Gabelli Multimedia Trust

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number         811-08476                  

            The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.            

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

One Corporate Center

                          Rye, New York 10580-1422                          

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Bruce N. Alpert

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

                             Rye, New York 10580-1422                            

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-422-3554

Date of fiscal year end:  December 31

Date of reporting period:  June 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, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Semiannual Report — June 30, 2013

Portfolio Management Team

 

LOGO

  Mario J. Gabelli, CFA      Christopher J. Marangi      Lawrence J. Haverty, CFA

To Our Shareholders,

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the net asset value (“NAV”) total return of The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (the “Fund”) was 16.6%, compared with a total return of 11.1% for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) World Free Index. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was 24.7%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $9.17, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $9.36 on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). See below for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the schedule of investments and financial statements as of June 30, 2013.

Comparative Results

 

 

                    Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2013 (a) (Unaudited)

     

Since
Inception

(11/15/94)

     

Year To Date

 

1 Year

 

5 Year

 

10 Year

 

Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

                    

NAV Total Return (b)

       16.60 %       33.16 %       5.92 %       6.57 %       8.43 %

Investment Total Return (c)

       24.67         48.52         9.61         8.68         9.01  

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index

       13.39         20.60         7.01         7.30         9.08 (d)

MSCI World Free Index

       11.13         18.58         2.70         7.25         6.48 (d)

(a)    Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are sold, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The Standard & Poor’s 500 and MSCI World Free Indices are unmanaged indicators of stock market performance. Dividends are considered reinvested except for the MSCI World Free Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

(b)    Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in the NAV per share, reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date, and adjustments for rights offerings and are net of expenses. Since inception return is based on an initial NAV of $7.50.

(c)     Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in closing market values on the NYSE, reinvestment of distributions, and adjustments for rights offerings. Since inception return is based on an initial offering price of $7.50.

(d)    From November 30, 1994, the date closest to the Fund’s inception for which data is available.

  


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of June 30, 2013:

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

 

Cable

     15.6

Broadcasting

     13.9

Entertainment

     13.9

Computer Software and Services

     10.1

Hotels and Gaming

     8.1

Satellite

     7.7

Telecommunications: National

     5.4

Publishing

     5.1

Consumer Services

     3.6

Wireless Communications

     3.5

Telecommunications: Regional

     2.3

Equipment

     1.7

Retail

     1.6

Business Services: Advertising

     1.4

Telecommunications: Long Distance

     1.2

Computer Hardware

     1.0

U.S. Government Obligations

     0.9

Diversified Industrial

     0.7

Business Services

     0.7

Financial Services

     0.6

Consumer Products

     0.4

Electronics

     0.3

Food and Beverage

     0.3

Communications Equipment

     0.0

Real Estate

     0.0
  

 

 

 
         100.0
  

 

 

 
 

 

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may obtain this information at www.gabelli.com or by calling the Fund at 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554). The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.

Proxy Voting

The Fund files Form N-PX with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies, procedures, and how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Shareholder Meeting – May 13, 2013 – Final Results

The Fund’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 13, 2013 at the Greenwich Library in Greenwich, Connecticut. At that meeting, common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class, elected Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, and Christopher J. Marangi as Directors of the Fund. A total of 13,561,222 votes and 13,577,347 votes were cast in favor of these Directors and a total of 246,631 votes and 230,506 votes were withheld for these Directors, respectively. In addition, preferred shareholders, voting as a separate class, elected Anthony J. Colavita as a Director of the Fund. A total of 665,591 votes were cast in favor of this Director and a total of 47,854 votes were withheld for this Director.

James P. Conn, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Kuni Nakamura, Anthony R. Pustorino, Werner J. Roeder, and Salvatore J. Zizza continue to serve in their capacities as Directors of the Fund.

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

 

2


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments — June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  COMMON STOCKS — 99.1%      
  DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES — 65.5%      
      Broadcasting — 13.9%              
  10,000     

Asahi Broadcasting Corp.

   $ 42,567       $ 71,990   
  68,000     

CBS Corp., Cl. A Voting

     923,813         3,319,080   
  6,400     

Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co. Ltd.

     46,376         36,717   
  18,000     

Cogeco Inc.

     356,883         718,836   
  2,000     

Corus Entertainment Inc., Cl. B,
New York

     5,257         45,980   
  13,000     

Corus Entertainment Inc., Cl. B, Toronto

     26,464         297,899   
  49,500     

Discovery Communications Inc.,
Cl. A†

     556,058         3,821,895   
  52,500     

Discovery Communications Inc.,
Cl. C†

     519,617         3,657,150   
  27,500     

Fisher Communications Inc.

     973,419         1,129,700   
  20,000     

Gray Television Inc.†

     25,257         144,000   
  81,000     

Grupo Radio Centro SAB de CV,
Cl. A†

     39,884         93,831   
  4,550     

Lagardere SCA

     100,163         126,741   
  64,500     

Liberty Media Corp., Cl. A†

     1,117,600         8,176,020   
  16,000     

LIN TV Corp., Cl. A†

     13,117         244,800   
  4,000     

M6 Metropole Television SA

     35,208         64,431   
  68,566     

Media Prima Berhad

     34,965         60,764   
  36,000     

Nippon Television Network Corp.

     530,748         658,439   
  4,650     

NRJ Group†

     20,718         35,711   
  18,000     

Pandora Media Inc.†

     172,953         331,200   
  3,500     

RTL Group SA

     134,552         286,192   
  80,000     

Salem Communications Corp., Cl. A

     399,358         599,200   
  14,000     

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., Cl. A

     92,996         411,320   
  23,000     

Societe Television Francaise 1

     229,511         275,218   
  68,000     

Starz, Cl. A†

     153,645         1,502,800   
  50,000     

Television Broadcasts Ltd.

     187,673         343,603   
  90,000     

Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings Inc.

     1,589,534         1,215,971   
  240,000     

TV Azteca SA de CV, CPO

     58,305         127,062   
  27,000     

UTV Media plc.

     96,517         55,439   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       8,483,158         27,851,989   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      Business Services — 0.7%              
  3,686 (a)   

Contax Participacoes SA†

     7,571         33,683   
  1,000     

Convergys Corp.

     17,738         17,430   
  6,000     

Impellam Group plc

     8,600         36,503   
  22,500     

McGraw Hill Financial Inc.

     830,615         1,196,775   
  8,000     

Monster Worldwide Inc.†

     103,480         39,280   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       968,004         1,323,671   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      Cable — 15.6%              
  46,000     

AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A†

     473,999         3,008,860   
  203,000     

Cablevision Systems Corp., Cl. A

     1,639,666         3,414,460   

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  6,500      

Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A†

   $ 340,578       $ 805,025   
  35,500      

Cogeco Cable Inc.

     727,721         1,515,931   
  22,000      

Comcast Corp., Cl. A

     365,978         921,360   
  58,000      

Comcast Corp., Cl. A, Special

     1,005,920         2,300,860   
  37,001      

Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†

     728,951         2,741,004   
  62,000      

Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†

     1,768,606         4,209,207   
  118,690      

Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B, New York

     873,635         4,652,648   
  19,310      

Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B, Toronto

     148,207         756,463   
  34,000      

Scripps Networks Interactive Inc.,
Cl. A

     1,440,865         2,269,840   
  18,000      

Shaw Communications Inc., Cl. B, New York

     84,642         432,540   
  78,000      

Shaw Communications Inc., Cl. B, Toronto

     105,571         1,871,941   
  21,500      

Time Warner Cable Inc.

