GDL Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number                     811-21969                     

 

The GDL Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Bruce N. Alpert

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center

Rye, New York 10580-1422
(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-422-3554                  

Date of fiscal year end: December 31            

Date of reporting period: September 30, 2012

Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (§§ 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.

A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q 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 the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1. Schedule of Investments.

The Schedule(s) of Investments is attached herewith.


The GDL Fund

Third Quarter Report — September 30, 2012

   LOGO

To Our Shareholders,

For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, the net asset value (“NAV”) total return of The GDL Fund was 1.1%, compared with a total return of 0.02% for the 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. The total return for the Fund’s publicly traded shares was 1.9%. The Fund’s NAV per share was $13.40, while the price of the publicly traded shares closed at $11.82 on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). See below for additional performance information.

Enclosed is the schedule of investments as of September 30, 2012.

Comparative Results

Average Annual Returns through September 30, 2012 (a) (Unaudited)

  

     Quarter      1 Year      3 Year      5 Year      Since
Inception
(01/31/07)
 

GDL Fund

              

NAV Total Return (b)

     1.09%         5.18%         2.60%         1.57%         2.08%   

Investment Total Return (c)

     1.92            10.21            2.46            2.45            0.17      

3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index

     0.02            0.07            0.09            0.54            1.00      

 

  (a)

Returns represent past performance and do not guarantee future results. Investment returns and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. When shares are sold, they may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data presented. Visit www.gabelli.com for performance information as of the most recent month end. Performance returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is comprised of a single issue purchased at the beginning of the month and held for a full month. At the end of the month, that issue is sold and rolled into the outstanding Treasury Bill that matures closest to, but not beyond three months from the re-balancing date. To qualify for selection, an issue must have settled on or before the re-balancing (month end) date. Dividends are considered reinvested except for the 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 
  (b)

Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in the NAV per share and reinvestment of distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date and are net of expenses. Since inception return is based on an initial NAV of $19.06.

 
  (c)

Total returns and average annual returns reflect changes in closing market values on the NYSE and reinvestment of distributions. Since inception return is based on an initial offering price of $20.00.

 

 


The GDL Fund

Schedule of Investments — September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

        

Market

Value

 
 

COMMON STOCKS — 77.2%

  
 

Aerospace and Defense — 0.2%

  
  40,000     

Exelis Inc.

   $ 413,600   
  7,000     

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc.†

     40,880   
  76,000     

The Allied Defense Group Inc.†(a)

     239,400   
    

 

 

 
       693,880   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Automotive: Parts and Accessories — 0.5%

  

  190,000     

The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack

     1,934,200   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Building and Construction — 0.8%

  
  23,000     

Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.†

     621,230   
  200,000     

US Home Systems Inc.

     2,494,000   
    

 

 

 
       3,115,230   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Business Services — 8.1%

  
  4,000     

Acxiom Corp.†

     73,080   
  20,000     

Aegis Group plc

     76,057   
  500     

Arbor Memorial Services, Cl. A

     16,275   
  325,000     

Ariba Inc.†

     14,560,000   
  92,138     

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc., Cl. A

     550,985   
  350,000     

Kenexa Corp.†

     16,040,500   
    

 

 

 
           31,316,897   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Cable and Satellite — 0.9%

  
  10,000     

AMC Networks Inc., Cl. A†

     435,200   
  230,000     

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc

     2,761,397   
  5,000     

Cablevision Systems Corp., Cl. A

     79,250   
    

 

 

 
       3,275,847   
    

 

 

 
 

Computer Software and Services — 0.8%

  

  40,000     

Deltek Inc.†

     520,800   
  1,000     

LBi International NV†

     3,666   
  30,000     

Mediware Information Systems†

     657,300   
  3,000     

Mentor Graphics Corp.†

     46,440   
  25,000     

Pervasive Software Inc.†

     215,000   
  21,600     

Soapstone Networks Inc.†

     194   
  107,000     

Yahoo! Inc.†

     1,709,325   
    

 

 

 
       3,152,725   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Consumer Products and Services — 1.5%

  

  65,000     

Avon Products Inc.(b)

     1,036,750   
  399,721     

Brightpoint Inc.†

     3,589,495   
  28,000     

Harman International Industries Inc.

     1,292,480   
  7,000     

Heelys Inc.†

     12,600   
  827     

JAKKS Pacific Inc.

     12,049   
  1,000     

Physicians Formula Holdings Inc.†

     4,870   
  2,000     

Prestige Brands Holdings Inc.†

     33,920   
    

 

 

 
       5,982,164   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Diversified Industrial — 7.5%

  
  230,000     

Cooper Industries plc

     17,263,800   
  19,000     

ITT Corp.

