form10k2010.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
[ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
or
[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ______ to ______
Commission file number 1-14761
 
GAMCO Investors, Inc.
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
New York
 
13-4007862
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
One Corporate Center, Rye, NY
 
10580-1422
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (914) 921-5100
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
 
 
Title of each class
 
 Name of each exchange on which registered
 
 
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
 
 New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Yes o No x.
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act Yes o No x.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days Yes x No o.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K o.
 
 
 

 
 
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
   
 
Non-accelerated filer o (Do  not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
   
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2) Yes o No x.
 
The aggregate market value of the class A common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2010 (the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was $253,089,047.
 
As of February 1, 2011, 6,949,921 shares of class A common stock and 20,290,140 shares of class B common stock were outstanding.  19,779,500 shares of class B common stock were held by a subsidiary of GGCP, Inc.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:  Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part II of this report.
 
 
2

 

GAMCO Investors, Inc.
       
Annual Report on Form 10-K For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2010
       
Part I
     
 
Item 1
 4
   
 4
   
 5
   
 6
   
 8
   
 12
   
 21
   
 22
   
 23
   
 23
   
 24
 
Item 1A
 25
 
Item 1B
 31
 
Item 2
 31
 
Item 3
 32
 
Item 4
 32
Part II
     
 
Item 5
 32
 
Item 6
 36
 
Item 7
 38
 
Item 7A
 54
 
Item 8
 55
 
Item 9
 93
 
Item 9A
 93
 
Item 9B
 93
Part III
     
 
Item 10
 94
 
Item 11
 94
 
Item 12
 94
 
Item 13
 94
 
Item 14
 94
Part IV
     
 
Item 15
 95
       
   
 97
   
 98
   
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
   
Subsidiaries of GAMCO Investors, Inc.
 
   
Consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
       
 
Certifications
Exhibit 31.1
 
   
Exhibit 31.2
 
   
Exhibit 32.1
 
   
Exhibit 32.2
 
 
 
3

 
 
PART I
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Our disclosure and analysis in this report and in documents that are incorporated by reference contain some forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events.  You can identify these statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  You should not place undue reliance on these statements.  They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning.  They also appear in any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, future performance of our products, expenses, the outcome of any legal proceedings, and financial results.
 
Although we believe that we are basing our expectations and beliefs on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of what we currently know about our business and operations, there can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from what we expect or believe. Some of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations or beliefs include, without limitation: the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets; a decline in the performance of our products; a general downturn in the economy; changes in government policy or regulation; changes in our ability to attract or retain key employees; and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations. We also direct your attention to any more specific discussions of risk contained in Item 1A below and in our other public filings or in documents incorporated by reference here or in prior filings or reports.
 
We are providing these statements as permitted by the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We do not undertake to update publicly any forward-looking statements if we subsequently learn that we are unlikely to achieve our expectations or if we receive any additional information relating to the subject matters of our forward-looking statements.
 
ITEM 1: BUSINESS
 
Unless we have indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this report to “GAMCO Investors, Inc.,” “GBL,” “Gabelli,” “we,” “us” and “our” or similar terms are to GAMCO Investors, Inc., its predecessors and its subsidiaries.
 
Overview
 
GAMCO Investors, Inc. (New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”): GBL), a company incorporated under the laws of New York, well known for our value investing hallmark Private Market Value (PMV) with a CatalystTM investment approach, is a widely-recognized provider of investment advisory services to mutual funds, institutional and private wealth management investors, and investment partnerships, principally in the United States.  Through Gabelli & Company, Inc. (“Gabelli & Company”), our broker-dealer subsidiary, we provide institutional research services to institutional clients and investment partnerships.  We generally manage assets on a discretionary basis and invest in a variety of U.S. and international securities through various investment styles.  Our revenues are based primarily on the firm’s levels of assets under management (“AUM”) and to a lesser extent, incentive fees associated with our various investment products.
 
Since 1977, we have been identified with and enhanced the “value” style approach to investing. Over the 33 years since the inception of the firm, consistent with our fundamental objective of providing an absolute rate of return for our clients, we have generated over $16.2 billion in investment returns for our institutional and private wealth management clients.  As stated in our mission statement, our investment objective is to earn a superior risk-adjusted return for our valued clients over the long-term through our proprietary fundamental research.  In addition to our value portfolios, GAMCO and other brands offer our clients a broad array of investment strategies that include global, growth, international and convertible products.  We also offer a series of investment partnership (performance fee-based) vehicles that provide a series of long-short investment opportunities, both market and sector specific opportunities, including offerings of non-market correlated investments in merger arbitrage, as well as a fixed income strategy.
 
As of December 31, 2010, we had $32.5 billion of AUM.  We conduct our investment advisory business principally through our subsidiaries: GAMCO Asset Management Inc. (Institutional and Private Wealth Management), Gabelli Funds, LLC (Mutual Funds) and Gabelli Securities, Inc. (Investment Partnerships).  We also act as an underwriter, are a distributor of our open-end funds and provide institutional research services through Gabelli & Company.
 
 
4

 
 
Our AUM are organized into three groups:
 
·
Investment Partnerships: We provide advisory services to limited partnerships and offshore funds (“Investment Partnerships”).  We managed a total of $515 million in Investment Partnership assets on December 31, 2010.
 
· 
Institutional and Private Wealth Management: We provide advisory services to a broad range of investors, including private wealth management, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, foundations, endowments, jointly-trusteed plans and municipalities, and also serve as sub-advisor to certain other third party investment funds including registered investment companies (“Institutional and Private Wealth Management”).  Each Institutional and Private Wealth Management (“PWM”) portfolio is managed to meet the needs and objectives of the particular client by utilizing investment strategies and techniques within our areas of expertise.  On December 31, 2010, we had $13.7 billion of Institutional and Private Wealth Management AUM.

· 
Open and Closed-End Funds: We provide advisory services to twenty-one open-end funds and nine closed-end funds under Gabelli, GAMCO and Comstock brands (collectively, the “Funds”).  The Funds had $18.3 billion of AUM on December 31, 2010.
 
GBL is a holding company formed in connection with our initial public offering (“Offering”) in February 1999.  GGCP Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of GGCP, Inc. owns a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock (“Class B Stock”) of GBL.  Such ownership represented approximately 94% of the combined voting power of the outstanding common stock and approximately 73% of the equity interest on December 31, 2010.  GGCP, Inc. is majority-owned by Mr. Mario J. Gabelli (“Mr. Gabelli”).  Accordingly, Mr. Gabelli is deemed to control GBL.
 
Our principal executive offices are located at One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580.  Our telephone number is (914) 921-5100.  We post or provide a link on our website, www.gabelli.com, to the following filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”): our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  All such filings on our website are available free of charge.

2010
 
Since our Offering in February 1999, GBL’s Class A Common Stock (“Class A Stock”) has generated an annual compounded return of 11.2% (including dividends) for its shareholders through December 31, 2010 versus an annual compounded return of 2.04% (including dividends) for the S&P 500 Index during that time.  Our Class A Stock, which is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “GBL”, ended the year at a closing market price of $48.01 per share.
 
During 2010, we returned $139.2 million of our earnings to shareholders through dividends and our stock buyback program.  We paid $49.4 million, or $1.82 per share, in cash dividends to our common shareholders, $59.6 million ($86.4 million in face value or $3.20 of principal per share), in zero coupon subordinated debentures due 2015 and repurchased 684,003 shares at an average investment of $44.15 per share or $30.2 million.

Since the Offering, we have returned $591.2 million in total of which $313.2 million was in the form of dividends and $278.0 million was through buybacks.
 
As of December 31, 2010, nine open-end funds that we manage have a 4 or 5-star three year Morningstar RatingTM representing 76% of open-end fund equity assets under management.

Our liquid balance sheet provides access to financial markets and the flexibility to opportunistically add operating resources to our firm, repurchase our stock and consider strategic initiatives.  As a result of GBL's shelf registration in the third quarter 2009, we have the ability to issue any combination of senior and subordinate debt securities, convertible debt securities and equity securities (including common and preferred securities) up to a total amount of $400 million.  Our financial strength is underscored by having received an investment grade rating from two ratings agencies, Moody’s Investors Services and Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services.  We believe that maintaining these investment grade ratings will assist in providing greater access to the capital markets, enhance liquidity and lower overall borrowing costs.  However, we will also consider the use of leverage as part of our corporate financial strategy even if it results in a lowering of our investment rating.
 
 
5

 

Gabelli & Company, which conducts our institutional research business, hosted eight institutional symposiums and conferences during 2010.  These meetings are an important component of the research services the firm provides its institutional clients.  Specifically, 2010 featured our 34th annual Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, 20th annual Pump Valve & Motor Symposium, 16th annual Aircraft Supplier Conference, eighth annual Smallcap Healthcare Conference, fourth annual Water Investment Summit, third annual Specialty Chemicals and Best Ideas Conferences, and our second Movie Industry Conference.

Business Strategy
 
Our business strategy targets global growth of the franchise through continued leveraging of our proven asset management strengths including our brand name, long-term performance record, diverse product offerings and experienced investment, research and client service professionals.  In order to achieve growth in AUM and profitability, we are pursuing a strategy which includes the following key elements:
  
· 
Gabelli “Private Market Value (PMV) with a CatalystTMInvestment Approach.  While we have expanded our investment product offerings, our “value investing” approach remains the core of our business.  This method is based on the value investing principles articulated by Graham & Dodd in 1934 and further augmented by Mario J. Gabelli, CFA, with his development of Private Market Value (PMV) with a CatalystTM as the value investment methodology.  The development of PMV analysis combined with the concept of a catalyst has evolved from the original Graham & Dodd value investing approach to a Gabelli augmented Graham & Dodd.

 
Private Market Value (PMV) with a CatalystTM investing is a disciplined, research-driven approach based on intensive security analysis.  In this process, we generally select stocks whose intrinsic value, based on our estimate of current asset value and future growth and earnings power, is significantly different from the value as reflected in the public market.  We then calculate the firm’s PMV, which is defined as the price an informed industrial buyer would be likely to pay to acquire the business.

 
Our value team generally looks for situations in which catalyst(s) is (are) working to help to narrow the spread between the public market price and the estimated PMV.  Catalysts which are company specific include:  realization of hidden assets, recognition of underperforming subsidiaries, share buybacks, spin-offs, mergers and acquisitions, balance sheet changes, new products, accounting changes, new management and cross-shareholder unwinding.  Other catalysts are related to industry dynamics or macroeconomics and include but are not limited to: industry consolidation, deregulation, accounting, tax, pension and political reforms, technological change and the macroeconomic backdrop.  The time horizons for catalysts to trigger change can either be short-term, medium-term or long-term.

· 
Establishing Research Centers. To enhance our research in our core research competency, we have two Asian research offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong supplementing our existing offices in London, New York, Chicago, Greenwich, Connecticut, Minneapolis and St. Louis, Missouri.  We will continue to evaluate adding additional research offices throughout the world.  In addition to research, these centers along with Reno, Nevada and Palm Beach, Florida serve as relationships centers.
 
· 
Introducing New Products and Services. We believe we have the capacity for development of new products and services around the Gabelli and GAMCO brands to complement our existing product offerings. New products since our initial public offering include:
 
-  
Eight closed-end funds: The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust, The GDL Fund, The Gabelli Global Utility and Income Trust, The Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust, The Gabelli Utility Trust, The Gabelli Healthcare and WellnessRX Trust, and The Gabelli Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust.  In January 2011, we added the eighth closed end fund since going public and our tenth closed end fund overall, with the offering of The Gabelli Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust (GNT).
 
-  
Four open-end funds:  Gabelli Blue Chip Value Fund, Gabelli Utilities Fund, Gabelli Woodland Small Cap Value Fund, Gabelli SRI Fund, rebranded as Gabelli Green SRI Fund, Inc.
 
-  
Four offshore funds:  Gabelli Global Partners, Ltd., Gabelli Capital Structure Arbitrage Fund Ltd., Gabelli Associates Limited II E and GAMCO Strategic Value Fund, a Luxembourg SICAV.
 
-  
Eight private limited partnerships:  Gemini Global Partners, L.P., Gabelli Capital Structure Arbitrage Fund L.P., Gabelli Intermediate Credit, L.P., Gabelli Japanese Value Partners, L.P., Gabelli Associates Fund II, L.P., GAMA Select Energy Plus, L.P., GAMCO Medical Opportunities, L.P. and Gabelli Green Fund, L.P.
 
