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2023-04-05
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SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ |
Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-12 |
Bancroft Fund Ltd.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if
other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
☒ |
No fee required |
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☐ |
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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1) |
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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2) |
Aggregate number of securities
to which transaction applies: |
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3) |
Per unit price or other underlying
value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11(set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state
how it was determined): |
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4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value
of transaction: |
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5) |
Total fee paid: |
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☐ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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☐ |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
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2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration
Statement No.: |
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3) |
Filing Party: |
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4) |
Date Filed: |
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BANCROFT FUND LTD.
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580-1422
(914) 921-5070
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on May 22, 2023
To the Shareholders of
BANCROFT FUND LTD.
Notice is hereby given that
the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Bancroft Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”), will
be held on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 8:00 a.m., ET, at Indian Harbor Yacht Club, 710 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, Connecticut, 06830 and virtually by Internet webcast (the “Meeting”), and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof for the following purposes:
| 1. | To elect four (4) Trustees of the Fund, three (3) Trustees to be elected by the holders of the Fund’s
common shares and holders of its 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares (“Preferred Shares”), voting together
as a single class, and one (1) Trustee to be elected by the holders of the Fund’s Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class;
and |
| 2. | To consider and vote upon such other matters, including adjournments, as may properly come before said
Meeting or any adjournments thereof. |
These items are discussed
in greater detail in the attached Proxy Statement.
We are conducting a “hybrid”
meeting - you may attend in person or virtually. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting in person, shareholders must register
in advance by submitting the required information to the Fund at: http://Gabelli.com/CEFAnnualMeeting. Following registration,
a shareholder will be provided with instructions regarding how to access the virtual Meeting, including the link for the Meeting.
Requests for registration
must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on May 21, 2023. Shareholders will receive an email confirming their registration and providing
instructions for participating in the Meeting. Any questions should be directed to CEFProxy@gabelli.com.
The close of business on
March 28, 2023, has been fixed as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting
and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF YOUR HOLDINGS IN THE FUND. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YOUR PROXY IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO
ATTEND THE MEETING. SHAREHOLDERS MAY AUTHORIZE THEIR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET. ALTERNATIVELY, SHAREHOLDERS MAY SUBMIT VOTING
INSTRUCTIONS BY SIGNING AND DATING THE PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
| By Order of the Board of Trustees, |
| |
| PETER GOLDSTEIN
Secretary |
April 12, 2023
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS TO BE RETURNED
BY MAIL
The following general rules
for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and avoid the time and expense to the Fund involved in validating your vote if you
fail to properly sign your proxy card.
| 1. | Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card. |
| 2. | Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly
to the name shown in the registration. |
| 3. | All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individuals signing the proxy card should be indicated
unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For example: |
Registration |
Valid Signature |
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Corporate Accounts |
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(1) |
ABC Corp. |
ABC Corp., John Doe, Treasurer |
(2) |
ABC Corp. |
John Doe, Treasurer |
(3) |
ABC Corp. |
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c/o John Doe, Treasurer |
John Doe |
(4) |
ABC Corp., Profit Sharing Plan |
John Doe, Trustee |
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Trust Accounts |
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(1) |
ABC Trust |
Jane B. Doe, Trustee |
(2) |
Jane B. Doe, Trustee |
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u/t/d 12/28/78 |
Jane B. Doe |
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Custodian or Estate Accounts |
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(1) |
John B. Smith, Cust. |
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f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA |
John B. Smith |
(2) |
John B. Smith, Executor |
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Estate of Jane Smith |
John B. Smith, Executor |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TELEPHONE/INTERNET VOTING
Instructions for authorizing your
proxy to vote your shares by telephone or Internet are included with the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and the proxy
card.
BANCROFT FUND LTD.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 22, 2023
PROXY STATEMENT
This Proxy Statement is furnished
in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees (the “Board,” the members of which are
referred to as “Trustees”) of the Bancroft Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust (the “Fund”),
for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 8:00 a.m., ET, at Indian Harbor Yacht Club, 710 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, Connecticut, 06830 and virtually by Internet
webcast (the “Meeting”), and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. A Notice of Internet Availability
of Proxy Materials will first be mailed to shareholders on or about April 12, 2023.
We are conducting a “hybrid”
meeting - you may attend in person or virtually. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting in person, shareholders must register
in advance by submitting the required information to the Fund at: http://Gabelli.com/CEFAnnualMeeting. Following registration,
a shareholder will be provided with instructions regarding how to access the virtual Meeting, including the link for the Meeting.
Requests for registration
must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., ET, on May 21, 2023. Shareholders will receive an email confirming their registration and providing
instructions for participating in the Meeting. Any questions should be directed to CEFProxy@gabelli.com.
In addition to the solicitation
of proxies by mail, officers of the Fund and officers and regular employees of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“AST”),
the Fund’s transfer agent, and affiliates of AST or other representatives of the Fund also may solicit proxies by telephone, Internet,
or in person. In addition, the Fund has retained Morrow Sodali LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for an estimated fee of $1,000
plus reimbursement of expenses. The Fund will pay the costs of the proxy solicitation and the expenses incurred in connection with preparing,
printing, and mailing the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and/or Proxy Statement and its enclosures. If requested,
the Fund will also reimburse brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to the beneficial owners
of its shares.
The Fund’s most
recent annual report, including audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, is available upon request, without
charge, by writing to the Secretary of the Fund, One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422, calling the Fund at 800-422-3554, or
via the Internet at www.gabelli.com.
If the proxy is properly
executed and returned in time to be voted at the Meeting, the shares represented thereby will be voted “FOR”
the election of the nominees as Trustees as described in this Proxy Statement, unless instructions to the contrary are marked thereon,
and at the discretion of the proxy holders as to the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the Meeting. Any
shareholder who has submitted a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise either by attending the Meeting and
voting his or her shares or by submitting a letter of revocation or a later dated proxy to the Fund at the above address prior to the
date of the Meeting.
A “quorum”
is required in order to transact business at the Meeting. A quorum of shareholders is constituted by the presence or representation by
proxy of the holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of the Fund entitled to vote at the Meeting, subject to a resolution of the Board specifying a greater or a lesser quorum requirement for the transaction of any item of business that properly comes before the Meeting. In the event a quorum is not
present at the Meeting, or in the event that a quorum is present at the Meeting but sufficient votes to approve any of the proposed items
are not received, the chairperson of the Meeting may propose one or more adjournments of such Meeting to permit further solicitation of
proxies. If a quorum is present, a shareholder vote may be taken on one or more of the proposals in this Proxy Statement prior to such
adjournment if sufficient votes have been received for approval and it is otherwise appropriate. If a quorum is present, the persons named
as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote “FOR” any proposal in favor of such adjournment
and will vote those proxies required to be voted
“AGAINST” any proposal against any such adjournment. Absent
the establishment of a subsequent record date and the giving of notice to the holders of record thereon, the adjourned meeting must take
place not more than 130 days after the record date. At such adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which
might have been transacted at the original Meeting. The Fund may postpone or cancel a meeting of shareholders, and if it does the Fund
will make a public announcement of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. The postponed meeting may not be held more
than 130 days after the initial record date.
The close of business on
March 28, 2023, has been fixed as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting
and all adjournments or postponements thereof.
The Fund has two classes
of shares of beneficial interest outstanding: common shares, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Shares”), and
5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Shares”). The holders of
the Common Shares and Preferred Shares are each entitled to one vote for each full share held. See “Additional Information—Delaware Statutory Trust Act—Control
Share Acquisitions” for a discussion of the ability of holders of Common Shares and Preferred Shares that are “control shares”
to vote such shares. On the record date, there were 5,878,043
Common Shares and 1,196,413 Preferred Shares outstanding.
Set forth below is information
as to those shareholders to the Fund’s knowledge that beneficially own 5% or more of a class of the Fund’s outstanding voting
securities as of the record date.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(s) |
|
Title of Class |
|
Amount of Shares and
Nature of Ownership |
|
Percent of Class |
Americo Financial Life & Annuity
P.O. Box 410288
Kansas City, MO 64141 |
|
Preferred |
|
60,000 (beneficial) |
|
5.0% |
As of the record date, there
were no persons known to the Fund to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares.
