UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number |
811-21432 |
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REAVES UTILITY INCOME FUND |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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1625 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, Colorado |
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80202 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip code) |
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Tané T. Tyler,
Secretary |
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(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrants telephone number, including area code: |
303-623-2577 |
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Date of fiscal year end: |
October 31 |
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Date of reporting period: |
October 31, 2006 |
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Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
REAVES UTILITY INCOME FUND
Annual Report
[GRAPHIC]
October 31, 2006
SHAREHOLDER LETTER
October 31, 2006
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Im pleased to announce that the Reaves Utility Income Fund has delivered a one-year total return on investment of more than 26% of net asset value per common share, with dividends reinvested. Return on market price was more than 24% per common share, again assuming dividends are reinvested.
Consistent with the Funds objective to earn and, if possible, increase dividend income, Fund trustees increased the Funds dividend for the second consecutive year. Following a 3.4% increase in December, 2004, the Fund saw a 5% increase in December, 2005. As a result, the first two dividends of fiscal 2006 were $0.10 per share while the remaining 10 were at the increased rate of $0.105 per share. In addition, the Fund paid a special dividend of $0.255 per share in December, 2005, for a total of $1.505 per share paid in dividends during fiscal 2006. Those shareholders invested in the Fund since the first dividend record date in April 2004 have received dividend payments totaling approximately $3.375 per share.
Over the past 12 months, 75.15% of those dividends have been qualified dividend income, which are taxed at a maximum 15% federal rate, as opposed to a rate as high as 35% for non-qualifying and other types of dividend income. This presents a significant tax advantage to our shareholders.
Total assets in the fund have grown to more than $833 million, up from approximately $749 million one year ago and $400 million at the funds inception in February 2004.
These numbers reflect the fact that utilities remain among the highest yielding sectors of the domestic stock market.
The portfolio managers provide detailed fund commentary and analysis on the pages that follow, along with full holdings and financial statements. Feel free to contact us with any questions about the fund by calling 1-800-644-5571 or visiting www.utilityincomefund.com.
Thank you for being a shareholder.
Sincerely,
/s/ NED BURKE |
|
Ned Burke
President, Reaves Utility Income Fund
1
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
October 31, 2006
The Reaves Utility Income Fund is managed to meet two primary objectives: earn dividend income sufficient to pay, and potentially grow, the monthly dividend established by the Funds Trustees; and second, to grow net asset value which will, in our opinion, over time be reflected in share price appreciation. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006 we are pleased to report that we met both objectives. The Trustees periodically review the level of the dividend, and for the second consecutive year the Fund raised its monthly dividend. In December 2005 the dividend was raised 5% to 10.5 cents a month or $1.26 annually. This represents a current yield of 6.3% on the original issue price of $20 per share. The dividend is supported by Fund investments, primarily in the common stocks of companies with a history of growing earnings and periodic dividend increases. In addition to the stated dividend, the Fund paid a special year end dividend of 25.5 cents in December 2005. The actual yield was 7.5% on the $ 20.00 share price based on total dividends of $1.505 paid throughout the fiscal year. Over the course of the fiscal year, net asset value grew 17.7% from $22.12 to $26.04. While share price appreciation did not always accompany net asset value growth, the share price rose 15.4% from $19.46 to $22.45 by year end. Share price performance plus dividends produced a total return of 24.2%
To cite one key theme within the utility sector in 2006, we emphasize the growing recognition by federal and state regulators of the need for increased investment in U.S. energy and telecommunications infrastructure. Within the electric utility industry this means incremental investment in generation and transmission assets. Great Plains Energy (GXP) is a good example of how the portfolio may benefit from a generally supportive regulatory climate. At fiscal year end, GXP had produced a total return in excess of 20% and represented 6.3% of the portfolio. Great Plains plans to build an 800 MWH coal plant to serve power requirements in both Kansas and Missouri at a cost of about $1.2 billion. Recognizing the growing need for power, both states have signed a letter of agreement to approve the investment. By year end we anticipate a favorable rate decision from Missouri regulators supporting the $1.2 billion investment. We seek total return for Fund investments from a combination of dividend yield and capital appreciation. The investment in Great Plains experienced share price appreciation from $28.71 to $32.54 over our holding period and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.415 The dividend yield at fiscal year end, after price appreciation, was 5.1%.
Duke Energy Corporation, which remains our largest electric/gas holding (it was 8.0% of the portfolio at fiscal year end), should also benefit from regulatory support for increased infrastructure investment. Our original investment in Duke was based on a turnaround story. In contrast to the majority of investors we believed that the dividend would be maintained, and the high dividend yield would adequately compensate us while we waited for operations to improve. The new CEO, Paul Anderson, was an executive we knew. He had successfully turned around an Australian natural resources company and prior to that was employed at Duke. It was noteworthy to us that his compensation at Duke was a direct function of the dividend. Like many other utilities Duke had over invested in response to deregulation, and Paul Anderson was hired to develop a strategic focus, rationalize assets, and trim costs. Anderson and his team succeeded in restoring earnings sufficiently to permit the dividend to be increased and successfully merge Duke with Cinergy, a major Midwest utility. More recently, Duke announced plans to spin off its natural gas and pipeline businesses into a separate company to be known as Spectra Energy. We continue to hold the shares in the belief that a stand alone Spectra Energy will be better able to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the natural gas industrys growing demand for gathering, processing, storage, and transport services. The surviving electric company, Duke Energy will, in our view, continue to grow through investment to meet the growing demand for power in the Carolinas and the Midwest markets the company serves. Initial indications are that state regulators will support the planned investment needed to sustain economic development within their respective states.
2
Throughout the year, the common stock of electric utilities averaged about 47% of the portfolio, approximately the same weighting as in 2005. In addition to Duke and Great Plains, other major electric utility holdings at fiscal year end were Ameren Corporation (4.4%) and OGE Energy (4.1%).
The telephone sector, similar to last year, was a major source of dividend income for the Fund. Common stock dividends earned during the fiscal year totaled $33.1 million. Of that sum, the telephones contributed $10.4 million or 31.4%. Telephones averaged 21.9% of the common portfolio market value for the fiscal year.
