N-CSRS 1 d781059dncsrs.htm GABELLI UTILITY TRUST Gabelli Utility Trust

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number            811-09243                

                                  The Gabelli Utility Trust                                 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

One Corporate Center

                               Rye, New York 10580-1422                              

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Bruce N. Alpert

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

                               Rye, New York 10580-1422                              

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  1-800-422-3554

Date of fiscal year end:  December 31

Date of reporting period:  June 30, 2019

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Semiannual Report — June 30, 2019

To Our Shareholders,

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the net asset value (NAV) total return of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the Fund) was 15.5%. The total return for the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Utilities Index was 14.7%. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was 23.3%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $5.01, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $6.99 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). See below for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of June 30, 2019.

Comparative Results

 

 

                                         Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2019 (a) (Unaudited)

   

Since

Inception

                      
     Year to Date   1 Year   5 Year   10 Year   15 Year   (07/09/99)

Gabelli Utility Trust

            

NAV Total Return (b)

     15.52     12.42     6.05     12.87     9.38     8.87

Investment Total Return (c)

     23.28       31.04       9.62       10.52       8.02       9.25  

S&P 500 Utilities Index.

     14.70       19.03       10.00       12.17       10.46       7.15  

Lipper Utility Fund Average

     14.70       14.96       6.45       11.51       9.88       6.69  

S&P 500 Index

     18.54       10.42       10.71       14.70       8.75       5.79  
  (a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. The Fund’s use of leverage may magnify the volatility of net asset value changes versus funds that do not employ leverage. When shares are sold, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The S&P 500 Utilities Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index of large capitalization stocks that may include facilities generation and transmission or distribution of electricity, gas, or water. The Lipper Utility Fund Average reflects the average performance of mutual funds classified in this particular category. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged indicator of stock market performance. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 
  (b)

Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in the NAV per share, reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date, and adjustments for rights offerings and are net of expenses. Since inception return is based on an initial NAV of $7.50.

 
  (c)

Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in closing market values on the NYSE, reinvestment of distributions, and adjustments for rights offerings. Since inception return is based on an initial offering price of $7.50.

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (www.gabelli.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report. If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. To elect to receive all future reports on paper free of charge, please contact your financial intermediary, or, if you invest directly with the Fund, you may call 800-422-3554 or send an email request to info@gabelli.com.


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of June 30, 2019:

The Gabelli Utility Trust

 

Electric Integrated

     40.0

U.S. Government Obligations

     17.0

Natural Gas Integrated

     6.0

Natural Gas Utilities

     6.0

Water

     5.1

Telecommunications

     4.6

Cable and Satellite

     4.4

Wireless Communications

     3.7

Global Utilities

     2.5

Natural Resources

     1.9

Electric Transmission and Distribution

     1.8

Merchant Energy

     1.5

Services

     1.2

Entertainment

     0.6

Financial Services

     0.6

Alternative Energy

     0.5

Transportation

     0.5

Diversified Industrial

     0.4

Environmental Services

     0.4

Machinery

     0.4

Aerospace

     0.3

Electronics

     0.3

Communications Equipment

     0.2

Equipment and Supplies

     0.1

Agriculture

     0.0 %* 
  

 

 

 
         100.0
  

 

 

 

 

*

Amount represents less than 0.05%.

 
 

 

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554).The Fund’s Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting

The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Certifications

The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that, as of June 11, 2019, he was not aware of any violation by the Fund of applicable NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The Fund reports to the SEC on Form N-CSR which contains certifications by the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that relate to the Fund’s disclosure in such reports and that are required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act.

 

2


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments — June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
   COMMON STOCKS — 83.0%      
   ENERGY AND UTILITIES — 67.4%

 

   Alternative Energy — 0.5%      
  20,000     

NextEra Energy Partners LP

   $ 392,512      $ 965,000  
  12,000     

Ormat Technologies Inc., New York.

     300,333        760,680  
        692,845        1,725,680  
  

Electric Integrated — 40.0%

     
  22,000     

ALLETE Inc.

     996,952        1,830,620  
  125,000     

Alliant Energy Corp.

     4,048,028        6,135,000  
  17,000     

Ameren Corp.

     560,038        1,276,870  
  72,000     

American Electric Power Co. Inc.

     4,801,405        6,336,720  
  44,000     

Avangrid Inc.

     1,290,299        2,222,000  
  28,000     

Avista Corp.

     1,225,989        1,248,800  
  40,000     

Black Hills Corp.

     1,979,836        3,126,800  
  91,000     

CMS Energy Corp.

     2,904,912        5,269,810  
  48,273     

Dominion Energy Inc.

     3,282,851        3,732,468  
  16,400     

DTE Energy Co.

     1,066,074        2,097,232  
  74,000     

Duke Energy Corp.

     6,476,644        6,529,760  
  80,000     

Edison International

     5,005,371        5,392,800  
  185,500     

El Paso Electric Co.

     7,997,039        12,131,700  
  1,000     

Emera Inc.

     21,639        40,861  
  3,000     

Entergy Corp.

     75,249        308,790  
  138,500     

Evergy Inc.

     7,737,851        8,330,775  
  165,000     

Eversource Energy

     10,439,546        12,500,400  
  67,000     

FirstEnergy Corp.

     2,746,848        2,868,270  
  62,000     

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.

     2,023,223        2,700,100  
  83,500     

MGE Energy Inc.

     3,994,010        6,102,180  
  56,500     

NextEra Energy Inc.

     6,979,900        11,574,590  
  48,000     

NiSource Inc.

     397,800        1,382,400  
  72,000     

NorthWestern Corp.

     3,368,258        5,194,800  
  20,000     

NRG Energy Inc.

     480,910        702,400  
  185,000     

OGE Energy Corp.

     6,005,835        7,873,600  
  48,000     

Otter Tail Corp.

     1,298,816        2,534,880  
  48,000     

PG&E Corp.†

     1,280,160        1,100,160  
  86,000     

PNM Resources Inc.

