As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2021
Investment Company Act File No. 811-23035
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT
(Under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust
(Name of Subject Company (Issuer))
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust
(Names of Filing Person(s) (Offeror))
Common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001
(Title of Class of Securities)
36250J109
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Peter Goldstein, Esq.
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
Telephone: (800) 422-3554
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Person(s))
Copies to:
Thomas A. DeCapo, Esq. Kenneth E. Burdon, Esq. |
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 500 Boylston Street |
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 |
Calculation of Filing Fee
|
||
Transaction Value | Amount of Filing Fee | |
$26,141,798.80(a) |
$2,852.07(b) | |
|
(a) |
Calculated solely for purposes of determining the amount of the filing fee. The amount is based upon the offer to purchase up to 1,546,852 shares of common stock in the offer based upon a price of $16.90 (98% of the net asset value per share on July 30, 2021). |
(b) |
The amount of the filing fee, calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Fee Rate Advisory #1 for Fiscal Year 2021, equals $109.10 for each $1,000,000 of the value of the transaction. |
☐ |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. |
Amount Previously Paid: Form or Registration No.: Filing Party: Date Filed: |
Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable |
☐ |
Check box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
Check the appropriate boxes to designate any transactions to which this statement relates:
☐ |
third party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1 |
☒ |
issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4 |
☐ |
going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3 |
☐ |
amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2 |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer.
Introductory Statement
This Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO relates to an offer by The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Fund), to purchase for cash any and all of the Funds outstanding common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (the Shares), upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase dated August 3, 2021 and the related Letter of Transmittal, which are filed as exhibits to this Schedule TO.
This Issuer Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO is being filed in satisfaction of the reporting requirements of Rule 13e-4(c)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The information set forth in the Offer to Repurchase and the related Letter of Transmittal is incorporated herein by reference in answer to Items 1 through 11 of Schedule TO.
Item 1. |
Summary Term Sheet |
The information set forth under Summary Term Sheet in the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. |
Subject Company Information |
(a) The name of the issuer is The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust, a non-diversified closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust (the Fund). The principal executive offices of the Fund are located at One Corporate Center Rye, New York 10580-1422. The telephone number of the Fund is (800) 422-3554.
(b) The title of the securities being sought is common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (the Share). As of July 30, 2021, there were 1,546,852 Shares issued and outstanding.
(c) The principal market in which the Shares are traded is the NYSE American LLC (NYSE American). The Fund began trading on the NYSE American on September 2, 2016. For information on the high, low and closing (as of the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE American on the last day of each of the Funds fiscal quarters) market prices of the Shares in such principal market for each quarter for the past two calendar years, see Section 10, Price Range of Shares of the Offer to Purchase, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3. |
Identity and Background of Filing Person |
(a) The Fund is the filing person. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares and Certain Information about the Fund is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4. |
Terms of the Transaction |
(a)(1) The following sections of the Offer to Purchase contain a description of the material terms of the transaction and are incorporated herein by reference:
|
Summary Term Sheet |
|
Price; Number of Shares |
|
Purpose of the Offer |
|
Plans or Proposals of the Fund |
|
Certain Conditions of the Offer |
|
Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase |
|
Withdrawal Rights |
|
Payment for Shares |
|
Source and Amount of Consideration |
|
Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation |
|
Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangement Concerning the Shares |
|
Certain Information about the Fund |
|
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences |
|
Amendments; Extensions of Repurchase Period; Termination |
|
Fees and Expenses |
(a)(2) Not applicable.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares and Certain Information about the Fund is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5. |
Past Contracts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements |
(e) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Purpose of the Offer; Plans or Proposals of the Fund, Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares and Certain Information About the Fund is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 6. |
Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals |
(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Purpose of the Offer and Plans or Proposals of the Fund is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Purpose of the Offer and Plans or Proposals of the Fund is incorporated herein by reference.
(c) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Purpose of the Offer and Plans or Proposals of the Fund is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. |
Source and Amount of Funds or Other Considerations |
(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Source and Amount of Consideration is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Source and Amount of Consideration is incorporated herein by reference.
(d) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Source and Amount of Consideration is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. |
Interests in Securities of the Subject Company |
(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. |
Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used |
(a) No persons have been directly or indirectly employed, retained, or are to be compensated by or on behalf of the Fund to make solicitations or recommendations in connection with the Offer to Purchase.
Item 10. |
Financial Statements |
Not applicable.
Item 11. |
Additional Information |
(a)(1) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares is incorporated herein by reference.
(a)(2) None.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(a)(4) Not applicable.
(a)(5) None.
(c) Not applicable.
Item 12. |
Exhibits |
(a)(1)(i) |
Offer to Purchase, dated August 3, 2021.* | |||
(a)(1)(ii) |
Form of Letter of Transmittal.* | |||
(a)(2) |
None. | |||
(a)(3) |
Not Applicable. | |||
(a)(4) |
Not Applicable. | |||
(a)(5)(i) |
Press release issued on May 14, 2021.(1) | |||
(a)(5)(ii) |
Press release issued on August 2, 2021.(2) | |||
(b) |
None. | |||
(d)(1) |
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan.(3) | |||
(d)(2) |
Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Gabelli Funds, LLC.(4) | |||
(d)(3) |
Custodian Agreement.(5) | |||
(d)(4) |
Registrar, Transfer Agency and Service Agreement.(5) | |||
(g) |
None. | |||
(h) |
None. | |||
* Filed herewith. (1) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Schedule TO-C, as filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021. (2) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants Schedule TO-C, as filed with the SEC on August 2, 2021. (3) Incorporated by reference to the Registrants 2020 annual report on Form N-CSR, as filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021. (4) Previously filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-2, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2015 (File Nos. 333- 202459 and 811-23035). (5) Previously filed as an exhibit to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form N-2, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2015 (File Nos. 333- 202459 and 811-23035). |
Item 13. |
Information Required By Schedule 13E-3 |
Not Applicable.
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust | ||||
By: |
/s/ Bruce N. Alpert |
|||
Name: Bruce N. Alpert | ||||
Title: President | ||||
Dated: August 3, 2021 |
Exhibit Index
(a)(1)(i) | Offer to Purchase, dated August 3, 2021. | |||
(a)(1)(ii) | Form of Letter of Transmittal. |
Exhibit (a)(1)(i)
Offer to Purchase
Any and All of the Issued and Outstanding Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
of
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust
at
98% of Net Asset Value Per Share
by
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust in Exchange for Cash
THE OFFER TO PURCHASE WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME,
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2021, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
To the Common Shareholders of The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust:
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust, a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust (the Fund), is offering to purchase all of its issued and outstanding common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share (the Shares) (the Offer Amount). The offer is to purchase Shares in exchange for cash at a price equal to 98% of the net asset value (NAV) per Share (the Purchase Price) determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE American LLC (the NYSE American), the principal market on which the Shares are traded, on the last business day prior to the day the offer expires (the Pricing Date). The offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the Offer).
In order to participate, the materials described in the Offer must be delivered to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the Depositary) by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, September 24, 2021, or such later date to which the Offer is extended (the Expiration Date). Should the Offer be extended beyond September 24, 2021, the Pricing Date will be the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE American on the last business day prior the newly designated Expiration Date. Shareholders who choose to participate in the Offer can expect payments for Shares tendered and accepted to be mailed within approximately ten business days after the Expiration Date.
The Shares are traded on the NYSE American under the symbol GGO. As of July 30, 2021, the Fund had 1,546,852 Shares outstanding; its NAV per Share was $17.24 and its market price per Share was $16.21, representing a discount of 5.97% to NAV. The NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 30, 2021, and the discount to NAV at which the Shares trade may be greater or lesser than the discount as of July 30, 2021. During the pendency of the Offer, Shareholders may contact Morrow Sodali LLC, the Funds Information Agent (the Information Agent), toll free at (800) 662-5200, between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday, to obtain the current NAV per share for the Shares. The Investor Relations team may also be reached by calling (914) 921-5070 or by email (ClosedEnd@gabelli.com).
The Offer is subject to important terms and conditions, including the conditions listed under Section 4, Certain Conditions of the Offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Offer, passed upon the fairness or merits of the Offer, or determined whether this Offer to Purchase is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a crime.
If you are not interested in selling any of your Shares at this time, you do not need to do anything. This Offer is not part of a plan to liquidate the Fund. Shareholders are not required to participate in the Offer.
You should be aware that, if you tender Shares pursuant to the Offer, tendered Shares will not be entitled to receive any Fund dividend or distribution with a record date on or after September 27, 2021.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Shareholders who desire to participate in the Offer should either: (a) properly complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal, provide thereon the original of any required signature guarantee(s) and mail or deliver it together with the Shares, if any (in proper form), and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal; or (b) request their broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company (each, a Nominee) to effect the transaction on their behalf. Shareholders whose Shares are registered in the name of a Nominee, such as a brokerage firm or other financial intermediary, must contact that firm to instruct the firm to participate in the Offer on their behalf. Tendering shareholders may be charged a fee by their Nominee or other financial intermediary for processing the documentation required to participate in the Offer on their behalf. Shareholders are urged to consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender Shares and, if so, how many Shares to tender, or to refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer.
The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject Shares determined not to be tendered in appropriate form.
There are no guaranteed delivery procedures available under the terms of the Offer as an alternative delivery mechanism. Beneficial owners should be aware that their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in the Offer. Accordingly, beneficial owners wishing to participate in the Offer should contact their Nominee as soon as possible in order to determine the times by which such owner must take action in order to participate in the Offer.
If you want to tender your Shares but your certificates for the Shares are not immediately available or cannot be delivered to the Depositary within the required time or you cannot comply with the procedures for book-entry transfer, or your other required documents cannot be delivered to the Depositary by the Expiration Date of the Offer, you will not be able to tender your Shares.
Neither the Fund nor its Board of Trustees (the Board of Trustees or the Board) nor Gabelli Funds, LLC (the Investment Advisor) makes any recommendation to any shareholders as to whether to tender Shares for purchase or to refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer. No person has been authorized to make any recommendation on behalf of the Fund, its Board of Trustees or the Investment Advisor as to whether shareholders should tender Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer or to make any representation or to give any information in connection with the Offer other than as contained herein. If made or given, any such recommendation, representation or information must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund, its Board of Trustees or the Investment Advisor. Shareholders are urged to carefully evaluate all information in the Offer, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender their Shares for purchase or refrain from participating in the Offer.
The Fund has filed with the Commission a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), relating to the Offer.
The making of the Offer may, in some jurisdictions, be restricted or prohibited by applicable law. The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, and may not accepted from within, any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance of the Offer would, absent prior registration, filing or qualification under applicable laws, not be in compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction. Accordingly, shareholders are required to inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY TERM SHEET |
i | |||||
1. |
Price; Number of Shares |
1 | ||||
2. |
Purpose of the Offer |
1 | ||||
3. |
Plans or Proposals of the Fund |
2 | ||||
4. |
Certain Conditions of the Offer |
3 | ||||
5. |
Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase |
4 | ||||
6. |
Withdrawal Rights |
7 | ||||
7. |
Payment for Shares |
8 | ||||
8. |
Source and Amount of Consideration |
8 | ||||
9. |
Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation |
9 | ||||
10. |
Price Range of Shares |
11 | ||||
11. |
Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares |
11 | ||||
12. |
Certain Information about the Fund |
14 | ||||
13. |
Additional Information |
14 | ||||
14. |
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences |
14 | ||||
15. |
Certain Legal and Regulatory Matters |
18 | ||||
16. |
Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination |
18 | ||||
17. |
Fees and Expenses |
19 | ||||
18. |
Miscellaneous |
19 |
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
This Summary Term Sheet highlights certain information concerning this Offer. To understand the Offer fully and for a more complete discussion of its terms and conditions, you should read carefully the entire Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. We have included section references parenthetically to direct you to a more complete description in the Offer of the topics in this Summary Term Sheet.
What is the Offer?