     1,010,509         2,418,320   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        10,714,848         31,318,459   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Communications Equipment — 0.0%         
  6,500      

Telenav Inc.†

     45,759         33,995   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Consumer Services — 3.6%              
  4,000      

Bowlin Travel Centers Inc.†

     3,022         5,380   
  3,000      

Expedia Inc.

     191,366         180,450   
  13,000      

H&R Block Inc.

     190,938         360,750   
  24,000      

IAC/InterActiveCorp.

     573,643         1,141,440   
  115,000      

Liberty Interactive Corp., Cl. A†

     872,914         2,646,150   
  11,872      

Liberty Ventures, Cl. A†

     367,613         1,009,239   
  18,500      

Outerwall Inc.†

     774,794         1,085,395   
  10,000      

The ADT Corp.

     403,996         398,500   
  15,000      

TiVo Inc.†

     146,271         165,750   
  8,000      

Tree.com Inc.

     69,847         137,120   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        3,594,404         7,130,174   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Diversified Industrial — 0.7%              
  16,000      

Bouygues SA

     449,280         408,403   
  3,000      

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.

     39,124         116,220   
  10,000      

General Electric Co.

     151,777         231,900   
  20,000      

Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd.

     505,739         726,000   
  3,000      

Malaysian Resources Corp. Berhad

     3,735         1,453   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,149,655         1,483,976   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Entertainment — 6.7%              
  25,000      

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc

     275,893         301,150   
  5,800      

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, ADR

     181,535         280,662   
  285,000      

Grupo Televisa SAB, ADR

     5,674,848         7,079,400   
  25,000      

Naspers Ltd., Cl. N

     1,096,688         1,846,222   
  5,000      

Regal Entertainment Group, Cl. A

     61,326         89,500   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

3


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  
  

DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES (Continued)

  

  
  

Entertainment (Continued)

  

  
  20,000      

Societe d’Edition de Canal +

   $ 87,983       $ 135,111   
  14,000      

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.†

     125,467         209,580   
  58,000      

The Madison Square Garden Co.,
Cl. A†

     417,901         3,436,500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        7,921,641         13,378,125   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Equipment — 1.7%              
  14,000      

American Tower Corp.

     273,740         1,024,380   
  2,000      

Amphenol Corp., Cl. A

     7,794         155,880   
  122,000      

Corning Inc.

     1,199,904         1,736,060   
  2,000      

Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

     7,419         4,638   
  9,000      

QUALCOMM Inc.

     22,469         549,720   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,511,326         3,470,678   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Financial Services — 0.6%              
  15,000      

BCB Holdings Ltd.†

     33,725         4,449   
  32,500      

Kinnevik Investment AB, Cl. A

     564,354         835,993   
  16,000      

Kinnevik Investment AB, Cl. B

     315,078         410,134   
  15,000      

Waterloo Investment Holdings Ltd.†

     2,153         913   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        915,310         1,251,489   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Food and Beverage — 0.3%              
  5,000      

Beam Inc.

     239,165         315,550   
  3,000      

Compass Group plc

     21,383         38,328   
  2,994      

Pernod-Ricard SA

     190,567         331,995   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        451,115         685,873   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Real Estate — 0.0%              
  5,000      

Reading International Inc., Cl. B†

     35,752         35,100   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Retail — 1.6%              
  200      

Amazon.com Inc.†

     35,729         55,538   
  5,000      

Barnes & Noble Inc.†

     57,802         79,800   
  67,000      

Best Buy Co. Inc.

     1,549,216         1,831,110   
  21,000      

HSN Inc.

     470,873         1,128,120   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        2,113,620         3,094,568   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Satellite — 7.7%              
  1,000      

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.

     1,555         3,559   
  28,001      

DigitalGlobe Inc.†

     440,190         868,311   
  151,000      

DIRECTV†

     2,946,967         9,304,620   
  49,000      

DISH Network Corp., Cl. A

     1,120,760         2,083,480   
  33,000      

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

     783,333         1,290,630   
  20,000      

Intelsat SA†

     376,850         400,000   
  30,000      

Iridium Communications Inc.†

     201,219         232,800   
  16,801      

Loral Space & Communications Inc.

     630,224         1,007,724   
  6,000      

PT Indosat Tbk, ADR

     58,079         154,500   

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  30      

SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc.

   $ 15,472       $ 13,702   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        6,574,649         15,359,326   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Telecommunications: Long Distance — 1.2%         
  7,000      

AT&T Inc.

     200,276         247,800   
  50,000      

Oi SA, ADR

     374,941         90,000   
  7,000      

Oi SA, Cl. C, ADR

     75,617         13,720   
  24,000      

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., ADR

     329,883         1,628,640   
  65,000      

Sprint Nextel Corp.†

     242,964         456,300   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,223,681         2,436,460   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Telecommunications: National — 5.4%         
  5,000      

China Telecom Corp. Ltd., ADR

     126,250         237,500   
  5,000      

China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd., ADR

     38,450         65,700   
  63,000      

Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR

     814,980         734,580   
  16,000      

Elisa Oyj

     155,779         312,602   
  3,000      

France Telecom SA, ADR

     48,120         28,350   
  3,605      

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA†

     41,551         28,155   
  17,000      

Level 3 Communications Inc.†

     360,770         358,360   
  1,000      

Magyar Telekom Telecommunications plc, ADR

     9,280         7,500   
  5,000      

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

     230,089         259,125   
  3,000      

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Persero Tbk, ADR

     12,340         128,220   
  6,000      

Rostelecom OJSC, ADR

     41,408         95,100   
  28,000      

Swisscom AG, ADR

     704,879         1,228,920   
  6,000      

Telecom Argentina SA, ADR†

     5,820         89,280   
  385,000      

Telecom Italia SpA

     1,016,574         267,605   
  17,500      

Telefonica Brasil SA, ADR

     283,641         399,350   
  118,026      

Telefonica SA, ADR†

     1,183,507         1,511,913   
  16,000      

Telekom Austria AG

     197,510         101,299   
  15,172      

TeliaSonera AB

     42,639         98,936   
  2,400      

Telstra Corp. Ltd., ADR

     30,324         52,416   
  27,000      

tw telecom inc.†

     495,414         759,780   
  55,000      

Verizon Communications Inc.

     1,962,858         2,768,700   
  89,000      

VimpelCom Ltd., ADR

     118,168         895,340   
  8,000      

Ziggo BV

     271,842         320,204   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        8,192,193         10,748,935   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Telecommunications: Regional — 2.3%         
  6,000      

Bell Aliant Inc.(b)

     82,128         161,886   
  67,000      

Cincinnati Bell Inc.†

     283,029         205,020   
  29,000      

NII Holdings Inc.†

     372,530         193,430   
  32,000      

Primus Telecommunications Group Inc.

     364,025         382,080   
  87,000      

Telephone & Data Systems Inc.

     3,495,965         2,144,550   
  42,000      

TELUS Corp., Toronto

     386,944         1,226,015   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  
  

DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES (Continued)

  

  
  

Telecommunications: Regional (Continued)

  

  
  11,000      

TELUS Corp., New York

   $ 138,466       $ 321,090   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        5,123,087         4,634,071   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Wireless Communications — 3.5%         
  60,000      

America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR

     224,931         1,305,000   
  2,513      

Grupo Iusacell SA de CV†

     9,492         0   
  240,000      

Jasmine International Public Co. Ltd.

     5,040         60,745   
  13,500      

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

     1,106,251         972,525   
  4,000      

Nextwave Wireless Inc., Escrow†

     0         1,760   
  900      

NTT DoCoMo Inc.

