N-CSRS 1 d71857dncsrs.htm GABELLI INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC GABELLI INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC

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          811-08560                     

Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc. (formerly GAMCO International Growth Fund, Inc.)

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

   

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

    
  (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)   

 

   

Bruce N. Alpert

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

    
  (Name and address of agent for service)   

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

Date of fiscal year end:  December 31

Date of reporting period:  June 30, 2020

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.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

 

            Semiannual Report — June 30, 2020

   LOGO
  

Caesar M. P. Bryan

Portfolio Manager

To Our Shareholders,

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the net asset value (NAV) per Class AAA Share of the Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc. decreased 0.9% compared with a decrease of 11.1% for the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE) Index. Other classes of shares are available. See page 2 for performance information for all classes of shares.

Enclosed are the financial statements, including the schedule of investments, as of June 30, 2020.

 

 

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, 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.

 


Comparative Results

   

 

Average Annual Returns through June 30, 2020 (a) (Unaudited)

 

    
Since
Inception
 
 

 

   Six Months      1 Year      5 Year      10 Year      15 Year      20 Year      (6/30/95)  

Class AAA (GIGRX)

     (0.88)%        5.13%        4.72%        7.10%        5.27%        3.37%        6.38%  

MSCI EAFE Index

     (11.07)           (4.73)          2.54           6.22           6.42           3.37           4.97     

Lipper International Large-Cap Growth Fund Classification

     (4.56)           3.19           4.00           6.39           5.34           3.68           5.93     

Lipper International Multi-Cap Growth Fund Classification

     (4.21)           3.73           4.43           6.86           4.83           3.56           5.74     

Class A (GAIGX)

     (1.46)           3.90           4.19           6.84           5.12           3.33           6.35     

With sales charge (b)

     (7.13)           (2.07)          2.96           6.21           4.70           3.02           6.10     

Class C (GCIGX)

     (1.83)           3.12           3.42           6.04           4.31           2.45           5.62     

With contingent deferred sales charge (c)

     (2.81)           2.12           3.42           6.04           4.31           2.49           5.62     

Class I (GIIGX)

     (0.73)           5.40           5.51           7.73           5.73           3.71           6.66     

In the current prospectuses dated April 29, 2020, the gross expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 2.44%, 2.44%, 3.19%, and 2.19%, respectively, and the net expense ratios for these share classes after contractual reimbursements by Gabelli Funds, LLC, (the “Adviser”) are 1.27%, 2.44%, 3.19%, and 1.02%, respectively. See page 9 for the expense ratios for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The contractual reimbursements for Class AAA and Class I Shares are in effect through April 30, 2021. 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 for Class I Shares would have been lower had the Adviser not reimbursed certain expenses. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days 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. Investing in foreign securities involves risks not ordinarily associated with investments in domestic issues, including currency fluctuation, economic, and political risks. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares on July 25, 2001, December 17, 2000, and January 11, 2008, respectively. The actual performance of the Class A Shares and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of the Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. The MSCI EAFE Index is an unmanaged indicator of international stock market performance, while the Lipper International Large-Cap Growth Fund Classification and the Lipper International Multi-Cap Growth Fund Classification reflect the average performance of mutual funds classified in these particular categories. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

(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.

 

 

    

   

    

 

 

2


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

For the Six Month Period from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020    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
Account Value
   Ending
Account Value
     Annualized
Expense
   

Expenses

Paid During

 
     01/01/20    06/30/20      Ratio     Period*  

Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

 

       

Actual Fund Return

       

Class AAA

   $1,000.00      $ 991.20        1.25%       $  6.19  

Class A

   $1,000.00      $ 985.40        2.48%       $12.24  

Class C

   $1,000.00      $ 981.70        3.23%       $15.91  

Class I

   $1,000.00      $ 992.70        1.00%       $  4.95  

Hypothetical 5% Return

       

Class AAA

   $1,000.00      $1,018.65        1.25%       $  6.27  

Class A

   $1,000.00      $1,012.53        2.48%       $12.41  

Class C

   $1,000.00      $1,008.80        3.23%       $16.13  

Class I

   $1,000.00      $1,019.89        1.00%       $  5.02  

 

*

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 (182 days), then divided by 366.

