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 |
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| (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) | ||||
| One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422 |
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| (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) | ||||
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Bruce N. Alpert Gabelli Funds, LLC One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422 |
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(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, 2015
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, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. 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, 2015 |
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| Mario J. Gabelli, CFA | ||
| Portfolio Manager | ||
To Our Shareholders,
For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the net asset value (“NAV”) total return of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the “Fund”) was (9.0)%. The total return for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Utilities Index was (10.7)%. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was (14.0)%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $5.32, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $6.02 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, 2015.
Comparative Results
| Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2015 (a) (Unaudited) | Since | |||||||||||||||
| Year to Date |
1 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year |
15 Year |
Inception | |||||||||||
| Gabelli Utility Trust |
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| NAV Total Return (b) |
(9.02)% | (7.62) | % | 14.51 | % | 7.96% | 8.70% | 8.65% | ||||||||
| Investment Total Return (c) |
(14.03) | (10.43) | 4.26 | 4.53 | 7.49 | 7.66 | ||||||||||
| S&P 500 Utilities Index |
(10.67) | (2.90) | 12.47 | 6.88 | 5.91 | 5.62(d) | ||||||||||
| Lipper Utility Fund Average |
(6.18) | (5.20) | 13.57 | 8.09 | 5.85 | 5.98 | ||||||||||
| S&P 500 Index |
1.23 | 7.42 | 17.34 | 7.89 | 4.36 | 4.53 | ||||||||||
| (a) | Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are sold, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The S&P 500 Utilities Index is an unmanaged 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. |
| (d) | From June 30, 1999, the date closest to the Fund’s inception for which data is available. |
Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)
The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of June 30, 2015:
The Gabelli Utility Trust
The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554). The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Certifications
The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that, as of June 9, 2015, 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, 2015 (Unaudited)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
3
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
4
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2015 (Unaudited)
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
The Gabelli Utility Trust
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 |
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| Operations: |
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| Net investment income |
$ | 3,148,762 | $ | 5,207,139 | ||||
| Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions |
1,891,923 | 18,333,097 | ||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations |
(27,314,094 | ) | 10,958,871 | |||||
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| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
(22,273,409 | ) | 34,499,107 | |||||
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| Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: |
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| Net investment income |
(188,519 | )* | (388,571 | ) | ||||
| Net realized gain |
(803,682 | )* | (1,603,286 | ) | ||||
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| Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders |
(992,201 | ) | (1,991,857 | ) | ||||
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| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations |
(23,265,610 | ) | 32,507,250 | |||||
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| Distributions to Common Shareholders: |
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| Net investment income |
(2,155,818 | )* | (4,153,329 | ) | ||||
| Net realized gain |
(8,623,274 | )* | (17,137,102 | ) | ||||
| Return of capital |
(1,902,193 | )* | (3,847,417 | ) | ||||
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| Total Distributions to Common Shareholders |
(12,681,285 | ) | (25,137,848 | ) | ||||
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| Fund Share Transactions: |
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| Net increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions |
1,786,759 | 3,284,381 | ||||||
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| Net Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions |
1,786,759 | 3,284,381 | ||||||
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| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders |
(34,160,136 | ) | 10,653,783 | |||||
| Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders: |
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| Beginning of year |
259,710,912 | 249,057,129 | ||||||
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| End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $723,936 and $0, respectively) |
$ | 225,550,776 | $ | 259,710,912 | ||||
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| * | 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 June 30, 2015 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Performance: |
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| Net asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 6.16 | $ | 5.98 | $ | 5.48 | $ | 5.69 | $ | 5.33 | $ | 5.20 | ||||||||||||
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| Net investment income (a) |
0.07 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions |
(0.60 | ) | 0.69 | 1.01 | 0.19 | 0.86 | 0.73 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Total from investment operations |
(0.53 | ) | 0.82 | 1.15 | 0.34 | 1.01 | 0.88 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a) |
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| Net investment income |
