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Gabelli Equity Series Funds Inc – ‘N-CSR’ for 9/30/13

On:  Tuesday, 4/15/14, at 12:15pm ET   ·   Effective:  4/15/14   ·   For:  9/30/13   ·   Accession #:  1193125-14-143846   ·   File #:  811-06367

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 4/15/14  Gabelli Equity Series Funds Inc   N-CSR       9/30/13    4:3.3M                                   RR Donnelley/FAThe Gabelli Equity Income Fund Class A (GCAEX) — Class Aaa (GABEX) — Class C1 (GCCEX) — Class I (GCIEX)The Gabelli Focused Growth & Income Fund Class A (GWSAX) — Class Aaa (GWSVX) — Class C (GWSCX) — Class I (GWSIX)The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund Class A (GCASX) — Class Aaa (GABSX) — Class C (GCCSX) — Class I (GACIX)

Certified Annual Shareholder Report of a Management Investment Company   —   Form N-CSR
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: N-CSR       Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.                   HTML   1.59M 
 4: EX-99.906CERT  906 Certifications                               HTML      9K 
 3: EX-99.CERT  302 Certifications                                  HTML     20K 
 2: EX-99.CODE ETH  Code of Ethics                                  HTML     26K 


N-CSR   —   Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.


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  Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.  

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number             811-06367                    

                    Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.                    

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

One Corporate Center

                    Rye, New York 10580-1422                    

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Bruce N. Alpert

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

                         Rye, New York 10580-1422                        

(Name and address of agent for service)

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

Date of fiscal year end:   September 30

Date of reporting period:   September 30, 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE: Registrant is re-filing this annual N-CSR for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 4, 2013 (Accession Number 0001193125-13-461711). Due to a scrivener’s error, the N-CSR was inadvertently filed under submission type N-CSRS. Except as set forth above, this filing does not amend, update or change any other items or disclosures found in the original Form N-CSR filing.

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

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


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

The Report to Shareholders is attached herewith.


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Annual Report — September 30, 2013

 

LOGO

 

Morningstar® rated The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund Class AAA Shares 5 stars overall, 3 stars for the three year period, and 5 stars for the five and ten year periods ended September 30, 2013 among 598, 598, 532, and 329 Small Blend funds, respectively. Morningstar RatingTM is based on risk-adjusted returns.

  

LOGO

 

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Portfolio Manager

To Our Shareholders,

For the year ended September 30, 2013, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund increased 31.8% compared with an increase of 30.1% for the Russell 2000 Index. See page 2 for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the schedule of investments and financial statements as of September 30, 2013.

Performance Discussion

In the last quarter of 2012, stock prices rallied despite headwinds of anemic economic growth, high joblessness, recession in the eurozone, and worries over U.S. public finances and the fiscal cliff. Strong cumulative equity returns since 2009 in both global (up more than 70%) and domestic indices (up 120%, including dividend reinvestment) had not deterred continual and massive redemptions from domestic equity mutual funds. Because of this, equity valuations remained at a healthy discount to average historical price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples.

During the second quarter of 2013, signs of modest improvement in the United States economy contrasted with renewed volatility in Europe, economic deceleration in China and Latin America, and political unrest in the Middle East. However, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke took center stage late in June to remind the world that interest rates would not remain low forever but in doing so likened a reduction in the Federal Reserve’s round three of Quantitative Easing bond buying program to letting the “foot off the accelerator” versus “tapping the brakes.”

The third quarter was marked with events that have become all too familiar over the last few years: the Fed continued its program of quantitative easing, the economy improved (albeit slowly), tensions flared in the Middle East, Washington seemed to be at an impasse, and of course, markets rose substantially, with the S&P up about 5% for the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the attention turned to events in Washington. While markets shrugged off the federal government shutdown that started on October 1, the potential of the United States bumping up against the Federal debt ceiling was beginning to look more possible.

Among the better performing stocks for the fiscal year were: O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (1.7% of net assets as of September 30, 2013), a manufacturer of car parts; Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., a manufacturer of nutritional supplements that was sold prior to year end; and Brembo SpA (0.7%), a manufacturer of automotive brake systems. Our weaker performing stocks during the year were Cincinnati Bell Inc. (0.2%), a telephone company; J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (0.2%), a chain of American mid-range department stores; and Orthofix International NV (0%), a diversified global medical device company focused on the spine and orthopedic markets.

We appreciate your loyalty and support.


Comparative Results

Average Annual Returns through September 30, 2013 (a)(b) (Unaudited)    Since
                    Inception
    

1 Year

  

5 Year

  

10 Year

  

(10/22/91)

Class AAA (GABSX)

      31.82%       13.02%       11.91%       13.36%

Russell 2000 Index

   30.06    11.15      9.64      9.90

Class A (GCASX)

   31.80    13.04    11.91    13.36

With sales charge (c)

   24.22    11.70    11.25    13.05

Class C (GCCSX)

   30.80    12.19    11.11    12.98

With contingent deferred sales charge (d)

   29.80    12.19    11.11    12.98

Class I (GACIX)

   32.14    13.31    12.08    13.43

In the current prospectuses dated January 28, 2013, the expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 1.41%, 1.41%, 2.16%, and 1.16%, respectively. See page 16 for the expense ratios for the year ended September 30, 2013. Class AAA and Class I Shares have no sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A and C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively.

 

    (a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares and Class C Shares on December 31, 2003, and the Class I Shares on January 11, 2008. The actual performance of the Class A Shares and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of the Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. Investing in small capitalization securities involves special risks because these securities may trade less frequently and experience more abrupt price movements than large capitalization securities. The Russell 2000 Index is an unmanaged indicator which measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity market. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

 

   (b)

   The Fund’s fiscal year ends September 30.

 

    (c)

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

 

 

    (d)

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

 

COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN

THE GABELLI SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND CLASS AAA AND THE RUSSELL 2000 INDEX (Unaudited)

 

LOGO

 

*

Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

2


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

For the Six Month Period from April 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013      Expense Table   

 

 

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

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

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

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

Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended September 30, 2013.

 

     

Beginning
Account Value

04/01/13

   Ending
Account Value
09/30/13
  

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

  

Expenses

Paid During

Period*

The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Actual Fund Return

  

Class AAA

   $1,000.00    $1,115.10    1.39%    $  7.37

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,114.90    1.39%    $  7.37

Class C

   $1,000.00    $1,110.70    2.14%    $11.32

Class I

   $1,000.00    $1,116.50    1.14%    $  6.05

Hypothetical 5% Return

     

Class AAA

   $1,000.00    $1,018.10    1.39%    $  7.03

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,018.10    1.39%    $  7.03

Class C

   $1,000.00    $1,014.34    2.14%    $10.81

Class I

   $1,000.00    $1,019.35    1.14%    $  5.77

 

*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (183 days), then divided by 365.

 

 

3


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of September 30, 2013:

The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

 

U.S. Government Obligations

     15.5%   

Equipment and Supplies

     8.2%   

Food and Beverage

     6.9%   

Automotive: Parts and Accessories

     6.5%   

Diversified Industrial

     6.0%   

Retail

     5.8%   

Energy and Utilities

     5.2%   

Health Care

     4.7%   

Business Services

     4.4%   

Financial Services

     4.2%   

Specialty Chemicals

     3.9%   

Aviation: Parts and Services

     3.5%   

Building and Construction

     3.1%   

Hotels and Gaming

     2.7%   

Computer Software and Services

     2.4%   

Electronics

     1.5%   

Entertainment

     1.4%   

Publishing

     1.4%   

Broadcasting

     1.4%   

Consumer Products

     1.3%   

Cable

     1.3%   

Machinery

     1.2%   

Real Estate

     1.2%   

Consumer Services

     1.2%   

Telecommunications

     1.2%   

Automotive

     0.9%   

Transportation

     0.8%   

Metals and Mining

     0.5%   

Environmental Services

     0.4%   

Home Furnishings

     0.3%   

Manufactured Housing and Recreational Vehicles

     0.3%   

Wireless Communications

     0.2%   

Educational Services

     0.2%   

Closed-End Funds

     0.2%   

Paper and Forest Products

     0.1%   

Communications Equipment

     0.1%   

Closed-End Business Development Company

     0.0%   

Aerospace

     0.0%   

Agriculture

     0.0%   

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

     (0.1)%   
  

 

 

 
     100.0%   
  

 

 

 
 

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

Proxy Voting

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

 

4


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS — 84.4%

  

 
  

Aerospace — 0.0%

  

 
  25,000      

Embraer SA, ADR

   $ 430,623      $ 811,750   
  15,000      

Exelis Inc.

     135,825        235,650   
  12,500      

Innovative Solutions & Support Inc.

     47,898        99,500   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        614,346        1,146,900   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Agriculture — 0.0%

  

  329,975      

Black Earth Farming Ltd., SDR†

     680,485        354,276   
  12,000      

Cadiz Inc.†

     93,950        61,320   
  177,700      

Ceres Inc.†

     1,529,062        264,773   
  3,000      

The Mosaic Co.

     63,893        129,060   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        2,367,390        809,429   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Automotive — 0.9%

  

 
  735,080      

Navistar International Corp.†

     20,952,170        26,815,718   
  12,000      

PACCAR Inc.

     471,506        667,920   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          21,423,676        27,483,638   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 6.4%

  

  129,500      

BorgWarner Inc.

     1,436,796        13,130,005   
  890,000      

Brembo SpA

     10,373,886        23,189,751   
  90,022      

China Automotive Systems Inc.†

     463,870        672,464   
  1,000,015      

Dana Holding Corp.

     7,045,474        22,840,343   
  1,026,138      

Federal-Mogul Corp.†

     13,122,909        17,228,857   
  684,000      

Modine Manufacturing Co.†

     8,515,290        10,006,920   
  22,500      

Monro Muffler Brake Inc.

     152,114        1,046,025   
  435,000      

O’Reilly Automotive Inc.†

     11,834,366        55,501,650   
  100,000      

Penske Automotive Group Inc.

     1,476,842        4,273,000   
  36,000      

Puradyn Filter Technologies Inc.†

     10,247        6,480   
  195,000      

SORL Auto Parts Inc.†

     1,145,902        725,400   
  80,375      

Spartan Motors Inc.

     388,580        487,876   
  231,000      

Standard Motor Products Inc.

     1,913,710        7,428,960   
  207,000      

Strattec Security Corp.(a)

     4,399,791        7,938,450   
  400,000      

Superior Industries International Inc.

     6,650,124        7,132,000   
  510,000      

Tenneco Inc.†

     5,099,490        25,755,000   
  532,061      

The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack†

     5,756,097        6,634,801   
  27,000      

Thor Industries Inc.

     250,194        1,567,080   
  70,000      

Wonder Auto Technology Inc.†

     262,540        31,500   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        80,298,222          205,596,562   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Aviation: Parts and Services — 3.5%

  

  25,000      

AAR Corp.

     302,990        683,250   
  10,000      

Astronics Corp.†

     31,028        497,100   
  5,812      

Astronics Corp., Cl. B†

     17,960        289,844   
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  100      

B/E Aerospace Inc.†

   $ 6,935      $ 7,382   
  2,500      

Barnes Group Inc.

     68,820        87,300   
  5,000,000      

BBA Aviation plc

     13,331,465        24,688,362   
  520,000      

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

     14,888,024        24,419,200   
  44,000      

Ducommun Inc.†

     868,225        1,261,920   
  1,225,095      

GenCorp Inc.†

     7,763,715        19,638,273   
  833,877      

Kaman Corp.

     15,096,028        31,570,583   
  85,000      

Moog Inc., Cl. A†

     703,065        4,986,950   
  16,100      

Moog Inc., Cl. B†

     464,818        940,562   
  68,000      

Woodward Inc.

     1,052,020        2,776,440   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          54,595,093          111,847,166   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Broadcasting — 1.4%

  

  520,836      

ACME Communications Inc.

     532,873        36,459   
  230,853      

Beasley Broadcast Group Inc., Cl. A

     1,324,247        2,006,113   
  23,300      

Cogeco Inc.

     592,837        1,040,532   
  400,000      

Crown Media Holdings Inc., Cl. A†

     1,489,737        1,232,000   
  310,000      

Gray Television Inc.†

     935,016        2,433,500   
  43,000      

Gray Television Inc., Cl. A†

     89,142        311,535   
  87,000      

Liberty Media Corp., Cl. A†

     1,575,433        12,802,050   
  455,000      

LIN Media LLC, Cl. A†

     7,052,500        9,231,950   
  110,000      

Pandora Media Inc.†

     1,419,811        2,764,300   
  550,354      

Salem Communications Corp., Cl. A

     2,192,559        4,556,931   
  175,000      

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., Cl. A

     1,392,064        5,866,000   
  450,000      

Sirius XM Radio Inc.

     219,282        1,741,500   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        18,815,501        44,022,870   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Building and Construction — 3.1%

  

  65,000      

Beazer Homes USA Inc.†

     1,210,794        1,170,000   
  295,000      

D.R. Horton Inc.

     3,487,621        5,731,850   
  750,000      

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., Cl. A†

     1,928,866        3,922,500   
  200,000      

KB Home

     2,123,861        3,604,000   
  428,000      

Layne Christensen Co.†

     10,771,182        8,542,880   
  114,000      

Lennar Corp., Cl. A

     1,631,993        4,035,600   
  320,009      

Lennar Corp., Cl. B

     7,605,393        9,168,258   
  600,000      

Louisiana-Pacific Corp.†

     5,071,723        10,554,000   
  170,000      

MDC Holdings Inc.

     4,403,790        5,101,700   
  155,000      

Meritage Homes Corp.†

     3,454,885        6,657,250   
  12,500      

Nortek Inc.†

     459,613        858,875   
  2,800      

NVR Inc.†

     1,980,556        2,573,732   
  345,000      

PulteGroup Inc.

     2,447,273        5,692,500   
  200,000      

Standard Pacific Corp.†

     771,232        1,582,000   
  143,015      

Texas Industries Inc.†

     4,697,629        9,483,325   
  255,000      

The Ryland Group Inc.

     4,167,256        10,337,700   
  380,000      

Toll Brothers Inc.†

     7,446,446        12,323,400   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          63,660,113          101,339,570   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Business Services — 4.4%

  

  40,000      

ACCO Brands Corp.†

   $ 383,433      $ 265,600   
  115,000      

Ascent Capital Group Inc., Cl. A†

     2,922,487        9,271,300   
  510,006      

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc., Cl. A†

     2,194,944        4,182,049   
  388,100      

Diebold Inc.

       12,838,029          11,394,616   
  550,000      

Edgewater Technology Inc.†(a)

     2,709,394        2,898,500   
  380,000      

Furmanite Corp.†

     1,479,692        3,762,000   
  110,000      

GP Strategies Corp.†

     915,343        2,884,200   
  35,589      

GSE Systems Inc.†

     138,667        55,875   
  355,000      

Internap Network Services Corp.†

     2,430,077        2,467,250   
  22,000      

Lamar Advertising Co., Cl. A†

     196,856        1,034,660   
  16,500      

Landauer Inc.

     425,722        845,625   
  1,135,000      

Live Nation Entertainment Inc.†

     11,614,286        21,054,250   
  275,000      

Loomis AB, Cl. B

     2,925,762        6,054,818   
  196,000      

Macquarie Infrastructure Co. LLC

     2,829,518        10,493,840   
  97,000      

McGrath RentCorp

     2,605,346        3,462,900   
  125,000      

ModusLink Global Solutions Inc.†

     486,103        342,500   
  10,000      

Sealed Air Corp.

     220,480        271,900   
  120,000      

Sohgo Security Services Co. Ltd.

     1,459,559        2,396,460   
  147,500      

Stamps.com Inc.†

     1,187,965        6,774,675   
  560,000      

Swisher Hygiene Inc.†

     385,126        353,381   
  405,007      

The Brink’s Co.

     10,028,164        11,461,698   
  1,910,000      

The Interpublic Group of Companies Inc.

     13,286,999        32,813,800   
  20,000      

Tiger Media Inc.†

     93,821        25,600   
  33,050      

TransAct Technologies Inc.

     168,459        432,625   
  10,072,500      

Trans-Lux Corp.†(a)

     3,956,179        2,518,125   
  60,000      

United Rentals Inc.†

     380,572        3,497,400   
  84,000      

ValueClick Inc.†

     1,083,047        1,751,400   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        79,346,030        142,767,047   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Cable — 1.3%

  

  176,000      

AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A†

     2,124,059        12,052,480   
  538,968      

Cablevision Systems Corp., Cl. A

     688,308        9,076,221   
  10,000      

Cogeco Cable Inc.

     340,851        470,268   
  232,000      

DIRECTV†

     5,764,499        13,862,000   
  50,000      

DISH Network Corp., Cl. A

     968,420        2,250,500   
  36,000      

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

     708,109        1,581,840   
  8,800      

Liberty Global plc, Cl. A†

     211,413        698,280   
  8,800      

Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†

     203,123        663,784   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        11,008,782        40,655,373   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

Closed-End Business Development Company — 0.0%

  

  115,000      

MVC Capital Inc.

   $ 1,305,912      $ 1,501,900   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Closed-End Funds — 0.2%

  

  105,067      

The Central Europe, Russia, and Turkey Fund Inc.

     3,145,276        3,406,272   
  34,905      

The European Equity Fund Inc.

     353,307        281,509   
  57,977      

The New Germany Fund Inc.

     698,895        1,193,746   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        4,197,478        4,881,527   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Communications Equipment — 0.1%

  

  150,071      

Communications Systems Inc.

     1,117,201        1,697,303   
  500      

IPG Photonics Corp.

     31,282        28,155   
  295,000      

Sycamore Networks Inc.

     498,478        141,600   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        1,646,961        1,867,058   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Computer Software and Services — 2.4%

  

  310,000      

Activision Blizzard Inc.

       4,655,450          5,167,700   
  320,000      

EarthLink Inc.

     2,438,884        1,584,000   
  125,000      

Electronic Arts Inc.†

     2,391,504        3,193,750   
  135,000      

Emulex Corp.†

     1,313,413        1,047,600   
  440,000      

FalconStor Software Inc.†

     1,726,908        580,800   
  1,000      

FireEye Inc.†

     20,000        41,530   
  460,020      

Global Sources Ltd.†

     3,474,121        3,413,348   
  60,077      

Guidance Software Inc.†

     541,417        544,898   
  40,000      

InterXion Holding NV†

     630,985        889,600   
  60,000      

Mentor Graphics Corp.

     720,436        1,402,200   
  22,000      

Mercury Systems Inc.†

     410,105        219,780   
  20,187      

MKS Instruments Inc.

     367,981        536,772   
  440,000      

NCR Corp.†

     4,746,089        17,428,400   
  65,000      

Quantum Corp.†

     204,798        89,700   
  100,000      

Rockwell Automation Inc.

     2,731,906        10,694,000   
  54,000      

Stratasys Ltd.†

     4,104,000        5,468,040   
  299,500      

Tyler Technologies Inc.†

     1,333,221        26,197,265   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        31,811,218        78,499,383   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Consumer Products — 1.3%

  

  270,000      

1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc., Cl. A†

     1,228,113        1,331,100   
  55,000      

Brunswick Corp.

     967,690        2,195,050   
  33,500      

Chofu Seisakusho Co. Ltd.

     484,644        766,143   
  58,500      

Church & Dwight Co. Inc.

     295,249        3,512,925   
  12,000      

Elizabeth Arden Inc.†

     419,418        443,040   
  2,000      

Harley-Davidson Inc.

     4,713        128,480   
  25,012      

Harman International Industries Inc.

     1,083,712        1,656,545   
  400,004      

Marine Products Corp.

     799,378        3,632,036   
  10,000      

National Presto Industries Inc.

     300,897        704,100   
  445,000      

Sally Beauty Holdings Inc.†

     2,951,051        11,641,200   
  200,000      

Samick Musical Instruments Co. Ltd.†

     259,514        348,012   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Consumer Products (Continued)

  

 
  6,500      

Steven Madden Ltd.†

   $ 36,466      $ 349,895   
  235,000      

Stewart Enterprises Inc., Cl. A

     1,311,459        3,087,900   
  150,000      

Swedish Match AB

     2,992,162        5,293,541   
  87,425      

Syratech Corp.†

     17,426        262   
  24,000      

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., Cl. A

     710,286        1,320,720   
  22,000      

WD-40 Co.

     606,916        1,427,800   
  55,000      

Wolverine World Wide Inc.

     567,192        3,202,650   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        15,036,286        41,041,399   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Consumer Services — 1.2%

  

  52,000      

Bowlin Travel Centers Inc.†

     52,442        71,500   
  2,750      

Collectors Universe Inc.

     4,650        40,370   
  20,000      

IAC/InterActiveCorp.

     221,743        1,093,400   
  265,017      

KAR Auction Services Inc.

     3,573,437        7,476,130   
  100,000      

Liberty Interactive Corp., Cl. A†

     1,749,861        2,347,000   
  18,726      

Liberty Ventures, Cl. A†

     795,942        1,651,071   
  180,000      

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., Cl. A†

     952,155        414,000   
  600,000      

Rollins Inc.

     2,281,581        15,906,000   
  70,000      

The ADT Corp.

     1,686,019        2,846,200   
  460,000      

TiVo Inc.†

     4,876,896        5,722,400   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        16,194,726        37,568,071   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Diversified Industrial — 6.0%

  

  29,000      

Acuity Brands Inc.

     363,546        2,668,580   
  30,000      

Aegion Corp.†

     561,304        711,900   
  114,000      

Albany International Corp., Cl. A

     2,415,759        4,089,180   
  204,000      

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp.

     3,534,267        3,655,680   
  6,000      

Anixter International Inc.†

     57,120        525,960   
  3,000      

Columbus McKinnon Corp.†

     40,570        72,090   
  397,000      

Crane Co.

     9,316,447        24,482,990   
  3,000      

ESCO Technologies Inc.

     49,914        99,690   
  17,000      

Foster Wheeler AG†

     32,976        447,780   
  74,000      

Greif Inc., Cl. A

     757,714        3,628,220   
  117,970      

Greif Inc., Cl. B

     5,709,954        6,281,903   
  1,204,000      

Griffon Corp.

       13,203,675          15,098,160   
  375,000      

Handy & Harman Ltd.†

     2,652,544        8,951,250   
  15,000      

Haynes International Inc.

     738,665        679,950   
  190,000      

Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd.

     3,487,637        6,431,500   
  400,000      

Katy Industries Inc.†(a)

     616,568        282,180   
  87,500      

Kaydon Corp.

     2,922,621        3,108,000   
  30,000      

Key Technology Inc.†

     483,654        416,700   
  1,000      

L.B. Foster Co., Cl. A

     17,608        45,740   
  40,000      

Lawson Products Inc.†

     532,135        412,400   
  97,000      

Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.

     2,614,310        6,462,140   
  72,000      

Lindsay Corp.

     1,620,267        5,876,640   
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  40,083      

Lydall Inc.†

   $ 447,165      $ 688,225   
  81,000      

Magnetek Inc.†

     1,773,803        1,434,510   
  32,000      

Matthews International Corp., Cl. A

     748,294        1,218,560   
  473,273      

Myers Industries Inc.

     4,629,255        9,517,520   
  138,000      

Oil-Dri Corp. of America

     1,510,309        4,656,120   
  124,000      

Olin Corp.

     2,407,153        2,860,680   
  304,000      

Park-Ohio Holdings Corp.†

     2,675,513        11,679,680   
  19,000      

Pentair Ltd.