     382,850   
  117,000     

Myers Industries Inc.

     1,827,540   
  18,000     

Smiths Group plc

     301,419   

Shares

        

Market

Value

 
  195,000     

The Shaw Group Inc.†

   $ 8,505,900   
  11,000     

WMF Wuerttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG

     662,957   
    

 

 

 
       28,944,466   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Educational Services — 0.0%

  
  12,000     

Corinthian Colleges Inc.†

     28,560   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Electronics — 1.1%

  
  1,000     

Aleo Solar AG†

     22,392   
  211,700     

Alliance Semiconductor Corp.†

     74,095   
  1,000     

AuthenTec Inc.†

     8,010   
  84,000     

Bel Fuse Inc., Cl. A

     1,468,320   
  38,907     

DTS Inc.†

     905,758   
  480,000     

Laird plc

     1,745,540   
    

 

 

 
       4,224,115   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Energy and Utilities — 9.8%

  
  48,000     

Atlas Energy LP

     1,657,915   
  4,000     

Atlas Resource Partners LP

     102,080   
  270,000     

Dragon Oil plc

     2,637,784   
  74,020     

Duke Energy Corp.

     4,796,496   
  82,000     

Endesa SA

     1,575,343   
  4,000     

Ensco plc, Cl. A.

     218,240   
  19,000     

Heritage Oil plc†

     59,276   
  400,000     

Nexen Inc.

     10,136,000   
  10,000     

NRG Energy Inc.

     213,900   
  1,000     

Origin Energy Ltd.

     11,742   
  200,000     

Progress Energy Resources Corp.

     4,455,295   
  100,000     

Pure Energy Services Ltd.

     1,116,875   
  2,000     

Silverwillow Energy Corp.†

     2,116   
  232,000     

Sunoco Inc.

     10,864,560   
  3,000     

Venoco Inc.†

     35,640   
  600     

Walter Energy Inc.

     19,476   
  100,000     

WesternZagros Resources Ltd.†

     142,407   
    

 

 

 
           38,045,145   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Equipment and Supplies — 0.0%

  
  511,000     

Gerber Scientific Inc., Escrow†(a)

     5,110   
  1,000     

The Middleby Corp.†

     115,640   
    

 

 

 
       120,750   
    

 

 

 
 

 

Financial Services — 3.1%

  
  6,000     

American Realty Capital Trust Inc.

     70,380   
  221,351     

Delphi Financial Group Inc.†(a)

     138,344   
  87,000     

First Niagara Financial Group Inc.

     703,830   
  1,000     

Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings SA

     8,590   
  50,000     

Garda World Security Corp., Cl. A†

     606,754   
  500     

Hudson City Bancorp Inc.

     3,980   
  5,500     

NYSE Euronext

     135,575   
  59,647     

Pacific Capital Bancorp†

     2,737,797   
  200,000     

Presidential Life Corp.

     2,786,000   
  120,000     

SeaBright Holdings Inc.

     1,320,000   
  175,000     

SLM Corp.

     2,751,000   
 

 

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

 

2


The GDL Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

            Market  

Shares

         

Value

 
  

COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

  
  

Financial Services (Continued)

  
  50,000      

The Charles Schwab Corp.

   $ 639,500   
     

 

 

 
        11,901,750   
     

 

 

 
  

Food and Beverage — 8.6%

  
  1,000      

Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd.

     42,984   
  7,000      

Beam Inc.

     402,780   
  210,000      

China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd.†

     63,644   
  1,000,000      

Grupo Modelo SAB de CV, Cl. C

     9,003,438   
  35,000      

Hillshire Brands Co.

     937,300   
  1,650,000      

Parmalat SpA

     3,521,872   
  35,500      

Peet’s Coffee & Tea Inc.†

     2,603,570   
  13,000      

Post Holdings Inc.†

     390,780   
  37,000      

Ralcorp Holdings Inc.†

     2,701,000   
  1,000      

Reddy Ice Holdings Inc.†(a)

     20   
  111,000      

Rieber & Son ASA

     1,259,404   
  750,000      

Viterra Inc.

     12,290,205   
     

 

 

 
            33,216,997   
     

 

 

 
  

Health Care — 15.8%

  
  2,000      

3SBio Inc., ADR†

     25,980   
  220,000      

AMERIGROUP Corp.†(b)

     20,114,600   
  9,000      

ArthroCare Corp.†

     291,600   
  99,090      

Catamaran Corp.†

     9,707,847   
  200      

China Kanghui Holdings Inc., ADR†

     6,070   
  100,000      

Coventry Health Care Inc.

