UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-21465
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
T. Ritson Ferguson, President and Chief Executive Officer CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 |
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 1-888-711-4272
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2011
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. | Report(s) to Stockholders. |
The Annual Report of CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (the Trust) transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is as follows:
CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE
INCOME FUND
Annual Report for the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (the Trust), acting in accordance with an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and with approval of its Board of Trustees (the Board), has adopted a managed distribution policy (the Policy) with the purpose of distributing over the course of each year, through periodic distributions as nearly equal as practicable and any required special distributions, an amount closely approximating the total taxable income of the Trust during such year and all of the returns of capital paid by portfolio companies to the Trust during such year. In accordance with its Policy, the Trust distributes a fixed amount per common share, currently $0.045, each month to its common shareholders. This amount is subject to change from time to time in the discretion of the Board. Although the level of distributions is independent of fund performance, the Trust expects such distributions to correlate with its performance over time. Each monthly distribution to shareholders is expected to be at the fixed amount established by the Board, except for extraordinary distributions and potential increases or decreases in the final dividend periods for each year in light of the Trusts performance for the entire calendar year and to enable the Trust to comply with the distribution requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Over time, the Trust expects that the distribution rate in relation to the Trusts Net Asset Value (NAV) will approximately equal the Trusts total return on NAV.
The fixed amount of distributions will be reviewed and amended as necessary by the Board at regular intervals with consideration of the level of investment income and realized gains. The Board strives to establish a level regular distribution that will meet the Trusts requirement to pay out all taxable income (including amounts representing return of capital paid by portfolio companies) with a minimum of special distributions. The Trusts total return in relation to changes in NAV) is presented in the financial highlights table. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Trusts investment performance from the amount of the current distribution or from the terms of the Trusts managed distribution policy. The Board may amend or terminate the managed distribution policy without prior notice to Trust shareholders.
Shareholders should note that the Trusts Policy is subject to change or termination as a result of many factors. The Trust is subject to risks through ownership of its portfolio company holdings including, but not limited to, declines in the value of real estate held by the portfolio company, risks related to general and local economic conditions, and portfolio company losses. Moreover, an economic downturn could have a material adverse effect on the real estate markets and on real estate companies in which the Trust invests, which in turn could result in the Trust not achieving its investment or distribution objectives thereby jeopardizing the continuance of the Policy. Please refer to the prospectus for a fuller description of the Trusts risks.
CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND ANNUAL REPORT 2011
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ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 1 |
2 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
The Trust paid a total of $0.54 per share in dividends during the year consisting of 12 regular monthly dividends of $0.045 per share. Aggregate 2011 dividends reflect a 7.9% yield on share price and a 6.6% yield on NAV per share, as of December 31, 2011. The Trust has paid out total dividends of $11.65 since its inception in 2004. The Board of Trustees continues to review the sustainability of the Trusts regular monthly dividend in light of the current market environment and the outlook for real estate securities. Based on anticipated income and expected gains in global property company stocks in 2012, the Board currently has decided to maintain the monthly dividend at the current level rate. The Trusts dividend is established by the Board at regular intervals with consideration of the portfolios level of investment income, potential capital appreciation and market conditions. The Board strives to establish a dividend that by the end of the year achieves the requirement (4) of paying out all income and realized gains with a minimum of special dividends.
Portfolio Review
The allocation of the Trusts portfolio by property type and geography was fairly stable during the year. The Trusts investments remain well-diversified by property type and geography as shown in the pie charts below. At year-end, the Trusts portfolio was 67% invested in the Americas, including 20% invested in preferred stock of US real estate companies, 10% in Europe and 23% in Asia-Pacific. Retail is the largest property type represented in the portfolio at 42%. We continue to favor retail properties (particularly top-quality malls) because historically these properties have shown more stable cash flows during economic slow-downs than other commercial property types. The Trust also has meaningful positions in the industrial, apartment and office sectors. About 12% of the portfolio is invested in companies who are regionally focused with diversified portfolios that most often include high-quality office, retail and residential properties.
Geographic Diversification (5) (unaudited) |
Sector Diversification (5) (unaudited) | |
Market Commentary
We expect total returns for global real estate stocks to be positive in 2012. While there have been some setbacks of late in the road to economic recovery and macro-economic risks persist, we do not believe that those factors are sufficient to derail the positive case for global real estate securities. Positive total returns in 2012 for global real estate stocks should be driven by a well-supported dividend yield of approximately 4%, cash flow per share growth of 5-6% and relatively stable earnings multiples. In a new normal world of low returns and economic uncertainty, real estate, including listed real estate trading at discounted valuations, should offer investors better than average return potential.