 

 

3


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of June 30, 2020:

Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

 

Consumer Discretionary

     21.0

Health Care

     16.6

Consumer Staples - Food, Beverage, and Tobacco

     16.4

Materials

     10.4

Industrials

     10.4

Information Technology

     8.7

Consumer Staples - Household and Personal Products

     8.1

Financials

     5.5

Communication Services

     2.2

Business Services

     0.5

U.S. Government Obligations

     0.5

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

     (0.3 )% 
  

 

 

 
         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-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 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 website at www.sec.gov.

 

4


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Schedule of Investments — June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)

  

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS — 99.8%

 

  

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 21.0%

 

500   

adidas AG†

   $ 155,796      $ 131,825  
3,000   

ASX Ltd.

     137,640        178,314  
21,000   

boohoo Group plc†

     105,977        107,539  
1,800   

Christian Dior SE

     149,827        765,850  
7,150   

Cie Financiere Richemont SA

     174,477        461,177  
700   

Fast Retailing Co. Ltd.

     137,571        402,340  
13,000   

GVC Holdings plc

     110,453        119,156  
725   

Hermes International

     258,037        608,713  
135,000   

NagaCorp. Ltd.

     133,313        157,484  
3,150   

Naspers Ltd., Cl. N

     379,977        578,908  
3,150   

Prosus NV†

     264,297        293,697  
1,300   

Shimano Inc.

     176,017        249,975  
5,600   

Sony Corp.

     145,489        386,569  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        2,328,871        4,441,547  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

HEALTH CARE — 16.6%

 

5,500   

AstraZeneca plc

     384,666        572,407  
2,600   

Coloplast A/S, Cl. B

     205,267        405,257  
1,500   

EssilorLuxottica SA†

     192,211        192,912  
10,000   

GlaxoSmithKline plc

     206,108        201,996  
7,250   

Novartis AG

     317,787        631,628  
6,000   

Novo Nordisk A/S, Cl. B

     258,851        390,886  
2,200   

Roche Holding AG, Genusschein

     350,806        762,189  
19,400   

Smith & Nephew plc

     223,802        361,491  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        2,139,498        3,518,766  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

CONSUMER STAPLES - FOOD, BEVERAGE, AND
TOBACCO — 16.4%

 

6,200   

Associated British Foods plc

     224,690        146,593  
5,750   

British American Tobacco plc

     188,385        220,528  
5,000   

Danone SA†

     330,378        347,064  
15,000   

Diageo plc

     235,723        498,559  
4,000   

Heineken NV

     222,976        368,776  
4,000   

Kameda Seika Co. Ltd.

     160,162        192,610  
5,500   

Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd.

     159,812        312,321  
8,600   

Nestlé SA

     485,960        953,487  
2,750   

Pernod Ricard SA

     184,782        433,031  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        2,192,868        3,472,969  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

MATERIALS — 10.4%

 

7,000   

Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.

     300,641        448,420  
2,218   

Air Liquide SA

     223,718        320,692  
24,512   

Barrick Gold Corp

     288,918        660,353  
3,000   

Chr. Hansen Holding A/S

     117,565        309,436  
8,125   

Rio Tinto plc

     308,704        457,246  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,239,546        2,196,147  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

INDUSTRIALS — 10.4%

 

1,150   

Airbus SE†

     151,288        82,402  
15,000   

Epiroc AB, Cl. B

     164,076        184,217  
2,400   

FANUC Corp.

     292,105        430,248  
2,500   

IHS Markit Ltd.

     138,470        188,750  
7,000   

Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd.

     372,445        292,676  

Shares

       

Cost

    

Market
Value

 
3,600   

Nidec Corp.

   $ 165,807      $ 242,528  
1,500   

SMC Corp.

     258,607        770,882  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,542,798        2,191,703  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 8.7%

 

5,000   

GMO internet Inc.

     126,314        138,901  
2,780   

Keyence Corp.

     184,507        1,164,991  
6,800   

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

     262,311        400,850  
15,000   

The Sage Group plc

     128,174        124,514  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        701,306        1,829,256  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

CONSUMER STAPLES - HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL PRODUCTS — 8.1%

 

2,300   

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

     229,448        192,418  
2,300   

L’Oreal SA

     246,959        742,314  
1,300   

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

     119,383        119,598  
6,000   

Shiseido Co. Ltd.

