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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2017

Securities Act File No. 333-            

Investment Company Act File No. 811-21698

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-2

 

 

☑  Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933

☐  Pre-Effective Amendment No.     

☐  Post-Effective Amendment No.

and/or

☑  Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940

☑  Amendment No. 40

(Check Appropriate Box or Boxes)

 

 

GAMCO GLOBAL GOLD, NATURAL RESOURCES & INCOME TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in the Declaration of Trust)

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 422-3554

Bruce N. Alpert

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

(914) 921-5100

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Andrea R. Mango, Esq. GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422		Thomas A. DeCapo, Esq. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 500 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116		Richard T. Prins, Esq. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 4 Times Square New York, New York 10036

 

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:    From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.    ☑

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

 

☐

When declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c).

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

☐

This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement].

☐

This form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is .

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Title of Securities		Amount Being Registered		Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)		Amount of Registration Fee
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest(2)
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest(2)
Total						$1,000,000		$124.50(2)

 

(1)

Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the sale by the Registrant of the securities registered under this Registration Statement.

(2)	The Registrant claims a credit of $124.50 for fees attributable to $1,000,000 in securities previously registered and unsold under the Registrants registration statement dated September 26, 2014 (File Nos. 333-198978 and 811-21698) pursuant to the “offset” provision of Rule 457(p).

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

 

 

 

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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer and sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus dated November 3, 2017

BASE PROSPECTUS dated             , 2017

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

$                    

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

 

Investment Objectives.  The GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary objective. The Fund’s investment adviser is Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Investment Adviser”). An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors. We cannot assure you that the Fund’s objectives will be achieved.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in “gold-related” activities. In addition, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, production or distribution of natural resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well as related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The Fund may invest in the securities of companies located anywhere in the world and under normal conditions will invest at least 40% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three countries other than the United States. As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to generate gains through an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities in its portfolio. When the Fund sells a covered call option, it generates gains in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the call option, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase in the value of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of the option. See “Investment Objectives and Policies.”

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, our common shares or preferred shares, each having a par value of $0.001 per share (together, “shares”). Shares may be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each a “Prospectus Supplement”). You should read this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in our shares.

Our shares may be offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our shares, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between us and our agents or underwriters, or among our underwriters, or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any sale of preferred shares will set forth the liquidation preference and information about the dividend period, dividend rate, any call protection or non-call period and other matters. We may not sell any of our shares through agents, underwriters or dealers without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the particular offering of our shares. Our common shares are listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) under the symbol “GGN.” Our 5.00% Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “GGN PrB.” On November 2, 2017, the last reported sale price of our common shares was $5.47. The net asset value of the Fund’s common shares at the close of business on November 2, 2017 was $5.40 per share. Shares of closed-end funds can trade at a discount from net asset value. This creates a risk of loss for an investor purchasing shares in a public offering.

Investing in the Fund’s shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations” on page 27 for factors that should be considered before investing in shares of the Fund, including risks related to a leveraged capital structure.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of shares by us through agents, underwriters, or dealers unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.

 

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This Prospectus, together with an applicable Prospectus Supplement, sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that a prospective investor should know before investing. You should read this Prospectus, together with an applicable Prospectus Supplement, which contains important information about the Fund, before deciding whether to invest in the shares, and retain it for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information, dated             , 2017 containing additional information about the Fund, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this Prospectus. You may request a free copy of our annual and semiannual reports, request a free copy of the Statement of Additional Information, the table of contents of which is on page 65 of this Prospectus, or request other information about us and make shareholder inquiries by calling (800) GABELLI (422-3554) or by writing to the Fund. You may also obtain a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (and other information regarding the Fund) from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Our annual and semiannual reports and our Statement of Additional Information are also available on our website (www.gabelli.com). The Statement of Additional Information is only updated in connection with an offering and is therefore not available on the Fund’s website.

Our shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Prospectus or the date of the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
Prospectus Summary			1
Summary of Fund Expenses			14
Financial Highlights			16
Use of Proceeds			18
The Fund			19
Investment Objectives and Policies			19
Risk Factors and Special Considerations			27
Management of the Fund			44
Portfolio Transactions			46
Dividends And Distributions			46
Issuance of Common Stock			47
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan			47
Description of the Shares			49
Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s Governing Documents			57
Closed-End Fund Structure			58
Repurchase of Common Shares			58
Net Asset Value			59
Limitation on Trustees’ and Officers’ Liability			60
Taxation			60
Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent			62
Plan of Distribution			62
Legal Matters			63
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			64
Additional Information			64
Privacy Principles of the Fund			64
Table of Contents of Statement of Additional Information			65
Corporate Bond Ratings			A-1

 

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SUMMARY OF FUND EXPENSES

 

The following table shows the Fund’s expenses, which are borne directly and indirectly by holders of the Fund’s common shares, including preferred shares offering expenses, as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares.

 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price)			1.43	%(1)
Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (Excluding Preferred Share Offering Expenses) (as a percentage of offering price)			0.19	%(1)
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Prepurchase Plan Fees
Sale Transactions		$	1.00	(2)
Preferred Share Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares)			0.02	%(3)

 

		Percentage of Net Assets  Attributable to Common Shares
Annual Expenses
Management Fees			1.16	%(4)
Interest on Borrowed Funds			None
Other Expenses			0.13	%(4)
Total Annual Expenses			1.29	%
Dividends on Preferred Shares			0.84	%(5)
Total Annual Expenses and Dividends on Preferred Shares			2.13	%(4)

 

(1)

Estimated maximum amount based on offering of $400 million in common shares and $100 million in preferred shares. The estimates assume a 1% sales load on common shares and $761,960 in common offering expenses, and 3.15% sales load on preferred shares and $282,990 in preferred offering expenses. The total sales load was estimated by adding together the dollar amount of the estimated sales loads on the estimated common and preferred share offerings, and dividing by the total maximum offering price of securities that may be sold pursuant to this registration statement. Sales load on preferred shares is an expense borne by the Fund and indirectly by the holders of its common shares. This estimated expense, which amounts to $3,150,000, based on the estimated preferred share offering amount of $100 million, is reflected in the expense example following this table, and reflects an expense to common shareholders that is estimated to equal 0.28% of net assets attributable to common shares, assuming net assets attributable to common shares of $1.14 billion (which includes issuance of $400 million in common shares). Actual sales loads and offering expenses may be higher or lower than these estimates and will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement if applicable.

 

(2)

Shareholders participating in the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan do not incur any additional fees. Shareholders participating in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan would pay their pro rata share of brokerage commissions for transactions to purchase shares and $1.00 per transaction plus their pro rata share of brokerage commissions per transaction to sell shares. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan.”

 

(3)

Assumes issuance of $100 million in liquidation preference of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares, net assets attributable to common shares of approximately $1.14 billion (which includes issuance of $400 million in common shares) and $282,990 in preferred offering expenses. The actual amounts in connection with any offering will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement if applicable.

 

(4)

The Investment Adviser’s fee is 1.00% annually of the Fund’s average weekly net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares, as defined in the Fund’s investment advisory agreement. Consequently, if the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, the investment management fees and other expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares will be higher than if the Fund does not utilize a leveraged capital structure. “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current year assuming completion of the proposed issuances.

 

(5)	The Fund has no current intention of borrowing from a lender during the one year following the date of this Prospectus.

 

(6)	The Dividends on preferred shares represent distributions on the existing preferred shares outstanding and the proposed $100 million of preferred shares at         %.

The purpose of the table above and the example below is to help you understand all fees and expenses that you, as a holder of common shares, would bear directly or indirectly.

 

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The following example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, followed by a preferred share offering, assuming a 5% annual portfolio total return.* The expenses illustrated in the following example include the maximum estimated sales load on common shares of $10 and on preferred shares of $31.50, and estimated offering expenses of $0.91 from the issuance of $400 million in common shares and $100 million in preferred shares. The preferred shares sales load is spread over the Fund’s entire net assets attributable to common shares (assuming completion of the proposed issuances); therefore, the allocable portion of such sales load to a common shareholder making a $1,000 investment in these circumstances is estimated to be $2.80. The actual amounts in connection with any offering will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement if applicable.

 

		1 Year				3 Years				5 Years				10 Years
Total Expenses Incurred		$	36			$	81			$	128			$	259

 

*  The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. The example is based on total Annual Expenses and Dividends on Preferred Shares shown in the table above and assumes that the amounts set forth in the table do not change and that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

The example includes Dividends on Preferred Shares. If Dividends on Preferred Shares were not included in the example calculation, the expense would be as follows (based on the same assumptions as above).

 

		1 Year				3 Years				5 Years				10 Years
Total Expenses Incurred		$	28			$	56			$	85			$	169

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The selected data below sets forth the per share operating performance and ratios for the periods presented. The financial information was derived from and should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements of the Fund and Notes thereto,                     . The financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2017 is unaudited. The financial information for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012 has been audited by                     , the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm,                     .

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

 

		Six Months Ended June  30, 2017 (Unaudited)				Year Ended December 31,
						2016				2015				2014				2013				2012				2011				2010				2009				2008				2007
Operating Performance:
Net asset value, beginning of year		$	5.68			$	5.34			$	7.35			$	9.94			$	13.26			$	14.70			$	18.25			$	15.91			$	10.39			$	29.48			$	24.10
Net investment income			0.03				0.03				0.02				0.03				0.07				0.11				0.11				0.17				0.12				0.10				(0.02	)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments, swap contracts, written options, and foreign currency transactions			0.13				1.15				(1.15	)			(1.51	)			(1.89	)			(0.01	)			(2.00	)			3.61				7.06				(17.18	)			7.61
Total from investment operations			0.16				1.18				(1.13	)			(1.48	)			(1.82	)			0.10				(1.89	)			3.78				7.18				(17.08	)			7.59
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (a)
Net investment income			(0.00	)*(b)			(0.00	)(b)			(0.00	)(b)			(0.02	)			(0.00	)(b)			(0.00	)(b)			(0.00	)(b)			(0.03	)			(0.11	)			(0.08	)			(0.01	)
Net realized gain			(0.01	)*			—				—				—				(0.05	)			(0.07	)			(0.10	)			(0.12	)			(0.18	)			(0.28	)			(0.07	)
Return of capital			—				(0.04	)			(0.04	)			(0.02	)			—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Total distributions to preferred shareholders			(0.01	)			(0.04	)			(0.04	)			(0.04	)			(0.05	)			(0.07	)			(0.10	)			(0.15	)			(0.29	)			(0.36	)			(0.08	)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets attributable to common shareholders resulting from operations			0.15				1.14				(1.17	)			(1.52	)			(1.87	)			0.03				(1.99	)			3.63				6.89				(17.44	)			7.51
Distributions to Common Shareholders:
Net investment income			(0.03	)*			(0.04	)			(0.02	)			—				(0.06	)			(0.02	)			(0.09	)			(0.31	)			(0.26	)			(0.13	)			(0.15	)
Net realized gain			(0.11	)*			—				—				—				(0.75	)			(1.36	)			(1.54	)			(1.37	)			(0.45	)			(0.48	)			(1.78	)
Return of capital			(0.16	)*			(0.80	)			(0.82	)			(1.08	)			(0.63	)			(0.24	)			(0.05	)			—				(0.97	)			(1.07	)			—
Total distributions to common shareholders			(0.30	)			(0.84	)			(0.84	)			(1.08	)			(1.44	)			(1.62	)			(1.68	)			(1.68	)			(1.68	)			(1.68	)			(1.93	)
Fund Share Transactions:
Increase in net asset value from issuance of common shares			0.00	(b)			0.04				—				0.01				0.01				0.15				0.12				0.39				0.31				0.01				0.00	(b)
Increase in net asset value from repurchase of common shares			—				0.00	(b)			(0.00	)(b)			—				0.00	(b)			—				—				—				—				—				—
Increase in net asset value from repurchase of preferred shares			0.00	(b)			0.00	(b)			(0.00	)(b)			0.00	(b)			0.01				—				—				—				0.00	(b)			0.01				—
Offering costs for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital			—				—				—				—				(0.03	)			—				—				—				—				0.01				(0.20	)
Adjustments to offering costs for preferred shares credited to paid-in capital			—				—				—				0.00	(b)			—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Total Fund share transactions			0.00	(b)			0.04				(0.00	)(b)			0.01				(0.01	)			0.15				0.12				0.39				0.31				0.03				(0.20	)
Net Asset Value, End of Period		$	5.53			$	5.68			$	5.34			$	7.35			$	9.94			$	13.26			$	14.70			$	18.25			$	15.91			$	10.39			$	29.48
NAV total return†			2.61	%			22.67	%			(17.59	)%			(17.23	)%			(14.62	)%			1.36	%			(11.00	)%			27.25	%			74.36	%			(61.59	)%			31.47	%
Market value, end of period		$	5.51			$	5.30			$	4.75			$	7.00			$	9.02			$	12.80			$	14.11			$	19.27			$	16.34			$	13.10			$	29.15
Investment total return††			6.49	%			29.39	%			(22.14	)%			(13.01	)%			(19.51	)%			1.82	%			(18.98	)%			30.77	%			40.14	%			(50.94	)%			27.40	%

 

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		Six Months Ended June 30, 2017				Year Ended December 31,
		(Unaudited)				2016				2015				2014				2013				2012				2011				2010				2009				2008				2007
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:
Net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of period (in 000’s)		$	835,882			$	853,079			$	691,468			$	920,538			$	1,152,361			$	1,428,491			$	1,206,020			$	1,119,246			$	620,047			$	289,046			$	633,253
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (in 000’s)		$	747,973			$	764,312			$	601,745			$	828,027			$	1,057,668			$	1,329,599			$	1,107,127			$	1,020,354			$	521,155			$	190,109			$	533,253
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets attributable to common shares			0.91	%(c)			0.44	%			0.30	%			0.21	%			0.59	%			0.33	%			0.16	%			0.41	%			1.44	%			0.39	%			(0.09	)%
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares			1.31	%(c)(d)(e)			1.32	%(d)(e)			1.29	%(d)			1.24	%			1.20	%			1.22	%			1.27	%(f)			1.33	%(f)			1.78	%(f)			1.69	%(f)			1.45	%(f)
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares			1.17	%(c)(d)(e)			1.18	%(d)(e)			1.15	%(d)			1.14	%			1.11	%			1.12	%			1.16	%(f)			1.17	%(f)			1.35	%(f)			1.37	%(f)			1.39	%(f)
Portfolio turnover rate			101.5	%			198.4	%			36.0	%			87.4	%			83.7	%			47.4	%			66.4	%			51.5	%			61.0	%			41.5	%			71.3	%
Cumulative Preferred Shares:
6.625% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)			—				—				—				—				—			$	98,892			$	98,892			$	98,892			$	98,892			$	98,937			$	100,000
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)			—				—				—				—				—				3,956				3,956				3,956				3,956				3,957				4,000
Liquidation preference per share			—				—				—				—				—			$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00
Average market value (g)			—				—				—				—				—			$	25.79			$	26.10			$	26.01			$	24.60			$	24.10			$	24.16
Asset coverage per share			—				—				—				—				—			$	361.12			$	304.88			$	282.95			$	156.75			$	73.04			$	158.31
Asset coverage			—				—				—				—				—				1,444	%			1,220	%			1,132	%			627	%			292	%			633	%
5.000% Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)		$	87,909			$	88,767			$	89,724			$	92,512			$	94,693				—				—				—				—				—				—
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)			3,516				3,551				3,589				3,700				3,788				—				—				—				—				—				—
Liquidation preference per share		$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00			$	25.00				—				—				—				—				—				—
Average market value (g)		$	23.71			$	23.81			$	22.03			$	21.28			$	21.00				—				—				—				—				—				—
Asset coverage per share		$	238			$	240			$	193			$	249			$	304				—				—				—				—				—				—
Asset coverage			951	%			961	%			771	%			995	%			1,217	%			—				—				—				—				—				—

 

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

 

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

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

 

(a)	Calculated based on average common shares outstanding on the record dates through each period.

 

(b)	Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

 

(c)	Annualized.

 

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

 

(e)

The Fund incurred dividend expenses on securities sold short. If this expense had not been incurred, the expense ration for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and year ended December 31, 2016 would have been 1.29% and 1.31% attributable to common shares, respectively, and 1.15% and 1.17% including liquidation value of preferred shares, respectively.

 

(f)

The Fund incurred interest expense during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. If interest expense had not been incurred, the ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares would have been 1.54% and 1.33%, respectively, and for 2008 and 2007, the ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares would have been 1.25% and 1.27%, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the effect of interest expense was minimal.

 

(g)	Based on weekly prices.

 

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The Investment Adviser expects that it will initially invest the proceeds of the offering in high quality short term debt securities and instruments. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to substantially be completed within three months; however, changes in market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period extending to as long as six months. Depending on market conditions and operations, a portion of the cash held by the Fund, including any proceeds raised from the offering, may be used to pay distributions in accordancy with the Fund’s distribution policy. Such distribution would constitute a return of capital and should not be considered as dividend yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund.

While it does not currently expect to do so, the Fund may also use the net proceeds from the offering to call, redeem or repurchase shares of its Series B Preferred Shares. The distribution rate on the Series B Preferred Shares is 5.00%.

 

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THE FUND

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on January 4, 2005, pursuant to an Agreement and Declaration of Trust governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Fund commenced investment operations on March 31, 2005. The Fund’s principal office is located at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York, 10580-1422 and its telephone number is (800) 422-3554.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Investment Objectives

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary objective. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in “gold-related” activities. In addition, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, production or distribution of natural resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well as related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The Fund may invest in the securities of companies located anywhere in the world. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 40% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three countries other than the United States. For this purpose an issuer will be treated as located outside the United States if it is either organized or headquartered outside the United States and has a substantial portion of its operations or sales outside the United States. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, warrants, depository receipts and equity interests in trusts and other entities. Other Fund investments may include investment companies, securities of issuers subject to reorganization or other risk arbitrage investments, certain derivative instruments, debt (including obligations of the United States Government) and money market instruments.

As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to generate gains through an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities in its portfolio. When the Fund sells a covered call option, it generates gains in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the call option, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase in the value of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of the option.

Investment Methodology of the Fund

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser normally considers the following factors, among others:

 

•

the industry of the issuer of a security;

 

•

the potential of the Fund to earn gains from writing covered call options on such securities;

 

•

the interest or dividend income generated by the securities;

 

•

the potential for capital appreciation of the securities;

 

•

the prices of the securities relative to comparable securities;

 

•

whether the securities are entitled to the benefits of call protection or other protective covenants;

 

•

the existence of any anti-dilution protections or guarantees of the security; and

 

•

the number and size of investments of the portfolio as to issuers.

The Investment Adviser’s investment philosophy with respect to selecting investments in the gold industry and the natural resources industries is to emphasize quality and value, as determined by such factors as asset quality, balance sheet leverage, management ability, reserve life, cash flow, and commodity hedging exposure. In addition, in making stock selections, the Investment Adviser looks for securities that it believes may have a superior yield as well as capital gains potential.

 

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Certain Investment Practices

Gold Industry Concentration.    Under normal market conditions the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of Gold Companies. “Gold Companies” are those that are principally engaged in the exploration, mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold, or the financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in “gold-related” activities. The Fund’s investments in Gold Companies will generally be in the common equity of Gold Companies, but the Fund may also invest in other securities of Gold Companies, such as preferred stocks, securities convertible into common stocks, and securities such as rights and warrants that have common stock characteristics.

In selecting investments in Gold Companies for the Fund, the Investment Adviser will focus on stocks that are undervalued, but which appear to have favorable prospects for growth. Factors considered in this determination will include capitalization per ounce of gold production, capitalization per ounce of recoverable reserves, quality of management and ability to create shareholder wealth. Because most of the world’s gold production is outside of the United States, the Fund may have a significant portion of its investments in Gold Companies in securities of foreign issuers, including those located in developed as well as emerging markets. The percentage of Fund assets invested in particular countries or regions will change from time to time based on the Investment Adviser’s judgment. Among other things, the Investment Adviser will consider the economic stability and economic outlook of these countries and regions. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Industry Risks.”

Natural Resources Industries Concentration.    Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in equity securities of Natural Resources Companies. “Natural Resources Companies” are those that are principally engaged in the exploration, production or distribution of energy or natural resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well as related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers.

Principally engaged, as used in this Prospectus, means a company that derives at least 50% of its revenues or earnings or devotes at least 50% of its assets to gold or natural resources related activities, as the case may be.

Covered Calls and Other Option Transactions.    The Fund intends to generate gains through an option strategy which will normally consist of writing (selling) call options on equity securities in its portfolio (“covered calls”), but may, in amounts up to 15% of the Fund’s assets, consist of writing uncovered call options on additional amounts of such securities beyond the amounts held in its portfolio, on other securities not held in its portfolio, on indices comprised of Gold Companies or Natural Resources Companies or on exchange traded funds comprised of such issuers and also may consist of writing put options on securities in its portfolio. Writing a covered call is the selling of an option contract entitling the buyer to purchase an underlying security that the Fund owns, while writing an uncovered call is the selling of such a contract entitling the buyer to purchase a security the Fund does not own or in an amount in excess of the amount the Fund owns. When the Fund sells a call option, it generates gains in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the call option, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase in the value of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of the option. The writer of the call option has the obligation, upon exercise of the option, to deliver the underlying security or currency upon payment of the exercise price during the option period.

A put option is the reverse of a call option, giving the buyer the right, in return for a premium, to sell the underlying security to the writer, at a specified price, and obligating the writer to purchase the underlying security from the holder at that price. When the Fund sells a put option, it generates gains in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the put option, but the Fund will have the obligation to buy the underlying security at the exercise price if the price of the security decreases below the exercise price of the option.

If the Fund has written a call option, it may terminate its obligation by effecting a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by purchasing a call option with the same terms as the option previously written. However, once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction. Similarly, if the Fund is the holder of an option, it may liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option with the same terms as the option previously purchased. There can be no assurance that either a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund so desires.

 

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The Fund will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is less than the premium it received from writing the option or is more than the premium it paid to purchase the option; the Fund will realize a loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is more than the premium it received from writing the option or is less than the premium it paid to purchase the option. Since call option prices generally reflect increases in the price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation of the underlying security. Other principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price and price volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date of the option. Gains and losses on investments in options depend, in part, on the ability of the Investment Adviser to predict correctly the effect of these factors. The use of options cannot serve as a complete hedge since the price movement of securities underlying the options will not necessarily follow the price movements of the portfolio securities subject to the hedge.

An option position may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market for an option with the same terms or in a private transaction. Although the Fund will generally purchase or write options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option. In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, in which case the Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur brokerage commissions upon the exercise of call options and upon the subsequent disposition of underlying securities for the exercise of put options.

When the Fund writes an uncovered call option or put option, it will segregate liquid assets with its custodian in an amount equal to the amount, adjusted daily, by which such option is in the money or will treat the unsegregated amount as borrowings.

Although the Investment Adviser will attempt to take appropriate measures to minimize the risks relating to the Fund’s writing and purchasing of put and call options, there can be no assurance that the Fund will succeed in any option-writing program it undertakes. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Risks Associated with Covered Calls and Other Options.”

Foreign Securities.    Because many of the world’s Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies are located outside of the United States, the Fund may have a significant portion of its investments in securities of foreign issuers, which are generally denominated in foreign currencies. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Foreign Securities Risk.”

The Fund may also purchase sponsored American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) or U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust companies in respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use in the U.S. securities markets.

Emerging Markets.    The Fund may invest without limit in securities of emerging market issuers. These securities may be U.S. dollar denominated or non-U.S. dollar denominated, including emerging market country currency denominated. An “emerging market” country is any country that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “World Bank”). Emerging market countries generally include every nation in the world except the United States , Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe.

Registered Investment Companies.    The Fund may invest in registered investment companies in accordance with the 1940 Act, to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, including exchange traded funds that concentrate in investments in the gold or natural resources industries. The 1940 Act generally prohibits the Fund from investing more than 5% of its assets in any one other investment company or more than 10% of its assets in all other investment companies. However, many exchange-traded funds are exempt from these limitations.

Illiquid Investments.    The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which there is no readily available trading market or that are otherwise illiquid. Illiquid securities include, among other things, securities legally restricted as to resale such as commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, securities traded pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act, written over-the-counter options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which

 

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are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), and other securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Section 4(2) and Rule 144A securities may, however, be treated as liquid by the Investment Adviser pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, which require consideration of factors such as trading activity, availability of market quotations and number of dealers willing to purchase the security. If the Fund invests in Rule 144A securities, the level of portfolio illiquidity may be increased to the extent that eligible buyers exhibit weak demand for such securities.

It may be more difficult to sell unregistered securities at an attractive price should their resale remain restricted than if such securities were in the future to become publicly traded. Where registration is desired, a considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the securities and the time when registration is complete. Thus, the Fund may not be able to obtain as favorable a price at the time of the decision to sell as it might achieve in the future. The Fund may also acquire securities with contractual restrictions on the resale of such securities. Such restrictions might prevent their sale at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable.

Income Securities.    The Fund may invest in other equity securities that are expected to periodically accrue or generate income for their holders such as common and preferred stocks of issuers that have historically paid periodic dividends or otherwise made distributions to stockholders. Unlike fixed income securities, dividend payments generally are not guaranteed and so may be discontinued by the issuer at its discretion or because of the issuer’s inability to satisfy its liabilities. Further, an issuer’s history of paying dividends does not guarantee that it will continue to pay dividends in the future. In addition to dividends, under certain circumstances the holders of common stock may benefit from the capital appreciation of the issuer.

In addition, the Fund also may invest in fixed income securities such as convertible securities, bonds, debentures, notes, stock, short term discounted Treasury Bills or certain securities of the U.S. government sponsored instrumentalities, as well as money market mutual funds that invest in those securities, which, in the absence of an applicable exemptive order, will not be affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Fixed income securities obligate the issuer to pay to the holder of the security a specified return, which may be either fixed or reset periodically in accordance with the terms of the security. Fixed income securities generally are senior to an issuer’s common stock and their holders generally are entitled to receive amounts due before any distributions are made to common stockholders. Common stocks, on the other hand, generally do not obligate an issuer to make periodic distributions to holders.

The Fund may also invest in obligations of government sponsored instrumentalities. Unlike non-U.S. government securities, obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association, are supported by the “full faith and credit” of the United States government; others, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the United States Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association, are supported by the discretionary authority of the United States government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the United States government would provide financial support to United States government sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law. Although the Fund may invest in all types of obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, the Fund currently intends to invest only in obligations of government sponsored instrumentalities that are supported by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government.

When Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments.    The Fund may enter into forward commitments for the purchase or sale of securities, including on a “when issued” or “delayed delivery” basis, in excess of customary settlement periods for the type of security involved. In some cases, a forward commitment may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval and consummation of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt restructuring (i.e., a when, as and if issued security). When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, with payment and delivery taking place in the future, generally a month or more after the date of the commitment. While it will only enter into a forward commitment with the intention of actually acquiring the security, the Fund may sell the security before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.

 

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Securities purchased under a forward commitment are subject to market fluctuation, and no interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to the settlement date. The Fund will segregate with its custodian cash or liquid securities in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of its outstanding forward commitments.

Short Sales.    The Fund may make short sales as a form of hedging to offset potential declines in long positions in the same or similar securities, including short sales against the box. The short sale of a security is considered a speculative investment technique. At the time of the sale, the Fund will own, or have the immediate and unconditional right to acquire at no additional cost, identical or similar securities or establish a hedge against a security of the same issuer which may involve additional cost, such as an “in the money” warrant.

Short sales “against the box” are subject to special tax rules, one of the effects of which may be to accelerate the recognition of income by the Fund. Other than with respect to short sales against the box, the Fund will limit short sales of securities to not more than 5% of the Fund’s assets. When the Fund makes a short sale, it must deliver the security to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale in order to satisfy its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale.

Repurchase Agreements.    Repurchase agreements may be seen as loans by the Fund collateralized by underlying debt securities. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund would acquire an underlying debt obligation for a relatively short period (usually not more than one week) subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and the Fund to resell, the obligation at an agreed price and time. This arrangement results in a fixed rate of return to the Fund that is not subject to market fluctuations during the holding period. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed in or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities, including the risk of a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period in which it seeks to assert these rights. The Investment Adviser, acting under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, reviews the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreements to evaluate these risks and monitors on an ongoing basis the value of the securities subject to repurchase agreements to ensure that the value is maintained at the required level. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements with the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates.

Convertible Securities.    A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, stock or other similar security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock or other equity security of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stock of the same or similar issuers. Convertible securities are senior in rank to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Convertible Securities Risk.”

Non-Investment Grade Securities.    The Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets in securities rated below investment grade by recognized statistical rating agencies or unrated securities of comparable quality. The prices of these lower grade securities are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Securities of below investment grade quality—those securities rated below “Baa” by Moody’s or below “BBB” by S&P (or unrated securities of comparable quality)—are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due and therefore involve a greater risk of default. Securities rated below investment grade commonly are referred to as “junk bonds” or “high yield” securities.

Generally, such lower grade securities and unrated securities of comparable quality offer a higher current yield than is offered by higher rated securities, but also (i) will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of the rating organizations, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions and (ii) are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. The market values of certain of these securities also tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher quality securities. In addition, such lower grade securities and comparable unrated securities generally present a higher degree of credit risk. The risk of loss due to default by these issuers is significantly

 

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greater because such lower grade securities and unrated securities of comparable quality generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. In light of these risks, the Investment Adviser, in evaluating the creditworthiness of an issue, whether rated or unrated, will take various factors into consideration, which may include, as applicable, the issuer’s operating history, financial resources and its sensitivity to economic conditions and trends, the market support for the facility financed by the issue, the perceived ability and integrity of the issuer’s management and regulatory matters.

In addition, the market value of securities in lower grade categories is more volatile than that of higher quality securities, and the markets in which such lower grade or unrated securities are traded are more limited than those in which higher rated securities are traded. The existence of limited markets may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset value. Moreover, the lack of a liquid trading market may restrict the availability of securities for the Fund to purchase and may also have the effect of limiting the ability of the Fund to sell securities at their fair value to respond to changes in the economy or the financial markets.

Non-investment grade and unrated securities of comparable quality also present risks based on payment expectations. If an issuer calls the obligation for redemption (often a feature of fixed income securities), the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. Also, as the principal value of bonds moves inversely with movements in interest rates, in the event of rising interest rates the value of the securities held by the Fund may decline proportionately more than a portfolio consisting of higher rated securities. Investments in zero coupon bonds may be more speculative and subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates than bonds that pay interest currently. Interest rates are at historical lows and, therefore, it is likely that they will rise in the future.

The Fund may purchase securities of companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although such investments may result in significant financial returns to the Fund, they involve a substantial degree of risk. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful investments in issuers experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. There can be no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing its investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio investment, the Fund may lose all or part of its investment or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the Fund’s initial investment.

As part of its investments in lower grade securities, the Fund may invest without limit in securities of issuers in default. The Fund will make an investment in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such issuers will honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection and the value of these securities will appreciate. By investing in securities of issuers in default, the Fund bears the risk that these issuers will not continue to honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection or that the value of the securities will not appreciate.

In addition to using statistical rating agencies and other sources, the Investment Adviser also performs its own analysis of issues in seeking investments that it believes to be underrated (and thus higher-yielding) in light of the financial condition of the issuer. Its analysis of issuers may include, among other things, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to historical cost, strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing and current anticipated results of operations. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Investment Adviser may also consider general business conditions, anticipated changes in interest rates and the outlook for specific industries.

Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. In addition, it is possible that statistical rating agencies might change their ratings of a particular issue to reflect subsequent events on a timely basis. Moreover, such ratings do not assess the risk of a decline in market value. None of these events will require the sale of the securities by the Fund, although the Investment Adviser will consider these events in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities.

Fixed income securities, including lower grade securities and comparable unrated securities, frequently have call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders, such as the Fund. If an issuer exercises these rights during periods of declining interest rates, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, thus resulting in a decreased return for the Fund.

The market for lower grade and comparable unrated securities has at various times, particularly during times of economic recession, experienced substantial reductions in market value and liquidity. Past recessions have adversely affected the ability of certain issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon. The market for those securities could react in a similar fashion in the event of any future economic recession.

Other Derivative Instruments.    The Fund may also utilize other types of derivative instruments, primarily for hedging or risk management purposes. These instruments include futures, forward contracts, options on such contracts and interest rate, total return and other kinds of swaps. These investment management techniques

 

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generally will not be considered senior securities if the Fund establishes in a segregated account cash or other liquid securities or sets aside assets on the accounting records equal to the Fund’s obligations in respect of such techniques. For a further description of such derivative instruments, see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Derivative Instruments” in the SAI.

Leveraging.    As provided in the 1940 Act and subject to certain exceptions, the Fund may issue senior securities (which may be additional classes of stock, such as preferred shares, or securities representing debt) so long as its total assets, less certain ordinary course liabilities, exceed 300% of the amount of the debt outstanding and exceed 200% of the amount of preferred shares and debt outstanding. The use of leverage magnifies the impact of changes in net asset value. For example, a fund that uses 33% leverage will show a 1.5% increase or decline in net asset value for each 1% increase or decline in the value of its total assets. In addition, if the cost of leverage exceeds the return on the securities acquired with the proceeds of leverage, the use of leverage will diminish rather than enhance the return to the Fund. The use of leverage generally increases the volatility of returns to the Fund. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Leverage Risk.”

In the event the Fund had both outstanding preferred shares and senior securities representing debt at the same time, the Fund’s obligations to pay dividends or distributions and, upon liquidation of the Fund, liquidation payments in respect of its preferred shares would be subordinate to the Fund’s obligations to make any principal and/or interest payments due and owing with respect to its outstanding senior debt securities. Accordingly, the Fund’s issuance of senior securities representing debt would have the effect of creating special risks for the Fund’s preferred shareholders that would not be present in a capital structure that did not include such securities. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Special Risks Related to Preferred Securities.”

Additionally, the Fund may enter into derivative transactions that have economic leverage embedded in them. Derivative transactions that the Fund may enter into and the risks associated with them are described elsewhere in this Prospectus and in the SAI. The Fund cannot assure you that investments in derivative transactions that have economic leverage embedded in them will result in a higher return on its common shares.

To the extent the terms of such transactions obligate the Fund to make payments, the Fund may earmark or segregate cash or liquid assets in an amount at least equal to the current value of the amount then payable by the Fund under the terms of such transactions or otherwise cover such transactions in accordance with applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC. If the current value of the amount then payable by the Fund under the terms of such transactions is represented by the notional amounts of such investments, the Fund would segregate or earmark cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to such notional amounts, and if the current value of the amount then payable by the Fund under the terms of such transactions is represented by the market value of the Fund’s current obligations, the Fund would segregate or earmark cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to such current obligations. To the extent the terms of such transactions obligate the Fund to deliver particular securities to extinguish the Fund’s obligations under such transactions the Fund may “cover” its obligations under such transactions by either (i) owning the securities or collateral underlying such transactions or (ii) having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities or collateral without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, having earmarked or segregated an appropriate amount of cash or liquid assets). Such earmarking, segregation or cover is intended to provide the Fund with available assets to satisfy its obligations under such transactions. As a result of such earmarking, segregation or cover, the Fund’s obligations under such transactions will not be considered senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act, or considered borrowings, but may create leverage for the Fund. To the extent that the Fund’s obligations under such transactions are not so earmarked, segregated or covered, such obligations may be considered “senior securities representing indebtedness” under the 1940 Act and therefore subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement.

