UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-07896
GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Bruce N. Alpert
Gabelli Funds, LLC
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-422-3554
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2016
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Annual Report — December 31, 2016 | ![]() | |
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA |
To Our Shareholders,
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund increased 5.4% compared with increases of 7.9% and 7.5% for the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global 300 Convertible Index and the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) World Index, respectively. See page 2 for additional performance information.
Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2016.
Performance Discussion (Unaudited)
While 2016 was marred by continued unrest in the Middle East and terrorist incidents around the world, the U.S. election dominated the national conscience. The rise in the market since November 8 has the potential to rank as the largest market post-election move for a new President since the 1961 inauguration of JFK. The so called Trump rally has been fueled by the potential for increased fiscal stimulus, lower corporate and individual taxes, and deregulation.
The Fund’s objective is to obtain a high level of total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. The Fund achieves its investment objective by investing primarily in foreign and domestic issuers that the Fund’s portfolio manager believes are likely to pay dividends and income and have the potential for above average capital appreciation and dividend increases.
Selected holdings that contributed positively to performance in 2016 were: Hunter Douglas N.V. (1.1% of net assets as of December 31, 2016) whose record sales in North America and Europe along with key acquisitions lifted performance; Comerica Inc. (0.9%) and Dana Inc. (0.7%) launched multiple customer programs and improved profitability through cost performance and new business growth.
Some of our weaker performing securities were: Vodafone Group PLC (1.8%) was impacted by the decline in sterling against the dollar following the UK referendum on the EU; Millicom International Cellular SDR (1.6%) reported softer than expected quarterly revenues and continued intense wireless competition in Colombia; and Mandarin Oriental International Ltd., (0.7%) where weaker demand affected the company’s key destinations Hong Kong, London, Paris, and Washington, D.C.
Thank you for your investment in the Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund.
We appreciate your confidence and trust.
Comparative Results
Average Annual Returns through December 31, 2016 (a) (Unaudited) | Since | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Inception | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | 15 Year | (2/3/94) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA (GAGCX) | 5.41 | % | 5.22 | % | 1.59 | % | 3.87 | % | 4.36% | |||||||||||||||
Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global 300 Convertible Index | 7.92 | 9.97 | 5.69 | 6.02 | N/A | (d) | ||||||||||||||||||
MSCI World Index | 7.51 | 10.41 | 3.83 | 5.83 | 6.36 | (e) | ||||||||||||||||||
Lipper Convertible Securities Fund Average | 8.35 | 8.61 | 5.54 | 6.26 | 7.26 | |||||||||||||||||||
Class A (GAGAX) | 5.38 | 5.14 | 1.58 | 3.89 | 4.38 | |||||||||||||||||||
With sales charge (b) | (0.68 | ) | 3.90 | 0.98 | 3.48 | 4.11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Class C (GACCX) | 4.61 | 3.73 | 0.45 | 2.88 | 3.70 | |||||||||||||||||||
With contingent deferred sales charge (c) | 3.61 | 3.73 | 0.45 | 2.88 | 3.70 | |||||||||||||||||||
Class I (GAGIX) | 5.76 | 5.44 | 1.82 | 4.02 | 4.47 |
In the current prospectuses dated April 29, 2016, the expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 1.75%, 1.75%, 2.50%, and 1.50%, respectively, and effective October 1, 2016 the net expense ratios for these share classes after contractual reimbursements by Gabelli Funds, LLC, (the “Adviser”) are 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.00%, respectively. See page 10 for the expense ratios for the year ended December 31, 2016. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A Shares and Class C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively.
(a) | Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Returns would have been lower had the Adviser not reimbursed certain expenses of the Fund. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectuses contain information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. Investing in foreign securities involves risks not ordinarily associated with investments in domestic issues, including currency fluctuation, economic, and political risks. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares on May 2, 2001, November 26, 2001, and January 11, 2008, respectively. The actual performance of the Class A Shares and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of the Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. The Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global 300 Convertible Index is an unmanaged global convertible index composed of companies representative of the market structure of countries in North America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region. The MSCI World Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. The Lipper Convertible Securities Fund Average reflects the average performance of mutual funds classified in this particular category. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
(b) | Performance results include the effect of the maximum 5.75% sales charge at the beginning of the period. |
(c) | Assuming payment of the 1% maximum contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within one year of purchase. |
(d) | There is no data available for the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global 300 Convertible Index prior to December 31, 1994. |
(e) | MSCI World Index since inception performance is as of January 31, 1994. |
COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN
THE GABELLI GLOBAL RISING INCOME AND DIVIDEND FUND (CLASS AAA SHARES),
LIPPER CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES FUND AVERAGE, AND MSCI WORLD INDEX (Unaudited)
* Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
2
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund | ||
Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited) | ||
For the Six Month Period from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 | Expense Table |
We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of fees and expenses regarding your investment. All mutual funds have operating expenses. As a shareholder of a fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of a fund. When a fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, this figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.
The Expense Table below illustrates your Fund’s costs in two ways:
Actual Fund Return: This section provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this section to help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period after any fee waivers and expense reimbursements. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return during the past six months, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid during this period.
Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and
hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual
expense ratio. It assumes a hypothetical annualized return of 5% before expenses during the period shown. In this case – because the hypothetical return used is not the Fund’s actual return – the results do not apply to your investment and you cannot use the hypothetical account value and expense to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. This example is useful in making comparisons of the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Beginning Account Value 07/01/16 | Ending Account Value 12/31/16 | Annualized Expense Ratio | Expenses Paid During Period* | |||||||
| ||||||||||
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund | ||||||||||
Actual Fund Return | ||||||||||
Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $1,026.90 | 1.63% | $ 8.30 | ||||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,027.10 | 1.63% | $ 8.31 | ||||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $1,023.60 | 2.38% | $12.11 | ||||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $1,029.00 | 1.18% | $ 6.02 | ||||||
Hypothetical 5% Return | ||||||||||
Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $1,016.94 | 1.63% | $ 8.26 | ||||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,016.94 | 1.63% | $ 8.26 | ||||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $1,013.17 | 2.38% | $12.04 | ||||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $1,019.20 | 1.18% | $ 5.99 |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (184 days), then divided by 366. |
3
Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)
The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of December 31, 2016:
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Food and Beverage | 19.5 | % | ||
U.S. Government Obligations | 18.1 | % | ||
Financial Services | 13.1 | % | ||
Electronics | 6.7 | % | ||
Diversified Industrial | 5.7 | % | ||
Telecommunications | 5.7 | % | ||
Cable and Satellite | 2.7 | % | ||
Consumer Products | 2.6 | % | ||
Energy and Utilities | 2.5 | % | ||
Automotive | 2.3 | % | ||
Specialty Chemicals | 2.3 | % | ||
Health Care | 2.2 | % | ||
Machinery | 2.0 | % | ||
Building and Construction | 1.9 | % | ||
Publishing | 1.7 | % | ||
Automotive: Parts and Accessories | 1.7 | % |
Wireless Communications | 1.6 | % | ||
Hotels and Gaming | 1.2 | % | ||
Entertainment | 0.9 | % | ||
Computer Software and Services | 0.9 | % | ||
Retail | 0.8 | % | ||
Equipment and Supplies | 0.8 | % | ||
Energy and Energy Services | 0.7 | % | ||
Metals and Mining | 0.6 | % | ||
Consumer Services | 0.3 | % | ||
Agriculture | 0.2 | % | ||
Broadcasting | 0.0 | %* | ||
Other Assets & Liabilities (Net) | 1.3 | % | ||
|
| |||
100.0 | % | |||
|
|
* | Amount represents less than 0.05% |
The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554).The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
4
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Schedule of Investments — December 31, 2016
Principal | Market | |||||||||
Amount | Cost | Value | ||||||||
CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS — 5.4% |
| |||||||||
Automotive — 1.7% | ||||||||||
Navistar International Corp., Sub. Deb., | ||||||||||
$450,000 | 4.500%, 10/15/18 | $ 432,070 | $ | 445,781 | ||||||
300,000 | 4.750%, 04/15/19 | 300,000 | 297,750 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
732,070 | 743,531 | |||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Broadcasting — 0.0% | ||||||||||
400,000 | Citadel Broadcasting Corp., Escrow, Sub. Deb., | 0 | 0 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Building and Construction — 0.5% |
| |||||||||
250,000 | Layne Christensen Co., | 244,101 | 228,281 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Computer Software and Services — 0.5% |
| |||||||||
100,000 | Mentor Graphics Corp., | 99,197 | 186,501 | |||||||
10,000 | VeriSign Inc., STEP, | 13,192 | 22,306 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
112,389 | 208,807 | |||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Consumer Services — 0.2% | ||||||||||
100,000 | Ascent Capital Group Inc., 4.000%, 07/15/20 | 87,302 | 76,000 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Diversified Industrial — 1.9% | ||||||||||
150,000 | Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc., Sub. Deb., | 132,377 | 298,219 | |||||||
300,000 | Griffon Corp., Sub. Deb., 4.000%, 01/15/17(a) | 299,989 | 528,938 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
432,366 | 827,157 | |||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Energy and Utilities — 0.0% |
| |||||||||
200,000 | Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC, | 0 | 0 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Metals and Mining — 0.6% | ||||||||||
250,000 | Newmont Mining Corp., | 316,523 | 255,469 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS | 1,924,751 | 2,339,245 | ||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Shares | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 75.2% | ||||||||||
Agriculture — 0.2% | ||||||||||
1,000 | Syngenta AG, ADR | 79,810 | 79,050 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Automotive — 0.6% | ||||||||||
7,000 | General Motors Co. | 245,344 | 243,880 | |||||||
|
|
| ||||||||
Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 1.7% |
| |||||||||
286 | Adient plc† | 13,442 | 16,760 |
Market | ||||||||||||
Shares | Cost | Value | ||||||||||
17,000 | Dana Inc. | $ | 291,299 | $ | 322,660 | |||||||
4,000 | Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp.† | 37,917 | 41,240 | |||||||||
1,200 | Genuine Parts Co. | 108,516 | 114,648 | |||||||||
4,000 | Uni-Select Inc. | 90,354 | 87,856 | |||||||||
2,000 | Visteon Corp. | 212,042 | 160,680 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
753,570 | 743,844 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Building and Construction — 1.4% |
| |||||||||||
500 | Chofu Seisakusho Co. Ltd. | 11,059 | 11,239 | |||||||||
11,700 | Herc Holdings Inc.† | 385,650 | 469,872 | |||||||||
2,865 | Johnson Controls International plc | 102,586 | 118,009 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
499,295 | 599,120 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Cable and Satellite — 2.7% |
| |||||||||||
20,000 | Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B | 707,828 | 771,600 | |||||||||
32,000 | Sky plc | 426,383 | 390,821 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,134,211 | 1,162,421 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Computer Software and Services — 0.4% |
| |||||||||||
19,000 | Global Sources Ltd.† | 127,477 | 168,150 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Consumer Products — 2.6% |
| |||||||||||
2,000 | Eastman Kodak Co.† | 12,346 | 31,000 | |||||||||
8,234 | Hunter Douglas NV | 344,086 | 463,281 | |||||||||
2,000 | L’Oreal SA | 335,032 | 365,060 | |||||||||
1,500 | Salvatore Ferragamo SpA | 29,710 | 35,417 | |||||||||
4,500 | Svenska Cellulosa AB, | 141,505 | 126,594 | |||||||||
5,000 | Unicharm Corp. | 95,893 | 109,412 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
958,572 | 1,130,764 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Consumer Services — 0.1% |
| |||||||||||
3,000 | Ashtead Group plc | 57,297 | 58,416 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Diversified Industrial — 3.8% |
| |||||||||||
9,000 | Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp. | 142,961 | 150,750 | |||||||||
7,000 | General Electric Co. | 167,090 | 221,200 | |||||||||
7,500 | Jardine Matheson | 400,456 | 414,375 | |||||||||
16,000 | Jardine Strategic | 535,080 | 531,200 | |||||||||
16,000 | Myers Industries Inc. | 252,055 | 228,800 | |||||||||
2,075 | Textron Inc. | 51,916 | 100,762 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,549,558 | 1,647,087 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Electronics — 6.7% |
| |||||||||||
1,000 | Agilent Technologies Inc. | 37,879 | 45,560 | |||||||||
6,500 | Harman International Industries Inc. | 711,705 | 722,540 | |||||||||
20,000 | InvenSense Inc.† | 254,538 | 255,800 | |||||||||
38,000 | Sony Corp. | 1,056,754 | 1,064,813 | |||||||||
28,000 | Sony Corp., ADR | 569,850 | 784,840 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
2,630,726 | 2,873,553 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Energy and Energy Services — 0.7% |
| |||||||||||
6,000 | BP plc, ADR | 202,748 | 224,280 | |||||||||
14,000 | Weatherford International plc† | 90,139 | 69,860 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
292,887 | 294,140 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
Energy and Utilities — 2.5% |
| |||||||||||
10,000 | Cameco Corp. | $ | 96,731 | $ | 104,700 | |||||||
3,000 | National Fuel Gas Co. | 164,089 | 169,920 | |||||||||
6,000 | National Grid plc, ADR | 437,107 | 349,980 | |||||||||
11,803 | Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. B | 268,350 | 342,418 | |||||||||
1,000 | Severn Trent plc | 27,057 | 27,384 | |||||||||
2,000 | The Empire District Electric Co. | 66,700 | 68,180 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,060,034 | 1,062,582 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Entertainment — 0.9% |
| |||||||||||
7,000 | Discovery Communications Inc., | 204,405 | 191,870 | |||||||||
2,000 | Grupo Televisa SAB, ADR | 40,332 | 41,780 | |||||||||
3,000 | International Game Technology plc | 55,199 | 76,560 | |||||||||
15,000 | ITV plc | 58,075 | 38,155 | |||||||||
3,000 | Vivendi SA | 69,982 | 57,017 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
427,993 | 405,382 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Equipment and Supplies — 0.8% |
| |||||||||||
1,500 | Graco Inc. | 100,232 | 124,635 | |||||||||
6,000 | Mueller Industries Inc. | 175,719 | 239,760 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
275,951 | 364,395 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Financial Services — 13.1% |
| |||||||||||
1,000 | American Express Co. | 80,155 | 74,080 | |||||||||
8,000 | American International Group Inc. | 290,036 | 522,480 | |||||||||
3 | Berkshire Hathaway Inc., | 358,105 | 732,363 | |||||||||
15,000 | Citigroup Inc. | 809,386 | 891,450 | |||||||||
6,000 | Comerica Inc. | 269,538 | 408,660 | |||||||||
9,000 | Deutsche Bank AG† | 203,599 | 162,900 | |||||||||
4,000 | EXOR NV | 144,747 | 172,551 | |||||||||
22,000 | FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA | 149,536 | 123,434 | |||||||||
35,000 | GAM Holding AG | 599,659 | 405,578 | |||||||||
6,000 | H&R Block Inc. | 122,769 | 137,940 | |||||||||
2,000 | Julius Baer Group Ltd. | 103,649 | 88,834 | |||||||||
16,000 | Kinnevik AB, Cl. A | 508,173 | 394,266 | |||||||||
3,500 | Legg Mason Inc. | 94,123 | 104,685 | |||||||||
5,000 | Morgan Stanley | 122,102 | 211,250 | |||||||||
10,000 | Nordnet AB, Cl. B | 41,998 | 40,941 | |||||||||
2,200 | T. Rowe Price Group Inc. | 162,507 | 165,572 | |||||||||
10,000 | The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. | 315,339 | 473,800 | |||||||||
1,500 | The PNC Financial Services Group Inc. | 102,907 | 175,440 | |||||||||
1,500 | UBS Group AG. | 26,155 | 23,505 | |||||||||
1,000 | W. R. Berkley Corp. | 37,130 | 66,510 | |||||||||
5,000 | Wells Fargo & Co. | 171,100 | 275,550 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
4,712,713 | 5,651,789 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Food and Beverage — 19.5% |
| |||||||||||
7,300 | Chr. Hansen Holding A/S | 311,097 | 404,252 | |||||||||
6,000 | Danone SA | 421,697 | 380,219 | |||||||||
65,000 | Davide Campari-Milano SpA | 483,830 | 635,645 | |||||||||
5,000 | Diageo plc | 145,948 | 130,019 |
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
6,000 | Diageo plc, ADR | $ | 665,409 | $ | 623,640 | |||||||
4,300 | Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV, ADR | 339,651 | 327,703 | |||||||||
2,500 | General Mills Inc. | 124,421 | 154,425 | |||||||||
2,000 | Heineken NV | 133,144 | 150,024 | |||||||||
2,500 | Kellogg Co. | 127,291 | 184,275 | |||||||||
4,000 | Kerry Group plc, Cl. A | 300,765 | 284,932 | |||||||||
6,000 | Kikkoman Corp. | 104,672 | 192,000 | |||||||||
12,000 | Maple Leaf Foods Inc., New York | 202,902 | 251,324 | |||||||||
1,000 | Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Toronto | 16,908 | 20,944 | |||||||||
500 | McCormick & Co. Inc., Cl. V | 35,978 | 46,550 | |||||||||
1,500 | McCormick & Co. Inc., Non-Voting | 106,428 | 139,995 | |||||||||
15,500 | Nestlé SA | 1,113,487 | 1,111,927 | |||||||||
3,200 | Pernod Ricard SA | 357,005 | 346,786 | |||||||||
14,000 | Remy Cointreau SA | 1,034,431 | 1,194,004 | |||||||||
1,000 | The Kraft Heinz Co. | 58,356 | 87,320 | |||||||||
30,000 | The WhiteWave Foods Co.† | 1,670,325 | 1,668,000 | |||||||||
400,000 | Yashili International Holdings Ltd. | 170,861 | 76,859 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
7,924,606 | 8,410,843 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Health Care — 2.2% | ||||||||||||
200 | Becton, Dickinson and Co. | 20,442 | 33,110 | |||||||||
3,500 | Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 118,262 | 204,540 | |||||||||
1,800 | ICU Medical Inc.† | 108,041 | 265,230 | |||||||||
1,000 | Patterson Companies Inc. | 33,669 | 41,030 | |||||||||
8,000 | Pfizer Inc. | 187,223 | 259,840 | |||||||||
5,000 | Roche Holding AG, ADR | 93,345 | 142,650 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
560,982 | 946,400 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Hotels and Gaming — 1.2% | ||||||||||||
237,500 | Mandarin Oriental International Ltd. | 380,503 | 302,813 | |||||||||
180,000 | The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd. | 270,882 | 199,626 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
651,385 | 502,439 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Machinery — 2.0% | ||||||||||||
60,000 | CNH Industrial NV, Borsa Italiana | 506,260 | 522,011 | |||||||||
39,000 | CNH Industrial NV, New York | 313,681 | 338,910 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
819,941 | 860,921 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Publishing — 1.7% | ||||||||||||
39,000 | The E.W. Scripps Co., Cl. A† | 753,193 | 753,870 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Retail — 0.8% | ||||||||||||
5,000 | J.C. Penney Co. Inc.† | 37,548 | 41,550 | |||||||||
4,000 | Macy’s Inc. | 168,036 | 143,240 | |||||||||
2,200 | Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. | 135,948 | 182,072 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
341,532 | 366,862 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Specialty Chemicals — 2.3% | ||||||||||||
700 | Ashland Global Holdings Inc. | 73,120 | 76,503 | |||||||||
50,000 | Canexus Corp. | 61,555 | 60,701 | |||||||||
1,500 | Chemtura Corp.† | 34,583 | 49,800 | |||||||||
500 | E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. | 20,662 | 36,700 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
Market | ||||||||||||
Shares | Cost | Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
Specialty Chemicals (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
1,631 | Hawkins Inc. | $ | 64,942 | $ | 87,992 | |||||||
5,600 | International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. | 582,996 | 659,848 | |||||||||
200 | The Chemours Co. | 1,720 | 4,418 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
839,578 | 975,962 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Telecommunications — 5.7% |
| |||||||||||
500 | CenturyLink Inc. | 15,295 | 11,890 | |||||||||
4,000 | Cincinnati Bell Inc.† | 64,600 | 89,400 | |||||||||
7,000 | Harris Corp. | 549,658 | 717,290 | |||||||||
50,000 | Koninklijke KPN NV | 139,515 | 148,108 | |||||||||
60,000 | Pharol SGPS SA, ADR | 30,852 | 10,680 | |||||||||
2,000 | Proximus SA | 55,818 | 57,601 | |||||||||
27,000 | Sistema JSFC, GDR | 210,806 | 243,000 | |||||||||
54,000 | Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG | 300,437 | 231,352 | |||||||||
3,300 | Verizon Communications Inc. | 158,780 | 176,154 | |||||||||
31,000 | Vodafone Group plc, ADR | 1,154,029 | 757,330 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
2,679,790 | 2,442,805 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Wireless Communications — 1.6% |
| |||||||||||
16,000 | Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR | 1,025,671 | 683,687 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | 30,402,116 | 32,428,362 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Principal Amount | ||||||||||||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 18.1% |
| |||||||||||
$7,835,000 | U.S. Treasury Bills, | |||||||||||
0.355% to 0.536%††, | ||||||||||||
02/02/17 to 05/11/17 | 7,828,267 | 7,828,065 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 98.7% | $ | 40,155,134 | 42,595,672 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — 1.3% |
| 547,774 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% |
| $ | 43,143,446 | |||||||||
|
|
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2016, the market value of the Rule 144A security amounted to $528,938 or 1.23% of total net assets. | |
† | Non-income producing security. | |
†† | Represents annualized yield at date of purchase. | |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt | |
GDR | Global Depositary Receipt | |
SDR | Swedish Depositary Receipt | |
JSFC | Joint Stock Financial Corporation | |
STEP | Step coupon security. The rate disclosed is that in effect at December 31, 2016. |
%of Market Value | Market Value | |||||||
Geographic Diversification | ||||||||
United States | 57.3 | % | $ | 24,425,889 | ||||
Europe | 28.6 | 12,184,570 | ||||||
Latin America | 5.5 | 2,326,160 | ||||||
Japan | 5.1 | 2,162,303 | ||||||
Canada | 3.0 | 1,297,124 | ||||||
Asia/Pacific | 0.5 | 199,626 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
100.0 | % | $ | 42,595,672 | |||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | ||||
December 31, 2016 |
Assets: | ||||
Investments, at value (cost $40,155,134) | $ | 42,595,672 | ||
Foreign currency, at value (cost $532,678) | 505,331 | |||
Cash | 16,482 | |||
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 940 | |||
Receivable from Adviser | 12,249 | |||
Dividends and interest receivable | 79,195 | |||
Prepaid expenses | 15,788 | |||
|
| |||
Total Assets | 43,225,657 | |||
|
| |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 6,187 | |||
Payable for investment advisory fees | 36,413 | |||
Payable for distribution fees | 1,659 | |||
Payable for legal and audit fees | 18,243 | |||
Payable for shareholder communications expenses | 10,866 | |||
Other accrued expenses | 8,843 | |||
|
| |||
Total Liabilities | 82,211 | |||
|
| |||
Net Assets | $ | 43,143,446 | ||
|
| |||
Net Assets Consist of: | ||||
Paid-in capital | $ | 41,064,485 | ||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income | (122,694 | ) | ||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | (210,612 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | 2,440,538 | |||
Net unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations | (28,271 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Assets | $ | 43,143,446 | ||
|
| |||
Shares of Capital Stock, each at $0.001 par value: | ||||
Class AAA: | ||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($4,597,877 ÷ 201,651 shares outstanding; 75,000,000 shares authorized) | $22.80 | |||
Class A: | ||||
Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($479,947 ÷ 20,997 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $22.86 | |||
Maximum offering price per share (NAV ÷ 0.9425, based on maximum sales charge of 5.75% of the offering price) | $24.25 | |||
Class C: | ||||
Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($721,201 ÷ 37,260 shares outstanding; 25,000,000 shares authorized) | $19.36 | (a) | ||
Class I: | ||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($37,344,421 ÷ 1,631,241 shares outstanding; 25,000,000 shares authorized) | $22.89 |
Statement of Operations | ||||
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
Investment Income: | ||||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $41,580) | $ | 955,536 | ||
Interest | 113,843 | |||
|
| |||
Total Investment Income | 1,069,379 | |||
|
| |||
Expenses: | ||||
Investment advisory fees | 426,569 | |||
Distribution fees - Class AAA | 11,927 | |||
Distribution fees - Class A | 1,533 | |||
Distribution fees - Class C | 6,839 | |||
Shareholder communications expenses | 37,956 | |||
Registration expenses | 30,251 | |||
Legal and audit fees | 28,164 | |||
Shareholder services fees | 18,517 | |||
Directors’ fees | 13,133 | |||
Custodian fees | 10,453 | |||
Interest expense | 1,704 | |||
Miscellaneous expenses | 16,881 | |||
|
| |||
Total Expenses | 603,927 | |||
|
| |||
Less: | ||||
Expense reimbursements (See Note 3) | (36,018 | ) | ||
Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 6) | (1,625 | ) | ||
