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)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-877-711-4272
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: December 31, 2020
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. | Reports to Stockholders. |
(a) | 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, as amended, is as follows: |
CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE
INCOME FUND
Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2020
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (the “Trust”), acting in accordance with an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission and with approval of its Board of Trustees (the “Board”), has adopted a managed distribution 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 plus, if so desired by the Board, all or a portion of the capital gains and returns of capital from portfolio companies received by the Trust during the year.
In furtherance of its policy, the Trust distributes a fixed amount per common share, currently $0.05, each month to its common shareholders. This amount is subject to change from time to time in the discretion of the Board. In an effort to maintain the Trust’s monthly distribution at a stable level, the Board recognizes that a portion of the Trust’s distributions may be characterized as a return of capital, particularly in periods when the Trust incurs losses on its portfolio securities. Under such circumstances, the Board will not necessarily reduce the Trust’s distribution, but will closely monitor its sustainability, recognizing that losses may be reversed and that, in subsequent periods, gains on portfolio securities may give rise to the need for a supplemental distribution, which the Trust seeks to minimize. In considering sustainability, the Board may consider realized gains that have been offset, for the purposes of calculating taxable income, by capital loss carryforwards. Thus, the level of the Trust’s distributions will be independent of its performance for a particular period, but the Trust expects its distributions to correlate to its performance over time. In particular, the Trust expects that its distribution rate in relation to its net asset value (“NAV”) will correlate to its total return on NAV over time. The Trust’s total return on NAV is presented in the financial highlights table.
Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Trust’s investment performance from the amount of the current distribution or from the terms of the Trust’s managed distribution policy. The Board may amend or terminate the policy without prior notice to shareholders. Shareholders should note that the managed distribution policy is subject to change or termination for a variety of reasons. Through its ownership of portfolio securities, the Trust is subject to risks including, but not limited to, declines in the value of real estate held by portfolio companies, risks related to general and local economic conditions, and portfolio company losses. An economic downturn might have a material adverse effect on the real estate markets and the real estate companies in which the Trust invests, which could result in the Trust failing to achieve its investment objectives and jeopardizing the continuance of the managed distribution policy. Please refer to the Trust’s Prospectus for a fuller description of the risks associated with investing in the Trust.
CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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Investors should consider a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. A copy of the prospectus that contains this and other information about the Fund may be obtained by calling 888-711-4272. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing in closed-end funds involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Real Estate investments are subject to changes in economic conditions, credit risk, and interest rate fluctuations. International investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations. Because real estate funds concentrate their investments in the real estate industry, the portfolio may experience more volatility and be exposed to greater risk than the portfolios of other funds.
Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund’s investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund’s portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | 1 |
(1) | Global real estate stocks as measured by the FTSE EPRA NAREIT Developed Index – Net which returned -15.6% during the second half of the year and -9.0% for the calendar year 2020. The broader equity market as measured by the MSCI World Index which returned +16.5% for the 2020 calendar year. |
(2) | Represented by the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index – Net. The Index is an unmanaged market-weighted index consisting of real estate companies from developed markets, where greater than 75% of constituents’ EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is derived from relevant real estate activities, and is calculated net of withholding taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. |
(3) | Represented by the MSCI REIT Preferred Index, a preferred stock market capitalization weighted index of certain exchange traded preferred securities issued by U.S. equity and U.S. hybrid REITs. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. |
(4) | Represented by the daily weighted average of the following indices: 80% FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index – Net and 20% MSCI REIT Preferred Index. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. |
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the reference benchmark also benefitted from being underweight retail (especially malls) and hotels, which, despite their second half rebound, were still two of the worst performing property sectors during the year. Most of our exposure to hotels came from owning preferred stocks which held up much better than common stocks issued by hotel companies. The Trust had approximately 20% of the portfolio invested in the Asia-Pacific region through the year where we earned much better returns than the -9.5% regional index return. Performance in Australia was especially strong, where we concentrated our investments in industrial and health care companies and avoided poor performing retail companies.
The Trust made total distributions of $0.60 per share during 2020, maintaining a level monthly distribution of $0.05 per share. The annualized distribution represents an 8.72% distribution rate on the $6.88 share price and an 7.40% distribution rate on the $8.11 NAV as of December 31st. (5) Our dividend policy is to maintain a stable distribution to shareholders which we believe can be sustained while still growing the underlying assets of the Trust based on the total return potential of the underlying portfolio. The Board continues to regularly review the level of the Trust’s distribution and the ability to sustain it given market conditions and total return expectations.
The Trust continues to maintain a flexible strategy for managing portfolio leverage. Having leverage well below allowable regulatory(6) limits early in the year allowed us to borrow more and buy securities after the worst of the sell-off; adding leverage opportunistically to benefit from the subsequent rebound in real estate securities during the second half of the year. The Trust’s leverage position was 23% as of December 31st, still well below allowable regulatory(6) limits.
Portfolio Review
The Trust’s investments remain well-diversified by property type and geography. In the second half of the year, we selectively added stocks that represented “great value” and had been “over-sold” in the net lease, mall, and grocery-anchored shopping center sectors. We funded these purchases by selling some stocks that had outperformed strongly early in the year, particularly in the data center sector. At December 31st, the Trust’s portfolio was approximately 89% invested in common stock securities (52% in the Americas, 23% in Asia-Pacific, and 14% in Europe) with 11% of the portfolio invested in preferred stock of U.S. real estate companies. We continue to believe that the total return potential of common stocks is more attractive than preferred stocks in general.
Geographic Diversification | Sector Diversification | |
Source: CBRE Clarion Securities as of 12/31/2020.
Geographic and Sector diversification are unaudited. Percentages presented are based on managed trust assets, which include 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.
Market Outlook
Based on our proprietary valuation tools, we believe real estate securities valuations are very compelling relative to the private real estate, fixed income, and broader stock markets. It is unusual for real estate securities to be “cheap” relative to all three of these broad asset classes at the same time. At December 31, 2020, real estate stocks are trading at a global average -6% discount to
(5) | The Fund is currently paying distributions in excess of its net investment income, which may result in a return of capital. Absent this, the distribution rate would have been lower. The estimated composition of each distribution, including any return of capital, will be provided to shareholders of record and is also available at www.cbreclarion.com. Final determination of a distribution’s tax character will be made on Form 1099 DIV and sent to shareholders. On a tax basis, the estimated component of the cumulative distribution for the fiscal year-to-date would include an estimated return of capital of $0.394 per share or 65.67%. This amount is an estimate and the actual amounts and sources for tax reporting purposes may change upon final determination or tax characteristics and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. |
(6) | Under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
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private market real estate value (i.e., NAV), with an implied unleveraged cash flow yield (“cap rate”) of 5.5%. At year-end in the U.S., the spread between implied cap rates and investment grade Baa corporate bonds was +245 basis points versus a long-term average of +97 basis points. (7) Outside the U.S., the dividend-yield spreads to sovereign bond yields were also historically wide. Relative to the broader stock market, we believe REITs looked cheap as well. The forward multiple of global REIT earnings is 17.4x versus the 21.0x Price-to-Earnings ratio of the MSCI World Equity Index; normally these earnings multiples are similar. (8) The present difference in earnings multiples of 3.6x has not been seen since the Global Financial Crisis. These types of valuation disparities in the past have often been followed by periods of very strong absolute and relative performance of listed real estate.
CBRE Global Investors’ economic forecast calls for improving growth in 2021. We believe that the monetary and fiscal measures that were implemented around the globe will help mitigate the depth and length of the recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe the U.S. Federal Reserve is applying lessons learned in the GFC to implement appropriate monetary policy and avoid a broader credit market freeze. We believe that the incoming Biden Administration will support both economic stimulus packages to help the unemployed as well as a pro-economic growth agenda. Assuming the vaccines and health policies are effective and that the global economy can re-open in 2021, we estimate earnings for real estate stocks will grow in excess of 6% in 2021 and 2022.
We expect earnings growth to rebound to approximately 6% in 2021. Earnings for listed real estate companies are expected to decline approximately -4% in 2020 versus 2019. The roughly 9% reduction from the forecasted +5% growth at the beginning of the year was much less than the declines for the composite earnings of the broad market indices. Importantly, we look for a restoration of earnings growth in 2021 as the global economy recovers. We expect the improving clarity as to the timing and strength of the economic “re-opening” to act as a further catalyst for good absolute and relative performance of real estate securities. As a result, we estimate earnings for real estate stocks will return to a more “normal” growth rate of +6% in both 2021 and 2022, assuming the vaccines and health policies are effectively implemented, and the global economy can re-open in 2021.
Regional Earnings Growth Forecast
Source: CBRE Clarion as of 12/31/2020.