These earmarking, segregation or cover requirements can result in the Fund maintaining securities positions it would otherwise liquidate, segregating or earmarking assets at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so or otherwise restrict portfolio management.

Temporary Defensive Investments.    Although under normal market conditions the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources industries, when a temporary defensive posture is believed by the Investment Adviser to be warranted (“temporary defensive periods”), the Fund may without limitation hold cash or invest its assets in money market instruments and repurchase agreements in respect of those instruments. The money market instruments in which the Fund may invest are obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; commercial paper rated A-1 or higher by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s; and certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic branches of U.S. banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. During temporary defensive periods, the Fund may also invest to the extent permitted by applicable law in shares of money market mutual funds. Money market mutual funds are investment companies and the investments in those companies by the Fund are in some cases subject to applicable law. See “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI. The Fund may find it more difficult to achieve the long term growth of capital component of its investment objectives during temporary defensive periods.

Portfolio Turnover.    The Fund will buy and sell securities to accomplish its investment objectives. The investment policies of the Fund, including its strategy of writing covered call options on securities in its portfolio, are expected to result in portfolio turnover that is higher than that of many investment companies, and may be higher than 100%. For the years ending December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rates were 198.4% and 36.0%, respectively.

Portfolio turnover generally involves expense to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestment in other securities. The portfolio turnover rate is computed by dividing the lesser of the amount of the securities purchased or securities sold by the average monthly value of securities owned during the year (excluding securities whose maturities at acquisition were one year or less). Higher portfolio turnover may decrease the after-tax return to individual investors in the Fund to the extent it results in a decrease in the portion of the Fund’s distributions that is attributable to long term capital gain.

 

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Interest Rate Transactions

The Fund may enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions to manage its borrowing costs, as well as to increase income. The use of interest rate swaps and caps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an interest rate swap, the Fund would agree to pay to the other party to the interest rate swap (which is known as the “counterparty”) periodically a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay to the fund periodically a variable rate payment that is intended to approximate the Fund’s variable rate payment obligation on its borrowings (or the Fund’s potential variable payment obligations on fixed rate preferred shares that may have certain variable rate features). In an interest rate cap, the Fund would pay a premium to the counterparty to the interest rate cap and, to the extent that a specified variable rate index exceeds a predetermined fixed rate, would receive from the counterparty payments of the difference based on the notional amount of such cap. Interest rate swap and cap transactions introduce additional risk because the Fund would remain obligated to pay interest or preferred shares dividends when due even if the counterparty defaulted. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at that point in time, such a default could negatively affect the Fund’s ability to make interest payments or dividend payments on the preferred shares. In addition, at the time an interest rate swap or cap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to make interest payments or dividend payments on the preferred shares. To the extent there is a decline in interest rates, the value of the interest rate swap or cap could decline, resulting in a decline in the asset coverage for the borrowings or preferred shares. A sudden and dramatic decline in interest rates may result in a significant decline in the asset coverage. If the Fund fails to maintain the required asset coverage on any outstanding preferred shares or fails to comply with other covenants, the Fund may be required to redeem some or all of these shares. Any redemption would likely result in the Fund seeking to terminate early all or a portion of any swap or cap transactions. Early termination of a swap could result in a termination payment by the Fund to the counterparty, while early termination of a cap could result in a termination payment to the Fund.

The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions, for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. 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 a 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.

The Fund will usually enter into swaps or caps on a net basis; that is, the two payment streams will be netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. The Fund intends to segregate cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the value of the Fund’s net payment obligations under any swap transaction, marked to market daily. The Fund will monitor any such swap with a view to ensuring that the Fund remains in compliance with all applicable regulatory, investment policy and tax requirements.

Further information on the investment objectives and policies of the Fund is set forth in the SAI.

 

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RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund:

Total Return Risk

The Fund utilizes several investment management techniques in an effort to generate positive total return. The risks of these techniques, such as option writing, leverage, concentration in certain industries, and investing in emerging markets, are described in the following paragraphs. Taken together these and other techniques represent a risk that the Fund will experience a negative total return even in market environments that are generally positive and that the Fund’s returns, both positive and negative, may be more volatile than if the Fund did not utilize these investment techniques.

Industry Risks

Industry Risks.    The Fund’s investments will be concentrated in the gold and natural resources industries. Because the Fund is concentrated in these industries, it may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. A downturn in the gold or natural resources industries would have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not concentrate in such industries.

Under normal market conditions the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in equity securities of Gold Companies. Equity securities of Gold Companies may experience greater volatility than companies not involved in the gold industry. Investments related to gold are considered speculative and are affected by a variety of worldwide economic, financial and political factors. The price of gold, which has experienced substantial increases in recent periods, may fluctuate sharply, including substantial decreases, over short periods of time due to changes in inflation or expectations regarding inflation in various countries, the availability of supplies of gold, changes in industrial and commercial demand, gold sales by governments, central banks or international agencies, investment speculation, monetary and other economic policies of various governments and government restrictions on private ownership of gold. In times of significant inflation or great economic uncertainty, Gold Companies have historically outperformed securities markets generally. However, in times of stable economic growth, traditional equity and debt investments could offer greater appreciation potential and the value of gold and the prices of equity securities of Gold Companies may be adversely affected, which could in turn affect the Fund’s returns. Some Gold Companies hedge, to varying degrees, their exposure to declines in the price of gold. Such hedging limits a Gold Company’s ability to benefit from future rises in the price of gold. The Investment Adviser’s judgments about trends in the prices of securities of Gold Companies may prove to be incorrect. It is possible that the performance of securities of Gold Companies may lag the performance of other industries or the broader market as a whole.

Under normal market conditions the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in equity securities of Natural Resources Companies. A downturn in the indicated natural resources industries would have a larger impact on the Fund than on an investment company that does not invest significantly in such industries. Such industries can be significantly affected by the supply of and demand for the indicated commodities and related services, exploration and production spending, government regulations, world events and economic conditions. The oil, gas, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals industries can be significantly affected by events relating to international political developments, the success of exploration projects, commodity prices, and tax and government regulations. The stock prices of Natural Resources Companies, some of which have experienced substantial price increases in recent periods, may also experience greater price volatility than other types of common stocks. Securities issued by Natural Resources Companies are sensitive to changes in the prices of, and in supply and demand for, the indicated commodities. The value of securities issued by Natural Resources Companies may be affected by changes in overall market movements, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as weather, embargoes, tariffs, policies of commodity cartels and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The Investment Adviser’s judgments about trends in the prices of these securities and commodities may prove to be incorrect. It is possible that the performance of securities of Natural Resources Companies may lag the performance of other industries or the broader market as a whole.

 

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Supply and Demand Risk.    A decrease in the production of or exploitation of, gold, gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals or minerals or a decrease in the volume of such commodities available for transportation, mining, processing, storage or distribution may adversely impact the financial performance of the Fund’s investments. Production declines and volume decreases could be caused by various factors, including catastrophic events affecting production, depletion of resources, labor difficulties, environmental proceedings, increased regulations, equipment failures and unexpected maintenance problems, import supply disruption, increased competition from alternative energy sources or commodity prices.

Sustained declines in demand for the indicated commodities could also adversely affect the financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies over the long term. Factors which could lead to a decline in demand include economic recession or other adverse economic conditions, higher fuel taxes or governmental regulations, increases in fuel economy, consumer shifts to the use of alternative fuel sources, changes in commodity prices, or weather.

Depletion and Exploration Risk.    Many Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies are either engaged in the production or exploitation of the particular commodities or are engaged in transporting, storing, distributing and processing such commodities. To maintain or increase their revenue level, these companies or their customers need to maintain or expand their reserves through exploration of new sources of supply, through the development of existing sources, acquisitions, or long term contracts to acquire reserves. The financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies may be adversely affected if they, or the companies to whom they provide products or services, are unable to cost-effectively acquire additional products or reserves sufficient to replace the natural decline.

Regulatory Risk.    Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies may be subject to extensive government regulation in virtually every aspect of their operations, including how facilities are constructed, maintained and operated, environmental and safety controls, and in some cases the prices they may charge for the products and services they provide. Various governmental authorities have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including civil fines, injunctions or both. Stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could be enacted in the future, which would likely increase compliance costs and may adversely affect the financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies.

Commodity Pricing Risk.    The operations and financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies may be directly affected by the prices of the indicated commodities, especially those Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies for whom the commodities they own are significant assets. Commodity prices fluctuate for many reasons, including changes in market and economic conditions, levels of domestic production, impact of governmental regulation and taxation, the availability of transportation systems and, in the case of oil and gas companies in particular, conservation measures and the impact of weather. Volatility of commodity prices, which may lead to a reduction in production or supply, may also negatively affect the performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies which are solely involved in the transportation, processing, storing, distribution or marketing of commodities. Volatility of commodity prices may also make it more difficult for Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies to raise capital to the extent the market perceives that their performance may be directly or indirectly tied to commodity prices.

Oil and Natural Gas Price Volatility Risk

Crude oil and natural gas prices historically have been volatile and likely will continue to be volatile given current geopolitical conditions. The prices for crude oil and natural gas are subject to a variety of factors beyond our control, such as the domestic and foreign supply of crude oil and natural gas; consumer demand for crude oil and natural gas, and market expectations regarding supply and demand. These factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely difficult to predict price movements. In the second quarter of 2015, stock prices in China experienced a significant drop, resulting primarily from continued sell-off of shares trading in Chinese markets. In August 2015, Chinese authorities sharply devalued China’s currency. The volatility has been followed by volatility in stock markets around the world, including in the United States, as well as increased turbulence in commodity markets, such as reductions in prices of crude oil. Continued sell-off and price drops in the Chinese stock markets may have a contagion effect across the financial markets.

Climate Change Risk.    Climate change and regulations intended to control its impact, may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. The Fund’s current evaluation is that the near term effects of climate change and climate change regulation on the Fund’s investments are not material, but the Fund cannot predict the long term impacts on the Fund or its investments from climate change or related regulations. The ongoing political focus on climate change has resulted in various treaties, laws and regulations which are intended to limit carbon emissions. The Fund believes these laws being enacted or proposed may cause energy costs at properties owned by the real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other real estate companies in which the Fund invests to increase. The Fund does not expect the direct impact of such increases to be material to the value of its investments, because the increased costs either would be the responsibility of tenants or operators of properties owned by the REITs or other real estate companies in which the Fund invests, or, in the longer term, passed through and paid by the customers of such properties. There can be no assurance that climate change will not have a material adverse effect on the properties, operations or business of the Fund’s investments in REITs and other real estate companies.

The Fund cannot predict with certainty whether global warming or cooling is occurring and, if so, at what rate. However, the physical effects of climate change could have a material adverse effect on the properties, operations and business of the Fund’s investments in REITs and other real estate companies in certain geographical locations. To the extent climate change causes changes in weather patterns, properties in these markets could experience increases in storm intensity, flooding and rising sea-levels. Over time, these conditions could result in declining demand for the buildings owned by certain REITs and other real estate companies in which the Fund invests, or the inability of such REITs or other real estate companies to operate such buildings at all.

 

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Risks Associated with Covered Calls and Other Option Transactions

There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given covered call option transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use covered calls (or other options) involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. The use of options may require the Fund to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, may limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on an investment, or may cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the exercise price of the call option, but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. Although such loss would be offset in part by the option premium received, in a situation in which the price of a particular stock on which the Fund has written a covered call option declines rapidly and materially or in which prices in general on all or a substantial portion of the stocks on which the Fund has written covered call options decline rapidly and materially, the Fund could sustain material depreciation or loss in its net assets to the extent it does not sell the underlying securities (which may require it to terminate, offset or otherwise cover its option position as well). The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market for exchange-traded options include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the trading facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (the “OCC”) may not be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) the relevant exchange could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options). If trading were discontinued, the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist. However, outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. The Fund’s ability to terminate over-the-counter options may be more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that counterparties participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. Call options are marked to market daily and their value will be affected by changes in the value of and dividend rates of the underlying common stocks, an increase in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market and the underlying common stocks and the remaining time to the options’ expiration. Additionally, the exercise price of an option may be adjusted downward before the option’s expiration as a result of the occurrence of certain corporate events affecting the underlying equity security, such as extraordinary dividends, stock splits, merger or other extraordinary distributions or events. A reduction in the exercise price of an option would reduce the Fund’s capital appreciation potential on the underlying security.

Limitation on Covered Call Writing Risk.    The number of covered call options the Fund can write is limited by the number of shares of common stock the Fund holds. Furthermore, the Fund’s covered call options and other options transactions will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities on which such options are traded. These limitations govern the maximum number of options in each class which may be written or purchased by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written or purchased on the same or different exchanges, boards of trade or other trading facilities or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. As

 

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a result, the number of covered call options that the Fund may write or purchase may be affected by options written or purchased by it and other investment advisory clients of the Investment Adviser. An exchange, board of trade or other trading facility may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

Risks Associated with Uncovered Calls

There are special risks associated with uncovered option writing which expose the Fund to potentially significant loss. As the writer of an uncovered call option, the Fund has no risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline, but bears unlimited risk of loss should the price of the underlying security increase above the exercise price until the Fund covers its exposure. As with writing uncovered calls, the risk of writing uncovered put options is substantial. The writer of an uncovered put option bears a risk of loss if the value of the underlying instrument declines below the exercise price. Such loss could be substantial if there is a significant decline in the value of the underlying instrument.

For combination writing, where the Fund writes both a put and a call on the same underlying instrument, the potential risk is unlimited. If a secondary market in options were to become unavailable, the Fund could not engage in losing transactions and would remain obligated until expiration or assignment.

Equity Risk

Investing in the Fund involves equity risk, which is the risk that the securities held by the Fund will fall in market value due to adverse market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate and the particular circumstances and performance of particular companies whose securities the Fund holds. An investment in the Fund represents an indirect economic stake in the securities owned by the Fund, which are for the most part traded on securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. The market value of these securities, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The net asset value of the Fund may at any point in time be less than the net asset value of the Fund at the time the shareholder invested in the Fund, even after taking into account any reinvestment of distribution.

Leverage Risk

The Fund currently uses financial leverage for investment purposes by issuing preferred shares. As of December 31, 2016, the amount of leverage represented approximately 10% of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund’s leveraged capital structure creates special risks not associated with unleveraged funds that have a similar investment objective and policies. These include the possibility of greater loss and the likelihood of higher volatility of the net asset value of the Fund and the asset coverage for the preferred shares. Such volatility may increase the likelihood of the Fund having to sell investments in order to meet its obligations to make distributions on the preferred shares or principal or interest payments on debt securities, or to redeem preferred shares or repay debt, when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The use of leverage magnifies both the favorable and unfavorable effects of price movements in the investments made by the Fund. To the extent the Fund is leveraged in its investment operations, the Fund will be subject to substantial risk of loss. The Fund cannot assure that borrowings or the issuance of preferred shares will result in a higher yield or return to the holders of the common shares. Also, since the Fund is utilizing leverage, a decline in net asset value could affect the ability of the Fund to make common share distributions and such a failure to make distributions could result in the Fund ceasing to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). See “Taxation.”

Any decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s investments would be borne entirely by the holders of common shares. Therefore, if the market value of the Fund’s portfolio declines, the leverage will result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of common shares than if the Fund were not leveraged. This greater net asset value decrease will also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for the common shares. In such a case, the Fund might be in danger of failing to maintain the required asset coverage of its borrowings or preferred shares or of losing its ratings on its borrowings or preferred shares or, in an extreme case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the interest or dividend requirements on its

 

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borrowings or preferred shares. In order to counteract such an event, the Fund might need to liquidate investments in order to fund a redemption of some or all of the preferred shares.

 

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Preferred Share Risk.    The issuance of preferred shares causes the net asset value and market value of the common shares to become more volatile. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares approaches the net rate of return on the Fund’s investment portfolio, the benefit of leverage to the holders of the common shares would be reduced. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares plus the management fee annual rate of 1.00% exceeds the net rate of return on the Fund’s portfolio, the leverage will result in a lower rate of return to the holders of common shares than if the Fund had not issued preferred shares. If the Fund has insufficient investment income and gains, all or a portion of the distributions to preferred shareholders would come from the common shareholders’ capital. Such distributions reduce the net assets attributable to common shareholders since the liquidation value of the preferred shareholders is constant.

In addition, the Fund would pay (and the holders of common shares will bear) all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the preferred shares, including the advisory fees on the incremental assets attributable to such shares.

Holders of preferred shares may have different interests than holders of common shares and may at times have disproportionate influence over the Fund’s affairs. Holders of preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, would have the right to elect two members of the Board of Trustees at all times and in the event dividends become two full years in arrears would have the right to elect a majority of the Trustees until such arrearage is completely eliminated. In addition, preferred shareholders have class voting rights on certain matters, including changes in fundamental investment restrictions and conversion of the fund to open-end status, and accordingly can veto any such changes.

Restrictions imposed on the declarations and payment of dividends or other distributions to the holders of the Fund’s common shares and preferred shares, both by the 1940 Act and by requirements imposed by rating agencies, might impair the Fund’s ability to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. While the Fund intends to redeem its preferred shares to the extent necessary to enable the Fund to distribute its income as required to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code, there can be no assurance that such actions can be effected in time to meet the Code requirements.

 

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Portfolio Guidelines of Rating Agencies for Preferred Shares and/or Credit Facility.    In order to obtain and maintain attractive credit quality ratings for preferred shares or borrowings, the Fund must comply with investment quality, diversification and other guidelines established by the relevant rating agencies. These guidelines could affect portfolio decisions and may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. In the event that a rating on the Fund’s preferred shares is lowered or withdrawn by the relevant rating agency, the Fund may also be required to redeem all or part of its outstanding preferred shares, and the common shares of the Fund will lose the potential benefits associated with a leveraged capital structure.

 

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Impact on Common Shares.    Assuming that leverage will (1) be equal in amount to approximately 14% of the Fund’s total net assets, and (2) charge interest or involve dividend payments at a projected blended annual average leverage dividend or interest rate of 5.13%, then the income generated by the Fund’s portfolio (net of estimated expenses) must exceed approximately 0.73% of the Fund’s total net assets in order to cover such interest or dividend payments and other expenses specifically related to leverage. Of course, these numbers are merely estimates, used for illustration. Actual dividend rates, interest or payment rates may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate estimated above. The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on common share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (comprised of net investment income of the Fund, realized gains or losses of the Fund and changes in the value of the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio) of   −10%,   −5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Fund. The table further reflects leverage representing 14% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund’s current projected blended annual average leverage dividend or interest rate of 5.13%, a management fee at an annual rate of 1.00% of the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares and estimated annual incremental expenses attributable to any outstanding preferred shares of 0.01% of the Fund’s net assets attributable to common shares.

 

Assumed Portfolio Total Return (Net of Expenses)			(10	)%			(5	)%			0	%			5	%			10	%
Common Share Total Return			(12.65	)%			(6.83	)%			(1.01	)%			4.81	%			10.63	%

Common share total return is composed of two elements—the common share distributions paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the taxable income of the Fund (including realized gains or losses) after paying interest on any debt and/or dividends on any preferred shares) and unrealized gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to

 

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suffer capital losses than to enjoy total return. For example, to assume a total return of 0% the Fund must assume that the income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by expenses and losses in the value of those investments.

Market Discount Risk. As described below in “—Market Discount Risk,” common shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset values and the Fund’s common shares may trade at such a discount. This risk may be greater for investors expecting to sell their common shares of the Fund soon after completion of a public offering. The common shares of the Fund are designed primarily for long term investors and investors in the shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

Foreign Securities Risk

Because many of the world’s Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies are located outside of the United States, the Fund may have a significant portion of its investments in securities that are traded in foreign markets and that are not subject to the requirements of the U.S. securities laws, markets and accounting requirements (“Foreign Securities”). Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve certain considerations and risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Foreign companies are not generally subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements as those applicable to U.S. companies. Foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies may be subject to less government supervision and regulation than exists in the United States. Dividend and interest income may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may adversely affect the net return on such investments. There may be difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad, and it may be difficult to effect repatriation of capital invested in certain countries. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there are risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries.

There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than a U.S. company. Foreign Securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and some foreign company securities are less liquid than securities of otherwise comparable U.S. companies. A portfolio of Foreign Securities may also be adversely affected by fluctuations in the rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations and by exchange control regulations. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures that could cause the Fund to encounter difficulties in purchasing and selling securities on such markets and may result in the Fund missing attractive investment opportunities or experiencing loss. In addition, a portfolio that includes Foreign Securities can expect to have a higher expense ratio because of the increased transaction costs on non-U.S. securities markets and the increased costs of maintaining the custody of Foreign Securities.

Investments in Foreign Securities will expose the Fund to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities or in which the issuers are located. Certain countries in which the Fund may invest have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt, balance of payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. Many of these countries are also characterized by political uncertainty and instability. The cost of servicing external debt will generally be adversely affected by rising international interest rates because many external debt obligations bear interest at rates which are adjusted based upon international interest rates.

The Fund also may purchase sponsored ADRs or U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust companies in respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use in the U.S. securities markets. While ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted, many of the risks associated with Foreign Securities may also apply to ADRs. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

EMU and Redenomination Risk

As the European debt crisis progressed, the possibility of one or more Eurozone countries exiting the European Monetary Union (“EMU”), or even the collapse of the Euro as a common currency, arose, creating significant volatility at times in currency and financial markets generally. The effects of the collapse of the Euro, or of the exit of one or more countries from the EMU, on the U.S. and global economies and securities markets are impossible to predict and any such events could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s portfolio investments. If one or more EMU countries were to stop using the Euro as its primary currency, the Fund’s investments in such countries may be redenominated into a different or newly adopted currency. As a result, the value of those investments could decline significantly and unpredictably. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in Euros. To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain EMU-related investments, or should the Euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities.

 

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Eurozone Risk

A number of countries in the EU have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. In particular, many EU nations are susceptible to economic risks associated with high levels of debt, notably due to investments in sovereign debt of countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland. As a result, financial markets in the EU have been subject to increased volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. Responses to these financial problems by European governments, central banks, and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest, and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets, and asset valuations around the world. Greece, Ireland, and Portugal have already received one or more “bailouts” from other Eurozone member states, and it is unclear how much additional funding they will require or if additional Eurozone member states will require bailouts in the future. One or more other countries may also abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU, placing its currency and banking system in jeopardy. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear, but could be significant and far-reaching.

On March 29, 2017, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) notified the European Council, in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union (“Article 50”), of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the European Union (the “EU”). In issuing the notice, the UK has begun the two year process set out in Article 50 for the UK and the EU to negotiate the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, taking into account the framework for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. In accordance with Article 50 the UK will cease to be a member of the EU from March 30, 2019, absent any agreement between the UK and the EU which results in a change to this date. This historic event is widely expected to have consequences that are both profound and uncertain for the economic and political future of the United Kingdom and the EU, and those consequences include significant legal and business uncertainties pertaining to an investment in the Fund. Due to the very recent occurrence of these events, the full scope and nature of the consequences are not at this time known and are unlikely to be known for a significant period of time. At the same time, it is reasonable to assume that the significant uncertainty in the business, legal and political environment engendered by these events has resulted in immediate and longer term risks that would not have been applicable had the UK not sought to withdraw from the EU (“BREXIT Risks”).

BREXIT Risks include short and long term market volatility and currency volatility, macroeconomic risk to the UK and European economies, impetus for further disintegration of the EU and related political stresses (including those related to sentiment against cross border capital movements and activities of investors like the Fund), prejudice to financial services businesses that are conducting business in the EU and which are based in the UK, disruption to regulatory regimes related to the operations of the Fund and the Investment Adviser, legal uncertainty regarding achievement of compliance with applicable financial and commercial laws and regulations in view of the expected steps to be taken pursuant to or in contemplation of Article 50 and negotiations undertaken under Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the unavailability of timely information as to expected legal, tax and other regimes.

In view of these risks and their application to the Investment Adviser and the Fund, prospective investors should take into account the significance of the BREXIT Risks, including the wide ranging and serious nature of these risks, and retain advice as needed, for purposes of evaluating an investment in the Fund. There can be no assurance that the BREXIT Risks will not alter, and alter significantly, the attractiveness of an investment in the Fund by, among other things, giving risk to impediments to the intended implementation of the business strategy of the Fund that would have material effects on performance, including the potential for capital losses, delays, legal and regulatory risk and general uncertainty.

Emerging Markets Risk

The Fund may invest without limit in securities of issuers whose primary operations or principal trading market are located in an “emerging market.” An “emerging market” country is any country that is considered to be an emerging or developing country by the World Bank. Investing in securities of companies in emerging markets may entail special risks relating to potential political and economic instability and the risks of expropriation, nationalization, confiscation or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investment, the lack of hedging instruments and restrictions on repatriation of capital invested. Emerging securities markets are substantially smaller, less developed, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets. The limited size of emerging securities markets and limited trading value compared to the volume of trading in U.S. securities could cause prices to be erratic for reasons apart from factors that affect the quality of the securities. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. Adverse publicity and investors’ perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the value and liquidity of portfolio securities, especially in these markets. Other risks include high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; over-dependence on exports, including gold and natural resources exports, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodity prices; overburdened infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable securities custodial services and settlement practices.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk

The Fund expects to invest in companies whose securities are denominated or quoted in currencies other than U.S. dollars or have significant operations or markets outside of the United States. In such instances, the Fund will be exposed to currency risk, including the risk of fluctuations in the exchange rate between U.S. dollars (in which the Fund’s shares are denominated) and such foreign currencies, the risk of currency devaluations and the risks of non-exchangeability and blockage. As non-U.S. securities may be purchased with and payable in currencies of countries other than the U.S. dollar, the value of these assets measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and exchange control regulations. Fluctuations in currency rates may adversely affect the ability of the Investment Adviser to acquire such securities at advantageous prices and may also adversely affect the performance of such assets.

Certain non-U.S. currencies, primarily in developing countries, have been devalued in the past and might face devaluation in the future. Currency devaluations generally have a significant and adverse impact on the devaluing country’s economy in the short and intermediate term and on the financial condition and results of companies’ operations in that country. Currency devaluations may also be accompanied by significant declines in the values and liquidity of equity and debt securities of affected governmental and private sector entities generally. To the extent that affected companies have obligations denominated in currencies other than the devalued currency, those companies may also have difficulty in meeting those obligations under such circumstances, which in turn could have an adverse effect upon the value of the Fund’s investments in such companies. There can be no assurance that current or future developments with respect to foreign currency devaluations will not impair the Fund’s investment flexibility, its ability to achieve its investment objectives or the value of certain of its foreign currency denominated investments.

Tax Consequences of Foreign Investing

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease the Fund’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Fund’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, the Fund may make an election to treat gain or loss attributable to certain investments as capital gain or loss.

Market Discount Risk

Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of common shares of the Fund will depend upon the market price of the shares at the time of sale, which may be less or more than the Fund’s net asset value per share. Since the market price of the common shares will be affected by such factors as the Fund’s dividend and distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), dividend and distribution stability, net asset value, market liquidity, the relative demand for and supply of the shares in the market, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, we cannot predict whether the common shares will trade at, below or above net asset value or at, below or above the public offering price. Common shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset values and the Fund’s common shares may trade at such a discount. This risk may be greater for investors expecting to sell their common shares of the Fund soon after completion of the public offering. The common shares of the Fund are designed primarily for long term investors, and investors in the shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes.

Common Stock Risk

Common stock of an issuer in the Fund’s portfolio may decline in price for a variety of reasons, including if the issuer fails to make anticipated dividend payments because, among other reasons, the issuer of the security experiences a decline in its financial condition. Common stock in which the Fund will invest is structurally subordinated as to income and residual value to preferred stock, bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure, in terms of priority to corporate income, and therefore will be subject to greater dividend risk than preferred stock or debt instruments of such issuers. In addition, while common stock has historically

 

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generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, common stock has also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns.

Convertible Securities Risk

Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. In the absence of adequate anti-dilution provisions in a convertible security, dilution in the value of the Fund’s holding may occur in the event the underlying stock is subdivided, additional equity securities are issued for below market value, a stock dividend is declared or the issuer enters into another type of corporate transaction that has a similar effect.

Income Risk

The income shareholders receive from the Fund is expected to be based primarily on income the Fund earns from its investment strategy of writing covered calls and dividends and other distributions received from its investments. If the Fund’s covered call strategy fails to generate sufficient income or the distribution rates or yields of the Fund’s holdings decrease, shareholders’ income from the Fund could decline.

Distribution Risk for Equity Income Portfolio Securities

In selecting equity income securities in which the Fund will invest, the Investment Adviser will consider the issuer’s history of making regular periodic distributions (i.e., dividends) to its equity holders. An issuer’s history of paying dividends or other distributions, however, does not guarantee that the issuer will continue to pay dividends or other distributions in the future. The dividend income stream associated with equity income securities generally is not guaranteed and will be subordinate to payment obligations of the issuer on its debt and other liabilities. Accordingly, an issuer may forgo paying dividends on its equity securities. In addition, because in most instances issuers are not obligated to make periodic distributions to the holders of their equity securities, such distributions or dividends generally may be discontinued at the issuer’s discretion.

Special Risks Related to Preferred Securities

There are special risks associated with investing in preferred securities, including:

Deferral.    Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. If the Fund owns a preferred security on which distributions are being deferred by the issuer, the Fund may be required to report income for tax purposes although it has not yet received such deferred distributions.

Non-Cumulative Dividends.    Some preferred stocks are non-cumulative, meaning that the dividends do not accumulate and need not ever be paid. A portion of the portfolio may include investments in non-cumulative preferred securities, whereby the issuer does not have an obligation to make up any arrearages to its shareholders. Should an issuer of a non-cumulative preferred stock held by the Fund determine not to pay dividends on such stock, the Fund’s return from that security may be adversely affected. There is no assurance that dividends or distributions on non-cumulative preferred stocks in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

Subordination.    Preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure in terms of priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior debt security instruments.

Liquidity.    Preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks or U.S. Government securities.

Limited Voting Rights.    Generally, preferred security holders (such as the Fund) have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may be entitled to elect a number of Trustees to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights.

 

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Special Redemption Rights.    In certain varying circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities prior to a specified date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in federal income tax or securities laws. As with call provisions, a redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return of the security held by the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk

Rising interest rates may adversely affect the financial performance of Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies by increasing their costs of capital. This may reduce their ability to execute acquisitions or expansion projects in a cost-effective manner. The risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given the historically low interest rate environment as of the date of this prospectus. The Federal Reserve has begun to raise the Federal Funds rate, and each increase results in more pronounced interest rate risk in the current market environment.

During periods of declining interest rates, the issuer of a preferred stock or fixed income security may be able to exercise an option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. This is known as call or prepayment risk. Preferred stock and debt securities frequently have call features that allow the issuer to redeem the securities prior to their stated maturities. An issuer may redeem such a security if the issuer can refinance it at a lower cost due to declining interest rates or an improvement in the credit standing of the issuer. During periods of rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of securities may be extended because of slower than expected principal payments. This may prolong the length of time the security pays a below market interest rate, increase the security’s duration and reduce the value of the security. This is known as extension risk.

Inflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s shares and distributions thereon can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation, dividend rates of any debt securities issued by the Fund would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to common shareholders.

Deflation Risk.

Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time, which may have an adverse effect on the market valuation of companies, their assets and their revenues. In addition, deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

Illiquid Investments Risk

Although the Fund expects that its portfolio will primarily be comprised of liquid securities, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in unregistered securities and otherwise illiquid investments. Unregistered securities are securities that cannot be sold publicly in the United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933. An illiquid investment is a security or other investment that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the investment. Unregistered securities often can be resold only in privately negotiated transactions with a limited number of purchasers or in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. Considerable delay could be encountered in either event and, unless otherwise contractually provided for, the Fund’s proceeds upon sale may be reduced by the costs of registration or underwriting discounts. The difficulties and delays associated with such transactions could result in the Fund’s inability to realize a favorable price upon disposition of unregistered securities, and at times might make disposition of such securities impossible. In addition, the Fund may be unable to sell other illiquid investments when it desires to do so, resulting in the Fund obtaining a lower price or being required to retain the investment. Illiquid investments generally must be valued at fair value, which is inherently less precise than utilizing market values for it desires to do so, resulting in the Fund obtaining a lower price or being required to retain the investment. liquid investments, and may lead to differences between the price at which a security is valued for determining the Fund’s net asset value and the price the Fund actually receives upon sale.

Investment Companies

The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including exchange traded funds, to the extent permitted by law. To the extent the Fund invests in the common equity of investment companies, the Fund will bear its ratable share of any such investment company’s expenses, including management fees. The Fund will also remain obligated to pay management fees to the Investment Adviser with respect to the assets invested in the securities of other investment companies. In these circumstances holders of the Fund’s common shares will be in effect subject to duplicative investment expenses.

 

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Special Risks of Derivative Transactions

The Fund may participate in derivative transactions. Such transactions entail certain execution, market, liquidity, hedging and tax risks. Participation in the options or futures markets, in currency exchange transactions and in other derivatives transactions involves investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. If the Investment Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, interest rate or other referenced instruments or markets is inaccurate, the consequences to the Fund may leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used such strategies. Risks inherent in the use of options, foreign currency, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, securities indices and foreign currencies include:

 

•

dependence on the Investment Adviser’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant measure;

 

•

imperfect correlation between the price of the derivative instrument and movements in the prices of the referenced assets;

 

•

the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from those needed to select portfolio securities;

 

•

the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time;

 

•

the possible need to defer closing out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences;

 

•

the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a security or instrument at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for the Fund to sell a security or instrument at a disadvantageous time due to a need for the Fund to maintain “cover” or to segregate securities in connection with the hedging techniques; and

 

•

the creditworthiness of counterparties.

Options, futures contracts, swaps contracts, and options thereon and forward contracts on securities and currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the ability of the Fund to act upon economic events occurring in the foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States and (v) less trading volume. Exchanges on which options, futures, swaps and options on futures or swaps are traded may impose limits on the positions that the Fund may take in certain circumstances.

Many OTC derivatives are valued on the basis of dealers’ pricing of these instruments. However, the price at which dealers value a particular derivative and the price which the same dealers would actually be willing to pay for such derivative should the Fund wish or be forced to sell such position may be materially different. Such differences can result in an overstatement of the Fund’s net asset value and may materially adversely affect the Fund in situations in which the Fund is required to sell derivative instruments. Exchange-traded derivatives and OTC derivative transactions submitted for clearing through a central counterparty have become subject to minimum initial and variation margin requirements set by the relevant clearinghouse, as well as possible margin requirements mandated by the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”). These regulators also have broad discretion to impose margin requirements on non-cleared OTC derivatives. These margin requirements will increase the overall costs for the Fund.

While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective.

Derivatives may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the

 

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regulation is not yet known and may not be known for some time. New regulation may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts.    There is no independent limit on the Fund’s ability to invest in foreign currency exchange contracts. The use of forward currency contracts may involve certain risks, including the failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the contract and that the use of forward contracts may not serve as a complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the contracts and the prices of the currencies hedged or used for cover.

Counterparty Risk.    The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

For a further description of the risks associated with the Fund’s derivative transactions, see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Additional Risks Relating to Derivative Instruments” in the SAI.