     93,798        382,324  
5,000   

Unilever NV

     229,896        266,588  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        919,484        1,703,242  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

FINANCIALS — 5.5%

 

30,000   

AIA Group Ltd.

     238,736        280,728  
8,000   

Investor AB, Cl. B

     286,619        424,383  
10,000   

Kinnevik AB, Cl. B

     252,114        263,973  
11,700   

M&G plc

     39,615        24,294  
11,700   

Prudential plc

     238,321        176,296  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        1,055,405        1,169,674  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

COMMUNICATION SERVICES — 2.2%

 

500   

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., ADR†

     107,222        107,850  
4,000   

MonotaRO Co. Ltd.

     117,768        160,714  
3,976   

Nordic Entertainment Group AB, Cl. B†

     92,858        122,281  
1,000   

Ubisoft Entertainment SA†

     111,551        82,810  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        429,399        473,655  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

BUSINESS SERVICES — 0.5%

 

2,500   

Edenred

     131,365        109,645  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     12,680,540        21,106,604  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

                  
  

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 0.5%

 

  
$110,000   

U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.097%††, 08/06/20

     109,989        109,988  
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
  

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.3%

   $ 12,790,529        21,216,592  
     

 

 

    
  

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — (0.3)%

 

     (58,221
        

 

 

 
  

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

 

   $ 21,158,371  
        

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)

  

 

 

 

   Non-income producing security.

††

   Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

ADR

   American Depositary Receipt

Geographic Diversification

  

%of
Market
Value

    

Market
Value

 

Europe

     62.1    $ 13,166,618  

Japan

     24.7        5,235,253  

North America

     5.7        1,218,761  

Asia/Pacific

     4.1        859,568  

South Africa

     2.7        578,908  

Latin America

     0.7        157,484  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     100.0    $ 21,216,592  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)

 

 

Assets:

  

Investments, at value (cost $12,790,529)

   $ 21,216,592  

Cash

     48,895  

Receivable for investments sold

     108,581  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     1,062  

Receivable from Adviser

     41,140  

Dividends receivable

     77,798  

Prepaid expenses

     31,228  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     21,525,296  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Payable for investments purchased

     213,199  

Payable for investment advisory fees

     35,957  

Payable for distribution fees

     3,096  

Payable for shareholder communications expenses

     47,158  

Payable for legal and audit fees

     34,688  

Other accrued expenses

     32,827  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     366,925  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

(applicable to 930,274 shares outstanding)

   $ 21,158,371  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

   $ 12,820,419  

Total distributable earnings

     8,337,952  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 21,158,371  
  

 

 

 

Shares of Capital Stock, each at $0.001 par value:

  

Class AAA:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($14,136,215 ÷ 624,006 shares outstanding; 375,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 22.65  
  

 

 

 

Class A:

  

Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($550,943 ÷ 24,016 shares outstanding; 250,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 22.94  
  

 

 

 

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

   $ 24.34  
  

 

 

 

Class C:

  

Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($108,938 ÷ 5,492 shares outstanding; 125,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 19.84 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($6,362,275 ÷ 276,760 shares outstanding; 125,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 22.99  
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)

 

 

Investment Income:

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $28,484)

   $ 189,027  

Interest

     1,022  
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     190,049  
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     100,510  

Distribution fees - Class AAA

     16,975  

Distribution fees - Class A

     594  

Distribution fees - Class C

     998  

Legal and audit fees

     29,822  

Shareholder communications expenses

     25,288  

Registration expenses

     21,258  

Shareholder services fees

     9,234  

Directors’ fees

     8,082  

Custodian fees

     5,997  

Interest expense

     224  

Miscellaneous expenses

     23,486  
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     242,468  
  

 

 

 

Less:

  

Expense reimbursements (See Note 3)

     (119,030
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     123,438  
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     66,611  
  

 

 

 

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

  

Net realized gain on investments

     2,599  

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     (1,221
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions

     1,378  
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation: on investments

     (367,870

on foreign currency translations

     852  
  

 