Reimbursement for custody fees* | (70,955 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Total Reimbursements and Credits | (108,598 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Expenses | 495,329 | |||
|
| |||
Net Investment Income | 574,050 | |||
|
| |||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency: | ||||
Net realized loss on investments | (98,529 | ) | ||
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions | (32,142 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions | (130,671 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation: | ||||
on investments | 1,834,589 | |||
on foreign currency translations | (24,860 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | 1,809,729 | |||
|
| |||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency | 1,679,058 | |||
|
| |||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 2,253,108 | ||
|
|
* | The Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. |
(a) | Redemption price varies based on the length of time held. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended | Year Ended | |||||||
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||
Operations: | ||||||||
Net investment income/(loss) | $ 574,050 | $ (108,729 | ) | |||||
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions | (130,671 | ) | 980,294 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, securities sold short, and foreign currency translations | 1,809,729 | (671,480 | ) | |||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 2,253,108 | 200,085 | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders: | ||||||||
Net investment income | ||||||||
Class AAA | (46,389 | ) | — | |||||
Class A | (4,545 | ) | — | |||||
Class C | (4,052 | ) | — | |||||
Class I | (505,002 | ) | (56,171 | ) | ||||
(559,988 | ) | (56,171 | ) | |||||
Net realized gain | ||||||||
Class AAA | — | (94,151 | ) | |||||
Class A | — | (9,151 | ) | |||||
Class C | — | (8,533 | ) | |||||
Class I | — | (479,425 | ) | |||||
— | (591,260 | ) | ||||||
Total Distributions to Shareholders | (559,988 | ) | (647,431 | ) | ||||
Capital Share Transactions: | ||||||||
Class AAA | (2,597,345 | ) | (5,354,857 | ) | ||||
Class A | (238,041 | ) | 340,996 | |||||
Class C | 94,979 | 453,709 | ||||||
Class I | (590,741 | ) | 9,502,721 | |||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions | (3,331,148 | ) | 4,942,569 | |||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets | (1,638,028 | ) | 4,495,223 | |||||
Net Assets: | ||||||||
Beginning of year | 44,781,474 | 40,286,251 | ||||||
End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively) | $43,143,446 | $44,781,474 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:
Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | Distributions | Ratios to Average Net Assets/ Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For | Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | Net Investment Income (Loss)(a) | Net | Total from Investment Operations | Net Income | Net | Return of Capital | Total | Redemption Fees (a)(b) | Net Asset Value, End of Year | Total Return†† | Net Assets End of Year (in 000’s) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Operating Expenses Before Reimburse- ment | Operating Expenses Net of ment(c) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 21.85 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.91 | $ | 1.18 | $ | (0.23 | ) | — | — | $ | (0.23 | ) | — | $ | 22.80 | 5.4 | % | $ | 4,598 | 1.21 | % | 1.61 | % | 1.61%(d)(e) | 52% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 22.01 | (0.09 | ) | 0.22 | 0.13 | — | $ | (0.29 | ) | — | (0.29 | ) | — | 21.85 | 0.6 | 7,121 | (0.41 | ) | 1.75 | 1.75(d)(f) | 167 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 22.02 | 0.48 | (0.13 | ) | 0.35 | (0.25 | ) | (0.11 | ) | — | (0.36 | ) | — | 22.01 | 1.6 | 12,368 | 2.15 | 2.11 | 2.02 | 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 19.35 | 0.01 | 2.75 | 2.76 | (0.08 | ) | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | (0.09 | ) | $ | 0.00 | 22.02 | 14.3 | 17,459 | 0.11 | 2.31 | 2.00 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.65 | 0.10 | 0.80 | 0.90 | (0.20 | ) | — | — | (0.20 | ) | 0.00 | 19.35 | 4.8 | 7,942 | 0.48 | 2.77 | 2.00 | 134 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 21.90 | $ | 0.25 | $ | 0.93 | $ | 1.18 | $ | (0.22 | ) | — | — | $ | (0.22 | ) | — | $ | 22.86 | 5.4 | % | $ | 480 | 1.15 | % | 1.61 | % | 1.61%(d)(e) | 52% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 22.10 | (0.10 | ) | 0.19 | 0.09 | — | $ | (0.29 | ) | — | (0.29 | ) | — | 21.90 | 0.4 | 694 | (0.44 | ) | 1.75 | 1.75(d)(f) | 167 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 22.11 | 0.36 | 0.00 | (b) | 0.36 | (0.26 | ) | (0.11 | ) | — | (0.37 | ) | — | 22.10 | 1.6 | 365 | 1.60 | 2.11 | 2.02 | 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 19.40 | 0.01 | 2.78 | 2.79 | (0.07 | ) | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | (0.08 | ) | $ | 0.00 | 22.11 | 14.4 | 332 | 0.21 | 2.31 | 2.00 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.75 | 0.15 | 0.70 | 0.85 | (0.20 | ) | — | — | (0.20 | ) | 0.00 | 19.40 | 4.5 | 238 | 0.74 | 2.77 | 2.00 | 134 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 18.61 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.80 | $ | 0.86 | $ | (0.11 | ) | — | — | $ | (0.11 | ) | — | $ | 19.36 | 4.6 | % | $ | 721 | 0.31 | % | 2.36 | % | 2.36%(d)(e) | 52% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 18.97 | (0.24 | ) | 0.17 | (0.07 | ) | — | $ | (0.29 | ) | — | (0.29 | ) | — | 18.61 | (0.4 | ) | 595 | (1.26 | ) | 2.50 | 2.20(d)(f) | 167 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 19.14 | (0.06 | ) | 0.24 | 0.18 | (0.24 | ) | (0.11 | ) | — | (0.35 | ) | — | 18.97 | 0.9 | 155 | (0.29 | ) | 2.86 | 2.77 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 17.15 | (0.07 | ) | 2.16 | 2.09 | (0.09 | ) | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | (0.10 | ) | $ | 0.00 | 19.14 | 12.2 | 8 | (0.82 | ) | 3.06 | 2.75 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 16.95 | 0.10 | 0.20 | 0.30 | (0.10 | ) | — | — | (0.10 | ) | 0.00 | 17.15 | 1.7 | 23 | 0.71 | 3.52 | 2.75 | 134 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 21.94 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.95 | $ | 1.26 | $ | (0.31 | ) | — | — | $ | (0.31 | ) | — | $ | 22.89 | 5.8 | % | $ | 37,344 | 1.39 | % | 1.36 | % | 1.27%(d)(e)(g) | 52% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 22.13 | (0.04 | ) | 0.17 | 0.13 | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.29 | ) | — | (0.32 | ) | — | 21.94 | 0.6 | 36,371 | (0.19 | ) | 1.50 | 1.50(d)(f) | 167 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 22.13 | 0.19 | 0.23 | 0.42 | (0.31 | ) | (0.11 | ) | — | (0.42 | ) | — | 22.13 | 1.9 | 27,398 | 0.87 | 1.86 | 1.77 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 19.40 | 0.03 | 2.83 | 2.86 | (0.12 | ) | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | (0.13 | ) | $ | 0.00 | 22.13 | 14.7 | 2,584 | 0.49 | 2.06 | 1.75 | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.75 | (0.10 | ) | 1.00 | 0.90 | (0.25 | ) | — | — | (0.25 | ) | 0.00 | 19.40 | 4.7 | 1,944 | (0.45 | ) | 2.52 | 1.75 | 134 |
† | All per share amounts and net asset values have been adjusted as a result of the 1 for 5 reverse stock split on August 9, 2013. | |
†† | Total return represents aggregate total return of a hypothetical $1,000 investment at the beginning of the year and sold at the end of the year including reinvestment of distributions and does not reflect the applicable sales charges. | |
(a) | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares outstanding method. | |
(b) | Amount represents less than $0.005 per share. | |
(c) | The Fund incurred interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2014. If interest expense had not been incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 2.00% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.76% (Class C), and 1.76% (Class I), respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2013 and 2012, the effect of the interest expense was minimal. | |
(d) | The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2016 there was no impact to the expenses ratio. For the year ended December 31, 2015, if credits had not been incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 1.76% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.51% (Class C), and 1.51% (Class I), respectively. | |
(e) | During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. Had such reimbursement (allocated by relative net asset values of the Fund’s share classes) been included in this period, the expense ratios would have been 1.46% (Class AAA), 1.44% (Class A), 2.20% (Class C), and 1.10% (Class I). | |
(f) | Under an expense deferral agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser recovered from the Fund $62,315 for the year ended December 31, 2015, representing previously reimbursed expenses from the Adviser. Had such payment not been made, the expense ratio would have been 1.61% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.36% (Class C), and 1.36% (Class I). | |
(g) | Under an expense reimbursement agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser reimbursed certain Class I expenses to the Fund of $36,018 for the year ended December 31, 2016. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization. The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund, a series of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), was incorporated on July 16, 1993 in Maryland. The Fund is a non-diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of four separately managed portfolios (collectively, the “Portfolios”) of the Corporation. The Fund’s primary objective is to obtain a high level of total return through a combination of income and capital appreciation. The Fund commenced investment operations on February 3, 1994.
2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).
Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.
11
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:
● | Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; |
● | Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and |
● | Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments). |
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||||||||
Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | Total Market Value at 12/31/16 | |||||||||||||
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES: | ||||||||||||||||
ASSETS (Market Value): | ||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks (a) | $ | 32,428,362 | — | — | $32,428,362 | |||||||||||
Convertible Corporate Bonds (a) | — | $ 2,339,245 | | $ 0 | | 2,339,245 | ||||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | 7,828,065 | — | 7,828,065 | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN | $ | 32,428,362 |
|
| $10,167,310 |
|
| $ 0 |
|
| $42,595,672 |
| ||||
|
(a) | Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings. |
The Fund did not have material transfers among Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2016. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.
Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.
General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.
Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.
12
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.
Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or that, in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.
Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives, while collateral terms are contract specific for derivatives traded over-the-counter. Securities pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts are noted in the Schedule of Investments. Cash collateral, if any, pledged for the same purpose will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Fund’s policy with respect to offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the master agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.
The Fund’s derivative contracts held at December 31, 2016, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.
Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Fund may engage in forward foreign exchange contracts for the purpose of hedging a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Forward foreign exchange contracts are valued at the forward rate and are marked-to-market daily. The change in market value is included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
13
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The use of forward foreign exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the Fund’s portfolio securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign exchange contracts limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. As of December 31, 2016, the Fund held no forward foreign exchange contracts.
Securities Sold Short. The Fund may enter into short sale transactions. Short selling involves selling securities that may or may not be owned and, at times, borrowing the same securities for delivery to the purchaser, with an obligation to replace such borrowed securities at a later date. The proceeds received from short sales are recorded as liabilities and the Fund records an unrealized gain or loss to the extent of the difference between the proceeds received and the value of an open short position on the day of determination. The Fund records a realized gain or loss when the short position is closed out. By entering into a short sale, the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security sold short. Dividends on short sales are recorded as an expense by the Fund on the ex-dividend date and interest expense is recorded on the accrual basis. The broker retains collateral for the value of the open positions, which is adjusted periodically as the value of the position fluctuates. At December 31, 2016, there were no short sales outstanding.
Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges
14
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and accordingly the Board will monitor their liquidity. There were no restricted securities as of December 31, 2016.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain or loss on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.
Determination of Net Asset Value and Calculation of Expenses. Certain administrative expenses are common to, and allocated among, various affiliated funds. Such allocations are made on the basis of each fund’s average net assets or other criteria directly affecting the expenses as determined by the Adviser pursuant to procedures established by the Board.
In calculating the NAV per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, redemption fees, and expenses other than class specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of each day. Distribution expenses are borne solely by the class incurring the expense.
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to expiration of capital loss carryforwards. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2016, reclassifications were made to decrease accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income by $48,717 and decrease accumulated distributions in excess of net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions by $562,130, with an offsetting adjustment to paid-in capital.
15
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||
Distributions paid from: | ||||||||
Ordinary income | $559,988 | $538,272 | ||||||
Net long term capital gains | — | 109,159 | ||||||
Total | $559,988 | $647,431 |
Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
As of December 31, 2016, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
Accumulated capital loss carryforwards | $ | (179,441 | ) | |
Undistributed ordinary income | 20,920 | |||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments, securities sold short, and foreign currency translations | 2,237,482 | |||
|
| |||
Total | $ | 2,078,961 | ||
|
|
At December 31, 2016, the Fund had net capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes which are available to reduce future required distributions of net capital gains to shareholders. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the Fund is permitted to carry forward for an unlimited period capital losses incurred in years beginning after December 22, 2010. In addition, these losses must be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. As a result of the rule, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may have an increased likelihood of expiring unused. Additionally, post enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short term or long term capital losses rather than being considered all short term as under previous law. The Fund has a long term capital loss carryforward with no expiration of $179,441.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, $610,848 of the capital loss carryforwards expired.
At December 31, 2016, the differences between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation were primarily due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes, mark-to-market adjustments on investments in passive foreign investment companies, and adjustments on income from an investment in a defaulted security.
The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at December 31, 2016:
Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized Depreciation | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Investments | $ | 40,329,921 | $5,052,476 | $ | (2,786,725 | ) | $2,265,751 |
The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not
16
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
threshold. As of December 31, 2016, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.
3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs, and pays the compensation of all Officers and Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee and/or to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the annualized total operating expenses of the Fund (excluding brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) until at least May 1, 2017, at no more than 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.75% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares, respectively. In addition, the Fund has agreed, during the two year period following any waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser, to repay such amount to the extent, after giving effect to the repayment, such adjusted annualized total operating expenses of the Fund would not exceed 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.75% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I, respectively. The agreement is renewable annually.
Effective October 1, 2016, the Adviser amended its contractual agreement with respect to Class I shares of the Fund to waive its investment advisory fees and/or to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursement (excluding brokerage costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) at no more than an annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Adviser reimbursed certain Class I expenses in the amount of $36,018. This arrangement is in effect through April 30, 2018.
At December 31, 2016, the cumulative amount which the Fund may repay the Adviser, subject to the terms above, is $36,018, expiring December 31, 2018.
The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered to be an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $3,000, and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.
4. Distribution Plan. The Fund’s Board has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) for each class of shares, except for Class I Shares, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Class AAA, Class A, and Class C Share Plans, payments are authorized to G.distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at annual rates of 0.25%, 0.25%, and 1.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of those classes, the annual limitations under each Plan. Such payments are accrued daily and paid monthly.
17
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2016, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $16,799,166 and $16,899,657, respectively.
6. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Arrangements. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $6,159 to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser. Additionally, the Distributor retained a total of $254 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.
The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $1,625.
The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser did not seek a reimbursement during the year ended December 31, 2016.
7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit which expires on March 9, 2017 and may be renewed annually, of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bears interest at a floating rate equal to the higher of the overnight Federal Funds rate plus 125 basis points or the 30-DAY LIBOR plus 125 basis points in effect on that day. This amount, if any, would be included in “Interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2016, there were no borrowings under the line of credit.
8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA and Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%, and Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.
The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, if any, can be found in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets under Redemption Fees.
18
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||
Class AAA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 19,227 | $ | 430,814 | 167,614 | $ | 3,763,907 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 1,932 | 43,974 | 4,161 | 91,631 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (145,369 | ) | (3,072,133 | ) | (407,791 | ) | (9,210,395 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Net decrease | (124,210 | ) | $ | (2,597,345 | ) | (236,016 | ) | $ | (5,354,857 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 3,017 | $ | 66,861 | 19,233 | $ | 432,967 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 166 | 3,780 | 415 | 9,152 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (13,902 | ) | (308,682 | ) | (4,453 | ) | (101,123 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Net increase/(decrease) | (10,719 | ) | $ | (238,041 | ) | 15,195 | $ | 340,996 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 18,543 | $ | 347,754 | 26,397 | $ | 503,659 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 201 | 3,879 | 434 | 8,142 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (13,476 | ) | (256,654 | ) | (3,009 | ) | (58,092 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Net increase | 5,268 | $ | 94,979 | 23,822 | $ | 453,709 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 27,866 | $ | 604,931 | 713,734 | $ | 16,133,208 | ||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 22,101 | 505,002 | 24,197 | 535,236 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (76,266 | ) | (1,700,674 | ) | (318,695 | ) | (7,165,723 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||
Net increase/(decrease) | (26,299 | ) | $ | (590,741 | ) | 419,236 | $ | 9,502,721 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9. Significant Shareholder. As of December 31, 2016, approximately 87% of the Fund was beneficially owned by the Adviser and its affiliates.
10. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
11. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
19
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. and the
Shareholders of The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund (the “Fund”), one of the series constituting GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc., as of December 31, 2016, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2016, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at December 31, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
New York, New York
February 28, 2017
20
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)
During the six months ended December 31, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Corporation approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the directors (the “Independent Board Members”) who are not “interested persons” of the Fund. The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the portfolio managers, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the Fund’s portfolio managers, the scope of supervisory, administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser, and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the Fund’s portfolio managers.
Investment Performance. The Independent Board Members reviewed the short and medium term performance of the Fund against a peer group of convertible securities funds. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund had substantially changed its investment strategy two years ago and that consequently comparisons to convertible securities funds would no longer be relevant for periods since the transition to the new strategy focusing on common equity securities expected to increase dividends over time. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s performance for the one year period has improved and also noted that, in relation to the historical peer group, the Fund’s performance for the three and five year periods was relatively poor. The Independent Board Members stated that going forward, comparison should be made to a more appropriate peer group and that the Board would monitor the performance of the Fund closely during the transition period.
Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the lack of profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with an administrative overhead charge and without such a charge. The Independent Board Members also noted that an affiliated broker of the Adviser received distribution fees and minor amounts of sales commissions.
Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale and reviewed rudimentary data relating to the impact of 20% growth in the Fund on the Adviser’s profitability.
Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment management fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential economies of scale that may develop.
Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the expense ratios of the investment management fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expense ratios of the peer group of convertible securities funds and noted that the Adviser’s management fee includes substantially all administrative services of the Fund as well as investment advisory services. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s expense ratios, after voluntary expense reimbursements, were significantly higher than and the Fund’s size was significantly lower than average within this group. The Independent Board Members also noted that all of the peer group were convertible funds, thereby limiting the usefulness of peer group comparisons. The Independent Board Members were presented with, but did not consider to be material to their decision, various information comparing the advisory fee with the fee for other types of accounts managed by the Adviser.
21
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio management services, good ancillary services, but had a relatively poor performance record and had substantially changed its investment focus in 2014. The Independent Board Members also concluded that the Fund’s expense ratios were reasonable, particularly in light of the lack of profitability to the Adviser of managing the Fund, and that economies of scale were not a significant factor in their thinking at this time. The Board Members did not view the potential profitability of ancillary services as material to their decision. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the investment management agreement to the full Board.
Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board Members determined to approve the continuation of each Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based its decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.
22
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.
Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age | Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Director | ||||||
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Other Directorships Held by Director4 | |||||||
INTERESTED DIRECTORS3 : | ||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Director and Chief Investment Officer Age: 74 |
Since 1993 |
31 |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer– Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/ Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. |
Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012) | ||||
John D. Gabelli Director Age: 72 | Since 1993 | 10 | Senior Vice President of G.research, LLC | — | ||||
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5 : | ||||||||
E. Val Cerutti Director Age: 77 | Since 2001 | 7 | Chief Executive Officer of Cerutti Consultants, Inc. | — | ||||
Anthony J. Colavita Director Age: 81 | Since 1993 | 36 | President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C. | — | ||||
Arthur V. Ferrara Director Age: 86 | Since 2001 | 8 | Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (1993 – 1995) | — | ||||
Werner J. Roeder, MD Director Age: 76 | Since 1993 | 23 | Practicing private physician; Former Medical Director of Lawrence Hospital (1999-2014) | — | ||||
Anthonie C. van Ekris Director Age: 82 | Since 1993 | 22 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BALMAC International, Inc. (global import/ export company) | — | ||||
Salvatore J. Zizza Director Age: 71 | Since 2004 | 30 | 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 (staffing services) (2009-2012) |
23
The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund
Additional Fund Information (Continued)(Unaudited)
Name, Position(s) and Age | Term of Office | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||||||
OFFICERS: | ||||||||
Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 65 | Since 2003 | 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; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc., 2008-2010 | ||||||
Andrea R. Mango Secretary Age: 44 | 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 Bank, 2006-2011 | ||||||
Agnes Mullady Treasurer Age: 58 | Since 2006 | President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2010; 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; Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex | ||||||
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 57 | 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, 2011-2013; Chief Compliance Officer of Cutwater Asset Management, 2004-2011 |
1 | Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted. |
2 | Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Corporation’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. 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. |
3 | “Interested person” of the Corporation as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Corporation’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers. |
4 | This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
5 | Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors. |
24
Gabelli/GAMCO Funds and Your Personal Privacy
Who are we?
The Gabelli/GAMCO Funds are investment companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc., which are affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. that is a publicly held company with subsidiaries and affiliates that provide investment advisory services for a variety of clients.
What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a fund shareholder?
If you apply to open an account directly with us, you will be giving us some non-public information about yourself. The non-public information we collect about you is:
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● | Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information.
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● | Information about your transactions with us, any transactions with our affiliates, and transactions with the entities we hire to provide services to you. This would include information about the shares that you buy or redeem. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them.
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What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.
What do we do to protect your personal information?
We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.
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THE GABELLI GLOBAL RISING INCOME AND DIVIDEND FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1422
Portfolio Manager Biography
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
2016 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited)
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid to shareholders ordinary income distributions (comprised of net investment income and short term capital gains) totaling $0.232, $0.218, $0.108, and $0.314 per share for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016, 75.56% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 10.04% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified interest income pursuant to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
U.S. Government Income:
The percentage of the ordinary income distribution paid by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2016 which was derived from U.S. Treasury securities was 3.38%. Such income is exempt from state and local tax in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2016. The percentage of U.S. Government securities held as of December 31, 2016 was 18.14%. Due to the diversity in state and local tax law, it is recommended that you consult your personal tax adviser as to the applicability of the information provided to your specific situation.
All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.
We have separated the portfolio manager’s commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager’s commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.
GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc.
THE GABELLI GLOBAL RISING INCOME
AND DIVIDEND FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
t 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)
f 914-921-5118
e info@gabelli.com
GABELLI.COM
Net Asset Value per share available daily
by calling 800-GABELLI after 7:00 P.M.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc. Executive Chairman, Associated Capital Group, Inc.
E. Val Cerutti Chief Executive Officer, Cerutti Consultants, Inc.
Anthony J. Colavita President, Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.
Arthur V. Ferrara Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
John D. Gabelli Senior Vice President, G.research, LLC
Werner J. Roeder, MD Former Medical Director, Lawrence Hospital
Anthonie C. van Ekris Chairman, BALMAC International, Inc.
|
Salvatore J. Zizza Chairman, Zizza & Associates Corp.
OFFICERS
Bruce N. Alpert President
Andrea R. Mango Secretary
Agnes Mullady Treasurer
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer
DISTRIBUTOR
G.distributors, LLC
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
LEGAL COUNSEL
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | |
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of The Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.
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GAB441Q416AR |
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Annual Report — December 31, 2016
(Y)our Portfolio Management Team
![]() | ||
Caesar M. P. Bryan | Howard F. Ward, CFA |
To Our Shareholders,
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The GAMCO Global Growth Fund increased 1.2% compared with an increase of 7.9% for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) All Country (“AC”) World Index. See page 3 for additional performance information.
Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2016.
Performance Discussion (Unaudited)
The economy struggled out of the gates in 2016 but improved over time as payroll growth and wage increases gave rise to a stronger consumer sector. Each quarter of the year had its own storyline. The first quarter was all about falling profits and collapsing oil prices. The second quarter held the shock of the Brexit vote in England, with no shortage of bearish headlines. In the third quarter, the after-shock of the Brexit vote gave rise to unprecedented negative interest rates in Europe and beyond, providing stimulus to help the fragile global expansion. Finally, the fourth quarter was all about the surprising election of Donald Trump and the excitement created by a potentially more pro-business administration.
Rigorous fundamental security analysis really never goes out of fashion and that is what we are all about. Our time tested approach to finding undervalued stocks is as valid as ever. We invest in individual companies for the long term, a practice which may gain in popularity as capital gains tax rates rise. We do not believe the world is coming to an end and we do believe common stocks should play an integral role in longer term investment portfolios. We enjoy what we do and we shall continue to work hard to generate superior investment returns for you.
Selected holdings that contributed positively to performance in 2016 were: Microsoft Corp. (3.6% of net assets as of December 31, 2016). While the company’s core desktop operating system and applications software franchise (Windows/MS Office) is maturing, Microsoft is gaining share in the enterprise market and also with its Internet and Xbox efforts; Time Warner Inc. (2.4%) and AT&T announced that they had entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire Time Warner in a stock and cash transaction valued at $107.50 per share; and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (1.6%) whose stock has rallied since the presidential election amid expectations for deregulation.
Some of our weaker performing holdings during the year were: ITV plc (1.0%) declined on the negative impact from the June Brexit vote; Liberty Global plc (1.8%) was hurt by negative earnings estimate revisions; and Allergan plc (no longer held as of December 31, 2016) declined on concerns over the changing regulatory environment, focus on high drug prices, and by the termination of its merger with Pfizer.
Thank you for your investment in The GAMCO Global Growth Fund.
We appreciate your confidence and trust.
2
Comparative Results
Average Annual Returns through December 31, 2016 (a) (Unaudited) | Since Inception | |||||||||
1 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | 15 Year | (2/7/94) | ||||||
Class AAA (GICPX) | 1.20% | 9.55% | 4.95% | 6.05% | 8.25% | |||||
MSCI AC World Index | 7.86 | 9.36 | 3.56 | 5.92 | 6.26(d) | |||||
Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Fund Classification | 1.84 | 9.36 | 4.13 | 5.88 | 6.83 | |||||
Class A (GGGAX) | 1.25 | 9.55 | 4.96 | 6.06 | 8.26 | |||||
With sales charge (b) | (4.57) | 8.26 | 4.34 | 5.64 | 7.98 | |||||
Class C (GGGCX) | 0.43 | 8.73 | 4.16 | 5.25 | 7.66 | |||||
With contingent deferred sales charge (c) | (0.57) | 8.73 | 4.16 | 5.25 | 7.66 | |||||
Class I (GGGIX) | 1.95 | 10.06 | 5.32 | 6.30 | 8.42 | |||||
In the current prospectuses dated April 29, 2016, the gross expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 1.68%, 1.68%, 2.43%, and 1.43%, respectively, and the net expense ratios for these share classes after contractual reimbursements by Gabelli Funds, LLC, (the “Adviser”) are 1.68%, 1.68%, 2.43%, and 1.00%, respectively. See page 10 for the expense ratios for the year ended December 31, 2016. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A Shares and Class C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively. (a) Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Returns for Class I Shares would have been lower had the Adviser not reimbursed certain expenses. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectuses contain information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. Investing in foreign securities involves risks not ordinarily associated with investments in domestic issues, including currency fluctuation, economic, and political risks. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares on March 2, 2000, March 12, 2000, and January 11, 2008, respectively. The actual performance of the Class A and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. The MSCI AC World Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The MSCI AC World Index consists of 45 country indices comprising 24 developed and 21 emerging market country indices. The Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Fund Classification reflects the performance of mutual funds classified in this particular category. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index. (b) Performance results include the effect of the maximum 5.75% sales charge at the beginning of the period. (c) Assuming payment of the 1% maximum contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within one year of purchase. (d) MSCI AC World Index since inception performance is a blend of Gross Performance excluding applicable taxes and Net Performance. This benchmark’s Net Performance began on December 29, 2000. |
COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN
THE GAMCO GLOBAL GROWTH FUND (CLASS AAA SHARES), MSCI AC WORLD INDEX,
AND LIPPER GLOBAL LARGE-CAP GROWTH FUND CLASSIFICATION (Unaudited)
* | Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. |
3
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund | ||||
Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited) | ||||
For the Six Month Period from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 | Expense Table |
We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of fees and expenses regarding your investment. All mutual funds have operating expenses. As a shareholder of a fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of a fund. When a fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, this figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.
The Expense Table below illustrates your Fund’s costs in two ways:
Actual Fund Return: This section provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this section to help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period after any fee waivers and expense reimbursements. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return during the past six months, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid during this period.
Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and
hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio. It assumes a hypothetical annualized return of 5% before expenses during the period shown. In this case – because the hypothetical return used is not the Fund’s actual return – the results do not apply to your investment and you cannot use the hypothetical account value and expense to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. This example is useful in making comparisons of the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Beginning Account Value 07/01/16 | Ending Account Value 12/31/16 | Annualized Expense Ratio | Expenses Paid During Period* | |||||||||||||
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund |
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Actual Fund Return |
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Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $1,028.70 | 1.72% | $ 8.77 | ||||||||||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,028.90 | 1.72% | $ 8.77 | ||||||||||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $1,024.80 | 2.47% | $12.57 | ||||||||||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $1,032.60 | 1.00% | $ 5.11 | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical 5% Return |
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Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $1,016.49 | 1.72% | $ 8.72 | ||||||||||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,016.49 | 1.72% | $ 8.72 | ||||||||||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $1,012.72 | 2.47% | $12.50 | ||||||||||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $1,020.11 | 1.00% | $ 5.08 |
* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (184 days), then divided by 366.
4
Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)
The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of December 31, 2016:
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Consumer Discretionary | 28.7 | % | ||
Information Technology | 24.5 | % | ||
Consumer Staples | 12.4 | % | ||
Health Care | 10.7 | % | ||
Industrials | 10.2 | % | ||
Energy | 5.1 | % | ||
Financials | 4.0 | % |
Materials | 2.6 | % | ||
Real Estate | 1.1 | % | ||
Telecommunication Services | 0.4 | % | ||
U.S. Government Obligations | 0.3 | % | ||
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100.0 | % | |||
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The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554).The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
5
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.7% |
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CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 28.7% |
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2,890 | Amazon.com Inc.† | $ | 1,080,233 | $ | 2,167,124 | |||||||
600 | AutoZone Inc.† | 228,024 | 473,874 | |||||||||
15,700 | CBS Corp., Cl. B, Non-Voting | 820,161 | 998,834 | |||||||||
2,000 | Christian Dior SE | 290,698 | 419,483 | |||||||||
18,600 | Comcast Corp., Cl. A | 993,132 | 1,284,330 | |||||||||
3,114 | Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA | 172,841 | 206,265 | |||||||||
11,800 | Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. | 291,553 | 481,793 | |||||||||
273,000 | ITV plc | 800,357 | 694,427 | |||||||||
42,500 | Liberty Global plc, Cl. A† | 1,373,117 | 1,300,075 | |||||||||
6,000 | Lululemon Athletica Inc.† | 388,617 | 389,940 | |||||||||
26,500 | Luxottica Group SpA | 1,406,624 | 1,425,451 | |||||||||
7,600 | LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE | 1,323,644 | 1,451,231 | |||||||||
8,500 | NIKE Inc., Cl. B | 264,188 | 432,055 | |||||||||
2,300 | O’Reilly Automotive Inc.† | 646,215 | 640,343 | |||||||||
11,900 | ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE | 609,405 | 458,598 | |||||||||
13,300 | Starbucks Corp. | 310,052 | 738,416 | |||||||||
7,000 | The Home Depot Inc. | 420,516 | 938,560 | |||||||||
240 | The Priceline Group Inc.† | 261,679 | 351,854 | |||||||||
23,700 | The Swatch Group AG | 1,487,996 | 1,448,812 | |||||||||
5,000 | The TJX Companies Inc. | 288,224 | 375,650 | |||||||||
5,300 | The Walt Disney Co. | 551,428 | 552,366 | |||||||||
17,800 | Time Warner Inc. | 1,400,529 | 1,718,234 | |||||||||
12,100 | Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., Cl. A | 275,385 | 339,284 | |||||||||
2,000 | Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc.† | 482,215 | 509,880 | |||||||||
36,600 | WPP plc | 837,284 | 819,127 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL CONSUMER |
| |||||||||||
DISCRETIONARY | 17,004,117 | 20,616,006 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 24.5% |
| |||||||||||
16,900 | Adobe Systems Inc.† | 1,312,242 | 1,739,855 | |||||||||
810 | Alphabet Inc., Cl. A† | 238,018 | 641,885 | |||||||||
2,701 | Alphabet Inc., Cl. C† | 1,764,941 | 2,084,686 | |||||||||
13,510 | Apple Inc. | 1,080,032 | 1,564,728 | |||||||||
23,300 | Facebook Inc., Cl. A† | 1,981,427 | 2,680,665 | |||||||||
5,000 | Fiserv Inc.† | 510,859 | 531,400 | |||||||||
2,900 | Keyence Corp. | 508,627 | 1,989,989 | |||||||||
8,600 | MasterCard Inc., Cl. A | 124,678 | 887,950 | |||||||||
41,700 | Microsoft Corp. | 1,611,743 | 2,591,238 | |||||||||
15,000 | Sabre Corp. | 427,634 | 374,250 | |||||||||
49,200 | Tencent Holdings Ltd. | 1,094,026 | 1,203,590 | |||||||||
17,000 | Visa Inc., Cl. A | 301,339 | 1,326,340 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL INFORMATION |
| |||||||||||
TECHNOLOGY | 10,955,566 | 17,616,576 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
CONSUMER STAPLES — 12.4% |
| |||||||||||
2,400 | Costco Wholesale Corp. | 155,909 | 384,264 | |||||||||
40,000 | Davide Campari-Milano SpA | 129,297 | 391,166 | |||||||||
23,000 | Diageo plc | 613,137 | 598,087 | |||||||||
11,100 | Henkel AG & Co. KGaA | 1,069,164 | 1,156,528 |
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
8,300 | L’Oreal SA | $ | 1,412,592 | $ | 1,515,000 | |||||||
20,600 | Nestlé SA | 1,197,710 | 1,477,787 | |||||||||
5,156 | Pernod Ricard SA | 497,413 | 558,759 | |||||||||
13,100 | Reckitt Benckiser Group plc | 1,046,974 | 1,111,713 | |||||||||
13,300 | Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. | 518,820 | 506,737 | |||||||||
3,200 | The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Cl. A | 156,622 | 244,768 | |||||||||
9,900 | Unicharm Corp. | 187,592 | 216,635 | |||||||||
9,400 | Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. | 788,616 | 777,944 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES | 7,773,846 | 8,939,388 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
HEALTH CARE — 10.7% |
| |||||||||||
1,600 | Amgen Inc. | 224,072 | 233,936 | |||||||||
4,400 | Becton, Dickinson and Co. | 543,650 | 728,420 | |||||||||
800 | Biogen Inc.† | 116,834 | 226,864 | |||||||||
6,900 | Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 408,815 | 403,236 | |||||||||
2,600 | Celgene Corp.† | 272,627 | 300,950 | |||||||||
5,900 | Danaher Corp. | 389,624 | 459,256 | |||||||||
4,500 | Essilor International SA | 560,990 | 508,511 | |||||||||
9,500 | Johnson & Johnson | 826,778 | 1,094,495 | |||||||||
5,500 | Merck & Co. Inc. | 345,818 | 323,785 | |||||||||
10,000 | Roche Holding AG, ADR | 229,460 | 285,300 | |||||||||
2,600 | Roche Holding AG, Genusschein | 255,977 | 593,892 | |||||||||
60,400 | Smith & Nephew plc | 994,294 | 908,881 | |||||||||
3,200 | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 419,737 | 451,520 | |||||||||
7,300 | UnitedHealth Group Inc. | 968,565 | 1,168,292 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL HEALTH CARE | 6,557,241 | 7,687,338 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
INDUSTRIALS — 10.2% |
| |||||||||||
2,500 | 3M Co. | 326,566 | 446,425 | |||||||||
35,000 | CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. | 348,702 | 396,737 | |||||||||
2,200 | FANUC Corp. | 437,806 | 372,988 | |||||||||
7,600 | Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. | 354,683 | 406,296 | |||||||||
24,300 | General Electric Co. | 707,451 | 767,880 | |||||||||
2,900 | Honeywell International Inc. | 300,960 | 335,965 | |||||||||
19,500 | Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. | 806,493 | 1,077,375 | |||||||||
20,700 | Nielsen Holdings plc | 843,002 | 868,365 | |||||||||
5,700 | Secom Co. Ltd. | 278,963 | 416,886 | |||||||||
10,100 | Siemens AG | 1,052,978 | 1,241,795 | |||||||||
3,700 | Snap-on Inc. | 574,552 | 633,699 | |||||||||
2,500 | The Boeing Co. | 264,846 | 389,200 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL INDUSTRIALS | 6,297,002 | 7,353,611 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
ENERGY — 5.1% |
| |||||||||||
22,500 | BP plc, ADR | 732,618 | 841,050 | |||||||||
10,300 | EOG Resources Inc. | 687,511 | 1,041,330 | |||||||||
21,500 | Schlumberger Ltd. | 1,562,070 | 1,804,925 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL ENERGY | 2,982,199 | 3,687,305 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
FINANCIALS — 4.0% |
| |||||||||||
7,000 | First Republic Bank/CA | 495,284 | 644,980 | |||||||||
13,300 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 655,026 | 1,147,657 | |||||||||
19,300 | Schroders plc | 345,422 | 713,088 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
FINANCIALS (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
10,100 | The Charles Schwab Corp. | $ | 275,570 | $ | 398,647 | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL FINANCIALS | 1,771,302 | 2,904,372 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
MATERIALS — 2.6% | ||||||||||||
3,900 | Air Liquide SA | 422,021 | 433,730 | |||||||||
3,300 | Ecolab Inc. | 294,898 | 386,826 | |||||||||
3,900 | The Sherwin-Williams Co. | 869,418 | 1,048,086 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL MATERIALS | 1,586,337 | 1,868,642 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
REAL ESTATE — 1.1% | ||||||||||||
3,700 | American Tower Corp. | 417,932 | 391,016 | |||||||||
4,500 | Crown Castle International Corp. | 417,188 | 390,465 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL REAL ESTATE | 835,120 | 781,481 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 0.4% |
| |||||||||||
2,400 | SBA Communications Corp., Cl. A† | 267,159 | 247,824 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | 56,029,889 | 71,702,543 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Principal | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 0.3% |
| |||||||||||
$ 199,000 | U.S. Treasury Bills, | $ | 198,844 | $ | 198,848 | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0% | $ | 56,228,733 | 71,901,391 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — 0.0% |
| 22,254 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 71,923,645 | ||||||||||
|
|
† | Non-income producing security. | |
†† | Represents annualized yield at date of purchase. | |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
% of Market | Market | |||||||||||
Geographic Diversification | Value | Value | ||||||||||
United States | 58.4 | % | $ | 42,006,615 | ||||||||
Europe | 29.8 | 21,427,119 | ||||||||||
Latin America | 6.2 | 4,482,627 | ||||||||||
Japan | 5.6 | 3,985,030 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
100.0 | % | $ | 71,901,391 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2016
| ||||
Assets: | ||||
Investments, at value (cost $56,228,733) | $ | 71,901,391 | ||
Cash | 35,175 | |||
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 52,389 | |||
Receivable from Adviser | 1,140 | |||
Dividends receivable | 118,969 | |||
Prepaid expenses | 31,321 | |||
|
| |||
Total Assets. | 72,140,385 | |||
|
| |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 53,256 | |||
Payable for investment advisory fees | 61,137 | |||
Payable for distribution fees | 15,481 | |||
Payable for accounting fees | 7,500 | |||
Payable for legal and audit fees | 28,343 | |||
Payable for shareholder communications expenses | 17,121 | |||
Payable for shareholder services fees | 13,773 | |||
Other accrued expenses | 20,129 | |||
|
| |||
Total Liabilities | 216,740 | |||
|
| |||
Net Assets (applicable to 2,697,631 shares outstanding) | $ | 71,923,645 | ||
|
| |||
Net Assets Consist of: | ||||
Paid-in capital | $ | 56,281,915 | ||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income | (45,595 | ) | ||
Accumulated net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 21,628 | |||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | 15,672,658 | |||
Net unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations | (6,961 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Assets | $ | 71,923,645 | ||
|
|
Shares of Capital Stock, each at $0.001 par value: |
| |||||||
Class AAA: | ||||||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($64,573,664 ÷ 2,416,507 shares outstanding; 75,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 26.72 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
Class A: | ||||||||
Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($3,143,472 ÷ 117,663 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 26.72 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
Maximum offering price per share (NAV ÷ 0. 9425, based on maximum sales charge of 5.75% of the offering price) | $ | 28.35 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
Class C: | ||||||||
Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($1,231,552 ÷ 52,938 shares outstanding; 25,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 23.26 | (a) | |||||
|
| |||||||
Class I: | ||||||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($2,974,957 ÷ 110,523 shares outstanding; 25,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 26.92 | ||||||
|
|
(a) | Redemption price varies based on the length of time held. |
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
| ||||
Investment Income: | ||||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $64,489) | $ | 1,275,105 | ||
Interest | 1,503 | |||
|
| |||
Total Investment Income | 1,276,608 | |||
|
| |||
Expenses: | ||||
Investment advisory fees | 775,130 | |||
Distribution fees - Class AAA | 173,926 | |||
Distribution fees - Class A. | 7,994 | |||
Distribution fees - Class C | 16,307 | |||
Shareholder services fees | 95,803 | |||
Shareholder communications expenses | 54,166 | |||
Registration expenses | 47,894 | |||
Accounting fees | 45,000 | |||
Legal and audit fees | 42,714 | |||
Directors’ fees | 24,189 | |||
Custodian fees. | 19,284 | |||
Interest expense | 869 | |||
Miscellaneous expenses | 36,733 | |||
|
| |||
Total Expenses | 1,340,009 | |||
|
| |||
Less: | ||||
Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 6) | (1,190 | ) | ||
Expense reimbursements (See Note 3) | (14,648 | ) | ||
Reimbursement for custody fees* | (401,807 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Total Credits and Reimbursements | (417,645 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Expenses | 922,364 | |||
|
| |||
Net Investment Income | 354,244 | |||
|
| |||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)on Investments and Foreign Currency: | ||||
Net realized gain on investments | 4,526,630 | |||
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions | (2,003 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 4,524,627 | |||
|
| |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments | (4,051,025 | ) | ||
on foreign currency translations | (697 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | (4,051,722 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss)on Investments and Foreign Currency | 472,905 | |||
|
| |||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 827,149 | ||
|
|
* | The Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Operations: | ||||||||||