Non-Investment Grade Securities

The Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets in securities rated below investment grade by recognized statistical rating agencies or unrated securities of comparable quality. The prices of these lower grade securities are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Securities of below investment grade quality—those securities rated below “Baa” by Moody’s or below “BBB” by S&P (or unrated securities of comparable quality)—are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due and therefore involve a greater risk of default. Securities rated below investment grade commonly are referred to as “junk bonds” or “high yield” securities and generally pay a premium above the yields of U.S. government securities or securities of investment grade issuers because they are subject to greater risks than these securities. These risks, which reflect their speculative character, include the following:

 

•

greater volatility;

 

•

greater credit risk and risk of default;

 

•

potentially greater sensitivity to general economic or industry conditions;

 

•

potential lack of attractive resale opportunities (illiquidity); and

 

•

additional expenses to seek recovery from issuers who default.

In addition, the prices of these lower grade securities are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Lower grade securities tend to be less liquid than investment grade securities. The market value of lower grade securities may be more volatile than the market value of investment grade securities and generally tends to reflect the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and short term market developments to a greater extent than investment grade securities, which primarily reflect fluctuations in general levels of interest rates.

Ratings are relative, subjective and not absolute standards of quality. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition.

The Fund may purchase securities of companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although such investments may result in significant financial returns to the Fund, they involve a substantial degree of risk. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful investments in issuers experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. There can be no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing its investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio investment, the Fund may lose all or part of its investment or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the Fund’s initial investment.

As a part of its investments in lower grade securities, the Fund may invest in securities of issuers in default. The Fund will invest in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such issuers will honor their obligations, emerge from bankruptcy protection and the value of these securities will appreciate. By investing in the securities of issuers in default, the Fund bears the risk that these issuers will not continue to honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection or that the value of these securities will not otherwise appreciate.

In addition to using statistical rating agencies and other sources, the Investment Adviser will also perform its own analysis of issuers in seeking investments that it believes to be underrated (and thus higher yielding) in light of the financial condition of the issuer. Its analysis of issuers may include, among other things, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to historical cost, strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing and current anticipated results of operations. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Investment Adviser may also consider general business conditions, anticipated changes in interest rates and the outlook for specific industries.

Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. In addition, it is possible that statistical rating agencies might change their ratings of a particular issue to reflect subsequent events on a timely basis. Moreover, such ratings do not assess the risk of a decline in market value. None of these events will require the sale of the securities by the Fund, although the Investment Adviser will consider these events in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities.

Fixed income securities, including non-investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities, frequently have call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders, such as the Fund. If an issuer exercises these rights during periods of declining interest rates, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, thus resulting in a decreased return for the Fund.

The market for non-investment grade and comparable unrated securities has at various times, particularly during times of economic recession, experienced substantial reductions in market value and liquidity. Past recessions have adversely affected the ability of certain issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon. The market for those securities could react in a similar fashion in the event of any future economic recession.

Dependence on Key Personnel

The Investment Adviser is dependent upon the expertise of Mr. Mario J. Gabelli. If the Investment Adviser were to lose the services of Mr. Gabelli, it could be adversely affected. There can be no assurance that a suitable

 

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replacement could be found for Mr. Gabelli in the event of his death, resignation, retirement or inability to act on behalf of the Investment Adviser.

The Fund is dependent upon the expertise of Vincent Hugonnard-Roche as the sole option strategist on the Fund’s portfolio management team. If the Fund were to lose the services of Mr. Roche, it could be temporarily adversely affected until a suitable replacement could be found.

Long Term Objective; Not a Complete Investment Program

The Fund is intended for investors seeking a high level of current income. The Fund is not meant to provide a vehicle for those who wish to exploit short term swings in the stock market. An investment in shares of the Fund should not be considered a complete investment program. Each shareholder should take into account the Fund’s investment objectives as well as the shareholder’s other investments when considering an investment in the Fund.

Management Risk

The Fund is subject to management risk because its portfolio will be actively managed. The Investment Adviser will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results.

Non-Diversified Status

The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act, which means the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act in the proportion of its assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer. As a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may invest in the securities of individual issuers to a greater degree than a diversified investment company. As a result, the Fund may be more vulnerable to events affecting a single issuer and therefore, subject to greater volatility than a fund that is more broadly diversified. Accordingly, an investment in the Fund may present greater risk to an investor than an investment in a diversified company.

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk

Events of recent years, such as the aftermath of the war in Iraq, instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East, ongoing epidemics of infectious diseases in certain parts of the world, terrorist attacks in the U.S. and around the world, social and political discord, debt crises (such as the Greek crisis), sovereign debt downgrades, continued tensions between North Korea and the United States and the international community generally, new and continued political unrest in various countries, such as Venezuela, the exit or potential exit of one or more countries from the European Union (“EU”) or the European Monetary Union (“EMU”), the change in the U.S. president and the new administration, among others, may result in market volatility, may have long term effects on the United States and worldwide financial markets, and may cause further economic uncertainties in the United States and worldwide.

As a consequence of the United Kingdom’s vote to withdraw from the EU, the government of the United Kingdom gave notice of its withdrawal from the EU (“BREXIT”). As a result of this decision, the financial markets experienced high levels of volatility and it is likely that, in the near term, BREXIT will continue to bring about higher levels of uncertainty and volatility. During this period of uncertainty, the negative impact on not only the United Kingdom and European economies, but the broader global economy, could be significant, potentially resulting in increased volatility and illiquidity and lower economic growth for companies that rely significantly on Europe for their business activities and revenues. It is possible that certain economic activity will be curtailed until some signs of clarity begin to emerge, including negotiations around the terms for United Kingdom’s exit out of the EU. Any further exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, would likely cause additional market disruption globally and introduce new legal and regulatory uncertainties.

The value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio could be adversely impacted by the events above. The Fund does not know how long the securities markets may be affected by similar events and cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets. There can be no assurance that similar events and other market disruptions will not have other material and adverse implications.

Economic Events and Market Risk

Periods of market volatility remain, and may continue to occur in the future, in response to various political, social and economic events both within and outside of the United States. These conditions have resulted in, and in many cases continue to result in, greater price volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many securities remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. Such market conditions may adversely affect the Fund, including by making valuation of some of the Fund’s securities uncertain and/or result

 

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in sudden and significant valuation increases or declines in the Fund’s holdings. If there is a significant decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio, this may impact the asset coverage levels for the Fund’s outstanding leverage.

Risks resulting from any future debt or other economic crisis could also have a detrimental impact on the global economic recovery, the financial condition of financial institutions and our business, financial condition and results of operation. Market and economic disruptions have affected, and may in the future affect, consumer confidence levels and spending, personal bankruptcy rates, levels of incurrence and default on consumer debt and home prices, among other factors. To the extent uncertainty regarding the U.S. or global economy negatively impacts consumer confidence and consumer credit factors, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be significantly and adversely affected. Downgrades to the credit ratings of major banks could result in increased borrowing costs for such banks and negatively affect the broader economy. Moreover, Federal Reserve policy, including with respect to certain interest rates, may also adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend- and interest-paying securities. Market volatility, rising interest rates and/or a return to unfavorable economic conditions could impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Government Intervention in Financial Markets Risk

Past instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government and certain foreign governments to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity, including through direct purchases of equity and debt securities. The U.S. government and certain foreign governments and their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations have in the past taken, and may in the future take, legislative and regulatory actions that may affect the Fund, its securities and/or the Fund’s investments in ways that are unforeseeable. Such legislation or regulation may change the way in which the Fund is regulated and could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

The Dodd-Frank Act, signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010, contains sweeping financial legislation regarding the operation of banks, private fund managers and other financial institutions. The Dodd-Frank Act includes provisions regarding, among other things, the regulation of derivatives (see the SAI for more information), the identification, monitoring and prophylactic regulation of systemic risks to financial markets, and the regulation of proprietary trading and investment activity of banking institutions. The continuing implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act and any other regulations could adversely affect the Investment Adviser and the Fund. The Investment Adviser may attempt to take certain actions to lessen the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and any other legislation or regulation affecting the Fund, although no assurance can be given that such actions would be successful and no assurance can be given that such actions would not have a significant negative impact on the Fund. The ultimate impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, and any additional future legislation or regulation, is not yet certain and the Investment Adviser and the Fund may be affected by governmental action in ways that are unforeseeable.

Additionally, the SEC and its staff are also reportedly engaged in various initiatives and reviews that seek to improve and modernize the regulatory structure governing investment companies. These efforts appear to be focused on risk identification and controls in various areas, including imbedded leverage through the use of derivatives and other trading practices, cybersecurity, liquidity, enhanced regulatory and public reporting requirements and the evaluation of systemic risks. Any new rules, guidance or regulatory initiatives resulting from these efforts could increase the Fund’s expenses and impact its returns to shareholders or, in the extreme case, impact or limit the Fund’s use of various portfolio management strategies or techniques and adversely impact the Fund. In the aftermath of the recent financial crisis, there appears to be a renewed popular, political and judicial focus on finance related consumer protection. Financial institution practices are also subject to greater scrutiny and criticism generally. In the case of transactions between financial institutions and the general public, there may be a greater tendency toward strict interpretation of terms and legal rights in favor of the consuming public, particularly where there is a real or perceived disparity in risk allocation and/or where consumers are perceived as not having had an opportunity to exercise informed consent to the transaction. In the event of conflicting interests between retail investors holding shares of common stock of a closed-end investment company such as the Fund and a large financial institution, a court may similarly seek to strictly interpret terms and legal rights in favor of retail investors.

The recent change in presidential administration could significantly impact the regulation of United States financial markets. Areas subject to potential change, amendment or repeal include the Dodd-Frank Act, including the Volcker Rule and various swaps and derivatives regulations, the authority of the Federal Reserve and the Financial Stability Oversight Council, and renewed proposals to separate banks’ commercial and investment banking activities. Other potential changes that could be pursued by the new presidential administration could include the United States’ withdrawal from, or attempt to renegotiate, various trade agreements or the taking of other actions that would change current trade

 

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policies of the United States. It is not possible to predict which, if any, of these actions will be taken or, if taken, their effect on the economy, securities markets or the financial stability of the United States. The Fund may be affected by governmental action in ways that are not foreseeable, and there is a possibility that such actions could have a significant adverse effect on the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective.

Additionally, legislative or other actions relating to taxes could have a negative effect on the Fund. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. According to publicly released statements, a top legislative priority of the new Congress and presidential administration may be to enact significant reform of the Internal Revenue Code, including significant changes to taxation of business entities and the deductibility of interest expense and capital investment. There is a substantial lack of clarity around the likelihood, timing and details of any such tax reform and the impact of any potential tax reform on the Fund, its portfolio investments or an investment in the Fund’s securities. The Fund cannot predict how any changes in the tax laws might affect the Fund, investors or the Fund’s portfolio investments. New legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions, with or without retroactive application, could significantly and negatively affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC or the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Fund and its investors of such qualification, or could have other adverse consequences. Investors are urged to consult with their tax advisor with respect to the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in the Fund’s securities.

1940 Act Regulation

The Fund is a registered closed-end investment company and as such is subject to regulations under the 1940 Act. Generally speaking, any contract or provision thereof that is made, in violation of the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, or the performance of which involves violation of the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, is unenforceable by either party unless a court finds otherwise.

Legislation Risk

At any time after the date of this Prospectus, legislation may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of the Fund. Legislation or regulation may change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. The Investment Adviser cannot predict the effects of any new governmental regulation that may be implemented and there can be no assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Reliance on Service Providers Risk

The Fund must rely upon the performance of service providers to perform certain functions, which may include functions that are integral to the Fund’s operations and financial performance. Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to the Fund in accordance with the terms of its appointment, to exercise due care and skill or to perform its obligations to the Fund at all as a result of insolvency, bankruptcy or other causes could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance and returns to shareholders. The termination of the Fund’s relationship with any service provider, or any delay in appointing a replacement for such service provider, could materially disrupt the business of the Fund and could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s performance and returns to shareholders.

 

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Cyber Security Risk

The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to cyber security risks that include, among other things, theft, unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential and highly restricted data; denial of service attacks; unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations; or operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers. Cyber attacks against or security breakdowns of the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its stockholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses; the inability of Fund stockholders to transact business and the Fund to process transactions; inability to calculate the Fund’s NAV; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs; and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund may incur additional costs for cyber security risk management and remediation purposes. In addition, cyber security risks may also impact issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Fund’s investment in such issuers to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund or its service providers will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

Misconduct of Employees and of Service Providers Risk

Misconduct or misrepresentations by employees of the Investment Adviser or the Fund’s service providers could cause significant losses to the Fund. Employee misconduct may include binding the Fund to transactions that exceed authorized limits or present unacceptable risks and unauthorized trading activities, concealing unsuccessful trading activities (which, in any case, may result in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses) or making misrepresentations regarding any of the foregoing. Losses could also result from actions by the Fund’s service providers, including, without limitation, failing to recognize trades and misappropriating assets. In addition, employees and service providers may improperly use or disclose confidential information, which could result in litigation or serious financial harm, including limiting the Fund’s business prospects or future marketing activities. Despite the Investment Adviser’s due diligence efforts, misconduct and intentional misrepresentations may be undetected or not fully comprehended, thereby potentially undermining the Investment Adviser’s due diligence efforts. As a result, no assurances can be given that the due diligence performed by the Investment Adviser will identify or prevent any such misconduct.

Portfolio Turnover Risk

The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year, as well as within a given year. Portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for the Fund. A higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund. High portfolio turnover may result in an increased realization of net short term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to common shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. Additionally, in a declining market, portfolio turnover may create realized capital losses.

 

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Tax Risk

We cannot assure you what percentage of the distributions paid on the Fund’s shares, if any, will consist of tax-advantaged qualified dividend income or long term capital gains or what the tax rates on various types of income will be in future years. See “Taxation.”

Tax Reform Risk

Legislative or other actions relating to taxes could have a negative effect on the Fund. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. According to publicly released statements, a top legislative priority of the new Congress and presidential administration may be to enact significant reform of the Internal Revenue Code, including significant changes to taxation of business entities and the deductibility of interest expense and capital investment. There is a substantial lack of clarity around the likelihood, timing and details of any such tax reform and the impact of any potential tax reform on the Fund, its portfolio investments or an investment in the Fund’s securities. We cannot predict how any changes in the tax laws might affect the Fund, investors or the Fund’s portfolio investments. New legislation, U.S. Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions, with or without retroactive application, could significantly and negatively affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC or the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Fund and its investors of such qualification, or could have other adverse consequences. Investors are urged to consult with their tax advisor with respect to the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in the Fund’s securities.

Status as a Regulated Investment Company

The Fund has elected to qualify as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code. Qualification requires, among other things, compliance by the Fund with certain distribution requirements. Statutory limitations on distributions on the common shares if the Fund fails to satisfy the 1940 Act’s asset coverage requirements could jeopardize the Fund’s ability to meet such distribution requirements. To qualify and maintain its status as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources and distribute for each taxable year at least 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (generally, ordinary income plus excess, if any, of net short term capital gain over net long term capital loss). While the Fund presently intends to purchase or redeem notes or preferred shares, if any, to the extent necessary in order to maintain compliance with such asset coverage requirements, there can be no assurance that such actions can be effected in time to meet the Code requirements. If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any reason, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on all of its taxable income and gains. The resulting corporate taxes would materially reduce the Fund’s net assets and the amount of cash available for distribution to holders of the Units. For a more complete discussion of these and other U.S. federal income tax considerations, see “Taxation” below.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

The Fund’s governing documents include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert the Fund to an open-end fund. See “Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s Governing Documents.”

Investment Restrictions

The Fund has adopted certain investment limitations designed to limit investment risk and maintain portfolio diversification. These limitations are fundamental and may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding shares and preferred shares, if any, voting together as a single class. See “Investment Restrictions” in the SAI for a complete list of the fundamental investment policies of the Fund. Should the Fund decide to issue additional series of preferred shares in the future, it may become subject to rating agency guidelines that are more limiting than its fundamental investment restrictions in order to obtain and maintain a desired rating on its preferred shares.

Special Risks to Holders of Preferred Shares

Illiquidity Prior to Exchange Listing.    In the event any additional series of preferred shares are issued and such shares are intended to be listed on an exchange, prior application will have been made to list such shares on an exchange. However, during an initial period, which is not expected to exceed 30 days after the date of its initial issuance of any preferred shares to be listed on an exchange, such shares may not be listed. During such period, the underwriters in the offering may make a market in such shares, though they will have no obligation to do so. Consequently, an investment in such shares may be illiquid during such period. Preferred shares not intended to be listed on an exchange may be illiquid as long as they are outstanding.

Market Price Fluctuation.    Preferred shares may trade at a premium to or discount from liquidation preference for a variety of reasons, including changes in interest rates and credit quality of the Fund.

Common Share Repurchases.    Repurchases of common shares by the Fund may reduce the net asset coverage of the preferred shares, which could adversely affect their liquidity or market prices.

Common Share Distribution Policy.    In the event the Fund does not generate a total return from dividends and interest received and net realized capital gains in an amount at least equal to its distributions for a given year, the Fund may return capital as part of its distribution. This would decrease the asset coverage per share with respect to the Fund’s preferred shares, which could adversely affect their liquidity or market prices.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund made distributions of $0.84 per common share, approximately $0.80 of which constituted a return of capital. The composition of each distribution is estimated based on earnings as of the record date for the distribution. The actual composition of each distribution may change based on the Fund’s investment activity through the end of the calendar year.

Credit Quality Ratings.    The Fund may obtain credit quality ratings for its preferred shares; however, it is not required to do so and may issue preferred shares without any rating. If rated, the Fund does not impose any minimum rating necessary to issue such preferred shares. In order to obtain and maintain attractive credit quality ratings for preferred shares, if desired, the Fund’s portfolio must satisfy over-collateralization tests established by the relevant rating agencies. These tests are more difficult to satisfy to the extent the Fund’s portfolio securities are of lower credit quality, longer maturity or not diversified by issuer and industry.

These guidelines could affect portfolio decisions and may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act. With respect to ratings (if any) of the preferred shares, a rating by a ratings agency does not eliminate or necessarily mitigate the risks of investing in our preferred shares, and a rating may not fully or accurately reflect all of the securities’ credit risks. A rating does not address the liquidity or any other market risks of the securities being rated. A rating agency could downgrade the rating of our preferred shares, which may make such securities less liquid in the secondary market. If a rating agency downgrades the rating assigned to our preferred shares, we may alter our portfolio or redeem all or a portion of the preferred shares that are then redeemable under certain circumstances.

Regulated Investment Company Status Risk

Securities issued by certain issuers in which the Fund invests which are or become pass-through entities (such as Canadian Royalty Trusts, which may be grantor trusts for U.S. federal income tax purposes) may not produce “qualified” income for purposes of determining the Fund’s compliance with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies. To the extent that the Fund holds such securities indirectly through investments in a taxable subsidiary formed by the Fund, those securities may produce “qualified” income. However, the net return to the Fund on such investments would be reduced to the extent that the subsidiary is subject to corporate income taxes. The Fund shall monitor its investments with the objective of maintaining its continued qualification as a regulated investment company. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any

 

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deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions will be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

General

The Fund’s Board of Trustees (who, with its officers, are described in the SAI) has overall responsibility for the management of the Fund. The Board of Trustees decides upon matters of general policy and reviews the actions of the Investment Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, and the Sub-Administrator (as defined below). Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Investment Adviser (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), the Investment Adviser, under the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio; provides investment research and makes and executes recommendations for the purchase and sale of securities; and provides all facilities and personnel, including officers required for its administrative management, and pays the compensation of Trustees of the Fund who are officers or employees of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates. As compensation for its services rendered and the related expenses borne by the Investment Adviser, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser a fee, computed weekly and payable monthly, equal, on an annual basis, to 1.00% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares. The Fund’s average weekly net assets will be deemed to be the average weekly value of the Fund’s total assets minus the sum of the Fund’s liabilities (such liabilities exclude the aggregate liquidation preference of outstanding preferred shares and accumulated dividends, if any, on those shares and the outstanding principal amount of any debt securities the proceeds of which were used for investment purposes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon). For purposes of the calculation of the fees payable to the Investment Adviser by the Fund, average weekly net assets of the Fund are determined at the end of each month on the basis of its average net assets for each week during the month. The assets for each weekly period are determined by averaging the net assets at the end of a week with the net assets at the end of the prior week. A discussion regarding the basis for the most recent approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement by the Board of Trustees of the Fund is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ending June 30, 2017.

The Investment Adviser

The Investment Adviser is a New York limited liability company and registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, serves as an investment adviser to registered investment companies with combined aggregate net assets approximating $22.8 billion as of June 30, 2017. The Investment Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GBL”), a New York corporation, whose Class A Common Stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol, “GBL.” Mr. Mario J. Gabelli may be deemed a “controlling person” of the Investment Adviser on the basis of his controlling interest in GBL. Mr. Gabelli owns a majority of the stock of GGCP, Inc. (“GGCP”), which holds a majority of the capital stock and voting power of GBL. The Investment Adviser has several affiliates that provide investment advisory services: GAMCO Asset Management, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GBL, acts as investment adviser for individuals, pension trusts, profit sharing trusts, endowments, and The GAMCO Mathers Fund, and as a sub-adviser to certain third party investment funds, which include registered investment companies, having assets under management of approximately of $18.5 billion as of June 30, 2017; Teton Advisors, Inc. and its wholly owned investment adviser, Keeley Teton Advisers, LLC, with assets under management of approximately $3.7 billion as of June 30, 2017, act as investment advisers to The TETON Westwood Funds, the KEELEY Funds, and separately managed accounts; Gabelli & Company Investment Advisers, Inc. (formerly, Gabelli Securities, Inc.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Associated Capital Group, Inc. (“Associated Capital”), acts as investment adviser for certain alternative investment products, consisting primarily of risk arbitrage and merchant banking limited partnerships and offshore companies, with assets under management of approximately $1 billion as of June 30, 2017; and Gabelli Fixed Income, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of GBL, acts as investment adviser for separate accounts having assets under management of approximately $29 million as of June 30, 2017. Teton Advisors, Inc. was spun off by GBL in March 2009 and is an affiliate of GBL by virtue of Mr. Gabelli’s ownership of GGCP the principal shareholder of Teton Advisors, Inc., as of June 30, 2017. Associated Capital was spun off from GBL on November 30, 2015, and is an affiliate of GBL by virtue of Mr. Gabelli’s ownership of GGCP, the principal shareholder of Associated Capital.

 

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Payment of Expenses

The Investment Adviser is obligated to pay expenses associated with providing the services contemplated by the Investment Advisory Agreement including compensation of and office space for its officers and employees connected with investment and economic research, trading and investment management and administration of the Fund (but excluding costs associated with the calculation of the net asset value and allocated costs of the chief compliance officer function and officers of the Fund who are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Investment Adviser although such officers may receive incentive-based variable compensation from affiliates of the Investment Adviser), as well as the fees of all Trustees of the Fund who are officers or employees of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates.

In addition to the fees of the Investment Adviser, the Fund, and indirectly the holders of its common shares, is responsible for the payment of all its other expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, which include, among other things, underwriting compensation and reimbursements in connection with sales of the Fund’s securities, expenses for legal and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm’s services, stock exchange listing fees and expenses, costs of printing proxies, share certificates and shareholder reports, charges of the Fund’s Custodian, any sub-custodian and any transfer agent and distribution disbursing agent, expenses in connection with the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, SEC fees and preparation of filings with the SEC, fees and expenses of Trustees who are not officers or employees of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates, accounting and printing costs, the Fund’s pro rata portion of membership fees in trade organizations, compensation and other expenses of officers and employees of the Fund (including, but not limited to, the Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President and Ombudsman) as approved by the Fund’s Trustees, fidelity bond coverage for the Fund’s officers and employees, Trustees’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance coverage, interest, brokerage costs, taxes, expenses of qualifying the Fund’s shares for sale in various states, expenses of personnel performing shareholder servicing functions, rating agency fees, organizational expenses, litigation and other extraordinary or non-recurring expenses and other expenses properly payable by the Fund.

Selection of Securities Brokers

The Investment Advisory Agreement contains provisions relating to the selection of securities brokers to effect the portfolio transactions of the Fund. Under those provisions, the Investment Adviser may (i) direct Fund portfolio brokerage to G.research, LLC (“G.research”), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, or to other broker-dealer affiliates of the Investment Adviser and (ii) pay commissions to brokers other than G.research that are higher than might be charged by another qualified broker to obtain brokerage and/or research services considered by the Investment Adviser to be useful or desirable for its investment management of the Fund and/or its other investment advisory accounts or those of any investment adviser affiliated with it. The SAI contains further information about the Investment Advisory Agreement, including a more complete description of the investment advisory and expense arrangements, exculpatory and brokerage provisions, as well as information on the brokerage practices of the Fund.

Portfolio Managers

Vincent Hugonnard-Roche serves as a co-lead portfolio manager for the Fund and is primarily responsible for the day to day management of the Fund’s option strategy. Mr. Roche is also co-lead portfolio manager for the

 

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GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust. Mr. Roche joined GBL in 2000 as Director of Quantitative Strategies and Head of Risk Management.

Caesar M.P. Bryan serves as a co-lead portfolio manager for the Fund and is primarily responsible for the day to day management of the gold companies portion of the Fund’s portfolio. Mr. Bryan joined GBL in 1994 and currently serves as a portfolio manager for the Investment Adviser and several funds in the Fund Complex.

Vincent Hugonnard-Roche and Caesar M.P. Bryan function as a team and are jointly responsible for the day to day management of the Fund.

The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Portfolio Managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Managers, and the Portfolio Managers’ ownership of securities in the Fund.

Non-Resident Trustees

Mr. van Ekris is not an U.S. resident and substantially all of his assets may be located outside of the United States. Mr. van Ekris does not have agents for service of process in the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for U.S. investors to effect service of process upon Mr. van Ekris within the United States or to realize judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil liabilities under the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, it is not certain that civil liabilities predicated upon the federal securities laws on which a valid judgment of a court in the United States is obtained would be enforceable in the courts of the jurisdictions in which Mr. van Ekris resides. Further, it is not certain that such courts would enforce, in an original action, liabilities against Mr. van Ekris predicated solely on U.S. federal securities laws.

Sub-Administrator

The Investment Adviser has entered into a sub-administration agreement with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the “Sub-Administrator”) pursuant to which the Sub-Administrator provides certain administrative services necessary for the Fund’s operations which do not include the investment and portfolio management services provided by the Investment Adviser. For these services and the related expenses borne by the Sub-Administrator, the Investment Adviser pays a prorated monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.0275% of the first $10 billion of the aggregate average net assets of each Fund and all other funds advised by the Investment Adviser and Teton Advisors, Inc. and administered by the Sub-Administrator, 0.0125% of the aggregate average net assets exceeding $10 billion but less than $15 billion, 0.01% of the aggregate average net assets in excess of $15 billion and 0.008% of the aggregate average net assets in excess of $20 billion. The Sub-Administrator has its principal office at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Principal transactions are not entered into with affiliates of the Fund. However, G.research, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, may execute portfolio transactions on stock exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets on an agency basis and may be paid commissions. For a more detailed discussion of the Fund’s brokerage allocation practices, see “Portfolio Transactions” in the SAI.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund intends to make regular monthly cash distributions of all or a portion of its investment company taxable income (which includes ordinary income and realized short term capital gains) to common shareholders. The Fund also intends to make annual distributions of its realized net long term capital gains, if any (which is the excess of net long term capital gains over net short term capital losses). The Fund, however, may make more than one capital gain distribution to avoid paying U.S. federal excise tax. See “Taxation.” A portion of the Fund’s common share distributions for the fiscal years ending 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 included a return of capital. A portion of the distributions to the preferred shareholders for the fiscal years ending 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 included a return of capital. Any return of capital that is a component of a distribution is not sourced

 

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from earnings and profits of the Fund and that portion should not be considered by investors as yield or total return on their investment in the Fund. Further, while any return of capital that is a component of a distribution will not necessarily be taxed in the current period, it will have the effect of lowering the cost basis, which may lead to higher taxes upon the sale of the securities. The Fund will pay common shareholders annually all, or at least 90%, of its investment company taxable income. Various factors will affect the level of the Fund’s income, such as its asset mix and use of option strategies. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable monthly distributions, the Fund may from time to time distribute less than the entire amount of income earned in a particular period, which would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular monthly period may be more or less than the amount of income actually earned by the Fund during that period. However, as the Fund is entitled to rely on an exemption from the 1940 Act which allows the Board of Trustees to implement a managed distribution policy, the Board of Trustees in the future may determine to cause the Fund to distribute a fixed percentage of the Fund’s average net asset value or market price per common share over a specified period of time at or about the time of distribution or to distribute a fixed dollar amount. The Board of Trustees has no present intention to implement such a policy. See “Dividends and Distributions” in the SAI.

The Fund’s distribution policy, including its policy to make regular monthly cash distributions, may be modified from time to time by the Board as it deems appropriate, including in light of market and economic conditions and the Fund’s current, expected, and historical earnings, and investment performance. Common shareholders are expected to be notified of any such modifications by press release or in the Fund’s periodic shareholder reports. Because the Fund’s income will fluctuate and the Fund’s distribution policy may be changed by the Board at any time, there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay distributions or dividends at a particular rate.

Shareholders will automatically have all dividends and distributions reinvested in common shares of the Fund issued by the Fund or purchased in the open market in accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan unless an election is made to receive cash. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan.”

ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK

During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund issued 21,315,910 shares of beneficial interest through various “at the market offerings.” The net proceeds received from these various offerings were $137,123,041 (net of sales manager commissions of $1,178,330 and offering expenses of $118,665). The net proceeds received from the various offerings exceeded the NAV of the issued shares by $4,492,283. There were no offerings during the year ended December 31, 2015.

G.research, an affiliate of Gabelli Funds, LLC, the Fund’s Investment Adviser, acted as sales manager for all of the offerings.

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLAN

Enrollment in the Plan

It is the policy of the Fund to automatically reinvest dividends payable to common shareholders. As a “registered” shareholder you automatically become a participant in the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan authorizes the Fund to credit common shares to participants upon an income dividend or a capital gains distribution regardless of whether the shares are trading at a discount or a premium to net asset value. All distributions to shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund. Plan participants may send their share certificates to American Stock Transfer (“AST”) to be held in their dividend reinvestment account. Registered shareholders wishing to receive their distributions in cash must submit this request in writing to:

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

c/o American Stock Transfer

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Shareholders requesting this cash election must include the shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the Fund’s records. Shareholders with additional questions regarding the Plan or requesting a copy of the terms of the Plan, may contact AST at (888) 422-3262.

 

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If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, or nominee, you should contact such institution. If such institution is not participating in the Plan, your account will be credited with a cash dividend. In order to participate in the Plan through such institution, it may be necessary for you to have your shares taken out of “street name” and re-registered in your own name. Once registered in your own name your distributions will be automatically reinvested. Certain brokers participate in the Plan. Shareholders holding shares in “street name” at participating institutions will have distributions automatically reinvested. Shareholders wishing a cash dividend at such institution must contact their broker to make this change.

The number of common shares distributed to participants in the Plan in lieu of cash dividends is determined in the following manner. Under the Plan, whenever the market price of the Fund’s common shares is equal to or exceeds net asset value at the time shares are valued for purposes of determining the number of shares equivalent to the cash dividends or capital gains distribution, participants are issued common shares valued at the greater of (i) the net asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then current market price of the Fund’s common shares. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a NYSE trading day, the next trading day. If the net asset value of the common shares at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the common shares, participants will receive common shares from the Fund valued at market price. If the Fund should declare a dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, AST will buy common shares in the open market, or on the NYSE, or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts, except that AST will endeavor to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the Fund to issue shares at net asset value if, following the commencement of such purchases, the market value of the common shares exceeds the then current net asset value.

The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such distributions. A participant in the Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received, on a dividend payment date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash the participant could have received instead of shares.

Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan

The Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan is yet another vehicle for our shareholders to increase their investment in the Fund. In order to participate in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, shareholders must have their shares registered in their own name.

Participants in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to AST for investments in the Fund’s common shares at the then current market price. Shareholders may send an amount from $250 to $10,000. AST will use these funds to purchase shares in the open market on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. AST will charge each shareholder who participates a pro rata share of the brokerage commissions. Brokerage charges for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions. It is suggested that any voluntary cash payments be sent to American Stock Transfer, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 such that AST receives such payments approximately 10 days before the investment date. Funds not received at least five days before the investment date shall be held for investment until the next purchase date. A payment may be withdrawn without charge if notice is received by AST at least 48 hours before such payment is to be invested.

Shareholders wishing to liquidate shares held at AST must do so in writing or by telephone. Please submit your request to the above mentioned address or telephone number. Include in your request your name, address, and account number. The cost to liquidate shares is $1.00 per transaction as well as the brokerage commission incurred. Brokerage charges are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions.

For more information regarding the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, brochures are available by calling (914) 921-5070 or by writing directly to the Fund.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by AST on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan.

 

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SHARES

The following is a brief description of the terms of the Fund’s shares. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and its By-Laws. For complete terms of the shares, please refer to the actual terms of each series, which are set forth in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

Common Shares

The Fund is an unincorporated statutory trust organized under the laws of Delaware pursuant to a Certificate of Trust dated as of January 4, 2005. The Fund is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share. Each common share of beneficial interest has one vote and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of this offering, will be fully paid and non-assessable. Though the Fund expects to pay distributions monthly on the common shares of beneficial interest, it is not obligated to do so. All common shares of beneficial interest are equal as to distributions, assets and voting privileges and have no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights. The Fund will send annual and semiannual reports, including financial statements, to all holders of its shares.

Offerings of shares require approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Any additional offering of common shares of beneficial interest will be subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, which provides that common stock may not be issued at a price below the then current net asset value, exclusive of sales load, except in connection with an offering to existing holders of common shares or with the consent of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.

The Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “GGN.”

The Fund’s net asset value per share will be reduced immediately following the offering of common shares by the amount of the offering expenses paid by the Fund. See “Use of Proceeds.” Unlike open-end funds, closed-end funds like the Fund do not continuously offer shares and do not provide daily redemptions. Rather, if a shareholder determines to buy additional common shares or sell shares already held, the shareholder may do so by trading through a broker on the NYSE American or otherwise.

Shares of closed-end investment companies often trade on an exchange at prices lower than net asset value. Because the market value of the common shares may be influenced by such factors as dividend and distribution levels (which are in turn affected by expenses), dividend and distribution stability, net asset value, market liquidity, relative demand for and supply of such shares in the market, unrealized gains, general market and economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot assure you that common shares will trade at a price equal to or higher than net asset value in the future. The common shares are designed primarily for long term investors and you should not purchase the common shares if you intend to sell them soon after purchase.

Subject to the rights of the outstanding preferred shares, the Fund’s common shares vote as a single class on election of Trustees and on additional matters with respect to which the 1940 Act, the Fund’s Declaration of Trust, By-Laws or resolutions adopted by the Trustees provide for a vote of the Fund’s common shares. See “Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Fund’s Governing Documents.”

The Fund is a closed-end, non-diversified, management investment company and as such its shareholders do not, and will not, have the right to require the Fund to repurchase their shares. The Fund, however, may repurchase its common shares from time to time as and when it deems such a repurchase advisable, subject to maintaining required asset coverage for each series of outstanding preferred shares. The Board has authorized such repurchases to be made when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount from net asset value of 7.5% or more (or such other percentage as the Board of the Fund may determine from time to time). Pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may repurchase its common shares on a securities exchange (provided that the Fund has informed its shareholders within the preceding six months of its intention to repurchase such shares) or pursuant to tenders and may also repurchase shares privately if the Fund meets certain conditions regarding, among other things, distribution of net income for the preceding fiscal year, status of the seller, price paid, brokerage commissions, prior notice to shareholders of an intention to purchase shares and purchasing in a manner and on a basis that does not discriminate unfairly against the other shareholders through their interest in the Fund.