 
6

 
 
· 
Incentive Fees and Fulcrum Fees. We strive to receive an increasing portion of our revenues and earnings through various products with incentive and fulcrum fees.  Since we envision that a growing percentage of the firm's revenues will be directly linked to performance-based fees, this may increase the variability of our revenues and profits, largely booked in the fourth quarter.  As of December 31, 2010, approximately $1.8 billion of Institutional and Private Wealth Management assets are managed on a performance fee basis along with $875 million of preferred issues of closed-end funds, the $414 million The GDL Fund and $515 million of investment partnership assets.  Unlike most money management firms, we elected not to receive a management fee on a majority of the preferred offerings in our closed-end funds until the fund’s overall performance exceeds each preferred’s nominal cost of capital.  In addition, the incubation of new product strategies using proprietary capital will compensate the investment team with a performance fee model to reinforce our pay-for-performance approach.

· 
Expanding Mutual Fund Distribution.  We continue to expand our distribution network primarily through national and regional brokerage firms and have developed additional classes of shares for most of our mutual funds for sale through these firms and other third party distribution channels on a commission basis.  We have increased our wholesaling efforts to market the multi-class shares, which have been designed to meet the needs of investors who seek advice through financial consultants.
 
· 
Increasing Presence in Private Wealth Management Market.  Our private wealth management business focuses, in general, on serving clients who have established an account relationship of $1 million or more with us.  According to industry estimates, the number of households with over $1 million in investable assets will continue to grow in the future, subject to ups and downs in the equity and fixed income markets.  With our 33-year history of serving this segment, long-term performance record, customized portfolio approach, dominant, tax-sensitive, investment strategy, brand name recognition and broad array of product offerings, we believe that we are well-positioned to capitalize on the growth opportunities in this market.

· 
Increasing Marketing for Institutional and Private Wealth Management.  The Institutional and Private Wealth Management business was principally developed through direct marketing channels.  Historically, pension and financial consultants have not been a major source of new institutional and private wealth management business for us.  We plan to augment our institutional sales force through the addition of staff to market directly to the consultant community as well as our traditional marketing channels.

 · 
Attracting and Retaining Experienced Professionals.  We offer significant variable compensation that provides opportunities to our staff.  We have increased the scope of our investment management capabilities by adding portfolio managers and other investment personnel in order to expand our broad array of products.  The ability to attract and retain highly-experienced investment and other professionals with a long-term commitment to us and our clients has been, and will continue to be, a significant factor in our long-term growth.  At December 31, 2010, we had 123,100 restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) outstanding to our professional staff recommended by and excluding Mr. Gabelli, who has not received options or RSAs, which originally had three- and five-year vesting, which will align our professional team with our commitment to our long term goals.
 
· 
Sponsorship of Industry Conferences. Gabelli & Company, our institutional research services firm, sponsors industry conferences and management events throughout the year.  At these conferences and events, senior management from leading industry companies share their thoughts on the industry, competition, regulatory issues and the challenges and opportunities in their businesses with portfolio managers and securities analysts.

· 
Hosting of Institutional Investor Symposiums.  We have a tradition of sponsoring institutional investor symposiums that bring together prominent portfolio managers, members of academia and other leading business professionals to present, discuss and debate current issues and topics in the investment industry.
 
-1997
“Active vs. Passive Stock Selection”
-1998
“The Role of Hedge Funds as a Way of Generating Absolute Returns”
-2001
“Virtues of Value Investing”
-2003
“Dividends, Taxable versus Non-Taxable Issues”
-2006
“Closed-End Funds: Premiums vs. Discounts, Dividends and Distributions”
 
We also hold annual conferences for our investment partnership clients and prospects in New York and London at which our portfolio management team discusses the investment environment, our strategies and portfolios, and event-driven investment opportunities.
 
 
7

 
 
· 
Capitalizing on Acquisitions, Alliances and Lift-outs.  We intend to selectively and opportunistically pursue acquisitions, alliances and lift-outs that will broaden our product offerings and add new sources of distribution.   On October 1, 1999, we completed our alliance with Mathers and Company, Inc. and now act as investment advisor to the Mathers Fund (renamed GAMCO Mathers Fund), and in May 2000, we added Comstock Partners Funds, Inc., (renamed Comstock Funds, Inc.).  The Mathers and Comstock funds are part of our Non-Market Correlated mutual fund product line.  In November 2002, we completed our alliance with Woodland Partners LLC, a Minneapolis based investment advisor focused on investing in small capitalization companies.  On March 11, 2008, Funds Advisor assumed the role of investment advisor to the AXA Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Fund, subsequently renamed Gabelli Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Fund, a fund that has been sub-advised by GAMCO since the fund’s inception on February 28, 2001.  On August 1, 2010, the clients of Florida-based NMF Asset Management, head by Nola Maddox Falcone, became part of the institutional and private wealth operation of GAMCO.
 
We believe that we have the financial capacity to pursue acquisitions and lift-outs.

We believe that our growth to date is traceable to the following factors:
 
· 
Strong Industry Fundamentals:  According to data compiled by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the investment management industry has grown faster than more traditional segments of the financial services industry, including the banking and insurance industries. Since GBL began managing assets for institutional and private wealth management clients in 1977, world equity markets have grown at a 11.1% compounded annual growth rate through December 31, 2010 to nearly $52 trillion(a).  The U.S. equity market comprises about $15.4 trillion(a) or roughly 30% of world markets.  We believe that demographic trends and the growing role of money managers in the placement of capital compared to the traditional role played by banks and life insurance companies will result in continued growth of the investment management industry.
 
· 
Long-Term Performance: We have a superior long-term record of achieving relatively high returns for our Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients.  We believe that our performance record represents a competitive advantage and a recognized component of our franchise.

· 
Stock Market Gains: Since we began managing for institutional and private wealth management clients in 1977, our traditional value-oriented Institutional and Private Wealth Management composite has earned a compound annual return of 16.3% net of fees versus a compound annual return of 11.1% for the S&P 500 through December 31, 2010.  
 
· 
Widely-Recognized “Gabelli” and “GAMCO” Brand Names:  For much of our history, our portfolio managers and investment products have been featured in a variety of financial print media, including both U.S. and international publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Money Magazine, Barron's, Fortune, Business Week, Nikkei Financial News, Forbes Magazine, Consumer Reports and Investor's Business Daily.  We also underwrite publications written by our investment professionals, including  Deals…Deals…and More Deals which examines the history of merger arbitrage and Global Convertible Investing: The Gabelli Way, a comprehensive guide to effective investing in convertible securities.

· 
Diversified Product Offerings:  Since the inception of our investment management activities, we have sought to expand the breadth of our product offerings.  We currently offer a wide spectrum of investment products and strategies, including product offerings in U.S. equities, U.S. fixed income, global and international equities, convertible securities, U.S. balanced and investment partnerships.
 
 (a) Source: Birinyi Associates, LLC

Business Description
 
GBL started operations in 1977 as an institutional services firm.  We entered the institutional and private wealth management business in 1977, management of investment partnerships in 1985 and the mutual fund business in 1986.  Our initial product offerings centered on our tax sensitive, buy-hold, value-oriented investment philosophy.  Starting in the mid-1980s, we began building on our core value-oriented equity investment products by adding new investment strategies designed for a broad array of clients seeking to invest in growth-oriented equities, convertible securities and fixed income products.  Since then, we have continued to build our franchise by expanding our investment management capabilities through the addition of industry specific, international, global, non-market correlated, venture capital, leveraged buy-out and merchant banking product offerings.  Throughout our 33-year history, we have marketed most of our products under the “Gabelli” and “GAMCO” brand names.  Specialty brands offered to investors have included Mathers, Comstock, Westwood and Woodland.
 
 
8

 
 
Our AUM are clustered mostly in three groups:  Institutional and Private Wealth Management, Mutual Funds and Investment Partnerships.

Institutional and Private Wealth Management:  Since 1977, we have provided investment management services through our subsidiary GAMCO to a broad spectrum of institutional and private wealth investors.  At December 31, 2010, we had $13.7 billion of AUM in approximately 1,600 Institutional and Private Wealth Management accounts, representing approximately 42.0% of our total AUM.  We currently provide advisory services to a broad range of investors, the majority of which (in total number of accounts) are private wealth management client accounts – defined as individuals generally having minimum account balances of $1 million.  As of December 31, 2010, Institutional client accounts, which include corporate pension and profit sharing plans, jointly-trusteed plans and public funds, represented 46% of the Institutional and Private Wealth Management assets and 8% of the accounts.  Private Wealth Management accounts comprised approximately 82% of the total number of Institutional and Private Wealth Management accounts and approximately 26% of the assets under management as of December 31, 2010.  We believe that private wealth management clients are attracted to us by our returns and the tax efficient nature of the underlying investment process in these traditional products.  

Foundation and endowment fund assets represented 10% of the number of Institutional and Private Wealth Management accounts and approximately 9% of the assets under management.  The sub-advisory portion of the Institutional and Private Wealth Management (where we act as sub-advisor to certain other third party investment funds) held approximately $2.6 billion or 19% of total Institutional and Private Wealth Management assets with less than 1% of the number of accounts.
 
The ten largest relationships comprised approximately 46% of our total Institutional and Private Wealth Management AUM and approximately 29% of our total Institutional and Private Wealth Management revenues as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively.  During the fourth quarter of 2010, we lost an institutional client with AUM of approximately $340 million, which is approximately 1% of AUM at December 31, 2010.
 
In general, our Institutional and Private Wealth Management AUM are managed to meet the specific needs and objectives of each client by utilizing investment strategies – “all cap value”, “large cap value”, “small cap value”, “large cap growth”, “international growth”, “high yield” and “convertible bond” – and techniques that are within our areas of expertise.  We distinguish between taxable and tax-free assets and manage client portfolios with tax sensitivity within given investment strategies.
 
Sales efforts are conducted on a regional and product specialist basis.  Members of the sales and marketing staff for the Institutional and Private Wealth Management business have an average of more than ten years of experience with us and focus on developing and maintaining direct, long-term relationships with their Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients.  The firm will host its 26th Annual Client Conference in May 2011.  This conference will be held at the Pierre Hotel in New York and will include presentations by our portfolio managers and analysts.
 
We act as a sub-advisor on certain funds for several large and well-known fund distributors.  Sub-advisory clients are subject to business combinations, much the same as corporate clients, and may result in the curtailment of product distribution or the termination of the relationship.
 
Investment advisory agreements for our Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients are typically subject to termination by the client without penalty on 30 days notice or less.
 
Open and Closed-End Funds:  Funds Advisor provides advisory services to twenty-one open-end funds and nine closed-end funds.  At December 31, 2010, we had $18.3 billion of AUM in open-end funds and closed-end funds, representing approximately 56.4% of our total AUM.  Our equity funds and closed-end funds were $16.7 billion in AUM on December 31, 2010, 27.5% above the $13.1 billion on December 31, 2009.

GAMCO is the brand for our “Growth” business, which is primarily represented by The GAMCO Growth Fund, The GAMCO Global Growth Fund, and The GAMCO International Growth Fund.  GAMCO also includes other distinct investment strategies and styles including our gold, convertible securities and contrarian funds.

 
9

 
 
The eight GAMCO branded open-end funds are:
 
 GAMCO Growth
●         “        International Growth
●         “        Gold
●         “        Global Telecommunications
●         “        Global Growth
●         “        Global Opportunity
●         “        Vertumnus Fund (formerly known as The GAMCO Global Convertible Securities Fund)
●         “        Mathers
 
The Gabelli brand represents our “Value” business, primarily representing our absolute return, research-driven Private Market Value (PMV) with a CatalystTM funds. The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund is a value portfolio but retains the GAMCO name. The Gabelli brand also includes The Gabelli Blue Chip Value Fund and The Gabelli Woodland Small Cap Growth Fund as well as all of the closed-end funds.

Open-end Funds
 
On December 31, 2010, we had $12.9 billion of AUM in twenty-one open-end funds.  At year-end, of the open-end funds having an overall rating from Morningstar, Inc. (“Morningstar”), 94% were ranked “three stars” or better, with approximately 81% ranked “five stars” or “four stars” on an overall basis (i.e., derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with their three-, five-, and ten-year Morningstar Rating metrics).  There can be no assurance, however, that these funds will be able to maintain such ratings or that past performance will be indicative of future results.
 