     4,169,000   
  76,700      

Devgen†

     1,565,185   
  2,000      

Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc.†

     13,920   
  18,000      

Illumina Inc.†

     867,600   
  44,500      

Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., Escrow†(a)

     48,950   
  30,000      

IRIS International Inc.†

     585,600   
  1,000      

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc.†

     2,320   
  300,000      

Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Cl. A

     12,981,000   
  750,000      

Q-Med AB, Escrow†(a)

     0   
  33,000      

Rhoen Klinikum AG

     649,670   
  200,000      

Smith & Nephew plc

     2,207,438   
  100,000      

Sun Healthcare Group Inc.†

     846,500   
  480,000      

Sunrise Senior Living Inc.†

     6,849,600   
  1,000      

Synageva BioPharma Corp.†

     53,430   
  1,000      

Taro Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd.†

     45,690   
  15,000      

WuXi PharmaTech Cayman Inc., ADR†

     223,950   
     

 

 

 
        61,255,950   
     

 

 

 
  

Hotels and Gaming — 0.0%

  
  1,000      

MGM Resorts International†

     10,750   
     

 

 

 
  

Machinery — 3.7%

  
  225,000      

Robbins & Myers Inc.

     13,410,000   
  42,000      

Xylem Inc.

     1,056,300   
     

 

 

 
        14,466,300   
     

 

 

 
  

Media — 2.3%

  
  177,500      

Astral Media Inc., Cl. A

     8,698,963   
            Market  

Shares

         

Value

 
  2,500      

Astral Media Inc., Cl. B

   $ 131,624   
     

 

 

 
        8,830,587   
     

 

 

 
  

Metals and Mining — 0.4%

  
  28,000      

Camino Minerals Corp.†

     2,421   
  1,000      

Jaguar Mining Inc.†

     1,200   
  5,000      

Lonmin plc

     45,013   
  3,000      

Pan American Silver Corp.

     64,327   
  15,000      

Talison Lithium Ltd.†

     98,718   
  16,000      

Vulcan Materials Co.

     756,800   
  30,000      

Xstrata plc

     463,853   
  1      

Yamana Gold Inc.

     10   
     

 

 

 
        1,432,342   
     

 

 

 
  

Publishing — 0.0%

  
  136,000      

SCMP Group Ltd.

     25,958   
     

 

 

 
  

Retail — 4.8%

  
  260,000      

Collective Brands Inc.†

     5,644,600   
  150,000      

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc.†

     13,039,500   
     

 

 

 
        18,684,100   
     

 

 

 
  

Semiconductors — 2.1%

  
  1,100,000      

FSI International Inc.†

     6,820,000   
  2,500      

LTX-Credence Corp.†

     14,375   
  20,000      

PLX Technology Inc.†

     115,400   
  330,000      

Ramtron International Corp.†

     1,016,400   
     

 

 

 
        7,966,175   
     

 

 

 
  

Specialty Chemicals — 0.1%

  
  4,000      

Ashland Inc.

     286,400   
  2,000      

SGL Carbon SE

     80,161   
  750      

TPC Group Inc.†

     30,608   
     

 

 

 
        397,169   
     

 

 

 
  

Telecommunications — 1.5%

  
  700,000      

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.

     .2,076,334   
  10,000      

Comverse Technology Inc.†

     61,500   
  5,000      

GeoEye Inc.†

     132,150   
  80,000      

Telenet Group Holding NV

     3,582,719   
     

 

 

 
        5,852,703   
     

 

 

 
  

Transportation — 3.6%

  
  100,000      

RailAmerica Inc.†

     2,747,000   
  1,060,000      

TNT Express NV

     11,068,853   
     

 

 

 
        13,815,853   
     

 

 

 
  

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     298,690,613   
     

 

 

 
  

RIGHTS — 0.2%

  
  

Health Care — 0.2%

  
  187,200      

Adolor Corp., expire 07/01/19†(a)

     97,344   
  201,600      

American Medical Alert Corp.†(a)

     2,016   
  90,200      

Clinical Data Inc., CVR, expire 04/14/18†(a)

     85,690   
 

 

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

 

3


The GDL Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

Shares

       

Market

Value

 
  

RIGHTS (Continued)

  
  

Health Care (Continued)

  

390,000

  

Sanofi, CVR, expire 12/31/20†

   $ 655,200   
     

 

 

 
  

TOTAL RIGHTS

     840,250   
     

 

 

 
  

WARRANTS — 0.1%

  
  

Energy and Utilities — 0.1%

  

38,400

  

Kinder Morgan Inc., expire 05/25/17†

     134,016   
     

 

 

 
  

Metals and Mining — 0.0%

  

220

  

Kinross Gold Corp., expire 09/17/14†

     157   
     

 

 

 
  

TOTAL WARRANTS

     134,173   
     

 

 

 

Principal

Amount

           
  

CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS — 1.2%

  

  

Aerospace and Defense — 0.2%

  
$  500,000    GenCorp Inc., Sub. Deb., Cv.
4.063%, 12/31/39
     630,313   
     

 

 

 
  

Computer Hardware — 1.0%

  

4,000,000

  

SanDisk Corp., Cv.
1.000%, 05/15/13

     3,972,500   
     

 

 

 
  

TOTAL CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS

     4,602,813   
     

 

 

 
  

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS — 21.3%

  

82,495,000

  

U.S. Treasury Bills,
0.080% to 0.145%††,
10/18/12 to 02/21/13(c)

     82,476,227   
     

 

 

 
  

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%
(Cost $387,755,345)

   $ 386,744,076   
     

 

 

 
  

Aggregate tax cost

   $ 389,157,209   
     

 

 

 
  

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 10,791,593   
  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (13,204,726
     

 

 

 
  

Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation

   $ (2,413,133
     

 

 

 

Shares

           
  

SECURITIES SOLD SHORT — (6.3)%

  
  

Aerospace and Defense — (0.1)%

  

50,000

  

GenCorp Inc.

   $ 474,500   
     

 

 

 
  

Diversified Industrial — (2.2)%

  

178,200

  

Eaton Corp.

     8,421,732   
     

 

 

 
  

Electronics — (0.2)%

  

38,906

  

DTS Inc.

     905,732   
     

 

 

 
  

Energy and Utilities — (1.3)%

  

74,020

  

Duke Energy Corp.

     4,796,496   
     

 

 

 
 Shares           

Market

Value

 
  

Health Care — (2.5)%

  
  99,090      

Catamaran Corp.

   $ 9,707,847   
     

 

 

 
  

TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT
(Proceeds received $23,042,769)

   $ 24,306,307   
     

 

 

 
  

Aggregate proceeds

   $ 23,042,769   
     

 

 

 
  

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 632,953   
  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (1,896,491
     

 

 

 
  

Net unrealized appreciation/depreciation

   $ (1,263,538
     

 

 

 

 

Principal
Amount

      Settlement
Date
   

Unrealized
Appreciation

 
 

FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

   

18,657,500(d)  

Deliver Canadian Dollars in exchange for United States Dollars 18,978,232(e)

    10/26/12      $ 137,471   
12,853,000(f)  

Deliver Euros in exchange for United States Dollars 16,516,744(e)

    10/26/12        280,841   
     

 

 

 
 

TOTAL FORWARD FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

    $ 418,312   
     

 

 

 

Notional
Amount

      Termination
Date
       
 

EQUITY CONTRACT FOR DIFFERENCE SWAP AGREEMENTS

   

$ 337,634
    (90,000 Shares)

 

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd.(g)

    06/27/13      $ 3,056   
     

 

 

 

 

(a)

Security fair valued under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. The procedures may include reviewing available financial information about the company and reviewing the valuation of comparable securities and other factors on a regular basis. At September 30, 2012, the market value of fair valued securities amounted to $616,874 or 0.16% of total investments.

(b)

Securities, or a portion thereof, with a value of $18,901,510 were pledged as collateral for equity contract for difference swap agreements, securities sold short, and forward foreign exchange contracts.

(c)

At September 30, 2012, $51,115,000 of the principal amount was pledged as collateral for equity contract for difference swap agreements, securities sold short, and forward foreign exchange contracts.

(d)

Principal amount denoted in Canadian Dollars.

(e)

At September 30, 2012, the Fund had entered into forward foreign exchange contracts with State Street Bank and Trust Co.

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

 

4


The GDL Fund

Schedule of Investments (Continued) — September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

(f) Principal amount denoted in Euros.
(g) At September 30, 2012, the Fund had entered into an equity contract for difference swap agreement with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Non-income producing security.
†† Represents annualized yield at date of purchase.
ADR American Depositary Receipt
CVR Contingent Value Right

 

     %of        
     Market     Market  

Geographic Diversification

  

Value

   

Value

 

Long Positions

    

North America

     87.9   $ 339,947,537   

Europe

     9.1        35,217,720   

Latin America

     2.3        9,009,508   

Asia/Pacific

     0.7        2,569,311   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments

     100.0   $ 386,744,076   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Short Positions

    

North America

     (6.3 )%    $ (24,306,307
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have separated the portfolio manager’s commentary from the financial statements and investment portfolio due to corporate governance regulations stipulated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We have done this to ensure that the content of the portfolio manager’s commentary is unrestricted. Both the commentary and the financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, will be available on our website at www.gabelli.com.

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

 

5


The GDL Fund

Notes to Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

 

The Fund’s schedule of investments is prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), which may require the use of management estimates and assumptions. 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 schedule of investments.

