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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 811-08657
Pioneer Equity Income Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
(Address of principal executive offices) (ZIP code)
Terrence J. Cullen, Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.,
60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 742-7825
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: November 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013
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. ss. 3507.
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO SHAREOWNERS.
Pioneer Equity
Income Fund
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semiannual Report | April 30, 2013
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ticker Symbols:
Class A PEQIX
Class B PBEQX
Class C PCEQX
Class K PEQKX*
Class R PQIRX
Class Y PYEQX
Class Z PEZQX
* Share class was first publicly offered on
December 20, 2012.
[LOGO] PIONEER
Investments(R)
visit us: us.pioneerinvestments.com
Table of Contents
Letter to Shareowners 2
Portfolio Management Discussion 4
Portfolio Summary 9
Prices and Distributions 10
Performance Update 11
Comparing Ongoing Fund Expenses 18
Schedule of Investments 20
Financial Statements 27
Notes to Financial Statements 38
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement 46
Trustees, Officers and Service Providers 50
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 1
President's Letter
Dear Shareowner,
Pioneer continues to see only modest economic growth in the U.S. Employment
continues to rise, albeit slowly, and we believe it will continue to do so in
2013, barring a negative shock to the system. The housing and auto sectors
continue to recover, benefiting from record-low interest rates. Banks'
willingness to lend to consumers and businesses also continues to rise, broad
measures of inflation remain subdued, and, if the weather cooperates in 2013,
food prices should come back down. And, while corporate profit growth has
slowed, profits remain high and many U.S. companies continue to both pay and
increase dividends*. Offsetting some of these positives are the continued
contraction of fiscal policy in Washington and a recessionary Europe.
The Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy has driven Treasury yields to
generational lows and supported investments in all financial assets, including
equities and high-yield corporate bonds. For example, the Standard & Poor's 500
Index (the S&P 500), a broad measure of the U.S. stock market, returned 15.99%
for the full calendar year ended December 31, 2012, and the Bank of America
Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Index (the High Yield Index), which measures
the performance of high-yield corporate bonds, returned 15.59% for the same
12-month period. On the other hand, the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index (the
Aggregate Index), which tracks the performance of a higher-quality bond
universe, gained 4.22% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2012; the
safer-still Barclays Government Credit Index (the Government/Credit Index)
returned 4.82%; and 3-month Treasury bills, generally regarded as essentially
"risk free" by the markets, returned just 0.09% in 2012. "Risky" assets
outperformed again in the first quarter of 2013, as the S&P 500 returned 10.60%
and the High Yield Index returned 2.89%. In contrast, the Aggregate Index
returned -0.12% in the first quarter, the Government Credit Index returned
-0.16%, and Treasury bills returned 0.02%.
Despite generally improving economic conditions and a rising stock market,
global economies and investors still face daunting challenges as 2013 moves
forward, although we remain cautiously optimistic. U.S. fiscal policy remains
unsettled, and we feel the U.S. government could be at risk of credit rating
downgrades from one or more of the major ratings agencies if the uncertainties
persist. The Federal Reserve continues to provide extraordinary support to the
U.S. economy and the bond market, but will not do so indefinitely. Europe has
made progress, but has not yet resolved its sovereign-debt/banking problem, nor
has the region been able to exit recession. Japan recently has unveiled
aggressive and unconventional monetary and fiscal policies, but the country
* Dividends are not guaranteed.
2 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
continues to face issues such as high levels of debt as well as an aging
population. China and other emerging economies, while generally in better
shape than most "developed" markets, also face a range of challenges.
While most of the risks outlined here are widely recognized and may already be
"priced in" to the market, we believe investors should continue to expect market
volatility.
At Pioneer, we have long advocated the benefits of staying diversified and
investing for the long term. And while diversification does not assure a profit
or protect against loss in a declining market, we believe there are still
opportunities for prudent investors to earn attractive returns. Our advice, as
always, is to work closely with a trusted financial advisor to discuss your
goals and work together to develop an investment strategy that meets your
individual needs, keeping in mind that there is no single best strategy that
works for every investor.
Pioneer's investment teams have, since 1928, sought out attractive
opportunities in global equity and bond markets, using in-depth research to
identify undervalued individual securities, and using thoughtful risk
management to construct portfolios which balance potential risks and reward
in an ever-changing world.
We encourage you to learn more about Pioneer and our time-tested approach to
investing by consulting with your financial advisor or visiting us online at
us.pioneerinvestments.com. We greatly appreciate your trust in us, and we thank
you for investing with Pioneer.
Sincerely,
/s/ Daniel K. Kingsbury
Daniel K. Kingsbury
President and CEO
Pioneer Investment Management USA, Inc.
Any information in this shareowner report regarding market or economic trends or
the factors influencing the Fund's historical or future performance are
statements of opinion as of the date of this report. These statements should not
be relied upon for any other purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of
future results, and there is no guarantee that market forecasts discussed will
be realized.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 3
Portfolio Management Discussion | 4/30/13
In the following interview, John Carey, Executive Vice President and Head of
U.S. Core Value at Pioneer Investments, discusses the investment environment
during the six-month period ended April 30, 2013, and Pioneer Equity Income
Fund's performance during the period. Mr. Carey is responsible for the
day-to-day management of Pioneer Equity Income Fund.
Q How would you describe the market for equities during the six months ended
April 30, 2013, particularly for the types of equities deemed appropriate
for Pioneer Equity Income Fund?
A After just a mild stumble at the very beginning of the period in the fall of
2012, the stock market trended steadily higher throughout the six months
ended April 30, 2013. The imminence of the so-called "fiscal cliff" caused
some jitters in the last two weeks of December, but when political leaders
in Washington, D.C., cobbled together a deal right at year end, the equity
market took off again. The underlying reasons for the strength of the stock
market during the period were good corporate earnings, continued (if
moderate) economic growth, merger-and-acquisition activity, dividend
increases and share repurchases by companies, improved housing numbers,
better employment statistics, and renewed interest in stocks on the part of
investors still allocated heavily to bonds and money market instruments.
The Fund takes a special interest in dividend-paying stocks and has
generally emphasized established companies with long business histories.
Such companies, especially those in the consumer staples, health care, and
utilities sectors, were popular with investors during the six-month period.
Mergers and acquisitions also touched two of the Fund's holdings: in
February, H. J Heinz received a premium take-over bid from Berkshire
Hathaway and a Brazilian company called 3G Capital; and in April, DE Master
Blenders, part of the Fund's former holding Sara Lee, received a premium
offer from the German-led investment firm JAB.
Q How did the Fund perform in that environment during the six months ended
April 30, 2013?
A Pioneer Equity Income Fund's Class A shares returned 15.79% at net asset
value during the six months ended April 30, 2013, while the Fund's
benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index (the Russell Index), returned
16.31%. During the same period, the average return of the 374 mutual funds
in Lipper's Equity Income Funds category was 14.08%.
4 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Q Could you please talk in more detail about the Fund's performance during the
six months ended April 30, 2013? Please discuss the slight underperformance
of the Fund relative to its benchmark, the Russell Index.
A While overall the Fund recorded strongly positive returns during the
six-month period, stock selection results in financials and information
technology did hold back relative performance somewhat. In financials, the
so-called money-center banks, especially Bank of America, surged during the
period, and while the Fund did own shares in that industry, including shares
of Bank of America, the portfolio's underweight position compared with that
of the Russell Index benchmark hurt relative performance. The portfolio's
underweight was due to the modest nature of the dividends currently paid by
most of the giant banks. Since the "sub-prime meltdown" of 2007-2009, the
Federal Reserve (the Fed) has restricted dividend payments by the
institutions most involved in the activities leading to the financial
crisis.
In information technology, the Fund was not invested in Hewlett-Packard,
which enjoyed a very impressive share-price recovery during the period on
the back of cost cuts that kept earnings higher than many investors
expected. With that said, we continue to have questions about the
probability of resumed business growth for the company.
On the positive side, the Fund benefited from very good stock selection in
energy and consumer staples during the six-month period. The Fund's position
in Marathon Petroleum, a refiner, transporter, and marketer of petroleum
products, recorded a splendid share-price advance as oil prices remained
under control and demand improved with the better economy. In consumer
staples, in addition to the aforementioned acquisition offers for H.J. Heinz
and DE Master Blenders, the Fund saw very good share-price increases from
positions in Hershey and Campbell Soup as investors found themselves
attracted to companies they thought offered relatively stable long-term
growth prospects, without so much risk of product obsolescence or government
regulation.
Q Could you please discuss the changes that you made to the Fund's portfolio
during the six months ended April 30, 2013?
A During the six-month period we added 16 positions to the portfolio and
liquidated nine. Three of the new names in the portfolio--Wal-Mart Stores,
PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble--were in the consumer staples sector, where we
have continued to find stocks of companies we think can grow on a worldwide
basis, while having a prominent market presence in the United States. A
"special situation" we were able to add to the portfolio within the
materials sector is Givaudan, a flavors and fragrances supplier to food
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 5
manufacturers and perfumeries. Several of the Fund's new positions were in
health care--the large pharmaceutical producers Eli Lilly, Novartis, and
AstraZeneca. In addition, the portfolio received shares of AbbVie when an
existing Fund holding, Abbott Laboratories, split off its pharmaceutical
business; and we purchased shares of Zoetis, an animal-health-medicines
company, when Pfizer, also a Fund holding, had an initial public offering
for that profitable division of its business.
Other initial purchases during the period included Joy Global, maker of
mining machinery; Electrolux, manufacturer not only of the well-known vacuum
cleaners but also of a whole range of household appliances; Coach, maker of
ladies' handbags and accessories as well as of comparable products for men;
SWEDBANK, a leading retail and commercial bank based in Stockholm, Sweden;
Allstate, the home and auto insurer; Intel, the major semiconductor designer
and fabricator; and NextEra Energy, a large electric utility headquartered
in Florida.
Among stocks sold from the portfolio during the period were several that we
felt had reached fair value, including EQT and Snap-on; some where we had
come to question the companies' longer-term earnings potential, including
Cleveland Cliffs, Newmont Mining, and Century Link; and others we just
regarded as having less compelling prospects than those of companies whose
stocks we wished to purchase.
Q The Fund typically places an emphasis on dividend-paying stocks. Would you
describe the environment for dividends as positive or negative during the
six months ended April 30, 2013?
A Definitely positive! However, we must hasten to add that the investment
experience even of the recent past is no guarantee of continued good
conditions for particular stocks in upcoming periods. But actually for some
time now, investors have been interested in dividend-paying stocks because
of the sometimes-favorable comparisons between current yields on
investment-grade bonds and stocks, with the additional potential, in the
case of stocks, for dividend increases over time. While we do not expect a
wholesale shift from bonds into stocks, we do think it likely that many
investors will continue at least to consider stocks for their portfolios.
Companies, for their part, have found that they can attract positive
attention by declaring and increasing dividends. Fortunately, too, the
Federal tax changes instituted as part of the year-end "fiscal cliff"
resolution did not alter by very much the maximum Federal income taxes
payable by individuals on their dividend income.
6 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Q Given the various potential headwinds for the global economy, what is your
outlook for the remainder of 2013?
A Certainly there are risks and uncertainties for the global economy. Europe
remains sluggish; growth in China appears to have slowed over the past
couple of years from its former, very robust rate; Brazil, Argentina, and
Venezuela, among other Latin American countries, have been experiencing
difficulties; and here in the U.S., the national fiscal situation continues
to cause unease. Besides the economic issues, there are also some obvious
geopolitical trouble spots in the world, including the Middle East and the
Korean peninsula. However, when we look at the U.S., the principal economic
arena for the majority of our portfolio's companies, we see steady, if
moderate, growth that we think can be sustained at least over the next
couple of years by improvement in the housing sector, higher auto sales, and
falling unemployment. The domestic economy, unlike economies in some other
parts of the world, is predominantly dependent on the state of the consumer
and the level of consumer confidence. A better housing market can go a long
ways all by itself towards creating a more upbeat set of economic
conditions. Next to the potential for the U.S. economy to keep expanding we
would set the historically reasonable level of share-price valuations and
the decent dividend yields relative to income-generating alternatives like
money-market instruments and investment-grade bonds. So, headwinds, yes, but
also, perhaps, some tailwinds. We shall see in the months and quarters ahead
where the prevailing winds blow.