 

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When the Fund repurchases its common shares for a price below net asset value, the net asset value of the common shares that remain outstanding will be enhanced, but this does not necessarily mean that the market price of the outstanding common shares will be affected, either positively or negatively. The repurchase of common shares will reduce the total assets of the Fund available for investment and may increase the Fund’s expense ratio. In total through September 30, 2017, the Fund has repurchased and retired 231,803 common shares in the open market at an average price of $7.28 per share and at an average discount of approximately 10.55% from the Fund’s net asset value.

The following table sets forth for the quarters indicated, the high and low closing sale prices on the NYSE American per share of our common shares and the net asset value and the premium or discount from net asset value per share at which the common shares were trading, expressed as a percentage of net asset value, at each of the high and low closing sale prices provided.

 

Quarter Ended		Market Price								Corresponding Net Asset Value (“NAV”) Per Share								Corresponding Premium or Discount as a % of NAV
		High				Low				High				Low				High				Low
March 31, 2015		$	7.85			$	6.82			$	7.96			$	7.33				(1.38	)%			(6.96	)%
June 30, 2015		$	7.55			$	6.51			$	7.85			$	7.17				(3.82	)%			(9.21	)%
September 30, 2015		$	6.53			$	4.99			$	7.10			$	5.58				(8.03	)%			(10.57	)%
December 31, 2015		$	5.91			$	4.55			$	6.38			$	5.27				(7.37	)%			(13.66	)%
March 31, 2016		$	5.64			$	3.75			$	5.85			$	4.70				(3.59	)%			(20.21	)%
June 30, 2016		$	7.09			$	5.48			$	6.39			$	5.86				10.95	%			(6.49	)%
September 30, 2016		$	7.01			$	6.30			$	6.42			$	6.07				9.19	%			3.79	%
December 31, 2016		$	6.36			$	5.17			$	6.17			$	5.59				3.08	%			(7.51	)%
March 31, 2017		$	5.67			$	5.19			$	5.91			$	5.77				(4.06	)%			(10.05	)%
June 30, 2017		$	5.79			$	5.47			$	5.75			$	5.47				0.70	%			0.00	%
September 30, 2017		$	5.74			$	5.44			$	5.57			$	5.42				3.05	%			0.37	%

The last reported closing price for our common shares on November 2, 2017 was $5.47 per share, representing a premium to NAV of 1.30%. As of November 2, 2017 the net asset value per share for our common shares was $5.40 per share. Our common shares have historically traded at both a premium and discount to NAV.

Book Entry

The common shares sold through this offering will initially be held in the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The Fund will treat Cede & Co. as the holder of record of the common shares for all purposes. In accordance with the procedures of DTC, however, purchasers of common shares will be deemed the beneficial owners of shares purchased for purposes of distributions, voting and liquidation rights. Purchasers of common shares may obtain registered certificates by contacting the transfer agent.

Preferred Shares

Currently, an unlimited number of the Fund’s shares have been classified by the Board of Trustees as preferred shares, par value $0.001 per share. The terms of such preferred shares may be fixed by the Board of Trustees and would materially limit and/or qualify the rights of the holders of the Fund’s common shares.

On May 7, 2013, the Fund completed the placement of $100 million of preferred shares consisting of 4 million shares designated as the Series B Preferred Shares and paying dividends of an annual rate equal to 5.00% of liquidation preference. The Series B Preferred Shares are senior to the common shares and result in the financial leveraging of the common shares. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on the preferred shares are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Statement of Preferences to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Series B 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 B Preferred Shares at the redemption price of $25 per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet the requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends

 

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to common shareholders or repurchase common shares and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed rate, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common shareholders.

The Series B Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol “GGN PrB.”

Upon a liquidation, each holder of the preferred shares will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders (after payment of claims of the Fund’s creditors but before any distributions with respect to the Fund’s common shares or any other shares of the Fund ranking junior to the preferred shares as to liquidation payments) an amount per share equal to such share’s liquidation preference plus any accumulated but unpaid distributions (whether or not earned or declared, excluding interest thereon) to the date of distribution, and such shareholders shall be entitled to no further participation in any distribution or payment in connection with such liquidation. Each series of the preferred shares will rank on a parity with any other series of preferred shares of the Fund as to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, and will be junior to the Fund’s obligations with respect to any outstanding senior securities representing debt. If the Fund has insufficient investment income and gains, all or a portion of the distributions to preferred shareholders would come from the common shareholders’ capital. Such distributions reduce the net assets attributable to common shareholders since the liquidation preference of the preferred shareholders is constant. The preferred shares carry one vote per share on all matters on which such shares are entitled to vote. The preferred shares will, upon issuance, be fully paid and nonassessable and will have no preemptive, exchange or conversion rights. The Board of Trustees may by resolution classify or reclassify any authorized but unissued capital shares of the Fund from time to time by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to distributions or terms or conditions of redemption. The Fund will not issue any class of shares senior to the preferred shares.

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares By the Fund.    The terms of any preferred shares are expected to provide that (i) they are redeemable by the Fund at any time (either after the date of initial issuance, or after some period of time following initial issuance) in whole or in part at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends per share, (ii) the Fund may tender for or purchase preferred shares and (iii) the Fund may subsequently resell any shares so tendered for or purchased. Any redemption or purchase of preferred shares by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to the common shares, while any resale of preferred shares by the Fund will increase that leverage.

Rating Agency Guidelines.    The Series B Preferred Shares are rated A2 by Moody’s. Upon issuance, any new series of preferred shares may be rated by Moody’s or Fitch, in which case the following description of rating agency guidelines would also be applicable.

The Fund expects that it would be required under any applicable rating agency guidelines to maintain assets having in the aggregate a discounted value at least equal to a Basic Maintenance Amount (as defined in the applicable Statement of Preferences and summarized below), for its outstanding preferred shares, including the Series B Preferred Shares. To the extent any particular portfolio holding does not satisfy the applicable rating agency’s guidelines, all or a portion of such holding’s value will not be included in the calculation of discounted value (as defined by such rating agency). The Moody’s and Fitch guidelines would also impose certain diversification requirements and industry concentration limitations on the Fund’s overall portfolio, and apply specified discounts to securities held by the Fund (except certain money market securities).

The “Basic Maintenance Amount” is generally equal to (a) the sum of (i) the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred shares then outstanding plus (to the extent not included in the liquidation preference of such preferred shares) an amount equal to the aggregate accumulated but unpaid distributions (whether or not earned or declared) in respect of such preferred shares, (ii) the Fund’s other liabilities (excluding dividends and other distributions payable on the Fund’s common shares), (iii) any other current liabilities of the Fund (including amounts due and payable by the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase agreements and payables for assets purchased) less (b) the value of the Fund’s assets if such assets are either cash or evidences of indebtedness which mature prior to or on the date of redemption or repurchase of preferred shares or payment of another liability and are either U.S. government securities or evidences of indebtedness rated at least “Aaa,” “P-1”, “VMIG-1” or “MIG-1” by Moody’s or “AAA”, “SP-1+” or “A-1+” by S&P and are held by the Fund for distributions, the redemption or repurchase of preferred shares or the Fund’s liabilities.

If the Fund does not cure in a timely manner a failure to maintain a discounted value of its portfolio equal to the Basic Maintenance Amount in accordance with the requirements of any applicable rating agency or agencies then rating the preferred shares at the request of the Fund, the Fund may, and in certain circumstances would be required to, mandatorily redeem preferred shares.

Any rating agency providing a rating for the preferred shares, including the Series B Preferred Shares, at the request of the Fund may, at any time, change or withdraw any such rating. The Board, without further action by the shareholders, may amend, alter, add to or repeal certain of the definitions and related provisions of the applicable Statement of Preferences that have been adopted by the Fund pursuant to the rating agency guidelines if the Board determines that such modification is necessary to prevent a reduction in rating of the preferred shares, including the Series B Preferred Shares, by Moody’s or such other rating agency, as the case may be, and any such amendment, alteration or repeal will be deemed not to affect the preferences, rights or powers of the holders of preferred shares, provided that the Board shall have obtained confirmation from the rating agency that such modification would not adversely affect its then current rating of the preferred shares, including the Series B Preferred Shares.

 

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As described by Moody’s and Fitch, any ratings assigned to the preferred shares are assessments of the capacity and willingness of the Fund to pay the obligations of each series of the preferred shares. Any ratings on the preferred shares are not recommendations to purchase, hold or sell shares of any series, in as much as the ratings do not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. The rating agency guidelines also do not address the likelihood that an owner of preferred shares will be able to sell such shares on an exchange, in an auction or otherwise. Any ratings would be based on current information furnished to Moody’s and Fitch by the Fund and the Investment Adviser and information obtained from other sources. Any ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or the unavailability of, such information. The rating agency guidelines would apply to the preferred shares, as the case may be, only so long as such rating agency is rating such shares at the request of the Fund. The Fund expects that it would pay fees to Moody’s and Fitch for rating any preferred shares.

The rating agency guidelines will apply to the preferred shares, as the case may be, only so long as such rating agency is rating such shares at the request of the Fund. The Fund will pay fees to the rating agencies for rating any series of the preferred shares.

Asset Maintenance Requirements.    In addition to the requirements summarized under “—Rating Agency Guidelines” above, the Fund must also satisfy asset maintenance requirements under the 1940 Act with respect to its preferred shares. Under the 1940 Act, such debt or preferred shares may be issued only if immediately after such issuance the value of the Fund’s total assets (less ordinary course liabilities) is at least 300% of the amount of any debt outstanding and at least 200% of the amount of any preferred stock and debt outstanding.

The Fund will be required under the preferred shares’ Statement of Preferences (the “Statement of Preferences”) to determine whether it has, as of the last business day of each March, June, September and December of each year, an “asset coverage” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of at least 200% (or such higher or lower percentage as may be required at the time under the 1940 Act) with respect to all outstanding senior securities of the Fund that are debt or stock, including any outstanding preferred shares. If the Fund fails to maintain the asset coverage required under the 1940 Act on such dates and such failure is not cured within 60 calendar days, the Fund may, and in certain circumstances will be required to, mandatorily redeem the number of preferred shares sufficient to satisfy such asset coverage. See “—Redemption” below.

 

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Distributions.     Holders of any fixed rate preferred shares will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees, out of funds legally available therefor, cumulative cash distributions, at an annual rate set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payable with such frequency as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such distributions will accumulate from the date on which such shares are issued.

Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions for the Preferred Shares

So long as any preferred shares are outstanding, the Fund may not pay any dividend or distribution (other than a dividend or distribution paid in common shares or in options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase common shares) in respect of the common shares or call for redemption, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any common shares (except by conversion into or exchange for shares of the Fund ranking junior to the preferred shares as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation), unless:

 

•

the Fund has declared and paid (or provided to the relevant dividend paying agent) all cumulative distributions on the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares due on or prior to the date of such common share dividend or distribution;

 

•

the Fund has redeemed the full number of preferred shares to be redeemed pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision in the Fund’s governing documents; and

 

•

after making the distribution, the Fund meets applicable asset coverage requirements described under “—Rating Agency Guidelines” and “—Asset Maintenance Requirements.”

No complete distribution due for a particular dividend period will be declared or made on any series of the preferred shares for any dividend period, or part thereof, unless full cumulative distributions due through the most recent dividend payment dates therefor for all outstanding series of preferred shares of the Fund ranking on a parity with such series as to distributions have been or contemporaneously are declared and made. If full cumulative distributions due have not been made on all outstanding preferred shares of the Fund ranking on a parity with such series of preferred shares as to the payment of distributions, any distributions being paid on the preferred shares will be paid as nearly pro rata as possible in proportion to the respective amounts of distributions accumulated but unmade on each such series of preferred shares on the relevant dividend payment date. The Fund’s obligation to make distributions on the preferred shares will be subordinate to its obligations to pay interest and principal, when due, on any of the Fund’s senior securities representing debt.

Redemption

Mandatory Redemption Relating to Asset Coverage Requirements.    The Fund may, at its option, consistent with its Governing Documents and the 1940 Act, and in certain circumstances will be required to, mandatorily redeem preferred shares in the event that:

 

•

the Fund fails to maintain the asset coverage requirements specified under the 1940 Act on a quarterly valuation date (generally the last business day of March, June, September and December) and such failure is not cured on or before a stated period, following such failure (60 calendar days in the case of the Series B Preferred Shares); or

 

•

the Fund fails to maintain the asset coverage requirements as calculated in accordance with the applicable rating agency guidelines as of any monthly valuation date, and such failure is not cured on or before a stated period after such valuation date.

 

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The redemption price for preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption will be the liquidation preference, as stated in the Prospectus Supplement accompanying the issuance of such preferred shares, plus an amount equal to any accumulated but unpaid distributions (whether or not earned or declared) to the date fixed for redemption, plus any applicable redemption premium determined by the Board of Trustees and included in the Statement of Preferences.

The number of preferred shares that will be redeemed in the case of a mandatory redemption will equal (and may, if the applicable Statement of Preferences so provides, exceed) the minimum number of outstanding preferred shares, the redemption of which, if such redemption had occurred immediately prior to the opening of business on the applicable cure date, would have resulted in the relevant asset coverage requirement having been met or, if the required asset coverage cannot be so restored, all of the preferred shares. In the event that preferred shares are redeemed due to a failure to satisfy the 1940 Act asset coverage requirements, the Fund may, but is not required to, redeem a sufficient number of preferred shares so that the Fund’s assets exceed the asset coverage requirements under the 1940 Act after the redemption by 10% (that is, 220% asset coverage) or some other amount specified in the Statement of Preferences. In the event that preferred shares are redeemed due to a failure to satisfy applicable rating agency guidelines, the Fund may, but is not required to, redeem a sufficient number of preferred shares so that the Fund’s discounted portfolio value (as determined in accordance with the applicable rating agency guidelines) after redemption exceeds the asset coverage requirements of each applicable rating agency by up to 10% (that is, 110% rating agency asset coverage) or some other amount specified in the Statement of Preferences.

If the Fund does not have funds legally available for the redemption of, or is otherwise unable to redeem, all the preferred shares to be redeemed on any redemption date, the Fund will redeem on such redemption date that number of shares for which it has legally available funds, or is otherwise able to redeem, from the holders whose shares are to be redeemed ratably on the basis of the redemption price of such shares, and the remainder of those shares to be redeemed will be redeemed on the earliest practicable date on which the Fund will have funds legally available for the redemption of, or is otherwise able to redeem, such shares upon written notice of redemption.

If fewer than all of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares are to be redeemed, the Fund, at its discretion and subject to the limitations of its Governing Documents and the 1940 Act, will select the one or more series of preferred shares from which shares will be redeemed and the amount of preferred shares to be redeemed from each such series. If less than all preferred shares of a series are to be redeemed, such redemption will be made as among the holders of that series pro rata in accordance with the respective number of shares of such series held by each such holder on the record date for such redemption (or by such other equitable method as the Fund may determine). If fewer than all the preferred shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption mailed to such holder will specify the number of shares to be redeemed from such holder, which may be expressed as a percentage of shares held on the applicable record date.

Optional Redemption of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares.    Fixed Rate Preferred Shares will not be subject to optional redemption by the Fund until the date, if any, specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, unless such redemption is necessary, in the judgment of the Fund, to maintain the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under the Code or as otherwise provided in the applicable Statement of Preferences. Commencing on such date and thereafter, the Fund may at any time redeem such Fixed Rate Preferred Shares in whole or in part for cash at a redemption price per share equal to the initial liquidation preference per share plus accumulated and unpaid distributions (whether or not earned or declared) to the redemption date plus, if applicable, any redemption premium. Such redemptions are subject to the notice requirements set forth under “—Redemption Procedures” and the limitations of the Governing Documents and 1940 Act. The foregoing requirements may be modified in the case of any particular series of preferred shares.

Redemption Procedures.    A notice of redemption with respect to an optional redemption will be given to the holders of record of fixed rate preferred shares selected for redemption not less than 15 days (subject to NYSE American requirements) nor, more than 40 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Preferred shareholders may receive shorter notice in the event of a mandatory redemption. Each notice of redemption will state (i) the redemption date, (ii) the number or percentage of preferred shares to be redeemed (which may be expressed as a percentage of such shares outstanding), (iii) the CUSIP number(s) of such shares, (iv) the redemption price (specifying the amount of accumulated distributions to be included therein), (v) the place or places where such shares are to be redeemed, (vi) that distributions on the shares to be redeemed will cease to

 

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accumulate on such redemption date, (vii) the provision of the Statement of Preferences, as applicable, under which the redemption is being made and (viii) any conditions precedent to such redemption. No defect in the notice of redemption or in the mailing thereof will affect the validity of the redemption proceedings, except as required by applicable law.

The holders of any preferred shares, whether subject to a variable or fixed rate, will not have the right to redeem any of their shares at their option.

Liquidation Preference.    In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, the holders of preferred shares will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution, which is expected to equal the original purchase price per preferred share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common shares. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of preferred shares will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by the Fund.

Voting Rights.    Except as otherwise stated in this Prospectus, specified in the Governing Documents or resolved by the Board or as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of preferred shares shall be entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common shares and of any other preferred shares then outstanding as a single class.

In connection with the election of the Fund’s Trustees, holders of the outstanding preferred shares, voting together as a single class, will be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s Trustees, and the remaining Trustees will be elected by holders of common shares and holders of preferred shares, voting together as a single class. In addition, if (i) at any time dividends and distributions on outstanding preferred shares are unpaid in an amount equal to at least two full years’ dividends and distributions thereon and sufficient cash or specified securities have not been deposited with the applicable paying agent for the payment of such accumulated dividends and distributions or (ii) at any time holders of any other series of preferred shares are entitled to elect a majority of the Trustees of the Fund under the 1940 Act or the applicable Statement of Preferences creating such shares, then the number of Trustees constituting the Board automatically will be increased by the smallest number that, when added to the two Trustees elected exclusively by the holders of preferred shares as described above, would then constitute a simple majority of the Board as so increased by such smallest number. Such additional Trustees will be elected by the holders of the outstanding preferred shares, voting together as a single class, at a special meeting of shareholders which will be called as soon as practicable and will be held not less than ten nor more than twenty days after the mailing date of the meeting notice. If the Fund fails to send such meeting notice or to call such a special meeting, the meeting may be called by any preferred shareholder on like notice. The terms of office of the persons who are Trustees at the time of that election will continue. If the Fund thereafter pays, or declares and sets apart for payment in full, all dividends and distributions payable on all outstanding preferred shares for all past dividend periods or the holders of other series of preferred shares are no longer entitled to elect such additional Trustees, the additional voting rights of the holders of the preferred shares as described above will cease, and the terms of office of all of the additional Trustees elected by the holders of the preferred shares (but not of the Trustees with respect to whose election the holders of common shares were entitled to vote or the two Trustees the holders of preferred shares have the right to elect as a separate class in any event) will terminate automatically.

The 1940 Act requires that, in addition to any approval by shareholders that might otherwise be required, the approval of the holders of a majority of any outstanding preferred shares (as defined in the 1940 Act), voting separately as a class, would be required to (1) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred shares, and (2) take any action requiring a vote of security holders under Section 13(a) of the 1940 Act, including, among other things, changes in the Fund’s classification as a closed-end investment company or changes in its fundamental investment restrictions. As a result of these voting rights, the Fund’s ability to take any such actions may be impeded to the extent that there are any preferred shares outstanding. Additionally, the affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” (as defined in the 1940 Act) preferred shares of any series of the Fund’s preferred shares, voting separately from the holders of any other series of the Fund’s preferred shares (to the extent its rights are affected differently), shall be required with respect to any matter that materially and adversely affects the rights, preferences or powers of that series in a manner different from that of other series or classes of the Fund’s shares. The affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” (as defined in the 1940 Act) preferred shares, voting separately as one class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Fund’s Declaration of Trust or By-laws, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would affect adversely the rights, preferences or powers expressly set forth in any statement of preferences of the Fund’s preferred shares, unless, in each case, the Fund obtains written confirmation from any rating agency then rating the preferred shares at the Fund’s request that such amendment, alteration or repeal would not impair the rating then assigned by

 

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such rating agency to such preferred shares, in which case the vote or consent of the holders of the preferred shares is not required. No matter shall be deemed to adversely affect any rights, preferences or powers of the preferred shares unless such matter (i) adversely alters or abolishes any right or preference of such series; (ii) creates, adversely alters or abolishes any right in respect of redemption of such series; or (iii) creates or adversely alters (other than to abolish) any restriction on transfer applicable to such series. An increase in the number of authorized preferred shares of the Fund pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or the issuance of additional shares of any series of preferred shares of the Fund pursuant to the Declaration of Trust shall not in and of itself be considered to adversely affect the rights, preferences or powers of a series of preferred shares. The class votes of holders of preferred shares described above will in each case be in addition to any other vote required to authorize the action in question.

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply to any series of preferred shares if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote otherwise would be required will be effected, such shares will have been redeemed or called for redemption and sufficient cash or cash equivalents provided to the applicable paying agent to effect such redemption. The holders of preferred shares will have no preemptive rights or rights to cumulative voting.

Limitation on Issuance of Preferred Shares.    So long as the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, subject to receipt of approval from the rating agencies of each series of preferred shares outstanding, and subject to compliance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, the Fund may issue and sell shares of one or more other series of additional preferred shares provided that the Fund will, immediately after giving effect to the issuance of such additional preferred shares and to its receipt and application of the proceeds thereof (including, without limitation, to the redemption of preferred shares to be redeemed out of such proceeds), have an “asset coverage” for all senior securities of the Fund which are stock, as defined in the 1940 Act, of at least 200% of the sum of the liquidation preference of the preferred shares of the Fund then outstanding and all indebtedness of the Fund constituting senior securities and no such additional preferred shares will have any preference or priority over any other preferred shares of the Fund upon the distribution of the assets of the Fund or in respect of the payment of dividends or distributions.

The Fund will consider from time to time whether to offer additional preferred shares or securities representing indebtedness and may issue such additional securities if the Board concludes that such an offering would be consistent with the Fund’s Governing Documents and applicable law, and in the best interest of existing common shareholders.

Book Entry.    Fixed Rate Preferred Shares will initially be held in the name of Cede & Co. as nominee for DTC. The Fund will treat Cede & Co. as the holder of record of preferred shares for all purposes. In accordance with the procedures of DTC, however, purchasers of Fixed Rate Preferred Shares will be deemed the beneficial owners of stock purchased for purposes of dividends, voting and liquidation rights.

 

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Outstanding Securities

The following information regarding the Fund’s authorized shares is as of November 1, 2017.

 

Title of Class		Amount Authorized				Amount Held by Fund  or for its Account				Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Amount Held by Fund
Common Shares			Unlimited				—				135,609,834
5.00% Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares			4,000,000				—				3,516,357
Other Series of Preferred Shares			Unlimited				—				0

ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS OF THE FUND’S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

The Fund presently has provisions in its Governing Documents which could have the effect of limiting, in each case, (i) the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund, (ii) the Fund’s freedom to engage in certain transactions or (iii) the ability of the Fund’s Trustees or shareholders to amend the Governing Documents or effectuate changes in the Fund’s management. These provisions of the Governing Documents of the Fund may be regarded as “anti-takeover” provisions. The Board of Trustees of the Fund is divided into three classes, each having a term of no more than three years (except, to ensure that the term of a class of the Fund’s Trustees expires each year, one class of the Fund’s Trustees will serve an initial one-year term and three-year terms thereafter and another class of its Trustees will serve an initial two-year term and three-year terms thereafter). Each year the term of one class of Trustees will expire. Accordingly, only those Trustees in one class may be changed in any one year, and it would require a minimum of two years to change a majority of the Board of Trustees. Such system of electing Trustees may have the effect of maintaining the continuity of management and, thus, make it more difficult for the shareholders of the Fund to change the majority of Trustees. See “Management of the Fund—Trustees and Officers” in the SAI. A Trustee of the Fund may be removed with cause by a majority of the remaining Trustees and, without cause, by two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by no less than two-thirds of the aggregate number of votes entitled to be cast for the election of such Trustee. Under the Fund’s By-Laws, advance notice to the Fund of any shareholder proposal is required, potential nominees to the Board of Trustees must satisfy a series of requirements relating to, among other things, potential conflicts of interest or relationships and fitness to be a Trustee of a closed-end fund in order to be nominated or elected as a Trustee and any shareholder proposing the nomination or election of a person as a Trustee must supply significant amounts of information designed to enable verification of whether such person satisfies such qualifications. Special voting requirements of 75% of the outstanding voting shares (in addition to any required class votes) apply to certain mergers or a sale of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets, liquidation, conversion of the Fund into an open-end fund or interval fund and amendments to several provisions of the Declaration of Trust, including the foregoing provisions. In addition, after completion of the offering, 80% of the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund voting as a class is generally required in order to authorize any of the following transactions:

 

•

merger or consolidation of the Fund with or into any other entity;

 

•

issuance of any securities of the Fund to any person or entity for cash, other than pursuant to the Dividend and Reinvestment Plan or any offering if such person or entity acquires no greater percentage of the securities offered than the percentage beneficially owned by such person or entity immediately prior to such offering or, in the case of a class or series not then beneficially owned by such person or entity, the percentage of common shares beneficially owned by such person or entity immediately prior to such offering;

 

•

sale, lease or exchange of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Fund to any entity or person (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000,000);

 

•

sale, lease or exchange to the Fund, in exchange for securities of the Fund, of any assets of any entity or person (except assets having an aggregate fair market value of less than $5,000,000); or

 

•

the purchase of the Fund’s common shares by the Fund from any person or entity other than pursuant to a tender offer equally available to other shareholders in which such person or entity tenders no greater percentage of common shares than are tendered by all other shareholders; if such person or entity is directly, or indirectly through affiliates, the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

 

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However, such vote would not be required when, under certain conditions, the Board of Trustees approves the transaction.

In addition, shareholders have no authority to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws. The Board of Trustees has authority to adopt, amend and repeal By-Laws consistent with the Declaration of Trust (including to require approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares for the election of Trustees).

The provisions of the Governing Documents described above could have the effect of depriving the owners of shares in the Fund of opportunities to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices, by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control of the Fund in a tender offer or similar transaction. The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control by a principal shareholder.

The Governing Documents of the Fund are on file with the SEC. For access to the full text of these provisions, see “Additional Information.”

CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company (commonly referred to as a closed-end fund). Closed-end funds differ from open-end funds (which are generally referred to as mutual funds) in that closed-end funds generally list their shares for trading on a stock exchange and do not redeem their shares at the request of the shareholder. This means that if you wish to sell your shares of a closed-end fund you must trade them on the market like any other stock at the prevailing market price at that time. In a mutual fund, if the shareholder wishes to sell shares of the fund, the mutual fund will redeem or buy back the shares at “net asset value.” Also, mutual funds generally offer new shares on a continuous basis to new investors, and closed-end funds generally do not. The continuous inflows and outflows of assets in a mutual fund can make it difficult to manage the fund’s investments. By comparison, closed-end funds are generally able to stay more fully invested in securities that are consistent with their investment objectives, to have greater flexibility to make certain types of investments and to use certain investment strategies such as financial leverage and investments in illiquid securities.

Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value. Because of this possibility and the recognition that any such discount may not be in the interest of shareholders, the Fund’s Board of Trustees might consider from time to time engaging in open-market repurchases, tender offers for shares or other programs intended to reduce a discount. We cannot guarantee or assure, however, that the Fund’s Board of Trustees will decide to engage in any of these actions. Nor is there any guarantee or assurance that such actions, if undertaken, would result in the shares trading at a price equal or close to net asset value per share. We cannot assure you that the Fund’s common shares will not trade at a discount.

REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company and as such its shareholders do not, and will not, have the right to require the Fund to repurchase their shares. The Fund, however, may repurchase its common shares from time to time as and when it deems such a repurchase advisable. The Board of Trustees has authorized such repurchases to be made when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount from net asset value of 7.5% or more (or such other percentage as the Board of Trustees of the Fund may determine from time to time). Although the Board of Trustees has authorized such repurchases, the Fund is not required to repurchase its common shares. The Board of Trustees has not established a limit on the number of shares that could be purchased during such period. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund may repurchase its common shares on a securities exchange (provided that the Fund has informed its shareholders within the preceding six months of its intention to repurchase such shares) or pursuant to tenders and may also repurchase shares privately if the Fund meets certain conditions regarding, among other things, distribution of net income for the preceding fiscal year, status of the seller, price paid, brokerage commissions, prior notice to shareholders of an intention to purchase shares and purchasing in a manner and on a basis that does not discriminate unfairly against the other shareholders through their interest in the Fund.

 

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When the Fund repurchases its common shares for a price below net asset value, the net asset value of the common shares that remain outstanding shares will be enhanced, but this does not necessarily mean that the market price of the outstanding common shares will be affected, either positively or negatively. The repurchase of common shares will reduce the total assets of the Fund available for investment and may increase the Fund’s expense ratio.

NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset value of the Fund’s shares is computed based on the market value of the securities it holds and is determined daily as of the close of the regular trading day on the NYSE American. For purposes of determining the Fund’s net asset value per share, portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices, or, if there were no asked prices quoted on 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 so determines, by such other method as the Board of Trustees shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by the Investment Adviser.

Portfolio securities primarily traded on 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 of Trustees if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board of Trustees determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board of Trustees. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than 60 days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. Futures contracts are valued at the closing settlement price of the exchange or board of trade on which the applicable contract is traded.

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

The Fund obtains valuations on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees. All other investment assets, including restricted and not readily marketable securities, are valued in good faith at fair value under procedures established by and under the general supervision and responsibility of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

In addition, whenever developments in one or more securities markets after the close of the principal markets for one or more portfolio securities and before the time as of which the Fund determines its net asset value would, if such developments had been reflected in such principal markets, likely have more than a minimal effect on the Fund’s net asset value per share, the Fund may fair value such portfolio securities based on available market information as of the time the Fund determines its net asset value.

NYSE American Closings.    The holidays (as observed) on which the NYSE American is closed, and therefore days upon which shareholders cannot purchase or sell shares, currently are: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively.

 

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LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ AND OFFICERS’ LIABILITY

The Governing Documents provide that the Fund will indemnify its Trustees and officers and may indemnify its employees or agents against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their positions with the Fund, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. However, nothing in the Governing Documents protects or indemnifies a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Fund against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject in the event of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her position.

TAXATION

The following discussion is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Fund’s common and preferred shares. A more complete discussion of the tax rules applicable to the Fund and its shareholders can be found in the SAI that is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This discussion assumes you are a U.S. person (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and that you hold your shares as capital assets (generally assets held for investment purposes). This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund or shareholders who are subject to special rules under the Code).

The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice and potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund has elected to be treated and has qualified, and intends to continue to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. Accordingly, the Fund must, among other things, meet the following requirements regarding the source of its income and the diversification of its assets:

(i)  The Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from the following sources, which are referred to herein as “Qualifying Income”: (a) dividends, interest (including tax-exempt interest), payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gain from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies; and (b) net income derived from interests in publicly traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross income from the items described in clause (a) above (each a “Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership”).

(ii)  The Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities of (I) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and the securities of other regulated investment companies), (II) any two or more issuers (other than regulated investment companies) that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or similar or related trades or businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships.

Income from the Fund’s investments in grantor trusts and equity interests of MLPs that are not Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships (if any) will be Qualifying Income to the extent it is attributable to items of income of such trust or MLP that would be Qualifying Income if earned directly by the Fund.

 

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Although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership. The Fund’s investments in partnerships, including in Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships, may result in the Fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income and gains that the Fund distributes to its shareholders, provided that it distributes each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short term capital gain over net long term capital loss and other taxable income, other than any net capital gain, which is the excess of net long term capital gain over net short term capital loss reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) 90% of the Fund’s net tax-exempt interest income (the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest over certain disallowed deductions). The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of such income at least annually. The Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporate rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.

The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on the Fund to the extent the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use the Fund’s fiscal year), and (iii) certain undistributed amounts from previous years on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the federal excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. While the Fund intends to distribute any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% federal excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Fund’s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the imposition of the federal excise tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the federal excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders.

Taxation of Shareholders

Distributions paid to you by the Fund from its net capital gain, if any, that the Fund reports as capital gains dividends (“capital gain dividends”) are taxable at rates applicable to long term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your common shares. All other dividends paid to you by the Fund (including dividends from short term capital gains) from its current or accumulated earnings and profits (“ordinary income dividends”) are generally subject to tax as ordinary income.

Any distributions you receive that are in excess of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, and thereafter as capital gain from the sale of common shares. The amount of any Fund distribution that is treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce your adjusted tax basis in your common shares, thereby increasing your potential gain or reducing your potential loss on any subsequent sale or other disposition of your common shares.

Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to you even though they are reinvested in additional common shares of the Fund. Dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund are generally treated under the Code as received by you at the time the dividend or distribution is made. If, however, the Fund pays you a dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November or December and you were the shareholder of record on a specified date in one of such months, then such dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by the Fund and received by you on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

The Fund will send you information after the end of each year setting forth the amount and tax status of any distributions paid to you by the Fund.

 

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The sale or other disposition of common shares of the Fund will generally result in capital gain or loss to you, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held such common shares for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of common shares held for six months or less will be treated as long term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by you with respect to such common shares. Any loss you realize on a sale or exchange of common shares will be disallowed if you acquire other common shares (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after your sale or exchange of the common shares. In such a case, your tax basis in the common shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

The Fund may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal backup withholding tax purposes, a portion of the dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders who fail to provide the Fund (or its agent) with their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, generally, their social security number) or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Certain shareholders are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that you timely furnish the required information to the IRS.

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

The Bank of New York Mellon, located at 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149, serves as the Custodian of the Fund’s assets pursuant to a custody agreement. Under the custody agreement, the Custodian holds the Fund’s assets in compliance with the 1940 Act. For its services, the Custodian will receive a monthly fee paid by the Fund based upon, among other things, the average value of the total assets of the Fund, plus certain charges for securities transactions and out-of-pocket expenses.

American Stock Transfer, located at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219, serves as the Fund’s dividend disbursing agent, as agent under the Fund’s Plan and as transfer agent and registrar for the common shares of the Fund.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the shares, being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

•

to underwriters or dealers for resale to the public or to institutional investors;

 

•

directly to institutional investors;

 

•

directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser;

 

•

through agents to the public or to institutional investors; or

 

•

through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

The Prospectus Supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

•

the offering terms, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

•

the purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale;

 

•

any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, which compensation for any sale will in no event exceed 8% of the sales price;

 

•

any initial public offering price;

 

•

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

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any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

 

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If we use underwriters or dealers in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including;

 

•

negotiated transactions;

 

•

at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed;

 

•

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

•

at prices related to prevailing market prices; or

 

•

at negotiated prices.

Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

If indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, we may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we pay to them. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., the maximum compensation to any agent in connection with the sale of our securities pursuant to this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities as set forth on the cover page of the supplement to this Prospectus. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and the applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these delayed delivery contracts.

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

Agents, underwriters and other third parties described above may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, underwriters and such other third parties may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market other than our common shares and Preferred Shares, which are listed on the NYSE American. Any common shares sold will be listed on NYSE American, upon official notice of issuance. The securities, other than the common shares, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares.

 

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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

[●] serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund and audits the financial statements of the Fund. [●] is located at [●].