REITs generally outperformed local equities in 2011. The global property indices were generally in-line with the global stock indices last year, but in jurisdictions where real estate investment trusts (REITs) are the primary type of property company, property stocks outperformed local equities. In an unsettled economic and stock market environment, the earnings visibility and attractive dividends provided by REITs found favor with investors. This trend may continue in 2012 as the trajectory of economic recovery has moderated from the pace seen a year ago. Risk aversion by investors re-emerged during the second half of the year in particular as equities generally produced negative returns worldwide. Real estate cash flows have proven to be relatively resilient in this uncertain macro-economic environment given the duration of lease terms and gradually improving fundamentals as projected earnings looking out next year remain solidly positive.
Economic growth projections came down during 2011. Projected global GDP growth for 2012 and 2013 presently is 2.0% and 2.7%, respectively, compared to projections of 4.0% and 4.1%, respectively, a year ago. Despite optimism at the start of last year, worries about slowing economic growth emerged during the second half and projections for economic growth were lowered during 2011 for virtually every region around the world, but particularly in Europe. The European sovereign debt crisis is now
(4) | Defined as the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) for qualification and taxation as a registered investment company under Subchapter M of the IRC. |
(5) | Percentages presented are based on managed fund assets, which includes borrowings. The percentages in the pie charts will differ from those on the portfolio of investments because the figures on the portfolio of investments are calculated using net assets of the Trust. |
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 3 |
one-and-a-half years in the making and became more real beginning in August, with higher stakes, bigger rescue packages and arguably no clear solution anticipated near term. The most recent summit of European politicians, in early December, went a long way in establishing credibility that the European Union is serious about avoiding a meaningful dissolution of this economic and political collective body. The European Central Bank has increasingly become a source of financial support, either directly or indirectly, to the European banking community and has amplified its commitment to the Eurozone, which recently has improved investor confidence. The saga will continue well into 2012. The Asia-Pacific region continues to show absolute levels of economic growth which remain high versus Western economies, but nonetheless is seeing some signs of deceleration in a number of geographies including importantly China.
Dividends of global real estate companies increased by 13% in 2011 and should continue to grow in 2012. This increase was primarily driven by the U.S., where the weighted average dividend increase was 24%, as 55 companies implemented over 70 increases in their dividends, and some companies increased their dividend several times. For investors in global property companies, the increased dividends alone translated into an extra 1.0% of total return. Dividends are growing as a result of several factors including: 1) growth of earnings and cash flows which we project globally will be over 5% in 2012; 2) the need to maintain minimum payouts of taxable net income by companies that have adopted REIT structures; and 3) the catch-up by many companies as they reinstate normal dividend payout policies following the cut or suspension of dividends during the global financial crisis.
We expect that dividend growth will be strong again in 2012. Current yield via the dividend, currently in the 4% range, remains a defining investment characteristic of listed property companies. Dividends growth is supported by improving cash flows, resulting in turn from gradually improving property fundamentals. On a global weighted-average basis, we project dividends to grow over the coming year by approximately 8%. The spread between dividend yields and bonds continues to be above the historical average, which increases the appeal of property stocks to those investors seeking yield.
Earnings for listed property companies are anticipated to grow again in 2012 by approximately 5-6%. Based on expected economic growth in most regions (albeit at low absolute levels), listed property companies are expected to have improving cash flows over the next few years. Earnings grew 7% last year and should grow by over 5% in 2012 and 2013. Our positive earnings growth forecasts are the result of several factors including positive mark-to-market of rents of expiring leases, improving occupancy levels, generally improving costs of debt as the result of continued low interest rates, and the resumption of external growth via acquisitions and development activities. The quality and transparency of real estate company earnings remains generally high due to the duration and contractual nature of leases with tenants that are the source of much of property companies earnings.
Property companies have improved their balance sheets and credit quality and are now enjoying improved access to capital markets as a result. Fundamental to the recovery of property companies is continued access to capital, both equity and debt. We estimate that property companies globally have raised in excess of $117 billion of equity over the past three years.
Additionally, they have been able to access debt markets more readily. U.S. property companies alone have raised nearly $50 billion in unsecured debt. Public companies with repaired balance sheets enjoy better access to capital than most private real estate firms. Public companies have raised debt competitively at absolute costs which remain historically low, despite higher spreads than pre-credit crisis levels. Late in 2011, several large property companies in the U.S. and Europe raised hundreds of millions by issuing intermediate term bonds at interest rates less than 4%. Listed companies with lower ratings and private real estate firms may face increasingly limited access to capital in 2012. The continuing access to the capital markets by the stronger listed companies with good investment ratings and prime properties may prove a competitive advantage as real estate transaction levels are increasing.
The investment environment is improving for the best capitalized public companies. As markets are becoming more cautious and debt capital more discerning, public companies with strong balance sheets and disciplined management are seeing improving investment opportunities. The ability of listed property companies to make investments that are additive to cash flow per share is another way management can create value for shareholders. The spread between the cost of capital (especially debt) and the potential yield on in-place cash flows for acquisitions remains favorable for many of the better capitalized listed property companies. This could be a source of additional earnings growth as the number of property transactions continues to increase creating an improving acquisition environment in 2012.
