the collateral and the Fund would suffer a loss.
Loans
of Portfolio Securities. Consistent with applicable regulatory
requirements and the Fund’s investment restrictions, the Fund may lend its
portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions,
provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to notice
provisions described below), and are at all times secured by cash, cash
equivalents or other liquid securities which are maintained in a segregated
account pursuant to applicable regulations and that are at least equal to the
market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The
advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on
the
loaned securities while at the same time earns interest on the cash amounts
deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short-term
obligations. The Fund will not lend its portfolio securities if such
loans are not permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its
shares are qualified for sale. The Fund’s loans of portfolio
securities will be collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory
requirements and no loan will cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed
20% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund’s ability to
lend portfolio securities may be limited by rating agency
guidelines.
A
loan may generally be terminated by the borrower on one business day notice,
or
by the Fund on five business days notice. If the borrower fails to
deliver the loaned securities within five days after receipt of notice, the
Fund
could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower
liable for any excess of replacement cost over collateral. As with
any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some
cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the
securities fail financially. However, these loans of
portfolio
securities
will only be made to firms deemed by the Investment Adviser to be creditworthy
and when the income that can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant
risks. The Board of Trustees will oversee the creditworthiness of the
contracting parties on an ongoing basis. Upon termination of the
loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the
Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period
would inure to the Fund. The risks associated with loans of portfolio
securities are substantially similar to those associated with repurchase
agreements. Thus, if the counter party to the loan petitions for
bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the law
regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under
extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell
the collateral and the Fund would suffer a loss. When voting or
consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the
Fund
will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be delivered within
one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters
involved would have a material effect on the Fund’s investment in such loaned
securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and
custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities.
When
Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments. The
Fund may enter into forward commitments for the purchase or sale of securities,
including on a “when issued” or “delayed delivery” basis, in excess of customary
settlement periods for the type of security involved. In some cases,
a forward commitment may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a subsequent
event, such as approval and consummation of a merger, corporate reorganization
or debt restructuring (i.e., a when, as and if issued security). When
such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the
commitment, with payment and delivery taking place in the future, generally
a
month or more after the date of the commitment. While it will only
enter into a forward commitment with the intention of actually acquiring the
security, the Fund may sell the security before the settlement date if it is
deemed advisable by the Investment Adviser.
Securities
purchased under a forward commitment are subject to market fluctuation, and
no
interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to the settlement
date. The Fund will segregate with its Custodian cash or other liquid
securities in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of
its outstanding forward commitments.
The
Fund operates under the following restrictions that constitute fundamental
policies that, except as otherwise noted, cannot be changed without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund voting together as a single class. In the
event the Fund were to issue any preferred shares, the approval of a majority
of
such shares voting as a separate class would also be required. Such
majority vote requires the lesser of (i) 67% of the Fund’s applicable shares
represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the applicable shares
outstanding are represented, whether in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than
50% of the Fund’s applicable shares outstanding. Except as otherwise
noted, all percentage limitations set forth below apply after a purchase or
initial investment and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage
resulting from market fluctuations does not require any action. The
Fund may not:
(1)
|
other
than with respect to its concentrations in Gold Companies and Natural
Resources Companies, invest more than 25% of its total assets, taken
at
market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of
issuers
in any particular industry. This restriction does not apply to
investments in U.S. government securities and investments in the
gold
industry and the natural resources
industries;
|
(2)
|
purchase
commodities or commodity contracts if such purchase would result
in
regulation of the Fund as a commodity pool
operator;
|
(3)
|
purchase
or sell real estate, provided the Fund may invest in securities and
other
instruments secured by real estate or interests therein or issued
by
companies that invest in real estate or interests
therein;
|
(4)
|
make
loans of money or other property, except that (i) the Fund may acquire
debt obligations of any type (including through extensions of credit),
enter into repurchase agreements and lend portfolio assets and (ii)
the
Fund may, up to 20% of the Fund’s total assets, lend money or other
property to other investment companies advised by the Investment
Adviser
pursuant to a common lending program to the extent permitted by applicable
law;
|
(5)
|
borrow
money, except to the extent permitted by applicable
law;
|
(6)
|
issue
senior securities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law;
or
|
(7)
|
underwrite
securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed
an
underwriter under applicable law in selling portfolio securities;
provided, however, this restriction shall not apply to securities
of any
investment company organized by the Fund that are to be distributed
pro
rata as a dividend to its
shareholders.
|
In
addition, the Fund’s investment objectives and its policies of investing at
least 25% of its assets in normal circumstances in Gold Companies and in Natural
Resource Companies are fundamental policies. Unless specifically
stated as such, no policy of the Fund is fundamental and each policy may be
changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.
Trustees
and Officers
Overall
responsibility for management and supervision of the Fund rests with its Board
of Trustees. The Board of Trustees approves all significant
agreements between the Fund and the companies that furnish the Fund with
services, including agreements with the Investment Adviser, the Fund’s custodian
and the Fund’s transfer agent. The day-to-day operations of the Fund
are delegated to the Investment Adviser.
The
names and business addresses of the Trustees and principal officers of the
Fund
are set forth in the following table, together with their positions and their
principal occupations during the past five years and, in the case of the
Trustees, their positions with certain other organizations and
companies.
Name
(and Age), Position
with
the Fund and
Business
Address(1)
|
Term
of Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past
Five Years
|
Other
Directorships
Held
by
Trustee
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
Interested
Trustee(3)
|
|
|
|
Salvatore
M. Salibello (61)
|
Since
November 2005**
|
Certified
Public Accountant and Managing Partner of the certified public
accounting
firm of Salibello & Broder LLP
|
None
|
3
|
Name
(and Age), Position
with
the Fund and
Business
Address(1)
|
Term
of Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past
Five Years
|
Other
Directorships
Held
by
Trustee
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
Non-Interested
Trustees
|
|
|
|
Anthony
J. Colavita (71)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005***
|
Partner
in the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.
|
None
|
34
|
James
P. Conn (69)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005**
|
Former
Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Financial Security
Assurance Holdings Ltd. (insurance holding company)
(1992-1998)
|
Director
of First Republic Bank (banking)
|
15
|
Mario
d’Urso (66)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005*
|
Chairman
of Mittel Capital Markets S.p.A. since 2001; Senator in the Italian
Parliament (1996-2001)
|
None
|
4
|
Vincent
D. Enright (63)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005*
|
Former
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Energy
Corp
(utility holding company) (1994-1998)
|
None
|
13
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. (67)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005***
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association;
Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates; Chairman
of the
Republican National Committee (1983-1989)
|
Director
of First Republic Bank (banking)
|
5
|
Michael
J. Melarkey (57)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005*
|
Partner
in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel & Mulligan
|
Director
of
Southwest
Gas Corporation (natural gas utility)
|
4
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris (72)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005**
|
Chairman
of BALMAC International, Inc. (commodities and futures
trading)
|
None
|
17
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza (61)
Trustee
|
Since
February 2005***
|
Chairman
of Zizza & Co., Ltd. (consulting)
|
Director
of Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals (biotechnology) and Earl Scheib,
Inc.
(automotive services)
|
25
|
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
Bruce
N. Alpert (55)
President
|
Since
February 2005
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC
since
1988; Director and President of Gabelli Advisers, Inc. since 1998;
Officer
of a majority of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli
fund
complex
|
|
|
Carter
W. Austin (40)
Vice
President
|
Since
February 2005
|
Vice
President of the Fund since 2005; Vice President of The Gabelli
Global
Deal Fund since 2006, The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust
since 2003 and The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. since 2000; Vice President
of
Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1996
|
|
|
Name
(and Age), Position
with
the Fund and
Business
Address(1)
|
Term
of Office
and
Length of
Time
Served(2)
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past
Five Years
|
Other
Directorships
Held
by
Trustee
|
Number
of
Portfolios
in
Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
Peter
D. Goldstein (53)
Chief
Compliance Officer
|
Since
February 2005
|
Director
of Regulatory Affairs for GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2004; Chief
Compliance Officer of all registered investment companies in the
Gabelli
Funds complex; Vice President of Goldman Sachs Asset Management
(2000 -
2004)
|
|
|
Molly
A.F. Marion (53)
Assistant
Vice President and
Ombudsman
|
Since
May 2005
|
Ombudsman
of the Fund since 2005; Assistant Vice President of GAMCO Investors,
Inc.
since 2006; Assistant Portfolio Manager of Gabelli Fixed Income
LLC from
1994-2004
|
|
|
James
E. McKee (43)
Secretary
|
Since
February 2005
|
Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary of GAMCO Investors, Inc.
since
1999 and of GAMCO Asset Management Inc. since 1993; Secretary of
all
registered investment companies advised by Gabelli Funds, LLC and
Gabelli
Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
Agnes
Mullady (48)
Treasurer
and Principal
Financial
Officer
|
Since
February 2006
|
Vice
President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Officer of all registered
investment companies in the Gabelli Funds complex; Senior Vice
President
of U.S. Trust Company, N.A. and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
of
Excelsior Funds from 2004-2005; Chief Financial Officer of AMIC
Distribution Partners from 2002-2004; Controller of Reserve Management,
Inc. and Reserve Partners, Inc. and Treasurer of Reserve Funds
from
2000-2002
|
|
|
(1)
|
Address:
One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise
noted.
|
(2)
|
The
Fund’s Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, each class having
a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one
class expires and the successor or successors elected to such class
serve
for a three year term. The three year term for each class is as
follows:
|
*
|
Term
continues until the Fund’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until
their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
|
**
|
Term
continues until the Fund’s 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until
their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
|
***
|
Term
continues until the Fund’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until
their successors are duly elected and
qualified.
|
(3)
|
“Interested
person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. Mr. Salibello
may be considered an “interested person” of the Fund as a result of being
a partner in an accounting firm that provides professional services
to
affiliates of the Investment
Adviser.
|
Name
of Trustee
|
Dollar
Range of
Equity
Securities
Held in the
Fund
|
Aggregate
Dollar Range of Equity
Securities
Held in All Registered
Investment
Companies in the
Gabelli
Fund Complex
|
Anthony
J. Colavita*
|
none
|
over
$100,000
|
James
P. Conn
|
over
$100,000
|
over
$100,000
|
Mario
d’Urso
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
over
$100,000
|
Vincent
D. Enright
|
none
|
over
$100,000
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
|
none
|
$1-$10,000
|
Michael
J. Melarkey
|
none
|
over
$100,000
|
Salvatore
M. Salibello
|
none
|
over
$100,000
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris*
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
over
$100,000
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza
|
none
|
over
$100,000
|
All
shares were valued as of December 31, 2006.
* Messrs.
Colavita and van Ekris each beneficially own less than 1% of the common stock
of
The LGL Group, Inc., having a value of $9,338 and $11,200, respectively,
as of
December 31, 2006. Mr. van Ekris beneficially owns less than 1% of
the common stock of Lynch Interactive Corporation, having a value of $74,400
as
of December 31, 2006. The LGL Group, Inc. and Lynch
Interactive Corporation may be deemed to be controlled by Mario J. Gabelli
and
in that event would be deemed to be under common control with the Fund’s
Investment Adviser.
The
Trustees serving on the Fund’s Nominating Committee are Anthony J. Colavita
(Chair), Michael J. Melarkey and Salvatore J. Zizza. The Nominating
Committee is responsible for recommending qualified candidates to the Board
of
Trustees in the event that a position is vacated or created. The
Nominating Committee would consider recommendations by shareholders if a vacancy
were to exist. Such recommendations should be forwarded to the
Secretary of the Fund. The Fund does not have a standing compensation
committee.
Vincent
D. Enright, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Salvatore J. Zizza (Chair), who are
not
“interested persons” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, serve on the Fund’s
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is generally responsible for
reviewing and evaluating issues related to the accounting and financial
reporting policies and internal controls of the Fund and, as appropriate, the
internal controls of certain service providers, overseeing the quality and
objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the audit thereof and to act
as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and the Fund’s independent registered
public accounting firm.
