The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Utility Trust (NYSE:GUT) (the
"Fund”) approved the continuation of monthly cash distributions of $0.06
per share for April, May, and June 2010.
The distribution for April 2010 will be payable on April 23, 2010 to
common shareholders of record on April 16, 2010.
The distribution for May 2010 will be payable on May 24, 2010 to common
shareholders of record on May 17, 2010.
The distribution for June 2010 will be payable on June 23, 2010 to
common shareholders of record on June 16, 2010.
Under the Fund’s current distribution policy, the Fund pays a
distribution of $0.06 per share each month and, if necessary, an
adjusting distribution in December which includes any additional income
and net realized capital gains in excess of the monthly distributions
for that year to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Each quarter, the Board of Trustees reviews the amount of any potential
distribution and the income, capital gain, or capital available. The
Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the Fund’s distribution
level, taking into consideration the Fund’s net asset value and the
financial market environment. The Fund’s distribution policy is subject
to modification by the Board of Trustees at any time.
A portion of the distribution may be treated as long-term capital gain
and qualified dividend income for individuals, each subject to the
maximum federal income tax rate, which is currently 15% in taxable
accounts for individuals. If the Fund does not generate earnings from
dividends and interest received and net realized capital gains equal to
or in excess of the aggregate distributions paid by the Fund in a given
year, then the amount distributed in excess of the Fund’s investment
income and net realized capital gains would be deemed a non-taxable
return of capital.
Long-term capital gains, qualified dividend income, ordinary income, and
paid-in capital, if any, will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to all
distributions to common shareholders for the year. Based on the
accounting records of the Fund as of February 11, 2010, each of the
distributions paid in 2010 would include approximately 1% from net
investment income and 99% from paid-in capital. The estimated components
of each distribution are provided to shareholders of record in a notice
accompanying the distribution and are available on our website (www.gabelli.com).
The final determination of the sources of all distributions in 2010 will
be made after year end and can vary from the monthly estimates. All
shareholders with taxable accounts will receive written notification
regarding the components and tax treatment for all 2010 distributions in
early 2011 via Form 1099-DIV.
The Gabelli Utility Trust has paid a distribution to shareholders every
month since October 1999.
It should be noted that the Fund’s total assets include capital from
preferred shares issued in prior years. Gabelli Funds, LLC (the
"Investment Adviser”) does not receive a management fee on the
incremental assets attributable to the Fund’s outstanding preferred
shares unless the total return of the net asset value of the common
shares during the year, including distributions and management fee
subject to reduction, exceeds the stated dividend rate or corresponding
swap rate of each particular series of preferred shares for the fiscal
year.
The Gabelli Utility Trust is a non-diversified, closed-end management
investment company with $205 million in total net assets whose primary
investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital and income
by investing primarily in utility companies involved in the generation
and distribution of electricity, gas, and water. The Investment Adviser
is a subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (NYSE:GBL), which is a publicly
traded NYSE listed company.