(0.00 | )* | (0.01 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||||
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| Net realized gain |
(0.02 | )* | (0.04 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.02 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
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| Total distributions to preferred shareholders |
(0.02 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||||
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| Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations |
(0.55 | ) | 0.77 | 1.10 | 0.28 | 0.95 | 0.82 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Distributions to Common Shareholders: |
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| Net investment income |
(0.05 | )* | (0.11 | ) | (0.12 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.08 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net realized gain |
(0.20 | )* | (0.40 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.07 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
| Paid-in capital |
(0.05 | )* | (0.09 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.64 | ) | ||||||||||||
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| Total distributions to common shareholders |
(0.30 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.72 | ) | ||||||||||||
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| Fund Share Transactions: |
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| Increase in net asset value from common share transactions |
0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | (b) | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.03 | |||||||||||||||||
| Increase in net asset value from common shares issued in rights offering |
— | — | — | 0.11 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| Offering costs for issuance of rights charged to paid-in capital |
— | — | 0.00 | (b) | (0.02 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
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| Total Fund share transactions |
0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | (b) | 0.11 | 0.01 | 0.03 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Period |
$ | 5.32 | $ | 6.16 | $ | 5.98 | $ | 5.48 | $ | 5.69 | $ | 5.33 | ||||||||||||
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| NAV total return† |
(9.02 | )% | 13.87 | % | 20.99 | % | 4.56 | % | 16.90 | % | 13.76 | % | ||||||||||||
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| Market value, end of period |
$ | 6.02 | $ | 7.32 | $ | 6.39 | $ | 6.16 | $ | 7.80 | $ | 6.39 | ||||||||||||
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| Investment total return†† |
14.03 | % | 25.32 | % | 14.13 | % | (14.26 | )% | 33.67 | % | (21.38 | )% | ||||||||||||
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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 June 30, 2015 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data: |
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| Net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of period (in 000’s) |
$276,883 | $ | 311,044 | $ | 300,389 | $ | 277,069 | $ | 232,436 | $ | 218,843 | |||||||||||||
| Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (in 000’s) |
$225,551 | $ | 259,711 | $ | 249,057 | $ | 225,737 | $ | 181,104 | $ | 167,511 | |||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income to average net assets attributable to common shares before preferred share distributions |
2.58 | %(c) | 2.06 | % | 2.36 | % | 2.84 | % | 2.72 | % | 3.01 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares before fee waived |
1.54 | %(c)(d) | 1.59 | % | 1.55 | % | 1.75 | % | 1.92 | % | 1.93 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any |
1.33 | %(c)(d) | 1.59 | % | 1.55 | % | 1.59 | % | 1.92 | % | 1.91 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares before fee waived |
1.28 | %(c)(d) | 1.32 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.36 | % | 1.48 | % | 1.45 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any |
1.10 | %(c)(d) | 1.32 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.23 | % | 1.48 | % | 1.44 | % | ||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate |
3 | % | 17 | % | 16 | % | 3 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Preferred Shares: |
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| 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares |
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| 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 (e) |
$ 25.51 | $ | 25.14 | $ | 25.25 | $ | 26.00 | $ | 25.47 | $ | 25.15 | |||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per share |
$ 134.85 | $ | 151.49 | $ | 146.30 | $ | 134.94 | $ | 113.20 | $ | 106.58 | |||||||||||||
| Series B Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Shares |
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| 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 (f) |
$ 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 25,000 | |||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per share |
$134,849 | $ | 151,486 | $ | 146,297 | $ | 134,939 | $ | 113,202 | $ | 106,582 | |||||||||||||
| Asset Coverage (g) |
539 | % | 606 | % | 585 | % | 540 | % | 453 | % | 426 | % | ||||||||||||
| † | For the six months ended June 30, 2015, and the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date. The years ended 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 were based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, and adjustments for rights offerings. |
| †† | Based on market value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. 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 upon average common shares outstanding on the record dates throughout the year. |
| (b) | Amount represents less than $0.005 per share. |
| (c) | Annualized. |
| (d) | The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, there was no impact to the expense ratios. |
| (e) | Based on weekly prices. |
| (f) | Since February 2008, the weekly auctions have failed. Holders that have submitted orders have not been able to sell any or all of their shares in the auction. |
| (g) | Asset coverage is calculated by combining all series of preferred shares. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (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.
Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).
Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S.
11
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.