Listed real estate is cheaper than private real estate suggesting further capital appreciation potential. The sell-off in equities, including property companies, has resulted in attractive valuations of real estate owned by the listed companies. We estimate that listed property companies trade at a global weighted average discount of approximately 10% relative to our estimate of the private market value of their underlying real estate value. It appears that investors in real estate companies are pricing in little to no growth looking forward given that the implied earnings yield is approaching 7% on a global basis for property companies.
4 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
We appreciate your continued faith and confidence.
Sincerely,
T. Ritson Ferguson | Steven D. Burton | |
President & Chief Executive Officer | Co-Portfolio Manager | |
Co-Portfolio Manager |
The views expressed represent the opinion of CBRE Clarion Securities and are subject to change and are not intended as a forecast or guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only, does not constitute investment advice, and is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Information and opinions are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 5 |
December 31, 2011
See notes to financial statements.
6 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Portfolio of Investments concluded
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 7 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Year Ended December 31, 2011 |
||||||
Assets |
||||||
Investments, at value (cost $922,612,950) |
$985,021,800 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents (including foreign currency of $64,628 with a cost of $64,628) |
64,716 | |||||
Dividends and interest receivable |
7,574,017 | |||||
Receivable for investment securities sold |
3,875 | |||||
Other assets |
124,837 | |||||
Total Assets |
992,789,245 | |||||
Liabilities |
||||||
Line of credit payable |
42,169,900 | |||||
Management fee payable |
623,388 | |||||
Accrued expenses |
419,780 | |||||
Total Liabilities |
43,213,068 | |||||
Net Assets |
$949,576,177 | |||||
Composition of Net Assets |
||||||
$0.001 par value per share; unlimited number of shares authorized, 116,590,494 shares issued and outstanding |
$116,590 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital |
1,363,050,697 | |||||
Distributions in excess of net investment income |
(47,658,353 | ) | ||||
Accumulated net realized loss on investments, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions |
(428,363,966 | ) | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
62,431,209 | |||||
Net Assets |
$949,576,177 | |||||
Net Asset Value |
$8.14 |
See notes to financial statements.
8 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2011 |
||||||
Investment Income |
||||||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,973,008) |
$50,208,324 | |||||
Interest |
103 | |||||
Total Investment Income |
50,208,427 | |||||
Expenses |
||||||
Management fees |
9,075,460 | |||||
Printing and mailing fees |
637,419 | |||||
Interest expense on line of credit |
560,061 | |||||
Administration fees |
224,901 | |||||
Insurance fees |
186,677 | |||||
Transfer agent fees |
169,098 | |||||
Custodian fees |
165,122 | |||||
Trustees fees and expenses |
155,978 | |||||
NYSE listing fee |
103,008 | |||||
Audit and tax fees |
72,579 | |||||
Legal fees |
98,918 | |||||
Miscellaneous expenses |
35,584 | |||||
Total Expenses |
11,484,805 | |||||
Management fee waived |
(1,156,065 | ) | ||||
Net Expenses |
10,328,740 | |||||
Net Investment Income |
39,879,687 | |||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Foreign Currency Transactions |
||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: |
||||||
Investments |
(5,763,221 | ) | ||||
Foreign currency transactions |
(160,394 | ) | ||||
Total Net Realized Loss |
(5,923,615 | ) | ||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
||||||
Investments |
(21,708,875 | ) | ||||
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
50,194 | |||||
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
(21,658,681 | ) | ||||
Net Loss on Investments and Foreign Currency Transactions |
(27,582,296 | ) | ||||
Net Increase in Net Assets |
$12,297,391 |
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 9 |
Statements of Changes in
Net Assets
For the Year Ended |
For the Year Ended |
|||||||||||
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
||||||||||||
Net investment income |
$39,879,687 | $41,952,914 | ||||||||||
Net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions |
(5,923,615 | ) | (27,155,206 | ) | ||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
(21,658,681 | ) | 172,951,299 | |||||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
12,297,391 | 187,749,007 | ||||||||||
Dividends and Distributions on Common Shares |
||||||||||||
Distribution of net investment income |
(38,608,248 | ) | (62,958,867 | ) | ||||||||
Distribution of return of capital |
(24,350,619 | ) | | |||||||||
Total dividends and distributions on Common Shares |
(62,958,867 | ) | (62,958,867 | ) | ||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
(50,661,476 | ) | 124,790,140 | |||||||||
Net Assets |
||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
1,000,237,653 | 875,447,513 | ||||||||||
End of period (net of distributions in excess of net investment income of $47,658,353 and $48,119,630, respectively) |
$949,576,177 | $1,000,237,653 |
See notes to financial statements.
