$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 generate gains 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 generates gains 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 NYSE Amex (“NYSE”) under the symbol “GGN.” Our
6.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE under
the symbol “GGN PrA.” On February 3 , 2010, the last
reported sale price of our common shares was $ 16.05 .
The net asset value of the Fund’s common shares at the close of business
on February 3 , 2010 was $ 15.04 per share. 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 19 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 February 4 , 2010,
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 47 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.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
Page |
|
|
Prospectus
Summary
|
11
|
Summary
of Fund Expenses
|
10
|
Financial
Highlights
|
11
|
Use
Of Proceeds
|
12
|
The
Fund
|
13
|
Investment
Objectives and Policies
|
13
|
Risk
Factors and Special Considerations
|
19
|
Management
of the Fund
|
28
|
Portfolio
Transactions
|
31
|
Dividends
And Distributions
|
31
|
Issuance
of Common Stock
|
31
|
Automatic
Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan
|
31
|
Description
of the Shares
|
32
|
Anti-Takeover
Provisions of the Fund’s Governing Documents
|
39
|
Closed-End
Fund Structure
|
40
|
Repurchase
of Common Shares
|
40
|
Net
Asset Value
|
41
|
Taxation
|
41
|
Custodian,
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
|
43
|
Plan
of Distribution
|
43
|
Legal
Matters
|
45
|
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
45
|
Additional
Information
|
45
|
Privacy
Principles of the Fund
|
46
|
Table
Of Contents of Statement of Additional Information
|
47
|
PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
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 February 4 , 2010 (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 NYSE Amex (“NYSE”) under the
symbol “GGN.” Our 6.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares are listed on
the NYSE under the symbol “GGN PrA.” On February
3 , the last reported sale price of our common shares was $ 16.05 . The net asset value of the Fund’s common shares at
the close of business on February 3 was $ 15.04 per share.
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.
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 generate gains 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 generates gains 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 generates gains 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.”
There
is a risk that the Fund may generate losses as a result of its option strategy.
See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Risks Associated with
Covered Calls and Other Option Transactions.”
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 possible gains from writing
covered calls on such stocks.
Preferred
Shares and Borrowings
On
October 16, 2007, the Fund completed the placement of $100 million of
Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Preferred Shares”) consisting of 4 million
shares designated as Series A and paying dividends of an annual rate equal to
6.625% of liquidation preference. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common
shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such
leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common
shareholders. Dividends on the Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is
required by the 1940 Act and by the Statement of Preferences to meet certain
asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to
meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be
required to redeem, in part or in full, the Preferred Shares at the redemption
price of $25 per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid
dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet the
requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage
requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common
shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune
times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated
to the fixed rate, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on
net investment income and gains available to common shareholders. If the
Fund has insufficient investment income and gains, all or a portion of the
distributions to preferred shareholders would come from the common shareholders'
capital. Such distributions reduce the net assets attributable to
common shareholders since the liquidation value of the preferred shareholders is
constant.
The
Fund may issue additional series of preferred shares or borrow 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 additional series of 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). A
significant portion of the Fund’s distributions on its common shares for recent
periods have included, or have been estimated to include, a return of capital. A
portion of the distributions to the preferred shareholders may also be sourced
from capital attributable to the common shareholders. Any return
of capital that is a component of a distribution is not sourced from realized
gains of the Fund and that portion should not be considered by investors as
yield or total return on their investment in the Fund. 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.”
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 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. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Exchange
Listing
The
Fund’s common shares are listed on the NYSE under the trading or “ticker” symbol
“GGN.” The Fund’s Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE under the ticker
symbol “GGN PrA.” See “Description of the Shares.” Any additional series of
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 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.”
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 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. Although such loss would be offset in
part by the option premium received, in a situation in which the price of a
particular stock on which the Fund has written a covered call option declines
rapidly and materially or in which prices in general on all or a substantial
portion of the stocks on which the Fund has written covered call options decline
rapidly and materially, the Fund could sustain material depreciation or loss in
its net assets to the extent it does not sell the underlying securities (which
may require it to terminate, offset or otherwise cover its option position as
well). 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 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.”
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.”
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.”
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 is leveraged 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.
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 its borrowings or preferred shares or
of losing its ratings on its borrowings or preferred shares or, in an extreme
case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the
interest or dividend requirements on its borrowings or 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. If
the Fund has insufficient investment income and gains, all or a portion of the
distributions to preferred shareholders would come from the common shareholders'
capital. Such distributions reduce the net assets attributable to
common shareholders since the liquidation value of the preferred shareholders is
constant.
|
•
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
addition, the Fund pays (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, 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.
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
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”).
|
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.”
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 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.
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.”
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 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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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. 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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund may have a high turnover ratio which may result in higher
expenses and lower after-tax return to shareholders than if the Fund had a lower
turnover ratio.
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.”
Geopolitical Events.
As a result of the terrorist attacks on domestic U.S. targets 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—Geopolitical Events.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
SUMMARY
OF FUND EXPENSES
The
following table shows the Fund’s expenses as a percentage of net assets
attributable to common shares.
|
Shareholder
Transaction Expenses
|
|
|
|
Sales
Load (as a percentage of offering price)
|
1 %(1) |
|
|
Offering
Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering
price)
|
0.06 %(1) |
|
|
Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Fees
|
None(2)
|
|
|
|
Percentage
of Net
Assets
Attributable
to
Common Shares
|
|
|
Annual
Expenses
|
|
|
|
Management
Fees
|
1.11 |
%(3)
|
|
Interest
on Borrowed Funds
|
None
|
|
|
Other
Expenses
|
0.11 |
%(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Annual Expenses
|
1.22 |
%(3)
|
_________________________
(1)
|
Estimated
maximum amount based on offering of $ 350 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)
|
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.
|
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 $ and estimated offering expenses of
$ from the issuance of $ 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
|
$ 23
|
|
$ 49
|
|
$ 77
|
|
$ 157
|
_________________________
*
|
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.