“f” refers to “forecasts” “e” refers to “estimates.” The U.S. and Global averages do not include the 2021 and 2022 growth rates for the U.S. hotel sector due to the negative hotel growth in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. Forecasts are the opinion of CBRE Clarion, which is subject to change and is not intended to be a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Forecasts are not indicative of future investment performance
(7) | A “basis point” is one hundredth of one percent, that is one basis point is 0.01%. |
(8) | Forward multiple of global REIT earnings as measured by the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index-Net. The price-to-earnings ratio is the ratio of a company’s share price to the company’s earnings per share. The forward multiple for REITs and the price-to-earnings ratio for equities can be used for valuing companies and to assess whether they are overvalued or undervalued. |
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We believe real estate dividend yield remains attractive and expect dividends will grow again in 2021. Current income generated by listed property’s dividend yields remains an attractive investment characteristic of the sector. We believe dividend yield for real estate stocks remains attractive, in the 3-4% range.
Current Dividend Yield
Source: CBRE Clarion as of 12/31/2020. Not all countries included.
Dividend yields fluctuate and are not necessarily indicative of present or future investment performance.
Information is subject to change and should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
We own a well-balanced portfolio of securities that have been screened for their growth prospects in combination with the quality of their business models, assets, balance sheets, and management teams. We are positive on property types, regions, and stocks that offer these qualities at reasonable valuations. We are encouraged by the massive stimulus enacted by central banks and governments around the world. Unlike during the Global Financial Crisis, real estate companies’ balance sheets are in good shape and most companies have had consistent access to capital markets. Our focus is on underwriting the depth of demand destruction and the subsequent pace of demand recovery for the various property sectors and regions. There are many resilient regions, property sectors, and companies that we find very attractively priced. In the U.S., we favor the communication towers, net lease (including gaming properties), industrial, residential, and storage sectors. In Japan, we prefer mid-cap office stocks that are providing earnings resiliency at very attractive relative valuation and select larger diversified real estate companies that have committed to improving their corporate governance. In Hong Kong, we are overweight residential companies (including diversified companies with a residential bias), non-discretionary retail, and select office owners. In Australia, we prefer residential and a select few diversified companies with little exposure to retail. In the U.K., we favor the storage, industrial, and residential sectors, and companies with superior balance sheets and the management acumen to create value in times of uncertainty. In Continental Europe, we own the German residential companies and we continue to prefer property companies in Germany, the Nordics and Switzerland.
We appreciate your continued faith and confidence.
Sincerely,
CBRE CLARION SECURITIES LLC
T. Ritson Ferguson, CFA | Joseph P. Smith | Kenneth S. Weinberg, CFA | ||
Co-Portfolio Manager President & CEO |
Co-Portfolio Manager | Co-Portfolio Manager |
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES AND RISK INFORMATION
The views expressed represent the opinion of CBRE Clarion Securities (“CBRE Clarion”), which are subject to change and are not intended as investment advice or a guarantee of future results. This material is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an endorsement of any specific investment. Stated information is derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources which have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness. While CBRE Clarion believes the information to be accurate and reliable, we do not claim or accept responsibility for its completeness, accuracy, or reliability. Statements of future expectations, forecasts, estimates, projections, and other forward-looking statements are based on CBRE Clarion’s view at the time such statements were made. Accordingly, such statements are inherently speculative, as they are based on assumptions which may involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Any discussion of particular securities herein should not be perceived as a recommendation to purchase or sell any of those securities. It should not be assumed that investments in any securities discussed were or will be profitable. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Investing in real estate securities involves risks including the potential loss of principal. Real estate equities are subject to risks similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate. Portfolios concentrated in real estate securities may experience price volatility and other risks associated with non-diversification. While equities may offer the potential for greater long-term growth than most debt securities, they generally have higher volatility. International (non-US) investments may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles, or from economic or political instability in other nations. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. FINRA compliance services: Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
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As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of fund shares, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The expense examples below are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
The examples in the table is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the six-month period and held for the entire period (July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020).
Actual expenses
The first line in the following table provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes
The second line in the following table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses (which is not the Funds’ actual return). The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only, and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Beginning Account Value July 1, 2020 |
Ending Account Value December 31, 2020 |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
Expenses Paid During the Period Per $1,000 (1) |
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CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund |
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Actual |
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,192.20 | 1.55 | % | $ | 8.54 | ||||||||
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) |
$ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,017.34 | 1.55 | % | $ | 7.86 |
(1) | Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184 (the number of days in the most recent six-month period), then divided by 366. |
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
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Additional Information – Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks (unaudited)
Investment Objective
The Trust’s primary investment objective is high current income. The Trust’s secondary investment objective is capital appreciation. The Trust’s investment objectives and certain investment policies are considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that the Trust’s investment objectives will be achieved.
Investment Policies
The Trust has a policy of concentrating its investments in the real estate industry and not in any other industry. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest substantially all but no less than 80% of its total assets in income-producing global “Real Estate Equity Securities.’’ Real Estate Equity Securities include common stocks, preferred securities, warrants and convertible securities issued by real estate companies, such as real estate investment trusts (“REITs’’). The Trust, under normal market conditions, will invest in Real Estate Equity Securities of companies domiciled primarily in developed countries. However, the Trust may invest up to 15% of its total assets in Real Estate Equity Securities of companies domiciled in emerging market countries. Under normal market conditions, the Trust expects to have investments in at least three countries, including the United States.
The Trust may invest up to 25% of its total assets in preferred securities of global real estate companies. The Trust may invest up to 20% of its total assets in preferred securities that are rated below investment grade or that are not rated and are considered by the Trust’s investment advisor to be of comparable quality. Preferred securities of non-investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the capacity of the issuer of the preferred securities to pay interest and repay principal. Investment grade quality securities are those that are rated within the four highest grades by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., S&P Global Ratings, , or Fitch Ratings at the time of investment or are considered by the Trust’s investment advisor to be of comparable quality. Although it has no present intentions to do so, the Trust may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities and other instruments that, at the time of investment, are illiquid (i.e., securities that are not readily marketable).
The Trust defines a real estate company as a company that derives at least 50% of its revenue from the ownership, construction, financing, management or sale of commercial, industrial or residential real estate or has at least 50% of its assets invested in such real estate. A common type of real estate company, a REIT, is a domestic corporation that pools investors’ funds for investment primarily in income-producing real estate or in real estate related loans (such as mortgages) or other interests. Therefore, a REIT normally derives its income from rents or from interest payments and may realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to its shareholders if it complies with several requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code’’). As a result, REITs tend to pay relatively high dividends (as compared to other types of companies), and the Trust intends to use these REIT dividends in an effort to meet its primary objective of high current income.
Global real estate companies outside the U.S. include, but are not limited to, companies with similar characteristics to the REIT structure, in which revenue primarily consists of rent derived from owned, income-producing real estate properties, dividend distributions as a percentage of taxable net income are high (generally greater than 80%), debt levels are generally conservative and income derived from development activities is generally limited.
The Trust may invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs’’) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs’’).
The Trust may engage in foreign currency transactions, including foreign currency forward contracts, options, swaps, and other strategic transactions in connection with its investments in foreign Real Estate Equity Securities. Although not intended to be a significant element in the Trust’s investment strategy, from time to time the Trust may use various other investment management techniques that also involve certain risks and special considerations, including engaging in interest rate transactions and short sales.
The Trust will invest in Real Estate Equity Securities where dividend distributions are subject to withholding taxes as determined by United States tax treaties with respective individual foreign countries. Generally, the Trust will invest in Real Estate Equity Securities that are excluded from the reduced tax rates as determined by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.
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Additional Information – Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks (unaudited) continued
Risk Factors
The Trust is a diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Trust is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objectives. Your common shares at any point in time may be worth less than you invested, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Trust dividends and distributions.
General Real Estate Risks. Because the Trust concentrates its assets in the global real estate industry, your investment in the Trust will be closely linked to the performance of the global real estate markets. Property values may fall due to increasing vacancies or declining rents resulting from economic, legal, cultural or technological developments. The price of real estate company shares may drop because of falling property values, increased interest rates, poor management of the company or other factors. Many real estate companies utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a company’s operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates.
There are also special risks associated with particular sectors of real estate investments.
