N-CSR 1 ncsr.txt OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0570 Expires: September 30, 2007 Estimated average burden hours per response.....19.4 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 811-08657 Pioneer Equity Income Fund (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 (Address of principal executive offices) (ZIP code) Dorothy E. Bourassa, Pioneer Investment Management, Inc., 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 742-7825 Date of fiscal year end: October 31 Date of reporting period: November 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007 Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles. A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss. 3507. ITEM 1. REPORTS TO SHAREOWNERS. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PIONEER ------- EQUITY INCOME FUND Semiannual Report 4/30/07 [LOGO]PIONEER Investments(R) Table of Contents -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letter to Shareowners 2 Portfolio Management Discussion 4 Portfolio Summary 8 Prices and Distributions 9 Performance Update 10 Comparing Ongoing Fund Expenses 15 Schedule of Investments 17 Financial Statements 24 Notes to Financial Statements 33 Factors Considered by the Independent Trustees in Approving the Management Contract 41 Trustees, Officers and Service Providers 47
President's Dear Shareowner, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Staying diversified and keeping your portfolio invested in the markets are two general investment principles that have served investors well over time. Those were particularly useful guides during the past year, as U.S. and global stock and bond markets grew strongly during the period. The markets were supported by relatively low short-term interest rates and generally strong economies around the globe. The U.S. stock market, as measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index, gained approximately 15% over the twelve months ending April 30, 2007. European and Emerging Markets equities performed even better, with MSCI's indexes of those regions rising approximately 27% and 18%, respectively. The U.S. bond market, despite growing concerns about the health of the U.S. mortgage industry, gained roughly 8%, as measured by the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index. The High Yield market, as measured by the Merrill Lynch High Yield Bond Master II Index, returned approximately 12%. The climate for investors continues to appear generally positive. While still strong, the U.S. economy has slowed. That was due in large part to a slowdown in new home construction and in part to the lagging effects of rising energy and commodity prices and rising short-term interest rates, but it is also due in part to the natural maturation of the cyclical expansion as U.S. factories approach full utilization and the labor markets approach full employment. We have enjoyed a cyclical recovery with strong economic growth, and U.S. economic growth has slowed, but continuing growth at a slower rate appears more likely than a recession. The Federal Reserve Board has indicated a reduced likelihood of future rate hikes, but continues to highlight its commitment to keeping inflationary pressures contained. This is in keeping with "best practices" among the world's central banks: low and stable inflation is believed to be the best backdrop for stable economic growth and low average unemployment. In Europe, healthy labor markets are supporting growing consumption and solid GDP growth, helped by productivity gains and a positive operating environment for European companies that are finding strong export markets for their goods and services around the globe. European inflationary pressures appear to be largely under control, with the European Central bank remaining strongly vigilant. Japanese 2 Letter economic growth continues to make progress, and the country has become a more attractive market as deflationary problems recede. Economic growth in emerging market countries remains faster than in the developed world as they continue to "catch up," led by China, which continues its rise as a world economic power. While the economic outlook appears generally favorable for investors, sudden swings in the markets are always to be expected. Just as staying diversified and invested are important investment principles, it is also important to pay attention to asset allocation. As always, we encourage shareholders to work closely with their financial advisor to find the mix of stocks, bonds and money market assets that is aligned to your particular risk tolerance and investment objective. Respectfully, /s/ Daniel K. Kingsbury, Daniel K. Kingsbury, President and CEO Pioneer Investment Management USA Inc. Any information in this shareholder report regarding market or economic trends or the factors influencing the Fund's historical or future performance are statements of the opinion of Fund management as of the date of this report. These statements should not be relied upon for any other purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and there is no guarantee that market forecasts discussed will be realized. 3 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION 4/30/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the following interview, John Carey, Pioneer Equity Income Fund's portfolio manager, discusses the factors that influenced performance during the six month period ending 4/30/07. Q: How did the U.S. stock market perform during the past six months? A: The U.S. stock market forged ahead in the six months ended April 30, 2007. Despite a slower economy, especially in the early months of 2007, investors took heart from strong corporate earnings and burgeoning merger-and-acquisition activity and bid stock prices up, and up some more. Where have all the earnings come from, and where has the money come from to fund all of the mergers and acquisitions? Fair questions, and questions worth answering. With regard to earnings, companies in the materials and energy sectors have obviously benefited from sharply rising commodities prices, though rising production costs have lately begun cutting into profits. Multinational companies in the consumer and industrial sectors have enjoyed gains owing to the weak dollar: their exports have grown and their overseas profits, translated back into dollars, have amounted to more in dollars. Companies in many sectors have reduced the number of shares outstanding by repurchasing shares, boosting earnings per share. Continuing cost controls including workforce and plant rationalizations in sectors ranging from health care to financial and telecommunications services have also pushed up profits. Those have been among the reasons for the positive trend in earnings, and we note that some of them cannot be counted on to be sustainable. As for the liquidity fueling the merger-and-acquisition boom, some of it of course comes from the accumulation of corporate earnings in excess of the normal capital requirements of companies. Some also comes from entities in foreign countries that have had favorable trade balances with the U.S. But much of it has been borrowed, at rates of interest that remain low by historical standards. Not only that, but many commentators have also noted the low "risk premium" in the capital markets today. That means that investors and lenders have in many cases required little more return from their participation in high-risk ventures than from their involvement in top-quality enterprises. So far, with business-failure and loan-default rates remaining very low, the investors and lenders have been right, but we wonder whether a degree of 4 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- carelessness has crept into the markets and if a correction will not occur at some point. Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Q: Please discuss the performance of Pioneer Equity Income Fund versus the market benchmarks and Lipper peer group. A: Pioneer Equity Income Fund had solid performance in the six months ended April 30, 2007, with a total return on Class A shares of 10.95% at net asset value. By comparison, the Russell 1000 Value Index and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index had total returns, respectively, of 9.79% and 8.60%. The average return of the 271 funds in the Lipper Analytical Services equity-income category was 9.49%. Our outperformance of the Russell 1000 Value Index benchmark came from our overweights in the above-average performing utilities, materials, telecommunications-services, and industrial sectors, and our underweight of the below-average performing financials sector. We also benefited from strong stock selection in most sectors, particularly industrials, financials, information technology, consumer discretionary, and health care. Among our best stocks in the period were PACCAR, maker of heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. and medium-duty trucks in Europe; Equitable Resources, distributor and producer of natural gas; Johnson Controls, automotive supplier; Alcoa, the aluminum company; and Microchip Technology, provider of microcontrollers. Detracting from performance were our underweight in energy, which continued to do well, and our stock selection in several sectors, including utilities, materials, and consumer staples. Prior to our sale of it, Ameren, a public utility in Missouri and Illinois, was weak due to regulatory issues in one of its states. Whitney Holding, a bank with operations in New Orleans, declined as investors 5 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION 4/30/07 (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- grew impatient with the pace of recovery in that beleaguered city. Washington Mutual showed pressure from its softening home-mortgage-loan business. Q: What additions and deletions did you make during the six months? A: We added nine positions to the portfolio and eliminated two. Spectra Energy, a natural-gas distributor headquartered in Houston, Texas, was spun off at the beginning of January from our holding Duke Energy. Idearc, publisher of yellow- and white-pages directories, was also spun off from one of our holdings, Verizon. Expanding our investment in real estate investment trusts (REITs), we initiated positions in General Growth Properties and Developers Diversified Realty, two developers and managers of shopping centers; Equity Residential, owner and operator of apartments; and Plum Creek Timber, a forest-products enterprise. Our other purchases were Masco, noted for its household plumbing supplies; Wm. Wrigley Jr., the leading chewing-gum and confectionary maker; and The Hartford Financial Services Group, an important provider of insurance, including life and property-and-casualty, and annuities. Liquidated was the aforementioned Ameren. Our holding of BellSouth was merged into AT&T, a previous holding. Q: Do you have any closing thoughts for shareowners? A: In our October 31, 2006, letter, we expressed surprise that the market had done so well as it had, and we can only express a similar surprise on the occasion of this new letter. As we speculated earlier, the rally in share prices seems attributable to the very good reported earnings. Indeed, the past three years have seen one of the greatest surges in corporate earnings in the U.S. in the last fifty years. As in the case of all exceptional periods, however, it is important to remember that the operative word is usually exceptional, and that a "reversion to the mean" often ensues. It is our approach with the Pioneer Equity Income Fund to emphasize more conservatively-valued stocks, and of course we also emphasize dividend income. Like any defensive strategy, ours, too, carries its risks, namely our significant exposures to utilities, financials, industrials, and other cyclical names. We believe that our independent research and long 6 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- investment experience can make a difference in identifying investment opportunities in those areas of the market where we tend to focus, but we cannot offer any assurances that the Fund will not also feel whatever general pressures may come to bear on the market in the months and quarters ahead. Thank you as always for your faithful support. At times, the Fund's investments may represent industries or industry sectors that are interrelated or have common risks, making it more susceptible to any economic, political, or regulatory developments or other risks affecting those industries and sectors. Any information in this shareholder report regarding market or economic trends or the factors influencing the Fund's historical or future performance are statements of the opinion of Fund management as the date of this report. These opinions should not be relied upon for any other purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, and there is no guarantee that market forecast discussed will be realized. 7 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORTFOLIO SUMMARY 4/30/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portfolio Diversification -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (As a percentage of total investment portfolio) [THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL] U.S. Common Stocks 92.9% Temporary Cash Investments 6.7% Convertible Preferred Stocks 0.4%
Sector Distribution -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (As a percentage of equity holdings) [THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL] Financials 25.8% Utilities 12.7% Consumer Discretionary 9.9% Telecommunication Services 9.6% Industrials 9.5% Consumer Staples 8.8% Materials 8.6% Energy 6.7% Health Care 6.3% Information Technology 2.1%