|
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
The
selected data below sets forth the per share operating performance and ratios
for the periods 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 fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and
for each of the preceding fiscal periods presented 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 share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each
period:
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
Period
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June
30, 2009
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
December
31,
2005(g)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Performance:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
asset value, beginning of period
|
$
|
10.39
|
|
|
$
|
29.48
|
|
|
$
|
24.10
|
|
|
$
|
21.99
|
|
|
$
|
19.06
|
(h)
|
Net
investment income/(loss)
|
|
0.07
|
|
|
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
Net
realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments, swap contracts,
securities sold short, written options, and foreign currency
transactions
|
|
3.43
|
|
|
|
(17.18
|
)
|
|
|
7.61
|
|
|
|
3.77
|
|
|
|
4.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
from investment operations
|
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
(17.08
|
)
|
|
|
7.59
|
|
|
|
3.85
|
|
|
|
4.09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
to Preferred Shareholders: (a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income
|
|
(0.11
|
)(d)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Net
realized gain
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(0.28
|
)
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Return
of capital
|
|
(0.06
|
)(d)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
distributions to preferred shareholders
|
|
(0.17
|
)
|
|
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
|
(0.08
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
to Common Shareholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(0.13
|
)
|
|
|
(0.15
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
Net
realized gain
|
|
―
|
|
|
|
(0.48
|
)
|
|
|
(1.78
|
)
|
|
|
(1.74
|
)
|
|
|
(1.09
|
)
|
Return
of capital
|
|
(0.84
|
)(d)
|
|
|
(1.07
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
distributions to common shareholders
|
|
(0.84
|
)
|
|
|
(1.68
|
)
|
|
|
(1.93
|
)
|
|
|
(1.74
|
)
|
|
|
(1.16
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Share
Transactions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase/(decrease)
in net asset value from common share transactions
|
|
0.19
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
0.00
|
(e)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)(e)
|
Increase
in net asset value from repurchases of preferred shares
|
|
0.00
|
(e)
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Offering
costs for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
(0.20
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Offering
costs for common shares charged to paid-in capital
|
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
fund share transactions
|
|
0.12
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
(0.20
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)(e)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Asset Value, End of Period
|
$
|
13.00
|
|
|
$
|
10.39
|
|
|
$
|
29.48
|
|
|
$
|
24.10
|
|
|
$
|
21.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NAV
total return†
|
|
34.63
|
% |
|
|
(61.59
|
)%
|
|
|
31.47
|
%
|
|
|
18.29
|
%
|
|
|
22.0
|
%*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market
value, end of period
|
$
|
13.55
|
|
|
$
|
13.10
|
|
|
$
|
29.15
|
|
|
$
|
24.60
|
|
|
$
|
21.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
total return††
|
|
9.90
|
% |
|
|
(50.94
|
)%
|
|
|
27.40
|
%
|
|
|
21.86
|
%
|
|
|
15.2
|
%**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios
to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of period (in
000’s)
|
$
|
379,605
|
|
|
$
|
289,046
|
|
|
$
|
633,253
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
Period
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June
30, 2009
(Unaudited)
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
December
31,
2005(g)
|
Net
assets attributable to common shares, end of period
(in 000’s)
|
$
|
280,713
|
|
$
|
190,109
|
|
$
|
533,253
|
|
$
|
432,741
|
|
|
$
|
390,209
|
|
Ratio
of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets attributable to
common shares
|
|
2.01
|
%(f)
|
|
|
0.39
|
%
|
|
|
(0.09
|
)%
|
|
|
0.42
|
%
|
|
|
0.47
|
%(f)
|
Ratio
of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares
(b)
|
|
1.86
|
%(f)
|
|
|
1.69
|
%
|
|
|
1.45
|
%
|
|
|
1.17
|
%
|
|
|
1.15
|
%(f)
|
Ratio
of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of
preferred shares (b)
|
|
1.28
|
%(f)
|
|
|
1.37
|
%
|
|
|
1.39
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Portfolio
turnover rate†††
|
|
31.0
|
%
|
|
|
41.5
|
%
|
|
|
71.3
|
%
|
|
|
114.8
|
%
|
|
|
142.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.625%
Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation
value, end of period (in 000’s)
|
$
|
98,892
|
|
|
$
|
98,937
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total
shares outstanding (in 000’s)
|
|
3,956
|
|
|
|
3,957
|
|
|
|
4,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Liquidation
preference per share
|
$
|
25.00
|
|
|
$
|
25.00
|
|
|
$
|
25.00
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Average
market value (c)
|
$
|
24.04
|
|
|
$
|
24.10
|
|
|
$
|
24.16
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Asset
coverage per share
|
$
|
95.96
|
|
|
$
|
73.04
|
|
|
$
|
158.31
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Asset
coverage
|
|
384
|
%
|
|
|
292
|
%
|
|
|
633
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
_________________________
†
|
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.
|
|
|
†††
|
Effective
in 2008, a change in accounting policy was adopted with regard to the
calculation of the portfolio turnover rate to include cash proceeds due to
mergers. Had this policy been adopted retroactively, the portfolio
turnover rate for the year ended December 31, 2007 and period ended
December 31, 2005 would have been 77.7% and 143.3%, respectively. The
portfolio turnover rate for the year ended 2006 would have been as
shown.
|
|
|
*
|
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.
|
|
|
(a)
|
Calculated
based upon average common shares outstanding on the record dates
throughout the periods.
|
|
|
(b)
|
The
Fund incurred interest expense during the six months ended June 30, 2009,
and the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006. If interest
expense had not been incurred, the ratio of operating expenses to average
net assets attributable to common shares would have been 1.85%, 1.54%,
1.33%, and 1.16%, respectively, and for 2008 and 2007, the ratio of
operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of
preferred shares would have been 1.25% and 1.27%,
respectively.
|
|
|
(c)
|
Based
on weekly prices.
|
|
|
(d)
|
Based
on year to date book income. Amounts are subject to change and
recharacterization at year end.
|
|
|
(e)
|
Amount
represents less than $0.005 per share.
|
|
|
(f)
|
Annualized.
|
|
|
(g)
|
The
Fund commenced investment operations on March 31,
2005.
|
|
|
(h)
|
The
beginning of period NAV reflects a $0.04 reduction for costs associated
with the initial public offering.
|
USE
OF PROCEEDS
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
FUND
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 AND POLICIES
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 generate gains 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 generates gains
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 possible gains 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 generate gains 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 generates gains 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 generates
gains 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.
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.
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. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations — Risks
Associated with Covered Calls and Other Options.”
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.