The Fund is offering to purchase all of its issued and outstanding Shares. The Fund will pay cash for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. The Fund will purchase Shares at a price equal to 98% of the NAV per Share as of the close of regular trading session of the NYSE American on the Pricing Date. (See Section 1, Price; Number of Shares and Section 7, Payment for Shares.)
When will the Offer expire, and may the Offer be extended?
The Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on September 24, 2021, the Expiration Date, unless extended. The Fund may extend the offer period at any time. If it does, the Fund will determine the purchase price as of the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE American on the last business day prior to the new Expiration Date. The Fund may extend the period of time the Offer will be open by issuing a press release or making some other public announcement by no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next business day after the Offer otherwise would have expired. (See Section 1, Price; Number of Shares.)
Why is the Fund making the Offer?
The Funds Declaration of Trust provides that not later than 30 days prior to the fifth anniversary of the Funds initial public offering, the Fund will commence a cash tender offer for any and all of the Shares at a price per Share determined by the Board and expressed as a percentage (but not less than 95%) of the NAV per Share most recently determined as of the close of business on the last business day prior to the date the Fund purchases such Shares pursuant to such tender offer (the Fifth Anniversary Tender Offer). The Board does not have discretion in determining whether or not to make the Fifth Anniversary Tender Offer. On August 2, 2021, the Board approved the Fifth Anniversary Tender Offer upon the terms specified in this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.
If at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund, then the Board may, within three months after September 2, 2021, dissolve the Fund without any approval by holders of the Shares. While the Funds Declaration of Trust provides the Board with this flexibility, the Board has not yet made any determination as to whether it will liquidate and dissolve the Fund if at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the Offer.
Will I have to pay anything to participate in the Offer?
Shares will be purchased at 98% of the Funds NAV, which may help defray certain costs of the offer, including the processing of tender forms, effecting payment, postage and handling. The Fund will not charge a separate service fee in conjunction with the Offer. If your Shares are held through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may charge a service fee for participation in the Offer. (See Section 1, Price; Number of Shares, Section 7, Payment for Shares and Section 17, Fees and Expenses.)
What is the NAV per Share as of a recent date?
On July 30, 2021, the NAV per Share was $17.24 and the last reported market price for a Share on the NYSE American on such date was $16.21, representing a discount of 5.97% to NAV. The NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 30, 2021, and the discount to NAV at which the Shares trade may be greater or lesser than the discount as of July 30, 2021. During the pendency of the Offer, Shareholders may contact Morrow Sodali LLC, the Funds Information Agent (the Information Agent), toll free at (800) 662-5200, between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday, to obtain the current NAV per share for the Shares. The Investor Relations team may also be reached by calling (914) 921-5070 or by email (ClosedEnd@gabelli.com). (See Section 10, Price Range of Shares.)
Will the Funds NAV per Share be higher or lower on the Pricing Date?
No one can accurately predict what the Funds NAV per Share will be at any future date. You should realize that the NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 30, 2021 set forth above.
Does the Fund have the financial resources to pay me for my Shares?
Yes. If the Fund purchased 1,546,852 Shares at a price per share of $16.90, equal to 98% of the NAV as of July 30, 2021 ($17.24 per Share), the Funds total cost, not including fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Offer, would be approximately $26.1 million. The Fund intends to first use cash on hand to pay for Shares tendered, and then intends to sell portfolio securities to raise any additional cash needed for the purchase of Shares.
As of July 30, 2021, the Fund had outstanding 285,267 Series A Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares (Series A Preferred Shares), at a liquidation preference of $40 per share, for a total liquidation value of $ 11,410,680. On August 2, 2021, the Board authorized the redemption of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares on September 27, 2021, to ensure that the Fund will have asset coverage, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), of at least 200% for the Series A Preferred Shares after deducting the purchase price for the Shares to be purchased in the Offer, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The Series A Preferred Shares will be redeemed at $40.0055 per share, consisting of the liquidation preference of $40.00 per share, together with accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions of $0.0055 per share to the redemption date.
The Fund has no intention to borrow money to finance the purchase of Shares in the Offer. (See Section 8, Source and Amount of Consideration.)
How do I participate in the Offer?
If your Shares are registered in the name of a Nominee, you should contact that firm if you wish to tender your Shares. There are no guaranteed delivery procedures available under the terms of the Offer as an alternative delivery mechanism. Beneficial owners should be aware that their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in the Offer. Accordingly, beneficial owners wishing to participate in the Offer should contact their Nominee as soon as possible in order to determine the times by which such owner must take action in order to participate in the Offer.
All other shareholders wishing to participate in the Offer must, prior to the date and time the Offer expires, complete and execute a Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. You must send these materials to the Depositary at its address set forth on the last page of this offer. If you hold certificates for Shares, you must send the certificates to the Depositary at its address set forth on the last page of this offer. If your Shares are held in book-entry form, you must comply with the book-entry delivery procedure set forth in Section 5.C of this Offer. In all these cases, the Depositary must receive these materials prior to the date and time the Offer expires. If any certificate representing Shares has been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholder should promptly call the Depositary at (781) 575-2879 or (800) 336-6983. The shareholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed.
The Funds transfer agent holds Shares in uncertificated form for certain shareholders pursuant to the Funds automatic dividend reinvestment plan. When a shareholder tenders share certificates, the Depositary will accept any of the Shareholders certificated Shares for tender first and accept the balance of tendered Shares from the Shareholders uncertificated Shares.
Must I tender all of my Shares for purchase?
No. You may tender for purchase all or part of the Shares you own. You may also choose not to participate in the Offer. (See Section 1, Price; Number of Shares.)
May I withdraw my Shares after I have tendered them for purchase and, if so, by when?
Yes, you may withdraw all, but not less than all, of your tendered Shares at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on September 24, 2021, which is the Expiration Date. In order for your withdrawal to be effective, you must submit
ii
or direct your Nominee to submit a withdrawal request to the Depositary prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time on the Expiration Date. You may resubmit withdrawn Shares by following the purchase procedures before the Offer expires, including during any extension period. (See Section 6, Withdrawal Rights.)
How do I withdraw previously tendered Shares?
You must submit or direct your Nominee to submit a request for withdrawal of previously tendered Shares to the Depositary. You may withdraw only all Shares previously tendered by you, and not a portion thereof, and your request for withdrawal must state this. (See Section 6, Withdrawal Rights.)
May my Nominee place any conditions on my tender of Shares?
No.
May I place any conditions on my tender of Shares?
No.
Is my tender of Shares in the Offer a taxable transaction?
It is anticipated that the tender of Shares in exchange for cash will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes either in the form of a sale or exchange or, under certain circumstances, a dividend. Please consult your tax adviser regarding your individual tax consequences, including potential state, local and foreign tax consequences. (See Section 14, Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.)
Is there any reason Shares tendered by me for purchase would not be accepted?
In addition to those circumstances described under Certain Conditions of the Offer in which the Fund is not required to purchase tendered Shares, the Fund has reserved the right to reject any and all tendered Shares determined by the Fund not to have been tendered in the appropriate form. For example, tenders will be rejected if the tender does not include the original signature(s) or the original of any required signature guarantee(s).
What should I do if I decide not to tender my Shares for purchase?
Nothing. There are no actions that you need to take if you determine not to participate in the Offer.
If I decide not to tender, how will the Offer affect my Shares?
If you do not tender your Shares (or if you own Shares following completion of the Offer), you will be subject to any increased risks associated with the reduction in the Funds total assets due to the payment for the tendered Shares. These risks may include a loss of scale for the Fund and greater volatility due to a decreased asset base and proportionately higher operating expenses, as well as the possibility of receiving additional taxable capital gains on the distributions of the sale of portfolio securities to pay for tendered Shares. The reduced assets of the Fund as a result of the Offer may result in less investment flexibility for the Fund, depending on the number of Shares purchased, could limit the Funds ability to use leverage and may have an adverse effect on the Funds investment performance. The purchase of Shares in the Offer may reduce the number of shareholders in the Fund and will reduce the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly. This could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining Shares the public holds. (See Section 9, Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation and Section 17, Fees and Expenses.)
If at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund, then the Board may, within three months after September 2, 2021, dissolve the Fund without any approval by holders of the Shares. While the Funds Declaration of Trust provides the Board with this flexibility, the Board has not yet made any determination as to whether it will liquidate and dissolve the Fund if at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the Offer. If the Fund were to dissolve and liquidate, the Funds shareholders who had not tendered their Shares in the Offer would be subject to the continuing risk that the value of the Funds assets could decline during the liquidation period and would bear all the costs of liquidation.
iii
Does the Funds management recommend that shareholders participate in the Offer, and will management participate in the Offer?
None of the Fund, the Board of Trustees nor the Investment Advisor is making any recommendation to shareholders regarding whether to tender Shares for purchase or refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer. The Fund has been advised that, except as otherwise disclosed herein, neither its trustees, officers nor the Investment Advisor intend to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer. (See Section 11, Interest of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares.)
Will there be additional opportunities to tender my Shares to the Fund?
No other tender offers have been approved by the Board, but the Board reserves the right to conduct tender offers in the future. (See Section 2, Purpose of the Offer and Section 3, Plans or Proposals of the Fund.)
How do I obtain more information?
Questions and requests for assistance should be directed to the Information Agent at 470 West Avenue, 3rd Floor, Stamford, CT 06902 (telephone number: (203) 658-9400 or toll free: (800) 662-5200; email: GGO.info@investor.morrowsodali.com). Requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and all other Offer documents should also be directed to the Information Agent for the Offer. The Investor Relations team may also be reached by calling (914) 921-5070 or by email (ClosedEnd@gabelli.com).
iv
1. |
Price; Number of Shares. |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Fund will accept for purchase, and pay for, all of the Funds outstanding Shares that are properly tendered and not timely withdrawn in accordance with Section 6 prior to the Expiration Date. The term Expiration Date means 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on September 24, 2021, unless the Fund, in its sole discretion, extends the period during which the Offer is open, in which case Expiration Date shall mean the time and date on which the Offer, as so extended by the Fund, shall expire. The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion and for any reason to amend, extend or terminate the Offer prior to the time the Offer expires. See Section 16, Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination. The Fund will not be obligated to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer under certain circumstances. See Section 4, Certain Conditions of the Offer.
The purchase price of the Shares will be 98% of the NAV per Share determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE American on the Pricing Date. On July 30, 2021, the NAV per Share was $17.24 and the last reported market price for a Share on the NYSE on such date was $16.21, representing a discount of 5.97% to NAV. The NAV on the Pricing Date may be higher or lower than the NAV as of July 30, 2021, and the discount to NAV at which the Shares trade may be greater or lesser than the discount as of July 30, 2021. During the pendency of the Offer, Shareholders may contact Morrow Sodali LLC, the Funds Information Agent, toll free at (800) 662-5200, between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday, to obtain the current NAV per share for the Shares. Shareholders tendering Shares shall be entitled to receive all dividends with an ex date on or before the Expiration Date provided that they own Shares as of the record date for such dividend. Shareholders should be aware that, if they tender Shares pursuant to the Offer, tendered Shares will not be entitled to receive any Fund dividend or distribution with a record date on or after September 27, 2021.
The Offer is being made to all shareholders and is not conditioned upon shareholders tendering for purchase in the aggregate any minimum number of Shares.
Shares will be purchased at 98% of the Funds NAV on the Pricing Date, which may help defray certain costs of the tender, including the processing of tender forms, effecting payment, postage and handling. The Fund will not charge a separate service fee in conjunction with the Offer. If your Shares are held through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may charge a service fee for participation in the Offer. Tendering shareholders will not be obligated to pay transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares by the Fund, except in the circumstances set forth in Section 7, Payment for Shares.
On July 30, 2021, there were 1,546,852 Shares issued and outstanding, and there were approximately 284 holders of record of Shares. On July 30, 2021, there were 285267 Series A Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. One of these record holders is a nominee for brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other institutions that held legal title to Shares in street name on behalf of multiple beneficial owners. The Fund has been advised that, except as otherwise disclosed herein, neither its trustees, officers nor the Investment Advisor intend to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time or from time to time, to extend the period of time during which the Offer is open by giving notice of such extension to the Depositary and making a public announcement thereof. See Section 16, Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination. The Fund makes no assurance that it will extend the Offer. During any extension, all Shares previously tendered and not withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the right of a tendering shareholder to withdraw his or her Shares.