10 Largest Holdings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (As a percentage of equity holdings)* 1. AT&T Corp. 4.40% 2. Chevron Corp. 2.80 3. Washington Mutual, Inc. 2.72 4. Merck & Co., Inc. 2.64 5. PACCAR, Inc. 2.58 6. Questar Corp. 2.41 7. Alcoa, Inc. 2.29 8. PG&E Corp. 1.92 9. Verizon Communications, Inc. 1.92 10. Johnson Controls, Inc. 1.87
* This list excludes temporary cash and derivative instruments. The portfolio is actively managed, and current holdings may be different. The holdings listed should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security listed. 8 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRICES AND DISTRIBUTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Asset Value Per Share --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class 4/30/07 10/31/06 ----- ------- -------- A $33.69 $33.53 B $33.46 $33.32 C $33.33 $33.20 R $33.92 $33.73 Y $33.87 $33.68
Distributions Per Share --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11/1/06 - 4/30/07 ----------------- Short-Term Long-Term Class Dividends Capital Gains Capital Gains ----- --------- ------------- ------------- A $0.3553 $0.0779 $2.8091 B $0.2191 $0.0779 $2.8091 C $0.2295 $0.0779 $2.8091 R $0.3300 $0.0779 $2.8091 Y $0.4140 $0.0779 $2.8091
9 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERFORMANCE UPDATE 4/30/07 CLASS A SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Returns -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000 investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund at public offering price, compared to that of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
---------------------------------------------------- Average Annual Total Returns (As of April 30, 2007) Net Asset Public Offering Period Value (NAV) Price (POP) Life-of-Class (7/25/90) 12.01% 11.62% 10 Years 10.31 9.66 5 Years 10.63 9.33 1 Year 21.25 14.28 ---------------------------------------------------- Expense Ratio (Per prospectus dated March 1, 2007) Gross Net 1.03% 1.03% ----------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000 Income Fund Value Index 4/97 9425 10000 13194 14218 4/99 14811 16221 14036 15592 4/01 15922 16594 15180 15946 4/03 12647 13871 15659 17514 4/05 17962 19953 20747 23605 4/07 25157 27888
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. NAV results represent the percent change in net asset value per share. Returns would have been lower had sales charges been reflected. POP returns reflect deduction of maximum 5.75% sales charge. All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are available for which performance and expenses will differ. Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the prospectus and financial statements for more information. The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Russell 1000 Value Index measures the performance of large-cap U.S. value stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. You cannot invest directly in any index. 10 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERFORMANCE UPDATE 4/30/07 CLASS B SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Returns -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000 investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
--------------------------------------------------------- Average Annual Total Returns (As of April 30, 2007) If If Period Held Redeemed Life-of-Class (4/4/94) 10.97% 10.97% 10 Years 9.42 9.42 5 Years 9.69 9.69 1 Year 20.21 16.21 --------------------------------------------------------- Expense Ratio (Per prospectus dated March 1, 2007) Gross Net 1.90% 1.90% ---------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000 Income Fund Value Index 4/97 10000 10000 13889 14218 4/99 15479 16221 14554 15592 4/01 16375 16594 15490 15946 4/03 12802 13871 15718 17514 4/05 17870 19953 20463 23605 4/07 24596 27888
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. "If Held" results represent the percent change in net asset value per share. Returns would have been lower had sales charges been reflected. "If Redeemed" returns reflect the deduction of applicable contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). Effective December 1, 2004, the period during which a CDSC is applied to withdrawals was shortened to 5 years. The maximum CDSC for Class B shares continues to be 4%. For more complete information, please see the prospectus for details. Note: Shares purchased prior to December 1, 2004 remain subject to the CDSC in effect at the time you purchased those shares. For performance information for shares purchased prior to December 1, 2004, please visit pioneerinvestments.com/bshares. All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are available for which performance and expenses will differ. Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the prospectus and financial statements for more information. The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Russell 1000 Value Index measures the performance of large-cap U.S. value stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. You cannot invest directly in any index. 11 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERFORMANCE UPDATE 4/30/07 CLASS C SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Returns -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000 investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
--------------------------------------------------------- Average Annual Total Returns (As of April 30, 2007) If If Period Held Redeemed Life-of-Class (1/31/96) 9.74% 9.74% 10 Years 9.41 9.41 5 Years 9.75 9.75 1 Year 20.32 20.32 --------------------------------------------------------- Expense Ratio (Per prospectus dated March 1, 2007) Gross Net 1.82% 1.82% ---------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000 Income Fund Value Index 4/97 10000 10000 13888 14218 4/99 15472 16221 14526 15592 4/01 16337 16594 15439 15946 4/03 12759 13871 15670 17514 4/05 17831 19953 20431 23605 4/07 24584 27888
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Class C shares held for less than one year are also subject to a 1% contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). The performance of Class C shares does not reflect the 1% front-end sales charge in effect prior to February 1, 2004. If you paid a 1% sales charge, your returns would be lower than those shown above. "If Held" results represent the percent change in net asset value per share. Returns would have been lower had sales charges been reflected. All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are available for which performance and expenses will differ. Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the prospectus and financial statements for more information. The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Russell 1000 Value Index measures the performance of large-cap U.S. value stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. You cannot invest directly in any index. 12 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERFORMANCE UPDATE 4/30/07 CLASS R SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Returns -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000 investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
-------------------------------------------------------- Average Annual Total Returns (As of April 30, 2007) If If Period Held Redeemed Life-of-Class (4/1/03) 11.55% 11.55% 10 Years 9.92 9.92 5 Years 10.40 10.40 1 Year 21.01 21.01 -------------------------------------------------------- Expense Ratio (Per prospectus dated March 1, 2007) Gross Net 1.22% 1.22% --------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000 Income Fund Value Index 4/97 10000 10000 13928 14218 4/99 15557 16221 14669 15592 4/01 16558 16594 15707 15946 4/03 13022 13871 16111 17514 4/05 18455 19953 21287 23605 4/07 25758 27888
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Class R shares are not subject to sales charges and are available for limited groups of eligible investors, including retirement plan investors. The performance of Class R shares for the period prior to the commencement of operations of Class R shares on April 1, 2003 is based on the performance of Class A shares, reduced to reflect the higher distribution and service fees of Class R shares. For the period after April 1, 2003, the actual performance of Class R shares is reflected. Class R shares are not subject to sales charges and are available for limited groups of eligible investors, including institutional investors. All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are available for which performance and expenses will differ. Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the prospectus and financial statements for more information. The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Russell 1000 Value Index measures the performance of large-cap U.S. value stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. You cannot invest directly in any index. 13 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERFORMANCE UPDATE 4/30/07 CLASS Y SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Returns -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mountain chart on the right shows the change in value of a $10,000 investment made in Pioneer Equity Income Fund, compared to that of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
--------------------------------------------------------- Average Annual Total Returns (As of April 30, 2007) If If Period Held Redeemed Life-of-Class (7/25/90) 12.26% 12.26% 10 Years 10.72 10.72 5 Years 11.12 11.12 1 Year 21.74 21.74 --------------------------------------------------------- Expense Ratio (Per prospectus dated March 1, 2007) Gross Net 0.65% 0.65% ---------------------------------------------------------
[THE FOLLOWING DATA WAS REPRESENTED AS A MOUNTAIN CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL]
Pioneer Equity Russell 1000 Income Fund Value Index 4/97 10000 10000 13997 14218 4/99 15762 16221 14992 15592 4/01 17064 16594 16338 15946 4/03 13683 13871 17020 17514 4/05 19610 19953 22742 23605 4/07 27685 27888
Call 1-800-225-6292 or visit pioneerinvestments.com for the most recent month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. The performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance for periods prior to the inception of Class Y shares reflects the NAV performance of the Fund's Class A shares. The performance does not reflect differences in expenses, including the Rule 12b-1 fees applicable to Class A shares. Since fees for Class A shares are generally higher than those of Class Y shares, the performance shown for Class Y shares prior to their inception would have been higher. Class Y shares are not subject to sales charges and are available for limited groups of eligible investors, including institutional investors. All results are historical and assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Other share classes are available for which performance and expenses will differ. Performance results reflect any applicable expense waivers in effect during the periods shown. Without such waivers Fund performance would be lower. Waivers may not be in effect for all funds. Certain fee waivers are contractual through a specified period. Otherwise, fee waivers can be rescinded at any time. See the prospectus and financial statements for more information. The performance table and graph do not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes that a shareowner would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. The Russell 1000 Value Index measures the performance of large-cap U.S. value stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. You cannot invest directly in any index. 14 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMPARING ONGOING FUND EXPENSES 4/30/07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a shareowner in the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses; and (2) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing expenses (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 at the beginning of the Fund's latest six-month period and held throughout the six months. Using the Tables Actual Expenses The first table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period as follows: 1. Divide your account value by $1,000 Example: an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6 2. Multiply the result in (1) above by the corresponding share class's number in the third row under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. Expenses Paid on a $1,000 Investment in Pioneer Equity Income Fund Based on actual returns from November 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007.
Share Class A B C R Y --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning Account $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 Value On 11/01/06 Ending Account $1,109.50 $1,105.00 $1,105.40 $1,108.90 $1,112.00 Value On 4/30/07 Expenses Paid $ 5.28 $ 10.13 $ 9.45 $ 6.22 $ 3.46 During Period*
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 1.01%, 1.94%, 1.81%, 1.19% and 0.66%, for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). 15 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMPARING ONGOING FUND EXPENSES 4/30/07 (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund's actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund's actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads) that are charged at the time of the transaction. Therefore, the table below is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher. Expenses Paid on a $1,000 Investment in Pioneer Equity Income Fund Based on a hypothetical 5% return per year before expenses, reflecting the period from November 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007.