We market our open-end funds through third party distribution programs, particularly no-transaction fee (“NTF”) programs, and have developed additional share classes for many of our funds for distribution through additional third party distribution channels.  At December 31, 2010, third party distribution programs accounted for approximately 72% of all assets in open-end funds.  At December 31, 2010, approximately 28% of our AUM in open-end, equity funds was sourced through direct sales relationships.

In March 2008, Funds Advisor, through an acquisition, assumed the role of investment advisor to the AXA Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Fund, subsequently renamed to Gabelli Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Fund, a fund that has been sub-advised by GAMCO since the fund’s inception on February 28, 2001.  The GAMCO portfolio management team, which has managed the fund since inception, remained the same.

Closed-end Funds
 
We act as investment advisor to ten closed-end funds, all of which trade on the NYSE or its affiliated exchange: Gabelli Equity Trust (GAB), GDL Fund (GDL), Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust (GGT), Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness Rx Trust (GRX), Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV), Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT), Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV), Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU), Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust (GGN) and The Gabelli Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust (GNT), launched in January 2011.  As of December 31, 2010, the nine Gabelli closed-end funds had total assets of $5.5 billion, representing 29.8% of the total assets in our Mutual Funds business.
 
The Gabelli Equity Trust, which raised $400 million through its initial public offering in August 1986, finished its 24th year with net assets of $1.4 billion.  Since inception, the Gabelli Equity Trust has distributed $2.5 billion in cash to common shareholders through its 10% distribution policy and spawned three other closed-end funds, the Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust, the Gabelli Utility Trust and the Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness Rx Trust. 
 
The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust, launched in November 2003, raised $196.6 million in net proceeds through its placement of Series D and Series E Preferred Shares in November 2005.  The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust, which invests primarily in dividend-paying equity securities, had net assets of $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2010.
 
The Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust (“GGN”) raised gross proceeds of $352 million through its initial public offering in March 2005 and the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option in May 2005.  GGN filed a $350 million shelf registration statement with the SEC that went effective September 24, 2007.  The shelf registration statement gave GGN the ability to offer additional common and preferred shares.  On October 16, 2007, GGN completed the placement of $100 million of cumulative preferred shares.  GGN received net proceeds of $96.5 million (after underwriting discounts of $1.2 million and offering expenses of $0.4 million) from the public offering of 4,000,000 shares of 6.625% Series A cumulative preferred shares.  During the year ended December 31, 2010, GGN issued 22,553,236 common shares through various “at the market offerings”.  The net proceeds received from these various at the market offerings was approximately $375.4 million.  As of December 31, 2010, after taking into account the issuance of the preferred and common shares, GGN had approximately $9 million available for issuance under the shelf registration statement.  GGN, which invests primarily in equity securities of gold and natural resources companies and utilizes a covered call option writing program to generate current income, had net assets of $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2010.  GGN filed a $750 million shelf offering with the SEC that was effective on February 4, 2011, enabling GGN to offer additional common and preferred shares.
 
 
10

 
 
In January 2007, we launched The GDL Fund, a closed-end fund which seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in announced merger and acquisition transactions and, to a lesser extent, in corporate reorganizations involving stubs, spin-offs and liquidations.  During 2009, The GDL Fund raised $96 million through a rights offering of Series A preferred shares.

In January 2011, we launched The Gabelli Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust, a closed-end fund that seeks to achieve its investment objective by providing a high level of current income from interest, dividends and option premiums.  This launch raised approximately $370 million in AUM.

A detailed description of our Funds is provided within this Item 1 beginning on page 13.
 
Investment Partnerships:  We manage Investment Partnerships through our 93% majority-owned subsidiary, Gabelli Securities, Inc. (“GSI”).  The Investment Partnerships consist primarily of limited partnerships and offshore funds.  As of December 31, 2010, we had $515 million of Investment Partnership AUM.

We introduced our first investment partnership, a merger arbitrage partnership, in 1985.  An offshore version of this strategy was added in 1989.  Building on our strengths in global event-driven value investing, several new Investment Partnerships have been added to balance investors’ geographic, strategy and sector needs.  Today we offer a broad range of absolute return products.  Within our merger arbitrage strategy, we manage approximately $427 million of assets for investors who seek positive returns not correlated to fluctuations of the general market.  These funds seek to drive returns by investing in announced merger and acquisition transactions that are primarily dependent on deal closure and less on the overall market environment.  In event-driven strategies, we manage $43 million of assets focused on the U.S. and Japanese markets.  We also manage a series of sector-focused absolute return funds designed to offer investors a mechanism to diversify their portfolios by global economic sector rather than by geographic region.  We currently offer three sector-focused portfolios: the Gabelli International Gold Fund Ltd., GAMA Select Energy Plus, L.P., and GAMCO Medical Opportunities, L.P.  Venture capital activities are carried out through ALCE Partners, L.P. and Gabelli Multimedia Partners, L.P., both of which are currently closed to new investors.

 
11

 

Assets Under Management
 
The following table sets forth total AUM by product type as of the dates shown and their compound annual growth rates (“CAGR”):
 
Assets Under Management
By Product Type
(Dollars in millions)
                                 
January 1,
       
                                 
2006 to
       
                                 
December
   
%
 
   
At December 31,
     31, 2010    
Change
 
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
   
2009
   
2010
   
CAGR (a)
     2010/2009  
Equity:
                                             
  Mutual Funds
  $ 13,794     $ 15,686     $ 9,931     $ 13,085     $ 16,723       5.9 %     27.8 %
  Institutional & Private Wealth
                                                       
    Management
                                                       
      Direct
    10,282       10,708       6,861       9,312       11,005       2.9       18.2  
      Sub-advisory
    2,340       2,584       1,585       1,897       2,637       (1.4 )     39.0  
  Investment Partnerships
    491       460       295       305       515       (4.1 )     68.9  
Total Equity
    26,907       29,438       18,672       24,599       30,880       3.8       25.5  
Fixed Income:
                                                       
  Money Market Mutual Funds
    734       1,111       1,507       1,721       1,616       17.4       (6.1 )
  Institutional & Private Wealth
                                                       
    Management
    50       24       22       26       26       (20.9 )     -  
Total Fixed Income
    784       1,135       1,529       1,747       1,642       15.2       (6.0 )
                                                         
Total AUM
  $ 27,691     $ 30,573     $ 20,201     $ 26,346     $ 32,522       4.3       23.4  
Breakdown of Total AUM:
                                                       
  Mutual Funds
  $ 14,528     $ 16,797     $ 11,438     $ 14,806     $ 18,339       6.7       23.9  
  Institutional & Private Wealth
                                                       
    Management
                                                       
      Direct
    10,332       10,732       6,883       9,338       11,031       2.7       18.1  
      Sub-advisory
    2,340       2,584       1,585       1,897       2,637       (1.4 )     39.0  
  Investment Partnerships
    491       460       295       305       515       (4.1 )     68.9  
Total AUM
  $ 27,691     $ 30,573     $ 20,201     $ 26,346     $ 32,522       4.3 %     23.4 %
 
(a) Compound annual growth rate.
 
 
12

 
 
Summary of Investment Products
 
We manage assets in the following wide spectrum of investment products and strategies, many of which are focused on fast-growing areas:

U.S. Equities:
 
Global and International Equities:
 
Investment Partnerships:
All Cap Value
 
International Growth
 
Merger Arbitrage
Large Cap Value
 
Global Growth
 
U.S. Long/Short
Large Cap Growth
 
Global Value
 
Global Long/Short
Mid Cap Value
 
Global Telecommunications
 
Japanese Long/Short
Small Cap Value
 
Global Multimedia
 
Sector-Focused
Small Cap Growth
 
Gold
 
- Energy
Micro Cap
     
- Gold
Natural Resources
 
U.S. Fixed Income:
 
- Medical Opportunities
Income
 
Corporate
 
Merchant Banking
Utilities
 
Government
   
Non-Market Correlated
 
Asset-backed
   
Options Income
 
Intermediate
   
   
Short-term
   
Convertible Securities:
     
U.S. Balanced:
U.S. Convertible Securities
     
Balanced Growth
Global Convertible Securities
     
Balanced Value

During 2010, we continued to develop the skills of our investment team by allocating firm capital to incubate investment strategies.  This began with a capital structure arbitrage strategy (2004) and now includes a merger-arbitrage and a global trading strategy.
  
Additional Information on Mutual Funds
 
Through our affiliate, Funds Advisor, we act as advisor to all of the Funds, except with respect to the Gabelli Capital Asset Fund for which we act as a sub-advisor.  Guardian Investment Services Corporation, an unaffiliated company, acts as manager.  As sub-advisor, we make day-to-day investment decisions for the $137 million Gabelli Capital Asset Fund.
 
 
13

 
 
The following table lists the Funds, together with the December 31, 2010 Morningstar overall rating for the open-end mutual funds, where rated (ratings are not available for the money-market fund and other open-end mutual funds, which collectively represent 14.6% of the open-end mutual fund AUM in the Funds), and provides a description of the primary investment objective, fund characteristics, fees, the date that the fund was initially offered to investors, and the AUM in the funds as of December 31, 2010.

                         
Net Assets as of
                         
December
Fund
         
Advisory
   
12b-1
 
Initial
 
31, 2010
(Morningstar Overall
 
Primary Investment
 
Fund
 
Fees
   
Fees
 
Offer
 
(all classes)
Rating) (1)
 
Objective
 
Characteristics
 
(%)
   
(%)
 
Date
 
($ in millions)
                           
OPEN-END FUNDS:
                         
                           
EQUITY INCOME:
                         
                           
The Gabelli Equity
 
High level of total return with an
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
01/02/92
 
$
1,702
Income Fund
 
emphasis on income-producing
 
No-load,
                 
«««««
 
equities with yields greater than
 
Open-end,
                 
   
the S&P 500 average.
 
Diversified,
                 
       
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
VALUE:
                         
                           
The Gabelli
 
Growth of capital as a primary
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
03/03/86
 
$
2,651
Asset Fund
 
investment objective, with
 
No-load,
                 
«««««
 
current income as a secondary
 
Open-end,
                 
   
investment objective. Invests in
 
Diversified,
                 
   
equity securities of companies
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
selling at a significant discount
                     
   
to their private market value.
                     
                           
The Gabelli Blue Chip
 
Capital appreciation through
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
08/26/99
 
$
28
Value Fund
 
investments in equity securities
 
No-load,
                 
«««
 
of established companies, which
 
Open-end,
                 
   
are temporarily out of favor and
 
Diversified,
                 
   
which have market capitalizations
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
in excess of $5 billion.
                     
                           
SMALL CAP VALUE:
                     
                           
The Gabelli Small Cap
 
High level of capital appreciation
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
10/22/91
 
$
2,168
Growth Fund
 
from equity securities of smaller
 
No-load,
                 
««««
 
companies with market
 
Open-end,
                 
   
capitalization of $2 billion or less
 
Diversified,
                 
   
at the time of purchase.
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 

 
14

 
 
                         
Net Assets as of
                         
December
Fund
         
Advisory
   
12b-1
 
Initial
 
31, 2010
(Morningstar Overall
 
Primary Investment
 
Fund
 
Fees
   
Fees
 
Offer
 
(all classes)
Rating) (1)
 
Objective
 
Characteristics
 
(%)
   
(%)
 
Date
 
($ in millions)
                           
The Gabelli Woodland
 
Long Term capital appreciation
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
 (9)
 
.25
 
12/31/02
 
$
7
Small Cap Value Fund
 
investing at least 80% of its
 
No-load,
                 
«««
 
in equity securities of companies
 
Open-end,
                 
   
with market capitalizations less
 
Non-diversified,
                 
   
than the greater of $3.0 billion
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                   
   
or the largest company
                     
   
in the Russell 2000 Index.
                     
                           
FOCUSED VALUE:
                         
                           
The Gabelli
 
High level of capital appreciation
 
Class A,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
09/29/89
 
$
625
Value Fund
 
From undervalued equity
 
Front end-load,
                 
««
 
securities that are held in a
 
Open-end,
                   
   
concentrated portfolio.
 