Remuneration
of Trustees and Officers
The
Fund pays each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Investment
Adviser or its affiliates a fee of $3,000 per annum plus $1,000 per Board
meeting attended in person ($500 if attended telephonically) and $500 per
committee meeting attended, together with each Trustee’s actual out-of-pocket
expenses relating to attendance at such meetings.
The
following table shows the compensation that the Trustees earned in their
capacity as Trustees during the year ended December 31, 2006. The
table also shows, for the year ended December 31, 2006, the compensation
Trustees earned in their capacity as Trustees for other funds in the Gabelli
Fund Complex.
FOR
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
Name
of Trustee
|
|
Compensation
From
the Fund
|
Total
Compensation
From
the Fund
and
Fund
Complex
Paid
to Trustees*
|
Anthony
J. Colavita
|
$ 7,500
|
$ 199,383
|
James
P. Conn
|
$ 7,500
|
$
88,500
|
Mario
d’Urso
|
$ 7,000
|
$
32,000
|
Vincent
D. Enright
|
$ 8,500
|
$
77,883
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
|
$ 7,500
|
$
60,000
|
Michael
J. Melarkey
|
$ 7,000
|
$
32,500
|
Salvatore
M. Salibello
|
$ 7,500
|
$
33,000
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris
|
$ 7,500
|
$
95,383
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza
|
$ 8,500
|
$ 139,383
|
|
|
|
Total
|
$ 68,500
|
$ 758,033
|
* Represents
the total compensation paid to such persons during the year ended December
31,
2006 by investment companies (including the Fund) or portfolios thereof from
which such person receives compensation that are considered part of the same
fund complex as the Fund because they have common or affiliated investment
advisers. The total does not include, among other things,
out-of-pocket Trustee expenses.
Indemnification
of Officers and Trustees; Limitations on Liability
The
Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the Fund will
indemnify its Trustees and officers and may indemnify its employees or agents
against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in
which
they may be involved because of their positions with the Fund to the fullest
extent permitted by law. However, nothing in the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Fund protects or indemnifies a trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Fund against any liability to which such person would
otherwise be subject in the event of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his or her position.
Investment
Advisory and Administrative Arrangements
Gabelli
Funds, LLC acts as the Fund’s Investment Adviser pursuant
to an investment advisory agreement with the Fund (the
“Investment Advisory Agreement”). The Investment Adviser is a New
York limited liability company with principal offices located at One
Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422. The Investment Adviser
was organized in 1999 and is the successor to Gabelli Funds, Inc., which was
organized in 1980. As of June 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser acted
as registered investment adviser to 24 management investment companies with
aggregate net assets of $16.2 billion. The Investment Adviser,
together with the other affiliated investment advisers noted below had assets
under management totaling approximately $30.6 billion as of June 30,
2007. GAMCO Asset Management Inc., an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser, acts as investment adviser for individuals, pension trusts,
profit sharing trusts and endowments, and as a sub-adviser to management
investment companies having aggregate assets of $13.5 billion under management
as of June 30, 2007. Gabelli Securities, Inc., an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser, acts as investment adviser for investment partnerships
and
entities having aggregate assets of approximately $486 million as of June 30,
2007. Gabelli Fixed Income LLC, an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser, acts as investment adviser for separate accounts having aggregate
assets of approximately $21 million under management as of June 30,
2007. Gabelli Advisers, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser,
acts as investment manager to the Westwood Funds having aggregate assets of
approximately $433 million under management as of June 30, 2007.
Affiliates
of the Investment Adviser may, in the ordinary course of their business,
acquire
for their own account or for the accounts of their investment advisory clients,
significant (and possibly controlling) positions in the securities of companies
that may also be suitable for investment by the Fund. The securities
in which the Fund might invest may
thereby
be limited to some extent. For instance, many companies in the past
several years have adopted so-called “poison pill” or other defensive
measures designed to discourage or prevent the completion of non-negotiated
offers for control of the company. Such defensive measures may have
the effect of limiting the shares of the company which might otherwise be
acquired by the Fund if the affiliates of the Investment Adviser or their
investment advisory accounts have or acquire a significant position in the
same
securities. However, the Investment Adviser does not believe that the
investment activities of its affiliates will have a material adverse effect
upon
the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objectives. Securities
purchased or sold pursuant to contemporaneous orders entered on behalf of
the
investment company accounts of the Investment Adviser or the investment advisory
accounts managed by its affiliates for their unaffiliated clients are allocated
pursuant to procedures, approved by the Board of Trustees, believed to be
fair
and not disadvantageous to any such accounts. In addition, all such
orders are accorded priority of execution over orders entered on behalf of
accounts in which the Investment Adviser or its affiliates have a substantial
pecuniary interest. The Investment Adviser may on occasion give
advice or take action with respect to other clients that differs from the
actions taken with respect to the Fund. The Fund may invest in the
securities of companies that are investment management clients of GAMCO Asset
Management Inc. In addition, portfolio companies or their officers or
directors may be minority shareholders of the Investment Adviser or its
affiliates.
The
Investment Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc., a
New
York corporation, whose Class A Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “GBL.” Mr. Mario J. Gabelli may be deemed
a “controlling person” of the Investment Adviser on the basis of his ownership
of a majority of the stock and voting power of GGCP, Inc., which owns a majority
of the capital stock and voting power of GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Under
the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser manages
the portfolio of the Fund in accordance with its stated investment objectives
and policies, makes investment decisions for the Fund, places orders to purchase
and sell securities on behalf of the Fund and manages its other business and
affairs, all subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund’s Board of
Trustees. In addition, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the
Investment Adviser oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s
business and affairs and provides, or arranges for others to provide, at the
Investment Adviser’s expense, certain enumerated services, including maintaining
the Fund’s books and records, preparing reports to the Fund’s shareholders and
supervising the calculation of the net asset value of its shares. All
expenses of computing the net asset value of the Fund, including any equipment
or services obtained solely for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing its
investment portfolio, will be an expense of the Fund under its Investment
Advisory Agreement.
The
Investment Advisory Agreement combines investment advisory and administrative
responsibilities into one agreement. For services rendered by the
Investment Adviser on behalf of the Fund under the Investment Advisory
Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser a fee computed daily and paid
monthly at the annual rate of 1.00% of the average weekly net assets of the
Fund. There is no deduction for the liquidation preference of any
outstanding preferred shares.
The
Investment Advisory Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its
obligations and duties thereunder, the Investment Adviser is not liable for
any
error or judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the
Fund. As part of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund has
agreed that the name “Gabelli” is the Investment Adviser’s property, and that in
the event the Investment Adviser ceases to act as an investment adviser to
the
Fund, the Fund will change its name to one not including “Gabelli.”
Pursuant
to its terms, the Investment Advisory Agreement will remain in effect with
respect to the Fund from year to year if approved annually (i) by the Fund’s
Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting
securities and (ii) by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested
persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Investment Advisory
Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval.
The
Investment Advisory Agreement was most recently approved by a majority of the
Fund’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
interested persons as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, at an in person
meeting of the Board of Trustees held on February 22, 2007.
The
Investment Advisory Agreement terminates automatically on its assignment and
may
be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice at the option of either
party thereto or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Fund’s outstanding shares.
Portfolio
Manager Information
Other
Accounts Managed
The
information below lists the number of other accounts for which each portfolio
manager was primarily responsible for the day-to-day management as of the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006.
Name
of Portfolio
Manager
or
Team
Member
|
Type
of Accounts
|
Total
Number
of Accounts
Managed
|
Total
Assets
|
Number
of
Accounts
Managed
with
Advisory
Fee
Based
on
Performance
|
Total
Assets
with
Advisory
Fee
Based
on
Performance
|
1.
Caesar M.P. Bryan
|
Registered
Investment Companies:
|
5
|
$ 2.9
billion
|
1
|
$ 2.2
billion
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
1
|
$ 4.0
million
|
1
|
$ 4.0
million
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
5
|
$ 50.5 million
|
0
|
$
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
Joshua W. Fenton
|
Registered
Investment Companies:
|
2
|
$ 48.4 million
|
0
|
$
0
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
5
|
$ 2.6
million
|
5
|
$ 2.6
million
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
13
|
$ 16.6 million
|
0
|
$
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.
Barbara G. Marcin
|
Registered
Investment Companies:
|
2
|
$ 2.5
billion
|
1
|
$ 2.5
billion
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
0
|
$
0
|
0
|
$
0
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
21
|
$ 138.0 million
|
0
|
$
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.
Vincent Roche
|
Registered
Investment Companies:
|
0
|
$
0
|
0
|
$
0
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
1
|
$ 21 million
|
1
|
$
21 million
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
0
|
$ 0
|
0
|
$
0
|
* Represents
the portion of assets for which the portfolio manager has primary responsibility
in the accounts indicated. The accounts indicated may contain
additional assets under the primary responsibility of other portfolio
managers.
Potential
Conflicts of Interest
Actual
or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager for a
fund
also has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more
other funds or accounts. These potential conflicts
include:
Allocation
of Limited Time and Attention. A portfolio manager who is
responsible for managing multiple funds or other accounts may devote unequal
time and attention to the management of those funds or accounts. As a
result, the portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a
strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of
those accounts as might be the case if he or she were to devote substantially
more attention to the management of a single fund.
Allocation
of Limited Investment Opportunities. If a portfolio manager
identifies an investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds
or
other accounts, a fund may not be able to take full advantage of that
opportunity because the opportunity may be allocated among several of these
funds or accounts.
Pursuit
of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may
determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of
the
funds or accounts for which he or she exercises investment responsibility,
or
may decide that certain of the funds or accounts should take differing positions
with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the
portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or
accounts which may affect the
market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both,
to
the detriment of one or more other funds or accounts.
Selection
of Broker/Dealers. Portfolio managers may be able to select or
influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute
securities transactions for the funds or accounts that they
supervise. In addition to providing execution of trades, some brokers
and dealers provide portfolio managers with brokerage and research services
which may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees than might otherwise
be
available. These services may be more beneficial to certain funds or
accounts than to others. Although the payment of brokerage
commissions is subject to the requirement that the portfolio manager determine
in good faith that the commissions are reasonable in relation to the value
of
the brokerage and research services provided to the fund, a portfolio manager’s
decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could yield disproportionate
costs and benefits among the funds or other accounts that he or she
manages. In addition, with respect to certain types of accounts (such
as pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed for organizations
and
individuals) the Investment Adviser may be limited by the client concerning
the
selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades to particular
brokers. In these cases, the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may
place separate, non-simultaneous transactions in the same security for a
fund
and another account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security
or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the fund
or
the other accounts.
Variation
in Compensation. A conflict of interest may arise where the
financial or other benefits available to the portfolio manager differ among
the
funds or accounts that he or she manages. If the structure of the
Investment Adviser’s management fee or the portfolio manager’s compensation
differs among funds or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts
pay
higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the portfolio
manager may be motivated to favor certain funds or accounts over
others. The portfolio manager also may be motivated to favor funds or
accounts in which he or she has an investment interest, or in which the
Investment Adviser or its affiliates have investment
interests. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management
or to enhance a portfolio manager’s performance record or to derive other
rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager in
affording preferential treatment to those funds or other accounts that could
most significantly benefit the portfolio manager.
The
Investment Adviser and the Fund have adopted compliance policies and procedures
that are designed to address the various conflicts of interest that may arise
for the Investment Adviser and its staff members. However, there is
no guarantee that such policies and procedures will be able to detect and
prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may
arise.