Share Class A B C R Y --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning Account $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 Value On 11/01/06 Ending Account $1,019.29 $1,015.17 $1,015.82 $1,018.89 $1,021.52 Value On 4/30/07 Expenses Paid $ 5.06 $ 9.69 $ 9.05 $ 5.96 $ 3.31 During Period*
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 1.01%, 1.94%, 1.81%, 1.19% and 0.66%, for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class Y shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). 16 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS - 0.5% Automobiles & Components - 0.4% Automobile Manufacturers - 0.4% 150,000 Ford Cap Trust, 6.5%, 1/15/32 $ 5,373,000 -------------- Total Automobiles & Components $ 5,373,000 -------------- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology - 0.1% Pharmaceuticals - 0.1% 15,745 Schering-Plough Corp., 6.0%, 9/14/07 $ 1,135,608 -------------- Total Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology $ 1,135,608 -------------- TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost $6,010,850) $ 6,508,608 -------------- COMMON STOCKS - 96.7% Energy - 6.5% Integrated Oil & Gas - 5.5% 501,400 Chevron Corp. $ 39,003,906 317,560 ConocoPhillips 22,022,786 233,878 Exxon Mobil Corp. 18,565,236 -------------- $ 79,591,928 -------------- Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation - 1.0% 520,000 Spectra Energy Corp. $ 13,572,000 -------------- Total Energy $ 93,163,928 -------------- Materials - 8.3% Aluminum - 2.2% 900,000 Alcoa, Inc. $ 31,941,000 -------------- Diversified Chemical - 2.7% 550,000 Dow Chemical Co. $ 24,535,500 300,000 E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. 14,751,000 -------------- $ 39,286,500 -------------- Diversified Metals & Mining - 0.5% 220,000 Compass Minerals International, Inc. $ 7,554,800 -------------- Forest Products - 0.8% 150,000 Weyerhaeuser Co. $ 11,883,000 -------------- Industrial Gases - 1.1% 200,000 Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. $ 15,300,000 --------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 17 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value Specialty Chemicals - 1.0% 500,000 Valspar Corp. $ 13,520,000 -------------- Total Materials $ 119,485,300 -------------- Capital Goods - 8.5% Aerospace & Defense - 0.8% 170,000 United Technologies Corp. $ 11,412,100 -------------- Building Products - 0.7% 400,000 Masco Corp. $ 10,884,000 -------------- Construction & Farm Machinery & Heavy Trucks - 3.3% 100,000 Deere & Co. $ 10,940,000 427,937 PACCAR, Inc. 35,938,149 -------------- $ 46,878,149 -------------- Electrical Component & Equipment - 1.1% 350,000 Emerson Electric Co. $ 16,446,500 -------------- Industrial Machinery - 2.6% 790,557 Gorman-Rupp Co.+ $ 25,353,163 350,000 The Timken Co. 11,543,000 -------------- $ 36,896,163 -------------- Total Capital Goods $ 122,516,912 -------------- Commercial Services & Supplies - 0.7% Office Services & Supplies - 0.7% 240,000 Mine Safety Appliances Co. (b) $ 10,116,000 -------------- Total Commercial Services & Supplies $ 10,116,000 -------------- Automobiles & Components - 1.8% Auto Parts & Equipment - 1.8% 255,600 Johnson Controls, Inc. $ 26,155,548 -------------- Total Automobiles & Components $ 26,155,548 -------------- Consumer Services - 1.8% Leisure Facilities - 1.3% 631,200 Cedar Fair, L.P. $ 18,374,232 -------------- Specialized Consumer Services - 0.5% 500,000 Servicemaster Co. $ 7,695,000 -------------- Total Consumer Services $ 26,069,232 --------------
18 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value Media - 4.2% Broadcasting & Cable TV - 1.1% 500,000 CBS Corp. (Class B) $ 15,885,000 -------------- Publishing - 3.1% 235,000 Idearc, Inc. $ 8,166,250 320,000 McGraw-Hill Co., Inc. 20,969,600 650,000 New York Times Co. (b) 15,210,000 -------------- $ 44,345,850 -------------- Total Media $ 60,230,850 -------------- Retailing - 1.4% Department Stores - 0.5% 153,944 Federated Department Stores, Inc. $ 6,761,220 -------------- Distributors - 0.9% 280,000 Genuine Parts Co. $ 13,834,800 -------------- Total Retailing $ 20,596,020 -------------- Food, Beverage & Tobacco - 6.2% Packaged Foods & Meats - 5.7% 520,000 Campbell Soup Co. $ 20,332,000 265,000 General Mills, Inc. 15,873,500 522,550 H.J. Heinz Co., Inc. 24,617,331 180,000 Kellogg Co. 9,523,800 100,000 The J.M. Smucker Co. 5,582,000 100,000 William Wrigley Jr. Co. 5,888,000 -------------- $ 81,816,631 -------------- Soft Drinks - 0.5% 116,300 PepsiCo, Inc. $ 7,686,267 -------------- Total Food, Beverage & Tobacco $ 89,502,898 -------------- Household & Personal Products - 2.3% Household Products - 2.3% 188,800 Clorox Co. $ 12,664,704 306,000 Colgate-Palmolive Co. 20,728,440 -------------- $ 33,393,144 -------------- Total Household & Personal Products $ 33,393,144 --------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 19 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology - 6.0% Pharmaceuticals - 6.0% 306,600 Abbott Laboratories $ 17,359,692 240,000 Eli Lilly & Co. 14,191,200 715,400 Merck & Co., Inc. 36,800,176 700,000 Pfizer, Inc. 18,522,000 -------------- $ 86,873,068 -------------- Total Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology $ 86,873,068 -------------- Banks - 11.6% Diversified Banks - 3.6% 418,700 U.S. Bancorp $ 14,382,345 393,166 Wachovia Corp. 21,836,440 431,324 Wells Fargo & Co. 15,480,218 -------------- $ 51,699,003 -------------- Regional Banks - 5.4% 450,000 First Horizon National Corp. (b) $ 17,644,500 358,600 National City Corp. 13,106,830 230,000 Regions Financial Corp. 8,070,700 275,000 SunTrust Banks, Inc. 23,215,500 500,000 Whitney Holding Corp. 15,385,000 -------------- $ 77,422,530 -------------- Thrifts & Mortgage Finance - 2.6% 905,000 Washington Mutual, Inc. $ 37,991,900 -------------- Total Banks $ 167,113,433 -------------- Diversified Financials - 3.4% Asset Management & Custody Banks - 1.6% 416,000 Eaton Vance Corp. $ 15,899,520 100,000 State Street Corp. 6,887,000 -------------- $ 22,786,520 -------------- Investment Banking & Brokerage - 0.9% 175,000 A.G. Edwards, Inc. $ 12,678,750 -------------- Diversified Financial Services - 0.9% 260,000 Bank of America Corp. $ 13,234,000 -------------- Total Diversified Financials $ 48,699,270 --------------
20 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value Insurance - 4.3% Life & Health Insurance - 1.2% 251,484 Lincoln National Corp. $ 17,893,087 -------------- Multi-Line Insurance - 0.4% 50,000 Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. $ 5,060,000 -------------- Property & Casualty Insurance - 2.7% 410,200 Chubb Corp. $ 22,081,066 259,300 Safeco Corp. 17,305,682 -------------- $ 39,386,748 -------------- Total Insurance $ 62,339,835 -------------- Real Estate - 5.7% Diversified Real Estate Investment Trusts - 0.7% 200,000 Liberty Property Trust $ 9,678,000 -------------- Residential Real Estate Investment Trusts - 1.2% 150,000 Archstone-Smith Trust $ 7,816,500 200,000 Equity Residential Property Trust 9,286,000 -------------- $ 17,102,500 -------------- Retail Real Estate Investment Trusts - 3.0% 200,000 Developers Diversifies Realty Corp. $ 13,020,000 250,000 General Growth Pro TLB SC (b) 15,962,500 300,000 Kimco Realty Corp. 14,421,000 -------------- $ 43,403,500 -------------- Specialized Real Estate Investment Trusts - 0.8% 300,000 Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.* $ 11,910,000 -------------- Total Real Estate $ 82,094,000 -------------- Software & Services - 0.6% Data Processing & Outsourced Services - 0.6% 200,000 Automatic Data Processing, Inc. $ 8,952,000 -------------- Total Software & Services $ 8,952,000 -------------- Semiconductors - 1.4% 500,000 Microchip Technology $ 20,170,000 -------------- Total Semiconductors $ 20,170,000 --------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 21 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value Telecommunication Services - 9.3% Integrated Telecommunication Services - 8.5% 1,585,636 AT&T Corp. $ 61,395,826 1,000,000 Citizens Utilities Co. (Class B) 15,570,000 100,000 Embarq Corp. 6,004,000 700,000 Verizon Communications, Inc. 26,726,000 890,847 Windstream Corp. 13,024,183 -------------- $ 122,720,009 -------------- Wireless Telecommunication Services - 0.8% 184,585 Alltel Corp. $ 11,571,634 -------------- Total Telecommunication Services $ 134,291,643 -------------- Utilities - 12.3% Electric Utilities - 2.7% 740,000 Duke Energy Corp. $ 15,184,800 354,400 Great Plains Energy, Inc. 11,567,616 340,000 Southern Co. 12,848,600 -------------- $ 39,601,016 -------------- Gas Utilities - 5.8% 326,500 AGL Resources, Inc. $ 14,215,810 350,000 Atmos Energy Corp. 11,102,000 460,000 Equitable Resources, Inc. 23,924,600 346,600 Questar Corp. 33,665,258 -------------- $ 82,907,668 -------------- Multi-Utilities - 3.8% 275,000 Consolidated Edison, Inc. $ 14,096,500 380,000 NSTAR 13,642,000 529,000 PG&E Corp. 26,767,400 -------------- $ 54,505,900 -------------- Total Utilities $ 177,014,584 -------------- TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $928,655,141) $1,388,777,665 --------------
22 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Value TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS - 6.9% Repurchase Agreement - 4.4% 63,000,000 UBS Warburg, Inc., 5.10%, dated 4/30/07, repurchase price of $63,000,000 plus accrued interest on 5/1/07 collateralized by $64,181,000 U.S. Treasury Bill, 3.875%, 5/15/09 $ 63,000,000 -------------- Security Lending Collateral - 2.5% 36,679,834 Securities Lending Investment Fund, 5.22% $ 36,679,834 -------------- TOTAL TEMPORARY CASH INVESTMENTS (Cost $99,679,834) $ 99,679,834 -------------- TOTAL INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES - 104.1% (Cost $1,034,355,825)(a) $1,494,966,107 -------------- OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - (4.1)% $ (58,387,879) -------------- TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.0% $1,436,578,228 ==============
+ Investment held by the Fund representing 5% or more of the voting stock of such company. * Non-income producing security. (a) At April 30, 2007, the net unrealized gain on investments based on cost for federal income tax purposes of $1,041,352,186 was as follows: Aggregate gross unrealized gain for all investments in which there is an excess of value over tax cost $457,411,426 Aggregate gross unrealized loss for all investments in which there is an excess of tax cost over value (3,797,505) ------------ Net unrealized gain $453,613,921 ============
(b) At April 30, 2007, the following securities were out on loan:
Shares Security Value 121,353 First Horizon National Corp. 4,758,251 201,629 General Growth Pro TLB SC 12,874,012 64,144 Mine Safety Appliances Co. 2,703,670 643,500 New York Times Co. 15,057,900 ----------- Total $35,393,833 ===========
Purchases and sales of securities (excluding temporary cash investments) for the six months ended April 30, 2007 aggregated $151,245,993 and $40,186,014, respectively. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 23 Pioneer Equity Income Fund ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 4/30/07 (unaudited) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS: Investment in securities of unaffiliated issuers, at value (including securities loaned of $35,393,833) (cost $1,026,449,334) $1,469,612,944 Investment in securities of affiliated issuers, at value (cost $7,906,491) 25,353,163 -------------- Total Investment in securities, at value (cost $1,034,355,825) $1,494,966,107 Receivables - Fund shares sold 5,288,314 Dividends and interest 2,373,069 Other 128,720 -------------- Total assets $1,502,756,210 -------------- LIABILITIES: Payables - Investment securities purchased $ 26,714,717 Fund shares repurchased 1,387,545 Upon return of securities loaned 36,679,834 Due to bank 1,053,046 Due to affiliates 297,674 Accrued expenses 45,166 -------------- Total liabilities $ 66,177,982 -------------- NET ASSETS: Paid-in capital $ 951,190,675 Undistributed net investment income 8,942,487 Accumulated net realized gain on investments 15,834,785 Net unrealized gain on investments 460,610,281 -------------- Total net assets $1,436,578,228 ============== NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE: (Unlimited number of shares authorized) Class A (based on $1,053,388,062/31,263,185 shares) $ 33.69 ============== Class B (based on $156,875,749/4,688,730 shares) $ 33.46 ============== Class C (based on $165,151,754/4,954,559 shares) $ 33.33 ============== Class R (based on $44,871,613/1,322,688 shares) $ 33.92 ============== Class Y (based on $16,291,050/481,035 shares) $ 33.87 ============== MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE: Class A ($33.69 [divided by] 94.25%) $ 35.75 ==============