Thank you for your interest and support.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 7
Please refer to the Schedule of Investments on pages 20-26 for a full listing of
Fund securities.
At times, the Fund's investments may represent industries or industry sectors
that are interrelated or have common risks, making it more susceptible to any
economic, political, or regulatory developments or other risks affecting those
industries and sectors.
These risks may increase share price volatility.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and there is no guarantee
that the market forecast discussed will be realized.
Any information in this shareholder report regarding market or economic trends
or the factors influencing the Fund's historical or future performance are
statements of opinion as of the date of this report. These opinions should not
be relied upon for any other purposes.
8 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Portfolio Summary | 4/30/13
Portfolio Diversification
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(As a percentage of total investment portfolio)
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
U.S. Common Stocks 86.8%
International Common Stocks 11.4%
Depositary Receipts for International Stocks 1.8%
Sector Distribution
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(As a percentage of equity holdings)
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Consumer Staples 22.0%
Financials 15.6%
Health Care 12.4%
Utilities 9.4%
Materials 8.6%
Information Technology 8.4%
Consumer Discretionary 7.3%
Industrials 6.6%
Energy 5.1%
Telecommunication Services 4.6%
10 Largest Holdings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(As a percentage of equity holdings)*
1. The Valspar Corp. 3.57%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. DE Master Blenders 1753 NV 2.62
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. The Gorman-Rupp Co. 2.34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. The Hershey Co. 2.27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Verizon Communications, Inc. 2.11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. HJ Heinz Co. 2.10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Cedar Fair LP 1.84
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. US Bancorp 1.83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Kimberly-Clark Corp. 1.78
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Swedbank AB 1.78
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This list excludes temporary cash investments and derivative instruments.
The portfolio is actively managed, and current holdings may be different.
The holdings listed should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell
any security listed.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 9
Prices and Distributions | 4/30/13
Net Asset Value per Share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class 4/30/13 10/31/12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A $31.74 $27.96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B $31.53 $27.77
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C $31.37 $27.64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R $32.06 $28.24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Y $31.98 $28.17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Z $31.75 $27.98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class 4/30/13 12/20/13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
K* $31.76 $28.30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions per Share: 11/1/12-4/30/13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net
Investment Short-Term Long-Term
Class Income Capital Gains Capital Gains
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A $0.5797 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B $0.4203 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C $0.4801 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
K* $0.2100 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R $0.5365 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Y $0.6357 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Z $0.6221 $-- $--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Russell 1000 Value Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance
of large-cap U.S. value stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume
reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees,
expenses or sales charges. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
The index defined here pertains to the "Value of $10,000 Investment" and "Value
of $5 Million Investment" charts on pages 11-17.
* Class K shares were first publicly offered on December 20,2012.
10 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class A Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund at public offering price, compared
to that of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Public Offering
Period Value (NAV) Price (POP)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 8.72% 8.08%
5 Years 4.63 3.40
1 Year 17.70 10.95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.17%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $10,000 Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 9,425 $ 10,000
4/30/2004 $ 11,670 $ 12,626
4/30/2005 $ 13,387 $ 14,385
4/30/2006 $ 15,462 $ 17,018
4/30/2007 $ 18,749 $ 20,106
4/30/2008 $ 17,340 $ 18,302
4/30/2009 $ 11,062 $ 11,126
4/30/2010 $ 14,825 $ 15,830
4/30/2011 $ 18,067 $ 18,242
4/30/2012 $ 18,474 $ 18,430
4/30/2013 $ 21,744 $ 22,449
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
NAV results represent the percent change in net asset value per share. Returns
would have been lower had sales charges been reflected. POP returns reflect
deduction of maximum 5.75% sales charge. All results are historical and assume
the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are
available for which performance and expenses will differ.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes
that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund
shares.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 11
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class B Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell
1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If If
Period Held Redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 7.71% 7.71%
5 Years 3.58 3.58
1 Year 16.40 12.40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.27%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $10,000 Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
4/30/2004 $ 12,278 $ 12,626
4/30/2005 $ 13,958 $ 14,385
4/30/2006 $ 15,984 $ 17,018
4/30/2007 $ 19,213 $ 20,106
4/30/2008 $ 17,620 $ 18,302
4/30/2009 $ 11,136 $ 11,126
4/30/2010 $ 14,785 $ 15,830
4/30/2011 $ 17,839 $ 18,242
4/30/2012 $ 18,049 $ 18,430
4/30/2013 $ 21,009 $ 22,449
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
"If Held" results represent the percent change in net asset value per share.
Returns would have been lower had sales charges been reflected. "If Redeemed"
returns reflect the deduction of applicable contingent deferred sales charge
(CDSC). The maximum CDSC for Class B shares is 4% and declines over five years.
For more complete information, please see the prospectus.
All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital
gains. Other share classes are available for which performance and expenses will
differ.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a
shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
12 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class C Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell
1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If If
Period Held Redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 7.88% 7.88%
5 Years 3.84 3.84
1 Year 16.86 16.86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.89%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $10,000 Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
4/30/2004 $ 12,281 $ 12,626
4/30/2005 $ 13,975 $ 14,385
4/30/2006 $ 16,013 $ 17,018
4/30/2007 $ 19,267 $ 20,106
4/30/2008 $ 17,685 $ 18,302
4/30/2009 $ 11,191 $ 11,126
4/30/2010 $ 14,885 $ 15,830
4/30/2011 $ 18,002 $ 18,242
4/30/2012 $ 18,269 $ 18,430
4/30/2013 $ 21,348 $ 22,449
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Class C shares held for less than one year are also subject to a 1% contingent
deferred sales charge (CDSC). The performance of Class C shares does not reflect
the 1% front-end sales charge in effect prior to February 1, 2004. If you paid a
1% sales charge, your returns would be lower than those shown above. "If Held"
results represent the percent change in net asset value per share. Returns would
have been lower had sales charges been reflected. All results are historical and
assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are
available for which performance and expenses will differ.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes
that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund
shares.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 13
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class K Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell
1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If If
Period Held Redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 8.74% 8.74%
5 Years 4.66 4.66
1 Year 17.89 17.89
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.69%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $10,000 Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
4/30/2004 $ 12,382 $ 12,626
4/30/2005 $ 14,203 $ 14,385
4/30/2006 $ 16,405 $ 17,018
4/30/2007 $ 19,892 $ 20,106
4/30/2008 $ 18,397 $ 18,302
4/30/2009 $ 11,736 $ 11,126
4/30/2010 $ 15,729 $ 15,830
4/30/2011 $ 19,168 $ 18,242
4/30/2012 $ 19,600 $ 18,430
4/30/2013 $ 23,107 $ 22,449
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The performance shown for Class K shares for the period prior to the
commencement of operations of Class K shares on December 20, 2012, is the net
asset value performance of the Fund's Class A shares, which has not been
restated to reflect any differences in expenses, including Rule 12b-1 fees
applicable to Class A shares. Since fees for Class A shares generally are higher
than those of Class K shares, the performance of Class K shares prior to their
inception would have been higher than the performance shown. Class K shares are
not subject to sales charges and are available for limited groups of eligible
investors, including institutional investors. All results are historical and
assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes
that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund
shares.
14 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class R Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell
1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If If
Period Held Redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 8.50% 8.50%
5 Years 4.36 4.36
1 Year 17.33 17.33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.44%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $10,000 Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
4/30/2004 $ 12,372 $ 12,626
4/30/2005 $ 14,173 $ 14,385
4/30/2006 $ 16,347 $ 17,018
4/30/2007 $ 19,781 $ 20,106
4/30/2008 $ 18,264 $ 18,302
4/30/2009 $ 11,626 $ 11,126
4/30/2010 $ 15,552 $ 15,830
4/30/2011 $ 18,903 $ 18,242
4/30/2012 $ 19,268 $ 18,430
4/30/2013 $ 22,607 $ 22,449
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
The performance shown for Class R shares for the period prior to the
commencement of operations of Class R shares on April 1, 2003, is based on the
performance of Class A shares, reduced to reflect the higher distribution and
service fees of Class R shares. For the period beginning on April 1, 2003, the
actual performance of Class R shares is reflected. Class R shares are not
subject to sales charges and are available for limited groups of eligible
investors, including institutional investors. All results are historical and
assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are
available for which performance and expenses will differ.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes
that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund
shares.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 15
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class Y Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $5 million
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell
1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If If
Period Held Redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 9.18% 9.18%
5 Years 5.08 5.08
1 Year 18.11 18.11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.80%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $5 Million Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000
4/30/2004 $ 6,219,636 $ 6,313,219
4/30/2005 $ 7,166,086 $ 7,192,330
4/30/2006 $ 8,310,435 $ 8,508,884
4/30/2007 $ 10,116,977 $ 10,052,846
4/30/2008 $ 9,390,114 $ 9,151,037
4/30/2009 $ 6,018,155 $ 5,563,134
4/30/2010 $ 8,105,665 $ 7,915,088
4/30/2011 $ 9,923,257 $ 9,121,105
4/30/2012 $ 10,185,764 $ 9,215,064
4/30/2013 $ 12,030,525 $ 11,224,292
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Class Y shares are not subject to sales charges and are available for limited
groups of eligible investors, including institutional investors. All results are
historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other
share classes are available for which performance and expenses will differ.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes
that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund
shares.
16 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Performance Update | 4/30/13 Class Z Shares
Investment Returns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000
investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell
1000 Value Index.
Average Semiannual Total Returns
(As of April 30, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If If
Period Held Redeemed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years 8.94% 8.94%
5 Years 4.98 4.98
1 Year 17.99 17.99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense Ratio
(Per prospectus dated March 1, 2013,
as revised April 26, 2013)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.90%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Value of $10,000 Investment
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000
Income Fund Value Index
4/30/2003 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
4/30/2004 $ 12,382 $ 12,626
4/30/2005 $ 14,203 $ 14,385
4/30/2006 $ 16,405 $ 17,018
4/30/2007 $ 19,892 $ 20,106
4/30/2008 $ 18,457 $ 18,302
4/30/2009 $ 11,816 $ 11,126
4/30/2010 $ 15,910 $ 15,830
4/30/2011 $ 19,460 $ 18,242
4/30/2012 $ 19,946 $ 18,430
4/30/2013 $ 23,534 $ 22,449
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit us.pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than
the performance data quoted.
The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee
of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and
shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Performance shown for Class Z shares for periods prior to the inception of Class
Z shares on July 6, 2007, reflects the NAV performance of the Fund's Class A
shares. The performance does not reflect differences in expenses, including the
Rule 12b-1 fees applicable to Class A shares. Since fees for Class A shares are
generally higher than those of Class Z shares, the performance for Class Z
shares prior to their inception on July 6, 2007, would have been higher than the
performance shown. Class Z shares are not subject to sales charges and are
available for limited groups of eligible investors. All results are historical
and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes
are available for which performance and expenses will differ.
Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the
periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may
not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a
specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the
prospectus and financial statements for more information.
The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes
that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund
shares.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 17
Comparing Ongoing Fund Expenses
As a shareowner in the Fund, you incur two types of costs:
(1) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service
(12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses; and
(2) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments.
This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing expenses (in
dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing
costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment
of $1,000 at the beginning of the Fund's latest six-month period and held
throughout the six months.