Non-diversified,
                 
       
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
GROWTH:
                         
                           
The GAMCO
 
Capital appreciation from
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
04/10/87
 
$
552
Growth Fund
 
companies that have favorable,
 
No-load,
                 
««
 
yet undervalued, prospects for
 
Open-end,
                   
   
earnings growth.  Invests in
 
Diversified,
                 
   
equity securities of companies
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
that have above-average or
                     
   
expanding market shares and
                     
   
profit margins.
                     
                           
GAMCO International
 
Capital appreciation by investing
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
06/30/95
 
$
32
Growth Fund
 
primarily in equity securities
 
No-load,
                 
«««
 
of foreign companies with
 
Open-end,
                 
   
rapid growth in revenues and
 
Diversified,
                 
   
earnings.
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
AGGRESSIVE GROWTH:
                     
                           
The GAMCO Global
 
High level of capital appreciation
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
02/07/94
 
$
70
Growth Fund
 
Through investment in a portfolio
 
No load,
                 
«««
 
of equity securities focused on
 
Open-end,
                 
   
companies involved in the
 
Non-diversified,
                 
   
global marketplace.
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
SPECIALTY EQUITY:
                     
                           
The Gabelli SRI Green
 
 Capital appreciation from
 
 Class AAA,
 
1.00
 (9)
 
.25
 
 6/1/07
 
$
18
Fund Inc.
 
 equity securities of companies
 
 No-load,
                   
«««««
 
 the fund deems to be
 
 Open-end,
                   
   
 socially responsible.
 
 Diversified,
                   
       
 Multi-class shares (2)
                   

 
15

 
 
                         
Net Assets as of
                         
December
Fund
         
Advisory
   
12b-1
 
Initial
 
31, 2010
(Morningstar Overall
 
Primary Investment
 
Fund
 
Fees
   
Fees
 
Offer
 
(all classes)
Rating) (1)
 
Objective
 
Characteristics
 
(%)
   
(%)
 
Date
 
($ in millions)
                           
The GAMCO Global
 
High level of capital appreciation
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
 (9)
 
.25
 
05/11/98
 
$
14
Opportunity Fund
 
through worldwide investments
 
No-load,
                 
««««
 
in equity securities.
 
Open-end,
                 
       
Non-diversified,
                 
                           
The GAMCO
 
High level of total return through
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
 (9)
 
.25
 
02/03/94
 
$
9
Vertumnus Fund
 
a combination of current income
 
No-load,
                 
«
 
and capital appreciation through
 
Open-end,
                 
   
investment in convertible
 
Non-diversified,
                 
   
securities of U.S. and
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
non-U.S. issuers.
                     
                           
The Gabelli Capital
 
Capital appreciation from equity
 
No-load,
 
.75
   
n/a
 
05/01/95
 
$
137
Asset Fund
 
securities of companies selling at
 
Open-end,
                 
(not rated) (8)
 
a significant discount to their
 
Diversified,
                 
   
private market value.
 
Variable Annuity
                 
                           
SECTOR:
                         
                           
The Gabelli
 
High level of total return through
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
08/31/99
 
$
1,508
Utilities Fund
 
a combination of capital
 
No-load,
                 
««««
 
appreciation and current income
 
Open-end,
                 
   
from investments in utility
 
Diversified,
                 
   
companies.
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
The GAMCO Global
 
High level of capital appreciation
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
11/01/93
 
$
158
Telecommunications
 
through worldwide investments
 
No-load,
                 
Fund
 
in equity securities, including
 
Open-end,
                 
««««
 
the U.S., primarily in the
 
Non-diversified,
                 
   
telecommunications industry.
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
GAMCO
 
Seeks capital appreciation and
 
Class AAA,
 
1.00
   
.25
 
 07/11/94
 
$
737
Gold Fund
 
employs a value approach to
 
No-load,
                 
«««
 
investing primarily in equity
 
Open-end,
                 
   
securities of gold-related
 
Diversified,
                 
   
companies worldwide.
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           

 
16

 
 
                         
Net Assets as of
                         
December
Fund
         
Advisory
   
12b-1
 
Initial
 
31, 2010
(Morningstar Overall
 
Primary Investment
 
Fund
 
Fees
   
Fees
 
Offer
 
(all classes)
Rating) (1)
 
Objective
 
Characteristics
 
(%)
   
(%)
 
Date
 
($ in millions)
                           
ABSOLUTE RETURN:
                       
                           
The Gabelli
 
Total returns that are attractive to
 
 No-load,
 
.50
 (7)
 
n/a
 (7)
5/14/93
 
$
442
ABC Fund
 
investors in various market
 
 Open-end,
                 
«««««
 
conditions without excessive risk
 
 Non-diversified
                   
   
of capital loss, utilizing certain
 
 Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
arbitrage strategies and investing
                     
   
in value orientated common
                     
   
stocks at a significant discount to
                     
   
their PMV.
                     
                             
The Gabelli Enterprise
 
Capital appreciation through
 
Class A
 
.94
 (9)
 
.45
     
$
250
Mergers and
 
investment in companies believed
 
Load,
                   
Acquisitions
 
to be likely acquisition targets
 
Open-end,
                 
Fund
 
within 12 to 18 months and
 
Diversified
                 
««««
 
companies involved with
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
publically announced mergers,
                     
   
takeovers, tender offers,
                     
   
leveraged buyouts, spin-offs,
                       
   
liquidations, and other corporate
                     
   
reorganizations.
                       
                           
 CONTRARIAN:
                         
                           
Comstock Capital
 
Maximize total return consisting
 
Class A
 
1.00
   
.25
 
 10/10/85
 
$
123
Value Fund
 
of capital appreciation and
 
Load,
                 
(not rated) (8)
 
current income.
 
Open-end,
                 
       
Diversified
                   
       
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
                           
GAMCO Mathers
 
Long-term capital appreciation
 
Class AAA:
 
1.00
   
.25
 
8/19/65
 
$
22
Fund
 
in various market conditions
 
No-load,
                 
«
 
without excess risk of capital
 
Open-end,
                 
   
loss.
 
Diversified
                   
                           
CASH MANAGEMENT-MONEY MARKET:
                     
                           
The Gabelli U.S.
 
High current income with
 
Money Market,
 
.30
(9)
 
n/a 
 
 10/01/92
 
$
1,616
Treasury
 
preservation of principal and
 
Open-end,
                 
Money Market Fund
 
liquidity, while striving to keep
 
Diversified
                   
 (11)
 
expenses among the lowest of all
 
Multi-class shares (2)
                 
   
U.S. Treasury money market
                     
   
funds.
                     

 
17

 
 
                         
Net Assets as of
                         
December
Fund
         
Advisory
   
12b-1
 
Initial
 
31, 2010
(Morningstar Overall
 
Primary Investment
 
Fund
 
Fees
   
Fees
 
Offer
 
(all classes)
Rating) (1)
 
Objective
 
Characteristics
 
(%)
   
(%)
 
Date
 
($ in millions)
                           
CLOSED-END FUNDS:
                       
                           
The Gabelli
 
Long-term growth of
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
(10)
n/a 
 
08/14/86
 
$
1,364
Equity Trust Inc.
 
capital by investing
 
Non-diversified
                 
   
in equity securities.
 
NYSE Symbol: GAB
                   
                           
The Gabelli
 
High total return from investing
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
 (10)
n/a 
 
07/03/89
 
$
105
Convertible and Income
 
primarily in convertible
 
Diversified
                 
Securities Fund Inc. (4)
 
instruments.
 
NYSE Symbol: GCV
                 
                           
The Gabelli Global
 
Long-term capital appreciation
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
 (10)
n/a 
 
11/15/94
 
$
160
Multimedia Trust Inc.
 
from equity investments in
 
Non-diversified
                 
(3)
 
global telecommunications,
 
NYSE Symbol: GGT
                   
   
media, publishing and
                     
   
entertainment holdings.
                     
                           
The Gabelli
 
High total return from
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
 (10)
n/a 
 
07/09/99
 
$
219
Utility Trust (5)
 
investments primarily in
 
Non-diversified
                 
   
securities of companies
 
NYSE Symbol: GUT
                   
   
involved in gas, electricity
                     
   
and water industries.
                       
                           
The Gabelli
 
Qualified dividend income
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
 (10)
n/a 
 
11/24/03
 
$
1,925
Dividend & Income
 
and capital appreciation
 
Non-diversified
                 
Trust
 
potential.
 
NYSE Symbol: GDV
                 
                           
The Gabelli
 
A consistent level of after-tax
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
 
n/a 
 
5/28/04
 
$
63
Global Utility &
 
total return with an emphasis
 
Non-diversified
                   
Income Trust
 
on tax-advantaged dividend
 
NYSE Symbol: GLU
                 
   
income.
                     
                           
The Gabelli
 
High level of current income
 
Closed-end,
 
1.00
 
n/a 
 
3/29/05
 
$
1,119
Global Gold, Natural
 
through an option writing strategy
 
Non-diversified
                 
Resources & Income
 
on equity securities owned in the
 
NYSE Symbol: GGN
                   
Trust
 
gold and natural resources
                     
   
industries.
                     
                           
The GDL Fund
 
Achieve absolute return through
 
 Closed-end,
 
0.50
 
n/a 
 
1/26/07
 
$
414
   
investments in various market
 
 Non-diversified
                 
   
conditions without excessive
 
 NYSE Symbol: GDL
                   
   
risk of capital.
                     
                           
The Gabelli Healthcare
 
Seeks long-term growth of
 
 Closed-end,
 
1.00
 
n/a 
 
6/28/07
 
$
102
and Wellness Rx
 
capital within the health and
 
 Non-diversified
                 
Fund (6)
 
wellness industries.
 
 NYSE Symbol: GRX
                 
 
 
18

 
 
(1) 
Morningstar RatingTM as of December 31, 2010 is provided if available for open-end funds only.  Morningstar ratings may be available for certain closed-end funds.  Morningstar ratings are not an indication of absolute performance.  Call 800-GABELLI for performance results through the most recent month end.  For each fund with at least a three-year history, Morningstar calculates a Morningstar RatingTM based on a Morningstar risk-adjusted return measure that accounts for variation in a fund’s monthly performance (including the effects of sales charges, loads and redemption fees) placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance.  The top 10% of the funds in an investment category receive five stars, the next 22.5% receive four stars, the next 35% receive three stars, the next 22.5% receive two stars and the bottom 10% receive one star.  The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three, five, and ten-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics.  Morningstar Ratings are shown for the respective class shown; other classes may have different performance characteristics.  There were 593 Conservative Allocation funds rated for three years, 433 funds for five years and 162 funds for ten years (GAMCO Mathers Fund).  There were 373 Mid-Cap Blend funds rated for three years, 304 funds for five years and 171 funds for ten years (The Gabelli Value Fund, The Gabelli Enterprise Mergers & Acquisition Fund).  There were 677 Mid-Cap Growth funds rated for three years, 594 funds for five years and 392 funds for ten years (The Gabelli ABC Fund, The Gabelli SRI Green Fund Inc.).  There were 1,120 Large Value funds rated for three years, 956 funds for five years and 502 funds for ten years (The Gabelli Equity Income Fund).  There were 1,753 Large Blend funds rated for three years, 1,457 funds for five years and 802 funds for ten years (The Gabelli Asset Fund, The Gabelli Blue Chip Value Fund).  There were 63 Convertibles funds rated for three years, 55 funds for five years and 43 funds for ten years (The GAMCO Vertumnus Fund).  There were 628 World Stock funds rated for three years, 493 funds for five years and 261 funds for ten years (The GAMCO Global Growth Fund, The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund).  There were 39 Specialty-Communications funds rated for three years, 33 funds for five years and 29 funds for ten years (The GAMCO Global Telecommunications Fund).  There were 72 Specialty-Precious Metals funds rated for three years, 61 funds for five years and 39 funds for ten years (GAMCO Gold Fund).
 