 

 

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

     (367,018
  

 

 

 

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

     (365,640
  

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ (299,029
  

 

 

 
 

 

(a)

Redemption price varies based on the length of time held.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2020
(Unaudited)
  Year Ended
December 31, 2019

Operations:

       

Net investment income

    $ 66,611       $ 571,823

Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions

      1,378       807,931

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

      (367,018 )       3,179,681
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

      (299,029 )       4,559,435
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

       

Accumulated earnings

       

Class AAA

            (1,010,900 )

Class A

            (29,026 )

Class C

            (12,678 )

Class I

            (408,210 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

            (1,460,814 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

       

Class AAA

      (643,542 )       (1,439,611 )

Class A

      47,064       (38,565 )

Class C

      (122,126 )       (247,303 )

Class I

      456,913       885,879
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions

      (261,691 )       (839,600 )
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Redemption Fees

            14
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets

      (560,720 )       2,259,035

Net Assets:

       

Beginning of year

      21,719,091       19,460,056
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of period

    $ 21,158,371       $ 21,719,091
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of capital stock 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
  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(c)
  Operating
Expenses
Net of
Reimbursement(c)
  Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

Class AAA

                                                           

2020(d)

    $ 22.85     $ 0.07     $ (0.27 )     $ (0.20 )                             $ 22.65       (0.9 )%     $ 14,136       0.64 %(e)       2.48 %(e)       1.25 %(e)(f)       2 %

2019

      19.67       0.60 (g)       4.23       4.83     $ (0.75 )     $ (0.90 )     $ (1.65 )     $ 0.00       22.85       24.5       15,021       2.68 (g)       2.43       1.26 (f)       6

2018

      24.15       0.11       (2.79 )       (2.68 )       (0.09 )       (1.71 )       (1.80 )             19.67       (11.0 )       14,223       0.47       2.39       1.63 (f)(h)       5

2017

      19.57       (0.05 )       5.78       5.73       (0.03 )       (1.12 )       (1.15 )       0.00       24.15       29.3       17,556       (0.20 )       2.14       2.14 (i)       4

2016

      20.43       0.29       (0.79 )       (0.50 )       (0.33 )       (0.03 )       (0.36 )       0.00       19.57       (2.4 )       16,112       1.44       2.07       2.07 (i)       9

2015

      21.07       0.00 (b)       (0.62 )       (0.62 )       (0.00 )(b)       (0.02 )       (0.02 )       0.00       20.43       (2.9 )       18,762       0.01       2.12       2.12 (h)(j)       15

Class A

                                                           

2020(d)

    $ 23.28     $ (0.07 )     $ (0.27 )     $ (0.34 )                             $ 22.94       (1.5 )%     $ 551       (0.61 )%(e)       2.48 %(e)       2.48 %(e)       2 %

2019

      20.03       0.35 (g)       4.27       4.62     $ (0.47 )     $ (0.90 )     $ (1.37 )     $ 0.00       23.28       23.0       513       1.56 (g)       2.43       2.43       6

2018

      24.65       (0.09 )       (2.82 )       (2.91 )             (1.71 )       (1.71 )             20.03       (11.7 )       482       (0.39 )       2.39       2.39 (h)       5

2017

      19.95       (0.05 )       5.90       5.85       (0.03 )       (1.12 )       (1.15 )       0.00       24.65       29.3       594       (0.20 )       2.14       2.14 (i)       4

2016

      20.81       0.33       (0.84 )       (0.51 )       (0.32 )       (0.03 )       (0.35 )       0.00       19.95       (2.4 )       603       1.60       2.07       2.07 (i)       9

2015

      21.47       (0.02 )       (0.61 )       (0.63 )       (0.01 )       (0.02 )       (0.03 )       0.00       20.81       (2.9 )       761       (0.08 )       2.12       2.12 (h)(j)       15

Class C

                                                           

2020(d)

    $ 20.21     $ (0.12 )     $ (0.25 )     $ (0.37 )                             $ 19.84       (1.8 )%     $ 109       (1.24 )%(e)       3.23 %(e)       3.23 %(e)       2 %