     727,134        1,233,860   
  87,000      

Precision Castparts Corp.

     1,759,715        19,769,880   
  62,000      

Raven Industries Inc.

     1,623,285        2,028,020   
  32,000      

Roper Industries Inc.

     620,029        4,251,840   
  260,033      

Sevcon Inc.†(a)

     1,552,527        1,261,160   
  96,000      

Sonoco Products Co.

     2,940,089        3,738,240   
  115,500      

Standex International Corp.

     2,765,273        6,860,700   
  387,000      

Textron Inc.

     2,408,058        10,685,070   
  390,023      

Tredegar Corp.

     6,611,601        10,140,598   
  85,000      

Trinity Industries Inc.

     2,575,111        3,854,750   
  147,000      

Tyco International Ltd.

     2,752,473        5,142,060   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          92,256,042          195,450,106   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Educational Services — 0.2%

  

  60,000      

Career Education Corp.†

     484,149        165,600   
  400,000      

Corinthian Colleges Inc.†

     2,167,339        876,000   
  417,000      

Universal Technical Institute Inc.

     7,178,807        5,058,210   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        9,830,295        6,099,810   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Electronics — 1.5%

  

  98,000      

Badger Meter Inc.

     2,797,399        4,557,000   
  252,048      

Bel Fuse Inc., Cl. A(a)

     5,966,028        4,365,471   
  20,000      

CSR plc, ADR

     293,600        658,600   
  560,000      

CTS Corp.

     5,365,883        8,831,200   
  375,000      

Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

     3,283,342        3,502,500   
  40,000      

Daktronics Inc.

     362,126        447,600   
  110,000      

Gentex Corp.

     2,666,319        2,814,900   
  114,000      

Greatbatch Inc.†

     2,887,842        3,879,420   
  20,000      

IMAX Corp.†

     158,565        604,800   
  70,000      

KEMET Corp.†

     307,782        292,600   
  110,000      

Methode Electronics Inc.

     951,012        3,080,000   
  20,000      

MOCON Inc.

     290,913        273,600   
  310,000      

Park Electrochemical Corp.

     7,329,771        8,881,500   
  12,000      

Pulse Electronics Corp.†

     546,998        46,800   
  118,000      

Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc.†

     2,796,014        2,856,780   
  185,000      

Stoneridge Inc.†

     1,506,975        1,999,850   
  109,000      

Zygo Corp.†

     1,013,646        1,741,820   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        38,524,215        48,834,441   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Energy and Utilities — 5.2%

  

  5,000      

Atlas Resource Partners LP

     95,819        104,700   
  371,500      

Black Hills Corp.

     9,503,775        18,522,990   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Energy and Utilities (Continued)

  

  70,000      

Black Ridge Oil and Gas Inc.†

   $ 0      $ 56,000   
  100,000      

Callon Petroleum Co.†

     621,608        547,000   
  35,000      

Chesapeake Utilities Corp.

     933,995        1,837,150   
  8,000      

Clean Energy Fuels Corp.†

     121,214        102,240   
  42,000      

CMS Energy Corp.

     221,307        1,105,440   
  23,000      

Connecticut Water Service Inc.

     464,832        739,680   
  6,000      

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.

     80,818        89,820   
  155,000      

Covanta Holding Corp.

     538,638        3,313,900   
  13,000      

Dawson Geophysical Co.†

     365,597        422,110   
  408,089      

El Paso Electric Co.

     5,933,161        13,630,173   
  70,000      

Energy Recovery Inc.†

     301,631        507,500   
  20,000      

Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica SA†

     117,491        174,437   
  190,000      

Great Plains Energy Inc.

     3,922,294        4,218,000   
  98,000      

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.

     2,495,312        2,459,800   
  70,000      

Key Energy Services Inc.†

     597,194        510,300   
  45,000      

Middlesex Water Co.

     773,022        962,550   
  65,000      

National Fuel Gas Co.

     3,483,943        4,469,400   
  200,000      

North Atlantic Drilling Ltd.

     1,937,412        1,912,443   
  100,000      

NorthWestern Corp.

     2,966,899        4,492,000   
  80,000      

Oceaneering International Inc.

     1,366,984        6,499,200   
  229,000      

Otter Tail Corp.

     5,094,778        6,320,400   
  12,000      

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc.

     241,902        256,560   
  1,190,000      

PNM Resources Inc.

     12,941,338        26,929,700   
  132,000      

Rowan Companies plc, Cl. A†

     4,649,603        4,847,040   
  2,370,129      

RPC Inc.

     3,583,935        36,665,896   
  146,000      

SJW Corp.

     2,799,413        4,090,920   
  185,000      

Southwest Gas Corp.

     4,313,295        9,250,000   
  330,000      

SunEdison Inc.†

     1,355,447        2,630,100   
  45,000      

Tesoro Corp.

     455,817        1,979,100   
  37,063      

The Laclede Group Inc.

     1,431,334        1,667,835   
  46,000      

The York Water Co.

     647,831        923,220   
  15,000      

Vestas Wind Systems A/S†

     142,183        378,462   
  220,000      

Westar Energy Inc.

     4,036,837        6,743,000   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          78,536,659          169,359,066   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Entertainment — 1.4%

  

  90,000      

Carmike Cinemas Inc.†

     605,943        1,987,200   
  30,000      

Discovery Communications Inc., Cl. A†

     409,648        2,532,600   
  30,000      

Discovery Communications Inc., Cl. C†

     418,237        2,343,600   
  347,850      

Dover Motorsports Inc.

     1,386,473        838,318   
  32,000      

International Speedway Corp., Cl. A

     962,891        1,033,600   
  6,200      

International Speedway Corp., Cl. B

     148,415        210,800   
  7,000      

Rovi Corp.†

     99,660        134,190   
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  90,000      

Starz, Cl. A†

   $ 221,728      $ 2,531,700   
  360,000      

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.†

     5,193,550        6,537,600   
  270,000      

The Madison Square Garden Co., Cl. A†

     3,541,603        15,678,900   
  260,000      

Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., Cl. A

     673,473        8,710,000   
  180,000      

Universal Entertainment Corp.

     2,597,230        3,829,086   
  22,000      

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., Cl. A

     201,106        223,740   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        16,459,957        46,591,334   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Environmental Services — 0.4%

  

  18,248      

Ceco Environmental Corp.

     240,403        256,932   
  400,000      

Republic Services Inc.

     5,798,456        13,344,000   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        6,038,859        13,600,932   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Equipment and Supplies — 8.2%

  

  44,000      

A.O. Smith Corp.

     328,585        1,988,800   
  539,000      

AMETEK Inc.

     1,018,107        24,804,780   
  40,000      

AZZ Inc.

     1,262,250        1,674,400   
  18,000      

Belden Inc.

     208,890        1,152,900   
  52,000      

Capstone Turbine Corp.†

     99,800        61,360   
  548,000      

CIRCOR International Inc.

     15,249,641        34,074,640   
  221,000      

CLARCOR Inc.

     1,338,826          12,272,130   
  330,000      

Core Molding Technologies Inc.†

     654,777        3,161,400   
  167,000      

Crown Holdings Inc.†

     674,926        7,060,760   
  4,000      

Danaher Corp.

     34,106        277,280   
  180,000      

Donaldson Co. Inc.

     1,558,860        6,863,400   
  220,000      

Entegris Inc.†

     1,259,906        2,233,000   
  750,000      

Federal Signal Corp.†

     4,742,153        9,652,500   
  288,000      

Flowserve Corp.

     2,418,287        17,968,320   
  310,000      

Franklin Electric Co. Inc.

     1,429,429        12,214,000   
  222,000      

Gerber Scientific Inc., Escrow†

     0        2,220   
  190,042      

Graco Inc.

     4,662,131        14,074,511   
  1,117,000      

GrafTech International Ltd.†

       13,389,798        9,438,650   
  100,000      

IDEX Corp.

     765,938        6,525,000   
  520,000      

Interpump Group SpA

     3,101,642        5,652,480   
  52,000      

Itron Inc.†

     2,232,271        2,227,160   
  10,500      

Jarden Corp.†

     115,037        508,200   
  40,000      

Littelfuse Inc.

     758,367        3,128,800   
  55,000      

Maezawa Kyuso Industries Co. Ltd.

     359,609        709,497   
  6,000      

Mine Safety Appliances Co.

     179,592        309,660   
  30,000      

Minerals Technologies Inc.

     1,102,042        1,481,100   
  140,002      

Mueller Industries Inc.

     6,098,272        7,793,911   
  240,000      

Mueller Water Products Inc., Cl. A

     1,447,179        1,917,600   
  10,000      

Plantronics Inc.

     262,977        460,500   
  2,000      

Regal-Beloit Corp.

     59,351        135,860   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Equipment and Supplies (Continued)

  

 
  93,032      

SL Industries Inc.

   $ 1,274,561      $ 2,274,632   
  5,000      

Teleflex Inc.

     76,167        411,400   
  300,000      

Tennant Co.

     6,160,189        18,600,000   
  665,000      

The Gorman-Rupp Co.

     13,671,070        26,679,800   
  180,000      

The Greenbrier Companies Inc.†

     2,723,774        4,451,400   
  262,052      

The L.S. Starrett Co., Cl. A

     3,263,481        2,882,572   
  100,000      

The Manitowoc Co. Inc.

     666,995        1,958,000   
  25,200      

The Middleby Corp.†

     1,126,121        5,264,532   
  24,400      

The Toro Co.

     859,601        1,326,140   
  8,000      

Valmont Industries Inc.

     176,298        1,111,280   
  135,005      

Vicor Corp.†

     1,214,760        1,104,341   
  7,875      

Watsco Inc., Cl. B

     23,627        745,290   
  155,000      

Watts Water Technologies Inc., Cl. A

     3,553,514        8,737,350   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          101,602,907          265,371,556   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Financial Services — 4.2%

  

  10,500      

Alleghany Corp.†

     1,739,381        4,301,325   
  24,200      

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd.

     724,275        1,037,696   
  305,000      

BBCN Bancorp Inc.

     3,424,494        4,196,800   
  10,121      

BCB Holdings Ltd.†

     21,770        2,663   
  118,000      

BKF Capital Group Inc.†

     495,818        132,750   
  30,000      

Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc.†

     737,444        720,900   
  35,000      

Calamos Asset Management Inc., Cl. A

     395,264        349,650   
  12,500      

Capitol Federal Financial Inc.

     125,000        155,375   
  22,000      

Crazy Woman Creek Bancorp Inc.†

     343,564        243,650   
  183,000      

Energy Transfer Equity LP

     2,827,780        12,037,740   
  9,162      

Fidelity Southern Corp.

     53,096        140,545   
  280,000      

First Niagara Financial Group Inc.

     3,647,333        2,903,600   
  65,000      

FirstMerit Corp.

     1,077,300        1,411,150   
  291,000      

Flushing Financial Corp.

     4,635,436        5,368,950   
  170,100      

Fortress Investment Group LLC, Cl. A

     892,762        1,350,594   
  1,083,300      

GAM Holding AG

     13,708,995        19,585,288   
  53,000      

Hudson Valley Holding Corp.

     1,022,300        995,340   
  1,071,000      

Janus Capital Group Inc.

     10,549,099        9,114,210   
  750,072      

KKR & Co. LP

     5,438,228        15,436,482   
  180,000      

Legg Mason Inc.

     4,080,240        6,019,200   
  21,000      

M&T Bank Corp.

     1,813,109        2,350,320   
  2,000      

Manning & Napier Inc.

     26,519        33,360   
  60,024      

Medallion Financial Corp.

     463,920        893,157   
  250,000      

Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC, Cl. A

     1,997,164        2,747,500   
  165,000      

Oritani Financial Corp.

     1,685,540        2,715,900   
  32,000      

PrivateBancorp Inc.

     541,949        684,800   
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  199,000      

Steel Excel Inc.†

   $ 5,322,428      $ 5,842,640   
  275,000      

Sterling Bancorp

     3,903,038        3,775,750   
  30,000      

Stifel Financial Corp.†

     1,235,264        1,236,600   
  427,020      

SWS Group Inc.†

     4,499,056        2,382,772   
  10,000      

T. Rowe Price Group Inc.

     270,786        719,300   
  150,000      

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     2,404,087        3,171,000   
  10,000      

Universal American Corp.

     89,364        76,200   
  4,500      

Value Line Inc.

     107,462        39,735   
  410,000      

Waddell & Reed Financial Inc., Cl. A

     7,656,587        21,106,800   
  10,121      

Waterloo Investment Holdings Ltd.†

     1,390        655   
  572,600      

Wright Investors’ Service Holdings Inc.†

     1,177,668        1,216,775   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        89,134,910        134,497,172   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Food and Beverage — 6.9%

  

  400      

Annie’s Inc.†

     7,600        19,640   
  580,000      

Arca Continental SAB de CV

     1,141,603        3,611,291   
  585,000      

Boulder Brands Inc.†

     3,809,777        9,383,400   
  57,150      

Brown-Forman Corp., Cl. A

     1,115,861        3,782,187   
  7,500      

Brown-Forman Corp., Cl. B

     144,052        510,975   
  220,000      

Bull-Dog Sauce Co. Ltd.

     479,963        396,154   
  5,100,000      

China Tontine Wines Group Ltd.†

     989,232        213,708   
  115,010      

Crimson Wine Group Ltd.†

     1,041,866        1,098,345   
  1,100,000      

Davide Campari - Milano SpA

     6,022,895        9,538,949   
  155,000      

Dean Foods Co.†

     2,263,978        2,991,500   
  365,400      

Denny’s Corp.†

     1,008,852        2,236,248   
  270,000      

Diamond Foods Inc.†

     5,635,173        6,366,600   
  326,000      

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc.

     6,664,752        14,611,320   
  3,500,000      

Dynasty Fine Wines Group Ltd.†

     1,246,520        649,828   
  55,000      

Farmer Brothers Co.†

     711,242        828,300   
  510,000      

Flowers Foods Inc.

     1,250,571        10,934,400   
  33,000      

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc.†

     910,942        2,485,890   
  206,000      

Ingredion Inc.

     4,411,472        13,631,020   
  160,000      

ITO EN Ltd.

     3,301,726        3,631,517   
  23,500      

J & J Snack Foods Corp.

     531,096        1,896,920   
  1,325,000      

Kikkoman Corp.

       14,057,979          24,196,297   
  245,000      

Lifeway Foods Inc.

     2,476,636        3,309,950   
  3,000      

MEIJI Holdings Co. Ltd.

     117,526        163,894   
  70,000      

MGP Ingredients Inc.

     331,262        366,800   
  450,000      

Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd.

     1,808,850        1,419,197   
  85,000      

NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO. LTD.

     2,907,986        3,484,918   
  30,000      

Nutrisystem Inc.

     382,707        431,400   
  4,000,000      

Parmalat SpA

     11,428,716        13,398,631   
  45,000      

Post Holdings Inc.†

     1,001,788        1,816,650   
 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Food and Beverage (Continued)

  

 
  162,000      

Rock Field Co. Ltd.

   $ 2,539,700      $ 3,203,907   
  585,636      

Snyders-Lance Inc.

     12,198,552        16,895,599   
  42,600      

The Boston Beer Co. Inc., Cl. A†

     818,946        10,403,346   
  228,000      

The Hain Celestial Group Inc.†

     3,984,418        17,583,360   
  66,000      

The J.M. Smucker Co.

     1,599,230        6,932,640   
  700,000      

Tingyi (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp.

     1,792,917        1,854,717   
  306,000      

Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.

     6,235,019        9,430,920   
  90,000      

United Natural Foods Inc.†

     2,545,822        6,049,800   
  7,000      

Vina Concha Y Toro SA, ADR

     240,329        257,600   
  1,200,000      

Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd.

     739,370        1,514,718   
  185,773      

WhiteWave Foods Co., Cl. A†

     2,438,410        3,709,887   
  20,000      

Willamette Valley Vineyards Inc.†

     73,225        108,200   
  153,000      

Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd.

     3,829,281        7,650,389   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          116,237,842          223,001,012   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Health Care — 4.6%

  

  30,000      

Alere Inc.†

     554,733        917,100   
  37,000      

Align Technology Inc.†

     289,663        1,780,440   
  100,000      

Allergan Inc.

     1,964,408        9,045,000   
  110,000      

AngioDynamics Inc.†

     1,391,149        1,452,000   
  8,000      

Anika Therapeutics Inc.†

     76,123        191,680   
  160,000      

ArthroCare Corp.†

     3,219,138        5,692,800   
  45,225      

Biolase Inc.†

     47,357        86,380   
  12,099      

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Cl. A†

     838,694        1,422,358   
  88,000      

Bio-Reference Laboratories Inc.†

     1,917,610        2,629,440   
  18,000      

Bruker Corp.†

     164,974        371,700   
  219,006      

Cantel Medical Corp.

     2,541,859        6,975,341   
  222,000      

Cepheid Inc.†

     3,001,918        8,666,880   
  184,000      

Chemed Corp.

     4,974,482        13,156,000   
  65,000      

CONMED Corp.

     1,684,549        2,209,350   
  376,000      

Cutera Inc.†

     3,995,949        3,346,400   
  15,000      

Cynosure Inc., Cl. A†

     353,951        342,150   
  96,000      

DexCom Inc.†

     962,427        2,710,080   
  28,000      

DGT Holdings Corp.†

     330,269        352,800   
  210,024      

Exactech Inc.†

     3,283,169        4,231,984   
  522,000      

Gentiva Health Services Inc.†

     6,506,583        6,284,880   
  43,000      

Henry Schein Inc.†

     844,050        4,459,100   
  7,000      

Heska Corp.

     66,328        41,930   
  44,000      

ICU Medical Inc.†

     1,989,124        2,988,920   
  100,000      

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc.†

     195,732        237,000   
  42,000      

Life Technologies Corp.†

     1,070,187        3,142,860   
  191,000      

MAKO Surgical Corp.†

     4,297,393        5,636,410   
  29,000      

Meridian Bioscience Inc.

     547,819        685,850   
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  39,500      

MWI Veterinary Supply Inc.†

   $ 957,165      $ 5,899,720   
  8,000      

Neogen Corp.†

     195,096        485,760   
  50,000      

Nordion Inc.†

     369,385        431,500   
  60,000      

NuVasive Inc.†

     1,298,364        1,469,400   
  105,000      

Opko Health Inc.†

     284,862        925,050   
  70,000      

Orthofix International NV†

     1,141,374        1,460,200   
  55,000      

Owens & Minor Inc.

     945,161        1,902,450   
  265,000      

Pain Therapeutics Inc.

     1,131,663        720,800   
  15,000      

Patterson Companies Inc.

     506,907        603,000   
  636,000      

Quidel Corp.†

     7,144,104        18,062,400   
  10,000      

Rhoen Klinikum AG

     199,650        256,974   
  224,000      

Rochester Medical Corp.†

     2,574,265        4,471,040   
  210,000      

RTI Surgical Inc.†

     1,057,768        785,400   
  950,000      

Sorin SpA†

     2,406,255        2,570,416   
  54,084      

STERIS Corp.

     1,726,476        2,323,449   
  2,300      

Straumann Holding AG

     206,988        417,858   
  3,000      

Stryker Corp.

     142,188        202,770   
  14,000      

Syneron Medical Ltd.†

     116,750        120,680   
  6,500      

Techne Corp.

     445,248        520,390   
  34,500      

The Cooper Companies Inc.

     1,323,598        4,474,305   
  46,500      

United-Guardian Inc.

     421,054        1,179,240   
  75,000      

Vascular Solutions Inc.†

     573,743        1,260,000   
  390,000      

Wright Medical Group Inc.†

     6,239,716        10,171,200   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          78,517,418          149,770,835   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Home Furnishings — 0.3%

  

  145,000      

Bassett Furniture Industries Inc.

     1,287,183        2,347,550   
  42,500      

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.†

     1,113,189        3,287,800   
  78,802      

Blyth Inc.

     1,538,231        1,089,832   
  160,000      

La-Z-Boy Inc.

     2,880,101        3,633,600   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        6,818,704        10,358,782   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Hotels and Gaming — 2.7%

  

  389,538      

Boyd Gaming Corp.†

     2,937,358        5,511,963   
  110,000      

Canterbury Park Holding Corp.

     1,120,504        1,251,250   
  228,637      

Churchill Downs Inc.

     9,342,329        19,781,673   
  135,000      

Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc.

     802,305        183,600   
  500,000      

Genting Singapore plc.

     514,712        571,918   
  18,000      

Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc., ADR†

     343,247        597,600   
  87,000      

Lakes Entertainment Inc.†

     388,784        360,180   
  174,000      

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

     1,035,304        11,557,080   
  2,000,000      

Mandarin Oriental International Ltd.

     2,854,177        3,240,000   
  100,000      

Morgans Hotel Group Co.†

     719,616        769,000   
  148,000      

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., Cl. A†

     1,759,901        1,921,040   
  75,000      

Penn National Gaming Inc.†

     1,122,844        4,152,000   
  400,000      

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.†

     3,285,549        10,020,000   
 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Hotels and Gaming (Continued)

  

 
  460,494      

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.

   $     11,727,682      $     15,891,648   
  2,600,000      

The Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd.

     2,690,035        3,928,880   
  346,591      

The Marcus Corp.

     4,334,335        5,035,967   
  24,000      

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

     199,481        3,792,240   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        45,178,163        88,566,039   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Machinery — 1.2%

  

  185,059      

Astec Industries Inc.

     6,210,110        6,654,722   
  1,680,492      

CNH Industrial NV†

     5,637,413        21,006,150   
  23,000      

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

     478,427        462,530   
  69,000      

Kennametal Inc.

     2,010,829        3,146,400   
  6,000      

Nordson Corp.

     107,171        441,780   
  136,000      

Twin Disc Inc.

     3,079,957        3,553,680   
  110,000      

Zebra Technologies Corp., Cl. A†

     2,213,349        5,008,300   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        19,737,256        40,273,562   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Manufactured Housing and Recreational Vehicles — 0.3%

   

  82,000      

Cavco Industries Inc.†

     1,886,364        4,669,900   
  15,000      

Drew Industries Inc.

     255,948        683,100   
  42,000      

Nobility Homes Inc.†

     500,123        388,500   
  10,000      

Polaris Industries Inc.

     539,231        1,291,800   
  208,861      

Skyline Corp.†

     4,126,036        1,038,039   
  58,000      

Winnebago Industries Inc.†

     685,542        1,505,680   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          7,993,244          9,577,019   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Metals and Mining — 0.5%

  

  52,003      

Barrick Gold Corp.

     1,522,648        968,296   
  245,000      

Century Aluminum Co.†

     2,967,388        1,972,250   
  16,200      

First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

     309,773        301,651   
  45,000      

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.†

     117,783        96,986   
  140,000      

Kinross Gold Corp.

     962,642        707,000   
  200,000      

Lynas Corp Ltd.†

     184,524        74,632   
  348,000      

Materion Corp.

     7,896,679        11,156,880   
  85,000      

Molycorp Inc.†

     1,471,018        557,600   
  52,100      

Stillwater Mining Co.†

     477,514        573,621   
  125,000      

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd.†

     1,554,856        552,500   
  15,000      

Yamana Gold Inc.

     50,671        156,000   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        17,515,496        17,117,416   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Paper and Forest Products — 0.1%

  

  18,000      

Schweitzer-Mauduit International Inc.

     396,901        1,089,540   
  223,500      

Wausau Paper Corp.

