- GAAP earnings of $2.73 per share compared to $2.20 per share in 2020

- Net income for 2021 was $73.2 million, an increase of $14.5 million

- December 31, 2021 AUM was $35.0 billion versus $32.6 billion at prior year end

GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GAMCO”) (NYSE: GBL) today reported its operating results for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Full Year Results

Giving Back to Society – (Y)our “S” in ESG

We are committed to allowing our shareholders to choose the recipients of our charitable contributions. The advantage of our shareholder designated charitable contribution (“SDCC”) program is that shareholders designate the 501(c)(3) organizations rather than leaving the selection of charities to the management via a corporate foundation.

The Board of Directors of GAMCO approved a $0.50 per share SDCC for all shareholders of record on December 21, 2021, doubling the prior year’s $0.25 per share designation under the program. We estimate this will total approximately $11.3 million. Since the inception of GAMCO’s SDCC program in 2013, and counting this current amount, shareholders will have designated charitable gifts of $48 million to approximately 350 charitable organizations. When combined with our other charitable donations, this boosts our total contributions to approximately $74 million since our initial public offering in February 1999.

This charitable program underscores our commitment to giving back to society, which emanated in part from our management of socially responsible portfolios since 1987.

New Climate and Environmental Initiative

In February 2021, we launched Love Our Planet & People (NYSE: LOPP), an actively managed, semi-transparent ETF with an emphasis on the environment, the “E” in ESG. The Fund’s adviser agreed to waive the Fund’s expenses, including management fee, on the first $100 million in net assets for one year from commencement of the Fund’s operations.

Results for the Fourth Quarter

Revenues

- Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2021 were $81.7 million compared with $71.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, including incentive fees of $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus $8.5 million in 2020.

- Investment advisory fees were $75.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus $64.9 million in the year ago quarter:

- Mutual Fund revenues were $46.1 million compared to $40.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

- Institutional and Private Wealth Management revenues, which are generally billed on portfolio values at the beginning of the quarter, were $17.8 million compared to $15.0 million in last year’s fourth quarter.

- SICAV revenues were $2.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 as compared to $1.1 million in the year ago quarter.

- Distribution fees from our equity mutual funds and other income were $6.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2021 and $6.4 million in the prior year quarter.

Operating Income

Operating income was $29.4 million versus $23.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Waivers of CEO compensation bolstered operating income by $7.6 million versus $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Non-Operating Income

Mark-to-market investment losses were $1.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus gains of $4.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Interest expense was $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 versus $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The fourth quarter of 2021 included an expense for the SDCC of $11.3 million.

Income Taxes

GAMCO’s effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 was 28.8% versus 28.4% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Full Year Financials

Revenues for 2021 were $301.1 million compared with $259.7 million in 2020.

For 2021, operating income of $117.4 million was bolstered by a $20.8 million benefit from CEO compensation waivers. Operating income for 2020 was $99.6 million, enhanced by the $14.7 million benefit from CEO compensation waivers.

For the year, mark-to-market investment gains were $8.7 million higher at $0.8 million in 2021 versus losses of $7.9 million in 2020. Interest expense was higher at $2.9 million for 2021 and $2.6 million for 2020. There were charges for the SDCC programs of $11.3 million and $5.4 million in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

GAMCO’s effective tax rate for 2021 was 29.6% versus 29.9% for 2020.

Management Market Commentary

Last year was a good one for the economy and for markets. This year has begun with added volatility as the market is influenced by a set of dynamics we frame as the “Six I’s”: Inflation, Interest Rates, Infrastructure, Income Taxes, International/Internal Relations and Infection. Ultimately, we expect the economy and earnings growth to remain strong. The normalization of financial conditions should be positive for fundamental driven investing in general and our style of Value investing in particular.

For a more detailed outlook, please see our annual client letter on our website: https://gab-pr.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/2021GAMCOAnnualLetter.pdf

Business Highlights

- The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (NYSE: GDV) completed the offering of $150 million of 4.25% Series K Cumulative Preferred Shares.