     1,884,436        4,378,260  
  30,000     

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.

     
        794,829        1,764,600  
  17,000     

Unitil Corp.

     448,439        1,018,130  
  140,000     

WEC Energy Group Inc.

     8,831,829        11,671,800  
  160,000     

Xcel Energy Inc.

     7,778,452        9,518,400  
        108,223,468        148,895,976  
  

Electric Transmission and Distribution — 1.8%

 

  40,000     

Consolidated Edison Inc.

     2,459,996        3,507,200  
  65,100     

Exelon Corp.

     1,889,987        3,120,894  
        4,349,983        6,628,094  
  

Global Utilities — 2.5%

     
  8,000     

Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.

     157,974        112,155  
  7,000     

EDP - Energias de Portugal SA

     25,460        26,601  

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
  133,000     

Electric Power Development Co. Ltd.

   $ 3,799,231      $ 3,019,840  
  33,000     

Endesa SA

     956,686        848,425  
  300,000     

Enel SpA

     1,862,753        2,094,538  
  500,000     

Hera SpA

     784,100        1,912,602  
  15,000     

Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc.

     213,947        83,894  
  12,000     

Hokuriku Electric Power Co.†

     180,000        86,927  
  3,000     

Huaneng Power International Inc., ADR

     81,590        69,960  
  41,000     

Korea Electric Power Corp., ADR†

     630,569        455,100  
  15,000     

Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc.

     202,018        147,197  
  8,000     

Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

     155,987        73,904  
  8,000     

The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

     150,761        100,765  
  20,000     

The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.

     277,615        229,003  
  13,000     

Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

     172,497        131,308  
        9,651,188        9,392,219  
  

Merchant Energy — 1.5%

     
  323,500     

The AES Corp.(a)

     3,319,315        5,421,860  
  

Natural Gas Integrated — 6.0%

 

  
  8,000     

Devon Energy Corp.

     245,078        228,160  
  125,000     

Energy Transfer LP

     1,940,655        1,760,000  
  90,000     

Kinder Morgan Inc.

     2,656,349        1,879,200  
  136,000     

National Fuel Gas Co.

     4,900,475        7,174,000  
  165,000     

ONEOK Inc.

     7,873,734        11,353,650  
        17,616,291        22,395,010  
  

Natural Gas Utilities — 6.0%

     
  25,000     

Atmos Energy Corp.

     1,967,355        2,639,000  
  24,800     

Chesapeake Utilities Corp.

     1,301,443        2,356,496  
  30,262     

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corp.

     284,301        639,285  
  15,500     

Engie SA

     457,035        235,118  
  72,066     

National Grid plc, ADR

     5,315,686        3,832,470  
  42,000     

ONE Gas Inc.

     1,131,062        3,792,600  
  18,000     

RGC Resources Inc.

     128,344        549,360  
  90,000     

Southwest Gas Holdings Inc.

     6,344,915        8,065,800  
  2,000     

Spire Inc.

     78,350        167,840  
        17,008,491        22,277,969  
  

Natural Resources — 1.9%

     
  10,000     

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

     495,110        705,600  
  3,500     

Apache Corp.

     113,064        101,395  
  25,000     

California Resources Corp.†

     366,765        492,000  
  55,000     

Cameco Corp.

     550,205        590,150  
  25,000     

CNX Resources Corp.†

     338,606        182,750  
  32,000     

Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR

     360,262        533,440  
  3,125     

CONSOL Energy Inc.†

     64,496        83,156  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
   COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

   ENERGY AND UTILITIES (Continued)

 

   Natural Resources (Continued)

 

  50,000     

Exxon Mobil Corp.

   $ 3,761,708      $ 3,831,500  
  3,000     

Hess Corp.

     178,260        190,710  
  3,000     

Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. A, ADR

     161,320        195,210  
        6,389,796        6,905,911  
  

Services — 1.2%

     
  24,000     

ABB Ltd., ADR

     478,264        480,720  
  100,000     

Enbridge Inc.

     2,781,674        3,608,000  
  13,000     

Sunoco LP

     348,657        406,640  
  200,000     

Weatherford International plc†

     183,597        10,000  
        3,792,192        4,505,360  
  

Water — 5.1%

     
  27,000     

American States Water Co.

     1,326,417        2,031,480  
  25,000     

American Water Works Co. Inc.

     1,960,960        2,900,000  
  27,291     

Aqua America Inc.

     221,006        1,129,029  
  24,000     

Artesian Resources Corp., Cl. A

     397,537        892,080  
  34,000     

California Water Service Group

     609,354        1,721,420  
  48,000     

Middlesex Water Co.

     753,554        2,844,000  
  163,000     

Severn Trent plc.

     4,354,046        4,239,412  
  50,000     

SJW Group

     1,763,798        3,038,500  
  9,000     

The York Water Co.

     108,269        321,480  
        11,494,941        19,117,401  
  

Diversified Industrial — 0.4%

 

  2,000     

Alstom SA

     52,460        92,787  
  2,000     

AZZ Inc.

     75,347        92,040  
  11,000     

Bouygues SA

     385,489        407,389  
  90,000     

General Electric Co.

     1,120,800        945,000  
        1,634,096        1,537,216  
  

Environmental Services — 0.4%

 

  56,000     

Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.†

     869,792        797,440  
  3,000     

Suez

     0        43,289  
  30,000     

Veolia Environnement SA

     487,553        730,701  
        1,357,345        1,571,430  
  

Equipment and Supplies — 0.1%

 

  2,500     

Capstone Turbine Corp.†

     3,441        1,967  
  12,000     

Mueller Industries Inc.

     314,742        351,240  
        318,183        353,207  
  

TOTAL ENERGY AND UTILITIES

     185,848,134        250,727,333  
   COMMUNICATIONS — 12.9%

 

   Cable and Satellite — 4.4%      
  3,000     

Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A†

     598,964        1,185,540  
  20,000     

Cogeco Inc.