10 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended |
||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
$12,297,391 | |||||
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: |
||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments |
21,708,875 | |||||
Net realized loss on investments |
5,763,221 | |||||
Cost of securities purchased |
(16,471,615 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of securities |
77,925,734 | |||||
Decrease in receivable for investment securities sold |
4,784,248 | |||||
Decrease in dividends and interest receivable |
1,112,106 | |||||
Decrease in dividend withholding reclaims receivable |
358,156 | |||||
Decrease in other assets |
10,925 | |||||
Decrease in payable for investment securities purchased |
(17,890,287 | ) | ||||
Increase in management fee payable |
9,053 | |||||
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities |
(118,069 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
89,489,738 | |||||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: |
||||||
Cash distributions paid on common shares |
(62,958,867 | ) | ||||
Decrease in line of credit payable |
(26,528,600 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities |
(89,487,467 | ) | ||||
Net increase in cash |
2,271 | |||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period |
62,445 | |||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period |
$64,716 | |||||
Supplemental disclosure |
||||||
Interest paid on line of credit |
$577,769 |
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 11 |
Financial Highlights
Per share operating performance for a share outstanding throughout the year |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
For the Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$8.58 | $7.51 | $5.63 | $16.16 | $22.78 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from investment operations |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (1) |
0.34 | 0.36 | 0.39 | 1.11 | 1.17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions |
(0.24 | ) | 1.25 | 2.03 | (10.15 | ) | (4.07 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends and distributions on Preferred Shares from net investment income (common stock equivalent basis) |
| | | (0.25 | ) | (0.48 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
0.10 | 1.61 | 2.42 | (9.29 | ) | (3.38 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends and distributions on Common Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.33 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.54 | ) | | (1.97 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital gains |
| | | (0.68 | ) | (1.25 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Return of capital |
(0.21 | ) | | | (0.56 | ) | | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions to Common Shareholders |
(0.54 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (1.24 | ) | (3.22 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Offering expenses in connection with the issuance of Preferred Shares |
| | | | (0.02 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of year |
$8.14 | $8.58 | $7.51 | $5.63 | $16.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Market value, end of year |
$6.84 | $7.75 | $6.37 | $3.98 | $13.83 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return (2) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value |
0.94 | % | 22.41 | % | 46.79 | % | (61.14 | )% | (15.82 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Market value |
(5.38 | )% | 31.06 | % | 79.09 | % | (67.38 | )% | (32.34 | )% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios and supplemental data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, applicable to Common Shares, end of year (thousands) |
$949,576 | $1,000,238 | $875,448 | $586,525 | $1,659,240 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets applicable to Common Shares of: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses, after fee waiver + |
1.03 | % | 0.94 | % | 1.14 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.38 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses, before fee waiver + |
1.14 | % | 1.11 | % | 1.38 | % | 1.67 | % | 1.74 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses, after the fee waiver excluding interest on line of credit + |
0.97 | % | 0.90 | % | 1.12 | % | 1.28 | % | 1.08 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses, before fee waiver excluding interest on line of credit + |
1.09 | % | 1.07 | % | 1.35 | % | 1.67 | % | 1.44 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income, after preferred share dividends |
3.98 | % | 4.60 | % | 6.75 | % | 7.10 | % | 3.17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred share dividends |
N/A | N/A | 0.04 | % | 2.08 | % | 2.20 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income, before preferred share dividends + |
3.98 | % | 4.60 | % | 6.79 | % | 9.18 | % | 5.37 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
1.53 | % | 12.91 | % | 28.04 | % | 7.32 | % | 6.10 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Leverage analysis: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred shares, at redemption value, ($25,000 per share liquidation preference) (thousands) |
N/A | N/A | N/A | $370,000 | $910,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset coverage per share of preferred shares |
N/A | N/A | N/A | $64,630 | $70,584 |
(1) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(2) | Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions. A return calculated for a period of less than one year is not annualized. Dividends and distributions are assumed to be reinvested at the prices obtained under the Trusts Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Net Asset Value (NAV) total return is calculated assuming reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the date of the distribution. |
+ | Does not reflect the effects of dividends to Preferred Shareholders. |
See notes to financial statements.
12 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Notes to Financial Statements
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 13 |
Notes to Financial Statements continued
14 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Notes to Financial Statements continued
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 15 |
Notes to Financial Statements continued
16 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Notes to Financial Statements concluded
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 17 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (formerly, ING Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund)
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of the CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (formerly, ING Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund) (the Trust), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2011, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trusts management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Trusts internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trusts internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2011, by correspondence with the Trusts custodian and brokers. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (formerly, ING Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund) at December 31, 2011, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 22, 2012
18 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Federal Income Tax Information
Qualified dividend income of as much as $3,000,779 was received by the Trust through December 31, 2011. The Trust intends to designate the maximum amount of dividends that qualify for the reduced tax rate pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.
