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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number 811-08476

 

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)

 

John C. Ball
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, 2022

 

Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

 

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

 

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.

 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Semiannual Report — June 30, 2022

(Y)our Portfolio Management Team

 

     
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA   Christopher J. Marangi
Chief Investment Officer   Co-Chief Investment Officer
    BA, Williams College
    MBA, Columbia Business School

 

To Our Stockholders,

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the net asset value (NAV) total return of The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (the Fund) was (35.5)%, compared with a total return of (26.7)% for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) AC World Communication Services Index. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was (11.8)%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $4.94, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $7.23 on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). See page 3 for additional performance information.

 

Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of June 30, 2022.

 

 

 

 

Investment Objective and Strategy (Unaudited)

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust 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 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.

 

As permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (www.gabelli.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report. If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. To elect to receive all future reports on paper free of charge, please contact your financial intermediary, or, if you invest directly with the Fund, you may call 800-422-3554 or send an email request to info@gabelli.com.

 

 

 

 

Performance Discussion (Unaudited)

 

Markets came under pressure as concerns about inflation, sparked by loose monetary and fiscal policies, supply chain issues, and oil and agricultural products shocks exacerbated by the war in Ukraine morphed into worries about an economic downturn triggered largely by central bank tightening meant to control inflation. Reflecting these higher rates, the P/E multiple on the S&P 500 compressed from 21x to 16x, though the earnings estimates underlying current multiples are likely to decline as economic weakness spreads. Energy was the strongest sector in the first half, though it too succumbed to heavy selling pressure in June. Cyclically sensitive sectors, including Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Industrials, performed poorly while more resilient sectors such as Utilities, Staples, and Health Care were relatively strong.

 

The Fund benefited from three takeovers during the first half of the year: video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. (0.73% of total investments as of June 30, 2022, +18% contribution to return) agreed to be acquired by Microsoft; broadcaster TEGNA Inc. (0.05%, +14%) agreed to be acquired by Standard General; and cybersecurity provider Mandiant (+27%) (currently not held at June 30, 2022) agreed to be acquired by Google. The subscription revenue offered by telecom companies T-Mobile US Inc. (1.72%, +16%), AT&T Inc. (0.40%, +17%), Telefonica SA (0.43%, +25%), and Deutsche Telekom AG (0.19%, +11%) made them safe havens in the quarter.

 

In contrast, advertising-oriented companies, including Google and Facebook parents Alphabet Inc. (2.97%, -25%) and Meta Platforms Inc. (2.29%, -52%) – the two largest recipients of ad dollars globally – as well as traditional media companies such as Warner Bros Discovery Inc. (0.93%, -46%) and The Walt Disney Co. (1.33%, -39%) were more challenged. Netflix Inc. (0.46%, -71%) faced both increased competition in streaming and economic pressure on its subscribers. The single largest detractor from performance, however, was Sony Group Corp. (5.44%, -35%). The flipside to the Activision acquisition could be that it disadvantages Microsoft’s primary rival, Sony PlayStation; Sony also faces headwinds across its consumer businesses and from semiconductor supply challenges.

 

In the wake of such a disappointing performance to start the year, it’s worth noting that the market sits over 20% above where it ended 2019, an 8% CAGR over a very fraught time. We as a society may have moved past COVID-19, but its after-effects are still felt. Political, corporate, and individual actors still need to sort through a variety of issues. Economic and market conditions may worsen before they improve, but the risks are far more balanced today than they have been in some time.

 

A volatile market driven by macro headlines should ultimately prove a rich environment for active management and fundamental value strategies like ours. Cash flow and balance sheets matter most in these times of stress. Identifying companies with pricing power, manageable cost structures, and limited capital intensity that trade at discounts to Private Market Value should be a formula for success in times of inflation, recession, or both, no matter what the decade.

 

The views expressed reflect the opinions of the Fund’s portfolio managers and Gabelli Funds, LLC, the Adviser, as of the date of this report and are subject to change without notice based on changes in market, economic, or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.

 

2 

 

 

Comparative Results

Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2022 (a) (Unaudited)

 

   Six
Months
  1 Year  5 year  10 year  15 year  Since
Inception
(11/15/94)
The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (GGT)                              
NAV Total Return (b)   (35.45)%   (39.90)%   (0.80)%   7.17%   2.52%   7.17%
Investment Total Return (c)   (11.84)   (25.94)   7.64    12.59    6.20    9.07 
MSCI AC World Communication Services Index   (26.72)   (29.59)   3.78    5.01    3.45    5.52(d)

 

(a)Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. The Fund’s use of leverage may magnify the volatility of net asset value changes versus funds that do not employ leverage. 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. The MSCI AC World Communication Services Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of Communication Services from around the world. Dividends are considered reinvested. 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)The MSCI AC World Communication Services Index inception date is December 30, 1994.

 

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing.

 

3 

 

 

Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

 

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of total investments as of June 30, 2022:

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (GGT)

 

Entertainment   20.3%
Cable   10.7%
Computer Software and Services   8.7%
U.S. Government Obligations   7.3%
Broadcasting   7.0%
Electronics   6.3%
Telecommunications: National   5.3%
Hotels and Gaming   4.6%
Real Estate   4.1%
Wireless Communications   3.8%
Computer Hardware   2.7%
Telecommunications: Regional   2.3%
Satellite   2.0%
Financial Services   1.9%
Business Services: Advertising   1.9%

 

Business Services   1.6%
Publishing   1.6%
Equipment   1.5%
Consumer Products   1.4%
Telecommunications: Long Distance   1.4%
Consumer Services   1.2%
Retail   0.9%
Information Technology   0.7%
Food and Beverage   0.4%
Diversified Industrial   0.4%
Closed-End Funds   0.0%*
    100.0%

 

 

*Amount represents less than 0.05%.


The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. 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-PORT 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 each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by (i) calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554); (ii) writing to The Gabelli Funds at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422; or (iii) visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

4 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments — June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
     COMMON STOCKS — 92.4%      
     DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES — 55.0%      
     Broadcasting — 7.0%          
 10,000   Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corp.  $42,567   $48,275 
 23,000   Beasley Broadcast Group Inc., Cl. A†   58,980    29,440 
 6,400   Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co. Ltd.   46,376    26,132 
 18,000   Cogeco Inc.   449,026    954,397 
 35,000   Corus Entertainment Inc., OTC, Cl. B   117,328    96,600 
 300,000   Corus Entertainment Inc., Toronto, Cl. B   1,193,841    822,716 
 30,000   Fox Corp., Cl. A   1,246,500    964,800 
 29,500   Fox Corp., Cl. B   903,928    876,150 
 81,000   Grupo Radio Centro SAB de CV, Cl. A†   39,884    14,460 
 5,000   iHeartMedia Inc., Cl. A†   32,257    39,450 
 15,000   Informa plc†   152,747    96,556 
 250,000   ITV plc   493,759    198,603 
 8,000   Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl. A†   540,820    908,400 
 37,800   Liberty Broadband Corp., Cl. C†   4,286,518    4,371,192 
 19,000   Liberty Media Corp.- Liberty SiriusXM, Cl. A†   488,246    684,760 
 69,361   Liberty Media Corp.- Liberty SiriusXM, Cl. C†   2,752,552    2,500,464 
 68,566   Media Prima Berhad   34,965    6,067 
 4,000   Nexstar Media Group Inc., Cl. A   341,960    651,520 
 25,000   Nippon Television Holdings Inc.   380,453    222,398 
 4,000   NRJ Group   17,822    25,989 
 3,000   RTL Group SA   107,299    125,251 
 95,000   Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., Cl. A   2,895,455    1,938,000 
 33,000   TBS Holdings Inc.   675,978    413,230 
 6,000   TEGNA Inc.   86,603    125,820 
 30,000   Television Broadcasts Ltd.†   82,825    16,478 
 22,000   Television Francaise 1   219,175    155,736 
 240,000   TV Azteca SAB de CV†   58,305    10,491 
         17,746,169    16,323,375 
     Business Services — 1.5%          
 6,000   Carlisle Support Sevices Group Ltd.†(a)   200    584 
 4,000   Fluent Inc.†   32,492    4,760 
 6,000   Impellam Group plc†   8,600    33,598 