Using the Tables
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actual Expenses
The first table below provides information about actual account values and
actual expenses. You may use the information in this table, together with the
amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period as
follows:
(1) Divide your account value by $1,000
Example: an $8,600 account value (divided by) $1,000 = 8.6
(2) Multiply the result in (1) above by the corresponding share class's number
in the third row under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to
estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Expenses Paid on a $1,000 Investment in Pioneer Equity Income Fund
Based on actual returns from November 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Class A B C K R Y Z
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning Account $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Value on
11/1/12**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending Account $1,157.90 $1,152.10 $1,154.00 $1,129.90 $1,156.10 $1,160.00 $1,159.10
Value (after
expenses) on
4/30/13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses Paid $5.99 $11.74 $10.09 $2.62 $7.64 $4.28 $4.93
During Period*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized net expense ratio plus the
expense ratios of the underlying funds. These combined totals were 1.12%,
2.20%, 1.89%, 0.68% 1.43%, 0.80%, and 0.92% for Class A, Class B, Class C,
Class K, Class R, Class Y and Class Z shares, respectively. These combined
ratios were multiplied by the average account value over the period, and
then multiplied by 181/365 (132/365 for Class K shares) (to reflect the
one-half year period) to calculate the "Expenses Paid During Period" in the
table above.
** 12/20/12 for Class K shares.
18 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and
hypothetical expenses based on the Fund's actual expense ratio and an assumed
rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund's actual
return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate
the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
You may use this information to compare 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 the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the tables are meant to highlight your
ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales
charges (loads) that are charged at the time of the transaction. Therefore, the
table below is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you
determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if
these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Expenses Paid on a $1,000 Investment in Pioneer Equity Income
Fund Based on a hypothetical 5% return per year before expenses, reflecting the
period from November 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Class A B C K R Y Z
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning Account $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Value on
11/1/12**
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending Account $1,019.24 $1,013.88 $1,015.42 $1,015.62 $1,017.70 $1,020.83 $1,020.23
Value (after
expenses) on
4/30/13
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses Paid $5.61 $10.99 $9.44 $2.48 $7.15 $4.01 $4.61
During Period*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized net expense ratio plus the
expense ratios of the underlying funds. These combined totals were 1.12%,
2.20%, 1.89%, 0.68% 1.43%, 0.80%, and 0.92% for Class A, Class B, Class C,
Class K, Class R, Class Y and Class Z shares, respectively. These combined
ratios were multiplied by the average account value over the period, and
then multiplied by 181/365 (132/365 for Class K shares) (to reflect the
one-half year period) to calculate the "Expenses Paid During Period" in the
table above.
** 12/20/12 for Class K shares.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 19
Schedule of Investments | 4/30/13 (unaudited)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON STOCKS -- 100.1%
ENERGY -- 5.2%
Integrated Oil & Gas -- 0.5%
49,500 Chevron Corp. $ 6,039,495
12,800 Exxon Mobil Corp. 1,139,072
--------------
$ 7,178,567
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production -- 2.2%
139,160 ConocoPhillips $ 8,412,222
426,800 Marathon Oil Corp. 13,943,556
248,000 QEP Resources, Inc. 7,120,080
--------------
$ 29,475,858
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing -- 1.4%
245,900 Marathon Petroleum Corp.* $ 19,268,724
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation -- 1.1%
483,800 Spectra Energy Corp. $ 15,254,214
--------------
Total Energy $ 71,177,363
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATERIALS -- 8.7%
Commodity Chemicals -- 0.7%
171,000 LyondellBasell Industries NV $ 10,379,700
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specialty Chemicals -- 4.6%
5,000 Givaudan SA $ 6,431,837
200,454 Johnson Matthey Plc 7,545,792
771,300 The Valspar Corp. 49,224,365
--------------
$ 63,201,994
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Packaging -- 1.0%
650,000 Boise, Inc. $ 5,193,500
227,500 Sonoco Products Co. 7,971,600
--------------
$ 13,165,100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diversified Metals & Mining -- 1.6%
255,100 Compass Minerals International, Inc. $ 22,076,354
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper Products -- 0.8%
233,100 International Paper Co. $ 10,951,038
--------------
Total Materials $ 119,774,186
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAPITAL GOODS -- 5.0%
Industrial Conglomerates -- 1.6%
959,984 General Electric Co. $ 21,398,043
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks -- 0.4%
90,000 Joy Global, Inc. $ 5,086,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
20 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industrial Machinery -- 3.0%
400,000 Kaydon Corp. $ 9,536,000
1,146,943 The Gorman-Rupp Co.+ 32,401,140
$ 41,937,140
--------------
Total Capital Goods $ 68,421,983
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL SERVICES & SUPPLIES -- 1.7%
Office Services & Supplies -- 0.7%
202,600 Mine Safety Appliances Co. $ 9,724,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diversified Support Services -- 1.0%
300,000 G&K Services, Inc. $ 14,097,000
--------------
Total Commercial Services & Supplies $ 23,821,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOMOBILES & COMPONENTS -- 1.6%
Auto Parts & Equipment -- 0.3%
99,100 Johnson Controls, Inc. $ 3,469,491
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automobile Manufacturers -- 1.3%
1,333,200 Ford Motor Co. $ 18,278,172
--------------
Total Automobiles & Components $ 21,747,663
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER DURABLES & APPAREL -- 1.2%
Household Appliances -- 0.8%
400,000 Electrolux AB $ 11,317,555
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods -- 0.4%
95,000 Coach, Inc. $ 5,591,700
--------------
Total Consumer Durables & Apparel $ 16,909,255
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER SERVICES -- 1.8%
Leisure Facilities -- 1.8%
607,087 Cedar Fair LP $ 25,497,654
--------------
Total Consumer Services $ 25,497,654
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA -- 0.9%
Movies & Entertainment -- 0.6%
450,000 Regal Entertainment Group $ 8,073,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Publishing -- 0.3%
114,100 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. $ 4,355,197
--------------
Total Media $ 12,428,197
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETAILING -- 1.8%
Distributors -- 1.0%
188,800 Genuine Parts Co. $ 14,411,104
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Improvement Retail -- 0.8%
144,000 The Home Depot, Inc. $ 10,562,400
--------------
Total Retailing $ 24,973,504
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 21
Schedule of Investments | 4/30/13 (unaudited) (continued)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOD & STAPLES RETAILING -- 1.7%
Food Retail -- 0.4%
1,000,000 J Sainsbury Plc $ 5,918,292
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hypermarkets & Super Centers -- 1.3%
218,800 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. $ 17,005,136
--------------
Total Food & Staples Retailing $ 22,923,428
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOD, BEVERAGE & TOBACCO -- 17.0%
Soft Drinks -- 1.8%
353,400 Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. $ 17,256,522
90,700 PepsiCo, Inc. 7,480,029
--------------
$ 24,736,551
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Packaged Foods & Meats -- 15.2%
443,300 Campbell Soup Co. $ 20,573,553
2,289,000 DE Master Blenders 1753 NV* 36,262,869
457,800 Hillshire Brands Co. 16,439,598
400,550 HJ Heinz Co. 29,007,831
210,000 Kellogg Co. 13,658,400
320,600 Kraft Foods Group, Inc.* 16,507,694
100,000 McCormick & Co., Inc. 7,194,000
769,000 Mondelez International, Inc. 24,185,050
352,400 The Hershey Co. 31,419,984
323,000 Unilever NV (A.D.R.) 13,721,040
--------------
$ 208,970,019
--------------
Total Food, Beverage & Tobacco $ 233,706,570
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSEHOLD & PERSONAL PRODUCTS -- 3.5%
Household Products -- 3.5%
238,500 Kimberly-Clark Corp. $ 24,610,815
222,400 The Clorox Co. 19,182,000
50,000 The Procter & Gamble Co. 3,838,500
--------------
$ 47,631,315
--------------
Total Household & Personal Products $ 47,631,315
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES -- 5.6%
Health Care Equipment -- 4.4%
313,900 Abbott Laboratories $ 11,589,188
244,100 Becton Dickinson and Co. 23,018,630
284,700 Medtronic, Inc. 13,289,796
1,079,500 Smith & Nephew Plc 12,313,228
--------------
$ 60,210,842
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Health Care Distributors -- 1.2%
509,300 Owens & Minor, Inc. $ 16,587,901
--------------
Total Health Care Equipment & Services $ 76,798,743
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
22 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHARMACEUTICALS, BIOTECHNOLOGY & LIFE SCIENCES -- 6.9%
Pharmaceuticals -- 6.9%
313,900 AbbVie, Inc. $ 14,455,095
100,000 AstraZeneca Plc (A.D.R.) 5,192,000
259,300 Eli Lilly & Co. 14,360,034
251,700 Johnson & Johnson 21,452,391
353,405 Merck & Co., Inc. 16,610,035
75,000 Novartis AG (A.D.R.) 5,532,000
562,500 Pfizer, Inc. 16,351,875
14,800 Zoetis, Inc. 488,696
--------------
$ 94,442,126
--------------
Total Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences $ 94,442,126
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANKS -- 10.0%
Diversified Banks -- 7.9%
219,400 Bank of Montreal $ 13,758,574
267,000 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 21,348,871
1,000,000 Swedbank AB 24,593,324
761,700 US Bancorp 25,349,376
622,400 Wells Fargo & Co. 23,638,752
--------------
$ 108,688,897
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Banks -- 1.1%
220,800 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. $ 14,987,904
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance -- 1.0%
1,028,800 New York Community Bancorp, Inc. $ 13,940,240
--------------
Total Banks $ 137,617,041
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIALS -- 2.9%
Other Diversified Financial Services -- 1.1%
727,800 Bank of America Corp. $ 8,959,218
113,000 Citigroup, Inc. 5,272,580
--------------
$ 14,231,798
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset Management & Custody Banks -- 1.8%
400,000 Ares Capital Corp. $ 7,264,000
405,100 Federated Investors, Inc. (Class B) 9,301,096
117,000 T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. 8,482,500
--------------
$ 25,047,596
--------------
Total Diversified Financials $ 39,279,394
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSURANCE -- 2.0%
Property & Casualty Insurance -- 2.0%
145,300 The Allstate Corp. $ 7,157,478
185,587 The Chubb Corp. 16,344,647
50,000 The Travelers Companies, Inc. 4,270,500
--------------
$ 27,772,625
--------------
Total Insurance $ 27,772,625
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 23
Schedule of Investments | 4/30/13 (unaudited) (continued)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REAL ESTATE -- 0.8%
Mortgage REITs -- 0.3%
264,300 Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp. $ 4,448,169
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office REITs -- 0.5%
99,171 Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. $ 7,216,674
--------------
Total Real Estate $ 11,664,843
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOFTWARE & SERVICES -- 1.3%
Data Processing & Outsourced Services -- 0.4%
79,600 Automatic Data Processing, Inc. $ 5,360,264
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Systems Software -- 0.9%
400,000 Microsoft Corp. $ 13,240,000
--------------
Total Software & Services $ 18,600,264
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE & EQUIPMENT -- 1.3%
Communications Equipment -- 0.1%
90,000 Cisco Systems, Inc. $ 1,882,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronic Manufacturing Services -- 0.7%
419,300 Molex, Inc. $ 9,773,883
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technology Distributors -- 0.5%
96,000 Anixter International, Inc. $ 6,887,040
--------------
Total Technology Hardware & Equipment $ 18,543,723
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEMICONDUCTORS & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT -- 5.7%
Semiconductor Equipment -- 0.2%
86,033 Cabot Microelectronics Corp.* $ 2,882,966
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semiconductors -- 5.5%
449,700 Analog Devices, Inc. $ 19,782,303
480,000 Intel Corp. 11,496,000
303,300 Linear Technology Corp. 11,070,450
550,500 Microchip Technology, Inc. 20,049,210
354,200 Xilinx, Inc. 13,427,722
--------------
$ 75,825,685
--------------
Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment $ 78,708,651
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES -- 4.1%
Integrated Telecommunication Services -- 4.1%
516,000 AT&T, Inc. $ 19,329,360
2,400,000 Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd. 7,652,117
541,584 Verizon Communications, Inc. 29,196,793
--------------
$ 56,178,270
--------------
Total Telecommunication Services $ 56,178,270
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
24 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTILITIES -- 9.4%
Electric Utilities -- 2.5%
287,150 American Electric Power Co., Inc. $ 14,768,124
182,600 Duke Energy Corp. 13,731,520
69,900 NextEra Energy, Inc.* 5,733,897
--------------
$ 34,233,541
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas Utilities -- 3.4%
370,500 AGL Resources, Inc. $ 16,246,425
239,700 National Fuel Gas Co. 15,033,984
655,000 Questar Corp. 16,630,450
--------------
$ 47,910,859
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multi-Utilities -- 3.5%
195,000 Alliant Energy Corp. $ 10,434,450
468,500 Ameren Corp. 16,983,125
324,372 Consolidated Edison, Inc. 20,646,278
--------------
$ 48,063,853
--------------
Total Utilities $ 130,208,253
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $998,178,354) $1,378,826,851
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES -- 100.1%
(Cost $998,178,354) (a) $1,378,826,851
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER ASSETS & LIABILITIES -- (0.1)% $ (880,377)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL NET ASSETS -- 100.0% $1,377,946,474
=============================================================================================
* Non-income producing security.