     1,400,085         1,398,367   
  19,000      

Orascom Telecom Holding SAE, GDR†(c)

     75,678         53,390   
  19,000      

Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE, GDR(b)

     29,430         4,370   
  10,000      

ORBCOMM Inc.†

     41,689         44,900   
  34,000      

SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR

     761,600         691,220   
  4,203      

Tim Participacoes SA, ADR

     33,152         78,176   
  12,000      

T-Mobile US Inc.

     247,538         297,720   
  8,000      

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR†

     118,357         114,960   
  30,000      

United States Cellular Corp.

     1,123,577         1,100,700   
  30,000      

Vodafone Group plc, ADR

     739,601         862,200   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        5,916,421         6,986,033   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

TOTAL DISTRIBUTION
COMPANIES

     64,934,623         131,222,922   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES — 33.6%

  

  

Business Services: Advertising — 1.4%

  

  
  145,000      

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc., Cl. A†

     1,247,830         1,081,700   
  15,000      

Harte-Hanks Inc.

     110,333         129,000   
  6,000      

Havas SA

     28,900         38,440   
  10,000      

JC Decaux SA

     231,338         272,759   
  4,000      

Lamar Advertising Co., Cl. A†

     94,237         173,600   
  2,000      

Publicis Groupe SA

     13,971         142,400   
  66,000      

The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.

     531,215         960,300   
  36,000      

Tiger Media Inc.†

     213,240         33,120   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        2,471,064         2,831,319   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Computer Hardware — 1.0%         
  4,800      

Apple Inc.

     1,731,265         1,901,184   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Computer Software and Services — 10.1%         
  80,000      

Activision Blizzard Inc.

     621,768         1,140,800   
  31,000      

Blucora Inc.†

     456,079         574,740   

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  2,000      

Blue Nile Inc.†

   $ 67,006       $ 75,560   
  50,000      

EarthLink Inc.

     336,225         310,500   
  60,000      

eBay Inc.†

     1,440,692         3,103,200   
  115,000      

Electronic Arts Inc.†

     1,945,450         2,641,550   
  57,000      

Facebook Inc., Cl. A†

     1,375,422         1,417,020   
  4,100      

Google Inc., Cl. A†

     1,728,117         3,609,517   
  13,400      

Guidance Software Inc.†

     113,116         117,116   
  54,000      

Internap Network Services Corp.†

     307,748         446,580   
  10,000      

InterXion Holding NV†

     135,436         261,300   
  12,000      

Microsoft Corp.

     339,027         414,360   
  35,000      

RealD Inc.†

     360,593         486,500   
  400      

Rimage Corp.

     3,900         3,356   
  227,000      

Yahoo! Inc.†

     3,633,501         5,699,970   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        12,864,080         20,302,069   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Consumer Products — 0.4%         
  2,500      

Nintendo Co. Ltd.

     365,685         294,918   
  35,000      

Nintendo Co. Ltd., ADR

     622,100         513,450   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        987,785         808,368   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Electronics — 0.3%         
  3,000      

IMAX Corp.†

     20,278         74,580   
  17,000      

Intel Corp.

     408,011         411,740   
  3,221      

Koninklijke Philips NV

     30,749         87,579   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        459,038         573,899   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Entertainment — 7.2%         
  15,000      

Ascent Capital Group Inc., Cl. A†

     460,088         1,171,050   
  18,000      

Crown Media Holdings Inc., Cl. A†

     71,304         44,460   
  8,000      

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., Cl. A†

     173,525         205,280   
  60,000      

GMM Grammy Public Co. Ltd.†

     45,782         35,015   
  25,000      

Live Nation Entertainment Inc.†

     239,539         387,500   
  3,000      

Rovi Corp.†

     59,248         68,520   
  17,000      

STV Group plc†

     13,537         35,294   
  13,000      

The Walt Disney Co.

     564,594         820,950   
  50,000      

Time Warner Inc.

     1,587,579         2,891,000   
  114,000      

Universal Entertainment Corp.

     2,776,945         2,012,644   
  56,000      

Viacom Inc., Cl. A

     1,310,103         3,832,640   
  140,000      

Vivendi SA

     3,001,360         2,651,446   
  24,000      

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., Cl. A

     215,449         247,440   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        10,519,053         14,403,239   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Hotels and Gaming — 8.1%         
  152,000      

Boyd Gaming Corp.†

     944,887         1,717,600   
  4,200      

Greek Organization of Football Prognostics SA

     45,444         35,152   
  2,000      

Hyatt Hotels Corp., Cl. A†

     62,969         80,720   
  66,500      

International Game Technology

     1,248,705         1,111,215   
  15,000      

Interval Leisure Group Inc.

     290,087         298,800   
  570,000      

Ladbrokes plc

     3,276,234         1,733,026   
  44,000      

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

     896,486         2,328,920   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  
  

COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES (Continued)

  

  

Hotels and Gaming (Continued)

  

  
  90,000      

Mandarin Oriental International Ltd.

   $ 148,707       $ 145,350   
  60,000      

Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd., ADR†

     409,165         1,341,600   
  25,000      

MGM China Holdings Ltd.

     49,802         66,722   
  12,500      

Penn National Gaming Inc.†

     336,130         660,750   
  93,931      

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.

     2,225,138         3,664,248   
  5,100      

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

     103,481         322,269   
  22,000      

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

     491,864         2,816,000   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        10,529,099         16,322,372   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
       Publishing — 5.1%         
  15,000      

AH Belo Corp., Cl. A

     67,792         102,900   
  20,000      

Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA†

     63,827         23,026   
  70,000      

Belo Corp., Cl. A

     351,128         976,500   
  30,000      

Il Sole 24 Ore SpA†

     35,186         19,134   
  800      

John Wiley & Sons Inc., Cl. B

     5,693         32,244   
  10,000      

Media General Inc., Cl. A†

     40,417         110,300   
  11,500      

Meredith Corp.

     368,865         548,550   
  5,263      

Nation International Edutainment Public Co. Ltd.

     265         740   
  1,000,000      

Nation Multimedia Group Public Co. Ltd.†

     53,346         41,915   
  145,000      

News Corp., Cl. A

     1,545,159         4,727,000   
  42,000      

News Corp., Cl. B

     429,699         1,378,440   
  10,000      

News Corp., Cl. B, New York

     155,389         153,800   
  13,000      

Nielsen Holdings NV

     351,486         436,670   
  974,000      

Post Publishing Public Co. Ltd.

     47,100         216,689   
  1,000      

Scholastic Corp.

     16,500         29,290   
  247,000      

Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.

