N-CSRS 1 d730225dncsrs.htm GABELLI DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

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             811-09377                   

                The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund                

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

One Corporate Center

                                 Rye, New York 10580-1422                                

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Bruce N. Alpert

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

                         Rye, New York 10580-1422                        

(Name and address of agent for service)

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

Date of fiscal year end:  December 31

Date of reporting period:  June 30, 2014

 

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

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1.  Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

 

Semiannual Report — June 30, 2014

   LOGO
  

 

Barbara G. Marcin, CFA

To Our Shareholders,    Portfolio Manager

For the six months ended June 30, 2014, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund increased 7.2% compared with the increase of 7.1% for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index. See below for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the schedule of investments and financial statements as of June 30, 2014.

Comparative Results

 

Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2014 (a) (Unaudited)     Since
                     Inception
     Six Months   1 Year   5 Year   10 Year   (8/26/99)

Class AAA (GABBX)

       7.17%       22.94%       15.70%       7.52%       6.22%

S&P 500 Index

   7.14   24.61   18.83   7.78   4.43

Lipper Large Cap Value Fund Average

   6.98   23.19   17.32   7.20   4.83

Class A (GBCAX)

   7.18   22.96   15.70   7.54   6.24

With sales charge (b)

   1.02   15.89   14.33   6.91   5.82

Class C (GBCCX)

   6.85   22.09   14.81   6.73   5.67

With contingent deferred sales charge (c)

   5.85   21.09   14.81   6.73   5.67

Class I (GBCIX)

   7.36   23.28   15.99   7.80   6.41

In the current prospectuses dated April 30, 2014, the expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.75%, respectively. See page 8 for the expense ratios for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A Shares and Class C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively.

  (a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Returns would have been lower had Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”) not reimbursed certain expenses of the Fund. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectuses contain information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. The S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization weighted index of 500 large capitalization stocks commonly used to represent the U.S. equity market. The Lipper Large Cap Value Fund Average reflects the average performance of mutual funds classified in this particular category. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares and Class C Shares on December 31, 2003, and the Class I Shares on June 30, 2004.The actual performance of the Class A and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance for the Class I Shares would have been higher due to the lower expenses related to this class of shares.

 
  (b)

Performance results include the effect of the maximum 5.75% sales charge at the beginning of the period.

 
  (c)

Assuming payment of the 1% maximum contingent deferred sales charge imposed on redemptions made within one year of purchase.

 


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund   
Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)   
For the Six Month Period from January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2014      Expense Table   

 

 

 

We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of fees and expenses regarding your investment. All mutual funds have operating expenses. As a shareholder of a fund, you incur ongoing costs, which include costs for portfolio management, administrative services, and shareholder reports (like this one), among others. Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross income, directly reduce the investment return of a fund. When a fund’s expenses are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets, this figure is known as the expense ratio. The following examples are intended to help you understand the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and to compare these costs with those of other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the period shown and held for the entire period.

The Expense Table below illustrates your Fund’s costs in two ways:

Actual Fund Return: This section provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this section to help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period after any fee waivers and expense reimbursements. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return during the past six months, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.

To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid during this period.

Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio. It assumes a hypothetical annualized return of 5% before expenses during the period shown. In this case – because the hypothetical return used is not the Fund’s actual return – the results do not apply to your investment and you cannot use the hypothetical account value and expense to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. This example is useful in making comparisons of the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

    Beginning     Ending     Annualized   Expenses  
    Account Value     Account Value     Expense   Paid During  
    01/01/14     06/30/14     Ratio   Period*  

The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

       

Actual Fund Return

  

   

Class AAA

    $1,000.00        $1,071.70      1.90%     $  9.76   

Class A

    $1,000.00        $1,071.80      1.90%     $  9.76   

Class C

    $1,000.00        $1,068.50      2.65%     $13.59   

Class I

    $1,000.00        $1,073.60      1.65%     $  8.48   

Hypothetical 5% Return

 

Class AAA

    $1,000.00        $1,015.37      1.90%     $  9.49   

Class A

    $1,000.00        $1,015.37      1.90%     $  9.49   

Class C

    $1,000.00        $1,011.65      2.65%     $13.22   

Class I

    $1,000.00        $1,016.61      1.65%     $  8.25   

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (181 days), then divided by 365.