Security Valuation. Portfolio securities listed or traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange or traded in the U.S. over-the-counter market for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the last quoted sale price or a market’s official closing price as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. If there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the average of the closing bid and asked prices or, if there were no asked prices quoted on that day, then the security is valued at the closing bid price on that day. If no bid or asked prices are quoted on such day, the security is valued at the most recently available price or, if the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) so determines, by such other method as the Board shall determine in good faith to reflect its fair market value. Portfolio securities traded on more than one national securities exchange or market are valued according to the broadest and most representative market, as determined by Gabelli Funds, LLC (the “Adviser”).

Portfolio securities primarily traded on a foreign market are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on the relevant market, but may be fair valued pursuant to procedures established by the Board if market conditions change significantly after the close of the foreign market, but prior to the close of business on the day the securities are being valued. Debt instruments with remaining maturities of sixty days or less that are not credit impaired are valued at amortized cost, unless the Board determines such amount does not reflect the securities’ fair value, in which case these securities will be fair valued as determined by the Board. Debt instruments having a maturity greater than sixty days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at the average of the latest bid and asked prices. If there were no asked prices quoted on such day, the security is valued using the closing bid price. U.S. government obligations with maturities greater than sixty days are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.

Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available are fair valued as determined by the Board. Fair valuation methodologies and procedures may include, but are not limited to: analysis and review of available financial and non-financial information about the company; comparisons with the valuation and changes in valuation of similar securities, including a comparison of foreign securities with the equivalent U.S. dollar value ADR securities at the close of the U.S. exchange; and evaluation of any other information that could be indicative of the value of the security.

The inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value of the Fund’s investments are summarized into three levels as described in the hierarchy below:

 

   

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

 

   

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

 

   

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s determinations as to the fair value of investments).

 

6


The GDL Fund

Notes to Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input both individually and in the aggregate that is significant to the fair value measurement. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The summary of the Fund’s investments in securities and other financial instruments by inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2012 is as follows:

 

     Valuation Inputs     
     Level 1
Quoted Prices
    Level 2 Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Level 3 Significant
Unobservable Inputs
  

Total Market Value
at 9/30/12

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

          

ASSETS (Market Value):

          

Common Stocks:

          

Equipment and Supplies

     $       115,640                      —    $      5,110    $       120,750   

Financial Services

     11,763,406                      —        138,344    11,901,750   

Food and Beverage

     33,216,977                      —                 20    33,216,997   

Health Care

     61,207,000                      —         48,950    61,255,950   

Other Industries (a)

     192,195,166                      —                —    192,195,166   

Total Common Stocks

     298,498,189                       —      192,424    298,690,613   

Rights(a)

     655,200                      —      185,050    840,250   

Warrants(a)

     134,173                      —                —    134,173   

Convertible Corporate Bonds

          $  4,602,813                —    4,602,813   

U.S. Government Obligations

            82,476,227                —    82,476,227   

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES – ASSETS

     $299,287,562      $87,079,040    $377,474    $386,744,076   

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES:

          

LIABILITIES (Market Value):

          

Common Stocks Sold Short(a)

     $ (24,306,307   $               —    $          —    $ (24,306,307)  

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

                      

ASSETS (Unrealized Appreciation):*

          

EQUITY CONTRACT

          

Contract for Difference Swap Agreements

     $                 —      $         3,056    $          —    $           3,056   

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

          

Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts

                418,312                —    418,312   

TOTAL OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

     $                  —      $     421,368    $          —    $       421,368   

 

(a)

Please refer to the Schedule of Investments (“SOI”) for the industry classifications of these portfolio holdings.

*

Other financial instruments are derivatives reflected in the SOI, such as futures, forwards, and swaps, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of the instrument.

The Fund did not have transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the period ended September 30, 2012. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers among Levels as of the beginning of the reporting period.

Additional Information to Evaluate Quantitative Information.

    General. The Fund uses recognized industry pricing services – approved by the Board and unaffiliated with the Adviser – to value most of its securities, and uses broker quotes provided by market makers of securities not valued by these and other recognized pricing sources. Several different pricing feeds are received to value domestic equity securities, international equity securities, preferred equity securities, and fixed income securities. The data within these feeds is ultimately sourced from major stock exchanges and trading systems where these securities trade. The prices supplied by external sources are checked by obtaining quotations or actual transaction prices from market participants. If a price obtained from the pricing source is deemed unreliable, prices will be sought from another pricing service or from a broker/dealer that trades that security or similar securities.