Compensation
Structure
The
compensation of the portfolio managers is reviewed annually and structured
to
enable the Investment Adviser to attract and retain highly qualified
professionals in a competitive environment. The portfolio managers
named above receive a compensation package that includes a minimum draw or
base
salary, equity-based incentive compensation via awards of stock options,
and
incentive based variable compensation based on a percentage of net revenues
received by the Investment Adviser for managing the Fund to the extent that
it
exceeds a minimum level of compensation. This method of compensation
is based on the premise that superior long-term performance in managing a
portfolio will be rewarded through growth of assets through appreciation
and
cash flow. Incentive based equity compensation is based on an
evaluation of quantitative and qualitative performance evaluation
criteria. Mr. Fenton and Mr. Roche also may receive discretionary
bonuses based primarily on qualitative performance evaluation
criteria.
Compensation
for managing other accounts is based on a percentage of net revenues received
by
the Investment Adviser for managing the account. Compensation for
managing the pooled investment vehicles and other accounts that have a
performance-based fee will have two components. One component of the
fee is based on a percentage of net revenues received by the Investment
Adviser for managing the account or pooled investment vehicle. The
second component of the fee is based on absolute performance from which a
percentage of such fee is paid to the portfolio manager.
Portfolio
Holdings Information
Employees
of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates will often have access to
information concerning the portfolio holdings of the Fund. The Fund and the
Investment Adviser have adopted policies and procedures that require all
employees to safeguard proprietary information of the Fund, which includes
information relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings as well as portfolio
trading activity of the Investment Adviser with respect to the Fund
(collectively, “Portfolio Holdings Information”). In addition, the Fund and the
Investment Adviser have adopted policies and procedures providing that Portfolio
Holdings Information may not be disclosed except to the extent that it is
(a) made available to the general public by posting on the Fund’s website or
filed as a part of a required filing on Form N-Q or N-CSR or (b) provided
to a
third party for legitimate business purposes or regulatory purposes, that
has
agreed to keep such data confidential under forms approved by the Investment
Adviser’s legal department or outside counsel, as described below. The
Investment Adviser will examine each situation under (b) with a view to
determine that release of the information is in the best interest of the
Fund
and its shareholders and, if a potential conflict between the Investment
Adviser’s interests and the Fund’s interests arises, to have such conflict
resolved by the Chief Compliance Officer or the independent Board of Trustees.
These policies further provide that no officer of the Fund or employee of
the Investment Adviser shall communicate with the media about the Fund without
obtaining the advance consent of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating
Officer, or General Counsel of the Investment Adviser.
Under
the foregoing policies, the Fund currently may disclose Portfolio Holdings
Information in the circumstances outlined below. Disclosure generally may be
either on a monthly or quarterly basis with no time lag in some cases and with
a
time lag of up to 60 days in other cases (with the exception of proxy voting
services which require a regular download of data):
(1) To
regulatory authorities in response to requests for such information and with
the
approval of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund;
(2) To
mutual fund rating and statistical agencies and to persons performing similar
functions where there is a legitimate business purpose for such disclosure
and
such entity has agreed to keep such data confidential at least until it has
been
made public by the Investment Adviser;
(3) To
service providers of the Fund, as necessary for the performance of their
services to the Fund and to the Board of Trustees; the Fund’s anticipated
service providers are its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, independent
registered public accounting firm, and legal counsel;
(4) To
firms providing proxy voting and other proxy services, provided such entity
has
agreed to keep such data confidential until at least it has been made public
by
the Investment Adviser;
(5) To
certain broker dealers, investment advisers, and other financial intermediaries
for purposes of their performing due diligence on the Fund and not for
dissemination of this information to their clients or use of this information
to
conduct trading for their clients. Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information
in these circumstances requires the broker, dealer, investment adviser, or
financial intermediary to agree to keep such information confidential and
is
further subject to prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer of the
Fund
and to reporting to the Board of Trustees at the next quarterly meeting;
and
(6) To
consultants for purposes of performing analysis of the Fund, which analysis
(but
not the Portfolio Holdings Information) may be used by the consultant with
its
clients or disseminated to the public, provided that such entity shall have
agreed to keep such information confidential until at least it has been made
public by the Investment Adviser.
Disclosures
made pursuant to a confidentiality agreement are subject to periodic
confirmation by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund that the recipient
has
utilized such information solely in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
Neither the Fund nor the Investment Adviser, nor any of the Investment Adviser’s
affiliates will accept on behalf of itself, its affiliates, or the Fund any
compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of
portfolio holdings of the Fund. The Board of Trustees will review such
arrangements annually with the Fund’s Chief Compliance
Officer.
Ownership
of Shares in the Fund
As
of December 31, 2006, the portfolio managers of the Fund own the following
amounts of equity securities of the Fund.
|
Caesar
M.P. Bryan
|
$10,001-$25,000
|
|
Joshua
W. Fenton
|
$10,001-$25,000
|
|
Barbara
G. Marcin
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
|
Vincent
Roche
|
$10,001-$25,000
|
AUCTIONS
FOR
AUCTION RATE PREFERRED
SHARES
Summary
of Auction Procedures
The
following is a brief summary of the auction procedures for auction rate
preferred shares. These auction procedures are complicated, and there
are exceptions to these procedures. Many of the terms in this section
have a special meaning. Accordingly, this description does not
purport to be complete and is qualified, in its entirety, by reference to
the
Fund’s Governing Documents, including the provisions of the Statement of
Preferences establishing any series of auction rate preferred
shares.
The
auctions determine the dividend rate for auction rate preferred shares, but
each
dividend rate will not be higher than the maximum rate. If you own
auction rate preferred shares, you may instruct your broker-dealer to enter
one
of three kinds of orders in the auction with respect to your
stock: sell, bid and hold.
If
you enter a sell order, you indicate that you want to sell auction rate
preferred shares at their liquidation preference per share, no matter what
the
next dividend period’s rate will be.
If
you enter a bid (or “hold at a rate”) order, which must specify a dividend rate,
you indicate that you want to sell auction rate preferred shares only if
the
next dividend period’s rate is less than the rate you
specify.
If
you enter a hold order you indicate that you want to continue to own auction
rate preferred shares, no matter what the next dividend period’s rate will
be.
You
may enter different types of orders for different portions of your auction
rate
preferred shares. You may also enter an order to buy additional
auction rate preferred shares. All orders must be for whole
shares. All orders you submit are irrevocable. There is a fixed
number of auction rate preferred shares, and the dividend rate likely will
vary
from auction to auction depending on the number of bidders, the number of
shares
the bidders seek to buy, the rating of the auction rate preferred shares
and
general economic conditions including current interest rates. If you
own auction rate preferred shares and submit a bid for them higher than the
then-maximum rate, your bid will be treated as a sell order. If you
do not enter an order, the broker-dealer will assume that you want to continue
to hold auction rate preferred shares, but if you fail to submit an order
and
the dividend period is longer than 28 days, the broker-dealer will treat
your
failure to submit a bid as a sell order.
If
you do not then own auction rate preferred shares, or want to buy more shares,
you may instruct a broker-dealer to enter a bid order to buy shares in an
auction at the liquidation preference per share at or above the dividend rate
you specify. If your bid for shares you do not own specifies a rate
higher than the then-maximum rate, your bid will not be considered.
Broker-dealers
will submit orders from existing and potential holders of auction rate preferred
shares to the auction agent. Neither the Fund nor the auction agent
will be responsible for a broker-dealer’s failure to submit orders from existing
or potential holders of auction rate preferred shares. A
broker-dealer’s failure to submit orders for auction rate preferred shares held
by it or its customers will be treated in the same manner as a holder’s failure
to submit an order to the broker-dealer. A broker-dealer may submit
orders to the auction agent for its own account. The Fund may not
submit an order in any auction.
The
auction agent after each auction for the auction rate preferred shares will
pay
to each broker-dealer, from funds provided by the Fund, a service charge
equal
to, in the case shares of any auction immediately preceding a dividend period
of
less than 365 days, the product of (i) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the
number of days in such dividend period and the denominator of which is 365,
times (ii) ¼
of 1%, times (iii) the liquidation preference per share, times
(iv) the aggregate number of auction rate preferred shares placed by such
broker-dealer at such auction or, in the case of any auction immediately
preceding a dividend period of one year or longer, a percentage of the purchase
price of the auction rate preferred shares placed by the broker-dealer at
the
auction agreed to by the Fund and the broker-dealers.
If
the number of auction rate preferred shares subject to bid orders by potential
holders with a dividend rate equal to or lower than the then-maximum rate is
at
least equal to the number of auction rate preferred shares subject to sell
orders, then the dividend rate for the next dividend period will be the lowest
rate submitted which, taking into account that rate and all lower rates
submitted in order from existing and potential holders, would result in existing
and potential holders owning all the auction rate preferred shares
available for purchase in the auction.
If
the number of auction rate preferred shares subject to bid orders by potential
holders with a dividend rate equal to or lower than the then-maximum rate
is
less than the number of auction rate preferred shares subject to sell orders,
then the auction is considered to be a failed auction, and the dividend rate
will be the maximum rate. In that event, existing holders that have
submitted sell orders (or are treated as having submitted sell orders) may
not
be able to sell any or all of the auction rate preferred shares offered for
sale
than there are buyers for those shares).
If
broker-dealers submit or are deemed to submit hold orders for all outstanding
auction rate preferred shares, the auction is considered an “all hold” auction
and the dividend rate for the next dividend period will be the “all hold rate,”
which is 80% of the “AA” Financial Composite Commercial Paper Rate, as
determined in accordance with procedures set forth in the Statement of
Preferences establishing the auction rate preferred shares.
The
auction procedures include a pro rata allocation of auction rate
preferred shares for purchase and sale. This allocation process may
result in an existing holder continuing to hold or selling, or a potential
holder buying, fewer shares than the number of shares of auction rate preferred
shares in its order. If this happens, broker-dealers will be required
to make appropriate pro rata allocations among their respective
customers.
Settlement
of purchases and sales will be made on the next business day (which also is
a
dividend payment date) after the auction date through DTC. Purchasers will
pay
for their auction rate preferred shares through broker-dealers in same-day
funds
to DTC against delivery to the broker-dealers. DTC will make payment to the
sellers’ broker-dealers in accordance with its normal procedures, which require
broker-dealers to make payment against delivery in same-day funds. As used
in
this prospectus, a business day is a day on which the NYSE is open for trading,
and which is not a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks in New
York
City are authorized or obligated by law to close.
The
first auction for a series of auction rate preferred shares will be held on
the
date specified in the Prospectus Supplement for such series, which will be
the
business day preceding the dividend payment date for the initial dividend
period. Thereafter, except during special dividend periods, auctions
for such series auction rate preferred shares normally will be held within
the
frequency specified in the Prospectus Supplement for such series, and each
subsequent dividend period for such series auction rate preferred shares
normally will begin on the following day.
If
an auction is not held because an unforeseen event or unforeseen events cause
a
day that otherwise would have been an auction date not to be a business day,
then the length of the then-current dividend period will be extended by seven
days (or a multiple thereof if necessary because of such unforeseen event or
events), the applicable rate for such period will be the applicable rate for
the
then-current dividend period so extended and the dividend payment date for
such
dividend period will be the first business day immediately succeeding the end
of
such period.
The
following is a simplified example of how a typical auction
works. Assume that the Fund has 1,000 outstanding shares of auction
rate preferred shares and three current holders. The three current
holders and three potential holders submit orders through broker-dealers at
the
auction.
Current
Holder A
|
Owns
500 shares, wants to sell all 500 shares if auction rate is less
than
4.6%
|
Bid
order at 4.6% rate for all 500 shares
|
Current
Holder B
|
Owns
300 shares, wants to hold
|
Hold
order will take the auction rate
|
Current
Holder C
|
Owns
200 shares, wants to sell all 200 shares if auction rate is less
than
4.4%
|
Bid
order at 4.4% rate for all 200 shares
|
Potential
Holder D
|
Wants
to buy 200 shares
|
Places
order to buy at or above 4.5%
|
Potential
Holder E
|
Wants
to buy 300 shares
|
Places
order to buy at or above 4.4%
|
Potential
Holder F
|
Wants
to buy 200 shares
|
Places
order to buy at or above 4.6%
|
The
lowest dividend rate that will result in all 1,000 Series E Auction Rate
Preferred shares continuing to be held is 4.5% (the offer by D). Therefore,
the
dividend rate will be 4.5%. Current holders B and C will continue to own their
shares. Current holder A will sell its shares because A’s dividend rate bid was
higher than the dividend rate: Potential holder D will buy 200 shares and
potential holder E will buy 300 shares because their bid rates were at or below
the dividend rate. Potential holder F will not buy any shares because its bid
rate was above the dividend rate.