 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
 10,700   S&P Global Inc.  $2,530,709   $3,606,542 
         2,572,001    3,645,484 
     Cable — 10.7%          
 16,000   AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A†   489,379    465,920 
 300   Cable One Inc.   333,624    386,796 
 3,800   Charter Communications Inc., Cl. A†   1,664,868    1,780,414 
 35,000   Cogeco Communications Inc.   794,660    2,367,503 
 128,000   Comcast Corp., Cl. A   5,142,589    5,022,720 
 46,000   Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†   780,120    968,300 
 205,177   Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†   6,303,611    4,532,360 
 19,400   MultiChoice Group   133,926    138,100 
 100,000   Rogers Communications Inc., New York, Cl. B   4,511,625    4,790,000 
 90,000   Shaw Communications Inc., New York, Cl. B   326,537    2,651,400 
 110,000   WideOpenWest Inc.†   918,445    2,003,100 
         21,399,384    25,106,613 
     Computer Software and Services — 0.4%      
 1,000   Sciplay Corp., Cl. A†   13,274    13,970 
 28,000   SolarWinds Corp.   480,409    287,000 
 2,000   Tencent Holdings Ltd.   113,079    90,330 
 5,000   Zoom Video Communications Inc., Cl. A†   409,022    539,850 
 10,000   Zuora Inc., Cl. A†   114,108    89,500 
         1,129,892    1,020,650 
     Consumer Services — 1.1%          
 50,000   Bollore SE   279,735    231,597 
 150   Cie de L’Odet SE   219,639    169,768 
 26,000   IAC/InterActiveCorp.†   1,526,123    1,975,220 
 95   JD.com Inc., Cl. A   3,466    3,060 
 160,000   Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings Inc., Cl. A†   639,024    121,056 
         2,667,987    2,500,701 
     Diversified Industrial — 0.4%          
 27,000   Bouygues SA   899,609    830,731 
 6,000   Malaysian Resources Corp. Berhad   4,297    476 
         903,906    831,207 
     Entertainment — 11.8%          
 102,000   Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA†   768,472    382,456 
 18,900   GAN Ltd.†   265,963    55,944 
 492,000   Grupo Televisa SAB, ADR   5,888,419    4,024,560 
 170,500   Liberty Media Acquisition Corp.†   1,707,335    1,691,360 


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
    COMMON STOCKS (Continued)     
     DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES (Continued)      
     Entertainment (Continued)      
 55,000   Liberty Media Corp.- Liberty Braves, Cl. A†  $1,410,663   $1,383,250 
 122,000   Liberty Media Corp.- Liberty Braves, Cl. C†   2,593,397    2,928,000 
 8,000   Liberty Media Corp.- Liberty Formula One, Cl. A†   210,094    463,760 
 32,000   Liberty Media Corp.- Liberty Formula One, Cl. C†   998,875    2,031,040 
 4,000   M6 Metropole Television SA   35,208    59,063 
 41,020   Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.†   3,237,438    2,158,472 
 29,000   Madison Square Garden Sports Corp.†   4,818,327    4,379,000 
 20,500   Naspers Ltd., Cl. N   2,290,857    2,983,527 
 6,200   Netflix Inc.†   2,314,938    1,084,194 
 5,000   Pinterest Inc., Cl. A†   115,708    90,800 
 25,000   Reading International Inc., Cl. A†   319,402    90,250 
 8,000   Reading International Inc., Cl. B†   88,358    168,000 
 7,000   Roku Inc.†   413,048    574,980 
 50,000   Sirius XM Holdings Inc.   300,473    306,500 
 23,700   Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.†   3,233,522    2,903,961 
         31,010,497    27,759,117 
     Equipment — 1.5%          
 7,200   Amphenol Corp., Cl. A   7,014    463,536 
 57,000   Corning Inc.   1,728,782    1,796,070 
 35,000   Flex Ltd.†   624,117    506,450 
 5,700   QUALCOMM Inc.   520,265    728,118 
         2,880,178    3,494,174 
     Financial Services — 1.7%          
 15,000   Caribbean Investment Holdings Ltd.†   14,944    4,839 
 5,000   Conx Corp.†   49,800    49,600 
 75,000   Counter Press Acquisition Corp.†   750,000    749,250 
 3,000   Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd.   181,751    157,680 
 34,500   Kinnevik AB, Cl. A†   458,167    569,955 
 25,000   Kinnevik AB, Cl. B†   445,892    402,747 
 1,100   LendingTree Inc.†   297,422    48,202 
 95,000   Orascom Financial Holding SAE†   13,907    879 
 22,600   PayPal Holdings Inc.†   4,123,460    1,578,384 
 50,000   Trine II Acquisition Corp.†   500,000    497,500 

 

Shares      Cost   Market
Value
 
 14,000   Waterloo Investment  Holdings Ltd.†(a)  $2,009   $7,000 
         6,837,352    4,066,036 
     Food and Beverage — 0.4%          
 2,400   Pernod Ricard SA   148,081    440,894 
 2,500   Remy Cointreau SA   302,970    436,733 
         451,051    877,627 
     Information Technology — 0.7%          
 25,500   Prosus NV   2,139,545    1,669,636 
                