Unlike last year, the telephone sector was also an important contributor to capital appreciation. The story has two facets. The first is the opportunity for sustained earnings growth resulting from consolidation within the industry. Consolidation leads to cost savings and, we think, more rational pricing. The poster child for this trend in 2006 is the new AT&T, formed by the merger of SBC Communications and original AT&T, which was the old long distance company. We owned SBC and especially the old AT&T for their high dividend yield and periodic dividend growth. The two stocks combined represented 7.9% of the portfolio at the beginning of the fiscal year. We maintained that level of investment in the merged company because we believed that synergies and top line growth at Cingular Wireless (AT&T owns 60% of Cingular) would result in sustainable earnings and cash flow growth. The new AT&Ts results for the first three calendar quarters of 2006 substantiated our investment decision. AT&T rewarded the Fund with share price appreciation. SBC Communications closed at $23.85 on October 31, 2005. Subsequent to completion of the merger the market came to appreciate the new AT&Ts earnings growth potential. The new AT&T closed at $34.25 on October 31, 2006, and current yield remained a respectable 3.9%. The actual yield on historical cost is 5.5%. We have yet to sell a single share.
The second facet of the story has been the price appreciation afforded the rural telecom sector. In our view this is a result of the growing investor appreciation for the stable and sustainable cash flows some companies are able to generate along with the opportunities for moderate, disciplined growth via strategic acquisitions. The funds major rural telecom investment, Citizens Communications, represented 5.0% of the portfolio at fiscal year end. Citizens has grown its top line modestly while trimming costs. In mid September it announced a small acquisition of Commonwealth Telephone, a rural telco in Pennsylvania. Citizens expects the combined companies to produce about $30 million of synergies and be cash flow accretive in the first year. We dont think this is the last rural telco acquisition, and we will continue to seek investment opportunities in rural telcos.
The Funds ability to invest up to 20% of assets outside the utility sector produced meaningful dividend income and capital growth from selected investments in the consumer staples sector, primarily tobacco. Litigation risk in tobacco appears to be diminishing, allowing tobacco company earnings multiples to improve. Tobacco companies are characterized by hefty dividends and a history of meaningful dividend growth. Altria Group is our largest non-utility holding. Altria is expected to spin off Kraft Foods and possibly its international tobacco operations. We look for these transactions to enhance shareholder value.
The Fund has some exposure to the Energy sector (6.1% at fiscal year end). Stock price performance was essentially flat given the impact of declining oil prices in the latter part of the fiscal year. Energy companies will continue as Fund investments because they have the ability to grow dividends and buy back stock with their large free cash flows. The volatility in the sector provides opportunities to realize some capital gains.
To boost dividend income we look for special dividend distributions which qualify for favorable tax treatment. During the fiscal year the Fund received a special $1.30 dividend from AT&T, and a special $2.83 dividend from Vodafone. Shortly after the period closed, the Fund received a special $10.20 per share dividend from Ashland Inc. Subsequent to receipt of the dividend Ashlands share price more than recovered the amount of the dividend, and the shares were sold to realize a capital gain.
3
During the course of the fiscal year we trimmed the preferred stock holdings to 4.1% of the portfolio as preferred dividend yields were not sufficiently in excess of common stock alternatives. We deployed the proceeds into common stocks with growth potential. The yield on the preferred portfolio at the end of the period was 6.6%.
The cost of leverage, represented by dividends on the auction market preferred stock, rose in tandem with the rise in short-term rates. The preferred stock yield rose from about 3.9% to about 5.1%. The preferred stock dividend yield increase was expected. We may be near the top of this interest rate cycle and expect the cost of leverage to remain stable or decline in 2007. The Fund met the years dividend comfortably without hedging the cost of leverage from the auction market preferred stock.
The top five holdings of the Fund as of October 31, 2006 were AT&T,9.3%. Duke Energy, 8.0%, Great Plains Energy, 6.3%, Altria Group, 5.3%, and Citizens Communications, 5.0%
As we position the portfolio for 2007, we remain focused on regulation, interest rates, commodity prices, and industry trends. We expect there will be meaningful investment to upgrade electric and gas infrastructure for companies that seek opportunities where the regulatory environment is supportive. Historically, stable or declining interest rates have been favorable to utilities stocks. We expect to see continued commodity price volatility and will monitor the portfolio actively for the impact of changing commodity prices. In our opinion consolidation will continue to be a major trend within the telecom and utility sectors despite the recent terminations of the FPL-Constellation merger and the Exelon Public Service Enterprise Group merger.