     389,461        1,276,164  
  60,000     

DISH Network Corp., Cl. A†

     2,263,684        2,304,600  
  10,000     

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

     280,860        443,200  

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  250,000     

ITV plc.

   $ 590,174      $ 342,888  
  42,421     

Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†

     824,785        1,144,943  
  108,771     

Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†

     3,158,918        2,885,695  
  10,000     

Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. A†

     210,217        172,300  
  20,000     

Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. C†

     387,471        343,800  
  10,000     

Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B

     226,939        535,200  
  100,000     

Telenet Group Holding NV

     4,764,141        5,571,790  
        13,695,614        16,206,120  
  

Communications Equipment — 0.2%

 

  18,000     

Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

     782,902        526,736  
  

Telecommunications — 4.6%

 

  75,000     

AT&T Inc.

     2,418,368        2,513,250  
  6,000     

BCE Inc., New York

     253,470        272,880  
  6,047     

BCE Inc., Toronto

     257,284        275,118  
  20,000     

BT Group plc, ADR

     313,502        255,400  
  136,002     

CenturyLink Inc.

     2,694,500        1,599,384  
  80,000     

Cincinnati Bell Inc.†

     1,253,665        396,000  
  5,000     

Cogeco Communications Inc.

     105,008        359,589  
  43,000     

Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR

     678,352        745,620  
  59,000     

Global Telecom Holding SAE†

     53,385        16,963  
  200     

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd.

     19        47  
  40,038     

Internap Corp.†

     384,451        120,514  
  35,000     

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

     813,435        1,628,669  
  1,000     

Orange Belgium SA

     14,151        19,831  
  2,000     

Orange SA, ADR

     22,799        31,440  
  11,800     

Orascom Investment Holding, GDR†

     20,761        1,841  
  30,000     

Pharol SGPS SA†

     8,930        5,151  
  4,000     

Proximus SA

     91,346        117,895  
  2,000     

PT Indosat Tbk†

     1,061        372  
  115,000     

Sistema PJSC FC, GDR

     497,094        355,120  
  1,350     

Tele2 AB, Cl. B

     15,470        19,699  
  20,000     

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG

     87,983        55,877  
  85,000     

Telekom Austria AG

     712,797        641,779  
  1,200     

Telesites SAB de CV†

     911        741  
  20,000     

T-Mobile US Inc.†

     573,143        1,482,800  
  115,000     

VEON Ltd., ADR

     597,142        322,000  
  105,000     

Verizon Communications Inc.

     4,378,801        5,998,650  
        16,247,828        17,236,630  
  

Wireless Communications — 3.7%

 

  2,500     

America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR

     26,571        36,400  
  2,000     

China Mobile Ltd., ADR

     33,988        90,580  
  2,000     

China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd., ADR

     16,278        21,800  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
   COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

   COMMUNICATIONS (Continued)

 

   Wireless Communications (Continued)

 

  
  85,000     

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

   $ 5,382,769      $ 4,782,660  
  1,154     

Mobile Telesystems PJSC

     6,303        5,199  
  11,250     

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR

     175,074        104,737  
  100,000     

NTT DoCoMo Inc.

     1,438,659        2,330,381  
  2,000     

SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR

     32,986        49,500  
  400     

SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.

     207        381  
  60,000     

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR

     518,686        328,800  
  49,000     

United States Cellular Corp.†

     2,390,748        2,188,830  
  240,000     

Vodafone Group plc, ADR

     6,560,853        3,919,200  
        16,583,122        13,858,468  
  

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS

     47,309,466        47,827,954  
  

OTHER — 2.7%

     
  

Aerospace — 0.3%

     
  100,000     

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc.

     809,939        1,067,269  
  7,100,000     

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C†

     9,161        9,017  
        819,100        1,076,286  
  

Agriculture — 0.0%

     
  3,000     

Cadiz Inc.†

     30,211        33,750  
  

Electronics — 0.3%

     
  22,000     

Sony Corp., ADR

     1,014,434        1,152,580  
  

Entertainment — 0.6%

     
  80,000     

Vivendi SA

     1,988,748        2,202,336  
  

Financial Services — 0.6%

     
  40,000     

GAM Holding AG†

     125,682        184,880  
  22,000     

Kinnevik AB, Cl. A

     695,776        598,203  
  55,000     

Kinnevik AB, Cl. B

     2,027,710        1,430,356  
        2,849,168        2,213,439  
  

Machinery — 0.4%

     
  150,000     

CNH Industrial NV

     1,787,890        1,542,000  
  

Transportation — 0.5%

     
  25,000     

GATX Corp.

     1,016,220        1,982,250  
  

TOTAL OTHER

     9,505,771        10,202,641  
  

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     242,663,371        308,757,928  

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
   CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.0%

 

   ENERGY AND UTILITIES — 0.0%

 

  
   Natural Gas Utilities — 0.0%

 

  4,203     

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corp., 4.800%, Ser. B

   $ 87,212      $ 89,692  
  

WARRANTS — 0.0%

     
   COMMUNICATIONS — 0.0%

 

  
   Telecommunications — 0.0%

 

  
  16,000     

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

     87,613        80,320  

Principal
Amount

                    
   CORPORATE BONDS — 0.0%

 

  
   Equipment and Supplies — 0.0%

 

  
  $        30,000     

Mueller Industries Inc., 6.000%, 03/01/27

     30,000        30,225  
  

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 17.0%

 

  
  63,400,000     

U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.972% to 2.481%††,
07/23/19 to 11/21/19(c)

     63,128,869        63,163,911  
 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%

   $ 305,997,065        372,122,076  
     

 

 

    
 

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

        (42,628
 

PREFERRED STOCK
(3,154,188 preferred shares outstanding)

        (101,332,200
        

 

 

 
 

NET ASSETS — COMMON STOCK
(53,989,537 common shares outstanding)

      $ 270,747,248  
        

 

 

 
 

NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE
($270,747,248 ÷ 53,989,537 shares
outstanding)

      $ 5.01  
        

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

  (a)

Securities, or a portion thereof, with a value of $2,095,000 are reserved and/or pledged with the custodian for current or potential holdings of swaps.