• | Retail Properties. Retail properties are affected by the overall health of the economy and may be adversely affected by, among other things, the growth of alternative forms of retailing, bankruptcy, departure or cessation of operations of a tenant, a shift in consumer demand due to demographic changes, spending patterns and lease terminations. |
• | Office Properties. Office properties are affected by the overall health of the economy, and other factors such as a downturn in the businesses operated by their tenants, obsolescence and non-competitiveness. |
• | Hotel Properties. The risks of hotel properties include, among other things, the necessity of a high level of continuing capital expenditures, competition, increases in operating costs which may not be offset by increases in revenues, dependence on business and commercial travelers and tourism, increases in fuel costs and other expenses of travel, and adverse effects of general and local economic conditions. Hotel properties tend to be more sensitive to adverse economic conditions and competition than many other commercial properties. |
• | Healthcare Properties. Healthcare properties and healthcare providers are affected by several significant factors, including federal, state and local laws governing licenses, certification, adequacy of care, pharmaceutical distribution, rates, equipment, personnel and other factors regarding operations, continued availability of revenue from government reimbursement programs, and competition on a local and regional basis. The failure of any healthcare operator to comply with governmental laws and regulations may affect its ability to operate its facility or receive government reimbursements. |
• | Multifamily Properties. The value and successful operation of a multifamily property may be affected by a number of factors such as the location of the property, the ability of the management team, the level of mortgage rates, the presence of competing properties, adverse economic conditions in the locale, oversupply and rent control laws or other laws affecting such properties. |
• | Community Shopping Centers. Community center properties are dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of their tenants, particularly certain of their major tenants, and could be adversely affected by bankruptcy of those tenants. In some cases, a tenant may lease a significant portion of the space in one center, and the filing of bankruptcy could cause significant revenue loss. Like others in the commercial real estate industry, community centers are subject to environmental risks and interest rate risk. They also face the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues. Community center properties could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where their properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in national economic and market conditions. |
• | Self-Storage Properties. The value and successful operation of a self-storage property may be affected by a number of factors, such as the ability of the management team, the location of the property, the presence of competing properties, changes in traffic patterns, and adverse effects of general and local economic conditions with respect to rental rates and occupancy levels. |
• | Industrial Properties. Industrial properties typically include warehouses, manufactories, depots, storage, factories, logistics and distributions. Factors such as vacancy, tenant mix, lease term, property condition and design, redevelopment opportunities and property location could adversely affect the value and operation of industrial properties. |
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
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Additional Information – Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks (unaudited) continued
• | Towers Companies. Cell towers and wireless services have seen an increased demand in recent years. However, owners and operators of towers may be subject to, and therefore must comply with, environmental laws that impose strict, joint and several liability for the cleanup of on-site or off-site contamination and related personal injury or property damage. |
• | Data Centers Properties. Data centers facilities house an organization’s most critical and proprietary assets. Therefore, operation of data centers properties depends upon the demand for technology-related real estate and global economic conditions that could adversely affect companies’ abilities to lease, develop or renew leases. Declining real estate valuations and impairment charges could adversely affect earnings and financial condition of data center properties. |
• | Net Lease Properties. Net lease properties require the tenant to pay (in addition to the rent) property taxes, insurance, and maintenance on the property. Tenant’s ability to pay rent, interest rate fluctuations, vacancy, property location, length of the lease are only few of the risks that could affect net lease properties operations. |
Other factors that may contribute to the riskiness of all real estate investments include:
• | Lack of Insurance. Certain of the portfolio companies may fail to carry comprehensive liability, fire, flood, earthquake extended coverage and rental loss insurance, or insurance in place may be subject to various policy specifications, limits and deductibles. Should any type of uninsured loss occur, the portfolio company could lose its investment in, and anticipated profits and cash flows from, a number of properties and as a result adversely affect the Trust’s investment performance. |
• | Financial Leverage. Global real estate companies may be highly leveraged and financial covenants may affect the ability of global real estate companies to operate effectively. |
• | Environmental Issues. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of real properties that may contain hazardous or toxic substances, a portfolio company may be considered an owner, operator or responsible party of such properties and, therefore, may be potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other costs, including governmental fines and liabilities for injuries to persons and property. The existence of any such material environmental liability could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and cash flow of any such portfolio company and, as a result, the amount available to make distributions on shares of the Trust could be reduced. |
• | Recent Events. The value of real estate is particularly susceptible to acts of terrorism and other changes in foreign and domestic conditions. |
• | Acts of God and Geopolitical Risks: The performance of certain investments could be affected by acts of God or other unforeseen and/or uncontrollable events (collectively, “disruptions”), including, but not limited to, natural disasters, public health emergencies (including any outbreak or threat of COVID-19, SARS, H1N1/09 flu, avian flu, other coronavirus, Ebola, or other existing or new pandemic or epidemic diseases), terrorism, social and political discord, geopolitical events, national and international political circumstances, and other unforeseen and/or uncontrollable events with widespread impact. These disruptions may affect the level and volatility of security prices and liquidity of any investments. Unexpected volatility could impair an investment’s profitability or result in it suffering losses. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or securities industry participants in other countries or regions. |
The extent of the impact of any such disruption on the Trust will depend on many factors, including the duration and scope of such disruption, the extent of any related travel advisories and restrictions implemented, the impact of such disruption on overall supply and demand, goods and services, investor liquidity, consumer confidence and levels of economic activity and the extent of its disruption to important global, regional and local supply chains and economic markets, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. A disruption may materially and adversely impact the value and performance of any investment, the Adviser’s ability to source, manage and divest investments, and the Adviser’s ability to achieve the Trust’s investment objectives, ultimately resulting in significant losses to investors. In addition, there is a risk that a long disruption will significantly impact the operations of the Adviser, the Trust, and its portfolio investments, or even temporarily or permanently halt their operations.
• | REIT Issues. REITs are subject to a highly technical and complex set of provisions in the Code. It is possible that the Trust may invest in a real estate company which purports to be a REIT, but which fails to qualify as a REIT. In the event of any such unexpected failure to qualify as a REIT, the purported REIT would be subject to corporate-level taxation, significantly reducing the return to the Trust on its investment in such company. |
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| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Additional Information – Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks (unaudited) continued
Stock Market Risks. A portion of your investment in common shares represents an indirect investment in equity securities owned by the Trust, substantially all of which are traded on a domestic or foreign securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets. The value of these securities, like other stock market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
Common Stock Risk. While common stock has historically generated higher average returns than fixed income securities, common stock has also experienced significantly more volatility in those returns. An adverse event, such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of common stock held by the Trust. Also, the price of common stock is sensitive to general movements in the stock market. A drop in the stock market may depress the price of common stock held by the Trust.
Foreign Securities Risks. Although it is not the Trust’s current intent, the Trust may invest up to 100% of its total assets in real estate securities of non-U.S. issuers or that are denominated in various foreign currencies or multinational currency units (“Foreign Securities’’). Such investments involve certain risks not involved in domestic investments. Securities markets in certain foreign countries are not as developed, efficient or liquid as securities markets in the United States. Therefore, the prices of Foreign Securities often are volatile. In addition, the Trust will be subject to risks associated with adverse political and economic developments in foreign countries, which could cause the Trust to lose money on its investments in Foreign Securities. The Trust may hold any Foreign Securities of issuers in so-called “emerging markets’’ which may entail additional risks.
Foreign Currency Risk. Although the Trust will report its net asset value and pay dividends in U.S. dollars, Foreign Securities often are purchased with and make interest payments in foreign currencies. Therefore, when the Trust invests in Foreign Securities, it will be subject to foreign currency risk, which means that the Trust’s net asset value could decline as a result of changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. Certain foreign countries may impose restrictions on the ability of issuers of Foreign Securities to make payment of principal and interest to investors located outside the country, due to blockage of foreign currency exchanges or otherwise.
Emerging Markets Risks. The Trust may invest in Real Estate Equity Securities of issuers located or doing substantial business in “emerging markets.’’ Because of less developed markets and economies and, in some countries, less mature governments and governmental institutions, the risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers domiciled or doing substantial business in emerging market countries. These risks include high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries; political and social uncertainties; over-dependence on exports, especially with respect to primary commodities, making these economies vulnerable to changes in commodity prices; overburdened infrastructure and obsolete or unseasoned financial systems; environmental problems; less developed legal systems; and less reliable custodial services and settlement practices.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage through the issuance of Preferred Shares or debt creates an opportunity for increased common share net investment income dividends, but also creates risks for the holders of common shares. The Trust’s leveraging strategy may not be successful. Leverage creates two major types of risks for the holders of common shares:
• | the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the common shares because changes in the value of the Trust’s portfolio, including securities bought with the proceeds of the leverage, are borne entirely by the holders of common shares; and |
• | the possibility either that common share net investment income will fall if the leverage expense rises or that common share net investment income will fluctuate because the leverage expense varies. |
Small Cap Risk. The Trust may invest in Real Estate Equity Securities of smaller companies which may entail additional risks. There may be less trading in a smaller company’s stock, which means that buy and sell transactions in that stock could have a larger impact on the stock’s price than is the case with larger company stocks. Smaller companies also may have fewer lines of business so that changes in any one line of business may have a greater impact on a smaller company’s stock price than is the case for a larger company. Further, smaller company stocks may perform in different cycles than larger company stocks. Accordingly, shares of these companies can be more volatile than, and at times will perform differently from, large company stocks such as those found in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. In addition, there are relatively few REITs when compared to other types of companies. Even the larger global real estate companies tend to be small to medium-sized companies in comparison to many industrial and service companies.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
11 |
Additional Information – Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks (unaudited) continued
Preferred Securities. The Trust may invest in preferred securities, which entail special risks, including:
• | Deferral. Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. If the Trust owns a preferred security that is deferring its distributions, the Trust may be required to report income for tax purposes although it has not yet received such income. |
• | Subordination. Preferred securities are subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in a company’s capital structure with respect to priority to corporate income and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior debt instruments. |
• | Liquidity. Preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks or U.S. government securities. |
• | Limited Voting Rights. Generally, preferred security holders (such as the Trust) have no voting rights with respect to the issuing company unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights. In the case of certain trust preferred securities, holders generally have no voting rights, except (i) if the issuer fails to pay dividends for a specified period of time or (ii) if a declaration of default occurs and is continuing. In such an event, rights of holders of trust preferred securities generally would include the right to appoint and authorize a trustee to enforce the trust or special purpose entity’s rights as a creditor under the agreement with its operating company. |
• | Special Redemption Rights. In certain varying circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities prior to a specified date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in Federal income tax or securities laws. As with call provisions, a redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return on the security held by the Trust. |
• | New Types of Securities. From time to time, preferred securities, including trust preferred securities, have been, and may in the future be, offered having features other than those described herein. The Trust reserves the right to invest in these securities if the Advisor believes that doing so would be consistent with the Trust’s investment objectives and policies. Since the market for these instruments would be new, the Trust may have difficulty disposing of them at a suitable price and time. In addition to limited liquidity, these instruments may present other risks, such as high price volatility. |
Illiquid Securities. The Trust may invest up to 15% of its total assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that are not readily marketable and may include some restricted securities, which are securities that may not be resold to the public without an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, (the “Securities Act’’) or, if they are unregistered, may be sold only in a privately negotiated transaction or pursuant to an exemption from registration. Illiquid investments involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by the Trust or at prices approximating the value at which the Trust is carrying the securities on its books.