     2,114,331        2,903,265   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        2,511,232        3,992,805   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Publishing — 1.4%

  

  65,000      

Belo Corp., Cl. A

     157,232        890,500   
                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  80,000      

Cambium Learning Group Inc.†

   $ 261,134      $ 123,200   
  980,000      

Il Sole 24 Ore SpA†

     1,563,750        723,883   
  12,000      

John Wiley & Sons Inc., Cl. B

     46,500        573,120   
  1,095,000      

Journal Communications Inc., Cl. A†

     5,475,453        9,362,250   
  1,620,000      

Media General Inc., Cl. A†(a)

     8,191,413        23,101,200   
  45,000      

Meredith Corp.

     1,246,283        2,142,900   
  65,000      

News Corp., Cl. A†

     91,837        1,043,900   
  405,000      

The E.W. Scripps Co., Cl. A†

     2,634,168        7,431,750   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        19,667,770        45,392,703   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Real Estate — 1.2%

  

  36,320      

Capital Properties Inc., Cl. A

     419,855        309,628   
  156,000      

Cohen & Steers Inc.

     3,685,154        5,508,360   
  203,850      

Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc.

     3,172,580        6,543,585   
  8,400      

Gyrodyne Co. of America Inc.

     181,040        629,160   
  105,000      

Morguard Corp.

     1,338,795        11,364,934   
  75,091      

Tejon Ranch Co.†

     2,149,986        2,315,806   
  590,000      

The St. Joe Co.†

     11,365,338        11,575,800   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
          22,312,748          38,247,273   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Retail — 5.8%

  

  270,000      

Aaron’s Inc.†

     1,631,612        7,479,000   
  200,000      

AutoNation Inc.†

     3,399,442        10,434,000   
  56,000      

Barnes & Noble Inc.†

     744,895        724,640   
  18,000      

Best Buy Co. Inc.

     439,636        675,000   
  170,000      

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.

     2,285,759        2,733,600   
  28,283      

Biglari Holdings Inc.†

     7,349,199        11,671,546   
  349,000      

Casey’s General Stores Inc.

     12,714,657        25,651,500   
  75,000      

Coldwater Creek Inc.†

     709,364        129,000   
  82,000      

Copart Inc.†

     1,407,742        2,606,780   
  1,000      

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.

     59,645        103,240   
  90,000      

CST Brands Inc.

     2,903,500        2,682,000   
  124,000      

Dominion Diamond Corp.†

     1,806,407        1,511,560   
  2,500      

Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc.

     47,500        113,150   
  2,000      

GNC Holdings Inc., Cl. A

     82,712        109,260   
  108,000      

HSN Inc.

     3,197,489        5,790,960   
  662,551      

Ingles Markets Inc., Cl. A

     10,922,963        19,035,090   
  625,000      

J.C. Penney Co. Inc.†

     8,618,262        5,512,500   
  380,000      

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.†

     2,420,097        7,349,200   
  180,000      

Macy’s Inc.

     2,590,692        7,788,600   
  58,000      

Movado Group Inc.

     756,058        2,537,500   
  70,000      

Murphy USA Inc.†

     2,688,347        2,827,300   
  155,000      

Nathan’s Famous Inc.†

     2,258,524        8,180,900   
  13,000      

Outerwall Inc.†

     717,980        649,870   
  500,000      

Pier 1 Imports Inc.

     5,471,047        9,760,000   
  45,000      

Regis Corp.

     897,844        660,600   
  300,000      

Rush Enterprises Inc., Cl. B†

     3,438,009        6,831,000   
  3,000      

Sprouts Farmers Market Inc.†

     54,000        133,170   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

                  Market  

Shares

         

Cost

   

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Retail (Continued)

  

 
  350,000      

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc.

   $ 2,656,422      $ 3,692,500   
  380,000      

The Cheesecake Factory Inc.

     10,341,163        16,701,000   
  165,000      

The Wendy’s Co.

     1,329,631        1,399,200   
  256,000      

Tractor Supply Co.

     2,329,721        17,195,520   
  36,000      

Village Super Market Inc., Cl. A

     899,231        1,368,720   
  2,500      

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.†

     122,210        109,375   
  56,000      

Weis Markets Inc.

     1,772,705        2,740,640   
  300      

Winmark Corp.

     21,919        22,113   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        99,086,384        186,910,034   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Specialty Chemicals — 3.9%

  

  52,000      

A. Schulman Inc.

     1,103,761        1,531,920   
  19,000      

Airgas Inc.

     547,423        2,014,950   
  80,000      

Albemarle Corp.

     1,244,700        5,035,200   
  69,000      

Ashland Inc.

     1,115,171        6,381,120   
  345,000      

Chemtura Corp.†

     5,243,175        7,931,550   
  12,000      

Cytec Industries Inc.

     358,846        976,320   
  2,270,100      

Ferro Corp.†

       15,076,816          20,680,611   
  314,000      

H.B. Fuller Co.

     4,142,113        14,189,660   
  9,000      

Hawkins Inc.

     135,158        339,660   
  1,236,000      

Huntsman Corp.

     9,286,502        25,473,960   
  80,000      

Material Sciences Corp.†

     465,412        750,400   
  25,000      

NewMarket Corp.

     2,623,877        7,197,750   
  300,000      

OMNOVA Solutions Inc.†

     574,864        2,565,000   
  70,000      

Penford Corp.†

     758,592        1,002,400   
  13,000      

Quaker Chemical Corp.

     214,482        949,650   
  100,000      

Rockwood Holdings Inc.

     1,867,175        6,690,000   
  255,000      

Sensient Technologies Corp.

     5,194,615        12,211,950   
  600,000      

Zep Inc.

     8,328,433        9,756,000   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
        58,281,115        125,678,101   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Telecommunications — 1.2%

  

  53,000      

Atlantic Tele-Network Inc.

     1,320,085        2,762,890   
  2,000,000      

Cincinnati Bell Inc.†

     6,463,021        5,440,000   
  6,795      

Community Service Communications Inc.

     0        4,131   
  110,000      

HickoryTech Corp.

     949,514        1,251,800   
  6,000      

IDT Corp., Cl. B

     57,867        106,500   
  211,525      

Ixia†

     3,418,952        3,314,597   
  33,000      

Loral Space & Communications Inc.

     1,276,558        2,235,090   
  129,000      

New ULM Telecom Inc.

     1,212,089        835,275   
  10,000      

Primus Telecommunications Group Inc.

     122,384        33,900   
  115,000      

Rogers Communications Inc., Cl. B

     555,319        4,946,150   
  116,005      

Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.

     982,995        2,795,721   
  392,616      

Sprint Corp.†

     2,226,133        2,438,145   
                 Market  

Shares

        

Cost

   

Value

 
  3,000     

Straight Path Communications Inc., Cl. B†

   $ 10,212      $ 15,780   
  37,584     

Verizon Communications Inc.

     846,702        1,753,669   
  815,000     

VimpelCom Ltd., ADR

     2,480,014        9,576,250   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       21,921,845        37,509,898   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Transportation — 0.8%

  

  474,726     

GATX Corp.

     14,438,439        22,558,980   
  2,000 (b)   

Irish Continental Group plc

     14,688        67,913   
  200     

Navigator Holdings Ltd.†

     6,460        10,350   
  133,000     

Providence and Worcester Railroad Co.

     1,888,133        2,682,610   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       16,347,720        25,319,853   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Wireless Communications — 0.2%

  

  2,000,000     

Cable & Wireless Communications plc

     1,191,254        1,283,147   
  200,000     

Leap Wireless International Inc.†

     3,225,545        3,158,000   
  26,000     

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

     1,996,576        2,295,891   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       6,413,375        6,737,038   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     1,373,245,890         2,729,284,680   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.1%

  

 

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 0.1%

  

  48,000     

Jungheinrich AG

     990,268        2,803,647   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

RIGHTS — 0.1%

  

 
 

Health Care — 0.1%

  

 
  850,000     

Sanofi, CVR, expire 12/31/20†

     1,751,817        1,717,000   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

WARRANTS — 0.0%

  

 
 

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 0.0%

  

  4,531     

Federal-Mogul Corp., expire 12/27/14†

     87,687        95   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Real Estate — 0.0%

  

 
  11,091     

Tejon Ranch Co., expire 08/31/16†

     66,495        30,611   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL WARRANTS

     154,182        30,706   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
Principal                   

Amount

                  
 

CORPORATE BONDS — 0.0%

  

 
 

Real Estate — 0.0%

  

 
$ 65,376     

Capital Properties Inc., 5.000%, 12/31/22

     65,376        65,376   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

12


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Principal               Market  

Amount

       

Cost

   

Value

 
 

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 15.5%

  

  $502,294,000     

U.S. Treasury Bills,

   
 

0.005% to 0.100%††,

   
 

10/03/13 to 04/03/14

  $ 502,228,518      $ 502,275,644   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.1%

  $ 1,878,436,051        3,236,177,053   
   

 

 

   
 

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — (0.1)%

   

    (4,234,363
     

 

 

 
 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

  

  $ 3,231,942,690   
     

 

 

 

 

(a)

Security considered an affiliated holding because the Fund owns at least 5% of its outstanding shares.

(b)

Denoted in units.

Non-income producing security.

††

Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

CVR

Contingent Value Right

SDR

Swedish Depositary Receipt

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

13


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2013

 

Assets:

       

Investments, at value (cost $1,851,044,151)

   $3,193,811,967   

Investments in affiliates, at value
(cost $27,391,900)

   42,365,086   

Cash

   4,805,065   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

   7,522,474   

Receivable for investments sold

   549,164   

Dividends and interest receivable

   1,890,384   

Prepaid expenses

   71,265   
  

 

  

Total Assets

   3,251,015,405   
  

 

  

Liabilities:

     

Payable for investments purchased

   11,544,340   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

   3,663,639   

Payable for investment advisory fees

   2,582,292   

Payable for distribution fees

   644,639   

Payable for accounting fees

   3,750   

Other accrued expenses

   634,055   
  

 

  

Total Liabilities

   19,072,715   
  

 

  

Net Assets
(applicable to 70,743,245 shares outstanding)

   $3,231,942,690   
  

 

  

Net Assets Consist of:

     

Paid-in capital

   $1,794,763,831   

Net investment loss

   (6,177,961)   

Accumulated net realized gain on investments, futures contracts, and foreign currency transactions

   85,614,174   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

   1,357,741,002   

Net unrealized appreciation on foreign currency translations

   1,644   
  

 

  

Net Assets

   $3,231,942,690   
  

 

  

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

  

Class AAA:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($2,171,212,722 ÷ 47,390,193 shares outstanding; 150,000,000 shares authorized)

     $45.82   
  

 

 

 

Class A:

  

Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($305,616,820 ÷ 6,673,055 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

     $45.80   
  

 

 

 

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

     $48.59   
  

 

 

 

Class C:

  

Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($186,540,387 ÷ 4,396,243 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

     $42.43 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($568,572,761 ÷ 12,283,754 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

     $46.29   
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended September 30, 2013

 

Investment Income:

        

Dividends - unaffiliated (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,102,674)

   $ 48,295,732   

Dividends - affiliated

     142,557   

Interest

     165,634   
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     48,603,923   
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     25,964,243   

Distribution fees - Class AAA

     4,509,992   

Distribution fees - Class A

     559,500   

Distribution fees - Class C

     1,348,668   

Shareholder services fees

     2,448,729   

Shareholder communication expenses

     512,523   

Custodian fees

     298,108   

Registration expenses

     114,370   

Legal and audit fees

     98,181   

Directors’ fees

     95,599   

Accounting fees

     45,000   

Interest expense

     9,915   

Miscellaneous expenses

     135,260   
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     36,140,088   
  

 

 

 

Less:

  

Advisory fee reduction on unsupervised
assets (Note 3)

     (79,382

Custodian fee credits

     (361
  

 

 

 

Total Reductions and Credits

     (79,743
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     36,060,345   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     12,543,578   
  

 

 

 

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

  

Net realized gain on investments - unaffiliated

     107,357,679   

Net realized loss on investments - affiliated

     (174,237

Net realized gain on futures contracts

     86,310   

Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions

     (30,031
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain on investments, futures contracts, and foreign currency transactions

     107,239,721   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:

  

on investments

     587,702,980   

on foreign currency translations

     1,732   
  

 

 

 

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

     587,704,712   
  

 

 

 

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

     694,944,433   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ 707,488,011   
  

 

 

 
 

 

(a)

Redemption price varies based on the length of time held.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

14


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
September 30, 2013
  Year Ended
September 30, 2012

Operations:

        

Net investment income/(loss)

     $ 12,543,578       $ (1,675,321 )

Net realized gain on investments, futures contracts, and foreign currency transactions

       107,239,721         38,768,816  

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations

       587,704,712         443,952,656  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

       707,488,011         481,046,151  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Net investment income

        

Class AAA

       (10,780,896 )        

Class A

       (1,263,153 )        

Class I

       (4,204,003 )        
    

 

 

     

 

 

 
       (16,248,052 )        
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net realized gain

        

Class AAA

       (35,142,355 )       (39,324,963 )

Class A

       (3,923,350 )       (3,747,019 )

Class B*

               (466 )

Class C

       (2,560,469 )       (2,264,720 )

Class I

       (7,900,812 )       (3,844,897 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 
       (49,526,986 )       (49,182,065 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

       (65,775,038 )       (49,182,065 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

        

Class AAA

       189,362,947         (346,040,497 )

Class A

       80,344,935         (8,551,679 )

Class B*

               (19,608 )

Class C

       51,376,747         2,774,402  

Class I

       116,738,688         142,406,478  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions

       437,823,317         (209,430,904 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Redemption Fees

       23,251         720  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets

       1,079,559,541         222,433,902  

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

       2,152,383,149         1,929,949,247  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively)

     $ 3,231,942,690       $ 2,152,383,149  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*

Class B Shares were liquidated on July 3, 2012.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

15


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:

 

            Income (Loss)
from Investment Operations
    Distributions                                 Ratio to Average Net Assets/
Supplemental Data
 
                                           
Year Ended
September 30
   Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
     Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
(a)(b)
    Net Realized
and Unrealized
Gain (Loss) on
Investments
    Total from
Investment
Operations
    Net
Investments
Income
    Net
Realized
Gain on
Investments
    Total
Distributions
    Redemption
Fees (b)(c)
     Net Asset
Value,
End of
Period
     Total
Return †
     Net Assets
End of Period
(in 000’s)
     Net
Investment
Income
(Loss) (a)
     Operating
Expenses (d)
     Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Class AAA

  

                                

    2013

   $ 35.84       $ 0.20      $ 10.87      $ 11.07      $ (0.25   $ (0.84   $ (1.09   $ 0.00       $ 45.82         31.82%       $ 2,171,213         0.50%         1.39%         5%   

    2012

     29.16         (0.03     7.46        7.43               (0.75     (0.75     0.00         35.84         25.98            1,535,477         (0.09)           1.41            7      

    2011

     29.97         (0.10     (0.71     (0.81                          0.00         29.16         (2.70)           1,539,100         (0.30)           1.42            14      

    2010

     25.81         (0.06     4.22        4.16                             0.00         29.97         16.12            1,435,780         (0.23)           1.44            14      

    2009

     28.20         (0.02     (0.92     (0.94            (1.45     (1.45     0.00         25.81         (1.70)           1,167,114         (0.09)           1.48            25      

Class A

  

                                

    2013

   $ 35.84       $ 0.17      $ 10.89      $ 11.06      $ (0.26   $ (0.84   $ (1.10   $ 0.00       $ 45.80         31.80%       $ 305,617         0.43%         1.39%         5%   

    2012

     29.15         (0.03     7.47        7.44               (0.75     (0.75     0.00         35.84         26.02            169,823         (0.08)           1.41            7      

    2011

     29.96         (0.10     (0.71     (0.81                          0.00         29.15         (2.70)           145,049         (0.31)           1.42            14      

    2010

     25.81         (0.06     4.21        4.15                             0.00         29.96         16.08            115,265         (0.22)           1.44            14      

    2009

     28.18         (0.03     (0.89     (0.92            (1.45     (1.45     0.00         25.81         (1.63)           62,548         (0.12)           1.48            25      

Class C

  

                                

    2013

   $ 33.27       $ (0.12   $ 10.12      $ 10.00             $ (0.84   $ (0.84   $ 0.00       $ 42.43         30.80%       $ 186,540         (0.32)%         2.14%         5%   

    2012

     27.31         (0.26     6.97        6.71               (0.75     (0.75     0.00         33.27         25.08            102,214         (0.83)           2.16            7      

    2011

     28.28         (0.34     (0.63     (0.97                          0.00         27.31         (3.43)           81,289         (1.05)           2.17            14      

    2010

     24.54         (0.25     3.99        3.74                             0.00         28.28         15.24            64,830         (0.98)           2.19            14      

    2009

     27.09         (0.18     (0.92     (1.10            (1.45     (1.45     0.00         24.54         (2.40)           42,974         (0.85)           2.23            25      

Class I

  

                                

    2013

   $ 36.29       $ 0.29      $ 10.99      $ 11.28      $ (0.44   $ (0.84   $ (1.28   $ 0.00       $ 46.29         32.14%       $ 568,573         0.71%         1.14%         5%   

    2012

     29.44         0.08        7.52        7.60               (0.75     (0.75     0.00         36.29         26.31            344,869         0.24            1.16            7      

    2011

     30.18         (0.02     (0.72     (0.74                          0.00         29.44         (2.45)           164,494         (0.05)           1.17            14      

    2010

     25.93         0.01        4.24        4.25                             0.00         30.18         16.39            135,112         0.02            1.19            14      

    2009

     28.25         0.02        (0.89     (0.87            (1.45     (1.45     0.00         25.93         (1.43)           99,413         0.11            1.23            25      

 

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

(a)

Due to capital share activity throughout the period, net investment income (loss) per share and the ratio to average net assets are not necessarily correlated among the different classes of shares.

(b)

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

(c)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(d)

The ratios do not include a reduction of advisory fee on unsupervised assets for the years ended September 30, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009. Including such advisory fee reduction on unsupervised assets, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 1.39%, 1.40%, 1.41%, 1.42%, and 1.47% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.14%, 2.15%, 2.16%, 2.17%, and 2.22% (Class C), and 1.14%, 1.15%, 1.16%, 1.17%, and 1.22% (Class I), respectively.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

16


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of the Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), was incorporated on July 25, 1991 in Maryland. The Fund is a diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of three separately managed portfolios of the Corporation. The Fund seeks to provide a high level of capital appreciation. Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”) currently characterizes small capitalization companies for the Fund as those with total common stock market values of $3 billion or less at the time of investment. The Fund commenced investment operations on October 22, 1991.

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

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by the Adviser.

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

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

 

17


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2013 is as follows:

 

     Valuation Inputs         
     Level 1
Quoted Prices
     Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
     Total Market Value
at 9/30/13
 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

           

ASSETS (Market Value):

           

Common Stocks:

           

Automotive: Parts and Accessories

     $    205,565,062         —                 $  31,500                 $  205,596,562   

Consumer Products

     41,041,137         $                262                 —                 41,041,399   

Equipment and Supplies

     265,369,336         —                 2,220                 265,371,556   

Financial Services

     134,496,517         —                 655                 134,497,172   

Transportation

     25,309,503         —                 10,350                 25,319,853   

Other Industries (a)

     2,057,458,138         —                 —                 2,057,458,138   

Total Common Stocks

     2,729,239,693         262                 44,725                 2,729,284,680   

Preferred Stocks (a)

     2,803,647         —                 —                 2,803,647   

Rights (a)

     1,717,000         —                 —                 1,717,000   

Warrants (a)

     30,706         —                 —                 30,706   

Corporate Bonds (a)

             —                 65,376                 65,376   

U.S. Government Obligations

             502,275,644                 —                 502,275,644   

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

     $2,733,791,046         $502,275,906                 $110,101                 $3,236,177,053   

 

(a)

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

The Fund did not have transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended September 30, 2013. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

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

 

18


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common and preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, and fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in such Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

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

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in a number of derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or that, in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.

The Fund’s derivative contracts held at September 30, 2013, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2011-11 requires a fund to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of assets and liabilities and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The scope of ASU 2011-11 includes derivatives and sale and repurchase agreements. The purpose of ASU 2011-11 is to facilitate comparison of financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP and on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-11 is effective for financial statements whose fiscal year begins after December 31, 2012. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the additional disclosure requirements on the Fund’s financial statements.

Futures Contracts. The Fund may engage in futures contracts for the purpose of hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments

 

19


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

(“variation margin”) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract, and are included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts. The Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed.

There are several risks in connection with the use of futures contracts as a hedging instrument. The change in value of futures contracts primarily corresponds with the value of their underlying instruments, which may not correlate with the change in value of the held investments. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.

The Fund held futures contracts on November 19, 2012, with a notional amount for the day of approximately $9,937,280. At September 30, 2013, the Fund held no investments in futures contracts.

For the year ended September 30, 2013, the effect of futures contracts with equity risk exposure can be found in the Statement of Operations under Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Futures Contracts, and Foreign Currency, Net realized gain on futures contracts.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

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

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

Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than

 

20


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and accordingly the Board will monitor their liquidity. At September 30, 2013, the Fund held no restricted securities.

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

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

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

Custodian Fee Credits and Interest Expense. When cash balances are maintained in the custody account, the Fund receives credits which are used to offset custodian fees. The gross expenses paid under the custody arrangement are included in custodian fees in the Statement of Operations with the corresponding expense offset, if any, shown as “Custodian fee credits.” When cash balances are overdrawn, the Fund is charged an overdraft fee equal to 2.00% above the federal funds rate on outstanding balances. This amount, if any, would be included in the Statement of Operations.

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to recharacterization of distributions, adjustments on sale of securities no longer deemed passive foreign investment companies, and tax treatment of currency gains and losses. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended September 30, 2013, reclassifications were made to increase net investment loss by $564,813 and increase accumulated net realized gain on investments, futures contracts, and foreign currency transactions by $541,230, with an offsetting adjustment to paid-in capital.

 

21


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 was as follows:

 

    Year Ended
September 30, 2013
  Year Ended
September 30, 2012

Distributions paid from:

       

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)

    $ 20,400,015       $ 482,624  

Net long term capital gains

      45,375,023         48,699,441  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

    $ 65,775,038       $ 49,182,065  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

At September 30, 2013, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed long term capital gains

   $ 98,092,715   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     1,344,115,731   

Other temporary differences*

     (5,029,587
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,437,178,859   
  

 

 

 

 

*

Other temporary differences are primarily due to adjustments on qualified late year loss deferral.

At September 30, 2013, the temporary difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation on investments was primarily due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes, mark-to-market adjustments on investments in passive foreign investment companies, and basis adjustments on investments in partnerships.

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

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at September 30, 2013:

 

     Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Investments

   $ 1,892,062,966       $ 1,404,993,945       $ (60,879,858    $ 1,344,114,087   

The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of September 30, 2013, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact

 

22


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. Tax years ended September 30, 2010 through September 30, 2013 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

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

There was a reduction in the advisory fee paid to the Adviser relating to certain portfolio holdings, i.e., unsupervised assets of the Fund with respect to which the Adviser transferred dispositive and voting control to the Fund’s Proxy Voting Committee. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund’s Proxy Voting Committee exercised control and discretion over all rights to vote or consent with respect to such securities, and the Adviser reduced its fee with respect to such securities by $79,382.

The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $18,000 plus $2,000 for each Board meeting attended, and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives a $3,000 annual fee, and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.