The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:
| ● | Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; |
| ● | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and |
| ● | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments). |
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities and other financial instruments by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2015 is as follows:
| Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 Quoted Prices |
Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs |
Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs |
Total Market Value at 6/30/15 |
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| INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES: |
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| ASSETS (Market Value): |
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| Common Stocks: |
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| ENERGY AND UTILITIES |
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| Merchant Energy |
$ 4,243,200 | — | $ 0 | $ 4,243,200 | ||||||||||||
| Other Industries (a) |
207,336,348 | — | — | 207,336,348 | ||||||||||||
| COMMUNICATIONS |
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| Wireless Communications |
9,723,683 | — | 800 | 9,724,483 | ||||||||||||
| Other Industries (a) |
36,136,822 | — | — | 36,136,822 | ||||||||||||
| OTHER |
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| Aerospace |
1,366,979 | $ 22,154 | — | 1,389,133 | ||||||||||||
| Other Industries (a) |
8,373,631 | — | — | 8,373,631 | ||||||||||||
| Total Common Stocks |
267,180,663 | 22,154 | 800 | 267,203,617 | ||||||||||||
| Warrants (a) |
550,800 | 105,590 | — | 656,390 | ||||||||||||
| U.S. Government Obligations |
— | 6,702,739 | — | 6,702,739 | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS |
$267,731,463 | $6,830,483 | $800 | $274,562,746 | ||||||||||||
| OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:* |
||||||||||||||||
| LIABILITIES (Unrealized Depreciation): |
||||||||||||||||
| EQUITY CONTRACT: |
||||||||||||||||
| Contract for Difference Swap Agreements |
— | $ (81,963) | — | $ (81,963) | ||||||||||||
| TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL |
— | $ (81,963) | — | $ (81,963) | ||||||||||||
| (a) | Please refer to the Schedule of Investments (“SOI”) for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings. |
| * | Other financial instruments are derivatives reflected in the SOI, such as options, futures, forwards, and swaps, which may be valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of the instrument. |
The Fund did not have material transfers among Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2015. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.
12
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.
General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.
Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common and preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, and fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are 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 include back testing 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 a number of derivative financial instruments for the purposes of hedging or protecting its exposure to interest rate movements and movements in the securities markets, 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 that, 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
13
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
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, 2015, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.
Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is exchanged between two counterparties. One of these cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time an equity contract for difference swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction.
Unrealized gains related to swaps are reported as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in the value of swaps, including the accrual of periodic amounts of interest to be received or paid on swaps, is reported as unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon receipt or payment of a periodic payment or termination of swap agreements.
The Fund has entered into equity contract for difference swap agreements with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Details of the swaps at June 30, 2015 are reflected within the Schedule of Investments and further details are as follows:
| Notional Amount |
Equity Security Received |
Interest Rate/ Equity Security Paid |
Termination Date |
Net Unrealized Depreciation |
||||||
| Market Value Appreciation on: |
One month LIBOR plus 90 bps plus Market Value Depreciation on: |
|||||||||
| $1 (14,100,000 Shares) | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc | 06/29/16 | $ | (21,692 | ) | ||||
| 1,427,250 (100,000 Shares) | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc | Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C | 06/28/16 | (60,271 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | (81,963 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
The Fund’s volume of activity in equity contract for difference swap agreements during the six months ended June 30, 2015 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately $1,442,872.
14
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
At June 30, 2015, the Fund’s derivative liabilities (by type) are as follows:
| Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
||||||||||
| 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 |
Financial Instruments |
Cash Collateral Pledged |
Net Amount | ||||||
| Liabilities |
||||||||||
| Equity Contract for Difference Swap Agreements |
$(81,963) | — | $81,963 | — | — | |||||
As of June 30, 2015, 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, 2015, 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 futures, certain options, certain currency transactions, and certain types of swaps) only for bona fide hedging or other permissible transactions in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Pursuant to amendments by the CFTC to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), the Adviser has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund. The Fund and the Adviser are therefore not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. In addition, certain trading restrictions are now applicable to the Fund as of January 1, 2013. These trading restrictions permit the Fund to engage in commodity interest transactions that include (i) “bona fide hedging” transactions, as that term is defined and interpreted by the CFTC and its staff, without regard to the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to margin and options premiums and (ii) non-bona fide hedging transactions, provided that the Fund does not enter into such non-bona fide hedging transactions if, immediately thereafter, either (a) the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits on the Fund’s existing futures positions or swaps positions and option or swaption premiums would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions, or (b) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest transactions would not exceed 100% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions. Therefore, in order to claim the Rule 4.5 exemption, the Fund is limited in its ability to invest in commodity futures, options, and certain types of swaps (including securities futures, broad based stock index futures, and financial futures contracts). As a result, in the future, the Fund will be more limited in its ability to use these instruments than in the past, and these limitations may have a negative impact on the ability of the Adviser to manage the Fund, and on the Fund’s performance.