Net investment income/(loss) | $ | 354,244 | $ | (82,478 | ) | |||||
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 4,524,627 | 3,278,049 | ||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | (4,051,722 | ) | (4,206,308 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 827,149 | (1,010,737 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Distributions to Shareholders: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | ||||||||||
Class AAA | (301,150 | ) | (48,739 | ) | ||||||
Class A | (14,857 | ) | (1,419 | ) | ||||||
Class I | (36,608 | ) | (22,777 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
(352,615 | ) | (72,935 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net realized gain | ||||||||||
Class AAA | (3,988,932 | ) | (3,941,244 | ) | ||||||
Class A | (191,788 | ) | (186,204 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (87,574 | ) | (115,116 | ) | ||||||
Class I | (184,475 | ) | (167,744 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
(4,452,769 | ) | (4,410,308 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total Distributions to Shareholders | (4,805,384 | ) | (4,483,243 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Capital Share Transactions: | ||||||||||
Class AAA | (4,746,537 | ) | (396,180 | ) | ||||||
Class A | (251,070 | ) | 90,876 | |||||||
Class C | (579,341 | ) | 442,213 | |||||||
Class I | 24,257 | 1,019,467 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions | (5,552,691 | ) | 1,156,376 | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Redemption Fees | — | 2 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets | (9,530,926 | ) | (4,337,602 | ) | ||||||
Net Assets: | ||||||||||
Beginning of year | 81,454,571 | 85,792,173 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively) | $ | 71,923,645 | $ | 81,454,571 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:
Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | Distributions | Ratios to Average Net Assets/ Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | Net Investment Income (Loss)(a) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | Total from Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gain | Total Distributions | Redemption Fees (a)(b) | Net Asset Value, End of Year | Total Return† | Net Assets End of Year (in 000’s) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Operating Expenses Before Reimbursement | Operating Expenses Net of Reimbursement | Portfolio Turnover Rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $28.27 | $ 0.12 | $0.22 | $0.34 | $(0.13) | $(1.76) | $(1.89) | — | $26.72 | 1.2% | $64,574 | 0.44% | 1.72% | 1.72%(c)(d) | 63% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 30.23 | (0.03) | (0.31) | (0.34) | (0.02) | (1.60) | (1.62) | $0.00 | 28.27 | (1.2) | 72,882 | (0.10) | 1.68 | 1.68(c) | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 31.12 | 0.15 | 1.09 | 1.24 | (0.12) | (2.01) | (2.13) | 0.00 | 30.23 | 3.9 | 78,140 | 0.48 | 1.72 | 1.72 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 26.54 | (0.01) | 7.50 | 7.49 | — | (2.91) | (2.91) | 0.00 | 31.12 | 28.8 | 75,773 | (0.02) | 1.77 | 1.77 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 23.32 | 0.02 | 4.16 | 4.18 | (0.02) | (0.94) | (0.96) | 0.00 | 26.54 | 18.0 | 62,746 | 0.09 | 1.90 | 1.90 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $28.26 | $ 0.12 | $0.23 | $0.35 | $(0.14) | $(1.75) | $(1.89) | — | $26.72 | 1.3% | $ 3,143 | 0.44% | 1.72% | 1.72%(c)(d) | 63% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 30.22 | (0.03) | (0.32) | (0.35) | (0.01) | (1.60) | (1.61) | $0.00 | 28.26 | (1.2) | 3,580 | (0.08) | 1.68 | 1.68(c) | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 31.13 | 0.13 | 1.11 | 1.24 | (0.14) | (2.01) | (2.15) | 0.00 | 30.22 | 3.9 | 3,725 | 0.40 | 1.72 | 1.72 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 26.54 | (0.01) | 7.51 | 7.50 | — | (2.91) | (2.91) | 0.00 | 31.13 | 28.8 | 1,872 | (0.05) | 1.77 | 1.77 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 23.33 | 0.02 | 4.16 | 4.18 | (0.03) | (0.94) | (0.97) | 0.00 | 26.54 | 17.9 | 1,161 | 0.07 | 1.90 | 1.90 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $24.91 | $ (0.07) | $0.18 | $0.11 | — | $(1.76) | $(1.76) | — | $23.26 | 0.4% | $ 1,232 | (0.30)% | 2.47% | 2.47%(c)(d) | 63% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 27.01 | (0.23) | (0.27) | (0.50) | — | (1.60) | (1.60) | $0.00 | 24.91 | (1.9) | 1,891 | (0.86) | 2.43 | 2.43(c) | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 28.12 | (0.11) | 1.01 | 0.90 | — | (2.01) | (2.01) | 0.00 | 27.01 | 3.1 | 1,609 | (0.37) | 2.47 | 2.47 | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 24.39 | (0.22) | 6.86 | 6.64 | — | (2.91) | (2.91) | 0.00 | 28.12 | 27.8 | 1,036 | (0.79) | 2.52 | 2.52 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 21.64 | (0.17) | 3.86 | 3.69 | — | (0.94) | (0.94) | 0.00 | 24.39 | 17.1 | 603 | (0.72) | 2.65 | 2.65 | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $28.47 | $ 0.33 | $0.23 | $0.56 | $(0.35) | $(1.76) | $(2.11) | — | $26.92 | 2.0% | $ 2,975 | 1.18% | 1.47% | 1.00%(c)(d)(e) | 63% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 30.42 | 0.17 | (0.30) | (0.13) | (0.22) | (1.60) | (1.82) | $0.00 | 28.47 | (0.5) | 3,102 | 0.54 | 1.43 | 1.00(c)(e) | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 31.30 | 0.27 | 1.11 | 1.38 | (0.25) | (2.01) | (2.26) | 0.00 | 30.42 | 4.3 | 2,318 | 0.85 | 1.47 | 1.28(e) | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 26.61 | 0.07 | 7.53 | 7.60 | — | (2.91) | (2.91) | 0.00 | 31.30 | 29.1 | 1,330 | 0.22 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 23.38 | 0.08 | 4.18 | 4.26 | (0.09) | (0.94) | (1.03) | 0.00 | 26.61 | 18.3 | 805 | 0.30 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 42 |
† | Total return represents aggregate total return of a hypothetical $1,000 investment at the beginning of the year and sold at the end of the year including reinvestment of distributions and does not reflect the applicable sales charges. | |
(a) | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares outstanding method. | |
(b) | Amount represents less than $0.005 per share. | |
(c) | The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios. | |
(d) | During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. Had such reimbursement (allocated by relative net asset values of the Fund’s share classes) been included in this period, the expense ratios would have been 1.20% (Class AAA) , 1.21%(Class A), 1.96% (Class C), and 0.47% (Class I). | |
(e) | Under an expense reimbursement agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser reimbursed certain Class I expenses to the Fund of $14,648, $12,486, and $3,489 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization. The GAMCO Global Growth Fund, a series of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), was incorporated on July 16, 1993 in Maryland. The Fund is a non-diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of four separately managed portfolios (collectively, the “Portfolios”) of the Corporation. The Fund’s primary objective is capital appreciation. The Fund commenced investment operations on February 7, 1994.
2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).
Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.
The Fund employs a fair value model to adjust prices to reflect events affecting the values of certain portfolio securities which occur between the close of trading on the principal market for such securities (foreign exchanges and over-the-counter markets) at the time when net asset values of the Fund are determined. If the Fund’s valuation committee believes that a particular event would materially affect net asset value, further adjustment is considered.
11
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:
● | Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; |
● | Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and |
● | Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments). |
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The closing price is adjusted from the local close, therefore, such securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy presented below. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||||
Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs | Total Market Value at 12/31/16 | ||||||||||
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES: | ||||||||||||
ASSETS (Market Value): | ||||||||||||
Common Stocks (a) | $71,702,543 | — | $71,702,543 | |||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | $198,848 | 198,848 | |||||||||
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TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS | $71,702,543 | $198,848 | $71,901,391 | |||||||||
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(a) | Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings. |
During the year ended December 31, 2016, foreign common stock was transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 due to the application of fair value procedures resulting from volatility in U.S. markets after the close of foreign markets. The beginning of period value of the securities that transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 during the period amounted to $16,744,307 or 21% of net assets as of December 31, 2015. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.
There were no Level 3 investments held at December 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.
Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.
General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.
12
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.
The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.
Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain or loss on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.
13
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Determination of Net Asset Value and Calculation of Expenses. Certain administrative expenses are common to, and allocated among, various affiliated funds. Such allocations are made on the basis of each fund’s average net assets or other criteria directly affecting the expenses as determined by the Adviser pursuant to procedures established by the Board.
In calculating NAV per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, redemption fees, and expenses other than class specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of each day. Distribution expenses are borne solely by the class incurring the expense.
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to mark-to-market adjustments on investments no longer considered a passive foreign investment company. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2016, reclassifications were made to decrease accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income by $18,201, with an offsetting adjustment to accumulated net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions.
The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Distributions paid from: | ||||||||||
Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains) | $ | 352,241 | $ | 73,010 | ||||||
Net long term capital gains | 4,453,143 | 4,410,233 | ||||||||
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Total distributions paid | $ | 4,805,384 | $ | 4,483,243 | ||||||
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Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
At December 31, 2016, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed long term capital gains | $ 10,543 | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | 15,631,187 | ||||
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Total | $15,641,730 | ||||
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14
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
At December 31, 2016, the temporary difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation on investments was due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes, mark-to-market adjustments on investments no longer considered a passive foreign investment company and basis adjustments for litigation gains.
The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at December 31, 2016:
Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized Depreciation | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |||||||||||||||||
Investments | $ | 56,263,242 | $ | 17,859,908 | $ | (2,221,759 | ) | $ | 15,638,149 |
The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of December 31, 2016, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.
3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs, and pays the compensation of all Officers and Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses of Class I Shares to the extent necessary to maintain the total operating expenses (excluding brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) until at least May 1, 2017 at no more than 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Adviser reimbursed certain Class I Share expenses in the amount of $14,648. In addition, the Fund has agreed, during the two year period following any waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser, to repay such amount to the extent, that after giving effect to the repayment, such adjusted annualized total operating expenses of the Fund would not exceed 1.00% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class I Shares. The agreement is renewable annually. At December 31, 2016, the cumulative amount which the Class I Shares may repay the Adviser, subject to the terms above, is $27,134:
For the year ended December 31, 2015, expiring December 31, 2017 | $ | 12,486 | ||
For the year ended December 31, 2016, expiring December 31, 2018 | 14,648 | |||
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$ | 27,134 | |||
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The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered to be an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $3,000, and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of
15
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
$2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.
4. Distribution Plan. The Fund’s Board has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) for each class of shares, except for Class I Shares, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Class AAA, Class A, and Class C Share Plans, payments are authorized to G.distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at annual rates of 0.25%, 0.25%, and 1.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of those classes, the annual limitations under each Plan. Such payments are accrued daily and paid monthly.
5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2016, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $48,689,477 and $59,079,721, respectively.
6. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Arrangements. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $170 to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser. Additionally, the Distributor retained a total of $2,102 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.
The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $1,190.
The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid or accrued $45,000 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.
7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit which expires on March 9, 2017 and may be renewed annually, of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bears interest at a floating rate equal to the higher of the overnight Federal Funds rate plus 125 basis points or the 30-DAY LIBOR plus 125 basis points in effect on that day. This amount, if any, would be included in “Interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. At December 31, 2016, there were no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit.
The average daily amount of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $60,812, with a weighted average interest rate of 1.21%. The maximum amount borrowed at any time during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $3,955,000.
8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA and Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%, and Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.
The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, if any, can be found in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets under Redemption Fees.
16
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 29,107 | $ | 807,388 | 72,110 | $ | 2,214,634 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 154,161 | 4,123,795 | 133,848 | 3,844,110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (345,138 | ) | (9,677,720 | ) | (212,337 | ) | (6,454,924 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Net (decrease) | (161,870 | ) | $ | (4,746,537 | ) | (6,379 | ) | $ | (396,180 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 27,660 | $ | 762,766 | 55,510 | $ | 1,702,463 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 7,246 | 193,744 | 6,096 | 175,091 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (43,912 | ) | (1,207,580 | ) | (58,202 | ) | (1,786,678 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Net increase/(decrease) | (9,006 | ) | $ | (251,070 | ) | 3,404 | $ | 90,876 | ||||||||||||||||
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Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 10,325 | $ | 248,345 | 38,155 | $ | 1,038,929 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 3,100 | 72,195 | 3,565 | 90,239 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (36,423 | ) | (899,881 | ) | (25,363 | ) | (686,955 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Net increase/(decrease) | (22,998 | ) | $ | (579,341 | ) | 16,357 | $ | 442,213 | ||||||||||||||||
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Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 44,336 | $ | 1,222,360 | 54,522 | $ | 1,686,152 | ||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 7,076 | 190,623 | 5,299 | 153,296 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (49,851 | ) | (1,388,726 | ) | (27,064 | ) | (819,981 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Net increase | 1,561 | $ | 24,257 | 32,757 | $ | 1,019,467 | ||||||||||||||||||
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9. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
10. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
17
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. and the
Shareholders of The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The GAMCO Global Growth Fund (the “Fund”), one of the series constituting GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc., as of December 31, 2016, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2016, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at December 31, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
New York, New York
February 28, 2017
18
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)
During the six months ended December 31, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Corporation approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the directors (the “Independent Board Members”) who are not “interested persons” of the Fund. The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the Fund’s portfolio managers, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the portfolio managers, the scope of supervisory, administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser, and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the Fund’s portfolio managers.
Investment Performance. The Independent Board Members reviewed the short, medium, and long term performance of the Fund against a peer group of global large cap growth funds, noting its third quartile performance for the one and three year periods and first quartile performance for the five year period.
Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with a pro rata administrative overhead charge and with a standalone administrative charge. The Independent Board Members also noted that a portion of the Fund’s portfolio transactions were executed by an affiliated broker of the Adviser and that another affiliated broker of the Adviser received distribution fees and minor amounts of sales commissions.
Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale and reviewed rudimentary data relating to the impact of 20% growth in the Fund on the Adviser’s profitability.
Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment management fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential economies of scale that may develop.
Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the expense ratios of the investment management fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expense ratios of the peer group of global large cap growth funds and noted that the Adviser’s management fee includes substantially all administrative services of the Fund as well as investment advisory services. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s expense ratios were significantly higher than and the Fund’s size was lower than average within this group. The Independent Board Members were presented with, but did not consider to be material to their decision, various information comparing the advisory fee with the fee for other types of accounts managed by the Adviser.
Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio management services and good ancillary services and a reasonable performance record. The Independent Board Members also concluded that the Fund’s expense ratios and the profitability to the Adviser of managing the Fund were reasonable, and that economies of scale were not a significant factor in their thinking at this time. The Independent Board Members did not view the potential profitability of ancillary services as material to their decision. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the investment management agreement to the full Board.
19
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board Members determined to approve the continuation of each Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based its decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.
20
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The GAMCO Global Growth Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.
Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age | Term of Office | Number of Funds in Fund Complex | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Other Directorships Held by Director4 | ||||
INTERESTED DIRECTORS3 : | ||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Director and Chief Investment Officer Age: 74 | Since 1993 | 31 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer– Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/ Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. | Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012) | ||||
John D. Gabelli Director Age: 72 | Since 1993 | 10 | Senior Vice President of G.research, LLC | — | ||||
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5 : | ||||||||
E. Val Cerutti Director Age: 77 | Since 2001 | 7 | Chief Executive Officer of Cerutti Consultants, Inc. | — | ||||
Anthony J. Colavita Director Age: 81 | Since 1993 | 36 | President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C. | — | ||||
Arthur V. Ferrara Director Age: 86 | Since 2001 | 8 | Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (1993 – 1995) | — | ||||
Werner J. Roeder, MD Director Age: 76 | Since 1993 | 23 | Practicing private physician; Former Medical Director of Lawrence Hospital (1999-2014) | — | ||||
Anthonie C. van Ekris Director Age: 82 | Since 1993 | 22 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BALMAC International, Inc. (global import/ export company) | — | ||||
Salvatore J. Zizza Director Age: 71 | Since 2004 | 30 | 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 (staffing services) (2009-2012) |
21
The GAMCO Global Growth Fund
Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)
Name, Position(s) and Age | Term of Office | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||
OFFICERS: | ||||
Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 65 | Since 2003 | 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; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc., 2008-2010 | ||
Andrea R. Mango Secretary Age: 44 | 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 Bank, 2006-2011 | ||
Agnes Mullady Treasurer Age: 58 | Since 2006 | President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2010; 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; Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex | ||
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 57 | 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, 2011-2013; Chief Compliance Officer of Cutwater Asset Management, 2004- 2011 |
1 | Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted. |
2 | Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Fund’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. 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. |
3 | “Interested person” of the Corporation as defined in the 1940 Act. Messers. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Corporation’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers. |
4 | This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
5 | Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors. |
22
THE GAMCO GLOBAL GROWTH FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1422
Portfolio Management Team Biographies
Caesar M. P. Bryan joined GAMCO Asset Management in 1994. He is a member of the global investment team of Gabelli Funds, LLC and portfolio manager of several funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex. Prior to joining Gabelli, Mr. Bryan was a portfolio manager at Lexington Management. He began his investment career at Samuel Montagu Company, the London based merchant bank. Mr. Bryan graduated from the University of Southampton in England with a Bachelor of Law and is a member of the English Bar.
Howard F. Ward, CFA, joined Gabelli Funds in 1995 and currently serves as GAMCO’s Chief Investment Officer of Growth Equities as well as a Gabelli Funds, LLC portfolio manager for several funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex. Prior to joining Gabelli, Mr. Ward served as Managing Director and Lead Portfolio Manager for several Scudder mutual funds. He also was an Investment Officer in the Institutional Investment Department with Brown Brothers, Harriman & Co. for four years. Mr. Ward received his B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.
2016 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited)
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid to shareholders ordinary income distributions (comprised of net investment income) totaling $0.133, $0.136, and $0.349 per share for Class AAA, Class A, and Class I Shares, respectively, and long term capital gains totaling $4,453,143, or the maximum allowable. The distribution of long term capital gains has been designated as a capital gain dividend by the Fund’s Board of Directors. For the year ended December 31, 2016, 100% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 0.12% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified interest income pursuant to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
U.S. Government Income:
The percentage of the ordinary income distribution paid by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2016 which was derived from U.S. Treasury securities was 0.12%. Such income is exempt from state and local tax in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2016. The percentage of U.S. Government securities held as of December 31, 2016 was 0.28%. Due to the diversity in state and local tax law, it is recommended that you consult your personal tax adviser as to the applicability of the information provided to your specific situation.
| ||||
All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.
|
We have separated the portfolio managers’ commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio managers’ commentary is unrestricted. The financial statements and investment portfolio are mailed separately from the commentary. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com. |
23
GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc.
THE GAMCO GLOBAL GROWTH FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
t | 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)
| |
f | 914-921-5118
| |
e | info@gabelli.com
| |
GABELLI.com |
Net Asset Value per share available daily
by calling 800-GABELLI after 7:00 P.M.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| ||
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc. Executive Chairman, Associated Capital Group, Inc.
E. Val Cerutti Chief Executive Officer, Cerutti Consultants, Inc.
Anthony J. Colavita President, Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.
Arthur V. Ferrara Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
John D. Gabelli Senior Vice President, G.research, LLC
Werner J. Roeder, MD Former Medical Director, Lawrence Hospital
Anthonie C. van Ekris Chairman, BALMAC International, Inc.
| Salvatore J. Zizza Chairman, Zizza & Associates Corp.
OFFICERS
Bruce N. Alpert President
Andrea R. Mango Secretary
Agnes Mullady Treasurer
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer
DISTRIBUTOR
G.distributors, LLC
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
LEGAL COUNSEL
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of The GAMCO Global Growth Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. |
GAB442Q416AR |
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Annual Report — December 31, 2016 | ![]() | |
Caesar M. P. Bryan | ||
Portfolio Manager |
To Our Shareholders,
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund increased 1.1% compared with an increase of 7.9% for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) All Country (“AC”) World Index. See page 2 for additional performance information.
Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2016.