24 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Pioneer Equity Income Fund ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Six Months Ended 4/30/07 INVESTMENT INCOME: Dividends (including income from affiliated issuers of $189,734) $20,706,209 Interest 330,940 Income from securities loaned, net 72,210 ----------- Total investment income $ 21,109,359 ------------ EXPENSES: Management fees $ 3,784,747 Transfer agent fees and expenses Class A 528,838 Class B 233,945 Class C 128,268 Class R 5,550 Class Y 533 Distribution fees Class A 1,148,969 Class B 770,673 Class C 746,844 Class R 84,294 Administrative reimbursements 137,089 Custodian fees 15,084 Printing 42,786 Professional fees 44,174 Registration 78,339 Fees and expenses of nonaffiliated trustees 6,713 Total expenses $ 7,756,846 Less fees paid indirectly (59,985) ------------ Net expenses $ 7,696,861 ------------ Net investment income $ 13,412,498 ------------ REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS: Net realized gain on investments $ 15,839,204 ------------ Change in net unrealized gain on investments $101,749,018 ------------ Net gain on investments $117,588,222 ------------ Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $131,000,720 ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 25 Pioneer Equity Income Fund ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Six Months Ended 4/30/07 and the Year Ended 10/31/06
Six Months Ended Year 4/30/07 Ended (unaudited) 10/31/06 FROM OPERATIONS: Net investment income $ 13,412,498 $ 21,184,288 Net realized gain on investments 15,839,204 102,425,371 Change in net unrealized gain on investments 101,749,018 77,803,582 -------------- -------------- Net increase in net assets resulting from operations $ 131,000,720 $ 201,413,241 -------------- -------------- DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREOWNERS: Net investment income: Class A ($0.36 and $0.66 per share, respectively) $ (10,129,593) $ (15,462,450) Class B ($0.22 and $0.38 per share, respectively) (1,061,767) (1,944,168) Class C ($0.23 and $0.42 per share, respectively) (1,083,449) (1,749,386) Class R ($0.33 and $0.60 per share, respectively) (342,479) (299,879) Class Y ($0.41 and $0.71 per share, respectively) (175,803) (258,099) Net realized gain: Class A ($2.89 and $1.08 per share, respectively) $ (73,275,075) $ (24,622,115) Class B ($2.89 and $1.08 per share, respectively) (13,350,148) (5,874,065) Class C ($2.89 and $1.08 per share, respectively) (12,274,923) (4,511,394) Class R ($2.89 and $1.08 per share, respectively) (2,416,852) (389,136) Class Y ($2.89 and $1.08 per share, respectively) (1,124,943) (279,331) -------------- -------------- Total distributions to shareowners $ (115,235,032) $ (55,390,023) -------------- -------------- FROM FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS: Net proceeds from sale of shares $ 288,830,676 $ 232,305,517 Reinvestment of distributions 99,546,672 47,432,006 Cost of shares repurchased (142,949,946) (215,122,539) -------------- -------------- Net increase in net assets resulting from Fund share transactions $ 245,427,402 $ 64,614,984 -------------- -------------- Net increase in net assets $ 261,193,090 $ 210,638,202 NET ASSETS: Beginning of period 1,175,385,138 964,746,936 -------------- -------------- End of period $1,436,578,228 $1,175,385,138 ============== ============== Undistributed net investment income $ 8,942,487 $ 8,323,080 ============== ==============
26 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'07 Shares '07 Amount '06 Shares '06 Amount (unaudited) (unaudited) CLASS A Shares sold 6,751,868 $ 221,784,711 5,064,623 $ 157,436,154 Reinvestment of distributions 2,417,819 75,963,594 1,229,591 36,136,130 Less shares repurchased (2,981,206) (96,990,082) (4,093,823) (125,012,223) ---------- ------------- ---------- -------------- Net increase 6,188,481 $ 200,758,223 2,200,391 $ 68,560,061 ========== ============= ========== ============== CLASS B Shares sold 517,771 $ 16,740,733 785,056 $ 24,209,812 Reinvestment of distributions 373,997 11,648,924 216,181 6,261,964 Less shares repurchased (876,292) (28,306,762) (1,762,703) (53,369,074) ---------- ------------- ---------- -------------- Net increase (decrease) 15,476 $ 82,895 (761,466) $ (22,897,298) ========== ============= ========== ============== CLASS C Shares sold 870,531 $ 27,955,783 794,660 $ 24,318,201 Reinvestment of distributions 289,346 8,980,415 142,157 4,112,893 Less shares repurchased (419,443) (13,478,661) (917,325) (27,687,216) ---------- ------------- ---------- -------------- Net increase 740,434 $ 23,457,537 19,492 $ 743,878 ========== ============= ========== ============== CLASS R Shares sold 558,690 $ 18,362,472 454,753 $ 14,219,649 Reinvestment of distributions 84,373 2,669,504 21,704 645,323 Less shares repurchased (95,234) (3,073,157) (49,032) (1,502,282) ---------- ------------- ---------- -------------- Net increase 547,829 $ 17,958,819 427,425 $ 13,362,690 ========== ============= ========== ============== CLASS Y Shares sold 121,590 $ 3,986,977 398,862 $ 12,121,701 Reinvestment of distributions 8,995 284,235 9,332 275,696 Less shares repurchased (34,307) (1,101,284) (248,665) (7,551,744) ---------- ------------- ---------- -------------- Net increase 96,278 $ 3,169,928 159,529 $ 4,845,653 ========== ============= ========== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 27 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months Ended Year Year Year Year Year 4/30/07 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended (unaudited) 10/31/06 10/31/05 10/31/04 10/31/03 10/31/02 CLASS A Net asset value, beginning of period $ 33.53 $ 29.23 $ 26.91 $ 23.57 $ 20.80 $ 24.28 ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations: Net investment income $ 0.32 $ 0.68 $ 0.61 $ 0.52 $ 0.47 $ 0.49 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.09 5.36 2.31 3.30 2.78 (3.50) ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 3.41 $ 6.04 $ 2.92 $ 3.82 $ 3.25 $ (3.01) Distributions to shareowners: Net investment income (0.36) (0.66) (0.60) (0.48) (0.48) (0.47) Net realized gain (2.89) (1.08) - - - - ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 0.16 $ 4.30 $ 2.32 $ 3.34 $ 2.77 $ (3.48) ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net asset value, end of period $ 33.69 $ 33.53 $ 29.23 $ 26.91 $ 23.57 $ 20.80 ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Total return* 10.95% 21.61% 10.87% 16.33% 15.89% (12.62)% Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.02%** 1.04% 1.06% 1.08% 1.17% 1.11% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.32%** 2.27% 2.11% 2.07% 2.24% 2.06% Portfolio turnover rate 6%** 32% 14% 22% 15% 10% Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $1,053,388 $840,640 $668,556 $600,835 $501,283 $409,553 Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly: Net expenses 1.01%** 1.03% 1.06% 1.08% 1.17% 1.10% Net investment income 2.33%** 2.28% 2.11% 2.07% 2.24% 2.07%
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each year, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of the investment at net asset value at the end of each period. ** Annualized. + Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 28 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months Ended Year Year Year Year Year 4/30/07 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended (unaudited) 10/31/06 10/31/05 10/31/04 10/31/03 10/31/02 CLASS B Net asset value, beginning of period $ 33.32 $ 29.05 $ 26.75 $ 23.42 $ 20.67 $ 24.14 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations: Net investment income $ 0.23 $ 0.47 $ 0.38 $ 0.35 $ 0.32 $ 0.31 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.02 5.26 2.26 3.23 2.73 (3.50) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 3.25 $ 5.73 $ 2.64 $ 3.58 $ 3.05 $ (3.19) Distributions to shareowners: Net investment income (0.22) (0.38) (0.34) (0.25) (0.30) (0.28) Net realized gain (2.89) (1.08) - - - - -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 0.14 $ 4.27 $ 2.30 $ 3.33 $ 2.75 $ (3.47) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Net asset value, end of period $ 33.46 $ 33.32 $ 29.05 $ 26.75 $ 23.42 $ 20.67 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Total return* 10.50% 20.55% 9.89% 15.34% 14.90% (13.34)% Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.95%** 1.91% 1.93% 1.95% 2.02% 1.91% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 1.41%** 1.44% 1.24% 1.21% 1.41% 1.25% Portfolio turnover rate 6%** 32% 14% 22% 15% 10% Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $156,876 $155,733 $157,889 $161,275 $170,283 $174,334 Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly: Net expenses 1.94%** 1.90% 1.93% 1.95% 2.02% 1.90% Net investment income 1.42%** 1.45% 1.24% 1.21% 1.41% 1.26%
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each year, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of the investment at net asset value at the end of each period. ** Annualized. + Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 29 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months Ended Year Year Year Year Year 4/30/07 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended (unaudited) 10/31/06 10/31/05 10/31/04 10/31/03 10/31/02 CLASS C Net asset value, beginning of period $ 33.20 $ 28.96 $ 26.68 $ 23.37 $ 20.63 $ 24.08 -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations: Net investment income $ 0.21 $ 0.45 $ 0.38 $ 0.29 $ 0.24 $ 0.26 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.04 5.29 2.28 3.29 2.81 (3.45) -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 3.25 $ 5.74 $ 2.66 $ 3.58 $ 3.05 $ (3.19) Distributions to shareowners: Net investment income (0.23) (0.42) (0.38) (0.27) (0.31) (0.26) Net realized gain (2.89) (1.08) - - - - -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 0.13 $ 4.24 $ 2.28 $ 3.31 $ 2.74 $ (3.45) -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- ------- Net asset value, end of period $ 33.33 $ 33.20 $ 28.96 $ 26.68 $ 23.37 $ 20.63 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= ======= Total return* 10.54% 20.66% 9.98% 15.40% 14.93% (13.37)% Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.82%** 1.83% 1.86% 1.89% 2.00% 1.99% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 1.52%** 1.49% 1.31% 1.26% 1.36% 1.19% Portfolio turnover rate 6%** 32% 14% 22% 15% 10% Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $165,152 $139,915 $121,479 $109,787 $82,979 $42,903 Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly: Net expenses 1.81%** 1.82% 1.86% 1.89% 2.00% 1.98% Net investment income 1.53%** 1.50% 1.31% 1.26% 1.36% 1.20%
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each year, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of the investment at net asset value at the end of each period. ** Annualized. + Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 30 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months Ended Year Year Year 4/1/03 (a) 4/30/07 Ended Ended Ended to (unaudited) 10/31/06 10/31/05 10/31/04 10/31/03 CLASS R Net asset value, beginning of period $ 33.73 $ 29.39 $ 27.08 $ 23.71 $19.97 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Net increase from investment operations: Net investment income $ 0.24 $ 0.51 $ 0.39 $ 0.44 $ 0.23 Net realized and unrealized gain on investments 3.17 5.51 2.48 3.38 3.73 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Net increase from investment operations $ 3.41 $ 6.02 $ 2.87 $ 3.82 $ 3.96 Distributions to shareowners: Net investment income (0.33) (0.60) (0.56) (0.45) (0.22) Net realized gain (2.89) (1.08) - - - ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Net increase in net asset value $ 0.19 $ 4.34 $ 2.31 $ 3.37 $ 3.74 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ Net asset value, end of period $ 33.92 $ 33.73 $ 29.39 $ 27.08 $23.71 ======= ======= ======= ======= ====== Total return* 10.89% 21.41% 10.64% 16.23% 19.87%(b) Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 1.19%** 1.23% 1.26% 1.17% 1.21%** Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.11%** 2.00% 1.86% 1.98% 0.97%** Portfolio turnover rate 6%** 32% 14% 22% 15% Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $44,872 $26,140 $10,213 $ 2,072 $1,098 Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly: Net expenses 1.19%** 1.22% 1.26% 1.17% 1.21%** Net investment income 2.11%** 2.01% 1.86% 1.98% 0.97%**
(a) Class R shares were first publicly offered on April 1, 2003. (b) Not annualized. * Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each year, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of the investment at net asset value at the end of each period. ** Annualized. + Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 31 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Months Ended Year Year Year Year Year 4/30/07 Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended (unaudited) 10/31/06 10/31/05 10/31/04 10/31/03 10/31/02 CLASS Y Net asset value, beginning of period $ 33.68 $ 29.35 $27.02 $23.65 $20.85 $ 24.33 ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations: Net investment income $ 0.38 $ 0.73 $ 0.63 $ 0.67 $ 0.52 $ 0.55 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments 3.11 5.45 2.41 3.29 2.85 (3.46) ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- Net increase (decrease) from investment operations $ 3.49 $ 6.18 $ 3.04 $ 3.96 $ 3.37 $ (2.91) Distributions to shareowners: Net investment income (0.41) (0.77) (0.71) (0.59) (0.57) (0.57) Net realized gain (2.89) (1.08) - - - - ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- Net increase (decrease) in net asset value $ 0.19 $ 4.33 $ 2.33 $ 3.37 $ 2.80 $ (3.48) ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- Net asset value, end of period $ 33.87 $ 33.68 $29.35 $27.02 $23.65 $ 20.85 ------- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------- Total return* 11.20% 22.10% 11.31% 16.88% 16.45% (12.24)% Ratio of net expenses to average net assets+ 0.66%** 0.65% 0.66% 0.64% 0.71% 0.69% Ratio of net investment income to average net assets+ 2.68%** 2.61% 2.51% 2.43% 2.66% 2.49% Portfolio turnover rate 6%** 32% 14% 22% 15% 10% Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $16,291 $12,956 $6,611 $4,119 $5,017 $ 2,842 Ratios with reduction for fees paid indirectly: Net expenses 0.66%** 0.65% 0.66% 0.64% 0.71% 0.68% Net investment income 2.68%** 2.61% 2.51% 2.43% 2.66% 2.50%
* Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each year, reinvestment of all distributions, and the complete redemption of the investment at net asset value at the end of each period. ** Annualized. + Ratios with no reduction for fees paid indirectly. The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 32 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies Pioneer Equity Income Fund (the Fund) is a Delaware statutory trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The investment objective of the Fund is current income and long-term growth of capital from a portfolio consisting primarily of income producing equity securities of U.S. corporations. At times, the Fund's investments may represent industries or industry sectors that are interrelated or have common risks, making it more susceptible to any economic, political or regulatory developments or other risks affecting these industries or sectors. Information regarding the Fund's principal investment risks is contained in the Fund's prospectus(es). Please refer to those documents when considering the Fund's investment risks. The Fund offers five classes of shares - Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class Y shares. Each class of shares represents an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund and have equal rights to voting, redemptions, dividends and liquidation, except that each class of shares can bear different transfer agent and distribution fees and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the distribution plans that have been adopted by Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class R shareowners, respectively. There is no distribution plan for Class Y shareowners. The Fund's financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles that require the management of the Fund to, among other things, make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income, expenses and gains and losses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements, which are consistent with those policies generally accepted in the investment company industry: A. Security Valuation Security transactions are recorded as of trade date. The net asset value of the Fund is computed once daily, on each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open, as of close of regular trading 33 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- on the NYSE. In computing the net asset value, securities are valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange where they are traded. Securities that have not traded on the date of valuation, or securities for which sale prices are not generally reported, are valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair values as determined by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees. Trading in foreign securities is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of the Fund's shares are determined as of such times. The Fund also may use the fair value of a security, including a non-U.S. security, when the closing market price on the principal exchange where the security is traded no longer reflects the value of the security. At April 30, 2007, there were no securities fair valued. Temporary cash investments are valued at amortized cost. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed are recorded as soon as the Fund becomes aware of the ex-dividend data in the exercise of reasonable diligence. Dividend and interest income is recorded on the accrual basis, net of unrecoverable foreign taxes withheld at the applicable country rates. Gains and losses on sales of investments are calculated on the identified cost method for both financial reporting and federal income tax purposes. B. Federal Income Taxes It is the Fund's policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable income and net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareowners. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The amounts and characterizations of distributions to shareowners for financial reporting purposes are determined in accordance with federal income tax rules. Therefore, the sources of the Fund's distributions may be shown in the accompanying financial statements as either from or in excess of net investment income or net 34 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- realized gain on investment transactions, or from paid-in capital, depending on the type of book/tax differences that may exist. The tax character of current year distributions paid will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year. The tax character of current year distributions paid during the year ended October 31, 2006 was as follows:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Distributions paid from: Ordinary Income $19,695,888 Long-term capital gain 35,694,135 ----------- Total $55,390,023 =========== --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following shows the components of distributable earnings on a federal income tax basis at October 31, 2006.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Undistributed ordinary income $ 4,087,913 Undistributed long-term gain 99,676,328 Unrealized appreciation 365,857,624 ------------ Total $469,621,865 ============ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The difference between book basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation is attributable to the tax adjustments on partnerships and preferred stocks. C. Fund Shares The Fund records sales and repurchases of its shares as of trade date. Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. (PFD), the principal underwriter for the Fund and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UniCredito Italiano S.p.A. (UniCredito Italiano) earned approximately $122,085 in underwriting commissions on the sale of Class A shares during six months ended April 30, 2007. Class Allocations Distribution fees are calculated based on the average daily net asset value attributable to Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares of the Fund, respectively. Class Y shares are not subject to 35 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- a distribution plan (see Note 4). Shareowners of each class share all expenses and fees paid to the transfer agent, Pioneer Investment Management Shareholder Services, Inc. (PIMSS), for its services, which are allocated based on the number of accounts in each class and the ratable allocation of related out-of-pocket expenses (see Note 3). Income, common expenses and realized and unrealized gains and losses are calculated at the Fund level and allocated daily to each class of shares based on the respective percentage of adjusted net assets at the beginning of the day. Distributions to shareowners are recorded as of the ex-dividend date. Distributions paid by the Fund with respect to each class of shares are calculated in the same manner, at the same time, and in the same amount, except that Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R and Class Y shares can bear different transfer agent and distribution fees. D. Repurchase Agreements With respect to repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the value of the underlying securities (collateral), including accrued interest received from counterparties, is required to be at least equal to or in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement at the time of purchase. The collateral for all repurchase agreements is held in safekeeping in the customer-only account of the Fund's custodian, or subcustodians. The Fund's investment adviser, Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. (PIM), is responsible for determining that the value of the collateral remains at least equal to the repurchase price. E. Securities Lending The Fund lends securities in its portfolio to certain broker-dealers or other institutional investors, with the Fund's custodian acting as the lending agent. When entering into a loan, the Fund receives collateral, which is maintained by the custodian and earns income in the form of negotiated lenders' fees. The Fund also continues to receive interest or payments in lieu of dividends on the securities loaned. Gain or loss on the fair value of the loaned securities that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Fund. The loans are secured by collateral of at least 102%, at all times, of the fair value of the securities loaned. The amount of the collateral will be adjusted daily to reflect any price fluctuation in the 36 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- value of the loaned securities. The Fund has the right under the lending agreements to recover the securities from the borrower on demand. The Fund invests cash collateral in the Securities Lending Investment Fund, which is sponsored by Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., the Fund's custodian. 2. Management Agreement PIM, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UniCredito Italiano, manages the Fund's portfolio. PIM receives a basic fee that is calculated at the annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund's average daily net assets up to $10 billion and 0.575% of the excess over $10 billion. For the six months ended April 30, 2007, the net management fee was equivalent to 0.60% of the average daily net assets. In addition, under the management and administrative agreements, certain other services and costs, including accounting, regulatory reporting and insurance premiums, are paid by the Fund. At April 30, 2007, $74,030 was payable to PIM related to management fees, administrative costs and certain other services and is included in due to affiliates. 3. Transfer Agent PIMSS, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of UniCredito Italiano, provides substantially all transfer agent and shareowner services to the Fund at negotiated rates. Included in due to affiliates is $172,225 in transfer agent fees payable to PIMSS at April 30, 2007. 4. Distribution and Service Plans The Fund adopted a Plan of Distribution with respect to Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares (Class A Plan, Class B Plan, Class C Plan, Class R Plan) in accordance with Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Pursuant to the Class A Plan, the Fund pays PFD a service fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares in reimbursement of its actual expenditures to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class A shares. Pursuant to the Class B Plan and the Class C Plan, the Fund pays PFD 1.00% of the average daily net assets attributable to each class of shares. The fee consists of a 0.25% service fee and a 0.75% distribution fee paid as compensation for personal services and/or account maintenance services or distribution services with regard to Class B and Class C shares. 37 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pursuant to the Class R Plan, the Fund pays PFD 0.50% of the average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares as compensation for distribution services. Included in due to affiliates is $51,419 in distribution fees payable to PFD at April 30, 2007. The Fund also has adopted a separate service plan for Class R shares (Service Plan). The Service Plan authorizes the Fund to pay as compensation to securities dealers, plan administrators or other service organizations that agree to provide certain services to retirement plans or plan participants holding shares of the Fund a service fee of up to 0.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to Class R shares held by such plans in reimbursement for actual expenditures. In addition, redemptions of Class A, Class B and Class C shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). A CDSC of 1.00% may be imposed on redemptions of certain net asset value purchases of Class A shares within 18 months of purchases. Class B shares redeemed within five years of purchase are subject to a CDSC at declining rates beginning at 4.00%, based on the lower cost or market value of shares being redeemed. Redemptions of Class C shares within one year of purchase are subject to a CDSC of 1.00%. Redemptions of Class R or Class Y shares are not subject to a CDSC. Proceeds from the CDSCs are paid to PFD. For the six months ended April 30, 2007, CDSCs in the amount of $112,744 were paid to PFD. 5. Commission Recapture and Expense Offset Arrangements Effective July 15, 2005, the Fund has entered into commission recapture arrangements with brokers with whom PIM places trades on behalf of the Fund where they provide services to the Fund in addition to trade execution. These services included payments of certain expenses on behalf of the Fund. For the six months ended April 30, 2007, expenses were reduced by $18,716 under this agreement. In addition, the Fund has entered into certain expense offset arrangements with PIMSS resulting in a reduction in the Fund's total expenses due to interest earned on cash held by PIMSS. For the six months ended April 30, 2007, the Fund's expenses were reduced by $41,269 under such arrangements. 