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
15
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Restricted Securities. The Fund is not subject to an independent limitation on the amount it may invest in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does 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, 2015, the Fund held no restricted securities.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain/(loss) on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.
Custodian Fee Credits and Interest Expense. When cash balances are maintained in the custody account, the Fund receives credits which are used to offset custodian fees. The gross expenses paid under the custody arrangement are included in custodian fees in the Statement of Operations with the corresponding expense offset, if any, shown as “Custodian fee credits.” When cash balances are overdrawn, the Fund is charged an overdraft fee equal to 110% of the 90 day Treasury Bill rate on outstanding balances. This amount, if any, would be included in the Statement of Operations.
16
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
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.
The Fund declares and pays monthly distributions from net investment income, capital gains, and paid-in capital. The actual source of the distribution is determined after the end of the year. Distributions during the year may be made in excess of required distributions. To the extent such distributions are made from current earnings and profits, they are considered ordinary income or long term capital gains. This may restrict the Fund’s ability to pass through to shareholders all of its net realized long term capital gains as a Capital Gain Dividend and may cause such gains to be treated as ordinary income, subject to the maximum federal income tax rate. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered as dividend yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund. The Board will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution level, taking into consideration the Fund’s NAV and the financial market environment. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to modification by the Board at any time.
Distributions to shareholders of the Fund’s 5.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Series A Preferred”) and Series B Auction Market Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Series B 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, 2014 was as follows:
| Common | Preferred | |||||||
| Distributions paid from: |
||||||||
| Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains) |
$ | 4,490,813 | $ | 420,143 | ||||
| Net long term capital gains |
16,799,618 | 1,571,714 | ||||||
| Return of capital |
3,847,417 | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Total distributions paid |
$ | 25,137,848 | $ | 1,991,857 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
At December 31, 2014, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
| Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations |
$ | 90,337,959 | ||
| Other temporary differences* |
(27,931 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | 90,310,028 | ||
|
|
|
| * | Other temporary differences are primarily due to adjustments on preferred share class distribution payables and mark-to-market and accrual adjustments on investments in swap contracts. |
17
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
The Fund is permitted to carry capital losses forward for an unlimited period. Capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short term or long term capital losses.
The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at June 30, 2015:
| Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | |||||
| Investments |
$211,589,570 | $75,845,871 | $(12,872,695) | $62,973,176 |
The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2015, 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. Agreements and Transactions with Affiliates. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to 1.00% of the value of its average weekly net assets including the liquidation value of the preferred stock. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs. The Adviser has agreed to reduce the management fee on the incremental assets attributable to the Preferred Shares if the total return of the NAV of the common shares of the Fund, including distributions and advisory fee subject to reduction, does not exceed the stated dividend rate or corresponding swap rate of the Preferred Shares for the year.
The Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares is monitored on a monthly basis to assess whether the total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeds the stated dividend rate or corresponding swap rate of each particular series of Preferred Shares for the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares did not exceed the stated dividend rate of Preferred Shares. Thus, advisory fees with respect to the liquidation value of the Preferred assets was reduced by $254,551.
During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $300 to G.research, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser.
During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $2,258.
The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Fund paid or accrued $22,500 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.
18
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
As per the approval of the Board, the Fund compensates officers of the Fund, who are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Adviser (although the officers may receive incentive based variable compensation from affiliates of the Adviser). For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Fund paid or accrued $38,646 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund pays each Trustee who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,500 for each Board meeting attended. Each Trustee is reimbursed by the Fund for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended, the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman and the Lead Trustee each receive an annual fee of $2,000. A Trustee may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for participation in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Trustees who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.
4. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the six months ended June 30, 2015, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $9,542,898 and $11,953,450, 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, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, the Fund did not repurchase any common shares of beneficial interest in the open market.
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 (Unaudited) |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 |
|||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||
| Net increase from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions |
265,332 | $ | 1,786,759 | 493,035 | $ | 3,284,381 | ||||||||||
The Fund’s Declaration of Trust, as amended, authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of shares of $0.001 par value Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on shares of the Preferred Shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Statement of Additional Information to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Shares. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Series A and Series B Preferred at a redemption price of $25 and $25,000, 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 net investment income and gains available to common shareholders.
19
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
The Fund may redeem at anytime, in whole or in part, the Series A and Series B Preferred at the redemption price. During the six months ended June 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, the Fund did not repurchase any shares of Series A and Series B Preferred.