2. |
Purpose of the Offer. |
The Funds Declaration of Trust provides that not later than 30 days prior to the fifth anniversary of the Funds initial public offering, the Fund will commence a cash tender offer for any and all of the Shares at a price per Share determined by the Board and expressed as a percentage (but not less than 95%) of the net asset value (NAV) per Share most recently determined as of the close of business on the last business day prior to the date the Fund purchases such Shares pursuant to such tender offer. The Board does not have discretion in determining whether or not to make the Fifth Anniversary Tender Offer. On August 2, 2021, the Board approved the Fifth Anniversary Tender Offer upon the terms specified in this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.
If at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund, then the Board may, within three months after September 2, 2021, dissolve the Fund without any approval by holders of the Shares. While the Funds Declaration of Trust provides the Board with this flexibility, the Board has not yet made any determination as to whether it will liquidate and dissolve the Fund if at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the Offer.
As of July 30, 2021, the Fund had outstanding 285,267 Series A Preferred Shares, at a liquidation preference of $40 per share, for a total liquidation value of $ 11,410,680. On August 2, 2021, the Board authorized the redemption of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares on September 27, 2021, to ensure that the Fund will have asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, of at least 200% for the Series A Preferred Shares after deducting the purchase price for the Shares to be purchased in the Offer, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The Series A Preferred Shares will be redeemed at $40.0055 per share, consisting of the liquidation preference of $40.00 per share, together with accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions of $0.0055 per share to the redemption date.
None of the Fund, the Board nor the Investment Advisor makes any recommendation to any shareholder as to whether to tender Shares for purchase or to refrain from tendering Shares in the Offer. No person has been authorized to make any recommendation on behalf of the Fund, the Board or the Investment Advisor as to whether shareholders should tender Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer or to make any representation or to give any information in connection with the Offer other than as contained herein. If made or given, any such recommendation, representation or information must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund, the Board or the Investment Advisor. Shareholders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender their Shares for purchase or refrain from participating in the Offer.
3. |
Plans or Proposals of the Fund. |
Except to the extent described herein or in connection with the operation of the Funds automatic dividend reinvestment plan, the Fund does not have any present plans or proposals and is not engaged in any negotiations that relate to or would result in:
(a) |
any extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Fund or any of its subsidiaries; |
(b) |
other than in connection with transactions in the ordinary course of the Funds operations and for purposes of funding the Offer, any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Fund or any of its subsidiaries; |
(c) |
any material change in the Funds present dividend policy, or indebtedness or capitalization of the Fund; |
(d) |
changes to the present Board or management of the Fund, including changes to the number or the term of members of the Board, the filling of any existing vacancies on the Board or changes to any material term of the employment contract of any executive officer; |
(e) |
any other material change in the Funds corporate structure or business, including any plans or proposals to make any changes in the Funds investment policy for which a vote would be required by Section 13 of the 1940 Act; |
(f) |
any class of equity securities of the Fund being delisted from a national securities exchange or ceasing to be authorized to be quoted in an automated quotations system operated by a national securities association; |
(g) |
any class of equity securities of the Fund becoming eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act; |
(h) |
the suspension of the Funds obligation to file reports pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; |
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(i) |
the acquisition by any person of additional securities of the Fund, or the disposition of securities of the Fund; or |
(j) |
any changes in the Funds Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws or other governing instruments or other actions that could impede the acquisition of control of the Fund. |
4. |
Certain Conditions of the Offer. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, and in addition to (and not in limitation of) the Funds right to extend, amend or terminate the Offer at any time in its sole discretion, the Fund shall not be required to accept for purchase or, subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, pay for, and may delay the acceptance of or payment for any tendered Shares, if:
(a) |
such transactions, if consummated, would: |
(i) |
result in delisting of the Funds Shares from the NYSE American (the NYSE American Company Guide provides that the NYSE American would promptly initiate suspension and delisting procedures with respect to closed-end funds if the total market value of publicly held shares and net assets are each less than $5,000,000 for more than 60 consecutive days or it ceases to qualify as a closed-end fund under the 1940 Act (unless the resultant entity otherwise qualifies for listing)); |
(ii) |
impair the Funds status as a regulated investment company (RIC) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) (which would make the Fund subject to U.S. federal income taxes on all of its income and gains in addition to the taxation of shareholders who receive distributions from the Fund); or |
(iii) |
result in a failure to comply with the applicable asset coverage requirements applicable to senior securities of the Fund that are issued and outstanding; |
(b) |
the amount of Shares tendered would require liquidation of such a substantial portion of the Funds portfolio securities that the Fund would not be able to liquidate portfolio securities in an orderly manner in light of the existing market conditions and such liquidation would have an adverse effect on the NAV of the Fund to the detriment of non-tendering shareholders; |
(c) |
there shall be instituted, pending or threatened before any governmental entity or court any action, proceeding, application or claim, or there shall be any judgment, order or injunction sought or any other action taken by any person or entity, which restrains, prohibits or materially delays the making or consummation of the Offer, challenges the acquisition by the Fund of any Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Boards fulfillment of its fiduciary obligations in connection with the Offer, seeks to obtain any material amount of damages in connection with the Offer, or otherwise directly or indirectly adversely affects the Offer or the Fund; |
(d) |
there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of trading in or limitation on prices for securities on the NYSE American, any other exchange on which the Shares are traded or any other exchange on which portfolio securities held by the Fund are traded; (ii) any declaration of a banking moratorium or similar action materially adverse to the Fund by U.S. federal or state authorities or any foreign jurisdiction, or any suspension of payment material to the Fund by banks in the United States, the State of New York, or any other jurisdiction; (iii) any limitation having a material adverse effect on the Fund that is imposed by U.S. federal or state authorities, or by any governmental authority of any foreign jurisdiction, with respect to the extension of credit by lending institutions or the convertibility of foreign currencies; (iv) the commencement of war, armed hostilities, or any other international or national calamity directly involving the United States other than any such event which is currently occurring; or (v) any other event or condition which, in the judgment of the Board, would have a material adverse effect on the Fund if the Offer were consummated; or |
3
(e) |
the Board determines that effecting the Offer would be inconsistent with applicable legal requirements or would constitute a breach of the Boards fiduciary duties owed to the Fund or its shareholders. |
The foregoing conditions are for the Funds sole benefit and may be asserted by the Fund regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition (including any action or inaction of the Fund), and any such condition may be waived by the Fund, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in its reasonable judgment. The Funds failure at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right; the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts or circumstances; and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination by the Fund concerning the events described in this Section 4 shall be final and binding.
The Fund reserves the right, at any time during the pendency of the Offer, to terminate, extend or amend the Offer in any respect. If the Fund determines to terminate or amend the Offer or to postpone the acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares tendered, it will, to the extent necessary, extend the period of time during which the Offer is open as provided in Section 16, Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination. In the event any of the foregoing conditions are modified or waived in whole or in part at any time, the Fund will promptly make a public announcement of such waiver and may, depending on the materiality of the modification or waiver, extend the Offer period as provided in Section 16, Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination.
5. |
Procedures for Tendering Shares for Purchase. |
A. Proper Tender of Shares.
Holders of Shares that are registered in the name of a Nominee should contact such firm if they desire to tender their Shares.
For Shares to be properly tendered pursuant to the Offer, a shareholder must cause a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal bearing original signature(s) and the original of any required signature guarantee(s), and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase, and must cause certificates for tendered Shares to be received by the Depositary at such address or cause such Shares to be delivered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry delivery set forth below (and confirmation of receipt of such delivery to be received by the Depositary), in each case before the Expiration Date.
There are no guaranteed delivery procedures available under the terms of the Offer as an alternative delivery mechanism. Beneficial owners should be aware that their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in the Offer. Accordingly, beneficial owners wishing to participate in the Offer should contact their Nominee as soon as possible in order to determine the times by which such owner must take action in order to participate in the Offer.
Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any certificate representing Shares has been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the shareholder should promptly call the Depositary at (781) 575-2879 or (800) 336-6983. The shareholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed.
Letters of Transmittal and certificates representing tendered Shares should not be sent or delivered to the Fund.
Shareholders who desire to tender Shares registered in the name of a Nominee must contact their Nominee to effect a tender on their behalf.
The Funds transfer agent holds Shares in uncertificated form for certain shareholders pursuant to the Funds automatic dividend reinvestment plan. When a shareholder tenders share certificates, the Depositary will accept any of the Shareholders certificated Shares for tender first and accept the balance of tendered Shares from the shareholders uncertificated Shares. Any remaining certificated Shares will be issued in book-entry and will be electronically held in your account in lieu of a certificate.
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Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14e-4 promulgated thereunder make it unlawful for any person, acting alone or in concert with others, directly or indirectly, to request a purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer unless at the time of the request, and at the time the Shares are accepted for payment, the person requesting the purchase has a net long position equal to or greater than the amount requested for purchase in either: (a) Shares, and will deliver or cause to be delivered such Shares for the purpose of purchase to the Fund within the period specified in the Offer, or (b) an equivalent security and, upon the acceptance of his or her request to purchase, will acquire Shares by conversion, exchange, or exercise of such equivalent security to the extent required by the terms of the Offer, and will deliver or cause to be delivered the Shares so acquired for the purpose of requesting the purchase to the Fund prior to or on the Expiration Date. Section 14(e) and Rule 14e-4 provide a similar restriction applicable to the request to purchase or guarantee of a request to tender on behalf of another person.
The acceptance of Shares by the Fund for purchase will constitute a binding agreement between the participating shareholder and the Fund upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, including the participating shareholders representation that the shareholder has a net long position in the Shares being tendered for purchase within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 and that the request to tender such Shares complies with Rule 14e-4.
By submitting the Letter of Transmittal, a tendering shareholder shall, subject to and effective upon acceptance for payment of the Shares tendered, be deemed in consideration of such acceptance to sell, assign and transfer to, or upon the order of, the Fund all right, title and interest in and to all the Shares that are being tendered (and any and all dividends, distributions, other Shares or other securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Shares after the Expiration Date) and irrevocably constitute and appoint the Fund the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the tendering shareholder with respect to such Shares (and any such dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (a) deliver certificates for such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights) or transfer ownership of such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights), together, in either such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to or upon the order of the Fund, upon receipt by the Depositary of the purchase price, (b) present such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights) for transfer on the books of the Fund, and (c) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and any such other dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior powers of attorney given by the tendering shareholder with respect to such Shares (and any such dividends, distributions, other shares or securities or rights) will, without further action, be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney may be given by the tendering shareholder with respect to the tendered Shares (and, if given, will be null and void.)
By submitting a Letter of Transmittal, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer, a tendering shareholder shall be deemed to represent and warrant that: (a) the tendering shareholder has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the tendered Shares (and any and all dividends, distributions, other Shares or other securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Shares after the Expiration Date); (b) when and to the extent the Fund accepts the Shares for purchase, the Fund will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges, proxies, encumbrances or other obligations relating to their sale or transfer, and not subject to any adverse claim; (c) on request, the tendering shareholder will execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or the Fund to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the tendered Shares (and any and all dividends, distributions, other Shares or securities or rights declared or issuable in respect of such Shares after the Expiration Date); and (d) the tendering shareholder has read and agreed to all of the terms of the Offer, including this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.
B. Signature Guarantees and Method of Delivery. All signatures on the Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. (See Instruction 2 of the Letter of Transmittal.) An Eligible Institution is a firm which is a broker, dealer, commercial bank, credit union, savings association or other entity and which is a member in good standing of a stock transfer associations approved medallion program (such as STAMP, SEMP or MSP).
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If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered for purchase thereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificate(s) for the Shares tendered for purchase without any alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
If any of the Shares tendered for purchase thereby are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign the Letter of Transmittal.
If any of the Shares tendered for purchase are registered in different names, it is necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations.
If the Letter of Transmittal or any certificates for Shares tendered for purchase or stock powers relating to Shares tendered for purchase are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Fund of their authority so to act must be submitted together with the Letter of Transmittal.