6. Line Of Credit Facility The Fund, along with certain others in the Pioneer Family of Funds (the Funds), collectively participate in a $200 million committed, unsecured revolving line of credit facility. Borrowings are used solely 38 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- for temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund may borrow up to the lesser of $200 million or the limits set by its prospectus for borrowings. Interest on collective borrowings is payable at the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2% on an annualized basis. The Funds pay an annual commitment fee for this facility. The commitment fee is allocated among such Funds based on their respective borrowing limits. For the six months ended April 30, 2007, the Fund had no borrowings under this agreement. 7. Affiliated Companies The Fund's investments in certain companies exceed 5% of the outstanding voting stock. Such companies are deemed affiliates of the Fund for financial reporting purposes. The following summarizes transactions with affiliates of the Fund for the six months ended April 30, 2007:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beginning Corporate Ending Balance Purchases Actions Dividend Balance Affiliates (shares) (shares) (shares) Income (shares) Value ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gorman-Rupp Co 632,446 - 158,111 $189,734 $790,55 7 $25,353,163 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. New Pronouncements On July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released FASB Interpretation No. 48 "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (FIN 48). FIN 48 provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Fund's tax returns to determine whether the tax positions have a "more-likely-than-not" probability of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions deemed to not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the reporting period in which they are realized. Adoption of FIN 48 is required for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of no later than October 31, 2007. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of FIN 48 and any impact in the financial statements has not yet been determined. In addition, in September 2006, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), was issued and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. 39 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4/30/07 (unaudited) (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Fund's financial statement disclosures. 40 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES IN APPROVING THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that both the Board of Trustees and a majority of the Independent Trustees (collectively "the Trustees"), voting separately, annually approve the Fund's management contract (the "Management Contract"). The Trustees have determined that the terms of the Management Contract are fair and reasonable and that renewal of the contract: (i) will enable the Fund to receive quality investment advisory services at a fee deemed reasonable; and (ii) is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareowners. In making such determinations, the Independent Trustees relied upon the assistance of counsel to the Independent Trustees and counsel to the Fund. Throughout the year, the Independent Trustees regularly met in executive session, separately from the Interested Trustees of the Fund and any officer of Pioneer Investment Management, Inc., the Fund's adviser (the "Investment Adviser"), or its affiliates. While the Trustees, including the Interested Trustees, act on all major matters relating to the Fund, a significant portion of the activities of the Board of Trustees (including certain of those described herein) is conducted through committees, the members of which are comprised exclusively of Independent Trustees. Such committee meetings are attended by officers of the Fund and/or officers of the Investment Adviser to the extent requested by the members of the committee. In evaluating the Management Contract, the Trustees conducted a review that was specifically focused upon the renewal of the Management Contract, and also relied upon their knowledge, resulting from their meetings throughout the year, of the Investment Adviser, its services and the Fund. Both in meetings specifically dedicated to renewal of the Management Contract and at other meetings during the course of the year, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, received materials relating to the Investment Adviser's investment and management services under the Management Contract. These materials included information on (i) the investment performance of the Fund, a peer group of funds as classified by Morningstar, Inc., an independent evaluation service ("Morningstar") and an index considered appropriate by the Independent Trustees for this purpose, (ii) sales and redemption activity in respect of the Fund, (iii) the general investment outlook in the markets in which the Fund invests, (iv) arrangements in respect of the distribution of the Fund's shares, (v) the procedures employed to determine the value of each of the Fund's assets, (vi) the Investment Adviser's management of the relationships with the Fund's unaffiliated service providers, (vii) the record of compliance with the Fund's 41 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES IN APPROVING THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- investment policies and restrictions and with the Fund's Code of Ethics and the structure and responsibilities of the Investment Adviser's compliance department and (viii) the nature, cost and character of non-investment management services provided by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. Specifically in connection with the Independent Trustees' review of the Management Contract, the Independent Trustees requested, and the Investment Adviser provided, additional information in order to evaluate the quality of the Investment Adviser's services and the reasonableness of the fee under the Management Contract. Among other items, this information included data or analyses of (1) investment performance for one, three, five and ten year periods for the Fund and a peer group of funds selected on the basis of criteria considered appropriate by the Independent Trustees for this purpose, (2) management and other fees incurred by a peer group of funds selected on the basis of criteria considered appropriate by the Independent Trustees for this purpose, (3) the advisory fees of comparable portfolios of other clients of the Investment Adviser, (4) expense ratios for the Fund and a peer group of funds selected on the basis of criteria considered appropriate by the Independent Trustees for this purpose, (5) the overall organization of the Investment Adviser, (6) the Investment Adviser's financial results and condition, including its and certain of its affiliates' profitability in providing services to the Fund, (7) transfer agency fees and administrative reimbursements paid to the Investment Adviser or affiliates, (8) investment management staffing, and (9) operating expenses paid by the Funds to third parties. The Trustees also reviewed information regarding the potential for each of the Fund and the Investment Adviser to benefit from further economies of scale in the management of the Fund in light of reasonable growth expectations for the Fund and certain of the Fund's expenses that are incurred on a basis other than as a percentage of net assets. The following summarizes factors considered by the Trustees in connection with reviewing the information described above and their renewal of the Fund's Management Contract. The Trustees did not identify any single factor as all-important or controlling, and the summary does not detail all the matters that were considered. A. Ancillary Benefits to Shareowners. The Trustees considered the benefits to shareowners of investing in a Fund that is part of a 42 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- large number of investment companies offering a variety of investment disciplines and providing for a large variety of Fund and shareowner services. B. Compliance and Investment Performance. The Trustees determined that the Investment Adviser had policies and systems reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the Fund's investment objective and regulatory requirements. The Trustees also reviewed the Fund's absolute investment performance based upon total return, as well as the Fund's performance relative to the performance of both a peer group considered appropriate by the Independent Trustees for this purpose and the Russell 1000 Value Index. The Fund's performance, based upon total return, was in the second quintile of its Morningstar category peer group for the 12 months ended June 30, 2006, in the second quintile of the peer group for the three years ended June 30, 2006, in the second quintile of the peer group for the five years ended June 30, 2006, and in the second quintile of the peer group for the ten years ended June 30, 2006. (In all quintile rankings referred to throughout this discussion first quintile is most favorable to the Fund's shareowners. Thus, highest relative performance would be first quintile and lowest relative expenses also would be first quintile.) The Trustees also considered the yield of the Fund, before deduction of expenses, compared to the yield of the index. The Trustees, focusing on three-year total returns, concluded that the performance of the Fund was good. C. The Investment Adviser's Personnel and Methods. The Trustees reviewed the background of members of the team responsible for the daily management of the Fund and the Fund's investment objective and discipline. The Independent Trustees also have had discussions with senior management of the Investment Adviser responsible for investment operations and the senior management of the Investment Adviser's fixed income group. Among other things, the Trustees considered the size, education and experience of the Investment Adviser's investment staff and their use of technology and emphasis on analytics in view of the risk profile of securities in which the Fund invests. The Trustees concluded that the Investment Adviser had the quality and depth of personnel and the well-developed methods essential to perform its duties under the Management Contract. 43 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES IN APPROVING THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- D. Nature and Quality of Other Services. The Trustees considered the nature, quality and extent of other services provided to shareowners of the Fund, including administrative and shareowner services performed by the Investment Adviser under the Management Contract. The Trustees also considered the reasonableness of the arrangements for reimbursement of the Investment Adviser's out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including overhead, for certain administrative services that the Investment Adviser is not required to provide under the Management Contract. The Trustees also considered the nature and extent of the other services provided by the Investment Adviser or its affiliates under other contracts, as well as the Investment Adviser's supervision of third party service providers. Based on these considerations, the Trustees concluded that the nature, quality and extent of such services are satisfactory and reliable and serve the shareowners of the Fund well. E. Management Fee and Expenses. The Trustees considered the Investment Adviser's fee under the Management Contract relative to the management fees charged by its Morningstar category peer group. The Fund's management fee for the 12 months ended June 30, 2006 was in the second quintile relative to the management fees paid by the other funds in that peer group for the comparable period. The Trustees also considered the Fund's expense ratio for the 12 months ended June 30, 2006 and expense ratios for the comparable period of the peer group of funds selected on the basis of criteria considered appropriate by the Independent Trustees for this purpose using data provided by Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting, LLC, an independent third party. The Trustees found the Fund's expense ratio for the 12 months ended June 30, 2006 to be in the second quintile, according to data for the applicable peer group for the most recent fiscal year. F. Profitability. The Trustees considered the level of the Investment Adviser's profits with respect to the management of the Pioneer Funds, including