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

5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended September 30, 2013, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $123,303,572 and $205,046,156, respectively.

6. Transactions with Affiliates. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $164,578 to G.research, Inc. (formerly Gabelli & Company, Inc.), an affiliate of the Adviser. Additionally, the Distributor retained a total of $177,808 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid or accrued $45,000 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.

 

23


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the higher of the sum of the overnight LIBOR rate plus 100 basis points or the sum of the federal funds rate plus 100 basis points at the time of borrowing. This amount, if any, would be included in “interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. At September 30, 2013, there were no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit.

The average daily amount of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit during the year ended September 30, 2013 was $624,126 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.17%. The maximum amount borrowed at anytime during the year ended September 30, 2013 was $10,880,000.

8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA Shares are offered without a sales charge only to investors who acquire them directly from the Distributor, through selected broker/dealers, or the transfer agent. Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge, directly through the Distributor or brokers that have entered into selling agreements specifically with respect to Class I Shares. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.

The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 amounted to $23,251 and $720, respectively.

 

24


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
September 30, 2013
       Year Ended
September 30, 2012
 
     Shares        Amount        Shares        Amount  

Class AAA

                 

Shares sold

     10,638,978         $ 437,443,572           5,785,146         $ 191,861,703   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     1,254,465           44,134,991           1,248,605           37,703,778   

Shares redeemed

     (7,340,873        (292,215,616        (16,982,088        (575,605,978
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     4,552,570         $ 189,362,947           (9,948,337      $ (346,040,497
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class A

                 

Shares sold

     2,905,363         $ 119,839,617           1,400,637         $ 46,632,112   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     135,636           4,771,381           113,467           3,426,712   

Shares redeemed

     (1,106,239        (44,266,063        (1,751,203        (58,610,503
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase/(decrease)

     1,934,760         $ 80,344,935           (237,099      $ (8,551,679
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class B*

                 

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                         15         $ 423   

Shares redeemed

                         (632        (20,031
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net decrease

                         (617      $ (19,608
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class C

                 

Shares sold

     1,775,583         $ 68,170,846           651,027         $ 20,360,308   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     72,080           2,351,244           73,277           2,064,384   

Shares redeemed

     (523,722        (19,145,343        (628,287        (19,650,290
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase

     1,323,941         $ 51,376,747           96,017         $ 2,774,402   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Class I

                 

Shares sold

     4,595,673         $ 191,534,069           7,951,014         $ 278,868,415   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     292,940           10,434,347           100,679           3,092,474   

Shares redeemed

     (2,107,103        (85,229,728        (4,137,119        (139,554,411
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net increase

     2,781,510         $ 116,738,688           3,914,574         $ 142,406,478   
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

*

Class B Shares were fully redeemed and closed on July 3, 2012.

 

25


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

9. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers. The 1940 Act defines affiliated issuers as those in which a Fund’s holdings of an issuer represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer. A summary of the Fund’s transactions in the securities of these issuers during the year ended September 30, 2013 is set forth below:

 

     Beginning
Shares
     Shares
Purchased
    

Shares

Sold

    Ending
Shares
     Dividend
Income
    

Realized

Gain/
(Loss)

   

Value at

September 30,
2013

     Percent
Owned of
Shares
Outstanding  
  

 

 

Bel Fuse Inc., Cl. A

     248,000         5,048         (1,000     252,048       $ 59,487       $ (17,073   $ 4,365,471       11.59%

Edgewater Technology Inc.

     550,000                        550,000                        2,898,500       5.08%

Katy Industries Inc.

     400,000                        400,000                        282,180       5.03%

Strattec Security Corp.

     201,000         6,000                207,000         83,070                7,938,450       6.03%

Sevcon Inc.

     255,833         4,200                260,033                        1,261,160       7.49%

Ingles Markets Inc., Cl. A*

     662,051         500                662,551                             

Media General Inc., Cl. A

     1,610,800         9,200                1,620,000                        23,101,200       5.92%

Trans-Lux Corp.**

     95,300         10,012,200         (35,000     10,072,500                 (74,343     2,518,125       38.86%

Trans-Lux Pfd., Ser. A**

     200,000                 (200,000                                 
Trans-Lux Ser. A, Warrants,expired 04/19/13      2,000,000                 (2,000,000                     (82,821          
             

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total

              $ 142,557       $ (174,237   $ 42,365,086      
             

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

*

Security is no longer considered affiliated at September 30, 2013.

**

200,000 shares of Trans-Lux Pfd., Ser. A were closed and converted into 10,000,000 shares of Trans-Lux Corp. common stock.

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

11. Other Matters. On April 24, 2008, the Adviser entered into a settlement with the SEC to resolve an inquiry regarding prior frequent trading in shares of the GAMCO Global Growth Fund (the “Global Growth Fund”) by one investor who was banned from the Global Growth Fund in August 2002. Under the terms of the settlement, the Adviser, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings and allegations, paid $16 million (which included a $5 million civil monetary penalty). On the same day, the SEC filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Adviser, alleging violations of certain federal securities laws arising from the same matter. The officer, who also is an officer of the Global Growth Fund and other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO complex, including this Fund, denies the allegations and is continuing in his positions with the Adviser and the funds. The settlement by the Adviser did not have, and the resolution of the action against the officer is not expected to have, a material adverse impact on the Adviser or its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Advisory Agreement.

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

 

26


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc., as of September 30, 2013, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s 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. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2013, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. 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 Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc., at September 30, 2013, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

November 25, 2013

 

27


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)

 

The business and affairs of the Corporation are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Corporation is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Corporation’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.

 

Name, Position(s)

Address1

and Age

  

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served2

  

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex
Overseen by Director

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director4

INTERESTED DIRECTORS3 :

     

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Director and

Chief Investment Officer

Age: 71

   Since 1991    27    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc., and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies in the Gabelli/ GAMCO Funds Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.    Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group, Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012)

John D. Gabelli

Director

Age: 69

   Since 1991    10    Senior Vice President of G.research, Inc.   

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5 :

     

Anthony J. Colavita

Director

Age: 77

   Since 1991    35    President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.   

Vincent D. Enright

Director

Age: 69

   Since 1991    17    Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corporation (public utility) (1994-1998)    Director of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics); Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing)

Robert J. Morrissey

Director

Age: 74

   Since 1991    6    Partner in the law firm of Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch   

Kuni Nakamura

Director

Age: 45

   Since 2009    13    President of Advanced Polymer, Inc. (chemical wholesale company)   

Anthony R. Pustorino

Director

Age: 88

   Since 1991    13    Certified Public Accountant; Professor Emeritus, Pace University    Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2002-2010)

Anthonie C. van

Ekris

Director

Age: 79

   Since 1991    20    Chairman of BALMAC International, Inc. (commodities and futures trading)   

Salvatore J. Zizza

Director

Age: 67

   Since 2001    29    Chairman (since 1978) of Zizza & Associates Corp. (financial consulting); Chairman (since 2005) of Metropolitan Paper Recycling, Inc. (recycling); Chairman (since 1999) of Harbor BioSciences, Inc. (biotechnology)    Director and Vice Chairman of Trans-Lux Corporation (business services); Director and Chairman of Harbor Diversified, Inc. (pharmaceutical); Chairman of Bion Environmental Technologies (technology); Director, Chairman, and CEO of General Employment Enterprises (staffing services) (2009-2012)

 

28


The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund

Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)

 

 

Name, Position(s)

Address1

and Age

  

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served2

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

OFFICERS:

     

Bruce N. Alpert

President, Secretary, and

Acting Chief Compliance Officer

Age: 61

   Since 1991     Since November     2011    Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1988; Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex; Director of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2012; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc. 2008-2010; President of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2008; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer

Age: 55

   Since 2006    President and Chief Operating Officer of the Open-End Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since September 2010; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex

 

1

Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted.

2

Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Fund’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

3

“Interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers.

4

This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

5 

Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors.

 

2013 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited)

For the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid to shareholders, ordinary income distributions (inclusive of short term capital gains) totaling $0.325, $0.335, $0.070, and $0.509 per share for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I, respectively, and long term capital gains totaling $45,375,023, or the maximum allowable. The distribution of long term capital gains has been designated as a capital gain dividend by the Fund’s Board of Directors. For the year ended September 30, 2013, 100% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 0.34% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified interest income pursuant to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified short term gain pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

U.S. Government Income:

The percentage of the ordinary income distribution paid by the Fund during the year ended September 30, 2013 which was derived from U.S. Treasury securities was 0.19%. Such income is exempt from state and local tax in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2013. Due to the diversity in state and local tax law, it is recommended that you consult your personal tax adviser as to the applicability of the information provided to your specific situation.

 

All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

29


 

Gabelli/GAMCO Funds and Your Personal Privacy

 

Who are we?

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

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

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

 

   

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

 

 

   

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

 

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

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

What do we do to protect your personal information?

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

 


THE GABELLI SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Manager Biography

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977 and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.

 

 

 

 

Morningstar Rating™ is based on risk-adjusted returns. The Overall Morningstar Rating is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with a fund’s three, five, and ten year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. For funds with at least a three year history, a Morningstar Rating is based on a risk-adjusted return measure (including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees) placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. That accounts for variations in a fund’s monthly performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% 4 stars, the next 35% 3 stars, the next 22.5% 2 stars, and the bottom 10% 1 star. (Each share class is counted as a fraction of one fund within this scale and rated separately, which may cause slight variations in the distribution percentages.) Morningstar Rating is for the AAA Share class only; other classes may have different performance characteristics. Ratings reflect relative performance. Results for certain periods were negative. © 2013 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

 

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


 

Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.

THE GABELLI SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

t   800-GABELLI    (800-422-3554)

f   914-921-5118

e  info@gabelli.com

    GABELLI.COM

Net Asset Value per share available daily

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

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

 

Anthony J. Colavita

President,

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

 

Vincent D. Enright

Former Senior Vice

President and Chief

Financial Officer,

KeySpan Corp.

 

John D. Gabelli

Senior Vice President,

G.research, Inc.

 

Robert J. Morrissey

Partner,

Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch

 

Kuni Nakamura

President,

Advanced Polymer, Inc.

 

Anthony R. Pustorino

Certified Public Accountant,

Professor Emeritus,

Pace University

 

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Chairman,

BALMAC International, Inc.

 

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman,

Zizza & Associates Corp.

 

OFFICERS

 

Bruce N. Alpert

President, Secretary, and

Acting Chief Compliance

Officer

 

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

G.distributors, LLC

 

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER

AGENT, AND DIVIDEND

DISBURSING AGENT

 

State Street Bank and Trust

Company

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &

Flom LLP

 

 

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

 

 

 

LOGO

Overall Morningstar Rating TM«««««

Morningstar® rated The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund Class AAA Shares 5 stars overall, 3 stars for the three year period, and 5 stars for the five and ten year periods ended September 30, 2013 among 598, 598, 532, and 329 Small Blend funds, respectively. Morningstar Rating TM is based on risk-adjusted returns.

 

GAB443Q313AR

 

LOGO

 


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund     LOGO
Annual Report — September 30, 2013    

 

LOGO

   

 

Morningstar® rated The Gabelli Equity Income Fund Class AAA Shares 4 stars overall, 3

stars for the three year period, 4 stars for the five year period, and 5 stars for the ten year

period ended September 30, 2013 among 1,372, 1,372, 1,233, and 779 Large Blend

funds, respectively. Morningstar RatingTM is based on risk-adjusted returns.

   

To Our Shareholders,

For the year ended September 30, 2013, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class AAA Share of The Gabelli Equity Income Fund increased 21.4% compared with an increase of 19.3% for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index. See page 2 for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the schedule of investments and financial statements as of September 30, 2013.

Performance Discussion

Global equity markets generally rose, despite the weak global economy. Investors were encouraged by the continued commitment of central banks in the United States, Europe, and Japan to extremely low interest rates and asset price support. In September, the Federal Reserve backed off from earlier talks of tapering down its own third easing program (“QE3”), consisting of $85 billion of monthly asset purchases with newly created money, and designed to help maintain very low interest rates and to boost the stock and housing markets. This turnabout indicated that in the view of the Federal Reserve, the United States is stuck in a continuing period of weak growth. At the same time, the Fed again lowered its estimates of growth for the next few quarters, trimming about a quarter of a percent from its June forecast, now to predicting overall 2.2% in 2013.

Our stock selection process is based on the investment principles of Graham and Dodd, the first investors to articulate the fundamentals of value investing. Their work provided the framework for value investing, and our firm contributed to this framework with the discipline of Private Market Value with a Catalyst. This proprietary research and valuation method identifies firms whose shares are selling at a discount to intrinsic value, with an identifiable path to realizing, or surfacing, that private market value. We define private market value as the price an informed acquirer would pay for an entire enterprise. The catalyst comprises identifiable events or circumstances that might reasonably result in the narrowing of the difference between the public market price of the stock and our estimate of the private market value. This realization of value can take place gradually or suddenly, with company specific changes such as management changes or restructurings, sale of assets or of the business as a whole, industry changes such as changes in regulation, or changes in competition.

Some of the countries outside the U.S. that the Fund has equity positions in are the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Canada, France, Ireland, Mexico, and Japan.

Among the better performing stocks for the fiscal year were: The Boeing Co. (0.9% of net assets as of September 30, 2013), an aerospace company and one of two manufacturers of large commercial aircraft; Genuine Parts Co. (1.6%), a service organization engaged in the distribution of automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products, and electrical/electronic materials; and Rockwell Automation Inc. (1.2%), a provider of industrial automation power, control, and information solutions. Some of our weaker performing stocks during the year were Newmont Mining Corp. (0.4%), a multinational gold producer; International Business Machines Corp (1.3%), an IT giant operating in multiple business segments; and J.C. Penny Co. Inc. (0.1%), a retailer operating over 1,000 department stores.

We appreciate your loyalty and support in these volatile markets.


Comparative Results

Average Annual Returns through September 30, 2013 (a)(b) (Unaudited)   Since
    Inception
     1 Year   5 Year   10 Year   (01/02/92)

Class AAA (GABEX)

       21.38 %       10.48 %       9.08 %       10.40 %

S&P 500 Index

       19.34         10.02         7.57         8.79 (e)

Nasdaq Composite Index

       22.83         13.82         8.92         8.93 (e)

Lipper Equity Income Fund Average

       18.88         9.17         7.53         8.22  

Class A (GCAEX)

       21.36         10.48         9.07         10.39  

With sales charge (c)

       14.38         9.18         8.43         10.09  

Class C (GCCEX)

       20.50         9.67         8.30         10.03  

With contingent deferred sales charge (d)

       19.50         9.67         8.30         10.03  

Class I (GCIEX)

       21.67         10.77         9.25         10.47  

In the current prospectuses dated January 28, 2013, the expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are 1.40%, 1.40%, 2.15%, and 1.15%, respectively. See page 13 for the expense ratios for the year ended September 30, 2013. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A and C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively.

  (a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions, and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus please visit www.gabelli.com. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class A Shares and Class C Shares on December 31, 2003 and Class I Shares on January 11, 2008. The actual performance of the Class A Shares and Class C Shares would have been lower due to the additional fees and expenses associated with these classes of shares. The actual performance of the Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses related to this class of shares. The S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization weighted index of 500 large capitalization stocks commonly used to represent the U.S. equity market. The Nasdaq Composite Index is an unmanaged indicator of stock market performance. The Lipper Equity Income Fund Average includes the 30 largest equity funds in this category tracked by Lipper, Inc. Dividends are considered reinvested, except for the Nasdaq Composite Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 
  (b)

The Fund’s fiscal year ends September 30.

 
  (c)

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

 
  (d)

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

 
  (e)

S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite Index since inception performance is as of December 31, 1991.

 

COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN

THE GABELLI EQUITY INCOME FUND CLASS AAA SHARES AND S&P 500 INDEX (Unaudited)

 

LOGO

 

*

Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

2


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)

For the Six Month Period from April 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013    Expense Table

 

 

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

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

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

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

Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended September 30, 2013.

 

      Beginning
Account Value
04/01/13
   Ending
Account Value
09/30/13
   Annualized
Expense
Ratio
  Expenses
Paid During
Period*

The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Actual Fund Return

             

Class AAA

   $1,000.00    $1,067.70    1.38%   $  7.15

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,067.50    1.38%   $  7.15

Class C

   $1,000.00    $1,063.70    2.13%   $11.02

Class I

   $1,000.00    $1,069.00    1.13%   $  5.86

Hypothetical 5% Return

Class AAA

   $1,000.00    $1,018.15    1.38%   $  6.98

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,018.15    1.38%   $  6.98

Class C

   $1,000.00    $1,014.39    2.13%   $10.76

Class I

   $1,000.00    $1,019.40    1.13%   $  5.72
*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (183 days), then divided by 365.

 

 

3


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of September 30, 2013:

The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

 

Financial Services

     14.1%   

Health Care

     12.6%   

Food and Beverage

     11.8%   

Retail

     7.3%   

Diversified Industrial

     4.1%   

Consumer Products

     4.1%   

Energy and Utilities: Oil

     4.0%   

Aerospace

     3.4%   

Energy and Utilities: Integrated

     3.2%   

Telecommunications

     3.2%   

Automotive: Parts and Accessories

     2.6%   

Energy and Utilities: Services

     2.3%   

U.S. Government Obligations

     2.2%   

Energy and Utilities: Natural Gas

     2.0%   

Specialty Chemicals

     1.9%   

Entertainment

     1.9%   

Automotive

     1.6%   

Computer Hardware

     1.6%   

Metals and Mining

     1.4%   

Electronics

     1.4%   

Computer Software and Services

     1.4%   

Equipment and Supplies

     1.2%   

Machinery

     1.2%   

Wireless Communications

     1.1%   

Hotels and Gaming

     1.1%   

Broadcasting

     0.9%   

Energy and Utilities: Electric

     0.8%   

Agriculture

     0.8%   

Cable and Satellite

     0.7%   

Business Services

     0.7%   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     0.7%   

Communications Equipment

     0.5%   

Building and Construction

     0.4%   

Environmental Services

     0.3%   

Transportation

     0.3%   

Aviation: Parts and Services

     0.3%   

Consumer Services

     0.3%   

Energy and Utilities: Water

     0.3%   

Paper and Forest Products

     0.1%   

Real Estate

     0.0%   

Publishing

     0.0%   

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

     0.2%   
  

 

 

 
     100.0%   
  

 

 

 
 

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

Proxy Voting

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

 

4


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS — 97.1%

  

  

Aerospace — 3.4%

  

  88,000      

Exelis Inc.

  $ 1,060,962      $ 1,382,480   
  2,000      

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    47,350        255,100   
  10,000      

Raytheon Co.

    279,200        770,700   
  295,000      

Rockwell Automation Inc.

    13,456,833        31,547,300   
  2,000      

Rockwell Collins Inc.

    15,844        135,720   
  1,625,000      

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

    12,119,318        29,253,686   
  205,500      

The Boeing Co.

    11,795,574        24,146,250   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       38,775,081        87,491,236   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Agriculture — 0.8%

  

  120,000      

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

    3,433,231        4,420,800   
  150,000      

Monsanto Co.

    2,423,783        15,655,500   
  12,000      

The Mosaic Co.

    186,246        516,240   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       6,043,260        20,592,540   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Automotive — 1.6%

  

  1,060,000      

Ford Motor Co.

    14,340,007        17,882,200   
  135,000      

General Motors Co.†

    3,945,532        4,855,950   
  460,000      

Navistar International Corp.†

    11,765,098        16,780,800   
  31,000      

PACCAR Inc.

    1,399,566        1,725,460   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       31,450,203        41,244,410   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 2.6%

  

  8,000      

BorgWarner Inc.

    490,649        811,120   
  100,000      

Dana Holding Corp.

    1,496,853        2,284,000   
  50,007      

Federal-Mogul Corp.†

    463,002        839,623   
  507,000      

Genuine Parts Co.

    22,687,907        41,011,230   
  6,000      

Johnson Controls Inc.

    50,425        249,000   
  50,000      

Modine Manufacturing Co.†

    465,332        731,500   
  133,000      

O’Reilly Automotive Inc.†

    3,881,341        16,969,470   
  50,000      

Tenneco Inc.†

    763,094        2,525,000   
  150,000      

The Pep Boys—Manny, Moe & Jack†

    1,664,729        1,870,500   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       31,963,332        67,291,443   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Aviation: Parts and Services — 0.3%

  

  60,000      

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

    926,093        2,817,600   
  74,000      

GenCorp Inc.†

    442,031        1,186,220   
  3,000      

Precision Castparts Corp.

    283,757        681,720   
  28,000      

United Technologies Corp.

    1,339,140        3,018,960   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       2,991,021        7,704,500   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Broadcasting — 0.9%

  

  310,000      

CBS Corp., Cl. A, Voting

    6,173,196        17,152,300   
  90,000      

CBS Corp., Cl. B, Non-Voting

    2,029,610        4,964,400   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       8,202,806        22,116,700   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Building and Construction — 0.4%

  

  245,000      

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.

    2,712,564        10,199,350   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market
Value

 
  

Business Services — 0.7%

  

  37,000      

Automatic Data Processing Inc.

  $ 1,543,362      $ 2,678,060   
  188,000      

Diebold Inc.

    6,436,650        5,519,680   
  4,000      

Landauer Inc.

    134,546        205,000   
  10,400      

MasterCard Inc., Cl. A

    879,679        6,996,912   
  30,000      

McGraw Hill Financial Inc.

    1,225,693        1,967,700   
  6,146      

MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc., Cl. A

    438,767        499,977   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       10,658,697        17,867,329   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Cable and Satellite — 0.7%

  

  33,000      

AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A†

    1,278,263        2,259,840   
  140,000      

Cablevision Systems Corp., Cl. A

    1,650,260        2,357,600   
  10,000      

DIRECTV†

    331,857        597,500   
  180,000      

DISH Network Corp., Cl. A

    3,608,196        8,101,800   
  16,000      

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

    478,840        703,040   
  58,000      

Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., Cl. A

    2,452,305        4,530,380   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       9,799,721        18,550,160   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Communications Equipment — 0.5%

  

  15,000      

Cisco Systems Inc.

    279,075        351,300   
  880,000      

Corning Inc.

    11,888,836        12,839,200   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       12,167,911        13,190,500   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Computer Hardware — 1.6%

  

  300,000      

Hewlett-Packard Co.

    6,437,422        6,294,000   
  182,000      

International Business Machines Corp.

    15,123,120        33,702,760   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       21,560,542        39,996,760   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Computer Software and Services — 1.4%

  

  25,000      

eBay Inc.†

    779,839        1,394,750   
  380,000      

EMC Corp.

    9,619,404        9,712,800   
  122,000      

Fidelity National Information Services Inc.

    2,160,830        5,665,680   
  360,000      

Microsoft Corp.

    9,920,506        11,991,600   
  210,000      

Yahoo! Inc.†

    3,416,554        6,963,600   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       25,897,133        35,728,430   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Consumer Products — 4.1%

  

  45,000      

Altria Group Inc.

    538,092        1,545,750   
  330,000      

Avon Products Inc.

    7,664,774        6,798,000   
  76,000      

Energizer Holdings Inc.

    3,766,002        6,927,400   
  5,000      

Hanesbrands Inc.

    108,950        311,550   
  170,000      

Harman International Industries Inc.

    6,624,986        11,259,100   
  2,500      

National Presto Industries Inc.

    74,242        176,025   
  50,000      

Philip Morris International Inc.