For corporate shareholders, 0.36% of ordinary income distributions for the year ended December 31, 2011 qualified for the corporate dividends-received deduction.
In January 2012, you will be advised on IRS Form 1099 DIV or substitute 1099 DIV as to the federal tax status of the distributions received by you in the calendar year 2011.
Corporate Governance
The Fund submitted its Annual CEO certification for 2011 to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 19, 2011 stating that the CEO was not aware of any violation by the Fund of the NYSEs corporate governance listing standards. In addition, the Fund had filed the required CEO/CFO certifications regarding the quality of the Funds public disclosure as exhibits to the Forms N-CSR and Forms N-Q filed by the Fund over the past fiscal year. The Funds Form N-CSR and Form N-Q filings are available on the Commissions website at www.sec.gov.
Result of Shareholder Votes
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund was held on October 7, 2011.
With regard to the election of the following Trustees of the Fund:
Number of Shares In Favor |
Number of Shares Withheld | |||
T. Ritson Ferguson | 101,682,723.913 | 3,106,452.437 | ||
Number of Shares In Favor |
Number of Shares Withheld | |||
Frederick Hammer | 101,796,480.597 | 2,992,695.753 |
The other Trustees of the Fund whose terms did not expire in 2011 are Asuka Nakahara, Richard L. Sutton and John Bartholdson.
Trustees
The Trustees of the CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund and their principal occupations during the past five years:
Name, Address and Age |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served (1) |
Title | Principal Occupations Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in the Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||||
Interested Trustees: | ||||||||||
T. Ritson Ferguson* 201 King of Prussia Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 52 |
3 years/ since inception |
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC |
1 |
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 19 |
Supplemental Information continued
Name, Address and Age |
Term of Office and Length of Time Served (1) |
Title | Principal Occupations During The Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in the Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||||
Independent Trustees: | ||||||||||
Asuka Nakahara** 201 King of Prussia Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 56 |
3 years/ since inception |
Trustee | Associate Director of the Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since 1999); Lecturer of Real Estate at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since 1999); Partner of Triton Atlantic Partners (since 2009). | 1 | ||||||
Frederick S. Hammer 201 King of Prussia Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 75 |
3 years/ since inception |
Trustee | Co-Chairman of Inter-Atlantic Group (since 1994) and a member of its investment committee. | 1 | Serves on the Boards of Universal Business Payment Solutions Corp. (since 2011); Inter-Atlantic Financial, Inc. (since 2007); E-Duction, Inc. (2005 - 2008), Avalon Insurance Holdings, Inc. (2006 - 2009) and Homeowners Insurance Corp. (since 2006); Director of US Fiduciary Corp. (2006 - 2009); Chairman of the Board of Annuity and Life Re (Holdings), Ltd. (1998 - 2005). | |||||
Richard L. Sutton 201 King of Prussia Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 76 |
3 years/ since inception |
Trustee | Of Counsel, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell (since 2000); Partner, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnel (1966 - 2000). |
1 | Board of Directors of Investors in Global Real Estate Ltd. (since 2006). | |||||
John Bartholdson 201 King of Prussia Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 67 |
3 years/ 8 years |
Trustee/Audit Committee Financial Expert | Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, and a Director of Triumph Group, Inc. (1993 -2007). |
1 | Board of Old Mutual Advisor Funds, Old Mutual Funds II and Old Mutual Insurance Series Fund (since 2004), and Old Mutual Funds III (2008 - 2009). |
(1) | After a Trustees initial term, each Trustee is expected to serve a three-year term concurrent with the class of Trustees for which he serves. Messrs. Ferguson and Hammer, as Class I Trustees, are expected to stand for re-election at the Trusts 2014 annual meeting of shareholders; Mr. Nakahara, as Class II Trustee, is expected to stand for re-election at the Trusts 2012 annual meeting of shareholders; Messrs. Sutton and Bartholdson, as Class III Trustees, are expected to stand for re-election at the Trusts 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. |
* | Mr. Ferguson is deemed to be an interested person of the Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 ACT), as amended, due to his position with the Advisor. |
** | Mr. Nakahara owned 5,000 shares of CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CB Richard Ellis), of which the advisor is an indirect majority-owned subsidiary, as of July 1, 2011, the date CB Richard Ellis acquired the advisor, and through September 2, 2011, technically making him an interested person of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) during that period. Mr. Nakahara purchased the shares several years ago. Mr. Nakahara no longer owns those shares and is an independent Trustee of the Trust. |
20 | CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Supplemental Information continued
Officers
The Officers of the CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund and their principal occupations during the past five years:
Name, Address, Age and Position(s) Held with Registrant |
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupations During the Past Five Years and Other Affiliations | ||
Officers: | ||||
Jonathan A. Blome 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 34 Chief Financial Officer |
since 2006 | Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (since 2011); Director and Head of Operations of CBRE Clarion Real Estate Securities LLC (since 2010); Senior Vice President of ING Clarion Securities LLC (2005 - 2010); Supervising Senior Auditor of Ernst & Young LLP (2000 - 2005). | ||
William E. Zitelli 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 43 Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary |
since 2007 | Senior Vice President, General Counsel of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (since 2007), Chief Compliance Officer of ING Clarion Real Estate Securities LLC (2007 - 2010); Attorney in private practice (2006 - 2007). |
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | 21 |
Supplemental Information concluded
Additional Information
Statement of Additional Information includes additional information regarding the Trustees. This information is available upon request, without charge, by calling the following toll-free telephone number: 1-888-711-4272.