     725,198         812,615   
  600      

Spir Communication†

     13,551         7,513   
  10,000      

Telegraaf Media Groep NV†

     166,231         149,559   
  6,000      

The E.W. Scripps Co., Cl. A†

     35,180         93,480   
  5,000      

Tribune Co.†

     277,280         284,500   
  9,091      

UBM plc

     56,548         90,705   
  3,000      

Wolters Kluwer NV

     67,969         63,475   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        4,873,809         10,299,045   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

TOTAL COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES

     44,435,193         67,441,495   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
   TOTAL COMMON STOCKS      109,369,816         198,664,417   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
   RIGHTS — 0.0%      
   COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES — 0.0%      
   Publishing — 0.0%      
  5,263      

Nation International Edutaiment Public Co. Ltd., expire 07/08/13†

     156         68   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
   WARRANTS — 0.0%      
   Broadcasting — 0.0%      
  10,244      

Media Prima Berhad, expire 12/31/14†

   $ 2,145       $ 3,242   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

                    
   U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 0.9%      
$  1,878,000      

U.S. Treasury Bills,
0.040% to 0.120%††,
07/18/13 to 11/21/13

     1,877,746         1,877,815   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%

   $ 111,249,863         200,545,542   
     

 

 

    

 

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

        (130,509

 

PREFERRED STOCK

     

 

    (791,614 preferred shares outstanding)

  

     (34,775,350
        

 

 

 

 

NET ASSETS — COMMON STOCK

     

 

    (18,072,908 common shares outstanding)

  

   $ 165,639,683   
        

 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE

     

 

    ($165,639,683 ÷ 18,072,908 shares outstanding)

  

   $ 9.17   
        

 

 

 

 

(a)

Denoted in units.

 

(b)

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2013, the market value of Rule 144A securities amounted to $166,256 or 0.08% of total investments.

 

(c)

Security purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts from registration securities offered and sold outside of the United States. Such a security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. At June 30, 2013, the market value of the Regulation S security amounted to $53,390 or 0.03% of total investments, which was valued under methods approved by the Board of Directors as follows:

 

Acquisition

Shares

  

Issuer

  Acquisition
Date
    Acquisition
Cost
    06/30/13
Carrying
Value
Per Share
 
19,000    Orascom Telecom
Holding SAE, GDR
    11/16/09        $75,678        $2.8100   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

 

Non-income producing security.

 

††

Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

 

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

CPO

Ordinary Participation Certificate

GDR

Global Depositary Receipt

OJSC

Open Joint Stock Company

SDR

Swedish Depositary Receipt

 

Geographic Diversification

  

% of
Total
Investments

    

Market
Value

 

North America

     79.0%       $ 158,345,662   

Europe

     8.8           17,649,678   

Latin America

     4.7           9,380,672   

Asia/Pacific

     3.4           6,784,674   

Japan

     3.2           6,479,961   

South Africa

     0.9           1,846,222   

Africa/Middle East

     0.0           58,673   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments

     100.0%       $ 200,545,542   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

Assets:

  

Investments, at value (cost $111,249,863)

   $ 200,545,542   

Cash

     12,785   

Receivable for investments sold

     402,112   

Deferred offering expense

     241,688   

Dividends receivable

     291,122   

Prepaid expenses

     2,528   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     201,495,777   
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Deferred tax liabilities (a)

     33,831   

Distributions payable

     16,771   

Payable for investments purchased

     396,706   

Payable for investment advisory fees

     308,830   

Payable for payroll expenses

     44,255   

Payable for accounting fees

     7,500   

Payable for auction agent fees

     131,040   

Payable for shareholder communications expenses

     68,729   

Other accrued expenses

     73,082   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     1,080,744   
  

 

 

 

Preferred Stock:

  

Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock (6.000%, $25 liquidation value, $0.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized with 791,014 shares issued and outstanding)

     19,775,350   

Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock (Auction Rate, $25,000 liquidation value, $0.001 par value, 1,000 shares authorized with 600 shares issued and outstanding)

     15,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stock

     34,775,350   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

   $ 165,639,683   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Attributable to Common
Shareholders Consist of:

   

Paid-in capital

   $ 90,758,986   

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

     (14,377,667

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     89,261,848   

Net unrealized depreciation on foreign currency translations

     (3,484
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 165,639,683   
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value per Common Share:

     

($165,639,683 ÷ 18,072,908 shares outstanding at $0.001 par value; 196,750,000 shares authorized)

        $9.17   
     

 

 

 

 

 

(a)

Includes net change of $9,932 in deferred Thailand capital gains tax on unrealized appreciation during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 (Unaudited)

 

Investment Income:

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $178,109)

   $ 1,887,170   

Interest

     2,514   
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     1,889,684   
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     986,631   

Shareholder communications expenses

     65,114   

Directors’ fees

     40,374   

Shareholder services fees

     38,216   

Audit fees

     38,138   

Custodian fees

     36,565   

Payroll expenses

     31,467   

Accounting fees

     22,500   

Miscellaneous expenses

     46,103   
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     1,305,108   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     584,576   
  

 

 

 

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

  

Net realized gain on investments

     4,547,370   

Net realized loss on swap contracts

     (138,256

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     (1,955
  

 

 

 

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

     4,407,159   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:

  

on investments (a)

     19,825,171   

on swap contracts

     135,152   

on foreign currency translations

     (3,362
  

 

 

 

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

     19,956,961   
  

 

 

 

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

     24,364,120   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

     24,948,696   
  

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

     (599,950
  

 

 

 

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

   $ 24,348,746   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

 

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2013
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31, 2012
 

Operations:

    

Net investment income

     $       584,576        $    2,372,255   

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

     4,407,159        1,614,523   

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

     19,956,961        24,949,574   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

     24,948,696        28,936,352   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders:

    

Net investment income

     (65,994 )*      (598,018

Net realized short term gain

            (614,048

Net realized long term gain

     (533,956 )*        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Preferred Shareholders

     (599,950     (1,212,066
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

     24,348,746        27,724,286   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

    

Net investment income

     (557,612 )*      (1,350,934

Net realized short term gain

            (1,387,146

Net realized long term gain

     (3,533,952 )*        

Return of capital

     (3,120,583 )*      (11,692,316
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Common Shareholders

     (7,212,147     (14,430,396
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions:

    

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

     379,044          

Net decrease from repurchase of common shares

            (354,024

Offering costs for common shares charged to paid-in capital

            (17,897
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions

     379,044        (371,921
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders

     17,515,643        12,921,969   

Net Assets Attributable to Common Shareholders:

    

Beginning of period

     148,124,040        135,202,071   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $39,030, respectively)

     $165,639,683        $148,124,040   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

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

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Financial Highlights

 

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

     Six Months Ended                                
     June 30, 2013     Year Ended December 31,  
     (Unaudited)             2012             2011             2010             2009             2008  

Operating Performance:

            

Net asset value, beginning of period

     $  8.22        $  7.48        $  9.17        $  7.70        $  5.40        $  14.39   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income/(loss)

     0.03        0.13        0.04        (0.07     0.05        0.14   

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

     1.35        1.48        0.00 (a)      2.22        2.33        (8.41
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.38        1.61        0.04        2.15        2.38        (8.27
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: (b)

            

Net investment income

     (0.00 )*(a)      (0.03            (0.09     (0.02     (0.13

Net realized gain

     (0.03 )*      (0.04     (0.07                     

Return of capital

                                 (0.07     (0.03
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to preferred shareholders

     (0.03     (0.07     (0.07     (0.09     (0.09     (0.16
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

     1.35        1.54        (0.03     2.06        2.29        (8.43
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders:

            

Net investment income

     (0.03 )*      (0.07            (0.07              

Net realized gain

     (0.20 )*      (0.08     (0.24                     

Return of capital

     (0.17 )*      (0.65     (0.63     (0.53            (0.57
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions to common shareholders

     (0.40     (0.80     (0.87     (0.60            (0.57
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fund Share Transactions:

            

Increase/(Decrease) in net asset value from common share transactions

     (0.00 )(a)             (0.76                     

Increase in net asset value from repurchase of common shares

            0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.01        0.01        0.00 (a) 

Increase in net asset value from repurchase of preferred shares

                          0.00 (a)      0.00 (a)      0.01   

Offering expenses charged to paid-in capital

            (0.00 )(a)      (0.03                     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Fund share transactions