 

 

2


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of June 30, 2014:

The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

 

Financial Services

     17.3

Health Care

     12.5

Energy

     12.0

Computer Software and Services

     7.4

Energy Services

     4.8

Diversified Industrial

     4.7

U.S. Government Obligations

     4.2

Metals and Mining

     3.9

Food and Beverage

     3.7

Entertainment

     3.5

Electronics

     3.3

Water

     3.2

Retail

     3.1

Automotive

     3.1

Specialty Chemicals

     3.1

Telecommunications

     2.4

Paper and Forest Products

     2.4

Communications Equipment

     2.2

Environmental Services

     1.3

Cable and Satellite

     1.0

Agriculture

     0.4

Consumer Services

     0.3

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

     0.2
  

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

100.0

 

  

 

 

 
 

 

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

Proxy Voting

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

 

3


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments — June 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

 

                   Market  

Shares

         

Cost

    

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS — 95.6%

     
  

Agriculture — 0.4%

     
  1,000       Monsanto Co.    $ 59,350       $ 124,740   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Automotive — 3.1%

     
  20,000       General Motors Co.      675,236         726,000   
  10,000       Navistar International Corp.†      311,426         374,800   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        986,662         1,100,800   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Cable and Satellite — 1.0%

     
  2,500       Time Warner Cable Inc.      334,081         368,250   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Communications Equipment — 2.2%      
  15,300       Cisco Systems Inc.      280,188         380,205   
  5,000       QUALCOMM Inc.      360,234         396,000   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        640,422         776,205   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Computer Software and Services — 7.4%

  

  
  17,500       Apple Inc.      1,204,562         1,626,275   
  200       Google Inc., Cl. C†      108,989         115,056   
  21,000       Microsoft Corp.      573,073         875,700   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,886,624         2,617,031   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Consumer Services — 0.3%

     
  2,500       The ADT Corp.      65,393         87,350   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
   Diversified Industrial — 4.7%      
  28,000       General Electric Co.      488,174         735,840   
  10,000       Honeywell International Inc.      323,863         929,500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        812,037         1,665,340   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Electronics — 3.3%

     
  21,600       Intel Corp.      490,712         667,440   
  10,800       Texas Instruments Inc.      202,032         516,132   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        692,744         1,183,572   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Energy — 12.0%

     
  2,000       Apache Corp.      171,419         201,240   
  2,700       Chevron Corp.      187,531         352,485   
  11,050       ConocoPhillips      424,479         947,316   
  19,000       CONSOL Energy Inc.      731,316         875,330   
  6,000       Devon Energy Corp.      359,387         476,400   
  6,000       Exxon Mobil Corp.      439,773         604,080   
  7,525       Phillips 66      215,472         605,236   
  6,000       Statoil ASA, ADR      135,982         184,980   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        2,665,359         4,247,067   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Energy Services — 4.8%

     
  15,500       Halliburton Co.      523,171         1,100,655   
  6,100       Transocean Ltd.      342,363         274,683   
  15,000       Weatherford International plc†      313,755         345,000   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,179,289         1,720,338   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Entertainment — 3.5%

     
  6,000       Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., Cl. A      460,813         486,840   
                   Market  

Shares

         

Cost

    

Value

 
  9,000      

The Walt Disney Co.

   $ 307,957       $ 771,660   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        768,770         1,258,500   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Environmental Services — 1.3%

     
  10,000      

Waste Management Inc.

     316,772         447,300   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Financial Services — 17.3%

     
  4,500      

American Express Co.

     124,768         426,915   
  21,000      

American International Group Inc.

     777,207         1,146,180   
  16,000      

Citigroup Inc.

     578,193         753,600   
  12,000      

CME Group Inc.