+ Investment held by the Fund representing 5% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of such company.
(A.D.R.) American Depositary Receipts.
REIT Real Estate Investment Trust.
(a) At April 30, 2013, the net unrealized gain on investments based on
cost for federal income tax purposes of $984,162,860 was as follows:
Aggregate gross unrealized gain for all investments in which
there is an excess of value over tax cost $ 404,313,391
Aggregate gross unrealized loss for all investments in which
there is an excess of tax cost over value (9,649,400)
---------------
Net unrealized gain $ 394,663,991
===============
Purchases and sales of securities (excluding temporary cash investments) for the
six months ended April 30, 2013 aggregated $233,448,750 and $201,961,081,
respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 25
Schedule of Investments | 4/30/13 (unaudited) (continued)
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments.
These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed 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.) See Notes to Financial Statements -- Note 1A.
Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own
assumptions in determining fair value of investments) See Notes to
Financial Statements -- Note 1A.
Generally, equity securities are categorized as Level 1, fixed income securities
and senior loans as Level 2 and securities valued using fair value methods
(other than prices supplied by independent pricing services) as Level 3. See
Notes to Financial Statements -- Note 1A.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of April 30, 2013, in valuing
the Fund's investments:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stocks $1,378,826,851 $ -- $ -- $1,378,826,851
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1,378,826,851 $ -- $ -- $1,378,826,851
================================================================================
During the six months ended April 30, 2013, there were no transfers between
Levels 1, 2 and 3.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
26 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 4/30/13 (unaudited)
ASSETS:
Investment in securities of unaffilitated issuers, at value
(cost $990,852,012) $1,346,425,711
Investment in securities of affiliated issuers, at value (cost $7,326,342) 32,401,140
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investments in securities, at value (cost $998,178,354) $1,378,826,851
Cash 4,734,026
Foreign currency (cost $375,563) 380,433
Receivables --
Investment securities sold 563,615
Fund shares sold 2,492,918
Dividends 1,489,413
Other 83,215
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $1,388,570,471
=============================================================================================================
LIABILITIES:
Payables --
Investment securities purchased $ 4,691,242
Fund shares repurchased 5,431,315
Due to affiliates 451,632
Accrued expenses 48,492
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency settlement contracts 1,316
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities $ 10,623,997
=============================================================================================================
NET ASSETS:
Paid-in capital $ 999,601,213
Undistributed net investment income 14,925,941
Accumulated net realized loss on investments (17,237,415)
Net unrealized gain on investments 380,648,497
Net unrealized gain on forward foreign currency contracts and
other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 8,238
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets $1,377,946,474
=============================================================================================================
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE:
(No par value, unlimited number of shares authorized)
Class A (based on $775,568,150/24,433,474 shares) $ 31.74
Class B (based on $15,077,702/478,193 shares) $ 31.53
Class C (based on $91,493,167/2,916,900 shares) $ 31.37
Class K (based on $11,222/353 shares)* $ 31.76
Class R (based on $84,847,410/2,646,290 shares) $ 32.06
Class Y (based on $408,906,404/12,786,221 shares) $ 31.98
Class Z (based on $2,042,419/64,323 shares) $ 31.75
MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE:
Class A ($31.74 (divided by) 94.25%) $ 33.68
=============================================================================================================
* Net asset value per share amount does not recalculate due to the rounding of
net assets and/or shares outstanding.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 27
Statement of Operations (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended 4/30/13
INVESTMENT INCOME:
Dividends (including income from affiliated issuers of $229,389) $ 23,775,421
Interest 1,446
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investment income $ 23,776,867
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSES:
Management fees $ 3,758,626
Transfer agent fees and expenses
Class A 261,579
Class B 31,730
Class C 26,748
Class R 2,715
Class Y 2,073
Class Z 466
Distribution fees
Class A 893,956
Class B 77,154
Class C 407,236
Class R 196,453
Shareholder communications expense 738,205
Administrative reimbursement 189,893
Custodian fees 13,378
Registration fees 51,135
Professional fees 41,503
Printing expense 11,412
Fees and expenses of nonaffiliated Trustees 21,727
Miscellaneous 46,337
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total expenses $ 6,772,326
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income $ 17,004,541
=============================================================================================================
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS:
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments $ 37,565,589
Forward foreign currency contracts and other assets
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies (210,417) $ 37,355,172
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in net unrealized gain on:
Investments $ 133,283,503
Forward foreign currency contracts and other assets
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 7,688 $ 133,291,191
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain on investments and foreign currency transactions $ 170,646,363
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $ 187,650,904
=============================================================================================================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
28 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended
4/30/13 Year Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM OPERATIONS:
Net investment income $ 17,004,541 $ 44,080,099
Net realized gain on investments and foreign
currency transactions 37,355,172 102,609,879
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on investments
and foreign currency transactions 133,291,191 (37,741,913)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $ 187,650,904 $ 108,948,065
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREOWNERS:
Net investment income:
Class A ($0.58 and $0.84 per share, respectively) $ (14,088,302) $ (20,733,747)
Class B ($0.42 and $0.53 per share, respectively) (228,356) (362,646)
Class C ($0.48 and $0.65 per share, respectively) (1,338,086) (1,772,601)
Class K ($0.21 and $0.00 per share, respectively) (74) --
Class R ($0.54 and $0.76 per share, respectively) (1,422,123) (2,287,440)
Class Y ($0.64 and $0.93 per share, respectively) (7,940,308) (9,837,012)
Class Z ($0.62 and $0.90 per share, respectively) (50,575) (61,864)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total distributions to shareowners $ (25,067,824) $ (35,055,310)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
Net proceeds from sale or exchange of shares $ 201,699,544 $ 279,258,877
Reinvestment of distributions 21,931,500 29,753,217
Cost of shares repurchased (185,553,725) (246,592,051)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from
Fund share transactions $ 38,077,319 $ 62,420,043
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets $ 200,660,399 $ 136,312,798
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of year 1,177,286,075 1,040,973,277
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of year $1,377,946,474 $1,177,286,075
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undistributed net investment income $ 14,925,941 $ 22,989,224
=============================================================================================================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 29
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'13 Shares '13 Amount
(unaudited) (unaudited) '12 Shares '12 Amount
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A
Shares sold 3,375,028 $ 98,735,114 4,797,702 $ 130,166,656
Reinvestment of distributions 462,522 13,437,595 702,510 19,113,473
Less shares repurchased (3,699,901) (107,996,146) (5,258,739) (143,878,140)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 137,649 $ 4,176,563 241,473 $ 5,401,989
=============================================================================================================
Class B
Shares sold or exchanged 17,817 $ 514,239 48,972 $ 1,321,876
Reinvestment of distributions 7,561 216,307 12,690 342,580
Less shares repurchased (128,155) (3,757,216) (316,454) (8,521,967)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (102,777) $ (3,026,670) (254,792) $ (6,857,511)
=============================================================================================================
Class C
Shares sold 423,765 $ 12,450,111 642,057 $ 17,278,593
Reinvestment of distributions 32,419 929,767 44,420 1,196,619
Less shares repurchased (332,670) (9,684,015) (621,179) (16,701,282)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 123,514 $ 3,695,863 65,298 $ 1,773,930
=============================================================================================================
Class K*
Shares sold 353 $ 10,000 -- $ --
Reinvestment of distributions -- -- -- --
Less shares repurchased -- -- -- --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 353 $ 10,000 -- $ --
=============================================================================================================
Class R
Shares sold 236,068 $ 7,136,046 676,519 $ 18,362,330
Reinvestment of distributions 47,559 1,394,282 81,851 2,248,710
Less shares repurchased (454,868) (13,370,740) (896,312) (24,682,037)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net decrease (171,241) $ (4,840,412) (137,942) $ (4,070,997)
=============================================================================================================
Class Y
Shares sold 2,808,284 $ 82,326,143 4,053,760 $ 110,897,090
Reinvestment of distributions 201,219 5,903,113 247,623 6,790,042
Less shares repurchased (1,674,202) (49,367,674) (1,897,740) (52,293,684)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase 1,335,301 $ 38,861,582 2,403,643 $ 65,393,448
=============================================================================================================
Class Z
Shares sold 18,119 $ 527,891 44,663 $ 1,232,332
Reinvestment of distributions 1,744 50,436 2,256 61,793
Less shares repurchased (46,787) (1,377,934) (18,763) (514,941)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) (26,924) $ (799,607) 28,156 $ 779,184
=============================================================================================================
* Class K shares were first publicly offered on December 20, 2012.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
30 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
Financial Highlights
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
4/30/13 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12 10/31/11 10/31/10 10/31/09 10/31/08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 27.96 $ 26.19 $ 23.92 $ 20.24 $ 21.28 $ 33.10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.40 $ 1.05 $ 0.48 $ 0.46 $ 0.58 $ 0.75
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.96 1.56 2.20 3.63 (1.12) (10.03)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 4.36 $ 2.61 $ 2.68 $ 4.09 $ (0.54) $ (9.28)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.58) (0.84) (0.41) (0.40) (0.50) (0.67)
Net realized gain -- -- -- -- -- (1.81)
Tax return of capital -- -- -- -- -- (0.06)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 3.78 $ 1.77 $ 2.27 $ 3.69 $ (1.04) $ (11.82)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 31.74 $ 27.96 $ 26.19 $ 23.92 $ 20.24 $ 21.28
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 15.79% 10.09% 11.26% 20.36% (2.30)% (29.99)%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.09%** 1.14% 1.15% 1.19% 1.23% 1.11%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.73%** 3.86% 1.78% 1.93% 2.98% 2.67%
Portfolio turnover rate 32%** 49% 24% 15% 28% 19%
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $775,568 $679,254 $630,087 $606,693 $566,439 $639,388
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 1.09%** 1.14% 1.15% 1.19% 1.23% 1.10%
Net investment income 2.73%** 3.86% 1.78% 1.93% 2.98% 2.68%
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
period, reinvestment of all distributions, the complete redemption of the
investment at net asset value at the end of each period and no sales
charges. Total return would be reduced if sales charges were taken into
account.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 31
Financial Highlights (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
4/30/13 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12 10/31/11 10/31/10 10/31/09 10/31/08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 27.77 $ 26.02 $ 23.77 $ 20.10 $ 21.14 $ 32.88
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.33 $ 0.97 $ 0.43 $ 0.38 $ 0.51 $ 0.57
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.85 1.31 1.97 3.47 (1.23) (10.02)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 4.18 $ 2.28 $ 2.40 $ 3.85 $ (0.72) $ (9.45)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.42) (0.53) (0.15) (0.18) (0.32) (0.44)
Net realized gain -- -- -- -- -- (1.81)
Tax return of capital -- -- -- -- -- (0.04)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 3.76 $ 1.75 $ 2.25 $ 3.67 $ (1.04) $ (11.74)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 31.53 $ 27.77 $ 26.02 $ 23.77 $ 20.10 $ 21.14
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 15.21% 8.83% 10.12% 19.23% (3.26)% (30.58)%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 2.17%** 2.24% 2.17% 2.17% 2.20% 1.96%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 1.68%** 2.81% 0.78% 0.98% 2.08% 1.83%
Portfolio turnover rate 32%** 49% 24% 15% 28% 19%
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $15,078 $16,136 $21,744 $32,604 $42,950 $ 66,530
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 2.17%** 2.24% 2.17% 2.17% 2.20% 1.96%
Net investment income 1.68%** 2.81% 0.78% 0.98% 2.08% 1.83%
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
period, reinvestment of all distributions, the complete redemption of the
investment at net asset value at the end of each period and no sales
charges. Total return would be reduced if sales charges were taken into
account.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
32 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
4/30/13 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12 10/31/11 10/31/10 10/31/09 10/31/08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 27.64 $ 25.91 $ 23.66 $ 20.01 $ 21.04 $ 32.75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.27 $ 0.84 $ 0.27 $ 0.32 $ 0.47 $ 0.55