Secondary
Market Trading and Transfer of Auction Rate Preferred
Shares
The
underwriters shall not be required to make a market in the auction rate
preferred shares. The broker-dealers (including the underwriters) may
maintain a secondary trading market for outside of auctions, but they are not
required to do so. There can be no assurance that a secondary trading
market for the auction rate preferred shares will develop or, if it does
develop, that it will provide owners with liquidity
of investment. The auction rate preferred shares will not be
registered on any stock exchange. Investors who purchase auction rate
preferred shares in an auction for a special dividend period should note that
because the dividend rate on such shares will be fixed for the length of that
dividend period, the value of such shares may fluctuate in response to the
changes in interest rates and may be more or less than their original cost
if
sold on the open market in advance of the next auction thereof, depending on
market conditions.
You
may sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of the auction rate preferred shares
only in whole shares and only pursuant to a bid or sell order placed with the
auction agent in accordance with the auction procedures, to the Fund or its
affiliates or to or through a broker-dealer that has been selected by the Fund
or to such other persons as may be permitted by the Fund. However, if you hold
your auction rate preferred shares in the name of a broker-dealer, a sale or
transfer of your auction rate preferred shares to that broker dealer, or to
another customer of that broker-dealer, will not be considered a sale or
transfer or purposes of the foregoing if the shares remain in the name of the
broker-dealer immediately after your transaction. In addition, in the case
of
all transfers other than through an auction, the broker-dealer (or other person,
if the Fund permits) receiving the transfer must advise the auction agent of
the
transfer.
The
Fund, along with other closed-end registered investment companies advised
by the
Investment Adviser, is covered by an exemption from Section 19(b) of the
1940
Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder permitting the Fund to make periodic distributions
of long-term capital gains provided that any distribution policy of the Fund
with respect to its common shares calls for periodic (e.g., quarterly or
semi-annually, but in no event more frequently than monthly) distributions
in an
amount equal to a fixed percentage of the Fund’s average net asset value or
market price per common share over a specified period of time at or about
the
time of distribution or the distribution of a fixed dollar
amount. The exemption also permits the Fund to make such
distributions with respect to its senior securities, if any, in accordance
with
such shares’ terms. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund has
not adopted a distribution policy that would subject it to such
exemption.
Were
such a policy adopted, to the extent the Fund’s total distributions for a year
exceed its net investment company taxable income (interest, dividends and
net
short-term capital gains in excess of expenses) and net realized long-term
capital gains for that year, the excess would generally constitute a tax-free
return of capital up to the amount
of
a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares. Any distributions
which (based upon the Fund’s full year performance) constitute a tax-free return
of capital would reduce a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares, thereby
increasing such shareholder’s potential gain or reducing his or her potential
loss on the sale of the common shares. Any amounts distributed to a
shareholder in excess of the basis in the common shares would generally be
taxable to the shareholder as capital gain. See “Taxation.”
Distribution notices provided by the Fund to its shareholders will clearly
indicate what portion of the periodic distributions would constitute net
income,
net capital gains, and return of capital. The final determination of
the source of such distributions for federal income tax purposes will be
made
shortly after year end based on the Fund’s actual net investment company taxable
income and net capital gain for that year and would be communicated to
shareholders promptly. In the event that the Fund distributes amounts
in excess of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain,
such
distributions will decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, have the
likely effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio, as the Fund’s fixed
expenses will become a larger percentage of the Fund’s average net
assets. In addition, in order to make such distributions, the Fund
may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when
independent investment judgment may not dictate such action.
Subject
to policies established by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, the Investment
Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and the allocation
of brokerage on behalf of the Fund. Transactions in equity securities
are in most cases effected on U.S. stock exchanges and involve the payment
of
negotiated brokerage commissions. There may be no stated commission
in the case of securities traded in over-the-counter markets, but the prices
of
those securities may include undisclosed commissions or
mark-ups. Principal transactions are not entered into with affiliates
of the Fund. However, Gabelli & Company, Inc. may execute
transactions in the over-the-counter markets on an agency basis and receive
a
stated commission therefrom. To the extent consistent with applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and exemptions adopted by the SEC
thereunder, as well as other regulatory requirements, the Fund’s Board of
Trustees has determined that portfolio transactions may be executed through
Gabelli & Company, Inc. and its broker-dealer affiliates if, in the judgment
of the Investment Adviser, the use of those broker-dealers is likely to result
in price and execution at least as favorable as those of other qualified
broker-dealers, and if, in particular transactions, the affiliated
broker-dealers charge the Fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable
unaffiliated customers in similar transactions and comparable to rates charged
by other broker-dealers for similar transactions. The Fund has no
obligations to deal with any broker or group of brokers in executing
transactions in portfolio securities. In executing transactions, the
Investment Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and execution for the Fund,
taking into account such factors as price, size of order, difficulty of
execution and operational facilities of the firm involved and the firm’s risk in
positioning a block of securities. While the Investment Adviser
generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, the Fund does not
necessarily pay the lowest commission available.
Subject
to obtaining the best price and execution, brokers who provide supplemental
research, market and statistical information, or other services (e.g., wire
services) to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may receive orders for
transactions by the Fund. The term “research, market and statistical
information” includes advice as to the value of securities, and advisability of
investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of
securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and furnishing analyses
and
reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends,
portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts. Information so
received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to
be
performed by the Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement
and
the expenses of the Investment Adviser will not necessarily be reduced as a
result of the receipt of such supplemental information. Such
information may be useful to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates in
providing services to clients other than the Fund, and not all such information
is used by the Investment Adviser in connection with the
Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Investment Adviser
and its affiliates by brokers and dealers through whom other clients of the
Investment Adviser and its affiliates effect securities transactions may be
useful to the Investment Adviser in providing services to the Fund.
Although
investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those for the
other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, investments
of the kind made by the Fund may also be made for those other
accounts. When the same securities are purchased for or sold by the
Fund and any of such other accounts, it is the policy of the Investment Adviser
and its affiliates to allocate such purchases and sales in a manner deemed
fair
and equitable over time to all of the accounts, including the
Fund.
Portfolio
turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of an investment company’s
annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the monthly average
value
of securities in its portfolio during the year, excluding portfolio securities
the maturities of which at the time of acquisition were one year or
less. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly
greater brokerage commission expense than a lower rate, which expense must
be
borne by the Fund and indirectly by its shareholders. The portfolio
turnover rate may vary from year to year and will not be a factor when the
Investment Adviser determines that portfolio changes are
appropriate. For example, an increase in the Fund’s participation in
risk arbitrage situations would increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover
rate. A higher rate of portfolio turnover may also result in taxable
gains being passed to shareholders sooner than would otherwise be the
case. The investment policies of the Fund, including its strategy of
writing covered call options on securities in its portfolio, is expected
to
result in portfolio turnover that is higher than that of other investment
companies, and is expected to be higher than 100%. For the fiscal
periods ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, the portfolio turnover rates were
142.5% and 114.8%, respectively.
The
following discussion is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax
considerations affecting the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition
of
the Fund’s shares. This discussion assumes you are a U.S. person and
that you hold your shares as capital assets. This discussion is based
upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the
“Code”), the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative
authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations
by
the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with
retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed
explanation of all U.S. federal tax concerns affecting the Fund and its
shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the
Fund).
The
discussions set forth herein and in the prospectus do not constitute tax
advice
and potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine
the tax consequences to them of investing in the
Fund.
Taxation
of the Fund
The
Fund has elected to be treated and has qualified, and intends to continue
to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M
of the
Code. Accordingly, the Fund must, among other things, meet the
following requirements regarding the source of its income and the
diversification of its assets:
|
(i)
|
The
Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income
from the following sources, which are referred to herein as “Qualifying
Income”: (a) dividends, interest (including tax-exempt interest), payments
with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale
or other
disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other
income
(including but not limited to gain from options, futures and forward
contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such
stock, securities or foreign currencies; and (b) interests in publicly
traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal
income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross
income
from the items described in (a) above (each a “Qualified Publicly
Traded Partnership”).
|
|
(ii) |
The
Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter
of
each taxable year (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total
assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities,
the securities of other regulated investment companies and other
securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any
one
issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total
assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities
of such
issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund’s total
assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government
securities and the securities of other regulated investment companies)
of
(I) any one issuer, (II) any two or more issuers that the Fund controls
and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or similar
or
related trades or businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly
Traded Partnerships.
|
Income
from the Fund’s investments in grantor trusts and equity interest of MLPs that
are not Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships (if any) will be Qualifying
Income to the extent it is attributable to items of income of such trust or
MLP
that would be Qualifying Income if earned directly by the Fund.
The
Fund's investments in partnerships, including in Qualified Publicly Traded
Partnerships, may result in the Fund being subject to state, local or foreign
income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.
As
a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject to
U.S.
federal income tax on income and gains that the Fund distributes to its
shareholders, provided that it distributes each taxable year at least the
sum of
(i) 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (which includes, among
other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short-term capital
gain over net long-term capital loss and other taxable income, other than
any
net long-term capital gain, reduced by deductible expenses) determined without
regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) 90% of the Fund’s net
tax-exempt interest income (the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest over
certain disallowed deductions). The Fund intends to distribute
substantially all of such income at least annually. The Fund will be
subject to income tax at regular corporation rates on any taxable income
or
gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.
The
Code imposes a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the Fund to the extent the
Fund
does not distribute by the end of any calendar year an amount at least
equal to
the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any
capital
gain or loss) for the calendar year, (ii) 98% of its capital gain in excess
of
its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year
period
generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election
is made
to use the Fund’s fiscal year), (iii) certain undistributed amounts from
previous years on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income
tax. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be
distributed in any year to avoid the excise tax will be increased or decreased
to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case may
be, from
the previous year. While the Fund intends to distribute any income
and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the
4% excise
tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Fund’s taxable
income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the imposition
of
the excise tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the excise
tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution
requirement.
A
distribution will be treated as paid during the calendar year if it is
paid
during the calendar year or declared by the Fund in October, November or
December of the year, payable to shareholders of record on a date during
such a
month and paid by the Fund during January of the following year. Any
such distributions paid during January of the following year will be deemed
to
be received by the Fund's shareholders on December 31 of the year the
distributions are declared, rather than when the distributions are actually
received..
If
for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment
company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be
subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for
distributions to shareholders, and such distributions will be taxable to the
shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current or
accumulated earnings and profits. Such dividends, however, would be
eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of
shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction
in the case of corporate shareholders. The Fund could be required to
recognize unrealized gains, pay taxes and make distributions (which could be
subject to interest charges) before requalifying for taxation as a regulated
investment company. If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated
investment company in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits
accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment
company. If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment
company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required
to
recognize and pay tax on any net built-in gains with respect to certain of
its
assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income,
over
aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets
if
the Fund had been liquidated) or, alternatively, to elect to be subject to
taxation on such built-in gain recognized for a period of ten years, in order
to
qualify as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.
Certain
of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex United
States federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i)
disallow,
suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions,
(ii)
convert lower taxed long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income
into
higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert
ordinary
loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more
limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a
corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when
a
purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely
alter
the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii)
produce
income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual
gross
income requirement described above. The Fund will monitor its
transactions and may make certain tax elections and may be required to
borrow
money or dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and
prevent
disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment
company.