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered for purchase, no endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers with respect to such Shares are required unless payment is to be made to, or certificates for Shares not purchased are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on such certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the certificate(s) listed thereon, the certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) for the Shares involved. Signatures on such certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF ANY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE PARTY TENDERING SHARES. IF DOCUMENTS ARE SENT BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE SENT BY REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED.
C. Book-Entry Delivery. Any financial institution that is a participant in the DTC system may make book-entry delivery of tendered Shares in accordance with DTCs procedures. However, although delivery of Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer at DTC, a Letter of Transmittal properly completed and bearing original signature(s) and the original of any required signature guarantee(s) or an Agents Message (as defined below) in connection with a book-entry transfer and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.
The term Agents Message means a message from DTC transmitted to, and received by, the Depositary forming a part of a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares (a Book-Entry Confirmation) which states that (a) DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the DTC participant tendering the Shares for purchase that are the subject of the Book-Entry Confirmation, (b) the DTC participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal, and (c) the Fund may enforce such agreement against the DTC participant. Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with DTCs procedures does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.
D. Determinations of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders will be determined by the Fund, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders determined not to be in appropriate form or to refuse to accept for payment or purchase, or pay for, any Shares if, in the opinion of the Funds counsel, accepting, purchasing or paying for such Shares would be unlawful. The Fund also reserves the absolute right to the extent permitted by law to waive any of the conditions of the Offer or any defect in any tender, whether generally or with respect to any particular Share(s) or shareholder(s). The Funds interpretations of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) shall be final and binding.
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None of the Fund, the Board of Trustees, the Investment Advisor, the Information Agent, Depositary nor any other person is or will be obligated to give any notice of any defect or irregularity in any tender, and none of the foregoing persons will incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
E. U.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding. Under the U.S. federal income tax backup withholding rules, the Depositary would generally be required to withhold 24% of the gross payments made pursuant to the Offer to any U.S. Shareholder (as defined below) unless such U.S. Shareholder has completed and submitted to the Depositary an IRS Form W-9. In order to avoid the possibility of backup withholding, all participating U.S. Shareholders are required to provide the Depositary with a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-9. A U.S. Shareholder is a shareholder that is a U.S. person within the meaning of the Code. In general, a U.S. Shareholder is a shareholder that is (a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (b) a corporation or partnership, or other entity taxed as a corporation or partnership, created or organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or of any State thereof; (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of the source of such income; or (d) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.
In order to avoid backup withholding, participating Non-U.S. Shareholders (as defined below) must provide the Depositary with a completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or another type of Form W-8 appropriate to the particular Non-U.S. Shareholder. For purposes of this Offer to Purchase, a Non-U.S. Shareholder is generally any shareholder that is not a U.S. person within the meaning of the Code. Copies of Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E are provided with the Letter of Transmittal for Non-U.S. Shareholders. Other types of Form W-8 can be found on the IRS website at www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html.
Tendering Non-U.S. Shareholders may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, even if they submit an appropriate IRS Form W-8 in order to claim an exemption from backup withholding. For an additional discussion of U.S. federal income tax withholding as well as a discussion of certain other U.S. federal income tax consequences to tendering shareholders, see Section 14, Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.
6. |
Withdrawal Rights. |
At any time prior to the Expiration Date any shareholder may withdraw all, but not less than all, of the Shares that the shareholder has tendered. In addition, Shareholders will also have the right to withdraw the tender of Shares at any time after 5:00 p.m. on September 28, 2021, to the extent the Shares have not yet been accepted for payment.
To be effective, a written notice of withdrawal of Shares tendered for purchase must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Shareholders may also send a facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal, which must be timely received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date, and the original notice of withdrawal must be delivered to the Depositary by overnight courier the next day. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name(s) of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn (which may not be less than all of the Shares tendered by the shareholder) and, if one or more certificates representing such Shares have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, the name(s) of the registered owner(s) of such Shares as set forth in such certificate(s) if different from the name(s) of the person tendering the Shares. If one or more certificates have been delivered to the Depositary, then, prior to the release of such certificate(s), the certificate number(s) shown on the particular certificate(s) evidencing such Shares must also be submitted and the signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Fund in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. Shares properly withdrawn will not thereafter be deemed to be tendered for purposes of the Offer. Withdrawn Shares, however, may be re-tendered for purchase by following the procedures described in Section 5 prior to the Expiration Date. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6, tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer will be irrevocable.
None of the Fund, the Board of Trustees, the Investment Advisor, the Information Agent, the Depositary nor any other person is or will be obligated to give any notice of any defect or irregularity in any notice of withdrawal, nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.
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7. |
Payment for Shares. |
For purposes of the Offer, the Fund will be deemed to have accepted for payment and purchased Shares that are tendered for purchase (and not timely withdrawn in accordance with Section 6) when, as and if the Fund gives oral or written notice to the Depositary of its acceptance of such Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer. Under the Exchange Act, the Fund is obligated to pay for or return Shares tendered for purchase promptly after the termination, expiration or withdrawal of the Offer.
Payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made by the Depositary out of funds made available to it by the Fund. The Depositary will act as agent for the Fund for the purpose of effecting payment to the tendering shareholder. In all cases, payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of:
(a) |
a Letter of Transmittal (or a copy thereof) properly completed and duly executed with any required signature guarantee(s), or an Agents Message in connection with a book-entry transfer; |
(b) |
a certificate evidencing Shares or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositarys account at DTC pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 5; and |
(c) |
all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. |
Accordingly, payment may not be made to all tendering shareholders at the same time and will depend upon when Share certificates are received by the Depositary or Book-Entry Confirmations of tendered Shares are received in the Depositarys account at DTC.
If any tendered Shares are not accepted for payment or are not paid because of an invalid tender, if certificates are submitted for more Shares than are tendered, or if a shareholder withdraws tendered Shares, (i) the Shares will be issued in book-entry form and will be electronically held in your account for such unpurchased Shares, as soon as practicable following the expiration, termination or withdrawal of the Offer, (ii) Shares delivered pursuant to the book-entry delivery procedures will be credited to the account from which they were delivered, and (iii) uncertificated Shares held by the Funds transfer agent pursuant to the Funds dividend reinvestment plan will be returned to the automatic dividend reinvestment plan account maintained by the transfer agent.
The Fund will pay all transfer taxes, if any, payable on the transfer to it of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or if unpurchased Shares were registered in the name of, any person other than the tendering holder, or if any tendered certificates are registered or the Shares tendered are held in the name of any person other than the person signing the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or such other person) payable on account of such transfer will be the responsibility of the shareholder and satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, will need to be submitted. In addition, if certain events occur, the Fund may not be obligated to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer. See Section 4, Certain Conditions of the Offer.
Any tendering shareholder or other payee who fails to complete fully and sign the Substitute IRS Form W-9, if one is included with the Letter of Transmittal, may be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding of 24% of the gross proceeds paid to such shareholder or other payee pursuant to the Offer. Non-U.S. Shareholders should provide the Depositary with a completed IRS Form W-8 in order to avoid 24% backup withholding. A copy of IRS Form W-8 will be provided upon request from the Depositary. See Section 5, Procedures for Tendering Shares for PurchaseU.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding.
8. |
Source and Amount of Consideration. |
The actual cost of the Offer to the Fund cannot be determined at this time because the number of Shares to be purchased will depend on the number of Shares tendered for purchase, and the price will be based on the NAV per Share on the Pricing Date. If shareholders tendered all Shares offered for purchase pursuant to the Offer, and the Fund purchased such Shares at a price per share of $16.90, equal to 98% of the NAV as of July 30, 2021 ($17.24 per Share), payments by the Fund to the participating shareholders would be approximately $26.1 million. See Section 9, Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation.
8
The monies to be used by the Fund to purchase Shares pursuant to the Offer will be first obtained from any cash on hand and then from the proceeds of sales of securities in the Funds investment portfolio. No funds are expected to be borrowed, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of the Offer.
As of July 30, 2021, the Fund had outstanding 285,267 Series A Preferred Shares, at a liquidation preference of $40 per share, for a total liquidation value of $ 11,410,680. On August 2, 2021, the Board authorized the redemption of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares on September 27, 2021, to ensure that the Fund will have asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, of at least 200% for the Series A Preferred Shares after deducting the purchase price for the Shares to be purchased in the Offer, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The Series A Preferred Shares will be redeemed at $40.0055 per share, consisting of the liquidation preference of $40.00 per share, together with accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions of $0.0055 per share to the redemption date.
There are no alternative financing arrangements or alternative financing plans. See Section 4, Certain Conditions of the Offer.
9. |
Effects of the Offer; Consequences of Participation. |
The Offer may have certain adverse consequences for tendering and non-tendering shareholders.
A. Effects on NAV and Consideration Received by Tendering Shareholders. To pay the aggregate purchase price of Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, the Fund anticipates that funds will be first derived from any cash on hand and then from the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities held by the Fund. If the Fund is required to sell a substantial amount of portfolio securities to raise cash to finance the Offer, such dispositions of portfolio securities could cause market prices of the Funds portfolio securities, and hence the Funds NAV, to decline. If such a decline occurs, the Fund cannot predict what its magnitude might be or whether such a decline would be temporary or continue to or beyond the Expiration Date. Because the price per Share to be paid in the Offer will be dependent upon the NAV as determined as of the close of ordinary trading on the NYSE American on the Pricing Date, if such a decline continued to the Pricing Date, the consideration received by tendering shareholders would be less than it otherwise might be. In addition, a sale of portfolio securities will cause increased brokerage and related transaction expenses, and the Fund may receive proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities that are less than the valuations of such securities by the Fund. Accordingly, because of the Offer, the Funds NAV may decline more than it otherwise might, thereby reducing the amount of proceeds received by tendering shareholders, and also reducing the NAV for non-tendering shareholders.
The Fund will sell portfolio securities to raise cash for the purchase of Shares. Thus, it is likely that during the pendency of the Offer, and possibly for a short time thereafter, the Fund will hold a greater than normal percentage of its net assets in cash and cash equivalents. This larger cash position may interfere with the Funds ability to meet its investment objectives. The Fund is required by law to pay for tendered Shares it accepts for payment promptly after the Expiration Date of this Offer. If on or prior to the Expiration Date the Fund does not have, or believes it is unlikely to have, sufficient cash to pay for all Shares tendered, it may extend the Offer to allow additional time to sell portfolio securities and raise sufficient cash.
As of July 30, 2021, the Fund had outstanding 285,267 Series A Preferred Shares, at a liquidation preference of $40 per share, for a total liquidation value of $ 11,410,680. On August 2, 2021, the Board authorized the redemption of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares on September 27, 2021, to ensure that the Fund will have asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, of at least 200% for the Series A Preferred Shares after deducting the purchase price for the Shares to be purchased in the Offer, consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The Series A Preferred Shares will be redeemed at $40.0055 per share, consisting of the liquidation preference of $40.00 per share, together with accumulated and unpaid dividends and distributions of $0.0055 per share to the redemption date. The risks and consequences discussed herein relating to raising sufficient funds to purchase Shares are further exacerbated by the Funds obligation to also raise cash to redeem the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares.
B. Recognition of Capital Gains. As noted, the Fund will likely be required to sell portfolio securities pursuant to the Offer. If the Funds tax basis for the securities sold is less than the sale proceeds, the Fund will recognize capital gains. The Fund would expect to distribute any such gains to shareholders of record (reduced by net capital losses realized during the fiscal year, if any, and available capital loss carry-forwards) during, or following the end of, the Funds
9
fiscal year. This recognition and distribution of gains, if any, would have two negative consequences: first, while shareholders at the time of a declaration of distributions will receive such distributions, such shareholders would be required to pay taxes on a greater amount of capital gain distributions than otherwise would be the case; and second, to raise cash to make the distributions, the Fund might need to sell additional portfolio securities, thereby possibly being forced to realize and recognize additional capital gains. It is impossible to predict what the amount of unrealized gains or losses would be in the Funds portfolio at the time that the Fund is required to liquidate portfolio securities (and hence the amount of capital gains or losses that would be realized and recognized). As of June 30, 2021, the Fund had net unrealized appreciation of $5,685,689 and capital loss carryforwards of $5,995,853.