Lower-Rated Securities. The Trust will not invest more than 20% of its total assets in preferred securities rated below investment grade or unrated and considered by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.
The values of lower-rated securities often reflect individual corporate developments and have a higher sensitivity to economic changes than do higher rated securities. Issuers of lower-rated securities are often in the growth stage of their development and/or involved in a reorganization or takeover. The companies are often highly leveraged (have a significant amount of debt relative to shareholders’ equity) and may not have available to them more traditional financing methods, thereby increasing the risk associated with acquiring these types of securities. In some cases, obligations with respect to lower-rated securities are subordinated to the prior repayment of senior indebtedness, which will potentially limit the Trust’s ability to fully recover principal or to receive interest payments when senior securities are in default. Thus, investors in lower-rated securities have a lower degree of protection with respect to principal and interest payments than do investors in higher rated securities.
During an economic downturn, a substantial period of rising interest rates or a recession, issuers of lower-rated securities may experience financial distress possibly resulting in insufficient revenues to meet their principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing. An economic downturn could also disrupt the market for lower-rated
12 |
| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Additional Information – Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks (unaudited) concluded
securities and adversely affect the ability of the issuers to repay principal and interest. If the issuer of a security held by the Trust defaults, the Trust may not receive full interest and principal payments due to it and could incur additional expenses if it chose to seek recovery of its investment.
Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed income investments such as preferred securities, and to a lesser extent dividend-paying common stocks such as REIT common stocks, will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. The Trust’s investment in such securities means that the net asset value and market price of its common shares will tend to decline if market interest rates rise. Because market interest rates are currently near their lowest levels in many years, there is a greater than normal risk that the Trust’s portfolio will decline in value due to rising interest rates. Your common shares at any point in time may be worth less than what you invested, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Trust dividends and distributions. The Trust utilizes leverage, which magnifies interest rate risk.
Strategic Transactions. For general portfolio management purposes, the Trust may use various other investment management techniques that also involve certain risks and special considerations, including engaging in hedging and risk management transactions, including interest rate swaps and options and foreign currency transactions. These strategic transactions will be entered into to seek to manage the risks of the Trust’s portfolio of securities, but may have the effect of limiting the gains from favorable market movements.
Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the common shares and distributions can decline and the dividend payments in respect of Preferred Shares, if any, or interest payments on any borrowings may increase.
Deflation Risk. Deflation risk is the risk that the Trust’s dividends may be reduced in the future as lower prices reduce interest rates and earning power, resulting in lower distributions on the assets owned by the Trust.
Market Discount Risk. Shares of closed-end management investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Trust’s net asset value could decrease as a result of Trust investment activities and may be greater for investors expecting to sell their shares in a relatively short period following the offering of Preferred Shares. Whether investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of the shares will depend not upon the Trust’s net asset value but entirely upon whether the market price of the shares at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s purchase price for the shares. Because the market price of the shares will be determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for shares in the market, general market and economic conditions, and other factors beyond the control of the Trust, we cannot predict whether the shares will trade at, below or above net asset value, or at, below or above the initial public offering price.
Investment Risk. An investment in the Trust is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. The Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Agreement and Declaration of Trust’’) includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Trust or convert the Trust to open-end status. These provisions could deprive the holders of common shares of opportunities to sell their common shares at a premium over the then current market price of the common shares or at net asset value. In addition, if the Trust issues Preferred Shares, the holders of the Preferred Shares will have voting rights that could deprive holders of common shares of such opportunities.
Market Disruption Risk. A disruption of the U.S. or world financial markets could impact interest rates, auctions, secondary trading, ratings, credit risk, inflation and other factors relating to the common shares.
Concentration Risk. The Trust invests a substantial portion of its assets (“concentrates”) in a particular market, industry, group of industries, country, region, group of countries, asset class or sector generally is subject to greater risk than a portfolio that invests in a more diverse investment portfolio. In addition, the value of the Trust’s portfolio is more susceptible to any single economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence affecting, for example, that particular market, industry, region or sector. This is because, for example, issuers in a particular market, industry, region or sector often react similarly to specific economic, market, regulatory, or political developments.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
13 |
December 31, 2020
See notes to financial statements.
14 |
| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Portfolio of Investments continued
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
15 |
Portfolio of Investments concluded
Securities Valuation
The following is a summary of various inputs used in determining the value of the Trust’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Trust’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of inputs used as of December 31, 2020. For information on the Trust’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Security Valuation section of Note 2 in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
Assets | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
Investments in Real Estate Securities |
||||||||||||||||
Common Stock |
||||||||||||||||
Australia |
$ | 36,972,486 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 36,972,486 | ||||||||
Belgium |
20,489,719 | — | — | 20,489,719 | ||||||||||||
Canada |
33,225,793 | — | — | 33,225,793 | ||||||||||||
Finland |
12,374,706 | — | — | 12,374,706 | ||||||||||||
Germany |
86,041,161 | — | — | 86,041,161 | ||||||||||||
Hong Kong |
70,252,497 | — | — | 70,252,497 | ||||||||||||
Ireland |
4,350,007 | — | — | 4,350,007 | ||||||||||||
Japan |
120,695,826 | — | — | 120,695,826 | ||||||||||||
Mexico |
15,494,961 | — | — | 15,494,961 | ||||||||||||
Singapore |
48,435,523 | — | — | 48,435,523 | ||||||||||||
Sweden |
11,710,584 | — | — | 11,710,584 | ||||||||||||
United Kingdom |
38,078,659 | — | — | 38,078,659 | ||||||||||||
United States |
599,172,228 | — | — | 599,172,228 | ||||||||||||
Total Common Stock |
1,097,294,150 | — | — | 1,097,294,150 | ||||||||||||
Preferred Stock |
||||||||||||||||
United States |
133,706,403 | 3,000,000 | — | 136,706,403 | ||||||||||||
Total Investment in Real Estate Securities |
$ | 1,231,000,553 | $ | 3,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 1,234,000,553 |
See notes to financial statements.
16 |
| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
December 31, 2020 | ||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Investments, at value (cost $1,116,080,896) |
$1,234,000,553 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
156,143 | |||||||
Receivable for investment securities sold |
6,714,336 | |||||||
Dividends and interest receivable |
5,856,299 | |||||||
Dividend withholding reclaims receivable |
312,484 | |||||||
Other assets |
119,662 | |||||||
Total Assets |
1,247,159,477 | |||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Line of credit payable |
289,726,800 | |||||||
Payable for investment securities purchased |
10,689,362 | |||||||
Management fees payable |
870,506 | |||||||
Line of credit interest payable |
205,097 | |||||||
Dividend and distributions payable |
156,293 | |||||||
Unrealized depreciation on spot contracts |
2,528 | |||||||
Accrued expenses |
314,656 | |||||||
Total Liabilities |
301,965,242 | |||||||
Net Assets |
$945,194,235 | |||||||
Composition of Net Assets |
||||||||
$0.001 par value per share; |
$116,590 | |||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
939,728,919 | |||||||
Distributable earnings / (accumulated loss) |
5,348,726 | |||||||
Net Assets |
$945,194,235 | |||||||
Net Asset Value |
$8.11 |
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
17 |
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
||||||||
Investment Income |
||||||||
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,163,955) |
$33,126,569 | |||||||
Interest |
97 | |||||||
Total Investment Income |
33,126,666 | |||||||
Expenses: |
||||||||
Management fees |
9,318,710 | |||||||
Interest expense on line of credit |
2,374,237 | |||||||
Printing and mailing fees |
449,612 | |||||||
Trustees’ fees and expenses |
244,381 | |||||||
Administration fees |
229,264 | |||||||
Custodian fees |
193,359 | |||||||
Insurance fees |
157,094 | |||||||
Legal fees |
127,158 | |||||||
NYSE listing fee |
119,504 | |||||||
Transfer agent fees |
84,724 | |||||||
Audit and tax fees |
65,850 | |||||||
Miscellaneous expenses |
82,425 | |||||||
Total Expenses |
13,446,318 | |||||||
Net Investment Income |
19,680,348 | |||||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Written Options, and Foreign Currency Transactions |
||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: |
||||||||
Investments |
(50,920,903 | ) | ||||||
Written options |
2,967,474 | |||||||
Foreign currency transactions |
217,868 | |||||||
Total Net Realized Loss |
(47,735,561 | ) | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
||||||||
Investments |
10,291,485 | |||||||
Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
22,657 | |||||||
Total Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation |
10,314,142 | |||||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments, Written Options, and Foreign Currency Transactions |
(37,421,419 | ) | ||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
$(17,741,071 | ) |
See notes to financial statements.
