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, 2018

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, 2018

To Our Shareholders,

For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the net asset value (“NAV”) total return of The Gabelli Utility Trust (the “Fund”) was (2.4)%. The total return for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Utilities Index was 0.3%. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was (10.4)%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $5.03, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $5.89 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, 2018.

Comparative Results

 

 

Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2018 (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)

    (2.40)%       1.34%       8.05%       8.09%       9.17%       8.69%  

Investment Total Return (c)

    (10.40)         (4.71)         8.45          5.76          6.23          8.21     

S&P 500 Utilities Index

    0.32          3.41          10.57          6.64          9.98          6.56     

Lipper Utility Fund Average

    2.15          5.96          8.35          6.25          9.74          6.27     

S&P 500 Index

    2.65          14.37          13.42          10.17          9.30          5.55     

 

  (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.

 

 


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of June 30, 2018:

The Gabelli Utility Trust

Electric Integrated

     37.2

U.S. Government Obligations

     23.4

Natural Gas Integrated

     5.6

Natural Gas Utilities

     5.4

Cable and Satellite

     4.9

Water

     4.3

Telecommunications

     4.0

Wireless Communications

     2.7

Global Utilities

     2.5

Electric Transmission and Distribution

     2.2

Natural Resources

     1.3

Merchant Energy

     1.2

Services

     1.2

Financial Services

     0.9

Transportation

     0.5

Alternative Energy

     0.4

Aerospace

     0.4

Machinery

     0.3

Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders

     0.3

Entertainment

     0.3

Diversified Industrial

     0.3

Environmental Services

     0.2

Communications Equipment

     0.2

Electronics

     0.1

Health Care

     0.1

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-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 May 23, 2018, 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, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

COMMON STOCKS — 76.6%

 

 
 

ENERGY AND UTILITIES — 62.2%

 

 
 

Alternative Energy — 0.4%

 

 
  20,000    

NextEra Energy Partners LP

  $ 456,562     $ 933,400  
  10,445    

Ormat Technologies Inc., New York

    231,654       555,570  
  1,555    

Ormat Technologies Inc., Tel Aviv

    68,688       81,963  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      756,904       1,570,933  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Electric Integrated — 37.2%

 

 
  22,000    

ALLETE Inc.

    996,952       1,703,020  
  125,000    

Alliant Energy Corp.

    4,048,028       5,290,000  
  17,000    

Ameren Corp.

    560,038       1,034,450  
  72,000    

American Electric Power Co. Inc.

    4,801,405       4,986,000  
  40,000    

Avangrid Inc.

    1,096,186       2,117,200  
  10,000    

Avista Corp.

    199,636       526,600  
  42,000    

Black Hills Corp.

    1,642,573       2,570,820  
  91,000    

CMS Energy Corp.

    2,904,912       4,302,480  
  24,000    

Dominion Energy Inc.

    1,357,537       1,636,320  
  16,500    

DTE Energy Co.

    959,941       1,709,895  
  74,000    

Duke Energy Corp.

    6,476,644       5,851,920  
  70,000    

Edison International

    4,459,996       4,428,900  
  186,000    

El Paso Electric Co.

    4,553,828       10,992,600  
  1,000    

Emera Inc.

    21,639       32,556  
  3,000    

Entergy Corp.

    75,249       242,370  
  266,500    

Evergy Inc.

    13,881,155       14,963,975  
  165,000    

Eversource Energy

    8,011,768       9,670,650  
  67,000    

FirstEnergy Corp.

    2,746,848       2,405,970  
  62,000    

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.

    2,023,223       2,126,600  
  85,000    

MGE Energy Inc.

    4,026,050       5,359,250  
  56,500    

NextEra Energy Inc.

    5,857,875       9,437,195  
  48,000    

NiSource Inc.

    397,800       1,261,440  
  87,000    

NorthWestern Corp.