     640,042         851,400   
  12,000      

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     412,688         691,440   
  17,000      

Morgan Stanley

     286,632         549,610   
  25,000      

The Blackstone Group LP

     837,509         836,000   
  5,000      

U.S. Bancorp

     166,500         216,600   
  11,000      

Waddell & Reed Financial Inc., Cl. A

     299,210         688,490   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        4,122,749         6,160,235   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Food and Beverage — 3.7%

     
  3,000      

Diageo plc, ADR

     255,162         381,810   
  12,000      

Mondelēz International Inc., Cl. A

     207,371         451,320   
  5,400      

PepsiCo Inc.

     345,768         482,436   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        808,301         1,315,566   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Health Care — 12.5%

     
  6,487      

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     165,712         314,684   
  5,400      

Covidien plc

     160,383         486,972   
  4,000      

Eli Lilly & Co.

     166,519         248,680   
  7,000      

Gilead Sciences Inc.†

     508,757         580,370   
  3,000      

Johnson & Johnson

     178,073         313,860   
  11,950      

Merck & Co. Inc.

     376,556         691,307   
  18,575      

Pfizer Inc.

     323,306         551,306   
  8,000      

Sanofi, ADR

     406,855         425,360   
  25,854      

Zoetis Inc.

     717,266         834,309   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        3,003,427         4,446,848   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Metals and Mining — 3.9%

     
  20,000      

Barrick Gold Corp.

     364,548         366,000   
  20,000      

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

     713,205         730,000   
  12,000      

Newmont Mining Corp.

     488,021         305,280   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,565,774         1,401,280   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Paper and Forest Products — 2.4%

     
  17,000      

International Paper Co.

     493,731         857,990   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Retail — 3.1%

     
  25,000      

Best Buy Co. Inc.

     645,208         775,250   
  12,000      

Hertz Global Holdings Inc.†

     333,562         336,360   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        978,770         1,111,610   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Specialty Chemicals — 3.1%

     
  8,000      

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.

     296,906         523,520   
  11,000      

The Dow Chemical Co.

     308,351         566,060   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        605,257         1,089,580   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

         

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

     
  

Telecommunications — 2.4%

     
  10,260      

Verizon Communications Inc.

   $ 399,351       $ 502,022   
  10,909      

Vodafone Group plc, ADR

     503,320         364,252   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        902,671         866,274   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

Water — 3.2%

     
  9,000      

American Water Works Co. Inc.

     264,166         445,050   
  18,000      

Xylem Inc.

     480,941         703,440   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        745,107         1,148,490   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     23,633,290         33,994,366   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

                    
  

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 4.2%

  

  
$ 1,476,000      

U.S. Treasury Bills,

     
  

    0.020% to 0.070%††,

     
  

    07/03/14 to 10/30/14

     1,475,852         1,475,876   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.8%

   $ 25,109,142         35,470,242   
     

 

 

    
  

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — 0.2%

  

     84,907   
        

 

 

 
  

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

      $ 35,555,149   
        

 

 

 

    

 

 

Non-income producing security.

††

Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets:

  

Investments, at value (cost $25,109,142)

   $ 35,470,242   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     157,399   

Prepaid expenses

     37,704   

Dividends receivable

     36,359   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     35,701,704   
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Payable to custodian

     44,877   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

     25,903   

Payable for investment advisory fees

     28,829   

Payable for distribution fees

     7,224   

Payable for shareholder communications expenses

     23,177   

Payable for legal and audit fees

     9,910   

Other accrued expenses

     6,635   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     146,555   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

(applicable to 1,740,229 shares outstanding)

   $ 35,555,149   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

   $ 22,623,729   

Accumulated net investment income

     427,448   

Accumulated net realized gain on investments

     2,142,872   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     10,361,100   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 35,555,149   
  

 

 

 
Shares of Beneficial Interest, each at $0.001 par value; unlimited number of shares authorized:   

Class AAA:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($25,863,617 ÷ 1,263,220 shares outstanding)

     $20.47   

Class A:

  

Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($3,635,988 ÷ 177,846 shares outstanding)

     $20.44   

Maximum offering price per share (NAV ÷ 0.9425, based on maximum sales charge of 5.75% of the offering price)

     $21.69   

Class C:

  

Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($1,594,164 ÷ 82,400 shares outstanding)