The
MLPs in which the Fund intends to invest are expected to be treated as
partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The cash
distributions received by the Fund from an MLP may not correspond to the amount
of income allocated to the Fund by the MLP in any given taxable
year. If the amount of income allocated by an MLP to the Fund exceeds
the amount of cash received by the Fund from such MLP, the Fund may have
difficulty making distributions to its shareholders in the amounts necessary
to
satisfy the requirements for maintaining its status as a regulated
investment company or avoiding U.S. federal income or excise
taxes. Accordingly, the Fund may have to dispose of securities under
disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate sufficient cash to satisfy
the distribution requirements.
The
Fund expects that the income derived by the Fund from the MLPs in which it
invests will be Qualifying Income. If, however, an MLP in which the
Fund invests is not a Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership, the income derived
by the Fund from such investment may not be Qualifying Income and, therefore,
could adversely affect the Fund’s status as a regulated investment
company. The Fund intends to monitor its investments in MLPs to
prevent the disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment
company.
The
U.S. tax classification of the Canadian Royalty Trusts in which the Fund
invests
and the types of income that the Fund receives may have an impact on the
Fund's
ability to qualify as a regulated investment company. In particular, securities
issued by certain Canadian Royalty Trusts (such as Canadian Royalty Trusts
which
are grantor trusts) may not produce “qualified” income for purposes of
determining the Fund's compliance with the tax rules applicable to regulated
investment companies. Additionally, the Fund may be deemed to directly
own the
assets of each Canadian Royalty Trust, and would need to look to such assets
when determining the Fund's compliance with the asset diversification rules
applicable to regulated investment companies. To the extent that the Fund
holds
such securities indirectly through investments in a taxable subsidiary
formed by
the Fund, those securities may produce "qualified" income. However, the
net
return to the Fund on such investments would be reduced to the extent that
the
subsidiary is subject to corporate income taxes. The Fund shall monitor its
investments in the Canadian Royalty Trusts with the objective of maintaining
its
continued qualification as a regulated investment company.
Gain
or loss on the sales of securities by the Fund will generally be long-term
capital gain or loss if the securities have been held by the Fund for more
than
one year. Gain or loss on the sale of securities held for one year or
less will be short-term capital gain or loss.
The
premium received by the Fund for writing a call option is not included in income
at the time of receipt. If the option expires, the premium is
short-term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a
closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its
position and the premium received is short-term capital gain or
loss. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised, thereby
requiring the Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase
the amount realized upon the sale of the security and any resulting gain or
loss
will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the
security. With respect to a put or call option that is purchased by
the Fund, if the option is sold, any resulting gain or loss will be a capital
gain or loss, and will be short-term or long-term, depending upon the holding
period for the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss is a
capital loss and is short-term or long-term, depending upon the holding
period for the option. If the option is exercised, the cost of the
option, in the case of a call option, is added to the basis of the purchased
security and, in the case of a put option, reduces the amount realized on the
underlying security in determining gain or loss. Because the Fund
does not have control over the exercise of the call options it writes, such
exercises or other required sales of the underlying securities may cause the
Fund to realize capital gains or losses at inopportune times.
The
Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, forward contracts, options, futures
contracts (including options and futures contracts on foreign currencies) and
short sales, to the extent permitted, will be subject to special provisions
of
the Code (including provisions relating to “hedging
transactions,” “straddles” and “constructive sales”) that may, among other
things, affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e.,
may
affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition
of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These rules could
therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to common
shareholders. Certain of these provisions may also (a) require the
Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e.,
treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year), (b) cause the
Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends
or
make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements
for avoiding income and excise taxes, (c) treat dividends that would otherwise
constitute qualified dividend income as non-qualified dividend income and (d)
treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate
dividends-received deduction as ineligible for such treatment.
The
Fund’s investment in so-called “section 1256 contracts,” such as regulated
futures contracts, most foreign currency forward contracts traded in the
interbank market and options on most stock indices, are subject to special
tax
rules. All section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of its
taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized
gain or loss on those positions will be included in the Fund’s income as if each
position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable
year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or
loss realized by the Fund from positions in section 1256 contracts closed during
the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets
and were not part of a “hedging transaction” nor part of a “straddle,” 60% of
the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or
loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital
gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually
held
by the Fund.
If
the Fund purchases shares in certain foreign investment entities, called passive
foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the
disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable
dividend by the Fund to the shareholders. Additional charges in the
nature of interest may be imposed on the Fund in respect of deferred taxes
arising from such distributions or gains. Elections may be available
to the Fund to mitigate the effect of this tax, but such elections generally
accelerate the recognition of income without the receipt of
cash. Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend
income, as discussed below under “Taxation of
Shareholders.”
If
the Fund invests in the stock of a PFIC, or any other investment that produces
income that is not matched by a corresponding cash distribution to the Fund,
the
Fund could be required to recognize income that it has not yet
received. Any such income would be treated as income earned by the
Fund and therefore would be subject to the distribution requirements of the
Code. This might prevent the Fund from distributing 90% of its net
investment income as is required in order to avoid Fund-level U.S. federal
income taxation on all of its income, or might prevent the Fund from
distributing enough ordinary income and capital gain net income to avoid
completely the imposition of the excise tax. To avoid this result,
the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to be able
to
make required distributions to the shareholders.
The
Fund may invest in debt obligations purchased at a discount with the result
that
the Fund may be required to accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes
before amounts due under the obligations are paid. The Fund may also
invest in securities rated in the medium to lower rating categories of
nationally recognized rating organizations, and in unrated securities (“high
yield securities”). A portion of the interest payments on such high
yield securities may be treated as dividends for certain U.S. federal income
tax
purposes.
Under
Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in
exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or
expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time
the
Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities
are
generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or
losses on foreign currency forward contacts and the disposition of debt
securities denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to
fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates,
are also treated as ordinary income or loss.
Dividends
or other income (including, in some cases, capital gains) received by the Fund
from investments in foreign securities may be subject to withholding and other
taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain
countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some
cases. If more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the close of
its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the
Fund may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to treat foreign income
taxes paid by it as paid by its shareholders. The Fund may qualify
for and make this election in some, but not necessarily all, of its taxable
years. If the Fund were to make such an election, shareholders of the
Fund would be required to take into account an amount equal to their pro rata
portions of such foreign taxes in computing their taxable income and then treat
an amount equal to those foreign taxes as a U.S. federal income tax deduction
or
as a foreign tax credit against their U.S. federal income
liability. Shortly after any year for which it makes such an
election, the Fund will report to its shareholders the amount per share of
such
foreign income tax that must be included in each shareholder’s gross income and
the amount that may be available for the deduction or credit.
Taxation
of Shareholders
The
Fund will either distribute or retain for reinvestment all or part of its net
capital gain. If any such gain is retained, the Fund will be subject to a tax
of
35% of such amount. In that event, the Fund expects to designate the retained
amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, each
of
whom (i) will be required to include in income for tax purposes as long-term
capital gain its share of such undistributed amounts, (ii) will be entitled
to
credit its proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund against its U.S.
federal income tax liability and to claim refunds to the extent that the credit
exceeds such liability and (iii) will increase its basis in its common shares
of
the Fund by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gain
included in such shareholder’s gross income.
Distributions
paid by the Fund from its investment company taxable income, which includes
net
short-term capital gain, generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent
of the Fund’s earnings and profits. Such distributions (if designated by the
Fund) may, however, qualify (provided holding period and other requirements
are
met by both the Fund and the shareholder) (i) for the dividends received
deduction available to corporations, but only to the extent that the Fund’s
income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations and (ii) in the case
of individual shareholders, as qualified dividend income eligible to be taxed
at
a maximum rate of generally 15% (5% for individuals in lower tax brackets)
to
the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income. If the Fund’s
qualified dividend income is less than 95% of its gross income, a shareholder
of
the Fund may only include as qualified dividend income that portion of the
dividends that may be and are so designated by the Fund as qualified dividend
income. These special rules relating to the taxation of ordinary income
dividends paid by RICs to individual taxpayers generally apply to taxable years
beginning on or before December 31, 2010. Thereafter, the Fund’s dividends,
other than capital gains dividends, will be fully taxable at ordinary income
rates unless further Congressional action is taken. There can be no assurance
as
to what portion of the Fund’s distributions will qualify for favorable treatment
as qualified dividend income.
Qualified
dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic
corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations (e.g., generally,
foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or
in
certain countries with a qualifying comprehensive tax treaty with the United
States, or whose stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily
tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A qualified
foreign corporation does not include a foreign corporation that for
the
taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was paid, or the preceding
taxable year, is a “passive foreign investment company,” as defined in the Code.
If the Fund lends portfolio securities, the amount received by the Fund that
is
the equivalent of the dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned
will
not be eligible for qualified dividend income treatment.
Distributions
of net capital gain designated as capital gain distributions, if any, are
taxable to shareholders at rates applicable to long-term capital gain, whether
paid in cash or in stock, and regardless of how long the shareholder has held
the Fund’s common shares. Capital gain distributions are not eligible for the
dividends received deduction. The maximum U.S. federal tax rate on net long-term
capital gain of individuals is generally 15% (5% for individuals in lower
brackets) for such gain realized before January 1, 2011. Unrecaptured Section
1250 gain distributions, if any, will be subject to a 25% tax. For non-corporate
taxpayers, investment company taxable income (other than qualified dividend
income) will currently be taxed at a maximum rate of 35%, while net capital
gain
generally will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. For corporate taxpayers,
both
investment company taxable income and net capital gain are taxed at a maximum
rate of 35%.
If,
for any calendar year, the total distributions exceed both current earnings
and
profits and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will generally be
treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax
basis in the common shares. The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital
will reduce a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares, thereby increasing
such shareholder’s potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the
sale of the common shares. Any amounts distributed to a shareholder in excess
of
his or her basis in the common shares will be taxable to the shareholder as
capital gain (assuming your common shares are held as a capital
asset).
Shareholders
may be entitled to offset their capital gain distributions (but not
distributions eligible for qualified dividend income treatment) with capital
loss. There are a number of statutory provisions affecting when capital loss
may
be offset against capital gain, and limiting the use of loss from certain
investments and activities. Accordingly, shareholders with capital loss are
urged to consult their tax advisers.
An
investor should be aware that if Fund common shares are purchased shortly before
the record date for any taxable distribution (including a capital gain
dividend), the purchase price likely will reflect the value of the distribution
and the investor then would receive a taxable distribution that is likely to
reduce the trading value of such Fund common shares, in effect resulting in
a
taxable return of some of the purchase price.
Certain
types of income received by the Fund from real estate investment trusts
(“REITs”), real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”), taxable mortgage
pools or other investments may cause the Fund to designate some or all of its
distributions as “excess inclusion income.” To Fund shareholders such excess
inclusion income will (i) constitute taxable income, as “unrelated business
taxable income” (“UBTI”) for those shareholders who would otherwise be
tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans,
pension plans and certain charitable entities; (ii) not be offset against net
operating losses for tax purposes; (iii) not be eligible for reduced U.S.
withholding for non-U.S. shareholders even from tax treaty countries; and (iv)
cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations,” as
defined by the Code (such as certain governments or governmental agencies and
charitable remainder trusts), are Fund shareholders.
Upon
a sale, exchange or other disposition of common shares, a shareholder will
generally realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the
amount of cash and the fair market value of other property received and the
shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares. Such gain or loss will be
treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares have been held
for more than one year. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of common shares
of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent the common shares disposed of
are
replaced by substantially identical common shares within a 61 day period
beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the common
shares are disposed of. In such a case, the basis of the common shares acquired
will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Any
loss realized by a shareholder on the sale of Fund common shares held by the
shareholder for six months or less will be treated for tax purposes as a
long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received
by the shareholder (or amounts credited to the shareholder as an undistributed
capital gain) with respect to such common shares.