     (0.00 )(a)      0.00 (a)      (0.79     0.01        0.01        0.01   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Shareholders, End of Period

     $  9.17        $  8.22        $  7.48        $  9.17        $  7.70        $    5.40   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NAV total return †

     16.60     22.29     (0.13 )%      28.76     42.59     (59.40 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Market value, end of period

     $  9.36        $  7.85        $  6.24        $  8.21        $  6.63        $    4.45   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investment total return ††

     24.67     40.00     (10.35 )%      33.88     48.99     (62.65 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

     Six Months Ended                                
     June 30, 2013     Year Ended December 31,  
     (Unaudited)             2012             2011             2010             2009             2008  

Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:

            

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

     $200,415        $182,899        $169,977        $159,232        $141,164        $122,401   

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

     $165,640        $148,124        $135,202        $124,457        $106,386        $75,619   

Ratio of net investment income/(loss) to average net assets attributable to common shares before preferred share distributions

     0.72 %(c)      1.68     (0.11 )%      (0.89 )%      0.88     1.40

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares before fees waived/fee reduction

     1.61 %(c)      1.84 %(d)      2.59     3.19     2.46     1.89

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

     1.61 %(c)      1.84 %(d)      2.34     3.19     2.43     1.54

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares before fees waived/fee reduction

     1.32 %(c)      1.48 %(e)      2.08     2.44     1.70     1.40

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any

     1.32 %(c)      1.48 %(e)      1.88     2.44     1.68     1.14

Portfolio turnover rate

     3.9     7.9     14.4     9.4     9.6     14.5

Preferred Stock:

            

6.00% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock

            

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

     $  19,775        $  19,775        $  19,775        $  19,775        $  19,778        $  24,281   

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

     791        791        791        791        791        971   

Liquidation preference per share

     $    25.00        $    25.00        $    25.00        $    25.00        $    25.00        $    25.00   

Average market value (f)

     $    25.77        $    25.73        $    25.38        $    25.07        $    23.53        $    22.59   

Asset coverage per share

     $  144.08        $  131.49        $  122.20        $  114.47        $  101.48        $    65.41   

Series C Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock

            

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

     $  15,000        $  15,000        $  15,000        $  15,000        $  15,000        $  22,500   

Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)

     1        1        1        1        1        1   

Liquidation preference per share

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

Average market value (g)

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

Asset coverage per share

     $144,078        $131,486        $122,197        $114,472        $101,475        $  65,411   

Asset Coverage (h)

     576     526     489     458     406     262

 

Based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan including the effect of shares issued pursuant to the 2011 rights offering, assuming full subscription by shareholders.

††

Based on market value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan including the effect of shares issued pursuant to the 2011 rights offering, assuming full subscription by shareholders.

*

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

(a)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(b)

Calculated based upon average common shares outstanding on the record dates throughout the periods.

(c)

Annualized.

(d)

These ratios do not include a reduction for insurance recovery of $300,000 and the prior period adjustment to legal expenses of $227,762. Had these amounts been included, the ratios for the year ended December 31, 2012 would have been 1.47%.

(e)

These ratios do not include a reduction for insurance recovery of $300,000 and the prior period adjustment to legal expenses of $227,762. Had these amounts been included, the ratios for the year ended December 31, 2012 would have been 1.18%.

(f)

Based on weekly prices.

(g)

Liquidation value. Since February 2008, the weekly auctions have failed. Holders that have submitted orders have not been able to sell any or all of their shares in the auction.

(h)

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

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company organized as a Maryland corporation on March 31, 1994 and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund commenced investment operations on November 15, 1994.

The Fund’s investment objective is long term growth of capital. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets, under normal market conditions, in common stock and other securities, including convertible securities, preferred stock, options, and warrants of companies in the telecommunications, media, publishing, and entertainment industries (the “80% Policy”). The 80% Policy may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide shareholders with notice at least sixty days prior to the implementation of any change in the 80% Policy.

2. Significant Accounting Policies. The Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).

Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.

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

 

12


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

 

   

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s determinations as to the fair value of investments).

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities and other financial instruments by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2013 is as follows:

 

    Valuation Inputs        
    Level 1
Quoted Prices
    Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
    Level 3 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
    Total Market Value
at 6/30/13
 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

       

ASSETS (Market Value):

       

Common Stocks:

       

Distribution Companies

       

    Financial Services

    $    1,250,576               $     913        $    1,251,489   

    Wireless Communications

    6,923,528          62,505        6,986,033   

    Other Industries (a)

    190,426,895                       190,426,895   

Total Common Stocks

    198,600,999               63,418        198,664,417   

    Rights (a)

           $            68               68   

Warrants (a)

    3,242                      3,242   

U.S. Government Obligations

           1,877,815               1,877,815   

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN
SECURITIES – ASSETS

    $198,604,241        $1,877,883        $63,418        $200,545,542   

 

(a)

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments (“SOI”) for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings.

*

Other financial instruments are derivatives reflected in the SOI, such as futures, forwards, and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of the instrument.

The Fund did not have transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the six months ended June 30, 2013. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

 

13


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

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

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

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

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in a number of derivative financial instruments for the purposes of hedging or protecting its exposure to interest rate movements and movements in the securities markets, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or that, in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 “Balance Sheet Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2011-11 requires a fund to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of assets and liabilities and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The scope of ASU 2011-11

 

14


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

includes derivatives and sale and repurchase agreements. The purpose of ASU 2011-11 is to facilitate comparison of financial statements prepared on the basis of U.S. GAAP and on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards. Management is continually evaluating the implications of ASU 2011-11 and its impact on the financial statements and, at this time, has concluded that ASU 2011-11 is not applicable to the Fund because the Fund does not have investments covered under this guidance.

The Fund’s derivative contracts held at June 30, 2013, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.

    Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into interest rate swap or cap transactions for the purposes of hedging or protecting its exposure to interest rate movements and movements in the securities markets. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an interest rate swap, the Fund would agree to pay periodically to the counterparty a fixed rate payment in exchange for the counterparty agreeing to pay to the Fund periodically a variable rate payment that is intended to approximate the Fund’s variable rate payment obligation on the Series C Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred”). Interest rate swaps transactions introduce additional risk because the Fund would remain obligated to pay preferred stock dividends when due in accordance with the Articles Supplementary even if the counterparty defaulted. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is exchanged between two counterparties. One of these cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time a swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction.

Unrealized gains related to swaps are reported as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in value of swaps, including the accrual of periodic amounts of interest to be received or paid on swaps, is reported as unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon receipt or payment of a periodic payment or termination of swap agreements.

The Fund’s interest rate swap agreement with Citibank N.A. terminated on April 4, 2013. The notional amount of the agreement was $10,000,000.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the effect of interest rate swap agreements can be found in the Statement of Operations under Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Swap Contracts, and Foreign Currency, Net realized loss on swap contracts and Net change in unrealized appreciation on swap contracts.