     $19.35 (a) 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($4,461,380 ÷ 216,763 shares outstanding)

     $20.58   

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2014 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Investment Income:

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $4,054)

   $ 728,155   

Interest

     60   
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     728,215   
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     167,356   

Distribution fees - Class AAA

     30,756   

Distribution fees - Class A

     4,138   

Distribution fees - Class C

     7,256   

Registration expenses

     23,340   

Shareholder communications expenses

     21,289   

Shareholder services fees

     16,366   

Trustees’ fees

     14,876   

Legal and audit fees

     7,256   

Custodian fees

     4,899   

Miscellaneous expenses

     9,563   
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     307,095   
  

 

 

 

Plus:

  

Expenses recovered by Adviser (See Note 3)

     10,696   
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     317,791   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     410,424   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments:

  

Net realized gain on investments

     2,224,614   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     (241,887
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments

     1,982,727   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ 2,393,151   
  

 

 

 
 

 

(a)

Redemption price varies based on the length of time held.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

 

             Six Months Ended     
             June 30, 2014    Year Ended
             (Unaudited)    December 31, 2013

Operations:

         

Net investment income

   $ 410,424         $ 186,858     

Net realized gain on investments

     2,224,614           1,292,378     

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments

     (241,887               6,359,745     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

     2,393,151                                 7,838,981     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

         

Net investment income

         

Class AAA

               (113,932  

Class A

               (15,457  

Class C

               (70  

Class I

               (27,415  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   
               (156,874  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Net realized gain

         

Class AAA

               (857,008  

Class A

               (105,211  

Class C

               (55,799  

Class I

               (138,603  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   
               (1,156,621  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total Distributions to Shareholders

               (1,313,495  
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Shares of Beneficial Interest Transactions:

         

Class AAA

     (932,102        1,407,865     

Class A

     325,176           1,191,417     

Class C

     (129,220        247,156     

Class I

     89,615           378,934     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets from Shares of Beneficial Interest Transactions

     (646,531        3,225,372     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Redemption Fees

     3           3     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

Net Increase in Net Assets

     1,746,623           9,750,861     

Net Assets:

         

Beginning of year

     33,808,526           24,057,665     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

End of period (including undistributed net investment income of $427,448 and $17,024, respectively)

   $ 35,555,149         $ 33,808,526     
  

 

 

      

 

 

   

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:

          Income (Loss)
from Investment Operations
    Distributions                       Ratios to Average Net Assets/
Supplemental Data

  Year Ended
December 31

 

Net Asset

Value,

Beginning

of Year

   

Net

Investment

Income

(Loss)(a)

   

Net

Realized

and

Unrealized

Gain (Loss)

on

Investments

   

Total from
Investment
Operations

   

Net

Investment

Income

   

Net

Realized

Gain on

Investments

   

Return of
Capital(b)

   

Total
Distributions

   

Redemption

Fees (a)(b)

   

Net

Asset
Value,
End of
Period

   

Total
Return†

   

Net Assets,

End of Period

(in 000’s)

   

Net

Investment

Income

(Loss)

 

Operating

Expenses

Before

Reimbursement

 

Operating

Expenses
Net of

Reimburse-

ment and

Credits (c)

 

Portfolio

Turnover

Rate

Class AAA

  

                             

2014(d)

  $ 19.10      $ 0.23      $ 1.14      $ 1.37                                  $ 0.00      $ 20.47        7.2   $ 25,864       2.45%(e)   1.90%(e)   1.90%(e)(f)      17%

2013

    15.10        0.11        4.66        4.77      $ (0.09   $ (0.68          $ (0.77     0.00        19.10        31.7        25,051       0.64   2.00   2.00(f)      12

2012

    13.71        0.18        1.40        1.58        (0.19                   (0.19     0.00        15.10        11.5        18,621       1.21   2.11   2.00      20

2011

    13.82        0.04        (0.11     (0.07     (0.04                   (0.04     0.00        13.71        (0.5     21,551       0.28   2.00   2.00(f)      45

2010

    12.25        (0.02     1.59        1.57                                           13.82        12.8        25,152      (0.14)   2.12   2.00      42