There were 1,504 Large Growth funds rated for three years, 1,286 funds for five years and 787 funds for ten years (The GAMCO Growth Fund).  There were 209 Foreign Large Growth funds rated for three years, 162 funds for five years and 89 funds for ten years (GAMCO International Growth Fund).  There were 83 Specialty-Utilities funds rated for three years, 78 funds rated for five years and 52 funds for ten years (The Gabelli Utilities Fund).  There were 563 Small Blend funds rated for three years and 484 funds for five years and 279 funds for ten years (The Gabelli Small Cap Growth Fund, The Gabelli Woodland Small Cap Value Fund).  (a) 2010 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights reserved.  This information is (1) 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.  Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
 
(2) 
These funds have multi-classes of shares available.  Multi-class shares include Class A shares which have a front-end sales charge, Class B shares which are subject to a back-end contingent deferred sales charge for up to six years and Class C which shares are subject to a 1% back-end contingent deferred sales charge for up to two years.  However, Class B shares are no longer offered for new purchases as of July 2004. Comstock Capital Value Fund Class R shares, which are no-load, are available only for retirement and certain institutional accounts.  Comstock Capital Value class AAA shares are no-load and became available on December 8, 2008 Class I shares are available to institutional accounts.  Gabelli ABC Fund advisor class shares are no-load and are available through intermediaries.  Net assets include all share classes.
 
(3) 
The Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust Inc. was formed in 1994 through a spin-off of assets from The Gabelli Equity Trust.
 
(4) 
The Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund Inc. was originally formed in 1989 as an open-end investment company and was converted to a closed-end investment company in March 1995.
 
(5) 
The Gabelli Utility Trust was formed in 1999 through a spin-off of assets from The Gabelli Equity Trust.
   
(6) 
The Gabelli Healthcare and WellnessRX Trust was formed in 2007 through a spin-off of assets from The Gabelli Equity Trust.
 
(7) 
Funds Advisor has reduced the Advisory fee from 1.00% to 0.50% since April 1, 2002.  Gabelli & Company waived receipt of the 12b-1 Plan distribution fees as of January 1, 2003, and on February 25, 2004, the Fund’s Board of Directors agreed with the Funds Advisor’s request to terminate the 12b-1 Plan. The advisory fee was contractually set at 0.50% as of May 1, 2007.  The Gabelli ABC Fund – Advisor class has a 12b-1 Plan which pays 0.25%.
 
(8) 
Certain funds are not rated because they do not have a three-year history, or there are not enough similar funds in the category determined by Morningstar.
 
 
19

 
 
(9) 
Funds Advisor has agreements in place to waive its advisory fee or reimburse expenses of the Fund to maintain fund expenses at a specified level for Class AAA shares; multi-class shares have separate limits as described in the Fund’s prospectus.  (The Gabelli Woodland Small Cap Value Fund – 2.00%; The GAMCO Global Opportunity Fund – 2.00%; The GAMCO Vertumnus Fund – 2.00%; The Gabelli SRI Fund – 2.00%; The Gabelli Enterprise Mergers and Acquisitions Fund – 1.90% for class A; The Gabelli U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund – 0.08%.  Such agreements are renewable annually).
 
(10) 
Funds Advisor has agreed to reduce its advisory fee on the liquidation value of preferred stock outstanding if certain performance levels are not met.

(11) 
The Gabelli U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund ranked third in total return for the twelve months ended December 31, 2010 among 69 U.S. Treasury money market funds tracked by Lipper Inc.  For the 5 year and 10 year periods ended December 31, 2010, the fund ranked first out of 62 funds and second out of 45 funds, respectively, within that category.  Investment returns and yield will fluctuate. An investment in a money market fund is not guaranteed by the United States government nor insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency.  Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of an investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing on the Fund.

Shareholders of the open-end funds are allowed to exchange shares among the same class of shares of the other open-end funds as economic and market conditions and investor needs change at no additional cost.  However, as noted below, certain open-end funds impose a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed in seven days or less after a purchase.  We periodically introduce new funds designed to complement and expand our investment product offerings, respond to competitive developments in the financial marketplace and meet the changing needs of investors.
 
Our marketing efforts for the open-end funds are currently focused on increasing the distribution and sales of our existing funds as well as creating new products for sale through our distribution channels.  We believe that our marketing efforts for the funds will continue to generate additional revenues from investment advisory fees.  We have traditionally distributed most of our open-end funds by using a variety of direct response marketing techniques, including telemarketing and advertising, and as a result we maintain direct relationships with many of our no-load open-end fund customers.  Beginning in late 1995, we expanded our product distribution by offering several of our open-end funds through third party distribution programs, including NTF programs.  In 1998 and 1999, we further expanded these efforts to include substantially all of our open-end funds in third party distribution programs.  More than 28% of the AUM in the open-end funds are still attributable to our direct response marketing efforts.  Third party distribution programs have become an increasingly important source of asset growth for us.  Of the $11.3 billion of AUM in the open-end equity funds as of December 31, 2010, approximately 72% were generated through third party distribution programs.  We are responsible for paying the service and distribution fees charged by many of the third party distribution programs, although a portion of such service fees under certain circumstances are payable by the funds.  During 2000, we completed development of additional classes of shares for many of our Funds for sale through national brokerage and investment firms and other third party distribution channels on a commission basis.  The multi-class shares are available in all of the Gabelli Funds, except for the Gabelli Capital Asset Fund and the GAMCO Mathers Fund.  We believe that the use of multi-class share products will expand the distribution of Gabelli Fund products into the advised sector of the mutual fund investment community.  During 2003, we introduced Class I shares, which are no-load shares with higher minimum initial investment and without distribution fees available to Institutional and Retirement Plan Accounts held directly through Gabelli & Company.  The no-load shares are designated as Class AAA shares and are available for new and current investors.  In general, distribution through third party distribution programs has greater variable cost components and lower fixed cost components than distribution through our traditional direct sales methods.
 
We provide investment advisory and management services pursuant to an investment management agreement with each fund.  The investment management agreements with the funds generally provide that we are responsible for the overall investment and administrative services, subject to the oversight of each fund's Board of Directors or Trustees and in accordance with each fund's fundamental investment objectives and policies.  The investment management agreements permit us to enter into separate agreements for administrative and accounting services on behalf of the respective Funds.

Our affiliated advisors provide the funds with administrative services pursuant to the management contracts.  Such services include, without limitation, supervision of the calculation of net asset value, preparation of financial reports for shareholders of the funds, internal accounting, tax accounting and reporting, regulatory filings and other services.  Most of these administrative services are provided through sub-contracts with unaffiliated third parties.  Transfer agency and custodial services are provided directly to the funds by unaffiliated third parties.

 
20

 
 
Our fund investment management agreements may continue in effect from year to year only if specifically approved at least annually by (i) the fund's Board of Directors or Trustees or (ii) the fund's shareholders and, in either case, the vote of a majority of the fund's directors or trustees who are not parties to the agreement or “interested persons” of any such party, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended (the “Company Act”).  Each fund may terminate its investment management agreement at any time upon 60 days' written notice by (i) a vote of the majority of the Board of Directors or Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such termination or (ii) a vote at a meeting of shareholders of the lesser of either 67% of the voting shares represented in person or by proxy or 50% of the outstanding voting shares of such Fund.  Each investment management agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined in the Company Act.  We may terminate an investment management agreement without penalty on 60 days' written notice.
 
Mutual Fund Distribution, Institutional Research, Brokerage and Underwriting
 
Gabelli & Company, the wholly-owned subsidiary of our 93% majority-owned subsidiary GSI, is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).  Gabelli & Company's revenues are derived primarily from the distribution of our Funds, institutional research services, underwriting fees and selling concessions.
 
Mutual Fund Distribution
 
Gabelli & Company distributes our open-end funds pursuant to distribution agreements with each fund.  Under each distribution agreement with an open-end fund, Gabelli & Company offers and sells such open-end fund's shares on a continuous basis and pays the majority of the costs of marketing and selling the shares, including printing and mailing prospectuses and sales literature, advertising and maintaining sales and customer service personnel and sales and services fulfillment systems, and payments to the sponsors of third party distribution programs, financial intermediaries and Gabelli & Company sales personnel.  Gabelli & Company receives fees for such services pursuant to distribution plans adopted under provisions of Rule 12b-1 (“12b-1”) of the Company Act.  Distribution fees from the open-end funds are computed daily based on average net assets.  Distribution fees from the open-end funds amounted to $29.0 million, $20.8 million and $23.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  In 2010, GAMCO filed an application for the establishment of a new broker dealer. It is contemplated that this new broker dealer would become the distributor of the affiliated mutual funds which Gabelli & Company currently distributes.  Currently, Gabelli & Company is the principal underwriter for funds distributed in multiple classes of shares which carry either a front-end or back-end sales charge.  Underwriting fees and sales charges retained amounted to $1.9 million, $946,000 and $627,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Under the distribution plans, the open-end Class AAA shares of the funds (except The Gabelli U.S. Treasury Money Market Fund, Gabelli Capital Asset Fund and The Gabelli ABC Fund) and the Class A and V shares of various funds pay Gabelli & Company a distribution or service fee of .25% per year (except the Class A shares of the GAMCO Westwood Funds and Gabelli Enterprise Mergers & Acquisition Fund which pay .50% and 0.45% per year, respectively, and the GAMCO Westwood Intermediate Bond Fund which pays .35%) on the average daily net assets of the fund.  Class B and Class C shares have a 12b-1 distribution plan with a service and distribution fee totaling 1%.  Gabelli & Company’s distribution agreements with the funds may continue in effect from year to year only if specifically approved at least annually by (i) the fund's Board of Directors or Trustees or (ii) the fund's shareholders and, in either case, the vote of a majority of the fund's directors or trustees who are not parties to the agreement or “interested persons” of any such party, within the meaning of the Company Act.  Each fund may terminate its distribution agreement, or any agreement thereunder, at any time upon 60 days' written notice by (i) a vote of the majority of its directors or trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such termination or (ii) a vote at a meeting of shareholders of the lesser of either 67% of the voting shares represented in person or by proxy or 50% of the outstanding voting shares of such fund. Each distribution agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined in the Company Act.  Gabelli & Company may terminate a distribution agreement without penalty upon 60 days' written notice.
 
Gabelli & Company also offers our open-end Fund products through our website, www.gabelli.com, where directly registered mutual fund investors can access their personal account information and buy, sell and exchange Fund shares.  Fund prospectuses, quarterly reports, fund applications, daily net asset values and performance charts are all available online.  

 
21

 

Institutional Research Services
 
Gabelli & Company provides institutional investors with investment ideas on numerous industries and special situations, with a particular focus on small-cap and mid-cap companies.  Our research analysts are industry-focused, following sectors that stem from our core competencies.  They are experts on their industries, and look at companies of all market capitalizations on a global basis.  Their financial models look five years into the past, and project five years forward, to understand earnings power and free cash flow.  They look for growing companies, with improving balance sheets and shareholder-sensitive management.  The primary function of the research team is to gather data, array the data, project and interpret data from which investment decisions can be made.  The objective of the institutional research services is to provide superior investment ideas to investment decision makers.

Analysts are generally assigned to research teams, coordinated by a senior analyst, in order to enhance idea cross-fertilization, and more efficiently share knowledge acquired in related industry subsectors.  Our teams are broken down into Digital, which includes cable, telecommunications, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, and entertainment, Gabelli Green, which researches investment opportunities in clean and renewable energy, Consumer, Health and Wellness, and Industrial.
 
Gabelli & Company generates institutional research services revenues through brokerage activities from securities transactions executed on an agency basis on behalf of institutional and private wealth management clients as well as from retail customers and mutual funds.  Institutional research services revenues totaled $16.6 million, $16.7 million, and $16.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Gabelli & Company continues to pursue expansion of such activities.
 
Underwriting
 
During 2010, Gabelli & Company acted as underwriter in the Gabelli Healthcare & WellnessRX Trust offering of 5.76% Series A Cumulative Preferred shares and as agent in the secondary offerings of the Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust.  During 2009, Gabelli & Company acted as the Dealer Manager for The GDL Fund’s Series A Cumulative Callable Preferred Share Rights Offering and as agent in the secondary offerings of the Gabelli Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust.  In 2008, Gabelli & Company did not participate in any underwritings.
 
Competition
 
We compete with other investment management firms and mutual fund companies, insurance companies, banks, brokerage firms and other financial institutions that offer products that have similar features and investment objectives to those offered by us.  Many of the investment management firms with which we compete are subsidiaries of large diversified financial companies and many others are much larger in terms of AUM and revenues and, accordingly, have much larger sales organizations and marketing budgets.  Historically, we have competed primarily on the basis of the long-term investment performance of many of our investment products.  However, we have taken steps to increase our distribution channels, brand name awareness and marketing efforts.
 