Leveraging. As
provided in the 1940 Act and subject to certain exceptions, the Fund may issue
senior securities (which may be additional classes of stock, such as preferred
shares, or securities representing debt) so long as its total assets, less
certain ordinary course liabilities, exceed 300% of the amount of the debt
outstanding and exceed 200% of the amount of preferred shares and debt
outstanding. The use of leverage magnifies the impact of changes in net asset
value. For example, a fund that uses 33% leverage will show a 1.5% increase or
decline in net asset value for each 1% increase or decline in the value of its
total assets. In addition, if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on the
securities acquired with the proceeds of leverage, the use of leverage will
diminish rather than enhance the return to the Fund. The use of leverage
generally increases the volatility of returns to the Fund. See “Risk Factors and
Special Considerations—Leverage Risk.”
In
the event the Fund had both outstanding preferred shares and senior securities
representing debt at the same time, the Fund’s obligations to pay dividends or
distributions and, upon liquidation of the Fund, liquidation payments in respect
of its preferred shares would be subordinate to the Fund’s obligations to make
any principal and/or interest payments due and owing with respect to its
outstanding senior debt securities. Accordingly, the Fund’s issuance of senior
securities representing debt would have the effect of creating special risks for
the Fund’s preferred shareholders that would not be present in a capital
structure that did not include such securities. See “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations—Special Risks Related to Preferred Securities.”
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 six months ended June 30, 2009 and the year ended December
31, 2008, the portfolio turnover rates were 31.0% and 41.5%,
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, in a situation in which the price of a particular stock on which the
Fund has written a covered call option declines rapidly and materially or in
which prices in general on all or a substantial portion of the stocks on which
the Fund has written covered call options decline rapidly and materially, the
Fund could sustain material depreciation or loss in its net assets to the extent
it does not sell the underlying securities (which may require it to terminate,
offset or otherwise cover its option position as well). 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.
Leverage
Risk
The
Fund currently uses financial leverage for investment purposes by issuing
preferred shares. As of December 31, 2009, the amount of leverage
represented approximately 16 % of the Fund’s
total assets. The Fund’s leveraged capital structure creates special risks not
associated with unleveraged funds that have a similar investment objective and
policies. These include the possibility of greater loss and the likelihood of
higher volatility of the net asset value of the Fund and the asset coverage for
the preferred shares. Such volatility may increase the likelihood of the Fund
having to sell investments in order to meet its obligations to make
distributions on the preferred shares or principal or interest payments on debt
securities, or to redeem preferred shares or repay debt, when it may be
disadvantageous to do so. The use of leverage magnifies both the favorable and
unfavorable effects of price movements in the investments made by the Fund. To
the extent the Fund is leveraged in its investment operations, the Fund will be
subject to substantial risk 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. Also, if the Fund is utilizing leverage, a decline
in net asset value could affect the ability of the Fund to make common share
distributions and such a failure to make distributions could result in the Fund
ceasing to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code. See
“Taxation.”
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 its borrowings or
preferred shares or of losing its ratings on its borrowings or preferred shares
or, in an extreme case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be
sufficient to meet the interest or dividend requirements on its borrowings or
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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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. If
the Fund has insufficient investment income and gains, all or a portion of
the distributions to preferred shareholders would come from the common
shareholders' capital. Such distributions reduce the net assets
attributable to common shareholders since the liquidation value of the
preferred shareholders is constant.
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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 the advisory fees on the incremental
assets attributable to such shares.
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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.
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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 16 % of the Fund’s
total assets, the Fund’s current projected blended annual average leverage
dividend or interest rate of 6.625%, 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)
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(10)%
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(5)%
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0%
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5%
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10%
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Common
Share Total Return
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(13.36) %
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(7.40) %
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(1.45) %
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4.50 %
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10.45 %
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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.
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 it desires to do so,
resulting in the Fund obtaining a lower price or being required to retain the
investment. 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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dependence
on the Investment Adviser’s ability to predict correctly movements in the
direction of the relevant measure;
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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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the
fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from those
needed to select portfolio securities;
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the
possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular
instrument at any time;
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the
possible need to defer closing out certain hedged positions to avoid
adverse tax consequences;
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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
volatility;
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greater
credit risk and risk of default;
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potentially
greater sensitivity to general economic or industry
conditions;
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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.
Special
Risks to Holders of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares
Illiquidity Prior to Exchange
Listing. In the event any additional series of fixed rate
preferred shares are issued, prior application will have been made to list such
shares on the 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.
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 may have a high turnover ratio which 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.
Geopolitical
Events
As
a result of the terrorist attacks on domestic U.S. targets 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 additional series of 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.
MANAGEMENT
OF THE FUND
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, 2009.
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 September 30 , 2009, the Investment Adviser acted as
registered investment adviser to 25 management investment companies with
aggregate net assets of $ 13.9 billion. The
Investment Adviser, together with the other affiliated investment advisers noted
below had assets under management totaling approximately $ 25.0 billion as of September 30 , 2009. 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 $ 10.3 billion under management as of September 30 , 2009. Gabelli Securities, Inc., an affiliate
of the Investment Adviser, acts as investment adviser for investment
partnerships and entities having aggregate assets of approximately $ 291 million as of September
30 , 2009. Gabelli Fixed Income LLC, an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser, acts as investment adviser for separate accounts having aggregate
assets of approximately $ 26 million under
management as of September 30 , 2009. Teton
Advisors, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, acts as investment
manager to the GAMCO Westwood Funds having aggregate assets of approximately
$ 521 million under management as of September 30 , 2009.
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 is 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.
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 PNC
Global Investment Servicing (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 Teton Advisors, 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
On
April 24, 2008, the Investment Adviser entered into an administrative
settlement with the SEC to resolve the SEC’s inquiry regarding prior frequent
trading activity in shares of the GAMCO Global Growth Fund (the “Global Growth
Fund”) by one investor who was banned from the Global Growth Fund in August
2002. In the settlement, the SEC found that the Investment Adviser had violated
Section 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act, Section 17(d) of the
1940 Act and Rule 17d-1 thereunder, and had aided and abetted and caused
violations of Section 12(d)(1)(B)(i) of the 1940 Act. Under the terms of
the settlement, the Investment Adviser, while neither admitting nor denying the
SEC’s findings and allegations, agreed, among other things, to pay the
previously reserved total of $16 million (including a $5 million
penalty), of which at least $11 million will be distributed to shareholders
of the Global Growth Fund in accordance with a plan developed by an independent
distribution consultant and approved by the independent directors of the Global
Growth Fund and the staff of the SEC, and to cease and desist from future
violations of the above referenced federal securities laws. The settlement will
not have a material adverse impact on the Investment Adviser or its ability to
fulfill its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement. On the same
day, the SEC filed a civil action against the Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Investment Adviser, alleging violations of certain
federal securities laws arising from the same matter. The officer is also an
officer of the Fund, the Global Growth Fund and other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO
fund complex. The officer denies the allegations and is continuing in his
positions with the Investment Adviser and the funds. The Investment Adviser
currently expects that any resolution of the action
against
the officer will not have a material adverse impact on the Investment Adviser or
its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Investment Advisory
Agreement.
PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS
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.
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). A significant portion of the Fund’s distributions on its common
shares for recent periods have included, or have been estimated to include, a
return of capital. A portion of the distributions to the preferred shareholders
may also be sourced from capital attributable to the common shareholders.
Any return of capital that is a component of a distribution is not
sourced from realized gains of the Fund and that portion should not be
considered by investors as yield or total return on their investment in the
Fund. 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. 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.”
ISSUANCE
OF COMMON STOCK
During
the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, the Fund issued 13,989,100 shares of
beneficial interest through various “at the market offerings.” The net proceeds
received from these various offerings were $207,429,594 (net of sales manager
commissions of $3,797,829 and offering expenses of $421,000). Gabelli &
Company, Inc., an affiliate of Gabelli Funds, LLC, the Fund’s Adviser, acted as
sales manager for all of the offerings.
AUTOMATIC
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT 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 NYSE 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 NYSE
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.
DESCRIPTION
OF THE SHARES
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 NYSE 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 NYSE 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.
Subject
to the rights of the outstanding preferred shares, the Fund’s common shares vote
as a single class on election 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 shares. 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.
On
October 16, 2007, the Fund completed the placement of $100 million of
Preferred Shares consisting of 4 million shares designated as Series A
and paying dividends of an annual rate equal to 6.625% of liquidation
preference. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in
the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify
both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on the
Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the
Statement of Preferences to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to
the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not
correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full,
the Preferred Shares at the redemption price of $25 per share plus an amount
equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such
shares in order to meet the requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the
foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay
dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities
at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a
manner unrelated to the fixed rate, which could have either a beneficial or
detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common
shareholders.
The
Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “GGN
PrA.”
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. If
the Fund has insufficient investment income and gains, all or a portion of the
distributions to preferred shareholders would come from the common shareholders'
capital. Such distributions reduce the net assets attributable to
common shareholders since the liquidation value of the preferred shareholders is
constant.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;
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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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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.
Moody’s
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S&P
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Applicable
Percentage
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Applicable
Spread
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Aaa
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AAA
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150%
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1.50%
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Aa3
to Aa1
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AA–to
AA+
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250%
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2.50%
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A3
to A1
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A–to
A+
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350%
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3.50%
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Baa1
or lower
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BBB+
or lower
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550%
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5.50%
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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
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Maximum
Applicable Rate Using the Applicable Percentage
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Maximum
Applicable Rate Using the Applicable Spread
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Method
Used to Determine the Maximum Applicable Rate
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1%
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1.50%
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2.50%
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Spread
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2%
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3.00%
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3.50%
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Spread
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3%
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4.50%
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4.50%
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Either
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4%
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6.00%
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5.50%
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Percentage
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5%
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7.50%
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6.50%
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Percentage
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6%
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9.00%
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7.50%
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Percentage
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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:
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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;
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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
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after
making the distribution, the Fund meets applicable asset coverage
requirements described under “—Rating Agency Guidelines” and “—Asset
Maintenance Requirements.”
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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:
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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
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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.
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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 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:
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merger
or consolidation of the Fund with or into any other
entity;
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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;
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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);
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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
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·
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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.
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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 access to the full
text of these provisions, see “Additional Information.”
CLOSED-END
FUND STRUCTURE
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.
REPURCHASE
OF COMMON SHARES
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.
NET
ASSET VALUE
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.
NYSE Closings.
The holidays (as observed) on which the NYSE 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.
TAXATION
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
ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed
herein. Counsel to the Fund has not rendered and will not render any
legal opinion regarding any tax consequences relating to the Fund or an
investment in the Fund. 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.
CUSTODIAN,
TRANSFER AGENT 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.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
may sell the shares, being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways
from time to time:
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to
underwriters or dealers for resale to the public or to institutional
investors;
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directly
to institutional investors;
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directly
to a limited number of purchasers or to a single
purchaser;
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through
agents to the public or to institutional investors;
or
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through
a combination of any of these methods of
sale.
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The
prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the
terms of the offering of the securities, including:
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the
offering terms, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers
or agents;
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the
purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us
from the sale;
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any
underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting
underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, which compensation will in no event
exceed 8% of the sales price;
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any
initial public offering price;
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any
discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
and
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any
securities exchange on which the securities may be
listed.
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If
we use underwriters or dealers in the sale, the securities will be acquired by
the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to
time in one or more transactions, including;
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negotiated
transactions;
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at
a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be
changed;
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at
market prices prevailing at the time of
sale;
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at
prices related to prevailing market prices;
or
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Any
initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If
underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities may be
either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by
managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’
obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions
precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities
if they purchase any of the securities.
If
indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, we may sell the securities
through agents from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name
any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we
pay to them. Commissions for any sale will in no event exceed 8% of the sales
price. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the
period of its appointment. We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to
solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the
public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant
to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified
date in the future. The delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those
conditions set forth
in
the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable prospectus supplement
will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these delayed delivery
contracts.
Offered
securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable
prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in
accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise,
by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or
as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its
agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Agents,
underwriters and other third parties described above may be entitled to
indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities under the Securities
Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or
underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, underwriters
and such other third parties may be customers of, engage in transactions with,
or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Each
series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no
established trading market other than our common shares and Preferred Shares,
which are listed on the NYSE. Any common shares sold will be listed on NYSE,
upon official notice of issuance. The securities, other than the common shares,
may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Any underwriters to
whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in
the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
LEGAL
MATTERS
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.
INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
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 NYSE under the symbol “GGN.” The Preferred
Shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GGN PrA.” Reports, proxy
statements and other information concerning the Fund and filed with the SEC by
the Fund will be available for inspection at the NYSE, 11 Wall Street,
New York, New York, 10005.