SUMMARY OF VOTING RIGHTS ON PROXY PROPOSALS
Proposal |
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Common Shareholders |
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Preferred Shareholders |
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Election of Trustees |
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Common and Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single class, vote to
elect three Trustees:
Kinchen C. Bizzell,
James P. Conn, and
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
|
Common and Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single class, vote to
elect three Trustees:
Kinchen C. Bizzell,
James P. Conn, and
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
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Preferred Shareholders, voting
as a separate class, vote to elect
one Trustee:
Michael J. Melarkey |
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Other Business |
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Common and Preferred Shareholders, voting together as a single class |
PROPOSAL: TO ELECT FOUR (4) TRUSTEES OF THE FUND
Nominees for the Board of Trustees
The Board consists of twelve
Trustees, nine of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)). The Fund divides the Board into three classes, each class having a term
of three years. Each year, the term of office of one class will expire. Kinchen C. Bizzell, James P. Conn, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., and
Michael J. Melarkey have each been nominated by the Board for election to serve for a three year term to expire at the Fund’s 2026
Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Elizabeth C. Bogan has served as a Trustee of the Fund
since 1990, Jane D. O’Keeffe has served as a Trustee since 1995, Nicolas W. Platt has served as a Trustee since 1997, Daniel D. Harding has served
as a Trustee since 2007, and Kinchen C. Bizzell has served as a Trustee since 2008. James P. Conn, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Mario J. Gabelli, Michael J. Melarkey, Kuni Nakamura, and Anthonie C.
van Ekris became Trustees of the Fund on November 1, 2015. Agnes Mullady became a Trustee of the Fund on March 25, 2021. All of the Trustees,
with the exception of Jane D. O’Keeffe, are also directors or trustees of other investment companies for which Gabelli Funds, LLC (the
“Adviser”) or its affiliates serve as investment adviser. The classes of Trustees are indicated below:
Nominees to Serve Until 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Kinchen C. Bizzell
James P. Conn
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
Michael J. Melarkey
Trustees Serving Until 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Jane D. O’Keeffe
Elizabeth C. Bogan
Agnes Mullady
Anthonie C. van Ekris
Trustees Serving Until 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Mario J. Gabelli
Daniel D. Harding
Kuni Nakamura
Nicolas W. Platt
Under the Fund’s Declaration
of Trust, Statement of Preferences, and the 1940 Act, holders of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class,
are entitled to elect two Trustees, and holders of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares, voting together as
a single class, are entitled to elect the remaining Trustees. The holders of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares would be entitled
to elect the minimum number of additional Trustees that would represent a majority of the Trustees in the event that dividends on the
Fund’s Preferred Shares become in arrears for two full years and until all arrearages are eliminated. No dividend arrearages exist
as of the date of this Proxy Statement. Messrs. Melarkey and Nakamura are currently the Trustees elected solely by the holders of the
Fund’s Preferred Shares. Mr. Nakamura’s term as a Trustee is scheduled to expire at the Fund’s 2024 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. Therefore, he is not standing for election at this Meeting. A quorum of the Preferred Shareholders must be present in person
or by proxy at the Meeting in order for the proposal to elect Mr. Melarkey to be considered.
Unless instructions are provided
to the contrary, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote the proxy “FOR” the election
of the nominees named above. Each nominee has indicated that he has consented to serve as a Trustee if elected at the Meeting. If, however,
a designated nominee declines or otherwise becomes unavailable for election, the proxy confers discretionary power on the persons named
therein to vote in favor of a substitute nominee or nominees. Each nominee is qualified to serve as a Trustee under the Fund’s governing
documents.
Information about Trustees and Officers
Set forth in the table below
are the existing Trustees, including those Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons,” as defined
in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), four of whom are nominated for election to the Board of the Fund,
and officers of the Fund, including information relating to their respective positions held with the Fund, a brief statement of their
principal occupations, and, in the case of the Trustees, their other directorships during the past five years (excluding other funds managed
by the Adviser), if any.
Name, Position(s),
Address(1)
and Year of Birth |
|
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served(2) |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee |
|
Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex(3)
Overseen
by Trustee |
|
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INTERESTED TRUSTEES(4): |
|
Mario J. Gabelli
Chairman
1942 |
|
Since 2015*** |
|
Chair, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Investment Officer - Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO Asset Management Inc.; Director/Trustee or Chief Investment Officer of other registered investment companies within the Gabelli Fund Complex; Chief Executive Officer of GGCP, Inc.; Executive Chair of Associated Capital Group, Inc. |
|
Director of Morgan Group Holding Co. (holding company) (2001-2019); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of LICT Corp. (multimedia and communication services company); Director of CIBL, Inc. (broadcasting and wireless communications); Director of ICTC Group Inc. (communications) (2013-2018) |
|
31(9) |
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Agnes Mullady
Trustee
1958 |
|
Since 2021** |
|
Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (2008-2019); Executive Vice President of Associated Capital Group, Inc. (November 2016-2019); President and Chief Operating Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC (2010-2019); Vice President of Gabelli Funds, LLC (2006-2019); Chief Executive Officer of G.distributors, LLC (2011-2019); and an officer of all of the Gabelli/GAMCO/Teton Funds (2006-2019) |
|
— |
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Jane D. O’Keeffe
Trustee
1955 |
|
Since 1995** |
|
President
of the Fund (1996-2023); Portfolio Manager for Gabelli Funds, LLC (2015-2021); Executive Vice President of the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund
Ltd. (2014-2015); President of Dinsmore Capital Management (1996-2015); President of the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.
(1996-2014) |
|
— |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/NOMINEES(5): |
|
Kinchen C. Bizzell
Trustee
1954 |
|
Since 2008* |
|
Managing Director of Drexel Hamilton (securities broker-dealer); Private Investor (2017-2020); Managing Director of CAVU Securities (securities broker-dealer) (2013-2016); Investor Relations Managing Director (1998-2013) and Senior Counselor (after 2013) at Burson-Marsteller (global public relations and communications) |
|
— |
|
2 |
|
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Elizabeth C. Bogan
Trustee
1944 |
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Since 1990** |
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Former
Senior Lecturer in Economics at Princeton University |
|
— |
|
12 |
|
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James P. Conn
Trustee
1938 |
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Since 2015* |
|
Former Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Financial Security Assurance Holdings, Ltd. (1992-1998) |
|
— |
|
23 |
Name,
Position(s),
Address(1)
and Year of Birth |
|
Term
of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served(2) |
|
Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee |
|
Number
of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex(3)
Overseen
by Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.(6)
Trustee
1939 |
|
Since
2015* |
|
Co-Chairman of the Commission
on Presidential Debates; Former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (1995-2013); Former Chairman
of the Republican National Committee (1983-1989) |
|
Director of First Republic
Bank (banking); Director of Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (casino entertainment company) |
|
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daniel D. Harding
Trustee
1952 |
|
Since 2007*** |
|
Managing General Partner of the Global
Equity Income Fund (private investment fund); Director of Reef Consulting & Investment (private equity firm); former Director
of TRC (private asset management); former General Partner of Latitude Capital Partners, LLC (private investment) |
|
Atlantic Health Systems; Ocean Reef Community
Foundation and Ocean Reef Medical Center Foundation |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael J. Melarkey(7)
Trustee
1949 |
|
Since 2015* |
|
Of Counsel in the law firm of McDonald
Carano Wilson LLP; Partner in the law firm of Avansino, Melarkey, Knobel, Mulligan & McKenzie (1980-2015) |
|
Chairman of Southwest Gas Corporation
(natural gas utility) |
|
24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kuni Nakamura(7)
Trustee
1968 |
|
Since 2015*** |
|
President of Advanced Polymer, Inc.