a review of the Investment Adviser's methodology in allocating certain of its costs to the management of each Fund, as well as the financial results realized by the Investment Adviser in connection with the operation of the Fund. They further considered the profits realized by the Investment Adviser and its affiliates from non-fund businesses that may benefit from or be related to the Fund's business. The Trustees considered the Investment 44 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adviser's profit margins in comparison with the limited industry data available. The Trustees concluded that the Investment Adviser's profits from management of the Pioneer Funds, including the financial results derived from the Fund, bear a reasonable relationship to the services rendered and are fair for the management of the Fund. G. Economies of Scale. The Trustees considered the economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, whether the Fund had appropriately benefited from any economies of scale, and whether there was potential for realization of any further economies of scale. The Trustees concluded that, because of break points at future asset levels, any perceived or potential economies of scale would be shared between Fund's shareowners and the Investment Adviser in a reasonable manner as the Fund grows in size. H. Other Benefits to the Investment Adviser. The Trustees also considered the character and amount of fees paid by the Fund, other than under the Management Contract, for services provided by the Investment Adviser and affiliates, including fees for services such as shareowner services. The Trustees also considered the receipt of sales loads and payments under Rule 12b-1 plans in respect of the Pioneer Funds (including the Fund), and benefits to the Investment Adviser from the use of "soft" commission dollars to pay for research services. The Trustees further considered the revenues and profitability of the Investment Adviser's businesses other than the fund business, including the Investment Adviser's institutional investment advisory business. The Trustees considered the intangible benefits that accrue to the Investment Adviser and its affiliates by virtue of its relationship with the Fund and the Pioneer Funds as a group. The Trustees concluded that all these types of benefits accruing to the Investment Adviser were reasonable in the context of the overall relationship between the Investment Adviser and the Fund. Conclusion. In light of the Investment Adviser's overall performance, the Trustees considered it appropriate to continue to retain the management services of the Investment Adviser. Based on their review of the overall nature and quality of services provided by the Investment Adviser and the fees charged by other funds in the Fund's relevant peer group, and taking into account all material factors 45 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES IN APPROVING THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- deemed relevant by the Trustees as well as the advice of independent counsel, the Trustees concluded that the Management Contract with the Fund, including the fee payable thereunder, was fair and reasonable and that its renewal was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Trustees voted to approve the continuation of the Management Contract for another year. 46 Pioneer Equity Income Fund -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUSTEES, OFFICERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trustees John F. Cogan, Jr., Chairman David R. Bock Mary K. Bush Margaret B.W. Graham Daniel K. Kingsbury Thomas J. Perna Marguerite A. Piret John Winthrop Officers John F. Cogan, Jr., President Vincent Nave, Treasurer Dorothy E. Bourassa, Secretary Investment Adviser and Administrator Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. Custodian Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Principal Underwriter Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. Legal Counsel Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP Shareowner Services and Transfer Agent Pioneer Investment Management Shareholder Services, Inc. Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Fund are available without charge, upon request, by calling our toll free number (1-800-225-6292). Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is publicly available to shareowners at www.pioneerinvestments.com. This information is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov. 47 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This page for your notes. 48 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This page for your notes. 49 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This page for your notes. 50 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This page for your notes. 51 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This page for your notes. 52 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO CONTACT PIONEER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are pleased to offer a variety of convenient ways for you to contact us for assistance or information. Call us for: Account Information, including existing accounts, new accounts, prospectuses, applications and service forms 1-800-225-6292 FactFone(SM) for automated fund yields, prices, account information and transactions 1-800-225-4321 Retirement plans information 1-800-622-0176 Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) 1-800-225-1997 Write to us: PIMSS, Inc. P.O. Box 55014 Boston, Massachusetts 02205-5014 Our toll-free fax 1-800-225-4240 Our internet e-mail address ask.pioneer@pioneerinvestments.com (for general questions about Pioneer only) Visit our web site: www.pioneerinvestments.com Before investing consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Contact your advisor or Pioneer Investments for a prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully. The Fund files a complete statement of investments with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters for each fiscal year on Form N-Q. Shareholders may view the filed Form N-Q by visiting the Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov. The filed form may also be viewed and copied at the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information regarding the operations of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS. (a) Disclose whether, as of the end of the period covered by the report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. If the registrant has not adopted such a code of ethics, explain why it has not done so. The registrant has adopted, as of the end of the period covered by this report, a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and controller. (b) For purposes of this Item, the term "code of ethics" means written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote: (1) Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (2) Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Commission and in other public communications made by the registrant; (3) Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations; (4) The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and (5) Accountability for adherence to the code. (c) The registrant must briefly describe the nature of any amendment, during the period covered by the report, to a provision of its code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item. The registrant must file a copy of any such amendment as an exhibit pursuant to Item 10(a), unless the registrant has elected to satisfy paragraph (f) of this Item by posting its code of ethics on its website pursuant to paragraph (f)(2) of this Item, or by undertaking to provide its code of ethics to any person without charge, upon request, pursuant to paragraph (f)(3) of this Item. The registrant has made no amendments to the code of ethics during the period covered by this report. (d) If the registrant has, during the period covered by the report, granted a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party, that relates to one or more of the items set forth in paragraph (b) of this Item, the registrant must briefly describe the nature of the waiver, the name of the person to whom the waiver was granted, and the date of the waiver. Not applicable. (e) If the registrant intends to satisfy the disclosure requirement under paragraph (c) or (d) of this Item regarding an amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of its code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of this Item by posting such information on its Internet website, disclose the registrant's Internet address and such intention. Not applicable. (f) The registrant must: (1) File with the Commission, pursuant to Item 10(a), a copy of its code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, as an exhibit to its annual report on this Form N-CSR; (2) Post the text of such code of ethics on its Internet website and disclose, in its most recent report on this Form N-CSR, its Internet address and the fact that it has posted such code of ethics on its Internet website; or (3) Undertake in its most recent report on this Form N-CSR to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of such code of ethics and explain the manner in which such request may be made. See Item 10(2) ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. (a) (1) Disclose that the registrant's board of trustees has determined that the registrant either: (i) Has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee; or (ii) Does not have an audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The registrant's Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert. (2) If the registrant provides the disclosure required by paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this Item, it must disclose the name of the audit committee financial expert and whether that person is "independent." In order to be considered "independent" for purposes of this Item, a member of an audit committee may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of trustees, or any other board committee: (i) Accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the issuer; or (ii) Be an "interested person" of the investment company as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(19)). Ms. Marguerite A. Piret, an independent trustee, is such an audit committee financial expert. (3) If the registrant provides the disclosure required by paragraph (a)(1) (ii) of this Item, it must explain why it does not have an audit committee financial expert. Not applicable. ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. (a) Disclose, under the caption AUDIT FEES, the aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years. N/A (b) Disclose, under the caption AUDIT-RELATED FEES, the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant's financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category. N/A (c) Disclose, under the caption TAX FEES, the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category. N/A (d) Disclose, under the caption ALL OTHER FEES, the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item. Registrants shall describe the nature of the services comprising the fees disclosed under this category. N/A (e) (1) Disclose the audit committee's pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. PIONEER FUNDS APPROVAL OF AUDIT, AUDIT-RELATED, TAX AND OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR SECTION I - POLICY PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY The Pioneer Funds recognize the importance of maintaining the independence of their outside auditors. Maintaining independence is a shared responsibility involving Pioneer Investment Management, Inc ("PIM"), the audit committee and the independent auditors. The Funds recognize that a Fund's independent auditors: 1) possess knowledge of the Funds, 2) are able to incorporate certain services into the scope of the audit, thereby avoiding redundant work, cost and disruption of Fund personnel and processes, and 3) have expertise that has value to the Funds. As a result, there are situations where it is desirable to use the Fund's independent auditors for services in addition to the annual audit and where the potential for conflicts of interests are minimal. Consequently, this policy, which is intended to comply with Rule 210.2-01(C)(7), sets forth guidelines and procedures to be followed by the Funds when retaining the independent audit firm to perform audit, audit-related tax and other services under those circumstances, while also maintaining independence. Approval of a service in accordance with this policy for a Fund shall also constitute approval for any other Fund whose pre-approval is required pursuant to Rule 210.2-01(c)(7)(ii). In addition to the procedures set forth in this policy, any non-audit services that may be provided consistently with Rule 210.2-01 may be approved by the Audit Committee itself and any pre-approval that may be waived in accordance with Rule 210.2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) is hereby waived. Selection of a Fund's independent auditors and their compensation shall be determined by the Audit Committee and shall not be subject to this policy.