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.94 1.54 2.20 3.55 (1.16) (9.94)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 4.21 $ 2.38 $ 2.47 $ 3.87 $ (0.69) $ (9.39)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.48) (0.65) (0.22) (0.22) (0.34) (0.47)
Net realized gain -- -- -- -- -- (1.81)
Tax return of capital -- -- -- -- -- (0.04)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 3.73 $ 1.73 $ 2.25 $ 3.65 $ (1.03) $ (11.71)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 31.37 $ 27.64 $ 25.91 $ 23.66 $ 20.01 $ 21.04
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 15.40% 9.26% 10.45% 19.46% (3.11)% (30.52)%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.86%** 1.86% 1.91% 1.96% 2.04% 1.87%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 1.93%** 3.13% 1.02% 1.17% 2.21% 1.92%
Portfolio turnover rate 32%** 49% 24% 15% 28% 19%
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $91,493 $77,219 $70,683 $66,536 $68,719 $ 88,291
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 1.86%** 1.86% 1.91% 1.96% 2.04% 1.87%
Net investment income 1.93%** 3.13% 1.02% 1.17% 2.21% 1.92%
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
period, reinvestment of all distributions, the complete redemption of the
investment at net asset value at the end of each period and no sales
charges. Total return would be reduced if sales charges were taken into
account.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 33
Financial Highlights (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/20/12 (a)
to 4/30/13
(unaudited)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class K
Net asset value, beginning of period $28.30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.24
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase from investment operations $ 3.67
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.21)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net asset value $ 3.46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $31.76
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 12.99%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 0.65%**
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.28%**
Portfolio turnover rate 32%**
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $ 11
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 0.65%**
Net investment income 2.28%**
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of the
period, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of
the investment at net asset value at the end of the period.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
(a) Class K shares were first publicly offered on December 20, 2012.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
34 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
4/30/13 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12 10/31/11 10/31/10 10/31/09 10/31/08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class R
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 28.24 $ 26.45 $ 24.14 $ 20.43 $ 21.45 $ 33.34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.40 $ 1.03 $ 0.36 $ 0.44 $ 0.49 $ 0.68
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.96 1.52 2.28 3.62 (1.07) (10.09)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 4.36 $ 2.55 $ 2.64 $ 4.07 $ (0.58) $ (9.41)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.54) (0.76) (0.33) (0.35) (0.44) (0.62)
Net realized gain -- -- -- -- -- (1.81)
Tax return of capital -- -- -- -- -- (0.05)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 3.82 $ 1.79 $ 2.31 $ 3.72 $ (1.02) $ (11.89)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 32.06 $ 28.24 $ 26.45 $ 24.14 $ 20.43 $ 21.45
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 15.61% 9.76% 10.96% 20.03% (2.50)% (30.14)%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.40%** 1.41% 1.48% 1.44% 1.44% 1.33%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.42%** 3.62% 1.46% 1.68% 2.71% 2.44%
Portfolio turnover rate 32%** 49% 24% 15% 28% 19%
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $84,847 $79,557 $78,159 $67,450 $68,904 $ 64,559
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 1.40%** 1.41% 1.48% 1.44% 1.44% 1.33%
Net investment income 2.42%** 3.62% 1.46% 1.68% 2.71% 2.44%
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
period, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of
the investment at net asset value at the end of each period.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 35
Financial Highlights (continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
4/30/13 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12 10/31/11 10/31/10 10/31/09 10/31/08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 28.17 $ 26.38 $ 24.09 $ 20.37 $ 21.41 $ 33.28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.38 $ 1.05 $ 0.44 $ 0.49 $ 0.42 $ 0.67
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 4.07 1.67 2.37 3.74 (0.87) (9.89)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 4.45 $ 2.72 $ 2.81 $ 4.22 $ (0.45) $ (9.22)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.64) (0.93) (0.52) (0.51) (0.59) (0.77)
Net realized gain -- -- -- -- -- (1.81)
Tax return of capital -- -- -- -- -- (0.07)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 3.81 $ 1.79 $ 2.29 $ 3.71 $ (1.04) $ (11.87)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 31.98 $ 28.17 $ 26.38 $ 24.09 $ 20.37 $ 21.41
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 16.00% 10.47% 11.73% 20.98% (1.85)% (29.72)%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 0.77%** 0.77% 0.75% 0.72% 0.75% 0.72%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.97%** 4.20% 2.16% 2.38% 3.10% 3.09%
Portfolio turnover rate 32%** 49% 24% 15% 28% 19%
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $408,906 $322,567 $238,647 $148,995 $110,148 $ 29,157
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 0.77%** 0.77% 0.75% 0.72% 0.75% 0.72%
Net investment income 2.97%** 4.20% 2.16% 2.38% 3.10% 3.09%
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
period, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of
the investment at net asset value at the end of each period.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
36 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months
Ended Year Year Year Year Year
4/30/13 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended
(unaudited) 10/31/12 10/31/11 10/31/10 10/31/09 10/31/08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Z
Net asset value, beginning of period $27.98 $26.21 $23.95 $20.27 $ 21.30 $ 33.12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations:
Net investment income $ 0.59 $ 0.93 $ 0.30 $ 0.38 $ 0.45 $ 0.80
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.80 1.74 2.48 3.80 (0.91) (9.98)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 4.39 $ 2.67 $ 2.78 $ 4.18 $ (0.46) $ (9.18)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to shareowners:
Net investment income (0.62) (0.90) (0.52) (0.50) (0.57) (0.76)
Net realized gain -- -- -- -- -- (1.81)
Tax return of capital -- -- -- -- -- (0.07)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 3.77 $ 1.77 $ 2.26 $ 3.68 $ (1.03) $ (11.82)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $31.75 $27.98 $26.21 $23.95 $ 20.27 $ 21.30
================================================================================================================================
Total return* 15.91% 10.31% 11.67% 20.84% (1.88)% (29.75)%
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 0.89%** 0.87% 0.85% 0.81% 0.79% 0.76%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.98%** 3.98% 2.05% 2.25% 3.24% 3.03%
Portfolio turnover rate 32%** 49% 24% 15% 28% 19%
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $2,042 $2,553 $1,653 $ 505 $ 233 $ 75
Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly:
Net expenses 0.89%** 0.87% 0.85% 0.81% 0.95% 0.76%
Net investment income 2.98%** 3.98% 2.05% 2.25% 3.08% 3.03%
================================================================================================================================
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
period, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of
the investment at net asset value at the end of each period.
+ Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
** Annualized.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 37
Notes to Financial Statements | 4/30/13 (unaudited)
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Pioneer Equity Income Fund (the Fund) is a Delaware statutory trust. The Fund is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, open-end
management investment company. The investment objective of the Fund is current
income and long-term growth of capital from a portfolio consisting primarily of
income producing equity securities of U.S. corporations.
The Fund offers seven classes of shares designated as Class A, Class B, Class C,
Class K, Class R, Class Y and Class Z shares. Class K shares were first publicly
offered on December 20, 2012. Effective as of the close of business on December
31, 2009, Class B shares are no longer offered to new or existing shareholders,
except that dividends and/or capital gain distributions may continue to be
reinvested in Class B shares, and shareholders may exchange their Class B shares
for Class B shares of other Pioneer funds, as permitted by existing exchange
privileges. Each class of shares represents an interest in the same portfolio of
investments of the Fund and has identical rights (based on relative net asset
values) to assets and liquidation proceeds. Share classes can bear different
rates of class-specific fees and expenses such as transfer agent and
distribution fees. Differences in class-specific fees and expenses will result
in differences in net investment income and, therefore, the payment of different
dividends from net investment income earned by each class. The Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of the Fund gives the Board the flexibility to
specify either per-share voting or dollar-weighted voting when submitting
matters for shareholder approval. Under per-share voting, each share of a class
of the Fund is entitled to one vote. Under dollar-weighted voting, a
shareholder's voting power is determined not by the number of shares owned, but
by the dollar value of the shares on the record date. Each share class has
exclusive voting rights with respect to matters affecting only that class,
including with respect to the distribution plan for that class. There is no
distribution plan for Class K, Class Y or Class Z shares. Class B shares convert
to Class A shares approximately eight years after the date of purchase.
The Fund's financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles that require the management of the Fund
to, among other things, make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of
income, expenses and gains and losses on investments during the reporting
period. 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, which are consistent with
those policies generally accepted in the investment company industry:
38 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
A. Security Valuation Security transactions are recorded as of trade date. The
net asset value of the Fund is computed once daily, on each day the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open, as of the close of regular trading on the
NYSE. In computing the net asset value, securities that have traded on an
exchange are valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange where
they are traded. Securities that have not traded on the date of valuation,
or securities for which sale prices are not available, generally are valued
at the mean between the last bid and asked prices. Short-term fixed income
securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less generally are
valued at amortized cost. Shares of money market mutual funds are valued at
their net asset value.
Trading in foreign securities is substantially completed each day at various
times prior to the close of the NYSE. The values of such securities used in
computing the net asset value of the Fund's shares are determined as of such
times.
Securities for which independent pricing services are unable to supply
prices or for which market prices and/or quotations are not readily
available or are considered to be unreliable are valued by or at the
direction or with the approval of the Valuation Committee using fair value
methods pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The
Valuation Committee is comprised of certain members of the Board of
Trustees. The Fund may use fair value methods if it is determined that a
significant event has occurred after the close of the exchange or market on
which the security trades and prior to the determination of the Fund's net
asset value. Examples of a significant event might include political or
economic news, corporate restructurings, natural disasters, terrorist
activity or trading halts. Thus, the valuation of the Fund's securities may
differ significantly from exchange prices and such differences could be
material. Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. (PIM) is responsible for
monitoring developments that may impact fair valued securities and for
discussing and assessing fair values on an ongoing basis, and at least
quarterly, with the Valuation Committee.
At April 30, 2013, there were no securities that were valued using fair
value methods (other than securities that were valued using prices supplied
by independent pricing services). Inputs used when applying fair value
methods to value a security may include credit ratings, the financial
condition of the company, current market conditions and comparable
securities.
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain
dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed
are recorded as soon as the Fund becomes aware of the ex-dividend data in
the exercise of reasonable diligence. Interest income, including interest on
income bearing cash accounts, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend and
interest income are reported net of unrecoverable foreign taxes withheld at
the applicable country rates.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 39
Gains and losses on sales of investments are calculated on the identified
cost method for both financial reporting and federal income tax purposes.
B. Federal Income Taxes
It is the Fund's policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute
all of its taxable income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its
shareowners. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. As of
April 30, 2013, the Fund did not have any interest and penalties related to
unrecognized tax positions, which, if applicable, would be recorded as an
income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. Tax years for the prior
three fiscal years remain subject to examination by federal and state tax
authorities.
The amount and character of income and capital gain distributions to
shareowners are determined in accordance with federal income tax rules,
which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Distributions in excess of net investment income or net realized gains are
temporary overdistributions for financial statement purposes resulting from
differences in the recognition or classification of income or distributions
for financial statement and tax purposes. Capital accounts within the
financial statements are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to
reflect tax character, but are not adjusted for temporary differences.