    3,813,460       4,980,750  
  185,000    

OGE Energy Corp.

    4,413,900       6,513,850  
  48,000    

Otter Tail Corp.

    1,298,816       2,284,800  
  48,000    

PG&E Corp.

    1,280,160       2,042,880  
  102,000    

PNM Resources Inc.

    1,992,001       3,967,800  
  38,000    

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.

    996,629       2,057,320  
  56,500    

SCANA Corp.

    2,138,949       2,176,380  
  17,000    

Unitil Corp.

    448,439       867,680  
  48,020    

Vectren Corp.

    1,745,986       3,431,029  
  140,000    

WEC Energy Group Inc.

    7,537,392       9,051,000  
  160,000    

Xcel Energy Inc.

    4,925,349       7,308,800  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      101,690,364       137,332,500  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Electric Transmission and Distribution — 2.2%

 

  40,000    

Consolidated Edison Inc.

    2,459,996       3,119,200  
  120,000    

Exelon Corp.

    3,241,573       5,112,000  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      5,701,569       8,231,200  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

Global Utilities — 2.5%

 

  8,000    

Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.

  $     189,551     $     120,020  
  133,000    

Electric Power Development Co. Ltd.

    3,799,231       3,435,668  
  30,000    

Endesa SA

    882,970       661,968  
  300,000    

Enel SpA

    1,862,753       1,666,569  
  494,900    

Hera SpA

    766,919       1,543,113  
  15,000    

Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc.

    213,947       102,154  
  12,000    

Hokuriku Electric Power Co.†

    180,000       120,634  
  3,000    

Huaneng Power International Inc., ADR

    81,590       78,750  
  41,000    

Korea Electric Power Corp.,, ADR

    630,569       587,940  
  15,000    

Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc.

    202,018       167,457  
  8,000    

Shikoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

    155,987       107,086  
  8,000    

The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

    150,761       103,473  
  20,000    

The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.

    277,615       291,921  
  13,000    

Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc.

    172,497       158,867  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      9,566,408       9,145,620  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Merchant Energy — 1.2%

 

 
  300,000    

GenOn Energy Inc., Escrow † (a)

    0       0  
  323,500    

The AES Corp.(b)

    3,319,315       4,338,135  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      3,319,315       4,338,135  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Natural Gas Integrated — 5.6%

 

 
  4,000    

Devon Energy Corp.

    137,941       175,840  
  100,000    

Kinder Morgan Inc.

    3,085,558       1,767,000  
  136,000    

National Fuel Gas Co.

    4,900,475       7,202,560  
  165,000    

ONEOK Inc.

    6,253,408       11,521,950  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      14,377,382       20,667,350  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Natural Gas Utilities — 5.4%

 

 
  25,000    

Atmos Energy Corp.

    623,182       2,253,500  
  25,000    

Chesapeake Utilities Corp.

    959,368       1,998,750  
  30,262    

Corning Natural Gas Holding Corp.

    284,301       530,493  
  15,500    

Engie

    457,035       237,665  
  72,066    

National Grid plc, ADR

    5,315,686       4,024,886  
  42,000    

ONE Gas Inc.

    1,131,062       3,139,080  
  18,000    

RGC Resources Inc.

    128,344       525,240  
  93,000    

Southwest Gas Holdings Inc.

    4,609,478       7,093,110  
  2,000    

Spire Inc.

    78,350       141,300  
  1,000    

WGL Holdings Inc.

    85,760       88,750  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      13,672,566       20,032,774  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Natural Resources — 1.3%

   
  6,500    

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    337,890       476,125  
  3,000    

Apache Corp.

    136,597       140,250  
  25,000    

California Resources Corp.†

    366,765       1,136,000  
  55,000    

Cameco Corp.