Active management of the portfolio will focus on identifying opportunities to grow the Funds monthly dividend along with the net asset value.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronald J. Sorenson
4
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
October 31, 2006
To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of Reaves Utility Income Fund Denver, Colorado
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Reaves Utility Income Fund (the Fund), including the statement of investments, as of October 31, 2006, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended. The financial highlights of Reaves Utility Income Fund for the period ended October 31, 2004 were audited by other auditors whose report, dated December 17, 2004 expressed an unqualified opinion on that statement. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2006, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2006, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP |
|
Denver, CO
December 18, 2006
5
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS
October 31, 2006
|
|
SHARES |
|
VALUE |
|
|
COMMON STOCKS127.33% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chemicals1.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashland, Inc. |
|
100,000 |
|
$ |
5,910,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumer Staples10.91% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Altria Group, Inc. |
|
540,300 |
|
43,942,599 |
|
|
Reynolds American, Inc. |
|
146,400 |
|
9,246,624 |
|
|
UST, Inc. |
|
210,000 |
|
11,247,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,436,823 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric63.44% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ameren Corp. |
|
680,000 |
|
36,788,000 |
|
|
Consolidated Edison, Inc. |
|
242,000 |
|
11,700,700 |
|
|
Duke Energy Corp. |
|
2,105,000 |
|
66,602,200 |
|
|
Edison International |
|
27,000 |
|
1,199,880 |
|
|
Enel S.P.A.ADR |
|
329,500 |
|
15,789,640 |
|
|
Exelon Corp. |
|
435,000 |
|
26,961,300 |
|
|
Great Plains Energy, Inc. |
|
1,600,000 |
|
52,064,000 |
|
|
ITC Holdings Corp. |
|
115,650 |
|
4,107,888 |
|
|
National Grid PLCADR |
|
7,000 |
|
444,150 |
|
|
OGE Energy Corp. |
|
880,000 |
|
33,950,400 |
|
|
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. |
|
120,000 |
|
5,737,200 |
|
|
PPL Corp. |
|
660,000 |
|
22,783,200 |
|
|
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. |
|
411,800 |
|
25,140,390 |
|
|
TECO Energy, Inc. |
|
1,300,000 |
|
21,437,000 |
|
|
TransAlta Corp. |
|
300,000 |
|
6,345,000 |
|
|
TXU Corp. |
|
40,000 |
|
2,525,200 |
|
|
WPS Resources Corp. |
|
587,500 |
|
31,260,875 |
|
|
Xcel Energy, Inc. |
|
445,000 |
|
9,821,150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
374,658,173 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Energy7.31% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
BP Amoco PLCADR |
|
175,000 |
|
11,742,500 |
|
|
Eni S.P.A.ADR |
|
110,000 |
|
6,678,100 |
|
|
Halliburton Co. |
|
347,000 |
|
11,225,450 |
|
|
Occidental Petroleum |
|
45,000 |
|
2,112,300 |
|
|
Petrochina LTDADR |
|
30,000 |
|
3,311,700 |
|
|
Todco* |
|
102,000 |
|
3,481,260 |
|
|
Transocean, Inc.* |
|
64,000 |
|
4,642,560 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,193,870 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financials0.29% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lloyd TSB Group PLCADR |
|
40,000 |
|
1,714,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas10.99% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
AGL Resources, Inc. |
|
15,000 |
|
562,500 |
|
|
Equitable Resources, Inc. |
|
177,000 |
|
7,172,040 |
|
|
ONEOK, Inc. |
|
840,000 |
|
34,969,200 |
|
|
Sempra Energy |
|
309,700 |
|
16,426,488 |
|
|
6
South Jersey Industries, Inc. |
|
42,500 |
|
$ |
1,314,525 |
|
Southern Union Co. |
|
9,000 |
|
249,120 |
|
|
Southwest Gas Corp. |
|
24,300 |
|
871,884 |
|
|
Vectren Corp. |
|
115,000 |
|
3,341,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,907,657 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil & Gas Services0.29% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schlumberger Ltd. |
|
27,000 |
|
1,703,160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone32.59% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alltel Corp. |
|
10,000 |
|
533,100 |
|
|
AT&T Corp. |
|
2,255,965 |
|
77,266,801 |
|
|
BCE, Inc. |
|
727,834 |
|
20,583,146 |
|
|
Citizens Communications Co. |
|
2,812,700 |
|
41,234,182 |
|
|
Embarq Corp. |
|
203,000 |
|
9,815,050 |
|
|
Telecom Corp. of New ZealandADR |
|
830,000 |
|
20,550,800 |
|
|
Telecom Italia S.P.A.ADR |
|
5,000 |
|
151,250 |
|
|
Verizon Communications |
|
60,000 |
|
2,220,000 |
|
|
Vodafone Group PLCADR |
|
98,750 |
|
2,552,687 |
|
|
Windstream Corp. |
|
1,282,126 |
|
17,590,769 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
192,497,785 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water0.51% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Utilities PLCADR |
|
110,000 |
|
2,992,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS |
|
|
|
752,013,868 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PREFERRED STOCKS5.71% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric3.47% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
AES Trust III, 6.75%, 10/15/29 |
|
133,100 |
|
6,435,385 |
|
|
BGE Capital Trust II, 6.20%,10/15/43 |
|
195,000 |
|
4,783,350 |
|
|
Entergy Gulf States Inc., Series A, 7.00%, 9/15/13(a) |
|
3,140 |
|
317,336 |
|
|
Entergy Mississippi Inc., 4.56% |
|
3,520 |
|
282,260 |
|
|
Georgia Power Capital Trust V, 7.125%, 3/31/42 |
|
141,400 |
|
3,580,248 |
|
|
Great Plains Energy Inc., 8.00%, 2/16/07 |
|
50,000 |
|
1,249,000 |
|
|
PSEG Funding Trust II, 8.75%, 12/31/32 |
|
90,100 |
|
2,366,026 |
|
|
Public Service Co. of New Mexico Series 1965, 4.58% |
|
11,667 |
|
992,060 |
|
|
Southern Cal Edison, 4.32% |
|
24,300 |
|
481,140 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,486,805 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financials2.19% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMAC, 7.375%, 12/16/44 |
|
50,000 |
|
1,198,500 |
|
|
Merrill Lynch & Co., Series H, 6.05%(a) |
|
455,000 |
|
11,725,350 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,923,850 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas0.05% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Union Co., 7.55% |
|
13,100 |
|
342,172 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS |
|
|
|
33,752,827 |
|
7
|
|
SHARES |
|
VALUE |
|
|
LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS1.13% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ONEOK Partners LP |
|
110,000 |
|
$ |
6,671,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS |
|
|
|
6,671,500 |
|
|
DUE DATE, RATE |
|
BOND RATING |
|
PRINCIPAL |
|
|
|
|
CORPORATE BONDS5.19% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electric3.90% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calpine Generating Co.(b) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.50%, 4/1/2011 |
|
WR/D |
|
$ |
22,000,000 |
|
23,045,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gas0.09% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copano Energy LLC(b) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.125%, 3/1/2016 |
|
B2/B |
|
500,000 |
|
511,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone1.20% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
US West Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6/15/2023, 7.50% |
|
Ba2/BB |
|
7,000,000 |
|
7,105,000 |
|
|
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS |
|
|
|
|
|
30,661,250 |
|
|
|
|
SHARES |
|
|
|
|
MUTUAL FUNDS0.90% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund |
|
424,929 |
|
3,531,162 |
|
|
Goldman Financial Square Money Market Fund |
|
1,764,498 |
|
1,764,498 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL MUTUAL FUNDS |
|
|
|
5,295,660 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Investments(Cost $671,619,897)140.26% |
|
|
|
828,395,105 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities0.40% |
|
|
|
2,389,181 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation Preference of Auction Market Preferred Shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series M7, F7, W28 (included dividends payable on preferred-shares)(40.66%) |
|
|
|
(240,184,536 |
) |
|
TOTAL NET ASSETS100.00% |
|
|
|
$ |
590,599,750 |
|
* Non-Income Producing Security
(a) Floating or variable rate security -rate disclosed as of September 30, 2006. Maturity date represents the next reset date.