Performance Discussion (Unaudited)
The economy struggled out of the gates in 2016 but improved over time as payroll growth and wage increases gave rise to a stronger consumer sector. Each quarter of the year had its own storyline. The first quarter was all about falling profits and collapsing oil prices. The second quarter held the shock of the Brexit vote in England, with no shortage of bearish headlines. In the third quarter, the after-shock of the Brexit vote gave rise to unprecedented negative interest rates in Europe and beyond, providing stimulus to help the fragile global expansion. Finally, the fourth quarter was all about the surprising election of Donald Trump and the excitement created by a potentially more pro-business administration.
We purchase attractively valued companies that we believe have the opportunity to grow earnings more rapidly than average within that company’s local market. We pay close attention to a company’s position, management, and balance sheet, with particular emphasis on the ability of the company to finance its growth. Generally, we value a company relative to its local market, but where appropriate, we attempt to benefit from valuation discrepancies between markets. Our primary focus is on security selection and not country allocation, but the Fund will remain diversified by sector and geography. Country allocation is likely to reflect broad economic, financial, and currency trends, as well as relative size of the market.
Selected holdings that contributed positively to performance in 2016 were: Microsoft Corp. (4.7% of net assets as December 31, 2016). While the company’s core desktop operating system and applications software franchise (Windows/MS Office) is maturing, Microsoft is gaining share in the enterprise market and also with its Internet and Xbox efforts; AT&T Inc. (2.6%) announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire Time Warner in a stock and cash transaction valued at $107.50 per share; and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (1.5%) increased in price as the price of physical gold increased and the company executed on growth projects and realized exploration success.
Some of our weaker performing holdings during the year were: Liberty Interactive Corp. (1.3%) was hurt by negative earnings estimate revisions; Novo Nordisk A/S (0.8%) suffered on a management pull back on its full year growth projections; and Allergan PLC (0.8%) declined on concerns over the changing regulatory environment, focus on high drug prices, and by the termination of its merger with Pfizer.
Thank you for your investment in The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund.
We appreciate your confidence and trust.
Comparative Results
Average Annual Returns through December 31, 2016 (a) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | 15 Year | Since Inception | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA (GABOX) | 1.12 | % | 6.50 | % | 3.11 | % | 6.25 | % | 6.09 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
MSCI AC World Index | 7.86 | 9.36 | 3.56 | 5.92 | (d) | 4.52 | (d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Fund Classification | 1.84 | 9.36 | 4.13 | 5.88 | 5.13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lipper Global Multi-Cap Growth Fund Classification | 1.61 | 9.12 | 3.56 | 5.09 | 5.19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A (GOCAX) | 1.13 | 6.48 | 3.10 | 6.26 | 6.09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
With sales charge (b) | (4.69 | ) | 5.23 | 2.49 | 5.85 | 5.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C (GGLCX) | 0.85 | 5.79 | 2.35 | 5.72 | 5.66 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
With contingent deferred sales charge (c) | (0.15 | ) | 5.79 | 2.35 | 5.72 | 5.66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I (GLOIX) | 1.47 | 7.00 | 3.46 | 6.49 | 6.29 |
In the current prospectuses dated April 29, 2016, the gross expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 2.67%, 2.67%, 3.42%, and 2.42%, respectively, and the net expense ratios in the current prospectuses after contractual reimbursements by Gabelli Funds, LLC, (the “Adviser”) for all share classes through December 31, 2016 is 1.00%. See page 9 for the expense ratios for the year ended December 31, 2016. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A Shares and Class C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively.
(a) | Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Returns would have been lower had the Adviser not reimbursed certain expenses of the Fund. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectuses contain information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. Investing in foreign securities involves risks not ordinarily associated with investments in domestic issues, including currency fluctuation, economic, and political risks. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares on March 12, 2000, November 23, 2001, and January 11, 2008, respectively. The actual performance of the Class A Shares and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of the Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. The MSCI AC World Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The MSCI AC World Index consists of 45 country indices comprising 24 developed and 21 emerging market country indices. The Lipper Global Large-Cap Growth Fund Classification and the Lipper Global Multi-Cap Growth Fund Classification reflect the average performance of mutual funds classified in those particular categories. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
(b) | Performance results include the effect of the maximum 5.75% sales charge at the beginning of the period. |
(c) | Assuming payment of the 1% maximum contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within one year of purchase. |
(d) | MSCI AC World Index since inception performance is a blend of Gross Performance excluding applicable taxes and Net Performance. This benchmark’s Net Performance began on December 29, 2000. |
COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN
THE GAMCO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND (CLASS AAA SHARES), LIPPER GLOBAL
MULTI-CAP GROWTH FUND CLASSIFICATION, AND MSCI AC WORLD INDEX (Unaudited)
* | Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. |
2
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited) For the Six Month Period from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 | Expense Table |
We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of fees and expenses regarding your investment. All mutual funds have operating expenses. As a shareholder of a fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of a fund. When a fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, this figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.
The Expense Table below illustrates your Fund’s costs in two ways:
Actual Fund Return: This section provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this section to help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period after any fee waivers and expense reimbursements. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return during the past six months, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid during this period.
Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and
hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio. It assumes a hypothetical annualized return of 5% before expenses during the period shown. In this case – because the hypothetical return used is not the Fund’s actual return – the results do not apply to your investment and you cannot use the hypothetical account value and expense to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. This example is useful in making comparisons of the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Beginning Account Value 07/01/16 | Ending Account Value 12/31/16 | Annualized Expense Ratio | Expenses Paid During Period* | |||||
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund | ||||||||
Actual Fund Return | ||||||||
Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $ 985.50 | 1.02% | $5.09 | ||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $ 985.50 | 1.02% | $5.09 | ||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $ 985.90 | 1.02% | $5.09 | ||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $ 985.60 | 1.02% | $5.09 | ||||
Hypothetical 5% Return | ||||||||
Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $1,020.01 | 1.02% | $5.18 | ||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,020.01 | 1.02% | $5.18 | ||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $1,020.01 | 1.02% | $5.18 | ||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $1,020.01 | 1.02% | $5.18 |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (184 days), then divided by 366. |
3
Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)
The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of December 31, 2016:
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Consumer Staples | 22.1 | % | ||
Industrials | 18.6 | % | ||
Information Technology | 16.2 | % | ||
Consumer Discretionary | 14.1 | % | ||
Health Care | 10.8 | % | ||
Materials | 6.3 | % | ||
Financials | 4.5 | % |
Telecommunication Services | 3.5 | % | ||
Energy | 3.3 | % | ||
Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) | 0.6 | % | ||
|
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100.0 | % | |||
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The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554).The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
4
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Schedule of Investments — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.4% | ||||||||||||
CONSUMER STAPLES — 22.1% | ||||||||||||
1,500 | Associated British Foods plc | $ | 65,359 | $ | 50,744 | |||||||
3,250 | British American Tobacco plc | 81,357 | 185,106 | |||||||||
1,300 | Danone SA | 77,722 | 82,381 | |||||||||
7,000 | Diageo plc | 97,896 | 182,027 | |||||||||
2,280 | Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. | 54,395 | 206,728 | |||||||||
3,000 | General Mills Inc. | 74,401 | 185,310 | |||||||||
2,000 | Heineken Holding NV | 93,486 | 139,245 | |||||||||
2,000 | Japan Tobacco Inc. | 71,426 | 65,780 | |||||||||
1,500 | Kameda Seika Co. Ltd. | 60,527 | 68,535 | |||||||||
3,000 | Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. | 129,424 | 212,280 | |||||||||
1,910 | Pernod Ricard SA | 147,275 | 206,988 | |||||||||
2,150 | Philip Morris International Inc. | 74,934 | 196,704 | |||||||||
3,300 | Shiseido Co. Ltd. | 61,010 | 83,534 | |||||||||
2,000 | The Procter & Gamble Co. | 110,564 | 168,160 | |||||||||
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TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES | 1,199,776 | 2,033,522 | ||||||||||
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INDUSTRIALS — 18.6% | ||||||||||||
1,100 | FANUC Corp. | 120,160 | 186,494 | |||||||||
4,300 | Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd. | 137,142 | 237,575 | |||||||||
3,600 | Komatsu Ltd. | 76,536 | 81,549 | |||||||||
1,900 | L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. | 77,654 | 289,009 | |||||||||
2,500 | Lockheed Martin Corp. | 61,439 | 624,850 | |||||||||
600 | Nidec Corp. | 55,269 | 51,773 | |||||||||
900 | SMC Corp. | 111,781 | 214,883 | |||||||||
1,750 | Travis Perkins plc | 51,823 | 31,315 | |||||||||
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TOTAL INDUSTRIALS | 691,804 | 1,717,448 | ||||||||||
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 16.2% | ||||||||||||
500 | Alphabet Inc., Cl. A† | 88,892 | 396,225 | |||||||||
501 | Alphabet Inc., Cl. C† | 88,832 | 386,682 | |||||||||
400 | Keyence Corp. | 74,627 | 274,481 | |||||||||
7,000 | Microsoft Corp. | 185,025 | 434,980 | |||||||||
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TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 437,376 | 1,492,368 | ||||||||||
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CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 14.1% | ||||||||||||
1,500 | AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A† | 12,414 | 78,510 | |||||||||
3,000 | Atresmedia Corp. de Medios de Comunicacion SA | 34,964 | 32,811 | |||||||||
1,750 | Christian Dior SE | 105,202 | 367,047 | |||||||||
5,000 | Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA | 65,012 | 331,189 | |||||||||
250 | Hermes International | 84,929 | 102,634 | |||||||||
9,000 | ITV plc | 36,816 | 22,893 | |||||||||
664 | Liberty Expedia Holdings Inc., Cl. A† | 9,292 | 26,341 | |||||||||
6,000 | Liberty Interactive Corp. QVC Group, Cl. A† | 88,266 | 119,880 | |||||||||
808 | Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings Inc., Cl. A† | 7,640 | 12,160 | |||||||||
996 | Liberty Ventures, Cl. A† | 11,826 | 36,723 | |||||||||
1,500 | ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE | 76,947 | 57,806 | |||||||||
4,000 | Rakuten Inc. | 50,590 | 39,204 |
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
2,500 | Sony Corp. | $ | 64,950 | $ | 70,053 | |||||||
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TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY | 648,848 | 1,297,251 | ||||||||||
|
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HEALTH CARE — 10.8% | ||||||||||||
350 | Allergan plc† | 104,270 | 73,504 | |||||||||
2,000 | AstraZeneca plc, ADR | 71,933 | 54,640 | |||||||||
3,000 | GlaxoSmithKline plc | 62,875 | 57,751 | |||||||||
4,400 | Novartis AG | 174,161 | 320,181 | |||||||||
2,000 | Novo Nordisk A/S, Cl. B | 99,555 | 72,127 | |||||||||
1,700 | Roche Holding AG, Genusschein | 136,625 | 388,314 | |||||||||
2,000 | Smith & Nephew plc | 36,094 | 30,095 | |||||||||
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TOTAL HEALTH CARE | 685,513 | 996,612 | ||||||||||
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MATERIALS — 6.3% | ||||||||||||
3,200 | Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. | 153,756 | 134,400 | |||||||||
2,500 | Monsanto Co. | 174,388 | 263,025 | |||||||||
1,500 | Randgold Resources Ltd., ADR | 101,757 | 114,510 | |||||||||
1,830 | Rio Tinto plc | 77,490 | 71,234 | |||||||||
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TOTAL MATERIALS | 507,391 | 583,169 | ||||||||||
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FINANCIALS — 4.5% | ||||||||||||
2,000 | Investor AB, Cl. B | 71,420 | 74,748 | |||||||||
7,000 | Kinnevik AB, Cl. B | 161,198 | 167,728 | |||||||||
4,600 | Schroders plc | 83,122 | 169,959 | |||||||||
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TOTAL FINANCIALS | 315,740 | 412,435 | ||||||||||
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TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 3.5% | ||||||||||||
5,676 | AT&T Inc. | 145,601 | 241,400 | |||||||||
1,300 | SoftBank Group Corp. | 99,407 | 86,370 | |||||||||
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TOTAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES | 245,008 | 327,770 | ||||||||||
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ENERGY — 3.3% | ||||||||||||
700 | Occidental Petroleum Corp. | 69,284 | 49,861 | |||||||||
3,000 | Schlumberger Ltd. | 99,669 | 251,850 | |||||||||
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TOTAL ENERGY | 168,953 | 301,711 | ||||||||||
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TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | 4,900,409 | 9,162,286 | ||||||||||
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TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.4% | $ | 4,900,409 | 9,162,286 | |||||||||
|
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Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — 0.6% |
| 52,296 | ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 9,214,582 | ||||||||||
|
|
† | Non-income producing security. |
ADR American Depositary Receipt
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
Geographic Diversification | % of Market Value | Market Value | ||||||
United States | 42.9 | % | $ | 3,928,827 | ||||
Europe | 37.0 | 3,386,977 | ||||||
Japan | 13.3 | 1,222,657 | ||||||
Latin America | 5.3 | 489,425 | ||||||
Canada | 1.5 | 134,400 | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||
100.0 | % | $ | 9,162,286 | |||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2016
Assets: | ||||
Investments, at value (cost $4,900,409) | $ | 9,162,286 | ||
Cash | 44,064 | |||
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 2,000 | |||
Receivable from Adviser | 27,909 | |||
Dividends receivable | 31,464 | |||
Prepaid expenses. | 13,555 | |||
|
| |||
Total Assets | 9,281,278 | |||
|
| |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Payable for investment advisory fees | 15,501 | |||
Payable for distribution fees | 1,716 | |||
Payable for legal and audit fees | 17,548 | |||
Payable for shareholder communications expenses | 12,106 | |||
Other accrued expenses | 19,825 | |||
|
| |||
Total Liabilities | 66,696 | |||
|
| |||
Net Assets (applicable to 410,674 shares outstanding) | $ | 9,214,582 | ||
|
| |||
Net Assets Consist of: | ||||
Paid-in capital | $ | 4,957,326 | ||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income | (3,334 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments | 4,261,877 | |||
Net unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations | (1,287 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Assets | $ | 9,214,582 | ||
|
| |||
Shares of Capital Stock, each at $0.001 par value: | ||||
Class AAA: | ||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($7,763,674 ÷ 346,497 shares outstanding; 75,000,000 shares authorized) | $22.41 | |||
Class A: | ||||
Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($166,224 ÷ 7,444 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $22.33 | |||
Maximum offering price per share (NAV ÷ 0.9425, based on maximum sales charge of 5.75% of the offering price) | $23.69 | |||
Class C: | ||||
Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($39,137 ÷ 1,819 shares outstanding; 25,000,000 shares authorized) | $21.52 | (a) | ||
Class I: | ||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($1,245,547 ÷ 54,914 shares outstanding; 25,000,000 shares authorized) | $22.68 |
(a) | Redemption price varies based on the length of time held. |
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
Investment Income: | ||||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $16,174) | $ | 221,372 | ||
|
| |||
Total Investment Income | 221,372 | |||
|
| |||
Expenses: | ||||
Investment advisory fees | 95,947 | |||
Distribution fees - Class AAA | 20,298 | |||
Distribution fees - Class A | 416 | |||
Distribution fees - Class C | 501 | |||
Registration expenses | 31,415 | |||
Legal and audit fees | 27,150 | |||
Shareholder communications expenses | 25,336 | |||
Shareholder services fees | 20,821 | |||
Directors’ fees | 2,981 | |||
Custodian fees | 2,571 | |||
Tax expense | 752 | |||
Interest expense | 89 | |||
Miscellaneous expenses | 37,622 | |||
|
| |||
Total Expenses | 265,899 | |||
|
| |||
Less: | ||||
Expenses reimbursed by Adviser (See Note 3) | (137,877 | ) | ||
Reimbursement for custody fees* | (20,203 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Total Reimbursements | (158,080 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Expenses | 107,819 | |||
|
| |||
Net Investment Income. | 113,553 | |||
|
| |||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency: | ||||
Net realized gain on investments | 373,541 | |||
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions | (1,682 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 371,859 | |||
|
| |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments | (385,858 | ) | ||
on foreign currency translations | 1,037 | |||
|
| |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | (384,821 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency | (12,962 | ) | ||
|
| |||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 100,591 | ||
|
|
* | The Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Operations: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 113,553 | $ | 10,522 | ||||||
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 371,859 | 665,879 | ||||||||
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | (384,821 | ) | (649,317 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 100,591 | 27,084 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Distributions to Shareholders: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | ||||||||||
Class AAA | (93,645 | ) | (38,490 | ) | ||||||
Class A | (1,905 | ) | (740 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (440 | ) | — | |||||||
Class I | (19,219 | ) | (12,347 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
(115,209 | ) | (51,577 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net realized gain | ||||||||||
Class AAA | (333,251 | ) | (74,970 | ) | ||||||
Class A | (7,242 | ) | (1,588 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (1,741 | ) | (458 | ) | ||||||
Class I | (52,445 | ) | (10,622 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
(394,679 | ) | (87,638 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Total Distributions to Shareholders | (509,888 | ) | (139,215 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Capital Share Transactions: | ||||||||||
Class AAA | (485,664 | ) | (1,530,001 | ) | ||||||
Class A | (9,618 | ) | (36,726 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (9,886 | ) | 20,563 | |||||||
Class I | 47,799 | 593,614 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions | (457,369 | ) | (952,550 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Redemption Fees | 1 | 544 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets | (866,665 | ) | (1,064,137 | ) | ||||||
Net Assets: | ||||||||||
Beginning of year | 10,081,247 | 11,145,384 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively) | $ | 9,214,582 | $ | 10,081,247 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:
Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | Distributions | Ratios to Average Net Assets/ Supplemental Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended | Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | Net Investment Income (Loss)(a) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | Total from Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gain on Investments | Total Distributions | Redemption Fees(a)(b) | Net Asset Value, End of Year | Total Return† | Net Assets End of Year (in 000’s) | Net Investment Income (Loss) | Operating Expenses Before Reimburse- ment | Operating Expenses Net of Reimburse- ment(c) | Portfolio Turnover Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 23.45 | $ | 0.27 | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.25 | $ | (0.28 | ) | $ | (1.01 | ) | $ | (1.29 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | 22.41 | 1.1 | % | $ | 7,764 | 1.14 | % | 2.80 | % | 1.38 | %(d)(e) | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 23.71 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.06 | (0.11 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.32 | ) | 0.00 | 23.45 | 0.2 | 8,596 | 0.03 | 2.67 | 2.02 | (d)(f) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 23.99 | 0.08 | (0.36 | ) | (0.28 | ) | — | — | — | — | 23.71 | (1.2 | ) | 10,226 | 0.33 | 2.72 | 2.00 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 20.19 | 0.02 | 3.80 | 3.82 | (0.02 | ) | — | (0.02 | ) | — | 23.99 | 18.9 | 11,121 | 0.10 | 2.74 | 2.00 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 17.67 | 0.12 | 2.53 | 2.65 | (0.13 | ) | — | (0.13 | ) | 0.00 | 20.19 | 15.0 | 9,651 | 0.65 | 2.91 | 2.00 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 23.35 | $ | 0.27 | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.26 | $ | (0.27 | ) | $ | (1.01 | ) | $ | (1.28 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | 22.33 | 1.1 | % | $ | 166 | 1.14 | % | 2.80 | % | 1.39 | %(d)(e) | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 23.61 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 | (0.10 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.31 | ) | 0.00 | 23.35 | 0.1 | 183 | 0.08 | 2.67 | 2.02 | (d)(f) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 23.90 | 0.08 | (0.37 | ) | (0.29 | ) | — | — | — | — | 23.61 | (1.2 | ) | 220 | 0.35 | 2.72 | 2.00 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 20.11 | 0.03 | 3.78 | 3.81 | (0.02 | ) | — | (0.02 | ) | — | 23.90 | 19.0 | �� | 238 | 0.13 | 2.74 | 2.00 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 17.61 | 0.11 | 2.53 | 2.64 | (0.14 | ) | — | (0.14 | ) | 0.00 | 20.11 | 15.0 | 220 | 0.57 | 2.91 | 2.00 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 22.60 | $ | 0.20 | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.19 | $ | (0.26 | ) | $ | (1.01 | ) | $ | (1.27 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | 21.52 | 0.9 | % | $ | 39 | 0.87 | % | 3.55 | % | 1.66 | %(d)(e) | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 22.94 | (0.17 | ) | 0.04 | (0.13 | ) | — | (0.21 | ) | (0.21 | ) | 0.00 | 22.60 | 0.6 | 51 | (0.75 | ) | 3.42 | 2.77 | (d)(f) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 23.40 | (0.04 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.46 | ) | — | — | — | — | 22.94 | (2.0 | ) | 31 | (0.17 | ) | 3.46 | 2.75 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 19.82 | (0.14 | ) | 3.72 | 3.58 | — | — | — | — | 23.40 | 18.1 | 19 | (0.65 | ) | 3.49 | 2.75 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 17.36 | (0.02 | ) | 2.48 | 2.46 | 0.00 | (b) | — | (0.00 | )(b) | — | 19.82 | 14.2 | 17 | (0.12 | ) | 3.66 | 2.75 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $ | 23.71 | $ | 0.36 | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.35 | $ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (1.01 | ) | $ | (1.38 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | 22.68 | 1.5 | % | $ | 1,246 | 1.50 | % | 2.55 | % | 1.01 | %(d)(e) | 4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 23.87 | 0.21 | 0.08 | 0.29 | (0.24 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.45 | ) | 0.00 | 23.71 | 1.2 | 1,251 | 0.88 | 2.42 | 1.02 | (d)(f) | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 24.04 | 0.21 | (0.38 | ) | (0.17 | ) | — | — | — | — | 23.87 | (0.7 | ) | 668 | 0.86 | 2.46 | 1.48 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 20.23 | 0.08 | 3.81 | 3.89 | (0.08 | ) | — | (0.08 | ) | — | 24.04 | 19.2 | 641 | 0.35 | 2.49 | 1.75 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 17.70 | 0.17 | 2.55 | 2.72 | (0.19 | ) | — | (0.19 | ) | 0.00 | 20.23 | 15.4 | 537 | 0.90 | 2.66 | 1.75 | 6 |
† | Total return represents aggregate total return of a hypothetical $1,000 investment at the beginning of the year and sold at the end of the year including reinvestment of distributions and does not reflect the applicable sales charges. |
(a) | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares outstanding method. |
(b) | Amount represents less than $0.005 per share. |
(c) | The Fund incurred interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012 and the effect of interest expense was minimal. |
(d) | The Fund incurred tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. If tax expense had not been incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 1.37% and 2.00% (Class AAA), and 1.38% and 2.00%(Class A), 1.65% and 2.75% (Class C), and 1.00% and 1.00% (Class I), respectively. |
(e) | During the for year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. Had such reimbursement (allocated by relative net asset values of the Fund’s share classes) been included in this period, the expense ratios would have been 1.17% (Class AAA), 1.18% (Class A), 1.45% (Class C), and 0.80% (Class I). |
(f) | The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2015, had such payments not been made, the expense ratios would have been 2.03% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.78% (Class C), and 1.03% (Class I). |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization. The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund, a series of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), was incorporated on July 16, 1993 in Maryland. The Fund is a non-diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of four separately managed portfolios (collectively, the “Portfolios”) of the Corporation. The Fund’s primary objective is capital appreciation. The Fund commenced investment operations on May 11, 1998.