(chemical manufacturing company); President of KEN Enterprises, Inc. (real estate); Trustee of Long Island University Board of
Trustees; Trustee on Fordham Preparatory School Board of Trustees |
|
— |
|
37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nicolas W. Platt
Trustee
1953 |
|
Since 1997*** |
|
Private Investor; Member of NYSE American
LLC Committee on Securities; Township Committee Member, Harding, New Jersey; Former Mayor of Township of Harding, New Jersey (2013-2016);
Managing Director of FTI Consulting Inc. (international consulting company) (March 2009-May 2011) |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthonie C. van Ekris(6)
Trustee
1934 |
|
Since 2015** |
|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
BALMAC International, Inc. (global import/export company) |
|
— |
|
23 |
OFFICERS:
Name Position(s)
Address(1)
and Year of Birth |
|
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served(8) |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
James A. Dinsmore
President
1982 |
|
Since February 2023 |
|
Portfolio Manager for Gabelli Funds, LLC; President of the Fund and the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd.; Executive Vice President
of the Fund. (2013-2015); Executive Vice President of the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (January 2013-February 2014); Vice President
of the Fund and the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (2009-2012) |
|
|
|
|
|
John C. Ball
Treasurer and Principal
Financial and Accounting
Officer
1976 |
|
Since 2017 |
|
Senior Vice President (since 2018) and other positions (2017-2018) of GAMCO Investors, Inc.; Chief Executive Officer, G. Distributors, LLC since 2020; Officer of registered investment
companies within the Gabelli Fund Complex since 2017; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of AMG Funds, 2014-2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Goldstein
Secretary and Vice President 1953 |
|
Since 2020 |
|
General Counsel, GAMCO Investors, Inc. and Chief Legal Officer,
Associated Capital Group, Inc. since 2021; General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Buckingham Capital Management, Inc. (2012-2020);
Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, The Buckingham Research Group, Inc. (2012-2020) |
Name Position(s)
Address(1)
and Year of Birth |
|
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served(8) |
|
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past Five Years |
|
|
|
|
|
Richard J. Walz
Chief Compliance Officer 1959 |
|
Since 2015 |
|
Chief Compliance Officer of registered investment companies
within the Gabelli Fund Complex since 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Laurissa M. Martire
Vice President and Ombudsman
1976 |
|
Since 2015 |
|
Vice President and/or Ombudsman of closed-end funds within
the Gabelli Fund Complex; Senior Vice President (since 2019) and other positions (2003-2019) of GAMCO Investors, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Bethany A. Uhlein
Vice President and Ombudsman
1990 |
|
Since 2019 |
|
Vice President and/or Ombudsman of closed-end funds within
the Gabelli Fund Complex
since 2017; Senior Vice President (since 2021) of GAMCO Investors, Inc. |
(1) | Address: One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422. |
(2) | The Fund’s Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, each class having a term
of three years. Each year the term of office of one class expires and the successor or successors elected to such class serve for a three
year term. |
(3) | The “Fund Complex” or the “Gabelli Fund Complex”
includes all the U.S. registered investment companies that are considered part of the same fund complex as the Fund because they have
common or affiliated investment advisers. |
(4) | “Interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. Mr.
Gabelli and Ms. O’Keeffe are each considered to be an “interested person” of the Fund because of their
affiliation with the Fund’s Adviser. Ms. Mullady is considered to be an “interested person” of the Fund
because of her direct or indirect beneficial interest in the Fund’s Adviser and due to a previous business or professional relationship
with the Fund and the Adviser. |
(5) | Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the
Fund as defined in the 1940 Act are considered to be “Independent” Trustees. None of the Independent Trustees
(with the possible exceptions as described in this proxy statement) nor their family members had any interest in the Adviser or any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser as of December 31, 2022. |
(6) | Mr. Fahrenkopf’s daughter, Leslie F. Foley, serves as a director of other funds in
the Gabelli Fund Complex. Mr. van Ekris is an independent director of Gabelli International Ltd., Gabelli Fund LDC, GAMA Capital Opportunities
Master Ltd., and GAMCO International SICAV, all of which may be deemed to be controlled by Mario J. Gabelli and/or affiliates and in
that event would be deemed to be under common control with the Fund’s Adviser. |
(7) | Trustee/Nominee elected solely by holders of the Fund’s Preferred Shares. |
(8) | Includes time served in prior officer positions with the Fund. Each officer will hold office
for an indefinite term until the date he or she resigns or retires or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
(9) | As of December 31, 2022, there are a total of 49 registered investment companies in the
Fund Complex. Of the 49 registered investment companies, Mr. Gabelli serves as a director or trustee for 31 funds, sole portfolio
manager of 5 funds, and part of the portfolio management team of 15 funds. |
* | Nominee to serve, if elected, until the Fund’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
or until his successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
** | Term continues until the Fund’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his or
her successor is duly elected and qualifies. |
*** | Term continues until the Fund’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until his successor
is duly elected and qualifies. |
The Board believes that
each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of other
Trustees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee should serve in such capacity. Among the attributes or skills common to all
Trustees are their ability to review critically and to evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact
effectively with the other Trustees, the Adviser, the sub-administrator, other service providers, counsel, and the Fund’s
independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective and independent business judgment in the performance of
their duties as Trustees. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively has been attained in large part
through the Trustee’s business, consulting, or public service positions and through experience from service as a member of the
Board and one or more of the other funds in the Fund Complex, public companies, non-profit entities, or other organizations as set
forth above and below. Each Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively also has been enhanced by education,
professional training, and experience.
Interested Trustees
Mario J. Gabelli, CFA. Mr.
Gabelli is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. He serves in the same capacity for other funds in the Fund Complex. Mr. Gabelli
is Chair, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer – Value Portfolios of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GAMI”), an OTC-listed asset manager and financial services company. He is the Chief Investment
Officer of Value Portfolios of Gabelli Funds, LLC and GAMCO
Asset Management Inc. (“GAMCO”), each of which are
asset management subsidiaries of GAMI. In addition, Mr. Gabelli is Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, a director and the
controlling shareholder of GGCP, Inc. (“GGCP”), a private company that holds a majority interest in GAMI, and
the Chair of MJG Associates, Inc., which acts as an investment manager of various investment
funds and other accounts. He is Executive Chair of Associated Capital Group, Inc., a public company that provides alternative management
and institutional research services, and is a majority-owned subsidiary of GGCP. Mr. Gabelli has served as Chair of LICT Corporation
(“LICT”), a public company engaged in broadband transport and other communications services, since 2004 and
has been the CEO of LICT since December 2010. He has also served as a director of CIBL, Inc. (“CIBL”), a public
holding company that was spun-off from LICT in 2007, since 2007 and as Executive Chair since February 2020. He served as the Chair
of Morgan Group Holding Co., a public holding company, from 2001 to October 2019 and as the CEO from 2001 to November 2012. Mr. Gabelli
serves as Overseer of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business and as a trustee of Boston College and Roger Williams University.
He serves as a director of the Winston Churchill Foundation, The E.L. Wiegand Foundation, The American-Italian Cancer Foundation, and
The Foundation for Italian Art and Culture. He is Chair of the Gabelli Foundation, Inc., a Nevada private charitable trust. Mr. Gabelli
serves as Co-President of Field Point Park Association, Inc. Mr. Gabelli received his Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University,
MBA from Columbia Business School, and honorary Doctorates from Fordham University and Roger Williams University.
Agnes Mullady. Ms.
Mullady was an officer of registered investment companies within the Fund Complex from 2006 until 2019, President and Chief Operation
Officer of the Fund Division of Gabelli Funds, LLC from 2010 until 2019, Chief Executive Officer of G.distributors, LLC from 2011 until
2019, Senior Vice President of GAMI from 2009 until 2019, Vice President of Gabelli
Funds, LLC from 2006 until 2019, and Executive Vice President of Associated Capital Group, Inc. from 2016 until 2019. Prior to joining
GAMI in December 2005, Ms. Mullady was a Senior Vice President at U.S. Trust Company and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Excelsior Funds from 2004 through 2005. Ms. Mullady received her MBA degree in Finance from New York Institute of Technology and her
BA in Accounting from Queens College.
Jane D. O’Keeffe.
Ms. O’Keeffe was Executive Vice President of the Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. and President of the Ellsworth Growth
and Income Fund Ltd. from 1996 until February 2014. Ms. O’Keeffe has been President of Dinsmore Capital Management from 1996 until
2015. In 1980, Ms. O’Keeffe began as an assistant to the portfolio manager of IDS Progressive Fund. From 1983 through March 1986,
she had research and portfolio management responsibilities at Soros Fund Management Company. In 1986, Ms. O’Keeffe was a portfolio
manager and research analyst at Simms Capital Management until she joined Fiduciary Trust International in 1988, where she became a Vice
President and Portfolio Manager for individuals, endowments and foundations. Ms. O’Keeffe received a Bachelor’s degree from
the University of New Hampshire and attended the Lubin Graduate School of Pace University.
Independent Trustees/Nominees
Kinchen C. Bizzell, CFA.