    550,205       618,750  
  25,000    

CNX Resources Corp.†

    338,606       444,500  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

 
 

ENERGY AND UTILITIES (Continued)

 

 
 

Natural Resources (Continued)

 

 
  32,000    

Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA, ADR

  $ 360,262     $ 436,160  
  3,125    

CONSOL Energy Inc.†

    64,496       119,844  
  10,000    

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    547,153       827,300  
  3,000    

Hess Corp.

    178,260       200,670  
  3,000    

Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. A, ADR

    161,320       207,690  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      3,041,554       4,607,289  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Services — 1.2%

 

  20,000    

ABB Ltd., ADR

    401,189       435,400  
  100,000    

Enbridge Inc.

    2,781,674       3,569,000  
  65,000    

Weatherford International plc†

    415,606       213,850  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      3,598,469       4,218,250  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Water — 4.3%

 

  27,000    

American States Water Co.

    941,480       1,543,320  
  25,000    

American Water Works Co. Inc.

    1,960,960       2,134,500  
  27,291    

Aqua America Inc.

    221,006       960,097  
  24,000    

Artesian Resources Corp., Cl. A.

    397,537       930,480  
  40,000    

California Water Service Group

    682,912       1,558,000  
  7,000    

Connecticut Water Service Inc.

    136,955       457,240  
  48,000    

Middlesex Water Co.

    753,554       2,024,160  
  100,000    

Severn Trent plc.

    2,763,670       2,612,443  
  50,000    

SJW Group

    1,763,798       3,311,000  
  9,000    

The York Water Co.

    108,269       286,200  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      9,730,141       15,817,440  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Diversified Industrial — 0.3%

 

  2,000    

Alstom SA

    52,460       91,929  
  2,000    

AZZ Inc.

    75,347       86,900  
  3,800    

Bouygues SA

    126,830       163,793  
  50,000    

General Electric Co.

    1,195,964       680,500  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      1,450,601       1,023,122  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Environmental Services — 0.2%

 

  2,000    

Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.†

    37,760       41,000  
  3,000    

Suez

    0       38,905  
  30,000    

Veolia Environnement SA.

    487,553       642,174  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      525,313       722,079  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Equipment and Supplies — 0.1%

 

  2,500    

Capstone Turbine Corp.†

    3,441       3,575  
  12,000    

Mueller Industries Inc.

    314,742       354,120  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      318,183       357,695  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — 0.3%

 

  40,000    

NRG Energy Inc.

    966,620       1,228,000  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL ENERGY AND UTILITIES

    168,715,389       229,292,387  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

COMMUNICATIONS — 11.8%

 

 
 

Cable and Satellite — 4.9%

 

 
  4,200    

Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A†

  $ 598,056     $ 1,231,482  
  20,000    

Cogeco Inc.

    389,461       884,190  
  64,500    

DISH Network Corp., Cl. A†.

    3,242,589       2,167,845  
  10,000    

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

    280,860       444,000  
  200,000    

ITV plc.

    485,758       459,273  
  42,421    

Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†

    824,785       1,168,274  
  108,771    

Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†

    3,158,918       2,894,396  
  6,417    

Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. A†

    139,622       122,693  
  21,000    

Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. C†

    545,514       406,980  
  8,000    

Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B

    119,139       379,680  
  160,000    

Sky plc

    2,000,746       3,086,100  
  100,000    

Telenet Group Holding NV†

    4,764,141       4,671,206  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      16,549,589       17,916,119  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Communications Equipment — 0.2%

 

  20,000    

Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

    925,920       699,995  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Telecommunications — 4.0%

 

  75,000    

AT&T Inc.

    2,418,368       2,408,250  
  1,280    

BCE Inc., New York

    55,450       51,827  
  2,767    

BCE Inc., Toronto

    117,714       112,057  
  20,000    

BT Group plc, ADR

    313,502       289,200  
  30,000    

CenturyLink Inc.