 
  (b)

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2019, the market value of the Rule 144A security amounted to $80,320 or 0.02% of total investments.

 
  (c)

At June 30, 2019, $500,000 of the principal amount was pledged as collateral for equity contract for difference swap agreements.

 
 

Non-income producing security.

 
  ††

Represents annualized yields at dates of purchase.

 

 

  ADR

American Depositary Receipt

 
  GDR

Global Depositary Receipt

 
  SDR

Swedish Depositary Receipt

 

    

 

 

As of June 30, 2019, equity contract for difference swap agreements outstanding were as follows:

 

Market Value

Appreciation Received

  

One Month LIBOR
Plus 90 bps

plus Market Value
Depreciation Paid

   Counterparty    Payment
Frequency
  

Termination

Date

   Notional
Amount
   Value   

Upfront
Payments/

Receipts

   Unrealized
Depreciation

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

   Rolls-Royce Holdings plc    The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.      1 month        06/26/2020        $1,123,390        $(56,504)               $(56,504)  

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C

   Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C    The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.      1 month        06/26/2020        9,230        (213)               (213)  
                       

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY CONTRACT FOR DIFFERENCE SWAP AGREEMENTS

                    $(56,717)  
                       

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Utility Trust

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

Assets:

  

Investments, at value (cost $305,997,065)

   $ 372,122,076  

Foreign currency, at value (cost $12,052)

     12,049  

Cash

     891  

Dividends and interest receivable

     709,202  

Deferred offering expense

     21,995  

Prepaid expenses

     4,082  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     372,870,295  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Distributions payable

     71,786  

Payable for investment advisory fees

     517,383  

Payable for payroll expenses

     12,536  

Payable for accounting fees

     7,500  

Payable for shareholder communications expenses

     46,387  

Unrealized depreciation on swap contracts

     56,717  

Other accrued expenses

     78,538  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     790,847  
  

 

 

 

Cumulative Preferred Shares, $0.001 par value:

  

Series A Preferred Shares (5.625%, $25 liquidation value, 1,200,000 shares authorized with 1,153,288 shares issued and outstanding)

     28,832,200  

Series B Preferred Shares (Auction Market, $25,000 liquidation value, 1,000 shares authorized with 900 shares issued and outstanding)

     22,500,000  

Series C Preferred Shares (5.375%, $25 liquidation value, 2,000,000 shares authorized and outstanding)

     50,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Total Preferred Shares

     101,332,200  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

   $ 270,747,248  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

   $ 207,415,485  

Total distributable earnings

     63,331,763  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 270,747,248  
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value per Common Share:

  

($270,747,248 ÷ 53,989,537 shares outstanding at $0.001 par value; unlimited number of shares authorized)

     $5.01  

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income:

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $126,841)

   $ 4,709,785  

Interest

     798,311  
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     5,508,096  
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     1,816,048  

Shareholder communications expenses

     100,074  

Trustees’ fees

     66,736  

Shareholder services fees

     63,102  

Legal and audit fees

     56,736  

Payroll expenses

     46,611  

Custodian fees

     26,446  

Accounting fees

     22,500  

Interest expense

     139  

Auction agent fees(a)

     (199,836

Miscellaneous expenses

     76,040  
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     2,074,596  
  

 

 

 

Less:

  

Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 3)

     (1,986

Custodian fee credits

     (2,685
  

 

 

 

Total Credits and Reductions

     (4,671
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     2,069,925  
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     3,438,171  
  

 

 

 

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

  

Net realized loss on investments

     (1,820,948

Net realized gain on swap contracts

     83,612  

Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions

     377  
  

 

 

 

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

     (1,736,959
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:

  

on investments

     38,220,098  

on swap contracts

     (94,019

on foreign currency translations

     (159
  

 

 

 

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

     38,125,920  
  

 

 

 

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

     36,388,961  
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

     39,827,132  
  

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

     (2,593,973
  

 

 

 

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

   $ 37,233,159  
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

This amount represents the reversal of auction agent fees from earlier fiscal periods, and not for the period covered by this report.

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
December 31, 2018

Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $ 3,438,171     $ 6,199,827

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

       (1,736,959 )       27,957,761

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

       38,125,920       (39,769,444 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

       39,827,132       (5,611,856 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

       (2,593,973 )*       (5,084,180 )

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

       37,233,159       (10,696,036 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

        

Accumulated earnings

       (967,770 )*       (28,867,423 )

Return of capital

       (15,161,728 )*       (821,376 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

       (16,129,498 )       (29,688,799 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions:

        

Net increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

       2,499,848       4,451,844

Net increase from common shares issued in rights offering

             48,571,655

Offering costs and adjustments for common and preferred shares charged to paid-in capital

       26,959       (354,500 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions

       2,526,807       52,668,999
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

       23,630,468       12,284,164

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders:

        

Beginning of year

       247,116,780       234,832,616
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

     $ 270,747,248     $ 247,116,780
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*

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

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Financial Highlights

 

 

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

 

    Six Months Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended  
    June 30, 2019         December 31,             December 31,             December 31,             December 31,             December 31,      
    (Unaudited)     2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  

Operating Performance:

                       

Net asset value, beginning of year

    $ 4.61       $ 5.34       $ 5.45       $ 5.13       $ 6.16       $ 5.98  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net investment income

      0.06         0.12         0.11         0.11         0.13         0.13  

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

      0.68         (0.27       0.48         0.92         (0.53       0.69  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

      0.74         (0.15       0.59         1.03         (0.40       0.82  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a)

                       