Mr. Bizzell is Managing Director of Drexel Hamilton, a securities broker-dealer. He was a Managing Director of CAVU Securities, a
New York institutional securities broker-dealer from 2013 until 2016. At CAVU, Mr. Bizzell was a Compliance Officer and a Financial Institution
Group Investment Banker. From 1998 until 2003, Mr. Bizzell was an Investor Relations Managing Director and later a Senior Counselor at
Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations and communications firm. He advised clients on earnings warnings and restatements, mergers
and acquisitions, and bankruptcies. He started his career as a lawyer and was a partner in the NewYork law firm of Mendes & Mount,
counsel to Lloyd’s of London and British insurers. Mr. Bizzell serves on the Fund’s Audit Committee and in the same capacity
for another fund in the Fund Complex. Mr. Bizzell is a member of the New York State Bar. He holds twelve securities licenses from the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority including: Research Analyst (Series 86, 87) and Principal registration for Financial and Operations,
General Securities, Municipal Securities and Registered Options (Series 27, 24, 53, 4). Mr. Bizzell received his Bachelor’s degree
from North Carolina State University and Juris Doctor degree from Duke University.
Elizabeth C. Bogan, Ph.D. Dr.
Bogan was formerly Senior Lecturer in Economics at Princeton University from 1992 until 2020. She was formerly Chair of the
Economics and Finance Department, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a member of the Executive Committee for the College of
Business Administration. Dr. Bogan serves on the Fund’s Audit Committee and also serves in the same capacity for another fund
in the Fund Complex. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wellesley College, an MA degree in Quantitative
Economics from the University of New Hampshire, and a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Columbia University.
James P. Conn. Mr. Conn
is the Lead Independent Trustee of the Fund and a member of the Fund’s Pricing and ad hoc Proxy Voting Committees. He serves
on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He
was a senior business executive of Transamerica Corp., an insurance holding company, for much of his career, including service as Chief
Investment Officer. Mr. Conn has been a director of several public companies in banking and other industries, and was lead director and/or
chair of various committees. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Santa Clara University.
Frank J. Fahrenkopf,
Jr. Mr. Fahrenkopf is the Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which is responsible for the widely-viewed Presidential
debates during the quadrennial election cycle. He also served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee for six years during Ronald
Reagan’s presidency. Additionally, he serves as a board member of the International Republican Institute, which he founded in 1984.
Mr. Fahrenkopf is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Gaming Association (“AGA”),
the trade group for the hotel-casino industry. Mr. Fahrenkopf serves on the Fund’s Nominating Committee and on comparable or other
board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He served for many years as Chairman of the
Pacific Democrat Union and Vice Chairman of the International Democrat Union, a worldwide association of political parties from the United
States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, and twenty other nations. Prior to becoming the AGA’s first chief
executive in 1995, Mr. Fahrenkopf was a partner in the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, where he chaired the International Trade Practice
Group and specialized in regulatory, legislative, and corporate matters for multinational, foreign, and domestic clients. Mr. Fahrenkopf
is the former Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Culinary Institute of America and remains a member of the board. For more than
30 years, Mr. Fahrenkopf has served on the Board of First Republic Bank and serves as Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating
Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Eldorado Resorts, Inc., which owns and operates
19 casinos in 10 states. Mr. Fahrenkopf received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and his Juris Doctor
from Boalt Hall School of Law, U.C. Berkeley.
Daniel D. Harding,
CFA. Mr. Harding is the Managing General Partner of the Global Equity Income Fund, a private investment fund. Mr. Harding is a member
of the Fund’s Pricing Committee, serves as Chairman of the Fund’s Audit Committee, and is the Fund’s designated Audit
Committee Financial Expert. He serves in the same capacities for another fund in the Fund Complex. Mr. Harding is co-founder and was
Chief Investment Officer of Harding Loevner Management LP, an investment advisory firm, from 1989 through 2003. Prior to founding Harding
Loevner, he was a Trust Investment Officer at American National Bank and a partner and associate for the Rockefeller Family Office. He
is a director of Reef Consulting & Investment, a private equity firm, and was a director of Legg Mason Investment Counsel, LLC and
Chair of the Investment Committee from 2010 to 2012. Mr. Harding is engaged in numerous not for profit organizations with fiduciary responsibilities
including Atlantic Health Systems, Ocean Reef Community Foundation, and the Ocean Reef Medical Center Foundation. He received his undergraduate
degree from Colgate University, and is a CFA and CIC charterholder.
Michael J. Melarkey,
Esq. Mr. Melarkey, after more than forty years of experience as an attorney specializing in business, estate planning, and gaming
regulatory work, retired from the active practice of law and is of counsel to the firm of McDonald Carano and Wilson in Reno, Nevada.
He is Chairman of the Fund’s Nominating Committee and serves as a member of one of the multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committees.
He serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits. He is Chairman
of the Board of Southwest Gas Corporation and serves on its Nominating, Corporate Governance, and Compensation Committees. Mr. Melarkey
acts as a trustee and officer for several private charitable organizations including as a trustee of The Bretzlaff Foundation and Edwin
L. Wiegand Trust. He is an officer of a private oil and gas company. Mr. Melarkey received his Bachelor’s degree from the University
of Nevada, Reno, Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and Masters of Law in Taxation from New York University
School of Law.
Kuni Nakamura. Mr. Nakamura
is the president of Advanced Polymer, Inc., a chemical manufacturing company, and president of KEN Enterprises, Inc., a real estate company.
He is Chairman of the Fund’s ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee and a member of the Fund’s Audit and Pricing Committees.
Mr. Nakamura serves on comparable or other board committees with respect to other funds in the Fund Complex on whose boards he sits.
Mr. Nakamura was previously a board member of The LGL Group, Inc., a diversified manufacturing company. He serves on the Board of Trustees
of Long Island University in Brookville, NY and the Fordham Preparatory School. He is involved in various capacities with The University
of Pennsylvania and The Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Mr. Nakamura is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton
School with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Multinational Management.
Nicolas W. Platt.
Mr. Platt is a private investor. In 2018, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy appointed Mr. Platt to be one of two bipartisan “Czars”
to address the State’s property tax crisis. He served as Mayor of the Township of Harding, New Jersey from 2013 to 2016. Mr. Platt
is now serving on the Township Committee. He is a member of the Fund’s Nominating and ad hoc Proxy Voting Committees. He
serves on comparable or other committees for another fund in the Fund Complex on whose board he sits. From 2009 until 2011, Mr. Platt
served as Managing Director of FTI Consulting Inc., an international financial consulting company. Prior to March 2009, he was a senior
executive with WPP Group, plc subsidiaries Ogilvy Worldwide and Young & Rubicam - Burson- Marsteller’s corporate practice.
He spent thirteen years in leadership roles at both the New York and American Stock Exchanges. At the AMEX, Mr. Platt oversaw the exchange’s
domestic and international listing efforts and was the liaison to the investment banking community. Mr. Platt is a member of the NYSE
American LLC Committee on Securities, which reviews the continued exchange listing qualifications for companies. He sits on the boards
of several non-public organizations. Mr. Platt received his Bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College and an MA in Economics from
Columbia University.
Anthonie C. van Ekris.
Mr. van Ekris has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BALMAC International, Inc., a global import/export company, for
over twenty years. He serves on the boards of other funds in the Gabelli Fund Complex and as a director and the Chairman of the GAMCO
International SICAV. Mr. van Ekris has over fifty-five years of experience as Chairman and/or Chief Executive Officer of public and private
companies involved in international trading or commodity trading, and served in both of these capacities for nearly twenty years for
a large public jewelry chain. Mr. van Ekris is a former director of an oil and gas operations company. He served on the boards of a number
of public companies and for more than ten years on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army of Greater New York.
Trustees – Leadership Structure and
Oversight Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for
general oversight of the Fund rests with the Board. The Board has appointed Mr. Conn as the Lead Independent Trustee. The Lead Independent
Trustee presides over executive sessions of the Trustees and also serves between meetings of the Board as a liaison with service providers,
officers, counsel, and other Trustees on a wide variety of matters including scheduling agenda items for Board meetings. Designation
as such does not impose on the Lead Independent Trustee any obligations or standards greater than or different from other Trustees. The
Board has established a Nominating Committee and an Audit Committee to assist the Board in the oversight of the management and affairs
of the Fund. The Board also has an ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee that exercises beneficial ownership responsibilities on behalf
of the Fund in selected situations. From time to time, the Board establishes additional committees or informal working groups, such as
an ad hoc Pricing Committee related to securities offerings by the Fund, to address specific matters, or assigns one of its members
to work with trustees or directors of other funds in the Fund Complex on special committees or working groups that address fund complex-wide
matters, such as the multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer for
all the funds in the Fund Complex, and a separate multi-fund ad hoc Compensation Committee relating to compensation of certain
other officers of the closed-end funds in the Fund Complex.
