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 811-21793
Name of Fund: BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. (EGF)
Fund Address: 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4
Date of fiscal year end: 12/31/2012
Date of reporting period: 12/31/2012
Item 1 – Report to Stockholders
ANNUAL REPORT |
Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee |
December 31, 2012 |
|||||||||||||
Total Fiscal Year-to-Date Cumulative Distributions by Character |
Percentage of Fiscal Year-to-Date Cumulative Distributions by Character |
||||||||||||
Net Investment Income |
Net Realized Capital Gains |
Return of Capital |
Total Per Common Share |
Net Investment Income |
Net Realized Capital Gains |
Return of Capital |
Total Per Common Share |
||||||
EGF | $0.640659 | | $0.189341 | $0.830000 | 77% | 0% | 23% | 100% |
2 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Table of Contents
Page
|
||
Section 19(a) Notice |
2 | |
Section 19(b) Disclosure |
2 | |
Dear Shareholder |
4 | |
Annual Report: |
||
Option Over-Writing |
5 | |
Fund Summary |
6 | |
The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging |
8 | |
Derivative Financial Instruments |
8 | |
Financial Statements: |
||
Schedule of Investments |
9 | |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
13 | |
Statement of Operations |
14 | |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
15 | |
Statement of Cash Flows |
16 | |
Financial Highlights |
17 | |
Notes to Financial Statements |
18 | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
26 | |
Important Tax Information |
26 | |
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
27 | |
Officers and Directors |
28 | |
Additional Information |
31 |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 3 |
Dear Shareholder |
| Although 2012 brought its share of headwinds, the strongest returns came from higher-risk asset classes as investors reached for yield in an environment of extremely low interest rates. |
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
6-month | 12-month | |||||||||
US
large cap equities (S&P 500® Index) |
5.95 | % | 16.00 | % | ||||||
US
small cap equities (Russell 2000® Index) |
7.20 | 16.35 | ||||||||
International equities (MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Index) |
13.95 | 17.32 | ||||||||
Emerging market equities (MSCI Emerging Markets Index) |
13.75 | 18.22 | ||||||||
3-month Treasury bill (BofA Merrill Lynch 3-Month US Treasury Bill Index) |
0.07 | 0.11 | ||||||||
US
Treasury securities (BofA Merrill Lynch 10-Year US Treasury Index) |
0.71 | 4.18 | ||||||||
US
investment grade bonds (Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index) |
1.80 | 4.21 | ||||||||
Tax-exempt municipal bonds (S&P Municipal Bond Index) |
3.15 | 7.42 | ||||||||
US
high yield bonds (Barclays US Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index) |
7.97 | 15.78 |
4 | THIS PAGE NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 5 |
Fund Overview
Portfolio Management Commentary
For the 12-month period ended December 31, 2012, the Fund returned 8.13% based on market price and 4.59% based on net asset value (NAV). For the same period, the BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Treasury Index returned 0.43% and the Citigroup Government/Mortgage Index posted a return of 2.30%. All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends. The Funds discount to NAV, which narrowed during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. The following discussion relates to performance based on NAV.
The Funds performance is reviewed on an absolute basis due to the unique nature of the Fund, which employs a strategy of writing call options on individual or baskets of US securities or interest rates. The index returns listed above are for reference purposes only as these indices do not utilize an option writing strategy.
As part of its principal investment strategy, the Fund writes covered calls on interest rates to generate income while dampening the level of NAV volatility. Covered calls contributed positively to performance for the period as the unprecedented level of support from the US Federal Reserve resulted in low volatility in the US Treasury market. The Fund took advantage of this environment to increase leverage by purchasing Treasury securities and writing additional call options to generate incremental yield.
The Funds significant allocation to agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) had a positive impact on performance as the sector benefited from heavy purchasing activity in connection with the US Federal Reserves stimulus program. The Fund especially benefited from adding to its agency MBS positions prior to the September policy announcement from the central bank. Within agency MBS, the Funds exposure to interest-only mortgages with favorable pre-payment features and seasoned 30-year mortgages that are less vulnerable to refinancing helped performance as yields moved lower in the MBS market.
The Funds small allocations to non-agency residential MBS, high yield credit and securitized sectors, such as commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and asset-backed securities (ABS), enhanced results.
The Funds shorter duration bias (lower sensitivity to interest rates) had a negative impact on performance during certain months of the year. The Funds yield curve positioning also had a negative impact.
The Fund utilized interest rate swaps as a hedge against long US Treasury positions and as a means to manage duration and yield curve positioning. During the period, the use of swaps detracted from performance. However, the use of swaps continues to be an efficient interest rate management tool and the effect of these derivatives should be viewed in the context of their overall contribution to risk reduction as well as performance.
The Fund tactically traded its yield curve positioning throughout the period, while maintaining a flattening bias in the short end of the curve. The Fund traded agency MBS to take advantage of opportunities stemming from uncertainty leading up to the US Federal Reserves announcement of additional policy stimulus in September. As discussed above, the Fund wrote covered calls during the period as part of its principal investment strategy.
The Funds call-writing strategy has the effect of reducing overall portfolio duration, which stood at 2.43 years at the end of the period. The Fund continued to maintain a high degree of liquidity through a core exposure to government-owned and government-related debt. The largest allocations in the Fund continued to be US agency MBS and Treasury securities. The Fund also maintained limited exposure to a diversified basket of non-government spread sectors, including CMBS, ABS, non-agency residential MBS and corporate credit.
6 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Fund Information
Symbol on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
EGF |
|||||
Initial Offering Date |
October 31, 2005 |
|||||
Current Distribution Rate on Closing Market Price as of December 31, 2012 ($15.63)1 |
4.99% |
|||||
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.065 |
|||||
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share2 |
$0.780 |
|||||
Economic Leverage as of December 31, 20123 |
29% |
1 | Current Distribution Rate on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate consists of income, net realized gains and/or a tax return of capital. See the financial highlights for the actual sources and character of distributions. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. A portion of the distribution may be deemed a tax return of capital or net realized gain. |
3 | Represents reverse repurchase agreements as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to reverse repurchase agreements, minus the sum of liabilities (other than borrowings representing financial leverage). For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 8. |
|
|
12/31/12 |
|
12/31/11 |
|
Change |
|
High |
|
Low |
||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 15.63 | $ | 15.25 | 2.49 | % | $ | 16.17 | $ | 15.03 | ||||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 16.11 | $ | 16.25 | (0.86 | )% | $ | 16.31 | $ | 16.01 |
Portfolio Composition
12/31/12 | 12/31/11 | ||||
US Government Sponsored Agency Securities |
60 | % | 60 | % | |
US
Treasury Obligations |
34 | 30 | |||
Asset-Backed Securities |
2 | 2 | |||
Preferred Securities |
2 | 3 | |||
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities |
1 | 4 | |||
Municipal Bonds |
1 | 1 |
Credit Quality Allocation4
12/31/12 | 12/31/11 | ||||
AAA/Aaa5 |
96 | % | 93 | % | |
AA/Aa |
1 | 2 | |||
A |
1 | 1 | |||
BBB/Baa |
1 | 2 | |||
BB/Ba |
1 | 1 | |||
CCC/Caa |
| 1 |
4 | Using the higher of Standard & Poors or Moodys Investors Service ratings. |
5 | Includes US Government Sponsored Agency Securities and US Treasury Obligations, which are deemed AAA/Aaa by the investment advisor. |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 7 |
Derivative Financial Instruments
8 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Asset-Backed
Securities |
Par (000) |
Value | |||||||||
First Franklin Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates Series 2005-FF2, Class M2, 0.65%, 3/25/35 (a) |
$ | 2,511 | $ | 2,451,893 | |||||||