The tax character of current year distributions payable will be determined
at the end of the Fund's taxable year. The tax character of distributions
paid during the year ended October 31, 2012 was as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions paid from:
Ordinary income $35,055,310
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $35,055,310
============================================================================
The following shows the components of distributable earnings on a federal
income tax basis at October 31, 2012:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributable earnings:
Undistributed ordinary income $ 8,806,266
Capital loss carryforward (54,425,123)
Net unrealized gain 261,381,038
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $215,762,181
============================================================================
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized gain is
attributable to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, the tax basis
adjustments on partnerships, and REIT holdings.
40 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
C. Fund Shares
The Fund records sales and repurchases of its shares as of trade date.
Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. (PFD), the principal underwriter for the
Fund and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UniCredit S.p.A. (UniCredit),
earned $49,572 in underwriting commissions on the sale of Class A shares
during the six months ended April 30, 2013.
D. Class Allocations
Income, common expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are
calculated at the Fund level and allocated daily to each class of shares
based on its respective percentage of adjusted net assets at the beginning
of the day.
Distribution fees are calculated based on the average daily net asset value
attributable to Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares of the Fund,
respectively (see Note 4). Class K, Class Y and Class Z shares do not pay
distribution fees. All expenses and fees paid to the transfer agent, Pioneer
Investment Management Shareholder Services, Inc. (PIMSS), for its services
are allocated among the classes of shares based on the number of accounts in
each class and the ratable allocation of related out-of-pocket expenses (see
Note 3).
Distributions to shareowners are recorded as of the ex-dividend date.
Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are
calculated in the same manner and at the same time, except that net
investment income dividends to Class A, Class B, Class C, Class K, Class R,
Class Y and Class Z shares can reflect different transfer agent and
distribution expense rates.
E. Risks
At times, the Fund's investments may represent industries or industry
sectors that are interrelated or have common risks, making the Fund more
susceptible to any economic, political or regulatory developments or other
risks affecting those industries or sectors. The Fund's prospectus contains
unaudited information regarding the Fund's principal risks. Please refer to
that document when considering the Fund's principal risks.
F. Forward Foreign Currency Contracts
The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts (contracts) for
the purchase or sale of a specific foreign currency at a fixed price on a
future date. All contracts are marked to market daily at the applicable
exchange rates, and any resulting unrealized gains or losses are recorded in
the Fund's financial statements. The Fund records realized gains and losses
at the time a portfolio hedge is offset by entry into a closing transaction
or extinguished by delivery of the currency. Risks may arise upon entering
into these contracts from the potential inability of counterparties to meet
the terms of the contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of
foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar (see Note 8).
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 41
G. Repurchase Agreements
With respect to repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the value of
the underlying securities (collateral), including accrued interest, is
required to be equal to or in excess of the repurchase price. The collateral
for all repurchase agreements is held in safekeeping in the customer-only
account of the Fund's custodian or a subcustodian of the Fund. PIM is
responsible for determining that the value of the collateral remains at
least equal to the repurchase price.
2. Management Agreement
PIM, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UniCredit, manages the Fund's
portfolio. Management fees are calculated daily at the annual rate of 0.60% of
the Fund's average daily net assets up to $10 billion and 0.575% on assets over
$10 billion. For the six months ended April 30, 2013, the effective management
fee (excluding waivers and/or assumption of expenses) was equivalent to 0.60% of
the Fund's average daily net assets.
In addition, under the management and administration agreements, certain other
services and costs, including accounting, regulatory reporting, and insurance
premiums, are paid by the Fund as administrative reimbursements. Included in
"Due to affiliates" reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities is
$109,739 in management fees, administrative costs and certain other
reimbursements payable to PIM at April 30, 2013.
3. Transfer Agent
PIMSS, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UniCredit, provides substantially
all transfer agent and shareowner services to the Fund at negotiated rates.
In addition, the Fund reimburses PIMSS for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
PIMSS related to shareholder communications activities such as proxy and
statement mailings, outgoing phone calls and omnibus relationship contracts.
For the six months ended April 30, 2013, such out-of-pocket expenses by class of
shares were as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder Communications:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A $396,492
Class B 7,955
Class C 53,323
Class R 91,384
Class Y 186,845
Class Z 2,206
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $738,205
================================================================================
Included in "Due to affiliates" reflected on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities is $303,287 in transfer agent fees and out-of-pocket reimbursements
payable to PIMSS at April 30, 2013.
42 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
4. Distribution and Service Plans
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 with respect to its Class A, Class B, Class C and
Class R shares. Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund pays PFD 0.25% of the average
daily net assets attributable to Class A shares as compensation for personal
services and/or account maintenance services or distribution services with
regard to Class A shares. Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund also pays PFD 1.00% of
the average daily net assets attributable to Class B and Class C shares. The fee
for Class B and Class C shares consists of a 0.25% service fee and a 0.75%
distribution fee paid as compensation for personal services and/or account
maintenance services or distribution services with regard to Class B and Class C
shares. Pursuant to the Plan, the Fund further pays PFD 0.50% of the average
daily net assets attributable to Class R shares for distribution services.
Included in "Due to affiliates" reflected on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities is $38,606 in distribution fees payable to PFD at April 30, 2013.
The Fund also has adopted a separate service plan for Class R shares (Service
Plan). The Service Plan authorizes the Fund to pay securities dealers, plan
administrators or other service organizations that agree to provide certain
services to retirement plans or plan participants holding shares of the Fund a
service fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable
to Class R shares held by such plans.
In addition, redemptions of each class of shares (except Class K, Class R, Class
Y and Class Z shares) may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge
(CDSC). A CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed on redemptions of certain net asset value
purchases of Class A shares within 12 months of purchase. Class B shares
redeemed within five years of purchase are subject to a CDSC at declining rates
beginning at 4.00%, based on the lower of cost or market value of shares being
redeemed. Redemptions of Class C shares within one year of purchase are subject
to a CDSC of 1.00%, based on the lower of cost or market value of shares being
redeemed. Shares purchased as part of an exchange remain subject to any CDSC
that applied to the original purchase of those shares. There is no CDSC for
Class K, Class R, Class Y or Class Z shares. Proceeds from the CDSCs are paid to
PFD. For the six months ended April 30, 2013, CDSCs in the amount of $11,616
were paid to PFD.
5. Expense Offset Arrangements
The Fund has entered into certain expense offset arrangements with PIMSS which
may result in a reduction in the Fund's total expenses due to interest earned on
cash held by PIMSS. For the six months ended April 30, 2013, the Fund's expenses
were not reduced under such arrangements.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 43
6. Line of Credit Facility
The Fund, along with certain other funds in the Pioneer Family of Funds (the
Funds), participates in a committed, unsecured revolving line of credit
facility. Borrowings are used solely for temporary or emergency purposes. The
Fund may borrow up to the lesser of the amount available under the facility or
the limits set for borrowing by the Fund's prospectus and the 1940 Act. The
credit facility in effect as of February 15, 2012 is in the amount of $215
million. Under such facility, depending on the type of loan, interest on
borrowings is payable at the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 0.90% on
an annualized basis, or the Alternate Base Rate, which is the greater of (a) the
facility's administrative agent's daily announced prime rate on the borrowing
date, (b) 2% plus the Federal Funds Rate on the borrowing date and (c) 2% plus
the overnight Euro dollar rate on the borrowing date. The Funds pay an annual
commitment fee to participate in the credit facility. The commitment fee is
allocated among participating Funds based on an allocation schedule set forth in
the credit agreement. For the six months ended April 30, 2013, the Fund had no
borrowings under the credit facility.
7. Affiliated Companies
The Fund's investments in certain companies may exceed 5% of the outstanding
voting stock of those companies. Such companies are deemed affiliates of the
Fund for financial reporting purposes. The following summarizes transactions
with affiliates of the Fund for the six months ended April 30, 2013:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning Corporate Ending
Balance Purchases Sales Actions Balance Dividend
Affiliates (shares) (shares) (shares) (shares) (shares) Income Value
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gorman-
Rupp Co. 1,146,943 -- -- -- 1,146,943 $229,389 $32,401,140
8. Forward Foreign Currency Contracts
At April 30, 2013, the Fund had entered into various forward foreign currency
contracts that obligate the Fund to deliver or take delivery of currencies at
specified future maturity dates. Alternatively, prior to the settlement date of
a forward foreign currency contract, the Fund may close out such contract by
entering into an offsetting contract. The average value of contracts open during
the six months ended April 30, 2013 was $72,406. At April 30, 2013, the Fund had
no outstanding portfolio hedges. At April 30, 2013, the Fund's gross forward
currency settlement contracts receivable and payable were $185,490 and $186,806,
respectively, resulting in a net payable of $1,316.
44 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
9. Additional Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Values of derivative instruments as of April 30, 2013 were as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivatives Not
Accounted for as Asset Derivatives 2013 Liabilities Derivatives 2013
Hedging Instruments -------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Under Accounting Statement of Assets Statement of Assets
Standards Codification and Liabilities and Liabilities
(ASC) 815 Location Value Location Value
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forward Foreign Currency Net unrealized Net unrealized
Settlement Contracts appreciation on depreciation on
forward foreign forward foreign
currency currency
settlement settlement
contracts $-- contracts $1,316
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $-- $1,316
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the six
months ended April 30, 2013 was as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derivatives Not Change in
Accounted for as Unrealized
Hedging Instruments Appreciation or
Under Accounting Location of Gain or (Loss) (Depreciation) on
Standards Codification on Derivatives Recognized Derivatives
(ASC) 815 in Income Recognized in Income
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forward Foreign Currency Change in unrealized loss on forward $(598)
Settlement Contracts foreign currency contracts and other
assets and liabilities denominated in
foreign currencies
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 45
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement
Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. (PIM) serves as the investment adviser to
Pioneer Equity Income Fund (the Fund) pursuant to an investment advisory
agreement between PIM and the Fund. In order for PIM to remain the investment
adviser of the Fund, the Trustees of the Fund must determine annually whether to
renew the investment advisory agreement for the Fund.
The contract review process began in March 2012 as the Trustees of the Fund
agreed on, among other things, an overall approach and timeline for the process.
In July 2012, the Trustees approved the format of the contract review materials
and submitted their formal request to PIM to furnish information necessary to
evaluate the terms of the investment advisory agreement. The contract review
materials were provided to the Trustees in July 2012 and September 2012. After
reviewing and discussing the materials, the Trustees submitted a request for
additional information to PIM, and materials were provided in response to this
request. Meetings of the Independent Trustees of the Fund were held in July,
September, October, and November, 2012 to review and discuss the contract review
materials. In addition, the Trustees took into account the information related
to the Fund provided to the Trustees at each regularly scheduled meeting.
At a meeting held on November 13, 2012, based on their evaluation of the
information provided by PIM and third parties, the Trustees of the Fund,
including the Independent Trustees voting separately, unanimously approved the
renewal of the investment advisory agreement for another year. In considering
the renewal of the investment advisory agreement, the Trustees considered
various factors that they determined were relevant, including the factors
described below. The Trustees did not identify any single factor as the
controlling factor in determining to approve the renewal of the agreement.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
The Trustees considered the nature, extent and quality of the services that had
been provided by PIM to the Fund, taking into account the investment objective
and strategy of the Fund. The Trustees reviewed the terms of the investment
advisory agreement. The Trustees also reviewed PIM's investment approach for the
Fund, its research process and its process for trade execution. The Trustees
considered the resources of PIM and the personnel of PIM who provide investment
management services to the Fund. The Trustees considered the non-investment
resources and personnel of PIM involved in PIM's services to the Fund, including
PIM's compliance and legal resources and personnel. The Trustees also considered
the substantial attention and high priority given by PIM's senior management to
the Pioneer fund complex. In addition, the Trustees considered PIM's plans to
increase resources in its investment management function and other enhancements
to PIM's advisory capabilities.