    1,501,172        4,329,500   
  105,000      

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

    3,432,951        7,683,342   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
   COMMON STOCKS (Continued)   
   Consumer Products (Continued)   
  25,500      

Svenska Cellulosa AB,
Cl. A

  $ 439,719      $ 645,168   
  1,240,000      

Swedish Match AB

    16,678,674        43,759,939   
  230,000      

The Procter & Gamble Co.

    13,512,663        17,385,700   
  81,000      

Unilever NV - NY Shares

    1,639,778        3,055,320   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       55,982,003        103,876,794   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Consumer Services — 0.3%

  

  100,000      

Rollins Inc.

    381,843        2,651,000   
  120,000      

The ADT Corp.

    3,117,793        4,879,200   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       3,499,636        7,530,200   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Diversified Industrial — 3.8%

  

  4,000      

Acuity Brands Inc.

    42,447        368,080   
  4,000      

Alstom SA

    206,008        142,482   
  100,000      

Crane Co.

    3,402,503        6,167,000   
  115,000      

Eaton Corp. plc

    5,969,144        7,916,600   
  1,500,000      

General Electric Co.

    30,045,202        35,835,000   
  235,000      

Honeywell International Inc.

    8,486,747        19,514,400   
  50,000      

ITT Corp.

    1,004,526        1,797,500   
  30,000      

Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd.

    1,300,044        1,647,000   
  172,000      

Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd.

    3,971,804        5,822,200   
  46,000      

Pentair Ltd.

    1,457,495        2,987,240   
  120,000      

Textron Inc.

    763,372        3,313,200   
  50,000      

Toray Industries Inc.

    327,480        328,094   
  18,000      

Trinity Industries Inc.

    530,674        816,300   
  305,000      

Tyco International Ltd.

    6,428,113        10,668,900   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
           63,935,559            97,323,996   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Electronics — 1.4%

  

  100,000      

Emerson Electric Co.

    4,955,000        6,470,000   
  500,000      

Intel Corp.

    10,037,981        11,460,000   
  70,000      

LSI Corp.

    616,011        547,400   
  85,000      

TE Connectivity Ltd.

    2,886,395        4,401,300   
  320,000      

Texas Instruments Inc.

    7,759,058        12,886,400   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       26,254,445        35,765,100   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Energy and Utilities: Electric — 0.8%

  

  60,000      

American Electric Power Co. Inc.

    2,198,544        2,601,000   
  10,000      

DTE Energy Co.

    428,080        659,800   
  90,000      

El Paso Electric Co.

    820,152        3,006,000   
  1,200,000      

GenOn Energy Inc., Escrow†

    0        0   
  110,000      

Great Plains Energy Inc.

    2,663,694        2,442,000   
  100,000      

Korea Electric Power Corp., ADR†

    1,479,637        1,404,000   
  170,000      

Northeast Utilities

    3,155,199        7,012,500   
  245,000      

The AES Corp.

    2,306,408        3,256,050   
  13,333      

UIL Holdings Corp.

    293,785        495,721   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       13,345,499        20,877,071   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
      Energy and Utilities: Integrated — 3.2%  
  440,000     

BP plc, ADR

  $ 18,798,855      $ 18,493,200   
  160,000     

CONSOL Energy Inc.

    6,322,656        5,384,000   
  100,000     

Dominion Resources Inc.

    4,101,684        6,248,000   
  110,000     

Duke Energy Corp.

    5,111,218        7,345,800   
  100,000     

Energy Transfer Equity LP

    3,323,390        6,578,000   
  29,000     

Eni SpA

    304,221        664,994   
  48,000     

FirstEnergy Corp.

    1,164,848        1,749,600   
  120,000     

Hess Corp.

    7,451,605        9,280,800   
  13,069     

Iberdrola SA, ADR

    299,699        304,246   
  25,000     

Integrys Energy Group Inc.

    1,192,522        1,397,250   
  116,000     

NextEra Energy Inc.

    5,624,121        9,298,560   
  138,000     

OGE Energy Corp.

    1,883,215        4,980,420   
  118,000     

PNM Resources Inc.

    1,394,458        2,670,340   
  30,000     

Suncor Energy Inc., New York

    785,965        1,073,400   
  2,000     

Suncor Energy Inc., Toronto

    61,550        71,511   
  50,000     

TECO Energy Inc.

    652,639        827,000   
  135,000     

Westar Energy Inc.

    2,217,074        4,137,750   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      60,689,720        80,504,871   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Energy and Utilities: Natural Gas — 1.9%

  

  10,000     

AGL Resources Inc.

    178,125        460,300   
  8,000     

Atmos Energy Corp.

    210,433        340,720   
  245,000     

Kinder Morgan Inc.

    7,298,260        8,714,650   
  310,000     

National Fuel Gas Co.

    15,496,458        21,315,600   
  143,000     

ONEOK Inc.

    1,617,481        7,624,760   
  24,000     

Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc.

    394,017        789,120   
  74,000     

Southwest Gas Corp.

    1,818,048        3,700,000   
  195,000     

Spectra Energy Corp.

    4,167,926        6,674,850   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
          31,180,748            49,620,000   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Energy and Utilities: Oil — 4.0%

  

  202,000     

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    10,808,768        18,783,980   
  45,000     

Canadian Oil Sands Ltd.

    1,290,650        871,996   
  5,000 (a)   

Canadian Oil Sands Trust†

    116,475        96,888   
  188,000     

Chevron Corp.

    8,670,601        22,842,000   
  180,000     

ConocoPhillips

    4,001,446        12,511,800   
  22,000     

Denbury Resources Inc.†

    369,472        405,020   
  58,000     

Devon Energy Corp.

    2,515,153        3,350,080   
  151,000     

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    4,905,886        12,992,040   
  40,000     

Marathon Oil Corp.

    1,000,063        1,395,200   
  20,000     

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    639,385        1,286,400   
  100,000     

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    4,145,051        9,354,000   
  4,000     

PetroChina Co. Ltd., ADR

    317,768        439,800   
  50,000     

Phillips 66

    668,879        2,891,000   
  36,000     

Repsol SA, ADR

    742,075        889,560   
  120,000     

Royal Dutch Shell plc, Cl. A, ADR

    5,524,835        7,881,600   
  40,000     

Statoil ASA

    1,019,952        907,995   
  80,000     

Statoil ASA, ADR

    1,779,821        1,814,400   
  300,000     

Talisman Energy Inc.

    5,401,388        3,450,000   
  17,518     

Total SA, ADR

    290,564        1,014,643   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
   COMMON STOCKS (Continued)   
   Energy and Utilities: Oil (Continued)   
  40,000      

WesternZagros Resources Ltd.†

  $ 147,109      $ 37,280   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       54,355,341        103,215,682   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Energy and Utilities: Services — 2.3%

  

  30,000      

ABB Ltd., ADR

    351,824        707,700   
  52,000      

Cameron International Corp.†

    746,014        3,035,240   
  350,000      

Halliburton Co.

    10,342,941        16,852,500   
  94,000      

Oceaneering International Inc.

    2,032,090        7,636,560   
  40,000      

Schlumberger Ltd.

    1,275,020        3,534,400   
  80,000      

Transocean Ltd.

    4,742,599        3,560,000   
  1,500,000      

Weatherford International Ltd.†

    24,207,409        22,995,000   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       43,697,897        58,321,400   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Energy and Utilities: Water — 0.3%

  

  45,000      

Aqua America Inc.

    458,537        1,112,850   
  200,000      

Severn Trent plc

    5,304,473        5,708,273   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       5,763,010        6,821,123   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Entertainment — 1.9%

  

  130,000      

Grupo Televisa SAB, ADR

    2,961,072        3,633,500   
  35,500      

The Madison Square Garden Co., Cl. A†

    445,361        2,061,485   
  117,000      

Time Warner Inc.

    3,385,344        7,699,770   
  106,016      

Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., Cl. B

    3,289,985        3,540,934   
  306,000      

Viacom Inc., Cl. A

    12,096,487        25,645,860   
  205,000      

Vivendi SA

    6,523,779        4,716,071   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       28,702,028        47,297,620   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Environmental Services — 0.3%

  

  30,000      

Republic Services Inc.

    1,008,307        1,000,800   
  175,000      

Waste Management Inc.

    5,905,150        7,217,000   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       6,913,457        8,217,800   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Equipment and Supplies — 1.2%

  

  36,000      

A.O. Smith Corp.

    253,184        1,627,200   
  28,000      

Danaher Corp.

    1,074,985        1,940,960   
  214,000      

Flowserve Corp.

    2,756,400        13,351,460   
  20,000      

Graco Inc.

    1,006,940        1,481,200   
  12,000      

Ingersoll-Rand plc

    302,107        779,280   
  25,000      

Minerals Technologies Inc.

    880,441        1,234,250   
  95,000      

Mueller Industries Inc.

    3,794,476        5,288,650   
  16,000      

Parker Hannifin Corp.

    791,261        1,739,520   
  80,000      

Tenaris SA, ADR

    3,067,303        3,742,400   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       13,927,097        31,184,920   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Financial Services — 14.1%

  

  6,579      

Alleghany Corp.†

    1,015,114        2,695,087   
  440,000      

AllianceBernstein Holding LP

    9,567,886        8,738,400   
  383,000      

American Express Co.

    15,736,067        28,924,160   

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  530,000      

American International Group Inc.

  $ 14,058,173      $ 25,773,900   
  27,489      

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd.

    772,108        1,178,728   
  22,000      

Banco Popular Espanol SA†

    199,833        118,128   
  5,195      

Banco Santander Chile, ADR

    29,250        136,577   
  160,000      

Banco Santander SA, ADR

    1,233,058        1,307,200   
  320,000      

Bank of America Corp.

    3,184,684        4,416,000   
  12,156      

BNP Paribas SA

    506,339        822,263   
  500,000      

Citigroup Inc.

    20,229,828        24,255,000   
  24,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

    1,097,395        1,101,120   
  78,000      

Dundee Corp., Cl. A†

    1,828,287        1,447,852   
  35,000      

Eaton Vance Corp.

    968,411        1,359,050   
  125,000      

Federated Investors Inc., Cl. B

    3,056,627        3,395,000   
  33,870      

Fidelity Southern Corp.

    284,707        519,566   
  270,000      

H&R Block Inc.

    4,898,488        7,198,200   
  180,000      

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.

    5,665,884        5,601,600   
  60,000      

Hudson City Bancorp Inc.

    510,798        543,000   
  55,000      

Interactive Brokers Group Inc.,
Cl. A

    837,556        1,032,350   
  210,000      

Janus Capital Group Inc.

    1,782,274        1,787,100   
  278,000      

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    9,867,050        14,369,820   
  82,758      

Julius Baer Group Ltd.

    2,738,518        3,861,765   
  40,000      

Kemper Corp.

    1,156,156        1,344,000   
  90,100      

Kinnevik Investment AB,
Cl. A

    1,682,511        3,094,134   
  19,000      

Kinnevik Investment AB,
Cl. B

    278,394        657,803   
  473,000      

Legg Mason Inc.

    11,114,576        15,817,120   
  19,000      

Leucadia National Corp.

    304,896        517,560   
  180,000      

Loews Corp.

    7,797,363        8,413,200   
  158,000      

M&T Bank Corp.

    11,613,841        17,683,360   
  365,000      

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.

    11,002,192        15,895,750   
  360,000      

Morgan Stanley

    9,580,097        9,702,000   
  220,000      

Northern Trust Corp.

    10,796,541        11,965,800   
  28,000      

Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC, Cl. A

    283,762        307,720   
  40,000      

Oritani Financial Corp.

    400,000        658,400   
  45,000      

Popular Inc.†

    1,154,011        1,180,350   
  500      

Raiffeisen Bank International AG

    28,874        16,363   
  48,000      

Royal Bank of Canada

    2,548,864        3,082,080   
  391,000      

SLM Corp.

    5,853,704        9,735,900   
  170,000      

State Street Corp.

    7,766,302        11,177,500   
  250,000      

Sterling BanCorp

    3,529,115        3,432,500   
  12,000      

SunTrust Banks Inc.

    251,737        389,040   
  82,000      

T. Rowe Price Group Inc.

    3,733,964        5,898,260   
  115,000      

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.

    1,950,608        3,010,700   
  1,040,000      

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

    29,547,257        31,397,600   
  3,000      

The Dun & Bradstreet Corp.

    105,969        311,550   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Financial Services (Continued)

  

  15,000      

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

  $ 1,599,455      $ 2,373,150   
  106,000      

The PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

    5,651,498        7,679,700   
  27,000      

The Travelers Companies Inc.

    1,032,136        2,288,790   
  90,000      

W. R. Berkley Corp.

    3,297,008        3,857,400   
  145,000      

Waddell & Reed Financial Inc., Cl. A

    3,298,893        7,464,600   
  920,000      

Wells Fargo & Co.

    29,357,941        38,014,400   
  410,000      

Wright Investors’ Service Holdings Inc.†

    1,009,526        871,250   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       267,795,526        358,819,846   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Food and Beverage — 11.8%

  

  30,000      

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV

    496,266        2,986,282   
  270,000      

Beam Inc.

    10,793,498        17,455,500   
  194,392      

Brown-Forman Corp., Cl. A

    7,502,319        12,864,863   
  20,250      

Brown-Forman Corp., Cl. B

    825,919        1,379,632   
  220,000      

Campbell Soup Co.

    6,897,934        8,956,200   
  40,000      

Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd., ADR

    246,845        918,800   
  20,000      

Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.

    450,000        804,200   
  13,600      

Coca-Cola Femsa SAB de CV, ADR

    502,169        1,713,328   
  18,000      

Constellation Brands Inc., Cl. A†

    223,261        1,033,200   
  136,389      

Danone SA

    6,897,164        10,266,355   
  550,000      

Davide Campari - Milano SpA

    3,822,395        4,769,474   
  130,000      

Dean Foods Co.†

    1,954,766        2,509,000   
  1,000      

Diageo plc

    20,487        31,812   
  93,000      

Diageo plc, ADR

    5,126,053        11,818,440   
  103,000      

Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc.

    2,277,323        4,616,460   
  133,000      

Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV, ADR

    3,194,849        12,912,970   
  275,000      

General Mills Inc.

    7,537,273        13,178,000   
  3,000,000      

Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV, Cl. A

    2,411,096        9,268,498   
  142,000      

Heineken NV

    6,578,070        10,064,369   
  17,000      

Heineken NV, ADR

    430,190        602,650   
  240,004      

Hillshire Brands Co.

    6,836,690        7,377,723   
  245,000      

ITO EN Ltd.

    5,089,181        5,560,761   
  40,000      

Kellogg Co.

    2,011,521        2,349,200   
  320,000      

Kraft Foods Group Inc.

    9,916,126        16,780,800   
  24,000      

McCormick & Co. Inc., Non-Voting

    1,004,538        1,552,800   
  1,020,000      

Mondelēz International Inc., Cl. A

    19,666,442        32,048,400   
  102,000      

Nestlé SA

    2,185,232        7,133,853   
  55,000      

Nestlé SA, ADR

    3,094,786        3,828,000   
  130,000      

NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO. LTD.

    4,309,367        5,329,874   
  4,200,000      

Parmalat SpA

    11,859,744        14,068,562   

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  120,053      

PepsiCo Inc.

  $ 7,713,785      $ 9,544,213   
  43,500      

Pernod Ricard SA

    3,504,187        5,401,749   
  10,000      

Post Holdings Inc.†

    263,033        403,700   
  52,700      

Remy Cointreau SA

    3,106,596        5,615,924   
  20,000      

SABMiller plc

    733,959        1,017,808   
  220,000      

Sapporo Holdings Ltd.

    1,080,450        953,456   
  982,000      

The Coca-Cola Co.

    23,768,792        37,198,160   
  2,000      

The Hershey Co.

    72,601        185,000   
  89,654      

Tootsie Roll Industries Inc.

    1,956,728        2,763,136   
  72,000      

Tyson Foods Inc., Cl. A

    727,056        2,036,160   
  161,003      

WhiteWave Foods Co.,
Cl. A†

    2,204,291        3,215,230   
  155,000      

Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd.

    4,171,714        7,750,394   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       183,464,696        300,264,936   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Health Care — 12.6%

  

  32,000      

Abbott Laboratories

    836,192        1,062,080   
  20,000      

AbbVie Inc.

    496,537        894,600   
  34,000      

Actavis Inc.†

    2,655,913        4,896,000   
  43,324      

Aetna Inc.

    1,782,357        2,773,602   
  146,000      

Baxter International Inc.

    6,239,268        9,590,740   
  157,000      

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

    11,298,691        15,703,140   
  23,500      

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Cl. A†

    2,427,191        2,762,660   
  800,000      

Boston Scientific Corp.†

    6,726,017        9,392,000   
  650,000      

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    17,077,002        30,082,000   
  295,000      

Covidien plc

    10,136,389        17,977,300   
  449,000      

Eli Lilly & Co.

    17,859,208        22,598,170   
  11,000      

Express Scripts Holding Co.†

    347,042        679,580   
  14,076      

GlaxoSmithKline plc, ADR

    635,995        706,193   
  22,000      

Henry Schein Inc.†

    566,365        2,281,400   
  235,000      

Hospira Inc.†

    7,755,633        9,216,700   
  320,000      

Johnson & Johnson

    20,207,972        27,740,800   
  23,000      

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings†

    1,748,126        2,280,220   
  45,000      

Life Technologies Corp.†

    3,332,325        3,367,350   
  35,000      

Mallinckrodt plc†

    948,144        1,543,150   
  100,000      

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

    4,689,231        7,426,000   
  30,000      

Medtronic Inc.

    1,005,816        1,597,500   
  510,000      

Merck & Co. Inc.

    15,703,221        24,281,100   
  279,000      

Novartis AG, ADR

    15,298,186        21,402,090   
  200,000      

Patterson Companies Inc.

    6,945,790        8,040,000   
  1,275,000      

Pfizer Inc.

    25,443,775        36,605,250   
  68,000      

Roche Holding AG, ADR

    2,632,469        4,592,040   
  40,000      

Roche Holding AG, Genusschein

    5,894,355        10,787,859   
  51,000      

St. Jude Medical Inc.

    2,043,058        2,735,640   
  260,000      

Tenet Healthcare Corp.†

    7,331,097        10,709,400   
  240,000      

UnitedHealth Group Inc.

    9,652,496        17,186,400   
  18,000      

William Demant Holding A/S†

    880,509        1,663,492   
  60,000      

Wright Medical Group Inc.†

    949,266        1,564,800   
  54,000      

Zimmer Holdings Inc.

    3,182,725        4,435,560   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

  

Health Care (Continued)

  

  70,000      

Zoetis Inc.

  $ 2,041,079      $ 2,178,400   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       216,769,440        320,753,216   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Hotels and Gaming — 1.1%

  

  90,000      

International Game Technology

    1,451,484        1,703,700   
  2,004,352      

Ladbrokes plc

    10,531,607        5,490,309   
  160,000      

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

    2,597,929        10,627,200   
  80,000      

MGM Resorts International†

    813,235        1,635,200   
  26,000      

Ryman Hospitality Properties Inc.

    892,462        897,260   
  80,000      

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

    1,673,543        5,316,000   
  14,500      

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

    468,737        2,291,145   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       18,428,997        27,960,814   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Machinery — 1.2%

  

  6,000      

Caterpillar Inc.

    35,181        500,220   
  318,000      

Deere & Co.

    15,873,262        25,882,020   
  150,000      

Xylem Inc.

    4,170,939        4,189,500   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       20,079,382        30,571,740   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Metals and Mining — 1.4%

  

  855,000      

Alcoa Inc.

    9,069,561        6,942,600   
  10,000      

Carpenter Technology Corp.

    327,255        581,100   
  369,202      

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

    6,872,293        12,213,202   
  330,000      

Newmont Mining Corp.

    14,923,249        9,273,000   
  400,000      

Peabody Energy Corp.

    8,120,682        6,900,000   
  2,000      

Royal Gold Inc.

    88,166        97,320   
  6,615      

Teck Resources Ltd., Cl. B

    533,053        177,761   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       39,934,259        36,184,983   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Paper and Forest Products — 0.1%

  

  75,000      

International Paper Co.

    2,403,385        3,360,000   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Publishing — 0.0%

  

  1,504      

News Corp., Cl. B†

    8,506        24,711   
  1,000      

The Washington Post Co., Cl. B

    442,591        611,350   
  2,700      

Value Line Inc.

    38,523        23,841   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       489,620        659,902   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Real Estate — 0.0%

  

  78,000      

Dream Unlimited Corp., Cl. A†

    1,030,053        984,418   
  10,000      

Griffin Land & Nurseries Inc.

    224,290        321,000   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       1,254,343        1,305,418   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Real Estate Investment Trusts — 0.7%

  

  70,000      

Plum Creek Timber Co. Inc.

    2,874,828        3,278,100   
  9,000      

Rayonier Inc.

    264,580        500,850   

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  460,000      

Weyerhaeuser Co.

  $ 11,163,328      $ 13,169,800   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       14,302,736        16,948,750   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Retail — 7.3%

  

  16,000      

Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA

    540,728        1,602,919   
  40,266      

Copart Inc.†

    696,640        1,280,056   
  218,000      

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    11,302,742        25,096,160   
  575,000      

CVS Caremark Corp.

    20,427,489        32,631,250   
  28,000      

Hertz Global Holdings Inc.†

    706,327        620,480   
  113,800      

Ingles Markets Inc., Cl. A

    2,071,571        3,269,474   
  340,000      

J.C. Penney Co. Inc.†

    7,443,696        2,998,800   
  500,000      

Macy’s Inc.

    7,988,643        21,635,000   
  230,017      

Safeway Inc.

    4,905,407        7,358,244   
  214      

Sears Canada Inc.

    2,288        2,609   
  500      

Sears Holdings Corp.†

    39,103        29,820   
  109      

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc.†

    2,759        3,461   
  90,000      

Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd.

    2,692,986        3,277,888   
  25,000      

SUPERVALU Inc.†

    59,348        205,750   
  510,000      

The Home Depot Inc.

    14,399,640        38,683,500   
  158,000      

Tractor Supply Co.

    1,377,651        10,612,860   
  125,000      

Walgreen Co.

    3,937,736        6,725,000   
  225,000      

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

    10,637,800        16,641,000   
  10,000      

Weis Markets Inc.

    300,480        489,400   
  200,000      

Whole Foods Market Inc.

    3,392,986        11,700,000   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       92,926,020        184,863,671   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Specialty Chemicals — 1.9%

  

  43,000      

Albemarle Corp.

    564,900        2,706,420   
  42,000      

Ashland Inc.

    1,444,320        3,884,160   
  124,000      

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.

    5,631,542        7,261,440   
  295,000      

Ferro Corp.†

    2,499,418        2,687,450   
  8,000      

FMC Corp.

    186,076        573,760   
  50,000      

H.B. Fuller Co.

    1,032,850        2,259,500   
  224,000      

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.

    10,435,704        18,435,200   
  3,000      

NewMarket Corp.

    11,578        863,730   
  5,000      

Quaker Chemical Corp.

    90,412        365,250   
  3,000      

Rockwood Holdings Inc.

    128,667        200,700   
  40,000      

Sensient Technologies Corp.

    822,757        1,915,600   
  165,000      

The Dow Chemical Co.

    5,508,445        6,336,000   
  4,000      

Zep Inc.

    17,026        65,040   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
       28,373,695        47,554,250   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Telecommunications — 3.1%

  

  360,000      

AT&T Inc.