(b) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified buyers. At October 31, 2006, these securities amounted to a value of $23,556,250 or 3.99% of net assets.
ADRAmerican Depositary Receipt
Ratings: Moodys and S&Ps ratings are believed to be the most recent as of October 31, 2006. Ratings are not covered by the report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
See Notes to Financial Statements
8
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
October 31, 2006
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
Investments, at value (Cost - see below) |
|
$ |
828,395,105 |
|
Dividends receivable |
|
1,385,537 |
|
|
Interest receivable |
|
464,177 |
|
|
Receivable for investments sold |
|
3,450,057 |
|
|
Other assets |
|
15 |
|
|
Total Assets |
|
833,694,891 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Payable for investments purchased |
|
2,315,992 |
|
|
Accrued investment advisory fee |
|
356,995 |
|
|
Accrued administration fee |
|
173,362 |
|
|
Accrued trustees fee |
|
19,297 |
|
|
Accrued offering costs |
|
19,167 |
|
|
Accrued S&P Ratings fee |
|
4,079 |
|
|
Accrued Fitch Ratings fee |
|
6,700 |
|
|
Other payables |
|
15,013 |
|
|
Total Liabilities |
|
2,910,605 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock (unlimited shares authorized): |
|
|
|
|
Auction market preferred shares, Series M7, F7 & W28, including dividends payable on preferred shares ($25,000 liquidation value per share, no par value, 3,200 shares issued and outstanding for each series) |
|
240,184,536 |
|
|
Total Preferred Stock |
|
240,184,536 |
|
|
Net Assets |
|
$ |
590,599,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of investments |
|
$ |
671,619,897 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Composition of Net Assets attributable to Common Shares: |
|
|
|
|
Paid in capital |
|
429,352,814 |
|
|
Accumulated undistributed net investment income |
|
33,719 |
|
|
Accumulated net realized gain on investments |
|
4,438,009 |
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation in value of investments |
|
156,775,208 |
|
|
Net Assets |
|
$ |
590,599,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of common stock outstanding of no par value, unlimited shares authorized |
|
22,677,001 |
|
|
Net asset value per share |
|
$ |
26.04 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
9
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended October 31, 2006
Investment Income: |
|
|
|
|
Dividends (Net of foreign withholding taxes of $865,816) |
|
$ |
37,189,870 |
|
Interest on investment securities |
|
3,724,386 |
|
|
Other Income |
|
31 |
|
|
Total Income |
|
40,914,287 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
Investment advisory fee |
|
4,434,255 |
|
|
Administration fee |
|
2,043,613 |
|
|
Trustees fee |
|
94,900 |
|
|
Broker/dealer fees |
|
609,878 |
|
|
S&P Ratings fee |
|
12,001 |
|
|
Fitch Ratings fee |
|
5,001 |
|
|
Auction agent fee |
|
18,002 |
|
|
Total Expenses |
|
7,217,650 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income |
|
33,696,637 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized gain on: |
|
|
|
|
Investment securities |
|
10,033,233 |
|
|
Options |
|
16,399 |
|
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, options, and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies |
|
90,718,144 |
|
|
Net gain on investments and options |
|
100,767,776 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders from Net Investment Income |
|
(11,345,272 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Increase in Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares from Operations |
|
$ |
123,119,141 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
10
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
|
|
For the Year |
|
For the Year |
|
||
|
|
Ended October 31, |
|
Ended October 31, |
|
||
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
||
Common Shareholder Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net investment income |
|
$ |
33,696,637 |
|
$ |
30,956,840 |
|
Net realized gain from: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Investment securities |
|
10,033,233 |
|
7,207,628 |
|
||
Options |
|
16,399 |
|
|
|
||
Foreign currency transactions |
|
|
|
56,689 |
|
||
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, options, and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies |
|
90,718,144 |
|
60,208,576 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
From net investment income |
|
(10,914,272 |
) |
(7,228,407 |
) |
||
From net realized gains |
|
(431,000 |
) |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net increase in net assets attributable to common shares from operations |
|
123,119,141 |
|
91,201,326 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Distributions to Common Shareholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
From net investment income |
|
(34,128,887 |
) |
(27,062,732 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net decrease in net assets from distributions to common shareholders |
|
(34,128,887 |
) |
(27,062,732 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Capital Share Transactions: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Costs from issuance of preferred shares |
|
(8,631 |
) |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions |
|
(8,631 |
) |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net increase in Net Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Attributable to Common Shares |
|
88,981,623 |
|
64,138,594 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net Assets Attributable to Common Shares: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Beginning of period |
|
501,618,127 |
|
437,479,533 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
End of period* |
|
$ |
590,599,750 |
|
$ |
501,618,127 |
|
* Includes undistributed net investment income of: |
|
$ |
33,719 |
|
$ |
3,590,155 |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
11
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
|
|
For the |
|
For the |
|
For the Period |
|
|||
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
2/24/04 (inception) |
|
|||
|
|
10/31/06 |
|
10/31/05 |
|
to 10/31/04 |
|
|||
Per Common Share Operating Performance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net asset valuebeginning of period |
|
$ |
22.12 |
|
$ |
19.29 |
|
$ |
19.10 |
|
Income from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net investment income |
|
0.99 |
|
1.05 |
|
0.85 |
|
|||
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments |
|
4.94 |
|
3.29 |
|
0.24 |
|
|||
Distributions to preferred shareholders from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
From net investment income |
|
(0.50 |
) |
(0.32 |
) |
(0.06 |
) |
|||
Total from investment operations |
|
5.43 |
|
4.02 |
|
1.03 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Distributions to common shareholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
From net investment income |
|
(1.51 |
) |
(1.19 |
) |
(0.68 |
) |
|||
Total distributions to common shareholders |
|
(1.51 |
) |
(1.19 |
) |
(0.68 |
) |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Capital Share Transactions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Common share offering costs charged to paid in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.04 |
) |
|||
Preferred share offering costs and sales load charged to paid in capital |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.12 |
) |
|||
Total capital share transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.16 |
) |
|||
Net asset value per common shareend of period |
|
$ |
26.04 |
|
$ |
22.12 |
|
$ |
19.29 |
|
Market price per common shareend of period |
|
$ |
22.45 |
|
$ |
19.46 |
|
$ |
18.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total Investment ReturnNet Asset Value(1): |
|
26.75 |
% |
21.63 |
% |
4.93 |
% |
|||
Total Investment ReturnMarket Price(1): |
|
24.21 |
% |
14.67 |
% |
(6.50 |