2019

      17.48       0.13 (g)       3.74       3.87     $ (0.24 )     $ (0.90 )     $ (1.14 )     $ 0.00       20.21       22.1       238       0.66 (g)       3.18       3.18       6

2018

      21.92       (0.25 )       (2.48 )       (2.73 )             (1.71 )       (1.71 )             17.48       (12.4 )       429       (1.21 )       3.14       3.14 (h)       5

2017

      17.95       (0.21 )       5.30       5.09             (1.12 )       (1.12 )       0.00       21.92       28.4       279       (0.99 )       2.89       2.89 (i)       4

2016

      18.73       0.12       (0.71 )       (0.59 )       (0.16 )       (0.03 )       (0.19 )       0.00       17.95       (3.1 )       226       0.64       2.82       2.82 (i)       9

2015

      19.47       (0.16 )       (0.56 )       (0.72 )       (0.00 )(b)       (0.02 )       (0.02 )       0.00       18.73       (3.7 )       366       (0.80 )       2.87       2.87 (h)(j)       15

Class I

                                                           

2020(d)

    $ 23.16     $ 0.10     $ (0.27 )     $ (0.17 )                             $ 22.99       (0.7 )%     $ 6,362       0.89 %(e)       2.23 %(e)       1.00 %(e)(f)       2 %

2019

      19.89       0.70 (g)       4.24       4.94     $ (0.77 )     $ (0.90 )     $ (1.67 )     $ 0.00       23.16       24.8       5,947       3.11 (g)       2.18       1.01 (f)       6

2018

      24.45       0.27       (2.86 )       (2.59 )       (0.26 )       (1.71 )       (1.97 )             19.89       (10.5 )       4326       1.11       2.14       1.01 (f)(h)       5

2017

      19.81       0.24       5.85       6.09       (0.33 )       (1.12 )       (1.45 )       0.00       24.45       30.8       6,842       1.03       1.89       1.00 (f)(i)       4

2016

      20.69       0.53       (0.82 )       (0.29 )       (0.56 )       (0.03 )       (0.59 )       0.00       19.81       (1.4 )       7,183       2.58       1.82       1.00 (f)(i)       9

2015

      21.31       0.18       (0.57 )       (0.39 )       (0.21 )       (0.02 )       (0.23 )       0.00       20.69       (1.9 )       7,410       0.83       1.87       1.01 (h)(j)       15

 

   †

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 the 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 incurred interest expense during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, if interest expense had not been incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 1.25% and 1.62% (Class AAA), 2.42% and 2.38% (Class A), 3.17% and 3.13% (Class C), 1.00% and 1.00% (Class I), respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, there was no impact on the expense ratios.

(d)

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, unaudited.

(e)

Annualized.

(f)

Under an expense reimbursement agreement with the Adviser, for the six months ended June 30, 2020, and the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Adviser reimbursed $83,206, $ 174,521 and $ 131,548 in certain Class AAA expenses and $ 35,824, $ 60,500 and $62,410 in certain Class I expenses to the Fund, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2017, and 2016, the Fund reimbursed Class I expenses to the Fund of $63,160, and $ 64,752, respectively.

(g)

Includes income resulting from special dividends. Without these dividends, the per share income (loss) amounts would have been 0.23 (Class AAA), (0.02) (Class A), (0.19) (Class C), and 0.33 (Class I), respectively, and the net investment income (loss) ratio would have been 1.04% (Class AAA), (0.09)% (Class A), (0.99)% (Class C), and 1.46% (Class I), respectively.

(h)

The Fund received credits from a designated broker who agreed to pay certain Fund operating expenses. Had such payments not been made, the expense ratios for the year ended December 31, 2015 would have been 2.11% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.86% (Class C), and 1.01% (Class I). The 2018 reimbursement had no impact on the expense ratio.

 (i)

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Fund received reimbursements of custody expenses paid in prior years. Had such reimbursement (allocated by relative net asset values of the Fund’s share classes) been included in the 2016 calculation, the annualized expense ratios would have been 0.79% (Class AAA), 0.63% (Class A), 1.61% (Class C), and (0.31)% (Class I), respectively. The 2017 reimbursement had no effect on the expense ratio.