     Real Estate — 2.4%          
 13,000   American Tower Corp., REIT   1,821,150    3,322,670 
 3,000   Crown Castle International Corp., REIT   298,756    505,140 
 5,500   Digital Realty Trust Inc., REIT   720,500    714,065 
 15,000   Midway Investments†(a)   96    183 
 75,000   Radius Global Infrastructure Inc., Cl. A†   1,161,693    1,144,500 
         4,002,195    5,686,558 
     Retail — 0.6%          
 10,000   Amazon.com Inc.†   1,322,964    1,062,100 
 1,000   Best Buy Co. Inc.   30,800    65,190 
 133,000   Qurate Retail Inc., Cl. A   1,133,388    381,710 
         2,487,152    1,509,000 
     Satellite — 2.0%          
 128,000   DISH Network Corp., Cl. A†   5,233,257    2,295,040 
 100,000   EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†   2,590,472    1,930,000 
 10,000   Iridium Communications Inc.†   102,804    375,600 
 250,000   PT Indosat Tbk   52,779    109,918 
 3,000   SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Inc.   15,472    11,940 
         7,994,784    4,722,498 
     Telecommunications: Long Distance — 1.4%      
 45,000   AT&T Inc.   905,590    943,200 
 15,000   BCE Inc.   670,902    737,298 
 130,000   Telesat Corp.†   4,866,093    1,452,100 
 4,203   TIM SA, ADR   108,533    51,066 
         6,551,118    3,183,664 
     Telecommunications: National — 5.3%      
 22,000   Deutsche Telekom AG   411,439    436,798 
 50,000   Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR   646,760    996,000 
 14,000   Elisa Oyj   138,049    786,675 
 2,000   Freenet AG   43,087    49,610 
 3,605   Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA   41,551    62,599 


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
    COMMON STOCKS (Continued)     
    DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES (Continued)    
     Telecommunications: National (Continued)      
 5,000   Itissalat Al-Maghrib  $76,173   $58,947 
 50,000   Koninklijke KPN NV   162,831    178,204 
 82,000   Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. A†   934,781    639,600 
 79,036   Liberty Latin America Ltd., Cl. C†   1,295,276    615,690 
 45,000   Lumen Technologies Inc.   624,872    490,950 
 1,000   Magyar Telekom Telecommunications plc, ADR   9,280    4,200 
 135,000   Megacable Holdings SAB de CV   465,281    327,741 
 20,000   Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.   230,089    574,292 
 5,000   Oi SA, ADR†   1,613    1,052 
 9,000   Orange SA, ADR   125,267    105,930 
 22,000   PLDT Inc., ADR   370,294    669,240 
 6,000   Rostelecom PJSC, ADR(a)   41,408    0 
 22,500   Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.   771,168    499,500 
 22,000   Swisscom AG, ADR   579,192    1,211,980 
 10,000   Telecom Argentina SA, ADR   32,356    45,500 
 300,000   Telecom Italia SpA†   734,121    78,502 
 20,000   Telefonica Brasil SA, ADR   268,102    181,200 
 195,000   Telefonica SA, ADR   1,060,441    1,000,350 
 140,000   Telekom Austria AG   962,459    931,628 
 15,172   Telia Co. AB   42,639    58,109 
 6,000   Telkom Indonesia Persero Tbk PT, ADR   12,340    162,240 
 2,400   Telstra Corp. Ltd., ADR   30,324    31,848 
 350,000   VEON Ltd., ADR†   583,009    161,000 
 40,000   Verizon Communications Inc.   2,190,637    2,030,000 
         12,884,839    12,389,385 
     Telecommunications: Regional — 2.3%      
 116,500   Orange Belgium SA†   3,063,805    2,187,784 
 90,000   Telephone and Data Systems Inc.   3,452,282    1,421,100 
 80,000   TELUS Corp.   517,468    1,782,400 
         7,033,555    5,391,284 
     Wireless Communications — 3.8%      
 60,000   Altice USA Inc., Cl. A†   1,552,450    555,000 
 55,000   America Movil SAB de CV, Cl. L, ADR   367,164    1,123,650 
 26,000   Anterix Inc.†   1,126,622    1,067,820 
 389,058   Jasmine International PCL†   21,005    37,855 
 39,000   Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR†   1,073,121    556,612 


 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
 55,000   Operadora De Sites Mexicanos SAB de CV  $65,801   $63,616 
 19,000   Orascom Investment Holding, GDR†   15,524    475 
 20,650   SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ADR   761,588    460,908 
 30,000   T-Mobile US Inc.†   3,059,081    4,036,200 
 19,000   Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR   136,231    47,500 
 32,000   United States Cellular Corp.†   1,167,112    926,720 
         9,345,699    8,876,356 
     TOTAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES   140,037,304    129,053,365 
     COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES — 37.4%    
     Business Services — 0.1%      
 5,000   Light & Wonder Inc.†   57,774    234,950 
                
     Business Services: Advertising — 1.9%      
 1,000   Boston Omaha Corp., Cl. A†   16,970    20,650 
 190,000   Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc.†   200,599    203,300 
 10,000   comScore Inc.†   39,780    20,600 
 23,000   JCDecaux SA†   538,946    386,369 
 24,400   Lamar Advertising Co., Cl. A, REIT   1,639,083    2,146,468 
 10,820   Magnite Inc.†   22,112    96,082 
 1,500   Publicis Groupe SA   10,478    73,346 
 4,000   Ströeer SE & Co. KGaA   89,263    179,828 
 50,000   The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.   1,165,302    1,376,500 
         3,722,533    4,503,143 
     Computer Hardware — 2.7%      
 43,600   Apple Inc.   4,407,971    5,960,992 
 11,000   Dell Technologies Inc., Cl. C   534,889    508,310 
         4,942,860    6,469,302 
     Computer Software and Services — 8.3%      
 22,000   Activision Blizzard Inc.   1,731,232    1,712,920 
 4,000   Actua Corp.†   0    40 
 3,200   Alphabet Inc., Cl. A†   4,460,354    6,973,632 
 700   Alphabet Inc., Cl. C†   1,018,056    1,531,215 
 31,500   eBay Inc.   1,122,294    1,312,605 
 33,300   Meta Platforms Inc., Cl. A†   7,315,426    5,369,625 
 7,000   Microsoft Corp.   1,385,708    1,797,810 
 15,000   Momentive Global Inc.†   303,005    132,000 
 300   Red Violet Inc.†   1,920    5,712 
 17,000   Vimeo Inc.†   389,087    102,340 
 4,000   VMware Inc., Cl. A   437,316    455,920 
         18,164,398    19,393,819 


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
    COMMON STOCKS (Continued)     
     COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES (Continued) 
     Consumer Products — 1.4%          
 10,000   Johnson Outdoors Inc., Cl. A  $817,594   $611,600 
 1,500   Nintendo Co. Ltd.   173,424    648,732 
 38,000   Nintendo Co. Ltd., ADR   1,030,910    2,045,160 
         2,021,928    3,305,492 
     Consumer Services — 0.1%          
 1,400   Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corp.   165,830    162,680 
 5,500   Peloton Interactive Inc., Cl. A†   98,402    50,490 
         264,232    213,170 
     Electronics — 6.3%          
 77,000   IMAX Corp.†   1,347,062    1,300,530 
 8,000   Intel Corp.   267,399    299,280 
 3,509   Koninklijke Philips NV   36,698    75,549 
 15,000   Resideo Technologies Inc.†   133,720    291,300 
 156,300   Sony Group Corp., ADR   9,633,403    12,780,651 
         11,418,282    14,747,310 
     Entertainment — 8.5%          
 7,000   Capcom Co. Ltd.   184,198    169,995 
 79,200   GMM Grammy Public Co. Ltd.†   52,488    24,865 
 20,000   IMAX China Holding Inc.   32,485    20,161 
 6,000   Konami Group Corp.   375,960    332,105 
 6,000   Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Cl. B†   45,835    52,980 
 8,000   Live Nation Entertainment Inc.†   488,485    660,640 
 45,000   Manchester United plc, Cl. A   707,872    500,400 
 74,000   Paramount Global, Cl. A   1,714,472    2,017,240 
 70,000   Paramount Global, Cl. B   2,108,913    1,727,600 
 4,500   Spotify Technology SA†   647,932    422,235 
 7,000   Square Enix Holdings Co. Ltd.   281,835    310,068 
 17,176   STV Group plc   13,537    62,307 
 116,000   Tencent Music Entertainment Group, ADR†   1,571,933    582,320 
 42,000   The Marcus Corp.†   597,320    620,340 
 33,000   The Walt Disney Co.†   4,298,964    3,115,200 
 28,000   Ubisoft Entertainment SA†   1,862,032    1,229,455 
 30,000   Universal Entertainment Corp.†   779,894    321,713 
 62,000   Universal Music Group NV   1,487,390    1,243,191 
 290,000   Vivendi SE   3,552,343    2,946,668 