)% |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Ratios and Supplemental Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net assets attributable to common shares, end of period (000) |
|
$ |
590,600 |
|
$ |
501,618 |
|
$ |
437,480 |
|
Ratio of expenses to average net assets attributable to common shares(3) |
|
1.38 |
% |
1.41 |
% |
1.64 |
%(2) |
|||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets attributable to common shares(3) |
|
6.42 |
% |
6.21 |
% |
6.96 |
%(2) |
|||
Ratio of expenses to average managed assets(4) |
|
0.94 |
% |
0.95 |
% |
1.02 |
%(2) |
|||
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
43 |
% |
55 |
% |
63 |
% |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Preferred Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Liquidation value, end of period, including dividends on preferred shares (000) |
|
$ |
240,185 |
|
$ |
240,171 |
|
$ |
240,000 |
(7) |
Total shares outstanding (000) |
|
9.6 |
|
9.6 |
|
9.6 |
|
|||
Asset coverage per share(5) |
|
$ |
86,539 |
|
$ |
77,270 |
|
$ |
70,571 |
|
Liquidation preference per share |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
Average market value per share(6) |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
(1) Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening on the first day and a sale at closing on the last day of each period reported. Total investment return on net asset value excludes a sales load of $0.90 per share for the period, effectively reducing the net asset value at issuance from $20.00 to $19.10. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Funds dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions on the purchase or sale of the Funds common shares. Total investment returns for less than a full year are not annualized. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
(2) Annualized
(3) Ratios do not reflect dividend payments to preferred shareholders.
(4) Average managed assets represent net assets applicable to common shares plus liquidation value of preferred shares.
(5) Calculated by subtracting the Funds total liabilities (excluding Preferred Shares) from the Funds total assets and dividing by the number of preferred shares outstanding.
(6) Based on weekly prices.
(7) Amount does not include dividends on preferred shares.
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
October 31, 2006
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING AND OPERATING POLICIES
Reaves Utility Income Fund is a closed-end management investment company (the Fund) that was organized under the laws of the state of Delaware by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 15, 2003. The Fund is a non-diversified series with an investment objective to provide a high level of after-tax income and total return consisting primarily of tax-advantaged dividend income and capital appreciation. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. The Fund commenced operations on February 24, 2004. The Funds common shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange and trade under the ticker symbol UTG.
The Fund may have elements of risk, including the risk of loss of principal. There is no assurance that the investment process will consistently lead to successful results. An investment concentrated in sectors and industries may involve greater risk and volatility than a more diversified investment.
The following summarizes the significant accounting policies of the Fund.
Security Valuation: The net asset value per common share of the Fund is determined no less frequently than daily, on each day that the American Stock Exchange (the Exchange) is open for trading, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time). Securities held by the fund for which exchange quotations are readily available are valued at the last sale price, or if no sale price or if traded on the over-the-counter market, at the mean of the bid and asked prices on such day. Over-the-counter securities traded on NASDAQ are valued based upon the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Debt securities for which the over-the-counter market is the primary market are normally valued on the basis of prices furnished by one or more pricing services at the mean between the latest available bid and asked prices. As authorized by the Trustees, debt securities (other than short-term obligations) may be valued on the basis of valuations furnished by a pricing service which determines valuations based upon market transactions for normal, institutional-size trading units of securities. Short-term obligations maturing within 60 days are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. Over-the-counter options are valued at the mean between bid and asked prices provided by dealers. Financial futures contracts listed on commodity exchanges and exchange-traded options are valued at closing settlement prices. Securities for which there is no such quotation or valuation and all other assets are valued at fair value in good faith by or at the direction of the Trustees. Various factors may be reviewed in order to make a good faith determination of a securitys fair value. These factors may include, but are not limited to, the type and cost of the security; the fundamental analytical data relating to the investment; an evaluation of the forces which influence the market in which the security is sold, including the liquidity and depth of the market; information as to any transactions or offers with respect to the security; price, yield and the extent of public or private trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies. The valuation assigned to fair-valued securities for purposes of calculating the Funds NAV may differ from the securitys most recent closing market price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs.
Foreign Securities: The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in foreign securities. In the event that the Fund executes a foreign security transaction, the Fund will generally enter into a forward foreign currency contract to settle the foreign security transaction. Foreign securities may carry more risk than U.S. securities, such as political, market and currency risks.
The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the closing rates of exchange at period end. Amounts related to the purchase and sale of foreign securities and investment income are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
13
The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on investments is separately identified from the fluctuations arising from changes in market values of securities held and reported with all other foreign currency gains and losses in the Funds Statement of Operations.
Distributions to Shareholders: Distributions from net investment income for the Fund are declared and paid monthly to common shareholders. Any net capital gains earned by the Fund are distributed at least annually to the extent necessary to avoid federal income and excise taxes. Distributions to shareholders are recorded by the Fund on the ex-dividend date.
Income Taxes: The Funds policy is to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, that requires the tax effects of certain tax positions to be recognized. These tax positions must meet a more likely than not standard that, based on their technical merits, have a more than 50 percent likelihood of being sustained upon examination. FASB Interpretation No. 48 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2006. At adoption, the financial statements must be adjusted to reflect only those tax positions that are more likely than not of being sustained. Management of the Fund is currently evaluating the impact that FASB Interpretation No. 48 will have on the Funds financial statements.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Investment security transactions are accounted for as of trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is accrued as earned. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities are determined using the First In First Out basis for both financial reporting and income tax purposes.
