Gabelli Utility Trust Continues Monthly Distributions, Declaring Distributions of $0.05 per Share
The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the
“Fund”) approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly
cash distributions. The Board of Trustees declared cash distributions of
$0.05 per share for each of July, August, and September 2013.
The distribution for July 2013 will be payable on July 24, 2013 to
common shareholders of record on July 17, 2013.
The distribution for August 2013 will be payable on August 23, 2013 to
common shareholders of record on August 16, 2013.
The distribution for September 2013 will be payable on September 23,
2013 to common shareholders of record on September 16, 2013.
Each quarter, the Board of Trustees reviews the amount of any potential
distribution from the income, capital gain, or capital available. The
Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution
level, taking into consideration the Fund’s net asset value and the
financial market environment. If necessary, the Fund will pay an
adjusting distribution in December which includes any additional income
and net realized capital gains in excess of the monthly distributions
for that year to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject to
modification by the Board of Trustees at any time. The distribution rate
should not be considered the dividend yield or total return on an
investment in the Fund. The Gabelli Utility Trust has paid a
distribution to shareholders every month since October 1999.
The Fund’s shares are currently trading at a premium to net asset value.
The Board of Trustees believes that the premium at which the Fund shares
trade relative to net asset value is not likely to be sustainable.
Shareholders participating in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan
should note that at the current market price, the reinvestment of
distributions occurs at a premium to net asset value.
All or part of the distribution may be treated as long-term capital gain
or qualified dividend income (or a combination of both) for individuals,
each subject to the maximum federal income tax rate, which is currently
20% in taxable accounts for individuals. In addition, for taxable years
beginning on or after January 1, 2013, certain U.S. shareholders who are
individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain
thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on their "net
investment income", which includes dividends received from the Fund and
capital gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund.
If the Fund does not generate sufficient earnings (dividends and
interest income and realized net capital gain) equal to or in excess of
the aggregate distributions paid by the Fund in a given year, then the
amount distributed in excess of the Fund’s earnings would be deemed a
return of capital. Since this would be considered a return of a portion
of a shareholder’s original investment, it is generally not taxable and
is treated as a reduction in the shareholder’s cost basis. Under federal
tax regulations, some or all of the return of capital distributed by the
Fund may be taxable as ordinary income in certain circumstances. This
may occur when the Fund has a capital loss carry forward, net capital
gains are realized in a fiscal year, and distributions are made in
excess of investment company taxable income.
Long-term capital gains, qualified dividend income, ordinary income, and
paid-in capital, if any, will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to all
distributions to common shareholders for the year. Based on the
accounting records of the Fund as of May 15, 2013, each of the
distributions paid to common shareholders in 2013 would include
approximately 20% from net investment income, 4% from net capital gains
and 76% from paid-in capital on a book basis. The estimated components
of each distribution are updated and provided to shareholders of record
in a notice accompanying the distribution and are available on our
website (www.gabelli.com).
The final determination of the sources of all distributions in 2013 will
be made after year end and can vary from the monthly estimates. All
shareholders with taxable accounts will receive written notification
regarding the components and tax treatment for all 2013 distributions in
early 2014 via Form 1099-DIV.
It should be noted that the Fund’s total assets include capital from
preferred shares issued in prior years. Gabelli Funds, LLC (the
“Investment Adviser”) does not receive a management fee on the
incremental assets attributable to the Fund’s outstanding preferred
shares unless the total return of the net asset value of the common
shares during the year, including distributions and management fee
subject to reduction, exceeds the stated dividend rate or corresponding
swap rate of each particular series of preferred shares for the fiscal
year.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks,
charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. More
information regarding the Fund’s distribution policy and other
information about the fund is available by calling 1-800-GABELLI
(1-800-422-3554) or visiting www.gabelli.com.
The Gabelli Utility Trust is a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company with $302 million in total net assets whose primary
investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital and income
by investing primarily in utility companies involved in the generation
and distribution of electricity, gas, and water. The Investment Adviser
is a subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (NYSE:GBL), which is a publicly
traded NYSE listed company.
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