    9,362,623        12,175,200   
  515,000      

BCE Inc.

    11,794,458        21,990,500   
  50,000      

Belgacom SA

    1,602,316        1,329,176   
  4,495      

Bell Aliant Inc.(b)

    117,429        111,982   
  50,000      

BT Group plc, Cl. A

    204,914        277,157   
  16,000      

BT Group plc, ADR

    469,025        884,800   
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

       

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
 

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  

 

Telecommunications (Continued)

  

  570,000     

Cincinnati Bell Inc.†

  $ 2,113,891      $ 1,550,400   
  435,000     

Deutsche Telekom AG, ADR

    6,985,799        6,351,000   
  36,000     

Loral Space & Communications Inc.

    1,458,551        2,438,280   
  25,000     

Orange SA, ADR

    424,798        312,750   
  33,220     

Sprint Corp.†

    188,357        206,296   
  30,010     

Telefonica SA, ADR†

    192,371        464,555   
  340,000     

Telekom Austria AG

    4,971,579        2,850,889   
  390,000     

Telephone & Data Systems Inc.

    11,671,223        11,524,500   
  24,000     

TELUS Corp.

    185,454        795,457   
  30,000     

TELUS Corp., New York

    687,084        993,600   
  295,000     

Verizon Communications Inc.

    9,881,714        13,764,700   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      62,311,586        78,021,242   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Transportation — 0.3%

  

  171,000     

GATX Corp.

    6,081,094        8,125,920   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Wireless Communications — 1.1%

  

  3,500,000     

Cable & Wireless Communications plc

    2,195,547        2,245,508   
  8,000     

Millicom International Cellular SA

    636,267        709,360   
  36,000     

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

    2,802,200        3,178,925   
  240,000     

NTT DoCoMo Inc.

    3,485,733        3,887,075   
  80,000     

Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A/S, ADR†

    1,272,518        1,180,000   
  32,000     

United States Cellular Corp.

    1,394,584        1,456,960   
  440,000     

Vodafone Group plc, ADR

    11,867,079        15,479,200   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      23,653,928        28,137,028   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

    1,588,737,418        2,476,061,651   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.1%

  

 

Communications Equipment — 0.0%

  

  1,100     

Lucent Technologies Capital Trust I, 7.750%

    759,000        1,114,300   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Food and Beverage — 0.0%

  

  1,000     

Post Holdings Inc., 3.750%(b)

    100,000        103,405   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

Telecommunications — 0.1%

  

  31,500     

Cincinnati Bell Inc., 6.750%, Ser. B

    766,264        1,327,725   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 

TOTAL CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED STOCKS

    1,625,264        2,545,430   
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

   

Market

Value

 
  

RIGHTS — 0.0%

  

  

Health Care — 0.0%

  

  260,000      

Sanofi, CVR, expire 12/31/20†

  $ 555,689      $ 525,200   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

WARRANTS — 0.1%

  

  

Energy and Utilities: Natural Gas — 0.1%

  

  330,000      

Kinder Morgan Inc., expire 05/25/17†

    589,946        1,640,100   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

                  
  

CORPORATE BONDS — 0.3%

  

  

Diversified Industrial — 0.3%

  

  $6,500,000      

Griffon Corp., Sub. Deb. Cv., 4.000%, 01/15/17(b)

    6,477,070        7,259,687   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

Energy and Utilities: Electric — 0.0%

  

  100,000      

Texas Competitive Electric
Holdings Co. LLC, Ser. B,
10.250%, 11/01/15

    82,745        2,750   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS

    6,559,815        7,262,437   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 2.2%

  

  56,210,000      

U.S. Treasury Bills,
0.005% to 0.090%††,
10/10/13 to 03/20/14

    56,205,363        56,207,970   
    

 

 

   

 

 

 
  

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.8%

  $ 1,654,273,495        2,544,242,788   
    

 

 

   
  

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — 0.2%

   

    4,971,422   
      

 

 

 
  

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

  

  $ 2,549,214,210   
      

 

 

 

 

(a)

Denoted in units.

(b)

Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At September 30, 2013, the market value of Rule 144A securities amounted to $7,475,074 or 0.29% of net assets.

Non-income producing security.

††

Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

ADR

American Depositary Receipt

CVR

Contingent Value Right

SDR

Swedish Depositary Receipt

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

10


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2013

 

Assets:

  

Investments, at value (cost $1,654,273,495)

     $2,544,242,788   

Cash

     366   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     6,095,407   

Receivable for investments sold

     354,833   

Dividends and interest receivable

     4,004,183   

Prepaid expenses

     57,591   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     2,554,755,168   
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

     2,294,641   

Payable for investment advisory fees

     2,088,637   

Payable for distribution fees

     580,711   

Payable for accounting fees

     3,750   

Payable for shareholder services fees

     324,685   

Other accrued expenses

     248,534   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     5,540,958   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

(applicable to 96,074,001 shares outstanding)

   $ 2,549,214,210   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

   $ 1,681,175,604   

Accumulated net investment income

     2,365,606   

Accumulated net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions

     (24,304,059

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     889,969,293   

Net unrealized appreciation on foreign currency translations

     7,766   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,549,214,210   
  

 

 

 

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

  

Class AAA:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($1,726,723,597 ÷ 64,729,475 shares outstanding; 150,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 26.68   
  

 

 

 

Class A:

  

Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($215,353,591 ÷ 8,098,126 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 26.59   
  

 

 

 

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

   $ 28.21   
  

 

 

 

Class C:

  

Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($224,804,244 ÷ 9,143,147 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 24.59 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($382,332,778 ÷ 14,103,253 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 27.11   
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

Redemption price varies based on the length of time held.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended September 30, 2013

 

Investment Income:

  

Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $955,538)

   $ 59,099,593   

Interest

     418,959   
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     59,518,552   
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     23,496,165   

Distribution fees - Class AAA

     4,122,514   

Distribution fees - Class A

     463,202   

Distribution fees - Class C

     1,852,216   

Shareholder services fees

     2,064,448   

Shareholder communication expenses

     401,882   

Custodian fees

     294,945   

Legal and audit fees

     101,888   

Directors’ fees

     90,928   

Registration expenses

     86,482   

Accounting fees

     45,000   

Interest expense

     5,949   

Miscellaneous expenses

     144,119   
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     33,169,738   
  

 

 

 

Less:

  

Custodian fee credits

     (190
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     33,169,548   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     26,349,004   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments and Foreign Currency:

  

Net realized gain on investments

     56,304,506   

Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions

     138,389   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency transactions

     56,442,895   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation:

  

on investments

     366,261,540   

on foreign currency translations

     8,149   
  

 

 

 

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

     366,269,689   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments and Foreign Currency

     422,712,584   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $   449,061,588   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

11


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

     Year Ended
September 30, 2013
  Year Ended
September 30, 2012

Operations:

        

Net investment income

     $ 26,349,004       $ 24,425,358  

Net realized gain on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency transactions

       56,442,895         10,477,418  

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments, swap contracts, and foreign currency translations

       366,269,689         393,599,625  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

       449,061,588         428,502,401  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Net investment income

        

Class AAA

       (41,888,838 )       (26,576,765 )

Class A

       (4,873,154 )       (2,457,235 )

Class B*

               (658 )

Class C

       (5,331,075 )       (1,443,579 )

Class I

       (8,549,926 )       (3,633,045 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 
       (60,642,993 )       (34,111,282 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Return of capital

        

Class AAA

               (644,288 )

Class A

               (55,324 )

Class B*

               (464 )

Class C

               (1,054,766 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 
               (1,754,842 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

       (60,642,993 )       (35,866,124 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

        

Class AAA

       (152,071,501 )       (173,419,541 )

Class A

       20,867,415         21,812,344  

Class B*

               (78,939 )

Class C

       34,744,935         40,895,775  

Class I

       18,369,702         165,866,082  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions

       (78,089,449 )       55,075,721  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Redemption Fees

       12,890         2,134  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets

       310,342,036         447,714,132  

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

       2,238,872,174         1,791,158,042  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $2,365,606 and $1,264,748, respectively)

     $ 2,549,214,210       $ 2,238,872,174  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

*

Class B Shares were redeemed and closed on September 25, 2012.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

12


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:

 

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

Year Ended

September 30

  Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
  Net
Investment
Income (a)
  Net Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Investments
  Total from
Investment

Operations
  Net
Investment
Income
  Return
of
Capital
  Total
Distributions
  Redemption
Fees (a)(b)
  Net Asset
Value,
End of
Period
  Total
Return †
  Net Assets
End of
Period

(in 000’s)
  Net
Investment
Income
  Operating
Expenses
  Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

Class AAA

  

                                                   

2013

    $ 22.54       $ 0.29       $ 4.49       $ 4.78       $ (0.64 )             $ (0.64 )     $ 0.00       $ 26.68         21.38 %     $ 1,726,724         1.15 %       1.39 %       6 %

2012

      18.52         0.25         4.13         4.38         (0.35 )     $ (0.01 )       (0.36 )       0.00         22.54         23.78         1,603,696         1.17         1.40         6  

2011

      18.65         0.16         0.07         0.23         (0.16 )       (0.20 )       (0.36 )       0.00         18.52         1.05         1,464,658         0.79         1.41         14  

2010

      17.14         0.23         1.64         1.87         (0.23 )       (0.13 )       (0.36 )       0.00         18.65         11.03         1,330,970         1.29         1.44         14  

2009

      18.00         0.21         (0.71 )       (0.50 )       (0.21 )       (0.15 )       (0.36 )       0.00         17.14         (2.34 )       1,088,655         1.46         1.50         17  

Class A

  

                                                   

2013

    $ 22.47       $ 0.28       $ 4.48       $ 4.76       $ (0.64 )             $ (0.64 )     $ 0.00       $ 26.59         21.36 %     $ 215,353         1.14 %       1.39 %       6 %

2012

      18.47         0.25         4.11         4.36         (0.35 )     $ (0.01 )       (0.36 )       0.00         22.47         23.73         164,177         1.19         1.40         6  

2011

      18.60         0.17         0.06         0.23         (0.16 )       (0.20 )       (0.36 )       0.00         18.47         1.06         115,210         0.82         1.41         14  

2010

      17.09         0.24         1.63         1.87         (0.23 )       (0.13 )       (0.36 )       0.00         18.60         11.06         67,314         1.35         1.44         14  

2009

      17.95         0.21         (0.71 )       (0.50 )       (0.21 )       (0.15 )       (0.36 )       0.00         17.09         (2.34 )       31,104         1.46         1.50         17  

Class C

  

                                                   

2013

    $ 20.97       $ 0.09       $ 4.17       $ 4.26       $ (0.64 )             $ (0.64 )     $ 0.00       $ 24.59         20.50 %     $ 224,804         0.38 %       2.14 %       6 %

2012

      17.38         0.09         3.86         3.95         (0.21 )     $ (0.15 )       (0.36 )       0.00         20.97         22.85         161,842         0.46         2.15         6  

2011

      17.65         0.02         0.07         0.09         (0.02 )       (0.34 )       (0.36 )       0.00         17.38         0.31         98,296         0.09         2.16         14  

2010

      16.36         0.10         1.55         1.65         (0.23 )       (0.13 )       (0.36 )       0.00         17.65         10.20         43,429         0.61         2.19         14  

2009

      17.33         0.10         (0.71 )       (0.61 )       (0.21 )       (0.15 )       (0.36 )       0.00         16.36         (3.07 )       22,919         0.70         2.25         17  

Class I

  

                                                   

2013

    $ 22.84       $ 0.35       $ 4.56       $ 4.91       $ (0.64 )             $ (0.64 )     $ 0.00       $ 27.11         21.67 %     $ 382,333         1.38 %       1.14 %       6 %

2012

      18.71         0.33         4.16         4.49         (0.36 )               (0.36 )       0.00         22.84         24.13         309,157         1.54         1.15         6  

2011

      18.80         0.23         0.04         0.27         (0.22 )     $ (0.14 )       (0.36 )       0.00         18.71         1.26         112,929         1.10         1.16         14  

2010

      17.23         0.35         1.58         1.93         (0.23 )       (0.13 )       (0.36 )       0.00         18.80         11.32         41,204         1.92         1.19         14  

2009

      18.04         0.25         (0.70 )       (0.45 )       (0.21 )       (0.15 )       (0.36 )       0.00         17.23         (2.05 )       8,819         1.71         1.25         17  

 

 

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

(a)

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

(b)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

13


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Equity Income Fund, a series of the Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), was incorporated on July 25, 1991 in Maryland. The Fund is a diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of three separately managed portfolios (collectively, the “Portfolios”) of the Corporation. The Fund’s primary objective is to seek a high level of total return on its assets with an emphasis on income. The Fund commenced investment operations on January 2, 1992.

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

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).

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

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

 

14


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2013 is as follows:

 

     Valuation Inputs     
     Level 1
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Level 3 Significant
Unobservable  Inputs
   Total Market Value
at 9/30/13

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

                   

ASSETS (Market Value):

                   

Common Stocks:

                   

Energy and Utilities: Electric

     $ 20,877,071                 $ 0        $ 20,877,071  

Other Industries (a)

       2,455,184,580                            2,455,184,580  

Total Common Stocks

       2,476,061,651                   0          2,476,061,651  

Convertible Preferred Stocks:

                   

Food and Beverage

              $ 103,405                   103,405  

Other Industries (a)

       2,442,025                            2,442,025  

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks

       2,442,025          103,405                   2,545,430  

Rights (a)

       525,200                            525,200  

Warrants (a)

       1,640,100                            1,640,100  

Corporate Bonds (a)

                7,262,437                   7,262,437  

U.S. Government Obligations

                56,207,970                   56,207,970  

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

     $ 2,480,668,976        $ 63,573,812        $ 0        $ 2,544,242,788  

 

(a)

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

The Fund did not have transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended September 30, 2013. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

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

 

15


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common and preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, and fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

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

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in a number of derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or that, in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.

The Fund’s derivative contracts held at September 30, 2013, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2011-11 requires a fund to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of assets and liabilities and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The scope of ASU 2011-11 includes derivatives and sale and repurchase agreements. The purpose of ASU 2011-11 is to facilitate comparison of financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP and on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-11 is effective for financial statements whose fiscal year begins after December 31, 2012. Management is currently evaluating the impact on the additional disclosure requirements on the Fund’s financial statements.

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is exchanged between two counterparties.

 

16


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

One of these cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Depending on the general state of short term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time a swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction.

Unrealized gains related to swaps are reported as an asset and unrealized losses are reported as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in value of swaps, including the accrual of periodic amounts of interest to be received or paid on swaps, is reported as unrealized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. A realized gain or loss is recorded upon payment or receipt of a periodic payment or termination of swap agreements. At September 30, 2013, the Fund held no investments in equity contract for difference swap agreements.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

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

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

Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities whose disposition is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional

 

17


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and accordingly the Board will monitor their liquidity. For the restricted securities the Fund held as of September 30, 2013, refer to the Schedule of Investments.

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

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

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

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences are primarily due to recharacterization of distributions, tax treatment of currency gains and losses, and reclassifications of distributions from investments in real estate investment trusts. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended September 30, 2013, reclassifications were made to increase accumulated net investment income by $35,394,847 and decrease accumulated net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions by $446,332, with an offsetting adjustment to paid-in-capital.

 

18


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 was as follows:

 

    

Year Ended
September 30, 2013

  

Year Ended
September 30, 2012

Distributions paid from:

         

Ordinary income

     $ 60,642,993        $ 34,111,282  

Return of capital

                1,754,842  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

     $ 60,642,993        $ 35,866,124  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

The Fund has a fixed distribution policy. Under the policy, the Fund declares and pays monthly distributions from net investment income, capital gains, and paid-in capital. The actual source of the distribution is determined after the end of the calendar year. Pursuant to this policy, distributions during the calendar year are made in excess of required distributions. To the extent such distributions are made from current earnings and profits, they are considered ordinary income or long term capital gains. The Fund’s current distribution policy may restrict the Fund’s ability to pass through to shareholders all of its net realized long term capital gains as a Capital Gain Dividend, subject to the maximum federal income tax rate of 20%, and may cause such gains to be treated as ordinary income subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 39.6%. In addition, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, certain U.S. shareholders who are individuals, estates, or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay 3.8% Medicare tax on their “net investment income,” which includes dividends received from the Fund and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund. Distributions sourced from paid-in capital should not be considered as dividend yield or the total return from an investment in the Fund. The Board continues to evaluate its distribution policy in light of ongoing economic and market conditions and may change the amount of the monthly distributions in the future. The current annualized rate is $1.20 per share.

Provision for Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

At September 30, 2013, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Accumulated capital loss carryforwards

   $ (14,023,002

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     882,061,608   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 868,038,606   
  

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013, the Fund had net capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes which are available to reduce future required distributions of net capital gains to shareholders. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the Fund will be permitted to carry forward for an unlimited period capital losses incurred in years beginning after December 22, 2010. In addition, these losses must be utilized prior to the losses incurred in pre-enactment taxable years. As a result of the rule, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may have an increased likelihood of expiring unused. Additionally, post enactment capital

 

19


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short term or long term capital losses rather than being considered all short term as under previous law.

 

Capital Loss Carryforward Available through 2018

   $ 5,779,719   

Capital Loss Carryforward Available through 2019

     8,243,283   
  

 

 

 

Total Capital Loss Carryforwards

   $ 14,023,002   
  

 

 

 

During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund utilized capital loss carryforwards of $57,919,526.

At September 30, 2013, the differences between book basis and tax basis unrealized appreciation were primarily due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes and tax basis adjustments on partnership, investments in passive foreign investment companies, and real estate investments trusts.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments and the related net unrealized appreciation at September 30, 2013:

 

     Cost    Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
   Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
   Net Unrealized
Appreciation

Investments

     $ 1,662,188,946        $ 927,106,171        $ (45,052,329 )      $ 882,053,842  

The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. As of September 30, 2013, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. Tax years ended September 30, 2010 through September 30, 2013 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

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

The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $18,000 plus $2,000 for each Board meeting attended, and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $500 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives a $3,000 annual fee, and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.

 

20


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended September 30, 2013, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $148,072,270 and $255,555,378, respectively.

6. Transactions with Affiliates. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid brokerage commissions on security trades of $224,461 to G.research, Inc. (formerly Gabelli & Company, Inc.), an affiliate of the Adviser. Additionally, the Distributor retained a total of $197,891 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid or accrued $45,000 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.

7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the higher of the sum of the overnight LIBOR rate plus 100 basis points or the sum of the federal funds rate plus 100 basis points at the time of borrowing. This amount, if any, would be included in “interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. At September 30, 2013, there were no borrowings outstanding under the line of credit.

The average daily amount of borrowings outstanding under the line of credit during the year ended September 30, 2013 was $818,162 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.15%. The maximum amount borrowed at anytime during the year ended September 30, 2013 was $17,427,000.

8. Capital Stock. The Fund offers four classes of shares – Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA Shares are offered without a sales charge only to investors who acquire them directly from the Distributor, through selected broker/dealers, or the transfer agent. Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge, directly through the Distributor or brokers that have entered into selling agreements specifically with respect to Class I Shares. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.

The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 amounted to $12,890 and $2,134, respectively.

 

21


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
September 30, 2013
    Year Ended
September 30, 2012
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class AAA

        

Shares sold

     7,432,312      $ 184,885,486        14,361,618      $ 303,464,063   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     1,589,668        40,317,142        1,199,611        25,557,490   

Shares redeemed

     (15,448,311     (377,274,129     (23,498,722     (502,441,094
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (6,426,331   $ (152,071,501     (7,937,493   $ (173,419,541
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A

        

Shares sold

     2,373,529      $ 59,611,052        3,228,646      $ 67,537,066   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     159,832        4,056,585        97,038        2,064,798   

Shares redeemed

     (1,741,311     (42,800,222     (2,258,986     (47,789,520
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     792,050      $ 20,867,415        1,066,698      $ 21,812,344   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B*

        

Shares sold

                   608      $ 11,530   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

                   51        1,005   

Shares redeemed

                   (4,422     (91,474
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

                   (3,763   $ (78,939
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Shares sold

     2,804,546      $ 66,345,646        3,029,165      $ 60,064,059   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     166,930        3,934,359        88,822        1,775,195   

Shares redeemed

     (1,545,194     (35,535,070     (1,056,164     (20,943,479
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     1,426,282      $ 34,744,935        2,061,823      $ 40,895,775   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I

        

Shares sold

     5,027,715      $ 128,728,851        11,496,875      $ 252,401,765   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     270,917        6,997,768        153,070        3,333,904   

Shares redeemed

     (4,731,705     (117,356,917     (4,148,114     (89,869,587
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     566,927      $ 18,369,702        7,501,831      $ 165,866,082   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

*

Class B Shares were fully redeemed and closed on September 25, 2012.

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

10. Other Matters. On April 24, 2008, the Adviser entered into a settlement with the SEC to resolve an inquiry regarding prior frequent trading in shares of the GAMCO Global Growth Fund (the “Global Growth Fund”) by one investor who was banned from the Global Growth Fund in August 2002. Under the terms of the settlement, the Adviser, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings and allegations, paid $16 million (which included a $5 million civil monetary penalty). On the same day, the SEC filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Adviser, alleging violations of certain federal securities laws arising from the same matter. The officer, who also is an officer of the Global Growth Fund and other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO complex, including this Fund, denies the allegations and is continuing in his positions with the Adviser and the funds. The settlement by the Adviser did not have, and the resolution of the action against the officer is not expected to have, a material adverse impact on the Adviser or its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Advisory Agreement.

 

22


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

 

23


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The Gabelli Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc., as of September 30, 2013, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s 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. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2013, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. 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 Gabelli Equity Income Fund, a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc., at September 30, 2013, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

November 25, 2013

 

24


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Additional Fund Information (Unaudited)

 

The business and affairs of the Corporation are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Corporation is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Corporation’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The Gabelli Equity Income Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.

 

Name, Position(s)

Address1

and Age

  

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served2

  

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex
Overseen by Director

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director4

INTERESTED DIRECTORS3 :

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Director and

Chief Investment Officer

Age: 71

   Since 1991    27    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc., and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies in the Gabelli/ GAMCO Funds Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.    Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director, ICTC Group, Inc. (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company) (2011-2012)

John D. Gabelli

Director

Age: 69

   Since 1991    10    Senior Vice President of G.research, Inc.   
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5 :

Anthony J. Colavita

Director

Age: 77

   Since 1991    35    President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.   

Vincent D. Enright

Director

Age: 69

   Since 1991    17    Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corporation (public utility) (1994-1998)    Director of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics); Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing)

Robert J. Morrissey

Director

Age: 74

   Since 1991    6    Partner in the law firm of Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch   

Kuni Nakamura

Director

Age: 45

   Since 2009    13    President of Advanced Polymer, Inc. (chemical wholesale company)   

Anthony R. Pustorino

Director

Age: 88

   Since 1991    13    Certified Public Accountant; Professor Emeritus, Pace University    Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2002-2010)

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Director

Age: 79

   Since 1991    20    Chairman of BALMAC International, Inc. (commodities and futures trading)   

Salvatore J. Zizza

Director

Age: 67

   Since 2001    29    Chairman (since 1978) of Zizza & Associates Corp. (financial consulting); Chairman (since 2005) of Metropolitan Paper Recycling, Inc. (recycling); Chairman (since 1999) of Harbor BioSciences, Inc. (biotechnology)    Director and Vice Chairman of Trans-Lux Corporation (business services); Director and Chairman of Harbor Diversified Inc. (pharmaceutical); Chairman of Bion Environmental Technologies (technology); Director, Chairman, and CEO of General Employment Enterprises (staffing services) (2009-2012).