Use of estimates: The Funds financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
2. INCOME TAXES
Net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes. The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain was recorded by the Fund.
The tax character of the distributions paid by the Fund during the year ended October 31, 2006, and the year ended October 31, 2005, was as follows:
|
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
||
Distributions paid from: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Ordinary Income |
|
$ |
45,043,159 |
|
$ |
34,291,139 |
|
Long-Term Capital Gain |
|
431,000 |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
45,474,159 |
|
$ |
34,291,139 |
|
14
As of October 31, 2006, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
Undistributed Ordinary Income |
|
$ |
3,723,699 |
|
Accumulated Capital Gains |
|
1,245,316 |
|
|
Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation |
|
156,244,202 |
|
|
Other Cumulative Effect of Timing Differences |
|
33,719 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
161,246,936 |
|
The tax components of distributable earnings are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from composition of net assets reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Accordingly, for the period ended October 31, 2006, certain differences were reclassified. These differences were primarily due to the differing tax treatment of wash sales and certain investments and the amounts reclassified did not affect net assets.
Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments based on federal tax cost were as follows:
As of October 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
Gross appreciation (excess of value over tax cost) |
|
$ |
160,460,541 |
|
Gross depreciation (excess of tax cost over value) |
|
(4,216,339 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net unrealized appreciation |
|
$ |
156,244,202 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of investments for income tax purposes |
|
$ |
672,150,903 |
|
3. CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
Common Shares: There are an unlimited number of no par value common shares of beneficial interest authorized.
Preferred Shares: On April 27, 2004, the Funds Board of Trustees authorized the issuance of an unlimited number of no par value preferred shares, in addition to the existing common shares, as part of the Funds leverage strategy. Preferred shares issued by the Fund have seniority over the common shares.
The Fund is subject to certain limitations and restrictions while preferred shares are outstanding. Failure to comply with these limitations and restrictions could preclude the Fund from declaring any dividends or distributions to common shareholders or repurchasing common shares and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of preferred shares at their liquidation value. Specifically, the Fund is required under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to maintain an asset coverage with respect to the outstanding preferred shares of 200% or greater.
The Fund has three series of Auction Market Preferred Shares: M7, F7, and W28. On June 30, 2004, the Fund issued 3,200 shares of Series M7, 3,200 shares of Series F7, and 3,200 shares of Series W28 each with a net asset and liquidation value of $25,000 per share plus accrued dividends. Dividends on the preferred shares are cumulative and are paid based on an annual rate set through auction procedures. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, are paid annually. As of October 31, 2006, the annualized dividend rates for Series M7, F7 and W28 were 5.12%, 4.90% and 5.24%, respectively. The dividend rate, as set by the auction process, is generally expected to vary with short-term interest rates. These rates may vary in a manner unrelated to the income received on the Funds assets, which could have either a beneficial or detrimental impact on net investment income and gains available to common shareholders.
15
Preferred shares, which are entitled to one vote per share, generally vote with the common shares but vote separately as a class to elect two Trustees and on any matters affecting the rights of the Preferred Shares.
4. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
Purchases and sales of investment securities, other than short-term securities, for the year ended October 31, 2006 aggregated $329,953,787 and $342,286,502, respectively.
5. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENTS
W.H. Reaves & Co., Inc. (Reaves) serves as the Funds investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund. As compensation for its services to the Fund, Reaves receives an annual investment advisory fee of 0.575% based on the Funds average daily total assets, computed daily and payable monthly.
ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (ALPS) serves as the Funds administrator pursuant to an Administration, Bookkeeping and Pricing Services Agreement with the Fund. As compensation for its services to the Fund, ALPS receives an annual administration fee of 0.265% based on the Funds average daily total assets, computed daily and payable monthly. ALPS will pay all expenses incurred by the Fund, with the exception of advisory fees, trustees fees, portfolio transaction expenses, litigation expenses, taxes, cost of preferred shares, expenses of conducting repurchase offers for the purpose of repurchasing fund shares, and extraordinary expenses.
6. OTHER
The Independent Trustees of the Fund receive a quarterly retainer of $3,500 and an additional $1,500 for each meeting attended.
In a meeting held February 3, 2006, the Fair Value Committee for the Fund deemed interest on Calpine Corp., corporate bond, maturing April 2008 with a coupon rate of 7.875%, as uncollectible as a result of Calpines current bankruptcy proceedings. At this meeting the Committee determined that the Fund should immediately cease accruing the interest and write off interest that has been accrued since the last payment (October 2005) for this bond. This position has since been sold and is not held by the Fund at October 31, 2006.
Note the Fund also holds a corporate note for Calpine Generating Co., maturing April 2011 with a coupon rate of 11.50%. This is a secured position and as such the Fair Value Committee determined there is no uncertainty surrounding the collectibility of interest due on the note at this time. The Fund holds this security as of October 31, 2006.
7. INDEMNIFICATIONS
In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications. The Funds maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.
16
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
October 31, 2006 (Unaudited)
Unless the registered owner of Common Shares elects to receive cash by contacting The Bank of New York (the Plan Administrator or BONY), all dividends declared on Common Shares will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Administrator for shareholders in the Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan), in additional Common Shares. Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by BONY as dividend disbursing agent. You may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by contacting BONY, as dividend disbursing agent, at the address set forth below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Administrator prior to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on your behalf and may re-invest that cash in additional Common Shares for you. If you wish for all dividends declared on your Common Shares to be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, please contact your broker.