Ordinary
income distributions and capital gain distributions also may be subject to
state
and local taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers
regarding specific questions about U.S. federal (including the application
of
the alternative minimum tax rules), state, local or foreign tax consequences
to
them of investing in the Fund.
A
shareholder that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation
(a
“foreign investor”) generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the
rate of 30% (or possibly a lower rate provided by an applicable tax treaty)
on
ordinary income dividends (except as discussed below). Different tax
consequences may result if the foreign investor is engaged in a trade or
business in the United States or, in the case of an individual, is present
in
the United States for 183 days or more during a taxable year and certain other
conditions are met. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisors
regarding the tax consequences of investing in the Fund’s common
shares.
In
general, U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income
realized by a foreign investor in respect of any distributions of net long-term
capital gains over net short-term capital losses, exempt-interest dividends,
or
upon the sale or other disposition of common shares of the Fund.
For
taxable years beginning before January 1, 2008, properly-designated dividends
are generally exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax where they (i) are paid
in respect of the Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Fund’s
U.S. source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest
from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least
a
10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or
(ii)
are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified short-term capital gains”
(generally, the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital gain over the Fund’s
long-term capital loss for such taxable year). However, depending on its
circumstances, the Fund may designate all, some or none of its potentially
eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified
short-term capital gains, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part,
as
ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for this
exemption from withholding, a foreign investor will need to comply with
applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status
(including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W 8BEN or substitute Form).
In
the case of common shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may
withhold even if the Fund designates the payment as qualified net interest
income or qualified short-term capital gain.
Foreign
investors should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application
of
these rules to their accounts. There can be no assurance as to what portion
of
the Fund’s distributions will qualify for favorable treatment as qualified net
interest income or qualified short-term capital gains.
Backup
Withholding
The
Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all taxable
distributions and redemption proceeds payable to non-corporate shareholders
who
fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number
or to
make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they
are
subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax.
Any
amounts withheld may be refunded or credited against such shareholder’s U.S.
federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information
is
furnished to the IRS.
The
foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions
of
the Code and Treasury regulations presently in effect. For the complete
provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and the
Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder. The Code and the Treasury
regulations are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative
action, either prospectively or retroactively. Persons considering an investment
in shares of the Fund should consult their own tax advisers regarding the
purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund
shares.
Book-Entry-Only
Issuance
The
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will act as securities depository for the
common shares offered pursuant to the prospectus. The information in
this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system is based upon
information obtained from DTC. The securities offered hereby
initially will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in
the
name of Cede & Co. (as nominee for DTC). One or more
fully-registered global security certificates initially will be issued,
representing in the aggregate the total number of securities, and deposited
with
DTC.
DTC
is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law,
a
“banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member
of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of
the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant
to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with
DTC. DTC also facilities the settlement among participants of
securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities
through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. Direct DTC participants include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to others
such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either
directly or indirectly through other entities.
Purchases
of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through direct
participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s
records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of a
security, a beneficial owner, is in turn to be recorded on the direct or
indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions,
as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect
participants through which the beneficial owners purchased
securities. Transfers of ownership interests in securities are to be
accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf
of
beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in securities, except as provided
herein.
DTC
has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities being offered
pursuant to the prospectus; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the
direct participants to whose accounts such securities are credited, which may
or
may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their
customers.
Conveyance
of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct
participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect
participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from
time to time.
Payments
on the securities will be made to DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit
direct participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with
their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records unless DTC has reason to
believe that it will not receive payments on such payment
date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed
by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility
of such participant and not of DTC or the Fund, subject to any statutory or
regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to
time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the
Fund, disbursement of such payments to direct participants is the responsibility
of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners is the
responsibility of direct and indirect participants. Furthermore each
beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights
under
the securities.
DTC
may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect
to
the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the
Fund. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor
securities depository is not obtained, certificates representing the securities
will be printed and delivered.
Proxy
Voting Procedures
The
Fund has adopted the proxy voting procedures of the Investment Adviser and
has
directed the Investment Adviser to vote all proxies relating to the Fund’s
voting securities in accordance with such procedures. The proxy
voting procedures are attached. They are also on file with the SEC
and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington,
D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at 202-551-8090. The proxy voting
procedures are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet site
(http://www.sec.gov) and copies of the proxing voting procedures may be
obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the follow
E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public
Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
Code
of Ethics
The
Fund and the Investment Adviser have adopted a code of ethics. This code
of
ethics sets forth restrictions on the trading activities of Trustees/directors,
officers and employees of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and their affiliates.
For example, such persons may not purchase any security for which the Fund
has a
purchase or sale order pending, or for which such trade is under consideration.
In addition, those trustees/directors, officers and employees that are
principally involved in investment decisions for client accounts are prohibited
from purchasing or selling for their own account for a period of seven days
a
security that has been traded for a client’s account, unless such trade is
executed on more favorable terms for the client’s account and it is determined
that such trade will not adversely affect the client’s account. Short-term
trading by such Trustee/directors, officers and employees for their own accounts
in securities held by a Fund client’s account is also restricted. The above
examples are subject to certain exceptions and they do not represent all
of the
trading restrictions and policies set forth by the code of ethics. The code
of
ethics is on file with the SEC and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s
Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation
of
the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090.
The code of ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet
site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of the code of ethics may be obtained,
after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail
address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section,
Washington, D.C. 20549-0102
Joint
Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial
Officers
The
Fund and the Investment Adviser have adopted a joint Code of Ethics that
serves
as a code of conduct. The Code of Ethics sets forth policies to guide
the chief executive and senior financial officers in the performance of their
duties. The code of ethics is on file with the SEC and can be
reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and
information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained
by
calling the SEC at 202-551-8090. The Code of Ethics is also available
on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov), and
copies of the Code of Ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating
fee, by
electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or
by
writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C.
20549-0102.
Financial
Statements
The
audited financial statements included in the annual report to the Fund’s
shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the unaudited financial
statements included in the semi-annual report to the Fund’s shareholders for the
period ended June 30, 2007, together with the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP for the Fund’s annual report, are incorporated herein by reference to the
Fund’s annual report and semi-annual report to shareholders. All
other portions of the annual report and semi-annual report to shareholders
are
not incorporated herein by reference and are not part of the registration
statement.
GAMCO
INVESTORS, INC. and AFFILIATES
The
Voting of Proxies on Behalf of Clients
Rules
204(4)-2 and 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 30b1-4
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 require investment advisers to adopt
written policies and procedures governing the voting of proxies on behalf of
their clients.
These
procedures will be used by GAMCO Asset Management Inc., Gabelli Funds, LLC,
Gabelli Securities, Inc., and Gabelli Advisers, Inc. (collectively, the
“Advisers”) to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities
held by their clients, including the procedures that the Advisers use when
a
vote presents a conflict between the interests of the shareholders of an
investment company managed by one of the Advisers, on the one hand, and those
of
the Advisers the principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the
investment company, the Advisers, or the principal underwriter. These procedures
will not apply where the Advisers do not have voting discretion or where the
Advisers have agreed to with a client to vote the client’s proxies in accordance
with specific guidelines or procedures supplied by the client (to the extent
permitted by ERISA).
I. Proxy
Voting Committee
The
Proxy Voting Committee was originally formed in April 1989 for the purpose
of
formulating guidelines and reviewing proxy statements within the parameters
set
by the substantive proxy voting guidelines originally published by GAMCO
Investors, Inc. in 1988 and updated periodically, a copy of which are appended
as Exhibit A. The Committee will include representatives of Research,
Administration, Legal, and the Advisers. Additional or replacement members
of
the Committee will be nominated by the Chairman and voted upon by the entire
Committee.
Meetings
are held on an as needed basis to form views on the manner in which the Advisers
should vote proxies on behalf of their clients.
In
general, the Director of Proxy Voting Services, using the Proxy Guidelines,
recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Corporate Governance Service
(“ISS”), other third-party services, and the analysts of Gabelli & Company,
Inc., will determine how to vote on each issue. For non-controversial matters,
the Director of Proxy Voting Services may vote the proxy if the vote is (1)
consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and not
contrary to the Proxy Guidelines; (2) consistent with the recommendations of
the
issuer’s Board of Directors and is a non-controversial issue not covered by the
Proxy Guidelines; or (3) the vote is contrary to the recommendations of the
Board of Directors but is consistent with the Proxy Guidelines. In those
instances, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Chairman of the
Committee may sign and date the proxy statement indicating how each issue will
be voted.
All
matters identified by the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Proxy
Voting Services or the Legal Department as controversial, taking into account
the recommendations of ISS or other third party services and the analysts of
Gabelli & Company, Inc., will be presented to the Proxy Voting Committee. If
the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the
Legal Department has identified the matter as one that (1) is controversial;
(2)
would benefit from deliberation by the Proxy Voting Committee; or (3) may
give rise to a conflict of interest between the Advisers and their clients,
the
Chairman of the Committee will initially determine what vote to recommend that
the Advisers should cast and the matter will go before the
Committee.
A. Conflicts
of Interest.
The
Advisers have implemented these proxy voting procedures in order to prevent
conflicts of interest from influencing their proxy voting decisions. By
following the Proxy Guidelines, as well as the recommendations of ISS, other
third-party services and the analysts of Gabelli & Company,
the
Advisers
are able to avoid, wherever possible, the influence of potential conflicts
of
interest. Nevertheless, circumstances may arise in which one or more of the
Advisers are faced with a conflict of interest or the appearance of a
conflict of interest in connection with its vote. In general, a conflict of
interest may arise when an Adviser knowingly does business with an issuer,
and
may appear to have a material conflict between its own interests and the
interests of the shareholders of an investment company managed by one of the
Advisers regarding how the proxy is to be voted. A conflict also may exist
when
an Adviser has actual knowledge of a material business arrangement between
an
issuer and an affiliate of the Adviser.
In
practical terms, a conflict of interest may arise, for example, when a proxy
is
voted for a company that is a client of one of the Advisers, such as GAMCO
Asset
Management Inc. A conflict also may arise when a client of one of the Advisers
has made a shareholder proposal in a proxy to be voted upon by one or more
of
the Advisers. The Director of Proxy Voting Services, together with the Legal
Department, will scrutinize all proxies for these or other situations that
may
give rise to a conflict of interest with respect to the voting of
proxies.
B. Operation
of Proxy Voting Committee
For
matters submitted to the Committee, each member of the Committee will receive,
prior to the meeting, a copy of the proxy statement, any relevant third party
research, a summary of any views provided by the Chief Investment Officer and
any recommendations by Gabelli & Company, Inc. analysts. The Chief
Investment Officer or the Gabelli & Company, Inc. analysts may be invited to
present their viewpoints. If the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the
Legal Department believe that the matter before the committee is one with
respect to which a conflict of interest may exist between the Advisers and
their
clients, counsel will provide an opinion to the Committee concerning the
conflict. If the matter is one in which the interests of the clients of one
or
more of Advisers may diverge, counsel will so advise and the Committee may
make
different recommendations as to different clients. For any matters where the
recommendation may trigger appraisal rights, counsel will provide an opinion
concerning the likely risks and merits of such an appraisal action.
Each
matter submitted to the Committee will be determined by the vote of a majority
of the members present at the meeting. Should the vote concerning one or more
recommendations be tied in a vote of the Committee, the Chairman of the
Committee will cast the deciding vote. The Committee will notify the proxy
department of its decisions and the proxies will be voted
accordingly.
Although
the Proxy Guidelines express the normal preferences for the voting of any shares
not covered by a contrary investment guideline provided by the client, the
Committee is not bound by the preferences set forth in the Proxy Guidelines
and
will review each matter on its own merits. Written minutes of all Proxy Voting
Committee meetings will be maintained. The Advisers subscribe to ISS, which
supplies current information on companies, matters being voted on, regulations,
trends in proxy voting and information on corporate governance
issues.