46 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
The Trustees considered that PIM supervises and monitors the performance of the
Fund's service providers and provides the Fund with personnel (including Fund
officers) and other resources that are necessary for the Fund's business
management and operations. The Trustees also considered that, as administrator,
PIM is responsible for the administration of the Fund's business and other
affairs. The Trustees considered the fees paid to PIM for the provision of
administration services.
Based on these considerations, the Trustees concluded that the nature, extent
and quality of services that had been provided by PIM to the Fund were
satisfactory and consistent with the terms of the investment advisory agreement.
Performance of the Fund
The Trustees considered the performance results of the Fund over various time
periods. They reviewed information comparing the Fund's performance with the
performance of its peer group of funds as classified by Morningstar, Inc.
(Morningstar), an independent provider of investment company data, and with the
performance of the Fund's benchmark index. The Trustees considered that the
Fund's annualized total return was in the second quintile of its Morningstar
category for the one and five year periods ended June 30, 2012, and in the first
quintile of its Morningstar category for the five year period ended June 30,
2012. (In all quintile rankings referred to throughout this disclosure, first
quintile is most favorable to the Fund's shareowners. Thus, highest relative
performance would be first quintile and lowest relative expenses would also be
first quintile.) The Trustees discussed the Fund's performance record. They
indicated that they were satisfied with the discussions with PIM with respect to
the Trust's performance.
Management Fee and Expenses
The Trustees considered information showing the fees and expenses of the Fund in
comparison to the management fees and expense ratios of its peer group of funds
as classified by Morningstar and also to the expense ratios of a peer group of
funds selected on the basis of criteria determined by the Independent Trustees
for this purpose using data provided by Strategic Insight Mutual Trust Research
and Consulting, LLC (Strategic Insight), an independent third party.
The Trustees considered that the Fund's management fee for the twelve months
ended June 30, 2012 was in the second quintile relative to the management fees
paid by other funds in its Morningstar peer group for the comparable period. The
Trustees also considered the breakpoint in the management fee schedule and the
reduced fee rate on assets over $10 billion. The Trustees considered that the
Fund's expense ratio for the twelve months ended June 30, 2012 was in the third
quintile relative to its Strategic Insight peer group for the comparable period.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 47
The Trustees reviewed management fees charged by PIM and PIM's affiliate,
Pioneer Institutional Asset Management, Inc. (together with PIM, "Pioneer") to
institutional and other clients, including publicly offered European funds
sponsored by affiliates of Pioneer, unaffiliated U.S. registered investment
companies (in a sub-advisory capacity), and unaffiliated foreign and domestic
separate accounts. The Trustees also considered PIM's costs in providing
services to the Fund and Pioneer's costs in providing services to the other
clients and considered the differences in management fees and profit margins for
Fund and non-Fund services. In evaluating the fees associated with Pioneer's
client accounts, the Trustees took into account the respective demands,
resources and complexity associated with the Fund and client accounts. The
Trustees noted that in some instances the fee rates for those clients were lower
than the management fee for the Fund and considered that, under the investment
advisory agreement with the Fund, PIM performs additional services for the Fund
that it does not provide to those other clients or services that are broader in
scope, including oversight of the Fund's other service providers and activities
related to compliance and the extensive regulatory and tax regimes to which the
Fund is subject. The Trustees also considered the different entrepreneurial
risks associated with PIM's management of the Fund and Pioneer's management of
the other client accounts. The Trustees concluded that the management fee
payable by the Fund to PIM was reasonable in relation to the nature and quality
of the services provided by PIM.
Profitability
The Trustees considered information provided by PIM regarding the profitability
of PIM with respect to the advisory services provided by PIM to the Fund,
including the methodology used by PIM in allocating certain of its costs to the
management of the Fund. The Trustees also considered PIM's profit margin in
connection with the overall operation of the Fund. They further reviewed the
financial results realized by PIM and its affiliates from non-fund businesses.
The Trustees considered PIM's profit margins with respect to the Fund in
comparison to the limited industry data available and noted that the
profitability of any adviser was affected by numerous factors, including its
organizational structure and method for allocating expenses. The Trustees
concluded that PIM's profitability with respect to the management of the Fund
was not unreasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Trustees considered PIM's views relating to economies of scale in connection
with the Pioneer Funds as fund assets grow and the extent to which any such
economies of scale are shared with funds and fund shareholders. The Trustees
noted the breakpoint in the management fee schedule. The Trustees recognize that
economies of scale are difficult to
48 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
identify and quantify, rarely identifiable on a Fund-by-Fund basis, and that,
among other factors that may be relevant, are the following: fee levels, expense
subsidization, investment by PIM in research and analytical capabilities and
PIM's commitment and resource allocation to the Funds. The Trustees noted that
profitability also may be an indicator of the availability of any economies of
scale, although profitability may vary for other reasons particularly, for
example during the recent difficult periods for financial markets, as the level
of services was maintained notwithstanding a significant decline in PIM's fee
revenues from the Funds. Accordingly, the Trustees concluded that economies of
scale, if any, were being appropriately shared with the Fund.
Other Benefits
The Trustees considered the other benefits to PIM from its relationship with the
Fund. The Trustees considered the character and amount of fees paid by the Fund,
other than under the investment advisory agreement, for services provided by PIM
and its affiliates. The Trustees further considered the revenues and
profitability of PIM's businesses other than the fund business. The Trustees
also considered the benefits to the Fund and to PIM and its affiliates from the
use of "soft" commission dollars generated by the Fund to pay for research and
brokerage services. The Trustees considered the intangible benefits to PIM by
virtue of its relationship with the Fund and the other Pioneer funds. The
Trustees concluded that the receipt of these benefits was reasonable in the
context of the overall relationship between PIM and the Fund.
Conclusion
After consideration of the factors described above as well as other factors, the
Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the
investment advisory agreement between PIM and the Fund, including the fees
payable thereunder, was fair and reasonable and voted to approve the proposed
renewal of the investment advisory agreement for the Fund.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 49
Trustees, Officers and Service Providers
Trustees Officers
Thomas J. Perna, Chairman John F. Cogan, Jr., President*
David R. Bock Daniel K. Kingsbury, Executive
John F. Cogan, Jr. Vice President
Benjamin M. Friedman Mark E. Bradley, Treasurer**
Margaret B.W. Graham Christopher J. Kelley, Secretary
Daniel K. Kingsbury
Marguerite A. Piret
Stephen K. West
Investment Adviser and Administrator
Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.
Custodian and Sub-Administrator
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Principal Underwriter
Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.
Legal Counsel
Bingham McCutchen LLP
Shareowner Services and Transfer Agent
Pioneer Investment Management Shareholder Services, Inc.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Fund are available without charge,
upon request, by calling our toll free number (1-800-225-6292). Information
regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the
most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is publicly available to shareowners
at us.pioneerinvestments.com. This information is also available on the
Securities and Exchange Commission's web site at www.sec.gov.
* Chief Executive Officer of the Fund.
** Chief Financial and Accounting Officer of the Fund.
50 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
This page for your notes.
Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13 51
This page for your notes.
52 Pioneer Equity Income Fund | Semiannual Report | 4/30/13
How to Contact Pioneer
We are pleased to offer a variety of convenient ways for you to contact us for
assistance or information.
Call us for:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account Information, including existing accounts,
new accounts, prospectuses, applications
and service forms 1-800-225-6292
FactFone(SM) for automated fund yields, prices,
account information and transactions 1-800-225-4321
Retirement plans information 1-800-622-0176
Write to us:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PIMSS, Inc.
P.O. Box 55014
Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5014
Our toll-free fax 1-800-225-4240
Our internet e-mail address ask.pioneer@pioneerinvestments.com
(for general questions about Pioneer only)
Visit our web site: us.pioneerinvestments.com
This report must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
The Fund files a complete schedule of investments with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters for each fiscal year on
Form N-Q. Shareholders may view the filed Form N-Q by visiting the Commission's
web site at www.sec.gov. The filed form may also be viewed and copied at the
Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the
operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling
1-800-SEC-0330.
[LOGO] PIONEER
Investments(R)
Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
us.pioneerinvestments.com
Securities offered through Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.
60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Underwriter of Pioneer Mutual Funds, Member SIPC
(C) 2013 Pioneer Investments 19381-07-0613
ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
(a) Disclose whether, as of the end of the period covered by the report, the
registrant 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. If
the registrant has not adopted such a code of ethics, explain why it has not
done so.
The registrant has adopted, as of the end of the period covered by this report,
a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer,
principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller.
(b) For purposes of this Item, the term "code of ethics" means written standards
that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
(1) Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual
or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional
relationships;
(2) Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in
reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the
Commission and in other public communications made by the registrant;
(3) Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and
regulations;
(4) The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an
appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and
(5) Accountability for adherence to the code.
(c) The registrant must briefly describe the nature of any amendment, during the
period covered by the report, to a provision of its 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 definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item. The registrant must
file a copy of any such amendment as an exhibit pursuant to Item 10(a), unless
the registrant has elected to satisfy paragraph (f) of this Item by posting its
code of ethics on its website pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of this Item, or by
undertaking to provide its code of ethics to any person without charge, upon
request, pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this Item.
The registrant has made no amendments to the code of ethics during the period
covered by this report.
(d) If the registrant has, during the period covered by the report, granted a
waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics 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, the registrant must briefly describe the nature
of the waiver, the name of the person to whom the waiver was granted, and the
date of the waiver.
Not applicable.
(e) If the registrant intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under
paragraph (c) or (d) of this Item regarding an amendment to, or a waiver from,
a provision of its 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 and that relates to any
element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this
Item by posting such information on its Internet website, disclose the
registrant's Internet address and such intention.
Not applicable.
(f) The registrant must:
(1) File with the Commission, pursuant to Item 10(a), a copy of its 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, as an exhibit to its annual
report on this Form N-CSR (see attachment);
(2) Post the text of such code of ethics on its Internet website and
disclose, in its most recent report on this Form N-CSR, its Internet
address and the fact that it has posted such code of ethics on its
Internet website; or
(3) Undertake in its most recent report on this Form N-CSR to provide to
any person without charge, upon request, a copy of such code of ethics
and explain the manner in which such request may be made.
See Item 10(2)
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
(a) (1) Disclose that the registrant's board of trustees has determined that
the registrant either:
(i) Has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit
committee; or
(ii) Does not have an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit
committee.
The registrant's Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has at
least one audit committee financial expert.
(2) If the registrant provides the disclosure required by paragraph
(a)(1)(i) of this Item, it must disclose the name of the audit committee
financial expert and whether that person is "independent." In order to be
considered "independent" for purposes of this Item, a member of an audit
committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit
committee, the board of trustees, or any other board committee:
(i) Accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other
compensatory fee from the issuer; or
(ii) Be an "interested person" of the investment company as defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(19)).
Ms. Marguerite A. Piret, an independent trustee, is such an audit committee
financial expert.
(3) If the registrant provides the disclosure required by paragraph (a)(1)
(ii) of this Item, it must explain why it does not have an audit committee
financial expert.
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Disclose, under the caption AUDIT FEES, 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.
N/A
(b) Disclose, under the caption AUDIT-RELATED FEES, 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. Registrants shall describe the nature of the
services comprising the fees disclosed under this category.
N/A
(c) Disclose, under the caption TAX FEES, 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. Registrants shall
describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this
category.
N/A
(d) Disclose, under the caption ALL OTHER FEES, 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. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services
comprising the fees disclosed under this category.
N/A
(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.
PIONEER FUNDS
APPROVAL OF AUDIT, AUDIT-RELATED, TAX AND OTHER SERVICES
PROVIDED BY THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
SECTION I - POLICY PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
The Pioneer Funds recognize the importance of maintaining the independence of
their outside auditors. Maintaining independence is a shared responsibility
involving Pioneer Investment Management, Inc ("PIM"), the audit committee and
the independent auditors.