Net investment income

      (0.05 )*        (0.02       (0.02       (0.01       (0.01       (0.01

Net realized gain

              (0.08       (0.09       (0.07       (0.03       (0.04
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total distributions to preferred shareholders

      (0.05       (0.10       (0.11       (0.08       (0.04       (0.05
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

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

      0.69                (0.25       0.48         0.95         (0.44       0.77  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

                                                                        

Net investment income

      (0.02 )*        (0.10       (0.10       (0.09       (0.11       (0.11

Net realized gain

              (0.48       (0.49       (0.48       (0.27       (0.40

Return of capital

      (0.28 )*        (0.02       (0.01       (0.03       (0.22       (0.09
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total distributions to common shareholders

      (0.30       (0.60       (0.60       (0.60       (0.60       (0.60
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions:

                       

Increase in net asset value from common share transactions

                      0.01         0.01         0.01         0.01  

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

              0.12                                  

Increase in net asset value from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

      0.01         0.01                                  

Offering costs and adjustments to offering costs for preferred shares charged or credited to paid-in capital

      0.00 (b)        (0.01       0.00 (b)        (0.04    

 

 

       
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Fund share transactions

      0.01         0.12         0.01         (0.03       0.01         0.01  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Period

    $ 5.01       $ 4.61       $ 5.34       $ 5.45       $ 5.13       $ 6.16  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

NAV total return†

      15.52       (5.02 )%        9.27       18.62       (7.12 )%        13.87
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

    $ 6.99       $ 5.94       $ 7.10       $ 6.30       $ 5.70       $ 7.32  
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Investment total return††

      23.28       (4.76 )%        23.48       22.08       (14.15 )%        25.32
   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:

                       

Net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of period (in 000’s)

    $ 372,079       $ 348,449       $ 336,165       $ 337,831       $ 270,508       $ 311,044  

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

    $ 270,747       $ 247,117       $ 234,833       $ 236,498       $ 219,176       $ 259,711  

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

      2.62 %(c)        2.51       2.04       2.02       2.41       2.06

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares before
fee waived(d)

      1.58 %(c)(e)(f)        1.81 %(e)        1.80 %(e)        1.71 %(e)        1.57 %(e)        1.59

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any(g)

      1.58 %(c)(e)(f)        1.60 %(e)        1.80 %(e)        1.71 %(e)        1.35 %(e)        1.59

Portfolio turnover rate

      7       26       18       22       9       17

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

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

 

     Six Months Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended  
     June 30, 2019         December 31,             December 31,             December 31,             December 31,             December 31,      
    

(Unaudited)

    2018     2017     2016     2015     2014  

Cumulative Preferred Shares:

                             

5.625% Series A Preferred

                             

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

     $ 28,832        $ 28,832        $ 28,832        $ 28,832        $ 28,832        $ 28,832  

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

                      1,153          1,153                           1,153          1,153          1,153          1,153  

Liquidation preference per share

     $ 25.00                         $ 25.00        $ 25.00        $ 25.00        $ 25.00        $ 25.00  

Average market value (h)

     $ 26.09        $ 25.43        $ 25.68                         $ 25.88                         $ 25.55                         $ 25.14  

Asset coverage per share (i)

     $ 91.80        $ 85.97        $ 82.94        $ 83.35        $ 131.74        $ 151.49  

Series B Auction Market Preferred

                             

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

     $ 22,500        $ 22,500        $ 22,500        $ 22,500        $ 22,500        $ 22,500  

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

       1          1          1          1          1          1  

Liquidation preference per share

     $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000  

Liquidation value (j)

     $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000        $ 25,000  

Asset coverage per share (i)

     $ 91,797        $ 85,967        $ 82,936        $ 83,347        $ 131,744        $ 151,486  

5.375% Series C Preferred

                             

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

     $ 50,000        $ 50,000        $ 50,000        $ 50,000                    

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

       2,000          2,000          2,000          2,000                    

Liquidation preference per share

     $ 25.00        $ 25.00        $ 25.00        $ 25.00                    

Average market value (h)

     $ 25.57        $ 25.01        $ 25.32        $ 25.28                    

Asset coverage per share (i)

     $ 91.80        $ 85.97        $ 82.94        $ 83.35                    

Asset Coverage (k)

       367        344        332        333        527        606

 

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

††

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

*

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

(a)

Calculated based on average common shares outstanding on the record dates throughout the years.

(b)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(c)

Annualized.

(d)

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares before fee waived for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and years ended 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 would have been 1.14%, 1.28%, 1.26%, 1.27%, 1.29%, and 1.32%, respectively.

(e)

The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, and the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios.

(f)

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets includes reversal of auction agent fees from earlier fiscal periods as disclosed on the Statement of Operations. The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares and the ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, excluding the reversal of auction agent fees, were 1.73% and 1.25%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

(g)

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares net of advisory fee reduction for the six months ended June 30, 2019, and the years ended 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 would have been 1.14%, 1.14%, 1.26%, 1.27%, 1.11%, and 1.32%, respectively.

(h)

Based on weekly prices.

(i)

Asset coverage per share is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares.

(j)

Since February 2008, the weekly auctions have failed. Holders that have submitted orders have not been able to sell any or all of their shares in the auction.

(k)

Asset coverage is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Utility Trust (the Fund) operates as a diversified closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 25, 1999 and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). Investment operations commenced on July 9, 1999.

The Fund’s primary objective is long term growth of capital and income. The Fund will invest 80% of its assets, under normal market conditions, in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies involved in providing products, services, or equipment for (i) the generation or distribution of electricity, gas, and water and (ii) telecommunications services or infrastructure operations (the 80% Policy). The 80% Policy may be changed without shareholder approval. However, the Fund has adopted a policy to provide shareholders with notice at least sixty days prior to the implementation of any change in the 80% Policy.