 

25


The Gabelli Equity Income Fund

Additional Fund Information (Continued) (Unaudited)

 

 

Name, Position(s)

Address1

and Age

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served2

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

OFFICERS:    

Bruce N. Alpert

President, Secretary, and

Acting Chief Compliance

Officer

Age: 61

 

Since 1991

Since November

2011

  Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1988; Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex; Director of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2012; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc. 2008-2010; President of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2008; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer

Age: 55

  Since 2006   President and Chief Operating Officer of the Open-End Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since September 2010; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex

 

 

1

Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted.

2

Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Fund’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

3

“Interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Messers. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers.

4

This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

5

Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors.

 

2013 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS (Unaudited)

For the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid to shareholders ordinary income distributions (comprised of net investment income) totaling $0.64, $0.64, $0.64, and $0.64 per share for Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I, respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2013, 78.56% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 93.62% of the ordinary income distribution (excluding return of capital distributions) as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 0.72% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified interest income pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

U.S. Government Income:

The percentage of the ordinary income distribution paid by the Fund during the year ended September 30, 2013 which was derived from U.S. Treasury securities was 0.01%. Such income is exempt from state and local tax in all states. However, many states, including New York and California, allow a tax exemption for a portion of the income earned only if a mutual fund has invested at least 50% of its assets at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year in U.S. Government securities. The Fund did not meet this strict requirement in 2013. Due to the diversity in state and local tax law, it is recommended that you consult your personal tax adviser as to the applicability of the information provided to your specific situation.

 

 

All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

26


GABELLI EQUITY INCOME FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Manager Biography

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc. that he founded in 1977 and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc. Mr. Gabelli is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and Honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.

 

 

Morningstar Rating™ is based on risk-adjusted returns. The Overall Morningstar Rating is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with a fund’s three, five, and ten year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. For funds with at least a three year history, a Morningstar Rating is based on a risk-adjusted return measure (including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees) placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. That accounts for variations in a fund’s monthly performance. The top 10% of funds in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% 4 stars, the next 35% 3 stars, the next 22.5% 2 stars, and the bottom 10% 1 star. (Each share class is counted as a fraction of one fund within this scale and rated separately, which may cause slight variations in the distribution percentages.) Morningstar Rating is for the AAA Share class only; other classes may have different performance characteristics. Ratings reflect relative performance. Results for certain periods were negative. © 2013 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

 

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


Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.

THE GABELLI EQUITY INCOME FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

 

t

800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)

 

f

914-921-5118

 

e

info@gabelli.com

  

GABELLI.COM

Net Asset Value per share available daily

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

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

Anthony J. Colavita

President,

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

Vincent D. Enright

Former Senior Vice

President and Chief

Financial Officer,

KeySpan Corp.

John D. Gabelli

Senior Vice President,

G.research, Inc.

Robert J. Morrissey

Partner,

Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch

Kuni Nakamura

President,

Advanced Polymer, Inc.

Anthony R. Pustorino

Certified Public Accountant,

Professor Emeritus,

Pace University

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Chairman,

BALMAC International, Inc.

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman,

Zizza & Associates Corp.

OFFICERS

Bruce N. Alpert

President, Secretary, and

Acting Chief Compliance

Officer

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer

DISTRIBUTOR

G.distributors, LLC

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER

AGENT, AND DIVIDEND

DISBURSING AGENT

State Street Bank and Trust

Company

LEGAL COUNSEL

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &

Flom LLP

 

 

 

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

 

 

LOGO

 

Overall Morningstar Rating

  

TM LOGO

Morningstar® rated The Gabelli Equity Income Fund Class AAA Shares 4 stars overall, 3 stars for the three year period, 4 stars for the five year period, and 5 stars for the ten year period ended September 30, 2013 among 1,372, 1,372, 1,233, and 779 Large Blend funds, respectively. Morningstar RatingTM is based on risk-adjusted returns.

 

GAB444Q313AR

LOGO

 


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Annual Report — September 30, 2013

To Our Shareholders,

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, the net asset value (“NAV”) per Class I Share of The Gabelli Focus Five Fund increased 28.0% compared with an increase of 19.3% for the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index. See page 2 for additional performance information.

Enclosed are the schedule of investments and financial statements as of September 30, 2013.

Performance Discussion (Unaudited)

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013, assets under management increased from $36.1 million to $408.5 million, a dramatic rise we attribute to the unique investment approach the Fund adopted on January 1, 2012. The Fund employed a small cap value strategy, prior to becoming a concentrated “best ideas” strategy comprised of 25-35 securities across all market capitalizations.

Despite the Fund’s strong investment performance during the fiscal year, the biggest detractor was the relatively high percentage of cash held as a result of the aforementioned inflows and a conservative methodology for allocating capital. Cash as a percentage of AUM averaged just under 20% during the fiscal year, and offset some of the better performing individual investments like Weatherford International Ltd. (4.0% of net assets as of September 30, 2013), GNC Holdings Inc. (3.0%), Inventure Foods Inc. (1.0%), and Tenneco Inc. (0.7%).

The Fund’s investment objective, seeking to provide a high level of capital appreciation, remains unchanged.

We appreciate your continuing confidence and trust.


Comparative Results

Average Annual Returns through September 30, 2013 (a)(b) (Unaudited)

 

     1 Year(c)   5 Year   10 Year   Since
January  1,
2012
(c)
  Since
Inception
(12/31/02)

Class AAA (GWSVX)

       27.74 %       10.50 %       9.67 %       25.53 %       9.54 %

S&P 500 Index

       19.34         10.02         7.57         20.69 (d)       8.40  

Class A (GWSAX)

       27.76         10.52         9.72         25.58         9.57  

With sales charge (e)

       20.41         9.19         9.05         21.40         8.95  

Class C (GWSCX)

       26.80         9.71         8.88         24.64         8.78  

With contingent deferred sales charge (f)

       25.80         9.71         8.88         24.64         8.78  

Class I (GWSIX)

       28.00         10.82         9.84         25.89         9.69  

In the current prospectuses dated January 28, 2013, the gross expense ratios for Class AAA, A, C, and I Shares are stated as 2.41%, 2.41%, 3.16%, and 2.16%, respectively, and the net expense ratios after contractual reimbursements by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”) in place through January 31, 2014 are 1.70%, 1.70%, 2.45%, and 1.45%, respectively. See page 9 for the expense ratios for the year ended September 30, 2013. Class AAA and Class I Shares do not have a sales charge. The maximum sales charge for Class A and C Shares is 5.75% and 1.00%, respectively. The actual expense ratios may be lower than what is stated in the prospectuses.

  (a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in share price, reinvestment of distributions and are net of expenses. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Returns would have been lower had the Adviser not reimbursed certain expenses of the Fund. The Fund imposes a 2% redemption fee on shares sold or exchanged within seven days after the date of purchase. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains information about these and other matters and should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus please visit our website at www.gabelli.com. The Class AAA Share NAVs are used to calculate performance for the periods prior to the issuance of Class I Shares on January 11, 2008. The actual performance of Class I Shares would have been higher due to lower expenses associated with this class of shares. The S&P 500 Index is a market capitalization weighted index of 500 large capitalization stocks commonly used to represent the U.S. equity market. Dividends are considered reinvested. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 
  (b)

The Fund’s fiscal year ends September 30.

 
  (c)

On January 1, 2012, the Fund changed its investment strategy to the current investment strategy. (d) S&P 500 Index performance is as of December 31, 2011.

 
  (e)

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

 
  (f)

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

 

COMPARISON OF CHANGE IN VALUE OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT IN

THE GABELLI FOCUS FIVE FUND CLASS AAA AND THE S&P 500 INDEX (Unaudited)

 

LOGO

 

*

Past performance is not predictive of future results. The performance tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

2


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund   
Disclosure of Fund Expenses (Unaudited)   
For the Six Month Period from April 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013      Expense Table   

 

 

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

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

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

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

Hypothetical 5% Return: This section provides information about hypothetical account values and

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

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, if any, which are described in the Prospectus. If these costs were applied to your account, your costs would be higher. Therefore, the 5% hypothetical return is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. The “Annualized Expense Ratio” represents the actual expenses for the last six months and may be different from the expense ratio in the Financial Highlights which is for the year ended September 30, 2013.

 

     

Beginning

Account Value

04/01/13

  

Ending

Account Value

09/30/13

  

Annualized

Expense

Ratio

 

Expenses

Paid During

Period*

The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Actual Fund Return

             

Class AAA

   $1,000.00    $1,064.40    1.48%   $7.66

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,064.60    1.48%   $7.66

Class C

   $1,000.00    $1,061.20    2.23%   $11.52

Class I

   $1,000.00    $1,065.70    1.23%   $6.37

Hypothetical 5% Return

Class AAA

   $1,000.00    $1,017.65    1.48%   $7.49

Class A

   $1,000.00    $1,017.65    1.48%   $7.49

Class C

   $1,000.00    $1,013.89    2.23%   $11.26

Class I

   $1,000.00    $1,018.90    1.23%   $6.23
*

Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the last six months multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half year (183 days), then divided by 365.

 

 

3


Summary of Portfolio Holdings (Unaudited)

The following table presents portfolio holdings as a percent of net assets as of September 30, 2013:

The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

 

Long Positions    Percent  

U.S. Government Obligations

     19.1%   

Cable and Satellite

     10.8%   

Retail

     9.8%   

Health Care

     8.1%   

Computer Software and Services

     6.0%   

Energy and Utilities

     5.5%   

Consumer Services

     5.5%   

Diversified Industrial

     4.9%   

Food and Beverage

     4.8%   

Machinery

     4.8%   

Automotive

     4.4%   

Specialty Chemicals

     4.3%   

Financial Services

     3.9%   

Communications

     2.4%   

Publishing

     2.2%   

Entertainment

     2.1%   

Automotive: Parts and Accessories

     1.1%   

Equipment and Supplies

     0.0%   

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net)

     0.4%   

Short Positions

  

Call Options Written

     (0.1)%   

Put Options Written

     (0.0)%   
  

 

 

 
     100.0%   
  

 

 

 
 

 

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

Proxy Voting

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

 

4


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Schedule of Investments — September 30, 2013

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
 

COMMON STOCKS — 80.6%

     
 

Automotive — 4.4%

     
  500,000     

General Motors Co.†

   $   15,539,042       $   17,985,000   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 1.1%

  

  80,800     

Dana Holding Corp.

     986,548         1,845,472   
  54,400     

Tenneco Inc.†

     2,069,271         2,747,200   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       3,055,819         4,592,672   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Cable and Satellite — 10.8%

     
  288,900     

DIRECTV†

     16,310,964         17,261,775   
  115,000     

EchoStar Corp., Cl. A†

     3,578,399         5,053,100   
  290,100     

Liberty Global plc, Cl. C†

     20,484,416         21,882,243   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       40,373,779         44,197,118   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Communications — 2.4%

     
  135,000     

American Tower Corp.

     9,495,094         10,007,550   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Computer Software and Services — 6.0%

  

  175,000     

Blucora Inc.†

     2,596,149         4,021,500   
  542,149     

Guidance Software Inc.†

     4,896,770         4,917,291   
  1,367,012     

Internap Network Services Corp.†

     9,948,422         9,500,734   
  849,764     

RealD Inc.†

     9,285,370         5,948,348   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       26,726,711         24,387,873   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Consumer Services — 5.5%

     
  550,000     

The ADT Corp.

     22,415,369         22,363,000   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Diversified Industrial — 4.9%

     
  131,879     

Haynes International Inc.

     6,361,365         5,978,075   
  125,705     

Tredegar Corp.

     3,088,470         3,268,330   
  302,700     

Tyco International Ltd.

     9,655,929         10,588,446   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       19,105,764         19,834,851   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Energy and Utilities — 5.5%

     
  190,000     

CONSOL Energy Inc.

     5,579,877         6,393,500   
  1,062,100     

Weatherford International Ltd.†

     12,957,831         16,281,993   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       18,537,708         22,675,493   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Entertainment — 2.1%

     
  481,540     

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.†

     8,508,955         8,744,766   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Equipment and Supplies — 0.0%

     
  3,200     

Gerber Scientific Inc., Escrow†

     0         32   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Financial Services — 3.9%

     
  325,000     

CIT Group Inc.†

     14,018,996         15,850,250   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Food and Beverage — 4.8%

     
  70,000     

Boulder Brands Inc.†

     612,122         1,122,800   
  304,495     

Hillshire Brands Co.

     9,831,034         9,360,176   
  395,235     

Inventure Foods Inc.†

     2,547,687         4,149,968   
  47,289     

The J.M. Smucker Co.

     4,740,481         4,967,237   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       17,731,324         19,600,181   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares

        

Cost

    

Market

Value

 
 

Health Care — 8.1%

     
  170,000     

DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.†

   $ 9,517,864       $ 9,673,000   
  130,000     

Endo Health Solutions Inc.†

     3,903,912         5,907,200   
  139,400     

Express Scripts Holding Co.†

     8,327,321         8,612,132   
  1,014,817     

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc.†

     1,983,981         2,405,116   
  125,000     

Medtronic Inc.

     6,732,324         6,656,250   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       30,465,402         33,253,698   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Machinery — 4.8%

     
  280,000     

Kennametal Inc.

     10,846,791         12,768,000   
  239,000     

Xylem Inc.

     6,125,096         6,675,270   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       16,971,887         19,443,270   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Publishing — 2.2%

     
  550,000     

News Corp., Cl. A†

     8,452,126         8,833,000   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Retail — 9.8%

     
  227,500     

GNC Holdings Inc., Cl. A

     7,923,200         12,428,325   
  285,347     

Macy’s Inc.

     12,560,060         12,346,965   
  302,202     

Outerwall Inc.†

     15,558,146         15,107,078   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       36,041,406         39,882,368   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

Specialty Chemicals — 4.3%

     
  600,000     

Chemtura Corp.†

     13,068,474         13,794,000   
  191,384     

Huntsman Corp.

     3,752,707         3,944,424   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
       16,821,181         17,738,424   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     304,260,563         329,389,546   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Principal

Amount

                   
 

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 19.1%

  

  $77,803,000     

U.S. Treasury Bills,

     
 

0.010% to 0.090%††,

     
 

10/10/13 to 03/20/14(a)

     77,795,267         77,800,448   
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.7%

   $ 382,055,830         407,189,994   
    

 

 

    
 

CALL OPTIONS WRITTEN — (0.1)%
(Premiums received $76,961)

        (174,080
 

PUT OPTIONS WRITTEN — (0.0)%
(Premiums received $72,025)

        (13,750
 

Other Assets and Liabilities (Net) — 0.4%

  

     1,464,484   
       

 

 

 
 

NET ASSETS — 100.0%

      $ 408,466,648   
       

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

5


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2013

 

 

Number of

Contracts

        

Expiration

Date/

Exercise

Price

    

Market

Value

 
 

OPTIONS CONTRACTS WRITTEN (b) — (0.1)%

  

 

Call Options Written — (0.1)%

     
  272     

Tenneco Inc.

     Oct. 13/44       $        174,080   
       

 

 

 
 

Put Options Written — (0.0)%

     
  500     

National Fuel Gas Co.

     Jan. 14/50         13,750   
       

 

 

 
 

TOTAL OPTIONS CONTRACTS WRITTEN
(Premiums received $148,986)

   

   $ 187,830   
       

 

 

 

 

(a)

At September 30, 2013, $11,140,000 of the principal amount was pledged as collateral for options written.

(b)

At September 30, 2013, the Fund had entered into exchange traded Option Contracts Written with Pershing LLC.

Non-income producing security.

††

Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

6


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2013

 

Assets:

  

Investments, at value (cost $382,055,830)

     $407,189,994   

Cash

     1,779   

Deposit at brokers

     927,368   

Receivable for investments sold

     7,290,502   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     6,450,911   

Dividends receivable

     126,314   

Prepaid expenses

     34,041      
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     422,020,909   
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Call options written (premiums received $76,961)

     174,080   

Put options written (premiums received $72,025)

     13,750   

Payable for investments purchased

     12,534,044   

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

     285,228   

Payable for investment advisory fees

     309,347   

Payable for distribution fees

     92,971   

Payable for accounting fees

     3,750   

Other accrued expenses

     141,091   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     13,554,261   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets
(applicable to 29,920,855 shares
    outstanding)

     $408,466,648   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

     $378,974,911   

Accumulated net realized gain on investments

     4,396,417   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     25,134,164   

Net unrealized depreciation on written options

     (38,844
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

     $408,466,648   
  

 

 

 

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

  

Class AAA:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($50,274,825 ÷ 3,663,983 shares outstanding; 100,000,000 shares authorized)

     $13.72   
  

 

 

 

Class A:

  

Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($192,156,714 ÷ 13,878,143 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

     $13.85   
  

 

 

 

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

     $14.69   
  

 

 

 

Class C:

  

Net Asset Value and offering price per share ($55,865,389 ÷ 4,473,358 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

     $12.49 (a) 
  

 

 

 

Class I:

  

Net Asset Value, offering, and redemption price per share ($110,169,720 ÷ 7,905,371 shares outstanding; 50,000,000 shares authorized)

     $13.94   
  

 

 

 

 

(a)

Redemption price varies based on the length of time held.

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended September 30, 2013

 

Investment Income:

  

Dividends

   $ 857,719   

Interest

     27,536   
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     885,255   
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory fees

     1,793,203   

Distribution fees - Class AAA

     76,242   

Distribution fees - Class A

     218,716   

Distribution fees - Class C

     229,624   

Registration expenses

     108,738   

Shareholder services fees

     99,128   

Shareholder communications expenses

     44,450   

Custodian fees

     38,940   

Accounting fees

     37,500   

Legal and audit fees

     32,093   

Directors’ fees

     4,473   

Miscellaneous expenses

     14,313   
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     2,697,420   
  

 

 

 

Plus:

  

Expenses recovered by the Adviser
(See Note 3)

     140,973   

Less:

  

Custodian fee credits

     (837
  

 

 

 

Net Expenses

     2,837,556   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (1,952,301
  

 

 

 

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

  

Net realized gain on investments

     6,327,190   

Net realized gain on written options

     410,054   

Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions

     40,184   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain on investments, written options, and foreign currency transactions

     6,777,428   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation

  

on investments

     23,429,780   

on written options

     (38,844
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation on investments and written options

     23,390,936   
  

 

 

 

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

     30,168,364   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $   28,216,063   
  

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

7


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

    

Year Ended

September 30, 2013

 

Year Ended

September 30, 2012

Operations:

        

Net investment loss

     $ (1,952,301 )     $ (134,190 )

Net realized gain on investments, written options, and foreign currency transactions

       6,777,428         1,294,797  

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and written options

       23,390,936         2,260,830  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

       28,216,063         3,421,437  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Distributions to Shareholders:

        

Net realized gain

        

Class AAA

       (419,316 )       (42,840 )

Class A

       (480,398 )       (2,071 )

Class C

       (124,218 )       (1,905 )

Class I

       (512,805 )       (702 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total Distributions to Shareholders

       (1,536,737 )       (47,518 )
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Capital Share Transactions:

        

Class AAA

       33,193,251         4,537,223  

Class A

       171,356,636         7,210,628  

Class C

       51,046,361         1,586,991  

Class I

       90,128,010         13,734,180  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets from Capital Share Transactions.

       345,724,258         27,069,022  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Redemption Fees

       458         14  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets

       372,404,042         30,442,955  

Net Assets:

        

Beginning of year

       36,062,606         5,619,651  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

End of year (including undistributed net investment income of $0 and $0, respectively)

     $ 408,466,648       $ 36,062,606  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

8


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year:

 

        Income (Loss)
from Investment Operations
  Distributions                   Ratios to Average Net Assets/
Supplemental Data
        Year Ended
        September
               30
  Net
Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Period
  Net
Investment
Loss (a)(b)
  Net
Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
on
Investments
  Total from
Investment
Operations
  Net
Realized
Gain on
Investments
  Total
Distributions
  Redemption
Fees (b)(c)
  Net
Asset
Value,
End of
Period
  Total
Return †
  Net
Assets
End of
Period
(in 000’s)
  Net
Investment
Loss (a)
  Expenses
Net of
Waivers/
Reimburse-
ments (d)
  Expenses
Before
Waivers/
Reimburse-
ments
  Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

Class AAA

  

                                                   

2013

      $11.11         $(0.14 )       $3.13         $2.99         $(0.38 )       $(0.38 )       $0.00         $13.72         27.74 %       $50,275         (1.05 )%       1.54 %(e)       1.54 %(e)       69 %

2012

      8.19         (0.11 )       3.10         2.99         (0.07 )       (0.07 )       0.00         11.11         36.71         11,714         (1.09 )       2.01         2.69 (f)       140  

2011

      8.92         (0.12 )       (0.61 )       (0.73 )                       0.00         8.19         (8.18 )       5,207         (1.21 )       2.01         2.80 (f)       40  

2010

      7.90         (0.11 )       1.13         1.02                                 8.92         12.91         5,739         (1.33 )       2.01         3.09 (f)       61  

2009

      9.30         (0.07 )       (0.92 )       (0.99 )       (0.41 )       (0.41 )       0.00         7.90         (8.99 )       5,462         (1.04 )       2.01         3.34 (f)       62  

Class A

  

                                                   

2013

      $11.21         $(0.14 )       $3.16         $3.02         $(0.38 )       $(0.38 )       $0.00         $13.85         27.76 %       $192,157         (1.05 )%       1.54 %(e)       1.54 %(e)       69 %

2012

      8.26         (0.13 )       3.15         3.02         (0.07 )       (0.07 )       0.00         11.21         36.76         7,574         (1.20 )       2.01         2.69 (f)       140  

2011

      8.99         (0.12 )       (0.61 )       (0.73 )                       0.00         8.26         (8.12 )       139         (1.21 )       2.01         2.80 (f)       40  

2010

      7.96         (0.11 )       1.14         1.03                                 8.99         12.94         116         (1.27 )       2.01         3.09 (f)       61  

2009

      9.37         (0.07 )       (0.93 )       (1.00 )       (0.41 )       (0.41 )       0.00         7.96         (9.04 )       50         (1.06 )       2.01         3.34 (f)       62  

Class C

  

                                                   

2013

      $10.22         $(0.22 )       $2.87         $2.65         $(0.38 )       $(0.38 )       $0.00         $12.49         26.80 %       $55,865         (1.79 )%       2.29 %(e)       2.29 %(e)       69 %

2012

      7.59         (0.17 )       2.87         2.70         (0.07 )       (0.07 )       0.00         10.22         35.79         1,913         (1.83 )       2.76         3.44 (f)       140  

2011

      8.33         (0.18 )       (0.56 )       (0.74 )                       0.00         7.59         (8.88 )       192         (1.96 )       2.76         3.55 (f)       40  

2010

      7.43         (0.16 )       1.06         0.90                                 8.33         12.11         119         (2.09 )       2.76         3.84 (f)       61  

2009

      8.84         (0.11 )       (0.89 )       (1.00 )       (0.41 )       (0.41 )       0.00         7.43         (9.61 )       122         (1.78 )       2.76         4.09 (f)       62  

Class I

  

                                                   

2013

      $11.26         $(0.11 )       $3.17         $3.06         $(0.38 )       $(0.38 )       $0.00         $13.94         28.00 %       $110,170         (0.79 )%       1.29 %(e)       1.29 %(e)       69 %

2012

      8.27         (0.09 )       3.15         3.06         (0.07 )       (0.07 )       0.00         11.26         37.21         14,862         (0.84 )       1.76         2.44 (f)       140  

2011

      8.98         (0.10 )       (0.61 )       (0.71 )                       0.00         8.27         (7.91 )       82         (0.96 )       1.76         2.55 (f)       40  

2010

      7.93         (0.09 )       1.14         1.05                                 8.98         13.24         67         (1.09 )       1.76         2.84 (f)       61  

2009

      9.31         (0.05 )       (0.92 )       (0.97 )       (0.41 )       (0.41 )       0.00         7.93         (8.76 )       59         (0.79 )       1.76         3.09 (f)       62  

 

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

(a)

Due to capital share activity, net investment loss per share and the ratio to average net assets are not necessarily correlated among the different classes of shares.