 

7


The GDL Fund

Notes to Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

    Fair Valuation. Fair valued securities may be common and preferred equities, warrants, options, rights, and fixed income obligations. Where appropriate, Level 3 securities are those for which market quotations are not available, such as securities not traded for several days, or for which current bids are not available, or which are restricted as to transfer. Among the factors to be considered to fair value a security are recent prices of comparable securities that are publicly traded, reliable prices of securities not publicly traded, the use of valuation models, current analyst reports, valuing the income or cash flow of the issuer, or cost if the preceding factors do not apply. The circumstances of Level 3 securities are frequently monitored to determine if fair valuation measures continue to apply.

The Adviser reports quarterly to the Board the results of the application of fair valuation policies and procedures. These include back testing the prices realized in subsequent trades of these fair valued securities to fair values previously recognized.

Merger Arbitrage Risk. The principal risk associated with the Fund’s investment strategy is that certain of the proposed reorganizations in which the Fund invests may involve a longer time frame than originally contemplated or be renegotiated or terminated, in which case losses may be realized. The Fund invests all or a portion of its assets to seek short-term capital appreciation. This can be expected to increase the portfolio turnover rate and cause increased brokerage commission costs.

Derivative Financial Instruments. The Fund may engage in various portfolio investment strategies by investing in a number of derivative financial instruments for the purposes of increasing the income of the Fund, hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase, or hedging against a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency. Investing in certain derivative financial instruments, including participation in the options, futures, or swap markets, entails certain execution, liquidity, hedging, tax, and securities, interest, credit, or currency market risks. Losses may arise if the Adviser’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities, foreign currency, and interest rate markets is inaccurate. Losses may also arise if the counterparty does not perform its duties under a contract, or that, in the event of default, the Fund may be delayed in or prevented from obtaining payments or other contractual remedies owed to it under derivative contracts. The creditworthiness of the counterparties is closely monitored in order to minimize these risks. Participation in derivative transactions involves investment risks, transaction costs, and potential losses to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The consequences of these risks, transaction costs, and losses may have a negative impact on the Fund’s ability to pay distributions.

The Fund’s derivative contracts held at September 30, 2012, if any, are not accounted for as hedging instruments under GAAP and are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments together with the related counterparty.

    Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into equity contract for difference swap transactions for the purpose of increasing the income of the Fund. The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio security transactions. In an equity contract for difference swap, a set of future cash flows is exchanged between two counterparties. One of these cash flow streams will typically be based on a reference interest rate combined with the performance of a notional value of shares of a stock. The other will be based on the performance of the shares of a stock. Depending on the general state of short-term interest rates and the returns on the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time an equity contract for difference swap transaction reaches its scheduled termination date, there is

 

8


The GDL Fund

Notes to Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction.

The Fund has entered into equity contract for difference swap agreement with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Details of the swap at September 30, 2012 are reflected within the Schedule of Investments and further details as follows:

 

Notional Amount

  

Equity Security Received

  

Interest Rate/Equity Security Paid

   Termination Date    Net Unrealized
Appreciation

$ 337,634 (90,000 Shares)

  

Market Value

Appreciation on:

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd.

  

One Month LIBOR plus 90 bps plus Market Value Depreciation on:

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd.

   6/27/13    $3,056

    Future Contracts. The Fund may engage in futures contracts for the purpose of hedging against changes in the value of its portfolio securities and in the value of securities it intends to purchase. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the contract, and are included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts. The Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed.

    Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts. The Fund may engage in forward foreign exchange contracts for the purpose of hedging a specific transaction with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency as deemed appropriate by the Adviser. Forward foreign exchange contracts are valued at the forward rate and are marked-to-market daily. The change in market value is included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

The use of forward foreign exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the Fund’s portfolio securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign exchange contracts limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. Forward foreign exchange contracts at September 30, 2012 are presented within the Schedule of Investments.

The following table summarizes the net unrealized appreciation of derivatives held at September 30, 2012 by primary risk exposure:

 

     Net Unrealized
Asset Derivatives:    Appreciation

Equity Contracts

   $    3,056

Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts

     418,312

Total

   $421,368

Securities Sold Short. The Fund may enter into short sale transactions. Short selling involves selling securities that may or may not be owned and, at times, borrowing the same securities for delivery to the purchaser, with

 

9


The GDL Fund

Notes to Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

an obligation to replace such borrowed securities at a later date. The proceeds received from short sales are recorded as liabilities and the Fund records an unrealized gain or loss to the extent of the difference between the proceeds received and the value of an open short position on the day of determination. The Fund records a realized gain or loss when the short position is closed out. By entering into a short sale, the Fund bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security sold short. Dividends on short sales are recorded as an expense by the Fund on the ex-dividend date and interest expense is recorded on the accrual basis. The broker retains collateral for the value of the open positions, which is adjusted periodically as the value of the position fluctuates. Security sold short at September 30, 2012 is reported within the Schedule of Investments.

Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments, and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the exchange rate prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. Unrealized gains and losses that result from changes in foreign exchange rates and/or changes in market prices of securities have been included in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on foreign currency translations. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gain/(loss) on investments.

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

Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes on income, gains on investments, or currency repatriation, a portion of which may be recoverable. The Fund will accrue such taxes and recoveries as applicable, based upon its current interpretation of tax rules and regulations that exist in the markets in which it invests.

Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities for which the markets are restricted. Restricted securities include securities the disposition of which is subject to substantial legal or contractual restrictions. The sale of restricted securities often requires more time and results in higher brokerage charges or dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of securities eligible for trading on national securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter markets. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. Securities freely saleable among qualified institutional investors under special rules adopted by the SEC may be treated as liquid if they satisfy liquidity standards established by the Board. The continued liquidity of such securities is not as well assured as that of publicly traded securities, and accordingly the Board will monitor their liquidity. For the restricted securities the Fund held as of September 30, 2012, refer to the Schedule of Investments.

 

10


The GDL Fund

Notes to Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) (Continued)

 

 

Tax Information. The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the Fund will be permitted to carry forward for an unlimited period capital losses incurred in years beginning after December 22, 2010. As a result of the rule, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses rather than being considered all short-term as under previous law.

 

11


AUTOMATIC DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT

AND VOLUNTARY CASH PURCHASE PLANS

Enrollment in the Plan

It is the policy of The GDL Fund to automatically reinvest dividends payable to common shareholders. As a “registered” shareholder you automatically become a participant in the Fund’s Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan authorizes the Fund to credit common shares to participants upon an income dividend or a capital gains distribution regardless of whether the shares are trading at a discount or a premium to net asset value. All distributions to shareholders whose shares are registered in their own names will be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund. Plan participants may send their share certificates to American Stock Transfer (“AST”) to be held in their dividend reinvestment account. Registered shareholders wishing to receive their distributions in cash must submit this request in writing to:

The GDL Fund

c/o American Stock Transfer

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Shareholders requesting this cash election must include the shareholder’s name and address as they appear on the share certificate. Shareholders with additional questions regarding the Plan or requesting a copy of the terms of the Plan, may contact AST at (888) 422-3262.

If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, or nominee, you should contact such institution. If such institution is not participating in the Plan, your account will be credited with a cash dividend. In order to participate in the Plan through such institution, it may be necessary for you to have your shares taken out of “street name” and re-registered in your own name. Once registered in your own name your distributions will be automatically reinvested. Certain brokers participate in the Plan. Shareholders holding shares in “street name” at participating institutions will have dividends automatically reinvested. Shareholders wishing a cash dividend at such institution must contact their broker to make this change.

The number of common shares distributed to participants in the Plan in lieu of cash dividends is determined in the following manner. Under the Plan, whenever the market price of the Fund’s common shares is equal to or exceeds net asset value at the time shares are valued for purposes of determining the number of shares equivalent to the cash dividends or capital gains distribution, participants are issued common shares valued at the greater of (i) the net asset value as most recently determined or (ii) 95% of the then current market price of the Fund’s common shares. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is not a NYSE Amex trading day, the next trading day. If the net asset value of the common shares at the time of valuation exceeds the market price of the common shares, participants will receive common shares from the Fund valued at market price. If the Fund should declare a dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, AST will buy common shares in the open market, or on the NYSE Amex, or elsewhere, for the participants’ accounts, except that AST will endeavor to terminate purchases in the open market and cause the Fund to issue shares at net asset value if, following the commencement of such purchases, the market value of the common shares exceeds the then current net asset value.

The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions will not relieve participants of any income tax which may be payable on such distributions. A participant in the Plan will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received, on a dividend payment date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash the participant could have received instead of shares.

Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan

The Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan is yet another vehicle for our shareholders to increase their investment in the Fund. In order to participate in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, shareholders must have their shares registered in their own name.

Participants in the Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan have the option of making additional cash payments to AST for investments in the Fund’s common shares at the then current market price. Shareholders may send an amount from $250 to $10,000. AST will use these funds to purchase shares in the open market on or about the 1st and 15th of each month. AST will charge each shareholder who participates a pro rata share of the brokerage commissions. Brokerage charges for such purchases are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions. It is suggested that any voluntary cash payments be sent to American Stock Transfer, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 such that AST receives such payments approximately 10 days before the investment date. Funds not received at least five days before the investment date shall be held for investment until the next purchase date. A payment may be withdrawn without charge if notice is received by AST at least 48 hours before such payment is to be invested.