2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements. To improve the effectiveness of fair value disclosure requirements, the Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13), which adds, removes, and modifies certain aspects relating to fair value disclosure. ASU 2018-13 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption of the additions relating to ASU 2018-13 is not required, even if early adoption is elected for the removals under ASU 2018-13. Management has early adopted the removals set forth in ASU 2018-13 in these financial statements and has not early adopted the additions set forth in ASU 2018-13.

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Trustees (the Board) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the Adviser). Investments in open-end investment companies are valued at each underlying Fund’s NAV per share as of the report date.

Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt obligations for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the

 

11


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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

Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.

The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

   

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

   

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

   

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments).

 

12


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities and other financial instruments by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2019 is as follows:

 

    Valuation Inputs    
    Level 1
Quoted Prices
  Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
  Total Market Value
at 6/30/19

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

           

ASSETS (Market Value):

           

Common Stocks:

           

ENERGY AND UTILITIES

           

Natural Gas Utilities

    $ 21,638,684     $ 639,285     $ 22,277,969

Other Industries (a)

      228,449,364             228,449,364

COMMUNICATIONS

           

Other Industries (a)

      47,827,954             47,827,954

OTHER

           

Aerospace

      1,067,269       9,017       1,076,286

Other Industries (a)

      9,126,355             9,126,355

Total Common Stocks

      308,109,626       648,302       308,757,928

Convertible Preferred Stocks (a)

            89,692       89,692

Warrants (a)

            80,320       80,320

Corporate Bonds (a)

            30,225       30,225

U.S. Government Obligations

            63,163,911       63,163,911

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

    $ 308,109,626     $ 64,012,450     $ 372,122,076

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:*

           

LIABILITIES (Unrealized Depreciation):

           

EQUITY CONTRACT:

           

Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

          $ (56,717 )     $ (56,717 )

TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

          $ (56,717 )     $ (56,717 )

 

(a)

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments (SOI) for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings.

*

Other financial instruments are derivatives reflected in the SOI, such as options, futures, forwards, and swaps, which may be valued at the unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of the instrument.

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund did not have transfers into or out of Level 3.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds are ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not

 

13


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives, while collateral terms are contract specific for derivatives traded over-the-counter. Securities pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments. Cash collateral, if any, pledged for the same purpose will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Fund’s policy with respect to offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the master agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.

The Fund’s derivative contracts held at June 30, 2019, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments, together with the related counterparty.

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is exchanged between two counterparties. One of these

 

14


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time an equity contract for difference swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction.

Unrealized gains related to swaps are reported as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in the value of swaps, including the accrual of periodic amounts of interest to be received or paid on swaps, is reported as unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon receipt or payment of a periodic payment or termination of swap agreements. Equity contract for difference swap agreements held at June 30, 2019 are reflected within the Schedule of Investments.

The Fund’s volume of activity in equity contract for difference swap agreements during the six months ended June 30, 2019 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately $1,157,337.

At June 30, 2019, the Fund’s derivative liabilities (by type) are as follows:

     Gross Amounts of
    Recognized Liabilities    
Presented in the
Statement of Assets
and Liabilities
     Gross Amounts
Available for Offset
in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
     Net Amount of
  Liabilities Presented in  
the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
 
  

 

 

 

Liabilities

        

Equity Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

     $56,717               $56,717  

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative liability by counterparty net of the related collateral segregated by the Fund for the benefit of the counterparty as of June 30, 2019:

 

    

Net Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of

Assets and Liabilities

 
  

 

 

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

Securities Pledged

as Collateral

    Cash Collateral
Received
             Net Amount          
  

 

 

 

Counterparty

          

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     $56,717        (56,717)               

At June 30, 2019, the value of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under Liabilities, Unrealized depreciation on swap contracts. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the effect of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Operations, under Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency; Net realized gain on swap contracts; and Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts.

Limitations on the Purchase and Sale of Futures Contracts, Certain Options, and Swaps. Subject to the guidelines of the Board, the Fund may engage in “commodity interest” transactions (generally, transactions in

 

15


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

futures, certain options, certain currency transactions, and certain types of swaps) only for bona fide hedging or other permissible transactions in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Pursuant to amendments by the CFTC to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), the Adviser has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund. The Fund and the Adviser are therefore not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. In addition, certain trading restrictions are now applicable to the Fund which permit the Fund to engage in commodity interest transactions that include (i) “bona fide hedging” transactions, as that term is defined and interpreted by the CFTC and its staff, without regard to the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to margin and options premiums and (ii) non-bona fide hedging transactions, provided that the Fund does not enter into such non-bona fide hedging transactions if, immediately thereafter, either (a) the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits on the Fund’s existing futures positions or swaps positions and option or swaption premiums would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions, or (b) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest transactions would not exceed 100% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions. Therefore, in order to claim the Rule 4.5 exemption, the Fund is limited in its ability to invest in commodity futures, options, and certain types of swaps (including securities futures, broad based stock index futures, and financial futures contracts). As a result, in the future the Fund will be more limited in its ability to use these instruments than in the past, and these limitations may have a negative impact on the ability of the Adviser to manage the Fund, and on the Fund’s performance.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.

 

16


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Restricted Securities. The Fund is not subject to an independent limitation on the amount it may invest in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and, accordingly, the Board will monitor their liquidity. At June 30, 2019, the Fund held no restricted securities.

Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain/(loss) on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on an accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.

Custodian Fee Credits and Interest Expense. When cash balances are maintained in the custody account, the Fund receives credits which are used to offset custodian fees. The gross expenses paid under the custody arrangement are included in custodian fees in the Statement of Operations with the corresponding expense offset, if any, shown as “Custodian fee credits.” When cash balances are overdrawn, the Fund is charged an overdraft fee equal to 110% of the 90 day Treasury Bill rate on outstanding balances. This amount, if any, would be included in the Statement of Operations.

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund.