The Trust has delegated the voting of the Trusts voting securities to the Trusts advisor pursuant to the proxy voting policies and procedures of the advisor. You may obtain a copy of these policies and procedures by calling 1-888-711-4272. The policies may also be found on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov).
Information regarding how the Trust voted proxies for portfolio securities, if applicable, during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, is also available, without charge and upon request by calling the Trust at 1-888-711-4272 or by accessing the Trusts Form N-PX on the Commissions website at http://www.sec.gov.
The Trust files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Trusts Form N-Qs are available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. The Trusts Form N-Qs may also be viewed and copied at the Commissions Public Reference Room in Washington, DC; information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (unaudited)
Pursuant to the Trusts Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the Plan), shareholders of the Trust are automatically enrolled, to have all distributions of dividends and capital gains reinvested by The Bank of New York Mellon (the Plan Agent) in the Trusts shares pursuant to the Plan. You may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by sending written instructions or by contacting The Bank of New York Mellon, as dividend disbursing agent, at the address set forth below. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by contacting the Plan Agent before the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Shareholders who do not participate in the Plan will receive all distributions in cash paid by check and mailed directly to the shareholders of record (or if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Plan Agent, which serves as agent for the shareholders in administering the Plan.
After the Trust declares a dividend or determines to make a capital gain distribution, the Plan Agent will acquire shares for the participants account, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of unissued but authorized shares from the Trust (newly issued shares) or (ii) by open market purchases. If, on the dividend payment date, the NAV is equal to or less than the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as market premium), the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in newly issued shares on behalf of the participants. The number of newly issued shares to be credited to each participants account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the NAV on the date the shares are issued. However, if the NAV is less than 95% of the market price on the payment date, the dollar amount of the dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date. If, on the dividend payment date, the NAV is greater than the market value per share plus estimated brokerage commissions (such condition being referred to herein as market discount), the Plan Agent will invest the dividend amount in shares acquired on behalf of the participants in open-market purchases.
The Plan Agents fees for the handling of the reinvestment of dividends and distributions will be paid by the Trust. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agents open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will not relieve participants of any Federal income tax that may be payable on such dividends or distributions.
The Trust reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Trust reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Participants that request a sale of shares through the Plan Agent are subject to a $2.50 sales fee and a $0.15 per share sold brokerage commission. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at Computershare Shareowner Services LLC, P.O. Box 358015, Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8015, Phone Number: (866) 221-1580.
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CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND
Item 2. | Code of Ethics. |
(a) The Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (the Financial Officer Code of Ethics) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) The Trust has not amended its Financial Officer Code of Ethics during the period covered by the shareholder report presented in Item 1 hereto.
(d) The Trust has not granted a waiver or an implicit waiver from a provision of its Financial Officer Code of Ethics.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) The Trusts Financial Officer Code of Ethics is attached hereto as an exhibit.
Item 3. | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
All of the members of the audit committee have the business and financial experience necessary to understand the fundamental financial statements of a closed-end, registered investment company; further, each member of the committee is financially literate, as such qualification is interpreted by the Board of Trustees in its business judgment. In addition, the Board has determined that John R. Bartholdson is an audit committee financial expert and independent as those terms are defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
(a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed from the Trusts fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Trusts annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements are as follows:
2011: $47,000
2010: $57,500
(b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed from the Trusts fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Trusts financial statements and are not reported above in Item 4(a) are as follows:
2011: $0
2010: $0
(c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed from the Trusts fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning are as follows:
2011: $24,500
2010: $23,250
(d) All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed from the Trusts fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported above in Items 4(a) through (c) are as follows:
2011: $0
2010: $0
(e) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.
(i) The Trust has an Audit Committee Charter in place (the Charter) that governs the pre-approval by the Trusts Audit Committee of all engagements for audit services and all Covered Non-Audit Engagements (as defined in the Charter) provided by the Trusts independent auditor (the Independent Auditor) to the Trust and other Related Entities (as defined below). Each calendar year, the Audit Committee will review and re-approve the Charter, together with any changes deemed necessary or desirable by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may, from time to time, modify the nature of the services pre-approved, the aggregate level of fees pre-approved, or both.