In addition, some distributed gains may be realized on securities held for one year or less, which would generate income taxable to the shareholders at ordinary income rates. This could adversely affect the Funds after-tax performance.
C. Tax Consequences of Purchases to Shareholders. The Funds purchase of tendered Shares pursuant to the Offer will have tax consequences for tendering shareholders. See Section 14, Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.
D. Effect on Remaining Shareholders, Higher Expense Ratio and Less Investment Flexibility. The purchase of Shares by the Fund pursuant to the Offer will have the effect of increasing the proportionate interest in the Fund of non-tendering shareholders. All shareholders remaining after the Offer will be subject to any increased risks associated with the reduction in the Funds aggregate assets resulting from payment for the tendered Shares, such as greater volatility due to decreased diversification and proportionately higher expenses. The reduced net assets of the Fund as a result of the Offer may result in less investment flexibility for the Fund and may have an adverse effect on the Funds investment performance.
E. Liquidation of the Fund. If at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund, the Board may, within three months after September 2, 2021, dissolve the Fund without any approval by holders of the Shares. While the Funds Declaration of Trust provides the Board with this flexibility, the Board has not yet made any determination as to whether it will liquidate and dissolve the Fund if at least a majority of the Shares are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the Offer. If the Fund were to dissolve and liquidate, the Funds shareholders who had not tendered their Shares in the Offer would be subject to the continuing risk that the value of the Funds assets could decline during the liquidation period and would bear all the costs of liquidation.
Separately, shareholders who decide to participate in the Offer and tender their Shares at the Purchase Price may be at a disadvantage if the Board determines to liquidate and dissolve the Fund after the conclusion of the Offer since the Fund will be liquidated at 100% of NAV. Any amounts distributed in connection with the Funds liquidation and dissolution, however, will be reduced by the expenses of the Fund and any reduction in the value of the Funds portfolio securities in connection with such liquidation and dissolution.
F. Concentrated Ownership. The ownership of the Funds Shares is highly concentrated. Mr. Mario Gabelli, an interested trustee of the Fund, beneficially owns 73.8% of the total outstanding Shares as of July 30, 2021. Mr. Gabellis decision to participate or not participate in the Offer will have a disproportionate impact on whether the Board will have the flexibility to determine whether to liquidate and dissolve the Fund without approval of the holders of Shares following the expiration of the Offer, or whether of the other potential adverse consequences of the Offer described herein may occur. Mr. Gabelli has indicated that he intends to tender Shares, but has not determined the amount of Shares that will be tendered.
10
10. |
Price Range of Shares. |
The following table sets forth, for each of the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low closing market prices for the Shares on the NYSE American, the NAV per Share and the premium or discount to NAV per Share at which the Shares were trading.
Market Price |
Corresponding Net Asset
Value (NAV) Per Share |
Corresponding Premium or
Discount as a % of NAV |
||||||||||
Quarter Ended |
High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | ||||||
June 30, 2019 |
$18.22 | $14.47 | $18.02 | $16.40 | 1.15% | (11.71)% | ||||||
September 30, 2019 |
$16.53 | $14.05 | $16.56 | $15.15 | (0.18)% | (7.19)% | ||||||
December 31, 2019 |
$16.50 | $14.57 | $16.40 | $16.59 | 0.61% | (12.17)% | ||||||
March 31, 2020 |
$16.16 | $ 5.88 | $18.07 | $ 7.19 | (10.57)% | (18.08)% | ||||||
June 30, 2020 |
$10.37 | $ 7.68 | $10.64 | $ 8.99 | (2.47)% | (14.57)% | ||||||
September 30, 2020 |
$11.39 | $ 9.65 | $11.81 | $10.64 | (3.55)% | (9.30)% | ||||||
December 31, 2020 |
$12.50 | $10.20 | $13.06 | $11.57 | (4.28)% | (11.84)% | ||||||
March 31, 2021 |
$15.19 | $12.00 | $16.88 | $14.29 | (10.01)% | (16.02)% | ||||||
June 30, 2021 |
$16.55 | $13.92 | $17.69 | $16.70 | (6.44)% | (16.64)% |
On July 30, 2021, the NAV per Share was $17.24 and the last reported market price for a Share on the NYSE American on such date was $16.21. During the pendency of the Offer, daily NAV quotations can be obtained in the manner indicated in Section 1.
The tender of Shares, unless and until such tendered Shares are accepted for payment, will not affect the record ownership of any such tendered Shares for purposes of entitlement to any dividends payable by the Fund.
11. |
Interests of Trustees and Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares. |
Information, as of particular dates, concerning the Funds trustees and executive officers, their remuneration, any material interest of such persons in transactions with the Fund and other matters, is required to be disclosed in proxy statements distributed to the Funds shareholders and filed with the Commission. The table below sets forth the number of Shares and percentage of outstanding Shares beneficially owned by the trustees and officers of the Fund as of June 30, 2021.
Name of Trustee/Nominee/Officer |
Amount and Nature of
|
Percent of Shares
|
||
INTERESTED TRUSTEES: |
||||
Mario J. Gabelli |
1,142,952 Common(3) | 73.8% | ||
63,316 Series A Preferred(4) | 22.1% | |||
Christina A. Peeney |
0 | 0 | ||
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES: |
||||
Calgary Avansino |
0 | * | ||
Anthony S. Colavita |
0 | * | ||
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
0 | * | ||
Michael J. Melarkey |
1,545 Common(5) | * | ||
515 Series A Preferred(6) | * | |||
Kuni Nakamura |
927 Common | * | ||
309 Series A Preferred | * | |||
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: |
||||
Bruce N. Alpert |
699 Common(7) | * | ||
John C. Ball |
0 | * | ||
Peter Goldstein |
0 | * | ||
Richard J. Walz |
0 | * |
(1) |
This information has been furnished by each Trustee and executive officer as of June 30, 2021. Beneficial Ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act. Reflects ownership of Shares unless otherwise noted. |
(2) |
An asterisk indicates that the ownership amount constitutes less than 1% of the total shares outstanding. The ownership of the Trustees and executive officers as a group constitutes 74.2% of the total Shares outstanding and 65.5% of the total Series A Preferred Shares outstanding. |
(3) |
Comprised of 363,212 Shares owned directly by Mr. Mario J. Gabelli, 111,486 Shares owned by Associated Capital Group, Inc., 2,997 Shares owned by GAMCO Asset Management, 303 Shares owned by LICT Corporation, and 563,899 Shares owned by E3M 2016, 5,183 Shares owned by Gabelli Foundation and 95,892 Shares owned by MJG Associates. |
(4) |
Comprised of 31,131 Series A Preferred Shares owned directly by Mr. Mario J. Gabelli, 32,085 Series A Preferred Shares owned by Associated Capital Group, Inc., and 100 Series A Preferred Shares owned by GAMCO Asset Management. |
(5) |
All 1,545 Shares are owned by Le Cle Investments for which Mr. Melarkey disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(6) |
All 515 Series A Preferred Shares are owned by Le Cle Investments for which Mr. Melarkey disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(7) |
Includes 309 Shares owned by Mr. Alperts spouse for which he disclaims beneficial ownership. |
11
The business address and business telephone number of each of the trustees and executive officer of the Fund are in care of Gabelli Funds, LLC, One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422 and 1-800-422-3554.
Neither the Fund nor, to the best of the Funds knowledge, any of the Funds trustees or officers, or associates of any of the foregoing, has effected any transaction in Shares, except for dividend reinvestment, during the 60 days prior to the date of this Offer to Purchase.
The Board has authorized the Fund to repurchase its Shares in the open market when the Shares are trading at a discount from NAV of 7.5% or more (or such other percentage as the Board may determine from time to time). The Fund and any other person participating in the Offer will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M, which may restrict the ability of any person engaged in a distribution, as defined in Regulation M, of the Shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Shares. There were no transactions effected as part of the Funds open market share repurchase program during the past 60 days by the Fund.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, neither the Fund, nor, to the best of the Funds knowledge, any of the Funds trustees or officers, is a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding, whether or not legally enforceable, with any other person with respect to any securities of the Fund, including, but not limited to, any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there is no present or proposed material agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship with respect to the Offer between the Fund and any of its executive officers, trustees, controlling persons or subsidiaries.
The Fund has been advised that, except with respect to Mr. Mario Gabelli, neither its trustees, officers nor the Investment Advisor intend to tender any Shares pursuant to the Offer. Mr. Gabelli has indicated that he intends to tender Shares, but has not determined the amount of Shares that will be tendered. Mr. Gabellis decision to participate or not participate in the Offer will have a disproportionate impact on whether the Board will have the flexibility to determine whether to liquidate and dissolve the Fund without approval of the holders of Shares following the expiration of the Offer, or whether of the other potential adverse consequences of the Offer described herein may occur. The Fund does not intend to purchase Shares from any officer, trustee or the Investment Advisor of the Fund pursuant to the Offer, other than the shares tendered by Mr. Mario Gabelli.
12
As of June 30, 2021, to the knowledge of the Fund, no person beneficially owned more than 5% of the voting securities of any class of securities of the Fund, except for the following:
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(s) |
Title of Class |
Amount of Shares
and Nature of Ownership |
Percent of Class | ||||||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli and affiliates
|
Common | 1,142,952 | (1) | 73.8 | % | ||||||||||
Marc GabelliOne
|
Common | 134,535 | 8.6 | % |
(1) |
Comprised of 363,212 Shares owned directly by Mario J. Gabelli, 111,486 Shares owned by Associated Capital Group Inc., 2,977 Shares owned by GAMCO Asset Management, 303 Shares owned by LICT Corporation, 563,899 Shares owned by E3M 2016, 5,183 Shares owned by Gabelli Foundation and 95,892 Shares owned by MJG Associates. |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(s) |
Title of Class |
Amount of Shares
and Nature of Ownership |
Percent of Class | ||||||||||||
Mario J. Gabelli and affiliates
|
Preferred | 63,316 | (1) | 22.1 | % | ||||||||||
Marc Gabelli
|
Preferred | 52,576 | 18.4 | % | |||||||||||
Regina M. Pitaro
|
Preferred | 27,835 | 9.7 | % |
(1) |
Comprised of 31,131 Series A Preferred Shares owned directly by Mario J. Gabelli, 32,085 Series A Preferred Shares owned by Associated Capital Group Inc., and 100 Series A Preferred Shares owned by GAMCO Asset Management. |
Gabelli Funds, LLC acts as the investment adviser for the Fund. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Investment Advisor and the Fund (the Investment Advisory Agreement), the Fund pays the Investment Advisor a fee, computed weekly and paid monthly, equal on an annual basis to 1.00% of the value of the Funds average weekly net assets including the liquidation value of preferred shares. Effective September 1, 2020, the Investment Advisor agreed to voluntarily waive its advisory fee to 0.50% with respect to assets attributable to all of the Funds outstanding Shares and to 0.00% with respect to assets attributable to all of the Funds outstanding Series A Preferred shares. In accordance with the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Investment Advisor provides a continuous investment program for the Funds portfolio and oversees the administration of all aspects of the Funds business and affairs.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement by the Board is available in the Funds Annual Report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Fund also is a party to certain other service agreements. The Fund is a party to a Transfer Agency and Registrar Services Agreement with Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (Computershare). The Fund pays Computershare a monthly fee plus out-of-pocket expenses for the services it provides as transfer, shareholder services and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund.
The amounts paid by the Fund under these service agreements are disclosed in the Funds financial statements, which can be found in the Funds annual and semi-annual reports.
13
12. |
Certain Information about the Fund. |
The Fund is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The Fund commenced investment operations on September 2, 2016, and the Funds Shares are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol GGO. The Funds primary investment objective is total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The Funds principal office is located at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York, 10580-1422 and its telephone number is (800) GABELLI (422-3554).