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the 1940 Act, and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Fund with the SEC pursuant to the informational requirements of such Acts can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov containing reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, including the Fund, that file electronically with the SEC.

The common shares are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “GGN.” The Preferred Shares are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “GGN PrB.” Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Fund and filed with the SEC by the Fund will be available for inspection at the NYSE American, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005.

This Prospectus constitutes part of a Registration Statement filed by the Fund with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and related exhibits for further information with respect to the Fund and the common shares offered hereby. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the fee prescribed by its rules and regulations or free of charge through the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).

PRIVACY PRINCIPLES OF THE FUND

The Fund is committed to maintaining the privacy of its shareholders and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information the Fund collects, how the Fund protects that information and why, in certain cases, the Fund may share information with select other parties.

Generally, the Fund does not receive any non-public personal information relating to its shareholders, although certain non-public personal information of its shareholders may become available to the Fund. The Fund does not disclose any non-public personal information about its shareholders or former shareholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service shareholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party administrator).

The Fund restricts access to non-public personal information about its shareholders to employees of the Fund, the Investment Adviser, and its affiliates with a legitimate business need for the information. The Fund maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the non-public personal information of its shareholders.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

An SAI dated as of             , 2017 has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. An SAI may be obtained without charge by writing to the Fund at its address at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422 or by calling the Fund toll-free at (800) GABELLI (422-3554).

The Table of Contents of the SAI is as follows:

 

		Page
The Fund			3
Investment Objectives and Policies			3
Investment Restrictions			16
Management of The Fund			18
Dividends and Distributions			31
Portfolio Transactions			32
Portfolio Turnover			32
Taxation			33
Beneficial Owners			40
General Information			40
Appendix A—Proxy Voting Policy			A-1

No dealer, sales person or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer contained herein, and, if given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the underwriters. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Fund since the date hereof or that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to its date. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which it relates. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstance in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.

 

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Appendix A

CORPORATE BOND RATINGS

MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.

 

Aaa		Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.
Aa		Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A		Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.
Baa		Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba		Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B		Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa		Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca		Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C		Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

STANDARD & POOR’S RATINGS SERVICES

 

AAA		An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.
AA		An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A		An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB		An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
BB; B; CCC; CC; and C		Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB		An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B		An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

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CCC		An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC		An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
C		An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment,and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.
D		An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.
NR		This indicates that no rating has been requested, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

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$                    

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

            , 2017

 

 

 

 

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT				Filed Pursuant to Rule 497
(To Prospectus dated             , 2017)				Registration Statement No. 333-
		Shares

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

We are offering for sale         shares of our common shares. Our common shares are traded on the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE American”) under the symbol “GGN.” The last reported sale price for our common shares on          ,          was $         per share.

You should review the information set forth under “Risk Factors and Special Considerations” in the accompanying Prospectus before investing in our common shares.

 

		Per Share				Total (1)
Public offering price		$				$
Underwriting discounts and commissions		$				$
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$				$

 

(1)	The aggregate expenses of the offering are estimated to be $        , which represents approximately $         per share.

[The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional          common shares from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover over-allotments, if any, within 45 days after the date of this Prospectus Supplement. If the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total proceeds, before expenses, to the Fund would be $         and the total underwriting discounts and commissions would be $        . The common shares will be ready for delivery on or about                 ,                 .]

You should read this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus before deciding whether to invest in our common shares and retain it for future reference. The Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus contain important information about us. Material that has been incorporated by reference and other information about us can be obtained from us by calling 800-GABELLI (422-3554) or from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website (http://www.sec.gov).

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus Supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

, 2017

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer or sale is not permitted.

In this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, “Fund,” “us,” “our” and “we” refer to GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust. This Prospectus Supplement also includes trademarks owned by other persons.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
Table of Fees and Expenses			P-3
Use of Proceeds			P-4
Price Range of Common Shares			P-4
Plan of Distribution			P-4
Legal Matters			P-4

 

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TABLE OF FEES AND EXPENSES

The following tables are intended to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses directly or indirectly associated with investing in our common shares as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares. Amounts are for the current fiscal year after giving effect to anticipated net proceeds of the offering, assuming that we incur the estimated offering expenses, including preferred share offering expenses.

Shareholder Transaction Expenses

 

Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price)			[	]%
Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering price)			[	]%
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan Fees
Sale transaction		$	1.00	(1)

 

		Percentage of Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares
Annual Expenses
Management Fees				%(2)
Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds			None	(3)
Other Expenses				%(4)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses				%
Dividends on Preferred Shares				%
Total Annual Expenses and Dividends on Preferred Shares				%(2)

 

(1)

Shareholders participating in the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan do not incur any additional fees. Shareholders participating in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan would pay their pro rata share of brokerage commissions for transactions to purchase shares and $1.00 per transaction plus their pro rata share of brokerage commissions per transaction to sell shares. See “Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan.”

(2)

The Investment Adviser’s fee is 1.00% annually of the Fund’s average weekly net assets, with no deduction for the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares, as defined in the Fund’s investment advisory agreement. Consequently, if the Fund has preferred shares outstanding, the investment management fees and other expenses as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares will be higher than if the Fund does not utilize a leveraged capital structure.

(3)	The Fund has no current intention of borrowing from a lender.

(4)	“Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current year assuming completion of the proposed issuances.

Example

The following example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment in common shares, assuming a 5% annual portfolio total return.*

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Total Expenses Incurred

 

*

The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses . The example assumes that the amounts set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the total net proceeds of the offering to be $         based on the public offering price of $         per share and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the Fund will invest the net proceeds of any offering in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, and may use a portion of such proceeds, depending on market conditions, for other general corporate purposes. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to substantially be completed within three months; however, changes in market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period extending to as long as six months. Pending such investment, the proceeds of the offering will be held in high quality short term debt securities and instruments.

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON SHARES

The following table sets forth for the quarters indicated, the high and low sale prices on the NYSE American per share of our common shares and the net asset value and the premium or discount from net asset value per share at which the common shares were trading, expressed as a percentage of net asset value, at each of the high and low sale prices provided.

 

Quarter Ended		Market Price								Corresponding Net Asset Value (“NAV”) Per Share								Corresponding Premium or Discount as a % of NAV
		High				Low				High				Low				High				Low
March 31 ,2015		$	7.85			$	6.82			$	7.96			$	7.33				(1.38	)%			(6.96	)%
June 30, 2015		$	7.55			$	6.51			$	7.85			$	7.17				(3.82	)%			(9.21	)%
September 30, 2015		$	6.53			$	4.99			$	7.10			$	5.58				(8.03	)%			(10.57	)%
December 31, 2015		$	5.91			$	4.55			$	6.38			$	5.27				(7.37	)%			(13.66	)%
March 31, 2016		$	5.64			$	3.75			$	5.85			$	4.70				(3.59	)%			(20.21	)%
June 30, 2016		$	7.09			$	5.48			$	6.39			$	5.86				10.95	%			(6.49	)%
September 30, 2016		$	7.01			$	6.30			$	6.42			$	6.07				9.19	%			3.79	%
December 31, 2016		$	6.36			$	5.17			$	6.17			$	5.59				3.08	%			(7.51	)%
March 31, 2017		$	5.67			$	5.19			$	5.91			$	5.77				(4.06	)%			(10.05	)%
June 30, 2017		$	5.79			$	5.47			$	5.75			$	5.47				0.70	%			0.00	%
September 30, 2017		$	5.74			$	5.44			$	5.57			$	5.42				3.05	%			0.37	%

The last reported price for our common shares on November 2, 2017 was $5.47 per share, representing a premium to NAV of 1.30%. As of November 2, 2017, the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common shares was $5.40. Our common shares have historically traded at both a premium and discount to NAV.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

[To be provided.]

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of the common shares.

 

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GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

Common Shares

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

            , 2017

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Pursuant to Rule 497

Registration Statement No. 333-            

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated             , 2017)

                     Shares

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

Series                      Preferred Shares

We are offering for sale                shares of our Series                      Preferred Shares, par value $0.001 per share. Our common shares are traded on the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE American”) under the symbol “GGN.” The last reported sale price for our common shares on              ,             was $                     per share.

You should review the information set forth under “Risk Factors and Special Considerations” in the accompanying Prospectus before investing in our preferred shares.

 

		Per Share				Total
Public offering price		$				$
Underwriting discounts and commissions		$				$
Proceeds, before expenses, to the Fund(1)		$				$

 

(1)	The aggregate expenses of the offering (excluding underwriting discount) are estimated to be $        .

The Underwriters are expected to deliver the Series              Preferred in book-entry form through the Depository Trust Company on or about                    .

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus, respectively.

                    ,                     

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
TERMS OF THE SERIES ____ PREFERRED SHARES			Q-3
USE OF PROCEEDS			Q-4
CAPITALIZATION			Q-4
ASSET COVERAGE RATIO			Q-4
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF THE SERIES ___ PREFERRED			Q-4
TAXATION			Q-4
UNDERWRITING			Q-4
LEGAL MATTERS			Q-5

 

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TERMS OF THE SERIES              PREFERRED SHARES

 

Dividend Rate		The dividend rate [for the initial dividend period](1) will be         %.
Dividend Payment Rate		[Dividends will be paid when, as and if declared on         ,         ,          and         , commencing         . The payment date for the initial dividend period will be         .(1)]
Liquidation Preference		$         per share
[Non-Call Period		The shares may not be called for redemption at the option of the Fund prior to         .]
[Stock Exchange Listing]

 

(1)	Applicable only if the preferred shares being offered will have different rates over time.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the total net proceeds of the offering to be $        , based on the public offering price of $         per share and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the Fund will invest the net proceeds of any offering in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, and may use a portion of such proceeds, depending on market conditions, for other general corporate purposes. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to substantially be completed within three months; however, changes in market conditions could result in the Fund’s anticipated investment period extending to as long as six months. Pending such investment, the proceeds of the offering will be held in high quality short term debt securities and instruments.

CAPITALIZATION

[To be provided.]

ASSET COVERAGE RATIO

As provided in the 1940 Act and subject to certain exceptions, the Fund may issue debt and/or preferred shares with the condition that immediately after issuance the value of its total assets, less certain ordinary course liabilities, exceed 300% of the amount of the debt outstanding and exceed 200% of the sum of the amount of debt and preferred shares outstanding. The Fund’s preferred shares and notes, in aggregate, are expected to have an initial asset coverage on the date of issuance of approximately                 %.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF THE SERIES          PREFERRED

Reinvestment Risk. The Fund may at any time redeem shares of Series          Preferred Shares to the extent necessary to meet regulatory asset coverage requirements. For example, if the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio declines, thereby reducing the asset coverage for the Series          Preferred Shares, the Fund may be obligated under the terms of the Series          Preferred Shares to redeem shares of the Series          Preferred Shares. Investors may not be able to reinvest the proceeds of any redemption in an investment providing the same or a better rate than that of the Series          Preferred Shares.

Distribution Risk. The Fund may not meet the asset coverage requirements or earn sufficient income from its investments to make distributions on the Series          Preferred Shares.

Redemption Risk. The Series          Preferred Shares are not an obligation of the Fund. The Series          Preferred Shares are junior in respect of distributions and liquidation preference to any indebtedness incurred by the Fund. Although unlikely, precipitous declines in the value of the Fund’s assets could result in the Fund having insufficient assets to redeem all of the Series          Preferred Shares for the full redemption price.

TAXATION

[To be provided.]

UNDERWRITING

[To be provided.]

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of the preferred shares.

 

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GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

Preferred Shares

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

            , 2017

 

 

 

 

 

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Subject to Completion, Dated November 3, 2017

GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THE FUND MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) does not constitute a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus relating thereto dated [●], 2017, and as it may be supplemented. This SAI does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before investing in the Fund’s common shares, and investors should obtain and read the Fund’s prospectus prior to purchasing such shares. A copy of the Fund’s Registration Statement, including the prospectus and any supplement, may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) upon payment of the fee prescribed, or inspected at the SEC’s office or via its website (www.sec.gov) at no charge. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this SAI have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

The GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust, or the “Fund,” is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income. The Fund’s secondary investment objective is to seek capital appreciation consistent with the Fund’s strategy and its primary objective. An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors. We cannot assure you that the Fund’s objectives will be achieved. Gabelli Funds, LLC serves as Investment Adviser to the Fund. See “Management of the Fund.”

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will attempt to achieve its objectives by investing at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies principally engaged in the gold industry and the natural resources industries. The Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, mining, fabrication, processing, distribution or trading of gold or the financing, managing, controlling or operating of companies engaged in “gold-related” activities. In addition, the Fund will invest at least 25% of its assets in the equity securities of companies principally engaged in the exploration, production or distribution of natural resources, such as gas, oil, paper, food and agriculture, forestry products, metals and minerals as well as related transportation companies and equipment manufacturers. The Fund may invest in the securities of companies located anywhere in the world. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 40% of its assets in the securities of issuers located in at least three countries other than the U.S. As part of its investment strategy, the Fund intends to generate gains through an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities in its portfolio. When the Fund sells a covered call option, it generates gains in the form of the premium paid by the buyer of the call, but the Fund forgoes the opportunity to participate in any increase in the value of the underlying equity security above the exercise price of the option. See “Investment Objectives and Policies.”

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
The Fund			3
Investment Objectives and Policies			3
Investment Restrictions			16
Management of The Fund			18
Dividends and Distributions			31
Portfolio Transactions			32
Portfolio Turnover			32
Taxation			33
Beneficial Owners			40
General Information			40
Appendix A—Proxy Voting Policy			A-1

 

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THE FUND

The GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Fund’s common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share, are listed on the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE American”) under the symbol “GGN.” Our 5.00% Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Series B Prefereed”) are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “GGN PrB.”

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Additional Investment Policies

Canadian Royalty Trusts.    The Fund may invest in equity interests in Canadian Royalty Trusts. A Canadian Royalty Trust is a royalty trust whose securities are generally listed on a Canadian securities exchange and which controls an underlying company whose business is the acquisition, exploitation, production and sale of oil and natural gas. These trusts generally pay out to unitholders the majority of the cash flow that they receive from the production and sale of underlying oil and natural gas reserves. The amount of distributions paid on a Canadian Royalty Trust’s units will vary from time to time based on production levels, commodity prices, royalty rates and

 

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certain expenses, deductions and costs, as well as on the distribution payout ratio policy adopted. As a result of distributing the bulk of its cash flow to unitholders, the ability of a Canadian Royalty Trust to finance internal growth through exploration is limited. Therefore, Canadian Royalty Trusts typically grow through acquisition of additional oil and gas properties or producing companies with proven reserves of oil and gas, funded through the issuance of additional equity or, where the trust is able, additional debt.

Canadian Royalty Trusts, like other types of Natural Resources Companies, are exposed to pricing risk, supply and demand risk and depletion and exploration risk with respect to their underlying commodities, among other risks. An investment in units of Canadian Royalty Trusts involves some risks which differ from an investment in common stock of a corporation, including increased liability for the obligations of the trust. There are certain regulatory and tax risks associated with an investment in Canadian Royalty Trusts resulting from reliance on beneficial Canadian incentive programs and tax laws that may be changed in the future. In addition, securities of certain Canadian Royalty Trusts may not be qualifying assets for the Fund’s asset diversification requirements.

Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”).    MLPs in which the Fund intends to invest will be limited partnerships (or limited liability companies treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes), the units of which will generally be listed and traded on a U.S. securities exchange. MLPs normally derive income and gains from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipeline transporting gas, oil, or products thereof), or the marketing of mineral or natural resources. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. When investing in an MLP, the Fund intends to purchase publicly traded common units issued to limited partners of the MLP. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP. MLPs are typically structured such that common units and general partner interests have first priority to receive quarterly cash distributions up to an established minimum amount (“minimum quarterly distributions” or “MQD”). Common and general partner interests also accrue arrearages in distributions to the extent the MQD is not paid. Once common and general partner interests have been paid, subordinated units receive distributions of up to the MQD; however, subordinated units do not accrue arrearages. Distributable cash in excess of the MQD paid to both common and subordinated units is distributed to both common and subordinated units generally on a pro rata basis. The general partner is also eligible to receive incentive distributions if the general partner operates the business in a manner that results in distributions paid per common unit surpassing specified target levels.

MLPs, like other types of Natural Resources Companies, are exposed to pricing risk, supply and demand risk and depletion and exploration risk with respect to their underlying commodities, among other risks. An investment in MLP units involves some risks which differ from an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership. In addition, there are certain tax risks associated with an investment in MLP units and conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders and the general partner, including those arising from incentive distribution payments.

Risk Arbitrage.    The Fund may invest up to 10% of its assets at the time of investment in securities pursuant to “risk arbitrage” strategies or in other investment funds managed pursuant to such strategies. Risk arbitrage investments are made in securities of companies for which a tender or exchange offer has been made or announced and in securities of companies for which a merger, consolidation, liquidation or reorganization proposal has been announced if, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, there is a reasonable prospect of total return significantly greater than the brokerage and other transaction expenses involved. Risk arbitrage strategies attempt to exploit merger activity to capture the spread between current market values of securities and their values after successful completion of a merger, restructuring or similar corporate transaction. Transactions associated with risk arbitrage strategies typically involve the purchases or sales of securities in connection with announced corporate actions which may include, but are not limited to, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions, transfers of assets, tender offers, exchange offers, re-capitalizations, liquidations, divestitures, spin-offs and similar transactions. However, a merger or other restructuring or tender or exchange offer anticipated by the Fund and in which it holds an arbitrage position may not be completed on the terms contemplated or within the time frame anticipated, resulting in losses to the Fund.

In general, securities which are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell at a premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement of the offer but may trade at a discount or premium to what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or

 

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consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved; significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders as a result of the contemplated transaction; or fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of the Investment Adviser which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses as well as the assets or securities to be received as a result of the contemplated transaction but also the financial resources and business motivation behind the offer and/or the dynamics and business climate when the offer or proposal is in process. Since such investments are ordinarily short term in nature, they will tend to increase the turnover ratio of the Fund, thereby increasing its brokerage and other transaction expenses. Risk arbitrage strategies may also involve short selling, options hedging and other arbitrage techniques to capture price differentials.

Derivative Instruments

Options.    The Fund may, from time to time, subject to guidelines of the Board of Trustees and the limitations set forth in the prospectus, purchase or sell (i.e., write) options on securities, securities indices and foreign currencies which are listed on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market, as a means of achieving additional return or of hedging the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

A call option is a contract that gives the holder of the option the right to buy from the writer of the call option, in return for a premium, the security or currency underlying the option at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of the call option has the obligation, upon exercise of the option, to deliver the underlying security or currency upon payment of the exercise price during the option period.

A put option is a contract that gives the holder of the option the right, in return for a premium, to sell to the seller the underlying security at a specified price. The seller of the put option has the obligation to buy the underlying security upon exercise at the exercise price.

A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying instrument covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that instrument without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other instruments held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call option on the same instrument as the call option written where the exercise price of the call option held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call option written or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call option written if the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade short term obligations in a segregated account with its custodian. A put option is “covered” if the Fund maintains cash or other high-grade short-term obligations with a value equal to the exercise price in a segregated account with its custodian, or else holds a put option on the same instrument as the put option written where the exercise price of the put option held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put option written.

If the Fund has written an option, it may terminate its obligation by effecting a closing purchase transaction. This is accomplished by purchasing an option of the same series as the option previously written. However, once the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, the Fund will be unable to effect a closing purchase transaction. Similarly, if the Fund is the holder of an option it may liquidate its position by effecting a closing sale transaction. This is accomplished by selling an option of the same series as the option previously purchased. There can be no assurance that either a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund so desires.

The Fund realizes a profit from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or is more than the premium paid to purchase the option; the Fund realizes a loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is more than the premium received from writing the option or is less than the premium paid to purchase the option. Since call option prices generally reflect increases in the price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized appreciation of the underlying security, and any gain resulting from the repurchase of a call option may also be wholly or partially offset by unrealized depreciation of the underlying security. Other principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price and price volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date. Gains and losses on investments in options depend, in part, on the ability of the Investment Adviser to

 

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correctly predict the effect of these factors. The use of options cannot serve as a complete hedge since the price movement of securities underlying the options will not necessarily follow the price movements of the portfolio securities subject to the hedge.

An option position may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same series or in a private transaction. Although the Fund will generally purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any particular option. In such event it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, in which case the Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur brokerage commissions upon the exercise of call options and upon the subsequent disposition of underlying securities for the exercise of put options. If the Fund, as a covered call option writer, is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon exercise, or otherwise covers the position.

Options on Securities Indices.    The Fund may purchase and sell securities index options. One effect of such transactions may be to hedge all or part of the Fund’s securities holdings against a general decline in the securities market or a segment of the securities market. Options on securities indices are similar to options on stocks except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of stock at a specified price, an option on a securities index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the securities index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call option, or less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option.

The Fund’s successful use of options on indices depends upon its ability to predict the direction of the market and is subject to various additional risks. The correlation between movements in the index and the price of the securities being hedged against is imperfect and the risk from imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the Fund diverges from the composition of the relevant index. Accordingly, a decrease in the value of the securities being hedged against may not be wholly offset by a gain on the exercise or sale of a securities index put option held by the Fund.

Options on Foreign Currencies.    Instead of purchasing or selling currency futures (as described below), the Fund may attempt to accomplish similar objectives by purchasing put or call options on currencies or by writing put options or call options on currencies either on exchanges or in OTC markets. A put option gives the Fund the right to sell a currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option gives the Fund the right to purchase a currency at the exercise price until the option expires. Both types of options serve to insure against adverse currency price movements in the underlying portfolio assets designated in a given currency. The Fund’s use of options on currencies will be subject to the same limitations as its use of options on securities, described above and in the prospectus. Currency options may be subject to position limits that may limit the ability of the Fund to fully hedge its positions by purchasing the options.

As in the case of interest rate futures contracts and options thereon, described below, the Fund may hedge against the risk of a decrease or increase in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency denominated debt security that the Fund owns or intends to acquire by purchasing or selling options contracts, futures contracts or options thereon with respect to a foreign currency other than the foreign currency in which such debt security is denominated, where the values of such different currencies (vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar) historically have a high degree of positive correlation.

 

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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures.    The Fund may purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options thereon which are traded on a commodities exchange or board of trade for certain hedging, yield enhancement and risk management purposes. A financial futures contract is an agreement to purchase or sell an agreed amount of securities or currencies at a set price for delivery in the future. These futures contracts and related options may be on debt securities, financial indices, securities indices, U.S. government securities and foreign currencies.

It is anticipated that these investments, if any, will be made by the Fund primarily for the purpose of hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase. Such investments will only be made if they are economically appropriate to the reduction of risks involved in the management of the Fund. In this regard, the Fund may enter into futures contracts or options on futures for the purchase or sale of securities indices or other financial instruments including but not limited to U.S. government securities.

A “sale” of a futures contract (or a “short” futures position) means the assumption of a contractual obligation to deliver the securities underlying the contract at a specified price at a specified future time. A “purchase” of a futures contract (or a “long” futures position) means the assumption of a contractual obligation to acquire the securities underlying the contract at a specified price at a specified future time. Certain futures contracts, including stock and bond index futures, are settled on a net cash payment basis rather than by the sale and delivery of the securities underlying the futures contracts.

No consideration will be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Initially, the Fund will be required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents equal to approximately 1% to 10% of the contract amount (this amount is subject to change by the exchange or board of trade on which the contract is traded and brokers or members of such board of trade may charge a higher amount). This amount is known as the “initial margin” and is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” to and from the broker will be made daily as the price of the index or security underlying the futures contract fluctuates. At any time prior to the expiration of the futures contract, the Fund may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, which will operate to terminate its existing position in the contract.

An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option.

Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account attributable to that contract, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs). Because the value of the option purchased is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments by the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option does change daily and that change would be reflected in the net assets of the Fund.

Futures and options on futures entail certain risks, including but not limited to the following: no assurance that futures contracts or options on futures can be offset at favorable prices, possible reduction of the yield of the Fund due to the use of hedging, possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument, possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations, imperfect correlation between the contracts and the securities being hedged, losses from investing in futures transactions that are potentially unlimited and the segregation requirements described below.

 

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Interest Rate Futures Contracts and Options Thereon.    The Fund may purchase or sell interest rate futures contracts to take advantage of or to protect the Fund against fluctuations in interest rates affecting the value of debt securities which the Fund holds or intends to acquire. For example, if interest rates are expected to increase, the Fund might sell futures contracts on debt securities, the values of which historically have a high degree of positive correlation to the values of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Such a sale would have an effect similar to selling an equivalent value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. If interest rates increase, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities will decline, but the value of the futures contracts to the Fund will increase at approximately an equivalent rate thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it otherwise would have. The Fund could accomplish similar results by selling debt securities with longer maturities and investing in debt securities with shorter maturities when interest rates are expected to increase. However, since the futures market may be more liquid than the cash market, the use of futures contracts as a risk management technique allows the Fund to maintain a defensive position without having to sell its portfolio securities.

Similarly, the Fund may purchase interest rate futures contracts when it is expected that interest rates may decline. The purchase of futures contracts for this purpose constitutes a hedge against increases in the price of debt securities (caused by declining interest rates), which the Fund intends to acquire. Since fluctuations in the value of appropriately selected futures contracts should approximate that of the debt securities that will be purchased, the Fund can take advantage of the anticipated rise in the cost of the debt securities without actually buying them. Subsequently, the Fund can make its intended purchase of the debt securities in the cash market and liquidate its futures position.

The purchase of a call option on a futures contract is similar in some respects to the purchase of a call option on an individual security. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to either the price of the futures contract upon which it is based or the price of the underlying debt securities, it may or may not be less risky than ownership of the futures contract or underlying debt securities. As with the purchase of futures contracts, when the Fund is not fully invested it may purchase a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a market advance due to declining interest rates.

The purchase of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of protective put options on portfolio securities. The Fund will purchase a put option on a futures contract to hedge the Fund’s portfolio against the risk of rising interest rates and consequent reduction in the value of portfolio securities.

The writing of a call option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against declining prices of the securities that are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of the option is below the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium, which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have occurred in the Fund’s portfolio holdings. The writing of a put option on a futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against increasing prices of the securities that are deliverable upon exercise of the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of the option is higher than the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount of the option premium, which provides a partial hedge against any increase in the price of debt securities that the Fund intends to purchase. If a put or call option the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will incur a loss which will be reduced by the amount of the premium it received. Depending on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of its portfolio securities and changes in the value of its futures positions, the Fund’s losses from options on futures it has written may to some extent be reduced or increased by changes in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

 

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Currency Futures and Options Thereon.    Generally, foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon are similar to the interest rate futures contracts and options thereon discussed previously. By entering into currency futures and options thereon, the Fund will seek to establish the rate at which it will be entitled to exchange U.S. dollars for another currency at a future time. By selling currency futures, the Fund will seek to establish the number of dollars it will receive at delivery for a certain amount of a foreign currency. In this way, whenever the Fund anticipates a decline in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar, the Fund can attempt to “lock in” the U.S. dollar value of some or all of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated in that currency. By purchasing currency futures, the Fund can establish the number of dollars it will be required to pay for a specified amount of a foreign currency in a future month. Thus, if the Fund intends to buy securities in the future and expects the U.S. dollar to decline against the relevant foreign currency during the period before the purchase is effected, the Fund can attempt to “lock in” the price in U.S. dollars of the securities it intends to acquire.

The purchase of options on currency futures will allow the Fund, for the price of the premium and related transaction costs it must pay for the option, to decide whether or not to buy (in the case of a call option) or to sell (in the case of a put option) a futures contract at a specified price at any time during the period before the option expires. If the Investment Adviser, in purchasing an option, has been correct in its judgment concerning the direction in which the price of a foreign currency would move against the U.S. dollar, the Fund may exercise the option and thereby take a futures position to hedge against the risk it had correctly anticipated or close out the option position at a gain that will offset, to some extent, currency exchange losses otherwise suffered by the Fund. If exchange rates move in a way the Fund did not anticipate, however, the Fund will have incurred the expense of the option without obtaining the expected benefit; any such movement in exchange rates may also thereby reduce rather than enhance the Fund’s profits on its underlying securities transactions.

Securities Index Futures Contracts and Options Thereon.    Purchases or sales of securities index futures contracts are used for hedging purposes to attempt to protect the Fund’s current or intended investments from broad fluctuations in stock or bond prices. For example, the Fund may sell securities index futures contracts in anticipation of or during a market decline to attempt to offset the decrease in market value of the Fund’s securities portfolio that might otherwise result. If such decline occurs, the loss in value of portfolio securities may be offset, in whole or part, by gains on the futures position. When the Fund is not fully invested in the securities market and anticipates a significant market advance, it may purchase securities index futures contracts in order to gain rapid market exposure that may, in part or entirely, offset increases in the cost of securities that the Fund intends to purchase. As such purchases are made, the corresponding positions in securities index futures contracts will be closed out. The Fund may write put and call options on securities index futures contracts for hedging purposes.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts.    Subject to guidelines of the Board of Trustees, the Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to protect the value of its portfolio against uncertainty in the level of future currency exchange rates between a particular foreign currency and the U.S. dollar or between foreign currencies in which its securities are or may be denominated. The Fund may enter into such contracts on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the rate then prevailing in the currency exchange market or on a forward basis by entering into a forward contract to purchase or sell currency. A forward contract on foreign currency is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days agreed upon by the parties from the date of the contract at a price set on the date of the contract. Forward currency contracts (i) are traded in a market conducted directly between currency traders (typically, commercial banks or other financial institutions) and their customers, (ii) generally have no deposit requirements and (iii) are typically consummated without payment of any commissions. The Fund, however, may enter into forward currency contracts requiring deposits or involving the payment of commissions.

The dealings of the Fund in forward foreign exchange are limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of one forward foreign currency for another currency with respect to specific receivables or payables of the Fund accruing in connection with the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities or its payment of distributions. Position hedging is the purchase or sale of one forward foreign currency for another currency with respect to portfolio security

 

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positions denominated or quoted in the foreign currency to offset the effect of an anticipated substantial appreciation or depreciation, respectively, in the value of the currency relative to the U.S. dollar. In this situation, the Fund also may, for example, enter into a forward contract to sell or purchase a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount when it is believed that the U.S. dollar value of the currency to be sold or bought pursuant to the forward contract will fall or rise, as the case may be, whenever there is a decline or increase, respectively, in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in which its portfolio securities are denominated (this practice being referred to as a “cross-hedge”).

In hedging a specific transaction, the Fund may enter into a forward contract with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser. The amount the Fund may invest in forward currency contracts is limited to the amount of its aggregate investments in foreign currencies.

The use of forward currency contracts may involve certain risks, including the failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the contract, and such use may not serve as a complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the contracts and the prices of the currencies hedged or used for cover. The Fund will only enter into forward currency contracts with parties that the Investment Adviser believes to be creditworthy institutions.

Under current interpretations of the SEC and its staff under the 1940 Act, the Fund must segregate with its custodian liquid assets, or engage in other SEC or staff approved measures, to “cover” open positions in certain types of derivative instruments. The purpose of these requirements is to prevent the Fund from incurring excessive leverage through such instruments. In the case of futures and forward contracts, for example, that are not required as a result of one or more contractual arrangements to settle for cash only in an amount equal to the change in value of the contract over its term but rather may settle through physical delivery or in the notional amount, the Fund must segregate liquid assets equal to such contract’s full notional value while it has an open long position, or is equal to the market value of the contract in the case of an open short position. With respect to contracts that the Fund is contractually obligated to settle for cash in an amount equal to the change in value of the contract, the Fund needs to segregate liquid assets only in an amount equal to the Fund’s unpaid mark to market obligation rather than the entire notional amount. This is because the Fund’s maximum potential obligation at that point in time is its net unpaid mark to market obligation rather than the full notional amount.

Additional Risks Relating to Derivative Investments

Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared OTC derivative transactions since generally a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a cleared derivative contract and, in effect, guarantees the parties’ performance under the contract as each party to a trade looks only to the clearing organization for performance of financial obligations under the derivative contract. However, there can be no assurance that a clearing organization, or its members, will satisfy its obligations to the Fund, or that the Fund would be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited on its behalf with the clearing organization in the event of the default by the clearing organization or the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, cleared derivative transactions benefit from daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Uncleared OTC derivative transactions generally do not benefit from such protections. This exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. Such “counterparty risk” is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties.

 

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Failure of Futures Commission Merchants and Clearing Organizations Risk. The Fund may deposit funds required to margin open positions in the derivative instruments subject to the Commodity Exchange Act with a clearing broker registered as a “futures commission merchant” (“FCM”). The Commodity Exchange Act requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of U.S. domestic futures contracts and cleared swaps from the FCM’s proprietary assets. Similarly, the Commodity Exchange Act requires each FCM to hold in a separate secure account all funds received from customers with respect to any orders for the purchase or sale of foreign futures contracts and segregate any such funds from the funds received with respect to domestic futures contracts. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account and may be invested by the clearing broker in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulation. There is a risk that assets deposited by the Fund with any swaps or futures clearing broker as margin for futures contracts may, in certain circumstances, be used to satisfy losses of other clients of the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, the assets of the Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the clearing broker’s bankruptcy, as the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s combined domestic customer accounts.

Similarly, the Commodity Exchange Act requires a clearing organization approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) as a derivatives clearing organization to segregate all funds and other property received from a clearing member’s clients in connection with domestic futures, swaps and options contracts from any funds held at the clearing organization to support the clearing member’s proprietary trading. Nevertheless, with respect to futures contracts and options on futures, a clearing organization may use assets of a non-defaulting customer held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy losses in that account resulting from the default by another customer on its payment obligations that leads to the clearing member’s default to the clearing organization. As a result, in the situation of a double default by a customer of the Fund’s clearing member and the clearing member itself with respect to payment obligations on the customer’s futures or options on futures, there is a risk that the Fund’s assets in an omnibus account with the clearing organization may be used to satisfy losses from the double default and that the Fund may not recover the full amount of any such assets.

Dodd-Frank Act Risk. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act (the “Derivatives Title”) imposed a new regulatory structure on derivatives markets, with particular emphasis on swaps and security based swaps (collectively “swaps”). This regulatory framework covers a broad range of swap market participants, including banks, non-banks, credit unions, insurance companies, broker-dealers and investment advisers.

The SEC, other U.S. regulators, and to a lesser extent the CFTC (the “Regulators”) still are in the process of adopting regulations to implement the Derivatives Title, though certain aspects of the regulations are substantially complete. Until the Regulators complete their rulemaking efforts, the full extent to which the Derivatives Title and the rules adopted thereunder will impact the Fund is unclear. It is possible that the continued development of this new regulatory structure for swaps may jeopardize certain trades and/or trading strategies that may be employed by the Investment Adviser, or at least make them more costly.

Current regulations require the mandatory central clearing and mandatory exchange trading of particular types of interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps (together, “Covered Swaps”). Together, these regulatory requirements change the Fund’s trading of Covered Swaps. With respect to mandatory central clearing, the Fund is now required to clear its Covered Swaps through a clearing broker, which requires, among other things, posting initial margin and variation margin to the Fund’s clearing broker in order to enter into and maintain positions in Covered Swaps. With respect to mandatory exchange trading, the Investment Adviser may be required to become a participant on a type of execution platform called a swap execution facility (“SEF”) or may be required to access the SEF through an intermediary (such as an executing broker) in order to be able to trade Covered Swaps for the Fund. In either scenario, the Investment Adviser and/or the Fund may incur additional legal and compliance costs and transaction fees. Just as with the other regulatory changes imposed as a result of the implementation of the Derivatives Title, the increased costs and fees associated with trading Covered Swaps may jeopardize certain trades and/or trading strategies that may be employed by the Investment Adviser, or at least make them more costly.