Related Entities means (i) CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (the Advisor) or (ii) any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Advisor.
Pre-approval shall be required only with respect to non-audit services (i) related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Trust and (ii) provided to a Related Entity that furnishes ongoing services to the Trust. Such pre-approval shall not apply to non-audit services provided to any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser. Pre-approval by the Audit Committee of such non-audit services shall be effected pursuant to the pre-approval procedures described in the Charter. The Charter shall not be violated if pre-approval of any such non-audit service is not obtained in circumstances in which the pre-approval requirement is waived under applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the NYSE, in accordance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act.
Requests for pre-approval of Covered Non-Audit Engagements are submitted to the Audit Committee by the Independent Auditor and by the chief financial officer of the Related Entity for which the non-audit services are to be performed. Such requests must include a statement as to whether, in the view of the Independent Auditor and such officer, (a) the request is consistent with the SECs rules on auditor independence and (b) the requested service is or is not a non-audit service prohibited by the SEC. A request submitted between scheduled meetings of the Audit Committee should state the reason that approval is being sought prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Audit Committee.
Between regularly scheduled meetings of the Audit Committee, the Committee Chairman or Audit Committee Financial Expert shall have the authority to pre-approve Covered Non-Audit Engagements, provided that fees associated with such engagement do not exceed $10,000 and the services to be provided do not involve provision of any of the following services by the Independent Auditor: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the audit client; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind
reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management functions; (vii) human resources; (vii) broker dealer, investment advisor or investment banking services; (ix) legal services; or (x) expert services unrelated to the audit.
Fee levels for all Covered Services to be provided by the Independent Auditor and pre-approved under this Policy will be established annually by the Audit Committee. Any increase in pre-approved fee levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
The terms and fees of the annual Audit services engagement for the Trust are subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions or fees resulting from changes in audit scope, Trust structure or other matters.
(ii) 100% of the services described in each of Items 4(b) through (d) were approved by the Trusts audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountants engagement to audit the Trusts financial statements for the most recent fiscal year attributable to work performed by persons other than the principal accountants full-time, permanent employees was 0%.
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Trusts accountant for services rendered to the Trust, the Advisor or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Advisor that provides ongoing services to the Trust (except for any sub-advisor whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment advisor) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 are as follows:
2011: $324,200
2010: $248,801
(h) Not applicable.
Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. |
(a) The Trust has a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee of the Trust is comprised of: Frederick S. Hammer, Asuka Nakahara, Richard L. Sutton and John R. Bartholdson.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 6. | Investments. |
(a) The schedule of investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
The Trust has delegated the voting of proxies relating to its voting securities to the Advisor, pursuant to the proxy voting procedures of the Advisor. The Advisors Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are included as an exhibit hereto.
Item 8. | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
(a) | As of March 1, 2012 |
T. Ritson Ferguson
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, CBRE Clarion Securities LLC since
1991
Steven D. Burton
Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer, CBRE Clarion Securities LLC since
1995
Joseph P. Smith
Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer, CBRE Clarion Securities LLC since
1997
Other Accounts Managed (as of December 31, 2011). The Portfolio Managers are also collectively responsible for the day-to-day management of the Advisors other accounts, as indicated by the following table.
Name of Portfolio Managers |
Type of Accounts |
Number of Accounts Managed |
Total Assets in the Accounts |
Managed with Advisory Fee Based on Performance |
Managed with Advisory Fee Based on Performance |
|||||||||||
T. Ritson Ferguson |
Registered Investment Companies | 12 | $ | 8,785,085,358 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 39 | $ | 5,588,574,474 | 6 | $ | 427,773,387 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts | 77 | $ | 5,253,274,472 | 6 | $ | 732,392,344 | ||||||||||
Steven D. Burton |
Registered Investment Companies | 10 | $ | 7,410,930,317 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 38 | $ | 5,423,742,342 | 6 | $ | 427,773,387 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts | 58 | $ | 4,597,169,602 | 6 | $ | 732,392,344 | ||||||||||
Joseph P. Smith |
Registered Investment Companies | 12 | $ | 8,785,085,358 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 37 | $ | 5,537,957,333 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Other Accounts | 76 | $ | 4,641,960,793 | 0 | $ | 0 |
Potential Conflicts of Interest
The portfolio managers may be subject to potential conflicts of interest because the portfolio managers are responsible for other accounts in addition to the Trust. These other accounts may include, among others, other closed-end funds, mutual funds, separately managed advisory
accounts, commingled trust accounts, insurance company separate accounts and hedge funds. Potential conflicts may also arise out of the implementation of differing investment strategies for the portfolio managers various accounts, the allocation of investment opportunities among those accounts or differences in the advisory fees paid by the portfolio managers accounts.