    755,055       559,200  
  56,000    

Cincinnati Bell Inc.†

    1,037,262       879,200  
  5,000    

Cogeco Communications Inc

    105,008       247,670  
  43,000    

Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR

    678,352       663,705  
  59,000    

Global Telecom Holding SAE†

    53,385       15,533  
  200    

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd.

    19       71  
  20,038    

Internap Corp.†

    248,569       208,796  
  35,000    

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    813,435       1,592,016  
  1,000    

Orange Belgium SA

    14,151       16,886  
  2,000    

Orange SA, ADR

    22,799       33,340  
  11,800    

Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, GDR

    20,761       2,384  
  30,000    

Pharol SGPS SA†

    8,930       8,338  
  3,000    

Proximus SA

    97,094       67,651  
  2,000    

PT Indosat Tbk

    1,061       444  
  105,000    

Sistema PJSC FC, GDR

    586,988       286,440  
  1,350    

Tele2 AB, Cl. B

    15,470       15,871  
  10,000    

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG

    52,947       39,425  
  85,000    

Telekom Austria AG

    712,797       708,739  
  1,200    

Telesites SAB de CV†

    911       876  
  20,000    

T-Mobile US Inc.†

    325,000       1,195,000  
  110,000    

VEON Ltd., ADR

    678,230       261,800  
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

 
 

COMMUNICATIONS (Continued)

 

 
 

Telecommunications (Continued)

 

 
  105,000    

Verizon Communications Inc.

  $ 4,378,801     $ 5,282,550  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      13,512,059       14,947,269  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Wireless Communications — 2.7%

 

  2,500    

America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR

    26,571       41,650  
  2,000    

China Mobile Ltd., ADR

    33,988       88,780  
  2,000    

China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd., ADR

    16,278       25,020  
  171    

M1 Ltd.

    210       201  
  48,500    

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

    3,274,063       2,864,488  
  1,154    

Mobile Telesystems PJSC

    6,303       5,110  
  11,250    

Mobile TeleSystems PJSC, ADR

    175,074       99,338  
  100,000    

NTT DoCoMo Inc.

    1,438,659       2,549,338  
  2,000    

SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR

    32,986       46,640  
  400    

SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.

    207       413  
  30,000    

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR.

    389,362       196,200  
  52,000    

United States Cellular Corp.†

    2,207,144       1,926,080  
  90,000    

Vodafone Group plc, ADR

    3,191,834       2,187,900  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      10,792,679       10,031,158  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS

    41,780,247       43,594,541  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

OTHER — 2.6%

 

 

Aerospace — 0.4%

   
  100,000    

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc.

    809,939       1,304,176  
  7,100,000    

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C†(a)

    9,890       9,370  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      819,829       1,313,546  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Agriculture — 0.0%

 

  3,000    

Cadiz Inc.†

    30,211       39,300  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Electronics — 0.1%

 

  10,000    

Sony Corp., ADR

    464,660       512,600  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Entertainment — 0.3%

 

  45,000    

Vivendi SA

    1,116,611       1,103,572  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Financial Services — 0.9%

 

  22,000    

Kinnevik AB, Cl. A

    695,776       754,068  
  70,000    

Kinnevik AB, Cl. B

    2,631,364       2,398,526  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      3,327,140       3,152,594  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Health Care — 0.1%

 

  5,000    

Abaxis Inc

    415,475       415,050  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

Machinery — 0.3%

   
  120,000    

CNH Industrial NV.

  $ 1,485,212     $ 1,263,600  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Transportation — 0.5%

 

  25,000    

GATX Corp.