All of the Fund’s Trustees,
other than Mr. Mario J. Gabelli, Ms. Agnes Mullady, and Ms. Jane D. O’Keeffe, are Independent Trustees and the Board believes it
is able to provide effective oversight of the Fund’s service providers. In addition to providing feedback and direction during Board
meetings, the Independent Trustees meet regularly in executive session and chair all committees of the Board.
The Fund’s operations
entail a variety of risks, including investment, administration, valuation, and a range of compliance matters. Although the Adviser, the
sub-administrator, and the officers of the Fund are responsible for managing these risks on a day-to-day basis within the framework of
their established risk management functions, the Board also addresses risk management of the Fund through its meetings and those of the
committees and working groups. As part of its general oversight, the Board reviews with the Adviser at Board meetings the levels and types
of risks being undertaken by the Fund, and the Audit Committee discusses the Fund’s risk management and controls with the independent
registered public accounting firm engaged by the Fund. The Board reviews valuation policies and procedures and the valuations of specific
illiquid securities. The Board also receives periodic reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding compliance matters
relating to the Fund and its major service providers, including results of the implementation and testing of the Fund’s and such
providers’ compliance programs. The Board’s oversight function is facilitated by management reporting processes that are designed
to provide visibility to the Board regarding the identification, assessment, and management of critical risks, and the controls and policies
and procedures used to mitigate those risks. The Board reviews its role in supervising the Fund’s risk management from time to time
and may make changes at its discretion at any time.
The Board has determined
that its leadership structure is appropriate for the Fund because it enables the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over
matters under its purview, allocates responsibility among committees in a manner that fosters effective oversight, and allows the Board
to devote appropriate resources to specific issues in a flexible manner as they arise. The Board periodically reviews its leadership structure
as well as its overall structure, composition, and functioning, and may make changes at its discretion at any time.
Beneficial Ownership of Shares Held in the Fund and the Family
of Investment Companies for each Trustee and Nominee for Election as Trustee
Set forth in the table below
is the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by each Trustee and nominee for election as Trustee and the aggregate
dollar range of equity securities in the Fund Complex beneficially owned by each Trustee and nominee for election as Trustee.
Name of Trustee/Nominee |
|
Dollar Range of
Equity
Securities Held
in the Fund*(1) |
|
Aggregate Dollar
Range of Equity
Securities Held in the
Family of Investment Companies*(1)(2) |
INTERESTED TRUSTEES: |
|
|
|
|
Mario J. Gabelli |
|
E |
|
E |
Agnes Mullady |
|
B |
|
C |
Jane D. O’Keeffe |
|
E |
|
E |
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/NOMINEES: |
|
|
|
|
Kinchen C. Bizzell |
|
D |
|
E |
Elizabeth C. Bogan |
|
D |
|
E |
James P. Conn |
|
C |
|
E |
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
|
A |
|
E |
Daniel D. Harding |
|
C |
|
E |
Michael J. Melarkey |
|
C |
|
E |
Kuni Nakamura |
|
E |
|
E |
Nicolas W. Platt |
|
B |
|
B |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
C |
|
E |
| A. | None |
| B. | $1–$10,000 |
| C. | $10,001–$50,000 |
| D. | $50,001–$100,000 |
| E. | Over $100,000 |
All shares were valued as of December
31, 2022.
(1) | This information has been furnished by each Trustee and nominee for election as Trustee as of December
31, 2022. “Beneficial Ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-l(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). |
(2) | The term “Family of Investment Companies” includes two or more registered funds
that share the same investment adviser or principal underwriter and hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes
of investment and investor services. Currently, the registered funds that comprise the “Fund Complex” are identical
to those that comprise the “Family of Investment Companies.” |
Set forth in the table below
is the amount of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee, nominee for election as Trustee, and executive officer of the Fund.
Name of Trustee/Nominee/Officer
|
|
Amount
and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership(1) |
|
Percent
of Shares
Outstanding(2) |
INTERESTED TRUSTEES: |
|
|
|
|
Mario J. Gabelli |
|
197,732(3) |
|
3.4% |
Agnes Mullady |
|
150 |
|
* |
Jane D. O’Keeffe |
|
20,233 |
|
* |
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/NOMINEES: |
|
|
|
|
Kinchen C. Bizzell |
|
5,440 |
|
* |
Elizabeth C. Bogan |
|
4,801 |
|
* |
James P. Conn |
|
1,000 |
|
* |
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
|
0 |
|
* |
Daniel D. Harding |
|
2,331 |
|
* |
Michael J. Melarkey |
|
1,266 |
|
* |
Kuni Nakamura |
|
7,000(4) |
|
* |
Nicolas W. Platt |
|
250 |
|
* |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
2,500(5) |
|
* |
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: |
|
|
|
|
James A. Dinsmore |
|
0 |
|
* |
John C. Ball |
|
0 |
|
* |
Peter Goldstein |
|
0 |
|
* |
Richard J. Walz |
|
0 |
|
* |
(1) | This information has been furnished by each Trustee, including each nominee for election as Trustee, and
executive officer as of December 31, 2022. “Beneficial Ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3
of the 1934 Act. Reflects ownership of Common Shares unless otherwise noted. |
(2) | An asterisk indicates that the ownership amount constitutes less than 1% of the total shares outstanding.
The ownership of the Trustees, including nominees for election as Trustee, and executive officers as a group constitutes 4.1% of the
total Common Shares and none of the Preferred Shares outstanding. |
(3) | Includes 140,732 Common Shares owned by Mr. Gabelli and 57,000 Common Shares owned by Associated Capital Group, Inc. (ACG), of which Mr. Gabelli is the Executive Chair and controlling shareholder. Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in this entity and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by this entity which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest. |
(4) | Includes 1,835 Common Shares are owned by Mr. Nakamura’s children for
which he disclaims beneficial ownership. |
(5) | All 2,500 Common Shares are owned by Mr. van Ekris’ children for which he disclaims beneficial
ownership. |
Set forth in the table below
is the amount of interests beneficially owned by each Independent Trustee, nominee for election as an Independent Trustee or his or her
immediate family member, as applicable, in a person, other than a registered investment company, that may be deemed to be controlled by
the Fund’s Adviser and/or affiliates (including Mario J. Gabelli) and in that event would be deemed to be under common control with
the Fund’s Adviser.
Name
of Independent
Trustee/Nominee |
|
Name
of Owner and
Relationships to
Trustee/Nominee |
|
Company |
|
Title
of Class |
|
Value of Interests(1) |
|
Percent
of
Class(2) |
James P. Conn |
|
Same |
|
PMV Consumer Acquisitions Corp. |
|
Warrants |
|
$ |
11 |
|
* |
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
|
Same |
|
Gabelli Associates Limited II E |
|
Membership Interests |
|
$ |
1,551,295 |
|
1.39% |
Michael Melarkey |
|
Same |
|
PMV Consumer Acquisitions Corp. |
|
Warrants |
|
$ |
11 |
|
* |
Kuni Nakamura |
|
Same |
|
The LGL Group, Inc. |
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
7,031 |
|
* |
Kuni Nakamura |
|
Same |
|
The LGL Group, Inc. |
|
Warrants |
|
$ |
347 |
|
* |
Kuni Nakamura |
|
Same |
|
M-Tron Industries Inc. |
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
7,595 |
|
* |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
Same |
|
LICT Corp. |
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
480,000 |
|
* |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
Same |
|
The LGL Group, Inc. |
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
8,910 |
|
* |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
Same |
|
CIBL, Inc. |
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
42,600 |
|
* |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
Same |
|
The LGL Group, Inc. |
|
Warrants |
|
$ |
440 |
|
* |
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
Same |
|
M-Tron Industries Inc. |
|
Common Stock |
|
$ |
9,625 |
|
* |
(1) This
information has been furnished as of December 31, 2022.
(2) An
asterisk indicates that the ownership amount constitutes less than 1% of the total interests outstanding.