Gabelli Funds, LLC, a New York limited liability company, with offices at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The Investment Advisors investment philosophy with respect to equity securities is to identify assets that are selling in the public market at a discount to their private market value. The Investment Advisor defines private market value as the value informed purchasers are willing to pay to acquire assets with similar characteristics. The Investment Advisor also normally evaluates an issuers free cash flow and long term earnings trends. Finally, the Investment Advisor looks for a catalyst, something indigenous to the company, its industry or country, that will surface additional value. The principal business address of Investment Advisor is One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422.
13. |
Additional Information. |
The Fund is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the 1940 Act and in accordance therewith is obligated to file reports and other information with the Commission relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. The Fund has also filed an Offer to Purchase on Schedule TO with the Commission. Such reports and other information should be available for inspection at the public reference room at the Commissions office, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The Funds filings are also available to the public on the Commissions internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies may be obtained, by mail, upon payment of the Commissions customary charges, by writing to its Public Reference Section at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
14. |
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences. |
The following discussion is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of a participating shareholders sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer. This discussion is based on current U.S. federal income tax law, including the Code, existing and proposed Treasury regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion assumes you hold your Shares as capital assets and does not apply to a shareholder that is a member of a class of holders subject to special rules (such as a dealer in securities, a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities holdings, a bank, a life insurance company, a tax-exempt organization, a person that owns Shares as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or as a position in a straddle, a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Shareholder (as such term is defined in Section 5, Procedures for Tendering Shares for PurchaseU.S. Federal Income Tax Withholding above) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar, or, except as expressly discussed below, a Non-U.S. Shareholder). This summary assumes that the Fund is and will remain a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year that includes the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer. No ruling has been or will be sought from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding any matter discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax aspects set forth below. This summary also does not address the state, local or foreign tax consequences of participating in the Offer. Shareholders must consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of a sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer, including potential tax consequences in jurisdictions where the shareholder is a citizen, resident or domiciliary.
14
A. Consequences to U.S. Shareholders of Participating in the Offer.
In General. A shareholders tender of all or a part of its Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The tax consequences of the sale will generally be determined under the stock redemption rules of Section 302 of the Code. The amount and characterization of income recognized by a shareholder in connection with a sale pursuant to the Offer will depend on whether the sale is treated as an exchange or a dividend for tax purposes.
Treatment as an Exchange. If the redemption qualifies under any of the provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code, as more fully described below, the cash received pursuant to the Offer will be treated as received in exchange for the Shares sold. The treatment accorded to such an exchange results in a shareholders recognizing gain or loss equal to the difference between (a) the cash received by the shareholder pursuant to the Offer and (b) the shareholders adjusted tax basis in the Shares surrendered. Assuming the Shares are held as capital assets, such recognized gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If the Shares were held longer than one year, such capital gain or loss will be long-term. If the Shares were held for one year or less, such capital gain or loss will generally be short-term. However, any loss upon an exchange of Shares held for six months or less generally will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions received or deemed received from the Fund that were treated as long-term capital gain. In addition, under certain wash sales rules, recognition of a loss on Shares sold pursuant to the Offer will ordinarily be disallowed to the extent a shareholder acquires Shares within 30 days before or after the date Shares are purchased pursuant to the Offer and, in that event, the basis and holding period of the Shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to a number of limitations under the Code.
Treatment as a Dividend. If none of the provisions under Section 302(b) of the Code outlined below are satisfied, a shareholder will generally be treated as having received a distribution on its Shares in the entire amount of cash received by the shareholder for its Shares pursuant to the Offer. Any such distribution will be treated as taxable dividend income to the extent the Fund has current or accumulated earnings and profits. Any amounts treated as distributions to shareholders in excess of the Funds current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to such shareholders to the extent of their basis in their Shares (reducing that basis accordingly) and then as capital gain (which will be long-term or short-term depending on such shareholders applicable holding period for the Shares tendered).
Accordingly, the difference between dividend and sale or exchange treatment is important with respect to the amount (there is no basis offset for dividends) and character of income that tendering shareholders are deemed to receive. While the marginal tax rates for dividends and capital gains remains the same for corporate shareholders, under the Code the top income tax rate on ordinary dividend income and short-term capital gains of individuals generally exceeds the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains.
Each shareholders tax adviser should determine whether that shareholder qualifies under one of the provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code. In the event that the transaction is treated as a dividend distribution to a shareholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such shareholders remaining tax basis in the Shares actually redeemed will be added to the tax basis of such shareholders remaining Shares in the Fund. In the event that a shareholder actually owns no Shares in the Fund after the redemption, but the transaction is nevertheless treated as a dividend distribution because such shareholder constructively owns Shares in the Fund (see below), such shareholders tax basis may, under certain circumstances, be added to Shares in the Fund owned by related persons that were considered constructively owned by such shareholder, or may be lost entirely. With respect to a purchase of Shares that is treated as a distribution but that is not otherwise taxable as a dividend because it exceeds the Funds earnings and profits, the method by which a U.S. holder must reduce its basis is uncertain in situations where the holder owns different blocks of stock that were acquired at different prices and thus have different bases. Each shareholder should consult its tax adviser with respect to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to such shareholder of participating in the Offer.
Constructive Ownership of Stock. In determining whether the provisions under Section 302(b) of the Code, as described below, are satisfied, a shareholder must take into account not only Shares (and any preferred shares of the Fund) actually owned by such shareholder, but also Shares (and any preferred shares of the Fund) that are constructively owned within the meaning of Section 318 of the Code. Under Section 318 of the Code, a shareholder may constructively own Shares actually owned, and in some cases constructively owned, by certain related individuals
15
and certain entities in which the shareholder or a related individual or entity has an interest. The rules of constructive ownership are complex and must be applied to a particular shareholders situation by a tax adviser.
The Provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code. Under Section 302(b) of the Code, a redemption will be taxed as an exchange, and not as a dividend, if it (a) results in a complete redemption of all the Shares owned by a shareholder, (b) is substantially disproportionate with respect to a shareholder, or (c) is not essentially equivalent to a dividend with respect to a shareholder. Each shareholder should be aware that, under certain circumstances, sales, purchases, or transfers of Shares in the market or to or from other parties contemporaneous with sales pursuant to the Offer may be taken into account in determining whether the tests under clause (a), (b), or (c) above are satisfied. Further, the Fund believes that in the event the Offer is oversubscribed, resulting in a proration, it is likely that less than all the Shares tendered by a shareholder will be purchased by the Fund. Proration may affect whether a sale by a shareholder will satisfy the provisions (a), (b), or (c) above.
A brief description of the three major applicable provisions of Section 302(b) of the Code is as follows:
1. |
A Complete Redemption of Interest. The receipt of cash by a shareholder will result in a complete redemption of all the Shares owned by the shareholder within the meaning of Section 302(b)(3) of the Code if either (i) all the Shares actually and constructively owned by the shareholder are sold pursuant to the Offer or (ii) all the Shares actually owned by the shareholder are sold pursuant to the Offer, the only Shares the shareholder constructively owns are actually owned by such shareholders family members, and the shareholder is eligible to waive and effectively waives, under procedures described in Section 302(c) of the Code, such constructive ownership. Shareholders wishing to satisfy the complete termination test through waiver of the constructive ownership rules should consult their tax advisors. |
2. |
A Substantially Disproportionate Redemption. The receipt of cash by a shareholder will be substantially disproportionate with respect to such shareholder within the meaning of Section 302(b)(2) of the Code if (i) the percentage of the total outstanding Shares actually and constructively owned by the shareholder immediately following the sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer is less than 80 percent of the percentage of the total outstanding Shares actually and constructively owned by such shareholder immediately before such sale, and (ii) immediately following the exchange, the shareholder actually and constructively owns less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting shares of the Fund. |
3. |
Not Essentially Equivalent to a Dividend. Even if a sale by a shareholder fails to meet the complete redemption or substantially disproportionate tests, a shareholder may nevertheless meet the not essentially equivalent to a dividend test. Whether a specific redemption is not essentially equivalent to a dividend depends on the individual shareholders facts and circumstances. In any event, the redemption must result in a meaningful reduction of the shareholders proportionate interest in the Fund. The IRS has indicated in a published ruling that, in the case of a minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation whose relative stock investment in the corporation was minimal and who exercised no control over corporate affairs, a small reduction in the percentage ownership interest of such shareholder in such corporation was sufficient to constitute a meaningful reduction. Shareholders seeking to rely on this test should consult their own tax advisers as to the application of this particular standard to their own situations. |
Liquidation of the Fund. In the event the Board elects to liquidate the Fund as a result of more than 50% of the Shares being tendered, and if the Offer were properly treated as part of a plan of such liquidation, a shareholders sale of Shares pursuant to the offer generally would be treated as an exchange without regard to whether the Section 302(b) tests were satisfied. It is uncertain whether the Offer would be treated as part of a plan with any subsequent liquidation. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the characterization of the Offer in the event of a subsequent liquidation of the Fund.
Backup Withholding. The Depositary may be required to withhold 24% of the gross proceeds paid to a shareholder or other payee pursuant to the Offer unless either: (a) the shareholder has completed and submitted to the Depositary an IRS Form W-9 (including the Substitute IRS Form W-9, if one is included with the Letter of Transmittal) providing
16
the shareholders taxpayer identification number/social security number and certifying under penalties of perjury: (i) that such number is correct, (ii) either that (A) the shareholder is exempt from backup withholding, (B) the shareholder has not been notified by the IRS that the shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of an under-reporting of interest or dividends, or (C) the IRS has notified the shareholder that the shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding, (iii) the shareholder is a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (as defined in IRS Form W-9), and (iv) the FATCA code(s) entered on the form (if any) indicating that the shareholder is exempt from FATCA reporting is correct; or (b) an exception applies under applicable law and Treasury regulations.
Medicare Tax. Certain U.S. Shareholders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their net investment income, which generally includes capital gains or dividends recognized upon a sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
B. Consequences to Non-U.S. Shareholders of the Funds Purchase of Shares Pursuant to the Offer
U.S. Withholding at the Source. Since the Fund cannot determine whether a payment made pursuant to the Offer should be characterized for any particular shareholder as an exchange or a dividend for tax purposes at the time of the payment, we or the applicable withholding agent may treat any payments to a tendering shareholder that is a Non-U.S. Shareholder and that does not hold its Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, a U.S. permanent establishment) as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty). This U.S. withholding tax will apply even if the Non-U.S. Shareholder has provided the required certification to avoid backup withholding. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding under an applicable tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Shareholder must deliver to the Depositary before the payment a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. In order to obtain an exemption from withholding on the grounds that the Non-U.S. Shareholder holds its Shares in connection with a trade or business conducted in the United States, the Non-U.S. Shareholder must deliver to the Depositary a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI. Such forms (and additional IRS forms) may be obtained from the Information Agent or the IRS at www.irs.gov.
A tendering Non-U.S. Shareholder who realizes a capital gain on a tender of Shares will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain, unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the Non-US. Shareholders conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required under an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) or (ii) the Non-U.S. Shareholder is an individual who is physically present in the United States for 183 days or more during the tax year and certain other conditions are satisfied. A tendering Non-U.S. Shareholder who realizes a capital gain may be eligible to claim a refund of any withheld tax by filing a U.S. tax return and demonstrating that it satisfies one of the provisions of Section 302 described above or is otherwise able to establish that no withholding or a reduced amount of withholding is due. Dividend income or capital gains that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (and, if required under an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) will generally be taxed on a net income basis at the same rates applicable to U.S. persons (and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Shareholder that is a corporation, may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at the rate of 30% (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty)). Different rules may also apply in the case of certain Non-U.S. Shareholders that are subject to special rules, including former citizens or residents of the United States and controlled foreign corporations. Non-U.S. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers.
Backup Withholding and Certification Rules. Non-U.S. Shareholders have special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding at a rate of 24%, and if applicable, to obtain the benefit of any income tax treaty between the Non-U.S. Shareholders country of residence and the United States. To claim these tax benefits, the non-U.S. Shareholder must provide the Depositary with a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other IRS Form W-8, where applicable, or their substitute forms) to establish his or her status as a Non-U.S. Shareholder, to claim beneficial ownership over Shares, and to claim, if applicable, a reduced rate of or exemption from withholding tax under the applicable treaty. Backup withholding generally will not apply to amounts subject to the 30% or a treaty-reduced rate of withholding.