 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
 163,011   Warner Bros Discovery Inc.†  $3,309,260   $2,187,608 
 26,000   Warner Music Group Corp., Cl. A   763,988    633,360 
 13,000   World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., Cl. A   682,313    812,370 
                
         25,559,449    19,992,821 
     Financial Services — 0.2%          
 50,000   Waverley Capital Acquisition Corp. 1†   500,000    485,500 
                
     Hotels and Gaming — 4.6%          
 40,500   Boyd Gaming Corp.   1,113,565    2,014,875 
 3,300   Caesars Entertainment Inc.†   179,335    126,390 
 1,600   Churchill Downs Inc.   46,593    306,448 
 63,000   Entain plc†   1,067,347    954,789 
 2,000   Flutter Entertainment plc†   342,209    200,709 
 30,000   Full House Resorts Inc.†   131,758    182,400 
 15,000   Golden Entertainment Inc.†   178,474    593,250 
 4,200   Greek Organization of Football Prognostics SA   45,444    60,079 
 80,000   International Game Technology plc   1,052,863    1,484,800 
 6,000   Las Vegas Sands Corp.†   328,208    201,540 
 170,000   Mandarin Oriental International Ltd.†   277,121    321,300 
 29,000   Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., ADR†   193,802    166,750 
 40,000   MGM China Holdings Ltd.†   54,867    22,684 
 23,000   MGM Resorts International   632,031    665,850 
 4,000   Penn National Gaming Inc.†   26,016    121,680 
 33,100   Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc., REIT†   1,409,873    2,516,593 
 14,000   Wynn Resorts Ltd.†   1,472,142    797,720 
         8,551,648    10,737,857 
     Publishing — 1.6%          
 20,000   Arnoldo Mondadori Editore SpA   63,828    35,840 
 974,000   Bangkok Post plc†   47,100    30,304 
 3,100   Graham Holdings Co., Cl. B   1,734,008    1,757,204 
 400   John Wiley & Sons Inc., Cl. B   2,846    19,206 
 8,500   Lee Enterprises Inc.†   186,214    161,415 
 1,000,000   Nation Group Thailand Public Co. Ltd.†   53,346    8,485 
 5,263   Nation International Edutainment PCL†   199    983 
 27,000   News Corp., Cl. A   123,850    420,660 
 18,500   News Corp., Cl. B   320,318    293,965 
 6,779   Novus Holdings Ltd.   3,053    1,038 


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

 

           Market 
Shares      Cost   Value 
    COMMON STOCKS (Continued)    
     COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES (Continued) 
     Publishing (Continued)      
 63,000   The E.W. Scripps Co., Cl. A†  $1,059,065   $785,610 
 1,800   Wolters Kluwer NV   40,781    174,597 
         3,634,608    3,689,307 
     Real Estate — 1.7%          
 4,000   Equinix Inc., REIT   1,699,453    2,628,080 
 82,000   Outfront Media Inc., REIT   1,459,763    1,389,900 
         3,159,216    4,017,980 
     TOTAL COPYRIGHT/          
     CREATIVITY COMPANIES   81,996,928    87,790,651 
                
     TOTAL COMMON STOCKS   222,034,232    216,844,016 
                
    CLOSED-END FUNDS — 0.0%        
 8,000   Altaba Inc., Escrow†   0    40,400 
                
    PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.3%      
     DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES — 0.3%      
     Broadcasting — 0.0%          
 5,500   Liberty Broadband Corp., Ser. A, 7.000%   112,525    142,835 
                
     Retail — 0.3%          
 11,000   Qurate Retail Inc., 8.000%, 03/15/31   988,162    642,950 
                
     TOTAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES   1,100,687    785,785 
                
     TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS   1,100,687    785,785 
                
    RIGHTS — 0.0%        
     COPYRIGHT/CREATIVITY COMPANIES — 0.0%
     Publishing — 0.0%          
 3,455   Nation International Edutainment PCL, expire 07/06/22†   66    323 
                
    WARRANTS — 0.0%        
     DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES — 0.0%     
     Real Estate — 0.0%          
 600   Malaysian Resources Corp. Berhad, expire 10/29/27†   0    10 


 

Principal           Market 
Amount       Cost   Value 
     U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 7.3%      
$ 17,130,000    U.S. Treasury Bills, 1.032% to 1.647%††, 08/25/22 to 11/25/22  $17,070,730   $17,055,748 
                  
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%  $240,205,715    234,726,282 
                
Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)        1,175,157 
                
PREFERRED STOCK          
(3,986,911 preferred shares outstanding)        (99,922,525)
                
NET ASSETS — COMMON STOCK          
(27,535,751 common shares outstanding)       $135,978,914 
                
NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE          
($135,978,914 ÷ 27,535,751 shares outstanding)       $4.94 

 

 

(a)Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
Non-income producing security.
††Represents annualized yields at dates of purchase.

 

ADRAmerican Depositary Receipt
GDRGlobal Depositary Receipt
REITReal Estate Investment Trust
SDRSwedish Depositary Receipt

 

   % of Total  Market 
Geographic Diversification  Investments  Value 
North America   75.1%  $176,129,583 
Europe   12.2    28,729,580 
Japan   7.6    17,904,692 
Latin America   2.5    5,877,859 
South Africa   1.4    3,122,665 
Asia/Pacific   1.2    2,901,602 
Africa/Middle East   0.0*   60,301 
Total Investments   100.0%  $234,726,282 

 

*Amount represents less than 0.05%.