Limitations on the Purchase and Sale of Futures Contracts, Certain Options, and Swaps. Subject to the guidelines of the Board, the Fund may engage in “commodity interest” transactions (generally, transactions in futures, certain options, certain currency transactions, and certain types of swaps) only for bona fide hedging or other permissible transactions in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Pursuant to amendments by the CFTC to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange

 

15


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Act (“CEA”), the Adviser has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund. The Fund and the Adviser are therefore not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the CEA. Due to the recent amendments to Rule 4.5 under the CEA, certain trading restrictions are now applicable to the Fund as of January 1, 2013. These trading restrictions permit the Fund to engage in commodity interest transactions that include (i) “bona fide hedging” transactions, as that term is defined and interpreted by the CFTC and its staff, without regard to the percentage of the Fund’s assets committed to margin and options premiums and (ii) non-bona fide hedging transactions, provided that the Fund does not enter into such non-bona fide hedging transactions if, immediately thereafter, either (a) the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits on the Fund’s existing futures positions or swaps positions and option or swaption premiums would exceed 5% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions, or (b) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest transactions would not exceed 100% of the market value of the Fund’s liquidating value, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such transactions. Therefore, in order to claim the Rule 4.5 exemption, the Fund is limited in its ability to invest in commodity futures, options, and certain types of swaps (including securities futures, broad based stock index futures, and financial futures contracts). As a result, in the future, the Fund will be more limited in its ability to use these instruments than in the past, and these limitations may have a negative impact on the ability of the Adviser to manage the Fund, and on the Fund’s performance.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

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

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

 

16


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and accordingly the Board will monitor their liquidity. For the restricted securities the Fund held as of June 30, 2013, refer to the Schedule of Investments.

Securities Transactions and Investment Income. Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date with realized gain/(loss) on investments determined by using the identified cost method. Interest income (including amortization of premium and accretion of discount) is recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except for certain dividends from foreign securities that are recorded as soon after the ex-dividend date as the Fund becomes aware of such dividends.

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund.

Distributions to shareholders of the Fund’s 6.00% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred”) and Series C Preferred (“Preferred Stock”) are accrued on a daily basis and are determined as described in Note 5.

Under the Fund’s current distribution policy related to common shares, the Fund declares and pays quarterly distributions from net investment income, capital gains, and paid-in capital. The actual source of the distribution is determined after the end of the calendar year. Pursuant to this policy, distributions during the year may be made in excess of required distributions. To the extent such distributions are made from current earnings and profits, they are considered ordinary income or long term capital gains. The Fund’s current distribution policy may restrict the Fund’s ability to payout all of its net realized long term capital gains as a Capital Gain Dividend. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered the current yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund.

 

17


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2012 was as follows:

 

     Common      Preferred  

Distributions paid from:

     

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)

   $ 2,738,080       $ 1,212,066   

Return of capital

     11,692,316           
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 14,430,396       $ 1,212,066   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

As of December 31, 2012, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Accumulated capital loss carryforwards

   $ (8,773,147

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     63,555,838   

Net unrealized depreciation on swap contracts and foreign currency translations

     (159,176
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 54,623,515   
  

 

 

 

At December 31, 2012, the Fund had net capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes which are available to reduce future required distributions of net capital gains to shareholders. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the Fund will be permitted to carry forward for an unlimited period capital losses incurred in years beginning after December 22, 2010. In addition, these losses must be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. As a result of the rule, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short term or long term capital losses rather than being considered all short term as under previous law. $8,773,147 of capital loss carryforwards is available through 2017.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at June 30, 2013:

 

     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
      

Investments

   $ 114,523,405       $ 96,871,876       $ (10,849,739    $ 86,022,137      

The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2013, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. Tax years ended December 31, 2009 through December 31, 2012 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

 

18


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

3. Agreements and Transactions with Affiliates. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to 1.00% of the value of the Fund’s average weekly net assets including the liquidation value of preferred stock. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio and oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs. The Adviser has agreed to reduce the management fee on the incremental assets attributable to the Preferred Stock if the total return of the NAV of the common shares of the Fund, including distributions and advisory fee subject to reduction, does not exceed the stated dividend rate or corresponding swap rate of each particular series of the Preferred Stock for the year.

The Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares is monitored on a monthly basis to assess whether the total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeds the stated dividend rate or corresponding swap rate of each particular series of Preferred Stock for the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares exceeded the stated dividend rate or net swap expense on the outstanding Preferred Stock. Thus, advisory fees were accrued on the assets attributable to all Preferred Stock.

During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $3,587 to G. research, Inc. (formerly “Gabelli & Company, Inc.”), an affiliate of the Adviser.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund paid or accrued $22,500 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.

As per the approval of the Board, the Fund compensates officers of the Fund, who are employed by the Fund and are not employed by the Adviser (although officers may receive incentive based variable compensation from affiliates of the Adviser). For the six months ended June 30, 2013 the Fund paid or accrued $31,467 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.

The Fund pays each Director who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $6,000 plus $500 for each Board meeting attended and each Director is reimbursed by the Fund for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $3,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman and the Lead Director each receive an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for participation in certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.

4. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the six months ended June 30, 2013, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $7,483,788 and $20,342,169, respectively.

5. Capital. The charter permits the Fund to issue 196,750,000 shares of common stock (par value $0.001). The Board has authorized the repurchase of up to 1,950,000 shares on the open market when the shares are trading at a discount of 5% or more (or such other percentage as the Board may determine from time to time) from the NAV of the shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund did not repurchase any common stock in the open market. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Fund repurchased and retired 50,025 shares of common stock in the open market at a cost of $354,024 and an average discount of approximately 9.81% from its NAV.

 

19


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Transactions in common stock were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2013
(Unaudited)
     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
 
     Shares      Amount      Shares     Amount  

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

     42,541       $ 379,044                  

Net decrease from repurchase of common shares

                     (50,025   $ (354,024
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     42,541       $ 379,044         (50,025   $ (354,024
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 2,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock is senior to the common stock and results in the financial leveraging of the common stock. Such leveraging tends to magnify both the risks and opportunities to common shareholders. Dividends on shares of the Preferred Stock are cumulative. The Fund is required by the 1940 Act and by the Articles Supplementary to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Preferred Stock. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Series B and Series C Preferred at redemption prices of $25.00 and $25,000, respectively, per share plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends whether or not declared on such shares in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to common shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The income received on the Fund’s assets may vary in a manner unrelated to the fixed and variable rates, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common shareholders.

The Fund filed a $400 million shelf registration statement with the SEC that was declared effective on November 14, 2012, enabling the Fund to offer additional common or preferred stock.

On March 31, 2003, the Fund received net proceeds of $24,009,966 (after underwriting discounts of $787,500 and offering expenses of $202,534) from the public offering of 1,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred. The Fund, at its option, may redeem the Series B Preferred in whole or in part at the redemption price at any time. The Board has authorized the repurchase of Series B Preferred in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Fund did not repurchase any shares of Series B Preferred. At June 30, 2013, 791,014 shares of 6.00% Series B Preferred were outstanding and accrued dividends amounted to $16,479.

On March 31, 2003, the Fund received net proceeds of $24,547,465 (after underwriting discounts of $250,000 and offering expenses of $202,535) from the public offering of 1,000 shares of Series C Preferred. The dividend rate, as set by the auction process, which is generally held every seven days, is expected to vary with short term interest rates. Since February 2008, the number of Series C Preferred subject to bid orders by potential holders has been less than the number of Series C Preferred subject to sell orders. Therefore, the weekly auctions have failed, and the dividend rate since then has been the maximum rate. In that event, holders that have submitted sell orders may not be able to sell any or all of the Series C Preferred for which they have

 

20


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

submitted sell orders. The current maximum rate is 175% of the “AA” Financial Composite Commercial Paper Rate on the date of such auction. The dividend rates of Series C Preferred ranged from 0.088% to 0.228% during the six months ended June 30, 2013. Existing shareholders may submit an order to hold, bid, or sell such shares on each auction date. Shareholders of the Series C Preferred may also trade their shares in the secondary market. The Fund, at its option, may redeem the Series C Preferred in whole or in part at the redemption price at any time. There were no redemptions of Series C Preferred during the six months ended June 30, 2013. At June 30, 2013, 600 shares of Series C Preferred were outstanding with an annualized dividend rate of 0.140% per share and accrued dividends amounted to $292.