FATCA Withholding. Under legislation known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), withholding will generally be required at a rate of 30% on amounts treated as dividends in respect of Funds shares held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Secretary of the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in, and
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accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such shares or accounts are held by certain U.S. persons or by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments. Accordingly, the entity through which the Funds shares are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of the Funds shares held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies that such entity does not have any substantial United States owners or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entitys substantial United States owners, which the Fund or other applicable withholding agent will in turn be required to provide to the Secretary of the Treasury. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. Certifications as to FATCA status are required to be made by Non-U.S. Shareholders on an applicable Form W-8. Non-U.S. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of these rules on their participation in the Offer.
Non-U.S. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding, including eligibility for a withholding tax reduction or exemption, and the refund procedure.
The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is a summary included for general information purposes only. In view of the individual nature of tax consequences, each shareholder is advised to consult its own tax adviser with respect to the specific tax consequences to it of the Offer, including the effect and applicability of state, local, foreign and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in federal or other tax laws.
15. |
Certain Legal and Regulatory Matters. |
The Fund is not aware of any approval or action by any government or governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required to effect the Offer. Should any such approval or other action be required, the Fund presently contemplates that such approval or other action will be sought. The Fund is unable to predict whether it may determine that it is required to delay the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter. There can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if needed, would be obtained without substantial conditions or that the failure to obtain any such approval or other action might not have a material adverse effect on the Fund. The Funds obligations under the Offer to accept for payment and pay for Shares are subject to certain conditions described in Section 4, Certain Conditions of the Offer.
16. |
Amendments; Extensions of Purchase Period; Termination. |
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, the Fund expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to extend the period during which the Offer is open for any reason, including the failure to satisfy any of the conditions specified in Section 4, and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and payment for, any Shares, by giving oral or written notice of such extension to the Depositary and by making a public announcement thereto. There can be no assurance that the Fund will exercise its right to extend the Offer. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not properly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the rights of a tendering shareholder to withdraw such shareholders Shares. See Section 6, Withdrawal Rights.
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, the Fund also expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, to: (a) terminate the Offer and not accept for payment (or pay for) any Shares if any of the conditions referred to in Section 4 has not been satisfied or upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any of the events specified in Section 4; and (b) waive any condition or amend the Offer in any respect, in each case by giving oral or written notice of termination, waiver or amendment to the Depositary and by making a public announcement thereof. The Fund acknowledges that Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act requires the Fund to pay the consideration offered or return the Shares tendered for purchase promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer, and that the Fund may not delay acceptance or payment for, any Shares upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified in Section 6 without extending the period during which the Offer is open.
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Any extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof, such announcement, in the case of an extension, to be made no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. Without limiting the manner in which the Fund may choose to make any public announcement, except as provided by applicable law (including Rules 13e-4(c), 13e-4(e) and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, which require that material changes be promptly disseminated to holders of Shares), the Fund will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other than by issuing a press release and filing such release with the Commission.
If the Fund makes a material change in the terms of the Offer or the information concerning the Offer, or waives a material condition of the Offer, the Fund will disseminate additional Offer materials and extend the Offer to the extent required by Rules 13e-4(e) and 13e-4(f) under the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which the Offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the Offer or information concerning the Offer, other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought, will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the materiality of the changes. With respect to a change in price or, subject to certain limitations, a change in the percentage of securities sought, a minimum ten business day period from the date of such change is generally required to allow for adequate dissemination of such change to shareholders. Accordingly, if, for example, prior to the Expiration Date, the Fund decreased the number of Shares being sought, increased the consideration offered pursuant to the Offer or added a dealers soliciting fee, and if the Offer were scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the tenth business day from the date that notice of such increase, decrease or addition is first published, sent or given to shareholders, the Offer would be extended until at least the expiration of such ten business day period. For purposes of the Offer, a business day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a U.S. federal holiday and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through midnight Eastern time.
17. |
Fees and Expenses. |
The Fund will not pay to any broker or dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other person any solicitation fee for any Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer. The Fund will reimburse these firms for customary handling and mailing expenses incurred in forwarding the Offer. No broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company has been authorized to act as the agent of the Fund or the Depositary for purposes of the Offer.
The Fund has retained Morrow Sodali LLC to act as the Information Agent and Computershare to act as Depositary. The Fund will pay the Information Agent and the Depositary reasonable and customary compensation for their services and will also reimburse them for certain out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify them against certain liabilities.
18. |
Miscellaneous. |
The Offer is not being made to, nor will the Fund accept tenders from, or on behalf of, owners of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or its acceptance would not comply with the securities or blue sky laws of that jurisdiction. The Fund is not aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance of tenders of, purchase of, or payment for, Shares in accordance with the Offer would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. The Fund, however, reserves the right to exclude shareholders in any jurisdiction in which it is asserted that the Offer cannot lawfully be made or tendered Shares cannot lawfully be accepted, purchased or paid for. So long as the Fund makes a good-faith effort to comply with any state law deemed applicable to the Offer, the Fund believes that the exclusion of shareholders residing in any such jurisdiction is permitted under Rule 13e-4(f)(9) promulgated under the Exchange Act. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on the Funds behalf by one or more brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
The Letter of Transmittal and Share certificates and any other required documentation should be sent or delivered by each shareholder or the shareholders broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at one of the addresses set forth on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase.
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The Depositary for the Offer is:
Computershare Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
By First Class Mail: |
By Registered, Certified, or Express Mail, or Overnight Courier: |
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Computershare c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions PO Box 43011 Providence, RI 02940-3011 |
Computershare c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions 150 Royall St, Suite V Canton, MA 02021 |
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at the address set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Exchange, this Letter of Transmittal and other documents may be obtained from the Information Agent. You may also contact your bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
MORROW SODALI LLC
470 West Avenue, 3rd Floor
Stamford, CT 06902
Individuals, please call toll-free: (800) 662-5200
Banks and brokerage firms, please call: (203) 658-9400
Email: GGO.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
THE GABELLI GO ANYWHERE TRUST
August 3, 2021
Exhibit (a)(1)(ii)
Letter of Transmittal
Regarding Common Shares of Beneficial Interest of
The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust
Tendered Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase Dated August 3, 2021
ALL TENDER REQUESTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN PROPER FORM ON OR
BEFORE 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2021.
The Depositary Agent for the Offer is:
Computershare Trust Company
By Mail: | By Overnight Courier: | |
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
Voluntary Corporate Actions | Voluntary Corporate Actions | |
P.O. Box 43011 | 150 Royall Street, Suite V | |
Providence, RI 02940-3011 | Canton, MA 02021 |
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by common shareholders of The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust (the Purchaser) if certificates representing Shares (as defined below) are to be forwarded herewith.
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE VALID DELIVERY.
THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders the above-described common shares of beneficial interest (Shares) of The Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust for purchase by the Purchaser at a price equal to 98% of the net asset value (NAV) per Share as determined as of the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE American LLC (NYSE American), the principal market in which the Shares are traded, on the last business day prior to the day the Offer (as defined below) expires, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated August 3, 2021 and in this Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, collectively constitute the Offer).
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms of any such extension or amendment), and subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of Shares tendered herewith, in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of the Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all Shares that are being tendered hereby and all dividends, distributions (including, without limitation, distributions of additional Shares) and rights declared, paid or distributed in respect of such Shares that are declared, paid or distributed in respect of a record date on or after the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) (collectively, Distributions) and irrevocably appoints the Purchaser the true and lawful agent of the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and all Distributions), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) deliver certificates representing such Shares (and all Distributions) (Share Certificates), if applicable, together with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of the Purchaser, (ii) present such Shares (and all Distributions) for transfer on the books of the Purchaser and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and all Distributions), all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.
By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints the Purchaser as the attorney and proxy of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to vote in such manner as each such attorney and proxy or his substitute shall, in its sole discretion, deem proper and otherwise act (by written consent or otherwise) with respect to all Shares tendered hereby which have been accepted for payment by the Purchaser prior to the time of such vote or other action and all Shares and other securities issued in Distributions in respect of such Shares, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders of the Purchaser (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) or consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise. This proxy and power of attorney is coupled with an interest in Shares tendered hereby, is irrevocable and is granted in consideration of, and is effective upon, the acceptance for payment of such Shares by the Purchaser in accordance with the other terms of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall revoke all other proxies and powers of attorney granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and all Shares and other securities issued as Distributions in respect of such Shares), and no subsequent proxies, powers of attorney, consents or revocations may be given by the undersigned with respect thereto (and if given will not be deemed effective). The undersigned understands that, in order for Shares (and Distributions) to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Purchasers acceptance of such Shares for payment, the Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting and other rights with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), including, without limitation, voting at any meeting of the Purchasers stockholders. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions, that when such Shares are accepted for payment by the Purchaser, the Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto and to all Distributions, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that none of such Shares and Distributions will be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned, upon request, shall execute and deliver all additional documents deemed by Computershare Trust Company (the Depositary Agent) or the Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions. In addition, the undersigned shall remit and transfer promptly to the Depositary Agent for the account of the Purchaser all Distributions in respect of Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, and pending such remittance and transfer or appropriate assurance thereof, the Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of each such Distribution and may withhold the entire purchase price of Shares tendered hereby, or deduct from such purchase price, the amount or value of such Distribution as determined by the Purchaser in its sole discretion.
No authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. All obligations of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.
The undersigned understands that the valid tender of Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute the undersigneds acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. The Purchasers acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms or conditions of any such extension or amendment).
Unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled Special Payment Instructions, the undersigned is requesting that the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased from the undersigned pursuant to the Offer and, if applicable, a Direct Registration System (DRS) statement, evidencing Shares held for the undersigned in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent, representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment, be issued in the name(s) of the registered stockholder(s) appearing above under Description of Shares Tendered. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated below in the box entitled Special Delivery Instructions, the undersigned is requesting that the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased from the undersigned pursuant to the Offer and, if applicable, a DRS statement, evidencing Shares held for the undersigned in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent, representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment, be mailed to the address of the registered stockholder(s) appearing above under Description of Shares Tendered.
In the event that the boxes below entitled Special Payment Instructions and Special Delivery Instructions are both completed, the undersigned is requesting that the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased from the undersigned pursuant to the Offer and, if applicable, a DRS statement, evidencing Shares held for the undersigned in an electronic book-entry account maintained by the Depositary Agent, representing the number of Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment be issued and mailed to the person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognizes that the Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions or the Special Delivery Instructions, to make any payment or to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered stockholder(s) thereof if the Purchaser does not accept for payment any Shares tendered by the undersigned pursuant to the Offer. If Shares are held in book-entry form only, the Shares purchased will be debited from the book-entry account of the undersigned.
IMPORTANT
STOCKHOLDERS,
SIGN HERE:
(Please Also Complete Enclosed Form W-9 or Applicable Form W-8)
Signature(s) of Stockholder(s)
Dated: , 2021.
(Must be signed by registered stockholder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificates, Direct Registration System statement or on a security position listing by person(s) authorized to become registered stockholder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the following information and see Instruction 5.)
Name(s): |
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Please Print |
Capacity (full title): |
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Address: |
|
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Include Zip Code |
Daytime Area Code and Telephone No.: |
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Taxpayer Identification or |
||
Social Security No.: |
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(Also Complete Enclosed Form W-9 or Applicable Form W-8) |
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
(See Instructions 1 and 5)
FOR USE BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: PLACE MEDALLION
GUARANTEE IN SPACE BELOW
INSTRUCTIONS
Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer
1. Guarantee of Signatures. All signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a firm which is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, or by any other eligible guarantor institution, as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (each of the foregoing being an Eligible Institution) unless (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered stockholder(s) of Shares tendered hereby and such stockholder(s) has (have) not completed the box entitled Special Payment Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions in this Letter of Transmittal or (ii) such Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.