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities    
June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) 
Assets:    
Investments, at value (cost $240,205,715)  $234,726,282 
Cash   189,670 
Foreign currency, at value (cost $379,840)   376,718 
Receivable for investments sold   1,190,839 
Dividends and interest receivable   345,148 
Deferred offering expense   113,043 
Prepaid expenses   2,775 
Total Assets   236,944,475 
Liabilities:     
Distributions payable   70,985 
Payable for investments purchased   422,263 
Payable for offering costs   209,794 
Payable for investment advisory fees   202,584 
Payable for payroll expenses   45,441 
Payable for accounting fees   7,500 
Other accrued expenses   84,469 
Total Liabilities   1,043,036 
Preferred Stock $0.001 par value:     
Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock (Auction Rate, $25,000 liquidation value, 1,000 shares authorized with 10 shares issued and outstanding)   250,000 
Series E Cumulative Preferred Stock (5.125%, $25 liquidation value, 2,000,000 shares authorized with 1,996,700 shares issued and outstanding)   49,917,500 
Series G Cumulative Preferred Stock (5.125%, $25 liquidation value, 2,000,000 shares authorized with 1,990,201 shares issued and outstanding)   49,755,025 
Total Preferred Stock   99,922,525 
Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders  $135,978,914 
      
Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders Consist of:     
Paid-in capital  $147,209,063 
Total accumulated loss   (11,230,149)
Net Assets  $135,978,914 
      
Net Asset Value per Common Share:     
($135,978,914 ÷ 27,535,751 shares outstanding at $0.001 par value; 196,750,000 shares authorized )  $4.94 

 

Statement of Operations    
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)  
Investment Income:     
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $115,624)  $1,566,589 
Interest   33,495 
Total Investment Income   1,600,084 
Expenses:     
Investment advisory fees   1,410,598 
Stockholder communications expenses   69,713 
Directors’ fees   49,818 
Payroll expenses   48,155 
Stockholder services fees   41,200 
Legal and audit fees   41,004 
Custodian fees   24,468 
Accounting fees   22,500 
Interest expense   190 
Miscellaneous expenses   46,681 
Total Expenses   1,754,327 
Less:     
Advisory fee reduction on unsupervised assets (See Note 3)   (1,240)
Expenses paid indirectly by broker (See Note 5)    (2,451)
Total Credits and Reductions   (3,691)
Net Expenses   1,750,636 
Net Investment Loss   (150,552)
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on     
Investments and Foreign Currency:     
Net realized gain on investments   939,125 
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions   (2,479)
      
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions   936,646 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:     
on investments   (77,196,300)
on foreign currency translations   (20,060)
      
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations   (77,216,360)
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments and Foreign Currency   (76,279,714)
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   (76,430,266)
Total Distributions to Preferred Stockholders   (2,554,983)
Net Decrease in Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders Resulting from Operations  $(78,985,249)


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10 

 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders

 

 

   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
   Year Ended
December 31, 2021
 
Operations:          
Net investment loss  $(150,552)  $(674,163)
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions   936,646    21,843,772 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations   (77,216,360)   7,082,162 
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations   (76,430,266)   28,251,771 
           
Distributions to Preferred Stockholders:          
Accumulated earnings   (1,411,723)*   (5,108,518)
Return of capital   (1,143,260)*    
Total Distributions to Preferred Stockholders   (2,554,983)   (5,108,518)
           
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders Resulting from Operations   (78,985,249)   23,143,253 
           
Distributions to Common Stockholders:          
Accumulated Earnings       (17,429,502)
Return of capital   (12,079,811)*   (5,303,790)
           
Total Distributions to Common Stockholders   (12,079,811)   (22,733,292)
           
Fund Share Transactions:          
Increase in net assets from common shares issued in offering       18,168,009 
Increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions   797,971    2,314,933 
Offering costs for common shares charged to paid-in capital   (10,110)   (474,112)
Adjustment of offering costs for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital       83,560 
Net Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions   787,861    20,092,390 
           
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders   (90,277,199)   20,502,351 
           
Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders:          
Beginning of year   226,256,113    205,753,762 
End of period  $135,978,914   $226,256,113 

 

 

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

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a common share outstanding throughout each period:

 

   Six Months
Ended June
30, 2022
   Year Ended December 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017 
Operating Performance:                              
Net asset value, beginning of year  $8.25   $8.14   $7.93   $7.04   $9.34   $8.13 
Net investment income/(loss)   (0.01)   (0.02)   0.02    0.13(a)   0.03    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gain/ (loss) on investments and foreign currency transactions   (2.78)   1.21    1.27    1.86    (1.28)   2.11 
Total from investment operations   (2.79)   1.19    1.29    1.99    (1.25)   2.12 
Distributions to Preferred Stockholders: (b)                              
Net investment income       (0.02)   (0.00)(c)   (0.02)   (0.00)(c)   (0.00)(c)
Net realized gain   (0.05)*   (0.18)   (0.20)   (0.13)   (0.15)   (0.08)
Return of capital   (0.04)*                    
                               
Total distributions to preferred stockholders   (0.09)   (0.20)   (0.20)   (0.15)   (0.15)   (0.08)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Attributable to Common Stockholders Resulting from Operations   (2.88)   0.99    1.09    1.84    (1.40)   2.04 
Distributions to Common Stockholders:                              
Net investment income       (0.07)   (0.02)   (0.12)   (0.01)   (0.03)
Net realized gain       (0.61)   (0.83)   (0.71)   (0.89)   (0.73)
Return of capital   (0.44)*   (0.20)   (0.03)   (0.05)       (0.12)
                               
Total distributions to common stockholders   (0.44)   (0.88)   (0.88)   (0.88)   (0.90)   (0.88)
Fund Share Transactions:                              
Increase in net asset value from common share transactions       0.02                 
Increase in net asset value from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions   0.01    0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.00(c)        
Increase in net asset value from repurchase of common shares                       0.00(c)
Increase in net asset value from redemption of preferred shares           0.00(c)           0.12 
Offering costs and adjustment to offering costs for preferred shares charged to paid-in capital       0.00(c)       (0.07)   (0.00)(c)   (0.07)
Offering costs and adjustment to offering costs for common shares charged to paid-in capital   (0.00)(c)   (0.02)                
Total Fund share transactions   0.01    0.00(c)   0.00(c)   (0.07)   (0.00)(c)   0.05 
Net Asset Value Attributable to Common Stockholders, End of Period  $4.94   $8.25   $8.14   $7.93   $7.04   $9.34 
NAV total return †   (35.45)%   11.54%   18.58%   25.86%   (16.54)%   26.50%
Market value, end of period  $7.23   $8.68   $7.96   $8.02   $7.06   $9.20 
Investment total return ††   (11.84)%   23.53%   14.15%   26.67%   (14.93)%   40.21%

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

12 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Selected data for a common share outstanding throughout each period:

 

   Six Months
Ended June
30, 2022
   Year Ended December 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017 
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data:                              
Net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares, end of period (in 000’s)  $235,901   $326,179   $305,676   $297,577   $243,309   $297,503 
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (in 000’s)  $135,979   $226,256   $205,754   $197,327   $173,284   $227,477 
Ratio of net investment income/ (loss) to average net assets attributable to common shares before preferred share distributions   (0.16)%(d)   (0.29)%   0.23%   1.62%(a)   0.39%   0.13%
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares before fees waived (e)(f)   1.89%(d)   1.73%   2.06%   1.69%(g)   1.62%   1.45%
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares net of advisory fee reduction, if any (e)   1.89%(d)   1.73%   2.06%(h)   1.69%(g)(h)   1.53%(h)   1.45%(h)
Portfolio turnover rate   6%   17%   29%   18%   21%   17%
                               