18 |
| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||
Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
$19,680,348 | $18,935,583 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments, written options, and foreign currency transactions |
(47,735,561 | ) | 28,183,757 | |||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments, and foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities |
10,314,142 | 175,088,986 | ||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations |
(17,741,071 | ) | 222,208,326 | |||||||||||||
Distributions on Common Shares |
||||||||||||||||
Distributions from distributable earnings |
(24,012,983 | ) | (34,394,639 | ) | ||||||||||||
Distribution of return of capital |
(45,941,313 | ) | (35,559,657 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total distributions on Common Shares |
(69,954,296 | ) | (69,954,296 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets |
(87,695,367 | ) | 152,254,030 | |||||||||||||
Net Assets |
||||||||||||||||
Beginning of year |
1,032,889,602 | 880,635,572 | ||||||||||||||
End of year |
$945,194,235 | $1,032,889,602 |
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
19 |
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
||||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
||||||||
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
$(17,741,071 | ) | ||||||
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities: |
||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments |
(10,291,485 | ) | ||||||
Net realized loss on investments |
50,920,903 | |||||||
Net realized gain on written options |
(2,967,474 | ) | ||||||
Cost of securities purchased |
(891,369,256 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of securities |
824,132,820 | |||||||
Premiums received on written options |
3,145,864 | |||||||
Payments to close written options |
(27,260 | ) | ||||||
Decrease in receivable for investment securities sold |
14,811,383 | |||||||
Increase in dividends and interest receivable |
(186,388 | ) | ||||||
Increase in dividend withholding reclaims receivable |
(17,755 | ) | ||||||
Increase in other assets |
(10,416 | ) | ||||||
Decrease in payable for investment securities purchased |
(70,462,458 | ) | ||||||
Increase in management fees payable |
32,751 | |||||||
Decrease in line of credit interest payable |
(74,658 | ) | ||||||
Decrease in unrealized depreciation on spot contracts |
(14,200 | ) | ||||||
Decrease in accrued expenses |
(106,851 | ) | ||||||
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities |
(100,225,551 | ) | ||||||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: |
||||||||
Cash distributions paid on common shares |
(69,969,636 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from borrowing on line of credit |
383,269,000 | |||||||
Payments on line of credit borrowings |
(214,561,700 | ) | ||||||
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities |
98,737,664 | |||||||
Net Decrease in cash |
(1,487,887 | ) | ||||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year |
1,644,030 | |||||||
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year |
$156,143 | |||||||
Supplemental disclosure |
||||||||
Interest paid on line of credit borrowings |
$2,448,895 |
See notes to financial statements.
20 |
| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Financial Highlights
Per share operating performance for a share outstanding throughout the year |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017 |
For the Year Ended December 31, 2016 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of year |
$8.86 | $7.55 | $8.99 | $8.65 | $9.04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from investment operations |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (1) |
0.17 | 0.16 | 0.19 | 0.27 | 0.26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments, written options and foreign currency transactions |
(0.32 | ) | 1.75 | (1.03 | ) | 0.67 | (0.05 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations |
(0.15 | ) | 1.91 | (0.84 | ) | 0.94 | 0.21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions on Common Shares |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.21 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.34 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Return of capital |
(0.39 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.43 | ) | — | (0.26 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total distributions to Common Shareholders |
(0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.60 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of year |
$8.11 | $8.86 | $7.55 | $8.99 | $8.65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Market value, end of year |
$6.88 | $8.02 | $6.16 | $7.92 | $7.30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total investment return (2) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value |
(0.74 | )% | 25.74 | % | (9.75 | )% | 11.28 | % | 2.17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Market value |
(5.52 | )% | 40.87 | % | (15.52 | )% | 17.22 | % | 3.17 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios and supplemental data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, applicable to Common Shares, end of year (thousands) |
$945,194 | $1,032,890 | $880,636 | $1,048,432 | $1,008,918 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets applicable to Common Shares of: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses |
1.53 | % | 1.57 | % | 1.54 | % | 1.43 | % | 1.18 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses, excluding interest on line of credit |
1.26 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.17 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.09 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
2.25 | % | 1.89 | % | 2.30 | % | 3.02 | % | 2.86 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate |
72.50 | % | 44.97 | % | 70.38 | % | 124.07 | % | 67.36 | % |
(1) | Based on average shares outstanding. |
(2) | Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions. Dividends and distributions are assumed to be reinvested at the prices obtained under the Trust’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Net Asset Value (“NAV”) total return is calculated assuming reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the date of the distribution. |
See notes to financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
21 |
1. | Fund Organization |
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (the “Trust”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on November 6, 2003 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Trust is an investment company and accordingly follows the Investment Company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 Financial Services-Investment Companies. CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (the “Advisor”) is the Trust’s investment advisor. The Advisor is a majority-owned subsidiary of CBRE Group, Inc. and is partially owned by its senior management team. The Trust commenced operations on February 18, 2004.
2. | Significant Accounting Policies |
The following accounting policies are in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and are consistently followed by the Trust.
Securities Valuation – The net asset value of the common shares of the Trust will be computed based upon the value of the Trust’s portfolio securities and other assets. The Trust calculates net asset value per common share by subtracting the Trust’s liabilities (including accrued expenses, dividends payable and any borrowings of the Trust) and the liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares from the Trust’s total assets (the value of the securities the Trust holds, plus cash and/or other assets, including dividends accrued but not yet received) and dividing the result by the total number of common shares of the Trust outstanding. Net asset value per common share will be determined as of the close of the regular trading session (usually 4:00 p.m., EST) on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on each business day on which the NYSE is open for trading.
For purposes of determining the net asset value of the Trust, readily marketable portfolio assets (including common stock, preferred stock, and options) traded principally on an exchange, or on a similar regulated market reporting contemporaneous transaction prices, are valued, except as indicated below, at the last sale price for such assets on such principal markets on the business day on which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices on such day. Foreign securities are valued based upon quotations from the primary market in which they are traded and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. During the period that a forward foreign currency contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recognized as unrealized appreciation or depreciation by marking to market such contract on a daily basis to reflect the market value of the contract at the end of each day’s trading. Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the above valuation procedures are deemed not to reflect fair value are valued in a manner that is intended to reflect their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”).
Short-term securities which mature in more than 60 days are valued at current market quotations. Short-term securities, which mature in 60 days or less, are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
U.S. GAAP provides guidance on fair value measurements. In accordance with the standard, fair value is defined as the price that the Trust would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. It establishes a single definition of fair value, creates a three-tier hierarchy as a framework for measuring fair value based on inputs used to value the Trust’s investments, and requires additional disclosure about fair value.
For Level 1 inputs, the Trust uses unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for assets or liabilities with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information as the most reliable evidence of fair value.
The Trust’s Level 2 valuation techniques include inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for an asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 observable inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active in which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, or price quotations vary substantially over time or among market participants. Inputs that are observable for the asset or liability in Level 2 include such factors as interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risk, and default rates for similar liabilities.
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| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Notes to Financial Statements continued
For Level 3 valuation techniques, the Trust uses unobservable inputs that reflect assumptions market participants would be expected to use in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available and are developed based on the best information available under the circumstances. In developing unobservable inputs, market participant assumptions are used if they are reasonably available without undue cost and effort.
The primary third party pricing vendor for the Trust’s listed preferred stock investments is FT Interactive Data (“IDC”). When available, the Trust will obtain a closing exchange price to value the preferred stock investments and, in such instances, the investment will be classified as Level 1 since an unadjusted quoted price was utilized. When a closing price is not available for the listed preferred stock investments, IDC will produce an evaluated mean price (midpoint between the bid and the ask evaluation) and such investments will be classified as Level 2 since other observable inputs were used in the valuation. Factors used in the IDC evaluation include trading activity, the presence of a two-sided market, and other relevant market data.