The market for providing investment management services to institutional and private wealth management Institutional and Private Wealth Management is also highly competitive.  Approximately 34% of our investment advisory fee revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010 was derived from our Institutional and Private Wealth Management.  Selection of investment advisors by U.S. institutional investors is often subject to a screening process and to favorable recommendations by investment industry consultants.  Many of these investors require their investment advisors to have a successful and sustained performance record, often five years or longer, and also focus on one-year and three-year performance records.  We have significantly increased our AUM on behalf of U.S. institutional investors since our entry into the institutional asset management business in 1977.  At the current time, we believe that our investment performance record would be attractive to potential new institutional and private wealth management clients.  However, no assurance can be given that our efforts to obtain new business will be successful.

 
22

 

Intellectual Property
 
Service marks and brand name recognition are important to our business.  We have rights to the service marks under which our products are offered.  We have registered certain service marks in the United States and will continue to do so as new trademarks and service marks are developed or acquired.  We have rights to use the “Gabelli” name, the “GAMCO” name, and other names.  Pursuant to an assignment agreement, Mr. Gabelli has assigned to us all of his rights, title and interests in and to the “Gabelli” name for use in connection with investment management services, mutual funds and securities brokerage services.  However, under the agreement, Mr. Gabelli will retain any and all rights, title and interests he has or may have in the “Gabelli” name for use in connection with (i) charitable foundations controlled by Mr. Gabelli or members of his family or (ii) entities engaged in private investment activities for Mr. Gabelli or members of his family.  In addition, the funds managed by Mr. Gabelli outside GBL have entered into a license agreement with us permitting them to continue limited use of the “Gabelli” name under specified circumstances.  We have taken, and will continue to take, action to protect our interests in these service marks.
 
Regulation
 
Virtually all aspects of our businesses are subject to various federal, state and foreign laws and regulations.  These laws and regulations are primarily intended to protect investment advisory clients and shareholders of investment funds, the markets and customers of broker-dealers.  Under such laws and regulations, agencies that regulate investment advisors and broker-dealers have broad powers, including the power to limit, restrict or prohibit such an advisor or broker-dealer from carrying on its business in the event that it fails to comply with such laws and regulations.  In such an event, the possible sanctions that may be imposed include civil and criminal liability, the suspension of individual employees, injunctions, limitations on engaging in certain lines of business for specified periods of time, revocation of the investment advisor and other registrations, censures, and fines.

Our business is subject to extensive regulation at the federal, state and foreign level by the SEC and other regulatory bodies.  Certain of our subsidiaries are registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”), and the funds are registered with the SEC under the Company Act.  We also have a subsidiary that is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and is subject to regulation by the FINRA and various states.
 
The subsidiaries of GBL that are registered with the Commission under the Advisers Act (Funds Advisor, Gabelli Fixed Income LLC, GAMCO and GSI) are regulated by and subject to examination by the SEC.  The Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on registered investment advisors including fiduciary duties and disclosure obligations and record keeping, operational and marketing requirements.  The Commission is authorized to institute proceedings and impose sanctions for violations of the Advisers Act, ranging from censure to termination of an investment advisor's registration.  The failure of an advisory subsidiary to comply with the requirements of the SEC could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
We derive a substantial majority of our revenues from investment advisory services through our various investment management agreements.  Under the Advisers Act, our investment management agreements may not be assigned without the client's consent.  Under the Company Act, advisory agreements with registered investment companies such as our Funds terminate automatically upon assignment.  The term “assignment” is broadly defined and includes direct as well as assignments that may be deemed to occur, under certain circumstances, upon the transfer, directly or indirectly, of a controlling interest in GBL.
 
In its capacity as a broker-dealer, Gabelli & Company is required to maintain certain minimum net capital and cash reserves for the benefit of our customers.  Gabelli & Company’s net capital, as defined, has consistently met or exceeded all minimum requirements.  Gabelli & Company is also subject to periodic examination by FINRA, the SEC and the states.

Subsidiaries of GBL are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and to regulations promulgated there under, insofar as they are “fiduciaries” under ERISA with respect to certain of their clients. ERISA and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries under ERISA and prohibit certain transactions involving ERISA plan clients.  Our failure to comply with these requirements could have a material adverse effect on us.

 
23

 

Investments by GBL and on behalf of our advisory clients and investment funds often represent a significant equity ownership position in an issuer's class of stock.  As of December 31, 2010, we had five percent or more beneficial ownership with respect to approximately 113 equity securities.  This activity raises frequent regulatory, legal, and disclosure issues regarding our aggregate beneficial ownership level with respect to portfolio securities, including issues relating to issuers' shareholder rights plans or “poison pills,” and various federal and state regulatory limitations, including state gaming laws and regulations, federal communications laws and regulations and public utility holding company laws and regulations as well as federal proxy rules governing shareholder communications and federal laws and regulations regarding the reporting of beneficial ownership positions.  Our failure to comply with these requirements could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
The USA Patriot Act of 2001, contains anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and mandates the implementation of various new regulations applicable to broker-dealers, mutual funds and other financial services companies, including standards for verifying client identification at account opening, and obligations to monitor client transactions and report suspicious activities.  Anti-money laundering laws outside of the U.S. contain some similar provisions.  Our failure to comply with these requirements could have a material adverse effect on us.

We and certain of our affiliates are subject to the laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions and non-U.S. regulatory agencies or bodies.  In connection with our opening of an office in London and our plans to market certain products in Europe, we are required to comply with the laws of the United Kingdom and other European countries regarding these activities.  Our subsidiary, GAMCO Asset Management (UK) Limited, is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.  In connection with our registration in the United Kingdom, we have minimum capital requirements that have been consistently met or exceeded.  Several of our investment funds are organized under the laws of foreign jurisdictions and subject to regulation.  We opened research offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong and therefore are subject to national and local laws in those jurisdictions.  We are subject to requirements in numerous jurisdictions regarding reporting of beneficial ownership positions in securities issued by companies whose securities are publicly-traded in those countries.

Regulatory matters
 
The investment management industry is likely to continue facing a high level of regulatory scrutiny and become subject to additional rules designed to increase disclosure, tighten controls and reduce potential conflicts of interest.  In addition, the Commission has substantially increased its use of focused inquiries in which it requests information from investment advisors and a number of fund complexes regarding particular practices or provisions of the securities laws.  We participate in some of these inquiries in the normal course of our business.  Changes in laws, regulations and administrative practices by regulatory authorities, and the associated compliance costs, have increased our cost structure and could in the future have a material impact.  Although we have installed procedures and utilize the services of experienced administrators, accountants and lawyers to assist us in adhering to regulatory guidelines and satisfying these requirements, and maintain insurance to protect ourselves in the case of client losses, there can be no assurance that the precautions and procedures that we have instituted and installed or the insurance that we maintain to protect ourselves in case of client losses will protect us from potential liabilities.

See item 3 below.
 
Personnel
 
On January 31, 2011, we had a full-time staff of 222 individuals, of whom 69 served in the portfolio management, research and trading areas (including 20 portfolio managers for the Mutual Funds, Institutional and Private Wealth Management and Investment Partnerships), 76 served in the marketing and shareholder servicing areas and 77 served in the administrative area.
 
 
24

 
 
ITEM 1A: RISK FACTORS
 
Business Risks
 
We caution the reader that the following business risks and those risks described elsewhere in this report and in our other SEC filings could cause our actual results to differ materially from expectations stated in our forward-looking statements.
 
Risks Related to Our Industry
 
Changes in laws or regulations or in governmental policies could limit the sources and amounts of our revenues, increase our costs of doing business, decrease our profitability and materially and adversely affect our business.
 
Our business is subject to extensive regulation in the United States, primarily at the federal level, including regulation by the SEC under the Company Act and the Advisers Act, by the Department of Labor under ERISA, as well as regulation by FINRA and state regulators. The Funds managed by Funds Advisor are registered with the SEC as investment companies under the Company Act.  The Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on investment advisors, including record-keeping, advertising and operating requirements, disclosure obligations, custodial requirements and prohibitions on fraudulent activities.  The Company Act imposes similar obligations, as well as additional detailed operational requirements, on registered investment companies and investment advisors.  Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, censure, suspensions of personnel or other sanctions, including revocation of our registration as an investment advisor or broker-dealer.  Industry regulations are designed to protect our clients and investors in our funds and other third parties who deal with us and to ensure the integrity of the financial markets.  Our industry is frequently altered by new laws or regulations and by revisions to, and evolving interpretations of, existing laws and regulations.  Changes in laws or regulations or in governmental policies could limit the sources and amounts of our revenues including distribution revenue under the Company Act, increase our costs of doing business, decrease our profitability and materially and adversely affect our business.
 
To the extent we are forced to compete on the basis of price, we may not be able to maintain our current fee structure.
 
The investment management business is highly competitive and has relatively low barriers to entry.  To the extent we are forced to compete on the basis of price, we may not be able to maintain our current fee structure.  Although our investment management fees vary from product to product, historically we have competed primarily on the performance of our products and not on the level of our investment management fees relative to those of our competitors.  In recent years, however, there has been a trend toward lower fees in the investment management industry.  In order to maintain our fee structure in a competitive environment, we must be able to continue to provide clients with investment returns and service that make investors willing to pay our fees.  In addition, the board of directors or trustees of each fund managed by Funds Advisor must make certain findings as to the reasonableness of its fees.  We cannot be assured that we will succeed in providing investment returns and service that will allow us to maintain our current fee structure.  Fee reductions on existing or future new business could have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations.
 
We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from contracts that may be terminated on short notice.
 
A substantial majority of all of our revenues are derived from investment management agreements and distribution arrangements.  Investment management agreements and distribution arrangements with the Funds are terminable without penalty on 60 days' notice (subject to certain additional procedural requirements in the case of termination by a Fund) and must be specifically approved at least annually, as required by law.  Such annual renewal requires, among other things, approval by the disinterested members of each Fund's board of directors or trustees.  Investment advisory agreements with our Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients are typically terminable by the client without penalty on 30 days' notice or less.  Any failure to renew or termination of a significant number of these agreements or arrangements would have a material adverse effect on us.

 
25

 

Investors in the open-end funds can redeem their investments in these funds at any time without prior notice, which could adversely affect our earnings.
 
Open-end fund investors may redeem their investments in those funds at any time without prior notice.  Investors may reduce the aggregate amount of AUM for any number of reasons, including investment performance, changes in prevailing interest rates and financial market performance.  In a declining stock market, the pace of mutual fund redemptions could accelerate.  Poor performance relative to other asset management firms tends to result in decreased purchases of mutual fund shares and increased redemptions of mutual fund shares.  The redemption of investments in mutual funds managed by Funds Advisor would adversely affect our revenues, which are substantially dependent upon the AUM in our funds.  If redemptions of investments in mutual funds caused our revenues to decline, it could have a material adverse effect on our earnings.

Certain changes in control of our company would automatically terminate our investment management agreements with our clients, unless our Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients consent and, in the case of fund clients, the funds’ boards of directors and shareholders vote to continue the agreements, and could prevent us for a two-year period from increasing the investment advisory fees we are able to charge our mutual fund clients.
 
Under the Company Act, an investment management agreement with a fund must provide for its automatic termination in the event of its assignment. The fund’s board and shareholders must vote to continue the agreement following its assignment, the cost of which ordinarily would be borne by us.  Under the Advisers Act, a client’s investment management agreement may not be “assigned” by the investment advisor without the client’s consent.  An investment management agreement is considered to be assigned to another party when a controlling block of the advisor’s securities is transferred.  In our case, an assignment of our investment management agreements may occur if, among other things, we sell or issue a certain number of additional common shares in the future.  We cannot be certain that our clients will consent to assignments of our investment management agreements or approve new agreements with us if an assignment occurs.  Under the Company Act, if a fund’s investment advisor engages in a transaction that results in the assignment of its investment management agreement with the fund, the advisor may not impose an “unfair burden” on that fund as a result of the transaction for a two-year period after the transaction is completed.  The term “unfair burden” has been interpreted to include certain increases in investment advisory fees.  This restriction may discourage potential purchasers from acquiring a controlling interest in our company.
 
Regulatory developments designed to increase oversight of private funds may adversely affect our business.
 
The SEC has proposed a rule that would limit the eligibility of individuals to invest in private funds by requiring that such individuals own not less than $2.5 million in investments at the time of their private fund investment.  The SEC may also propose or enact other rules designed to increase oversight of private funds by the SEC.  Any regulations applicable to private funds that may be adopted could have an impact on our operations and may adversely affect our private fund business and decrease our future income.
 