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).
PRIVACY
PRINCIPLES OF THE FUND
The
Fund is committed to maintaining the privacy of its shareholders and to
safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is
provided to help you understand what personal information the Fund collects, how
the Fund protects that information and why, in certain cases, the Fund may share
information with select other parties.
Generally,
the Fund does not receive any non-public personal information relating to its
shareholders, although certain non-public personal information of its
shareholders may become available to the Fund. The Fund does not disclose any
non-public personal information about its shareholders or former shareholders to
anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service
shareholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party
administrator).
The
Fund restricts access to non-public personal information about its shareholders
to employees of the Fund, 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.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
An
SAI dated as of February 4 , 2010, 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
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3
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Investment
Objectives and Policies
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3
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Investment
Restrictions
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11
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Management
of The Fund
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12
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Dividends
and Distributions
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20
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Portfolio
Transactions
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20
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Portfolio
Turnover
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21
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Taxation
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21
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General
Information
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26
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Appendix
A—Proxy Voting Policy
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A-1
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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
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
Preferred
Shares of Beneficial Interest
________________________
PROSPECTUS
________________________
___________,
2010
The
information in this Prospectus 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 Prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities and is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in
any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
(To
Prospectus dated __________, 2010)
Shares
The
Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
We
are offering for
sale shares of
our common shares. Our common shares are traded on the NYSE Amex (the “NYSE”)
under the symbol “GGN.” Our 6.625% Series A cumulative Preferred Shares are
listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GGN PrA.” The last reported sale price for
our common shares
on ,
was $ per share. The net asset value of the Fund’s
common shares at the close of business
on , 2010 was
$ per
share.
You
should review the information set forth under “Risk Factors and Special
Considerations” on page 19 of the accompanying Prospectus before investing in
our common shares.
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Per
Share
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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.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Prospectus
Supplement
Page
Table
of Fees and Expenses
|
S-3
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
S-3
|
Price
Range of Common Shares
|
S-3
|
Plan
of Distribution
|
S-4
|
Legal
Matters
|
S-4
|
Prospectus
Prospectus
Summary
|
11
|
Summary
of Fund Expenses
|
102
|
Financial
Highlights
|
113
|
Use
Of Proceeds
|
124
|
The
Fund
|
135
|
Investment
Objectives and Policies
|
135
|
Risk
Factors and Special Considerations
|
199
|
Management
of the Fund
|
288
|
Portfolio
Transactions
|
311
|
Dividends
And Distributions
|
311
|
Issuance
of Common Stock
|
311
|
Automatic
Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan
|
311
|
Description
of the Shares
|
322
|
Anti-Takeover
Provisions of the Fund’s Governing Documents
|
399
|
Closed-End
Fund Structure
|
400
|
Repurchase
of Common Shares
|
400
|
Net
Asset Value
|
411
|
Taxation
|
411
|
Custodian,
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
|
433
|
Plan
of Distribution
|
433
|
Legal
Matters
|
455
|
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
455
|
Additional
Information
|
455
|
Privacy
Principles of the Fund
|
466
|
Table
Of Contents of Statement of Additional Information
|
477
|
TABLE
OF FEES AND EXPENSES
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 Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering
price)
|
[ ]
|
%
|
Dividend
Reinvestment Plan Fees
|
None
|
(1)
|
|
Percentage
of Net Assets
Attributable
to Common Shares
|
|
Annual
Expenses
|
|
|
Management
Fees
|
|
% (2)
|
Interest
on Borrowed Funds
|
None
|
|
Other
Expenses
|
|
% (2)
|
|
|
|
Total
Annual Expenses
|
|
% (2)
|
_____________________
(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)
|
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, in as much as the Fund has
preferred shares outstanding, the investment management fees and other
expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares are
higher than if the Fund did not utilize a leveraged capital structure.
“Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current year
assuming completion of the proposed
issuances.
|
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.
|
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 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.
PRICE
RANGE OF COMMON SHARES
The
following table sets forth for the quarters indicated, the high and low sale
prices on the NYSE 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 |
|
September 30,
2007
|
|
|
28.30 |
|
|
|
21.71 |
|
|
|
28.22 |
|
|
|
22.91 |
|
|
|
0.28 |
|
|
|
−5.24 |
|
December 31,
2007
|
|
|
29.54 |
|
|
|
25.82 |
|
|
|
29.51 |
|
|
|
28.08 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
−8.05 |
|
March 31,
2008
|
|
|
30.87 |
|
|
|
25.90 |
|
|
|
31.69 |
|
|
|
27.76 |
|
|
|
−2.59 |
|
|
|
−6.70 |
|
June 30,
2008
|
|
|
30.61 |
|
|
|
26.30 |
|
|
|
33.50 |
|
|
|
29.29 |
|
|
|
−8.63 |
|
|
|
−10.21 |
|
September 30,
2008
|
|
|
30.30 |
|
|
|
19.62 |
|
|
|
32.13 |
|
|
|
19.65 |
|
|
|
−5.70 |
|
|
|
−0.14 |
|
December 31,
2008
|
|
|
19.99 |
|
|
|
7.90 |
|
|
|
18.53 |
|
|
|
7.32 |
|
|
|
7.88 |
|
|
|
7.92 |
|
March 31,
2009
|
|
|
16.45 |
|
|
|
12.21 |
|
|
|
10.54 |
|
|
|
9.69 |
|
|
|
56.07 |
|
|
|
26.01 |
|
June 30,
2009
|
|
|
15.95 |
|
|
|
12.80 |
|
|
|
14.38 |
|
|
|
10.95 |
|
|
|
10.92 |
|
|
|
16.90 |
|
September
30, 2009
|
|
|
15.83 |
|
|
|
12.56 |
|
|
|
15.30 |
|
|
|
12.01 |
|
|
|
3.46 |
|
|
|
4.58 |
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
|
17.14 |
|
|
|
14.96 |
|
|
|
16.14 |
|
|
|
14.44 |
|
|
|
6.20 |
|
|
|
3.60 |
|
March
31, 2010 (period from January 1, 2010
through ,
2010)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
last reported price for our common shares
on ,
2010 was $ per share.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
[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 common shares.
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
_________________________
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT
,
2010
_________________________
Dated
February 4 , 2010
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 _________, 2010, 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 generate gains 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 generates gains 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.”