Pursuant to the Trust’s fair value procedures noted previously, equity securities (including exchange traded securities and open-end regulated investment companies) and exchange traded derivatives (i.e. futures contracts and options) are generally categorized as Level 1 securities in the fair value hierarchy. Fixed income securities, non-exchange traded derivatives and money market instruments are generally categorized as Level 2 securities in the fair value hierarchy. Investments for which there are no such quotations, or for which quotations do not appear reliable, are valued at fair value as determined in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Trustees. These valuations are typically categorized as Level 2 or Level 3 securities in the fair value hierarchy.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, there have been no significant changes to the Trust’s fair valuation methodology.
Foreign Currency Translation – The books and records of the Trust are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:
(i) market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities – at the current rates of exchange;
(ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses – at the rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
Although the net assets of the Trust are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of each fiscal year, the Trust does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of long-term securities held at the end of the fiscal year. Similarly, the Trust does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of portfolio securities sold during the fiscal year. Accordingly, realized foreign currency gains or losses will be included in the reported net realized gains or losses on investment transactions.
Net realized gains or losses on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains or losses from the holding of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade date and settlement date on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Trust’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains or losses from valuing foreign currency denominated assets or liabilities (other than investments) at year end exchange rates are reflected as a component of net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments and foreign currencies.
Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of domestic origin as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of political or economic instability, or the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts – The Trust enters into forward foreign currency contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign portfolio holdings, to hedge certain Trust purchase and sales commitments denominated in foreign currencies and for investment purposes. A forward foreign currency contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency on a future date at a negotiated forward rate. The gain or loss arising from the difference between the original contracts and the closing of such contracts would be included in net realized gain or loss on foreign currency transactions.
Fluctuations in the value of open forward foreign currency contracts are recorded for financial reporting purposes as unrealized appreciation and depreciation by the Trust.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
23 |
Notes to Financial Statements continued
The Trust’s custodian will place and maintain cash not available for investment or other liquid assets in a separate account of the Trust having a value at least equal to the aggregate amount of the Trust’s commitments under forward foreign currency contracts entered into with respect to position hedges.
Risks may arise from the potential inability of a counterparty to meet the terms of a contract and from unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. The face or contract amount, in U.S. dollars, reflects the total exposure the Trust has in that particular currency contract. As of December 31, 2020, the Trust did not hold any forward foreign currency contracts.
Options – The Trust may purchase or sell (write) options on securities and securities indices which are listed on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market as a means of achieving additional return or of hedging the value of the Trust’s portfolio.
An option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price. The writer of an option on a security has an obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price (in the case of a call) or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security (in the case of a put).
There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. As the writer of a covered call option, the Trust forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call but has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price. As of December 31, 2020, the Trust did not hold any options contracts.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income – Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from securities transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Distributions received from investments in REITs are recorded as dividend income on ex-dividend date, subject to reclassification upon notice of the character of such distributions by the issuer. The portion of dividend attributable to the return of capital is recorded against the cost basis of the security. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends are recorded net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Interest income, including accretion of original issue discount, where applicable, and accretion of discount on short-term investments, is recorded on the accrual basis.
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders – Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid on a monthly basis. Income dividends and capital gain distributions to common shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. To the extent the Trust’s net realized capital gains, if any, can be offset by capital loss carryforwards, it is the policy of the Trust not to distribute such gains.
On August 5, 2008, the Trust acting in accordance with an exemptive order received from the SEC and with approval of the Board, adopted a managed distribution policy under which the Trust intends to make regular monthly cash distributions to common shareholders, stated in terms of a fixed amount per common share. This managed distribution policy permits the Trust to include long-term capital gains in its distribution as frequently as twelve times a year. In practice, the Board views this policy as a potential means of further supporting the market price of the Trust’s shares through the payment of a steady and predictable level of cash distributions to shareholders.
The current monthly distribution rate is $0.05 per share. The Trust continues to evaluate its monthly distribution policy in light of ongoing economic and market conditions and may change the amount of the monthly distributions in the future.
Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting year. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
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Notes to Financial Statements continued
3. | Derivative Instruments |
The effect of derivative instruments on the Trust’s Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 was as follows:
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging instruments | Realized gain | |
Equity Risk |
||
Written options |
$2,967,474 |
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the average month-end notional value of written options was $28,376,537.
4. | Concentration of Risk |
Under normal market conditions, the Trust’s investments will be concentrated in income-producing common equity securities, preferred securities, convertible securities and non-convertible debt securities issued by companies deriving the majority of their revenue from the ownership, construction, financing, management and/or sale of commercial, industrial, and/or residential real estate. Values of the securities of such companies may fluctuate due to economic, legal, cultural, geopolitical or technological developments affecting various global real estate industries.
5. | Investment Management Agreement and Other Agreements |
Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Advisor and the Trust, the Advisor is responsible for the daily management of the Trust’s portfolio of investments, which includes buying and selling securities for the Trust, as well as investment research. The Trust pays for investment advisory services and facilities through a fee payable monthly in arrears at an annual rate equal to 0.85% of the average daily value of the Trust’s managed assets plus certain direct and allocated expenses of the Advisor incurred on the Trust’s behalf. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Trust incurred management fees of $9,318,710, of which $870,506 is payable as of year-end.
The Trust has multiple service agreements with the Bank of New York Mellon (“BNYM”). Under the servicing agreements, BNYM will perform custodial, fund accounting, and certain administrative services for the Trust. As custodian, BNYM is responsible for the custody of the Trust’s assets. As administrator, BNYM is responsible for maintaining the books and records of the Trust’s securities and cash.
Computershare is the Trust’s transfer agent and as such is responsible for performing transfer agency services for the Trust.
6. | Portfolio Securities |
For the year ended December 31, 2020, there were purchases and sales transactions (excluding short-term securities) of $895,480,270 and $797,724,355, respectively. These purchases and sales transaction amounts differ from the amounts disclosed on the Statement of Cash Flows primarily due to the re-characterization of dividends from ordinary income to return of capital and capital gain.
7. | Federal Income Taxes |
The Trust intends to elect to be, and qualify for treatment as, a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A regulated investment company generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains that it distributes. The Trust intends to meet the calendar year distribution requirements imposed by the Code to avoid the imposition of a 4% excise tax.
The Trust is required to evaluate tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Trust’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Income tax and related interest and penalties would be recognized by the Trust as tax expense in the Statement of Operations if the tax positions were deemed to not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Trust did not incur any income tax, interest, or penalties. Management has analyzed the Trust’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years (since inception) and has concluded that no provisions for federal, state and local income tax are required in the Trust’s financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
25 |
Notes to Financial Statements continued
The Trust distinguishes between dividends on a tax basis and on a financial reporting basis and only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and profits are reported in the financial statements as a tax return of capital. Differences in the recognition or classification of income between the financial statements and tax earnings and profits which result in temporary over-distributions for financial statement purposes are classified as distributable earnings or accumulated losses in the composition of net assets on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
In order to present paid-in capital in excess of par and total distributable earnings /(Accumulated Loss) on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities that more closely represent their tax character, certain adjustments have been made to additional paid-in capital, and total distributable earnings. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the adjustments were to decrease additional paid-in capital by $8,935 and increase distributable earnings by $8,935 due to the difference in the treatment for book and tax purposes of passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) investments and recognition of foreign currency gain (loss) as ordinary income(loss) and distribution reclasses. Results of operations and net assets were not affected by these reclassifications.
At December 31, 2020, the Trust had capital loss carryforwards which will reduce the Trust’s taxable income arising from future net realized gain on investments, if any, to the extent permitted by the code and thus will reduce the amount of distributions to shareholders which would otherwise be necessary to relieve the Trust of any liability for federal income tax.
The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”) eliminated the eight-year carryover period for capital losses that arise in taxable years beginning after its enactment date of December 22, 2010. Consequently, these capital losses can be carried forward for an unlimited period. However, capital losses with an expiration period may not be used to offset capital gains until all net capital losses without an expiration date have been utilized. Additionally, post-enactment capital loss carryovers will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses instead of as short-term capital losses as under prior law. At December 31, 2020, the Trust had no expiring capital losses. The Trust had short-term capital losses of $50,986,077, with no expiration and long-term capital losses of $42,247,781, with no expiration.
Certain capital and qualified late year losses incurred after October 31 and within the current taxable year, are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Trust’s following taxable year. The Trust incurred and will defer no qualified late ordinary year losses during 2020. There were no post-October losses incurred that will be deferred.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the tax character of distributions paid, as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets, was $24,012,983 of ordinary income (reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets as distributions from distributable earnings) and $45,941,313 of return of capital, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the tax character of distributions paid, as reflected in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets, was $34,394,639 of ordinary income and $35,559,657 of return of capital, respectively.
Information on the tax components of net assets as of December 31, 2020 is as follows:
Cost of Investments for Tax Purposes |
Gross Tax Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross Tax Unrealized Depreciation |
Net Tax Unrealized Appreciation on Investments |
Net Tax Unrealized Appreciation on Foreign Currency |
Qualified Late Year Ordinary Losses |
Qualified Post- October Capital Deferral |
Undistributed Long-Term Capital Gains/ (Accumulated Capital Loss) | |||||||
$1,135,444,841 | $125,708,956 | $(27,153,244) | $98,555,712 | $27,278 | $0 | $0 | $(93,234,264) |
8. | Borrowings |
The Trust has access to a secured line of credit up to $300,000,000 from BNYM for borrowing purposes. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the Federal funds rate plus 75 basis points. At December 31, 2020, there were borrowings in the amount of $289,726,800 on the Trust’s line of credit.