The Fund declares and pays monthly distributions from net investment income, capital gains, and paid-in capital. The actual source of the distribution is determined after the end of the year. Distributions during the year may be made in excess of required distributions. To the extent such distributions are made from current earnings and profits, they are considered ordinary income or long term capital gains. The Fund’s current distribution policy may restrict the Fund’s ability to pass through to shareholders all of its net realized long term capital gains as a Capital Gain Dividend and may cause such gains to be treated as ordinary income, subject to the maximum federal income tax rate. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered as dividend yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund. The Board will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution

 

17


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

level, taking into consideration the Fund’s NAV and the financial market environment. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board at any time.

Distributions to shareholders of the Fund’s 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series A Preferred), the Series B Auction Market Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series B Preferred), and the 5.375% Series C Cumulative Preferred Shares (Series C Preferred) are recorded on a daily basis and are determined as described in Note 5.

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2018 was as follows:

 

     Common      Preferred  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)

   $ 6,587,626      $ 1,160,224  

Net long term capital gains

     22,279,797        3,923,956  

Return of capital

     821,376         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 29,688,799      $ 5,084,180  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at June 30, 2019:

 

     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
   Net Unrealized
Appreciation

Investments and derivative instruments

   $306,671,794      $79,677,230      $(14,283,665)    $65,393,565

The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2019, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to 1.00% of the value of its average weekly net assets including the liquidation value of the preferred stock. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs.

 

18


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The Adviser has agreed to reduce the management fee on the incremental assets attributable to the Series A and Series B Preferred if the total return of the NAV of the common shares of the Fund, including distributions and advisory fee subject to reduction, does not exceed the stated dividend rates of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the year. The Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares is monitored on a monthly basis to assess whether the total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeds the dividend rates of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeded the stated dividend rate of the Series A and Series B Preferred. Thus, advisory fees with respect to the liquidation value of these Preferred Shares were accrued.

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund paid $5,488 in brokerage commissions on security trades to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser.

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $1,986.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. Under the sub-administration agreement with Bank of New York Mellon, the fees paid include the cost of calculating the Find’s NAV. The Fund reimburses the Adviser for this service. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund accrued $22,500 in accounting fees in the Statement of Operations.

As per the approval of the Board, the Fund compensates officers of the Fund, who are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Adviser (although the officers may receive incentive based variable compensation from affiliates of the Adviser). During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund accrued $46,611 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.

The Fund pays each Trustee who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,500 for each Board meeting attended. Each Trustee is reimbursed by the Fund for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman and the Lead Trustee each receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Trustee may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for participation in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Trustees who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.

4. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the six months ended June 30, 2019, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $19,929,023 and $36,981,982, respectively.

5. Capital. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest (par value $0.001). The Board has authorized the repurchase of its common shares on the open market when the shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more (or such other percentage as the Board may determine from time to time) from the NAV of the shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund did not repurchase any common shares of beneficial interest in the open market.

 

19


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019
(Unaudited)
     Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
     Shares             Amount             Shares             Amount  

Net increase from common shares issued in rights offering

                         8,831,210         $ 48,571,655  

Net increase from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     388,672         $ 2,499,848           767,180           4,451,844  
  

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net increase

     388,672         $ 2,499,848           9,598,390         $ 53,023,499  
  

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

       

 

 

 

On March 29, 2018, the Fund distributed one transferable right for each of the 44,156,051 common shares outstanding held on that date. Five rights were required to purchase one additional common share at the subscription price of $5.50 per share. On May 21, 2018, the Fund issued 8,831,210 common shares receiving net proceeds of $48,273,615, after the deduction of offering expenses of $298,040. The NAV of the Fund increased by $0.12 per share on the day the additional shares were issued due to the additional shares being issued above NAV.

As of June 30, 2019, the Fund has approximately $200 million available for issuance under the current shelf registration.

The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of $0.001 par value Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on the Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Statement of Additional Information to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Series A, Series B, and Series C Preferred Shares at redemption prices of $25, $25,000, and $25, respectively, per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed and variable rates, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on investment income and gains available to common shareholders.

The Fund may redeem at any time, in whole or in part, the Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred at the redemption price. In addition, the Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series C Preferred in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share. During the six months ended June 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund did not repurchase any shares of Series A Preferred, Series B Preferred, or Series C Preferred.

The Series B Preferred dividend rates, as set by the auction process that is generally held every seven days, are expected to vary with short term interest rates. Since February 2008, the number of Series B Preferred subject to bid orders by potential holders has been less than the number of Series B Preferred subject to sell orders. Therefore, the weekly auctions have failed, and the dividend rate since then has been the maximum rate. Holders that have submitted sell orders have not been able to sell any or all of the Series B Preferred for which they have submitted sell orders. The current maximum rate is 150 basis points greater than the seven day ICE LIBOR rate on the day of such auction. Existing shareholders may submit an order to hold, bid, or

 

20


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

sell such shares on each auction date. Shareholders of the Series B Preferred may also trade their shares in the secondary market.

The Fund has the authority to purchase its Series B auction market preferred shares through negotiated private transactions. The Fund is not obligated to purchase any dollar amount or number of auction market preferred shares, and the timing and amount of any auction market preferred shares purchased will depend on market conditions, share price, capital availability, and other factors. The Fund is not soliciting holders to sell these shares nor recommending that holders offer them to the Fund. Any offers can be accepted or rejected in the Fund’s discretion.

The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Stock information:

 

Series    Issue Date      Authorized      Number of Shares
Outstanding at
06/30/19
     Net Proceeds      2019 Dividend
Rate Range
   Dividend
Rate at
06/30/19
     Accrued
Dividends at
06/30/19
 

A 5.625%

     July 31, 2003        1,200,000        1,153,288                $28,895,026      Fixed Rate      5.625%        $22,525    

B Auction Market

     July 31, 2003        1,000        900                24,590,026      3.860% to 3.925%      3.925%        11,934    

C 5.375%

     May 31, 2016        2,000,000        2,000,000                48,142,029      Fixed Rate      5.375%        37,327    

The holders of Preferred Shares generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common stock as a single class. The holders of Preferred Shares voting together as a single class also have the right currently to elect two Trustees and under certain circumstances are entitled to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred shares, voting as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely affecting the preferred shares, and the approval of two-thirds of each class, voting separately, of the Fund’s outstanding voting stock must approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. The approval of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding preferred shares and a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are required to approve certain other actions, including changes in the Fund’s investment objectives or fundamental investment policies.