    762,636       1,855,750  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL OTHER

    8,421,774       9,656,012  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

    218,917,410       282,542,940  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

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       88,263  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

WARRANTS — 0.0%

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS — 0.0%

 

 
 

Telecommunications — 0.0%

 

 
  16,000    

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

    87,613       89,280  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

                 
 

CORPORATE BONDS — 0.0%

 

 
 

Equipment and Supplies — 0.0%

 

 
  $30,000    

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

    30,000       29,550  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 23.4%

 

  86,308,000    

U.S. Treasury Bills,
1.588% to 2.068%††,
07/12/18 to 11/15/18(d)

    86,002,520       86,011,807  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%   $ 305,124,755       368,761,840  
   

 

 

   

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

    (40,254

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

    (101,332,200
 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — COMMON STOCK
(53,181,318 common shares outstanding)

  $ 267,389,386  
 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE
($267,389,386 ÷ 53,181,318 shares outstanding)

  $ 5.03  
 

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

(a)

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(b)

Securities, or a portion thereof, with a value of $1,676,250 are reserved and/or pledged with the custodian for current or potential holdings of swaps.

(c)

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, 2018, the market value of the Rule 144A security amounted to $89,280 or 0.02% of total investments.

(d)

At June 30, 2018, $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, 2018, 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
Appreciation

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

    Rolls-Royce Holdings plc      

The Goldman
Sachs
Group, Inc.
 
 
 
    1 month       06/28/2019     $ 1,231,230     $ 72,526       —         $72,526  

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Cl. C

   
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc,
Cl. C
 
 
   

The Goldman
Sachs
Group, Inc.
 
 
 
    1 month       06/28/2019       9,230       140       —                 140  
               

 

                  $72,666  
               

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Utility Trust

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets:

 

Investments, at value (cost $305,124,755)

    $368,761,840  

Cash

    14,845  

Dividends and interest receivable

    642,319  

Deferred offering expense

    90,109  

Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts

    72,666  

Prepaid expenses

    2,822  
 

 

 

 

Total Assets

    369,584,601  
 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

Distributions payable

    66,390  

Payable for investment advisory fees

    255,831  

Payable for rights offering expenses

    182,409  

Payable for payroll expenses

    27,287  

Payable for accounting fees

    11,250  

Payable for auction agent fees (a)

    199,836  

Other accrued expenses

    120,012  
 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

    863,015  
 

 

 

 

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

    $267,389,386  
 

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders Consist of:

 

Paid-in capital

    $205,305,834  

Distributions in excess of accumulated net investment income

    (80,367

Distributions in excess of net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions

    (1,546,696

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

    63,637,085  

Net unrealized appreciation on swap contracts

    72,666  

Net unrealized appreciation on foreign currency translations

    864  
 

 

 

 

Net Assets

    $267,389,386  
 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value per Common Share:

 

($267,389,386 ÷ 53,181,318 shares outstanding at $0.001 par value; unlimited number of shares authorized)

    $5.03  

 

(a)

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

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Investment Income:

 

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $108,153)

  $ 4,502,331  

Interest

    431,834  
 

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

    4,934,165  
 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

Investment advisory fees

    1,630,915  

Shareholder communications expenses

    95,356  

Shareholder services fees

    64,280  

Trustees’ fees

    61,258  

Payroll expenses

    49,181  

Legal and audit fees

    39,907  

Shelf registration expense

    39,008  

Custodian fees

    23,676  

Accounting fees

    22,500  

Interest expense

    4  

Miscellaneous expenses

    83,044  
 

 

 

 

Total Expenses

    2,109,129  
 

 

 

 

Less:

 

Advisory fee reduction (See Note 3)

    (254,551

Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 3)

    (1,542
 

 

 

 

Total Credits and Reductions

    (256,093
 

 

 

 

Net Expenses

    1,853,036  
 

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

    3,081,129  
 

 

 

 

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

 

Net realized loss on investments

    (660,489

Net realized gain on swap contracts

    97,360  

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

    (6,434
 

 

 

 

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

    (569,563
 

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:

 

on investments

    (4,033,955

on swap contracts

    36,248  

on foreign currency translations

    (2,444
 

 

 

 

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

    (4,000,151
 

 

 

 

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

    (4,569,714
 

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

    (1,488,585
 

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

    (2,510,417
 

 