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
The
Fund
|
3
|
Investment
Objectives and Policies
|
3
|
Investment
Restrictions
|
11
|
Management
of The Fund
|
12
|
Dividends
and Distributions
|
20
|
Portfolio
Transactions
|
20
|
Portfolio
Turnover
|
21
|
Taxation
|
21
|
General
Information
|
26
|
Appendix
A—Proxy Voting Policy
|
A-1
|
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. The Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest,
par value $0.001 per share, are listed on the NYSE Amex (the “NYSE”) under the
symbol “GGN.” Our 6.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares are listed on the
NYSE under the symbol “GGN PrA.”
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
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 generate gains 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 generates gains 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-à-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.
INVESTMENT
RESTRICTIONS
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.
MANAGEMENT
OF THE FUND
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(64)
|
|
Since
November 2005***
|
|
Certified
Public Accountant and Managing Partner of the certified public accounting
firm of Salibello & Broder LLP
|
|
None
|
|
3
|
Non-Interested
Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony
J. Colavita (74)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005**
|
|
President
of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.
|
|
None
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
P. Conn (71)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005***
|
|
Former
Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Financial Security
Assurance Holdings Ltd. (insurance holding company)
(1992—1998)
|
|
None
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mario
d’Urso (69)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005*
|
|
Chairman
of Mittel Capital Markets S.p.A. since 2001; Senator in the Italian
Parliament (1996—2001)
|
|
None
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent
D. Enright (66)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005*
|
|
Former
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Energy Corp
(public utility) (1994-1998)
|
|
Director
of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics)
|
|
16
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. (70)
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)
|
|
None
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
J. Melarkey (60)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005*
|
|
Partner
in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel &
Mulligan
|
|
Director
of Southwest Gas Corporation (natural gas utility)
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris (75)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005***
|
|
Chairman
of BALMAC International, Inc. (commodities and futures
trading)
|
|
None
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza (64)
Trustee
|
|
Since
February 2005**
|
|
Chairman
of Zizza & Co., Ltd. (consulting)
|
|
Director
of Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals (biotechnology) and Director of Trans-Lux
Corporation (business services)
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bruce
N. Alpert (58)
President
|
|
Since
February 2005
|
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since
1988; Chairman of Teton Advisors , Inc.
since 2008 and Director and President from 1998-2008; Senior Vice
President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008; Officer of all of the
registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund
Complex
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carter
W. Austin (43)
Vice
President
|
|
Since
February 2005
|
|
Vice
President of other registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO
Fund Complex; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since
1996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
D. Goldstein (56)
Chief
Compliance Officer
|
|
Since
February 2005
|
|
Director
of Regulatory Affairs for GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2004; Chief
Compliance Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the
Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Molly
A.F. Marion (55)
Vice
President
|
|
Since
May 2005
|
|
Assistant
Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2006; Assistant Portfolio
Manager of Gabelli Fixed Income LLC from 1994-2004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agnes
Mullady (51)
Treasurer
and Secretary
|
|
Since
February 2006
|
|
Senior
Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of
Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Officer of all of the registered investment
companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President of U.S.
Trust Company, N.A. and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Excelsior
Funds from 2004—2005
|
|
|
|
|
________________________
(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 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until
their successors are duly elected and qualified.
|
|
|
***
|
Term
continues until the Fund’s 2012 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested
Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salvatore
M. Salibello
|
|
none
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent
Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony
J. Colavita*
|
|
$1-$10,000
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
P. Conn
|
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mario
d’Urso
|
|
none
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent
D. Enright
|
|
none
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
|
|
none
|
|
$1-$10,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
J. Melarkey
|
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris*
|
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza
|
|
$10,001-$50,000
|
|
over
$100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
shares were valued as of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
__________________________
*
|
Messrs. Colavita
and van Ekris each beneficially own less than 1% of the common stock of
The LGL Group, Inc., having a value of $ 4,389
and $ 5,264 , respectively, as of
December 31, 2009. Mr. van Ekris beneficially owns less than 1% of
the common stock of LICT Corp. and CIBL, Inc., having a value of
$ 72,000 and $ 75 , respectively, as of December 31, 2009. The
LGL Group, Inc., LICT Corp. and CIBL, Inc. 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
The
Fund pays each Trustee who is not an officer or employee of the Investment
Adviser or its affiliates a fee of $6,000 per annum plus $1,000 per Board
meeting attended and $500 per committee meeting attended, together with each
Trustee’s actual out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at such meetings.
In addition the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the
Nominating Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $2,000, and the Lead
Trustee receives an annual fee of $1,000. A Trustee may receive a
single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for participation
in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds.
The
following table shows the compensation that the Trustees earned in their
capacity as Trustees during the year ended December 31, 2009. The table
also shows, for the year ended December 31, 2009, the compensation Trustees
earned in their capacity as Trustees for other funds in the Gabelli
Fund Complex.
COMPENSATION
TABLE FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
|
|
Compensation
From
the Fund
|
|
|
Total
Compensation
from
the Fund
and
Fund
Complex
Paid
to Trustees*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interested
Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salvatore
M. Salibello
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
35,000 |
|
Independent
Trustees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony
J. Colavita
|
|
$ |
12,500 |
|
|
$ |
263,438 |
|
James
P. Conn
|
|
$ |
11,000 |
|
|
$ |
132,000 |
|
Mario
d’Urso
|
|
$ |
9,000 |
|
|
$ |
42,000 |
|
Vincent
D. Enright
|
|
$ |
11,000 |
|
|
$ |
129,438 |
|
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
|
|
$ |
11,000 |
|
|
$ |
64,500 |
|
Michael
J. Melarkey
|
|
$ |
10,500 |
|
|
$ |
46,500 |
|
Anthonie
C. van Ekris
|
|
$ |
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
121,500 |
|
Salvatore
J. Zizza
|
|
$ |
14,500 |
|
|
$ |
199,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
99,500 |
|
|
$ |
1,033,876 |
|
________________________
*
|
Represents
the total compensation paid to such persons during the year ended
December 31, 2009 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 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 September 30, 2009, the Investment Adviser acted as
registered investment adviser to 25 management investment companies with
aggregate net assets of $ 13.9 billion. The
Investment Adviser, together with the other affiliated investment advisers noted
below had assets under management totaling approximately $ 25 billion as of September
30 , 2009. 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 $ 10.3 billion under management as of September 30 , 2009. Gabelli Securities, Inc., an affiliate
of the Investment Adviser, acts as investment adviser for investment
partnerships and entities having aggregate assets of approximately $ 291 million as of September
30 , 2009. Gabelli Fixed Income LLC, an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser, acts as investment adviser for separate accounts having aggregate
assets of approximately $ 26 million under
management as of September 30 , 2009. Teton
Advisors, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, acts as investment
manager to the GAMCO Westwood Funds having aggregate assets of approximately
$ 521 million under management as of September 30 , 2009.