The Plan Administrator will open an account for each Common Shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such Common Shareholders Common Shares are registered. Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or other distribution (together, a Dividend) payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Shares. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from the Fund (Newly Issued Common Shares) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (Open-Market Purchases) on the American Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commissions per Common Share is equal to or greater than the net asset value per Common Share, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participants account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the net asset value per Common Share on the payment date; provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the net asset value per Common Share is greater than the closing market value plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open-Market Purchases. In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Administrator will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Shares trade on an ex-dividend basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is sooner (the Last Purchase Date), to invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in Open-Market Purchases. It is contemplated that the Fund will pay monthly income Dividends. Therefore, the period during which OpenMarket Purchases can be made will exist only from the payment date of each Dividend through the date before the next ex-dividend date which typically will be approximately ten days. If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its Open-Market Purchases, the market price per Common Share exceeds the net asset value per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator may exceed the net asset value of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open-Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full
17
Dividend amount in Open-Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Administrator may cease making Open-Market Purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares at the net asset value per Common Share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share; the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.
The Plan Administrator maintains all shareholders accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Administrator on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.
In the case of Common Shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Administrator will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholders name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with Open-Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. Participants that request a sale of Common Shares through the Plan Administrator are subject to brokerage commissions.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.
All correspondence or questions concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator, The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street 11 East, New York, New York 10286, Transfer Agency Services, 1-800-433-8191.
FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES & PROCEDURES
October 31, 2006 (unaudited)
Fund policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and a summary of proxies voted by the Fund for the period ended June 30, 2006, are available without a charge, upon request, by contacting the Fund at 1-800-644-5571 and on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (the Commission) website at http://www.sec.gov.
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
October 31, 2006 (Unaudited)
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds Forms N-Q are available on the Commissions website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy Form N-Q at the Commissions Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the Commission at
18
1-800-SEC-0330. Information on the Funds Form N-Q is available without a charge, upon request, by contacting the Fund at 1-800-644-5571 and on the website at http://www.utilityincomefund.com.
NOTICE
October 31, 2006 (Unaudited)
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase at market prices from time to time shares of its common stock in the open market.
TAX INFORMATION
October 31, 2005 (Unaudited)
Certain tax information regarding the Fund is required to be provided to shareholders based upon the Funds income and distributions for the taxable year ended October 31, 2006. The information and distributions reported herein may differ from information and distributions taxable to shareholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006. During the fiscal period ended October 31, 2006, 64.73% of the dividends paid qualify for the corporate dividends received deduction. In addition, 75.15% of the dividends paid meet the requirements regarding qualified dividend income.
SHAREHOLDER MEETING
On April 12, 2006, the Fund held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Meeting) for the purpose of voting on a proposal to re-elect two trustees of the Funds. The results of the proposal are as follows:
Proposal 1: Re-election of Trustees
|
Larry W. Papasan |
|
Everett L. Morris |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For |
|
21,759,575 |
|
21,759,575 |
|
Abstain |
|
639,903 |
|
639,903 |
|
Withheld |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
19
TRUSTEES & OFFICERS
October 31, 2006
Except for their service on the Companys Board of Directors, the independent directors named below have not held any positions during the past two years with the Fund; any investment company; any investment adviser; any underwriter of the Fund; or any affiliate of the Fund or its investment advisers or underwriters. Each independent trustee serves on the Funds Audit Committee.
Interested Trustees and Officers
|
|
Position(s) Held with |
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past |
|
Number of Portfolios |
|
|
Funds/Length of Time |
|
5 Years and Other Directorships Held by |
|
in Fund Complex |
Name, Age and Address |
|
Served |
|
Trustee |
|
Overseen by Trustee |
W.
Robert Alexander |
|
Trustee and Chairman/Since Inception |
|
Mr. Alexander was the Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of ALPS until September 30, 2005. Mr. Alexander is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hunter and Hughes Trusts as well as Chairman of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Financial Investors Trust and Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust. Because of his affiliation with ALPS, Mr. Alexander is considered an interested Trustee of the Fund. |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edmund
J. Burke |
|
President/Since Inception |
|
Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS. Mr. Burke joined ALPS in 1991 as Vice President and National Sales Manager. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Burke is currently the President of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Financial Investors Trust and Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust. |
|
N/A |
20
Jeremy
O. May |
|
Treasurer/Since |
|
Mr. May is Managing Director of ALPS. Mr. May joined ALPS in 1995 as a Controller. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. May is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. May is currently the Treasurer of Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Financial Investors Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust and First Funds. |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Everett
L. Morris |
|
Trustee/Since |
|
Mr. Morris was a Vice President and Director of Reaves from 1993 to 2003. Mr. Morris is currently a Director/Trustee of the Phoenix Funds, a Director of the Duff & Phelps Utilities Tax-Free Income Fund, and a Director of the Duff & Phelps Utility & Corporate Bond Trust. |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tané T.
Tyler |
|
Secretary/Since December 14, 2005 |
|
Ms. Tyler is General Counsel of ALPS. Ms. Tyler joined ALPS as General Counsel in September 2004. Formerly, Ms. Tyler was Vice President and Associate Counsel, Oppenheimer Funds, Inc., and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. Ms. Tyler is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Tyler is currently the Secretary of the Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust, First Funds and Westcore Funds. |
|
N/A |
21
Michael
Akins |
|
Chief Compliance Officer/ Since June 13, 2006 |
|
Mr. Akins joined ALPS as Deputy Compliance Officer in April 2006. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Akins served as AVP and Compliance Officer for UMB Financial Corporation. Before joining UMB Mr. Akins was an Account Manager at State Street Corporation. Because of his position with ALPS and ADI, Mr. Akins is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Akins is currently the Chief Compliance Officer of Financial Investors Trust, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Wisdom Tree Trust, SPDR Trust, Midcap SPDR Trust, and DIAMONDS Trust. |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kim
Storms |
|
Assistant Treasurer/Since June 14, 2005 |
|
Ms. Storms is Director of Fund Administration and Vice-President of ALPS. Ms. Storms joined ALPS in 1998 as Assistant Controller. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Assistant Treasurer of the Clough Global Allocation Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Financial Investors Trust, Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust and Assistant Secretary of Ameristock Mutual Fund, Inc. |
|
N/A |
22
Mary K.