Additionally, the Regulators have begun to implement finalized regulations that require swap dealers to collect from the Fund initial margin and variation margin for uncleared derivatives transactions. The Regulators also plan to finalize proposed regulations that would impose upon swap dealers new capital requirements. These requirements, when finalized and implemented, may make certain types of trades and/or trading strategies more costly or impermissible. The Derivatives Title also requires swap dealers and major swap participants to register with the SEC and/or the CFTC, as appropriate. Swap dealers and major swap participants are subject to a panoply of new regulations, including among others, capital and margin requirements and business conduct standards. Additionally, it is expected that swap dealers will transfer at least some of their compliance costs to counterparties in the form of higher fees or less favorable marks on swap transactions. This means that the Fund could face increased transaction costs when entering into swaps with a swap dealer.

The Fund may also be subject to systemic risk reporting requirements in the SEC’s Form PF and/or the CFTC’s Form CPO-PQR. The Derivatives Title also authorizes the CFTC to impose new position limit requirements, which once adopted, may impair the ability of the Fund to hedge exposure to or take a directional view of certain physical commodity markets.

These requirements of the Derivatives Title may also increase the cost of certain hedging and other derivatives transactions. Until the Regulators complete the rulemaking process for the Derivatives Title, it is unknown the extent to which such risks may materialize.

There can be no assurance that these developments will not adversely affect the business and investment activities of the Investment Adviser and the Fund. In addition, the Investment Adviser may be subject to potential registration requirements or other additional responsibilities under the Derivatives Title and may therefore incur increased cost in conducting the Fund’s strategies, which may adversely affect the performance of the Fund.

 

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Special Risk Considerations Relating to Futures and Options Thereon.    The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions in futures contracts and options thereon will be subject to the development and maintenance of liquid markets. Although the Fund generally will purchase or sell only those futures contracts and options thereon for which there appears to be a liquid market, there is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange will exist for any particular futures contract or option thereon at any particular time. In the event no liquid market exists for a particular futures contract or option thereon in which the Fund maintains a position, it will not be possible to effect a closing transaction in that contract or to do so at a satisfactory price and the Fund would have to either make or take delivery under the futures contract or, in the case of a written option, wait to sell the underlying securities until the option expires or is exercised or, in the case of a purchased option, exercise the option. In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon which the Fund has written and which the Fund is unable to close, the Fund would be required to maintain margin deposits on the futures contract or option thereon and to make variation margin payments until the contract is closed.

Successful use of futures contracts and options thereon and forward contracts by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Investment Adviser to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest and foreign currency rates. If the Investment Adviser’s expectations are not met, the Fund will be in a worse position than if a hedging strategy had not been pursued. For example, if the Fund has hedged against the possibility of an increase in interest rates that would adversely affect the price of securities in its portfolio and the price of such securities increases instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of its securities because it will have offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in such situations, if the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it may have to sell securities to meet the requirements. These sales may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices that reflect the rising market. The Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so.

Additional Risks of Foreign Options, Futures Contracts, Options on Futures Contracts and Forward Contracts.    Options, futures contracts and options thereon and forward contracts on securities and currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the U.S., may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in the foreign markets during non-business hours in the U.S., (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the U.S. and (v) lesser trading volume.

Exchanges on which options, options on futures and forward contracts are traded may impose limits on the positions that the Fund may take in certain circumstances.

Swaps.    The Fund may enter into total rate of return, credit default or other types of swaps and related derivatives for the purpose of hedging and risk management. These transactions generally provide for the transfer from one counterparty to another of certain risks inherent in the ownership of a financial asset such as a common stock or debt instrument. Such risks include, among other things, the risk of default and insolvency of the obligor of such asset, the risk that the credit of the obligor or the underlying collateral will decline or the risk that the common stock of the underlying issuer will decline in value. The transfer of risk pursuant to a derivative of this type may be complete or partial, and may be for the life of the related asset or for a shorter period. These derivatives may be used as a risk management tool for a pool of financial assets, providing the Fund with the

 

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opportunity to gain or reduce exposure to one or more reference securities or other financial assets (each, a “Reference Asset”) without actually owning or selling such assets in order, for example, to increase or reduce a concentration risk or to diversify a portfolio. Conversely, these derivatives may be used by the Fund to reduce exposure to an owned asset without selling it.

Because the Fund would not own the Reference Assets, the Fund may not have any voting rights with respect to the Reference Assets, and in such cases all decisions related to the obligors or issuers of the Reference Assets, including whether to exercise certain remedies, will be controlled by the swap counterparties.

Total rate of return swaps and similar derivatives are subject to many risks, including the possibility that the market will move in a manner or direction that would have resulted in gain for the Fund had the swap or other derivative not been utilized (in which case it would have been better had the Fund not engaged in the interest rate hedging transactions), the risk of imperfect correlation between the risk sought to be hedged and the derivative transactions utilized, the possible inability of the counterparty to fulfill its obligations under the swap and potential illiquidity of the hedging instrument utilized, which may make it difficult for the Fund to close out or unwind one or more hedging transactions.

Total rate of return swaps and related derivatives present certain legal, tax and market uncertainties that present risks in entering into such arrangements. There is currently little or no case law or litigation characterizing total rate of return swaps or related derivatives, interpreting their provisions, or characterizing their tax treatment.

Regulation of Certain Options, Currency Transactions and Other Derivative Transactions as Swaps or Security-Based Swaps.    The Dodd-Frank Act includes provisions that comprehensively regulate the over-the-counter (i.e., not exchange-traded) derivatives markets for the first time. This regulation requires that certain of the options, currency transactions and other derivative transactions entered into by the Fund be regulated as swaps by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or as security-based swaps by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Dodd-Frank Act generally requires swaps and security-based swaps to be submitted for clearing to regulated clearing organization (the so-called “clearing mandate”), unless an exemption from clearing applies. Swaps and security-based swaps that are submitted for clearing will be subject to minimum initial and variation margin requirements set by the relevant clearing organization, as well as possible Commodity Futures Trading Commission- or Securities and Exchange Commission-mandated margin requirements. Accordingly, dealers of swaps and security-based swaps (usually large commercial banks or other financial institutions) as well as other market participants will be required to post margin to the clearing organizations through which their swaps and/or security-based swaps are cleared. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission and other U.S. regulators also are required to impose margin requirements on uncleared swap and uncleared security-based swap transactions. These changes with respect to clearing and margin likely will increase a dealer’s costs, and those increased costs are expected to be passed through, at least partially, to market participants, including any Fund that uses swaps or security-based swaps.

The Dodd-Frank Act also requires many swaps and security-based swaps that are currently executed on a bilateral basis in the over-the-counter market to be executed through a regulated securities, futures, or swap exchange or execution facility if those transactions are subject to the clearing mandate. Once such requirements become effective, it may be more difficult and costly for the Funds to continue to enter into customized swap or security-based swap transactions on a bilateral basis.

In addition, dealers and major participants in the over-the-counter market are required to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registered dealers and major participants are subject to minimum capital and margin requirements, business conduct standards, disclosure requirements, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, position limits, limitations on conflicts of interest, and other regulatory burdens. These requirements may increase the overall costs for dealers and major participants in the over-the-counter market, and such increased costs are likely to be passed through, at least partially, to market participants, including any Fund that utilizes these instruments.

 

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The cumulative effects of the Dodd-Frank Act on swap and security-based swap transactions and on participants in the derivatives market remain uncertain.

Limitations on the Purchase and Sale of Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts.    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, yield enhancement and risk management purposes, in each case in accordance with the rules and regulations of the CFTC. CFTC Rule 4.5, upon which the Fund relies to avoid having its adviser register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a “commodity pool operator,” imposes certain commodity interest trading restrictions on the Fund. These trading restrictions permit the Fund to engage in commodity interest transactions that include (i) “bona fide hedging” transactions, as that term is defined and interpreted by the CFTC and its staff, without regard to the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to margin and option premiums and (ii) non-bona fide hedging transactions, provided that the Fund 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 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. In addition to meeting one of the foregoing trading limitations, the Fund may not market itself as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the futures, options or swaps markets. If the Investment Adviser were required to register as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund, compliance with additional registration and regulatory requirements would increase Fund expenses. Other potentially adverse regulatory initiatives could also develop.

Commodities-Linked Equity Derivative Instrument Risk.    The Fund may invest in structured notes that are linked to one or more underlying commodities. Such structured notes provide exposure to the investment returns of physical commodities without actually investing directly in physical commodities. Such structured notes in which the Fund expects to invest are hybrid instruments that have substantial risks, including risk of loss of all or a significant portion of their principal value. Because the payouts on these notes are linked to the price change of the underlying commodities, these investments are subject to market risks that relate to the movement of prices in the commodities markets. They may also be subject to additional special risks that do not affect traditional equity and debt securities that may be greater than or in addition to the risks of derivatives in general, including risk of loss of interest, risk of loss of principal, lack of liquidity and risk of greater volatility.

Risk of Loss of Interest.    If payment of interest on a structured note or other hybrid instrument is linked to the value of a particular commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable, the Fund might not receive all (or a portion) of the interest due on its investment if there is a loss in value of the underlying instrument.

Risk of Loss of Principal.    To the extent that the amount of the principal to be repaid upon maturity is linked to the value of a particular commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable, the Fund might not receive all or a portion of the principal at maturity of the investment. At any time, the risk of loss associated with a particular instrument in the Fund’s portfolio may be significantly higher than 50% of the value of the investment.

Lack of Secondary Market.    A liquid secondary market may not exist for the specially created hybrid instruments the Fund buys, which may make it difficult for the Fund to sell them at an acceptable price or accurately value them.

Risk of Greater Volatility.    The value of the commodities-linked equity derivative investments the Fund buys may fluctuate significantly because the values of the underlying investments to which they are linked are themselves extremely volatile. Additionally, economic leverage will increase the volatility of these hybrid instruments, as they may increase or decrease in value more quickly than the underlying commodity index, futures contract or other economic variable.

The Investment Adviser is Not Registered as a Commodity Pool Operator.    The Investment Adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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Risks of Currency Transactions.    Currency transactions are also subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be adversely affected by government exchange controls, limitations or restrictions on repatriation of currency, and manipulation, or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These forms of governmental action can result in losses to the Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or monies in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure and incurring transaction costs.

Repurchase Agreements.    The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is an instrument under which the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires a debt security and the seller agrees, at the time of the sale, to repurchase the obligation at a mutually agreed upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the purchaser’s holding period. This results in a fixed rate of return insulated from market fluctuations during such period. The underlying securities are ordinarily U.S. Treasury or other government obligations or high quality money market instruments. The Fund will require that the value of such underlying securities, together with any other collateral held by the Fund, always equals or exceeds the amount of the repurchase obligations of the counter party. The Fund’s risk is primarily that, if the seller defaults, the proceeds from the disposition of the underlying securities and other collateral for the seller’s obligation are less than the repurchase price. If the seller becomes insolvent, the Fund might be delayed in or prevented from selling the collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a seller, the Fund will promptly seek to liquidate the collateral. To the extent that the proceeds from any sale of such collateral upon a default in the obligation to repurchase are less than the repurchase price, the Fund will experience a loss.

The Investment Adviser, acting under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, reviews the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreements to evaluate these risks and monitors on an ongoing basis the value of the securities subject to repurchase agreements to ensure that the value is maintained at the required level. The Fund will not enter into repurchase agreements with the Investment Adviser or any of its affiliates.

If the financial institution which is a party to the repurchase agreement petitions for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell the collateral and the Fund would suffer a loss.

Loans of Portfolio Securities.    Consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and the Fund’s investment restrictions, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions, provided that such loans are callable at any time by the Fund (subject to notice provisions described below), and are at all times collateralized by cash or cash equivalents which are maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the market value, determined daily, of the loaned securities. The advantage of such loans is that the Fund continues to receive the income on the loaned securities while at the same time earning interest on the cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short term highly liquid obligations. The Fund will not lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale. The Fund’s loans of portfolio securities will be collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, which means that “cash equivalents” accepted as collateral will be limited to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities or irrevocable letters of credit issued by a bank (other than a borrower of the Fund’s portfolio securities or any affiliate of such borrower) which qualifies as a custodian bank for an investment company under the 1940 Act, and no loan will cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed 20% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund’s ability to lend portfolio securities may be limited by rating agency guidelines (if any).

A loan may generally be terminated by the borrower on one business day’s notice, or by the Fund at any time thereby requiring the borrower to redeliver the borrowed securities within the normal and customary settlement time for securities transactions. If the borrower fails to deliver the loaned securities within the normal and customary settlement time for securities transactions, the Fund could use the collateral to replace the securities while holding the borrower liable for any excess of replacement cost over the value of the collateral pledged by the borrower. As with any extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery and in some cases even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities violate the terms of the loan or fail financially. However, these loans of portfolio securities will only be made to firms deemed by the Investment Adviser to be creditworthy and when the income which can be earned from such loans justifies the attendant risks. The Board will oversee the creditworthiness of the contracting parties on an ongoing basis. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower is required to return the securities to the Fund. Any gain or loss in the market price during the loan period would inure to the Fund.

The risks associated with loans of portfolio securities are substantially similar to those associated with repurchase agreements. Thus, if the counterparty to the loan petitions for bankruptcy or becomes subject to the United States Bankruptcy Code, the law regarding the rights of the Fund is unsettled. As a result, under extreme circumstances, there may be a restriction on the Fund’s ability to sell the collateral and the Fund would suffer a loss. Moreover, because the Fund will reinvest any cash collateral it receives, as described above, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the investments it makes will decline and result in losses to the Fund. These losses, in extreme circumstances such as the 2007-2009 financial crisis, could be substantial and have a significant adverse impact on the Fund and its shareholders. When voting or consent rights which accompany loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund will follow the policy of calling the loaned securities, to be delivered within one day after notice, to permit the exercise of such rights if the matters involved would have a material effect on the Fund’s investment in such loaned securities. The Fund will pay reasonable finder’s, administrative and custodial fees in connection with a loan of its securities, and may also pay fees to one or more securities lending agents and/or pay other fees or rebates to borrowers.

 

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When Issued, Delayed Delivery Securities and Forward Commitments.    The Fund may enter into forward commitments for the purchase or sale of securities, including on a “when issued” or “delayed delivery” basis, in excess of customary settlement periods for the type of security involved. In some cases, a forward commitment may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval and consummation of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt restructuring (i.e., a when, as and if issued security). When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, with payment and delivery taking place in the future, generally a month or more after the date of the commitment. While it will only enter into a forward commitment with the intention of actually acquiring the security, the Fund may sell the security before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable by the Investment Adviser.

Securities purchased under a forward commitment are subject to market fluctuation, and no interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to the settlement date.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund operates under the following restrictions that constitute fundamental policies under the 1940 Act and that, except as otherwise noted, cannot be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund voting together as a single class (which for this purpose and under the 1940 Act means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares). In addition, pursuant to the Statements of Preferences, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares of the Fund voting as a separate class (which for this purpose and under the 1940 Act means the lesser of (i) 67% of the preferred shares, as a single class, represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding preferred shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding preferred shares), is also required to change a fundamental policy. Except as otherwise noted, all percentage limitations set forth below apply immediately after a purchase or initial investment and any subsequent change in any applicable percentage resulting from market fluctuations does not require any action.

(1)  other than with respect to its concentrations in Gold Companies and Natural Resources Companies, invest more than 25% of its total assets, taken at market value at the time of each investment, in the securities of issuers in any particular industry. This restriction does not apply to investments in U.S. government securities and investments in the gold industry and the natural resources industries;

(2)  purchase commodities or commodity contracts if such purchase would result in regulation of the Fund as a commodity pool operator;

(3)  purchase or sell real estate, provided the Fund may invest in securities and other instruments secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;

(4)  make loans of money or other property, except that (i) the Fund may acquire debt obligations of any type (including through extensions of credit), enter into repurchase agreements and lend portfolio assets and (ii) the Fund may, up to 20% of the Fund’s total assets, lend money or other property to other investment companies advised by the Investment Adviser pursuant to a common lending program to the extent permitted by applicable law;

(5)  borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law;

 

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(6)  issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law; or

(7)  underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under applicable law in selling portfolio securities; provided, however, this restriction shall not apply to securities of any investment company organized by the Fund that are to be distributed pro rata as a dividend to its shareholders.

In addition, the Fund’s investment objectives and its policies of investing at least 25% of its assets in normal circumstances in Gold Companies and in Natural Resource Companies are fundamental policies. Unless specifically stated as such, no policy of the Fund is fundamental and each policy may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

Overall responsibility for management and supervision of the Fund rests with its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees approves all significant agreements between the Fund and the companies that furnish the Fund with services, including agreements with the Investment Adviser, the Fund’s custodian and the Fund’s transfer agent. The day to day operations of the Fund are delegated to the Investment Adviser.

The names and business addresses of the Trustees and principal officers of the Fund are set forth in the following table, together with their positions and their principal occupations during the past five years and, in the case of the Trustees, their other directorships during the past five years with certain other organizations and companies.

 

Name (and Age), Position with the Fund and Business Address1		Term of Office and Length of Time Served2		Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years		Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past Five Years		Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex3 Overseen by Trustee
Independent Trustees4
Anthony J. Colavita5,7 Trustee Age: 80		Since 2005***		President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.		None			28
James P. Conn5 Trustee Age: 79		Since 2005**		Former Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Financial Security Assurance Holdings, Ltd. (1992-1998)		None			27
Vincent D. Enright Trustee Age: 73		Since 2005*		Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Energy Corp. (public utility) (1994-1998)		Director of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics) (2008-2014); Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2011-2014)			17
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.7 Trustee Age: 78		Since 2005***		Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates; Former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (1995-2013); Former Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates; Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1983-1989)		Director of First Republic Bank (banking)			12
Michael J. Melarkey  Trustee Age: 68		Since 2005*		Owner in Pioneer Crossing Casino Group; Of Counsel in the law firm of McDonald Carano Wilson LLP; previously partner in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel, Mulligan & McKenzie (1980-2015)		Director of Southwest Gas Corporation (natural gas utility)			23
Salvatore M. Salibello  Age: 72		Since 2005**		Senior Partner of Bright Side Consulting (consulting); Certified Public Accountant and Former Managing Partner of the certified public accounting firm of Salibello & Broder LLP (1978-2012); Partner of BDO Seligman, LLP (2012-2013)		Director of Kids Brands, Inc. (consumer products)			6
Anthonie C. van Ekris7 Trustee Age: 83		Since 2005**		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BALMAC International, Inc. (global import/export company)		None			22
Salvatore J. Zizza7,8 Trustee Age: 71		Since 2005***		President of Zizza & Associates Corp. (private holding company); Chairman of Harbor Diversified, Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Chairman of BAM (semiconductor and aerospace manufacturing); Chairman of Bergen Cove Realty Inc.; Chairman of Metropolitan Paper Recycling Inc. (recycling) (2005-2014)		Director and Vice Chairman of Trans-Lux Corporation (business services); Director and Chairman of Harbor Diversified Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Director, Chairman, and CEO of General Employment Enterprises, Inc. (staffing services) (2009-2012)			30

 

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Name (and Age), Position with the Fund and Business Address1		Term of Office and Length of Time  Served6		Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years
Officers6
Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 65		Since 2005		Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1988; Officer of registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008; Director of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2012
Agnes Mullady Vice President Age: 59		Vice President since May 2017, Treasurer from 2006 until May 2017		Officer of the funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2006; President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2015; Chief Executive Officer of G.distributors, LLC since 2010; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Executive Vice President of Associated Capital Group, Inc. since November 2016; Executive Vice President of Associated Capital Group Inc. since November 2016
John C. Ball Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Age: 41		Since May 2017		Treasurer of the funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex (closed-end funds since May 2017 and open-end funds since February 2017); Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of AMG Funds, 2014-2017; Vice President of State Street Corporation, 2007-2014
Andrea R. Mango Secretary Age: 45		Since 2013		Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2016; Counsel of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2013; Secretary of all registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2013; Vice President of all closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2014; Corporate Vice President within the Corporate Compliance Department of New York Life Insurance Company, 2011-2013; Vice President and Counsel of Deutsche Asset Management, 2006 to 2011
Richard Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 58		Since 2013		Chief Compliance Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex since 2013; Chief Compliance Officer of AEGON USA Investment Management, LLC, 2011 to 2013; Chief Compliance Officer at Cutwater Asset Management, 2004 to 2011
Carter W. Austin Vice President Age: 50		Since 2005		Vice President and/or Ombudsman of closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President (since 2015) and Vice President (1996-2015) of Gabelli Funds, LLC
Molly A.F. Marion Vice President and Ombudsman Age: 63		Since 2005		Vice President and/or Ombudsman of other closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2012
Laurissa M. Martire Vice President and Ombudsman Age: 41		Since 2010		Vice President and/or Ombudsman of other closed-end funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Assistant Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2003
David I. Schachter Vice President Age: 64		Since 2012		Vice President and/or Ombudsman of closed-end funds within Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Senior Vice President (since 2015) and Vice President (1999-2015) of G.research, LLC

 

(1)	Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted.

 

(2)	The Fund’s Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of office of one class expires and the successor or successors elected to such class serve for a three year term. The three year term for each class is as follows:

 

*	Term continues until the Fund’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

**	Term continues until the Fund’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

***	Term continues until the Fund’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

(3)	The “Fund Complex” or the “Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex” includes all the registered funds that are considered part of the same fund complex as the Fund because they have common or affiliated investment advisers.

 

(4)

Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act are considered to be “Independent” Trustees. None of the Independent Trustees (with the possible exception as described below), nor their family members had any interest in the Investment Adviser or any person (other than the registered funds advised by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Investment Adviser as of December 31, 2016.

 

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(5)	Trustee elected solely by holders of the Fund’s Preferred Shares.

 

(6)	Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

(7)

Mr. Colavita’s son, Anthony S. Colavita, and Mr. Fahrenkopf’s daughter, Leslie F. Foley, serve as directors of other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex. Mr. van Ekris is an independent director of Gabelli International Ltd., Gabelli Fund, LDC, GAMA Capital Opportunities Master, Ltd., and GAMCO International SICAV, and Mr. Zizza is an independent director of Gabelli International Ltd., all of which may be deemed to be controlled by Mario J. Gabelli and/or affiliates and in that event would be deemed to be under common control with the Investment Adviser.

 

(8)

On September 9, 2015, Mr. Zizza entered into a settlement with the SEC to resolve an inquiry relating to an alleged violation regarding the making of false statements or omissions to the accountants of a company concerning a related party transaction. The company in question is not an affiliate of, nor has any connection to, the Funds. Under the terms of the settlement, Mr. Zizza, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings and allegation, paid $150,000 and agreed to cease and desist committing or causing any future violations of Rule 13b2-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

The Fund has adopted specific Trustee qualification requirements that can be found in the Fund’s governing documents and are applicable to all individuals who may be nominated, elected, appointed, qualified or seated to serve as Trustees. The qualification requirements include: (i) age limits (at least 21 years of age and such maximum age as the Trustees may in the future determine); (ii) prohibitions regarding any legal disability; (iii) limits on service on other boards; (iv) restrictions on relationships with investment advisers other than the Fund’s adviser; and (v) character and fitness requirements. Additionally, each Independent Trustee must not be an “interested person” of the Fund as defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and may not be or have certain relationships with a shareholder beneficially owning five percent or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares or specified levels of interest in registered investment companies. The Fund’s By-Laws also provide that a majority of the Trustees then in office may determine by resolution that a failure to satisfy a particular qualification requirement will not present undue conflicts or impede the ability of the candidate to discharge the duties of a Trustee or the free flow of information among Trustees or between the Fund’s adviser and the Board. Reference is made to the Fund’s governing documents for more details.

The Board of Trustees believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of other Trustees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee should serve in such capacity. Among the attributes or skills common to all Trustees are their ability to review critically and to evaluate, question, and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, the Investment Adviser, the sub-administrator, other service providers, counsel and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective and independent business judgment in

 

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the performance of their duties as Trustees. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively has been attained in large part through the Trustee’s business, consulting or public service positions and through experience from service as a member of the Board of Trustees and one or more of the other funds in the Fund Complex, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations as set forth above and below. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively also has been enhanced by his education, professional training, and other experience.

Anthony J. Colavita, Esq.    Mr. Colavita is a practicing attorney with over fifty-five years of experience. He is the Chairman of the Fund’s Nominating Committee and a member of the Fund’s ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee. Mr. Colavita serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He served as a Commissioner of the New York State Thruway Authority and as a Commissioner of the New York State Bridge Authority, where his duties included reviewing financial documents of these agencies. He served for eleven years as the elected Supervisor of the Town of Eastchester, New York, responsible for ten annual municipal budgets. Mr. Colavita also served as Special Counsel to the New York State Assembly for five years and as a Senior Attorney with the New York State Insurance Department. He is the former Chairman of the Westchester County Republican Party, the New York State Republican Party, and the Eastchester Republican Town Committee. Mr. Colavita received his Bachelor of Arts from Fairfield University and his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law.

James P. Conn.    Mr. Conn is the Lead Independent Trustee of the Fund, and a member of the Fund’s ad hoc Proxy Voting and ad hoc Pricing Committees. He serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He was a senior business executive of Transamerica Corp., an insurance holding company, for much of his career including service as Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Conn has been a director of several public companies in banking and other industries, and was lead director and/or chair of various committees. Mr. Conn received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Santa Clara University.

Vincent D. Enright.    Mr. Enright is Chairman of the Fund’s Audit and ad hoc Proxy Voting Committees, and a member of both multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committees. He has been designated as the Fund’s Audit Committee Financial Expert. He serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. Mr. Enright was a senior executive and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corp., an energy public utility, for four years. Mr. Enright is a former director of a therapeutics and diagnostics company and served as Chairman of its Compensation Committee and as a member of its Audit Committee. He is a former director of a pharmaceutical company and a diversified manifacturing company. Mr. Enright received his Bachelor of Science from Fordham University and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.    Mr. Fahrenkopf is the Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which is responsible for the widely viewed Presidential debates during the quadrennial election cycle. Additionally, he serves as a board member of the International Republican Institute, which he founded in 1984. He is a member of the Fund’s Audit Committee and serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. Mr. Fahrenkopf is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (“AGA”), the trade group for the hotel-casino industry. He served for many years as Chairman of the Pacific Democrat Union and Vice Chairman of the International Democrat Union, a worldwide association of political parties from the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, and twenty other nations. Prior to becoming the AGA’s first chief executive in 1995, Mr. Fahrenkopf was a partner in the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, where he chaired the International Trade Practice Group and specialized in regulatory, legislative, and corporate matters for multinational, foreign, and domestic clients. He also served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee for six years during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Mr. Fahrenkopf is the former Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Culinary Institute of America and remains a member of the board. For over 30 years, Mr. Fahrenkopf has served on the Board of First Republic Bank and serves as Chairman of the Corporate Governance

 

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and Nominating Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Fahrenkopf received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Reno and his Juris Doctor from Boalt Hall School of Law, U.C. Berkeley.

Michael J. Melarkey, Esq. Mr. Melarkey, after more than forty years of experience as an attorney specializing in business, estate planning, and gaming regulatory work, recently retired from the active practice of law, and is of counsel to the firm of McDonald Carano Wilson in Reno, Nevada. He is a member of the Fund’s Nominating and ad hoc Pricing Committees, and one of the multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committees. He serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Southwest Gas Corporation and serves on its Nominating, Corporate Governance, and Compensation Committees. Mr. Melarkey acts as a trustee and officer for several private charitable organizations including as a trustee of The Bretzlaff Foundation and Edwin L. Wiegand Trust. He is an owner of Pioneer Crossing Casino Group consisting of three Nevada casinos and an officer of a private oil and gas company. Mr. Melarkey received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and Masters of Law in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

Salvatore M. Salibello, CPA.    Mr. Salibello is a Senior Partner of Bright Side Consulting and the former Managing Partner of a certified independent registered public accounting firm with over forty years of experience in public accounting. He serves on the boards of other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex. He is a former director of Kid Brands, Inc., a group of companies in infant and juvenile products, and served as Chairman of its Audit Committee. Mr. Salibello received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from St. Francis College and M.B.A. in Finance from Long Island University.

Anthonie C. van Ekris. Mr. van Ekris has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer BALMAC International, Inc., a global import/export, company for over twenty years. He serves on the boards of other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex and as Chairman of the GAMCO International SICAV. Mr. van Ekris has over fifty-five years of experience as Chairman and/or Chief Executive Officer of public and private companies involved in international trading or commodity trading, and served in both of these capacities for nearly twenty years for a large public jewelry chain. Mr. van Ekris is a former director of an oil and gas operations company. He served on the boards of a number of public companies and for more than ten years on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army of Greater New York.

Salvatore J. Zizza. Mr. Zizza is the President of Zizza & Associates Corp., a private holding company that invests in various industries. He also serves as Chairman to other companies involved in manufacturing, recycling, real estate, technology, and pharmaceuticals. He is a member of the Fund’s Audit, Nominating, and ad hoc Pricing Committees, and a member of both multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committees. Mr. Zizza serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. In addition to serving on the boards of other funds in the Fund Complex, he is currently and has previously been a director of other public companies. He was also the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of a large NYSE-listed construction company. Mr. Zizza received his Bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. in Finance from St. John’s University, which awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Commercial Sciences.

Trustees—Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for general oversight of the Fund rests with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees does not have a Chairman. The Board of Trustees has appointed Mr. Conn as the Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent Trustee presides over executive sessions of the Trustees and also serves between meetings of the Board of Trustees as a liaison with service providers, officers, counsel and other Trustees on a wide variety of matters including scheduling agenda items for Board meetings. Designation as such does not impose on the Lead Independent Trustee any obligations or standards greater than or different from other Trustees. The Board of Trustees has established a Nominating Committee and an Audit Committee to assist the Board of Trustees in the oversight of the management and affairs of the Fund. The Board of Trustees also has an ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee that exercises beneficial ownership responsibilities on behalf of the Fund in selected situations. From

 

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time to time, the Board of Trustees establishes additional committees or informal working groups, such as an ad hoc Pricing Committee related to securities offerings by the Fund, to address specific matters or assigns one of its members to work with trustees or directors of other funds in the Fund Complex on special committees or working groups that address fund complex-wide matters, such as the multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer for all the funds in the Fund Complex and a separate multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of certain other officers of the closed-end funds in the Fund Complex.

All of the Fund’s Trustees are Independent Trustees, and the Board of Trustees believes it is able to provide effective oversight of the Fund’s service providers. In addition to providing feedback and direction during Board meetings, the Independent Trustees meet regularly in executive session and chair all committees of the Board of Trustees.

The Fund’s operations entail a variety of risks, including investment, administration, valuation and a range of compliance matters. Although the Investment Adviser, the sub-administrator and the officers of the Fund are responsible for managing these risks on a day to day basis within the framework of their established risk management functions, the Board of Trustees also addresses risk management of the Fund through its meetings and those of the committees and working groups. As part of its general oversight, the Board of Trustees reviews with the Investment Adviser at Board meetings the levels and types of risks, including options risk, being undertaken by the Fund, and the Audit Committee discusses the Fund’s risk management and controls with the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Fund. The Board of Trustees reviews valuation policies and procedures and the valuations of specific illiquid securities. The Board of Trustees also receives periodic reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding compliance matters relating to the Fund and its major service providers, including results of the implementation and testing of the Fund’s and such providers’ compliance programs. The Board of Trustees’ oversight function is facilitated by management reporting processes designed to provide visibility to the Board of Trustees regarding the identification, assessment, and management of critical risks and the controls and policies and procedures used to mitigate those risks. The Board of Trustees reviews its role in supervising the Fund’s risk management from time to time and may make changes at its discretion at any time.

The Board of Trustees has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate for the Fund because it enables the Board of Trustees to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview, allocates responsibility among committees in a manner that fosters effective oversight and allows the Board of Trustees to devote appropriate resources to specific issues in a flexible manner as they arise. The Board of Trustees periodically reviews its leadership structure as well as its overall structure, composition and functioning and may make changes at its discretion at any time.

Board Committees

The Trustees serving on the Fund’s Nominating Committee are Anthony J. Colavita (Chair), Michael J. Melarkey and Salvatore J. Zizza. The Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending qualified candidates to the Board of Trustees in the event that a position is vacated or created. The Nominating Committee would consider recommendations by shareholders if a vacancy were to exist. Such recommendations should be forwarded to the Secretary of the Fund.

Vincent D. Enright (Chair), Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Salvatore J. Zizza, who are not “interested persons” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act, serve on the Fund’s Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is generally responsible for reviewing and evaluating issues related to the accounting and financial reporting policies and internal controls of the Fund and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers, overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the audit thereof and acting as a liaison between the Board of Trustees and the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The Trustees serving on the Fund’s ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee are Anthony J. Colavita, James P. Conn and Vincent D. Enright (Chair). If so determined by the Board of Trustees, the Proxy Voting Committee is authorized to exercise voting power and/or dispositive power over specific securities held in the Fund’s portfolio for such period as the Board of Trustees may determine.

 

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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Board of Trustees held one Nominating Committee meeting and two Audit Committee meetings. The Proxy Voting Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

The Fund does not have a standing compensation committee, but does have representatives on a multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committee relating to compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer for the funds and certain officers of the closed-end funds in the Fund Complex.

Beneficial Ownership of Shares Held in the Fund and the Family of Investment Companies for each Trustee

Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by each Trustee and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in the Fund Complex beneficially owned by each Trustee.

 

Name of Trustee		Dollar Range of Equity Securities Held in the Fund		Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities Held in Family of Investment  Companies(1)(2)
Independent Trustees
Anthony J. Colavita		$1-$10,000		over $100,000
James P. Conn		$10,001-$50,000		over $100,000
Vincent D. Enright		none		over $100,000
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.		none		over $100,000
Michael J. Melarkey		$10,001-$50,000		over $100,000
Salvatore M. Salibello		none		over $100,000
Anthonie C. van Ekris		$10,001-$50,000		over $100,000
Salvatore J. Zizza		$1-$10,000		over $100,000

 

(1)	This information has been furnished by each Trustee as of December 31, 2016. “Beneficial Ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the 1934 Act.

 

(2)

The term “Family of Investment Companies” includes two or more, registered funds that share the same investment adviser or principal underwriter and hold themselves out to investors, as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services. Currently the registered funds that comprise the “Fund Complex” are identical to those that comprise the “Family of Investment Companies.”

As of December 31, 2016, the Trustees and officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding common shares or preferred shares of the Fund. There are no control persons of the Fund.

Set forth in the table below is the amount of interests beneficially owned by each Independent Trustee or his or her immediate family member, as applicable, in a person other than a registered investment company, that may be deemed to be controlled by the Fund’s Investment Adviser and/or affiliates (including Mario J. Gabelli) and in that event would be deemed to be under common control with the Investment Adviser.

 

Name of Independent Trustee

Relationships to Trustee

Company

Title of Class

Value of Interests(1)

Percent of Class(2)

Anthony J. Colavita

Same

The LGL Group, Inc.

Common Stock

$

6,697

*

Anthony J. Colavita

Same

The LGL Group, Inc.

Warrants

$

7

*

Anthony J. Colavita

Family

Gabelli Associates Fund

Membership Interests

$

951,130

*

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

Same

Gabelli Associates Limited II E

Membership Interests

$

1,187,704

*

Michael J. Melarkey

Same

Gemini Global Partners, L.P.