2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).
Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.
10
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The Fund employs a fair value model to adjust prices to reflect events affecting the values of certain portfolio securities which occur between the close of trading on the principal market for such securities (foreign exchanges and over-the-counter markets) at the time when net asset values of the Fund are determined. If the Fund’s valuation committee believes that a particular event would materially affect net asset value, further adjustment is considered.
The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:
● | Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; |
● | Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and |
● | Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments). |
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. If fair value is adjusted from the local close, such securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy presented below. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||
Level 1 Quoted Prices | Total Market Value at 12/31/16 | |||||||||
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES: | ||||||||||
ASSETS (Market Value): | ||||||||||
Common Stocks (a) | $9,162,286 | $9,162,286 | ||||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS | $9,162,286 | $9,162,286 |
(a) | Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings. |
During the year ended December 31, 2016, foreign common stock was transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 due to the application of fair value procedures resulting from volatility in U.S. markets after the close of foreign markets. The beginning of period value of the securities that transferred from Level 2 to Level 1 during the period amounted to $4,504,427 or 45% of net assets as of December 31, 2015. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.
There were no Level 3 investments held at December 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.
Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.
General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.
11
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.
The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.
Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain or loss on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.
Determination of Net Asset Value and Calculation of Expenses. Certain administrative expenses are common to, and allocated among, various affiliated funds. Such allocations are made on the basis of each fund’s average net assets or other criteria directly affecting the expenses as determined by the Adviser pursuant to procedures established by the Board.
12
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
In calculating the NAV per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, redemption fees, and expenses other than class specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of each day. Distribution expenses are borne solely by the class incurring the expense.
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to recharacterization of foreign currency. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2016, reclassifications were made to increase accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income by $623 and decrease net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions by $1,374, with an offsetting adjustment to paid-in capital.
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
Year Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Distributions paid from: | ||||||||||
Ordinary income | $115,209 | $50,253 | ||||||||
Net long-term capital gains | 394,679 | 88,962 | ||||||||
Total distributions paid | $509,888 | $139,215 |
Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
As of December 31, 2016, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 838 | ||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | 4,256,418 | |||
|
| |||
Total | $ | 4,257,256 | ||
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|
At December 31, 2016, the differences between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation were primarily due to mark-to-market adjustments on investments in passive foreign investment companies.
13
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at December 31, 2016:
Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation | Gross Unrealized Depreciation | Net Unrealized Appreciation | |||||||||||||||||
Investments | $4,904,581 | $4,479,784 | $(222,079) | $4,257,705 |
The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund recognized $752 in excise tax expense. As of December 31, 2016, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.
3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs, and pays the compensation of all Officers and Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.
Effective May 18, 2016, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses with respect to Class AAA, A, and C shares to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursement (excluding brokerage costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) at no more than an annual rate of 1.00% through December 31, 2016. Thereafter, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee and/or to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the annualized total operating expenses of the Fund (excluding brokerage costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) until at least May 1, 2017, at no more than 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.00% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $137,877. In addition, the Fund has agreed, during the two year period following any waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser, to repay such amount to the extent, that after giving effect to the repayment, such adjusted annualized total operating expenses of the Fund would not exceed 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.00% (effective August 25, 2014, 1.75% prior to August 25, 2014) of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I, respectively. The agreement is renewable annually. At December 31, 2016, the cumulative amount which the Fund may repay the Adviser, subject to the terms above, is $213,445.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, expiring December 31, 2017 | $ | 75,568 | ||
For the year ended December 31, 2016, expiring December 31, 2018 | 137,877 | |||
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$ | 213,445 | |||
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14
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered to be an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended, and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $3,000 and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.
4. Distribution Plan. The Fund’s Board has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) for each class of shares, except for Class I Shares, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Class AAA, Class A, and Class C Share Plans, payments are authorized to G.distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at annual rates of 0.25%, 0.25%, and 1.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of those classes, the annual limitations under each Plan. Such payments are accrued daily and paid monthly.
5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2016, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $380,522 and $1,288,419, respectively.
6. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Arrangements. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Distributor retained a total of $542 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.
The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser did not seek a reimbursement during the year ended December 31, 2016.
7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit which expires on March 9, 2017 and may be renewed annually, of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bears interest at a floating rate equal to the higher of the overnight Federal Funds rate plus 125 basis points or the 30-DAY LIBOR plus 125 basis points in effect on that day. This amount, if any, would be included in “Interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. At December 31, 2016, there were no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit.
The average daily amount of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $2,536 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.26%. The maximum amount borrowed at any time during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $145,000.
8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA and Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%, and Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.
The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, if any, can be found in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets under Redemption Fees.
15
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:
Year Ended | Year Ended | |||||||||||||||
December 31, 2016 | December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||
Class AAA | ||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 7,369 | $ | 174,340 | 24,142 | $ | 573,496 | ||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 18,818 | 420,567 | 4,671 | 111,266 | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (46,341 | ) | (1,080,571 | ) | (93,536 | ) | (2,214,763 | ) | ||||||||
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| |||||||||
Net decrease | (20,154 | ) | $ | (485,664 | ) | (64,723 | ) | $ | (1,530,001 | ) | ||||||
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| |||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 1,797 | $ | 42,329 | 1,299 | $ | 31,328 | ||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 411 | 9,147 | 98 | 2,328 | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (2,601 | ) | (61,094 | ) | (2,894 | ) | (70,382 | ) | ||||||||
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|
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Net decrease | (393 | ) | $ | (9,618 | ) | (1,497 | ) | $ | (36,726 | ) | ||||||
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| |||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 40 | $ | 900 | 1,117 | $ | 25,500 | ||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 101 | 2,169 | 20 | 456 | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (575 | ) | (12,955 | ) | (233 | ) | (5,393 | ) | ||||||||
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| |||||||||
Net increase/(decrease) | (434 | ) | $ | (9,886 | ) | 904 | $ | 20,563 | ||||||||
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Class I | ||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 1,133 | $ | 26,926 | 25,827 | $ | 619,046 | ||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 3,152 | 71,307 | 936 | 22,537 | ||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (2,115 | ) | (50,434 | ) | (1,996 | ) | (47,969 | ) | ||||||||
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| |||||||||
Net increase | 2,170 | $ | 47,799 | 24,767 | $ | 593,614 | ||||||||||
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9. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
10. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
16
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. and the
Shareholders of The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”), one of the series constituting GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc., as of December 31, 2016, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2016, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at December 31, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
New York, New York
February 28, 2017
17
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)
During the six months ended December 31, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Corporation approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the directors (the “Independent Board Members”) who are not “interested persons” of the Fund. The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the Fund’s portfolio managers, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the portfolio manager, the scope of supervisory, administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser, and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the Fund’s portfolio manager.
Investment Performance. The Independent Board Members reviewed the short and medium term performance of the Fund against a peer group of global multi-cap growth funds, noting the Fund’s second quartile performance for the one year period and fourth quartile performance for the three and five year periods.
Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the lack of profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with and without the expense reimbursement arrangement in effect. The Independent Board Members also noted that a portion of the Fund’s portfolio transactions were executed by an affiliated broker of the Adviser and that another affiliated broker of the Adviser received distribution fees and minor amounts of sales commissions.
Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale and reviewed rudimentary data relating to the impact of 20% growth in the Fund on the Adviser’s profitability.
Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment management fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential economies of scale that may develop or any losses or diminished profitability to the Adviser in prior years.
Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the expense ratios of the investment management fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expense ratios of the peer group of global multi-cap growth funds and noted that the Adviser’s management fee includes substantially all administrative services of the Fund as well as investment advisory services. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s expense ratios after waivers were higher than, and the Fund’s size was significantly lower than, average within this group and that the Adviser had been waiving substantial portions of its fees in order to make the Fund a more attractive investment. The Independent Board Members were presented with, but did not consider to be material to their decision, various information comparing the advisory fee to the fee for other types of accounts managed by the Adviser.
Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio management services, good ancillary services, and an acceptable performance record. The Independent Board Members also concluded that the Fund’s expense ratios were reasonable, particularly in light of the lack of profitability to the Adviser of managing the Fund, and that economies of scale were not a factor in their thinking at this time. The Independent Board Members did not view the potential profitability of ancillary services as material to their decision. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the investment management agreement to the full Board.
18
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)
Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board Members determined to approve the continuation of each Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based its decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.
19
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.
Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age | Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Director | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | Other Directorships Held by Director4 | ||||
INTERESTED DIRECTORS3 : | ||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Director and Chief Investment Officer Age: 74 | Since 1993 | 31 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer– Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/ Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. | Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012) | ||||
John D. Gabelli Director Age: 72 | Since 1993 | 10 | Senior Vice President of G.research, LLC | — | ||||
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5 : | ||||||||
E. Val Cerutti Director Age: 77 | Since 2001 | 7 | Chief Executive Officer of Cerutti Consultants, Inc. | — | ||||
Anthony J. Colavita Director Age: 81 | Since 1993 | 36 | President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C. | — | ||||
Arthur V. Ferrara Director Age: 86 | Since 2001 | 8 | Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (1993 – 1995) | — | ||||
Werner J. Roeder, MD Director Age: 76 | Since 1993 | 23 | Practicing private physician; Former Medical Director of Lawrence Hospital (1999-2014) | — | ||||
Anthonie C. van Ekris Director Age: 82 | Since 1993 | 22 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BALMAC International, Inc. (global import/export company) | — | ||||
Salvatore J. Zizza Director Age: 71 | Since 2004 | 30 | 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 (staffing services) (2009-2012) |
20
The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund
Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)
Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age | Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||
OFFICERS: | ||||
Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 65 | Since 2003 | 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; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc., 2008-2010 | ||
Andrea R. Mango Secretary Age: 44 | 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 Bank, 2006-2011 | ||
Agnes Mullady Treasurer Age: 58 | Since 2006 | President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2010; 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; Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex | ||
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 57 | 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, 2011-2013; Chief Compliance Officer of Cutwater Asset Management, 2004- 2011 |
1 | Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted. |
2 | Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Fund’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. 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. |
3 | “Interested person” of the Corporation as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Corporation’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers. |
4 | This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
5 | Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors. |
21
Gabelli/GAMCO Funds and Your Personal Privacy
Who are we? |
The Gabelli/GAMCO Funds are investment companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc., which are affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. that is a publicly held company with subsidiaries and affiliates that provide investment advisory services for a variety of clients.
What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a fund shareholder?
If you apply to open an account directly with us, you will be giving us some non-public information about yourself. The non-public information we collect about you is:
● | Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information. |
● | Information about your transactions with us, any transactions with our affiliates, and transactions with the entities we hire to provide services to you. This would include information about the shares that you buy or redeem. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them. |
What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.
What do we do to protect your personal information?
We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.
THE GAMCO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1422
Portfolio Manager Biography
Caesar M. P. Bryan joined GAMCO Asset Management in 1994. He is a member of the global investment team of Gabelli Funds, LLC and portfolio manager of several funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex. Prior to joining Gabelli, Mr. Bryan was a portfolio manager at Lexington Management. He began his investment career at Samuel Montagu Company, the London based merchant bank. Mr. Bryan graduated from the University of Southampton in England with a Bachelor of Law and is a member of the English Bar.
2016 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited)
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid to shareholders ordinary income distributions (comprised of net investment income) totaling $0.285, $0.267, $0.256, and $0.371 per share for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares, respectively, and long term capital gains totaling $394,679. For the year ended December 31, 2016, 69.83% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 0.00% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified interest income pursuant to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Also for the year 2016, the Fund passed through foreign tax credits of $0.036, $0.036, $0.036, and $0.036 per share to Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares, respectively.
All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.
We have separated the portfolio manager’s commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager’s commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.
GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc.
THE GAMCO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
t | 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) |
f | 914-921-5118 |
e | info@gabelli.com |
GABELLI.COM |
Net Asset Value per share available daily
by calling 800-GABELLI after 7:00 P.M.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | ||
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc. Chief Executive Chairman, Associated Capital Group, Inc.
E. Val Cerutti Chief Executive Officer, Cerutti Consultants, Inc.
Anthony J. Colavita President, Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.
Arthur V. Ferrara Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
John D. Gabelli Senior Vice President, G.research, LLC
Werner J. Roeder, MD Former Medical Director, Lawrence Hospital
Anthonie C. van Ekris Chairman, BALMAC International, Inc. | Salvatore J. Zizza Chairman, Zizza & Associates Corp.
OFFICERS
Bruce N. Alpert President
Andrea R. Mango Secretary
Agnes Mullady Treasurer
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer
DISTRIBUTOR
G.distributors, LLC
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
LEGAL COUNSEL
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP |
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.
GAB403Q416AR
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Annual Report — December 31, 2016
(Y)our Portfolio Management Team
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chief Investment Officer | Evan D. Miller, CFA Portfolio Manager BA, Northwestern University MBA, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago | Sergey Dluzhevskiy, CFA, CPA Portfolio Manager BS, Case Western Reserve University MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania |
To Our Shareholders,
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund increased 2.7% compared with an increase of 6.1% for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) All Country (“AC”) World Telecommunication Services Index. See page 3 for additional performance information.
Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2016.
Performance Discussion (Unaudited)
The 5.9% full year gain for the telecommunications sector trailed the 7.9% appreciation for the MSCI AC World Index. North American telecoms gained 23.2% for the year, driven by the two largest index components AT&T (+23.6%) - (1.6% of net assets as of December 31, 2016) and Verizon (+15.5%) - (4.9%) and nearly double its 12.1% gain for the broader North American market. During the fourth quarter of 2016, sector momentum in North American telecoms was maintained (+4.4%) by investor optimism around a perceived “lighter regulatory touch” expected to be exercised by the new U.S. presidential administration, likely net benefits from potential tax reform, and robust deal activity. For most of the rest of the world, the telecom sector lagged broader market performance in 2016. In Europe, the sector declined in USD terms by 15.1% against a broad market that was essentially flat (-0.2%). Europe was the only region in which the sector traded down in each quarter of the year (including -5.3% in 4th quarter) as investors remained unconvinced by suggestions of improving competitive dynamics and disappointed by regulatory intervention and the absence of meaningful market consolidation. While Latin American telecoms were ahead by 4.2% for 2016 (4th quarter gain of 6.8%), they significantly trailed the broader market jump of 31.0%. Finally in Asia, ex-Japan the sector sold off in the 4th quarter -11.2%, resulting in a full year decline of 2.2% against the +6.6% for the MSCI Asia Index.
Our approach is multifaceted. We purchase companies that are attractively valued relative to what we estimate a buyer would be willing to pay for the entire company in a private transaction. When the gap between a company’s Private Market Value (“PMV”) and public market value widens, our risk/reward parameters improve. To maximize returns, our decision process requires the expectation of a trigger that will reduce this gap. However, we will not invest in just any “cheap” company. For most of our holdings, our selection is based on “bottom up” fundamental analysis, which requires strong cash flow and earnings power, positive industry dynamics, and good management with a track record of growing value for their shareholders.
Selected holdings that contributed positively to performance in 2016 were: U.S. Cellular Corp. (4.8% of net assets as of December 31, 2016). In November 2016, the company reported slightly stronger than expected revenues and EBITDA and reiterated its 2016 guidance. While postpaid net adds were softer than expected, prepaid customer additions were significantly ahead of estimates; Level 3 Communications, Inc. (4.0%) agreed to be acquired by Century Link (CTL) in a stock and cash transaction; Cincinnati Bell, Inc. (3.2%) gained on stronger than expected third quarter revenues and Fioptics net adds; and T- Mobile US Inc. (2.8%) delivered strong quarterly results, increased branded postpaid net addition guidance, and benefited from investor optimism around a potential “lighter touch” regulatory environment, which could increase chances of value enhancing merger and acquisition activity.
Some of our weaker performing stocks during the year were: KDDI Corp. (4.4%) which decline was largely due to the currency impact (with the yen depreciating vs. the dollar by approximately 14%); Liberty Global PLC (2.9%) which was impacted by continued euro and British pound depreciation versus the dollar as well as an indication from company management that 2016 operating cash flow growth rate would come in at the lower end of the guidance range; Vodafone Group PLC (2.1%) was impacted by the decline in sterling against the dollar following the UK referendum on the EU; and Millicom International Cellular SA (1.3%) reported softer than expected quarter revenues and continued intense wireless competition in Colombia.
Thank you for your investment in The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund.
We appreciate your confidence and trust.
2
Comparative Results
Average Annual Returns through December 31, 2016 (a) (Unaudited) | Since | |||||||||||||||||||||
Inception | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | 5 Year | 10 Year | 15 Year | (11/1/93) | ||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA (GABTX) | 2.65% | 6.42% | 2.16% | 4.85% | 7.13% | |||||||||||||||||
MSCI AC World Telecommunication Services Index | 6.11 | 6.87 | 4.30 | 5.20 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
MSCI AC World Index | 7.86 | 9.36 | 3.56 | 5.92(d) | 6.47(d) | |||||||||||||||||
Class A (GTCAX) | 2.51 | 6.39 | 2.16 | 4.85 | 7.13 | |||||||||||||||||
With sales charge (b) | (3.38) | 5.14 | 1.55 | 4.44 | 6.86 | |||||||||||||||||
Class C (GTCCX) | 1.87 | 5.62 | 1.39 | 4.07 | 6.56 | |||||||||||||||||
With contingent deferred sales charge (c) | 0.87 | 5.62 | 1.39 | 4.07 | 6.56 | |||||||||||||||||
Class I (GTTIX) | 2.95 | 6.69 | 2.40 | 5.02 | 7.24 |
In the current prospectuses dated April 29, 2016, the expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 1.63%, 1.63%, 2.38%, and 1.38%, respectively and effective December 1, 2016 through April 30, 2018, the net ratios for these share classes after contractual reimbursements by Gabelli Funds, LLC, (the “Adviser”) are 1.63%, 1.63%, 2.38%, and 1.00%, respectively. See page 11 for the expense ratios for the year ended December 31, 2016. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A Shares and Class C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively. | ||
(a) |
Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Returns for Class I Shares would have been lower had the Adviser not reimbursed certain expenses. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectuses contain information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. Investing in foreign securities involves risks not ordinarily associated with investments in domestic issues, including currency fluctuation, economic, and political risks. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares on March 12, 2000, June 2, 2000, and January 11, 2008, respectively. The actual performance for the Class A Shares and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of the Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. The MSCI AC World Telecommunication Services Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the global telecommunication securities from around the world. The MSCI AC World Index is an unmanaged market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets. The MSCI AC World Index consists of 45 country indices comprising 24 developed and 21 emerging market country indices. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index. | |
(b) |
Performance results include the effect of the maximum 5.75% sales charge at the beginning of the period. | |
(c) |
Assuming payment of the 1% maximum contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within one year of purchase. | |
(d) | MSCI AC World Index since inception performance is a blend of Gross Performance excluding applicable taxes and Net Performance. This benchmark’s Net Performance began on December 29, 2000. |
COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN
THE GAMCO GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND (CLASS AAA SHARES)
AND MSCI AC WORLD INDEX (Unaudited)
* | Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. |
3
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund | ||
Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited) | ||
For the Six Month Period from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 | Expense Table |
We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of fees and expenses regarding your investment. All mutual funds have operating expenses. As a shareholder of a fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of a fund. When a fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, this figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.
The Expense Table below illustrates your Fund’s costs in two ways:
Actual Fund Return: This section provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this section to help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period after any fee waivers and expense reimbursements. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return during the past six months, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid during this period.
Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and
hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio. It assumes a hypothetical annualized return of 5% before expenses during the period shown. In this case – because the hypothetical return used is not the Fund’s actual return – the results do not apply to your investment and you cannot use the hypothetical account value and expense to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. This example is useful in making comparisons of the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Beginning Account Value 07/01/16 | Ending Account Value 12/31/16 | Annualized Expense Ratio | Expenses Paid During Period* | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund |
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Actual Fund Return |
| |||||||||||||||
Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $ 977.00 | 1.64% | $ 8.15 | ||||||||||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $ 975.60 | 1.64% | $ 8.14 | ||||||||||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $ 973.10 | 2.39% | $11.85 | ||||||||||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $ 978.40 | 1.31% | $ 6.51 | ||||||||||||
Hypothetical 5% Return |
| |||||||||||||||
Class AAA | $1,000.00 | $1,016.89 | 1.64% | $ 8.31 | ||||||||||||
Class A | $1,000.00 | $1,016.89 | 1.64% | $ 8.31 | ||||||||||||
Class C | $1,000.00 | $1,013.12 | 2.39% | $12.09 | ||||||||||||
Class I | $1,000.00 | $1,018.55 | 1.31% | $ 6.65 |
* | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (184 days), then divided by 366. |
4
Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)
The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of December 31, 2016:
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Diversified Telecommunications | 46.6 | % | ||
Wireless Telecommunications | 30.1 | % | ||
Other | 23.5 | % |
Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) | (0.2 | )% | ||
|
| |||
100.0 | % | |||
|
| |||
The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554).The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.