6. Industry Concentration. Because the Fund primarily invests in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies in the utility industry, its portfolio may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio of securities representing a broad range of investments.

7. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

8. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events of the Fund and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

21


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Shareholder Meeting – May 13, 2019 – Final Results

The Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 13, 2019, in Greenwich, Connecticut. At that meeting, common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class, re-elected Mario J. Gabelli, Elizabeth C. Bogan, Vincent D. Enright, and Kuni Nakamura as Trustees of the Fund, with 44,499,052 votes, 48,438,438 votes, 48,504,460 votes, and 48,567,710 votes cast in favor of these Trustees, and 5,340,440 votes, 1,401,054 votes, 1,335,032 votes, and 1,271,782 votes withheld for these Trustees, respectively.

John Birch, James P. Conn, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Michael J. Ferrantino, John D. Gabelli, Michael J. Melarkey, Robert J. Morrissey, and Salvatore J. Zizza continue to serve in their capacities as Trustees of the Fund.

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

 

22


THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Manager Biography

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.

 

 

We have separated the portfolio manager’s commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager’s commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.

The Net Asset Value per share appears in the Publicly Traded Funds column, under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds,” in Monday’s The Wall Street Journal. It is also listed in Barron’s Mutual Funds/Closed End Funds section under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds.”

The Net Asset Value per share may be obtained each day by calling (914) 921-5070 or visiting www.gabelli.com.

The NASDAQ symbol for the Net Asset Value is “XGUTX.”

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may from time to time purchase its common shares in the open market when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. The Fund may also, from time to time, purchase its preferred shares in the open market when the preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value.


 

THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

 

t   800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)

 

f  914-921-5118

 

e  info@gabelli.com

 

    GABELLI.COM

 

 

TRUSTEES

 

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Chairman &

Chief Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

Executive Chairman,

Associated Capital Group, Inc.

 

John Birch

Partner,

The Cardinal Partners Global

 

Elizabeth C. Bogan

Senior Lecturer,

Princeton University

 

James P. Conn

Former Managing Director &

Chief Investment Officer,

Financial Security Assurance

Holdings Ltd.

 

Vincent D. Enright

Former Senior Vice President &

Chief Financial Officer,

KeySpan Corp.

 

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

Former President &

Chief Executive Officer,

American Gaming Association

 

Michael J. Ferrantino

Chief Executive Officer,

InterEx, Inc.

 

John D. Gabelli

Senior Vice President,

G.research, LLC

 

Michael J. Melarkey

Of Counsel,

McDonald Carano Wilson LLP

 

Robert J. Morrissey

Partner,

Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch

 

  

 

Kuni Nakamura

President,

Advanced Polymer, Inc.

 

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman,

Zizza & Associates Corp.

 

OFFICERS

 

Bruce N. Alpert

President

 

John C. Ball

Treasurer

 

Agnes Mullady

Vice President

 

Andrea R. Mango

Secretary & Vice President

 

Richard J. Walz

Chief Compliance Officer

 

David I. Schachter

Vice President & Ombudsman

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

 

CUSTODIAN

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

COUNSEL

 

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND

REGISTRAR

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

GUT Q2/2019

 

LOGO

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)

Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 7.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

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


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

 

Item 9.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period

 

  

(a) Total Number  of Shares (or  Units) Purchased 

 

  

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

 

  

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

 

  

(d) Maximum Number (or

Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

 

Month #1
01/01/2019 through 01/31/2019    

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A –

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

Common – 53,668,981

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Month #2
02/01/2019 through 02/28/2019

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A –

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

Common – 53,735,007

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Month #3
03/01/2019 through 03/31/2019

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A –

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

Common – 53,797,802

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Month #4
04/01/2019 through 04/30/2019

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A –

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

Common – 53,861,111

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Month #5
05/01/2019
  

Common – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

  

Common – 53,926,185

 


through 05/31/2019    

 

  

Preferred Series  

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

 

  

Preferred Series A  

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Preferred Series A –    

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Month #6
06/01/2019 through 06/30/2019

 

  

Common –N/A

 

Preferred Series

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A –

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

Common – 53,989,537

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Total

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series

A – N/A

 

Preferred Series

C – N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A

– N/A

 

Preferred Series C

– N/A

 

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A –

N/A

 

Preferred Series C –

N/A

 

  

N/A

 

Footnote columns (c) and (d) of the table, by disclosing the following information in the aggregate for all plans or programs publicly announced:

 

a.

The date each plan or program was announced – The notice of the potential repurchase of common and preferred shares occurs semiannually in the Fund’s shareholder reports in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

b.

The dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved – Any or all common shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. Any or all preferred shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value.

 

c.

The expiration date (if any) of each plan or program – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.

 

d.

Each plan or program that has expired during the period covered by the table – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.

 

e.

Each plan or program the registrant has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under which the registrant does not intend to make further purchases. – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-


K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a)

The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

  (b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12.

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

 

(a)(1)

  

Not applicable.

    

 

(a)(2)

  

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

(a)(3)

  

Not applicable.

 

(a)(4)

  

Not applicable.

 

(b)

  

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)

  

   The Gabelli Utility Trust

By (Signature and Title)*

 

      /s/ Bruce N. Alpert

        Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

Date

 

    9/5/19

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

 

By (Signature and Title)*

        /s/ Bruce N. Alpert
        Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

Date

 

    9/5/19

By (Signature and Title)*

        /s/ John C. Ball
        John C. Ball, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date

 

    9/5/19

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