The Funds recognize that a Fund's independent auditors: 1) possess knowledge of
the Funds, 2) are able to incorporate certain services into the scope of the
audit, thereby avoiding redundant work, cost and disruption of Fund personnel
and processes, and 3) have expertise that has value to the Funds. As a result,
there are situations where it is desirable to use the Fund's independent
auditors for services in addition to the annual audit and where the potential
for conflicts of interests are minimal. Consequently, this policy, which is
intended to comply with Rule 210.2-01(C)(7), sets forth guidelines and
procedures to be followed by the Funds when retaining the independent audit firm
to perform audit, audit-related tax and other services under those
circumstances, while also maintaining independence.
Approval of a service in accordance with this policy for a Fund shall also
constitute approval for any other Fund whose pre-approval is required pursuant
to Rule 210.2-01(c)(7)(ii).
In addition to the procedures set forth in this policy, any non-audit services
that may be provided consistently with Rule 210.2-01 may be approved by the
Audit Committee itself and any pre-approval that may be waived in accordance
with Rule 210.2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) is hereby waived.
Selection of a Fund's independent auditors and their compensation shall be
determined by the Audit Committee and shall not be subject to this policy.
SECTION II - POLICY
---------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
SERVICE SERVICE CATEGORY DESCRIPTION SPECIFIC PRE-APPROVED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES
CATEGORY
---------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
I. AUDIT Services that are directly o Accounting research assistance
SERVICES related to performing the o SEC consultation, registration
independent audit of the Funds statements, and reporting
o Tax accrual related matters
o Implementation of new accounting
standards
o Compliance letters (e.g. rating agency
letters)
o Regulatory reviews and assistance
regarding financial matters
o Semi-annual reviews (if requested)
o Comfort letters for closed end
offerings
---------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
II. Services which are not o AICPA attest and agreed-upon procedures
AUDIT-RELATED prohibited under Rule o Technology control assessments
SERVICES 210.2-01(C)(4) (the "Rule") o Financial reporting control assessments
and are related extensions of o Enterprise security architecture
the audit services support the assessment
audit, or use the
knowledge/expertise gained
from the audit procedures as a
foundation to complete the
project. In most cases, if
the Audit-Related Services are
not performed by the Audit
firm, the scope of the Audit
Services would likely
increase. The Services are
typically well-defined and
governed by accounting
professional standards (AICPA,
SEC, etc.)
---------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORTING POLICY
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of all such
for the audit period for all services and related fees
pre-approved specific service reported at each regularly
subcategories. Approval of the scheduled Audit Committee
independent auditors as meeting.
auditors for a Fund shall
constitute pre approval for
these services.
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of all such
for the fund fiscal year within services and related fees
a specified dollar limit (including comparison to
for all pre-approved specified dollar limits)
specific service subcategories reported quarterly.
o Specific approval is
needed to exceed the
pre-approved dollar limit for
these services (see general
Audit Committee approval policy
below for details on obtaining
specific approvals)
o Specific approval is
needed to use the Fund's
auditors for Audit-Related
Services not denoted as
"pre-approved", or
to add a specific service
subcategory as "pre-approved"
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
SECTION III - POLICY DETAIL, CONTINUED
----------------------- --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
SERVICE CATEGORY SERVICE CATEGORY SPECIFIC PRE-APPROVED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES
DESCRIPTION
----------------------- --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
III. TAX SERVICES Services which are not o Tax planning and support
prohibited by the Rule, o Tax controversy assistance
if an officer of the Fund o Tax compliance, tax returns, excise
determines that using the tax returns and support
Fund's auditor to provide o Tax opinions
these services creates
significant synergy in
the form of efficiency,
minimized disruption, or
the ability to maintain a
desired level of
confidentiality.
----------------------- --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------
AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORTING POLICY
------------------------------------- -------------------------
------------------------------------- -------------------------
o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of
for the fund fiscal year all such services and
within a specified dollar limit related fees
(including comparison
to specified dollar
limits) reported
quarterly.
o Specific approval is
needed to exceed the
pre-approved dollar limits for
these services (see general
Audit Committee approval policy
below for details on obtaining
specific approvals)
o Specific approval is
needed to use the Fund's
auditors for tax services not
denoted as pre-approved, or to add a specific
service subcategory as
"pre-approved"
------------------------------------- -------------------------
SECTION III - POLICY DETAIL, CONTINUED
----------------------- --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
SERVICE CATEGORY SERVICE CATEGORY SPECIFIC PRE-APPROVED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES
DESCRIPTION
----------------------- --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
IV. OTHER SERVICES Services which are not o Business Risk Management support
prohibited by the Rule, o Other control and regulatory
A. SYNERGISTIC, if an officer of the Fund compliance projects
UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS determines that using the
Fund's auditor to provide
these services creates
significant synergy in
the form of efficiency,
minimized disruption,
the ability to maintain a
desired level of
confidentiality, or where
the Fund's auditors
posses unique or superior
qualifications to provide
these services, resulting
in superior value and
results for the Fund.
----------------------- --------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------- ------------------------
AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORTING POLICY
------------------------------------- --------------------------
o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of
for the fund fiscal year within all such services and
a specified dollar limit related fees
(including comparison
to specified dollar
limits) reported
quarterly.
o Specific approval is
needed to exceed the
pre-approved dollar limits for
these services (see general
Audit Committee approval policy
below for details on obtaining
specific approvals)
o Specific approval is
needed to use the Fund's
auditors for "Synergistic" or
"Unique Qualifications" Other
Services not denoted as
pre-approved to the left, or to
add a specific service
subcategory as "pre-approved"
------------------------------------- --------------------------
SECTION III - POLICY DETAIL, CONTINUED
----------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
SERVICE CATEGORY SERVICE CATEGORY SPECIFIC PROHIBITED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES
DESCRIPTION
----------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
PROHIBITED SERVICES Services which result 1. Bookkeeping or other services
in the auditors losing related to the accounting records or
independence status financial statements of the audit
under the Rule. client*
2. Financial information systems design
and implementation*
3. Appraisal or valuation services,
fairness* opinions, or
contribution-in-kind reports
4. Actuarial services (i.e., setting
actuarial reserves versus actuarial
audit work)*
5. Internal audit outsourcing services*
6. Management functions or human
resources
7. Broker or dealer, investment
advisor, or investment banking services
8. Legal services and expert services
unrelated to the audit
9. Any other service that the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board
determines, by regulation, is
impermissible
----------------------- ------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE
REPORTING POLICY
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
o These services are not to be o A summary of all
performed with the exception of the(*) services and related
services that may be permitted fees reported at each
if they would not be subject to audit regularly scheduled
procedures at the audit client (as Audit Committee meeting
defined in rule 2-01(f)(4)) level will serve as continual
the firm providing the service. confirmation that has
not provided any
restricted services.
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY:
o For all projects, the officers of the Funds and the Fund's auditors will each
make an assessment to determine that any proposed projects will not impair
independence.
o Potential services will be classified into the four non-restricted service
categories and the "Approval of Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and Other
Services" Policy above will be applied. Any services outside the specific
pre-approved service subcategories set forth above must be specifically
approved by the Audit Committee.
o At least quarterly, the Audit Committee shall review a report summarizing the
services by service category, including fees, provided by the Audit firm as
set forth in the above policy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Disclose 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.
N/A
(f) If greater than 50 percent, disclose 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.
N/A
(g) Disclose 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.
N/A
(h) Disclose whether the registrant's audit committee of the board of trustees
has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to
the registrant's investment adviser (not including any subadviser 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.
The Fund's audit committee of the Board of Trustees has
considered whether the provision of non-audit services that
were rendered to the Affiliates (as defined) 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
(a) If the registrant is a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10A-3), state whether
or not the registrant has a separately-designated standing
audit committee established in accordance with Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)).
If the registrant has such a committee, however designated,
identify each committee member. If the entire board of directors
is acting as the registrants audit committee as specified in
Section 3(a)(58)(B) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(B)),
so state.
N/A
(b) If applicable, provide the disclosure required by Rule 10A-3(d)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10A-3(d)) regarding an exemption
from the listing standards for audit committees.
N/A
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
File Schedule I Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers
as of the close of the reporting period as set forth in 210.12-
12 of Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210.12-12], unless the schedule is
included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item
1 of this Form.
Included in Item 1
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR
CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
A closed-end management investment company that is filing an annual report on
this Form N-CSR must, unless it invests exclusively in non-voting securities,
describe the policies and procedures that it uses to determine how to vote
proxies relating to portfolio securities, including the procedures that the
company uses when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of its
shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the company's investment adviser;
principal underwriter; or any affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(3)) and the rules
thereunder) of the company, its investment adviser, or its principal
underwriter, on the other. Include any policies and procedures of the company's
investment adviser, or any other third party, that the company uses, or that are
used on the company's behalf, to determine how to vote proxies relating to
portfolio securities.
Not applicable to open-end management investment companies.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment
Companies.
(a) If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company that
is filing an annual report on this Form N-CSR,provide the following
information:
(1) State the name, title, and length of service of the person or persons
employed by or associated with the registrant or an investment adviser
of the registrant who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management
of the registrants portfolio (Portfolio Manager). Also state each Portfolio
Managers business experience during the past 5 years.
Not applicable to open-end management investment companies.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management
Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
(a) If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company,
in the following tabular format, provide the information specified in
paragraph (b) of this Item with respect to any purchase made by or on
behalf of the registrant or any affiliated purchaser, as defined in
Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10b-18(a)(3)), of
shares or other units of any class of the registrants equity securities
that is registered by the registrant pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 781). Instruction to paragraph (a). Disclose
all purchases covered by this Item, including purchases that do not
satisfy the conditions of the safe harbor of Rule 10b-18 under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10b-18), made in the period covered by the
report. Provide disclosures covering repurchases made on a monthly basis.
For example, if the reporting period began on January 16 and ended on
July 15, the chart would show repurchases for the months from January 16
through February 15, February 16 through March 15, March 16 through
April 15, April 16 through May 15, May 16 through June 15, and June 16
through July 15.
Not applicable to open-end management investment companies.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Describe any material changes to the procedures by which shareholders
may recommend nominees to the registrants board of directors, where
those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided
disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 7(d)(2)(ii)(G)
of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101), or this Item.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the
shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrants board of
directors since the registrant last provided disclosure in response
to the requirements of Item 7(d)(2)(ii)(G) of Schedule 14(A) in
its definitive proxy statement, or this Item.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) Disclose the conclusions of the registrant's principal executive officer or
officers and principal financial officer or officers, or persons performing
similar functions, about the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Act (17 CFR
270.30a-2(c))) based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of
a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the
disclosure required by this paragraph.
The registrant's principal executive officer
and principal financial officer have
concluded that the registrant's disclosure
controls and procedures are effective based
on their evaluation of these controls and
procedures as of a date within 90 days of the
filing date of this report.
(b) Disclose whether or not there were significant changes in the registrant's
internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these
controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective
actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
There were no significant changes in the
registrant's internal control over financial
reporting that occurred during the second
fiscal quarter of the period covered by this
report that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the
registrant's internal control over financial
reporting.
The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial
officer, however, voluntarily are reporting the following information:
In August of 2006 the registrant's investment adviser
enhanced its internal procedures for reporting performance
information required to be included in prospectuses.
Those enhancements involved additional internal controls
over the appropriateness of performance data
generated for this purpose. Such enhancements were made
following an internal review which identified
prospectuses relating to certain classes of shares of
a limited number of registrants where, inadvertently,
performance information not reflecting the deduction of
applicable sales charges was included. Those prospectuses
were revised, and the revised prospectuses were distributed to
shareholders.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the
exhibits in the sequence indicated.
(a) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the
disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to
satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit.
(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal
financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2 under the Act
(17 CFR 270.30a-2).
Filed herewith.
SIGNATURES
[See General Instruction F]
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) Pioneer Equity Income Fund
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John F. Cogan, Jr.
John F. Cogan, Jr, President
Date June 28, 2013
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/ John F. Cogan, Jr.
John F. Cogan, Jr., President
Date June 28, 2013
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Mark Bradley
Mark Bradley, Treasurer & Chief Accounting & Financial Officer
Date June 28, 2013
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.