Proxy Voting
The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
5
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Schedule of Investments — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS — 99.5% |
| |||||||||||
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS |
| |||||||||||
Africa/Middle East — 0.5% |
| |||||||||||
34,000 | Maroc Telecom | $ | 567,455 | $ | 470,999 | |||||||
230,000 | Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Ltd. | 160,063 | 37,858 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
727,518 | 508,857 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Asia/Pacific — 4.2% |
| |||||||||||
230,000 | Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.† | 494,215 | 286,517 | |||||||||
9,600 | DiGi.Com Berhad | 14,361 | 10,336 | |||||||||
127,500 | First Pacific Co. Ltd. | 66,567 | 89,116 | |||||||||
4,100 | First Pacific Co. Ltd., ADR | 3,337 | 14,186 | |||||||||
90,000 | PCCW Ltd. | 74,681 | 48,746 | |||||||||
25,000 | PLDT Inc., ADR | 432,754 | 688,750 | |||||||||
25,000 | PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, ADR | 101,745 | 729,000 | |||||||||
535,000 | Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. | 405,583 | 1,348,445 | |||||||||
280,000 | Telekom Malaysia Berhad | 355,221 | 371,378 | |||||||||
1,958,977 | True Corp. Public Co. Ltd. | 483,646 | 391,134 | |||||||||
8,075 | TT&T Public Co. Ltd., | 100,542 | 242 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
2,532,652 | 3,977,850 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Europe — 14.5% |
| |||||||||||
180,000 | Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR | 3,309,068 | 3,078,000 | |||||||||
4,507 | Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA | 63,853 | 42,367 | |||||||||
2,000 | Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA, ADR | 16,157 | 9,260 | |||||||||
2,300 | Iliad SA | 310,270 | 442,215 | |||||||||
20,000 | Koninklijke KPN NV | 52,583 | 59,243 | |||||||||
3,000 | Orange Belgium SA† | 49,807 | 62,701 | |||||||||
28,000 | Orange SA, ADR | 486,556 | 423,920 | |||||||||
50,000 | Pharol SGPS SA | 20,575 | 10,895 | |||||||||
65,000 | Pharol SGPS SA, ADR | 22,632 | 11,570 | |||||||||
14,000 | Proximus SA | 428,402 | 403,208 | |||||||||
5,000 | Rostelecom PJSC, ADR | 89,489 | 41,282 | |||||||||
173,000 | Sistema JSFC, GDR | 1,821,594 | 1,557,000 | |||||||||
23,000 | Swisscom AG, ADR | 580,806 | 1,028,928 | |||||||||
585,000 | Telecom Italia SpA† | 2,245,206 | 515,427 | |||||||||
31,000 | Telecom Italia SpA, ADR† | 660,220 | 275,590 | |||||||||
212,500 | Telefonica SA, ADR | 1,889,671 | 1,955,000 | |||||||||
113,000 | Telekom Austria AG | 1,230,634 | 667,309 | |||||||||
55,000 | Telenor ASA | 825,562 | 821,623 | |||||||||
399,000 | Telia Co. AB | 1,188,777 | 1,607,720 | |||||||||
204,900 | VimpelCom Ltd., ADR | 451,303 | 788,865 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
15,743,165 | 13,802,123 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Japan — 1.4% |
| |||||||||||
23,000 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. | 423,588 | 966,640 |
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
9,000 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp., ADR | $ | 191,035 | $ | 378,630 | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
614,623 | 1,345,270 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Latin America — 1.7% |
| |||||||||||
37,415,054 | LIME† | 499,070 | 232,301 | |||||||||
1,700 | Oi SA, ADR† | 5,338 | 1,079 | |||||||||
66,000 | Telecom Argentina SA, ADR | 331,665 | 1,199,220 | |||||||||
705 | Telefonica Brasil SA | 12,612 | 7,885 | |||||||||
6,221 | Telefonica Brasil SA, ADR | 44,430 | 83,237 | |||||||||
3,066 | Telefonica Brasil SA, Preference | 80,331 | 41,524 | |||||||||
7,636 | Telefonica SA | 123,328 | 70,893 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,096,774 | 1,636,139 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
North America — 24.3% |
| |||||||||||
35,500 | AT&T Inc. | 480,078 | 1,509,815 | |||||||||
26,000 | CenturyLink Inc. | 812,052 | 618,280 | |||||||||
136,600 | Cincinnati Bell Inc.† | 2,891,795 | 3,053,010 | |||||||||
280,000 | EarthLink Holdings Corp. | 1,446,616 | 1,579,200 | |||||||||
100,000 | Frontier Communications Corp. | 389,320 | 338,000 | |||||||||
45,000 | General Communication Inc., Cl. A† | 201,993 | 875,250 | |||||||||
48,000 | Internap Corp.† | 140,448 | 73,920 | |||||||||
67,500 | Level 3 Communications Inc.† | 1,854,940 | 3,804,300 | |||||||||
12,000 | Lumos Networks Corp.† | 170,545 | 187,440 | |||||||||
29,448 | New ULM Telecom Inc. | 345,467 | 283,437 | |||||||||
52,000 | Shenandoah Telecommunications Co. | 164,562 | 1,419,600 | |||||||||
102,500 | Telephone & Data Systems Inc. | 2,348,191 | 2,959,175 | |||||||||
128,000 | Telesites SAB de CV† | 97,176 | 69,527 | |||||||||
51,000 | TELUS Corp., Toronto | 596,703 | 1,623,841 | |||||||||
88,000 | Verizon Communications Inc. | 3,048,090 | 4,697,440 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
14,987,976 | 23,092,235 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | 35,702,708 | 44,362,474 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS |
| |||||||||||
Africa/Middle East — 0.8% |
| |||||||||||
40,000 | Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd. | 20,147 | 12,000 | |||||||||
280,000 | Global Telecom Holding SAE, GDR† | 1,092,968 | 520,800 | |||||||||
16,000 | MTN Group Ltd. | 138,186 | 146,990 | |||||||||
175,000 | Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, GDR† | 384,753 | 59,325 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,636,054 | 739,115 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Asia/Pacific — 3.0% |
| |||||||||||
110,000 | Axiata Group Berhad | 203,286 | 115,738 | |||||||||
33,000 | China Mobile Ltd., ADR | 403,064 | 1,730,190 | |||||||||
34,000 | China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd., ADR | 238,442 | 392,700 | |||||||||
666 | Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. | 63 | 215 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
Asia/Pacific (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
240,000 | PT Indosat Tbk† | $ | 38,552 | $ | 114,901 | |||||||
22,000 | SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR | 424,743 | 459,800 | |||||||||
40,000 | TIME dotCom Berhad | 81,175 | 69,550 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,389,325 | 2,883,094 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Europe — 4.9% | ||||||||||||
8,000 | Altice NV, Cl. A† | 120,167 | 158,572 | |||||||||
15,000 | Bouygues SA | 445,360 | 537,564 | |||||||||
30,000 | Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR | 2,009,544 | 1,281,913 | |||||||||
94,000 | Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR† | 1,454,978 | 648,600 | |||||||||
10,000 | Videocon d2h Ltd., ADR† | 83,390 | 83,100 | |||||||||
81,000 | Vodafone Group plc, ADR | 3,065,166 | 1,978,830 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
7,178,605 | 4,688,579 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Japan — 5.9% | ||||||||||||
165,000 | KDDI Corp. | 1,367,014 | 4,178,118 | |||||||||
50,000 | NTT DoCoMo Inc. | 783,008 | 1,139,251 | |||||||||
4,000 | SoftBank Group Corp. | 227,330 | 265,754 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
2,377,352 | 5,583,123 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Latin America — 2.6% | ||||||||||||
151,000 | America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR | 544,888 | 1,898,070 | |||||||||
140,000 | Tim Participacoes SA | 398,176 | 336,805 | |||||||||
18,156 | Tim Participacoes SA, ADR | 397,815 | 214,241 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
1,340,879 | 2,449,116 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
North America — 12.2% | ||||||||||||
12,200 | ATN International Inc. | 37,939 | 977,586 | |||||||||
733 | Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A† | 92,055 | 211,045 | |||||||||
2,750 | Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Media, Cl. A† | 4,954 | 86,213 | |||||||||
3,500 | Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Media, Cl. C† | 30,411 | 109,655 | |||||||||
3,000 | Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Cl. A† | 6,674 | 103,560 | |||||||||
3,000 | Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Cl. C† | 82,071 | 101,760 | |||||||||
53,000 | Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B | 246,501 | 2,044,740 | |||||||||
88,000 | Sprint Corp.† | 474,912 | 740,960 | |||||||||
47,000 | T-Mobile US Inc.† | 919,205 | 2,702,970 | |||||||||
104,500 | United States Cellular Corp.† | 4,704,862 | 4,568,740 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
6,599,584 | 11,647,229 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | 20,521,799 | 27,990,256 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
OTHER — 23.5% | ||||||||||||
Africa/Middle East — 0.0% |
| |||||||||||
504 | Meikles Ltd.† | $ | 203 | $ | 65 | |||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Asia/Pacific — 0.8% | ||||||||||||
68,000 | C.P. Pokphand Co. Ltd., ADR | 52,895 | 202,232 | |||||||||
27,360 | Cheung Kong Property Holdings Ltd. | 150,629 | 167,769 | |||||||||
9,000 | CJ Hellovision Co. Ltd. | 77,205 | 69,821 | |||||||||
27,360 | CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. | 245,763 | 310,135 | |||||||||
250,000 | Dagang NeXchange Berhad | 105,104 | 14,211 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
631,596 | 764,168 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Europe — 7.5% | ||||||||||||
45,000 | G4S plc | 0 | 130,327 | |||||||||
50,000 | GN Store Nord A/S | 365,047 | 1,035,752 | |||||||||
1,224 | Gusbourne plc† | 1,210 | 837 | |||||||||
19,000 | InterXion Holding NV† | 275,309 | 666,330 | |||||||||
3,500 | Kinnevik AB, Cl. A | 95,608 | 86,246 | |||||||||
79,000 | Kinnevik AB, Cl. B | 1,960,377 | 1,892,927 | |||||||||
20,641 | Liberty Global plc, Cl. A† | 378,697 | 631,396 | |||||||||
70,757 | Liberty Global plc, Cl. C† | 946,035 | 2,101,495 | |||||||||
3,275 | Liberty Global plc LiLAC, Cl. A† | 68,868 | 71,919 | |||||||||
8,944 | Liberty Global plc LiLAC, Cl. C† | 186,717 | 189,344 | |||||||||
900 | Marlowe plc† | 521 | 4,270 | |||||||||
800 | National Grid plc, ADR | 49,138 | 46,664 | |||||||||
2,000 | NOS SGPS SA | 16,132 | 11,870 | |||||||||
18,035 | PostNL NV, ADR† | 215,936 | 76,649 | |||||||||
3,500 | Rocket Internet SE† | 73,797 | 70,499 | |||||||||
20,000 | Telegraaf Media Groep NV | 423,363 | 100,002 | |||||||||
12,000 | Waterloo Investment Holdings Ltd.† | 1,432 | 480 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
5,058,187 | 7,117,007 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Japan — 0.4% | ||||||||||||
5,200 | Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. | 169,700 | 152,163 | |||||||||
15,000 | Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings Inc. | 237,742 | 240,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
407,442 | 392,163 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
Latin America — 0.3% | ||||||||||||
16,000 | Grupo Televisa SAB, ADR | 381,453 | 334,240 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
North America — 14.5% |
| |||||||||||
5,500 | AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A† | 133,859 | 287,870 | |||||||||
7,400 | Cogeco Inc. | 144,351 | 312,612 | |||||||||
11,500 | Comcast Corp., Cl. A | 227,428 | 794,075 | |||||||||
170 | CommerceHub Inc., Cl. A† | 1,802 | 2,552 | |||||||||
341 | CommerceHub Inc., Cl. C† | 3,615 | 5,125 | |||||||||
13,000 | Communications Sales & Leasing Inc.† | 282,798 | 330,330 | |||||||||
13,000 | CyrusOne Inc. | 228,726 | 581,490 | |||||||||
7,500 | Discovery Communications Inc., Cl. C† | 197,681 | 200,850 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Schedule of Investments (Continued) — December 31, 2016
Shares | Cost | Market Value | ||||||||||
COMMON STOCKS (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
OTHER (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
North America (Continued) |
| |||||||||||
65,000 | DISH Network Corp., Cl. A† | $ | 1,567,702 | $ | 3,765,450 | |||||||
11,000 | EchoStar Corp., Cl. A† | 311,530 | 565,290 | |||||||||
3,100 | Equinix Inc. | 354,732 | 1,107,971 | |||||||||
40,000 | Gogo Inc.† | 559,981 | 368,800 | |||||||||
1,000 | Harman International Industries Inc. | 109,770 | 111,160 | |||||||||
3,125 | Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl. A† | 9,703 | 226,437 | |||||||||
5,167 | Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl. C† | 70,498 | 382,720 | |||||||||
480 | Liberty Expedia Holdings Inc., Cl. A† | 16,702 | 19,042 | |||||||||
23,000 | Liberty Interactive Corp. QVC Group, Cl. A† | 345,170 | 459,540 | |||||||||
1,100 | Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Cl. A† | 2,477 | 22,539 | |||||||||
2,655 | Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty Braves, Cl. C† | 27,268 | 54,666 | |||||||||
14,720 | Liberty Ventures, Cl. A† | 490,885 | 542,726 | |||||||||
16,500 | MSG Networks Inc., Cl. A† | 104,028 | 354,750 | |||||||||
5,200 | The Madison Square Garden Co, Cl. A† | 253,389 | 891,852 | |||||||||
9,700 | Time Warner Inc. | 581,110 | 936,341 | |||||||||
2,000 | Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., Cl. B | 18,524 | 54,500 | |||||||||
36,000 | Yahoo! Inc.† | 816,429 | 1,392,120 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
6,860,158 | 13,770,808 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL OTHER | 13,339,039 | 22,378,451 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS | 69,563,546 | 94,731,181 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
WARRANTS — 0.7% |
| |||||||||||
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS |
| |||||||||||
Asia/Pacific — 0.7% |
| |||||||||||
151,500 | Bharti Airtel Ltd., | 829,584 | 681,734 | |||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS | $ | 70,393,130 | 95,412,915 | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
Other Assets and Liabilities |
| (169,736 | ) | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 95,243,179 | ||||||||||
|
|
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2016, the market value of Rule 144A securities amounted to $681,976 or 0.72% of total net assets. | |
(b) | At December 31, 2016, the Fund held an investment in a restricted and illiquid security amounting to $242 or 0.00% of net assets, which was valued under methods approved by the Board of Directors as follows: |
12/31/16 | ||||||||||||||
Carrying | ||||||||||||||
Value | ||||||||||||||
Acquisition | Acquisition | Acquisition | Per | |||||||||||
Shares | Issuer | Date | Cost | Share | ||||||||||
8,075 | TT&T Public | 03/31/94 | $ 100,542 | $ | 0.0300 |
† | Non-income producing security. | |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt | |
GDR | Global Depositary Receipt | |
JSFC | Joint Stock Financial Corporation | |
PJSC | Public Joint Stock Company | |
SDR | Swedish Depositary Receipt |
% of | ||||||||||
Market | Market | |||||||||
Geographic Diversification | Value | Value | ||||||||
United States | 46.6 | % | $ | 44,459,552 | ||||||
Europe | 27.2 | 25,958,890 | ||||||||
Japan | 7.6 | 7,320,555 | ||||||||
Asia/Pacific | 7.0 | 6,675,898 | ||||||||
Latin America | 6.6 | 6,277,646 | ||||||||
Canada | 4.2 | 3,981,193 | ||||||||
Africa/Middle East | 0.8 | 739,181 | ||||||||
|
|
|
| |||||||
100.0 | % | $ | 95,412,915 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities December 31, 2016
| |||||
Assets: | |||||
Investments, at value (cost $70,393,130) | $ | 95,412,915 | |||
Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,795) | 1,797 | ||||
Cash | 131 | ||||
Receivable for investments sold | 227,544 | ||||
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 123,671 | ||||
Receivable from Adviser | 899 | ||||
Dividends receivable | 166,583 | ||||
Prepaid expenses | 27,710 | ||||
|
| ||||
Total Assets | 95,961,250 | ||||
|
| ||||
Liabilities: | |||||
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 167,184 | ||||
Payable for investment advisory fees | 80,975 | ||||
Payable for distribution fees | 19,813 | ||||
Payable for accounting fees | 7,500 | ||||
Line of credit payable | 363,000 | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 2,681 | ||||
Other accrued expenses | 76,918 | ||||
|
| ||||
Total Liabilities | 718,071 | ||||
|
| ||||
Net Assets | $ | 95,243,179 | |||
|
| ||||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||
Paid-in capital | $ | 71,386,375 | |||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income | (273,746 | ) | |||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | (881,001 | ) | |||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments (a) | 25,017,104 | ||||
Net unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations | (5,553 | ) | |||
|
| ||||
Net Assets | $ | 95,243,179 | |||
|
|
Shares of Capital Stock, each at $0.001 par value: | |||||
Class AAA: | |||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($87,893,248 ÷ 4,301,979 shares outstanding; 150,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 20.43 | |||
|
| ||||
Class A: | |||||
Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($660,909 ÷ 32,115 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 20.58 | |||
|
| ||||
Maximum offering price per share (NAV ÷ 0.9425, based on maximum sales charge of 5.75% of the offering price) | $ | 21.84 | |||
|
| ||||
Class C: | |||||
Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($328,105 ÷ 16,529 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 19.85 | (b) | ||
|
| ||||
Class I: | |||||
Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($6,360,917 ÷ 311,870 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 20.40 | |||
|
|
(a) | Includes deferred Thailand capital gains tax of $2,681. |
(b) | Redemption price varies based on the length of time held. |
Statement of Operations For the Year Ended December 31, 2016
| |||||
Investment Income: | |||||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $238,376) | $ | 2,500,249 | |||
Interest | 3,194 | ||||
|
| ||||
Total Investment Income | 2,503,443 | ||||
|
| ||||
Expenses: | |||||
Investment advisory fees | 1,024,616 | ||||
Distribution fees - Class AAA | 242,726 | ||||
Distribution fees - Class A | 7,700 | ||||
Distribution fees - Class C | 3,888 | ||||
Shareholder services fees | 119,405 | ||||
Shareholder communications expenses | 63,035 | ||||
Registration expenses | 45,342 | ||||
Accounting fees | 45,000 | ||||
Legal and audit fees | 44,171 | ||||
Custodian fees | 39,216 | ||||
Directors’ fees | 31,698 | ||||
Interest expense | 2,541 | ||||
Miscellaneous expenses | 20,464 | ||||
|
| ||||
Total Expenses | 1,689,802 | ||||
|
| ||||
Less: | |||||
Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 6) | (2,034 | ) | |||
Expense reimbursements (See Note 3) | (899 | ) | |||
Reimbursement for custody fees* | (427,185 | ) | |||
|
| ||||
Total Credits and Reimbursements | (430,118 | ) | |||
|
| ||||
Net Expenses | 1,259,684 | ||||
|
| ||||
Net Investment Income | 1,243,759 | ||||
|
| ||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency: | |||||
Net realized gain on investments | 4,987,165 | ||||
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions | (4,820 | ) | |||
|
| ||||
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 4,982,345 | ||||
|
| ||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation: | |||||
on investments (a) | (3,216,639 | ) | |||
on foreign currency translations | 255 | ||||
|
| ||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | (3,216,384 | ) | |||
|
| ||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency | 1,765,961 | ||||
|
| ||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | $ | 3,009,720 | |||
|
|
* | The Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year Ended | Year Ended | ||||||||||||||
Operations: | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,243,759 | $ | 1,251,303 | |||||||||||
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions | 4,982,345 | 6,330,542 | |||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | (3,216,384 | ) | (10,048,680 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 3,009,720 | (2,466,835 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Distributions to Shareholders: | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | |||||||||||||||
Class AAA | (1,163,838 | ) | (1,212,005 | ) | |||||||||||
Class A | (2,890 | ) | (10,098 | ) | |||||||||||
Class C | (1,507 | ) | (1,282 | ) | |||||||||||
Class I | (89,810 | ) | (31,290 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
(1,258,045 | ) | (1,254,675 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Net realized gain | |||||||||||||||
Class AAA | (4,630,068 | ) | (6,593,997 | ) | |||||||||||
Class A | (34,850 | ) | (55,839 | ) | |||||||||||
Class C | (17,760 | ) | (29,761 | ) | |||||||||||
Class I | (293,288 | ) | (138,177 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
(4,975,966 | ) | (6,817,774 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Return of capital | |||||||||||||||
Class AAA | (78,376 | ) | (25,078 | ) | |||||||||||
Class A | (195 | ) | (209 | ) | |||||||||||
Class C | (101 | ) | (27 | ) | |||||||||||
Class I | (6,048 | ) | (647 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
(84,720 | ) | (25,961 | ) | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Total Distributions to Shareholders | (6,318,731 | ) | (8,098,410 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Capital Share Transactions: | |||||||||||||||
Class AAA | (9,903,085 | ) | (4,466,759 | ) | |||||||||||
Class A | (619,337 | ) | (188,139 | ) | |||||||||||
Class C | (101,536 | ) | (138,533 | ) | |||||||||||
Class I | 4,854,670 | 414,193 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions | (5,769,288 | ) | (4,379,238 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Redemption Fees | 5,759 | 288 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets | (9,072,540 | ) | (14,944,195 | ) | |||||||||||
Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||
Beginning of year | 104,315,719 | 119,259,914 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively) | $ | 95,243,179 | $ | 104,315,719 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:
Income (Loss) from Investment Operations | Distributions | Ratios to Average Net Assets Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31 | Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year | Net Investment Income(a) | Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | Total from Investment Operations | Net Investment Income | Net Realized Gain | Return of Capital | Total Distributions | Redemption Fees(a)(b) | Net Asset Value, End of Year | Total Return† | Net Assets End of Year (in 000’s) | Net Investment Income | Operating Expenses Before Reimbursement | Operating Net of | Portfolio Turnover Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $21.30 | $0.27 | $ 0.29 | $ 0.56 | $(0.28) | $(1.13) | $(0.02) | $(1.43) | $0.00 | $20.43 | 2.7% | $ 87,893 | 1.23% | 1.65% | 1.65%(c)(d) | 9% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 23.63 | 0.26 | (0.82) | (0.56) | (0.27) | (1.49) | (0.01) | (1.77) | 0.00 | 21.30 | (2.5) | 101,187 | 1.08 | 1.63 | 1.63(c) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 24.85 | 0.35 | (0.66) | (0.31) | (0.38) | (0.53) | — | (0.91) | 0.00 | 23.63 | (1.3) | 115,860 | 1.43 | 1.61 | 1.61 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 20.20 | 0.37 | 4.65 | 5.02 | (0.37) | — | — | (0.37) | 0.00 | 24.85 | 24.9 | 137,545 | 1.66 | 1.64 | 1.64 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.60 | 0.33 | 1.64 | 1.9 | (0.37) | — | — | (0.37) | 0.00 | 20.20 | 10.6 | 117,767 | 1.71 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $21.29 | $0.15 | $ 0.38 | $ 0.53 | $(0.09) | $(1.13) | $(0.02) | $(1.24) | $0.00 | $20.58 | 2.5% | $ 661 | 0.68% | 1.65% | 1.65%(c)(d) | 9% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 23.61 | 0.26 | (0.81) | (0.55) | (0.27) | (1.49) | (0.01) | (1.77) | 0.00 | 21.29 | (2.5) | 846 | 1.08 | 1.63 | 1.63(c) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 24.83 | 0.39 | (0.70) | (0.31) | (0.38) | (0.53) | — | (0.91) | 0.00 | 23.61 | (1.3) | 1,114 | 1.53 | 1.61 | 1.61 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 20.19 | 0.36 | 4.65 | 5.01 | (0.37) | — | — | (0.37) | 0.00 | 24.83 | 24.8 | 1,678 | 1.61 | 1.64 | 1.64 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.59 | 0.32 | 1.65 | 1.97 | (0.37) | — | — | (0.37) | 0.00 | 20.19 | 10.6 | 1,290 | 1.65 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $20.71 | $0.09 | $ 0.30 | $ 0.39 | $(0.10) | $(1.13) | $(0.02) | $(1.25) | $0.00 | $19.85 | 1.9% | $ 328 | 0.42% | 2.40% | 2.40%(c)(d) | 9% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 22.98 | 0.08 | (0.79) | (0.71) | (0.06) | (1.49) | (0.01) | (1.56) | 0.00 | 20.71 | (3.2) | 441 | 0.36 | 2.38 | 2.38(c) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 24.17 | 0.19 | (0.67) | (0.48) | (0.18) | (0.53) | — | (0.71) | 0.00 | 22.98 | (2.0) | 621 | 0.76 | 2.36 | 2.36 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 19.64 | 0.20 | 4.50 | 4.70 | (0.17) | — | — | (0.17) | 0.00 | 24.17 | 23.9 | 814 | 0.92 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.10 | 0.19 | 1.58 | 1.77 | (0.23) | — | — | (0.23) | 0.00 | 19.64 | 9.8 | 815 | 0.99 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | $21.27 | $0.30 | $ 0.33 | $ 0.63 | $(0.35) | $(1.13) | $(0.02) | $(1.50) | $0.00 | $20.40 | 3.0% | $ 6,361 | 1.41% | 1.40% | 1.35%(c)(d)(e) | 9% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 23.60 | 0.30 | (0.79) | (0.49) | (0.34) | (1.49) | (0.01) | (1.84) | 0.00 | 21.27 | (2.2) | 1,842 | 1.26 | 1.38 | 1.38(c) | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 24.83 | 0.37 | (0.62) | (0.25) | (0.45) | (0.53) | — | (0.98) | 0.00 | 23.60 | (1.1) | 1,665 | 1.45 | 1.36 | 1.36 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 20.18 | 0.43 | 4.64 | 5.07 | (0.42) | — | — | (0.42) | 0.00 | 24.83 | 25.2 | 1,811 | 1.94 | 1.39 | 1.39 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 18.58 | 0.39 | 1.63 | 2.02 | (0.42) | — | — | (0.42) | 0.00 | 20.18 | 10.9 | 1,016 | 1.96 | 1.45 | 1.45 | 2 |
† | Total return represents aggregate total return of a hypothetical $1,000 investment at the beginning of the year and sold at the end of the year including reinvestment of distributions and does not reflect the applicable sales charges. | |
(a) | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares outstanding method. | |
(b) | Amount represents less than $0.005 per share. | |
(c) | The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios. | |
(d) | During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund received a one time reimbursement of custody expenses paid in prior years. Had such reimbursement (allocated by relative net asset values of the Fund’s share classes) been included in this period, the expense ratios would have been 1.22% (Class AAA), 1.54% (Class A), 1.99% (Class C), and 0.95% (Class I). | |
(e) | Under an expense reimbursement agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser reimbursed certain Class I expenses to the Fund of $899 for the year ended December 31, 2016. | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization. The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund, a series of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), was incorporated on July 16, 1993 in Maryland. The Fund is a non-diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of four separately managed portfolios (collectively, the “Portfolios”) of the Corporation. The Fund’s primary objective is capital appreciation. The Fund commenced investment operations on November 1, 1993.
The Fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in specific sectors of the market in order to achieve a potentially greater investment return. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, and regulatory developments in a particular sector of the market, positive or negative, and may experience increased volatility to the Fund’s NAV and a magnified effect in its total return.
2. Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).
Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and
12
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value American Depositary Receipt securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.
The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:
● | Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities; |
● | Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and |
● | Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Board’s determinations as to the fair value of investments). |
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:
Valuation Inputs | ||||||||||||||||
Level 1 Quoted Prices | Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs | Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs | Total Market Value at 12/31/16 | |||||||||||||
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES: | ||||||||||||||||
ASSETS (Market Value): | ||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks: | ||||||||||||||||
DIVERSIFIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | ||||||||||||||||
Asia/Pacific | $ 3,586,474 | $ 391,134 | $242 | $ 3,977,850 | ||||||||||||
Other Regions (a) | 40,384,624 | — | — | 40,384,624 | ||||||||||||
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (a) | 27,990,256 | — | — | 27,990,256 | ||||||||||||
OTHER | ||||||||||||||||
Africa/Middle East | — | 65 | — | 65 | ||||||||||||
Europe | 7,116,527 | — | 480 | 7,117,007 | ||||||||||||
Other Regions (a) | 15,261,379 | — | — | 15,261,379 | ||||||||||||
Total Common Stocks | 94,339,260 | 391,199 | 722 | 94,731,181 | ||||||||||||
Warrants (a) | — | 681,734 | — | 681,734 | ||||||||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS | $94,339,260 | $1,072,933 | $722 | $95,412,915 |
(a) | Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for the regional classifications of these portfolio holdings. |
The Fund did not have material transfers among Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended December 31, 2016. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.
Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.
General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities.
13
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.
Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common or preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, or fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. When fair valuing a security, factors to consider include recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.
The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These may include backtesting the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.
Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.
Foreign Securities. The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers.
Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.
Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual
14
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and accordingly the Board will monitor their liquidity. For the restricted securities the Fund held as of December 31, 2016, refer to the Schedule of Investments.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain or loss on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.
Determination of Net Asset Value and Calculation of Expenses. Certain administrative expenses are common to, and allocated among, various affiliated funds. Such allocations are made on the basis of each fund’s average net assets or other criteria directly affecting the expenses as determined by the Adviser pursuant to procedures established by the Board.
In calculating the NAV per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, redemption fees, and expenses other than class specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of each day. Distribution expenses are borne solely by the class incurring the expense.
Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to the tax treatment of currency gains and losses and recharacterization of distributions. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2016, reclassifications were made to decrease accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income by $19,456 and decrease accumulated distributions in excess of net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions by $845, with an offsetting adjustment to paid-in capital.
15
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||
Distributions paid from: | ||||||||||
Ordinary income | $ | 1,299,323 | $ | 1,254,675 | ||||||
Net long term capital gains | 4,934,688 | 6,817,774 | ||||||||
Return of Capital | 84,720 | 25,961 | ||||||||
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Total distributions paid | $ | 6,318,731 | $ | 8,098,410 | ||||||
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Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.
As of December 31, 2016, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | $ | 23,856,804 | ||
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Total | $ | 23,856,804 | ||
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The Fund is permitted to carry capital losses forward for an unlimited period. Capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short term or long term capital losses.
At December 31, 2016, the temporary differences between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation were primarily due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes and mark-to-market adjustments on investments no longer considered a passive foreign investment company.
The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at December 31, 2016.
Gross Unrealized | Gross Unrealized | Net Unrealized | ||||||||
Cost | Appreciation | Depreciation | Appreciation | |||||||
Investments | $71,547,877 | $51,071,107 | $(27,206,069 | ) | $23,865,038 |
The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of December 31, 2016, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.
3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs, and pays the compensation of all Officers and Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.
16
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
Effective December 1, 2016, the Adviser has agreed to amend its contractual agreement with respect to Class I shares of the Fund to waive its investment advisory fees and/or to reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual operating expenses after fee waiver and expense reimbursement (excluding brokerage costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) at no more than an annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Adviser reimbursed certain Class I expenses in the amount of $899. This arrangement is in effect through April 30, 2018.
The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered to be an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee $3,000, and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.
4. Distribution Plan. The Fund’s Board has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) for each class of shares, except for Class I Shares, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Class AAA, Class A, and Class C Share Plans, payments are authorized to G.distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at annual rates of 0.25%, 0.25%, and 1.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of those classes, the annual limitations under each Plan. Such payments are accrued daily and paid monthly.
5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended December 31, 2016, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $9,466,793 and $21,037,548, respectively.
6. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Arrangements. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $13,585 to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser. Additionally, the Distributor retained a total of $376 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.
The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $2,034.
The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid or accrued $45,000 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.
7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit which expires on March 9, 2017 and may be renewed annually, of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bears interest at a floating rate equal to the higher of the overnight Federal Funds rate plus 125 basis points or the 30-DAY LIBOR plus 125 basis points in effect on that day. This amount, if any, would be included in “Interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. At December 31, 2016, the amount of $363,000 borrowings was outstanding under the line of credit.
17
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The average daily amount of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $94,125 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.08%. The maximum amount borrowed at any time during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $4,329,000.
8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares–Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA and Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%, and Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.
The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, if any, can be found in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets under Redemption Fees.
Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:
Year Ended December 31, 2016 | Year Ended December 31, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class AAA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 35,018 | $ | 749,451 | 268,069 | $ | 6,470,129 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 273,021 | 5,577,825 | 343,926 | 7,428,803 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (755,902 | ) | (16,230,361 | ) | (765,725 | ) | (18,365,691 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Net decrease | (447,863 | ) | $ | (9,903,085 | ) | (153,730 | ) | $ | (4,466,759 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Class A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 748,844 | $ | 16,390,157 | 1,631 | $ | 39,509 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 1,296 | 26,665 | 2,434 | 52,540 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (757,757 | ) | (17,036,159 | ) | (11,497 | ) | (280,188 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Net decrease | (7,617 | ) | $ | (619,337 | ) | (7,432 | ) | $ | (188,139 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Class C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 1,808 | $ | 37,916 | 797 | $ | 18,779 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 882 | 17,501 | 1,438 | 30,192 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (7,435 | ) | (156,953 | ) | (7,981 | ) | (187,504 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Net decrease | (4,745 | ) | $ | (101,536 | ) | (5,746 | ) | $ | (138,533 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Class I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares sold | 222,024 | $ | 4,802,848 | 49,634 | $ | 1,207,582 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions | 16,218 | 330,850 | 5,641 | 121,680 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares redeemed | (12,962 | ) | (279,028 | ) | (39,247 | ) | (915,069 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Net increase | 225,280 | $ | 4,854,670 | 16,028 | $ | 414,193 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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9. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
10. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
18
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. and the
Shareholders of The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund (the “Fund”), one of the series constituting GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc., as of December 31, 2016, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2016, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at December 31, 2016, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
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New York, New York |
February 28, 2017 |
19
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)
During the six months ended December 31, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Corporation approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the directors (the “Independent Board Members”) who are not “interested persons” of the Fund. The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the Fund’s portfolio managers, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the Fund’s portfolio managers, the scope of supervisory, administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser, and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the Fund’s portfolio managers .
Investment Performance. The Independent Board Members reviewed the short, medium, and long term performance of the Fund against a peer group of global telecommunications funds, noting that the Fund’s performance was in the fourth quartile in its peer group for the one, three, and five year periods.
Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with a pro rata administrative charge and with a standalone administrative charge. The Independent Board Members also noted that a substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio transactions were executed by an affiliated broker of the Adviser and that another affiliated broker received distribution fees and minor amounts of sales commissions.
Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale and reviewed rudimentary data relating to the impact of 20% growth in the Fund on the Adviser’s profitability.
Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment management fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential economies of scale that may develop.
Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the expense ratios of the investment management fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expense ratios of the Lipper peer group of global telecommunication funds and noted that the Adviser’s management fee includes substantially all administrative services of the Fund as well as investment advisory services of the Adviser. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s expense ratio was below average and the Fund’s size was above average within this group. The Independent Board Members were presented with, but did not consider to be material to their decision, various information comparing the advisory fee with the fee for other types of accounts managed by the Adviser.
Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio management services, good ancillary services, and a performance record that was satisfactory. The Independent Board Members also concluded that the Fund’s expense ratios and the profitability to the Adviser of managing the Fund were reasonable, and that economies of scale were not a significant factor in their thinking at this time. The Independent Board Members did not view the potential profitability of ancillary services as material to their decision. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the investment management agreement to the full Board.
20
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) Continued)
Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that each Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board Members determined to approve the continuation of each Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based its decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.
21
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.
Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age | Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 | Number of Funds in Fund Complex | Principal Occupation(s) | Other Directorships Held by Director4 | ||||
INTERESTED DIRECTORS3: | ||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Director and Chief Investment Officer Age: 74 | Since 1993 | 31 | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer– Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/ Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. | Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012) | ||||
John D. Gabelli Director Age: 72 | Since 1993 | 10 | Senior Vice President of G.research, LLC | — | ||||
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5: | ||||||||
E. Val Cerutti Director Age: 77 | Since 2001 | 7 | Chief Executive Officer of Cerutti Consultants, Inc. | — | ||||
Anthony J. Colavita Director Age: 81 | Since 1993 | 36 | President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C. | — | ||||
Arthur V. Ferrara Director Age: 86 | Since 2001 | 8 | Former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (1993 – 1995) | — | ||||
Werner J. Roeder, MD Director Age: 76 | Since 1993 | 23 | Practicing private physician; Former Medical Director of Lawrence Hospital (1999-2014) | — | ||||
Anthonie C. van Ekris Director Age: 82 | Since 1993 | 22 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BALMAC International, Inc. (global import/ export company) | — | ||||
Salvatore J. Zizza Director Age: 71 | Since 2004 | 30 | 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 (staffing services) (2009-2012) |
22
The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund
Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)
Name, Position(s) Address1 and Age | Term of Office and Length of Time Served2 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||
OFFICERS: | ||||
Bruce N. Alpert President Age: 65 | Since 2003 | 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; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc., 2008-2010
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Andrea R. Mango Secretary Age: 44 | 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 Bank, 2006-2011
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Agnes Mullady Treasurer Age: 58 | Since 2006 | President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2010; 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; Officer of all of the registered investment companies within the Gabelli/GAMCO Fund Complex
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Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer Age: 57 | 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, 2011-2013; Chief Compliance Officer of Cutwater Asset Management, 2004-2011 |
1 | Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted. |
2 | Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Corporation’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. 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. |
3 | “Interested person” of the Corporation as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Corporation’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers. |
4 | This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. |
5 | Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors. |
We have separated the portfolio managers’ commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio managers’ commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.
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23
Gabelli/GAMCO Funds and Your Personal Privacy
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Who are we?
The Gabelli/GAMCO Funds are investment companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc., which are affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. that is a publicly held company with subsidiaries and affiliates that provide investment advisory services for a variety of clients.
What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a fund shareholder?
If you apply to open an account directly with us, you will be giving us some non-public information about yourself. The non-public information we collect about you is: | ||||||
● | Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information. | |||||
● | Information about your transactions with us, any transactions with our affiliates, and transactions with the entities we hire to provide services to you. This would include information about the shares that you buy or redeem. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them. | |||||
What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.
What do we do to protect your personal information?
We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.
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THE GAMCO GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1422
Portfolio Management Team Biographies
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
Evan D. Miller, CFA, joined G.research, LLC in 2002 as a research analyst following the telecommunications industry on a global basis. Currently, he continues to specialize in the industry and also serves as a portfolio manager of Gabelli Funds, LLC and of the Fund. Prior to joining Gabelli, his career spanned nearly a quarter century in the telecommunications industry with corporate strategy and business development positions. Mr. Miller holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.
Sergey Dluzhevskiy, CFA, CPA, joined G.research, LLC in 2005 as a research analyst covering the North American telecommunications industry. Currently, he continues to specialize in the industry and also serves as a portfolio manager of Gabelli Funds, LLC and of the Fund. Prior to joining Gabelli, Mr. Dluzhevskiy was a senior accountant at Deloitte. He received his undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University and a Master’s of Business Administration at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
2016 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited)
For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Fund paid to shareholders ordinary income distributions (comprised of net investment income and short term capital gains) totaling $0.294, $0.103, $0.105, and $0.356, per share for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares, respectively, and long term capital gains totaling $4,934,688, or the maximum allowable. The distribution of long term capital gains has been designated as a capital gain dividend by the Fund’s Board of Directors. For the year ended December 31, 2016, 42.57% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 0.17% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified interest income pursuant to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Also for the year 2016, the Fund passed through foreign tax credits of $0.049, $0.049, $0.049, and $0.049 per share to Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares, respectively.
U.S. Government Income:
The percentage of the ordinary income distribution paid by the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2016 which was derived from U.S. Treasury securities was 0.21%. Such income is exempt from state and local tax in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2016. The percentage of U.S. Government securities held as of December 31, 2016 was 0.00%. Due to the diversity in state and local tax law, it is recommended that you consult your personal tax adviser as to the applicability of the information provided to your specific situation.
GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc.
THE GAMCO GLOBAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS FUND
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
t
| 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)
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f
| 914-921-5118
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e | info@gabelli.com
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GABELLI.COM |
Net Asset Value per share available daily
by calling 800-GABELLI after 7:00 P.M.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Mario J. Gabelli, CFA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, GAMCO Investors, Inc. Executive Chairman, Associated Capital Group, Inc.
E. Val Cerutti Chief Executive Officer, Cerutti Consultants, Inc.
Anthony J. Colavita President, Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.
Arthur V. Ferrara Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
John D. Gabelli Senior Vice President, G.research, LLC
Werner J. Roeder, MD Former Medical Director, Lawrence Hospital
Anthonie C. van Ekris Chairman, BALMAC International, Inc.
| Salvatore J. Zizza Chairman, Zizza & Associates Corp.
OFFICERS
Bruce N. Alpert President
Andrea R. Mango Secretary
Agnes Mullady Treasurer
Richard J. Walz Chief Compliance Officer
DISTRIBUTOR
G.distributors, LLC
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT, AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
LEGAL COUNSEL
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | |
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.
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GAB401Q416AR
Item 2. | Code of Ethics. |
(a) | The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. |
(c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description. |
(d) | The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions. |
Item 3. | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that Salvatore J. Zizza is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is “independent,” as defined by Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
Audit Fees
(a) | The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $102,801for 2015 and $109,600 for 2016. |
Audit-Related Fees
(b) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $0 for 2015 and $0 for 2016. |
Tax Fees
(c) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning are $14,400 for 2015 and $14,800 for 2016. Tax fees represent tax compliance services provided in connection with the review of the Registrant’s tax returns. |
All Other Fees
(d) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $3,208 for 2015 and $2,660 for 2016. The fees relate to Passive Foreign Investment Company identification database subscription fees billed on an annual basis. |
(e)(1) | Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee (“Committee”) of the registrant is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the registrant and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, and any affiliate of Gabelli Funds, LLC (“Gabelli”) that provides services to the registrant (a “Covered Services Provider”) if the independent registered public accounting firm’s engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson must report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to the other persons (other than Gabelli or the registrant’s officers). Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (ii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee or Chairperson prior to the completion of the audit. |
(e)(2) | The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows: |
(b) N/A
(c) 100%
(d) 100%
(f) | The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work |
performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%. |
(g) | The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant was $48,438 for 2015 and $46,421 for 2016. |
(h) | The registrant’s audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence. |
Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed registrants. |
Not applicable.
Item 6. | Investments. |
(a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form. |
(b) | Not applicable. |
Item 7. | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable.
Item 8. | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable.
Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable.
Item 10. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.
Item 11. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) | The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). |
(b) | There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d))) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. | Exhibits. |
(a)(1) | Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto. |
(a)(2) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
(a)(3) | Not applicable. |
(b) | Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto. |
(12.other) Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) GAMCO Global Series Funds, Inc. |
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Bruce N. Alpert |
Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer |
Date 3/08/2017 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Bruce N. Alpert |
Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer |
Date 3/08/2017 |
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Agnes Mullady |
Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Date 3/08/2017 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.