Cumulative Preferred Stock:                              
6.000% Series B Preferred (i)                              
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)                  $19,775   $19,775 
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)                   791    791 
Liquidation preference per share                  $25.00   $25.00 
Average market value (j)                  $25.81   $26.36 
Asset coverage per share (k)                  $86.86   $106.21 
Auction Market Series C Preferred                              
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)  $250   $250   $250   $250   $250   $250 
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)   0(l)   0(l)   0(l)   0(l)   0(l)   0(l)
Liquidation preference per share(m)  $25,000   $25,000   $25,000   $25,000   $25,000   $25,000 
Liquidation value  $25,000   $25,000   $25,000   $25,000   $25,000   $25,000 
Asset coverage per share (k)  $59,021   $81,608   $76,478   $74,209   $86,865   $106,212 
5.125% Series E Preferred                              
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)  $49,918   $49,918   $49,918   $50,000   $50,000   $50,000 
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)   1,997    1,997    1,997    2,000    2,000    2,000 
Liquidation preference per share  $25.00   $25.00   $25.00   $25.00   $25.00   $25.00 
Average market value (j)  $24.40   $25.95   $25.55   $24.88   $23.80   $24.98 
Asset coverage per share (k)  $59.02   $81.61   $76.48   $74.21   $86.86   $106.21 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

13 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Financial Highlights (Continued)

 

Selected data for a common share outstanding throughout each period:

 

   Six Months
Ended June
30, 2022
   Year Ended December 31, 
   (Unaudited)   2021   2020   2019   2018   2017 
5.125% Series G Preferred                              
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000’s)  $49,755   $49,755   $49,755   $50,000         
Total shares outstanding (in 000’s)   1,990    1,990    1,990    2,000         
Liquidation preference per share  $25.00   $25.00   $25.00   $25.00         
Average market value (j)  $24.73   $26.37   $25.61   $25.40         
Asset coverage per share (k)  $59.02   $81.61   $76.48   $74.21         
Asset Coverage (n)   236%   326%   306%   297%   347%   425%

 

 
Based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at the net asset value per share on the ex-dividend dates. Total return for a period of less than one year is not annualized.
††Based on market value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions at prices determined under the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan and adjustments for the rights offering. Total return for a period of less than one year is not annualized.
*Based on year to date book income. Amounts are subject to change and recharacterization at year end.
(a)Includes income resulting from special dividends. Without these dividends, the per share income amount would have been $0.02 and the net investment income ratio would have been 0.20%.
(b)Calculated based on average common shares outstanding on the record dates throughout the periods.
(c)Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.
(d)Annualized.
(e)The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. For all periods presented, there was no impact on the expense ratios.
(f)Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares before fee waived/fee reduction for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, would have been 1.23%, 1.21%, 1.30%, 1.25%, 1.22%, and 1.23%, respectively.
(g)In 2019, due to failed auctions relating to previous fiscal years, the Fund reversed accumulated auction agent fees. For the year ended December 31, 2019, there was no impact to the ratio of operating expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares and the ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including the liquidation value of preferred shares.
(h)Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets including liquidation value of preferred shares net of advisory fee reduction for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, would have been 1.23%, 1.30%, 1.25%, 1.15%, and 1.23%, respectively.
(i)Based on weekly prices.
(j)Asset coverage per share is calculated by combining all series of preferred stock.
(k)The Fund redeemed and retired all its outstanding Series B Preferred Shares on December 26, 2019.
(l)Actual number of shares outstanding is 10.
(m)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 auctions.
(n)Asset coverage is calculated by combining all series of preferred stock.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

14 

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1.  Organization. The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. (the Fund) was incorporated on March 31, 1994 in Maryland. The Fund is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund 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 stockholder approval. The Fund will provide stockholders with notice at least sixty days prior to the implementation of any change in the 80% Policy.

 

2.  Significant Accounting Policies. As an investment company, the Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance, which is part of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that may require the use of management estimates and assumptions in the preparation of its financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

 

The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19, has caused adverse effects on many companies, sectors, nations, regions, and the markets in general, and may continue for an unpredictable duration. The effects of this pandemic may materially impact the value and performance of the Fund, its ability to buy and sell fund investments at appropriate valuations, and its ability to achieve its investment objectives.

 

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 obligations 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 securities are valued using the closing bid price, 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. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations. Futures contracts are valued at the closing settlement price of the exchange or board of trade on which the applicable contract is traded. OTC futures and options on futures for which market quotations are readily available will be valued by quotations received from a pricing service or, if no quotations are available from a pricing service, by quotations obtained from one or more dealers in the instrument in question by the Adviser.

 

15

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

A  financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

16

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2022 is as follows:

 

   Valuation Inputs     
   Level 1 Quoted Prices   Level 2 Other Significant Observable Inputs   Level 3 Significant Unobservable Inputs (a)   Total Market Value at 06/30/22 
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:                
ASSETS (Market Value):                
Common Stocks:                    
Copyright/Creativity Companies                    
Computer Software and Services  $19,393,779   $40       $19,393,819 
Publishing   3,659,003    30,304        3,689,307 
Other Industries (b)   64,707,525            64,707,525 
Distribution Companies                    
Broadcasting   16,308,915    14,460        16,323,375 
Business Services   3,644,900       $584    3,645,484 
Financial Services   4,054,197    4,839    7,000    4,066,036 
Real Estate   5,686,375        183    5,686,558 
Telecommunications: National   12,384,133    5,252    0    12,389,385 
Wireless Communications   8,838,501    37,855        8,876,356 
Other Industries (b)   78,066,171            78,066,171 
Total Common Stocks   216,743,499    92,750    7,767    216,844,016 
Closed-End Funds       40,400        40,400 
Preferred Stocks (b)   785,785            785,785 
Rights (b)       323        323 
Warrants (b)   10            10 
U.S. Government Obligations       17,055,748        17,055,748 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS  $217,529,294   $17,189,221   $7,767   $234,726,282 

 

 

 

(a)The inputs for these securities are not readily available and are derived based on the judgment of the Adviser according to procedures approved by the Board of Directors.

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

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund did not have material transfers into or out of Level 3.

 

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 are 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.

 

17

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

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

 

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

 

Investments in Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest, from time to time, in shares of other investment companies (or entities that would be considered investment companies but are excluded from the definition pursuant to certain exceptions under the 1940 Act) (the Acquired Funds) in accordance with the 1940 Act and related rules. Stockholders in the Fund would bear the pro rata portion of the periodic expenses of the Acquired Funds in addition to the Fund’s expenses. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund’s pro rata portion of the periodic expenses charged by the Acquired Funds was less than one basis point.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual

 

18

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than 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. At June 30, 2022, the Fund held no restricted securities.