 (j)

The Fund incurred tax expense during the year ended December 31, 2015. If the tax expense had not incurred, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 2.11% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.86% (Class C), and 1.00% (Class I).

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1. Organization. Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc. (formerly GAMCO International Growth Fund, Inc.) was incorporated on May 25, 1994 in Maryland and commenced investment operations on June 30, 1995. 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’s primary objective is long term capital appreciation.

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.

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 security is 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.

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 Fund employs a fair value model to adjust prices to reflect events affecting the values of certain portfolio securities, which occur between the close of trading on the principal market for such securities (foreign exchanges

 

10


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

and over-the-counter markets) at the time when net asset values of the Fund are determined. If the Fund’s valuation committee believes that a particular event would materially affect net asset value, further adjustment is considered.

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 closing price is adjusted from the local close, therefore, such securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy presented below. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2020 is as follows:

     Valuation Inputs     
     Level 1
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Total Market Value
at 6/30/20

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

              

ASSETS (Market Value):

              

Common Stocks (a)

       $1,774,149        $19,332,455        $21,106,604

U.S. Government Obligations

              109,988        109,988

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

       $1,774,149        $19,442,443        $21,216,592

 

 

(a)

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

There were no Level 3 investments held at June 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

 

11


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds 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.

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. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

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

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.

 

12


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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.

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. Shareholders in the Fund would bear the pro rata portion of the periodic expenses of the Acquired Funds in addition to the Fund’s expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Fund’s pro rata portion of the periodic expenses charged by the Acquired Funds was less than one basis point.

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. 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.

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 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.

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended December 31, 2019 was as follows:

 

Distributions paid from:

    

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)

     $ 671,525

Net long term capital gains

       789,289
    

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

     $ 1,460,814*  
    

 

 

 

 

*

Includes Deemed Distributions from Utilization of Equalization.

 

13


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

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 appreciation at June 30, 2020:

 

     Cost    Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
   Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
   Net
Unrealized
Appreciation

Investments

   $12,790,529    $8,849,396    $(423,333)    $8,426,063

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, 2020, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of June 30, 2020, 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 Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses of Class AAA Shares and Class I Shares to the extent necessary to maintain the total operating expenses (excluding brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) until at least April 30, 2021 at no more than 1.25% and 1.00% of the value of its average daily net assets, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Adviser reimbursed the Fund in the amount of $119,030. In addition, the Fund has agreed, during the three year period following any waiver or reimbursement by the Adviser, 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 1.25% and 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for Class AAA and Class I, respectively. The agreement is renewable annually. At June 30, 2020, the cumulative amount which the Fund may repay the Advisor, subject to the terms above, is $611,169.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017, expiring December 31, 2020

   $ 63,160  

For the year ended December 31, 2018, expiring December 31, 2021

     193,958  

For the year ended December 31, 2019, expiring December 31, 2022

     235,021  

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, expiring December 31, 2023

     119,030  
  

 

 

 
   $ 611,169  
  

 

 

 

 

14


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The Fund pays each Director who is not considered to be an affiliated person an annual retainer of $1,000 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. The Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Lead Director each receive an annual fee of $1,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Fund.

4. 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, 2020, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $471,000 and $771,272, respectively.

6. Transactions with Affiliates and Other Arrangements. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Distributor retained a total of $171 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. 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. The Adviser did not seek a reimbursement during the six months ended June 30, 2020.

7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit, which expires on March 3, 2021 and may be renewed annually, 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 a floating rate equal to the higher of the overnight Federal Funds rate plus 125 basis points or the 30 day ICE LIBOR plus 125 basis points in effect on that day. This amount, if any, would be included in “Interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. At June 30, 2020, there were no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit.

The average daily amount of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit during the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $3,791, with a weighted average interest rate of 3.02%. The maximum amount borrowed at any time during the six months ended was $142,000.

8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA and Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%, and 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.

 

15


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019, if any, can be found in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets under Redemption Fees.

Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2020
(Unaudited)
    Year Ended
December 31, 2019
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class AAA

        

Shares sold

     21,605     $ 460,851       16,866     $ 383,502  

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                 42,638       978,106  

Shares redeemed

     (54,939     (1,104,393     (125,115     (2,801,219
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (33,334   $ (643,542     (65,611   $ (1,439,611
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A

        

Shares sold

     2,514     $ 57,526       1,828     $ 42,120  

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                 1,138       26,595  

Shares redeemed

     (544     (10,462     (5,002     (107,280
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     1,970     $ 47,064       (2,036   $ (38,565
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Shares sold

     27     $ 500       39     $ 742  

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                 625       12,678  

Shares redeemed

     (6,287     (122,626     (13,446     (260,723
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (6,260   $ (122,126     (12,782   $ (247,303
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I

        

Shares sold

     25,710     $ 585,869       46,428     $ 1,034,547  

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                 12,385       287,950  

Shares redeemed

     (5,731     (128,956     (19,496     (436,618
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     19,979     $ 456,913       39,317     $ 885,879  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

 

 

16


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

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

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

More specifically, at a meeting held on May 12, 2020, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, 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 Members noted that these services included managing the investment program of the Fund, including the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, and overseeing all of the Fund’s third party service providers as well as providing 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 regulations. 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 Members also considered that the Adviser paid for all compensation of officers and Board Members of the Fund that are affiliated with the Adviser and that the Adviser further provided services to shareholders of the Fund who had invested through various programs offered by third party financial intermediaries. The Board Members evaluated these factors based on its direct experience with the Adviser and in consultation with Fund Counsel. The Board Members noted that the Adviser had engaged, at its expense, BNY Mellon to assist it in performing certain of its administrative functions. The Board Members concluded that the nature and extent of the services provided was reasonable and appropriate in relation to the advisory fee, that the level of services provided by the Adviser, either directly or through BNY Mellon, 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.

 

17


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

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

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 with its Broadridge peer group of other SEC registered funds, and against the Fund’s broad based securities market benchmark as reflected in the Fund’s prospectus and annual report. The Board Members considered the Fund’s one, three, five, and ten year average annual total return for the periods ended March 31, 2020, but placed greater emphasis on the Fund’s longer term performance. The peer group considered by the Board Members was developed by Broadridge and was comprised of all retail international multi-cap growth funds regardless of asset size or primary channel of distribution (the Performance Peer Group). The Board Members 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 above 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 with 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 the comparative Broadridge expense peer group (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 as useful in assessing whether the Adviser was providing services at a cost that was competitive with other similar funds. In assessing this information, the Board Members considered both the comparative contract rates as well as the level of the total expense ratio, with respect to the Expense Peer Group. The Board Members noted that the Fund’s advisory fee and expense ratio were above the median when compared with 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 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, 2019. 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

 

18


Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

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

period as well as a pro-forma 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 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 if the Fund 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 its 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 the other factors described above that the Board Members 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.

 

19


GABELLI INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND, INC.
One Corporate Center   

Rye, New York 10580-1422

 

t    800-GABELLI  (800-422-3554)
f    914-921-5118
e   info@gabelli.com   

GABELLI.COM

  

Net Asset Value per share available daily

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

 

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

   OFFICERS

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Executive Chairman,
Associated Capital Group Inc.

 

  

Bruce N. Alpert

President

 

John C. Ball

Treasurer

 

Andrea R. Mango
Secretary

Anthony J. Colavita
President,

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

 

  

 

Richard J. Walz

Chief Compliance Officer

Werner J. Roeder   

DISTRIBUTOR

 

Former Medical Director,    G.distributors, LLC
Lawrence Hospital   
   CUSTODIAN

Anthonie C. van Ekris
Chairman,

BALMAC International, Inc.

  

State Street Bank and Trust Company

 

 

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman,

Zizza & Associates Corp.

  

TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSING AGENT

 

DST Asset Manager
Solutions, Inc.

 

  

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

   Paul Hastings LLP
      

 

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

 

 

 

GAB009Q220SR

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 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)(3)

  

Not applicable.

      (a)(4)

  

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)

  

            Gabelli International Growth Fund, Inc.

 

By (Signature and Title)*

  

/s/ Bruce N. Alpert

  

Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date

 

                                         September 4, 2020

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

 

                                         September 4, 2020

 

By (Signature and Title)*

  

/s/ John C. Ball

  

John C. Ball, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Date

 

                                         September 4, 2020

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