<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-16-523297.txt : 20160330
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-16-523297.hdr.sgml : 20160330
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160330132300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-16-523297
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-A12B
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160330
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160330

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794685
		IRS NUMBER:				222736509
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-A12B
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09234
		FILM NUMBER:		161538380

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORP CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215070
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-A12B
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d137877d8a12b.htm
<DESCRIPTION>THE GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC.
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<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc.</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;30, 2016 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-A
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>THE GABELLI
EQUITY TRUST INC. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Maryland</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>22-273-6509</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(State of&nbsp;Organization)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>One Corporate Center </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Rye, New York 10580-1422 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Securities to be registered pursuant to Section&nbsp;12(b) of the Act: </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Title of each class</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:61.90pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>to be so registered</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Name of each exchange on which</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:112.65pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>each class is to be registered</B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>5.45% Series J Cumulative Preferred Stock</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>New York Stock Exchange</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section&nbsp;12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box.&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT> </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If this form relates to the registration of a
class of securities pursuant to Section&nbsp;12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box.&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:&nbsp;333-195247 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Securities to be registered pursuant to Section&nbsp;12(g) of the Act:&nbsp;None. </B></P>
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<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;1.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Description of Registrant&#146;s Securities to be Registered </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The sections captioned &#147;Summary of
the Terms of the Series J Preferred Shares,&#148; &#147;Description of the Series J Preferred Shares&#148; and &#147;Special Characteristics and Risks of the Series J Preferred Shares&#148; in the Registrant&#146;s Prospectus Supplement that was
filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act of 1933 (File No.&nbsp;333-195247) on March&nbsp;29, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;2.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Exhibits </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The following exhibits have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission: </P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Articles of Incorporation (1) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(a)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Articles of Amendment dated May&nbsp;12, 2004 to the Articles of Incorporation (2) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(b)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Articles of Amendment dated September&nbsp;12, 2005 to the Articles of Incorporation (3) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (4) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Articles Supplementary of the Registrant Creating and Fixing the Rights of the Series J Cumulative Preferred Stock (5) </TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-45951 and 811-04700) as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April&nbsp;7, 1998. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form N-14 (File No. 333-126111) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June&nbsp;24, 2005. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-127724 and 811-04700) as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on September&nbsp;15, 2005. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(4)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s filing on Form 8-K (File No. 811-04700) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December&nbsp;9, 2010. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(5)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Incorporated by reference to the Registrant&#146;s Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-195247 and 811-04700) as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;29, 2016. </TD></TR></TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">- 1 - </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of Section&nbsp;12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">THE GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">(Registrant)</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Date: March 30, 2016</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Andrea Mango</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Name:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Andrea Mango</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Secretary and Vice President</TD></TR>
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