A decline in the prices of securities would lead to a decline in our assets under management, revenues and earnings.
 
Substantially all of our revenues are determined by the amount of our AUM. Under our investment advisory contracts with our clients, the investment advisory fees we receive are typically based on the market value of AUM.  In addition, we receive asset-based distribution and/or service fees with respect to the open-end funds managed by Funds Advisor or Teton Advisors, Inc. (“Teton”) over time pursuant to distribution plans adopted under provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the Company Act.  Rule 12b-1 fees typically are based on the average AUM and represented approximately 10.3%, 9.5% and 9.7% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Accordingly, a decline in the prices of securities generally may cause our revenues and net income to decline by either causing the value of our AUM to decrease, which would result in lower investment advisory and Rule 12b-1 fees, or causing our clients to withdraw funds in favor of investments they perceive to offer greater opportunity or lower risk, which would also result in lower fees.  The securities markets are highly volatile, and securities prices may increase or decrease for many reasons, including economic and political events and acts of terrorism beyond our control.  If a decline in securities prices caused our revenues to decline, it could have a material adverse effect on our earnings.

 
26

 

Catastrophic and unpredictable events could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
A terrorist attack, war, power failure, cyber-attack, natural disaster or other catastrophic or unpredictable event could adversely affect our future revenues, expenses and earnings by: interrupting our normal business operations; sustaining employee casualties, including loss of our key executives; requiring substantial expenditures and expenses to repair, replace and restore normal business operations; and reducing investor confidence.
 
We have a disaster recovery plan to address certain contingencies, but we cannot be assured that this plan will be sufficient in responding or ameliorating the effects of all disaster scenarios.  If our employees or vendors we rely upon for support in a catastrophic event are unable to respond adequately or in a timely manner, we may lose clients resulting in a decrease in AUM which may have a material adverse effect on revenues and net income.

Risks Related to Our Business
 
Control by Mr. Gabelli of a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock may give rise to conflicts of interests.
 
Since our initial public offering in 1999, Mr. Gabelli, through his control and majority ownership of GGCP, has beneficially owned a majority of our outstanding Class B Stock, representing 94% of voting control.  As long as Mr. Gabelli indirectly beneficially owns a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock, he will have the ability to elect all of the members of our Board of Directors and thereby control our management and affairs, including determinations with respect to acquisitions, dispositions, borrowings, issuances of common stock or other securities, and the declaration and payment of dividends on the common stock.  In addition, Mr. Gabelli will be able to determine the outcome of matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders for approval and will be able to cause or prevent a change in control of our company.  As a result of Mr. Gabelli's control, none of our agreements with Mr. Gabelli and other companies controlled by him can be assumed to have been arrived at through “arm's-length” negotiations, although we believe that the parties endeavor to implement market-based terms.  There can be no assurance that we would not have received more favorable terms from an unaffiliated party.
 
On February 6, 2008, Mr. Mario Gabelli entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “2008 Employment Agreement”) with the Company, which was approved by the Company’s shareholders on November 30, 2007 and which limits his activities outside of the Company.  The 2008 Employment Agreement modified Mr. Mario Gabelli’s previous employment agreement primarily by (i) eliminating outdated provisions, clarifying certain language and reflecting our name change; (ii) revising the term of the Employment Agreement for an indefinite term to a three-year initial term that automatically extends the initial term for an additional year on each anniversary of the Employment Agreement’s effective date unless either party gives written notice at least 90 days in advance of the expiration date; (iii) allowing for services to be performed for former subsidiaries that are spun off to shareholders or otherwise cease to be subsidiaries in similar transactions; (iv) allowing new investors in the permitted outside accounts if all of the performance fees, less expenses, generated by assets attributable to such investors are paid to us; (v) allowing for the management fee to be paid directly to Mr. Mario Gabelli or to an entity designated by him; and (vi) adding certain language to ensure that the 2008 Employment Agreement complies with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
Under the 2008 Employment Agreement, the manner of computing Mr. Gabelli’s remuneration from GAMCO is unchanged.
 
Mr. Gabelli (or his designee under the Amended Agreement) will continue receiving an incentive-based management fee in the amount of 10% of our aggregate pre-tax profits, if any, as computed for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (before consideration of this fee) so long as he is an executive of GAMCO and devotes the substantial majority of his working time to our business.  This incentive-based management fee is subject to the Compensation Committee’s review at least annually for compliance with its terms.
 
Consistent with the firm’s practice since its inception in 1977, Mr. Gabelli will also continue receiving a percentage of revenues or net operating contribution, which are substantially derived from AUM, as compensation relating to or generated by the following activities: (i) managing or overseeing the management of various investment companies and partnerships, (ii) attracting mutual fund shareholders, (iii) attracting and managing Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients, and (iv) otherwise generating revenues for the company.  Such payments are made in a manner and at rates as agreed to from time to time by GAMCO, which rates have been and generally will be the same as those received by other professionals at GAMCO performing similar services.  With respect to our institutional and high net worth asset management and mutual fund advisory business, our business model strives to pay out up to 40% of the revenues or net operating contribution to the portfolio managers and marketing staff who introduce, service or generate such business, with payments involving the Institutional and Private Wealth Management business being typically based on revenues and payments involving the mutual funds being typically based on net operating contribution.
 
 
27

 
 
Mr. Gabelli has agreed that while he is employed by us he will not provide investment management services outside of GAMCO, except for certain permitted accounts.  These accounts held assets at December 31, 2010 and 2009 of approximately $91.8 million and $83.4 million, respectively.  Mr. Gabelli continues to be a member of the team that manages the GAMCO Westwood Mighty MitesSM Fund, whose advisor, Teton, was spun-off from GBL in March 2009.  The assets in the GAMCO Mighty MitesSM Fund at December 31, 2010 were $517.6 million.  The Amended Agreement may not be amended without the approval of the Compensation Committee.

We depend on Mr. Gabelli and other key personnel.
 
We are dependent on the efforts of Mr. Gabelli, our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and the primary portfolio manager for a significant majority of our AUM.  The loss of Mr. Gabelli's services would have a material adverse effect on us.
 
In addition to Mr. Gabelli, our future success depends to a substantial degree on our ability to retain and attract other qualified personnel to conduct our investment management business.  The market for qualified portfolio managers is extremely competitive and has grown more so in recent periods as the investment management industry has experienced growth.  We anticipate that it will be necessary for us to add portfolio managers and investment analysts as we further diversify our investment products and strategies.  There can be no assurance, however, that we will be successful in our efforts to recruit and retain the required personnel.  In addition, our investment professionals and senior marketing personnel have direct contact with our Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients, which can lead to strong client relationships.  The loss of these personnel could jeopardize our relationships with certain Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients, and result in the loss of such accounts.  The loss of key management professionals or the inability to recruit and retain sufficient portfolio managers and marketing personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.
 
Potential adverse effects on our performance prospects from a decline in the performance of the securities markets.
 
Our results of operations are affected by many economic factors, including the performance of the securities markets.  During the 1990s, unusually favorable and sustained performance of the U.S. securities markets, and the U.S. equity market, in particular, attracted substantial inflows of new investments in these markets and has contributed to significant market appreciation which has, in turn, led to an increase in our AUM and revenues.  At December 31, 2010, approximately 95% of our AUM were invested in portfolios consisting primarily of equity securities.  More recently, the securities markets in general have experienced significant volatility.  Any decline in the securities markets, in general, and the equity markets, in particular, could reduce our AUM and consequently reduce our revenues.  In addition, any such decline in the equity markets, failure of these markets to sustain their prior levels of growth, or continued short-term volatility in these markets could result in investors withdrawing from the equity markets or decreasing their rate of investment, either of which would be likely to adversely affect us.  From time to time, a relatively high proportion of the assets we manage may be concentrated in particular industry sectors.  A general decline in the performance of securities in those industry sectors could have an adverse effect on our AUM and revenues.
 
Possibility of losses associated with proprietary investment activities.
 
Currently, we maintain large proprietary investment positions in securities.  Market fluctuations and other factors may result in substantial losses in our proprietary accounts, which could have an adverse effect on our balance sheet, reduce our ability or willingness to make new investments or impair our credit ratings.
 
Future investment performance could reduce revenues and other income.
 
Success in the investment management and mutual fund businesses is dependent on investment performance as well as distribution and client servicing.  Good performance generally stimulates sales of our investment products and tends to keep withdrawals and redemptions low, which generates higher management fees (which are based on the amount of AUM).  Conversely, relatively poor performance tends to result in decreased sales, increased withdrawals and redemptions in the case of the open-end Funds, and in the loss of Institutional and Private Wealth Management clients, with corresponding decreases in revenues to us.  Many analysts of the mutual fund industry believe that investment performance is the most important factor for the growth of open and closed-end funds, such as those we offer.  Failure of our investment products to perform well or failure of the Funds to maintain ratings or rankings could, therefore, have a material adverse effect on us.
 
 
28

 

Loss of significant Institutional and Private Wealth Management accounts could affect our revenues.
 
We had approximately 1,600 Institutional and Private Wealth Management accounts as of December 31, 2010, of which the ten largest accounts generated approximately 8% of our total revenues during the year ended December 31, 2010.  Loss of these accounts for any reason would have an adverse effect on our revenues.  Not withstanding performance, we have from time to time lost large Institutional and Private Wealth Management accounts as a result of corporate mergers and restructurings, and we could continue to lose accounts under these or other circumstances.

A decline in the market for closed-end funds could reduce our ability to raise future assets to manage.
 
Market conditions may preclude us from increasing the assets we manage in closed-end funds.  A significant portion of our recent growth in the assets we manage has resulted from public offerings of the common and preferred shares of closed-end funds.  We have raised approximately $2.4 billion in gross assets through closed-end fund offerings since January 2004.  The market conditions for these offerings may not be as favorable in the future, which could adversely impact our ability to grow the assets we manage and our revenue.
 
We rely on third party distribution programs.
 
Since 1996, we have experienced significant growth in sales of our open-end funds through third party distribution programs, which are programs sponsored by third party intermediaries that offer their mutual fund customers a variety of competing products and administrative services.  Most of the sales growth from our third party distribution programs is from programs with no transaction fees payable by the customer, which we refer to as NTF programs.  Approximately $3.9 billion of our AUM in the open-end funds as of December 31, 2010 were obtained through NTF programs.  The cost of participating in third party distribution programs is higher than our direct distribution costs, and it is anticipated that the cost of third party distribution programs will increase in the future.  Any increase would be likely to have an adverse effect on our profit margins and results of operations.  In addition, there can be no assurance that the third party distribution programs will continue to distribute the Funds.  At December 31, 2010, approximately 94% of the NTF program net assets in the Gabelli/GAMCO families of funds are attributable to two NTF programs.  The decision by these third party distribution programs to discontinue distribution of the funds, or a decision by us to withdraw one or more of the funds from the programs, could have an adverse effect on our growth of AUM.
 
Possibility of losses associated with underwriting, trading and market-making activities.
 
Our underwriting and trading activities are primarily conducted through our subsidiary, Gabelli & Company, primarily as agent.  Such activities subject our capital to significant risks of loss.  The risks of loss include those resulting from ownership of securities, extension of credit, leverage, liquidity, counterparty failure to meet commitments, client fraud, employee errors, misconduct and fraud (including unauthorized transactions by traders), failures in connection with the processing of securities transactions and litigation.  We have procedures and internal controls to address such risks, but there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will prevent losses from occurring.
 
We may have liability as a general partner or otherwise with respect to our alternative investment products.
 
Certain of our subsidiaries act as general partner for investment partnerships, including arbitrage, event-driven long/short, sector focused and merchant banking limited partnerships.  As a general partner of these partnerships, we may be held liable for the partnerships' liabilities in excess of their ability to pay such liabilities.  In addition, in certain circumstances, we may be liable as a control person for the acts of our investment partnerships.  As of December 31, 2010, our AUM included approximately $515 million in investment partnerships.  A substantial adverse judgment or other liability with respect to our investment partnerships could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
Operational risks may disrupt our businesses, result in regulatory action against us or limit our growth.
 