 

 

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

  $ (3,999,002
 

 

 

 
 

 

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, 2018
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
December 31, 2017

Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $ 3,081,129     $ 4,906,672

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

       (569,563 )       26,093,689

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

       (4,000,151 )       (5,542,315 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

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

       (1,488,585 )       25,458,046
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders:

        

Net investment income

       (2,510,417 )*       (824,676 )

Net realized gain

             (4,057,384 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

       (2,510,417 )       (4,882,060 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

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

       (3,999,002 )       20,575,986
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

        

Net investment income

       (547,279 )*       (4,366,533 )

Net realized gain

             (21,483,234 )

Return of capital

       (13,134,698 )*       (359,104 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

       (13,681,977 )       (26,208,871 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions:

        

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

       2,070,594       3,956,071

Net increase from common shares issued in rights offering

       48,571,655      

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

       (404,500 )       11,000
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions

       50,237,749       3,967,071
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

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

       32,556,770       (1,665,814 )

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders:

        

Beginning of year

       234,832,616       236,498,430
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively)

     $ 267,389,386     $ 234,832,616
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*

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, 2018

Year Ended December 31,

  (Unaudited)           2017           2016           2015           2014           2013

Operating Performance:

Net asset value, beginning of year

$ 5.34 $ 5.45 $ 5.13 $ 6.16 $ 5.98 $ 5.48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

  0.07   0.11   0.11   0.13   0.13   0.14

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

  (0.14 )   0.48   0.92   (0.53 )   0.69   1.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

  (0.07 )   0.59   1.03   (0.40 )   0.82   1.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a)

Net investment income

  (0.06 )*   (0.02 )   (0.01 )   (0.01 )   (0.01 )   (0.04 )

Net realized gain

    (0.09 )   (0.07 )   (0.03 )   (0.04 )   (0.01 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total distributions to preferred shareholders

  (0.06 )   (0.11 )   (0.08 )   (0.04 )   (0.05 )   (0.05 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  (0.13 )   0.48   0.95   (0.44 )   0.77   1.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

Net investment income

  (0.01 )*   (0.10 )   (0.09 )   (0.11 )   (0.11 )   (0.12 )

Net realized gain

    (0.49 )   (0.48 )   (0.27 )   (0.40 )   (0.42 )

Return of capital

  (0.29 )*   (0.01 )   (0.03 )   (0.22 )   (0.09 )   (0.06 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

  0.13   0.01   0.01   0.01   0.01   0.00 (b)

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Fund share transactions

  0.12   0.01   (0.03 )   0.01   0.01   0.00 (b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Period

$ 5.03 $ 5.34 $ 5.45 $ 5.13 $ 6.16 $ 5.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAV total return†

  (2.40 )%   9.27 %   18.62 %   (7.12 )%   13.87 %   20.99 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

$ 5.89 $ 7.10 $ 6.30 $ 5.70 $ 7.32 $ 6.39

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment total return††

  (10.40 )%   23.48 %   22.08 %   (14.15 )%   25.32 %   14.13 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:

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

$ 368,722 $ 336,165 $ 337,831 $ 270,508 $ 311,044 $ 300,389

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

$ 267,389 $ 234,833 $ 236,498 $ 219,176 $ 259,711 $ 249,057

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

  2.72 %(c)   2.04 %   2.02 %   2.41 %   2.06 %   2.36 %

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

  1.86 %(c)(e)   1.80 %(e)   1.71 %(e)   1.57 %(e)   1.59 %   1.55 %

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

  1.64 %(c)(e)   1.80 %(e)   1.71 %(e)   1.35 %(e)   1.59 %   1.55 %

Portfolio turnover rate

  3 %   18 %   22 %   9 %   17 %   16 %

 

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, 2018

(Unaudited)
    Year Ended December 31,  
                2017                 2016                 2015                 2014                 2013  