(b)

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

(c)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

(d)

The Fund incurred interest expense during the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010, and 2009. If interest expense had not been incurred, each year the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would have been 2.00% (Class AAA and Class A), 2.75% (Class C), and 1.75% (Class I), respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2013, there was no interest expense, and for the year ended September 30, 2012, the effect of interest expense was minimal.

(e)

Under an expense deferral agreement with the Adviser, the Adviser recovered from the Fund $140,973 for the year ended September 30, 2013, representing previously reimbursed expenses from the Adviser. Had such payment not been made, the expense ratio would have been 1.48% (Class AAA), 1.48% (Class A), 2.23% (Class C), and 1.23% (Class I).

(f)

During the period, expenses were voluntarily reduced and/or reimbursed. If such fee reductions and/or reimbursements had not occurred, the ratio would have been as shown.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

9


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1. Organization. The Gabelli Focus Five Fund is a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”). The Corporation was incorporated on July 25, 1991 in Maryland. The Fund is a non-diversified open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and one of three separately managed portfolios of the Corporation. The Fund seeks to provide a high level of capital appreciation. The Fund commenced investment operations on December 31, 2002.

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

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Directors (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).

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

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

 

10


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2013 is as follows:

 

     Valuation Inputs    Total Market Value
at 9/30/13
     Level 1
Quoted Prices
  Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Level 3 Significant
Unobservable  Inputs
  

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

                  

ASSETS (Market Value):

                  

Common Stocks:

                  

Equipment and Supplies

                      $ 32        $ 32  

Other Industries (a)

     $ 329,389,514                           329,389,514  

Total Common Stocks

       329,389,514                  32          329,389,546  

U.S. Government Obligations

             $ 77,800,448                   77,800,448  

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

     $ 329,389,514       $ 77,800,448        $ 32        $ 407,189,994  

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

                  

LIABILITIES (Market Value):

                  

EQUITY CONTRACTS:

                  

Call Options Written

     $ (174,080 )                       $ (174,080 )

Put Options Written

       (13,750 )                         (13,750 )

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES - LIABILITIES

     $ (187,830 )                       $ (187,830 )

 

(a)

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

The Fund did not have transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year ended September 30, 2013. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Additional Information to Evaluate Qualitative Information.

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

 

11


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common and preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, and fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. A significant change in the unobservable inputs could result in a lower or higher value in Level 3 securities. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

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

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in a number of derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or that, in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions. The Fund’s derivative contracts held at September 30, 2013, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2011-11 requires a fund to disclose both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of assets and liabilities and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The scope of ASU 2011-11 includes derivatives and sale and repurchase agreements. The purpose of ASU 2011-11 is to facilitate comparison of financial statements prepared on the basis of GAAP and on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU 2011-11 is effective for financial statements whose fiscal year begins after December 31, 2012. Management is currently evaluating the impact on the additional disclosure requirements on the Fund’s financial statements.

Options. The Fund may purchase or write call or put options on securities or indices for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. As a writer of put options, the Fund receives a premium at the outset and then bears the risk of unfavorable changes in the price of the financial instrument underlying the option. The Fund would incur a loss if the price of the underlying financial instrument decreases between the date the

 

12


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

option is written and the date on which the option is terminated. The Fund would realize a gain, to the extent of the premium, if the price of the financial instrument increases between those dates. If a written call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security in determining whether there has been a realized gain or loss. If a written put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the security. As a purchaser of put options, the Fund pays a premium for the right to sell to the seller of the put option the underlying security at a specified price. The seller of the put has the obligation to purchase the underlying security upon exercise at the exercise price. If the price of the underlying security declines, the Fund would realize a gain upon sale or exercise. If the price of the underlying security increases or stays the same, the Fund would realize a loss upon sale or at expiration date, but only to the extent of the premium paid.

In the case of call options, these exercise prices are referred to as “in-the-money,” “at-the-money,” and “out-of-the-money,” respectively. The Fund may write (a) in-the-money call options when the Adviser expects that the price of the underlying security will remain stable or decline during the option period, (b) at-the-money call options when the Adviser expects that the price of the underlying security will remain stable, decline, or advance moderately during the option period, and (c) out-of-the-money call options when the Adviser expects that the premiums received from writing the call option will be greater than the appreciation in the price of the underlying security above the exercise price. By writing a call option, the Fund limits its opportunity to profit from any increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. Out-of-the-money, at-the-money, and in-the-money put options (the reverse of call options as to the relation of exercise price to market price) may be utilized in the same market environments that such call options are used in equivalent transactions. Option positions at September 30, 2013 are reflected within the Schedule of Investments.

The Fund’s volume of activity in equity options contracts during the year ended September 30, 2013 had an average monthly market value of approximately $470,414. Please refer to Note 5 for option activity during the year ended September 30, 2013.

As of September 30, 2013, the value of equity option positions can be found in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under Liabilities, Call options written and Put options written. For the year ended September 30, 2013, the effect of equity option positions can be found in the Statement of Operations under Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments, Written Options, and Foreign Currency, Net realized gain on written options and Net change in unrealized depreciation on written options.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments and foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

 

13


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

Distributions to Shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions to shareholders are based on income and capital gains as determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from income and capital gains as determined under GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities and foreign currency transactions held by the Fund, timing differences, and differing characterizations of distributions made by the Fund. Distributions from net investment income for federal income tax purposes include net realized gains on foreign currency transactions. These book/tax differences are either temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent, adjustments are made to the appropriate capital accounts in the period when the differences arise. Permanent differences were primarily due to reclassifications of short term gains against current year net operating loss. These reclassifications have no impact on the NAV of the Fund. For the year ended September 30, 2013, reclassifications were made to increase accumulated net investment income by $2,054,154 and decrease accumulated net realized gain on investments by $2,054,154.

 

14


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 was as follows:

 

    

Year Ended

September 30, 2013

  

Year Ended

September 30, 2012

Distributions paid from:

         

Ordinary income (inclusive of short term capital gains)

       $    768,368          $35,473  

Net long term capital gains

       768,369          12,045  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total distributions paid

       $1,536,737          $47,518  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Provision For Income Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and net capital gains. Therefore, no provision for federal income taxes is required.

As of September 30, 2013, the components of accumulated earnings/losses on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income

   $ 3,947,292   

Undistributed long term gains

     670,689   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments

     24,873,756   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 29,491,737   
  

 

 

 

At September 30, 2013, the temporary difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments was due to deferral of losses from wash sales for tax purposes.

The following summarizes the tax cost of investments, written options, and the related net unrealized appreciation/depreciation at September 30, 2013:

 

     Cost/
Premiums
   Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
   Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
   Net
Unrealized

Appreciation/
Depreciation

Investments

     $ 382,277,394        $ 30,565,631        $ (5,653,031 )      $ 24,912,600  

Written options

       (148,986 )        58,275          (97,119 )        (38,844 )
         

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
          $ 30,623,906        $ (5,750,150 )      $ 24,873,756  
         

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

The Fund is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Fund as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed not to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. As of September 30, 2013, the Adviser has reviewed all open tax years and concluded that there was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations. Tax years ended September 30, 2010 through September 30, 2013 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities. On an ongoing basis, the Adviser will monitor the Fund’s tax positions to determine if adjustments to this conclusion are necessary.

3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Transactions. The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser which provides that the Fund will pay the Adviser a fee, computed daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 1.00% of the value of its average daily

 

15


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

net assets. In accordance with the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio, oversees the administration of all aspects of the Fund’s business and affairs, and pays the compensation of all Officers and Directors of the Fund who are affiliated persons of the Adviser.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the annualized total operating expenses of the Fund (excluding of brokerage, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) at 1.70%, 1.70%, 2.45%, and 1.45%, respectively, of Class AAA, Class A, Class C, and Class I Shares’ average daily net assets through January 31, 2014. The Fund is obliged to repay the Adviser for a period of two years following the year in which the Adviser reimbursed the Fund only to the extent that the operating expenses of the Fund, after giving effect to the reimbursement, would not exceed the foregoing limitations. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Adviser recovered $140,973 representing the balance of previously reimbursed expenses.

The Corporation pays each Director who is not considered an affiliated person an annual retainer of $18,000 plus $2,000 for each Board meeting attended, and they are reimbursed for any out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $1,000 per meeting attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives a $3,000 annual fee, and the Lead Director receives an annual fee of $2,000. A Director may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating funds, for attending certain meetings held on behalf of multiple funds. Directors who are directors or employees of the Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Corporation.

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

5. Portfolio Securities. Purchases and sales of securities during the year ended September 30, 2013, other than short term securities and U.S. Government obligations, aggregated $371,285,631 and $101,746,083, respectively.

Written options activity for the Fund for the year ended September 30, 2013 was as follows:

 

    

Number of

Contracts

  

Premiums

Options outstanding at September 30, 2012

       0        $ 0  

Options written

       13,099          1,671,948  

Options closed

       (3,257 )        (438,098 )

Options expired

       (6,862 )        (725,972 )

Options exercised

       (2,208 )        (358,892 )
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Options outstanding at September 30, 2013

       772        $ 148,986  
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

6. Transactions with Affiliates. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Distributor retained a total of $198,620 from investors representing commissions (sales charges and underwriting fees) on sales and redemptions of Fund shares.

 

16


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

The cost of calculating the Fund’s NAV per share is a Fund expense pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. During the year ended September 30, 2013, the Fund paid or accrued $37,500 to the Adviser in connection with the cost of computing the Fund’s NAV.

7. Line of Credit. The Fund participates in an unsecured line of credit of up to $75,000,000 under which it may borrow up to 10% of its net assets from the custodian for temporary borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the higher of the sum of the overnight LIBOR rate plus 100 basis points or the sum of the federal funds rate plus 100 basis points at the time of borrowing. This amount, if any, would be included in “interest expense” in the Statement of Operations. During the year ended September 30, 2013, there were no borrowings under the line of credit.

8. Capital Stock Transactions. The Fund offers four classes of shares–Class AAA Shares, Class A Shares, Class C Shares, and Class I Shares. Class AAA Shares are offered without a sales charge only to investors who acquire them directly from the Distributor, through selected broker/dealers, or the transfer agent. Class I Shares are offered without a sales charge, directly through the Distributor or brokers that have entered into selling agreements specifically with respect to Class I Shares. Class A Shares are subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. Class C Shares are subject to a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge for one year after purchase.

The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2.00% on all classes of shares that are redeemed or exchanged on or before the seventh day after the date of a purchase. The redemption fee is deducted from the proceeds otherwise payable to the redeeming shareholders and is retained by the Fund as an increase in paid-in capital. The redemption fees retained by the Fund during the years ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 amounted to $458 and $14, respectively.

 

17


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
September 30, 2013
    Year Ended
September 30, 2012
 
     Shares     Amount     Shares     Amount  

Class AAA

        

Shares sold

     3,555,515      $ 45,598,904        675,204      $ 7,074,187   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     36,030        398,495        4,401        39,124   

Shares redeemed

     (981,549     (12,804,148     (261,417     (2,576,088
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     2,609,996      $ 33,193,251        418,188      $ 4,537,223   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class A

        

Shares sold

     14,002,932      $ 182,128,658        682,064      $ 7,454,632   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     41,652        464,833        201        1,797   

Shares redeemed

     (841,890     (11,236,855     (23,610     (245,801
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     13,202,694      $ 171,356,636        658,655      $ 7,210,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Shares sold

     4,391,247      $ 52,325,064        182,113      $ 1,777,069   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     11,250        113,960        125        1,035   

Shares redeemed

     (116,286     (1,392,663     (20,340     (191,113
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     4,286,211      $ 51,046,361        161,898      $ 1,586,991   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class I

        

Shares sold

     7,175,192      $ 98,356,000        1,327,355      $ 13,915,179   

Shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions

     45,742        512,762        77        694   

Shares redeemed

     (635,776     (8,740,752     (17,163     (181,693
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     6,585,158      $ 90,128,010        1,310,269      $ 13,734,180   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

10. Other Matters. On April 24, 2008, the Adviser entered into a settlement with the SEC to resolve an inquiry regarding prior frequent trading in shares of the GAMCO Global Growth Fund (the “Global Growth Fund”) by one investor who was banned from the Global Growth Fund in August 2002. Under the terms of the settlement, the Adviser, without admitting or denying the SEC’s findings and allegations, paid $16 million (which included a $5 million civil monetary penalty). On the same day, the SEC filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Adviser, alleging violations of certain federal securities laws arising from the same matter. The officer, who also is an officer of the Global Growth Fund and other funds in the Gabelli/GAMCO complex, including this Fund, denies the allegations and is continuing in his positions with the Adviser and the funds. The settlement by the Adviser did not have, and the resolution of the action against the officer is not expected to have, a material adverse impact on the Adviser or its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Advisory Agreement.

11. Subsequent Events. Effective November 20, 2013, Ms. Elizabeth Lilly and Ms. Sarah Donnelly resigned as Portfolio Managers of the Fund. Mr. Daniel Miller continues to serve as Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Mr. Miller has served as Portfolio Manager of the Fund since January 1, 2012.

 

18


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

19


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of The Gabelli Focus Five Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc., as of September 30, 2013, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s 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. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2013, by correspondence with the Fund’s custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. 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 Gabelli Focus Five Fund, a series of Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc., at September 30, 2013, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

November 25, 2013

 

20


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Additional Fund Information

 

The business and affairs of the Corporation are managed under the direction of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Corporation is set forth below. The Corporation’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Corporation’s Directors and is available without charge, upon request, by calling 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554) or by writing to The Gabelli Focus Five Fund at One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422.

 

Name, Position(s)

Address1

and Age

  

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served2

  

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex

Overseen

by Director

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  

Other Directorships

Held by Director4

INTERESTED DIRECTORS3 :

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Director and

Chief Investment Officer

Age: 71

   Since 1991    27    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc., and Chief Investment Officer–Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies in the Gabelli/ GAMCO Funds Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.    Director of Morgan Group Holdings, Inc. (holding company); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director, ICTC Group, Inc., (communications); Director of RLJ Acquisition Inc. (blank check company)(2011-2012)

John Gabelli

Director

Age: 69

   Since 1991    10    Senior Vice President of G.research, Inc.   
INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS5 :            

Anthony J. Colavita

Director

Age: 77

   Since 1991    35    President of the law firm of Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.   

Vincent D. Enright

Director

Age: 69

   Since 1991    17    Former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of KeySpan Corporation (public utility) (1994-1998)    Director of Echo Therapeutics, Inc. (therapeutics and diagnostics); Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing)

Robert J. Morrissey

Director

Age: 74

   Since 1991    6    Partner in the law firm of Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch   

Kuni Nakamura

Director

Age: 45

   Since 2009    13    President of Advanced Polymer, Inc. (chemical wholesale company)   

Anthony R. Pustorino

Director

Age: 88

   Since 1991    13    Certified Public Accountant; Professor Emeritus, Pace University    Director of LGL Group, Inc. (diversified manufacturing) (2002-2010)

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Director

Age: 79

   Since 1991    20    Chairman of BALMAC International, Inc. (commodities and futures trading)   

Salvatore J. Zizza

Director

Age: 67

   Since 2001    29    Chairman (since 1978) of Zizza & Associates Corp. (financial consulting); Chairman (since 2005) of Metropolitan Paper Recycling, Inc. (recycling); Chairman (since 1999) of Harbor BioSciences, Inc. (biotechnology)    Director and Vice Chairman of Trans-Lux Corporation (business services); Director and Chairman of Harbor Diversified Inc. (pharmaceuticals); Chairman of Bion Environmental Technologies (technology); Director, Chairman, and CEO of General Employment Enterprises (staffing services) (2009-2012).

 

21


The Gabelli Focus Five Fund

Additional Fund Information (Continued)

 

 

Name, Position(s)

Address1

and Age

  

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served2

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

OFFICERS:      

Bruce N. Alpert

President, Secretary, and

Acting Chief Compliance

Officer

Age: 61

  

Since 1991

Since November

2011

   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 1988; Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex; Director of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2012; Chairman of Teton Advisors, Inc. 2008-2010; President of Teton Advisors, Inc. 1998-2008; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2008

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer

Age: 55

   Since 2006    President and Chief Operating Officer of the Open-End Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC since September 2010; Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 2009; Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC since 2007; Officer of all of the registered investment companies in the Gabelli/GAMCO Funds Complex

 

1 

Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, unless otherwise noted.

2 

Each Director will hold office for an indefinite term until the earliest of (i) the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Director and until the election and qualification of his or her successor, if any, elected at such meeting, or (ii) the date a Director resigns or retires, or a Director is removed by the Board of Directors or shareholders, in accordance with the Fund’s By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. Each officer will hold office for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

3 

“Interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Messrs. Gabelli are each considered an “interested person” because of their affiliation with Gabelli Funds, LLC which acts as the Fund’s investment adviser. Mario J. Gabelli and John D. Gabelli are brothers.

4 

This column includes only directorships of companies required to report to the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, i.e., public companies, or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

5 

Directors who are not interested persons are considered “Independent” Directors.

 

2013 TAX NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

For the year ended September 30, 2013, ordinary income distributions (comprised of short term capital gains) totaling $0.19 for each class, and long term capital gains totaling $768,369, or the maximum allowable. The distribution of long term capital gains has been designated as a capital gain dividend by the Fund’s Board of Directors. For the year ended September 30, 2013, 12.57% of the ordinary income distribution qualifies for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. The Fund designates 12.47% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified dividend income pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The Fund designates 100% of the ordinary income distribution as qualified short term gain pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

 

All designations are based on financial information available as of the date of this annual report and, accordingly, are subject to change. For each item, it is the intention of the Fund to designate the maximum amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

22


THE GABELLI FOCUS FIVE FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY 10580-1422

Portfolio Manager Biography

Daniel M. Miller has been the portfolio manager of the Gabelli Focus Five Fund since inception of the investment strategy on January 1, 2012. He is also a Managing Director of GAMCO and Chairman of Gabelli & Company, the firm’s institutional research business. Mr. Miller served as Head of Institutional Equities at Gabelli & Company from 2004 - 2011, where he oversaw a significant expansion of the brokerage business. His responsibilities included managing the firm’s daily research meetings, the institutional sales and trading teams, and seven industry conferences. Mr. Miller graduated magna cum laude with a degree in finance from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL.

 

 

 

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


Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.

THE GABELLI FOCUS FIVE FUND

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422

 

t

800-GABELLI (800-422-3554)

 

f

914-921-5118

 

e

info@gabelli.com

  

GABELLI.COM

Net Asset Value per share available daily

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

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

Anthony J. Colavita

President,

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

Vincent D. Enright

Former Senior Vice

President and Chief

Financial Officer,

KeySpan Corp.

John D. Gabelli

Senior Vice President,

G.research, Inc.

Robert J. Morrissey

Partner,

Morrissey, Hawkins & Lynch

Kuni Nakamura

President,

Advanced Polymer, Inc.

Anthony R. Pustorino

Certified Public Accountant,

Professor Emeritus,

Pace University

Anthonie C. van Ekris

Chairman,

BALMAC International, Inc.

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman,

Zizza & Associates Corp.

OFFICERS

Bruce N. Alpert

President, Secretary, and

Acting Chief Compliance

Officer

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer

DISTRIBUTOR

G.distributors, LLC

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER

AGENT, AND DIVIDEND

DISBURSING AGENT

State Street Bank and Trust

Company

LEGAL COUNSEL

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &

Flom LLP

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

GAB840Q313AR

LOGO

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

    (a)

The registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.

 

    (c)

There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description.

 

    (d)

The registrant has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

As of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant’s board of directors has determined that Anthony R. Pustorino is qualified to serve as an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee and that he is “independent.”

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Audit Fees

 

    (a)

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 registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $77,300 in 2012 and $80,100 in 2013.

Audit-Related Fees

 

    (b)

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 registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $0 in 2012 and $0 in 2013.


Tax Fees

 

    (c)

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 are $9,600 in 2012 and $10,200 in 2013. Tax fees represent tax compliance services provided in connection with the review of the Registrant’s tax returns.

All Other Fees

 

    (d)

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 $0 in 2012 and $0 in 2013.

 

  (e)(1)     

Disclose the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. The Audit Committee (“Committee”) of the registrant is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the registrant and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, and any affiliate of Gabelli Funds, LLC (“Gabelli”) that provides services to the registrant (a “Covered Services Provider”) if the independent registered public accounting firm’s engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson must report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to the other persons (other than Gabelli or the registrant’s officers). Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the registrant at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (ii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee or Chairperson prior to the completion of the audit.

 

  (e)(2)     

The percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X are as follows:

(b) N/A

(c) 100%

(d) N/A

 

    (f)

The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was 0%.


    (g)

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant was $38,700 in 2012 and $40,320 in 2013.

 

    (h)

The registrant’s audit committee of the board of directors has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed registrants.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)

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

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

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

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


Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

  (a)(1)

Code of ethics, or any amendment thereto, that is the subject of disclosure required by Item 2 is attached hereto.

 

  (a)(2)

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

 

  (a)(3)

Not applicable.

 

  (b)

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

(12.other) Not applicable.


SIGNATURES

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

(Registrant)  Gabelli Equity Series Funds, Inc.                                                                                          

By (Signature and Title)*   /s/ Bruce N. Alpert                                                                                          

      Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer    

Date  11/26/2013                                                                                                                                           

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

By (Signature and Title)*   /s/ Bruce N. Alpert                                                                                          

      Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

Date  11/26/2013                                                                                                                                           

By (Signature and Title)*   /s/ Agnes Mullady                                                                                          

      Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date  11/26/2013                                                                                                                                           

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


Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

This ‘N-CSR’ Filing    Date    Other Filings
Filed on / Effective on:4/15/14
1/31/14
12/4/13N-CSRS
11/25/13
11/20/13497
For Period End:9/30/1324F-2NT,  N-CSRS,  NSAR-B
4/1/13
1/28/13485BPOS,  497K
1/1/13
12/31/12N-Q
11/19/12
9/30/1224F-2NT,  N-CSR,  NSAR-B
9/25/12
7/3/12
1/1/12
12/31/11N-30B-2,  N-Q
9/30/1124F-2NT,  N-CSR,  NSAR-B
12/22/10
9/30/1024F-2NT,  N-CSR,  NSAR-B
9/30/0924F-2NT,  N-CSR,  NSAR-B
4/24/08
1/11/08
12/31/03497
12/31/02497,  N-30B-2
1/2/92
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