The Series B Preferred dividend rates, as set by the auction process that is generally held every seven days, are expected to vary with short term interest rates. Since February 2008, the number of Series B Preferred subject to bid orders by potential holders has been less than the number of Series B Preferred subject to sell orders. Therefore, the weekly auctions have failed, and the dividend rate since then has been the maximum rate. Holders that have submitted sell orders have not been able to sell any or all of the Series B Preferred for which they have submitted sell orders. The current maximum rate is 150% of the seven day Telerate/British Bankers Association LIBOR rate on the day of such auction. Existing shareholders may submit an order to hold, bid, or sell such shares on each auction date. Shareholders of the Series B Preferred may also trade their shares in the secondary market.
The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Stock information:
| Series | Issue Date | Issued/ Authorized |
Number of Shares Outstanding at 06/30/2015 |
Net Proceeds | 2015 Dividend Rate Range |
Dividend Rate at 06/30/2015 |
Accrued Dividend at 06/30/2015 |
|||||||||||||||||
| A 5.625% |
July 31, 2003 | 1,200,000 | 1,153,288 | $28,895,026 | Fixed Rate | 5.625% | $22,525 | |||||||||||||||||
| B Auction Market |
July 31, 2003 | 1,000 | 900 | 24,590,026 | 1.633% to 1.650% | 1.648% | 7,210 | |||||||||||||||||
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 on the Fund all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
20
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Shareholder Meeting – May 11, 2015 – Final Results
The Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 11, 2015 at the Greenwich Library in Greenwich, Connecticut. At that meeting, common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class, elected John D. Gabelli and Anthony R. Pustorino as Trustees of the Fund. A total of 34,368,172 votes and 34,278,793 votes were cast in favor of these Trustees and a total of 1,027,125 votes and 1,116,504 votes were withheld for these Trustees, respectively. In addition, preferred shareholders, voting as a separate class, elected James P. Conn, as a Trustee of the Fund. A total of 994,062 votes were cast in favor of this Trustee and a total of 46,385 votes were withheld for this Trustee.
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, Anthony J. Colavita, Vincent D. Enright, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Robert J. Morrissey, Kuni Nakamura, 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.
21
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)
At its meeting on February 12, 2015, the Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the Fund approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund (the “Independent Board Members”). The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the portfolio managers, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the portfolio managers, the scope of administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the portfolio managers.
Investment Performance. The Independent Board Members considered one year, three year, five year, and ten year investment performance for the Fund as compared with relevant sector equity indices and the performance of other sector equity closed-end and open-end funds prepared by Lipper, including other funds focused on the utility industry. The Independent Board Members recognized that many of the Fund’s Lipper peers were not utility funds so that performance comparisons were of limited use. Consequently, the Independent Board Members reviewed a peer group of utility funds assembled by the Adviser (the “Adviser Peer Group”), which constitutes a subset of the Lipper group. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s performance was below the median of funds in the Adviser Peer Group for the prior one and three year periods, and above the median of funds in this peer group for the prior five and ten year periods. The Independent Board Members also noted that the net asset value of the Fund had (i) outperformed the S&P Utilities Index over the five year and ten year periods and underperformed the S&P Utilities Index over the one year period, and (ii) outperformed the Lipper Utility Fund Average over the five year and ten year periods and underperformed the Lipper Utility Fund Average over the one year period.
Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with an administrative overhead charge and without such a charge. The Independent Board Members referred to the Meeting Materials for the pro forma income statements for the Adviser and the Fund for the period ended December 31, 2014. They noted how the pro forma income statements for the Fund illustrated how the Adviser’s profitability would be affected as the Fund’s asset levels change.
Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund was a closed-end fund and its ability to realize any economies of scale through growth was more limited than for an open-end fund, recognizing that the Fund’s size has grown since inception due to offerings of common shares and leverage.
Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment management fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential sharing of economies of scale through breakpoints. The Independent Board Members were aware that the Adviser paid the sub-administrator out of its management fee and waived a portion of its management fee on assets attributable to the incremental liquidation value of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares where the total return on the net asset value of
22
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
the common shares of the Fund, including distributions and advisory fees subject to reduction for that year, does not exceed the stated dividend rate or net swap expense, as applicable, for the preferred shares for the year.
Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the investment management fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expenses of the Adviser Peer Group subset of sector equity closed-end funds and open-end funds from the Lipper peer group and noted that the Adviser’s management fee includes substantially all administrative services for the Fund as well as investment advisory services. The Independent Board Members noted that within this group, the Fund’s total expense ratio and “other non-management expenses” were above the average and the median, its advisory fees (as a percentage of assets attributable to common shares) were above the average and the median, and its management fee (as a percentage of total managed assets) was above the average and approximately in line with the median for peer funds, recognizing that, unlike the Fund, some of the peer funds were not leveraged and did not incur the expenses associated with leverage. The Independent Board Members also noted that the management fee structure was the same as that in effect for most of the Gabelli funds, except for the presence of leverage and the waiver of fees chargeable on assets attributable to leverage in certain circumstances, which is only applicable to certain Gabelli closed-end funds.
Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio management services and good ancillary services, and that the performance record had been below median during the one and three year reporting periods and above median during the five and ten year reporting periods ended December 31, 2014 in comparison with peers and the Fund had outperformed the S&P 500 Utilities Index and the Lipper Utility Fund Average over the five and ten year periods, but had materially underperformed the S&P 500 Utilities Index and the Lipper Utility Fund Average over the one year period. The Independent Board Members noted that, although the Fund underperformed two utilities indices over the one year period, the Fund had performed satisfactorily in relation to these utilities indices over time. The Independent Board Members concluded that the profitability to the Adviser of managing the Fund was reasonable and that, in part due to the Fund’s structure as a closed-end fund, the ability of the Fund to realize economies of scale were more limited than for an open-end fund. The Independent Board Members concluded that potential “fall-out” benefits that the Adviser and its affiliates may receive, such as brokerage commissions paid to an affiliated broker, greater name recognition, or increased ability to obtain research services, appear to be reasonable and may in some cases benefit the Fund. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the Advisory Agreement to the full Board. As a part of its decision making process, the Independent Board Members noted that the Adviser has managed the Fund since its inception, and the Independent Board Members believe that a long term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interests of the Fund. The Independent Board Members considered, generally, that shareholders invested in the Fund knowing that the Adviser managed the Fund and knowing its investment management fee schedule. As such, the Independent Board Members considered, in particular, whether the Adviser managed the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives and policies as disclosed to shareholders. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund was managed by the Adviser consistent with its investment objectives and policies.
Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality
23
The Gabelli Utility Trust
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board Members determined to approve the continuation of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based their decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.
24
AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS
Enrollment in the Plan
It is the policy of The Gabelli Utility Trust to automatically reinvest dividends payable to common shareholders. As a “registered” shareholder, you automatically become a participant in the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan authorizes the Fund to credit shares of common stock to participants upon an income dividend or a capital gains distribution regardless of whether the shares are trading at a discount or a premium to net asset value. All distributions to shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund. Plan participants may send their stock certificates to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”) to be held in their dividend reinvestment account. Registered shareholders wishing to receive their distribution in cash must submit this request in writing to:
The Gabelli Utility Trust
c/o Computershare
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170
Shareholders requesting this cash election must include the shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the share certificate. Shareholders with additional questions regarding the Plan or requesting a copy of the terms of the Plan may contact Computershare at (800) 336-6983.
If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, or nominee, you should contact such institution. If such institution is not participating in the Plan, your account will be credited with a cash dividend. In order to participate in the Plan through such institution, it may be necessary for you to have your shares taken out of “street name” and re-registered in your own name. Once registered in your own name, your dividends will be automatically reinvested. Certain brokers participate in the Plan. Shareholders holding shares in “street name” at participating institutions will have dividends automatically reinvested. Shareholders wishing a cash dividend at such institution must contact their broker to make this change.
The number of shares of common stock distributed to participants in the Plan in lieu of cash dividends is determined in the following manner. Under the Plan, whenever the market price of the Fund’s common stock is equal to or exceeds net asset value at the time shares are valued for purposes of determining the number of shares equivalent to the cash dividends or capital gains distribution, participants are issued shares of common stock valued at the greater of (i) the net asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then current market price of the Fund’s common stock. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) trading day, the next trading day. If the net asset value of the common stock at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the common stock, participants will receive shares from the Fund valued at market price. If the Fund should declare a dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, Computershare will buy common stock in the open market, or on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts, except that Computershare will endeavor to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the Fund to issue shares at net asset value if, following the commencement of such purchases, the market value of the common stock exceeds the then current net asset value.
The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such distributions. A participant in the Plan will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received, on a dividend payment date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash the participant could have received instead of shares.
Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan
The Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan is yet another vehicle for our shareholders to increase their investment in the Fund. In order to participate in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, shareholders must have their shares registered in their own name.
Participants in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to Computershare for investments in the Fund’s shares at the then current market price. Shareholders may send an amount from $250 to $10,000. Computershare will use these funds to purchase shares in the open market on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. Computershare will charge each shareholder who participates $0.75, plus a pro rata share of the brokerage commissions. Brokerage charges for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions. It is suggested that any voluntary cash payments be sent to Computershare, P.O. Box 43010, Providence, RI 02940–3010 such that Computershare receives such payments approximately 10 days before the 1st and 15th of the month. Funds not received at least five days before the investment date shall be held for investment until the next purchase date. A payment may be withdrawn without charge if notice is received by Computershare at least 48 hours before such payment is to be invested.
Shareholders wishing to liquidate shares held at Computershare must do so in writing or by telephone. Please submit your request to the above mentioned address or telephone number. Include in your request your name, address, and account number. The cost to liquidate shares is $2.50 per transaction as well as the brokerage commission incurred. Brokerage charges are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions.
For more information regarding the Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, brochures are available by calling (914) 921-5070 or by writing directly to the Fund.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by Computershare on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan.
25
THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
AND YOUR PERSONAL PRIVACY
Who are we?
The Gabelli Utility Trust is a closed-end management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, which is affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. GAMCO Investors, Inc. is a publicly held company that has subsidiaries that provide investment advisory or brokerage services for a variety of clients.
What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a Fund shareholder?
When you purchase shares of the Fund on the New York Stock Exchange, you have the option of registering directly with our transfer agent in order, for example, to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.
| ● | Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information. |
| ● | Information about your transactions with us. This would include information about the shares that you buy or sell; it may also include information about whether you sell or exercise rights that we have issued from time to time. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them. |
What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.
What do we do to protect your personal information?
We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the Fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.
THE GABELLI UTILITY TRUST
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1422
Portfolio Manager Biography
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977 and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
We have separated the portfolio manager’s commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager’s commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.
The Net Asset Value per share appears in the Publicly Traded Funds column, under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds,” in Monday’s The Wall Street Journal. It is also listed in Barron’s Mutual Funds/Closed End Funds section under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds.”
The Net Asset Value per share may be obtained each day by calling (914) 921-5070 or visiting www.gabelli.com.
The NASDAQ symbol for the Net Asset Value is “XGUTX.”
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may from time to time purchase its common shares in the open market when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. The Fund may also, from time to time, purchase its preferred shares in the open market when the preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
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
|
(b) Average Price Paid per
|
(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Plans or Programs
|
(d) Maximum Number (or
| ||||
| Month #1 01/01/15 through 01/31/15
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – 42,205,401
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 | ||||
| Month #2 02/01/15 through 02/28/15
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – 42,248,913
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 | ||||
| Month #3 03/01/15 through 03/31/15
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – 42,292,465
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 | ||||
| Month #4 04/01/15 through 04/30/15
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – 42,335,667
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 | ||||
| Month #5 05/01/15 through 05/31/15
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – 42,378,774
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 | ||||
| Month #6 06/01/15 through 06/30/15
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A |
Common – 42,429,695
Preferred Series A – 1,153,288 | ||||
| Total | Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
|
Common – N/A
Preferred Series A – N/A
|
N/A |
Footnote columns (c) and (d) of the table, by disclosing the following information in the aggregate for all plans or programs publicly announced:
| a. | The date each plan or program was announced – The notice of the potential repurchase of common and preferred shares occurs quarterly in the Fund’s quarterly report in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
| b. | The dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved – Any or all common shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount of 10% or more from the net asset value of the shares. |
Any or all preferred shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value of $25.00.
| c. | The expiration date (if any) of each plan or program – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing. |
| d. | Each plan or program that has expired during the period covered by the table – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing. |
| e. | Each plan or program the registrant has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under which the registrant does not intend to make further purchases. – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing. |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
| (b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. Exhibits.
| (a)(1) | Not applicable. |
| (a)(2) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
| (a)(3) | Not applicable. |
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| (Registrant) | The Gabelli Utility Trust |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Bruce N. Alpert | |||
| Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer |
| Date | 9/3/2015 |
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 | 9/3/2015 |
| By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Agnes Mullady | |||
| Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| Date | 9/3/2015 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.