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 26, 2009.
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, 2009.
Name
of Portfolio Manager or Team Member
|
|
Total
Number of Accounts
Managed
|
|
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:
|
3
|
$ 600.5 million
|
0
|
$ 0
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
2
|
$ 8.2 million
|
2
|
$ 8.2 million
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
8
|
$ 51.8 million
|
0
|
$ 0
|
Name
of Portfolio Manager or Team Member
|
|
Total
Number of Accounts
Managed
|
|
Number
of Accounts Managed with Advisory Fee Based on
Performance
|
Total
Assets with Advisory fee Based on Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.
Barbara G. Marcin
|
Registered
Investment Companies:
|
3
|
|
$ 1.8 billion
|
1
|
|
$ 1.8 billion
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
1
|
|
$ 37.3K
|
1
|
|
$ 37.3K
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
18
|
|
$ 108.4 million
|
0
|
|
$ 0
|
3.
Vincent Hugonnard-Roche
|
Registered
Investment Companies:
|
0
|
|
$ 0
|
0
|
|
$ 0
|
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles:
|
1
|
|
$ 16.8 million
|
0
|
|
$ 0
|
|
Other
Accounts:
|
1
|
|
$ 183.1K
|
0
|
|
$ 0
|
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. Hugonnard-Roche also may
receive a discretionary bonus 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 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 terms 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 their 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 those Directors who are not considered to be “interested persons”, as
defined in the 1940 Act (the “’Independent Directors”). 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 until at least 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, where such entity has agreed to keep such
data confidential until at least it has been made public by the Investment
Adviser. The Fund’s current service providers that may receive such information
are its administrator, sub-administrator, custodian, independent registered
public accounting firm, legal counsel, and financial printers;
(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 until it has been made public by the Investment Adviser and is
further subject to prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund
and shall be reported to the Board at the next quarterly meeting;
and
(6)
To consultants for purposes of performing analysis of the Fund, which analysis
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.
As
of the date of this SAI, the Fund makes information about portfolio securities
available to its administrator, sub-administrator, custodian, and proxy voting
services on a daily basis, with no time lag, to its typesetter on a quarterly
basis with a ten day time lag, to its financial printers on a quarterly basis
with a forty-five day time lag, and its independent registered public accounting
firm and legal counsel on an as needed basis with no time lag. The names of the
Fund’s administrator, custodian, independent registered public accounting firm,
and legal counsel are set forth is this SAI. The Fund’s proxy voting service is
Broadridge Investor Communication Services. Bowne/GCOM2 Solutions provides
typesetting services for the Fund and the Fund selects from a number of
financial printers who have agreed to keep such information confidential until
at least it has been made public by the Investment Adviser. Other than those
arrangements with the Fund’s service providers and proxy voting service, the
Fund has no ongoing arrangements to make available information about the Fund’s
portfolio securities prior to such information being disclosed in a publicly
available filing with the SEC that is required to include the
information.
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 will review such arrangements
annually with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Ownership
of Shares in the Fund
As
of December 31, 2009, the portfolio managers of the Fund own the following
amounts of equity securities of the Fund.
Caesar
M.P. Bryan
|
$ 10,000 - 25,000
|
Barbara
G. Marcin
|
$25,001-50,000
|
Vincent
Hugonnard-Roche
|
$10,001-25,000
|
DIVIDENDS
AND DISTRIBUTIONS
The
Fund is subject to Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1
thereunder which restricts the ability of the Fund to make distributions of
long-term capital gains.
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 each
distribution would constitute net income, net capital gains, and return of
capital based on information available to the Fund for the relevant period at
the time the distribution is declared. 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.
PORTFOLIO
TRANSACTIONS
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
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 six months ended June
30, 2009 and the year ended December 31, 2008, the portfolio turnover rates were
31.0% and 41.5%, respectively.
TAXATION
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
ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed
herein. Counsel to the Fund has not rendered and will not render any
legal opinion regarding any tax consequences relating to the Fund or an
investment in the Fund. 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 for U.S. federal income tax purposes) 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.
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.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
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 proxy 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, 2008 and the unaudited
financial statements included in the semi-annual report to the Fund’s
shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2009, 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, the SAI, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement.
APPENDIX A
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 Teton Advisors, Inc. (collectively, the
“Advisers”) to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities
held by their clients, including the procedures that the Advisers use when a
vote presents a conflict between the interests of the shareholders of an
investment company managed by one of the Advisers, on the one hand, and those of
the Advisers; the principal underwriter; or any affiliated person of the
investment company, the Advisers, or the principal underwriter. These
procedures will not apply where the Advisers do not have voting discretion or
where the Advisers have agreed to with a client to vote the client’s proxies in
accordance with specific guidelines or procedures supplied by the client (to the
extent permitted by ERISA).
I. Proxy
Voting Committee
The
Proxy Voting Committee was originally formed in April 1989 for the purpose of
formulating guidelines and reviewing proxy statements within the parameters set
by the substantive proxy voting guidelines originally published in 1988 and
updated periodically, a copy of which are appended as Exhibit A. The
Committee will include representatives of Research, Administration, Legal, and
the Advisers. Additional or replacement members of the Committee will
be nominated by the Chairman and voted upon by the entire
Committee.
Meetings
are held on an as needed basis to form views on the manner in which the Advisers
should vote proxies on behalf of their clients.
In
general, the Director of Proxy Voting Services, using the Proxy Guidelines,
recommendations of Institutional Shareholder 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.
|
·
|
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 will supply information on
how an account voted its proxies upon request.
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 clearing firms are responsible for forwarding
proxies directly to the Advisers.