2009

    9.40        (0.00 )(b)      2.88        2.88        (0.03          $ (0.00     (0.03     0.00        12.25        30.6        26,045       0.04   2.13   2.01      76

Class A

  

                             

2014(d)

  $ 19.07      $ 0.24      $ 1.13      $ 1.37                                  $ 0.00      $ 20.44        7.2   $ 3,636       2.50%(e)   1.90%(e)   1.90%(e)(f)      17%

2013

    15.09        0.12        4.64        4.76      $ (0.10   $ (0.68          $ (0.78     0.00        19.07        31.6        3,062       0.66   2.00   2.00(f)      12

2012

    13.70        0.17        1.41        1.58        (0.19                   (0.19     0.00        15.09        11.6        1,421       1.18   2.11   2.00      20

2011

    13.82        0.04        (0.11     (0.07     (0.05                   (0.05     0.00        13.70        (0.5     1,451       0.32   2.00   2.00(f)      45

2010

    12.25        (0.02     1.59        1.57                                           13.82        12.8        1,153      (0.14)   2.12   2.00      42

2009

    9.41        (0.01     2.89        2.88        (0.04          $ (0.00     (0.04     0.00        12.25        30.6        1,404      (0.07)   2.13   2.01      76

Class C

  

                             

2014(d)

  $ 18.11      $ 0.15      $ 1.09      $ 1.24                                  $ 0.00      $ 19.35        6.8   $ 1,594       1.67%(e)   2.65%(e)   2.65%(e)(f)      17%

2013

    14.39        (0.02     4.42        4.40      $ (0.00 )(b)    $ (0.68          $ (0.68     0.00        18.11        30.6        1,630      (0.10)   2.75   2.75(f)      12

2012

    13.12        0.07        1.32        1.39        (0.12                   (0.12     0.00        14.39        10.6        1,103       0.51   2.86   2.75      20

2011

    13.28        (0.05     (0.11     (0.16                                 0.00        13.12        (1.2     600      (0.41)   2.75   2.75(f)      45

2010

    11.86        (0.11     1.53        1.42                                           13.28        12.0        424      (0.90)   2.87   2.75      42

2009

    9.15        (0.09     2.80        2.71                                    0.00        11.86        29.6        300      (0.82)   2.88   2.76      76

Class I

  

                             

2014(d)

  $ 19.17      $ 0.26      $ 1.15      $ 1.41                                  $ 0.00      $ 20.58        7.4   $ 4,461       2.68%(e)   1.65%(e)   1.65%(e)(f)      17%

2013

    15.15        0.16        4.67        4.83      $ (0.13   $ (0.68          $ (0.81     0.00        19.17        32.0        4,066       0.89   1.75   1.75(f)      12

2012

    13.76        0.22        1.40        1.62        (0.23                   (0.23     0.00        15.15        11.8        2,913       1.50   1.86   1.75      20

2011

    13.87        0.08        (0.11     (0.03     (0.08                   (0.08     0.00        13.76        (0.2     1,800       0.57   1.75   1.75(f)      45

2010

    12.26        0.01        1.60        1.61                                    0.00        13.87        13.1        1,575       0.11   1.87   1.75      42

2009

    9.41        0.03        2.87        2.90        (0.05          $ (0.00     (0.05     0.00        12.26        30.9        844       0.28   1.88   1.76      76

 

       †

Total return represents aggregate total return of a hypothetical $1,000 investment at the beginning of the year and sold at the end of the period including reinvestment of distributions and does not reflect applicable sales charges. Total return for a period of less than one year is not annualized.

    (a)

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares outstanding method.

    (b)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

    (c)

The Fund also incurred tax expense during the year ended December 31, 2009. If tax expense had not been incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 2.00% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.75% (Class C), and 1.75% (Class I), respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010, there were no tax expenses incurred by the Fund.

    (d)

For the six months ended June 30, 2014, unaudited.

    (e)

Annualized.