- The Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness Trust (NYSE: GRX) completed a private placement of $40 million of 4% Series E Cumulative Preferred Shares.

- The Gabelli Equity Trust (NYSE: GAB) has an initial closing of a private placement of 4.25% Series M Cumulative Preferred Shares.

- The Gabelli Global Small and Mid Cap Value Trust (NYSE: GGZ) raised $40 million via a private placement of 4% Series B Cumulative Preferred Shares.

- On November 1^st and 2^nd, we hosted our 45^th Annual Automotive Conference, “Batteries Included,” in person in Las Vegas and virtually. The symposium featured presentations from senior management of leading automotive and electric vehicle suppliers, with an emphasis on the battery ecosystem, technological innovation, and industry dynamics.

- We hosted our Third Annual Healthcare Symposium in conjunction with Columbia Business School on November 19^th.

Subsequent to the end of the 4^th quarter:

- On January 3, 2022, the third Gabelli actively managed semi-transparent ETF was launched. The ETF will focus on firms that design, develop, support, or manufacture automation equipment, related technology, software, or processes. The Fund’s adviser is absorbing expenses including management fees on the first $25 million of net assets for one year from the commencement of the Fund’s operations.

Balance Sheet

GAMCO ended the quarter with cash and investments of $159.4 million and $51.0 million of subordinated debt maturing on June 15, 2023.

Return to Shareholders

During the quarter, GAMCO doubled its regular quarterly dividend to $0.04 per share and purchased 353,333 shares for $8.7 million at an average price of $24.62 per share. From January 1, 2022 to February 3, 2022, the Company has purchased 56,336 shares at an average price of $23.46 per share.

On February 3, 2022, GAMCO’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share, which is payable on March 29, 2022 to class A and class B shareholders of record on March 15, 2022.

About GAMCO Investors, Inc.

GAMCO is known for its research-driven approach to equity investing. GAMCO conducts its investment advisory business principally through two subsidiaries: GAMCO Asset Management Inc. (approximately 1,400 institutional and private wealth separate accounts, principally in the U.S.) and Gabelli Funds, LLC (24 open-end funds, 14 closed-end funds, 3 actively managed semi-transparent ETFs, and a SICAV). GAMCO serves a broad client base including institutions, intermediaries, offshore investors, private wealth, and direct retail investors. In recent years, GAMCO has successfully integrated new teams of RIAs by providing attractive compensation arrangements and paying finder’s fees.

GAMCO offers a wide range of solutions for clients across Value, Growth Equity, ESG, Convertibles, actively managed semi-transparent ETFs, sector-focused strategies including Gold and Utilities, Merger Arbitrage, and Fixed Income. In 1977, GAMCO launched its flagship All Cap Value strategy, Gabelli Value, and in 1986 launched its mutual fund business.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Our disclosure and analysis in this press release, which do not present historical information, contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements convey our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. They also appear in any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, future performance of our products, expenses, the outcome of any legal proceedings, and financial results. Although we believe that we are basing our expectations and beliefs on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of what we currently know about our business and operations, the economy, the effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and other conditions, there can be no assurance that our actual results will not differ materially from what we expect or believe. Therefore, you should proceed with caution in relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, some of which are listed below, that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ from our expectations include risks associated with the duration and scope of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic resulting in volatile market conditions, a decline in the securities markets that adversely affect our assets under management, negative performance of our products, the failure to perform as required under our investment management agreements, a general downturn in the economy that negatively impacts our operations, and the ongoing impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with respect to tax rates and the non-deductibility of certain portions of named executive officer compensation. We also direct your attention to the more specific discussions of these and other risks, uncertainties and other important factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings. Other factors that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We do not undertake to update publicly any forward-looking statements if we subsequently learn that we are unlikely to achieve our expectations whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Gabelli Funds, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (NYSE: GBL).

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus, which contains more complete information about this and other matters, should be read carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, please call 800 GABELLI or visit www.gabelli.com

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