The Fund pays each Independent
Trustee and certain Interested Trustees an annual retainer of $8,500 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended. Each Trustee who is not employed by the Adviser is reimbursed by the Fund for
any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings. All Board committee members receive $500 per meeting attended. In addition,
the Audit Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $2,000, the Nominating Committee Chairman receives an annual fee of $2,000, and
the Lead Independent Trustee receives an annual fee of $1,000. A Trustee may receive a single meeting fee, allocated among the participating
funds, for participation in certain meetings on behalf of multiple funds. The aggregate remuneration (excluding out-of-pocket expenses)
paid by the Fund to such Trustees during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, amounted to $133,500. During the fiscal year ended October
31, 2022, the Trustees of the Fund met four times, all of which were regular quarterly Board meetings. Each Trustee then serving in such
capacity attended at least 75% of the Board meetings and of any committee of which he or she is a member.
The Audit Committee and Audit Committee
Report
The role of the Fund’s
Audit Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of (i) the quality and integrity of the Fund’s financial statement
reporting process and the independent audit and reviews thereof; (ii) the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and
practices, its internal controls, and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain of its service providers; (iii) the Fund’s
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications,
independence, and performance. The Audit Committee also is required to prepare an audit committee report pursuant to the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for inclusion in the Fund’s annual proxy statement. The
Audit Committee operates pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter (the “Audit Charter”) that was most recently
reviewed and approved by the Fund’s Audit Committee on February 15, 2023. The Audit Charter is available in the Closed-End Funds
– Corporate Governance Section on the Fund’s website at www.gabelli.com.
Pursuant to the Audit Charter,
the Audit Committee is responsible for conferring with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing annual
financial statements, approving the selection of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, and overseeing the Fund’s
internal controls. The Audit Charter also contains provisions relating to the pre-approval by the Audit Committee of audit and non-audit
services to be provided by Tait Weller & Baker LLP (“Tait Weller”), the Fund’s independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2023, to the Fund and to the Adviser and certain of its affiliates. The Audit Committee advises
the full Board with respect to accounting, auditing, and financial matters affecting the Fund. As set forth in the Audit Charter, management
is responsible for maintaining appropriate systems for accounting and internal control, and the Fund’s independent registered public
accounting firm is responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews. The independent registered public accounting
firm is ultimately accountable to the Board of Trustees and to the Audit Committee, as representatives of shareholders. The independent
registered public accounting firm for the Fund reports directly to the Audit Committee.
In performing the Audit Committee’s oversight
function, the Chairman of the Audit Committee, pursuant to direction from the Audit Committee, reviewed and discussed with management of the Fund and Tait Weller
the audited financial statements of the Fund as of and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, and the conduct of the audit of such
financial statements.
In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee, on behalf of and pursuant to direction from the Audit Committee, discussed with Tait Weller the accounting
principles applied by the Fund and such other matters brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by Tait Weller as required by PCAOB
auditing standards and rules. The Chairman of the Audit Committee, on behalf of and pursuant to direction from the Audit Committee, also received from Tait Weller the written disclosures and statements required by the
SEC’s independence rules, delineating relationships between Tait Weller and the Fund, and considered the impact that any such relationships
might have on the objectivity and independence of Tait Weller as the independent registered public accounting firm. The Chairman of the Audit Committee reported on these matters to the other members of the Audit Committee at a meeting on February 15, 2023,during which the members of the Audit Committee discussed these matters and ratified the actions
of the Chairman of the Audit Committee described above as actions of the Audit Committee.
As set forth above, and as
more fully set forth in the Audit Charter, the Audit Committee has significant duties and powers in its oversight role with respect to
the Fund’s financial reporting procedures, internal control systems, and the independent audit process.
The members of the Audit
Committee are not, and do not represent themselves to be, professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not
employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management, or internal control purposes. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes
no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the Fund’s independent registered
public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and/or
financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards
and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not
provide assurance that the audit of the Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with the standards of the
PCAOB or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Based on the Audit Committee Chairman’s consideration
of the audited financial statements and the discussions referred to above with management and Tait Weller, and subject to the
limitations on the responsibilities and role of the Audit Committee set forth in the Audit Charter and those discussed above, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Fund’s Board of Trustees that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s
Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022.
Submitted by the Audit Committee of
the Fund’s Board of Trustees
Daniel D. Harding, Chairman
Kinchen C. Bizzell
Elizabeth C. Bogan
Kuni Nakamura
February 15, 2023
The Audit Committee met three
times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The Audit Committee is composed of four of the Fund’s Independent Trustees,
namely Messrs. Harding (Chairman), Bizzell, and Nakamura, and Dr. Bogan. The Fund has certified that each member of the Audit Committee
is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including those of the Fund. Mr. Harding has been designated as the Fund’s
audit committee financial expert, as defined in Items 407(d)(5)(ii) and (iii) of Regulation S-K (the “Audit Committee Financial
Expert”).
Nominating Committee
The Board of Trustees has
a Nominating Committee composed of three Independent Trustees, Messrs. Melarkey (Chairman), Fahrenkopf, Jr., and Platt. Each Nominating
Committee Member is an Independent Trustee as determined under guidelines of the NYSE American. The Nominating Committee met once during
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending qualified candidates
to the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created. In considering candidates submitted by shareholders, the Nominating Committee
will take into consideration the needs of the Board, the qualifications of the candidate, and the interests of shareholders.
The Nominating Committee believes
that the minimum qualifications for serving as a Trustee of the Fund are that the individual demonstrate, by significant accomplishment
in his or her field, an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board of Trustees’ oversight of the business and affairs
of the Fund and have an impeccable record and reputation for honest and ethical conduct in both his or her professional and personal activities.
In addition, the Nominating Committee examines a candidate’s specific experiences and skills, time availability in light of other
commitments, potential conflicts of interest, and independence from management and the Fund. The Fund has adopted specific Trustee qualification
requirements that can be found in the Fund’s By-Laws and are applicable to all individuals who may be nominated, elected, appointed,
qualified or seated to serve as Trustees. The qualification requirements include: (i) age limits (at least 21 years of age and such maximum
age as the Trustees may in the future determine); (ii) prohibitions regarding any legal disability; (iii) limits on service on other boards;
(iv) restrictions on relationships with investment advisers other than the Fund’s adviser; and (v) character and fitness requirements.
Additionally, each Independent Trustee must not be an “interested person” of the Fund as defined under Section
2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and may not be or have certain relationships with a shareholder beneficially owning five percent or more of the
Fund’s outstanding shares or specified levels of interest in registered investment companies. The Fund’s By-Laws also provide
that a majority of the Trustees then in office may determine by resolution that a failure to satisfy a particular qualification requirement
will not present undue conflicts or impede the ability of the candidate to discharge the duties of a Trustee or the free flow of information
among Trustees or between the Fund’s adviser and the Board. Reference is made to the Fund’s By-Laws for more detail.
The Nominating Committee
also considers the overall composition of the Board, bearing in mind the benefits that may be derived from having members who have a variety
of experiences, qualifications, attributes, or skills useful in overseeing a publicly-traded, highly-regulated entity such as the Fund.
The Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying trustee candidates. For
a discussion of experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills supporting the appropriateness of each Trustee’s service on the
Fund’s Board, see the biographical information of the Trustees above in the section entitled “Information About Trustees
and Officers.”
The Board of Trustees adopted
a Nominating Committee Charter on November 18, 2015. The charter is available in the Closed-End Funds – Corporate Governance Section
on the Fund’s website at www.gabelli.com.
Other Board Related Matters
The Board of Trustees has
established the following procedures in order to facilitate communications among the Board and the shareholders of the Fund and other
interested parties.
Receipt of Communications
Shareholders and other interested
parties may contact the Board or any member of the Board by mail or electronically. To communicate with the Board or any member of the
Board, correspondence should be addressed to the Board or the Board member(s) with whom you wish to communicate either by name or title.
All such correspondence should be sent to Bancroft Fund Ltd., c/o Gabelli Funds, LLC, One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422. To communicate
with the Board electronically, shareholders may go to the corporate website at www.gabelli.com under the heading “Contact
Us/Contact Information/Email/Board of Directors (Gabelli Closed-End Funds).”