    (f)

Under an expense deferral agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser recovered from the Fund $10,696, $16,430 and $13,570 for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2011, respectively, representing previously reimbursed expenses from the Adviser. Had such payment not been made, the expense ratio would have been 1.83%, 1.94% and 1.95% (Class AAA and Class A) 2.58%, 2.69% and 2.70% (Class C), and 1.58%, 1.69% and 1.70% (Class I). During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2010, and 2009, the Adviser did not recover any previously reimbursed expenses.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund was organized on May 13, 1999 as a Delaware statutory trust. The Fund is a diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund commenced operations on August 26, 1999.

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

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Trustees (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 the Adviser.

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

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

 

9


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

 

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

   

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

   

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

   

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

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2014 is as follows:

 

     Investments  
     in Securities  
     (Market Value)  

Valuation Inputs*

   Assets  

Level 1 - Quoted Prices

     $33,994,366   

Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs

     1,475,876   
  

 

 

 

Total

     $35,470,242   
  

 

 

 

 

*

Portfolio holdings designated in Level 1 and Level 2 are disclosed individually in the Schedule of Investments (“SOI”). Please refer to the SOI for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings. Level 1 consists of common stocks. Level 2 consists of U.S. Government Obligations.

The Fund did not have transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the six months ended June 30, 2014. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

There were no Level 3 investments held at June 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

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

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common and preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, and fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding

 

10


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

 

factors do not apply. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

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

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

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

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

Determination of Net Asset Value and Calculation of Expenses. Certain administrative expenses are common to, and allocated among, various affiliated funds. Such allocations are made on the basis of each fund’s average net assets or other criteria directly affecting the expenses as determined by the Adviser pursuant to procedures established by the Board.

In calculating the NAV per share of each class, investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, redemption fees, and expenses other than class specific expenses are allocated daily to each class of shares based upon the proportion of net assets of each class at the beginning of each day. Distribution expenses are borne solely by the class incurring the expense.

Custodian Fee Credits. When cash balances are maintained in the custody account, the Fund receives credits which are used to offset custodian fees. The gross expenses paid under the custody arrangement are included in custodian fees in the Statement of Operations with the corresponding expense offset, if any, shown as “Custodian fee credits.”

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. These book/ tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are

 

11


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

 

made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund.

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2013 was as follows:

 

Distributions paid from:

  

Ordinary income

   $ 179,599   

Net long term capital gains

     1,133,896   
  

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

   $ 1,313,495   
  

 

 

 

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.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the Fund is permitted to carry forward for an unlimited period capital losses incurred. As a result of the rule, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short term or long term capital losses.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related unrealized appreciation at June 30, 2014:

 

     Cost        Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
       Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
       Net Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Investments

     $25,198,458             $10,752,098             $(480,314)             $10,271,784     

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, 2014, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2014, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. The Fund’s federal and state tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open, subject to examination. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs, and pays the compensation of all Officers and Trustees of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the annualized total operating expenses of the Fund (exclusive of brokerage fees, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) until at least May 1, 2014, at no more than 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.75%, respectively, of Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares’ average daily net assets. In addition, the Fund has agreed, during the two year period following any waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser,

 

12


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

 

to repay such amount to the extent, that after giving the effect to the repayment, such adjusted annualized total operating expenses of the Fund would not exceed 2.00%, 2.00%, 2.75%, and 1.75% of the value of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I, respectively. The Fund is obliged to repay the Adviser for a period of two years following the year in which the Adviser reimbursed the Fund only to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund, after giving effect to the recovery by the Adviser, would not exceed the foregoing limitations. The agreement is renewable annually. During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Adviser recovered $10,696 representing the balance of previously reimbursed expenses.

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

4. Distribution Plan. The Fund’s Board has adopted a distribution plan (the “Plan”) for each class of shares, except for Class I Shares, pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Under the Class AAA, Class A, and Class C Share Plans, payments are authorized to G.distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Adviser, at annual rates of 0.25%, 0.25%, and 1.00%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of those classes, the annual limitations under each Plan. Such payments are accrued daily and paid monthly.

5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the six months ended June 30, 2014, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $6,907,528 and $5,360,790, respectively.

6. Transactions with Affiliates. During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $4,776 to G.research, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. Additionally, the Distributor retained a total of $4,092 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser did not seek a reimbursement during the six months ended June 30, 2014.