Motor Plc, 1.29%, 2/25/20 (b) |
252 | 252,714 | |||||||||
Securitized Asset-Backed Receivables LLC Trust (a): |
|||||||||||
Series 2005-0P1, Class M2, 0.66%, 1/25/35 |
2,000 | 1,567,338 | |||||||||
Series 2005-OP2, Class M1, 0.64%, 10/25/35 |
1,025 | 744,341 | |||||||||
Total Asset-Backed Securities 3.1% |
5,016,286 | ||||||||||
Corporate Bonds |
|||||||||||
Energy Equipment & Services 0.3% |
|||||||||||
Transocean, Inc.: |
|||||||||||
4.95%, 11/15/15 |
295 | 323,003 | |||||||||
5.05%, 12/15/16 |
50 | 55,671 | |||||||||
6.00%, 3/15/18 |
60 | 69,587 | |||||||||
Total Corporate Bonds 0.3% |
448,261 | ||||||||||
Municipal Bonds |
|||||||||||
State of California, GO, Various Purpose 3, Mandatory Put Bonds, 5.65%, 4/01/39 (a) |
1,220 | 1,234,921 | |||||||||
Total Municipal Bonds 0.8% |
1,234,921 | ||||||||||
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities |
|||||||||||
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 1.0% |
|||||||||||
Bank of America Mortgage Securities, Inc., Series 2003-J, Class 2A1, 3.17%, 11/25/33 (a) |
233 | 236,857 | |||||||||
Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, Series 2004-13, Class A1, 0.95%, 11/25/34 (a) |
318 | 313,129 | |||||||||
Homebanc Mortgage Trust, Series 2005-4, Class A1, 0.48%, 10/25/35 (a) |
1,403 | 1,099,164 | |||||||||
1,649,150 | |||||||||||
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 0.6% |
|||||||||||
Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-C9, Class A2, 5.80%, 12/10/49 (a) |
272 | 271,330 | |||||||||
Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, Series 2007-C5, Class A2, 5.59%, 9/15/40 |
635 | 634,254 | |||||||||
905,584 | |||||||||||
Interest Only Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 0.1% |
|||||||||||
CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust, Series 2007-A5, Class 1A7, 6.00%, 5/25/37 |
422 | 104,227 | |||||||||
Total Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities 1.7% |
2,658,961 |
Preferred Securities |
|
Par (000) |
|
Value |
|||||||
Capital Trusts 1.6% |
|||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services 0.3% |
|||||||||||
ZFS Finance (USA) Trust V, 6.50%, 5/09/37 (a)(b) |
$ | 504 | $ | 537,390 | |||||||
Electric Utilities 1.3% |
|||||||||||
PPL Capital Funding, Inc., 6.70%, 3/30/67 (a) |
2,000 | 2,115,000 | |||||||||
Total Capital Trusts 1.6% |
2,652,390 | ||||||||||
Trust Preferreds 1.3% |
Shares | ||||||||||
Capital Markets 1.3% |
|||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VIII, 6.45%, 4/15/67 |
80,000 | 1,963,608 | |||||||||
Total Preferred Securities 2.9% |
4,615,998 | ||||||||||
US Government Sponsored Agency Securities |
Par (000) |
||||||||||
Agency Obligations 2.7% |
|||||||||||
Federal Farm Credit Bank, 4.55%, 6/08/20 |
$ | 3,500 | 4,275,785 | ||||||||
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 11.1% |
|||||||||||
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities, Class C (a): |
|||||||||||
Series 2005-87, 5.13%, 9/16/34 |
6,350 | 6,642,681 | |||||||||
Series 2006-3, 5.24%, 4/16/39 |
10,000 | 11,097,440 | |||||||||
17,740,121 | |||||||||||
Interest Only Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 2.8% |
|||||||||||
Fannie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities: |
|||||||||||
Series 2010-126, Class UI, 5.50%, 10/25/40 |
3,270 | 498,337 | |||||||||
Series 2012-47, Class NI, 4.50%, 4/25/42 |
2,750 | 410,429 | |||||||||
Series 2012-96, Class DI, 4.00%, 2/25/27 |
3,993 | 401,850 | |||||||||
Series 2012-M9, Class X1, 4.08%, 12/25/17 (a) |
5,875 | 980,862 | |||||||||
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities (a): |
|||||||||||
Series 2006-30, Class IO, 0.36%, 5/16/46 |
4,125 | 127,191 | |||||||||
Series 2009-78, Class SD, 5.99%, 9/20/32 |
3,324 | 646,516 | |||||||||
Series 2011-52, Class NS, 6.46%, 4/16/41 |
9,064 | 1,514,790 | |||||||||
4,579,975 | |||||||||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities 68.9% |
|||||||||||
Fannie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities: |
|||||||||||
3.00%, 6/01/421/01/43 (d) |
8,997 | 9,429,474 | |||||||||
3.50%, 8/01/266/01/42 |
17,632 | 18,875,869 | |||||||||
4.00%, 4/01/242/01/41 |
25,068 | 26,973,541 | |||||||||
4.50%, 4/01/398/01/40 |
16,600 | 18,405,551 | |||||||||
4.89%, 2/01/13 |
519 | 518,560 | |||||||||
5.00%, 11/01/332/01/40 |
11,525 | 12,637,633 | |||||||||
5.50%, 10/01/231/01/43 (c)(d) |
17,706 | 19,357,742 | |||||||||
6.00%, 2/01/363/01/38 |
2,906 | 3,181,530 |
Portfolio Abbreviations
To simplify the listings of portfolio holdings in the Schedule of Investments, the names and descriptions of many of the securities have been abbreviated according to the following list: | GO LIBOR TBA |
General Obligation Bonds London Interbank Offered Rate To Be Announced |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 9 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) | (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
US Government Sponsored Agency
Securities |
|
Par (000) |
|
Value |
|||||||
Mortgage-Backed Securities (concluded) |
|||||||||||
Freddie Mac Mortgage-Backed Securities, 4.50%, 5/01/34 |
$ | 401 | $ | 431,379 | |||||||
Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities, 5.00%, 11/15/35 |
18 | 19,406 | |||||||||
109,830,685 | |||||||||||
Total US Government Sponsored Agency Securities 85.5% |
136,426,566 | ||||||||||
US Treasury Obligations |
|||||||||||
US
Treasury Bonds: |
|||||||||||
6.63%, 2/15/27 (e) |
4,000 | 6,153,124 | |||||||||
5.38%, 2/15/31 |
2,000 | 2,855,000 | |||||||||
3.88%, 8/15/40 (e) |
12,000 | 14,422,500 | |||||||||
4.38%, 5/15/41 (e) |
10,000 | 13,028,120 | |||||||||
3.75%, 8/15/41 (e) |
10,000 | 11,753,120 | |||||||||
US
Treasury Notes: |
|||||||||||
0.25%, 1/31/14 |
300 | 300,188 | |||||||||
0.38%, 11/15/15 (e) |
10,000 | 10,009,380 | |||||||||
0.75%, 6/30/17 (e) |
4,000 | 4,023,752 | |||||||||
3.13%, 5/15/21 (e) |
10,000 | 11,339,840 | |||||||||
1.75%, 5/15/22 |
5,000 | 5,043,360 | |||||||||
Total US Treasury Obligations 49.5% |
78,928,384 | ||||||||||
Total Long-Term Investments (Cost $217,189,245) 143.8% |
229,329,377 |
Short-Term Securities |
|
Shares |
|
Value |
|||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class, 0.11% (f)(g) |
10,928,321 | $ | 10,928,321 | ||||||||
Total Short-Term Securities (Cost $10,928,321) 6.9% |
10,928,321 | ||||||||||
Total Investments Before TBA Sale Commitments and Options Written (Cost $228,117,566) 150.7% |
240,257,698 | ||||||||||
TBA Sale Commitments (d) |
Par (000) |
||||||||||
Fannie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities, 5.50%, 1/01/432/01/43 |
$ | 12,200 | (13,257,015 | ) | |||||||
Total TBA Sale Commitments (Proceeds $13,262,734) (8.3)% |
(13,257,015 | ) | |||||||||
Options Written |
|||||||||||
(Premiums Received $362,000) (0.2)% |
(306,250 | ) | |||||||||
Total Investments, Net of TBA Sale Commitments and Options Written 142.2% |
226,694,433 | ||||||||||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets (42.2)% |
(67,229,592 | ) | |||||||||
Net Assets 100.0% |
$ | 159,464,841 |
Notes to Schedule of Investments
(a) | Variable rate security. Rate shown is as of report date. |
|||||
(b) | Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in
transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
|||||
(c) | All
or a portion of security has been pledged as collateral in connection with swaps. |
|||||
(d) | Represents or includes a TBA transaction. Unsettled TBA transactions as of December 31, 2012 were as follows: |
Counterparty |
|
Value |
|
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
$ | 7,439,469 | $ | (25,238 | ) | |||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
$ | (6,629,937 | ) | $ | 7,149 |
(e) | All
or a portion of security has been pledged as collateral in connection with open reverse repurchase agreements. |
|||||
(f) | Investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Fund during the year ended December 31, 2012, for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the
1940 Act, were as follows: |
Affiliate |
|
Shares Held at December 31, 2011 |
|
Net Activity |
|
Shares Held at December 31, 2012 |
|
Income |
||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class |
7,261,074 | 3,667,247 | 10,928,321 | $8,016 |
(g) | Represents the current yield as of report date. |
10 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
| Reverse repurchase agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2012 were as follows: |
Counterparty |
Interest Rate |
Trade Date |
Maturity Date |
Face Value | Face Value Including Accrued Interest |
|||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
0.12% |
4/24/12 |
Open |
$ 6,100,000 |
$
6,105,124 |
|||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
0.19% |
7/10/12 |
Open |
8,235,000 |
8,242,606 |
|||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.16% |
8/22/12 |
Open |
14,580,000 |
14,588,553 |
|||||||
Bank of America Corp. |
0.22% |
12/10/12 |
Open |
11,475,000 |
11,476,543 |
|||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
0.10% |
12/11/12 |
Open |
10,012,500 |
10,013,084 |
|||||||
Deutsche Bank AG |
0.27% |
12/11/12 |
Open |
4,045,000 |
4,045,637 |
|||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
0.22% |
12/13/12 |
Open |
11,962,500 |
11,963,889 |
|||||||
Total |
$66,410,000 |
$66,435,436 |
| Over-the-counter interest rate swaptions written as of December 31, 2012 were as follows: |
Description |
Counterparty | Put/ Call |
Exercise Rate |
Pay/Receive Exercise Rate |
Floating Rate Index |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Market Value |
||||||||||
2-Year Interest Rate Swap |
Citigroup, Inc. |
Call |
0.40% |
Pays |
3-Month LIBOR |
1/29/13 |
$50,000 |
$ (31,216) |
||||||||||
5-Year Interest Rate Swap |
Citigroup, Inc. |
Call |
0.80% |
Pays |
3-Month LIBOR |
1/29/13 |
$50,000 |
(50,079) |
||||||||||
10-Year Interest Rate Swap |
Citigroup, Inc. |
Call |
1.75% |
Pays |
3-Month LIBOR |
1/29/13 |
$30,000 |
(114,964) |
||||||||||
30-Year Interest Rate Swap |
Citigroup, Inc. |
Call |
2.65% |
Pays |
3-Month LIBOR |
1/29/13 |
$15,000 |
(109,991) |
||||||||||
Total |
$(306,250) |
| Interest rate swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2012 were as follows: |
Fixed Rate |
Floating Rate | Counterparty | Expiration Date |
Notional Amount (000) |
Unrealized Depreciation |
|||||||
5.96%1 |
3-Month LIBOR |
Deutsche Bank AG |
12/27/37 |
$23,900 |
$(14,540,792) |
1 | Fund pays a fixed interest rate and receives floating rate. |
| Fair
Value Measurements Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. These inputs to
valuation techniques are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial statement purposes as
follows: |
| Level 1 unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets and liabilities that the Fund has the ability to
access |
|||||
| Level 2 other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active,
quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for
the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or
other market-corroborated inputs) |
|||||
| Level 3 unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available
(including the Funds own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments) |
The
hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the
lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for
instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases,
for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the
lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. |
||||||
Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. In accordance with the
Funds policy, transfers between different levels of the fair value disclosure hierarchy are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the
reporting period. The categorization of a value determined for investments and derivative financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of
the investment and derivative financial instrument and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. For
information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments and other significant accounting
policies, please refer to Note 1 of the Notes to Financial Statements. |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 11 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
The
following tables summarize the Funds investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy as of December 31,
2012: |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Investments: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities |
| $ | 5,016,286 | | $ | 5,016,286 | |||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds |
| 448,261 | | 448,261 | |||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds |
| 1,234,921 | | 1,234,921 | |||||||||||||||
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities |
| 2,658,961 | | 2,658,961 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred Securities |
$ | 1,963,608 | 2,652,390 | | 4,615,998 | ||||||||||||||
US Government Sponsored Agency Securities |
| 136,426,566 | | 136,426,566 | |||||||||||||||
US Treasury Obligations |
| 78,928,384 | | 78,928,384 | |||||||||||||||
Short-Term Securities |
10,928,321 | | | 10,928,321 | |||||||||||||||
Liabilities: |
|||||||||||||||||||
TBA Sale Commitments |
| (13,257,015 | ) | | (13,257,015 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 12,891,929 | $ | 214,108,754 | | $ | 227,000,683 | ||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments1 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Liabilities: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
| $ | (14,847,042 | ) | | $ | (14,847,042 | ) |
1 | Derivative financial instruments are swaps and written options. Swaps are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument and written options are shown at value. |
Certain of the Funds assets and liabilities are held at carrying amount or face value, which approximates fair value for financial statement
purposes. As of December 31, 2012, such assets and liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows: |
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 15,000 | | | $ | 15,000 | ||||||||||||
Cash pledged as collateral for swaps |
13,890,000 | | | 13,890,000 | ||||||||||||||
Foreign currency at value |
804 | | | 804 | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||||
Reverse repurchase agreements |
| $ | (66,410,000 | ) | | (66,410,000 | ) | |||||||||||
Total |
$ | 13,905,804 | $ | (66,410,000 | ) | | $ | (52,504,196 | ) |
There were no transfers between levels during the year ended December 31, 2012. |
12 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
December 31,
2012 |
||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Investments at value unaffiliated (cost $217,189,245) |
$ | 229,329,377 | ||||||
Investments at value affiliated (cost $10,928,321) |
10,928,321 | |||||||
Cash |
15,000 | |||||||
Cash pledged as collateral for swaps |
13,890,000 | |||||||
TBA sale commitments receivable |
13,262,734 | |||||||
Interest receivable |
1,167,011 | |||||||
Premiums receivable from options written |
362,000 | |||||||
Principal paydown receivable |
89,356 | |||||||
Investments sold receivable |
22,367 | |||||||
Swaps receivable |
1,235 | |||||||
Foreign currency at value (cost $742) |
804 | |||||||
Prepaid expenses |
5,296 | |||||||
Total assets |
269,073,501 | |||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Reverse repurchase agreements |
66,410,000 | |||||||
Unrealized depreciation on swaps |
14,540,792 | |||||||
Investments purchased payable |
14,110,162 | |||||||
TBA sale commitments at value (proceeds $13,262,734) |
13,257,015 | |||||||
Income dividends payable |
643,479 | |||||||
Options written at value (premiums received $362,000) |
306,250 | |||||||
Investment advisory fees payable |
161,363 | |||||||
Interest expense payable |
25,436 | |||||||
Swaps payable |
23,731 | |||||||
Officers and Directors fees payable |
5,961 | |||||||
Other affiliates payable |
1,848 | |||||||
Other accrued expenses payable |
122,623 | |||||||
Total liabilities |
109,608,660 | |||||||
Net Assets |
$ | 159,464,841 | ||||||
Net Assets Consist of |
||||||||
Paid-in capital |
$ | 170,223,577 | ||||||
Distributions in excess of net investment income |
(643,479 | ) | ||||||
Accumulated net realized loss |
(7,776,128 | ) | ||||||
Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
(2,339,129 | ) | ||||||
Net Assets |
$ | 159,464,841 | ||||||
Net Asset Value |
||||||||
Based on net assets of $159,464,841 and 9,899,677 shares outstanding, 200 million shares authorized, $0.10 par value |
$ | 16.11 |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 13 |
Year Ended December 31,
2012 |
||||||||
Investment Income |
||||||||
Interest |
$ | 9,861,861 | ||||||
Income affiliated |
8,016 | |||||||
Total income |
9,869,877 | |||||||
Expenses |
||||||||
Investment advisory |
2,083,394 | |||||||
Professional |
116,382 | |||||||
Accounting services |
38,106 | |||||||
Repurchase offer |
36,375 | |||||||
Transfer agent |
35,630 | |||||||
Custodian |
27,898 | |||||||
Officer and Directors |
21,545 | |||||||
Printing |
18,908 | |||||||
Registration |
8,624 | |||||||
Miscellaneous |
13,028 | |||||||
Total expenses excluding interest expense |
2,399,890 | |||||||
Interest expense |
123,926 | |||||||
Total expenses |
2,523,816 | |||||||
Less fees waived by Manager |
(3,883 | ) | ||||||
Total expenses after fees waived |
2,519,933 | |||||||
Net investment income |
7,349,944 | |||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) from: |
||||||||
Investments |
(1,066,527 | ) | ||||||
Financial futures contracts |
(80,247 | ) | ||||||
Foreign currency transactions |
4,969 | |||||||
Options written |
2,573,300 | |||||||
Swaps |
(3,599,890 | ) | ||||||
(2,168,395 | ) | |||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on: |
||||||||
Investments |
609,130 | |||||||
Foreign currency translations |
22 | |||||||
Options written |
224,430 | |||||||
Swaps |
1,101,978 | |||||||
1,935,560 | ||||||||
Total realized and unrealized loss |
(232,835 | ) | ||||||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations |
$ | 7,117,109 |
14 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net
Assets: |
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||
Operations |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 7,349,944 | $ | 8,091,632 | |||||||
Net realized loss |
(2,168,395 | ) | (8,378,105 | ) | |||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation |
1,935,560 | 8,958,937 | |||||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
7,117,109 | 8,672,464 | |||||||||
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
From1 |
|||||||||||
Net investment income |
(5,916,283 | ) | (4,435,787 | ) | |||||||
Tax return of capital |
(3,070,424 | ) | (6,175,972 | ) | |||||||
Decrease in net assets resulting from dividends and distributions to shareholders |
(8,986,707 | ) | (10,611,759 | ) | |||||||
Capital Share Transactions |
|||||||||||
Redemption of shares resulting from a repurchase offer2 |
(17,430,690 | ) | (9,213,755 | ) | |||||||
Decrease in net assets derived from capital share transactions |
(17,430,690 | ) | (9,213,755 | ) | |||||||
Net Assets |
|||||||||||
Total decrease in net assets |
(19,300,288 | ) | (11,153,050 | ) | |||||||
Beginning of year |
178,765,129 | 189,918,179 | |||||||||
End of year |
$ | 159,464,841 | $ | 178,765,129 | |||||||
Distributions in excess of net investment income |
$ | (643,479 | ) | $ | (775,071 | ) |
1 | Dividends and distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
2 | Net of repurchase fees of $355,728 and $188,035, respectively. |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 15 |
Year Ended December 31,
2012 |
||||||||
Cash Provided by Operating Activities |
||||||||
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
$ | 7,117,109 | ||||||
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Decrease in interest receivable |
294,722 | |||||||
Decrease in swap receivable |
1,432 | |||||||
Decrease in prepaid expenses |
6,266 | |||||||
Decrease in cash pledged as collateral in connection with options written |
200,000 | |||||||
Increase in cash pledged as collateral for swaps |
(6,590,000 | ) | ||||||
Decrease in investment advisory fees payable |
(34,761 | ) | ||||||
Increase in interest expense payable |
11,552 | |||||||
Increase in other affiliates payable |
1,848 | |||||||
Increase in other accrued expenses payable |
39,718 | |||||||
Decrease in swaps payable |
(3,955 | ) | ||||||
Increase in Officers and Directors fees payable |
5,294 | |||||||
Net periodic and termination payments of swaps |
(4,339,890 | ) | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments |
157,557 | |||||||
Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments |
526,894 | |||||||
Premiums received from options written |
5,460,500 | |||||||
Proceeds from sales and paydowns of long-term investments |
386,393,466 | |||||||
Purchases of long-term investments |
(332,350,296 | ) | ||||||
Net payments on purchases of short-term securities |
(3,667,247 | ) | ||||||
Premiums paid on closing options written |
(2,622,200 | ) | ||||||
Cash provided by operating activities |
50,608,009 | |||||||
Cash Used for Financing Activities |
||||||||
Cash payments on Common Shares redeemed |
(17,430,690 | ) | ||||||
Cash dividends paid to Common Shareholders |
(9,113,203 | ) | ||||||
Net borrowing of reverse repurchase agreements |
(24,050,419 | ) | ||||||
Cash used for financing activities |
(50,594,312 | ) | ||||||
Cash Impact from Foreign Exchange
Fluctuations |
||||||||
Cash impact from foreign exchange fluctuations |
22 | |||||||
Cash and Foreign Currency |
||||||||
Net increase in cash |
13,719 | |||||||
Cash and foreign currency at beginning of year |
2,085 | |||||||
Cash and foreign currency at end of year |
$ | 15,804 | ||||||
Cash Flow Information |
||||||||
Cash paid during the year for interest |
$ | 112,374 |
A Statement of Cash Flows is presented when the Fund has a significant amount of borrowings during the period, based on the average borrowings outstanding in relation to total assets. |
16 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Operating Performance |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
asset value, beginning of year |
$ | 16.25 | $ | 16.40 | $ | 16.59 | $ | 16.03 | $ | 17.42 | |||||||||||||
Net
investment income1 |
0.67 | 0.70 | 0.64 | 0.67 | 0.97 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
realized and unrealized gain (loss)2 |
0.02 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 1.32 | (1.10 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net
increase (decrease) from investment operations |
0.69 | 0.77 | 0.80 | 1.99 | (0.13 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Dividends and distributions from:3 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.55 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.80 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.46 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized gain |
| | | (1.01 | ) | (0.80 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Tax return of capital |
(0.28 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.16 | ) | | ||||||||||||||
Total dividends and distributions |
(0.83 | ) | (0.92 | ) | (0.99 | ) | (1.43 | ) | (1.26 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net
asset value, end of year |
$ | 16.11 | $ | 16.25 | $ | 16.40 | $ | 16.59 | $ | 16.03 | |||||||||||||
Market price, end of year |
$ | 15.63 | $ | 15.25 | $ | 15.51 | $ | 17.07 | $ | 16.57 | |||||||||||||
Total Investment Return4 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Based on net asset value |
4.59% | 5.15% | 4.95 | % | 12.68% | (0.73 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Based on market price |
8.13% | 4.34% | (3.54 | )% | 12.17% | 12.85 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses |
1.43% | 1.39% | 1.22% | 1.00% | 1.07% | ||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly |
1.42% | 1.39% | 1.22% | 0.99% | 1.07% | ||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses after fees waived and paid indirectly and excluding interest expense |
1.35% | 1.35% | 1.18% | 0.99% | 0.97% | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
investment income |
4.15% | 4.32% | 3.87% | 3.96% | 5.40% | ||||||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
assets, end of year (000) |
$ | 159,465 | $ | 178,765 | $ | 189,918 | $ | 194,472 | $ | 186,803 | |||||||||||||
Borrowings outstanding, end of year (000) |
$ | 66,410 | $ | 90,460 | $ | 75,230 | $ | 10,934 | | ||||||||||||||
Average borrowings outstanding during the year (000) |
$ | 68,515 | $ | 71,183 | $ | 40,046 | $ | 3,415 | | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover |
142% | 5 | 115% | 6 | 163% | 7 | 483% | 8 | 367% | 9 | |||||||||||||
Asset coverage, end of year $1,000 |
$ | 3,401 | $ | 2,976 | $ | 3,525 | $ | 18,786 | |
1 | Based on average shares outstanding. |
2 | Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) per share amounts include repurchase fees of $0.03, $0.02, $0.00, $0.00 and $0.02 for the years ended December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2008, respectively. |
3 | Dividends and distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations. |
4 | Total investment returns based on market value, which can be significantly greater or lesser than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, total investment returns exclude the effects of any sales charges and include the reinvestment of dividends and distributions. |
5 | Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions. Excluding these transactions, the portfolio turnover would have been 83%. |
6 | Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions. Excluding these transactions, the portfolio turnover would have been 98%. |
7 | Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions. Excluding these transactions, the portfolio turnover would have been 137%. |
8 | Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions. Excluding these transactions, the portfolio turnover would have been 174%. |
9 | Includes mortgage dollar roll transactions. Excluding these transactions, the portfolio turnover would have been 212%. |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 17 |
Notes to Financial Statements | |
18 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) | |
exist, including regular due diligence of the Funds
pricing vendors, a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis to compare unrealized gains and
losses to realized gains and losses, reviews of missing or stale prices and large movements in market values and reviews of any market related
activity. The pricing of all Fair Value Assets is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 19 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) | |
PO is lengthened and the yield to maturity is reduced. If the
underlying Mortgage Assets experience greater than anticipated pre-payments of principal, the Fund may not fully recoup its initial investment in
IOs.
20 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) | |
basis. Interest income, including amortization and accretion
of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized on the accrual basis.
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 21 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) | |
purchased, the Fund bears the risk of loss in the amount of
the premiums paid plus the positive change in market values net of any collateral received on the options should the counterparty fail to perform under
the contracts. Options written by the Fund do not give rise to counterparty credit risk, as options written obligate the Fund to perform and not the
counterparty. Counterparty risk related to exchange-traded financial futures contracts and options is deemed to be minimal due to the protection
against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.
22 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) | |
|
Interest rate swaps The Fund enters into interest rate swaps to gain or reduce exposure to interest rates or to manage duration, the yield curve or interest rate risk by economically hedging the value of the fixed rate bonds which may decrease when interest rates rise (interest rate risk). Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, for another partys stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Interest rate floors, which are a type of interest rate swap, are agreements in which one party agrees to make payments to the other party to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate or floor in return for a premium. In more complex swaps, the notional principal amount may decline (or amortize) over time. |
Fair Values of Derivative Financial Instruments as of December 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||
Liability Derivatives | ||||||||||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location |
Value | |||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
Unrealized depreciation on swaps; Options written at value |
$ | (14,847,042 | ) |
The Effect of Derivative
Financial Instruments in the Statement of Operations Year Ended December 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from | ||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Futures Contracts |
Swaps | Options1 | Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
|||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
$ | (80,247 | ) | $ | (3,599,890 | ) | $ | 2,576,785 | | |||||||||||
Foreign currency transactions |
| | | $ | (5 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | (80,247 | ) | $ | (3,599,890 | ) | $ | 2,576,780 | $ | (5 | ) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on | ||||||||||||
Swaps | Options1 | |||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
$ | 1,101,978 | $ | 224,430 |
1 | Options purchased are included in the net realized gain (loss) from investments and net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments. |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 23 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued) | |
Financial futures contracts: |
||||||
Average number of contracts sold |
36 | |||||
Average notional value of contracts sold |
$ | 8,875,053 | ||||
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |
||||||
Average number of contracts US dollars purchased1 |
1 | |||||
Average US dollars amount purchased1 |
$ | 322 | ||||
Options: |
||||||
Average number of options contracts purchased1 |
13 | |||||
Average notional value of options contracts purchased1 |
$ | 3,221,563 | ||||
Average number of swaptions contracts written |
4 | |||||
Average notional value of swaptions contracts written |
$ | 137,500,000 | ||||
Interest rate swaps: |
||||||
Average number of contracts pays fixed rate |
1 | |||||
Average notional value pays fixed rate |
$ | 23,900,000 |
1 | Average contract amount shown due to limited activity. |
Calls | |||||||||||
Notional Amount (000) |
Premiums Received |
||||||||||
Outstanding options, beginning of year |
$ | 135,000 | $ | 475,000 | |||||||
Options written |
1,675,000 | 5,822,500 | |||||||||
Options closed |
(765,000 | ) | (1,823,725 | ) | |||||||
Options exercised |
(160,000 | ) | (740,000 | ) | |||||||
Options expired |
(740,000 | ) | (3,371,775 | ) | |||||||
Outstanding options, end of year |
$ | 145,000 | $ | 362,000 |
Distributions in excess of net investment income |
$ | (1,302,069 | ) | |||
Accumulated net realized loss |
$ | 1,302,069 |
12/31/2012 | 12/31/2011 | |||||||||
Ordinary income |
$ | 5,916,283 | $ | 4,435,787 | ||||||
Tax
return of capital |
3,070,424 | 6,175,972 | ||||||||
Total |
$ | 8,986,707 | $ | 10,611,759 |
24 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Notes to Financial Statements (concluded) | |
Capital loss carryforwards |
$ | (7,776,128 | ) | |||
Net
unrealized losses1 |
(2,982,608 | ) | ||||
Total |
$ | (10,758,736 | ) | |||
1 | The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized losses was attributable primarily to the timing of distributions. |
Expires December 31, | ||||||
2017 |
$ | 2,037,204 | ||||
No
expiration date2 |
5,738,924 | |||||
Total |
$ | 7,776,128 |
2 | Must be utilized prior to losses subject to expiration. |
Tax
cost |
$ | 228,117,566 | ||||
Gross unrealized appreciation |
$ | 13,616,068 | ||||
Gross unrealized depreciation |
(1,475,936 | ) | ||||
Net
unrealized appreciation |
$ | 12,140,132 |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||
Dividend reinvestment |
| | ||||||||
Repurchase offer |
(1,099,964 | ) | (578,928 | ) | ||||||
Net
decrease |
(1,099,964 | ) | (578,928 | ) |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 25 |
Boston, Massachusetts
February
22, 2013
Months Paid | Percentage | |||||
Interest-Related Dividends for Non-US Residents1 |
January December 2012 |
100.00% |
||||
Federal Obligation Interest2 |
January December 2012 |
16.35% |
1 | Represents the portion of the taxable ordinary income dividends eligible for exemption from US withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations. |
2 | The law varies in each state as to whether
and what percentage of dividend income attributable to federal obligations is exempt from state income tax. We recommend that you consult your tax advisor to determine if any portion of the dividends you received is exempt from state income taxes. |
26 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 27 |
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with Fund |
Length of Time Served as a Director2 |
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
Number of BlackRock- Advised Registered Investment Companies (RICs) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (Portfolios) Overseen |
Public Directorships |
|||||
Independent Directors1 |
||||||||||
Richard E. Cavanagh 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1946 |
Chairman of the Board and Director |
Since 2007 |
Trustee, Aircraft Finance Trust from 1999 to 2009; Director,
The
Guardian
Life
Insurance
Company
of
America
since
1998;
Director,
Arch
Chemical
(chemical
and
allied
products)
from
1999
to
2011;
Trustee,
Educational
Testing
Service
from
1997
to
2009
and
Chairman
thereof
from
2005
to
2009;
Senior
Advisor,
The
Fremont
Group
since
2008
and
Director
thereof
since
1996;
Adjunct
Lecturer,
Harvard
University
since
2007;
President
and
Chief
Executive
Officer,
The
Conference
Board,
Inc.
(global
business
research
organization)
from
1995
to
2007. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
Karen P. Robards 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1950 |
Vice Chairperson of the Board, Chairperson of the Audit
Committee
and
Director |
Since 2004 |
Partner of Robards & Company, LLC (financial advisory
firm)
since
1987;
Co-founder
and
Director
of
the
Cooke
Center
for
Learning
and
Development
(a
not-for-profit
organization)
since
1987;
Director
of
Care
Investment
Trust,
Inc.
(health
care
real
estate
investment
trust)
from
2007
to
2010;
Investment
Banker
at
Morgan
Stanley
from
1976
to
1987. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
AtriCure, Inc. (medical devices) |
|||||
Michael J. Castellano 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1946 |
Director and Member of the Audit Committee |
Since 2011 |
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Lazard
Group
LLC
from
2001
to
2011;
Chief
Financial
Officer
of
Lazard
Ltd
from
2004
to
2011;
Director,
Support
Our
Aging
Religious
(non-profit)
since
2009;
Director,
National
Advisory
Board
of
Church
Management
at
Villanova
University
since
2010. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
Frank J. Fabozzi 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1948 |
Director and Member of the Audit Committee |
Since 2007 |
Editor of and Consultant for The Journal of Portfolio
Management
since
1986;
Professor
of
Finance,
EDHEC
Business
School
since
2011;
Professor
in
the
Practice
of
Finance
and
Becton
Fellow,
Yale
University
School
of
Management
from
2006
to
2011;
Adjunct
Professor
of
Finance
and
Becton
Fellow,
Yale
University
from
1994
to
2006. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
Kathleen F. Feldstein 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1941 |
Director |
Since 2007 |
President of Economics Studies, Inc. (private economic
consulting
firm)
since
1987;
Chair,
Board
of
Trustees,
McLean
Hospital
from
2000
to
2008
and
Trustee
Emeritus
thereof
since
2008;
Member
of
the
Board
of
Partners
Community
Healthcare,
Inc.
from
2005
to
2009;
Member
of
the
Corporation
of
Partners
HealthCare
since
1995;
Trustee,
Museum
of
Fine
Arts,
Boston
since
1992;
Member
of
the
Visiting
Committee
to
the
Harvard
University
Art
Museum
since
2003;
Director,
Catholic
Charities
of
Boston
since
2009. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
The McClatchy Company (publishing) BellSouth (telecommunications);
Knight
Ridder
(publishing) |
|||||
James T. Flynn 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1939 |
Director and Member of the Audit Committee |
Since 2004 |
Chief Financial Officer of JP Morgan & Co., Inc. from
1990
to
1995. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
Jerrold B. Harris 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1942 |
Director |
Since 2007 |
Trustee, Ursinus College since 2000; Director, Troemner
LLC
(scientific
equipment)
since
2000;
Director
of
Delta
Waterfowl
Foundation
since
2001;
President
and
Chief
Executive
Officer,
VWR
Scientific
Products
Corporation
from
1990
to
1999. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
BlackRock Kelso Capital Corp. (business development company) |
28 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Officers and Directors (continued) |
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with Fund |
Length of Time Served as a Director2 |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years |
Number of BlackRock- Advised Registered Investment Companies (RICs) Consisting of Investment Portfolios (Portfolios) Overseen |
Public Directorships | |||||
Independent Directors1
(concluded) |
||||||||||
R. Glenn Hubbard 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1958 |
Director |
Since 2007 |
Dean, Columbia Business School since 2004; Columbia faculty
member
since
1988;
Co-Director,
Columbia
Business
Schools
Entrepreneurship
Program
from
1997
to
2004;
Chairman,
U.S.
Council
of
Economic
Advisers
under
the
President
of
the
United
States
from
2001
to
2003;
Chairman,
Economic
Policy
Committee
of
the
OECD
from
2001
to
2003. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
ADP (data and information services) KKR Financial Corporation
(finance)
Metropolitan
Life
Insurance
Company
(insurance) |
|||||
W. Carl Kester 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1951 |
Director and Member of the Audit Committee |
Since 2004 |
George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration,
Harvard
Business
School;
Deputy
Dean
for
Academic
Affairs
from
2006
to
2010;
Chairman
of
the
Finance
Department,
Harvard
Business
School
from
2005
to
2006;
Senior
Associate
Dean
and
Chairman
of
the
MBA
Program
of
Harvard
Business
School
from
1999
to
2005;
Member
of
the
faculty
of
Harvard
Business
School
since
1981. |
93 RICs consisting of 89 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
1 Directors
serve until their resignation, removal or death, or until December 31 of the year in which they turn 72. The maximum age
limitation may be waived as to any Director by action of a majority of the Directors upon finding good cause thereof. In
2011 and 2012, the Board of Directors unanimously approved extending the mandatory retirement age for James T. Flynn by additional
one-year periods, which the Board believes would be in the best interest of shareholders. |
||||||||||
2 Date
shown is the earliest
date a person has served
for the Fund covered
by this annual report.
Following the combination
of Merrill Lynch Investment
Managers, L.P. (MLIM)
and BlackRock, Inc. (BlackRock)
in September 2006, the
various legacy MLIM and
legacy BlackRock fund
boards were realigned
and consolidated into
three new fund boards
in 2007. As a result,
although the chart shows
certain Directors as
joining the Funds
board in 2007, each Director
first became a member
of the board of other
legacy MLIM or legacy
BlackRock Funds as follows:
Richard E. Cavanagh,
1994; Frank J. Fabozzi,
1988; Kathleen F. Feldstein,
2005; James T. Flynn,
1996; Jerrold B. Harris,
1999; R. Glenn Hubbard,
2004; W. Carl Kester,
1995; and Karen P. Robards,
1998. |
||||||||||
Interested Directors3 |
||||||||||
Paul L. Audet 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1953 |
Director |
Since 2011 |
Senior Managing Director of BlackRock and Head of U.S.
Mutual
Funds
since
2011;
Chair
of
the
U.S.
Mutual
Funds
Committee
reporting
to
the
Global
Executive
Committee
since
2011;
Head
of
BlackRocks
Real
Estate
business
from
2008
to
2011;
Member
of
BlackRocks
Global
Operating
and
Corporate
Risk
Management
Committees
and
of
the
BlackRock
Alternative
Investors
Executive
Committee
and
Investment
Committee
for
the
Private
Equity
Fund
of
Funds
business
since
2008;
Head
of
BlackRocks
Global
Cash
Management
business
from
2005
to
2010;
Acting
Chief
Financial
Officer
of
BlackRock
from
2007
to
2008;
Chief
Financial
Officer
of
BlackRock
from
1998
to
2005. |
155 RICs consisting of 278 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
Henry Gabbay 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1947 |
Director |
Since 2007 |
Consultant, BlackRock, from 2007 to 2008; Managing Director,
BlackRock
from
1989
to
2007;
Chief
Administrative
Officer,
BlackRock
Advisors,
LLC
from
1998
to
2007;
President
of
BlackRock
Funds
and
BlackRock
Bond
Allocation
Target
Shares
from
2005
to
2007;
Treasurer
of
certain
closed-end
funds
in
the
BlackRock
fund
complex
from
1989
to
2006. |
155 RICs consisting of 278 Portfolios |
None |
|||||
3 Mr.
Audet is an interested
person, as defined
in the 1940 Act, of the
Fund based on his position
with BlackRock and its
affiliates. Mr. Gabbay
is an interested
person of the Fund
based on his former positions
with BlackRock and its
affiliates as well as
his ownership of BlackRock
and The PNC Financial
Services Group, Inc.
securities. Mr. Audet
and Mr. Gabbay are also
Directors of the BlackRock
registered open-end funds.
Directors serve until
their resignation, removal
or death, or until December
31 of the year in which
they turn 72. The maximum
age limitation may be
waived as to any Director
by action of a majority
of the Directors upon
finding good cause thereof. |
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 29 |
Officers and Directors (concluded) |
Name, Address and Year of Birth |
Position(s) Held with Fund |
Length of Time Served |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years | ||||||||||||
Officers1 |
|||||||||||||||
John M. Perlowski 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1964 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Since 2011 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2009; Global Head of BlackRock Fund Administration since 2009; Managing
Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Global Product Group at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. from 2003 to 2009; Treasurer of Goldman Sachs
Mutual Funds from 2003 to 2009 and Senior Vice President thereof from 2007 to 2009; Director of Goldman Sachs Offshore Funds from 2002 to 2009;
Director of Family Resource Network (charitable foundation) since 2009. |
||||||||||||
Anne Ackerley 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1962 |
Vice President |
Since 20072 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2000; Chief Marketing Officer of BlackRock since 2012; President and
Chief Executive Officer of the BlackRock-advised funds from 2009 to 2011; Vice President of the BlackRock-advised funds from 2007 to 2009; Chief
Operating Officer of BlackRocks Global Client Group from 2009 to 2012; Chief Operating Officer of BlackRocks U.S. Retail Group from 2006 to
2009; Head of BlackRocks Mutual Fund Group from 2000 to 2006. |
||||||||||||
Brendan Kyne 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1977 |
Vice President |
Since 2009 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2010; Director of BlackRock from 2008 to 2009; Head of Product
Development and Management for BlackRocks U.S. Retail Group since 2009, and Co-head thereof from 2007 to 2009; Vice President of BlackRock from
2005 to 2008. |
||||||||||||
Robert W. Crothers 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1981 |
Vice President |
Since 2012 |
Director of BlackRock since 2011; Vice President of BlackRock from 2008 to 2010; Associate of BlackRock from
2006 to 2007. |
||||||||||||
Neal Andrews 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1966 |
Chief Financial Officer |
Since 2007 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2006; Senior Vice President and Line of Business Head of Fund
Accounting and Administration at PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. from 1992 to 2006. |
||||||||||||
Jay Fife 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1970 |
Treasurer |
Since 2007 |
Managing Director of BlackRock since 2007; Director of BlackRock in 2006; Assistant Treasurer of the MLIM
and Fund Asset Management, L.P. advised funds from 2005 to 2006; Director of MLIM Fund Services Group from 2001 to 2006. |
||||||||||||
Brian Kindelan 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1959 |
Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer |
Since 2007 |
Chief Compliance Officer of the BlackRock-advised funds since 2007; Managing Director and Senior Counsel of
BlackRock since 2005. |
||||||||||||
Janey Ahn 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055 1975 |
Secretary |
Since 2012 |
Director of BlackRock since 2009; Vice President of BlackRock from 2008 to 2009; Assistant Secretary of the
Funds from 2008 to 2012; Associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP from 2006 to 2008. |
||||||||||||
1 Officers of the Fund serve at the pleasure of the Board. |
|||||||||||||||
2 Ms. Ackerley was President and Chief Executive Officer from 2009 to
2011. |
Investment Advisor BlackRock Advisors, LLC Wilmington, DE 19809 |
Custodian and Accounting Agent State Street Bank and Trust Company Boston, MA 02110 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Deloitte & Touche LLP Boston, MA 02116 |
Address of the Fund 100 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 |
|||
Sub-Advisor BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. New York, NY 10055 |
Transfer Agent Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Canton, MA 02021 |
Legal Counsel Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP New York, NY 10036 |
30 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Regulation Regarding Derivatives
Proxy Results
|
|
Votes For |
|
Votes Withheld |
|
Abstain |
|||||
Approved the Directors as follows: |
Paul
L. Audet |
10,261,821 |
239,648 |
0 |
|||||||
Michael J. Castellano |
10,257,194 |
244,275 |
0 |
||||||||
Richard E. Cavanagh |
10,259,074 |
242,395 |
0 |
||||||||
Frank J. Fabozzi |
10,253,997 |
247,472 |
0 |
||||||||
Kathleen F. Feldstein |
10,253,630 |
247,839 |
0 |
||||||||
James T. Flynn |
10,246,659 |
254,810 |
0 |
||||||||
Henry Gabbay |
10,260,132 |
241,337 |
0 |
||||||||
Jerrold B. Harris |
10,247,187 |
254,282 |
0 |
||||||||
R.
Glenn Hubbard |
10,253,927 |
247,542 |
0 |
||||||||
W.
Carl Kester |
10,261,259 |
240,210 |
0 |
||||||||
Karen P. Robards |
10,262,277 |
239,192 |
0 |
Fund Certification
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 31 |
Additional Information (continued) |
Fundamental Periodic Repurchase Policy
(a) |
The Fund will make repurchase offers at periodic intervals pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act. |
(b) |
The periodic interval between repurchase request deadlines will be approximately 12 months. |
(c) | The maximum number of days between a repurchase request deadline and the next repurchase pricing date will be 14 days; provided that if the 14th day after a repurchase request deadline is not a business day, the repurchase pricing date shall be the next business day. |
Number of Repurchase Offers |
Number of Shares Repurchased |
Number of Shares Tendered |
||
1 |
1,099,964 |
3,367,976 |
32 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Additional Information (continued) |
General Information
BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 | 33 |
Additional Information (concluded) |
BlackRock Privacy Principles
34 | BLACKROCK ENHANCED GOVERNMENT FUND, INC. | DECEMBER 31, 2012 |
Item 2 – Code of Ethics – The registrant (or the “Fund”) has adopted a code of ethics, as of the end of the period covered by this report, applicable to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. During the period covered by this report, there have been no amendments to or waivers granted under the code of ethics. A copy of the code of ethics is available without charge at www.blackrock.com.
Item 3 – Audit
Committee Financial Expert – The registrant’s board of directors (the “board of directors”), has
determined that (i) the registrant has the following audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee and
(ii) each audit committee financial expert is independent:
Frank J. Fabozzi
James T. Flynn
W. Carl Kester
Karen P. Robards
The registrant’s board of directors has determined that W. Carl Kester and Karen P. Robards qualify as financial experts pursuant to Item 3(c)(4) of Form N-CSR.
Prof. Kester has a thorough
understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial statements and internal control over financial reporting as
well as audit committee functions. Prof. Kester has been involved in providing valuation and other financial consulting services
to corporate clients since 1978. Prof. Kester’s financial consulting services present a breadth and level of complexity of
accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised
by the registrant’s financial statements.
Ms. Robards has a thorough understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial statements
and internal control over financial reporting as well as audit committee functions. Ms. Robards has been President of Robards &
Company, a financial advisory firm, since 1987. Ms. Robards was formerly an investment banker for more than 10 years where she
was responsible for evaluating and assessing the performance of companies based on their financial results. Ms. Robards has over
30 years of experience analyzing financial statements. She also is a member of the audit committee of one publicly held company
and a non-profit organization.
Under applicable securities laws, a person determined to be an audit committee financial expert will
not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification
as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities greater than the
duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence
of such designation or identification. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does
not affect the duties, obligations, or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.
2 |
Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table presents fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) in each of the last two fiscal years for the services rendered to the Fund:
(a) Audit Fees | (b) Audit-Related Fees1 | (c) Tax Fees2 | (d) All Other Fees3 | |||||
Entity Name | Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End | Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End | Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End | Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End |
BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. | $36,800 | $36,800 | $0 | $0 | $10,300 | $9,800 | $0 | $0 |
The following table presents fees billed by D&T that were required to be approved by the registrant’s audit committee (the “Committee”) for services that relate directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Fund and that are rendered on behalf of BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“Investment Adviser” or “BlackRock”) and entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with BlackRock (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Fund Service Providers”):
Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End | |
(b) Audit-Related Fees1 | $0 | $0 |
(c) Tax Fees2 | $0 | $0 |
(d) All Other Fees3 | $2,970,000 | $3,030,000 |
1 The nature of the services includes assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit of financial statements not included in Audit Fees.
2 The nature of the services includes tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
3 Aggregate fees borne by
BlackRock in connection with the review of compliance procedures and attestation thereto performed by D&T with respect to all
of the registered closed-end funds and some of the registered open-end funds advised by BlackRock.
(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures:
The Committee has adopted policies and procedures with regard to the pre-approval of services. Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to the registrant on an annual basis require specific pre-approval by the Committee. The Committee also must approve other non-audit services provided to the registrant and those non-audit services provided to the Investment Adviser and Fund Service Providers that relate directly to the operations and the financial reporting of the registrant. Certain of these non-audit services that the Committee believes are (a) consistent with the SEC’s auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the independence of the independent accountants may be approved by the Committee without consideration on a specific case-by-case basis (“general pre-approval”). The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of the pre-approval, unless the Committee provides for a different period. Tax or other non-audit services provided to the registrant which have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the registrant will only be deemed pre-approved provided that any individual project does not exceed $10,000 attributable to the registrant or $50,000 per project. For this purpose, multiple projects will be aggregated to determine if they exceed the previously mentioned cost levels.
3 |
Any proposed services
exceeding the pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Committee, as will any other services not subject
to general pre-approval (e.g., unanticipated but permissible services). The Committee is informed of each service approved subject
to general pre-approval at the next regularly scheduled in-person board meeting. At this meeting, an analysis of such services
is presented to the Committee for ratification. The Committee may delegate to the Committee Chairman the authority to approve the
provision of and fees for any specific engagement of permitted non-audit services, including services exceeding pre-approved cost
levels.
(e)(2) None of the services described in each of Items 4(b) through (d) were approved by the Committee pursuant to the de minimis
exception in paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not Applicable
(g) The aggregate non-audit fees paid to the accountant for services rendered by the accountant to the registrant, the Investment
Adviser and the Fund Service Providers were:
Entity Name | Current Fiscal Year End | Previous Fiscal Year End |
BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. | $10,300 | $9,800 |
Additionally, SSAE 16 Review (Formerly, SAS No. 70) fees for the current and previous fiscal years of $2,970,000 and $3,030,000, respectively, were billed by D&T to the Investment Adviser.
(h) The Committee has considered and determined that the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Investment Adviser and the Fund Service Providers 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 following individuals are members of the registrant’s separately-designated standing
audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)):
Michael Castellano
Frank J. Fabozzi
James T. Flynn
W. Carl Kester
Karen P. Robards
(b) Not Applicable
Item 6 – Investments
(a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this
Form.
4 |
(b) Not Applicable due to no such divestments during the semi-annual period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing.
Item 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – The board of directors has delegated the voting of proxies for the Fund’s portfolio securities to the Investment Adviser pursuant to the Investment Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines. Under these guidelines, the Investment Adviser will vote proxies related to Fund securities in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders. From time to time, a vote may present a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s stockholders, on the one hand, and those of the Investment Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Investment Adviser, on the other. In such event, provided that the Investment Adviser’s Equity Investment Policy Oversight Committee, or a sub-committee thereof (the “Oversight Committee”) is aware of the real or potential conflict or material non-routine matter and if the Oversight Committee does not reasonably believe it is able to follow its general voting guidelines (or if the particular proxy matter is not addressed in the guidelines) and vote impartially, the Oversight Committee may retain an independent fiduciary to advise the Oversight Committee on how to vote or to cast votes on behalf of the Investment Adviser’s clients. If the Investment Adviser determines not to retain an independent fiduciary, or does not desire to follow the advice of such independent fiduciary, the Oversight Committee shall determine how to vote the proxy after consulting with the Investment Adviser’s Portfolio Management Group and/or the Investment Adviser’s Legal and Compliance Department and concluding that the vote cast is in its client’s best interest notwithstanding the conflict. A copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures are attached as Exhibit 99.PROXYPOL. Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, (i) at www.blackrock.com and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Item 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – as of December 31, 2012.
(a)(1) The registrant is managed by a team of investment professionals comprised of Stuart Spodek, Managing Director at BlackRock and Thomas Musmanno, CFA, Managing Director at BlackRock. Messrs. Spodek and Musmanno are the Fund’s portfolio managers and are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio and the selection of its investments. Messrs. Spodek and Musmanno have been members of the registrant’s portfolio management team since 2006 and 2009, respectively.
Portfolio Manager | Biography |
Stuart Spodek | Managing Director of BlackRock since 2002; Co-head of US Fixed Income within BlackRock's Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group since 2007. |
Thomas Musmanno, CFA | Managing Director of BlackRock since 2010; Director of BlackRock from 2006 to 2009. |
5 |
(a)(2) As of December 31, 2012:
(ii) Number of Other Accounts Managed and Assets by Account Type |
(iii) Number of Other Accounts and Assets for Which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based | ||||||
(i) Name of Portfolio Manager |
Other Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
Other Registered Investment Companies |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles |
Other Accounts |
|
Stuart Spodek | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
$0 | $1.57 Billion | $2.74 Billion | $0 | $1.22 Billion | $344 Million | ||
Thomas Musmanno, CFA | 5 | 10 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
$3.58 Billion | $1.4 Billion | $53.31 Billion | $0 | $0 | $14.17 Million |
(iv) Potential Material Conflicts of Interest
BlackRock has built a professional working environment, firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. BlackRock has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, BlackRock furnishes investment management and advisory services to numerous clients in addition to the Fund, and BlackRock may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts which are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to BlackRock, or in which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees), which may be the same as or different from those made to the Fund. In addition, BlackRock, Inc., its affiliates and significant shareholders and any officer, director, shareholder or employee may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale BlackRock recommends to the Fund. BlackRock, Inc., or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders, or any officer, director, shareholder, employee or any member of their families may take different actions than those recommended to the Fund by BlackRock with respect to the same securities. Moreover, BlackRock may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies of which any of BlackRock, Inc.’s (or its affiliates’ or significant shareholders’) officers, directors or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates or significant shareholders or the officers, directors and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material non-public information. Certain portfolio managers also may manage accounts whose investment strategies may at times be opposed to the strategy utilized for a fund. It should also be noted that Messrs. Musmanno and Spodek may be managing certain hedge fund and/or long only accounts, or may be part of a team managing certain hedge fund and/or long only accounts, subject to incentive fees. Messrs. Musmanno and Spodek may therefore be entitled to receive a portion of any incentive fees earned on such accounts.
As a fiduciary, BlackRock owes a duty of loyalty to its clients and must treat each client fairly. When BlackRock purchases or sells securities for more than one account, the trades must be allocated in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. BlackRock attempts to allocate investments in a fair and equitable manner among client accounts, with no account receiving preferential treatment. To this end, BlackRock, Inc. has adopted policies that are intended to ensure reasonable efficiency in client transactions and provide BlackRock with sufficient flexibility to allocate investments in a manner that is consistent with the particular investment discipline and client base, as appropriate.
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(a)(3) As of December 31, 2012:
Portfolio Manager Compensation Overview
BlackRock’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a performance-based discretionary bonus, participation in various benefits programs and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by BlackRock.
Base compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their position with the firm.
Discretionary Incentive Compensation
Discretionary incentive compensation is a function of several components: the performance of BlackRock, Inc., the performance of the portfolio manager’s group within BlackRock, the investment performance, including risk-adjusted returns, of the firm’s assets under management or supervision by that portfolio manager relative to predetermined benchmarks, and the individual’s performance and contribution to the overall performance of these portfolios and BlackRock. In most cases, these benchmarks are the same as the benchmark or benchmarks against which the performance of the Fund or other accounts managed by the portfolio managers are measured. Among other things, BlackRock’s Chief Investment Officers make a subjective determination with respect to each portfolio manager’s compensation based on the performance of the Fund and other accounts managed by each portfolio manager relative to the various benchmarks. Performance of fixed income funds is measured on a pre-tax and/or after-tax basis over various time periods including 1-, 3- and 5- year periods, as applicable. With respect to these portfolio managers, such benchmarks for the Fund and other accounts are a combination of market-based indices (e.g., Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate & Government Index, 1-3 Years), certain customized indices and certain fund industry peer groups.
Distribution of Discretionary Incentive Compensation
Discretionary incentive compensation is distributed to portfolio managers in a combination of cash and BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units which vest ratably over a number of years. For some portfolio managers, discretionary incentive compensation is also distributed in deferred cash awards that notionally track the returns of select BlackRock investment products they manage and that vest ratably over a number of years. The BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units, upon vesting, will be settled in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. Typically, the cash portion of the discretionary incentive compensation, when combined with base salary, represents more than 60% of total compensation for the portfolio managers. Paying a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in BlackRock stock puts compensation earned by a portfolio manager for a given year “at risk” based on BlackRock’s ability to sustain and improve its performance over future periods. Providing a portion of discretionary incentive compensation in deferred cash awards that notionally track the BlackRock investment products they manage provides direct alignment with investment product results.
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Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards — From time to time long-term incentive equity awards are granted to certain key employees to aid in retention, align their interests with long-term shareholder interests and motivate performance. Equity awards are generally granted in the form of BlackRock, Inc. restricted stock units that, once vested, settle in BlackRock, Inc. common stock. Messrs. Spodek and Musmanno have each received long-term incentive awards.
Deferred Compensation Program — A portion of the compensation paid to eligible BlackRock employees may be voluntarily deferred at their election for defined periods of time into an account that tracks the performance of certain of the firm’s investment products. All of the eligible portfolio managers have participated in the deferred compensation program.
Other Compensation Benefits
In addition to base compensation and discretionary incentive compensation, portfolio managers may be eligible to receive or participate in one or more of the following incentive savings plans. BlackRock, Inc. has created a variety of incentive savings plans in which BlackRock employees are eligible to participate, including a 401(k) plan, the BlackRock Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), and the BlackRock Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). The employer contribution components of the RSP include a company match equal to 50% of the first 8% of eligible pay contributed to the plan capped at $5,000 per year, and a company retirement contribution equal to 3-5% of eligible compensation up to the IRS limit ($250,000 for 2012). The RSP offers a range of investment options, including registered investment companies and collective investment funds managed by the firm. BlackRock, Inc. contributions follow the investment direction set by participants for their own contributions or, absent participant investment direction, are invested into an index target date fund that corresponds to, or is closest to, the year in which the participant attains age 65. The ESPP allows for investment in BlackRock, Inc. common stock at a 5% discount on the fair market value of the stock on the purchase date. Annual participation in the ESPP is limited to the purchase of 1,000 shares of common stock or a dollar value of $25,000 based on its fair market value on the purchase date. Messrs. Spodek and Musmanno are each eligible to participate in these plans.
(a)(4) Beneficial Ownership of Securities – As of December 31, 2012.
Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Equity Securities of the Fund Beneficially Owned |
Stuart Spodek | None |
Thomas Musmanno, CFA | None |
(b) Not Applicable
Item 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
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Period | (a) Total Number of Shares Purchased | (b) Average Price Paid per Share | (c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | (d) Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs |
July 1-31, 2012 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
August 1-31, 2012 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
September 1-30, 2012 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
October 1-31, 2012 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
November 1-30, 2012 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
December 1-31, 2012 | 3,367,976 | $16.17 1 | 3,367,9762 | 0 |
Total: | 3,367,976 | $16.17 1 | 3,367,9762 | 0 |
1 Subject to a repurchase
fee of 2% of the net asset value per share.
2 On October 12, 2012, the repurchase offer was announced to repurchase up to 5% of outstanding shares. The expiration
date of the offer was November 20, 2012. The registrant may conduct annual repurchases for between 5% and 25% of its outstanding
shares pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Item 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – There have been no material changes to these procedures.
Item 11 – Controls and Procedures
(a) – The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(b) – There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12 – Exhibits attached hereto
(a)(1) – Code of Ethics – See Item 2
(a)(2) – Certifications – Attached hereto
(a)(3) – Not Applicable
(b) – Certifications – Attached hereto
(c) – Notices to the registrant’s common shareholders in accordance with the order under Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act granting an exemption from Section 19(b) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 under the 1940 Act, dated May 9, 20091
1 The Fund has received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission permitting it to make periodic distributions of long-term capital gains with respect to its outstanding common stock as frequently as twelve times each year, and as frequently as distributions are specified by or in accordance with the terms of its outstanding preferred stock. This relief is conditioned, in part, on an undertaking by the Fund to make the disclosures to the holders of the Fund’s common shares, in addition to the information required by Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 19a-1 thereunder. The Fund is likewise obligated to file with the SEC 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.
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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.
BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc.
By: /s/ John M. Perlowski
John M. Perlowski
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund,
Inc.
Date: March 4, 2013
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ John M. Perlowski
John M. Perlowski
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of
BlackRock
Enhanced Government Fund, Inc.
Date: March 4, 2013
By: /s/ Neal J. Andrews
Neal J. Andrews
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of
BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc.
Date: March 4, 2013
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