 

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 an accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized using the effective yield to maturity method or amortized to earliest call date, if applicable. 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 Stockholders. Distributions to common stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The characterization of distributions to stockholders is 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 stockholders of the Fund’s Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock (Series C Preferred), 5.125% Series E Cumulative Preferred Stock (Series E Preferred), and 5.125% Series G Preferred Stock (Series G Preferred) are accrued on a daily basis and are determined as described in Note 6.

 

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. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered the current yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund.

 

19

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:

 

   Common   Preferred 
Distributions paid from:          
Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)   $1,768,849   $518,443 
Long term capital gains   15,660,653    4,590,075 
Return of capital   5,303,790     
Total distributions paid  $22,733,292   $5,108,518 

 

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.

 

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized depreciation at June 30, 2022:

 

    Cost   Gross Unrealized Appreciation   Gross Unrealized Depreciation   Net Unrealized Depreciation  
Investments   $242,608,326   $37,042,794   $(44,924,838)   $(7,882,044)  

 

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, 2022, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2022, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

 

3.  Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the Advisory Agreement) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed 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 Series C 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 on each particular series of the Preferred Stock for the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund’s total return on the NAV of the common shares did not exceed the stated dividend rate of Series C Preferred Stock. Thus, advisory fees with respect to the liquidation value of the Preferred Shares were reduced by $1,240. Advisory fees were not accrued on the Series C Preferred Stock.

  

20

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

4.  Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the six months ended June 30, 2022, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $14,623,958 and $22,367,910, respectively.

 

5. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Arrangements. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund paid $1,237 in brokerage commissions on security trades to G.research, LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. The amount of such expenses paid through this directed brokerage arrangement during this period was $2,451.

 

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser. Under the sub-administration agreement with Bank of New York Mellon, the fees paid include the cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV. The Fund reimburses the Adviser for this service. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund accrued $22,500 in accounting fees in the Statement of Operations.

 

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). During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Fund accrued $48,155 in payroll expenses in the Statement of Operations.

 

The Fund pays retainer and per meeting fees to Directors not affiliated with the Adviser, plus specified amounts to the Lead Director and Audit Committee Chairman. Directors are also reimbursed for out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.

 

6.  Capital. The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation permit 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 common 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, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021, the Fund did not repurchase any of its common shares.

 

Transactions in shares of common stock were as follows:

 

   Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
   Year Ended 
December 31, 2021
 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount 
Increase in net assets from common shares issued in offering           1,912,422   $18,168,009 
Increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions   104,371   $797,971    254,819    2,314,933 
Net increase   104,371   $797,971    2,167,241   $20,482,942 

 

21

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

On July 13, 2021, the Fund distributed one transferable right for each of the 25,383,076 common shares outstanding held on that date. Four rights were required to purchase one additional common share at the subscription price of $9.50 per share. On August 31, 2021, the Fund issued 1,912,422 common shares receiving net proceeds of $17,693,897, after the deduction of offering expenses of $474,112. The NAV of the Fund increased by $0.02 per share on the day the additional shares were issued due to the additional shares being issued above NAV. The fund has an effective shelf registration authorizing an additional $381 million of common or preferred shares.

 

The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 4,001,000 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 stockholders. 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 C, Series E, and Series G Preferred at redemption prices of $25,000, $25, and $25, 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 stockholders 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 stockholders.

 

The Fund has the authority to purchase its auction rate preferred shares through negotiated private transactions. The Fund is not obligated to purchase any dollar amount or number of auction rate preferred shares, and the timing and amount of any auction rate preferred shares purchased will depend on market conditions, share price, capital availability, and other factors. The Fund is not soliciting holders to sell these shares nor recommending that holders offer them to the Fund. Any offers can be accepted or rejected in the Fund’s discretion.

 

For Series C Preferred Stock, the dividend rates, as set by the auction process that is generally held every seven days, are expected to vary with short term interest rates. Since February 2008, the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock subject to bid orders by potential holders has been less than the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock subject to sell orders. Holders that have submitted sell orders have not been able to sell any or all of the Series C Preferred Stock for which they have submitted sell orders. Therefore the weekly auctions have failed, and the dividend rate has been the maximum rate, which is 175% of the “AA” Financial Composite Commercial Paper Rate on the day of such auction. Existing Series C stockholders may submit an order to hold, bid, or sell such shares on each auction date, or trade their shares in the secondary market.

 

The Fund may redeem at any time, in whole or in part, the Series C Preferred Stock at its redemption price. In addition, the Board has authorized the repurchase of the Series E and Series G Preferred Stock in the open market at prices less than the $25 liquidation value per share. The Fund did not repurchase any preferred shares during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

  

22

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

The following table summarizes Cumulative Preferred Stock information:

 

Series   Issue Date   Authorized   Number of
Shares
Outstanding at
6/30/2022
  Net Proceeds  

2022 Dividend
Rate Range

  Dividend
Rate at
6/30/2022
  Accrued
Dividends at
6/30/2022
 
C Auction Rate   March 31, 2003   1,000   10   $24,547,465   0.123% to 2.766%   2.766%   $37  
E 5.125%   September 26, 2017   2,000,000   1,996,700   $48,192,240   Fixed Rate   5.125%   $35,532  
G 5.125%   December 20, 2019   2,000,000   1,990,201   $48,148,000   Fixed Rate   5.125%   $35,416  

 

The holders of Preferred Shares generally are entitled to one vote per share held on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Fund and will vote together with holders of common stock as a single class. The holders of Preferred Shares 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 of Directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all outstanding shares of the preferred shares, 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 shares 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.

 

 

7.  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.

 

8.  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.

 

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

 

23

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc. 

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

Certifications

 

The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that, as of June 3, 2022, 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.

  

 

Stockholder Meeting – May 9, 2022 – Final Results

 

The Fund’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held virtually on May 9, 2022. At that meeting, common and preferred shareholders, voting together as a single class, re-elected Mario J. Gabelli, Calgary Avansino, and Christopher J. Marangi as Directors of the Fund, with 19,000,821 votes, 21,204,461 votes, and 21,330,381 votes cast in favor of these Directors, and 3,089,539 votes, 885,899 votes, and 759,978 votes withheld for these Directors, respectively.

 

In addition, preferred shareholders, voting as a separate class, re-elected Anthony S. Colavita as a Trustee of the Fund, with 2,650,445 votes cast in favor of this Trustee and 94,572 votes withheld for this Trustee.

 

John Birch, Elizabeth C. Bogan, James P. Conn, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Kuni Nakamura, Werner J. Roeder, Salvatore J. Zizza, and Daniel E. Zucchi continue to serve in their capacities as Directors of the Fund.

 

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

 

24

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (Unaudited)

 

Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act, as amended, contemplates that the Board of 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 the Adviser for the Fund.

 

More specifically, at a meeting held on May 11, 2022, 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 Members 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 to assist it in performing certain of its administrative functions. The Board Members concluded that the nature and extent of the services provided were 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 Members 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 Members also focused on the Adviser’s reputation and long standing relationship with the Fund. The Board Members 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 Members reviewed the investment performance of the Fund, on an absolute basis, as compared to its Lipper peer group of other SEC registered open-end and closed-end funds. The Board Members considered the Fund’s one, three, five, and ten year average annual total return for the periods ended March 31, 2022, but placed greater emphasis on the Fund’s longer term performance. The peer group considered by the

 

25

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

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

 

Board Members was developed by Gabelli 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 Members noted that the Fund’s performance was below the median for the one year, three year, five year, and ten year periods. The Board Members concluded that the Fund’s performance was reasonable in comparison to that of the Performance Peer Group.

 

In connection with its assessment of the performance of the Adviser, the Board Members 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 Members 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 Members’ 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 Members considered a number of factors. First, the Board Members compared the level of the advisory fee for the Fund against a comparative Gabelli expense peer group comprised of other selected closed-end core, growth, and value equity funds (Expense Peer Group). The Board Members also considered comparative non-management fee expenses and comparative total fund expenses of the Fund and the Expense Peer Group. The Board Members considered this information 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 Members considered the comparative contract rates. The Board Members noted that the Fund’s advisory fee and total expense ratios were higher than average when compared to those of the Expense Peer Group.

 

The Board Members also reviewed the fees charged by the Adviser to provide similar advisory services to other RICs 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 Members 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 Members reviewed Pro-forma Income Statements of the Adviser for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Board Members 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 Members received an analysis based on the Fund’s average net assets during the period as well as a proforma analysis of profitability at higher and lower asset levels. The Board Members concluded that the profitability of the Fund to the Adviser under either analysis was not excessive.

 

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 Members’ consideration of economies of scale, the Board Members discussed whether economies of scale would be realized by the Fund at higher asset levels. The Board Members also

 

26

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

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

 

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 Members also assessed whether certain of the Adviser’s costs would increase if asset levels rise. The Board Members 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 Members 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 Members also discussed other benefits received by the Adviser from their management of the Fund. The Board Members 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 Members, including all of the Independent Board Members, determined that the Fund’s advisory fee was fair and reasonable with respect to the quality of services provided and in light of 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 the evaluation of all these factors and did not consider any one factor as all important or controlling.

 

27

 

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT

AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS

 

Under the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan (the “Plan”), a shareholder whose shares of common s tock are registered in his or her own name will have all distributions reinvested automatically by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”), which is an agent under the Plan, unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. Distributions with respect to shares registered in the name of a broker-dealer or other nominee (that is, in “street name”) will be reinvested by the broker or nominee in additional shares under the Plan, unless the service is not provided by the broker or nominee or the shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash. Investors who own shares of common stock registered in street name should consult their broker-dealers for details regarding reinvestment. All distributions to investors who do not participate in the Plan will be paid by check mailed directly to the record holder by Computershare as dividend-disbursing agent.

 

Enrollment in the Plan 

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

 

The Gabelli Multimedia Trust Inc.

c/o Computershare

P.O. Box 505000

Louisville, KY 40233-5000

Telephone: (800) 336-6983

Website: www.computershare.com/investor

 

Shareholders requesting this cash election must include the shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the Fund’s records. Shareholders with additional questions regarding the Plan or requesting a copy of the terms of the Plan, may contact Computershare at the website or telephone number above.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT

AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS

(Continued)

 

Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan 

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

 

Participants in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to Computershare for investments in the Fund’s shares at the then current market price. shareholders may send an amount from $250 to $10,000. Computershare will use these funds to purchase shares in the open market on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. Computershare will charge each shareholder who participates $0.75, plus a per share fee (currently $0.02 per share). Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions Computershare is required to pay and fees for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual fees for such transactions. It is suggested that any voluntary cash payments be sent to Computershare, P.O. Box 6006, Carol Stream, IL 60197-6006 such that Computershare receives such payments approximately two business days before the 1st and 15th of the month. Funds not received at least two business days before the investment date shall be held for investment until the next purchase date. A payment may be withdrawn without charge if notice is received by Computershare at least two business days before such payment is to be invested.

 

Shareholders wishing to liquidate shares held at Computershare may do so through the Internet, in writing or by telephone to the above-mentioned website, address or telephone number. Include in your request your name, address, and account number. Computershare will sell such shares through a broker-dealer selected by Computershare within 5 business days of receipt of the request. The sale price will equal the weighted average price of all shares sold through the Plan on the day of the sale, less applicable fees. Participants should note that Computershare is unable to accept instructions to sell on a specific date or at a specific price. The cost to liquidate shares is $2.50 per transaction as well as the per share fee (currently $0.10 per share) Per share fees include any applicable brokerage commissions Computershare is required to pay and are expected to be less than the usual fees for such transactions.

 

More information regarding the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan is available by calling (914) 921-5070 or by writing directly to the Fund.

 

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of the Plan at least 30 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by Computershare on at least 30 days written notice to participants in the Plan.

 

 

 

This page was intentionally left blank.

 

 

 

THE GABELLI MULTIMEDIA TRUST INC.

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

   

 

 

Portfolio Management Team Biographies

 

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. He is also Executive Chairman of Associated Capital Group, Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.

 

Christopher J. Marangi joined Gabelli in 2003 as a research analyst. Currently he is a Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer for GAMCO Investors, Inc.’s Value team. In addition, he serves as a portfolio manager of Gabelli Funds, LLC and manages several funds within the Fund Complex. Mr. Marangi graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Political Economy from Williams College and holds an MBA degree with honors from Columbia Business School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b)Not applicable.

 

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
01/01/2022

through

01/31/2022

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A

Common – 27,431,380

Preferred Series G – 1,990,201

Preferred Series E – 1,996,700

Month #2
02/01/2022

through

02/28/2022

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A

Common – 27,431,380

Preferred Series G – 1,990,201

Preferred Series E – 1,996,700

Month #3
03/01/2022

through

03/31/2022

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – 27,476,851

Preferred Series G – 1,990,201

Preferred Series E – 1,996,700

Month #4
04/01/2022

through

04/30/2022

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – 27,476,851

Preferred Series G – 1,990,201

Preferred Series E – 1,996,700

Month #5
05/01/2022

through

05/31/2022

 

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A

 

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A

 

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A

 

Common –27,476,851

Preferred Series G – 1,990,201

Preferred Series E – 1,996,700

 

Month #6
06/01/2022

through

06/30/2022

Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – N/A
Common – 27,535,751

Preferred Series G – 1,990,201

Preferred Series E – 1,996,700
Total Common – N/A

Preferred Series G –  N/A

Preferred Series E –  N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E –  N/A
Common – N/A

Preferred Series G – N/A

Preferred Series E – 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 semiannually in the Fund’s shareholder reports 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 7.5% 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.

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 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. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 13. 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)(2)(1)Not applicable.

 

(a)(2)(2)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.
   
 101Inline Interactive Data File.

 

 

 

 

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/ John C. Ball  
  John C. Ball, Principal Executive Officer  

 

Date   September 7, 2022  

 

 

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

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John C. Ball  
 

John C. Ball, Principal Executive Officer 

 

 

Date   September 7, 2022  

 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John C. Ball  
  John C. Ball, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer  

 

Date   September 7, 2022  

 

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

 

 

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