On March 29, 2011, the Fund distributed one transferable right for each of the 13,575,669 shares of common stock outstanding on that date. Three rights were required to purchase one additional share of common stock at the subscription price of $7.00 per share. On April 26, 2011, the Fund issued 4,525,223 shares of common stock, receiving proceeds of $31,676,561, prior to the deduction of offering expenses of $456,781. The NAV per share of the Fund was reduced by approximately $0.76 per share as a result of the issuance of shares below NAV.

The holders of Preferred Stock generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common stock as a single class. The holders of Preferred Stock voting together as a single class also have the right currently to elect two Directors and under certain circumstances are entitled to elect a majority of the Board. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred stock, voting as a single class, will be required to approve any plan of reorganization adversely affecting the preferred stock, and the approval of two-thirds of each class, voting separately, of the Fund’s outstanding voting stock must approve the conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company. The approval of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding preferred stock and a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities are required to approve certain other actions, including changes in the Fund’s investment objectives or fundamental investment policies.

6. Industry Concentration. Because the Fund primarily invests in common stocks and other securities of foreign and domestic companies in the telecommunications, media, publishing, and entertainment industries, its portfolio may be subject to greater risk and market fluctuations than a portfolio of securities representing a broad range of investments.

7. Indemnifications. The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts. Management has reviewed the Fund’s existing contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.

8. Other Matters. On April 24, 2008, the Adviser entered into a settlement with the SEC to resolve an inquiry regarding prior frequent trading in shares of the GAMCO Global Growth Fund (the “Global Growth Fund”) by one investor who was banned from the Global Growth Fund in August 2002. Under the terms of the settlement, the Adviser, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings and allegations, paid $16 million (which included a $5 million civil monetary penalty). On the same day, the SEC filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Adviser, alleging violations of certain federal securities laws arising from the same matter. The officer, who

 

21


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

also is an officer of the Global Growth Fund and other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO complex, including this Fund, denies the allegations and is continuing in his positions with the Adviser and the funds. The settlement by the Adviser did not have, and the resolution of the action against the officer is not expected to have, a material adverse impact on the Adviser or its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Advisory Agreement.

9. Subsequent Events. Management has evaluated the impact on the Fund of all other subsequent events occurring through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that there were no other subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial.

 

 

Certifications

The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) that, as of June 10, 2013, he was not aware of any violation by the Fund of applicable NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The Fund reports to the SEC on Form N-CSR which contains certifications by the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that relate to the Fund’s disclosure in such reports and that are required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act.

 

22


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Advisory Agreements (Unaudited)

Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), contemplates that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (the “Fund”), including a majority of the Directors who have no direct or indirect interest in the investment advisory agreement and are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Board Members”), are required to annually review and re-approve the terms of the Fund’s existing investment advisory agreement and approve any newly proposed terms therein. In this regard, the Board reviewed and re-approved, during the most recent six month period covered by this report, the Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the Fund.

More specifically, at a meeting held on May 16, 2013, the Board, including the Independent Board Members meeting in executive session with their counsel, considered the factors and reached the conclusions described below relating to the selection of the Adviser and the re-approval of the Advisory Agreement.

1. The nature, extent, and quality of services provided by the Adviser.

The Board Members reviewed in detail the nature and extent of the services provided by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement and the quality of those services over the past year. The Board noted that these services included managing the investment program of the Fund, including the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, as well as the provision of general corporate services. The Board Members considered that the Adviser also provided, at its expense, office facilities for use by the Fund and supervisory personnel responsible for supervising the performance of administrative, accounting, and related services for the Fund, including monitoring to assure compliance with stated investment policies and restrictions under the 1940 Act and related securities regulation. The Board noted that, in addition to managing the investment program for the Fund, the Adviser provided certain non-advisory and compliance services, including services for the Fund’s Rule 38a-1 compliance program.

The Board noted that the Adviser had engaged, at its expense, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (BNY) to assist it in performing certain of its administrative functions. The Board concluded that the nature and extent of the services provided was reasonable and appropriate in relation to the advisory fee, that the level of services provided by the Adviser, either directly or through BNY, had not diminished over the past year, and that the quality of service continued to be high.

The Board reviewed the personnel responsible for providing services to the Fund and concluded, based on their experience and interaction with the Adviser, that (i) the Adviser was able to retain quality personnel, (ii) the Adviser and its agents exhibited a high level of diligence and attention to detail in carrying out their advisory and administrative responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement, (iii) the Adviser was responsive to requests of the Board, (iv) the scope and depth of the Adviser’s resources was adequate, and (v) the Adviser had kept the Board apprised of developments relating to the Fund and the industry in general. The Board also focused on the Adviser’s reputation and long standing relationship with the Fund. The Board also believed that the Adviser had devoted substantial resources and made substantial commitments to address new regulatory compliance requirements applicable to the Fund.

2. The performance of the Fund and the Adviser.

The Board reviewed the investment performance of the Fund, on an absolute basis, as compared with its Lipper peer group of other SEC registered closed-end funds. The Board considered the Fund’s one, three, five and ten year average annual total return for the periods ended March 31, 2013, but placed greater emphasis on

 

23


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

the Fund’s longer term performance. The peer group considered by the Board was developed by Lipper and was comprised of other selected closed-end core, growth, and value equity funds (the “Performance Peer Group”). The Board considered these comparisons helpful in their assessment as to whether the Adviser was obtaining for the Fund’s shareholders the total return performance that was available in the marketplace, given the Fund’s objectives, strategies, limitations, and restrictions. In reviewing the performance of the Fund, the Board noted that the Fund’s performance was above the median for the one year, three year and ten year periods, and below the median for the five year period. The Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was reasonable in comparison with that of the Performance Peer Group.

In connection with its assessment of the performance of the Adviser, the Board considered the Adviser’s financial condition and whether it had the resources necessary to continue to carry out its functions under the Advisory Agreement. The Board concluded that the Adviser had the financial resources necessary to continue to perform its obligations under the Advisory Agreement and to continue to provide the high quality services that it has provided to the Fund to date.

3. The cost of the advisory services and the profits to the Adviser and its affiliates from the relationship with the Fund.

In connection with the Board’s consideration of the cost of the advisory services and the profits to the Adviser and its affiliates from the relationship with the Fund, the Board considered a number of factors. First, the Board compared the level of the advisory fee for the Fund against a comparative Lipper expense peer group comprised of other selected closed-end core, growth, and value equity funds (“Expense Peer Group”). The Board also considered comparative non-management fee expenses and comparative total fund expenses of the Fund and the Expense Peer Group. The Board considered this information as useful in assessing whether the Adviser was providing services at a cost that was competitive with other similar funds. In assessing this information, the Board considered the comparative contract rates. The Board noted that the Fund’s advisory fee was higher than average and the total expense ratio was lower than average when compared with those of the Expense Peer Group.

The Board also reviewed the fees charged by the Adviser to provide similar advisory services to other registered investment companies or accounts with similar investment objectives, noting that in some cases the fees charged by the Adviser were the same, or lower, than the fees charged to the Fund.