If
the vote cast either by the analyst or as a result of the deliberations of
the
Proxy Voting Committee runs contrary to the recommendation of the Board of
Directors of the issuer, the matter will be referred to legal counsel to
determine whether an amendment to the most recently filed Schedule 13D is
appropriate.
II. Social
Issues and Other Client Guidelines
If
a client has provided special instructions relating to the voting of proxies,
they should be noted in the client’s account file and forwarded to the proxy
department. This is the responsibility of the investment professional or sales
assistant for the client. In accordance with Department of Labor guidelines,
the
Advisers’ policy is to vote on behalf of ERISA accounts in the best interest of
the plan participants with regard to social issues that carry
an
economic
impact. Where an account is not governed by ERISA, the Advisers will vote shares
held on behalf of the client in a manner consistent with any individual
investment/voting guidelines provided by the client. Otherwise the Advisers
will
abstain with respect to those shares.
III. Client
Retention of Voting Rights
If
a client chooses to retain the right to vote proxies or if there is any change
in voting authority, the following should be notified by the investment
professional or sales assistant for the client.
-
Operations
-
Legal Department
-
Proxy Department
-
Investment professional assigned to the account
In
the event that the Board of Directors (or a Committee thereof) of one or more
of
the investment companies managed by one of the Advisers has retained direct
voting control over any security, the Proxy Voting Department will provide
each
Board Member (or Committee member) with a copy of the proxy statement
together with any other relevant information including recommendations of ISS
or
other third-party services.
IV. Voting
Records
The
Proxy Voting Department will retain a record of matters voted upon by the
Advisers for their clients. The Advisers’ staff may request proxy voting records
for use in presentations to current or prospective clients. Requests for proxy
voting records should be made at least ten days prior to client
meetings.
If
a client wishes to receive a proxy voting record on a quarterly, semi-annual
or
annual basis, please notify the Proxy Voting Department. The reports will be
available for mailing approximately ten days after the quarter end of the
period. First quarter reports may be delayed since the end of the quarter
falls during the height of the proxy season.
A
letter is sent to the custodians for all clients for which the Advisers have
voting responsibility instructing them to forward all proxy materials
to:
[Adviser
name]
Attn:
Proxy Voting Department One Corporate Center
Rye,
New York 10580-1433
The
sales assistant sends the letters to the custodians along with the trading/DTC
instructions. Proxy voting records will be retained in compliance with Rule
204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act.
V. Voting
Procedures
1. Custodian
banks, outside brokerage firms and First Clearing Corporation are responsible
for forwarding proxies directly to GAMCO.
Proxies
are received in one of two forms:
•
|
Shareholder
Vote Authorization Forms (VAFs) - Issued by ADP. VAFs must be voted
through the issuing institution causing a time lag. ADP is an outside
service contracted by the various institutions to issue proxy
materials.
|
•
|
Proxy
cards which may be voted
directly.
|
2. Upon
receipt of the proxy, the number of shares each form represents is logged into
the proxy system according to security.
3. In
the case of a discrepancy such as an incorrect number of shares, an improperly
signed or dated card, wrong class of security, etc., the issuing custodian
is
notified by phone. A corrected proxy is requested. Arrangements are made to
insure that a proper proxy is received in time to be voted (overnight delivery,
fax, etc.). When securities are out on loan on record date, the custodian is
requested to supply written verification.
4. Upon
receipt of instructions from the proxy committee (see Administrative), the
votes
are cast and recorded for each account on an individual basis.
Since
January 1, 1992, records have been maintained on the Proxy Edge system. The
system is backed up regularly. From 1990 through 1991, records were maintained
on the PROXY VOTER system and in hardcopy format. Prior to 1990, records were
maintained on diskette and in hardcopy format.
|
PROXY
EDGE records include:
|
Security
Name and Cusip Number
Date
and Type of Meeting (Annual, Special, Contest) Client Name
Adviser
or Fund Account Number
Directors’
Recommendation
How
GAMCO voted for the client on each issue The rationale for the vote when it
is
appropriate
Records
prior to the institution of the PROXY EDGE system include:
Security
name
Type
of Meeting (Annual, Special, Contest)
Date
of Meeting
Name
of Custodian
Name
of Client
Custodian
Account Number
Adviser
or Fund Account Number
Directors’
recommendation
How
the Adviser voted for the client on each issue
Date
the proxy statement was received and by whom Name of person posting the
vote
Date
and method by which the vote was cast
•
|
From
these records individual client proxy voting records are compiled.
It is
our policy to provide institutional clients with a proxy voting record
during client reviews. In addition, we will supply a proxy voting
record
at the request of the client on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual
basis.
|
5. VAFs
are kept alphabetically by security. Records for the current proxy season are
located in the Proxy Voting Department office. In preparation for the upcoming
season, files are transferred to an offsite storage facility during
January/February.
6. Shareholder
Vote Authorization Forms issued by ADP are always sent directly to a specific
individual at ADP.
7. If
a proxy card or VAF is received too late to be voted in the conventional matter,
every attempt is made to vote on one of the following ways:
•
|
VAFs
can be faxed to ADP up until the time of the meeting. This is followed
up
by the mailing of the original
form.
|
•
|
When
a solicitor has been retained, that person is called. At the solicitor’s
direction, the proxy is faxed.
|
8. In
the case of a proxy contest, records are maintained for each opposing
entity.
9. Voting
in Person
a) At
times it may be necessary to vote the shares in person. In this case, a “legal
proxy” is obtained in the following manner:
•
|
Banks
and brokerage firms using the services at
ADP:
|
The
back of the VAF is stamped indicating that we wish to vote in person. The forms
are then sent overnight to ADP. ADP issues individual legal proxies and sends
them back via overnight (or the Adviser can pay messenger charges). Lead time
of
at least two weeks prior to the meeting is needed to do this. Alternatively,
the
procedures detailed below for banks not using ADP may be
implemented.
Banks
and brokerage firms issuing proxies directly:
The
bank is called and/or faxed and a legal proxy is requested. All legal proxies
should appoint:
“Representative
of [Adviser name] with full power of substitution.”
b) The
legal proxies are given to the person attending the meeting, along with the
following supplemental material:
•
|
A
limited Power of Attorney appointing the attendee an Adviser
representative.
|
•
|
A
list of all shares being voted by custodian only. Client names
and account
numbers are not included. This list must be presented, along with
the
proxies, to the Inspectors of Elections and/or tabulator at least
one-half
hour prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. The tabulator
must
“qualify” the votes (i.e. determine if the votes have previously been
cast, if the votes have been rescinded,
etc.).
|
•
|
A
sample ERISA and Individual
contract.
|
•
|
A
sample of the annual authorization to vote proxies
form.
|
•
|
A
copy of our most recent Schedule 13D filing (if
applicable).
|
Exhibit
A
Proxy
Guidelines
PROXY
VOTING GUIDELINES
GENERAL
POLICY STATEMENT
It
is the policy of GAMCO Investors, Inc. to vote in the best
economic interests of our clients. As we state in our Magna Carta of
Shareholders Rights, established in May 1988, we are neither for nor
against management. We are for shareholders.
At
our first proxy committee meeting in 1989, it was decided that each proxy
statement should be evaluated on its own merits within the framework first
established by our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights. The attached
guidelines serve to enhance that broad framework.
We
do not consider any issue routine. We take into consideration all of our
research on the company, its directors, and their short and long-term goals
for
the company. In cases where issues that we generally do not approve of are
combined with other issues, the negative aspects of the issues will be factored
into the evaluation of the overall proposals but will not necessitate a vote
in
opposition to the overall proposals.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
The
Advisers do not consider the election of the Board of Directors a routine issue.
Each slate of directors is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Factors
taken into consideration include:
•
|
Historical
responsiveness to shareholders
|
This
may include such areas as:
|
-
|
Failure
to adopt shareholder resolutions receiving a majority of shareholder
votes
|
•
|
Nominating
committee in place
|
•
|
Number
of outside directors on the board
|
SELECTION
OF AUDITORS
In
general, we support the Board of Directors’ recommendation for
auditors.
BLANK
CHECK PREFERRED STOCK
We
oppose the issuance of blank check preferred stock.
Blank
check preferred stock allows the company to issue stock and establish dividends,
voting rights, etc. without further shareholder approval.
CLASSIFIED
BOARD
A
classified board is one where the directors are divided into classes with
overlapping terms. A different class is elected at each annual
meeting.
While
a classified board promotes continuity of directors facilitating long range
planning, we feel directors should be accountable to shareholders on an annual
basis. We will look at this proposal on a case-by-case basis taking into
consideration the board’s historical responsiveness to the rights of
shareholders.
Where
a classified board is in place we will generally not support attempts to change
to an annually elected board.
When
an annually elected board is in place, we generally will not support attempts
to
classify the board.
INCREASE
AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK
The
request to increase the amount of authorized shares is considered on a
case-by-case basis.
Factors
taken into consideration include:
•
|
Future
use of additional shares
|
|
-
Stock option or other executive compensation
plan
|
|
-
Finance growth of company/strengthen balance
sheet
|
|
-
Implement a poison pill or other takeover
defense
|
•
|
Amount
of stock currently authorized but not yet issued or reserved for
stock
option plans
|
•
|
Amount
of additional stock to be authorized and its dilutive
effect
|
We
will support this proposal if a detailed and verifiable plan for the use of
the
additional shares is contained in the proxy statement.
CONFIDENTIAL
BALLOT
We
support the idea that a shareholder’s identity and vote should be treated with
confidentiality.
However,
we look at this issue on a case-by-case basis.
In
order to promote confidentiality in the voting process, we endorse the use
of
independent Inspectors of Election.
CUMULATIVE
VOTING
In
general, we support cumulative voting.
Cumulative
voting is a process by which a shareholder may multiply the number of directors
being elected by the number of shares held on record date and cast the total
number for one candidate or allocate the voting among two or more
candidates.
Where
cumulative voting is in place, we will vote against any proposal to rescind
this
shareholder right.
Cumulative
voting may result in a minority block of stock gaining representation on the
board. When a proposal is made to institute cumulative voting, the proposal
will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. While we feel that each board member should
represent all shareholders, cumulative voting provides minority
shareholders an opportunity to have their views represented.
DIRECTOR
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
We
support efforts to attract the best possible directors by limiting the liability
and increasing the indemnification of directors, except in the case of insider
dealing.
EQUAL
ACCESS TO THE PROXY
The
SEC’s rules provide for shareholder resolutions. However, the resolutions are
limited in scope and there is a 500 word limit on proponents’ written arguments.
Management has no such limitations. While we support equal access to the proxy,
we would look at such variables as length of time required to respond,
percentage of ownership, etc.
FAIR
PRICE PROVISIONS
Charter
provisions requiring a bidder to pay all shareholders a fair price are intended
to prevent two-tier tender offers that may be abusive. Typically, these
provisions do not apply to board-approved transactions.
We
support fair price provisions because we feel all shareholders should be
entitled to receive the same benefits.
Reviewed
on a case-by-case basis.
GOLDEN
PARACHUTES
Golden
parachutes are severance payments to top executives who are terminated or
demoted after a takeover.
We
support any proposal that would assure management of its own welfare so that
they may continue to make decisions in the best interest of the company and
shareholders even if the decision results in them losing their job. We do not,
however, support excessive golden parachutes. Therefore, each proposal will
be
decided on a case-by- case basis.
Note:
Congress has imposed a tax on any parachute that is more than three times the
executive’s average annual compensation.
ANTI-GREENMAIL
PROPOSALS
We
do not support greenmail. An offer extended to one shareholder should be
extended to all shareholders equally across the board.
LIMIT
SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHTS TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS
We
support the right of shareholders to call a special meeting.
CONSIDERATION
OF NONFINANCIAL EFFECTS OF A MERGER
This
proposal releases the directors from only looking at the financial effects
of a
merger and allows them the opportunity to consider the merger’s effects on
employees, the community, and consumers.
As
a fiduciary, we are obligated to vote in the best economic interests of our
clients. In general, this proposal does not allow us to do that. Therefore,
we
generally cannot support this proposal.