Limited Partner Interests

$

652,874

6.26%

Michael J. Melarkey

Same

Morgan Group Holdings, Inc.

Common Stock

$

1,560

*

Michael J. Melarkey

Same

ICTC Group, Inc.

Common Stock

$

20,280

*

Michael J. Melarkey

Same

The LGL Group, Inc.

Common Stock

$

36,224

*

Michael J. Melarkey

Same

The LGL Group, Inc.

Warrants

$

36

*

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Same

LICT Corp.

Common Stock

$

138,000

*

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Same

The LGL Group, Inc.

Common Stock

$

8,032

*

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Same

The LGL Group, Inc.

Warrants

$

8

*

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Same

CIBL, Inc.

Common Stock

$

32,640

*

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Same

ICTC Group, Inc.

Common Stock

$

60

*

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Same

Morgan Group Holdings, Inc.

Common Stock

$

600

*

Salvatore J. Zizza

Same

Gabelli Associates Fund

Membership Interests

$

2,278,472

*

Salvatore J. Zizza

Same

Gabelli Performance Partnership L.P.

Limited Partner Interests

$

304,747

*

 

(1)	This information has been furnished as of December 31, 2016.

 

(2)	An asterisk indicates that the ownership amount constitutes less than 1% of the total interests outstanding.

 

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Remuneration of Trustees and Officers

The Fund pays each Independent Trustee an annual retainer of $15,000 plus $2,000 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, and the Nominating Committee Chairman and the lead Independent Trustee each receive an annual fee of $2,000. A Trustee may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for participation in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds.

The following table shows the compensation that the Trustees earned in their capacity as Trustees and officers, if any, who were compensated by the Fund rather than the Investment Adviser for the year ended December 31, 2016. Ms. Marion and Mr. Schachter are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Investment Adviser (although they may receive incentive-based compensation from affiliates of the Investment Adviser). Officers of the Fund who are employed by the Investment Adviser receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund. The table also shows, for the year ended December 31, 2016, the compensation Trustees earned in their capacity as Trustees for other funds in the Fund Complex.

COMPENSATION TABLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016

 

Name of Trustee		Aggregate Compensation from the Fund				Aggregate Compensation from the Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees*
Independent Trustees
Anthony J. Colavita		$	25,750			$	411,500(36)
James P. Conn		$	25,250			$	260,500(22)
Vincent D. Enright		$	28,250			$	216,109(17)
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.		$	25,250			$	144,000(11)
Michael J. Melarkey		$	23,750			$	123,234(10)
Salvatore M. Salibello		$	23,500			$	67,234(5)
Anthonie C. van Ekris		$	23,250			$	219,500(22)
Salvatore J. Zizza		$	25,750			$	322,500(30)
Officers
Molly A. F. Marion Vice President and Ombudsman		$	95,000
David I. Schachter Vice President		$	65,000

 

*

Represents the total compensation paid to such persons during the year ended December 31, 2016, by investment companies (including the Fund) or portfolios thereof from which such person receives compensation that are considered part of the Fund Complex. The number in parentheses represents the number of such investment companies and portfolios.

Indemnification of Officers and Trustees; Limitations on Liability

The Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund provides that the Fund will indemnify its Trustees and officers and may indemnify its employees or agents against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their positions with the Fund to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. However, nothing in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund protects or indemnifies a trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Fund against any liability to which such person would otherwise be subject in the event of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her position.

Investment Advisory and Administrative Arrangements

The Investment Adviser is a New York limited liability company and registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, serves as an investment adviser to registered investment companies with combined aggregate net assets approximating $22.8 billion as of June 30, 2017. The Investment Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GBL”), a New York corporation, whose Class A Common Stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol, “GBL.” Mr. Mario J. Gabelli may be deemed a “controlling person” of the Investment Adviser on the basis of his controlling interest in GBL. Mr. Gabelli owns a majority of the stock of GGCP, Inc. (“GGCP”), which holds a majority of the capital stock and voting power of GBL. The Investment Adviser has several affiliates that provide investment advisory services: GAMCO Asset Management, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GBL, acts as investment adviser for individuals, pension trusts, profit sharing trusts, endowments, and The GAMCO Mathers Fund, and as a sub-adviser to certain third party investment funds, which include registered investment companies, having assets under management of approximately of $18.5 billion as of June 30, 2017; Teton Advisors, Inc. and its wholly owned investment adviser, Keeley Teton Advisers, LLC, with assets under management of approximately $3.7 billion as of June 30, 2017, act as investment advisers to The TETON Westwood Funds, the KEELEY Funds, and separately managed accounts; Gabelli & Company Investment Advisers, Inc. (formerly, Gabelli Securities, Inc.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Associated Capital Group, Inc. (“Associated Capital”), acts as investment adviser for certain alternative investment products, consisting primarily of risk arbitrage and merchant banking limited partnerships and offshore companies, with assets under management of approximately $1 billion as of June 30, 2017; and Gabelli Fixed Income, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of GBL, acts as investment adviser for separate accounts having assets under management of approximately $29 million as of June 30, 2017. Teton Advisors, Inc. was spun off by GBL in March 2009 and is an affiliate of GBL by virtue of Mr. Gabelli’s ownership of GGCP the principal shareholder of Teton Advisors, Inc., as of June 30, 2017. Associated Capital was spun off from GBL on November 30, 2015, and is an affiliate of GBL by virtue of Mr. Gabelli’s ownership of GGCP, the principal shareholder of Associated Capital.

 

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Affiliates of the Investment Adviser may, in the ordinary course of their business, acquire for their own account or for the accounts of their investment advisory clients, significant (and possibly controlling) positions in the securities of companies that may also be suitable for investment by the Fund. The securities in which the Fund might invest may thereby be limited to some extent. For instance, many companies in the past several years have adopted so-called “poison pill” or other defensive measures designed to discourage or prevent the completion of non-negotiated offers for control of the company. Such defensive measures may have the effect of limiting the shares of the company which might otherwise be acquired by the Fund if the affiliates of the Investment Adviser or their investment advisory accounts have or acquire a significant position in the same securities. However, the Investment Adviser does not believe that the investment activities of its affiliates will have a material adverse effect upon the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objectives. Securities purchased or sold pursuant to contemporaneous orders entered on behalf of the investment company accounts of the Investment Adviser or the investment advisory accounts managed by its affiliates for their unaffiliated clients are allocated pursuant to procedures, approved by the Board of Trustees, believed to be fair and not disadvantageous to any such accounts. In addition, all such orders are accorded priority of execution over orders entered on behalf of accounts in which the Investment Adviser or its affiliates have a substantial pecuniary interest. The Investment Adviser may on occasion give advice or take action with respect to other clients that differs from the actions taken with respect to the Fund. The Fund may invest in the securities of companies that are investment management clients of GAMCO Asset Management Inc. In addition, portfolio companies or their officers or directors may be minority shareholders of the Investment Adviser or its affiliates.

Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser manages the portfolio of the Fund in accordance with its stated investment objectives and policies, makes investment decisions for the Fund, places orders to purchase and sell securities on behalf of the Fund and manages its other business and affairs, all subject to the supervision and direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. In addition, under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Investment Adviser oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs and provides, or arranges for others to provide, at the Investment Adviser’s expense, certain enumerated services, including maintaining the Fund’s books and records, preparing reports to the Fund’s shareholders and supervising the calculation of the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Expenses of computing the net asset value of the Fund, including any equipment or services obtained solely for the purpose of pricing shares or valuing its investment portfolio, underwriting compensation and reimbursements in connection with sales of its securities, the costs of utilizing a third party to monitor and collect class action settlements on behalf of the Fund, compensation to an administrator for certain SEC filings on behalf of the Fund, the fees and expenses of Trustees who are not officers or employees of the Investment Adviser of its affiliates, compensation and other expenses of employees of the Fund as approved by the Trustees, the pro rata costs of the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, charges of the custodian, any sub-custodian and transfer agent and dividend paying agent, expenses in connection with the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, accounting and pricing costs, membership fees in trade associations, expenses for legal and independent accountants’ services, costs of printing proxies, share certificates and shareholder reports, fidelity bond coverage for Fund officers and employees, Trustee and officers’ errors and omissions insurance coverage, and stock exchange listing fees will be an expense of the Fund unless the Investment Adviser voluntarily assumes responsibility for such expenses.

The Investment Advisory Agreement combines investment advisory and certain administrative responsibilities into one agreement. For services rendered by the Investment Adviser on behalf of the Fund under the Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser a fee computed weekly and paid monthly at the annual rate of 1.00% of the average weekly net assets of the Fund. The Fund’s average

 

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weekly net assets will be deemed to be the average weekly value of the Fund’s total assets minus the sum of the Fund’s liabilities (such liabilities exclude the aggregate liquidation preference of outstanding preferred shares and accumulated dividends, if any, on those shares and the outstanding principal amount of any debt securities the proceeds of which were used for investment purposes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon). For purposes of the calculation of the fees payable to the Investment Adviser by the Fund, average weekly net assets of the Fund are determined at the end of each month on the basis of its average net assets for each week during the month. The assets for each weekly period are determined by averaging the net assets at the end of a week with the net assets at the end of the prior week.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Investment Adviser earned $11,531,219, $8,529,702 and 8,135,607, respectively, for advisory and administrative services rendered to the Fund.

Additionally, the Investment Adviser has entered into a sub-administration agreement (the “Sub-Administration Agreement”) with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (the “Sub-Administrator”) pursuant to which the Sub-Administrator provides certain administrative services necessary for the Fund’s operations which do not include the investment and portfolio management services provided by the Investment Adviser. For these services and the related expenses borne by the Sub-Administrator, the Investment Adviser pays a prorated monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.0275% of the first $10 billion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund and all other funds advised by the Investment Adviser and Teton Advisors, Inc. and administered by the Sub-Administrator, 0.0125% of the aggregate average net assets exceeding $10 billion but less than $15 billion, 0.01% of the aggregate average net assets in excess of $15 billion and 0.008% of the aggregate average net assets in excess of $20 billion.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard for its obligations and duties thereunder, the Investment Adviser is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund. As part of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund has agreed that the name “Gabelli” is the Investment Adviser’s property, and that in the event the Investment Adviser ceases to act as an investment adviser to the Fund, the Fund will change its name to one not including “Gabelli.”

Pursuant to its terms, the Investment Advisory Agreement will remain in effect with respect to the Fund from year to year if approved annually (i) by the Fund’s Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of its outstanding voting securities and (ii) by a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the Investment Advisory Agreement, by vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Investment Advisory Agreement was most recently approved by a majority of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons as that term is defined in the 1940 Act, at an in person meeting of the Board of Trustees held on February 23, 2017. A discussion regarding the basis for the most recent approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement by the Board is available in the Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ending June 30, 2017.

The Investment Advisory Agreement terminates automatically on its assignment and may be terminated without penalty on 60 days’ written notice at the option of either party thereto or by a vote of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities.

 

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Portfolio Manager Information

Other Accounts Managed

The information below lists the number of other accounts for which each portfolio manager was primarily responsible for the day to day management as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager or Team Member		Type of Accounts		Total No. of Accounts Managed				Total Assets				No. of Accounts where Advisory Fee is Based on Performance				Total Assets in Accounts where Advisory Fee is Based on Performance
1.  Caesar M.P. Bryan		Registered Investment Companies:			5			$	534.3 million				0			$	0
		Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:			2			$	2.3 million				2			$	2.3 million
		Other Accounts:			23			$	258.7 million				0			$	0
2.  Vincent Hugonnard-Roche		Registered Investment Companies:			1			$	149.3 million				0			$	0
		Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:			1			$	4.1 million				0			$	0
		Other Accounts:			5			$	1.0 million				0			$	0

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager for a fund also has day to day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or accounts. These potential conflicts include:

Allocation of Limited Time and Attention.    A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds or other accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds or accounts. As a result, the portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those accounts as might be the case if he or she were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single fund.

Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities.    If a portfolio manager identifies an investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds or other accounts, a fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity because the opportunity may be allocated among several of these funds or accounts.

Pursuit of Differing Strategies.    At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds or accounts for which he or she exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of one or more other funds or accounts.

Selection of Broker/Dealers.    Portfolio managers may be able to select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds or accounts that they supervise. In addition to providing execution of trades, some brokers and dealers provide portfolio managers with brokerage

 

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and research services which may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees than might otherwise be available. These services may be more beneficial to certain funds or accounts than to others. Although the payment of brokerage commissions is subject to the requirement that the portfolio manager determine in good faith that the commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided to the fund, a portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds or other accounts that he or she manages. In addition, with respect to certain types of accounts (such as pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals) the Investment Adviser may be limited by the client concerning the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades to particular brokers. In these cases, the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous transactions in the same security for a fund and another account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the fund or the other accounts.

Variation in Compensation.    A conflict of interest may arise where the financial or other benefits available to the portfolio manager differ among the funds or accounts that he or she manages. If the structure of the Investment Adviser’s management fee or the portfolio manager’s compensation differs among funds or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the portfolio manager may be motivated to favor certain funds or accounts over others. The portfolio manager also may be motivated to favor funds or accounts in which he or she has an investment interest, or in which the Investment Adviser or its affiliates have investment interests. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management or to enhance a portfolio manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager in affording preferential treatment to those funds or other accounts that could most significantly benefit the portfolio manager.

The Investment Adviser and the Fund have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to address the various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Investment Adviser and its staff members. However, there is no guarantee that such policies and procedures will be able to detect and prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may arise.

Compensation Structure

The compensation of the portfolio managers is reviewed annually and structured to enable the Investment Adviser to attract and retain highly qualified professionals in a competitive environment. The portfolio managers named above receive a compensation package that includes a minimum draw or base salary, equity-based incentive compensation via restricted stock awards, and incentive based variable compensation based on a percentage of net revenues received by the Investment Adviser for managing the Fund to the extent that it exceeds a minimum level of compensation. This method of compensation is based on the premise that superior long term performance in managing a portfolio will be rewarded through growth of assets through appreciation and cash flow. Incentive based equity compensation is based on an evaluation of quantitative and qualitative performance evaluation criteria. Mr. Hugonnard-Roche also may receive a discretionary bonus based primarily on qualitative performance evaluation criteria.

Compensation for managing other accounts for the Investment Adviser or its affiliates is based on a percentage of net revenues received by the investment adviser for managing the account. Compensation for managing pooled investment vehicles and other accounts that have a performance-based fee will have two components. One component of the fee is based on a percentage of net revenues received by the investment adviser for managing the account or pooled investment vehicle. The second component of the fee is based on absolute performance from which a percentage of such fee is paid to the portfolio manager.

 

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Ownership of Shares in the Fund

As of December 31, 2016, the portfolio managers of the Fund own the following amounts of equity securities of the Fund.

 

Caesar M.P. Bryan			$1-$10,000
Vincent Hugonnard-Roche			$10,001-$50,000

Portfolio Holdings Information

Employees of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates will often have access to information concerning the portfolio holdings of the Fund. The Fund and the Investment Adviser have adopted policies and procedures that require all employees to safeguard proprietary information of the Fund, which includes information relating to the Fund’s portfolio holdings as well as portfolio trading activity of the Investment Adviser with respect to the Fund (collectively, “Portfolio Holdings Information”). In addition, the Fund and the Investment Adviser have adopted policies and procedures providing that Portfolio Holdings Information may not be disclosed except to the extent that it is (a) made available to the general public by posting on the Fund’s website or filed as part of a required filing on Form N-Q or N-CSR or (b) provided to a third party for legitimate business purposes or regulatory purposes, that has agreed to keep such data confidential under terms approved by the Investment Adviser’s legal department or outside counsel, as described below. The Investment Adviser will examine each situation under (b) with a view to determine that release of the information is in the best interest of the Fund and their shareholders and, if a potential conflict between the Investment Adviser’s interests and the Fund’s interests arises, to have such conflict resolved by the Chief Compliance Officer or those Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons”, as defined in the 1940 Act. These policies further provide that no officer of the Fund or employee of the Investment Adviser shall communicate with the media about the Fund without obtaining the advance consent of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or General Counsel of the Investment Adviser.

Under the foregoing policies, the Fund currently may disclose Portfolio Holdings Information in the circumstances outlined below. Disclosure generally may be either on a monthly or quarterly basis with no time lag in some cases and with a time lag of up to 60 days in other cases (with the exception of proxy voting services which require a regular download of data):

(1)  To regulatory authorities in response to requests for such information and with the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund;

(2)  To mutual fund rating and statistical agencies and to persons performing similar functions where there is a legitimate business purpose for such disclosure and such entity has agreed to keep such data confidential until at least it has been made public by the Investment Adviser;

(3)  To service providers of the Fund, as necessary for the performance of their services to the Fund and to the Board of Trustees, where such entity has agreed to keep such data confidential until at least it has been made public by the Investment Adviser. The Fund’s current service providers that may receive such information are its administrator, sub-administrator, custodian, independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, and financial printers;

(4)  To firms providing proxy voting and other proxy services provided such entity has agreed to keep such data confidential until at least it has been made public by the Investment Adviser;

(5)  To certain broker dealers, investment advisers, and other financial intermediaries for purposes of their performing due diligence on the Fund and not for dissemination of this information to their clients or use of this information to conduct trading for their clients. Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information in these circumstances requires the broker, dealer, investment adviser, or financial intermediary to agree to

 

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keep such information confidential until it has been made public by the Investment Adviser and is further subject to prior approval of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund and shall be reported to the Board of Trustees at the next quarterly meeting; and

(6)  To consultants for purposes of performing analysis of the Fund, which analysis may be used by the consultant with its clients or disseminated to the public, provided that such entity shall have agreed to keep such information confidential until at least it has been made public by the Investment Adviser.

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund makes information about portfolio securities available to its administrator, sub-administrator, custodian, and proxy voting services on a daily basis, with no time lag, to its typesetter on a quarterly basis with a ten day time lag, to its financial printers on a quarterly basis with a forty-five day time lag, and its independent registered public accounting firm and legal counsel on an as needed basis with no time lag. The names of the Fund’s administrator, custodian, independent registered public accounting firm, and legal counsel are set forth is this SAI. The Fund’s proxy voting service is Broadridge Investor Communication Services. Donnelley Financial Services and Appatura provide typesetting services for the Fund and the Fund selects from a number of financial printers who have agreed to keep such information confidential until at least it has been made public by the Investment Adviser. Other than those arrangements with the Fund’s service providers and proxy voting service, the Fund has no ongoing arrangements to make available information about the Fund’s portfolio securities prior to such information being disclosed in a publicly available filing with the SEC that is required to include the information.

Disclosures made pursuant to a confidentiality agreement are subject to periodic confirmation by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund that the recipient has utilized such information solely in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Neither the Fund, nor the Investment Adviser, nor any of the Investment Adviser’s affiliates will accept on behalf of itself, its affiliates, or the Fund any compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund. The Board of Trustees will review such arrangements annually with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund is subject to Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder which restricts the ability of the Fund to make distributions of long term capital gains.

To the extent the Fund’s total distributions for a year exceed its net investment company taxable income (interest, dividends and net short term capital gains in excess of expenses) and net realized long term capital gains for that year, the excess would generally constitute a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares. Any distributions which (based upon the Fund’s full year performance) constitute a tax-free return of capital would reduce a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares, thereby increasing such shareholder’s potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the sale of the common shares. Any such amounts distributed to a shareholder in excess of the basis in the common shares would generally be taxable to the shareholder as capital gain. See “Taxation.” Distribution notices provided by the Fund to its shareholders will clearly indicate what portion of each distribution would constitute net income, net capital gains, and return of capital based on information available to the Fund for the relevant period at the time the distribution is declared. The final determination of the source of such distributions for federal income tax purposes will be made shortly after year end based on the Fund’s actual net investment company taxable income and net capital gain for that year and would be communicated to shareholders promptly. In the event that the Fund distributes amounts in excess of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, such distributions will decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, have the likely effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio, as the Fund’s fixed expenses will become a larger percentage of the Fund’s average net assets. In addition, in order to make such distributions, the Fund may have to sell a portion of its investment portfolio at a time when independent investment judgment may not dictate such action.

 

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, the Investment Adviser is responsible for placing purchase and sale orders and the allocation of brokerage on behalf of the Fund. Transactions in equity securities are in most cases effected on U.S. stock exchanges and involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. There may be no stated commission in the case of securities traded in over-the-counter markets, but the prices of those securities may include undisclosed commissions or mark-ups. Principal transactions are not entered into with affiliates of the Fund. However, G.research, Inc. may execute transactions in the over-the-counter markets on an agency basis and receive a stated commission therefrom. To the extent consistent with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and exemptions adopted by the SEC thereunder, as well as other regulatory requirements, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that portfolio transactions may be executed through G.research, Inc. and its broker-dealer affiliates if, in the judgment of the Investment Adviser, the use of those broker-dealers is likely to result in price and execution at least as favorable as those of other qualified broker-dealers, and if, in particular transactions, the affiliated broker-dealers charge the Fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions and comparable to rates charged by other broker-dealers for similar transactions. The Fund has no obligations to deal with any broker or group of brokers in executing transactions in portfolio securities. In executing transactions, the Investment Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price, size of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. While the Investment Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, the Fund does not necessarily pay the lowest commission available.

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016, the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $2,313,993, $1,340,867 and $2,377,574, respectively, of which G.research received $0, $0 and $0, respectively.

Subject to obtaining the best price and execution, brokers who provide supplemental research, market and statistical information, or other services (e.g., wire services) to the Investment Adviser or its affiliates may receive orders for transactions by the Fund. The term “research, market and statistical information” includes advice as to the value of securities, and advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and furnishing analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts. Information so received will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the expenses of the Investment Adviser will not necessarily be reduced as a result of the receipt of such supplemental information. Such information may be useful to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates in providing services to clients other than the Fund, and not all such information is used by the Investment Adviser in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates by brokers and dealers through whom other clients of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates effect securities transactions may be useful to the Investment Adviser in providing services to the Fund.

Although investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those for the other accounts managed by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates, investments of the kind made by the Fund may also be made for those other accounts. When the same securities are purchased for or sold by the Fund and any of such other accounts, it is the policy of the Investment Adviser and its affiliates to allocate such purchases and sales in a manner deemed fair and equitable over time to all of the accounts, including the Fund.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of an investment company’s annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities by the monthly average value of securities in its portfolio during the year, excluding portfolio securities the maturities of which at the time of acquisition were one year or less. A high rate of portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commission expense than a lower rate, which expense must be borne by the Fund and indirectly by its shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year and will not be a factor when the Investment Adviser determines that portfolio changes are appropriate. For example, an increase in the Fund’s participation in risk arbitrage situations would increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate. A higher rate of portfolio turnover may also result in taxable gains being passed to

 

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shareholders sooner than would otherwise be the case. The investment policies of the Fund, including its strategy of writing covered call options on securities in its portfolio, is expected to result in portfolio turnover that is higher than that of other investment companies. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the portfolio turnover rates were 198.4% and 36.0%, respectively.

TAXATION

The following discussion is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Fund’s common and preferred shares. Except as otherwise provided below, this discussion assumes you are a U.S. person (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and that you hold your shares as capital assets. This discussion is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative authorities, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations by the courts or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal tax concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund or shareholders who are subject to special rules under the Code).

The discussions set forth herein and in the prospectus do not constitute tax advice and potential investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund has elected to be treated and has qualified, and intends to continue to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. Accordingly, the Fund must, among other things, meet the following requirements regarding the source of its income and the diversification of its assets:

(i)  The Fund must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from the following sources, which are referred to herein as “Qualifying Income”: (a) dividends, interest (including tax-exempt interest), payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gain from options, futures and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies; and (b) net income derived from interests in publicly traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross income from the items described in clause (a) above (each a “Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership”).

(ii)  The Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities of (I) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and the securities of other regulated investment companies), (II) any two or more issuers (other than regulated investment companies) that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or similar or related trades or businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships.

Income from the Fund’s investments in grantor trusts and equity interests of MLPs that are not Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships (if any) will be Qualifying Income to the extent it is attributable to items of income of such trust or MLP that would be Qualifying Income if earned directly by the Fund.

 

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Although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership. The Fund’s investments in partnerships, including in Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships, may result in the Fund being subject to state, local or foreign income, franchise or withholding tax liabilities.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income and gains that the Fund distributes to its shareholders, provided that it distributes each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short term capital gain over net long term capital loss and other taxable income, other than any net capital gain (which is the excess of net long term capital gain over net short term capital gain), reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) 90% of the Fund’s net tax-exempt interest income (the excess of its gross tax-exempt interest over certain disallowed deductions). The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of such income at least annually. The Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporate rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.

The Code imposes a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on the Fund to the extent the Fund does not distribute by the end of any calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one year period generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use the Fund’s fiscal year), and (iii) certain undistributed amounts from previous years on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax. In addition, the minimum amounts that must be distributed in any year to avoid the federal excise tax will be increased or decreased to reflect any under-distribution or over-distribution, as the case may be, from the previous year. While the Fund intends to distribute any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% federal excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Fund’s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to entirely avoid the imposition of the federal excise tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the federal excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

A distribution will be treated as paid during the calendar year if it is paid during the calendar year or declared by the Fund in October, November or December of the year, payable to shareholders of record on a date during such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following year. Any such distributions paid during January of the following year will be deemed to be received by the Fund’s shareholders on December 31 of the year the distributions are declared, rather than when the distributions are actually received.

If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions will be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met, such dividends, however, would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. The Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay taxes and make distributions (which could be subject to interest charges) before requalifying for taxation as a regulated investment company. If the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it must pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company. If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required to recognize and pay tax on any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if the Fund had been liquidated) or, alternatively, to elect to be subject to taxation on such built-in gain recognized for a period of five years, in order to qualify as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.

Certain of the Fund’s investment practices are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses

 

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or deductions, (ii) convert lower taxed long term capital gains and qualified dividend income into higher taxed short term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% annual gross income requirement described above. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections and may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

The MLPs in which the Fund intends to invest are expected to be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The cash distributions received by the Fund from an MLP may not correspond to the amount of income allocated to the Fund by the MLP in any given taxable year. If the amount of income allocated by an MLP to the Fund exceeds the amount of cash received by the Fund from such MLP, the Fund may have difficulty making distributions to its shareholders in the amounts necessary to satisfy the requirements for maintaining its status as a regulated investment company or avoiding U.S. federal income or excise taxes. Accordingly, the Fund may have to dispose of securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate sufficient cash to satisfy the distribution requirements.

The Fund expects that the income derived by the Fund from the MLPs in which it invests will be Qualifying Income. If, however, an MLP in which the Fund invests is not a Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership, the income derived by the Fund from such investment may not be Qualifying Income and, therefore, could adversely affect the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company. The Fund intends to monitor its investments in MLPs to prevent the disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

The U.S. tax classification of the Canadian Royalty Trusts in which the Fund invests and the types of income that the Fund receives may have an impact on the Fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company. In particular, securities issued by certain Canadian Royalty Trusts (such as Canadian Royalty Trusts which are grantor trusts for U.S. federal income tax purposes) may not produce “qualified” income for purposes of determining the Fund’s compliance with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies. Additionally, the Fund may be deemed to directly own the assets of each Canadian Royalty Trust, and would need to look to such assets when determining the Fund’s compliance with the asset diversification rules applicable to regulated investment companies. To the extent that the Fund holds such securities indirectly through investments in a taxable subsidiary formed by the Fund, those securities may produce “qualified” income. However, the net return to the Fund on such investments would be reduced to the extent that the subsidiary is subject to corporate income taxes. The Fund shall monitor its investments in the Canadian Royalty Trusts with the objective of maintaining its continued qualification as a regulated investment company.

Gain or loss on the sales of securities by the Fund will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the securities have been held by the Fund for more than one year. Gain or loss on the sale of securities held for one year or less will be short term capital gain or loss.

The premium received by the Fund for writing a call option is not included in income at the time of receipt. If the option expires, the premium is short term capital gain to the Fund. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its position and the premium received is short term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised, thereby requiring the Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of the security and any resulting gain or loss will be long term or short term, depending upon the holding period of the security. With respect to a put or call option that is purchased by the Fund, if the option is sold, any resulting gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, and will be short term or long term, depending upon the holding period for the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss is a capital loss and is short term or long term, depending upon the holding period for the option. If the option is exercised, the cost of the option, in the case of a call option, is added to the basis of the purchased security and, in the case of a put option, reduces the amount realized on the underlying security in determining gain or loss. Because the Fund does not have control over the exercise of the call options it writes, such exercises or other required sales of the underlying securities may cause the Fund to realize capital gains or losses at inopportune times.

 

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The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, forward contracts, options, futures contracts (including options and futures contracts on foreign currencies) and short sales, to the extent permitted, will be subject to special provisions of the Code (including provisions relating to “hedging transactions,” “straddles” and “constructive sales”) that may, among other things, affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer Fund losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. Certain of these provisions may also (a) require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of the positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out at the end of each year), (b) cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to pay dividends or make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for avoiding income and excise taxes, (c) treat dividends that would otherwise constitute qualified dividend income as non-qualified dividend income and/or (d) treat dividends that would otherwise be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction as ineligible for such treatment.

The Fund’s investment in so-called “section 1256 contracts,” such as regulated futures contracts, most foreign currency forward contracts traded in the interbank market, options on most stock indices and any non equity options, are subject to special tax rules. All section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of its taxable year are required to be marked to their market value, and any unrealized gain or loss on those positions will be included in the Fund’s income as if each position had been sold for its fair market value at the end of the taxable year. The resulting gain or loss will be combined with any gain or loss realized by the Fund from positions in section 1256 contracts closed during the taxable year. Provided such positions were held as capital assets and were not part of a “hedging transaction” or a “straddle,” 60% of the resulting net gain or loss will be treated as long term capital gain or loss, and 40% of such net gain or loss will be treated as short term capital gain or loss, regardless of the period of time the positions were actually held by the Fund.

If the Fund purchases shares in certain foreign investment entities, called passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to the shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Elections may be available to the Fund to mitigate the effect of this tax and the additional charges, but such elections generally accelerate the recognition of income without the receipt of cash. Dividends paid by PFICs are not treated as qualified dividend income, as discussed below under “Taxation of Shareholders.”

If the Fund invests in the stock of a PFIC, or any other investment that produces income that is not matched by a corresponding cash distribution to the Fund, the Fund could be required to recognize income that it has not yet received in current income. Any such income would be treated as income earned by the Fund and therefore would be subject to the distribution requirements of the Code. This might prevent the Fund from distributing 90% of its net investment income as is required in order to avoid Fund-level U.S. federal income taxation on all of its income, or might prevent the Fund from distributing enough ordinary income and capital gain net income to avoid completely the imposition of the excise tax. To avoid this result, the Fund may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities in unfavorable circumstances to be able to make required distributions to the shareholders.

The Fund may invest in debt obligations purchased at a discount, with the result that the Fund may be required to accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes before amounts due under the obligations are paid (with such accrued income increasing the amount the Fund must distribute in order to qualify as a regulated investment company or avoid the 4% excise tax). The Fund may also invest in securities rated in the medium to lower rating categories of nationally recognized rating organizations, and in unrated securities (“high yield securities”). A portion of the interest payments on such high yield securities may be treated as dividends for certain U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities or expenses are generally treated as ordinary income or

 

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loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.

Dividends or other income (including, in some cases, capital gains) received by the Fund from investments in foreign securities may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. If more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect for U.S. federal income tax purposes to treat foreign income taxes paid by it as paid by its shareholders. The Fund may qualify for and make this election in some, but not necessarily all, of its taxable years. If the Fund were to make such an election, shareholders of the Fund would be required to take into account an amount equal to their pro rata portions of such foreign taxes in computing their taxable income and then treat an amount equal to those foreign taxes as a U.S. federal income tax deduction (subject to limitations, which may be significant) or as a foreign tax credit (subject to limitations, which may be significant) against their U.S. federal income liability. Shortly after any year for which it makes such an election, the Fund will report to its shareholders the amount per share of such foreign income tax that must be included in each shareholder’s gross income and the amount that may be available for the deduction or credit.

Taxation of Shareholders

The Fund will either distribute or retain for reinvestment all or part of its net capital gain, which is the excess of net long term capital gains over net short term capital losses. If any such gain is retained, the Fund will be subject to a corporate tax on such retained amount. In that event, the Fund expects to designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders, each of whom (i) will be required to include in income for tax purposes as long term capital gain its share of such undistributed amounts, (ii) will be entitled to credit its proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund against its U.S. federal income tax liability and to claim refunds to the extent that the credit exceeds such liability and (iii) will increase its basis in its shares of the Fund by an amount equal to 65% of the amount of undistributed capital gain included in such the shareholder’s income less the tax deemed paid by the shareholders under clause (ii).

Distributions paid by the Fund from its investment company taxable income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions (if reported by the Fund) may, however, qualify (provided holding period and other requirements are met by both the Fund and the shareholder) (i) for the dividends received deduction available to corporations, but only to the extent that the Fund’s income consists of dividend income from U.S. corporations and (ii) in the case of individual shareholders, as qualified dividend income (eligible to be taxed at long term capital gains rates) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income. If the Fund’s qualified dividend income is less than 95% of its gross income, a shareholder of the Fund may only include as qualified dividend income that portion of the dividends that may be and are so designated by the Fund as qualified dividend income. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the Fund’s distributions will qualify for favorable treatment as qualified dividend income.

Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations (e.g., generally, foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a qualifying comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or whose stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A qualified foreign corporation does not include a foreign corporation that for the taxable year of the corporation in which the dividend was paid, or the preceding taxable year, is a PFIC. If the Fund lends portfolio securities, the amount received by the Fund that is the equivalent of the dividends paid by the issuer on the securities loaned will not be eligible for qualified dividend income treatment.

Distributions of net capital gain reported as capital gain distributions, if any, are taxable to shareholders at rates applicable to long term capital gain, whether paid in cash or in stock, and regardless of how long the shareholder has held the Fund’s shares. Capital gain distributions are not eligible for the dividends received

 

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deduction. Unrecaptured Section 1250 gain distributions, if any, will be subject to a 25% tax. For non-corporate taxpayers, investment company taxable income (other than qualified dividend income) will currently be taxed at ordinary income rates, while net capital gain generally will be taxed at long term capital gains rates. For corporate taxpayers, both investment company taxable income and net capital gain are taxed at ordinary income rates.

The IRS currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as ordinary income and net capital gain) based upon the percentage of total dividends paid to each class for the tax year. Accordingly, because the Fund issues preferred shares, the Fund will allocate its ordinary income, net capital gain and other relevant items (if any) between its common shares and preferred shares in proportion to the total dividends paid to each class with respect to such tax year.

If, for any calendar year, the total distributions exceed both current earnings and profits and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will generally be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares. The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce a shareholder’s tax basis in the common shares, thereby increasing such shareholder’s potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the sale of the common shares. Any amounts distributed to a shareholder in excess of his or her basis in the common shares will be taxable to the shareholder as capital gain (assuming your common shares are held as a capital asset). In determining the extent to which a distribution will be treated as being made from the Fund’s earnings and profits, the Fund’s earnings and profits will be allocated on a pro rata basis, first to distributions with respect to the Fund’s preferred shares, and then to its common shares.

Shareholders may be entitled to offset their capital gain distributions (but not distributions eligible for qualified dividend income treatment) with capital losses. There are a number of statutory provisions affecting when capital losses may be offset against capital gain, and limiting the use of losses from certain investments and activities. Accordingly, shareholders with capital loss are urged to consult their tax advisers.