The Board also considered an analysis prepared by the Adviser of the estimated profitability to the Adviser of its relationship with the Fund and reviewed with the Adviser its cost allocation methodology in connection with its profitability. In this regard, the Board reviewed Pro-forma Income Statements of the Adviser for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Board considered one analysis for the Adviser as a whole, and a second analysis for the Adviser with respect to the Fund. With respect to the Fund analysis, the Board received an analysis based on the Fund’s average net assets during the period as well as a pro-forma analysis of profitability at higher and lower asset levels. The Board concluded that the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser under either analysis was not excessive.

 

24


The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Advisory Agreements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

4. The extent to which economies of scale will be realized as the Fund grows and whether fee levels reflect those economies of scale.

With respect to the Board’s consideration of economies of scale, the Board discussed whether economies of scale would be realized by the Fund at higher asset levels. The Board also reviewed data from the Expense Peer Group to assess whether the Expense Peer Group funds had advisory fee breakpoints and, if so, at what asset levels. The Board also assessed whether certain of the Adviser’s costs would increase if asset levels rise. The Board noted the Fund’s current size and concluded that under foreseeable conditions, they were unable to assess at this time whether economies of scale would be realized by the Fund if it were to experience significant asset growth. In the event there were to be significant asset growth in the Fund, the Board determined to reassess whether the advisory fee appropriately took into account any economies of scale that had been realized as a result of that growth.

5. Other Factors.

In addition to the above factors, the Board also discussed other benefits received by the Adviser from its management of the Fund. The Board considered that the Adviser does use soft dollars in connection with its management of the Fund.

Based on a consideration of all these factors in their totality, the Board, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of the other factors described above that the Board deemed relevant. Accordingly, the Board determined to approve the continuation of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement. The Board Members based their decision on evaluations of all these factors as a whole and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.

 

25


THE GABELLI MULTIMEDIA TRUST INC.

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Investment Objective:

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc., is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company whose primary objective is long term growth of capital, with income as a secondary objective. The Fund seeks opportunities for long term growth within the context of two main investment universes: companies involved in creativity, as it relates to the development of intellectual property rights (copyrights); and companies involved in distribution, as it relates to the delivery of these copyrights. Additionally, the Fund will invest in companies participating in emerging technological advances in interactive services and products.

Stock Exchange Listing

     Common    Series B
Preferred

NYSE–Symbol:

   GGT    GGT PrB

Shares Outstanding:

   18,072,908    791,014

 

We have separated the portfolio managers’ commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio managers’ commentary is unrestricted. The financial statements and investment portfolio are mailed separately from the commentary. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.

The Net Asset Value per share appears in the Publicly Traded Funds column, under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds,” in Monday’s The Wall Street Journal. It is also listed in Barron’s Mutual Funds/Closed End Funds section under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds.”

The Net Asset Value per share may be obtained each day by calling (914) 921-5070 or visiting www.gabelli.com.

The NASDAQ symbol for the Net Asset Value is “XGGTX”.

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may, from time to time, purchase its common shares in the open market when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount of 5% or more from the net asset value of the shares. The Fund may also, from time to time, purchase its preferred shares in the open market when the preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value.

 


THE GABELLI MULTIMEDIA TRUST INC.

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Management Team Biographies

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1976 and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

Christopher J. Marangi joined G.research, Inc. in 2003 as a research analyst and currently leads the digital research sector team. He also serves as a portfolio manager of Gabelli Funds, LLC and manages several funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex. Mr. Marangi graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Political Economy from Williams College and holds an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School.

Lawrence J. Haverty, Jr., CFA, joined GAMCO Investors, Inc. in 2005 and currently is a portfolio manager of Gabelli Funds, LLC and the Fund. Mr. Haverty was previously a managing director for consumer discretionary research at State Street Research, the Boston based subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He holds a BS from the Wharton School and a MA from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow.


THE GABELLI MULTIMEDIA TRUST INC.

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

t  800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)

f  914-921-5118

e  info@gabelli.com

     GABELLI.com

 

 

 

DIRECTORS

 

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Chairman &

Chief Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

 

Anthony J. Colavita

President,

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

 

James P. Conn

Former Managing Director &

Chief Investment Officer,

Financial Security Assurance

Holdings Ltd.

 

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

Former President &

Chief Executive Officer,

American Gaming Association

 

Christopher J. Marangi

Senior Vice President,

G.research, Inc.

 

Kuni Nakamura

President,

Advanced Polymer, Inc.

 

Anthony R. Pustorino

Certified Public Accountant,

Professor Emeritus,

Pace University

 

Werner J. Roeder, MD

Medical Director,

Lawrence Hospital

 

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman,

Zizza & Associates Corp.

  

 

OFFICERS

 

Bruce N. Alpert

President &

Acting Chief Compliance Officer

 

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer & Secretary

 

Carter W. Austin

Vice President & Ombudsman

 

Laurissa M. Martire

Vice President & Ombudsman

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

 

CUSTODIAN

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company

 

COUNSEL

 

Paul Hastings LLP

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

 

GGT Q2/2013

LOGO

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)

Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

There has been no change, as of the date of this filing, in any of the portfolio managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in the registrant’s most recently filed annual report on Form N-CSR.


Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

REGISTRANT PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period   

 

 

(a) Total Number of

Shares (or Units)

Purchased

 

 

(b) Average Price Paid

per Share (or Unit)

 

 

(c) Total Number of

Shares (or Units)

Purchased as Part of

Publicly Announced

Plans or Programs

 

 

(d) Maximum Number (or

Approximate Dollar Value) of

Shares (or Units) that May

Yet Be Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs

 

Month #1 

01/01/13

through

01/31/13

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – 18,030,367

 

Preferred Series B – 791,014

 

 

Month #2 

02/01/13

through

02/28/13

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – 18,030,367

 

Preferred Series B – 791,014

 

 

Month #3 

03/01/13

through

03/31/13

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – 18,030,367

 

Preferred Series B – 791,014

 

 

Month #4 

04/01/13

through

04/30/13

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – 18,030,367

 

Preferred Series B – 791,014

 

 

Month #5 

05/01/13

through

05/31/13

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – 18,030,367

 

Preferred Series B – 791,014

 

 

Month #6 

06/01/13

through

06/30/13

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – N/A

 

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

 

Common – 18,072,908

 

Preferred Series B – 791,014

 

 

Total

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

 

Common – N/A

 

Preferred Series B – N/A

 

  N/A


Footnote columns (c) and (d) of the table, by disclosing the following information in the aggregate for all plans or programs publicly announced:

 

a. The date each plan or program was announced – The notice of the potential repurchase of common and preferred shares occurs quarterly in the Fund’s quarterly report in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

b. The dollar amount (or share or unit amount) approved – Any or all common shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount of 5% or more from the net asset value of the shares.

Any or all preferred shares outstanding may be repurchased when the Fund’s preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value of $25.00.

 

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

 

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

 

e. Each plan or program the registrant has determined to terminate prior to expiration, or under which the registrant does not intend to make further purchases. – The Fund’s repurchase plans are ongoing.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.407) (as required by Item 22(b)(15) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)), or this Item.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

      (a)

The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).


      (b)

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)

 

  

Not applicable.

 

(a)(2)

  

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 

(a)(3)

 

  

Not applicable.

 

(b)

  

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)

 

     The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Bruce N. Alpert

 

       Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date

 

   9/6/13

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

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Bruce N. Alpert

 

       Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date

 

   9/6/13

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Agnes Mullady

 

       Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Date

 

   9/6/13

 

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