Forwarding the Communications
All communications received
will be opened by the office of the General Counsel of the Adviser for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents represent
a message to one or more Trustees. The office of the General Counsel will forward promptly to the addressee(s) any contents that relate
to the Fund and that are not in the nature of advertising, promotions of a product or service, or patently offensive or otherwise objectionable
material. In the case of communications to the Board of Trustees or any committee or group of members of the Board, the General Counsel’s
office will make sufficient copies of the contents to send to each Trustee who is a member of the group or committee to which the envelope
or e-mail is addressed.
The Fund does not expect
Trustees or nominees for election as Trustee to attend the Meeting. No Trustee or nominee for election as Trustee attended the Fund’s
annual meeting of shareholders held on May 9, 2022.
The following table sets
forth certain information regarding the compensation of the Trustees and officers, if any, who were compensated by the Fund rather than
the Adviser for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, and by the Fund Complex for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022.
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name of Person and Position |
| Aggregate Compensation from the Fund* |
| Aggregate
Compensation from the Fund
and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees** |
INTERESTED TRUSTEES: |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Mario J. Gabelli |
|
$ | 0 | |
|
$ | 0 |
(0) |
|
Chairman |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Agnes Mullady |
|
$ | 12,500 | |
|
$ | 132,500 |
(13) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Jane D. O’Keeffe |
|
$ | 0 | |
|
$ | 0 |
(0) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/NOMINEES: |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Kinchen C. Bizzell |
|
$ | 13,000 | |
|
$ | 28,000 |
(2) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Elizabeth C. Bogan |
|
$ | 13,000 | |
|
$ | 153,000 |
(12) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
James P. Conn |
|
$ | 13,500 | |
|
$ | 279,000 |
(23) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. |
|
$ | 13,000 | |
|
$ | 157,000 |
(11) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Daniel D. Harding |
|
$ | 15,000 | |
|
$ | 38,000 |
(3) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Michael J. Melarkey |
|
$ | 15,000 | |
|
$ | 193,500 |
(23) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Kuni Nakamura |
|
$ | 13,000 | |
|
$ | 351,125 |
(36) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Nicolas W. Platt |
|
$ | 13,000 | |
|
$ | 28,000 |
(2) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
Anthonie C. van Ekris |
|
$ | 12,500 | |
|
$ | 214,500 |
(23) |
|
Trustee |
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
* | Represents total compensation paid to such persons by the Fund during the Fund’s fiscal year ended
October 31, 2022. |
** | Represents the total compensation paid to such persons during the calendar year ended December 31, 2022,
by investment companies (including the Fund) or portfolios that are part of the Fund Complex. The number in parentheses represents the
number of such investment companies and portfolios. |
Required Vote
The election of each of the
listed nominees for Trustee of the Fund requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the applicable class or classes
of shares of the Fund present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, provided a quorum is present. A “plurality”
vote means that the nominees who receive the largest number of votes cast (even if they receive less than a majority) will be elected
as trustees. Since the nominees are running unopposed, each nominee only needs one vote to be elected if there is a quorum present at
the Meeting.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, INCLUDING
THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH APPLICABLE
NOMINEE.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm
Recent Change in Auditor
Effective August 17, 2022,
the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, upon recommendation and approval of the Audit Committee, dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP (“PricewaterhouseCoopers”) as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and appointed Tait
Weller to serve in this role for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2022.
PricewaterhouseCooper’s
report on the financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer
of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principle.
During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period through August 17, 2022, there were no “disagreements” (as
defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) with PricewaterhouseCooper on any matter of accounting principles
or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction
of PricewaterhouseCooper, would have caused PricewaterhouseCooper to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection
with their reports on the Fund’s financial statements for such fiscal years.
During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period through August 17, 2022, there were no “reportable events”
(as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
The Fund provided PricewaterhouseCooper
with a copy of the foregoing disclosure in accordance with the requirements of Instruction 2 to Item 304 of Regulation S-K. PricewaterhouseCooper
did not indicate that it believed the foregoing disclosure was incorrect or incomplete.
During the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period prior to engaging Tait Weller, neither the Fund, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted
with Tait Weller with respect to: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed,
or the type of audit opinion that might have been rendered on the Fund’s financial statements, and no written report or oral advice
was provided that Tait Weller concluded was an important factor considered by the Fund in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing
or financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined
in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item
304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
Tait Weller, 50 South 16th
Street, Suite 2900, Philadelphia, PA 19102, has been selected to serve as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm
for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2023. Tait Weller acted as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The Fund knows of no direct financial or material indirect financial interest of Tait Weller in the
Fund. A representative of Tait Weller will not be present at the Meeting, but will be available by telephone and will have an opportunity
to make a statement, if asked, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Set forth in the table
below are audit fees and non-audit related fees billed to the Fund by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Tait Weller for professional
services received during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Fiscal Year
Ended
October 31 |
|
Audit Fees |
|
Audit
Related Fees |
|
Tax Fees* |
|
All Other
Fees |
2021 |
|
$37,500 |
|
— |
|
$4,750 |
|
— |
2022 |
|
$24,000 |
|
— |
|
$3,500 |
|
— |
* | “Tax Fees” are those fees billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Tait Weller in
connection with tax compliance services, including primarily the review of the Fund’s income tax returns. |
The Fund’s Audit Charter
requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting
firm to the Fund, and all non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund’s Adviser
and service providers controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Fund’s Adviser (“affiliates”)
that provide ongoing services to the Fund (a “Covered Services Provider”), if the engagement relates directly
to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit
and permissible non-audit services to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, and the Chairman must report his decision(s) to the Audit Committee,
at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairman’s pre-approval of such services. The Audit Committee may also establish
detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation
of some or all of the Audit Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than the Adviser or the Fund’s
officers). Pre-approval by the Audit Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount
of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Adviser, and any Covered Services Provider constitutes not more than
5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its independent registered public accounting firm during the year in which the
permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the
engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved
by the Audit Committee or the Chairman prior to the completion of the audit. All of the audit, audit related, and tax services described
above for which PricewaterhouseCoopers and Tait Weller billed the Fund fees for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 and October 31,
2022, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
For the fiscal years ended
October 31, 2021 and 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Tait Weller has represented to the Fund that it did not provide any non-audit services (or bill any fees for
such services) to the Adviser or any Covered Services Provider.
The Audit Committee was not
required to consider whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Adviser or Covered Service Providers that were
not pre-approved was compatible with maintaining Tait Weller’s independence.
The Investment Adviser and Administrator
Gabelli Funds, LLC is the
Fund’s Adviser and Administrator and its business address is One Corporate Center, Rye, New York 10580-1422.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the 1934
Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, require the Fund’s executive officers and Trustees, executive officers
and directors of the Adviser, certain other affiliated persons of the Adviser, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of the Fund’s securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and the NYSE American and to furnish
the Fund with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on the Fund’s review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto
filed electronically with the SEC during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Fund believes that during that year such persons
complied with all such applicable filing requirements.
Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions
For purposes of determining
the presence of a quorum for transacting business at the Meeting, abstentions (or “withheld votes” with respect
to the election of Trustees) and broker “non-votes” (that is, proxies from brokers or nominees indicating that
such persons have not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote shares on a particular matter
with respect to which the brokers or nominees do not have discretionary power) will be treated as shares that are present but that have
not been voted. Accordingly, shareholders are urged to forward their voting instructions promptly.
Because the Fund requires
a plurality of votes to elect each nominee for Trustee, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast, but
will have no effect on the result of the vote. Abstentions and any broker non-votes, however, will be considered to be present at the
Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum.
Brokers holding shares of
the Fund in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such
customers and clients on how to vote their shares on Proposal 1 before the Meeting. Under the rules of the NYSE American, such brokers
may, for certain “routine” matters, grant discretionary authority to the proxies designated by the Board to
vote if no instructions have been received from their customers and clients prior to the date specified in the brokers’ request
for voting instructions. Proposal 1 is a “routine” matter and accordingly beneficial owners who do not provide
proxy instructions or who do not return a proxy card may have their shares voted by broker-dealer firms in favor of Proposal 1. A properly
executed proxy card or other authorization by a beneficial owner of shares that does not specify how the beneficial owner’s shares
should be voted on Proposal 1 may be deemed an instruction to vote such shares in favor of the proposal.
Shareholders of the
Fund will be informed of the voting results of the Meeting in the Fund’s Semiannual Report for the five months ended March 31, 2023.