2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Shares. This Letter of Transmittal is to be used only if Shares being tendered are to be forwarded herewith or if Shares being tendered are held in book-entry form on the books of the Depositary Agent. Share Certificates evidencing all physically tendered Shares, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary Agent at one of its addresses set forth below prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase). If Share Certificates are forwarded to the Depositary Agent in multiple deliveries, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal must accompany each such delivery. If Shares are held in book-entry form, please indicate the number of Shares being tendered in the box titled Number of Shares Tendered on this Letter of Transmittal.
The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, Shares and all other required documents is at the option and risk of the tendering stockholder, and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. By execution of this Letter of Transmittal, all tendering stockholders waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.
3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided under Description of Shares Tendered is inadequate, the Share Certificate numbers (if applicable), the number of Shares evidenced by such Share Certificates (if applicable) and the number of Shares tendered should be listed on a separate signed schedule and attached hereto.
4. Partial Tenders. If fewer than all Shares evidenced by any Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary Agent herewith are to be tendered hereby, fill in the number of Shares that are to be tendered in the box entitled Number of Shares Tendered. In such cases, a DRS statement evidencing the remainder of Shares that were evidenced by the Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary Agent herewith will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the box entitled Special Delivery Instructions, as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date or the termination of the Offer. All Shares evidenced by Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered stockholder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Share Certificates or DRS statement, evidencing such Shares without alteration, enlargement or any other change whatsoever.
If any Shares tendered hereby are held of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
If any Shares tendered hereby are registered in different names, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Shares.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered stockholder(s) of Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of Share Certificates or separate stock powers are required, unless payment is to be made to, or DRS statements
evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered stockholder(s). If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered stockholder(s) of the Shares tendered, the Share(s) tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered stockholder(s) appear(s) on the Share Certificate(s) or DRS statement. Signatures on such Share Certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any Share Certificate or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, of such persons authority so to act must be submitted.
6. Stock Transfer Taxes. Stock transfer taxes may be applicable under certain circumstances. You should consult your own tax advisor for a complete description of the tax consequences to you of any sale of transfer of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for the purchase price of any Shares tendered hereby is to be issued in the name of, and/or DRS statements evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of and/or returned to, a person other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or if such check or any such DRS statements are to be sent to a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal but at an address other than that shown in the box entitled Description of Shares Tendered, the boxes entitled Special Payment Instructions and Special Delivery Instructions herein, as appropriate, must be completed.
8. Questions and Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to Morrow Sodali LLC (the Information Agent) at the telephone number set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, and the Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Form W-9 (or applicable Form W-8) may be obtained from the Information Agent.
9. Important Tax Information. Under Federal income tax law, a stockholder whose tendered Shares are accepted for payment is required by law to provide the Depositary Agent (as payer) with the stockholders correct taxpayer identification number, which is accomplished by completing and signing the enclosed Form W-9 (or applicable Form W-8).
10. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. If any certificate representing Shares has been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the stockholder should promptly call the Depositary at (781) 575-2879 or (800) 336-6983. The stockholder will then be instructed by the Depositary as to the steps that must be taken to replace the certificate. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed certificates have been followed.
This Letter of Transmittal and, if applicable, Share Certificates and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder or such stockholders broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary Agent at one of its addresses set forth below:
The Depositary Agent for the Offer is:
By Mail: | By Overnight Courier: | |
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | Computershare Trust Company, N.A. | |
Voluntary Corporate Actions | Voluntary Corporate Actions | |
P.O. Box 43011 | 150 Royall Street, Suite V | |
Providence, RI 02940-3011 | Canton, MA 02021 |
Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the
Information Agent at its telephone number listed below.
Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Information Agent.
A stockholder may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
MORROW SODALI LLC
470 West Avenue, 3rd Floor
Stamford, CT 06902
Individuals, please call toll-free: (800) 662-5200
Banks and brokerage firms, please call: (203) 658-9400
Email: GGO.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
Form W-9 (Rev. October 2018) Department of the Treasury
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.
Give Form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS.
Internal Revenue Service
1 Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank.
2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above
3 Check appropriate box for
federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the
4 Exemptions (codes apply only to
following seven boxes.
certain entities, not individuals; see
instructions on page 3):
Individual/sole proprietor or
C Corporation
S Corporation
Partnership
Trust/estate
Print or type.SpecificInstructions
single-member LLC
Exempt payee code (if any)
Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C
corporation, S=S corporation, P=Partnership) â¶
Note: Check the appropriate box in the line above for the tax classification of the single-member
owner. Do not check
Exemption from FATCA reporting
LLC if the LLC is
classified as a single-member LLC that is disregarded from the owner unless the owner of the LLC is
code (if any)
another LLC that is not disregarded from the owner for U.S. federal tax purposes. Otherwise, a single-member LLC that
is disregarded from the owner should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner.
Other (see instructions)
(Applies to accounts maintained outside the U.S.)
5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) See instructions.
Requesters name and
address (optional)
See 6 City, state, and ZIP code
7 List account number(s)
here (optional)
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Part I
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security
number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN,
later.
Part II Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. Also see What Name and Number To Give the Requester for
guidelines on whose number to enter.
Social security number
or
Employer identification number
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must
match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For
other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later.
Note: If the account is in more than one
name, see the instructions for line 1. Also see What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter.
Certification
Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
1. The number shown on this form is my correct
taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and
2. I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from
backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no
longer subject to backup withholding; and
3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and
4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.
Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to
report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement
arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later.
Sign Here
Signature of U.S. person
u
Date u
General Instructions
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise
noted.
Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as
legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9.
Purpose of Form
An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer
identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return
the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following.
Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid)
Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks
or mutual funds)
Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds)
Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers)
Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions)
Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions)
Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition)
Form 1099-C (canceled debt)
Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property) Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.
If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding,
later.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
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By signing the filled-out form, you:
1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),
2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or
3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners share of effectively connected income, and
4. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting, is correct. See What is FATCA reporting, later, for further information.
Note: If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requesters form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.
Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:
An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien;
A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States;
An estate (other than a foreign estate); or
A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).
Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax under section 1446 on any foreign partners share of effectively connected taxable income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, the rules under section 1446 require a partnership to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the section 1446 withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid section 1446 withholding on your share of partnership income.
In the cases below, the following person must give Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States.
In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the entity;
In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the trust; and
In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.
Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities).
Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a saving clause. Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.
If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items.
1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.
2. The treaty article addressing the income.
3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.
4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.
5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.
Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.
If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233.
Backup Withholding
What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 24% of such payments. This is called backup withholding. Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.
You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.
Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:
1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,
2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the instructions for Part II for details),
3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN,
4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or
5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).
Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code, later, and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.
Also see Special rules for partnerships, earlier.
What is FATCA Reporting?
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all United States account holders that are specified United States persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code, later, and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.
Updating Your Information
You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you no longer are tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account; for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.
Penalties
Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.
Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
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Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.
Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
Specific Instructions
Line 1
You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return.
If this Form W-9 is for a joint account (other than an account maintained by a foreign financial institution (FFI)), list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9. If you are providing Form W-9 to an FFI to document a joint account, each holder of the account that is a U.S. person must provide a Form W-9.
a. Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name.
Note: ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040/1040A/1040EZ you filed with your application.
b. Sole proprietor or single-member LLC. Enter your individual name as shown on your 1040/1040A/1040EZ on line 1. You may enter your business, trade, or doing business as (DBA) name on line 2.
c. Partnership, LLC that is not a single-member LLC, C corporation, or S corporation. Enter the entitys name as shown on the entitys tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.
d. Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.
e. Disregarded entity. For U.S. federal tax purposes, an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as a disregarded entity. See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2)(iii). Enter the owners name on line 1. The name of the entity entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owners name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entitys name on line 2, Business name/disregarded entity name. If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN.
Line 2
If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, you may enter it on line 2.
Line 3
Check the appropriate box on line 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box on line 3.
IF the entity/person on line 1 is a(n) | THEN check the box for | |
Corporation | Corporation | |
Individual Sole proprietorship, or Single-member limited liability company (LLC) owned by an individual and disregarded for U.S. federal tax purposes. |
Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC | |
LLC treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes, LLC that has filed Form 8832 or 2553 to be taxed as a corporation, or LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner but the owner is another LLC that is not disregarded for U.S. federal tax purposes. |
Limited liability company and enter the appropriate tax classification. (P= Partnership; C= C corporation; or S= S corporation) |
|
Partnership | Partnership | |
Trust/estate | Trust/estate |
Line 4, Exemptions
If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space on line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you.
Exempt payee code.
Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding.
Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends.
Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions.
Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC.
The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space in line 4.
1An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2)
2The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities
3A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities
4A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities
5A corporation
6A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or possession
7A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
8A real estate investment trust
9An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940
10A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a)
11A financial institution
12A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian
13A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
Page 4 |
The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13.
IF the payment is for | THEN the payment is exempt for | |
Interest and dividend payments | All exempt payees except for 7 | |
Broker transactions | Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012. | |
Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends | Exempt payees 1 through 4 | |
Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,0001 | Generally, exempt payees 1 through 52 | |
Payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions | Exempt payees 1 through 4 |
1 |
See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions. |
2 |
However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency. |
Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with Not Applicable (or any similar indication) written or printed on the line for a FATCA exemption code.
AAn organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37)
BThe United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities
CA state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities
DA corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)
EA corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)
FA dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state
GA real estate investment trust
HA regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940
IA common trust fund as defined in section 584(a)
JA bank as defined in section 581
KA broker
LA trust exempt
from tax under section 664 or described in section
4947(a)(1)
MA tax exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan
Note: You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed.
Line 5
Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns. If this address differs from the one the requester already has on file, write NEW at the top. If a new address is provided, there is still a chance the old address will be used until the payor changes your address in their records.
Line 6
Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.
Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN.
If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, enter the owners SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entitys EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entitys EIN.
Note: See What Name and Number To Give the Requester, later, for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.
How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.SSA.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/Businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. Go to www.irs.gov/Forms to view, download, or print Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4. Or, you can go to www.irs.gov/OrderForms to place an order and have Form W-7 and/or SS-4 mailed to you within 10 business days.
If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and write Applied For in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.
Note: Entering Applied For means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.
Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.
Part II. Certification
To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if item 1, 4, or 5 below indicates otherwise.
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code, earlier.
Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
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1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.
3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.
4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. Other payments include payments made in the course of the requesters trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).
5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), ABLE accounts (under section 529A), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
What Name and Number To Give the Requester
For this type of account: | Give name and SSN of: | |
1. Individual |
The individual | |
2. Two or more individuals (joint account) other than an account maintained by an FFI |
The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account1 | |
3. Two or more U.S. persons (joint account maintained by an FFI) |
Each holder of the account | |
4. Custodial account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) |
The minor2 | |
5. a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee) |
The grantor-trustee1 | |
b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law |
The actual owner1 | |
6. Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual |
The owner3 | |
7. Grantor trust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i) (A)) |
The grantor* | |
For this type of account: | Give name and EIN of: | |
8. Disregarded entity not owned by an individual |
The owner | |
9. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust |
Legal entity4 | |
10. Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553 |
The corporation | |
11. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax- exempt organization |
The organization | |
12. Partnership or multi-member LLC |
The partnership | |
13. A broker or registered nominee |
The broker or nominee |
For this type of account: | Give name and EIN of: | |
14. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments |
The public entity | |
15. Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B)) |
The trust |
1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that persons number must be furnished.
2 Circle the minors name and furnish the minors SSN.
3 You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or DBA name on the Business name/disregarded entity name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.
4 List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) Also see Special rules for partnerships, earlier.
*Note: The grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust.
Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.
Secure Your Tax Records From Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.
To reduce your risk:
| Protect your SSN, |
| Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and |
| Be careful when choosing a tax preparer. |
If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.
If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.
For more information, see Pub. 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers.
Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.
Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) |
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The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.
If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov or report them at www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338). If you have been the victim of identity theft, see www.IdentityTheft.gov and Pub. 5027.
Visit www.irs.gov/IdentityTheft to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and possessions for use in administering their laws. The information also may be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payers must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payer. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.