The average daily amount of borrowings during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $219,727,141 with an average interest rate of 1.12%. The maximum amount outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2020, was $289,726,800. The Trust had borrowings under the line of credit for all 366 days during 2020.
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| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Notes to Financial Statements concluded
9. | Capital |
During 2004, the Trust issued 101,000,000 shares of common stock at $15.00. In connection with the Trust’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”), the Trust issued no common shares for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019, respectively. At December 31, 2020, the Trust had outstanding common shares of 116,590,494 with a par value of $0.001 per share. The Advisor owned none of the common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
At December 31, 2020, the Trust had no shares of auction rate preferred securities outstanding.
10. | Indemnifications |
The Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Trust’s exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Trust has not had prior claims or losses or current claims or losses pursuant to these contracts.
11. | Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncement: |
In April 2020, the SEC issued a final rule entitled “Securities Offering Reform for Closed-End Investment Companies” (the “Release”) containing amended rules and forms intended to streamline the registration, communications and offering practices for business development companies and registered closed-end investment companies (“registered CEFs”). The Release’s rule and form amendments became effective August 1, 2020, with certain additional provisions becoming effective at later dates. Among its provisions, the Release amends Form N-2 to extend a Management Discussion of Fund Performance disclosure requirement to the annual reports of all registered CEFs and also mandates the inclusion of a Fee and Expense Table, Share Price Data information and a Senior Securities Table in its annual report. This information is all currently contained in a registered CEF’s prospectus. To fully comply with the Release, the Trust has included a Fee and Expense Table, as well as the Trust’s Investment Objectives, Policies, and Risks as Additional Information within the Annual Report.
12. | Subsequent Events |
Events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued are categorized as recognized or non-recognized for financial statement purposes. Since December 31, 2020, the Trust paid a dividend on January 31, 2021 of $0.05 per share for the month of January 2021. No other notable events have occurred between year-end and the issuance of these financial statements.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
27 |
Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund (the Trust), including the portfolio of investments, as of December 31, 2020, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the related notes (collectively, the financial statements) and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Trust as of December 31, 2020, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Such procedures also included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, or other appropriate procedures where replies were not received. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the Trust’s auditor since 2014.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 26, 2021
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| CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND |
Supplemental Information (unaudited)
Federal Income Tax Information
Qualified dividend income of as much as $6,055,308 was received by the Trust through December 31, 2020. 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, 1.88% of ordinary income distributions for the year ended December 31, 2020 qualified for the corporate dividends-received deduction.
In February 2021, 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 2020.
Corporate Governance
The Fund submitted its Annual CEO certification for 2020 to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on October 16, 2020 stating that the CEO was not aware of any violation by the Fund of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards. In addition, the Fund had filed the required CEO/CFO certifications regarding the quality of the Fund’s public disclosure as exhibits to the Forms N-CSR and Forms N-PORT filed by the Fund over the past fiscal year. The Fund’s Form N-CSR and Form N-PORT filings are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.
Result of Shareholder Votes
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund was held on October 9, 2020.
With regard to the election of the following Trustees of the Fund, the voting results were as follows:
Number of Shares In Favor |
Number of Shares Withheld |
|||||||
T. Ritson Ferguson |
98,276,572.619 | 3,780,453.846 | ||||||
Heidi Stam |
99,413,547.703 | 2,643,478.762 |
The other Trustees of the Fund whose terms did not expire in 2020 are Asuka Nakahara, John R. Bartholdson and Leslie E. Greis. Frederick S. Hammer, a former Trustee of the Fund, retired from the Board at the conclusion of his term in 2020.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
29 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited) continued
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 During The Past Five Years |
Number of Portfolios in the Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||||
Trustees: | ||||||||||
T. Ritson Ferguson* 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 61 |
3 years/ since inception | Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (since 1995); Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Global Chief Investment Officer of CBRE Global Investors (2016 - 2019) | 1 | Duke Management Company (DUMAC) (since 2018) | |||||
Asuka Nakahara 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 65 |
3 years/ since inception | Trustee | Associate Director of the Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since 1999); Practice Professor of Real Estate at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since 1999); Partner of Triton Atlantic Partners (since 2009) | 1 | Comcast Corporation (since 2017) | |||||
John R. Bartholdson 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 76 |
3 years/ 16 years |
Trustee/ Audit Committee Financial Expert | Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, and a Director of Triumph Group, Inc. (1993 - 2007) (Retired) | 1 | Berwyn Cornerstone Fund, Berwyn Income Fund, and Berwyn Fund (2013 - 2016) | |||||
Leslie E. Greis 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 62 |
3 years/ 1 year |
Trustee | Founder and Managing Member of Perennial Capital Advisors, LLC (since 2003) | 1 | AIM Mutual, Inc. (2016), Kinefac Corporation since 2009) | |||||
Heidi Stam 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 64 |
1 month | Trustee | Managing Director and General Counsel, The Vanguard Group, Inc. (2005 - 2016) (Retired) | 1 | Investor Advisory Committee, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (since 2017); National Adjudicatory Council, FINRA (since 2017) |
(1) | Each Trustee is elected to serve a three-year term concurrent with the class of Trustees to which he or she belongs. Messrs. Ferguson and Hammer, and Ms. Stam, as Class I Trustees, are currently serving a term expiring at the Trust’s 2023 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Nakahara, as Class II Trustee, is currently serving a term expiring at the Trust’s 2021 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Bartholdson and Ms. Greis, as Class III Trustees, are each currently serving a term expiring at the Trust’s 2022 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. |
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Supplemental Information (unaudited) 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: 43 Chief Financial Officer |
since 2006 | Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (since 2011) | ||
Robert S. Tull III 201 King of Prussia Road, Suite 600 Radnor, PA 19087 Age: 43 Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary |
since 2019 | Chief Compliance Officer of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (since 2010); Compliance Officer of CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (2008-2010); Global Chief Compliance Officer for CBRE Global Investors (2017 - 2018) |
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
31 |
Supplemental Information (unaudited) continued
Board Considerations in Approving the Advisory Agreement
At a meeting of the Board held on December 8, 2020, the Board approved the continuation of the investment management agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between the Advisor and the Trust through December 31, 2021. Overall, the Board concluded that continuation of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the Trust and consistent with the expectations of its shareholders. In determining to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreement, the Board took into account a number of factors, in each case in the context of the specific facts and circumstances of the Trust and without assigning relative weight to any factor or identifying any factor as determinative.
In approving the continuation of the Advisory Agreement, the Board reviewed the nature, extent and quality of advisory services and administrative services provided by the Advisor, including the performance achieved by the Advisor for the Trust in varying market environments. The Board considered the consistency of the Advisor’s investment decision-making process, the experience of the Advisor’s personnel, the stability of the Advisor and its parent company, and the continuing commitment of the Advisor’s executive management team and management committee to the operation and management of the Trust, noting certain changes to the portfolio management team during the period. The Board also considered the administrative resources devoted by the Advisor to oversight of the Trust’s operations, without separate charge to the Trust. The Board noted the Trust’s strategic focus on providing income to its shareholders and discussed current industry and economic trends and conditions, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In reviewing the Trust’s performance, the Board considered information relating to the reported performance and fees and expenses of comparable closed-end real estate funds (“peer group funds”) and the Advisor’s view as to the reasons for performance differences, including the Trust’s global investment mandate, its focus on providing income and minimal use of leverage as compared to certain of the peer group funds and the Trust’s overall risk profile. The Board also considered information relating to the reported performance and fees and expenses of open-end real estate funds, as a point of reference. The Board concluded that the quality of the services provided to the Trust by the Advisor, including the performance achieved for the Trust relative to its primary and secondary investment objectives, was satisfactory and supported the continued retention of the Advisor by the Trust.
The Board also considered the level of compensation to which the Advisor is entitled under the Advisory Agreement and concluded that fees paid to the Advisor by the Trust are not excessive and that the advisory fee rate is reasonable under the circumstances of the Trust. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered the Trust’s advisory fee structure and the methodology with which the Advisor’s fee is calculated. The Board also considered information provided by the Advisor with respect to the profits realized by the Advisor as a result of its services to the Trust, including the factors considered by the Advisor in determining such profits, and the Advisor’s profitability in connection with its management of other advisory accounts and its services as sub-advisor to certain funds and separate accounts. The Board also considered the fact that the Trust’s advisory fee had remained comparable to that of peer group funds (some of which funds are charged separately for administrative services provided by their investment managers) while its total expense ratio, both including and excluding interest on debt, was competitive with the average expense ratio of peer group funds. Additionally, the Board considered the extent to which the Advisor might benefit indirectly from its relationship with the Trust.
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Supplemental Information (unaudited) 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 Trust’s voting securities to the Trust’s 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 SEC (http://www.sec.gov).