Certain types of income received by the Fund from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”), taxable mortgage pools or other investments may cause the Fund to designate some or all of its distributions as “excess inclusion income.” To Fund shareholders such excess inclusion income will (i) constitute taxable income, as “unrelated business taxable income” (“UBTI”) for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities; (ii) not be offset against net operating losses for tax purposes; (iii) not be eligible for reduced U.S. withholding for non-U.S. shareholders even from tax treaty countries; and (iv) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations,” as defined by the Code (such as certain governments or governmental agencies and charitable remainder trusts), are Fund shareholders.

Subject to the discussion of repurchase and redemption below, upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of common shares, a shareholder will generally realize a taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property received and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares. Such gain or loss will be treated as long term capital gain or loss if the common shares have been held for more than one year. Any loss realized on a sale or exchange of common shares of the Fund will be disallowed to the extent the common shares disposed of are replaced by substantially identical common shares within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the common shares are disposed of. In such a case, the basis of the common shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Any loss realized by a shareholder on the sale or exchange of Fund common shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated for tax purposes as a long term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received by the shareholder (or amounts credited to the shareholder as an undistributed capital gain) with respect to such common shares.

A repurchase or a redemption of shares by the Fund will be taxable transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes, either as a “sale or exchange,” or under certain circumstances, as a “dividend.” In general, the transaction should be treated as a sale or exchange of shares if the receipt of cash (a) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the shareholder, (b) results in a “complete redemption” of the shareholder’s interest, or (c) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the shareholder. A “substantially disproportionate” distribution generally requires a reduction of at least 20% in the shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Fund and also requires the shareholder to own less than 50% of the voting power of all classes of the Fund entitled to vote immediately after the repurchase. A “complete redemption” of a shareholder’s interest generally requires that shares of the Fund owned by such shareholder be disposed of. A distribution “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” requires that there be a “meaningful reduction” in the shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Fund, which should result if the shareholder has a minimal interest in the Fund, exercises no control over Fund affairs and suffers a reduction in his proportionate interest in the Fund. In determining whether any of these tests has been met, any Fund shares actually owned, as well as shares considered to be owned by the shareholder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules set forth in section 318 of the Code, generally must be taken into account.

If the repurchase or the redemption of your shares meets any of these three tests for “sale or exchange” treatment, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property received pursuant to the repurchase and the adjusted tax basis of the shares sold. If none of the tests described above are met with respect to a repurchase, you may be treated as having received, in whole or in part, a dividend, return of capital or capital gain, depending on (i) whether there are sufficient earnings and profits to support a dividend and (ii) your tax basis in the relevant class of shares. The tax basis in the shares tendered to the Fund will be transferred to any remaining shares of the same class held by you in the Fund. In addition, if the sale of common shares pursuant to the applicable repurchase or the redemption of preferred shares is treated as a “dividend” to a tendering stockholder, a constructive dividend under certain provisions of the Code may result to a non-tendering shareholder whose proportionate interest in the earnings and assets of the Fund has been increased as a result of such tender.

Ordinary income distributions, capital gain distributions, and gain from the disposition of shares of the Fund also may be subject to state and local, and foreign taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding

 

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specific questions about U.S. federal (including the application of the alternative minimum tax), state, local or foreign tax consequences to them of investing in the Fund.

Except as provided below, a holder of shares that is a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation (a “foreign investor”) generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or possibly a lower rate provided by an applicable tax treaty) on ordinary income dividends. Assuming applicable disclosure and certification requirements are met, U.S. federal income or withholding tax will not generally apply to any gain or income realized by a foreign investor in respect of any distributions of net capital gain (including net capital gain retained by the Fund but deemed distributed to shareholders) or upon the sale or other disposition of shares. Different tax consequences may result (i) if the foreign investor is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, or (ii) in the case of an individual, if the foreign investor is present in the United States for 183 days or more during a taxable year and certain other conditions are met. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax consequences of investing in the Fund’s shares.

In addition, properly reported ordinary income dividends are generally exempt from U.S. federal income or withholding tax where they (i) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified net interest income” (generally, the Fund’s U.S.-source interest income, other than certain contingent interest and interest from obligations of a corporation or partnership in which the Fund is at least a 10% shareholder, reduced by expenses that are allocable to such income) or (ii) are paid in respect of the Fund’s “qualified short term capital gains” (generally, the excess of the Fund’s net short term capital gain over the Fund’s long term capital loss for such taxable year). Depending on its circumstances, the Fund may report all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends as such qualified net interest income or as qualified short term capital gains, and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for this exemption from withholding. In order to qualify for the exemption from withholding for qualified net interest income, a foreign investor needs to comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or substitute Form). In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports the payment as qualified net interest income or qualified short term capital gains. Foreign investors should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts. There can be no assurance as to what portion of the Fund’s distributions will qualify for favorable treatment as qualified net interest income or qualified short term capital gains.

Legislation enacted in 2010 and existing guidance issued thereunder require withholding at a rate of 30% on dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale of, our stock held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such interests or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments. Accordingly, the entity through which our stock is held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2018, gross proceeds from the sale of, our stock held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies to us that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which we will in turn provide to the Internal Revenue Service. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. We will not pay any additional amounts to stockholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Stockholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of the legislation on their investment in our stock.

 

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Backup Withholding

The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to certain non-exempt shareholders who fail to provide the Fund (or its agent) with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be refunded or credited against such shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury regulations presently in effect. For the complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder. The Code and the Treasury regulations are subject to change by legislative, judicial or administrative action, either prospectively or retroactively. Persons considering an investment in shares of the Fund should consult their own tax advisers regarding the purchase, ownership and disposition of Fund shares.

BENEFICIAL OWNERS

Set forth below is information as to those shareholders to the Fund’s knowledge that beneficially own 5% or more of a class of the Fund’s outstanding equity securities as of November 1, 2017.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner		Title of Class		Amount of Shares and Nature of Ownership		Percent of Class
Americo Financial Life & Annuity College Life Insurance Company of America Kansas City, MO 64141–0288		Series B Preferred Shares		239,500 (beneficial)		6.46%

As of October 31, 2017, the Trustees and officers of the Fund as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding common shares and less than 1% of the outstanding Series B Preferred Shares.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Book-Entry-Only Issuance

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will act as securities depository for the common shares offered pursuant to the prospectus. The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system is based upon information obtained from DTC. The securities offered hereby initially will be issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (as nominee for DTC). One or more fully-registered global security certificates initially will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total number of securities, and deposited with DTC.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilities the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and

 

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dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly through other entities.

Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of a security, a beneficial owner, is in turn to be recorded on the direct or indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owners purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in securities, except as provided herein.

DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities being offered pursuant to the prospectus; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Payments on the securities will be made to DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC or the Fund, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the Fund, disbursement of such payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants. Furthermore each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Fund. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificates representing the securities will be printed and delivered.

Proxy Voting Procedures

The Fund has adopted the proxy voting procedures of the Investment Adviser and has directed the Investment Adviser to vote all proxies relating to the Fund’s voting securities in accordance with such procedures. The proxy voting procedures are attached as Appendix A. They are also on file with the SEC and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. The proxy voting procedures are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and copies of the proxy voting procedures may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

Code of Ethics

The Fund and the Investment Adviser have adopted a code of ethics. This code of ethics sets forth restrictions on the trading activities of trustees/directors, officers and employees of the Fund, the Investment Adviser and their affiliates. For example, such persons may not purchase any security for which the Fund has a

 

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purchase or sale order pending, or for which such trade is under consideration. In addition, those trustees/directors, officers and employees that are principally involved in investment decisions for client accounts are prohibited from purchasing or selling for their own account for a period of seven days a security that has been traded for a client’s account, unless such trade is executed on more favorable terms for the client’s account and it is determined that such trade will not adversely affect the client’s account. Short term trading by such trustee/directors, officers and employees for their own accounts in securities held by a Fund client’s account is also restricted. The above examples are subject to certain exceptions and they do not represent all of the trading restrictions and policies set forth by the code of ethics. The code of ethics is on file with the SEC and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. The code of ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of the code of ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

Joint Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial Officers

The Fund and the Investment Adviser have adopted a joint Code of Ethics that serves as a code of conduct. The Code of Ethics sets forth policies to guide the chief executive and senior financial officers in the performance of their duties. The code of ethics is on file with the SEC and can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. The Code of Ethics is also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov), and copies of the Code of Ethics may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

Financial Statements

The audited financial statements included in the annual report to the Fund’s shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2016, together with the report of                     are                     . All other portions of the annual report to shareholders are                 . The unaudited financial statements included in the semiannual report to the Fund’s shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2017 are                     . All other portions of the semiannual report to shareholders are                 .

 

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APPENDIX A

GAMCO INVESTORS, INC. AND AFFILIATES

THE VOTING OF PROXIES ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS

Rules 204(4)-2 and 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 require investment advisers to adopt written policies and procedures governing the voting of proxies on behalf of their clients.

These procedures will be used by GAMCO Asset Management Inc., Gabelli Funds, LLC, Gabelli Securities, Inc., and Teton Advisors, Inc. (collectively, the “Advisers”) to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held by their clients, including the procedures that the Advisers use when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of the shareholders of an investment company managed by one of the Advisers, on the one hand, and those of the Advisers; the principal underwriter; or any affiliated person of the investment company, the Advisers, or the principal underwriter. These procedures will not apply where the Advisers do not have voting discretion or where the Advisers have agreed to with a client to vote the client’s proxies in accordance with specific guidelines or procedures supplied by the client (to the extent permitted by ERISA).

I.    Proxy Voting Committee

The Proxy Voting Committee was originally formed in April 1989 for the purpose of formulating guidelines and reviewing proxy statements within the parameters set by the substantive proxy voting guidelines originally published in 1988 and updated periodically, a copy of which are appended as Exhibit A. The Committee will include representatives of Research, Administration, Legal, and the Advisers. Additional or replacement members of the Committee will be nominated by the Chairman and voted upon by the entire Committee.

Meetings are held on an as needed basis to form views on the manner in which the Advisers should vote proxies on behalf of their clients.

In general, the Director of Proxy Voting Services, using the Proxy Guidelines, recommendations of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) or other third-party services and the analysts of G.research, Inc., will determine how to vote on each issue. For non-controversial matters, the Director of Proxy Voting Services may vote the proxy if the vote is: (1) consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and not contrary to the Proxy Guidelines; (2) consistent with the recommendations of the issuer’s Board of Directors and is a non-controversial issue not covered by the Proxy Guidelines; or (3) the vote is contrary to the recommendations of the Board of Directors but is consistent with the Proxy Guidelines. In those instances, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Chairman of the Committee may sign and date the proxy statement indicating how each issue will be voted.

All matters identified by the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Legal Department as controversial, taking into account the recommendations of ISS, Glass Lewis or other third party services and the analysts of G.research, Inc., will be presented to the Proxy Voting Committee. If the Chairman of the Committee, the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Legal Department has identified the matter as one that (1) is controversial; (2) would benefit from deliberation by the Proxy Voting Committee; or (3) may give rise to a conflict of interest between the Advisers and their clients, the Chairman of the Committee will initially determine what vote to recommend that the Advisers should cast and the matter will go before the Committee.

A.  Conflicts of Interest.

The Advisers have implemented these proxy voting procedures in order to prevent conflicts of interest from influencing their proxy voting decisions. By following the Proxy Guidelines, as well as the recommendations of ISS, other third-party services and the analysts of G.research, the Advisers are able to avoid, wherever possible, the influence of potential conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, circumstances may arise in which one or more of the Advisers are faced with a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest in connection with its vote. In general, a conflict of interest may arise when an Adviser knowingly does business with an issuer, and may appear to have a material conflict between its own interests and the interests of the shareholders of an investment company managed by one of the Advisers regarding how the proxy is to be

 

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voted. A conflict also may exist when an Adviser has actual knowledge of a material business arrangement between an issuer and an affiliate of the Adviser.

In practical terms, a conflict of interest may arise, for example, when a proxy is voted for a company that is a client of one of the Advisers, such as GAMCO Asset Management Inc. A conflict also may arise when a client of one of the Advisers has made a shareholder proposal in a proxy to be voted upon by one or more of the Advisers. The Director of Proxy Voting Services, together with the Legal Department, will scrutinize all proxies for these or other situations that may give rise to a conflict of interest with respect to the voting of proxies.

B.  Operation of Proxy Voting Committee

For matters submitted to the Committee, each member of the Committee will receive, prior to the meeting, a copy of the proxy statement, any relevant third party research, a summary of any views provided by the Chief Investment Officer and any recommendations by G.research, Inc. analysts. The Chief Investment Officer or the G.research, Inc. analysts may be invited to present their viewpoints. If the Director of Proxy Voting Services or the Legal Department believe that the matter before the committee is one with respect to which a conflict of interest may exist between the Advisers and their clients, counsel will provide an opinion to the Committee concerning the conflict. If the matter is one in which the interests of the clients of one or more of the Advisers may diverge, counsel will so advise and the Committee may make different recommendations as to different clients. For any matters where the recommendation may trigger appraisal rights, counsel will provide an opinion concerning the likely risks and merits of such an appraisal action.

Each matter submitted to the Committee will be determined by the vote of a majority of the members present at the meeting. Should the vote concerning one or more recommendations be tied in a vote of the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee will cast the deciding vote. The Committee will notify the proxy department of its decisions and the proxies will be voted accordingly.

Although the Proxy Guidelines express the normal preferences for the voting of any shares not covered by a contrary investment guideline provided by the client, the Committee is not bound by the preferences set forth in the Proxy Guidelines and will review each matter on its own merits. The Advisers subscribe to ISS, which supplies current information on companies, matters being voted on, regulations, trends in proxy voting and information on corporate governance issues.

If the vote cast either by the analyst or as a result of the deliberations of the Proxy Voting Committee runs contrary to the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the issuer, the matter will be referred to legal counsel to determine whether an amendment to the most recently filed Schedule 13D is appropriate.

II.    Social Issues and Other Client Guidelines

If a client has provided special instructions relating to the voting of proxies, they should be noted in the client’s account file and forwarded to the proxy department. This is the responsibility of the investment professional or sales assistant for the client. In accordance with Department of Labor guidelines, the Advisers’ policy is to vote on behalf of ERISA accounts in the best interest of the plan participants with regard to social issues that carry an economic impact. Where an account is not governed by ERISA, the Advisers will vote shares held on behalf of the client in a manner consistent with any individual investment/voting guidelines provided by the client. Otherwise the Advisers may abstain with respect to those shares.

Specific to the Gabelli ESG Fund, the Proxy Voting Committee will rely on the advice of the portfolio managers of the Gabelli ESG Fund to provide voting recommendations on the securities held in the portfolio.

III. Client Retention of Voting Rights

If a client chooses to retain the right to vote proxies or if there is any change in voting authority, the following should be notified by the investment professional or sales assistant for the client.

—  Operations

—  Proxy Department

—  Investment professional assigned to the account

 

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In the event that the Board of Directors (or a Committee thereof) of one or more of the investment companies managed by one of the Advisers has retained direct voting control over any security, the Proxy Voting Department will provide each Board Member (or Committee member) with a copy of the proxy statement together with any other relevant information including recommendations of ISS or other third-party services.

IV.    Proxies of Certain Non-U.S. Issuers

Proxy voting in certain countries requires “share-blocking.” Shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting with a designated depository. During the period in which the shares are held with a depository, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the clients’ custodian. Absent a compelling reason to the contrary, the Advisers believe that the benefit to the client of exercising the vote is outweighed by the cost of voting and therefore, the Advisers will not typically vote the securities of non-U.S. issuers that require share-blocking.

In addition, voting proxies of issuers in non-US markets may also give rise to a number of administrative issues to prevent the Advisers from voting such proxies. For example, the Advisers may receive the notices for shareholder meetings without adequate time to consider the proposals in the proxy or after the cut-off date for voting. In these cases, the Advisers will look at Glass Lewis or other third-party services for recommendations on how to vote. Other markets require the Advisers to provide local agents with power of attorney prior to implementing their respective voting instructions on the proxy. Although it is the Advisers’ policies to vote the proxies for its clients for which they have proxy voting authority, in the case of issuers in non-US markets, we vote client proxies on a best efforts basis.

V.    Voting Records

The Proxy Voting Department will retain a record of matters voted upon by the Advisers for their clients. The Advisers will supply information on how they voted a client’s proxy upon request from the client.

The complete voting records for each registered investment company (the “Fund”) that is managed by the Advisers will be filed on Form N-PX for the twelve months ended June 30th, no later than August 31st 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 Gabelli Funds, LLC at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The Advisers’ proxy voting records will be retained in compliance with Rule 204-2 under the Investment Advisers Act.

VI.    Voting Procedures

1.  Custodian banks, outside brokerage firms and clearing firms are responsible for forwarding proxies directly to the Advisers.

Proxies are received in one of two forms:

 

•

Shareholder Vote Instruction Forms (“VIFs”)—Issued by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). Broadridge is an outside service contracted by the various institutions to issue proxy materials.

 

•

Proxy cards which may be voted directly.

2.  Upon receipt of the proxy, the number of shares each form represents is logged into the proxy system, electronically or manually, according to security.

3.  Upon receipt of instructions from the proxy committee, the votes are cast and recorded for each account.

Records have been maintained on the ProxyEdge system.

 

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ProxyEdge records include:

Security Name and Cusip Number

Date and Type of Meeting (Annual, Special, Contest)

Client Name

Adviser or Fund Account Number

Directors’ Recommendation

How the Adviser voted for the client on item

4.  VIFs are kept alphabetically by security. Records for the current proxy season are located in the Proxy Voting Department office. In preparation for the upcoming season, files are transferred to an offsite storage facility during January/February.

5.  If a proxy card or VIF is received too late to be voted in the conventional matter, every attempt is made to vote including:

 

•

When a solicitor has been retained, the solicitor is called. At the solicitor’s direction, the proxy is faxed or sent electronically.

 

•

In some circumstances VIFs can be faxed or sent electronically to Broadridge up until the time of the meeting.

6.  In the case of a proxy contest, records are maintained for each opposing entity.

7.  Voting in Person

a)  At times it may be necessary to vote the shares in person. In this case, a “legal proxy” is obtained in the following manner:

 

•

Banks and brokerage firms using the services at Broadridge:

Broadridge is notified that we wish to vote in person. Broadridge issues individual legal proxies and sends them back via email or overnight (or the Adviser can pay messenger charges). A lead-time of at least two weeks prior to the meeting is needed to do this. Alternatively, the procedures detailed below for banks not using Broadridge may be implemented.

 

•

Banks and brokerage firms issuing proxies directly:

The bank is called and/or faxed and a legal proxy is requested.

All legal proxies should appoint:

“Representative of [Adviser name] with full power of substitution.”

b)  The legal proxies are given to the person attending the meeting along with the limited power of attorney.

 

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Appendix A

Proxy Guidelines

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

General Policy Statement

It is the policy of GAMCO Investors, Inc, and its affiliated advisers (collectively “the Advisers”) to vote in the best economic interests of our clients. As we state in our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights, established in May 1988, we are neither for nor against management. We are for shareholders.

At our first proxy committee meeting in 1989, it was decided that each proxy statement should be evaluated on its own merits within the framework first established by our Magna Carta of Shareholders Rights. The attached guidelines serve to enhance that broad framework.

We do not consider any issue routine. We take into consideration all of our research on the company, its directors, and their short and long term goals for the company. In cases where issues that we generally do not approve of are combined with other issues, the negative aspects of the issues will be factored into the evaluation of the overall proposals but will not necessitate a vote in opposition to the overall proposals.

Board of Directors

We do not consider the election of the Board of Directors a routine issue. Each slate of directors is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Factors taken into consideration include:

 

•

Historical responsiveness to shareholders

This may include such areas as:

—  Paying greenmail

—  Failure to adopt shareholder resolutions receiving a majority of shareholder votes

 

•

Qualifications

 

•

Nominating committee in place

 

•

Number of outside directors on the board

 

•

Attendance at meetings

 

•

Overall performance

Selection of Auditors

In general, we support the Board of Directors’ recommendation for auditors.

Blank Check Preferred Stock

We oppose the issuance of blank check preferred stock.

Blank check preferred stock allows the company to issue stock and establish dividends, voting rights, etc. without further shareholder approval.

Classified Board

A classified board is one where the directors are divided into classes with overlapping terms. A different class is elected at each annual meeting.

While a classified board promotes continuity of directors facilitating long range planning, we feel directors should be accountable to shareholders on an annual basis. We will look at this proposal on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the board’s historical responsiveness to the rights of shareholders.

 

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Where a classified board is in place we will generally not support attempts to change to an annually elected board.

When an annually elected board is in place, we generally will not support attempts to classify the board.

Increase Authorized Common Stock

The request to increase the amount of outstanding shares is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Factors taken into consideration include:

 

•

Future use of additional shares

—  Stock split

—  Stock option or other executive compensation plan

—  Finance growth of company/strengthen balance sheet

—  Aid in restructuring

—  Improve credit rating

—  Implement a poison pill or other takeover defense

 

•

Amount of stock currently authorized but not yet issued or reserved for stock option plans

 

•

Amount of additional stock to be authorized and its dilutive effect

We will support this proposal if a detailed and verifiable plan for the use of the additional shares is contained in the proxy statement.

Confidential Ballot

We support the idea that a shareholder’s identity and vote should be treated with confidentiality.

However, we look at this issue on a case-by-case basis.

In order to promote confidentiality in the voting process, we endorse the use of independent Inspectors of Election.

Cumulative Voting

In general, we support cumulative voting.

Cumulative voting is a process by which a shareholder may multiply the number of directors being elected by the number of shares held on record date and cast the total number for one candidate or allocate the voting among two or more candidates.

Where cumulative voting is in place, we will vote against any proposal to rescind this shareholder right.

Cumulative voting may result in a minority block of stock gaining representation on the board. When a proposal is made to institute cumulative voting, the proposal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. While we feel that each board member should represent all shareholders, cumulative voting provides minority shareholders an opportunity to have their views represented.

Director Liability and Indemnification

We support efforts to attract the best possible directors by limiting the liability and increasing the indemnification of directors, except in the case of insider dealing.

 

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Equal Access to the Proxy

The SEC’s rules provide for shareholder resolutions. However, the resolutions are limited in scope and there is a 500 word limit on proponents’ written arguments. Management has no such limitations. While we support equal access to the proxy, we would look at such variables as length of time required to respond, percentage of ownership, etc.

Fair Price Provisions

Charter provisions requiring a bidder to pay all shareholders a fair price are intended to prevent two-tier tender offers that may be abusive. Typically, these provisions do not apply to board-approved transactions.

We support fair price provisions because we feel all shareholders should be entitled to receive the same benefits.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Golden Parachutes

Golden parachutes are severance payments to top executives who are terminated or demoted after a takeover.

We support any proposal that would assure management of its own welfare so that they may continue to make decisions in the best interest of the company and shareholders even if the decision results in them losing their job. We do not, however, support excessive golden parachutes. Therefore, each proposal will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Anti-Greenmail Proposals

We do not support greenmail. An offer extended to one shareholder should be extended to all shareholders equally across the board.

Limit Shareholders’ Rights to Call Special Meetings

We support the right of shareholders to call a special meeting.

Consideration of Nonfinancial Effects of a Merger

This proposal releases the directors from only looking at the financial effects of a merger and allows them the opportunity to consider the merger’s effects on employees, the community, and consumers.

As a fiduciary, we are obligated to vote in the best economic interests of our clients. In general, this proposal does not allow us to do that. Therefore, we generally cannot support this proposal.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Mergers, Buyouts, Spin-Offs, Restructurings

Each of the above is considered on a case-by-case basis. According to the Department of Labor, we are not required to vote for a proposal simply because the offering price is at a premium to the current market price. We may take into consideration the long term interests of the shareholders.

Military Issues

Shareholder proposals regarding military production must be evaluated on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA clients. As such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

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In voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote according to the client’s direction when applicable. Where no direction has been given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not our duty to impose our social judgment on others.

Northern Ireland

Shareholder proposals requesting the signing of the MacBride principles for the purpose of countering the discrimination of Catholics in hiring practices must be evaluated on a purely economic set of criteria for our ERISA clients. As such, decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

In voting on this proposal for our non-ERISA clients, we will vote according to client direction when applicable. Where no direction has been given, we will vote in the best economic interests of our clients. It is not our duty to impose our social judgment on others.

Opt Out of State Anti-Takeover Law

This shareholder proposal requests that a company opt out of the coverage of the state’s takeover statutes. Example: Delaware law requires that a buyer must acquire at least 85% of the company’s stock before the buyer can exercise control unless the board approves.

We consider this on a case-by-case basis. Our decision will be based on the following:

 

•

State of Incorporation

 

•

Management history of responsiveness to shareholders

 

•

Other mitigating factors

Poison Pill

In general, we do not endorse poison pills.

In certain cases where management has a history of being responsive to the needs of shareholders and the stock is very liquid, we will reconsider this position.

Reincorporation

Generally, we support reincorporation for well-defined business reasons. We oppose reincorporation if proposed solely for the purpose of reincorporating in a state with more stringent anti-takeover statutes that may negatively impact the value of the stock.

Stock Incentive Plans

Director and Employee Stock incentive plans are an excellent way to attract, hold and motivate directors and employees. However, each incentive plan must be evaluated on its own merits, taking into consideration the following:

 

•

Dilution of voting power or earnings per share by more than 10%.

 

•

Kind of stock to be awarded, to whom, when and how much.

 

•

Method of payment.

 

•

Amount of stock already authorized but not yet issued under existing stock plans.

 

•

The successful steps taken by management to maximize shareholder value.

Supermajority Vote Requirements

Supermajority vote requirements in a company’s charter or bylaws require a level of voting approval in excess of a simple majority of the outstanding shares. In general, we oppose supermajority-voting requirements. Supermajority requirements often exceed the average level of shareholder participation. We support proposals’ approvals by a simple majority of the shares voting.

 

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Limit Shareholders Right to Act by Written Consent

Written consent allows shareholders to initiate and carry on a shareholder action without having to wait until the next annual meeting or to call a special meeting. It permits action to be taken by the written consent of the same percentage of the shares that would be required to effect proposed action at a shareholder meeting.

Reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

“Say-on-Pay” / “Say-When-on-Pay” / “Say-on-Golden-Parachutes”

Required under the Dodd-Frank Act; these proposals are non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation. We will generally vote with the Board of Directors’ recommendation(s) on advisory votes on executive compensation (“Say-on-Pay”), advisory votes on the frequency of voting on executive compensation (“Say-When-on-Pay”) and advisory votes relating to extraordinary transaction executive compensation (“Say-on-Golden-Parachutes”). In those instances when we believe that it is in our clients’ best interest, we may abstain or vote against executive compensation and/or the frequency of votes on executive compensation and/or extraordinary transaction executive compensation advisory votes.

Proxy Access

We generally believe that proxy access is a useful tool to promote board accountability by requiring that a company’s proxy materials contain not only the names of management nominees, but also any candidates nominated by long term shareholders holding at least a certain stake in the company. We will review proposals regarding proxy access on a case by case basis taking into account the provisions of the proposal, the company’s current governance structure, the successful steps taken by management to maximize shareholder value, as well as other applicable factors.

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 25.

Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(1)

Financial Statements

Part A

None

Part B

To be included by pre-effective amendment

 

(2)

Exhibits

 

		(a)		(i)		Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Registrant (1)
				(ii)		Statement of Preferences of Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares (2)
		(b)
		(c)		Not applicable
		(d)		(i)		Form of Specimen Common Share Certificate (4)
				(ii)		Form of Specimen Preferred Share Certificate for the Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares (2)
		(e)		Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan (5)
		(f)		Not applicable
		(g)		Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Gabelli Funds, LLC (6)
		(h)		(i)		Sales Agreement †
				(ii)		Underwriting Agreement †
		(i)		Not applicable
		(j)		Custodian Agreement (6)
		(k)		Form of Registrar, Transfer Agency and Service Agreement (4)
		(l)		Opinion and Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP †

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		(m)		Not applicable
		(n)		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm †
		(o)		Not applicable
		(p)		Form of Initial Subscription Agreement (7)
		(q)		Not applicable
		(r)		(i)		Code of Ethics of the Fund and the Investment Adviser – (8)
		(s)		Powers of Attorney *

 

*	Filed herewith.

 

†	To be filed by amendment

 

(1)	Previously filed with the Registrant’s Annual Report for Management Companies on Form NSAR-B filed on March 1, 2011 (811-21698).

 

(2)	Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on May 7, 2013 (333-186097).

 

(3)	Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on April 28, 2016 (333-198978).

 

(4)	Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on March 23, 2005 (333-121998).

 

(5)	Included in Prospectus.

 

(6)	Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on March 28, 2005 (333-121998).

 

(7)	Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed on March 24, 2005 (333-121998).

 

(8)	Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 to the Registration Statement on N-2 filed on April 25, 2017.

 

Item 26.

Marketing Arrangements

The information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” on page 62 of the Prospectus is incorporated by reference, and any information concerning any underwriters will be contained in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, if any.

 

Item 27.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this Registration Statement:

 

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Accounting fees		$	56,000
Legal fees			465,000
NYSE MKT listing fee			20,000
Printing expenses			191,000
Rating Agency fees			50,000
SEC registration fee			57,950
Miscellaneous			205,000
Total		$	1,044,950

 

Item 28.

Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant

None

 

Item 29.

Number of Holders of Securities as of September 30, 2017

 

Title of Class		Number of Record Holders
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest			100
Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares			1

 

Item 30.

Indemnification

Article IV of the Registrant’s Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

4.1  No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, etc. No Shareholder of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. Shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability as is extended to stockholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated under the general corporation law of the State of Delaware. No Trustee or officer of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its Shareholders, in connection with Trust Property or the affairs of the Trust, save only liability to the Trust or its Shareholders arising from bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard for his duty to such Person; and, subject to the foregoing exception, all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any Shareholder, Trustee or officer, as such, of the Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such liability, subject to the foregoing exception, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to any personal liability.

4.2  Mandatory Indemnification. (a) The Trust shall indemnify the Trustees and officers of the Trust (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise (other than, except as authorized by the Trustees, as the plaintiff or complainant) or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth above in this Section 4.2 by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence (negligence in the case of Affiliated Indemnitees), or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the Trustees.

 

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(b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a majority vote of a quorum of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion conclude that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.

(c)  The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that he is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (2) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so direct, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

(d)  The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.

(e)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to any limitations provided by the 1940 Act and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority to indemnify Persons providing services to the Trust to the full extent provided by law as if the Trust were a corporation organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.

4.3  No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other person dealing with the Trustees or with any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer, employee or agent or be liable for the application of money or property paid, loaned, or delivered to or on the order of the Trustees or of said officer, employee or agent. Every obligation, contract, undertaking, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively taken to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers, employees or agents of the Trust. The Trustees may maintain insurance for the protection of the Trust Property, its Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents in such amount as the Trustees shall deem adequate to cover possible liability, and such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable or is required by the 1940 Act.

4.4  Reliance on Experts, etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or other person may also be a Trustee.

Section 9 of the Registrant’s Investment Advisory Agreement provides as follows:

9.  Indemnity

 

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(a)  The Fund hereby agrees to indemnify the Adviser and each of the Adviser’s trustees, officers, employees, and agents (including any individual who serves at the Adviser’s request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another corporation) and controlling persons (each such person being an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees (all as provided in accordance with applicable corporate law) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth above in this paragraph or thereafter by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Fund and furthermore, in the case of any criminal proceeding, so long as he had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that (1) no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “disabling conduct”), (2) as to any matter disposed of by settlement or a compromise payment by such indemnitee, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless there has been a determination that such settlement or compromise is in the best interests of the Fund and that such indemnitee appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Fund and did not involve disabling conduct by such indemnitee and (3) with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the full Board of the Fund. Notwithstanding the foregoing the Fund shall not be obligated to provide any such indemnification to the extent such provision would waive any right which the Fund cannot lawfully waive.

(b)  The Fund shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Fund receives a written affirmation of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Fund unless it is subsequently determined that he is entitled to such indemnification and if the trustees of the Fund determine that the facts then known to them would not preclude indemnification. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (A) the indemnitee shall provide a security for his undertaking, (B) the Fund shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (C) a majority of a quorum of trustees of the Fund who are neither “interested persons” of the Fund (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”) or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

(c)  All determinations with respect to indemnification hereunder shall be made (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that such indemnitee is not liable by reason of disabling conduct or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a majority vote of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-party Trustees of the Fund, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or even, if obtainable, if a majority vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.

Other

Underwriter indemnification provisions to be filed by amendment.

Additionally, the Registrant and the other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex jointly maintain, at their own expense, E&O/D&O insurance policies for the benefit of its directors/trustees, officers and certain affiliated persons. The Registrant pays a pro rata portion of the premium on such insurance policies.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

Item 31.

Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

The Investment Adviser, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of New York, acts as investment adviser to the Registrant. The Registrant is fulfilling the requirement of this Item 31 to provide a list of the officers of the Investment Adviser, together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by the Investment Adviser or those officers during the past two years, by incorporating by reference the information contained in the Form ADV of the Investment Adviser filed with the commission pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Commission File No. 801-26202).

 

Item 32.

Location of Accounts and Records

The accounts and records of the Registrant are maintained in part at the office of the Investment Adviser at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422, in part at the offices of the Registrant’s custodian, The Bank of New York Mellon, at 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, Massachusetts 02149, in part at the offices of the Registrant’s sub-administrator, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, and in part at the offices of the Registrant’s transfer agent, American Stock Transfer, at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219.

 

Item 33.

Management Services

Not applicable.

 

Item 34.

Undertakings

1.  Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of shares until it amends its prospectus if (a) subsequent to the effective date of its Registration Statement, the net asset value declines more than ten percent from the later of its net asset value as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the filing of a prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 497, under the Securities Act of 1933, setting forth the terms of the offering or (b) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

2.  Not applicable.

3.  Not applicable.

4.  Registrant hereby undertakes:

(a)  to file, during and period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(1)  to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(2)  to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; and

 

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(3)  to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

(b)  that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(c)  to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; and

(d)  that, for the purpose of determining liability under the 1933 Act to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the 1933 Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the 1933 Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(e)  that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the 1933 Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(1)  any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act.

(2)  the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(3)  any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

5.  Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 497(h) will be deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

Registrant undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus will be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

6.  Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information constituting Part B of this Registration Statement.

 

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SIGNATURES

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 486(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as applied by no-action relief granted by the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2014, and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Rye, State of New York, on the 3^rd day of November, 2017.

GAMCO GLOBAL GOLD, NATURAL RESOURCES & INCOME TRUST

By: /s/  BRUCE N. ALPERT

 

 

Bruce N. Alpert

President

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities set forth below on the 3^rd day of November, 2017.

 

NAME		TITLE
* Anthony J. Colavita		Trustee
* James P. Conn		Trustee
* Vincent D. Enright		Trustee
* Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.		Trustee
* Michael J. Melarkey		Trustee
* Salvatore M. Salibello		Trustee
* Anthonie C. van Ekris		Trustee
* Salvatore J. Zizza		Trustee
/s/  BRUCE N. ALPERT Bruce N. Alpert		President (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/  JOHN C. BALL John C. Ball		Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/  BRUCE N. ALPERT Bruce N. Alpert		Attorney-in-Fact

 

*	Pursuant to a Power of Attorney

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.		Description
(s)		Powers of Attorney