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 (g)

    $  25.39       $  25.68       $  25.88       $    25.55       $    25.14       $    25.25  

Asset coverage per share (h)

    $  90.97       $  82.94       $  83.35       $  131.74       $  151.49       $  146.30  

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 (i)

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

Asset coverage per share (h)

    $90,969       $82,936       $83,347       $131,744       $151,486       $146,297  

5.375% Series C Preferred

           

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

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

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

    2,000       2,000       2,000                    

Liquidation preference per share

    $  25.00       $  25.00       $  25.00                    

Average market value (g)

    $  25.09       $  25.32       $  25.28                    

Asset coverage per share (h)

    $  90.97       $  82.94       $  83.35                    

Asset Coverage (j)

    364     332     333     527     606     585

 

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, 2018 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 would have been 1.29%, 1.26%, 1.27%, 1.29%, 1.32%, and 1.28%, 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, 2018 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios.

(f)

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, 2018 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013 would have been 1.13%, 1.26%, 1.27% 1.11%, 1.32%, and 1.28%, respectively.

(g)

Based on weekly prices.

(h)

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

(i)

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.

(j)

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”). 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 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

 

11


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.

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

 

   

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

   

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, repayment 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, 2018 is as follows:

 

     Valuation Inputs     
     Level 1
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Level 3 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
   Total Market Value
at 6/30/18

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

                   

ASSETS (Market Value):

                   

Common Stocks:

                   

ENERGY AND UTILITIES

                   

Merchant Energy

     $ 4,338,135             $ 0      $ 4,338,135

Natural Gas Utilities

       19,502,281      $ 530,493               20,032,774

Other Industries (a)

       204,921,478                      204,921,478

COMMUNICATIONS

                   

Other Industries (a)

       43,594,541                      43,594,541

OTHER

                   

Aerospace

       1,304,176               9,370        1,313,546

Other Industries (a)

       8,342,466                      8,342,466

Total Common Stocks

       282,003,077        530,493        9,370        282,542,940

Convertible Preferred Stocks (a)

              88,263               88,263

Warrants (a)

              89,280               89,280

Corporate Bonds (a)

              29,550               29,550

U.S. Government Obligations

              86,011,807               86,011,807

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

     $ 282,003,077      $ 86,749,393      $ 9,370        $368,761,840

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:*

                   

ASSETS (Unrealized Appreciation):

                   

EQUITY CONTRACT:

                   

Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

            $ 72,666               $            72,666  

TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

            $ 72,666               $            72,666

 

(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, 2018, the Fund had transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 of $590,109 or 0.25% of net assets as of December 31, 2017. Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 are due to a decline in market

 

12


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

activity, e.g., frequency of trades, which resulted in a decrease in available market inputs to determine price. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

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

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

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

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes 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.

 

13


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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, 2018, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments.

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. Equity contract for difference swap agreements held at June 30, 2018 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, 2018 had an average monthly notional amount of approximately 1,197,620.

At June 30, 2018, the Fund’s derivative assets (by type) are as follows:

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

 

 

 

Assets

      

Equity Contract for Difference

      

Swap Agreements

     $72,666             $72,666  

 

14


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The following table presents the Fund’s derivative assets by counterparty net of the related collateral segregated by the Fund for the benefit of the counterparty as of June 30, 2018:

 

     Net Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
 
    

 

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

     Financial Instruments            Cash Collateral
      Received
          Net Amount              
  

 

 

 

Counterparty

              

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     $72,666                         $72,666                

At June 30, 2018, the value of equity contract for difference swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under Assets, Unrealized appreciation on swap contracts. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, 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 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

 

15


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

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

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

Restricted Securities. The Fund is not subject to an independent limitation on the amount it may invest in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and, accordingly, the Board will monitor their liquidity. At June 30, 2018, 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.