Shareholders wishing to liquidate shares held at AST must do so in writing or by telephone. Please submit your request to the above mentioned address or telephone number. Include in your request your name, address, and account number. The cost to liquidate shares is $1.00 per transaction as well as the brokerage commission incurred. Brokerage charges are expected to be less than the usual brokerage charge for such transactions.

For more information regarding the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Voluntary Cash Purchase Plan, brochures are available by calling (914) 921-5070 or by writing directly to the Fund.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan as applied to any voluntary cash payments made and any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to written notice of the change sent to the members of the Plan at least 90 days before the record date for such dividend or distribution. The Plan also may be amended or terminated by AST on at least 90 days written notice to participants in the Plan.

 

12


THE GDL FUND

AND YOUR PERSONAL PRIVACY

Who are we?

The GDL Fund (the “Fund”) is a closed-end management investment company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, which is affiliated with GAMCO Investors, Inc. GAMCO Investors, Inc. is a publicly held company that has subsidiaries that provide investment advisory or brokerage services for a variety of clients.

What kind of non-public information do we collect about you if you become a Fund shareholder?

When you purchase shares of the Fund on the New York Stock Exchange, you have the option of registering directly with our transfer agent in order, for example, to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.

 

   

Information you give us on your application form. This could include your name, address, telephone number, social security number, bank account number, and other information.

 

 

   

Information about your transactions with us. This would include information about the shares that you buy or sell; it may also include information about whether you sell or exercise rights that we have issued from time to time. If we hire someone else to provide services — like a transfer agent — we will also have information about the transactions that you conduct through them.

 

What information do we disclose and to whom do we disclose it?

We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers to anyone other than our affiliates, our service providers who need to know such information, and as otherwise permitted by law. If you want to find out what the law permits, you can read the privacy rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are in volume 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 248. The Commission often posts information about its regulations on its website, www.sec.gov.

What do we do to protect your personal information?

We restrict access to non-public personal information about you to the people who need to know that information in order to provide services to you or the Fund and to ensure that we are complying with the laws governing the securities business. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to keep your personal information confidential.


 

 

 

This page was intentionally left blank.


TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

THE GDL FUND

One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422

 

Trustees

Mario J. Gabelli, CFA

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,

GAMCO Investors, Inc.

Anthony J. Colavita

President,

Anthony J. Colavita, P.C.

James P. Conn

Former Managing Director &

Chief Investment Officer,

Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd.

Clarence A. Davis

Former Chief Executive Officer,

Nestor, Inc.

Mario d’Urso

Former Italian Senator

Arthur V. Ferrara

Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Michael J. Melarkey

Attorney-at-Law,

Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel & Mulligan

Edward T. Tokar

Senior Managing Director,

Beacon Trust Company

Salvatore J. Zizza

Chairman, Zizza & Associates Corp.

Officers

Bruce N. Alpert

President & Acting Chief Compliance Officer

Agnes Mullady

Treasurer & Secretary

Carter W. Austin

Vice President

Laurissa M. Martire

Vice President & Ombudsman

David I. Schachter

Vice President & Ombudsman

Investment Adviser

 

Gabelli Funds, LLC

One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
Custodian

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

Counsel

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

American Stock Transfer and Trust Company

Stock Exchange Listing

 

          Series B
    

Common

  

Preferred

NYSE–Symbol:

   GDL    GDL PrB

Shares Outstanding:

   21,046,179    2,879,758
 

 

The Net Asset Value per share appears in the Publicly Traded Funds column, under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds,” in Monday’s The Wall Street Journal. It is also listed in Barron’s Mutual Funds/Closed End Funds section under the heading “Specialized Equity Funds.”

The Net Asset Value per share may be obtained each day by calling (914) 921-5070 or visiting www.gabelli.com.

The NASDAQ symbol for the Net Asset Value is “XGDLX.”

 

For general information about the Gabelli Funds, call 800-GABELLI (800-422-3554), fax us at 914-921-5118, visit Gabelli Funds’ Internet homepage at: www.gabelli.com, or e-mail us at: closedend@gabelli.com

 

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that the Fund may, from time to time, purchase its common shares in the open market when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount of 7.5% or more from the net asset value of the shares. The Fund may also, from time to time, purchase its preferred shares in the open market when the preferred shares are trading at a discount to the liquidation value.


LOGO


Item 2. Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a)  

The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).

 

  (b)  

There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3. Exhibits.

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

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

 

(Registrant)

 

The GDL Fund

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

/s/ Bruce N. Alpert

 

Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date

 

11/27/12

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/ Bruce N. Alpert

 

Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer

 

Date

 

11/27/12

 

By (Signature and Title)*

 

/s/ Agnes Mullady

 

Agnes Mullady, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

Date

 

11/27/12

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.