Reviewed
on a case-by-case basis.
MERGERS,
BUYOUTS, SPIN-OFFS, RESTRUCTURINGS
Each
of the above is considered on a case-by-case basis. According to the Department
of Labor, we are not required to vote for a proposal simply because the offering
price is at a premium to the current market price. We may take into
consideration the long term interests of the shareholders.
MILITARY
ISSUES
Shareholder
proposals regarding military production must be evaluated on a purely economic
set of criteria for our ERISA clients. As such, decisions will
be made on a case-by-case basis.
In
voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote
according to the client’s direction when applicable. Where no direction has been
given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not
our
duty to impose our social judgment on others.
NORTHERN
IRELAND
Shareholder
proposals requesting the signing of the MacBride principles for the purpose
of
countering the discrimination of Catholics in hiring practices must be evaluated
on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA clients. As
such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
In
voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote
according to client direction when applicable. Where no direction has been
given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not
our
duty to impose our social judgment on others.
OPT
OUT OF STATE ANTI-TAKEOVER LAW
This
shareholder proposal requests that a company opt out of the coverage of the
state’s anti-takeover statutes. Example: Delaware law requires that a buyer must
acquire at least 85% of the company’s stock before the buyer can exercise
control unless the board approves.
We
consider this on a case-by-case basis. Our decision will be based on the
following:
•
|
Management
history of responsiveness to
shareholders
|
•
|
Other
mitigating factors
|
POISON
PILL
In
general, we do not endorse poison pills.
In
certain cases where management has a history of being responsive to the needs
of
shareholders and the stock is very liquid, we will reconsider this
position.
REINCORPORATION
Generally,
we support reincorporation for well-defined business reasons. We oppose
reincorporation if proposed solely for the purpose of reincorporating in a
state
with more stringent anti-takeover statutes that may negatively impact the value
of the stock.
STOCK
OPTION PLANS
Stock
option plans are an excellent way to attract, hold and motivate directors and
employees. However, each stock option plan must be evaluated on its own merits,
taking into consideration the following:
•
|
Dilution
of voting power or earnings per share by more than
10%
|
•
|
Kind
of stock to be awarded, to whom, when and how
much
|
•
|
Amount
of stock already authorized but not yet issued under existing stock
option
plans
|
SUPERMAJORITY
VOTE REQUIREMENTS
Supermajority
vote requirements in a company’s charter or bylaws require a level of voting
approval in excess of a simple majority of the outstanding shares. In general,
we oppose supermajority-voting requirements. Supermajority requirements often
exceed the average level of shareholder participation. We support proposals’
approvals by a simple majority of the shares voting.
LIMIT
SHAREHOLDERS RIGHT TO ACT BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Written
consent allows shareholders to initiate and carry on a shareholder action
without having to wait until the next annual meeting or to call a special
meeting. It permits action to be taken by the written consent of the same
percentage of the shares that would be required to effect proposed action at
a
shareholder meeting.
Reviewed
on a case-by-case basis.
PART
C
OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
25. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(1) Financial
Statements
Part
A
None
Part
B
Statement
of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2006
Statement
of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2006
Statement
of Changes in Net Assets
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(2) Exhibits
|
(a)
|
Amended
and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant
(2)
|
|
(b)
|
By-Laws
of Registrant (1)
|
|
(d)
|
Form
of Specimen Common Share Certificate
(3)
|
|
(e)
|
Included
in Prospectus
|
|
(g)
|
Form
of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Gabelli Funds,
LLC
(3)
|
|
(h)
|
Form
of Underwriting Agreement (6)
|
|
(j)
|
Form
of Custodian Agreement (3)
|
|
(k)
|
Form
of Registrar, Transfer Agency and Service Agreement
(3)
|
|
(l)
|
Opinion
and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect
to legality (5)
|
|
(n)
|
(i)
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(5)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
Powers
of Attorney (5)
|
|
(p)
|
Form
of Initial Subscription
Agreement (4)
|
|
(r)
|
(i)
|
Code
of Ethics of the Fund and the Investment Adviser
(5)
|
|
|
(ii)
|
Joint
Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial Officers
(5)
|
|
(1) |
Previously
filed with the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on January
12,
2005 (333-121998). |
|
(2) |
Previously
filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-2 filed on February 24, 2005
(333-121998). |
|
(3) |
Previously
filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement as Form N-2 filed on March 23, 2005
(333-121998). |
|
(4) |
Previously
filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration
Statement as Form N-2 filed on March 24, 2005
(333-121998). |
|
(5) |
Filed
herewith. |
|
(6) |
To
be filed by amendment. |
Item
26. Marketing Arrangements
The
information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” on page __ of the
Prospectus is incorporated by reference, and any information concerning any
underwriters will be contained in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, if
any.
Item
27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The
following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection
with the offering described in this Registration Statement:
Exchange
listing fee
|
$10,000
|
SEC
registration fees
|
10,745
|
Rating
agency fees
|
50,000
|
Printing/engraving
expenses
|
400,000
|
Accounting
fees
|
30,000
|
Legal
fees
|
400,000
|
FINRA
fees
|
60,000
|
Miscellaneous
|
39,255
|
Total
|
1,000,000
|
Item
28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with
Registrant
None
Item
29. Number of Holders of Securities as of June 30, 2007
Title
of Class
|
|
Number
of Record
Holders
|
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
|
38
|
Item
30. Indemnification
Article
IV of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides as
follows:
4.1
No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No Shareholder of the
Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever
to
any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs
of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability
as is extended to stockholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated
under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware. No Trustee or
officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability
whatsoever to any Person, other than the
Trust
or its Shareholders, in connection with Trust Property or the affairs of the
Trust, save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his
duty
to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall
look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature
arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee
or officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or
proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception,
he
shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability.
4.2
Mandatory Indemnification. (a) The Trust shall indemnify the Trustees and
officers of the Trust (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against any
liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments,
in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably
incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition
of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before
any
court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have
been involved as a party or otherwise (other than, except as authorized by
the
Trustees, as the plaintiff or complainant) or with which he may be or may have
been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth above in this Section
4.2 by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect
to
any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable
belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case
of
any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to
believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee
shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any person or any
expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii)
bad faith, (iii) gross negligence (negligence in the case of Affiliated
Indemnitees), or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct
of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being
sometimes referred to herein as “disabling
conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any
action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as
plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such
action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee was authorized by a majority
of the Trustees.
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless
there has been a determination (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court
or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement
to
indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification hereunder or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i)
a
majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons
of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”),
that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) if such
quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs,
independent legal counsel in a written opinion conclude that the indemnitee
should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make
advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding
shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding
paragraph (c) below.
(c)
The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of
defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought
hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of
the
indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for
indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust
unless it is subsequently determined that he is entitled to such indemnification
and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of
conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition,
at
least one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the indemnitee
shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (2) the Trust shall be
insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a
majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority
vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as
opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to
believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
(d)
The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude
any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.
(e)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to any limitations provided by the 1940
Act and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to
indemnify Persons providing services to the Trust to the full extent provided
by
law as if the Trust were a corporation organized under the Delaware General
Corporation Law provided that such indemnification has been approved by a
majority of the Trustees.
4.3
No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. No purchaser,
lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any
officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry
concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees
or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money
or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or
of
said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking,
instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other
act
or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively
taken to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their
capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers,
employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the
protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to
cover
possible liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole
judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.
4.4
Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust
shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified
and
protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance
in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon
an
opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s
officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor,
selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected
with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust,
regardless of whether such counsel or other person may also be a
Trustee.
Investment
Advisory Agreement indemnification provisions to be filed by
Amendment.
Underwriter
indemnification provisions to be filed by Amendment.
Item
31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
The
Investment Adviser, a limited liability company organized under the laws
of the
State of New York, acts as investment adviser to the Registrant. The Registrant
is fulfilling the requirement of this Item 31 to provide a list of the officers
and Trustees of the Investment Adviser, together with information as to any
other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature
engaged in by the Investment Adviser or those officers and Trustees during
the
past two years, by incorporating by reference the information contained in
the
Form ADV of the Investment Adviser filed with the commission pursuant to
the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Commission File No.
801-26202).
Item
32. Location of Accounts and Records
The
accounts and records of the Registrant are maintained in part at the office
of
the Investment Adviser at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422,
in
part at the offices of the Fund’s custodian, Mellon, at 185 Santilli Highway,
Everett, Massachusetts 01249, in part at the offices of the Fund’s
sub-administrator, PFPC Inc., at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406,
and
in part at the offices of the Fund’s transfer agent, American Stock
Transfer, at 59 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038.
Item
33. Management Services
Not
applicable.
Item
34. Undertakings
1. Registrant
undertakes to suspend the offering of shares until the prospectus is amended,
if
subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, its net asset
value declines more than ten percent from its net asset value, as of the
effective date of the Registration Statement or its net asset value
increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the
prospectus.
2. Not
applicable.
3. Not
applicable.
4. Registrant
hereby undertakes:
|
(a)
|
to
file, during and period in which offers or sales are being made,
a
post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement:
|
|
(1)
|
to
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act
of 1933;
|
|
(2)
|
to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective
date of
the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement;
and
|
|
(3)
|
to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material
change to such information in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
(b)
|
that
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of
1933 (the “1933 Act”), each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the
initial bona fide offering
thereof;
|
|
(c)
|
to
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the
offering; and
|
|
(d)
|
that,
for the purpose of determining liability under the 1933 Act to
any
purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: Each
prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under
the 1933
Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering,
other
than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the 1933
Act shall
be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as
of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided,
however, that no statement made in a registration statement or
prospectus that is part of the registration or made in a document
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration
statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement
will,
as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such
first use,
supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration
statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement
or
made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first
use.
|
|
(e)
|
that
for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under
the 1933
Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of
securities:
|
|
The
undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities
of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement,
regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities
to the
purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser
by
means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant
will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer
or sell
such securities to the purchaser:
|
|
(1)
|
any
preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant
relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497
under
the 1933 Act.
|
|
(2)
|
the
portion of any advertisement
pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act relating to the offering
containing material information about the undersigned Registrant
or its
securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant;
and
|
|
(3)
|
any
other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the
undersigned Registrant to the
purchaser.
|
5.
|
Registrant
undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the
1933 Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed
as
part of the Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
contained
in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule
497(h)
will be deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement as of the
time
it was declared
effective.
|
Registrant
undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933
Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus will
be
deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time will be deemed to
be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
6.
|
Registrant
undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to
ensure
equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a
written
or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information constituting
Part
B of this Registration Statement.
|
SIGNATURES
As
required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registrant’s
Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, in the
City
of Rye, State of New York, on the 20th day of September,
2007.
|
THE
GABELLI GLOBAL GOLD, NATURAL
|
|
RESOURCES
& INCOME TRUST
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Bruce N. Alpert
|
|
|
|
Bruce
N. Alpert
|
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
As
required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities set forth
below
on the 20th day of September, 2007.
NAME
|
TITLE
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Anthony
J. Colavita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
James
P. Conn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Mario
d’Urso
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Vincent
D. Enright
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Michael
J. Melarkey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Salvatore
M. Salibello
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Trustee
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Bruce N. Alpert
|
|
Attorney-in-Fact
|
Bruce
N. Alpert
|
|
|
* Pursuant
to a Power of Attorney
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
|
DESCRIPTION
OF EXHIBIT
|
Ex-.99(l)
|
Opinion
and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect
to legality
|
Ex-.99(n)(i)
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
Ex-.99(n)(ii)
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
Ex-.99(r)(i)
|
Code
of Ethics of the Fund and the Investment Adviser
|
Ex-.99(r)(ii)
|
Joint
Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial
Officers
|
C-9