 

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. 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 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, 2017 was as follows:

 

    

 Common 

    

 Preferred 

 

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)

   $ 4,366,533      $ 824,676  

Net long term capital gains

     21,483,234        4,057,384  

Return of capital

     359,104         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 26,208,871      $ 4,882,060  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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.

 

17


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at June 30, 2018:

 

     Cost         Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
        Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
       Net Unrealized
Appreciation

Investments and derivative instruments

   $305,906,385       $75,162,480       $(12,234,359)      $62,928,121

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, 2018, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2018, 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.

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 rate 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 stated dividend rate of the Series A and Series B Preferred for the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares did not exceed 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 reduced by $254,551.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Fund paid $9,234 in brokerage commissions on security trades to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, 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 $1,542.

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, 2018, 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

 

18


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

from affiliates of the Adviser). During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Fund accrued $49,181 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, 2018, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $7,438,369 and $8,163,817, 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, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017, 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, 2018      

            (Unaudited)         

     Year Ended
December 31, 2017
 
     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

     347,633        2,070,594        604,889      $ 3,956,071  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase

     9,178,843      $ 50,642,249        604,889      $ 3,956,071  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

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 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 any time, in whole or in part, the Series A Preferred and Series B Preferred at the redemption price. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017, the Fund did not repurchase any shares of Series A Preferred or 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 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 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.

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 $48,196,655, after the deduction of estimated offering expenses of $375,000. 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, 2018, the Fund has approximately $200 million available for issuance under the current shelf registration.

The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Stock information:

 

Series    Issue Date    Authorized      Number of Shares
Outstanding at
06/30/18
     Net Proceeds    2018 Dividend
Rate Range
   Dividend
Rate at
06/30/18
  Accrued
Dividends at
06/30/18
 

 

 

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     2.964% to 3.487%    3.487%     6,538      

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

 

20


The Gabelli Utility Trust

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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 of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

Shareholder Meeting – May 14, 2018 – Final Results

The Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 14, 2018 in Greenwich, Connecticut. At that meeting, common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class, elected John D. Gabelli, Michael J. Ferrantino, and Michael J. Melarkey as Trustees of the Fund. A total of 39,945,061 votes, 40,019,232 votes, and 40,036,129 votes were cast in favor of these Trustees, and a total of 1,656,770 votes, 1,582,600 votes, and 1,565,702 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 2,806,119 votes were cast in favor of this Trustee and a total of 84,763 votes were withheld for this Trustee.

Mario J. Gabelli, 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.

Effective May 16, 2018, Anthony J. Colavita resigned from the Board and John Birch and Elizabeth C. Bogan were appointed to the Board.

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

 

21


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 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, 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

Former Chief Operating Officer,

Sentinel Asset Management

 

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 Q2/2018

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

01/01/2018

through

01/31/2018

  

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 – 44,050,795

 

Preferred Series A –1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

Month #2

02/01/2018

through

02/28/2018

  

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 – 44,100,327

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

Month #3

03/01/2018

through

03/31/2018

  

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 – 44,156,051

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

Month #4

04/01/2018

through

04/30/2018

  

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 – 44,217,576

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

Month #5

05/01/2018

through

05/31/2018

  

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 – 53,112,307

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000

 

Month #6

06/01/2018

through

06/30/2018

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

  

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series A – N/A

 

Preferred Series C – N/A

  

Common – 53,181,318

 

Preferred Series A – 1,153,288

 

Preferred Series C – 2,000,000


     Preferred Series C – N/A    Preferred Series C – N/A          
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 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.

  c.

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.

  d.

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

  e.

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

  f.

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 last fiscal quarter 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    8/27/2018                                                                                                                          

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

 

By (Signature and Title)*         /s/ Bruce N. Alpert                                                                   

 Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

Date    8/27/2018                                                                                                                           
By (Signature and Title)*        /s/ John C. Ball                                                                          

 John C. Ball, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date    8/27/2018                                                                                                                           

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