Proxies
are received in one of two forms:
|
·
|
Shareholder
Vote Authorization Forms (“VAFs”) - Issued by Broadridge Financial
Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) VAFs must be voted through the issuing
institution causing a time lag. Broadridge is an outside
service contracted by the various institutions to issue proxy
materials.
|
|
·
|
Proxy
cards which may be voted directly.
|
2. Upon
receipt of the proxy, the number of shares each form represents is logged into
the proxy system 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. Any 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.
Records
have been maintained on the Proxy Edge system. The system is backed
up regularly.
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
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 Broadridge are always sent directly to a
specific individual at Broadridge.
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 manners:
|
·
|
VAFs
can be faxed to Broadridge up until the time of the
meeting. This is followed up by mailing the original
form.
|
|
·
|
When
a solicitor has been retained, the solicitor 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
Broadridge:
|
The
back of the VAF is stamped indicating that we wish to vote in
person. The forms are then sent overnight to
Broadridge. Broadridge issues individual legal proxies and sends them
back via overnight (or the Adviser can pay messenger charges). A
lead-time of at least two weeks prior to the meeting is needed to do
this. Alternatively, the procedures detailed below for banks not
using Broadridge may be implemented.
|
·
|
Banks
and brokerage firms issuing proxies
directly:
|
The
bank is called and/or faxed and a legal proxy is requested.
|
·
|
All
legal proxies should appoint:
|
“REPRESENTATIVE
OF [ADVISER NAME] WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION.”
|
(b)
|
The
legal proxies are given to the person attending the meeting along with the
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 vote have previously been cast, if the votes have been rescinded,
etc. vote have previously been cast,
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 outstanding 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 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
The
following statements of the Registrant are incorporated by reference in
Part B of the Registration Statement:
Schedule
of Investments at December 31, 2008
Statement
of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2008
Statement
of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2008
Statement
of Changes in Net Assets for the Year Ended December 31, 2008
Notes
to Financial Statements
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Schedule
of Investments as of June 30, 2009 (unaudited)
Statement
of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2009 (unaudited)
Statement
of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
(unaudited)
Statement
of Changes in Net Assets for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
(unaudited)
Notes
to Financial Statements (unaudited)
(2)
Exhibits
|
|
|
(a)
|
(i) Second
Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant
(6)
|
|
|
|
(ii) Statement
of Preferences of Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares
(4)
|
|
|
(b)
|
By-Laws
of Registrant (1)
|
|
|
(c)
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
(d)
|
(i) Form
of Specimen Common Share Certificate (2)
|
|
|
|
(ii) Form
of Specimen Preferred Share Certificate (4)
|
|
|
(e)
|
Included
in Prospectus
|
|
|
(f)
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
(g)
|
Form
of Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Gabelli Funds, LLC
(2)
|
|
|
(h)
|
(i) Form
of Purchase Agreement (4)
|
|
|
|
(ii) Form
of Selling Agreement (5)
|
|
|
(i)
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
(j)
|
Form
of Custodian Agreement (2)
|
|
|
(k)
|
Form
of Registrar, Transfer Agency and Service Agreement (2)
|
|
|
(l)
|
(i) Opinion
and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect
to legality of preferred stock (4)
|
|
|
|
(ii) Opinion
and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect
to legality of common stock (7)
|
|
|
(m)
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
(n)
|
(i) Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ( 7 )
|
|
|
|
(ii) Powers
of Attorney (6)
|
|
|
(o)
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
(p)
|
Form
of Initial Subscription Agreement (3)
|
|
|
(q)
|
Not
applicable
|
|
|
(r)
|
(i) Code
of Ethics of the Fund and the Investment Adviser (6)
|
|
|
|
(ii) Joint
Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial Officers
(6)
|
(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. 2 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-2 filed on March 23, 2005
(333-121998).
|
(3)
|
Previously
filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-2 filed on March 24, 2005
(333-121998).
|
(4)
|
Previously
filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-2 filed on October 12, 2007
(333-143009).
|
(5)
|
Previously
filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on
Form N-2 filed on January 16, 2009
(333-143009).
|
(6)
|
Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form
N-2 filed on January 15, 2010
(333-164363) .
|
Item
26. Marketing
Arrangements
The
information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” on page 43 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:
Printing
expenses
|
50,000
|
Accounting
fees
|
15,000
|
Legal
fees
|
386,000
|
SEC
Registration Fee
|
24,955
|
Miscellaneous
|
14,045
|
Total
|
$ 490,000
|
Item
28. Persons Controlled by or Under
Common Control with Registrant
None
Item
29. Number of Holders of Securities as
of December 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Shares of Beneficial Interest
|
|
|
64 |
|
Series
A Cumulative Preferred Shares
|
|
|
0 |
|
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.
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, PNC Global Investment Servicing, 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, the Registrant has duly
caused this Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, in the City of Rye, State of New York, on the 4 th day
of February , 2010.
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THE
GABELLI GLOBAL GOLD, NATURAL RESOURCES & INCOME
TRUST
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By:
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/s/ Bruce N.
Alpert
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Bruce
N. Alpert
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President
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As
required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Form N-2 has been
signed below by the following persons in the capacities set forth below on
the 4 th day
of February , 2010.
NAME
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TITLE
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Trustee
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Anthony
J. Colavita
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/s/
James P.
Conn* |
Trustee |
James
P. Conn
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/s/
Mario
d’Urso* |
Trustee |
Mario
d’Urso
|
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/s/
Vincent D.
Enright* |
Trustee |
Vincent
D. Enright
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/s/
Frank J.
Fahrenkopf, Jr.* |
Trustee |
Frank
J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
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/s/
Michael J.
Melarkey* |
Trustee |
Michael
J. Melarkey
|
|
|
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/s/
Salvatore M.
Salibello* |
Trustee |
Salvatore
M. Salibello
|
|
|
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/s/
Anthonie C. van
Ekris* |
Trustee |
Anthonie
C. van Ekris
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|
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/s/
Salvatore J.
Zizza* |
Trustee |
Salvatore
J. Zizza
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/s/
Bruce N.
Alpert |
President
(Principal Executive Officer) |
Bruce
N. Alpert
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/s/
Agnes
Mullady |
Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Agnes
Mullady
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/s/
Bruce N.
Alpert |
Attorney-in-Fact |
Bruce
N. Alpert
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*
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Pursuant
to a Power of Attorney
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
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Ex-.99 (l)(ii)
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Opinion
and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect
to legality of common stock
|
|
|
Ex-.99(n)(i)
|
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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