Anstine |
|
Trustee/Since |
|
Ms. Anstine was the President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE, Denver, Colorado, and former Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver. Ms. Anstine is also a Trustee/Director of the following: Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America; Colorado Uplift Board; AV Hunter Trust; Financial Investors Trust and Financial Investors Variable Trust; Denver Chapter of the and a member of the Advisory Boards for the Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council. Ms. Anstine was a Director of: the Northern Trust Bank of Colorado from February 1998 until February 2002; HealthONE; a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee; and Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution. |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
F. Holland |
|
Trustee/Since |
|
Mr. Holland is Chairman of Holland & Company. Mr. Holland is currently a Director and Chairman of the Board, President and Treasurer of the Holland Series Fund, Inc. Mr. Holland is also Chairman of the Board and Trustee of State Street Master Funds and a Trustee of the China Fund, Inc. |
|
1 |
23
Robert
E. Lee |
|
Trustee/Since |
|
Mr. Lee was a commercial bank executive of First Interstate Bank of Denver from 1980 through 1989. He is currently a Director of the following: Storage Technology Corporation; ING Financial ServicesNorth America; Meredith Corporation; and the Source Capital Corporation. Mr. Lee is also a Trustee of Financial Investors Trust and Financial Investors Variable Insurance Trust. |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry
W. Papasan |
|
Trustee/Since |
|
Mr. Papasan is the former Chairman of Smith & Nephew, Inc. (orthopedic division). Mr. Papasan is a former Director of First American National Bank of Memphis and The West Tennessee Board of First American National Bank (1988-1991) and was President of Memphis Light Gas and Water Division of the city of Memphis (1984-1991). Mr. Papasan is a member of the Board of the Plough Foundation, a non-profit trust, a Trustee of First Funds, a mutual fund complex, and a Trustee of Smith Seckman Reid, Inc., an engineering services company. |
|
1 |
24
REAVES UTILITY INCOME FUND |
This Fund is neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency or insurer.
For more information, please call 1-800-644-5571.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The Registrant, as of the end of the period covered by the report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrants principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or any persons performing similar functions on behalf of the Registrant.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) During the period covered by this report, no amendments were made to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above.
(d) During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics adopted in 2(a) above were granted.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) The Registrants Code of Ethics is attached as an Exhibit hereto.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Board of Trustees of the Registrant has determined that the Registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The Board of Trustees has designated Mike Holland and Robert E. Lee as the Registrants audit committee financial experts. Messrs. Holland and Lee are independent as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) Audit Fees: The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrants annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for fiscal years 2006 and 2005 were $27,500 and $25,000, respectively.
(b) Audit-Related Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrants financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 in 2006 and $0 in 2005.
(c) Tax Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $3,850 in 2006 and $13,500 in 2005.
(d) All Other Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $8,000 in 2006 and $14,500 in 2005.
(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures: All services to be performed by the Registrants principal auditors must be pre-approved by the Registrants audit committee.
(e)(2) No services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not applicable.
2
(g) Not applicable.
(h) Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
The registrant has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3 (a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act and is comprised of the following members:
Mary Anstine
Mike Holland (designated Financial Expert)
Robert E. Lee (designated Financial Expert)
Larry Papasan
Item 6. Schedule of Investments.
The Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this form.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Attached, as Exhibit Item 7, is a copy of the registrants policies and procedures.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies as of January 8, 2007
Name |
|
Title |
|
Length of Service |
|
Business |
Ron Sorenson |
|
Portfolio Manager |
|
Since inception |
|
PM, W.H. Reaves & Co 1991-present |
William Ferer |
|
Portfolio Manager |
|
Since inception |
|
PM, W.H. Reaves & Co 1987-present |
William Reaves |
|
Portfolio Manager |
|
Since inception |
|
PM, W.H. Reaves & Co 1961-present |
Other Accounts Managed
|
Registered |
|
Other Pooled |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment |
|
Investments |
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
Companies, |
|
Vehicles, Total |
|
Accounts, Total |
|
Material Conflicts |
PM Name |
|
Total Assets |
|
Assets |
|
Assets |
|
if Any |
Ron Sorenson |
|
75,216,260 |
|
0 |
|
1,715,634,910 |
|
None |
William Ferer |
|
75,216,260 |
|
0 |
|
1,464,522,912 |
|
None |
William Reaves |
|
75,216,260 |
|
0 |
|
1,464,522,912 |
|
None |
(a)(3) Portfolio Manager Compensation as of October 31, 2006.
Portfolio Managers receive a fixed rate compensation from the investment advisor. Compensation is not tied to fund assets or performance.
(a)(4) Dollar Range of Securities Owned as of October 31, 2006.
3
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Held in |
|
||
Portfolio Manager |
|
Registrant(1) |
|
|
Ron Sorenson |
|
$ |
10,001-50,000 |
|
William Ferer |
|
$ |
50,001-100,000 |
|
William Reaves |
|
$ |
1-10,000 |
|
(1) Beneficial Ownership is determined in accordance with Section 16a-1(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders.
The registrant has adopted the following procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrants Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees of the registrant will as part of its authority and responsibilities, seek individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Trustees, including evaluating persons suggested by shareholders. In connection with filling vacancies or expanding the Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees will evaluate the suitability of individual candidates in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending a group or individual candidate that can best perpetuate the success of the business and represent shareholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment, relying on its diversity of experience. Candidates may be nominated by the Board of Trustees or by shareholders by submitting the name and basic qualifications of the candidates to the Secretary of the Registrant at Clough Global Allocation Fund, 1625 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, Colorado 80202.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrants principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrants disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the registrants disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date.
(b) There was no change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) The Code of Ethics that applies to the registrants principal executive officer and principal financial officer is attached hereto as Exhibit 12.A.1.
(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Ex99.Cert.
(a)(3) Not applicable.
(b) The certifications by the registrants Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Ex99.906Cert.
4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
REAVES UTILITY INCOME FUND
By: |
|
/s/ EDMUND J. BURKE |
|
|
|
Edmund J. Burke |
|
|
|
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
|
January 8, 2007 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: |
|
/s/ EDMUND J. BURKE |
|
|
|
Edmund J. Burke |
|
|
|
President (Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
|
January 8, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ JEREMY O. MAY |
|
|
|
Jeremy O. May |
|
|
|
Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
|
March 15, 2007 |
5