7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the higher of the sum of the overnight LIBOR rate plus 100 basis points or the sum of the federal funds rate plus 100 basis points at the time of borrowing. This amount, if any, would be included in “interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. During the six months ended June 30, 2014, there were no borrowings under the line of credit.

8. Shares of Beneficial Interest. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA Shares are offered without a sales charge only to investors who acquire them directly from the Distributor, through selected broker/dealers, or the transfer agent. Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge, solely to certain institutions, directly through the Distributor or brokers that have entered into selling agreements specifically with respect to Class I Shares. Class A Shares are subject

 

13


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

 

to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.

The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, if any, can be found in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets under Redemption Fees.

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2014

(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class AAA

        

Shares sold

     76,088      $ 1,469,169        248,873      $ 4,346,264   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                   48,645        918,899   

Shares redeemed

     (124,736     (2,401,271     (218,821     (3,857,298
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     (48,648   $ (932,102     78,697      $ 1,407,865   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A

        

Shares sold

     54,735      $ 1,032,438        71,393      $ 1,275,057   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                   6,235        117,604   

Shares redeemed

     (37,475     (707,262     (11,245     (201,244
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     17,260      $ 325,176        66,383      $ 1,191,417   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Shares sold

     5,386      $ 102,916        26,158      $ 451,055   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                   3,078        55,154   

Shares redeemed

     (12,942     (232,136     (15,908     (259,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     (7,556   $ (129,220     13,328      $ 247,156   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I

        

Shares sold

     13,637      $ 263,201        41,172      $ 733,016   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                   8,456        160,405   

Shares redeemed

     (8,973     (173,586     (29,725     (514,487
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     4,664      $ 89,615        19,903      $ 378,934   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

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

 

14


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

 

On May 2, 2014, the SEC filed with the Court a stipulation of voluntary dismissal of the civil action against the Officer, and on June 19, 2014, the Court approved the stipulation and entered an order of dismissal of the action against the Officer. The settlement by the Adviser and the disposition of the action against the Officer did not have a material adverse impact on the Adviser or its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Advisory Agreement.

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

 

15


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

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

At its meeting on February 25, 2014, the Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the Fund approved the continuation of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser for the Fund on the basis of the recommendation by the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund (the “Independent Board Members”). The following paragraphs summarize the material information and factors considered by the Independent Board Members as well as their conclusions relative to such factors.

Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services. The Independent Board Members considered information regarding the portfolio manager, the depth of the analyst pool available to the Adviser and the portfolio manager, the scope of supervisory, administrative, shareholder, and other services supervised or provided by the Adviser and the absence of significant service problems reported to the Board. The Independent Board Members noted the experience, length of service, and reputation of the portfolio manager.

Investment Performance. The Independent Board Members reviewed the short, medium, and long term performance of the Fund since inception against a peer group of large-cap value funds. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s performance was in the third quintile for the one year period, the fourth quintile for the three year period, and in the second quintile for the five year period.

Profitability. The Independent Board Members reviewed summary data regarding the lack of profitability of the Fund to the Adviser both with an administrative overhead charge and without such a charge. The Independent Board Members also noted that a substantial portion of the Fund’s portfolio transactions were executed by an affiliated broker, that the affiliated broker received distribution fees and minor amounts of sales commissions and that the Adviser received a moderate amount of soft dollar benefits through the Fund’s portfolio brokerage.

Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members discussed the major elements of the Adviser’s cost structure and the relationship of those elements to potential economies of scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund needed significantly more assets before any potential economies of scale could be realized.

Sharing of Economies of Scale. The Independent Board Members noted that the investment advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not take into account any potential economies of scale that may develop or any historical losses or diminished profitability to the Adviser in prior years.

Service and Cost Comparisons. The Independent Board Members compared the expense ratios of the investment advisory fee, other expenses, and total expenses of the Fund with similar expense ratios of the peer group of large-cap value funds and noted that the advisory fee includes substantially all administrative services for the Fund as well as the investment advisory services of the Adviser. The Independent Board Members noted that the Fund’s expense ratios were above average and the Fund’s size was below average within these groups. The Independent Board Members also noted that an advisory fee waiver structure was in effect for the Fund. The Independent Board Members were presented with, but did not consider material to their decision, various information comparing the advisory fee to the fees for other types of accounts managed by affiliates of the Adviser.