A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio managers responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio managers accounts, but the quantity of the investment available for purchase is less than the aggregate amount the accounts would ideally devote to the opportunity. Similar conflicts may arise when multiple accounts seek to dispose of the same investment.
The portfolio managers may also manage accounts whose objectives and policies differ from those of the Trust. These differences may be such that under certain circumstances, trading activity appropriate for one account may have adverse consequences for another account. For example, an account may sell a significant position in a security, which could cause the market price of that security to decrease, while the Trust maintains its position in that security.
A potential conflict may also arise when the portfolio managers are responsible for accounts that have different advisory fees the difference in the fees may create an incentive for the portfolio managers to favor one account over another, for example, in terms of access to particularly appealing investment opportunities. This conflict may be heightened where an account is subject to a performance-based fee.
The Advisor recognizes the duty of loyalty it owes to its clients and shareholders of the funds it advises (including the Trust) and sub-advises. The Advisor has established and implemented certain policies and procedures designed to control and mitigate conflicts of interest arising from the execution of a variety of portfolio management and trading strategies across its diverse client base. Such policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, (i) investment process, portfolio management and trade allocation procedures (ii) procedures regarding short sales in securities recommended for other clients; and (iii) procedures regarding personal trading by the Advisors employees (contained in the Advisors Code of Ethics).
Compensation
The Advisors senior management team, including the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the Trust, maintains a material equity interest in the firm, including both a capital interest and profit interests. This interest entitles members of the senior management team to an increasing share of the firms profits over time, subject to continued employment and related factors. After several years, and treating capital interests and profit interests equally, the senior management team may be entitled to up to 23% of the firms profits.
All of the Advisors employees receive salaries and annual bonuses. Bonuses are paid based on performance of specific job objectives and as a function of overall firm profitability. The Advisor retains a significant percentage of the pretax profits of the firm as an incentive compensation pool for employees.
There are three pieces of compensation for portfolio managers base salary, annual bonus and deferred compensation awards. Base salary is reviewed annually and fixed for each year at market competitive levels. Variable bonus and deferred compensation awards are made annually and are
based upon individual achievement, over each annual period, of performance objectives established at the beginning of the period. Portfolio managers objectives include targets for gross performance above specific benchmarks for all portfolios they manage, including the Trust. Portfolio managers objectives include targets for gross performance above specific benchmarks for all portfolios they manage. The benchmarks most relevant to the Trust are the S&P Developed Property Index and the MSCI REIT Preferred Index, although portfolio manager compensation is not tied to performance of the Trust. Compensation is not based on the level of Trust assets. Investment performance is not, however, the only performance objective established for portfolio managers. To avoid the pitfalls of relying solely upon a rigid performance format which could create incentives for excessive risk taking, variable bonus and deferred compensation awards take into account other important factors, such as contribution to the team, firm, and overall business.
For senior employees (including the portfolio managers), profit sharing and deferred compensation are used as additional compensation and retention tools. These arrangements are in place to maintain total compensation for key employees at levels competitive to those in the marketplace. Deferred compensation pools are primarily invested in funds and strategies managed by the Advisor, which helps create an alignment of interest with the firms clients as well as shareholders of the funds it advises (such as the Trust).
Ownership of Trust Shares
The following table indicates the dollar range of securities of the Trust beneficially owned by the Portfolio Managers as of December 31, 2011.
Name of Portfolio Managers |
Dollar Value of Trust Shares Beneficially Owned | |
T. Ritson Ferguson |
$500,001-$1,000,000 | |
Steven D. Burton |
$50,001-$100,000 | |
Joseph P. Smith |
$10,001-$50,000 |
(b) | Not applicable. |
Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
None.
Item 10. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
Not applicable.
Item 11. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) The Trusts principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the Trusts disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the Trusts disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported timely.
(b) The Trusts principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no changes in the Trusts internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trusts second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trusts internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. | Exhibits. |
(a)(1) Fund Officer Code of Ethics.
(a)(2) Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(b) Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(c) Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures.
(d) Notices to Trusts common shareholders in accordance with Investment Company Act Section 19(a) and Rule 19a-1.(1)
(1) | The Trust has received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission permitting it to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains with respect to its outstanding common stock as frequently as twelve times each year. This relief is conditioned, in part, on an undertaking by the Trust to make the disclosures to the holders of the Trusts common shares, in addition to the information required by Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act and Rule 19a-1 thereunder. The Trust is likewise obligated to file with the Commission the information contained in any such notice to shareholders and, in that regard, has attached hereto copies of each such notice made during the period. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund | ||
By: | /s/ T. Ritson Ferguson | |
Name: | T. Ritson Ferguson | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: | March 1, 2012 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ T. Ritson Ferguson | |
Name: | T. Ritson Ferguson | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: | March 1, 2012 |
By: | /s/ Jonathan A. Blome | |
Name: | Jonathan A. Blome | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Date: | March 1, 2012 |