We face operational risk arising from errors made in the execution, confirmation or settlement of transactions or from transactions not being properly recorded, evaluated or accounted for.  Our business is highly dependent on our ability to process, on a daily basis, transactions across markets in an efficient and accurate manner.  Consequently, we rely heavily on our financial, accounting and other data processing systems.  If any of these systems do not operate properly or are disabled, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our businesses, liability to clients, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.
 
 
29

 

Dependence on information systems.
 
We operate in an industry that is highly dependent on its information systems and technology.  We outsource a significant portion of our information systems operations to third parties who are responsible for providing the management, maintenance and updating of such systems.  There can be no assurance, however, that our information systems and technology will continue to be able to accommodate our growth or that the cost of maintaining such outsourcing arrangements will not increase from its current level.  Such a failure to accommodate growth, or an increase in costs related to these information systems, could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
Our credit ratings affect our borrowing costs.
 
Our borrowing costs and our access to the debt capital markets depend significantly on our credit ratings.  A reduction in our credit ratings could increase our borrowing costs and may limit our access to increased capital resources.
 
We face exposure to litigation and arbitrage claims within our business.
 
The volume of litigation and arbitrage claims against financial services firms and the amount of damages claimed has increased over the past several years.  The types of claims that we may face are varied.  For example, we may face claims against us for purchasing securities that are inconsistent with a client’s investment objectives or guidelines, in connection with the operation of the Funds or arising from an employment dispute.  The risk of litigation is difficult to assess or quantify, and may occur years after the activities or events at issue.  Even if we prevail in a legal action brought against us, the costs alone of defending against the action could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
Compliance failures and changes in regulation could adversely affect us.
 
Our investment management activities are subject to client guidelines, and our Mutual Fund business involves compliance with numerous investment, asset valuation, distribution and tax requirements.  A failure to adhere to these guidelines or satisfy these requirements could result in losses which could be recovered by the client from us in certain circumstances.  There can be no assurance that the precautions and procedures that we have instituted and installed or the insurance we maintain to protect ourselves in case of client losses will protect us from potential liabilities.
 
Our businesses are subject to extensive regulation in the United States, including by the SEC, FINRA and the FSA in the UK.  We are also subject to the laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions and non-U.S. regulatory agencies or bodies.  Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, suspensions of personnel or other sanctions, including revocation of our subsidiaries' registrations as an investment advisor or broker-dealer.  Changes in laws or regulations or in governmental policies could have a material adverse effect on us.  The regulatory matters described in the “Regulatory Matters” section above or other regulatory or compliance matters could also have a material adverse effect on us.

Our reputation is critical to our success.
 
Our reputation is critical to maintaining and developing relationships with our clients, Mutual Fund shareholders and third party intermediaries.  In recent years, there have been a number of well-publicized cases involving fraud, conflicts of interest or other misconduct by individuals in the financial services industry.  Misconduct by our staff, or even unsubstantiated allegations, could result not only in direct financial harm but also harm to our reputation, causing injury to the value of our brands and our ability to retain or attract AUM.  In addition, in certain circumstances, misconduct on the part of our clients or other parties could damage our reputation.  Harm to our reputation could have a material adverse effect on us.
 
We face strong competition from numerous and sometimes larger companies.
 
We compete with numerous investment management companies, stock brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions.  Continuing consolidation in the financial services industry has created stronger competitors with greater financial resources and broader distribution channels than our own.  Additionally, competing securities dealers whom we rely upon to distribute our mutual funds also sell their own proprietary funds and investment products, which could limit the distribution of our investment products.  To the extent that existing or potential customers, including securities dealers, decide to invest in or distribute the products of our competitors, the sales of our products as well as our market share, revenues and net income could decline.
 
 
30

 

Fee pressures could reduce our profit margins.
 
There has been a trend toward lower fees in some segments of the investment management industry.  In order for us to maintain our fee structure in a competitive environment, we must be able to provide clients with investment returns and service that will encourage them to be willing to pay such fees.  Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our current fee structure.  Fee reductions on existing or future new business could have an adverse impact on our profit margins and results of operations.

Risks Related to the Company
 
The disparity in the voting rights among the classes of shares may have a potential adverse effect on the price of our Class A Stock.
 
The holders of Class A Stock and Class B Stock have identical rights except that (i) holders of Class A Stock are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B Stock are entitled to ten votes per share on all matters to be voted on by shareholders in general, and (ii) holders of Class A Stock are not eligible to vote on matters relating exclusively to Class B Stock and vice versa.  The differential in voting rights and the ability of our company to issue additional Class B Stock could adversely affect the value of the Class A Stock to the extent the investors, or any potential future purchaser of our company, view the superior voting rights of the Class B Stock to have value.  On November 30, 2007, Class A Stock shareholders approved a referendum for the Board of Directors to consider the conversion and reclassification of our shares of Class B Stock into Class A Stock at a ratio of 1.15 shares of Class A Stock for each share of Class B Stock.
 
Future sales of our Class A Stock in the public market or sales or distributions of our Class B Stock could lower our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute our stockholders’ ownership in us.
 
We may sell additional shares of Class A Stock in subsequent public offerings.  We also may issue additional shares of Class A Stock or convertible debt securities.  In addition, sales by our current shareholders could be perceived negatively.
 
No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales or distributions of Class B Stock owned by GGCP Holdings LLC will have on the market price of the Class A Stock prevailing from time to time.  Sales or distributions of substantial amounts of Class A or Class B Stock, or the perception that such sales or distributions could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price for the Class A Stock.


ITEM 1B:  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
None.


ITEM 2:  PROPERTIES
 
As of December 31, 2010, we leased our principal offices which consisted of a single 60,000 square foot building located at 401 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, New York which expires on December 31, 2023.  The lease was extended for 15 years out in October 2008.  This building was leased in December 1997 (prior to our 1999 IPO) from an entity controlled by members of Mr. Gabelli's immediate family.  For 2010, 2009 and 2008 we paid approximately $1.1 million, $1.1 million and $890,000, respectively, or $18.15, $18.00 and $14.83 per square foot, respectively, under this lease.  5,000 square feet was subleased to entities under the control of Mr. Gabelli including Teton and LICT Corp.  We receive rental payments under the sublease agreements, which totaled approximately $179,000, $181,000 and $151,000 in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and were used to offset operating expenses incurred for the property.  The lease is a net net lease, which provides that in addition to the lease payments, all operating expenses related to the property, which are estimated at $860,000 annually, are to be paid by us.
 
We have also entered into leases for office space in both the U.S. and overseas principally for portfolio management, research, sales and marketing personnel.  These offices are generally less than 4,000 square feet and leased for periods of five years or less.

 
31

 
 
ITEM 3:  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, the Company is named in legal actions and proceedings.  These actions may seek substantial or indeterminate compensatory as well as punitive damages or injunctive relief.  The Company is also subject to governmental or regulatory examinations or investigations.  The examinations or investigations could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions or other relief.  The Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of such matters.  The consolidated financial statements include the necessary provision for losses that are deemed to be probable and estimable.  In the opinion of management, the resolution of such claims will not be material to the financial condition of the Company.

ITEM 4:  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Reserved.

PART II
 
ITEM 5: MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Our shares of Class A Stock are traded on the NYSE under the symbol GBL.
 
As of February 1, 2011, there were 167 Class A Stockholders of record and 24 Class B Stockholders of record.  These figures do not include stockholders with shares held under beneficial ownership in nominee name, which are estimated to be approximately 3,000.
 
The following table sets forth the high and low prices of our Class A Stock for each quarter of 2010 and 2009 as reported by the NYSE.

Quarter Ended
 
High
   
Low
 
             
March 31, 2010
  $ 49.82     $ 38.97  
June 30, 2010
    48.46       34.94  
September 30, 2010
    41.27       33.63  
December 31, 2010
    50.85       37.99  
                 
March 31, 2009
    36.38       25.13  
June 30, 2009
    55.25       31.93  
September 30, 2009
    49.37       42.56  
December 31, 2009
  $ 53.00     $ 41.62  
 
In 2008, we paid $2.02 per share in dividends to our shareholders.  This included four quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share on March 28, 2008, June 27, 2008, September 30, 2008, and December 30, 2008, respectively, to all shareholders of record on March 14, 2008, June 13, 2008, September 16, 2008, and December 16, 2008, respectively.  We also paid special dividends of $1.00 and $0.90 per share, respectively, to all of our shareholders, payable on September 16, 2008 and December 23, 2008, respectively, to shareholders of record on September 2, 2008 and December 9, 2008, respectively.

In 2009, we paid $2.13 per share in dividends to our shareholders.  This included four quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share on March 31, 2009, June 30, 2009, September 29, 2009, and December 29, 2009, respectively, to all shareholders of record on March 17, 2009, June 16, 2009, September 15, 2009, and December 15, 2009, respectively.  We also paid a special dividend of $2.00 per share to all of our shareholders, payable on December 15, 2009 to shareholders of record on December 1, 2009.  Additionally, we distributed the shares of Teton that the Company owned on March 20, 2009 to shareholders of record on March 10, 2009 that had an initial value of approximately $0.01 per GBL share.

 
32

 

In 2010, we paid $1.82 per share in cash dividends to our shareholders.  This included four quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share on March 30, 2010, June 29, 2010, September 28, 2010, and December 28, 2010, respectively, to all shareholders of record on March 16, 2010, June 15, 2010, September 14, 2010, and December 14, 2010, respectively.  We also paid two special cash dividends of $0.90 per share and $0.80 per share to all of our shareholders, payable on September 14, 2010 and December 31, 2010, respectively, to shareholders of record on August 31, 2010 and December 15, 2010, respectively.  Additionally, we paid a special dividend of $3.20 of principal per share in the form of a five-year, zero coupon subordinated debenture due 2015 to all of our shareholders, payable on December 31, 2010 to shareholders of record on December 15, 2010.  For dividend accounting purposes, the Company used a value of $2.21 per share for the subordinated debenture.

As of December 31, 2010, since the Offering, we have returned $591.2 million in total to shareholders of which $313.2 million was in the form of dividends and $278.0 million was through buybacks.

The following table provides information with respect to the shares of our Class A Stock we repurchased during the three months ended December 31, 2010:

               
Total Number of
   
Maximum
 
   
Total
   
Average
   
Shares Repurchased as
   
Number of Shares
 
   
Number of
   
Price Paid Per
   
Part of Publicly
   
That May Yet Be
 
   
Shares
   
Share, net of
   
Announced Plans
   
Purchased Under
 
Period
 
Repurchased
   
Commissions
   
or Programs
   
the Plans or Programs
 
10/01/10 - 10/31/10
    -     $ -       -       784,136  
11/01/10 - 11/30/10
    17,384       41.98       17,384       766,752  
12/01/10 - 12/31/10
    242,419       47.86       242,419       524,333  
Totals
    259,803     $ 47.46       259,803          
 
In 1999, the Board of Directors established the stock repurchase program.  Our stock repurchase program is not subject to an expiration date.
 
 
33

 

We are required to provide a comparison of the cumulative total return on our Class A Stock as of December 31, 2010 with that of a broad equity market index and either a published industry index or a peer group index selected by us.  The following chart compares the return on the Class A Stock with the return on the S&P 500 Index and an index comprised of public asset managers (“Peer group index”).  The comparison assumes that $100 was invested in the Class A Stock and in each of the named indices, including the reinvestment of dividends, on December 31, 2005.  This chart is not intended to forecast future performance of our common stock.
 
Image
 
 
Dec. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
Dec. 31,
 
 Dec. 31,
 
2005
 
2006
 
2007
 
2008
 
2009
 
2010
GAMCO Investors, Inc.
100.00 
 
88.62
 
162.65
 
67.95
 
125.79
 
139.17
Peer group index
100.00 
 
115.97
 
132.01
 
62.74
 
101.78
 
117.15
S&P 500 Index
100.00 
 
115.79
 
122.16
 
76.96
 
97.33
 
111.99

 
34

 

The following table shows information regarding outstanding options and shares reserved for future issuance under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2010.
 
   
Number of Securities to be
     
   
Issued upon Exercise of
   
Weighted-Average Exercise
   
Outstanding Options,
   
Price of Outstanding Options,
Plan Category
 
Warrants and Rights
   
Warrants and Rights
Equity compensation plans approved
         
by security holders:
         
  Stock options
 
90,900
   
$
36.93
  Restricted stock awards
 
123,100
   
n/a
Equity compensation plans not approved
<