Information regarding how the Trust voted proxies for portfolio securities, if applicable, during the most recent 12-month period ended December 31, is also available, without charge and upon request by calling the Trust at 1-888-711-4272 or by accessing the Trust’s Form N-PX on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
The Trust files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT. Copies of the filings are available by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov. The filed forms may also be viewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.
Beginning on January 1, 2022, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you hold your shares through a financial intermediary (like a broker), you can inform the intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you are the registered owner of your shares, you should contact the Fund’s transfer agent.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan (unaudited)
Pursuant to the Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 participant’s 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 Agent’s 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 Agent’s 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 505000, Louisville, KY 40233, Phone Number: (866) 221-1580.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 | |
33 |
CBRE CLARION GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND
(b) | Not applicable. |
Item 2. | Code of Ethics. |
(a) | The Trust, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (the “Financial Officer Code of Ethics”) that applies to the Trust’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Trust or a third party. |
(b) | Not applicable. |
(c) | There have been no amendments, during the period covered by this report, to a provision of the Financial Officer Code of Ethics that applies to the Trust’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Trust or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics description. |
(d) | The Trust has not granted any waivers, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Financial Officer Code of Ethics that applies to the Trust’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Trust or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this item’s instructions. |
(e) | Not applicable. |
(f) | The Trust’s 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. |
• | Registrant may incorporate the following information by reference, if this information has been disclosed in the registrant’s definitive proxy statement or definitive information statement. The proxy statement or information statement must be filed no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report. |
Audit Fees
(a) | The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years are $52,000 for 2020 and $50,000 for 2019. |
Audit-Related Fees
(b) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Trust’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item are $0 for 2020 and $0 for 2019. |
Tax Fees
(c) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning are $24,000 for 2020 and $24,000 for 2019. Services include income tax return services including the review and signing of the Trust’s Form 1120-RIC as prepared by the Trust’s administrator. |
All Other Fees
(d) | The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item are $13,200 for 2020 and $15,300 for 2019. These services consisted of certain filings to reclaim taxes paid to European countries by the Trust. |
(e)(1) |
(i) The Trust has an Audit Committee Charter in place (the “Charter”) that governs the pre-approval by the Trust’s Audit Committee of all engagements for audit services and all Covered Non-Audit Engagements (as defined in the Charter) provided by the Trust’s 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 SEC’s 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.
(e)(2) |
100% percent of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the Trust’s 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 accountant’s engagement to audit the Trust’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees was less than fifty percent. |
(g) | The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Trust’s accountant for services rendered to the Trust, and rendered to the Trust’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Trust for each of the last two fiscal years of the Trust was $350,700 for 2020 and $407,950 for 2019. |
(h) | The registrant’s audit committee of the board of trustees has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence. |
Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. |
(a) | The Trust has a separately designated audit committee consisting of all the independent trustees of the Trust. The members of the audit committee are: Asuka Nakahara, Leslie Greis, Heidi Stam and John R. Bartholdson. |
(b) | Not applicable. |
Item 6. | Investments. |
(a) | Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1(a) 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 Trust’s and the Advisor’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are included as an exhibit hereto.
Item 8. | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
(a)(1) As of March 5, 2021
T. Ritson Ferguson
Principal, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, CBRE Clarion Securities LLC since 1992
Joseph P. Smith
Principal, President and Co-Chief Investment Officer, CBRE Clarion Securities LLC since 1997
Kenneth S. Weinberg
Principal, Senior Portfolio Manager, CBRE Clarion Securities LLC since 2004
(a)(2) Other Accounts Managed (as of December 31, 2020)
The Portfolio Managers are also collectively responsible for the day-to-day management of the Advisor’s 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 | 5 | $ | 3,304,670,650 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 8 | $ | 742,454,335 | 2 | $ | 212,473,056 | ||||||||
Other Accounts | 21 | $ | 1,995,021,236 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||
Joseph P. Smith |
Registered Investment Companies | 5 | $ | 3,304,670,650 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 9 | $ | 1,086,180,390 | 2 | $ | 212,473,056 | ||||||||
Other Accounts | 21 | $ | 1,995,021,236 | 2 | $ | 711,526,392 | ||||||||
Kenneth S. Weinberg |
Registered Investment Companies | 5 | $ | 3,304,670,650 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles | 5 | $ | 512,040,966 | 2 | $ | 212,473,056 | ||||||||
Other Accounts | 21 | $ | 1,995,021,236 | 2 | $ | 711,526,392 |
Potential Conflicts of Interests
A portfolio manager may be subject to potential conflicts of interest because the portfolio manager is 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 separate accounts, wrap fee programs, and hedge funds. Potential conflicts may arise out of the implementation of differing investment strategies for a portfolio manager’s various accounts, the allocation of investment opportunities among those accounts or differences in the advisory fees paid by the portfolio manager’s accounts.
A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of a portfolio manager’s responsibility for multiple accounts with similar investment guidelines. Under these circumstances, a potential investment may be suitable for more than one of the portfolio manager’s 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.
A portfolio manager 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 managed by the portfolio manager may have adverse consequences for another account managed by the portfolio manager. For example, if an account were to sell a significant position in a security, which could cause the market price of that security to decrease while the Trust maintained its position in that security.
A potential conflict may arise when a portfolio manager is responsible for accounts that have different advisory fees – the difference in the fees may create an incentive for the portfolio manager 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.
CBRE Clarion recognizes the duty of loyalty it owes to its clients and 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 the firm’s 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 firm’s employees (contained in the Code of Ethics).
(a)(3) Compensation Structure of Portfolio Manager(s) or Management Team Members
In principle, portfolio manager compensation is not based on the performance of any particular account, including the Fund, nor is compensation based on the level of Fund assets.
Compensation for each portfolio manager is structured as follows:
Base Salary—Each portfolio manager receives a base salary. Base salaries have been established at a competitive market levels and are set forth in the portfolio manager’s employment agreement. An annual adjustment is made based on changes in the consumer price index. Base salaries are be reviewed periodically by the CBRE Clarion Compensation Committee and its Board of Directors, but adjustments are expected to be relatively infrequent.
Bonus—Portfolio manager bonuses are drawn from an incentive compensation pool into which a significant percentage of firm’s pre-tax profits is set aside. Incentive compensation allocations are determined by the Compensation Committee based on a variety of factors, including the performance of particular investment strategies. To avoid the pitfalls of relying solely on a rigid performance format, however, incentive compensation decisions also take into account other important factors, such as the portfolio manager’s contribution to the team, firm, and overall investment process. Each of the portfolio managers is a member of the Committee. Incentive compensation allocations are reported to the Board of Directors, but the Board’s approval is not required.
Deferred Compensation—CBRE Clarion requires deferral of a percentage of incentive compensation exceeding a certain threshold in respect of a single fiscal year. The Compensation Committee may, in its discretion, require the deferral of additional amounts. Such deferred amounts are subject to the terms of a Deferred Bonus Plan adopted by the Board of Directors. The purpose of the Deferred Bonus Plan is to foster the retention of key employees, to focus plan participants on value creation and growth and to encourage continued cooperation among key employees in providing services to CBRE Clarion’s clients. The value of deferred bonus amounts is tied to the performance of CBRE Clarion investment funds chosen by the Compensation Committee; provided, that the Committee may elect to leave a portion of the assets uninvested. Deferred compensation vests incrementally, one-third after 2 years, 3 years and 4 years. The Deferred Bonus Plan provides for forfeiture upon voluntary termination of employment, termination for cause or conduct detrimental to the firm.
Profit Participation—Each of the portfolio managers is a principal and owns shares of the firm. The firm distributes its income to its owners each year, so each portfolio manager receives income distributions corresponding to his ownership share. Ownership is structured so that the firm’s principals receive an increasing share of the firm’s profit over time. In addition, a principal may forfeit a portion of his ownership if he resigns voluntarily.
Other Compensation—Portfolio managers may also participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees, such as CBRE Group’s 401(k) plan.
(a)(4) Disclosure of Securities Ownership
Name of Portfolio Managers |
Dollar Value of Trust Shares Beneficially Owned | |
T. Ritson Ferguson |
$100,001 to $500,000 | |
Joseph P. Smith |
$50,001-$100,000 | |
Kenneth S. Weinberg |
$10,001-$50,000 |
(b) | Not applicable |
Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable.
Item 10. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
Not applicable.
Item 11. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) | The Trust’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the Trust’s 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 Trust’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trust’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12. | Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable.
Item 13. Exhibits.
(a)(1) |
(a)(2) |
(a)(3) | Not applicable. |
(a)(4) | Not applicable. |
(b) |
(c) |
(d) |
The Trust has received exceptive 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 Trust’s 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 (Signature and Title)* /s/ T. Ritson Ferguson | ||
T. Ritson Ferguson | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date March 5, 2021
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ T. Ritson Ferguson | ||
T. Ritson Ferguson | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date March 5, 2021
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Jonathan A. Blome | ||
Jonathan A. Blome | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Date March 5, 2021
* | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |