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

 811-22057

 

Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

280 Park Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY

 

10017

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Adam M. Derechin
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
280 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(212) 832-3232

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

December 31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

December 31, 2008

 

 



 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

To Our Shareholders:

We are pleased to submit to you our report for the year ended December 31, 2008. The net asset value at that date was $9.94 per common share. The Fund's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and its share price can differ from its net asset value; at year end, the Fund's closing price on the NYSE was $7.86. The total returns, including income, for the Fund and the comparative benchmarks were:

    Six Months
Ended
December 31,
2008
  Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder at Market Valuea     –45.94 %     –47.14 %  
Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder at Net Asset Valuea     –35.61 %     –40.66 %  
MSCI World Indexb     –33.62 %     –40.40 %  
S&P 500 Indexb     –28.47 %     –36.99 %  

 

The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate and shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance results reflect the effects of leverage, resulting from the issuance of preferred shares and borrowings under a credit agreement.

A quarterly dividend of $0.33 per common share was declared and will be paid to common shareholders on March 31, 2009.c The Fund may pay distributions in excess of the Fund's investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains. This excess would be a "return of capital" distributed from the Fund's assets. Distributions of capital decrease the Fund's total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund's expense ratio. In addition, in order to make these distributions, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

The Fund allocates its assets among five proprietary strategies: global large cap value, global real estate, global utility, global preferred securities and closed-end funds.

a  As a closed-end investment company, the price of the Fund's New York Stock Exchange-traded shares will be set by market forces and at times may deviate from the net asset value per share of the Fund.

b  The MSCI World Index is a capitalization weighted index that monitors the performance of stocks from all around the world. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks that is frequently used as a general measure of stock market performance.

c  Please note that distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes. The final tax treatment of these distributions is reported to shareholders after the close of the calendar year.


1



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

The Fund's target asset allocation is 60% to global large cap value and 40% to the remaining strategies. Index and stock options are written on a portion of the Fund's portfolio (covered call strategy) with a target aggregate notional value of 40% to 60% of total assets. As of December 31, 2008, options represented about 50% of aggregate notional value.

Investment Review

The 12-month period was volatile for capital markets around the world and most asset classes had sizable declines; government bonds were an exception in the (broad-based) "flight to safety." It began with a sell-off driven by a fresh wave of write-downs from major banks, followed by the hastily arranged sale of Bear Stearns to JPMorgan Chase. The shocks kept coming, picking up speed in September with the U.S. government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy and the nationalization of insurance giant AIG.

Amid concerns that the entire financial system could be at risk, the U.S. Congress, Treasury secretary and Federal Reserve chairman structured a $700 billion rescue package that has been used to buy preferred shares in banks to bolster capital and encourage lending. The Fed and other central banks dropped interest rates and implemented stimulus packages in a coordinated effort to break the credit freeze and kick-start the global economy.

In this period of elevated risk, investors appeared to show little discrimination in what they liquidated. Value stocks and growth stocks both fell sharply during the year, as measured by the Russell 1000 Value Index (–36.9%) and the Russell 1000 Growth Index (–38.4%). Both indexes were about in line with the S&P 500 Index's return of –37.0%. Most international stock markets had double-digit declines as well.

Preferred securities and utilities stocks caught in the downdraft

Preferred securities outperformed common stocks, but nonetheless had their largest calendar-year loss on record. This reflected worries over financial companies (which account for a large share of the preferred market) along with economic concerns, heavy issuance of preferreds during much of the period and forced selling by leveraged investors.

Broadly speaking, utility stocks outperformed, aided by their defensive characteristics and relatively stable cash flows. However, some deregulated utilities—which are exposed to market prices for power—underperformed materially amid a rapid decline in global commodity and energy prices.

Closed-end funds struggled

Almost every closed-end fund sector fell during the year, with the steepest declines occurring in real estate securities, convertibles and loan participation funds. Real estate funds, as with real estate equities globally, were hurt when investors began to question how a weakening economy would affect vacancies, and whether property companies would be able to continue to refinance maturing debt on favorable terms.


2



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

A difficult year for leverage and AMPS

The Fund employs leverage as part of an income-enhancement strategy. While leverage can increase total return in rising markets, it can have the opposite effect in declining markets. In the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund's leverage detracted significantly from its performance, magnifying the steep decline in the securities it held. As described on page 1, the Fund had a total return on net asset value of –40.66%, compared with a total return of –40.40% for the unleveraged MSCI World Index. That decline started early in the year and was more significant in the fourth quarter.

The Fund's leverage consisted of auction market rate preferred securities (AMPS) and debt financing. In the first quarter of 2008, the AMPS market experienced a major disruption that resulted in failed auctions for many of these securities, including the Fund's. The Fund's Board of Directors and its advisor sought a solution that would preserve the interests of both common and preferred shareholders; and in the third quarter, the Fund adjusted its financing arrangement that, along with portfolio liquidations, allowed it to redeem $47 million of its outstanding AMPS and helped diversify its capital structure.

In light of market conditions, which included lower asset values and reduced net investment income, the Fund's Board of Directors changed from a monthly to a quarterly distribution payment schedule and reduced the distribution rate, beginning with the distribution to be paid in March 2009, to reflect the Fund's current estimated net investment income.

The Fund's decline was steep

The Fund had negative total returns in a period that saw heavy selling pressure across most investment classes. It performed in line with the MSCI World Index. Indexes do not use leverage (the Fund is leveraged), and so the MSCI World Index's performance does not reflect the impact of leverage.

The Fund's large cap value and preferred securities were contributors to relative performance. Stocks that detracted from performance included its utilities holdings, which reflected sizable declines from our European utilities holdings, and included the effects of a weaker euro and pound against the dollar.

Covered calls provided significant income

We continued to employ a covered call strategy designed to provide incremental income and contribute to total return, while helping to lower portfolio volatility. For the year, we were able to retain a significant portion of the income generated from writing options on equity indexes, despite wide market swings.

Investment Outlook

As we enter 2009, we believe stocks are attractively valued on a longer-term basis both on traditional value measures and discounted cash flow metrics. There are especially compelling values among high-quality companies that were pulled down in an indiscriminate sell-off.


3



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

Volatility has declined from recent extreme levels, eased by widespread investor acceptance of current and proposed fiscal and monetary measures. We expect to see more long-term buyers step back into the markets. However, we perceive significant risks in the near-term due to the weak global economy, as evidenced by further declines in output and profitability.

The credit crunch will continue to put pressure on corporate working capital and may lead to more dividend cuts. Rising losses plus federal intervention have all but precluded meaningful dividend payments from many financial firms. Other companies have reduced capital expenditures and may choose to preserve cash until normal funding options return.

Utilities may be better positioned

We believe that global utilities have the potential for outperformance based on their relatively strong balance sheets and stable, often regulated, revenues. This could provide relative insulation from challenging economic and capital-market conditions. Additionally, utilities are trading well below their long-term valuations based on both price-to-earnings and enterprise value-to-cash flow multiples.

Closed-end funds offer wide discounts

The pieces may be in place for a recovery in the closed-end fund market. Fund discounts and distribution yields are currently at or near historical highs, and the stocks provide investors with an entrée to the undervalued equity and fixed-income markets. While closed-end funds' current dividend yields likely overstate their true economic earnings potential (as the dividends of many may be cut), it is our belief that the current deep discounts to net asset value compensate investors for that risk.

We view preferred securities as an attractive opportunity source and will continue to target securities with the highest risk-adjusted yields and total return potential. Our focus is on companies with the management strength, transparency and sound balance sheets needed to withstand the economic difficulties and market volatility that are likely to persist.


4



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

Sincerely,

       
    MARTIN COHEN   ROBERT H. STEERS  
    Co-chairman   Co-chairman  
       
    JOSEPH M. HARVEY   RICHARD E. HELM  
    Portfolio Manager   Portfolio Manager  
       
    YIGAL D. JHIRAD   WILLIAM F. SCAPELL  
    Portfolio Manager   Portfolio Manager  
     
DOUGLAS R. BOND   SCOTT CROWE   BEN MORTON  
Portfolio Manager   Portfolio Manager   Portfolio Manager  

 

The views and opinions in the preceding commentary are subject to change. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time, should not be relied upon as investment advice and is not intended to predict or depict performance of any investment.

Visit Cohen & Steers online at cohenandsteers.com

For more information about any of our funds, visit cohenandsteers.com, where you will find daily net asset values, fund fact sheets and portfolio highlights. You can also access newsletters, education tools and market updates covering the global real estate, listed infrastructure, utilities, large cap value and preferred securities sectors.

In addition, our Web site contains comprehensive information about our firm, including our most recent press releases, profiles of our senior investment professionals and an overview of our investment approach.


5



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

Our Leverage Strategy
(Unaudited)

Our leverage strategy utilizes a combination of auction market preferred shares (AMPS) and borrowings, potentially, up to the maximum permitted by the 1940 Act under certain market conditions, to provide additional capital for the Fund, with an objective of increasing the net income available for common shareholders. As of December 31, 2008, leverage represented 28% of the Fund's managed assets, with AMPS and borrowings each representing 14% and 14%, respectively.

Leverage Factsa

Leverage (as a % of managed assets)     28 %  
Current Rate on AMPSb     1.6 %  
Current Rate on Debtc     0.9 %  

 

The Fund intends to enhance its dividend yield through leverage. There are special risks and costs associated with leverage. The net asset value of the Fund's common shares may be reduced by the issuance and ongoing costs of leverage. As long as the Fund is able to invest in securities that produce a realized investment yield that is greater than the total cost of leverage, the leverage strategy will produce higher current net investment income for the common shareholders. On the other hand, to the extent that the total cost of leverage exceeds the incremental income gained from employing such leverage, the common shareholders would realize lower net investment income. In addition to the impact on net income, the use of leverage will have an effect of magnifying capital appreciation or depreciation for common shareholders. Specifically, in an up market, leverage will typically generate greater capital appreciation than if the Fund did not employ leverage. Conversely, in down markets, the use of leverage will generally result in greater capital depreciation than if the Fund did not use leverage. To the extent that the Fund is required or elects to reduce its leverage, the Fund may need to liquidate investments at times of adverse economic conditions, which may result in capital losses and potentially reduce returns to common shareholders. There can be no assurance that a leverage strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed.

a  Data as of December 31, 2008. Information subject to change.

b  See Note 5 in Notes to Financial Statements.

c  See Note 6 in Notes to Financial Statements.


6



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

DECEMBER 31, 2008

Top Ten Long-Term Holdingsa
(Unaudited)

Security   Value   % of
Managed
Assets
 
Exxon Mobil Corp.   $ 6,134,696       1.9 %  
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund     5,833,801       1.8    
Abbott Laboratories     5,447,102       1.7    
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund     5,314,066       1.7    
Procter & Gamble Co.     4,863,750       1.5    
Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.     4,658,325       1.5    
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)     4,162,665       1.3    
E.ON AG (ADR)     4,060,615       1.3    
McDonald's Corp.     4,044,776       1.3    
Johnson & Johnson     3,974,866       1.3    

 

a  Top ten holdings are determined on the basis of the value of individual securities held. The Fund may also hold positions in other types of securities issued by the companies listed above. See the Schedule of Investments for additional details on such other positions.

Country Breakdown

(Based on Managed Assets)
(Unaudited)


7




COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
COMMON STOCK     110.1 %              
AUSTRALIA     2.4 %              
BANK     0.6 %              
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.a,b             139,361     $ 1,504,571    
MATERIAL     0.4 %              
BHP Billiton Ltd.a,b             42,287       898,352    
REAL ESTATE—DIVERSIFIED     1.4 %                
GPT Groupa             2,295,335       1,496,724    
Mirvac Groupa,b             1,858,535       1,663,357    
              3,160,081    
TOTAL AUSTRALIA                     5,563,004    
CANADA     1.8 %              
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICE     1.0 %              
IGM Financial             75,711       2,174,123    
ENERGY—OIL & GAS     0.8 %      
Petro-Canada             85,015       1,840,098    
TOTAL CANADA                     4,014,221    
FINLAND     2.5 %              
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     1.0 %              
Nokia Oyja,b             150,600       2,363,273    
UTILITIES—ELECTRIC UTILITIES     1.5 %                
Fortum Oyja,b             153,800       3,342,892    
TOTAL FINLAND                     5,706,165    
FRANCE     6.2 %              
BANK     0.4 %              
BNP Paribasa,b             22,700       979,834    
ENERGY—OIL & GAS     1.7 %              
Total SAa,b             70,381       3,869,491    
MATERIALS     0.4 %              
Lafarge SAa,b             14,800       905,189    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
REAL ESTATE     0.7 %              
DIVERSIFIED     0.0 %              
Gecina SAa             1,018     $ 70,783    
RETAIL     0.7 %              
Klepierrea             63,976       1,573,303    
TOTAL REAL ESTATE                     1,644,086    
UTILITIES     3.0 %              
ELECTRIC UTILITIES     1.5 %              
Electricite de Francea,b             56,744       3,300,337    
MULTI UTILITIES     1.5 %              
Gaz de France S.A.a             70,000       3,474,596    
TOTAL UTILITIES                     6,774,933    
TOTAL FRANCE                     14,173,533    
GERMANY     4.6 %              
INDUSTRIAL     0.9 %              
Siemens AGa             26,500       1,995,011    
INSURANCE     0.7 %              
Allianz SEa             14,200       1,510,890    
UTILITIES     3.0 %              
ELECTRIC UTILITIES     1.8 %              
E.ON AG (ADR)b             99,647       4,060,615    
MULTI UTILITIES     1.2 %              
RWE AGa             32,000       2,842,144    
TOTAL UTILITIES                     6,902,759    
TOTAL GERMANY                     10,408,660    
HONG KONG     2.7 %              
ENERGY—OIL & GAS     0.7 %              
CNOOC Ltd.a,b             1,696,000       1,613,193    
FINANCE—INVESTMENT BANKERS/BROKERS     0.2 %              
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd.a             51,500       494,448    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
REAL ESTATE—DIVERSIFIED     1.5 %              
Hysan Development Company Ltd.a,b             1,002,565     $ 1,630,108    
Sino Land Co., Ltd.a,b             1,672,000       1,750,978    
              3,381,086    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     0.3 %              
China Mobile Ltd.a             75,500       766,032    
TOTAL HONG KONG                     6,254,759    
ISRAEL     1.8 %              
PHARMACEUTICAL                    
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR)             97,784       4,162,665    
ITALY     1.4 %              
BANK     0.5 %              
UniCredito Italiano S.p.A.a,b             440,200       1,119,219    
OIL & GAS     0.9 %              
Eni S.p.A.a,b             82,500       1,985,251    
TOTAL ITALY                     3,104,470    
JAPAN     11.6 %              
APPAREL     0.5 %              
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.a             7,200       1,056,476    
Nisshinbo Industriesa             17,000       129,593    
              1,186,069    
AUTOMOTIVE     0.7 %              
Toyota Motor Corp.a             46,200       1,527,294    
BANK     0.1 %              
Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.a             25,000       147,781    
ENERGY—OIL & GAS REFINING & MARKETING     0.1 %              
Showa Shell Sekiyu KKa             21,000       208,109    
FINANCE     0.1 %              
Daiwa Securities Groupa             32,000       192,106    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
FOOD     0.6 %              
House Foods Corp.a             42,000     $ 750,638    
Kikkoman Corp.a             57,000       677,338    
              1,427,976    
HEALTH CARE     0.7 %              
Astellas Pharmaa             26,500       1,084,706    
Eisai Co., Ltd.a             13,000       542,485    
              1,627,191    
INDUSTRIAL     2.4 %              
Chiyoda Corp.a             46,000       256,215    
Fanuc Ltd.a             33,500       2,401,005    
Secom Co., Ltd.a             53,300       2,750,411    
              5,407,631    
INSURANCE     0.4 %              
Sompo Japan Insurancea             132,000       977,418    
MATERIALS     0.7 %              
Mitsubishi Materials Corp.a             76,000       192,363    
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.a             19,500       899,955    
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.a             14,000       149,766    
Toray Industriesa             87,000       442,758    
              1,684,842    
REAL ESTATE—DIVERSIFIED     2.1 %              
Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.a             282,000       4,658,325    
TECHNOLOGY     2.7 %              
Canona             43,100       1,365,604    
CSK Holdings Corp.a             34,000       186,641    
Kyocera Corp.a             9,000       651,580    
NTT Data Corp.a             329       1,325,563    
Sony Corp.a             66,500       1,454,481    
TDK Corp.a             24,500       905,192    
Tokyo Electron Ltd.a             8,600       302,751    
              6,191,812    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     0.5 %              
KDDI Corp.a             155     $ 1,106,745    
TOTAL JAPAN                     26,343,299    
MEXICO     0.8 %              
RETAIL     0.4 %              
Wal-Mart de Mexico SA de CVb             340,300       909,203    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     0.4 %              
America Movil SAB de CVb             655,700       1,006,147    
TOTAL MEXICO                     1,915,350    
NETHERLANDS     0.5 %              
REAL ESTATE—INDUSTRIAL                    
ProLogis European Propertiesa             273,499       1,232,368    
SPAIN     2.0 %              
BANK     1.0 %              
Banco Santander Central Hispano SAa,b             241,900       2,336,922    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     1.0 %              
Telefonica SAa,b             100,100       2,259,424    
TOTAL SPAIN                     4,596,346    
SWEDEN     0.8 %              
RETAIL                    
Hennes & Mauritz ABa             46,679       1,856,662    
SWITZERLAND     3.5 %              
FOOD     1.8 %              
Nestle SAa,b             99,620       3,944,764    
HEALTH CARE     1.7 %              
Novartis AGa,b             78,700       3,941,407    
TOTAL SWITZERLAND                     7,886,171    
UNITED KINGDOM     8.3 %              
BANK     0.8 %              
Barclays PLCa,b             426,500       969,385    
HSBC Holdings PLCa             96,400       943,484    
              1,912,869    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
12



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY     0.8 %              
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLCa             50,500     $ 1,892,280    
ENERGY—INTEGRATED OIL & GAS     1.3 %              
Royal Dutch Shell PLCa,b             110,624       2,906,431    
HEALTH CARE     1.7 %              
GlaxoSmithKline PLCa,b             207,100       3,851,587    
REAL ESTATE     1.0 %              
DIVERSIFIED     1.0 %              
Hammerson PLCa,b             281,924       2,183,931    
INDUSTRIAL     0.0 %              
Segro PLCa             10,860       38,717    
TOTAL REAL ESTATE                     2,222,648    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     0.8 %              
Vodafone Group PLCa,b             921,000       1,885,884    
UTILITIES     1.9 %              
ELECTRIC UTILITIES     1.2 %              
Scottish and Southern Energy PLCa,b             156,833       2,765,172    
MULTI UTILITIES     0.7 %              
United Utilities Group PLCa             158,100       1,435,549    
TOTAL UTILITIES                     4,200,721    
TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM                     18,872,420    
UNITED STATES     59.2 %              
BASIC MATERIALS     0.2 %              
Alcoab             49,958       562,527    
CONSUMER—CYCLICAL     2.1 %              
APPAREL     0.9 %              
Nike             39,637       2,021,487    
RETAIL     0.9 %              
Nordstromb             53,840       716,610    
Wal-Mart Stores             25,000       1,401,500    
              2,118,110    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
13



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
TOYS/GAMES/HOBBIES     0.3 %              
Mattel             40,300     $ 644,800    
TOTAL CONSUMER—CYCLICAL                     4,784,397    
CONSUMER—NON-CYCLICAL     14.4 %              
AGRICULTURE     2.4 %              
Altria Groupc             61,633       928,193    
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.b             33,479       965,199    
Monsanto Co.b             31,234       2,197,312    
Philip Morris Internationalc             33,633       1,463,372    
              5,554,076    
BEVERAGE     1.0 %              
PepsiCo             42,110       2,306,365    
COSMETICS/PERSONAL CARE     2.1 %              
Procter & Gamble Co.c             78,676       4,863,750    
FOOD     0.7 %              
Kraft Foodsc             54,973       1,476,025    
HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS     3.1 %              
Johnson & Johnsonb,c             66,436       3,974,866    
Medtronicb,c             100,625       3,161,637    
              7,136,503    
PHARMACEUTICAL     3.3 %              
Abbott Laboratoriesb,c             102,063       5,447,102    
Merck & Co.c             33,329       1,013,202    
Pfizerc             53,784       952,515    
              7,412,819    
RESTAURANT     1.8 %              
McDonald's Corp.b,c             65,039       4,044,776    
TOTAL CONSUMER—NON-CYCLICAL                     32,794,314    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
14



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
ENERGY     7.5 %              
OIL & GAS     6.1 %              
Chevron Corp.b             49,730     $ 3,678,528    
Devon Energy Corp.b             34,573       2,271,792    
Exxon Mobil Corp.b             76,847       6,134,696    
Marathon Oil Corp.c             70,300       1,923,408    
              14,008,424    
OIL & GAS SERVICES     1.4 %              
Schlumberger Ltd.b             46,998       1,989,425    
Transocean Ltdd             24,986       1,180,589    
              3,170,014    
TOTAL ENERGY                     17,178,438    
FINANCIAL     6.0 %              
BANK     1.7 %              
Bank of America Corp.b             98,099       1,381,234    
US Bancorp             37,000       925,370    
Wells Fargo & Co.b             51,087       1,506,044    
              3,812,648    
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICE     1.4 %              
Citigroup             122,000       818,620    
Goldman Sachs Group             6,000       506,340    
JPMorgan Chase & Co.b             59,994       1,891,611    
              3,216,571    
INSURANCE     2.9 %              
Aflacb             70,749       3,243,134    
HCC Insurance Holdingsc             108,981       2,915,242    
MetLife             12,000       418,320    
              6,576,696    
TOTAL FINANCIAL                     13,605,915    
HEALTH CARE     0.4 %              
Becton Dickinson & Co.             14,000       957,460    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
15



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
INDUSTRIAL     5.7 %              
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE     3.6 %              
Boeing Co.b             34,143     $ 1,456,882    
General Dynamics Corp.b,c             49,419       2,846,040    
L-3 Communications Holdingsc             13,000       959,140    
United Technologies Corp.c             54,273       2,909,033    
              8,171,095    
DIVERSIFIED MANUFACTURING     1.2 %              
General Electric Co.b             170,530       2,762,586    
TRANSPORTATION     0.9 %              
United Parcel Service             37,160       2,049,745    
TOTAL INDUSTRIAL                     12,983,426    
MEDIA     0.8 %              
The Walt Disney Co.b,c             81,800       1,856,042    
REAL ESTATE     6.4 %              
APARTMENT     1.1 %              
Apartment Investment & Management Co.             219,676       2,537,258    
DIVERSIFIED     0.7 %              
Vornado Realty Trustc             25,616       1,545,926    
INDUSTRIAL     1.4 %              
ProLogis             232,242       3,225,841    
OFFICE     0.9 %              
Liberty Property Trust             87,432       1,996,073    
RETAIL     1.6 %              
CBL & Associates Properties             147,192       956,748    
Developers Diversified Realty Corp.             348,984       1,703,042    
Simon Property Groupc             18,880       1,003,094    
              3,662,884    
SELF STORAGE     0.7 %              
Extra Space Storage             154,761       1,597,133    
TOTAL REAL ESTATE                     14,565,115    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
16



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
TECHNOLOGY     9.1 %              
COMPUTERS     2.7 %              
Garmin Ltd.             23,000     $ 440,910    
Hewlett-Packard Co.             54,574       1,980,491    
International Business Machines Corp.             38,433       3,234,521    
Seagate Technologyb             101,500       449,645    
              6,105,567    
SEMICONDUCTORS     2.3 %              
Intel Corp.             160,501       2,352,945    
Microchip Technologyb,c             144,248       2,817,163    
              5,170,108    
SOFTWARE     1.6 %              
Microsoft Corp.b             191,915       3,730,828    
TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT     2.5 %              
Corningb             203,700       1,941,261    
Harris Corp.c             50,000       1,902,500    
QUALCOMM             54,000       1,934,820    
              5,778,581    
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY                     20,785,084    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     1.7 %              
AT&Tb             86,277       2,458,895    
Verizon Communications             41,686       1,413,155    
              3,872,050    
UTILITIES     4.9 %              
ELECTRIC UTILITIES     3.5 %              
Allegheny Energyb             44,000       1,489,840    
Exelon Corp.c             26,405       1,468,382    
FirstEnergy Corp.c             25,615       1,244,377    
Great Plains Energy             18,949       366,284    
NV Energy Inc             110,000       1,087,900    
Southern Co.b             60,885       2,252,745    
              7,909,528    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
17



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
MULTI UTILITIES     0.9 %              
CMS Energy Corp.             102,000     $ 1,031,220    
Sempra Energy             24,000       1,023,120    
              2,054,340    
OIL & GAS STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION     0.5 %              
Energy Transfer Partners LP             19,488       662,787    
Enterprise Products Partners LP             26,700       553,491    
              1,216,278    
TOTAL UTILITIES                     11,180,146    
TOTAL UNITED STATES                     135,124,914    
TOTAL COMMON STOCK (Identified cost—$353,821,075)                     251,215,007    
CLOSED-END FUNDS—UNITED STATES     14.6 %              
CONVERTIBLE     1.8 %              
Advent Claymore Global Convertible Securities & Income Fundb             190,100       1,110,184    
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fundb             193,070       1,637,234    
Nicholas-Applegate Convertible & Income Fund             155,700       722,448    
Nicholas-Applegate Convertible & Income Fund II             163,700       703,910    
              4,173,776    
COVERED CALL     3.0 %              
Dow 30 Enhanced Premium and Income Fundb,c             289,672       2,575,184    
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fundb             76,500       780,300    
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fundc             125,900       1,274,108    
ING Risk Managed Natural Resources Fund             168,031       2,223,050    
              6,852,642    
EQUITY TAX-ADVANTAGED     4.9 %              
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Diversified Equity Income Fundc             491,588       5,314,066    
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fundc             592,264       5,833,801    
              11,147,867    
GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND     1.8 %              
Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund             128,800       795,984    
Evergreen Global Dividend Opportunity Fundc             349,300       3,332,322    
              4,128,306    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
18



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
GLOBAL HYBRID (GROWTH & INCOME)     1.3 %              
Clough Global Opportunities Fundc             320,885     $ 2,904,009    
REAL ESTATE     0.5 %              
Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund             146,203       577,502    
ING Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund             132,900       528,942    
              1,106,444    
SENIOR LOAN     0.6 %              
Highland Credit Strategies Fundc             216,788       1,235,692    
US GENERAL EQUITY     0.6 %              
Nasdaq Premium Income & Growth Fund             154,000       1,430,660    
US HYBRID (GROWTH & INCOME)     0.1 %              
Nicholas-Applegate Equity & Convertible Income Fund             23,450       284,448    
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS (Identified cost—$53,290,388)                     33,263,844    
PREFERRED SECURITIES—$25 PAR VALUE     4.9 %              
BERMUDA     1.0 %              
INSURANCE                    
PROPERTY CASUALTY     0.3 %              
Arch Capital Group Ltd., 7.875%, Series B             32,827       657,196    
REINSURANCE     0.7 %              
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd., 7.50%, Series B ($100 par value)             10,000       654,688    
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., 7.30%, Series B             49,738       902,745    
              1,557,433    
TOTAL BERMUDA                     2,214,629    
GERMANY     1.4 %              
BANK     0.6 %              
Deutsche Bank Contingent Capital Trust III, 7.60%             75,000       1,273,500    
INSURANCE—MULTI-LINE     0.8 %              
Allianz SE, 8.375%             100,000       1,950,000    
TOTAL GERMANY                     3,223,500    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
19



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
NETHERLANDS     0.7 %              
INSURANCE—MULTI-LINE                    
ING Groep N.V., 7.375%             126,591     $ 1,595,047    
SPAIN     0.4 %              
BANK                    
Santander Finance, 7.60%             50,000       943,000    
UNITED KINGDOM     0.5 %              
BANK                    
Barclays Bank PLC, 8.125%             75,000       1,126,500    
UNITED STATES     0.9 %              
REAL ESTATE—RESIDENTIAL—APARTMENT     0.3 %              
Apartment Investment & Management Co., 7.75%, Series U             57,000       789,450    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     0.6 %              
Telephone & Data Systems, 7.60%, due 12/1/41, Series A             93,498       1,402,470    
TOTAL UNITED STATES                     2,191,920    
TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES—$25 PAR VALUE
(Identified cost—$15,380,059)
                    11,294,596    
PREFERRED SECURITIES—CAPITAL SECURITIES     3.7 %              
BERMUDA     0.2 %              
INSURANCE—MULTI-LINE                    
Catlin Insurance Co., 7.249%, due 12/31/49, 144Ae             1,000,000       398,170    
FRANCE     0.7 %              
BANK                    
BNP Paribas, 7.195%, due 12/31/49, 144Ae             2,450,000       1,560,907    
UNITED KINGDOM     0.8 %              
BANK     0.3 %              
Standard Chartered PLC, 7.014%, due 12/30/49, 144Ae             1,500,000       672,578    
FINANCE—INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT     0.5 %                
Aberdeen Asset Management, 7.90%, due 12/31/49             3,000,000       1,140,000    
TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM                     1,812,578    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
20



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
UNITED STATES     2.0 %              
FINANCE     0.2 %              
CREDIT CARD                    
Capital One Capital III, 7.686%, due 8/15/36             1,000,000     $ 457,374    
INSURANCE—PROPERTY CASUALTY     1.0 %              
Liberty Mutual Group, 7.80%, due 3/15/37, 144Ae             5,000,000       2,247,060    
OIL & GAS STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION     0.8 %              
Enbridge Energy Partners LP, 8.05%, due 10/1/37             1,000,000       487,410    
Enterprise Products Operating LP, 8.375%, due 8/1/66             2,500,000       1,376,570    
              1,863,980    
TOTAL UNITED STATES                     4,568,414    
TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES—CAPITAL SECURITIES
(Identified cost—$16,297,771)
                    8,340,069    
        Principal
Amount
   
CORPORATE BONDS     3.9 %              
FRANCE     0.5 %              
BANK                    
Natixis, 10.00%, due 4/30/49, 144Ae           $ 2,500,000       1,161,123    
UNITED STATES     3.4 %              
BANK     0.7 %              
JPMorgan Chase & Co, 7.90%, due 4/29/49             1,940,000       1,618,010    
INSURANCE—PROPERTY CASUALTY     1.1 %              
Ace Capital Trust II, 9.70%, due 4/1/30             2,000,000       1,537,776    
Liberty Mutual Group, 10.75%, due 6/15/58, 144Ae             1,500,000       826,065    
              2,363,841    
MEDIA     0.8 %              
CSC Holdings, 8.50%, due 6/15/15, 144Ae             2,000,000       1,770,000    
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES     0.8 %              
Citizens Communications Co., 9.00%, due 8/15/31             3,000,000       1,905,000    
TOTAL UNITED STATES                     7,656,851    
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (Identified cost—$12,455,967)                     8,817,974    

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
21



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

        Number
of Shares
  Value  
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS     4.6 %              
MONEY MARKET FUNDS                    
Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management Fund, 0.17%f             2,224,902     $ 2,224,902    
Federated U.S. Treasury Cash Reserves Fund, 0.40%f             7,229,125       7,229,125    
Fidelity Institutional Money Market Treasury Only Fund, 0.54%f             1,100,506       1,100,506    
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Identified cost—$10,554,533)
                    10,554,533    
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (Identified cost—$461,799,793)     141.8 %           323,486,023    
WRITTEN CALL OPTIONS     (1.1 )%           (2,413,047 )  
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS     (21.9 )%           (49,870,573 )  
LIQUIDATION VALUE OF PREFERRED SHARES     (18.8 )%           (43,000,000 )  
NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHARES (Equivalent to $9.94 per share
based on 22,965,950 shares of common stock outstanding)
    100.0 %         $ 228,202,403    
        Number
of Contracts
   
WRITTEN CALL OPTIONS     (1.1 )%              
EUROPE     (0.3 )%              
DJ EuroStoxx 50 Index, EUR Strike Price 2,550 1/16/09             340     $ (151,237 )  
Dow Jones Stoxx 50 Index, EUR Strike Price 2,128 1/16/09             4,934       (342,994 )  
Dow Jones Stoxx 50 Index, EUR Strike Price 2,153 1/16/09             3,251       (117,812 )  
TOTAL EUROPE                     (612,043 )  
JAPAN     (0.1 )%              
Nikkei 225 Index, JPY Strike Price 9,274 1/16/09             144,868       (205,004 )  
UNITED STATES     (0.7 )%              
S&P 500 Index , USD Strike Price 925 1/16/09             400       (516,000 )  
S&P 500 Index , USD Strike Price 930 1/16/09             900       (1,080,000 )  
TOTAL UNITED STATES                     (1,596,000 )  
TOTAL WRITTEN CALL OPTIONS
(Premiums Received—$3,890,800)
                  $ (2,413,047 )  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
22



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS—(Continued)

December 31, 2008

Glossary of Portfolio Abbreviations

ADR  American Depositary Receipt

EUR  Euro

JPY  Japanese Yen

USD  United States Dollar

Note: Percentages indicated are based on the net assets applicable to common shares of the Fund.

a  Fair valued security. This security has been valued at its fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Directors. Aggregate fair value securities represent 44.6% of net assets applicable to common shares of the Fund, all of which have been fair valued pursuant to foreign security fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board of Directors.

b  All or a portion of the security is pledged in connection with the revolving credit agreement; $96,336,527 has been pledged as collateral.

c  All or a portion of the security is pledged in connection with written option contracts: $23,648,138 has been pledged to brokers.

d  Non-income producing security.

e  Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors. Aggregate holdings equal 3.8% of net assets applicable to common shares of the Fund.

f  Rate quoted represents the seven day yield of the fund.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
23




COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

December 31, 2008

ASSETS:  
Investments in securities, at value (Identified cost—$461,799,793)   $ 323,486,023    
Foreign currency, at value (Identified cost—$440,276)     439,579    
Receivable for investment securities sold     2,400,983    
Dividends and interest receivable     2,127,549    
Other assets     35,258    
Total Assets     328,489,392    
LIABILITIES:  
Payable for revolving credit agreement     46,000,000    
Payable for investment securities purchased     7,654,694    
Payable for options written (Premiums received $3,890,800)     2,413,047    
Payable for dividends declared on common shares     730,641    
Payable for investment management fees     253,026    
Payable for dividends declared on preferred shares     25,852    
Payable for administration fees     20,242    
Payable for interest expense     10,412    
Payable for directors' fees     2,068    
Other liabilities     177,007    
Total Liabilities     57,286,989    
LIQUIDATION VALUE OF PREFERRED SHARES     43,000,000    
TOTAL NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHARES   $ 228,202,403    
NET ASSETS consist of:  
Paid-in-capital   $ 409,707,217    
Dividends in excess of net investment income     (351,665 )  
Accumulated net realized loss     (44,275,355 )  
Net unrealized depreciation     (136,877,794 )  
    $ 228,202,403    
NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE:  
($228,202,403 ÷ 22,965,950 shares outstanding)   $ 9.94    
MARKET PRICE PER COMMON SHARE   $ 7.86    
MARKET PRICE DISCOUNT TO NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE     (20.93 )%  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
24



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

Investment Income:  
Dividend income (net of $645,005 of foreign withholding tax)   $ 16,651,917    
Interest income     2,940,375    
Total Income     19,592,292    
Expenses:  
Investment management fees     4,727,287    
Interest expense     1,318,896    
Administration fees     436,297    
Professional fees     293,454    
Custodian fees and expenses     230,646    
Preferred remarketing fees     171,337    
Line of credit fees     135,072    
Directors' fees and expenses     53,616    
Shareholder reporting expenses     49,654    
Transfer agent fees and expenses     22,886    
Registration and filing fees     8,841    
Miscellaneous     72,108    
Total Expenses     7,520,094    
Net Investment Income     12,072,198    
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):  
Net realized gain (loss) on:  
Investments     (72,382,310 )  
Options written     28,852,991    
Foreign currency transactions     (347,218 )  
Capital gain distributions received     177,053    
Net realized loss     (43,699,484 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:  
Investments     (144,459,094 )  
Options written     761,124    
Foreign currency translations     (44,236 )  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     (143,742,206 )  
Net realized and unrealized loss     (187,441,690 )  
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations     (175,369,492 )  
Less Dividends and Distributions to Preferred Shareholders     (2,737,776 )  
Net Decrease in Net Assets from Operations Applicable to Common Shares   $ (178,107,268 )  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
25



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

    For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2008
  For the Period
July 27, 2007a
through
December 31, 2007
 
Change in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares:  
From Operations:  
Net investment income   $ 12,072,198     $ 4,721,591    
Net realized gain (loss)     (43,699,484 )     18,785,483    
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     (143,742,206 )     6,864,412    
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
from operations
    (175,369,492 )     30,371,486    
Less Dividends and Distributions to Preferred Shareholders from:  
Net investment income     (1,688,966 )     (301,598 )  
Net realized gain     (1,048,810 )     (717,994 )  
Total dividends and distributions to preferred shareholders     (2,737,776 )     (1,019,592 )  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations
applicable to common shares
    (178,107,268 )     29,351,894    
Less Dividends and Distributions to Common Shareholders from:  
Net investment income     (10,469,856 )     (4,588,317 )  
Net realized gain     (6,442,691 )     (11,248,576 )  
Tax return of capital     (30,468,783 )        
Total dividends and distributions to common shareholders     (47,381,330 )     (15,836,893 )  
Capital Stock Transactions:  
Increase (decrease) in net assets from common share
transactions
    (2,541,103 )     443,798,758    
Decrease in net assets from preferred share
offering cost adjustment
    (31,930 )        
Offering costs and commissions charged to
paid-in-capital-preferred shares
          (1,150,000 )  
Increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions     (2,573,033 )     442,648,758    
Total increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to
common shares
    (228,061,631 )     456,163,759    
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares:  
Beginning of period     456,264,034       100,275    
End of perioda   $ 228,202,403     $ 456,264,034    

 

a  Includes dividends in excess of net investment income of $351,665 and $124,268, respectively.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
26




COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table includes selected data for a common share outstanding throughout each period and other performance information derived from the financial statements. It should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto.

Per Share Operating Performance:   For the
Year Ended
December 31,2008
  For the Period
July 27, 2007a
through
December 31, 2007
 
Net asset value per common share, beginning of period   $ 19.59     $ 19.10    
Income from investment operations:  
Net investment income     0.51       0.20    
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)     (8.03 )     1.11    
Total income (loss) from investment operations     (7.52 )     1.31    
Less dividends and distributions to preferred shareholders from:  
Net investment income     (0.07 )     (0.01 )  
Net realized gain     (0.05 )     (0.03 )  
Total dividends and distributions to preferred shareholders     (0.12 )     (0.04 )  
Total from investment operations applicable to common shares     (7.64 )     1.27    
Offering costs charged to paid-in capital—common shares           (0.04 )  
Offering costs charged to paid-in capital—preferred shares     (0.00 )b     (0.05 )  
Total offering costs           (0.09 )  
Dilutive effect from the issuance of common shares           (0.01 )  
Anti-dilutive effect from the purchase of common shares     0.03          
Less dividends and distributions to common shareholders from:  
Net investment income     (0.45 )     (0.20 )  
Net realized gain     (0.28 )     (0.48 )  
Tax return of capital     (1.31 )        
Total dividends and distributions to common shareholders     (2.04 )     (0.68 )  
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value per common share     (9.65 )     0.49    
Net asset value, per common share, end of period   $ 9.94     $ 19.59    
Market value, per common share, end of period   $ 7.86     $ 17.39    
Net asset value total returnc     –40.66 %     6.35 %d  
Market value returnc     –47.14 %     –9.84 %d  

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
27



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS—(Continued)

    For the
Year Ended
December 31,2008
  For the Period
July 27, 2007a
through
December 31, 2007
 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:  
Net assets applicable to common shares, end of period (in millions)   $ 228.2     $ 456.3    
Ratio of expenses to average daily net assets applicable to common sharese     2.09 %     1.65 %f  
Ratio of expenses to average daily net assets applicable to common shares (excluding interest expense)e     1.72 %     1.47 %f  
Ratio of net investment income to average daily net assets applicable to common sharese     3.35 %     2.45 %f  
Ratio of expenses to average daily managed assetse,g     1.59 %     1.45 %f  
Portfolio turnover rate     56 %     13 %d  
Preferred Shares and Revolving Credit Agreement:  
Liquidation value, end of period (in 000's)   $ 43,000     $ 90,000    
Total shares outstanding (in 000's)     2       4    
Asset coverage ratio for revolving credit agreement     690 %     2,051 %  
Asset coverage per $1,000 for revolving credit agreement   $ 6,896     $ 20,509    
Asset coverage ratio for auction market preferred sharesh     356 %     487 %  
Asset coverage per share for auction market preferred sharesh   $ 89,000     $ 121,750    
Liquidation preference per share   $ 25,000     $ 25,000    
Average market value per sharei   $ 25,000     $ 25,000    

 

a  Commencement of operations.

b  Amount is less than $0.005.

c  Total market value return is computed based upon the New York Stock Exchange market price of the Fund's shares and excludes the effects of brokerage commissions. Total net asset value return measures the changes in value over the period indicated, taking into account dividends as reinvested. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of these calculations, to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

d  Not annualized.

e  Ratios do not reflect dividend payments to preferred shareholders.

f  Annualized.

g  Average daily managed assets represent net assets applicable to common shares plus liquidation preference of preferred shares and the outstanding borrowings from the revolving credit agreement.

h  Includes the effect of the outstanding borrowings from the revolving credit agreement.

i  Based on weekly prices.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
28




COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies

Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc. (the Fund) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on April 10, 2007 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a nondiversified closed-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is total return with an emphasis in high current income. The Fund had no operations until June 12, 2007 when it sold 5,250 shares for $100,275 to Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (the investment manager). Investment operations commenced on July 27, 2007.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Portfolio Valuation: Investments in securities that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange are valued, except as indicated below, at the last sale price reflected at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the business day as of which such value is being determined. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the day or, if no asked price is available, at the bid price. Exchange traded options are valued at their last sale price as of the close of options trading on applicable exchanges. In the absence of a last sale, options are valued at the average of the quoted bid and asked prices as of the close of business. Over-the-counter options quotations are provided by the respective counterparty.

Securities not listed on the New York Stock Exchange but listed on other domestic or foreign securities exchanges or admitted to trading on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, Inc. (Nasdaq) national market system are valued in a similar manner. Securities traded on more than one securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the business day as of which such value is being determined as reflected on the tape at the close of the exchange representing the principal market for such securities.

Readily marketable securities traded in the over-the-counter market, including listed securities whose primary market is believed by the investment manager to be over-the-counter, but excluding securities admitted to trading on the Nasdaq National List, are valued at the official closing prices as reported by Nasdaq, the National Quotation Bureau, or such other comparable sources as the Board of Directors deem appropriate to reflect their fair market value. If there has been no sale on such day, the securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the day, or if no asked price is available, at the bid price. However, certain fixed-income securities may be valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when such prices are believed by the Board of Directors to reflect the fair market value of such securities. Where securities are traded on more than one exchange and also


29



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

over-the-counter, the securities will generally be valued using the quotations the Board of Directors believes most closely reflect the value of such securities.

Portfolio securities primarily traded on foreign markets are generally valued at the closing values of such securities on their respective exchanges or if after the close of the foreign markets, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued, market conditions change significantly, certain foreign securities may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Directors.

Securities for which market prices are unavailable, or securities for which the investment manager determines that bid and/or asked price does not reflect market value, will be valued at fair value pursuant to procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Directors. Circumstances in which market prices may be unavailable include, but are not limited to, when trading in a security is suspended, the exchange on which the security is traded is subject to an unscheduled close or disruption or material events occur after the close of the exchange on which the security is principally traded. In these circumstances, the Fund determines fair value in a manner that fairly reflects the market value of the security on the valuation date based on consideration of any information or factors it deems appropriate. These may include recent transactions in comparable securities, information relating to the specific security and developments in the markets.

The Fund's use of fair value pricing may cause the net asset value of Fund shares to differ from the net asset value that would be calculated using market quotations. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of that security.

Short-term debt securities, which have a maturity date of 60 days or less, are valued at amortized cost, which approximates value.

The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements" ("FAS 157"), effective January 1, 2008. In accordance with FAS 157, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. FAS 157 establishes a single definition of fair value, creates a three-tier hierarchy as a framework for measuring fair value based on inputs used to value the Fund's investments, and requires additional disclosure about fair value. The hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

•  Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

•  Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

•  Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)


30



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2008 in valuing the Fund's investments carried at value:

        Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2008 Using  
    Total   Quoted Prices In
Active Market for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
  Significant
Other Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
  Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Investments in Securities   $ 323,486,023     $ 193,181,517     $ 130,304,506     $    
Other Financial Instruments*     (2,413,047 )     (1,747,237 )     (665,810 )        

 

*  Other financial instruments are written call options.

Security Transactions and Investment Income: Security transactions are recorded on trade date. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are recorded on the basis of identified cost. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date except for certain dividends on foreign securities, which are recorded as soon as the Fund is informed after the ex-dividend date. The Fund records distributions received in excess of income from underlying investments as a reduction of cost of investments and/or realized gain. Such amounts are based on estimates if actual amounts are not available, and actual amounts of income, realized gain and return of capital may differ from the estimated amounts. The Fund adjusts the estimated amounts of the components of distributions (and consequently its net investment income) as an increase to unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and realized gain/(loss) on investments as necessary once the issuers provide information about the actual composition of the distributions.

Options: The Fund may write covered call options on an index or a security. When a Fund writes (sells) an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability. The amount of the liability is subsequently marked-to-market to reflect the current market value of the option written. When an option expires, the Fund realizes a gain or loss on the option to the extent of the premiums received. Premiums received from writing options which are exercised or are closed, are added to or offset against the proceeds or amount paid on the transaction to determine the realized gain or loss. The Fund, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the underlying index or security. Other risks include the possibility of an illiquid options market or the inability of the counterparties to fulfill their obligations under the contract.

Foreign Currency Translations: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities and foreign


31



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

currency contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The resultant exchange gains and losses are recorded as realized and unrealized gain/loss on foreign exchange transactions. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gain/loss are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities.

Foreign Securities: The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the ability to repatriate funds, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders: Dividends from net investment income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid monthly. Commencing in 2009, dividends will be declared and paid quarterly. Net realized capital gains, unless offset by any available capital loss carryforward, are typically distributed to shareholders at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are automatically reinvested in full and fractional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has elected to have them paid in cash.

Distributions paid by the Fund are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes. Based upon the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008, a portion of the dividends have been reclassified to return of capital and distributions of net realized capital gains.

Series W7 preferred shares pay dividends based on a variable interest rate set at auctions, normally held every seven days. The dividends are declared and recorded for the subsequent seven day period on the auction date. In most instances, dividends are payable every seven days, on the first business day following the end of the dividend period.

Income Taxes: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company, if such qualification is in the best interest of the shareholders, by complying with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies, and by distributing substantially all of its taxable earnings to its shareholders. Accordingly, no provision for federal income or excise tax is necessary. The Fund has adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements. An assessment of the Fund's tax positions has been made and it has been determined that there is no impact to the Fund's financial statements. Each


32



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

of the Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Note 2. Investment Management Fees, Administration Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Fees: The investment manager serves as the Fund's investment manager pursuant to an investment management agreement (the management agreement). Under the terms of the management agreement, the investment manager provides the Fund with day-to-day investment decisions and generally manages the Fund's investments in accordance with the stated polices of the Fund, subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors.

For the services under the management agreement, the Fund pays the investment manager a management fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 1.0% of the Fund's average daily managed asset value. Managed asset value is the net asset value of the common shares plus the liquidation preference of the preferred shares and/or the amount of any loan outstanding.

Under a subadvisory agreement between the investment manager and Cohen & Steers Asia Limited, Cohen & Steers UK Limited and Cohen & Steers Europe S.A. (collectively the subadvisors), affiliates of the investment manager, the subadvisors are responsible for managing the Fund's investments in certain non-U.S. real estate securities. For their services provided under the subadvisory agreement, the investment manager (not the Fund) pays the subadvisors 10%, 5% and 5%, respectively, of the investment management fee received by the investment manager from the Fund. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the investment manager paid the subadvisors $472,729, $236,364 and $236,364, respectively.

Administration Fees: The Fund has entered into an administration agreement with the investment manager under which the investment manager performs certain administrative functions for the Fund and receives a fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.08% of the Fund's average daily managed asset value. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund paid the investment manager $378,183 in fees under this administration agreement. Additionally, the Fund pays State Street Bank and Trust Company as sub-administrator under a fund accounting and administration agreement.

Directors' and Officers' Fees: Certain directors and officers of the Fund are also directors, officers, and/or employees of the investment manager. The Fund does not pay compensation to any affiliated directors and officers except for the Chief Compliance Officer, who received $4,852 from the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2008.


33



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Note 3. Purchases and Sales of Securities

Purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended December 31, 2008, totaled $266,939,653 and $303,734,687, respectively.

Transactions in options written during the year ended December 31, 2008, were as follows:

    Number
of Contracts
  Premium  
Options outstanding at December 31, 2007     167,753     $ 4,557,860    
Options written     2,272,497       54,021,866    
Options expired     (1,307,427 )     (7,217,121 )  
Options terminated in closing transactions     (978,130 )     (47,471,805 )  
Options outstanding at December 31, 2008     154,693     $ 3,890,800    

 

Note 4. Income Tax Information

The tax character of dividends and distributions paid was as follows:

    For the Year
Ended
December 31, 2008
  Period July 27, 2007
(commencement of
operations) through
December 31, 2007
 
Ordinary income   $ 14,151,699     $ 16,856,485    
Long-term capital gains     5,498,624          
Tax return of capital     30,468,783          
Total dividends and distributions   $ 50,119,106     $ 16,856,485    

 

As of December 31, 2008, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings and the federal tax cost were as follows:

Gross unrealized appreciation   $ 4,522,857    
Gross unrealized depreciation     (147,625,386 )  
Total net unrealized depreciation   $ (143,102,529 )  
Cost for federal income tax purposes   $ 466,588,552    

 

As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $17,391,837, which will expire on December 31, 2016. This carryforward may be used to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations. In addition, the Fund incurred capital and currency losses of $21,259,808 and $74,901, respectively, after October 31, 2008, which are not recognized until the following fiscal year.


34



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

As of December 31, 2008, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to wash sales on portfolio securities and permanent book/tax differences primarily attributable to sales of passive foreign investment companies, foreign currency transactions and income redesignations. To reflect reclassifications arising from the permanent differences, accumulated net realized loss was credited $140,773 and accumulated net investment income was charged $140,773.

Note 5. Capital Stock

The Fund is authorized to issue 250 million shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share.

On July 27, 2007, the Fund completed the initial public offering of 22,500,000 shares of common stock. Proceeds paid to the Fund amounted to $428,850,000 after the deduction of underwriting commissions and offering expenses of $21,150,000.

On September 7, 2007, the Fund completed a subsequent offering of 784,300 shares of common stock. Proceeds paid to the Fund amounted to $14,948,758 after deduction of underwriting commissions and offering expenses of $737,242.

Additionally the Investment Manager absorbed approximately $498,000 in offering expenses related to the initial offering.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, an adjustment of $31,930 was charged to paid-in-capital for differences between estimated and actual preferred offering costs.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, and the period July 27, 2007 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2007, the Fund issued no shares of common stock for the reinvestment of dividends.

On June 12, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved the delegation of its authority to management to effect repurchases, pursuant to management's discretion and subject to market conditions and investment considerations, of up to 10% of the Fund's total assets ("Share Repurchase Program") through the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund repurchased 323,600 Treasury shares of its common stock at an average price of $7.82 per share (including brokerage commissions) and a weighted average discount of 24.5%. These repurchases, which had a total cost of $2,541,103, resulted in an increase of $0.03 to the Fund's net asset value. On December 17, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the continuation of the Share Repurchase Program through fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

The Fund's articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of Fund preferred shares, par value $0.001 per share, in one or more classes or series, with rights as determined by the Board of Directors, by action of the Board of Directors without the approval of the common shareholders.


35



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

On October 19, 2007 the Fund issued 3,600 auction market preferred shares, Series W7 (par value $0.001). Proceeds paid to the Fund amounted to $88,850,000 after deduction of underwriting commissions and offering expenses of $1,150,000. This issue has received a "AAA/Aaa" rating from Standard & Poor's and Moody's.

Preferred shares are senior to the Fund's common shares and will rank on a parity with shares of any other series of preferred shares, and with shares of any other series of preferred stock of the Fund, as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. If the Fund does not timely cure a failure to (1) maintain a discounted value of its portfolio equal to the preferred shares basic maintenance amount, (2) maintain the 1940 Act preferred shares asset coverage, or (3) file a required certificate related to asset coverage on time, the preferred shares will be subject to a mandatory redemption at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and Maryland Law, the Fund at its option may without consent of the holders of preferred shares, redeem preferred shares having a dividend period of one year or less, in whole, or in part, on the business day after the last day of such dividend period upon not less than 15 calendar days and not more than 40 calendar days prior to notice. The optional redemption price is $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

The Fund's common shares and preferred shares have equal voting rights of one vote per share and vote together as a single class, except in certain circumstances regarding the election of directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding preferred shares shall be required to (1) approve any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the preferred shares and (2) approve any matter that materially and adversely affects the rights, preferences, or powers of that series.

The following table reflects the preferred shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2008, along with the range of dividend rates paid during the year ended December 31, 2008:

    Value   Range  
Auction market preferred shares, Series W7,
($25,000 liquidation value, $0.001 par value,  
1,720 shares issued and outstanding)
  $ 43,000,000       1.52 %-5.77%  

 

The Articles Supplementary (the "Articles") creating each series of Auction Market Preferred Shares ("AMPS") provide for dividends to be paid at either the rate set in the current auction, or at the maximum rate as defined in the Articles if sufficient clearing bids for the AMPS are not received in the current auction. Beginning on February 13, 2008, sufficient clearing bids were not received for the AMPS series of the Fund, and therefore, the maximum rates were declared on the AMPS series. Based upon the current ratings of the AMPS, the maximum rate for shares of a series will be the greater of 125% of LIBOR or 125 basis points plus LIBOR.

An existing owner of AMPS may sell, transfer or dispose of AMPS only in an auction, pursuant to a bid or sell order in accordance with the auction procedures, or outside an auction, to or through a broker-dealer. Existing


36



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

holders will be able to sell all of the AMPS that are the subject of their submitted sell orders only if there are bidders willing to purchase those AMPS in the auction. An auction fails when there is an insufficient number of bidders. A failed auction is not a default. Dividends continue to be paid on the AMPS at the maximum rate rather than an auction rate. Broker-dealers, which have been appointed by the Fund to serve as dealers for the auctions, may submit a bid in an auction to avoid an auction failure, but are not obligated to do so. Due to liquidity concerns in the market, most broker-dealers decided not to submit bids to purchase AMPS.

The AMPS continue to be rated Aaa by Moody's Investor Services and AAA by Standard & Poor's. In addition, the Fund continues to meet certain specified asset coverage tests required by the rating agencies as well as the 200% asset coverage test with respect to AMPS set forth in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Fund redeemed $47,000,000 or approximately 52% of its outstanding preferred shares at a redemption price of $25,000 per share plus accrued but unpaid dividends. The partial redemption of the preferred shares was made on a pro rata basis. Redemptions were allocated among participating broker/dealers by the Depository Trust Company using a predetermined methodology and each broker/dealer allocated the redeemed shares to the underlying beneficiaries according to its own procedures.

The redemption amount and details are:

Series   Shares
Outstanding
12/31/07
  Number of
Shares
Redeemed
  Shares
Outstanding
12/31/08
  Total Value
12/31/07
  Amount
Redeemed
  Total Value
12/31/08
 
W7     3,600       1,880       1,720     $ 90,000,000     $ 47,000,000     $ 43,000,000    

 

Note 6. Borrowings

On October 9, 2007, the Fund entered into a $50,000,000 secured, committed revolving credit agreement (the credit agreement) with State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street), as operations agent, and the lenders identified in the credit agreement. On June 20, 2008, the credit agreement was amended to increase the amount available to $75,000,000. The Fund pays a facility fee of 0.15% per annum based on the credit agreement. The credit agreement has a 364-day term. The Fund is required to segregate portfolio securities as collateral in an amount up to two times the loan balance outstanding and has granted a security interest in the securities segregated to, and in favor of, State Street as security for the loan balance outstanding. If the Fund fails to meet certain requirements, or maintain other financial covenants required under the credit agreement, the Fund may be required to repay immediately, in part or in full, the loan balance outstanding under the credit agreement necessitating the sale of portfolio securities at potentially inopportune times.

As of December 31, 2008 the Fund has an outstanding borrowing of $46,000,000. During the year ended, the Fund borrowed an average daily balance of $43,953,552 at a weighted average borrowing cost of 2.96%.


37



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

Note 7. Other

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on claims that may be made against the Fund in the future and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

Note 8. New Accounting Pronouncement

In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities ("FAS 161"), an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133. FAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the Fund's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this pronouncement will have on the Fund's financial statements. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.


38




COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc.

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cohen & Steers Global Income Builder, Inc. (the "Fund") at December 31, 2008, the results of its operations for the year then ended and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended and for the period July 27, 2007 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as "financial statements") are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2008 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
February 23, 2009


39



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

(periods ended December 31, 2008) (Unaudited)

Based on Net Asset Value   Based on Market Value  
One Year   Since Inception
(7/27/07)
  One Year   Since Inception
(7/27/07)
 
  –40.66 %     –27.50 %     –47.14 %     –40.41 %  

 

The performance data quoted represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return will vary and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate and shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Performance results reflect the effect of leverage resulting from the issuance of preferred shares and borrowings under a credit agreement.

TAX INFORMATION—2008 (Unaudited)

Pursuant to the Jobs and Growth Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, the Fund designates qualified dividend income of $12,988,990. Additionally, 26.4% of the ordinary dividends qualified for the dividends received deduction available to corporations. Also, the Fund designates a long-term capital gain distribution of $5,473,095 at the 15% rate and $25,529 at the 25% rate, or the maximum allowable.

REINVESTMENT PLAN

On March 18, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved changes to the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan (the "Plan"). The revised Plan is set forth below.

The Fund has a dividend reinvestment plan commonly referred to as an "opt-out" plan. Each common shareholder who participates in the Plan will have all distributions of dividends and capital gains ("Dividends") automatically reinvested in additional common shares by The Bank of New York Mellon as agent (the "Plan Agent"). Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all Dividends in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to the nominee) by the Plan Agent, as dividend disbursing agent. Shareholders whose common shares are held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee to determine whether and how they may participate in the Plan.

The Plan Agent serves as agent for the shareholders in administering the Plan. After the Fund declares a Dividend, the Plan Agent will, as agent for the shareholders, either: (i) receive the cash payment and use it to buy common shares in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for the participants' accounts or (ii) distribute newly issued common shares of the Fund on behalf of the participants.

The Plan Agent will receive cash from the Fund with which to buy common shares in the open market if, on the Dividend payment date, the net asset value ("NAV") per share exceeds the market price per share plus estimated


40



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

brokerage commissions on that date. The Plan Agent will receive the Dividend in newly issued common shares of the Fund if, on the Dividend payment date, the market price per share plus estimated brokerage commissions equals or exceeds the NAV per share of the Fund on that date. The number of shares to be issued will be computed at a per share rate equal to the greater of (i) the NAV or (ii) 95% of the closing market price per share on the payment date.

If the market price per share is less than the NAV on a Dividend payment date, the Plan Agent will have until the last business day before the next ex-dividend date for the common stock, but in no event more than 30 days after the Dividend payment date (as the case may be, the "Purchase Period"), to invest the Dividend amount in shares acquired in open market purchases. If at the close of business on any day during the Purchase Period on which NAV is calculated the NAV on Dividend payment date equals or is less than the market price per share on such day plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will cease making open market purchases and the uninvested portion of such Dividends shall be filled through the issuance of new shares of common stock from the Fund at the price set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph.

Participants in the Plan may withdraw from the Plan upon notice to the Plan Agent. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if received not less than ten days prior to a Dividend record date; otherwise, it will be effective for all subsequent Dividends. When a participant withdraws from the Plan or upon termination of the Plan as provided below, certificates for whole common shares credited to his or her account under the Plan will be issued and a cash payment will be made for any fraction of a common share credited to such account. If any participant elects to have the Plan Agent sell all or part of his or her shares and remit the proceeds, the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct a $15.00 fee plus $0.10 per share brokerage commissions.

The Plan Agent's fees for the handling of reinvestment of Dividends will be paid by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent's open market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of Dividends. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any income tax that may be payable or required to be withheld on such Dividends.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at 800-432-8224.

OTHER INFORMATION

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-330-7348, (ii) on our Web site at cohenandsteers.com or (iii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the Fund's proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 800-330-7348 or (ii) on the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov.


41



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund's Forms N-Q are available (i) without charge, upon request by calling 800-330-7348, or (ii) on the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 800-SEC-0330.

Please note that the distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders are subject to recharacterization for tax purposes. The Fund may also pay distributions in excess of the Fund's net investment company taxable income and this excess would be a tax-free return of capital distributed from the Fund's assets. To the extent this occurs, the Fund's shareholders of record will be notified of the estimated amount of capital returned to shareholders for each such distribution and this information will also be available at cohenandsteers.com. The final tax treatment of all distributions is reported to shareholders on their 1099-DIV forms, which are mailed after the close of each calendar year. Distributions of capital decrease the Fund's total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund's expense ratio. In addition, in order to make these distributions, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase, from time to time, shares of its common stock in the open market.

On March 18, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved the expansion of the options strategy to permit the Fund to write options on custom baskets of securities and customized indexes and to remove any requirement that a Fund must hold an exchange-traded fund ("ETF") as a portfolio security in order to write an option on an ETF.

The Fund may write covered call options on securities (including securities of ETFs), stock indices or custom baskets of securities that are traded on U.S. or foreign exchanges or over-the-counter (OTC). An option on a security is a contract that gives the purchaser of the option, in return for the premium paid, the right to buy a specified security (in the case of a call option) from the writer of the option at a designated price during the term of the option. An option on a securities index or basket of securities gives the purchaser of the option, in return for the premium paid, the right to receive from the seller cash equal to the difference between the closing price of the index or basket of securities and the exercise price of the option.

The Fund may write a call option on a security (other than securities of ETFs) only if the option is "covered." A call option on a security written by the Fund is covered if the Fund owns the underlying security covered by the call. The Fund will cover call options on ETFs, stock indices or custom baskets by owning securities whose price changes, in the opinion of the investment manager are expected to be similar to those of the ETF, index or basket, or in such other manner as may be in accordance with the rules of any exchange on which the option is traded and


42



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

other applicable laws and regulations. Nevertheless, where the Fund covers a call option on an ETF, stock index or custom basket through ownership of securities, such securities may not match the composition of the ETF, index or basket. In that event, the Fund will not be fully covered and could be subject to risk of loss in the event of adverse changes in the value of the ETF, index or basket.

The value of the underlying securities, ETFs, indices and baskets on which options may be written at any one time will not exceed 25% of the total managed assets of the Fund.

The Fund will receive a premium for writing a call option, which will increase the Fund's realized gains in the event the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a profit. If the value of a security, ETF, index or basket on which the Fund has written a call option falls or remains the same, the Fund will realize a profit in the form of the premium received (less transaction costs) that could offset all or a portion of any decline in the value of the portfolio securities being hedged. A rise in the value of the underlying security, ETF, index or basket, however, exposes the Fund to possible loss or loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the value of the underlying security, ETF, index or basket.

The Fund may purchase call options on individual securities (including ETFs) or on stock indices or custom baskets to hedge against an increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing in the future. Similarly, the Fund may purchase call options to attempt to reduce the risk of missing a broad market advance, or an advance in an industry or market segment, at a time when the Fund holds uninvested cash or short-term debt securities awaiting investment. When purchasing call options, the Fund will bear the risk of losing all or a portion of the premium paid if the value of the underlying security, ETF, index or basket does not rise.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position. Trading could be interrupted, for example, because of supply and demand imbalances arising from a lack of either buyers or sellers, or the options exchange could suspend trading after the price has risen or fallen more than the maximum specified by the exchange. In addition, when the Fund enters into OTC options (including options on custom baskets of securities), these options are not traded on or govern by the rules of any exchange, and the Fund's ability to close out an OTC option is subject to the terms of the option contract and the creditworthiness of the option counterparty. Although the Fund may be able to offset to some extent any adverse effects of being unable to liquidate an option position, the Fund may experience losses in some cases as a result of such inability.

On March 18, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved a clarification to the call option writing disclosure included in the registration statement of the Fund permitting the Fund to "cover" its written index call option positions by segregating liquid assets equal to the fluctuating market value of the index option. The segregation of assets equal to the fluctuating market value of the index option, instead of the full contract value, is appropriate for the Fund and compliant with SEC guidance.


43



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

On June 18, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved changes to the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities permitting the Fund to post an uncertified list of portfolio holdings on the Web site at http://www.cohenandsteers.com, no earlier than 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter. The holdings information remains available until the Fund files a report on Form N-Q or Form NCSR for the period that includes the date as of which the information is current. In addition to information on portfolio holdings, other Fund statistical information may be found on the Cohen & Steers Funds' Web site or by calling 800-330-7348.

On October 3, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved changes to the Fund's investment policies to permit the Fund to invest in securities of other closed-end or open-end funds, including exchange traded funds ("ETFs"), in accordance with Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, or any exemption granted under the 1940 Act. An investment in the shares of another fund is subject to the risks associated with that fund's portfolio securities. To the extent the Fund invests in shares of another fund, Fund shareholders would indirectly pay a portion of that fund's expenses, including advisory fees, brokerage and other distribution expenses. These fees and expenses are in addition to the direct expenses of the Fund's own operations.

As required, the Fund has submitted to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") the annual certification of the Fund's chief executive officer certifying as to compliance with of the NYSE's Corporate Governance listing standards. The Fund also has included the certifications of the Fund's chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as exhibits to its most recent Form N-CSR.

PRIVACY POLICY*

In the course of doing business with Cohen & Steers, you may share personal information with us. We are committed to maintaining the privacy of this information and recognize the importance of preventing unauthorized access to it. You may provide personal information on account applications and requests for forms or other literature (such as your address and social security number) and through account transactions with us (such as purchases, sales and account balances). You may also provide us with this information through written, electronic and telephone account inquiries.

We do not sell personal information about current and former customers to anyone, and we do not disclose it unless necessary to process a transaction, service an account or as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, we may disclose information to companies that perform administrative services for Cohen & Steers, such as transfer agents, or printers that assist us in the distribution of investor materials. These organizations will use this information only for purposes of providing the required services or as otherwise may be required by law. We may also share personal information within the Cohen & Steers family of companies to provide you with additional information about our products and services.

*  This privacy policy applies to the following Cohen & Steers companies: Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc., Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC, Cohen & Steers Capital Advisors, LLC and the Cohen & Steers Funds.


44



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your personal information. Within Cohen & Steers, we restrict access to your personal information to those employees who need it to perform their jobs, such as servicing your account or informing you of new products and services.

The accuracy of your personal information is important. If you need to correct or update your personal or account information, please call us at 800-330-7348. We will be happy to review, correct or update your personal or account information.

APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

The Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the directors who are not parties to the Fund's investment management and subadvisory agreements (collectively, the "Management Agreements"), or interested persons of any such party ("Independent Directors"), has the responsibility under the 1940 Act to approve the Fund's Management Agreements for their initial two year term and their continuation annually thereafter at a meeting of the Board of Directors called for the purpose of voting on the approval or continuation. At a meeting held in person on September 16 - 17, 2008, the Management Agreements were discussed and were unanimously continued for a one-year term by the Fund's Board of Directors, including the Independent Directors. The Independent Directors were represented by independent counsel who assisted them in their deliberations during the meeting and executive session.

In considering whether to continue the Management Agreements, the Board of Directors reviewed materials provided by the Fund's investment manager (the "Investment Manager") and Fund counsel which included, among other things, fee, expense and performance information compared to peer funds ("Peer Funds") prepared by an independent data provider, supplemental performance and summary information prepared by the Investment Manager, and memoranda outlining the legal duties of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also spoke directly with representatives of the independent data provider and met with Investment Manager personnel. In addition, the Board of Directors considered information provided from time to time by the Investment Manager throughout the year at meetings of the Board of Directors, including presentations by portfolio managers relating to the investment performance of the Fund and the investment strategies used in pursuing the Fund's objective. In particular, the Board of Directors considered the following:

(i) The nature, extent and quality of services to be provided by the Investment Manager: The Board of Directors reviewed the services that the Investment Manager provides to the Fund, including, but not limited to, making the day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund, and generally managing the Fund's investments in accordance with the stated policies of the Fund. The Board of Directors also discussed with officers and portfolio managers of the Fund the amount of time the Investment Manager dedicates to the Fund and the types of transactions that were being done on behalf of the Fund. Additionally, the Board of Directors took into account the services provided by the Investment Manager to its other funds, including those that have investment objectives and strategies similar to the Fund.


45



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

The Board of Directors considered the education, background and experience of the Investment Manager's personnel, noting particularly that the favorable history and reputation of the portfolio managers for the Fund, has had, and would likely continue to have, a favorable impact on the success of the Fund. The board further noted the Investment Manager's ability to attract quality and experienced personnel. The Board of Directors then considered the administrative services provided by the Investment Manager, including compliance and accounting services. After consideration of the above factors, among others, the Board of Directors concluded that the nature, quality and extent of services provided by the Investment Manager are adequate and appropriate.

(ii) Investment performance of the Fund and the Investment Manager: The Board of Directors did not consider investment performance versus Peer Funds provided by the independent data provider because the period covered by its report was less than a full year. The Board of Directors considered the investment performance of the Fund compared to relevant benchmarks, which was provided by the Investment Manager. The Board of Directors noted that the Fund outperformed the S&P 500 Index for the one-year period ended July 31, 2008. The Board of Directors considered the Investment Manager's performance in managing other global Funds.

(iii) Cost of the services provided and profits to be realized by the Investment Manager from the relationship with the Fund: The Board of Directors considered the advisory fees and administrative fees payable by the Fund, as well as total expense ratios. As part of their analysis, the Board of Directors gave substantial consideration to the fee and expense analyses provided by the independent data provider. The board noted that the Fund's advisory fee and effective advisory fee were at the Peer Funds' medians. The Board of Directors also noted that the gross and net expense ratios were higher than the Peer Funds' medians. The Board of Directors noted that due to the Fund's covered call strategy and the costs associated with implementing this strategy, the Fund's expense ratio is higher. The Board of Directors further noted that the administrative fee payable by the Fund was at the Peer Funds' median. The Board of Directors concluded that the Fund's expense structure is competitive in the peer group. The Board of Directors also reviewed information regarding the profitability to the Investment Manager of its relationship with the fund. The board considered the level of the Investment Manager's profits and whether the profits were reasonable for the Investment Manager. The Board of Directors took into consideration other benefits to be derived by the Investment Manager in connection with the Management Agreement, noting particularly the research and related services, within the meaning of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that the Investment Manager receives by allocating the Fund's brokerage transactions. The Board of Directors also considered the fees received by the Investment Manager under the Administration Agreement, but noted the significant services received, such as operational services and furnishing office space and facilities for the Fund, and providing persons satisfactory to the Board of Directors to serve as officers of the Fund, and that these services were beneficial to the Fund. The directors concluded that the profits realized by the Investment Manager from its administrative relationship with the Fund were reasonable and consistent with fiduciary duties.


46



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

(iv) The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the fund grows and whether fee levels would reflect such economies of scale: The directors considered that as a closed-end fund, the Fund would not be expected to have inflows of capital that might produce increasing economies of scale. The directors determined that, given the Fund's closed-end structure, shareholders appropriately benefited from economies of scale.

(v) Comparison of services rendered and fees paid to those under other investment advisory contracts, such as contracts of the same and other investment advisers or other clients: As discussed above in (i) and (iii), the Board of Directors compared both the services to be rendered and the fees to be paid under the Management Agreements to those under other investment advisory contracts of other investment advisers managing Peer Funds. The Board of Directors was also provided with an industry study analyzing differences between funds and institutional accounts and the services and fees associated with each and compared the services rendered, fees paid and profitability under the Management Agreements to the Investment Manager's other advisory contracts with institutional and other clients with similar investment mandates. The Board of Directors determined that on a comparative basis the proposed fees under the Management Agreements were reasonable in relation to the services to be provided.

No single factor was cited as determinative to the decision of the Board of Directors. Rather, after weighing all of the considerations and conclusions discussed above, the Board of Directors, including the Independent Directors, unanimously approved the Management Agreements.


47



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors approves all significant agreements between the Fund and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including the Fund's agreements with its advisor, administrator, custodian and transfer agent. The management of the Fund's day-to-day operations is delegated to its officers, the advisor and the Fund's administrator, subject always to the investment objective and policies of the Fund and to the general supervision of the Board of Directors.

The directors and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below. The statement of additional information (SAI) includes additional information about Fund directors and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-800-330-7348.

Name, Address and Age*   Position(s) Held
with Fund
  Term of
Office
  Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
(Including Other
Directorships Held)
  Number of
Funds Within
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director
(Including
the Fund)
  Length
of Time
Served**
 
Interested Directors1  
Robert H. Steers
Age: 55
  Director and
Co-Chairman
    2009     Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (CSCM), the fund's investment manager, and its parent company, Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) since 2004. Vice President and Director, Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC (CSSL), the Cohen & Steers open-end funds' distributor. Prior thereto, Chairman of CSCM and the Cohen & Steers funds.     21     1991 to present  
Martin Cohen
Age: 59
  Director and
Co-Chairman
    2010     Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of CSCM and CNS. Vice President and Director of CSSL. Prior thereto, President of the CSCM and the Cohen & Steers funds.     21     1991 to present  

 

  (table continued on next page)

*  The address for each director is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

**  The length of time served represents the year in which the director was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Cohen & Steers fund complex.

1  "Interested person", as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Fund because of affiliation with CSCM.


48



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

(table continued from previous page)

Name, Address and Age*   Position(s) Held
with Fund
  Term of
Office
  Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
(Including Other
Directorships Held)
  Number of
Funds Within
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director
(Including
the Fund)
  Length
of Time
Served**
 
Disinterested Directors  
Bonnie Cohen2
Age: 65
  Director     2011     Consultant. Director, Reis, Inc. (formerly Wellsford Real Property); Vice-Chair of the Board of Global Heritage Fund; Investment Committee, The Moriah Fund; Advisory Committee member, The Posse Foundation; Vice-Chair, District of Columbia Public Libraries; Board member, Washington National Opera. Former Under Secretary of State for Management, United States Department of State, 1996-2000.     21     2001 to present  
George Grossman
Age: 54
  Director     2009     Attorney-at-law     21     1993 to present  
Richard E. Kroon
Age: 66
  Director     2011     Member of Investment Committee, Monmouth University; retired Chairman and Managing Partner of the Sprout Group venture capital funds, then an affiliate of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation; and former Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association.     21     2004 to present  
Richard J. Norman
Age: 65
  Director     2010     Private Investor. Board of Directors of Maryland Public Television, Advisory Board Member of the Salvation Army. Prior thereto, Investment Representative of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.     21     2001 to present  

 

  (table continued on next page)

*  The address for each director is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

**  The length of time served represents the year in which the director was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Cohen & Steers fund complex.

2  Martin Cohen and Bonnie Cohen are not related.


49



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

(table continued from previous page)

Name, Address and Age*   Position(s) Held
with Fund
  Term of
Office
  Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
(Including Other
Directorships Held)
  Number of
Funds Within
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Director
(Including
the Fund)
  Length
of Time
Served**
 
Frank K. Ross
Age: 65
  Director     2010     Professor of Accounting, Howard University; Board member of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (electric utility). Formerly, Midatlantic Area Managing Partner for Audit and Risk Advisory Services at KPMG LLP and Managing Partner of its Washington, DC office.     21     2004 to present  
Willard H. Smith Jr.
Age: 71
  Director     2011     Board member of Essex Property Trust Inc., Realty Income Corporation and Crest Net Lease, Inc. Managing Director at Merrill Lynch & Co., Equity Capital Markets Division from 1983 to 1995.     21     1996 to present  
C. Edward Ward Jr.
Age: 62
  Director     2009     Member of the Board of Trustees of Directors Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York. Formerly head of closed-end fund listings for the New York Stock Exchange.     21     2004 to present  

 

*  The address for each director is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

**  The length of time served represents the year in which the director was first elected or appointed to any fund in the Cohen & Steers fund complex.


50



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

The officers of the Fund (other than Messrs. Cohen and Steers, whose biographies are provided above), their address, their ages and their principal occupations for at least the past five years are set forth below.

Name, Address and Age*   Position(s) Held
with Fund
  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   Length
of Time
Served**
 
Adam M. Derechin
Age: 44
  President and Chief Executive Officer   Chief Operating Officer of CSCM (since 2003) and CNS (since 2004). Prior to that, Senior Vice President of CSCM and Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the Cohen & Steers funds.   Since 2005  
Joseph M. Harvey
Age: 44
  Vice President   President and Chief Investment Officer of CSCM (since 2003) and President of CNS (since 2004). Prior to that, Senior Vice President and Director of Investment Research of CSCM.   Since 2004  
William F. Scapell
Age: 42
  Vice President   Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2003. Prior to that, chief strategist for preferred securities at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.   Since 2003  
Richard E. Helm
Age: 49
  Vice President   Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2005. Prior to that, VP and senior portfolio manager at WM Advisors, Inc.   Since 2005  
Yigal D. Jhirad
Age: 44
  Vice President   Senior Vice President of CSCM since 2007. Prior to that, executive director at Morgan Stanley and head of prime brokerage equity product marketing responsible for developing and marketing quantitative and derivatives product to hedge funds.   Since 2007  
Francis C. Poli
Age: 46
  Secretary   Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of CSCM and CNS since March 2007. Prior thereto, General Counsel of Allianz Global Investors of America LP.   Since 2007  
James Giallanza
Age: 42
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer   Senior Vice President of CSCM since September 2006. Prior thereto, Deputy Head of the US Funds Administration and Treasurer & CFO of various mutual funds within the Legg Mason (formally Citigroup Asset Management) fund complex from August 2004 to September 2006; Director/Controller of the US wholesale business at UBS Global Asset Management (U.S.) from September 2001 to July 2004.   Since 2006  
Lisa D. Phelan
Age: 40
  Chief Compliance Officer   Senior Vice President & Director of Compliance of CSCM since January 2006. Chief Compliance Officer of CSSL since 2004. Prior to that, Compliance Officer of CSCM since 2004. Chief Compliance Officer, Avatar Associates & Overture Asset Managers, 2003-2004. First VP, Risk Management, Prudential Securities, Inc. 2000-2003.   Since 2006  

 

*  The address of each officer is 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

**  Officers serve one-year terms. The length of time served represents the year in which the officer was first elected to that position in any fund in the Cohen & Steers fund complex. All of the officers listed above are officers of one or more of the other funds in the complex.


51



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

Meet the Cohen & Steers family of open-end funds:

COHEN & STEERS
REALTY SHARES

  •  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in REITs

  •  Symbol: CSRSX

COHEN & STEERS
REALTY INCOME FUND

  •  Designed for investors seeking maximum total return, investing primarily in real estate securities with an emphasis on both income and capital appreciation

  •  Symbols: CSEIX, CSBIX, CSCIX, CSDIX

COHEN & STEERS
INTERNATIONAL REALTY FUND

  •  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in international real estate securities

  •  Symbols: IRFAX, IRFCX, IRFIX

COHEN & STEERS
DIVIDEND VALUE FUND

  •  Designed for investors seeking high current income and long-term growth of income and capital appreciation, investing primarily in dividend paying common stocks and preferred stocks

  •  Symbols: DVFAX, DVFCX, DVFIX

COHEN & STEERS
INSTITUTIONAL GLOBAL REALTY SHARES

  •  Designed for institutional investors seeking total return, investing primarily in global real estate securities

  •  Symbol: GRSIX

COHEN & STEERS
INSTITUTIONAL REALTY SHARES

  •  Designed for institutional investors seeking total return, investing primarily in REITs

  •  Symbol: CSRIX

COHEN & STEERS
GLOBAL REALTY SHARES

  •  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in global real estate equity securities

  •  Symbols: CSFAX, CSFBX, CSFCX, CSSPX

COHEN & STEERS
GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

  •  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in global infrastructure securities

  •  Symbols: CSUAX, CSUBX, CSUCX, CSUIX

COHEN & STEERS
ASIA PACIFIC REALTY SHARES

  •  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in real estate securities located in the Asia Pacific region

  •  Symbols: APFAX, APFCX, APFIX

COHEN & STEERS
EUROPEAN REALTY SHARES

  •  Designed for investors seeking total return, investing primarily in real estate securities located in Europe

  •  Symbols: EURAX, EURCX, EURIX

Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. A prospectus containing this and other information can be obtained by calling 800-330-7348 or by visiting cohenandsteers.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC, Distributor


52



COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Robert H. Steers
Director and co-chairman

Martin Cohen
Director and co-chairman

Bonnie Cohen
Director

George Grossman
Director

Richard E. Kroon
Director

Richard J. Norman
Director

Frank K. Ross
Director

Willard H. Smith Jr.
Director

C. Edward Ward, Jr.
Director

Adam M. Derechin
President and chief executive officer

Joseph M. Harvey
Vice president

Yigal D. Jhirad
Vice president

Richard E. Helm
Vice president

William F. Scapell
Vice president

Francis C. Poli
Secretary

James Giallanza
Treasurer and chief financial officer

Lisa D. Phelan
Chief compliance officer

KEY INFORMATION

Investment Manager

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 832-3232

Fund Subadministrator and Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111

Transfer Agent—Common Shares

The Bank of New York Mellon
480 Washington Boulevard
Jersey City, NJ 07310
(866) 227-0757

Transfer Agent—Preferred Shares

The Bank of New York Mellon
101 Barclay Street
New York, NY 10286

Legal Counsel

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
180 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038

New York Stock Exchange Symbol: INB

Web site: cohenandsteers.com

This report is for shareholder information. This is not a prospectus intended for use in the purchase or sale of Fund shares. Past performance is of course no guarantee of future results and your investment may be worth more or less at the time you sell.


53




COHEN & STEERS

GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

280 PARK AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10017

eDelivery NOW AVAILABLE

Stop traditional mail delivery; receive your shareholder reports online.

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ANNUAL REPORT

DECEMBER 31, 2008

INBAR




 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

The registrant has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. The registrant undertakes to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of the Code of Ethics. Such request can be made by calling 800-330-7348 or writing to the Secretary of the registrant, 280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The registrant’s board has determined that Frank K. Ross, a member of the board’s Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert”.  Mr. Ross is “independent,” as such term is defined in this Item.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a) – (d) Aggregate fees billed to the registrant for the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the registrant’s principal accountant were as follows:

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Audit Fees

 

$

52,500

 

$

58,300

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

17,200

 

$

40,000

 

Tax Fees

 

$

16,600

 

 

All Other Fees

 

 

 

 

Audit-related fees were billed in connection with the preparation and issuance of certification reports to rating agencies relating to the registrant’s preferred shares.  Tax fees were billed in connection with the preparation of tax returns, calculation and designation of dividends and other miscellaneous tax services.

 

Aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for the last two fiscal years for non-audit services provided to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including a sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted or overseen by another investment adviser) and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registered investment company, where the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant, were as follows:

 

 

 

2008

 

2007

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

 

 

Tax Fees

 

 

 

All Other Fees

 

$

110,000

 

$

109,000

 

 

These other fees were billed in connection with internal control reviews.

 

(e)(1)       The registrant’s audit committee is required to pre-approve audit and non-audit services performed for the registrant by the principal accountant. The audit committee also is required to

 



 

pre-approve non-audit services performed by the registrant’s principal accountant for the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, if the engagement for services relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant.

 

The audit committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members who are independent members of the board of directors of the registrant. The member or members to whom such authority is delegated shall report any pre-approval decisions to the audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.  The audit committee may not delegate its responsibility to pre-approve services to be performed by the registrant’s principal accountant to the investment adviser.

 

(e) (2)      No services included in (b) – (d) above were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraphs (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f)            Not applicable.

 

(g)           For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the aggregate fees billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant and for non-audit services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant were $131,635 and $149,000, respectively.

 

(h)           The registrant’s audit committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser) and/or to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not required to be pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X was compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 



 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The members of the committee are Frank K. Ross (chairman), Bonnie Cohen, George Grossman and Richard E. Kroon.

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

 

Included in Item 1 above.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

The registrant has delegated voting of proxies in respect of portfolio holdings to Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc., in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth below.

 

COHEN & STEERS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

STATEMENT OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE VOTING OF SECURITIES

 

This statement sets forth the policies and procedures that Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (“C&S”) follows in exercising voting rights with respect to securities held in our client portfolios.  All proxy-voting rights that are exercised by C&S shall be subject to this Statement of Policy and Procedures.

 

I.              Objectives

 

Voting rights are an important component of corporate governance. The Advisor and the Subadvisor have three overall objectives in exercising voting rights:

 

A. Responsibility. The Advisor and Subadvisor shall seek to ensure that there is an effective means in place to hold companies accountable for their actions. While management must be accountable to its board, the board must be accountable to a company’s shareholders. Although accountability can be promoted in a variety of ways, protecting shareholder voting rights may be among our most important tools.

 

B. Rationalizing Management and Shareholder Concerns. The Advisor and Subadvisor seek to ensure that the interests of a company’s management and board are aligned with those of the company’s shareholders. In this respect, compensation must be structured to reward the creation of shareholder value.

 

C. Shareholder Communication. Since companies are owned by their shareholders, the Advisor and Subadvisor seek to ensure that management effectively communicates with its owners about the company’s business operations and financial performance. It is only with effective communication that shareholders will be able to assess the performance of management and to make informed decisions on when to buy, sell or hold a company’s securities.

 



 

In exercising voting rights, the Advisor and Subadvisor follow the general principles set forth below.

 

·

The ability to exercise a voting right with respect to a security is a valuable right and, therefore, must be viewed as part of the asset itself.

 

 

·

In exercising voting rights, the Advisor and Subadvisor shall engage in a careful evaluation of issues that may materially affect the rights of shareholders and the value of the security.

 

 

·

Consistent with general fiduciary principles, the exercise of voting rights shall always be conducted with reasonable care, prudence and diligence.

 

 

·

In exercising voting rights on behalf of clients, the Advisor and Subadvisor shall conduct itself in the same manner as if the Advisor and Subadvisor were the constructive owner of the securities.

 

 

·

To the extent reasonably possible, the Advisor and Subadvisor shall participate in each shareholder voting opportunity.

 

 

·

Voting rights shall not automatically be exercised in favor of management-supported proposals.

 

 

·

The Advisor and Subadvisor, and its officers and employees, shall never accept any item of value in consideration of a favorable proxy voting decision.

 

Set forth below are general guidelines followed in exercising proxy voting rights:

 

Prudence. In making a proxy voting decision, the Advisor and Subadvisor shall give appropriate consideration to all relevant facts and circumstances, including the value of the securities to be voted and the likely effect any vote may have on that value. Since voting rights must be exercised on the basis of an informed judgment, investigation shall be a critical initial step.

 

Third Party Views. While the Advisor and Subadvisor may consider the views of third parties, the Advisor and Subadvisor shall never base a proxy voting decision solely on the opinion of a third party.

 

Rather, decisions shall be based on a reasonable and good faith determination as to how best to maximize shareholder value.

 

Shareholder Value. Just as the decision whether to purchase or sell a security is a matter of judgment, determining whether a specific proxy resolution will increase the market value of a security is a matter of judgment as to which informed parties may differ. In determining how a proxy vote may affect the economic value of a security, the Advisor and Subadvisor shall consider both short-term and long-term views about a company’s business and prospects, especially in light of our projected holding period on the stock (e.g., the Advisor and Subadvisor may discount long-term views on a short-term holding).

 

Set forth below are guidelines as to how specific proxy voting issues shall be analyzed and assessed.

 

While these guidelines will provide a framework for the Advisor and Subadvisor decision making process, the mechanical application of these guidelines can never address all proxy voting decisions.

 

When new issues arise or old issues present nuances not encountered before, the Advisor and Subadvisor must be guided by their reasonable judgment to vote in a manner that the Advisor and Subadvisor deem to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. In addition, because the regulatory framework

 



 

and the business cultures and practices vary from region to region, the below general guidelines may be inconsistent in certain circumstances for proxies of issuers of securities in the Asia Pacific region.

 

Uncontested Director Elections

 

Votes on director nominees should be made on a case-by-case basis using a “mosaic” approach, where all factors are considered in director elections and where no single issue is deemed to be determinative.

 

For example, a nominee’s experience and business judgment may be critical to the long-term success of the portfolio company, notwithstanding the fact that he or she may serve on the board of more than four public companies. In evaluating nominees, the Advisor and Subadvisor consider the following factors:

 

·

Whether the nominee attended less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a valid excuse for the absences;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee is an inside or affiliated outside director and sits on the audit, compensation, or nominating committees;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee ignored a significant shareholder proposal that was approved by a (i) majority of the shares outstanding or (ii) majority of the votes cast for two consecutive years;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee, without shareholder approval, to our knowledge instituted a new poison pill plan, extended an existing plan, or adopted a new plan upon the expiration of an existing plan during the past year;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee is an inside or affiliated outside director and the full board serves as the audit, compensation, or nominating committee or the company does not have one of these committees;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee is an insider or affiliated outsider on boards that are not at least majority independent;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee is the CEO of a publicly-traded company who serves on more than two public boards;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee serves on more than four public company boards;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee serves on the audit committee where there is evidence (such as audit reports or reports mandated under the Sarbanes Oxley Act) that there exists material weaknesses in the company’s internal controls;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee serves on the compensation committee if that director was present at the time of the grant of backdated options or options the pricing or the timing of which Advisor and Subadvisor believe may have been manipulated to provide additional benefits to executives;

 

 

·

Whether the nominee is believed by us to have a material conflict of interest with the portfolio company; and

 

 

·

Whether the nominee (or the overall board) in our view has a record of making poor corporate or strategic decisions or has demonstrated an overall lack of good business judgment.

 



 

The Advisor and Subadvisor vote on a case-by-case basis for shareholder proposals requesting companies to amend their bylaws in order to create access to the proxy so as to nominate candidates for directors. The Advisor and Subadvisor recognize the importance of shareholder access to the ballot process as a means to ensure that boards do not become self-perpetuating and self-serving. However, the Advisor and Subadvisor are also aware that some proposals may promote certain interest groups and could be disruptive to the nomination process. Special attention will be paid to companies that display a chronic lack of shareholder accountability.

 

Proxy Contests

 

Director Nominees in a Contested Election. By definition, this type of board candidate or slate runs for the purpose of seeking a significant change in corporate policy or control. Therefore, the economic impact of the vote in favor of or in opposition to that director or slate must be analyzed using a higher standard such as is normally applied to changes in control. Criteria for evaluating director nominees as a group or individually should also include: the underlying reason why the new slate (or individual director) is being proposed; performance; compensation; corporate governance provisions and takeover activity; criminal activity; attendance at meetings; investment in the company; interlocking directorships; inside, outside and independent directors; number of other board seats; and other experience. It is impossible to have a general policy regarding director nominees in a contested election.

 

Reimbursement of Proxy Solicitation Expenses. Decisions to provide full reimbursement for dissidents waging a proxy contest should be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

Ratification of Auditors

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for proposals to ratify auditors, unless an auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and are therefore not independent; or there is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position. Generally, the Advisor and Subadvisor vote against auditor ratification and withhold votes from audit committee members if non-audit fees exceed audit fees. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote on a case-by-case basis on auditor rotation proposals. Criteria for evaluating the rotation proposal include, but are not limited to: tenure of the audit firm; establishment and disclosure of a renewal process whereby the auditor is regularly evaluated for both audit quality and competitive price; length of the rotation period advocated in the proposal; and any significant audit related issues. Generally, the Advisor and Subadvisor vote against auditor indemnification and limitation of liability; however the Advisor and Subadvisor recognize there may be situations where indemnification and limitations on liability may be appropriate.

 

Takeover Defenses

 

While the Advisor and Subadvisor recognize that a takeover attempt can be a significant distraction for the board and management to deal with, the simple fact is that the possibility of a corporate takeover keeps management focused on maximizing shareholder value. As a result, the Advisor and Subadvisor oppose measures that are designed to prevent or obstruct corporate takeovers because they can entrench current management. The following are our guidelines on change of control issues:

 

Shareholder Rights Plans. The Advisor and Subadvisor acknowledge that there are arguments for and against shareholder rights plans, also known as “poison pills.” Companies should put their case for rights plans to shareholders. The Advisor and Subadvisor review on a case-by-case basis management proposals to ratify a poison pill. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally look for shareholder friendly features

 



 

including a two- to three-year sunset provision, a permitted bid provision and a 20 percent or higher flip-in provision.

 

Greenmail. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter or bylaw amendments or otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.

 

Unequal Voting Rights. Generally, The Advisor and Subadvisor vote against dual-class recapitalizations as they offer an effective way for a firm to thwart hostile takeovers by concentrating voting power in the hands of management or other insiders.

 

Classified Boards. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote in favor of shareholder proposals to declassify a board of directors, although the Advisor and Subadvisor acknowledge that a classified board may be in the long-term best interests of a company in certain situations. In voting on shareholder proposals to declassify a board of directors, the Advisor and Subadvisor evaluate all facts and circumstances surrounding such proposal, including whether the shareholder proposing the de-classification has an agenda in making such proposal that may be at odds with the long-term best interests of the company or whether it would be in the best interests of the company to thwart a shareholder’s attempt to control the board of directors.

 

Cumulative Voting. Having the ability to cumulate our votes for the election of directors—that is, cast more than one vote for a director about whom they feel strongly—generally increases shareholders’ rights to effect change in the management of a corporation. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally support, therefore, proposals to adopt cumulative voting.

 

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meeting. the Advisor and Subadvisor votes on a case-by-case basis for shareholder proposals requesting companies to amend their governance documents (bylaws and/or charter) in order to allow shareholders to call special meetings. The Advisor and Subadvisor recognize the importance on shareholder ability to call a special meeting, however, the Advisor and Subadvisor are also aware that some proposals are put forth in order to promote the agenda(s) of certain special interest groups and could be disruptive to the management of the company.

 

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote against proposals to allow or facilitate shareholder action by written consent. The requirement that all shareholders be given notice of a shareholders’ meeting and matters to be discussed therein seems to provide a reasonable protection of minority shareholder rights.

 

Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote for proposals that seek to fix the size of the board and vote against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board without shareholder approval. While the Advisor and Subadvisor recognize the importance of such proposals, the Advisor and Subadvisor are however also aware that these proposals are sometimes put forth in order to promote the agenda(s) of certain special interest groups and could be disruptive to the management of the company.

 

Miscellaneous Board Provisions

 

Board Committees. Boards should delegate key oversight functions, such as responsibility for audit, nominating and compensation issues, to independent committees. The chairman and members of any committee should be clearly identified in the annual report. Any committee should have the authority to engage independent advisors where appropriate at the company’s expense.

 



 

Audit, nominating and compensation committees should consist solely of non-employee directors, who are independent of management.

 

Separate Chairman and CEO Positions. The Advisor and Subadvisor will generally vote for proposals looking to separate the CEO and Chairman roles. The Advisor and Subadvisor do acknowledge, however, that under certain circumstances, it may be reasonable for the CEO and Chairman roles to be held by a single person.

 

Lead Directors and Executive Sessions. In cases where the CEO and Chairman roles are combined, Advisor and Subadvisor will vote for the appointment of a “lead” (non-insider) director and for regular “executive” sessions (board meetings taking place without the CEO/Chairman present).

 

Majority of Independent Directors. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for proposals that call for the board to be composed of a majority of independent directors. The Advisor and Subadvisor believe that a majority of independent directors can be an important factor in facilitating objective decision making and enhancing accountability to shareholders.

 

Independent Committees. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for shareholder proposals requesting that the board’s audit, compensation, and nominating committees consist exclusively of independent directors.

 

Stock Ownership Requirements. The Advisor and Subadvisor support measures requiring senior executives to hold a minimum amount of stock in a company (often expressed as a percentage of annual compensation), requiring stock acquired through option exercise to be held for a certain minimum amount of time and issuing restricted stock awards instead of options.

 

Term of Office. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote against shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of outside directors. Term limits pose artificial and arbitrary impositions on the board and could harm shareholder interests by forcing experienced and knowledgeable directors off the board.

 

Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection. Proposals concerning director and officer indemnification and liability protection should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Board Size. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote for proposals to limit the size of the board to 15 members or less.

 

Majority Vote Standard. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote for proposals asking for the board to initiate the appropriate process to amend the company’s governance documents (charter or bylaws) to provide that director nominees shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast at an annual meeting of shareholders. The Advisor and Subadvisor would generally review on a case-by-case basis proposals that address alternative approaches to a majority vote requirement.

 

Confidential Voting. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for shareholder proposals requesting that companies adopt confidential voting, use independent tabulators, and use independent inspectors of election as long as the proposals include clauses for proxy contests as follows: in the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy. If the dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents do not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor also vote for management proposals to adopt confidential voting.

 



 

Bundled Proposals. The Advisor and Subadvisor review on a case-by-case basis bundled or “conditioned” proxy proposals. In the case of items that are conditioned upon each other, the Advisor and Subadvisor examine the benefits and costs of the packaged items. In instances where the joint effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholders’ best interests, the Advisor and Subadvisor vote against the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, the Advisor and Subadvisor support such proposals.

 

Date/Location of Meeting. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote against shareholder proposals to change the date or location of the shareholders’ meeting. No one site will meet the needs of all shareholders.

 

Adjourn Meeting if Votes are Insufficient. Open-end requests for adjournment of a shareholder meeting generally will not be supported. However, where management specifically states the reason for requesting an adjournment and the requested adjournment is necessary to permit a proposal that would otherwise be supported under this policy to be carried out; the adjournment request will be supported.

 

Disclosure of Shareholder Proponents. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for shareholder proposals requesting that companies disclose the names of shareholder proponents. Shareholders may wish to contact the proponents of a shareholder proposal for additional information.

 

Capital Structure

 

Increase Additional Common Stock. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote for increases in authorized shares, provided that the increase is not greater than three times the number of shares outstanding and reserved for issuance (including shares reserved for stock-related plans and securities convertible into common stock, but not shares reserved for any poison pill plan). Votes generally are cast in favor of proposals to authorize additional shares of stock except where the proposal:

 

·                  creates a blank check preferred stock; or

 

·                  establishes classes of stock with superior voting rights.

 

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Votes generally are cast in opposition to management proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecific voting, conversion, distribution and other rights, and management proposals to increase the number of authorized blank check preferred shares. The Advisor and Subadvisor may vote in favor of this type of proposal when it receives assurances to its reasonable satisfaction that (i) the preferred stock was authorized by the board for the use of legitimate capital formation purposes and not for anti- takeover purposes, and (ii) no preferred stock will be issued with voting power that is disproportionate to the economic interests of the preferred stock. These representations should be made either in the proxy statement or in a separate letter from the company to the Advisor and Subadvisor.

 

Preemptive Rights. Votes regarding shareholder proposals seeking preemptive rights are determined on a case-by-case basis after evaluating:

 

·                  The size of the company;

 

·                  The shareholder base; and

 

·                  The liquidity of the stock.

 

For example, it would be difficult to support a shareholder proposal that would require an S&P 500 company with over $1 billion in equity held by thousands of shareholders (with no single shareholder

 



 

owning a significant percentage of outstanding shares) to implement preemptive rights each time it conducted a new offering. Such a requirement would be impractical and extremely costly. Moreover, at companies with that large of a shareholder base and the ease with which shareholders could preserve their relative interest through purchases of shares on the on the open market, the cost of implementing preemptive rights does not seem justifiable in relation to the benefits.

 

Dual Class Capitalizations. Because classes of common stock with unequal voting rights limit the rights of certain shareholders, the Advisor and Subadvisor vote against adoption of a dual or multiple class capitalization structure.

 

Restructurings/Recapitalizations. The Advisor and Subadvisor review proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan on a case- by-case basis.

 

In voting, the Advisor and Subadvisor consider the following issues:

 

·                  dilution—how much will ownership interest of existing shareholders be reduced, and how extreme will dilution to any future earnings be?

 

·                  change in control—will the transaction result in a change in control of the company?

 

·                  bankruptcy—generally, approve proposals that facilitate debt restructurings unless there are clear signs of self-dealing or other abuses.

 

Share Repurchase Programs. Boards may institute share repurchase or stock buy-back programs for a number of reasons. The Advisor and Subadvisor will generally vote in favor of such programs where the repurchase would be in the long-term best interests of shareholders, and where the company is not thought to be able to use the cash in a more useful way.

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor will vote against such programs when shareholders’ interests could be better served by deployment of the cash for alternative uses, or where the repurchase is a defensive maneuver or an attempt to entrench management.

 

Targeted Share Placements. These shareholder proposals ask companies to seek stockholder approval before placing 10% or more of their voting stock with a single investor. The proposals are typically in reaction to the placement by various companies of a large block of their voting stock in an ESOP, parent capital fund or with a single friendly investor, with the aim of protecting themselves against a hostile tender offer. These proposals are voted on a case-by-case basis after reviewing the individual situation of the company receiving the proposal.

 

Executive and Director Compensation

 

Stock-based Incentive Plans. Votes with respect to compensation plans should be determined on a case-by-case basis. The analysis of compensation plans focuses primarily on the transfer of shareholder wealth (the dollar cost of pay plans to shareholders). Other matters included in our analysis are the amount of the company’s outstanding stock to be reserved for the award of stock options or restricted stock, whether the exercise price of an option is less than the stock’s fair market value at the date of the grant of the options, and whether the plan provides for the exchange of outstanding options for new ones at lower exercise prices. Every award type is valued. An estimated dollar cost for the proposed plan and all continuing plans is derived. This cost, dilution to shareholders’ equity, will also be expressed as a percentage figure for the transfer of shareholder wealth and will be considered along with dilution to voting power. Once

 



 

the cost of the plan is estimated, it is compared to an allowable industry-specific and market cap-based dilution cap.

 

If the proposed plan cost is above the allowable cap, an against vote is indicated. If the proposed cost is below the allowable cap, a vote for the plan is indicated unless the plan violates the repricing guidelines. If the company has a history of repricing options or has the express ability to reprice underwater stock options without first securing shareholder approval under the proposed plan, the plan receives an against vote—even in cases where the plan cost is considered acceptable based on the quantitative analysis.

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor vote against equity plans that have high average three year burn rates, unless the company has publicly committed to reduce the burn rate to a rate that is comparable to its peer group (as determined by the Advisor and Subadvisor).

 

Approval of Cash or Cash-and-Stock Bonus Plans. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans to exempt the compensation from limits on deductibility under the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code).

 

Executive Compensation. Executive compensation should be tied to the performance of the executive and the company as well as relevant market conditions. The Advisor and Subadvisor feel that the performance criteria and specific amounts and types of executive compensation are best decided by a company’s board of directors and/or its compensation committee and fully disclosed to shareholders.

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor will, however, vote for shareholder proposals that call for shareholders to vote, in a non-binding manner, on executive pay since such vote is non-binding and is merely informative for the board of directors and/or compensation committee. Further, the Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote for shareholder proposals that seek additional disclosure of executive and director pay information.

 

Reload/Evergreen Features. The Advisor and Subadvisor will generally vote against plans that enable the issuance of reload options and that provide an automatic share replenishment (“evergreen”) feature.

 

Golden Parachutes. The Advisor and Subadvisor oppose the use of accelerated employment contracts that result in cash grants of greater than three times annual compensation (salary and bonus) in the event of termination of employment following a change in control of a company. In general, the guidelines call for voting against “golden parachute” plans because they impede potential takeovers that shareholders should be free to consider. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally withhold our votes at the next shareholder meeting for directors who to our knowledge approved golden parachutes.

 

401(k) Employee Benefit Plans. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plans. The Advisor and Subadvisor support employee stock purchase plans, although the Advisor and Subadvisor generally believe the discounted purchase price should be at least 85% of the current market price.

 

Option Expensing. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for shareholder proposals to expense fixed-price options.

 

Vesting. The Advisor and Subadvisor believe that restricted stock awards normally should vest over at least a two-year period.

 



 

Option Repricing. Stock options generally should not be re-priced, and never should be re-priced without shareholder approval. In addition, companies should not issue new options, with a lower strike price, to make up for previously issued options that are substantially underwater. The Advisor and Subadvisor will vote against the election of any slate of directors that, to its knowledge, has authorized a company to re-price or replace underwater options during the most recent year without shareholder approval.

 

Stock Holding Periods. Generally vote against all proposals requiring executives to hold the stock received upon option exercise for a specific period of time.

 

Transferable Stock Options. Review on a case-by-case basis proposals to grant transferable stock options or otherwise permit the transfer of outstanding stock options, including cost of proposal and alignment with shareholder interests.

 

Recoup Bonuses. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote on a case-by-case on shareholder proposals to recoup unearned incentive bonuses or other incentive payments made to senior executives if it is later determined that fraud, misconduct, or negligence significantly contributed to a restatement of financial results that led to the awarding of unearned incentive compensation.

 

Incorporation

 

Reincorporation Outside of the United States. Generally, the Advisor and Subadvisor will vote against companies looking to reincorporate outside of the U.S.

 

Voting on State Takeover Statutes. The Advisor and Subadvisor review on a case-by-case basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freeze out provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti greenmail provisions, and disgorgement provisions). In voting on these shareholder proposals, the Advisor and Subadvisor evaluate all facts and circumstances surrounding such proposal, including whether the shareholder proposing such measure has an agenda in making such proposal that may be at odds with the longterm best interests of the company or whether it would be in the best interests of the company to thwart a shareholder’s attempt to control the board of directors.

 

Voting on Reincorporation Proposals. Proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation are examined on a case-by-case basis. In making our decision, the Advisor and Subadvisor review management’s rationale for the proposal, changes to the charter/bylaws, and differences in the state laws governing the companies.

 

Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

 

Mergers and Acquisitions. Votes on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors including the following: anticipated financial and operating benefits; offer price (cost vs. premium); prospects of the combined companies; how the deal was negotiated; and changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder rights.

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor vote against proposals that require a super-majority of shareholders to approve a merger or other significant business combination. The Advisor and Subadvisor support proposals that seek to lower super-majority voting requirements.

 

Nonfinancial Effects of a Merger or Acquisition. Some companies have proposed a charter provision which specifies that the board of directors may examine the nonfinancial effect of a merger or acquisition

 



 

on the company. This provision would allow the board to evaluate the impact a proposed change in control would have on employees, host communities, suppliers and/or others. The Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote against proposals to adopt such charter provisions. The Advisor and Subadvisor feel it is the directors’ fiduciary duty to base decisions solely on the financial interests of the shareholders.

 

Corporate Restructuring. Votes on corporate restructuring proposals, including minority squeeze outs, leveraged buyouts, “going private” proposals, spin-offs, liquidations, and asset sales, should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

Spin-offs. Votes on spin-offs should be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the tax and regulatory advantages, planned use of sale proceeds, market focus, and managerial incentives.

 

Asset Sales. Votes on asset sales should be made on a case-by-case basis after considering the impact on the balance sheet/working capital, value received for the asset, and potential elimination of diseconomies.

 

Liquidations. Votes on liquidations should be made on a case-by-case basis after reviewing management’s efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets, and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.

 

Appraisal Rights. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of appraisal. Rights of appraisal provide shareholders who are not satisfied with the terms of certain corporate transactions the right to demand a judicial review in order to determine a fair value for their shares.

 

Changing Corporate Name. The Advisor and Subadvisor vote for changing the corporate name.

 

Social Issues.

 

The Advisor and Subadvisor believe that it is the responsibility of the board and management to run a company on a daily basis. With this in mind, in the absence of unusual circumstances, the Advisor and Subadvisor do not believe that shareholders should be involved in determining how a company should address broad social and policy issues. As a result, the Advisor and Subadvisor generally vote against these types of proposals, which are generally initiated by shareholders, unless the Advisor and Subadvisor believe the proposal has significant economic implications.

 

Item 8.  Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies.

 

Information pertaining to the portfolio managers of the registrant, as of February 28, 2009, is set forth below.

 

Martin Cohen

 

·      Director and co-chairman

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Co-founder, co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. (“C&S”) and its parent company, Cohen & Steers, Inc. (“CNS”).  Vice president and director of Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC.  Director and co-chairman of each of the Cohen & Steers funds.  Previously, president of C&S and each of the Cohen & Steers funds. 

 



 

Robert Steers

 

·      Director and co-chairman

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Co-founder, co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of C&S and CNS.  Vice President and Director of Cohen & Steers Securities, LLC.  Director and co-chairman of each of the Cohen & Steers funds.  Previously, chairman of C&S and each of the Cohen & Steers funds. 

 

 

Joseph Harvey

 

·      Vice president

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

President of C&S and CNS.  Previously, senior vice president of C&S and director of research.

 

 

Douglas Bond

 

·      Vice president

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Executive vice president of C&S. Previously, first vice president for asset managers and funds at Merrill Lynch & Co.

 

 

William F. Scapell

 

·      Vice President

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Senior vice president of C&S. Previously, chief strategist for preferred securities at Merrill Lynch & Co.

 

 

 

Richard Helm

 

·      Vice President

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Senior vice president of C&S. Previously, senior portfolio manager of WM Advisors, Inc.

 

 

Yigal D. Jhirad

 

·      Vice President

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Senior vice president of C&S. Previously, executive director at Morgan Stanley, heading the portfolio and derivatives strategies effort.

 

 



 

Scott Crowe

 

·      Vice President

 

·      Portfolio manager since inception

Senior vice president of C&S. Previously, executive director at UBS.

 

 

Ben Morton

 

·      Portfolio manager since 2007

Vice president of C&S.

 

C&S utilizes a team-based approach in managing the registrant. Mr. Cohen and Mr. Steers are the leaders of this team and they act in a supervisory capacity. Mr. Harvey, Mr. Crowe, Mr. Becker, Mr. Bohjalian, Mr. Morton and Mr. Jhirad direct and supervise the execution of the registrant’s investment strategy, and lead and guide the other members of the team.  Mr. Scapell manages the registrant’s preferred securities investments.

 

Each portfolio manager listed above manages other investment companies and/or investment vehicles and accounts in addition to the registrant. The following tables show, as of December 31, 2008, the number of accounts each portfolio manager managed in each of the listed categories and the total assets in the accounts managed within each category. The portfolio managers do not receive performance-based fees with respect to any of the registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles or other accounts that they manage.

 

Martin Cohen

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

19

 

$

7,386,803,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

25

 

$

3,338,400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

46

 

$

2,195,704,000

 

 

Robert Steers

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

19

 

$

7,386,803,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

25

 

$

3,338,400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

46

 

$

2,195,704,000

 

 



 

Joseph Harvey

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

19

 

$

7,386,803,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

25

 

$

3,338,400,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

46

 

$

2,195,704,000

 

 

Douglas Bond

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

2

 

$

572,808,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

William F. Scapell

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

10

 

$

4,229,569,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

2

 

$

35,810,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

12

 

$

361,679,000

 

 

Richard Helm

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

6

 

$

802,686,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

4

 

$

323,463,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

6

 

$

81,744,000

 

 



 

Yigal D. Jhirad

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

1

 

$

317,202,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Scott Crowe

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

7

 

$

1,012,255,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

17

 

$

2,960,465,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

15

 

$

485,383,000

 

 

Ben Morton

 

 

 

Number of accounts

 

Total assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Registered investment companies

 

1

 

$

66,135,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other pooled investment vehicles

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·      Other accounts

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

Share Ownership. The following table indicates the dollar range of securities of the registrant owned by the registrant’s portfolio managers as of December 31, 2008:

 

 

 

Dollar Range of Securities Owned

 

Martin Cohen

 

None

 

Robert Steers

 

None

 

Joseph Harvey

 

None

 

Douglas Bond

 

None

 

William F. Scapell

 

None

 

Richard Helm

 

None

 

Yigal Jhirad

 

None

 

Scott Crowe

 

None

 

Ben Morton

 

None

 

 

Conflicts of Interest. It is possible that conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the portfolio managers’ management of the registrant’s investments on the one hand and the

 



 

investments of other accounts or vehicles for which the portfolio managers are responsible on the other. For example, a portfolio manager may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time, resources and investment opportunities among the registrant and the other accounts or vehicles he advises. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions among the registrant and the other accounts, a portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the registrant.

 

In some cases, another account managed by a portfolio manager may provide more revenue to C&S. While this may appear to create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities, C&S strives to ensure that portfolio managers endeavor to exercise their discretion in a manner that is equitable to all interested persons. In this regard, in the absence of specific account-related impediments (such as client-imposed restrictions or lack of available cash), it is the policy of C&S to allocate investment ideas pro rata to all accounts with the same primary investment objective.

 

In addition, certain of the portfolio managers may from time to time manage one or more accounts on behalf of C&S and its affiliated companies (the “CNS Accounts”). Certain securities held in the CNS Accounts also may be held in the account of the registrant or other client accounts of C&S. C&S has adopted procedures that are designed to ensure that the interests of the CNS Accounts are never placed ahead of the interests of the registrant or any other client account. In this regard, C&S will not purchase or sell a security for the CNS Accounts until C&S has completed its purchase or sale program for the registrant and any other client accounts. While it is possible that a security will be sold out of the CNS Accounts but continue to be held for the registrant or one or more other client accounts, this will occur only if C&S, acting in its reasonable judgment and consistent with its fiduciary duties, believes this to be appropriate for, and consistent with the objectives and profile of, the registrant or other client accounts.

 

Advisor Compensation Structure. Compensation of the Advisor’s portfolio managers and other investment professionals has three primary components: (1) a base salary, (2) an annual cash bonus and (3) annual stock-based compensation consisting generally of restricted stock units of the Advisor’s parent, CNS. The Advisor’s investment professionals, including the portfolio managers, also receive certain retirement, insurance and other benefits that are broadly available to all of its employees. Compensation of the Advisor’s investment professionals is reviewed primarily on an annual basis.

 

Method to Determine Compensation. The Advisor compensates its portfolio managers based primarily on the total return performance of funds and accounts managed by the portfolio manager versus appropriate peer groups or benchmarks. C&S uses a variety of benchmarks to evaluate each portfolio managers’ performance for compensation purposes, including the MSCI World Index, the S&P 500 Index and other broad based indexes based on the asset classes managed by each portfolio manager.  In evaluating the performance of a portfolio manager, primary emphasis is normally placed on one- and three-year performance, with secondary consideration of performance over longer periods of time.  Performance is evaluated on a pre-tax and pre-expense basis. In addition to rankings within peer groups of funds on the basis of absolute performance, consideration may also be given to risk-adjusted performance. For funds and accounts with a primary investment objective of high current income, consideration will also be given to the fund’s and account’s success in achieving this objective. For portfolio managers responsible for multiple funds and accounts, investment performance is evaluated on an

 



 

aggregate basis. The Advisor does not have any funds or accounts with performance-based advisory fees. Portfolio managers are also evaluated on the basis of their success in managing their dedicated team of analysts. Base compensation for portfolio managers of the Advisor varies in line with the portfolio manager’s seniority and position with the firm.

 

Salaries, bonuses and stock-based compensation are also influenced by the operating performance of the Advisor and CNS. While the annual salaries of the Advisor’s portfolio managers are fixed, cash bonuses and stock based compensation may fluctuate significantly from year to year, based on changes in manager performance and other factors.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

(d)

 

Period

 

Total number of
shares purchased

 

Average price
paid per share

 

Total number of
shares purchased
part of publicly
announced plans
or programs

 

Maximum number (or
approximate dollar
value) of shares (or units)
that may yet be
purchased under the
plans or programs

 

6/12/08 to 6/30/08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

7/01/08 to 7/31/08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

8/01/08 to 8/31/08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

9/01/08 to 9/30/08

 

4,200

 

$

10.70

 

4,200

 

N/A

 

10/01/08 to 10/31/08

 

288,900

 

$

7.90

 

288,900

 

N/A

 

11/01/08 to 11/30/08

 

30,500

 

$

6.66

 

30,500

 

N/A

 

12/01/08 to 12/31/08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: On June 12, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Fund approved the delegation of its authority to management to effect repurchases, pursuant to management’s discretion and subject to market conditions and investment considerations, of up to 10% of the Fund’s total assets (“Share Repurchase Program”) through the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. On December 17, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the continuation of the Share Repurchase Program through fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

 

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting 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.

 

(a)(1)  Not applicable.

 

(a) (2) Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(b) Certifications of chief executive officer and chief financial officer as required by Rule 30a- 2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

COHEN & STEERS GLOBAL INCOME BUILDER, INC.

 

 

By:

/s/

Adam M. Derechin

 

 

 

Name: Adam M. Derechin

 

 

 

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 6, 2009

 

 

 

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/

Adam M. Derechin

 

 

 

Name:

Adam M. Derechin

 

 

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/

James Giallanza

 

 

 

Name:

James Giallanza

 

 

 

Title:

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

(principal financial officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 6, 2009