SECTION II - POLICY ---------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- SERVICE SERVICE CATEGORY DESCRIPTION SPECIFIC PRE-APPROVED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES CATEGORY ---------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- I. AUDIT Services that are directly o Accounting research assistance SERVICES related to performing the o SEC consultation, registration independent audit of the Funds statements, and reporting o Tax accrual related matters o Implementation of new accounting standards o Compliance letters (e.g. rating agency letters) o Regulatory reviews and assistance regarding financial matters o Semi-annual reviews (if requested) o Comfort letters for closed end offerings ---------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- II. Services which are not o AICPA attest and agreed-upon procedures AUDIT-RELATED prohibited under Rule o Technology control assessments SERVICES 210.2-01(C)(4) (the "Rule") o Financial reporting control assessments and are related extensions of o Enterprise security architecture the audit services support the assessment audit, or use the knowledge/expertise gained from the audit procedures as a foundation to complete the project. In most cases, if the Audit-Related Services are not performed by the Audit firm, the scope of the Audit Services would likely increase. The Services are typically well-defined and governed by accounting professional standards (AICPA, SEC, etc.) ---------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTING POLICY ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of all such for the audit period for all services and related fees pre-approved specific service reported at each regularly subcategories. Approval of the scheduled Audit Committee independent auditors as meeting. auditors for a Fund shall constitute pre approval for these services. ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of all such for the fund fiscal year within services and related fees a specified dollar limit (including comparison to for all pre-approved specified dollar limits) specific service subcategories reported quarterly. o Specific approval is needed to exceed the pre-approved dollar limit for these services (see general Audit Committee approval policy below for details on obtaining specific approvals) o Specific approval is needed to use the Fund's auditors for Audit-Related Services not denoted as "pre-approved", or to add a specific service subcategory as "pre-approved" ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
SECTION III - POLICY DETAIL, CONTINUED ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- SERVICE CATEGORY SERVICE CATEGORY SPECIFIC PRE-APPROVED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES DESCRIPTION ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- III. TAX SERVICES Services which are not o Tax planning and support prohibited by the Rule, o Tax controversy assistance if an officer of the Fund o Tax compliance, tax returns, excise determines that using the tax returns and support Fund's auditor to provide o Tax opinions these services creates significant synergy in the form of efficiency, minimized disruption, or the ability to maintain a desired level of confidentiality. ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------- AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTING POLICY ------------------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------- o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of for the fund fiscal year all such services and within a specified dollar limit related fees (including comparison to specified dollar limits) reported quarterly. o Specific approval is needed to exceed the pre-approved dollar limits for these services (see general Audit Committee approval policy below for details on obtaining specific approvals) o Specific approval is needed to use the Fund's auditors for tax services not denoted as pre-approved, or to add a specific service subcategory as "pre-approved" ------------------------------------- -------------------------
SECTION III - POLICY DETAIL, CONTINUED ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- SERVICE CATEGORY SERVICE CATEGORY SPECIFIC PRE-APPROVED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES DESCRIPTION ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- IV. OTHER SERVICES Services which are not o Business Risk Management support prohibited by the Rule, o Other control and regulatory A. SYNERGISTIC, if an officer of the Fund compliance projects UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS determines that using the Fund's auditor to provide these services creates significant synergy in the form of efficiency, minimized disruption, the ability to maintain a desired level of confidentiality, or where the Fund's auditors posses unique or superior qualifications to provide these services, resulting in superior value and results for the Fund. ----------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------ AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTING POLICY ------------------------------------- -------------------------- o "One-time" pre-approval o A summary of for the fund fiscal year within all such services and a specified dollar limit related fees (including comparison to specified dollar limits) reported quarterly. o Specific approval is needed to exceed the pre-approved dollar limits for these services (see general Audit Committee approval policy below for details on obtaining specific approvals) o Specific approval is needed to use the Fund's auditors for "Synergistic" or "Unique Qualifications" Other Services not denoted as pre-approved to the left, or to add a specific service subcategory as "pre-approved" ------------------------------------- --------------------------
SECTION III - POLICY DETAIL, CONTINUED ----------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- SERVICE CATEGORY SERVICE CATEGORY SPECIFIC PROHIBITED SERVICE SUBCATEGORIES DESCRIPTION ----------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- PROHIBITED SERVICES Services which result 1. Bookkeeping or other services in the auditors losing related to the accounting records or independence status financial statements of the audit under the Rule. client* 2. Financial information systems design and implementation* 3. Appraisal or valuation services, fairness* opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports 4. Actuarial services (i.e., setting actuarial reserves versus actuarial audit work)* 5. Internal audit outsourcing services* 6. Management functions or human resources 7. Broker or dealer, investment advisor, or investment banking services 8. Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit 9. Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible ----------------------- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTING POLICY ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ o These services are not to be o A summary of all performed with the exception of the(*) services and related services that may be permitted fees reported at each if they would not be subject to audit regularly scheduled procedures at the audit client (as Audit Committee meeting defined in rule 2-01(f)(4)) level will serve as continual the firm providing the service. confirmation that has not provided any restricted services. ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL AUDIT COMMITTEE APPROVAL POLICY: o For all projects, the officers of the Funds and the Fund's auditors will each make an assessment to determine that any proposed projects will not impair independence. o Potential services will be classified into the four non-restricted service categories and the "Approval of Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and Other Services" Policy above will be applied. Any services outside the specific pre-approved service subcategories set forth above must be specifically approved by the Audit Committee. o At least quarterly, the Audit Committee shall review a report summarizing the services by service category, including fees, provided by the Audit firm as set forth in the above policy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Disclose the percentage of services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item that were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. N/A (f) If greater than 50 percent, disclose the percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees. N/A (g) Disclose the aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the registrant. N/A (h) Disclose whether the registrant's audit committee of the board of trustees has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any subadviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence. N/A Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants (a) If the registrant is a listed issuer as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10A-3), state whether or not the registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(A)). If the registrant has such a committee, however designated, identify each committee member. If the entire board of directors is acting as the registrants audit committee as specified in Section 3(a)(58)(B) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(58)(B)), so state. N/A (b) If applicable, provide the disclosure required by Rule 10A-3(d) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10A-3(d)) regarding an exemption from the listing standards for audit committees. N/A Item 6. Schedule of Investments. File Schedule I Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period as set forth in 210.12- 12 of Regulation S-X [17 CFR 210.12-12], unless the schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form. Included in Item 1 ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. A closed-end management investment company that is filing an annual report on this Form N-CSR must, unless it invests exclusively in non-voting securities, describe the policies and procedures that it uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, including the procedures that the company uses when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of its shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the company's investment adviser; principal underwriter; or any affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(3)) and the rules thereunder) of the company, its investment adviser, or its principal underwriter, on the other. Include any policies and procedures of the company's investment adviser, or any other third party, that the company uses, or that are used on the company's behalf, to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities. Not applicable to open-end management investment companies. Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. (a) If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company that is filing an annual report on this Form N-CSR,provide the following information: (1) State the name, title, and length of service of the person or persons employed by or associated with the registrant or an investment adviser of the registrant who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the registrants portfolio (Portfolio Manager). Also state each Portfolio Managers business experience during the past 5 years. Not applicable to open-end management investment companies. Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. (a) If the registrant is a closed-end management investment company, in the following tabular format, provide the information specified in paragraph (b) of this Item with respect to any purchase made by or on behalf of the registrant or any affiliated purchaser, as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10b-18(a)(3)), of shares or other units of any class of the registrants equity securities that is registered by the registrant pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 781). Instruction to paragraph (a). Disclose all purchases covered by this Item, including purchases that do not satisfy the conditions of the safe harbor of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.10b-18), made in the period covered by the report. Provide disclosures covering repurchases made on a monthly basis. For example, if the reporting period began on January 16 and ended on July 15, the chart would show repurchases for the months from January 16 through February 15, February 16 through March 15, March 16 through April 15, April 16 through May 15, May 16 through June 15, and June 16 through July 15. Not applicable to open-end management investment companies. Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. Describe any material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrants board of directors, where those changes were implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 7(d)(2)(ii)(G) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101), or this Item. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrants board of directors since the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 7(d)(2)(ii)(G) of Schedule 14(A) in its definitive proxy statement, or this Item. ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) Disclose the conclusions of the registrant's principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, or persons performing similar functions, about the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-2(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(c))) based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph. The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report. (b) Disclose whether or not there were significant changes in the registrant's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. There were no significant 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. The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, however, voluntarily are reporting the following information: In August of 2006 the registrant's investment adviser enhanced its internal procedures for reporting performance information required to be included in prospectuses. Those enhancements involved additional internal controls over the appropriateness of performance data generated for this purpose. Such enhancements were made following an internal review which identified prospectuses relating to certain classes of shares of a limited number of registrants where, inadvertently, performance information not reflecting the deduction of applicable sales charges was included. Those prospectuses were revised, and the revised prospectuses were distributed to shareholders. ITEM 12. EXHIBITS. File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated. (a) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit. (b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2 under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2). Filed herewith. SIGNATURES [See General Instruction F] Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. (Registrant) Pioneer Equity Income Fund By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John F. Cogan, Jr. John F. Cogan, Jr, President Date June 29, 2007 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By (Signature and Title)* /s/ John F. Cogan, Jr. John F. Cogan, Jr., President Date June 29, 2007 By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Vincent Nave Vincent Nave, Treasurer Date June 29, 2007 * Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.