Conclusions. The Independent Board Members concluded that the Fund enjoyed highly experienced portfolio management services, good ancillary services, and a reasonable performance record. The Independent Board Members also concluded that the Fund’s expense ratios and low profitability to the Adviser of managing the Fund were reasonable, particularly in light of the Fund’s performance, and that economies of scale were not a significant factor in their thinking at this time. The Independent Board Members did not view the potential

 

16


The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

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

 

profitability of ancillary services as material to their decision. On the basis of the foregoing and without assigning particular weight to any single conclusion, the Independent Board Members determined to recommend continuation of the Advisory Agreement to the full Board.

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

 

17


Gabelli/GAMCO Funds and Your Personal Privacy

 

 

Who are we?

The Gabelli/GAMCO Funds are investment companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc., which are affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. GAMCO Investors, Inc. is a publicly held company that has subsidiaries that provide investment advisory or brokerage services for a variety of clients.

What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a fund shareholder?

If you apply to open an account directly with us, you will be giving us some non-public information about yourself. The non-public information we collect about you is:

 

   

Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information.

 

 

   

Information about your transactions with us, any transactions with our affiliates, and transactions with the entities we hire to provide services to you. This would include information about the shares that you buy or redeem. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them.

 

What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?

We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.

What do we do to protect your personal information?

We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.

 


THE GABELLI DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Manager Biography

Barbara G. Marcin, CFA, joined GAMCO Investors, Inc. in 1999 and currently serves as a portfolio manager of Gabelli Funds, LLC and manages several funds within the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex. Prior to joining GAMCO, Ms. Marcin was head of value investments at Citibank Global Asset Management. Ms. Marcin graduated with Distinction as an Echols Scholar from the University of Virginia and holds an MBA degree from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business.

 

 

 

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


THE GABELLI DIVIDEND GROWTH FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

t 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)

f 914-921-5118

e info@gabelli.com

   GABELLI.COM

Net Asset Value per share available daily

by calling 800-GABELLI after 7:00 P.M.

 

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES    OFFICERS

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

   Bruce N. Alpert

Chairman and

   President

Chief Executive Officer,

  

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

   Andrea R. Mango
   Secretary

Anthony J. Colavita

  

President,

   Agnes Mullady

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

 

  

Treasurer

 

Vincent D. Enright

   Richard J. Walz

Former Senior Vice

   Chief Compliance

President and Chief

   Officer

Financial Officer,

  

KeySpan Corp.

 

  

DISTRIBUTOR

 

Mary E. Hauck

   G.distributors, LLC

Former Senior Portfolio

  

Manager,

   CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER

Gabelli-O’ Connor Fixed

   AGENT, AND DIVIDEND

Income Mutual Fund

   DISBURSING AGENT

Management Co.

  
   State Street Bank and Trust

Kuni Nakamura

   Company

President,

  

Advanced Polymer, Inc.

 

  

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Werner J. Roeder, MD

   Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &

Medical Director,

   Flom LLP

Lawrence Hospital

  

 

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

GAB402Q214SR

LOGO

 


Item 2.  Code of Ethics.

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 3.  Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 4.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 5.  Audit Committee of Listed registrants.

Not applicable.

 

 

Item 6.  Investments.

 

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

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

 

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

Not applicable.


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

Not applicable.

 

 

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

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

 

Item 11.  Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

 

 

Item 12.  Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)

  

Not applicable.

(a)(2)

  

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

(a)(3)

  

Not applicable.

(b)

  

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


SIGNATURES

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

 

(Registrant)

 

     The Gabelli Dividend Growth Fund

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Bruce N. Alpert

 

       Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date  

     9/02/2014

 

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

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

     /s/ Bruce N. Alpert

 

         Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date

 

     9/02/2014

 

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

   /s/ Agnes Mullady

 

       Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Date

 

     9/02/2014

 

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