“Householding”
Please note that only one
document (i.e., an annual or semiannual report or set of proxy soliciting materials) may be delivered to two or more shareholders of the
Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of a document, or for
instructions regarding how to request a separate copy of these documents or regarding how to request a single copy if multiple copies
of these documents are received, shareholders should contact the Fund at the address and phone number set forth above.
Delaware Statutory Trust
Act – Control Share Acquisitions
The Fund is organized as a
Delaware statutory trust and thus is subject to the control share acquisition statute contained in Subchapter III of the Delaware Statutory
Trust Act (the “DSTA Control Share Statute”). The DSTA Control Share Statute applies to any closed-end investment company
organized as a Delaware statutory trust and listed on a national securities exchange, such as the Fund. The DSTA Control Share Statute
became automatically applicable to the Fund on August 1, 2022.
The DSTA Control Share Statute
defines “control beneficial interests” (referred to as “control shares” herein) by reference to a series of voting
power thresholds and provides that a holder of control shares acquired in a control share acquisition has no voting rights under the Delaware
Statutory Trust Act (“DSTA”) or the Fund’s Governing Documents with respect to the control shares acquired in the control
share acquisition, except to the extent approved by the Fund’s shareholders by the affirmative vote of two–thirds of all the
votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding all interested shares (generally, shares held by the acquiring person and their associates
and shares held by Fund insiders).
The DSTA Control Share Statute
provides for a series of voting power thresholds above which shares are considered control shares. Whether one of these thresholds of
voting power is met is determined by aggregating the holdings of the acquiring person as well as those of his, her or its “associates.”
These thresholds are:
|
• |
|
10% or more, but less than 15% of all voting power; |
|
• |
|
15% or more, but less than 20% of all voting power; |
|
• |
|
20% or more, but less than 25% of all voting power; |
|
• |
|
25% or more, but less than 30% of all voting power; |
|
• |
|
30% or more, but less than a majority of all voting power; or |
|
• |
|
a majority or more of all voting power. |
Under the DSTA Control Share
Statute, once a threshold is reached, an acquirer has no voting rights with respect to shares in excess of that threshold (i.e., the “control
shares”) until approved by a vote of shareholders, as described above, or otherwise exempted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The DSTA Control Share Statute contains a statutory process for an acquiring person to request a shareholder meeting for the purpose of
considering the voting rights to be accorded control shares. An acquiring person must repeat this process at each threshold level.
Under the DSTA Control Share
Statute, an acquiring person’s “associates” are broadly defined to include, among others, relatives of the acquiring
person, anyone in a control relationship with the acquiring person, any investment
fund or other collective investment vehicle that has
the same investment adviser as the acquiring person, any investment adviser of an acquiring person that is an investment fund or other
collective investment vehicle and any other person acting or intending to act jointly or in concert with the acquiring person.
Voting
power under the DSTA Control Share Statute is the power (whether such power is direct or indirect or through any contract,
arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise) to directly or indirectly exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power
of shares of the Fund in the election of the Fund’s Trustees (either generally or with respect to any subset, series or class
of trustees, including any Trustees elected solely by a particular series or class of shares, such as the preferred shares). Thus,
Fund preferred shares, including the 5.375% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares, acquired in excess of the above thresholds would
be considered control shares with respect to the preferred share class vote for two Trustees.
Any control shares of the
Fund acquired before August 1, 2022, are not subject to the DSTA Control Share Statute; however, any further acquisitions on or after
August 1, 2022, are considered control shares subject to the DSTA Control Share Statute.
The DSTA Control Share Statute
requires shareholders to disclose to the Fund any control share acquisition within 10 days of such acquisition, and also permits the Fund
to require a shareholder or an associate of such person to disclose the number of shares owned or with respect to which such person or
an associate thereof can directly or indirectly exercise voting power. Further, the DSTA Control Share Statute requires a shareholder
or an associate of such person to provide to the Fund within 10 days of receiving a request therefor from the Fund any information that
the Fund’s Trustees reasonably believe is necessary or desirable to determine whether a control share acquisition has occurred.
The DSTA
Control Share Statute permits the Fund’s Board of Trustees, through a provision in the Fund’s Governing Documents or by Board
action alone, to eliminate the application of the DSTA Control Share Statute to the acquisition of control shares in the Fund specifically,
generally, or generally by types, as to specifically identified or unidentified existing or future beneficial owners or their affiliates
or associates or as to any series or classes of shares. The DSTA Control Share Statute does not provide that the Fund can generally “opt
out” of the application of the DSTA Control Share Statute; rather, specific acquisitions or classes of acquisitions may be exempted
by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, either in advance or retroactively, but other aspects of the DSTA Control Share Statute, which
are summarized above, would continue to apply. The DSTA Control Share Statute further provides that the Board of Trustees is under no
obligation to grant any such exemptions.
The foregoing is only a summary of the material terms of the DSTA Control
Share Statute. Shareholders should consult their own counsel with respect to the application of the DSTA Control Share Statute to any
particular circumstance. Some uncertainty around the general application under the 1940 Act of state control share statutes exists as
a result of recent court decisions. Additionally, in some circumstances uncertainty may also exist in how to enforce the control share
restrictions contained in state control share statutes against beneficial owners who hold their shares through financial intermediaries.
Recent Change in Fiscal Year End
On February 15, 2023, the Board approved a change in the fiscal year end
of the Fund from October 31 to September 30, effective as of September 30, 2023.
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING
The Trustees of the Fund
do not intend to present any other business at the Meeting, nor are they aware that any shareholder intends to do so. If, however, any
other matters, including adjournments, are properly brought before the Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote
thereon in accordance with their judgment.
SHAREHOLDER NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS
All proposals by shareholders
of the Fund that are intended to be presented pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act (“Rule 14a-8”) at the
Fund’s next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2024 (the “2024 Annual Meeting”) must be received
by the Fund for consideration for inclusion in the Fund’s 2024 proxy statement and
2024 proxy relating to that meeting no later
than December 14, 2023. Rule 14a-8 specifies a number of procedural and eligibility requirements to be satisfied by a shareholder submitting
a proposal for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8. Any shareholder contemplating submissions of such
a proposal is referred to Rule 14a-8.
The Fund’s By-Laws
require shareholders that wish to nominate Trustees or make proposals to be voted on at an Annual Meeting of the Fund’s Shareholders
(and which are not proposed to be included in the Fund’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8) to provide timely notice of the
nomination or proposal in writing. To be considered timely for the 2024 Annual Meeting, the shareholder notice (and information summarized
below and described fully in the Fund’s By-Laws) must be sent to the Fund’s Secretary, c/o Gabelli Funds, LLC, One Corporate
Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422, and must be received by the Secretary no earlier than December 24, 2023 and no later than January 23,
2024; provided, however, that if the 2024 Annual Meeting is to be held on a date that is earlier than April 27, 2024 or later than June
16, 2024, such notice must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which notice of
the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever occurred first.
In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement,
commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.
In order for a shareholder of record
to propose a nominee for Trustee, such shareholder must furnish written notice setting forth specified information about the nominee and
associates of the nominee, the shareholder(s) of record (and if different, each beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is being
made) and associates of the shareholder(s), as well as an executed certificate by the nominee relating to the nominee’s disclosure
of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Fund in connection with service as a Trustee of
the Fund, the nominee’s consent to serve as a Trustee if elected and the nominee’s satisfaction of the Trustee qualifications
set forth in the Fund’s governing documents.
If requested by the Nominating Committee, the proposing shareholder will need to also submit a completed and signed trustee’s questionnaire,
including a supplement, relating to the nominee’s satisfaction of the qualifications requirements set forth in the governing documents.
The foregoing description
of the procedures for a shareholder of the Fund properly to make a nomination for election to the Board or to propose other business for
the Fund is only a summary and is not complete. Copies of the Fund’s governing documents, including the provisions that concern
the requirements for shareholder nominations and proposals, are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Fund will also furnish, without charge, a copy of its governing documents to a shareholder upon request, which may be requested by
writing to the Fund’s Secretary, c/o Gabelli Funds, LLC, One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580-1422. Any shareholder of the Fund considering
making a nomination or other proposal should carefully review and comply with those provisions of the Fund’s governing documents.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES
BE RETURNED PROMPTLY.
SHAREHOLDERS MAY PROVIDE
THEIR VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THE PROXY CARD, VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM OR SET FORTH
IN THE NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS.
April 12, 2023
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BCV-PS-2023
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