<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001271163-13-000012.txt : 20130326
<SEC-HEADER>0001271163-13-000012.hdr.sgml : 20130326
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130326150932
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001271163-13-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130325
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130326
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130326

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GDL FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001378701
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		914-921-5100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Gabelli Global Deal Fund
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20061019

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GAMCO INVESTORS, INC. ET AL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000807249
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21969
		FILM NUMBER:		13716576

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580-1434
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GABELLI ASSET MANAGEMENT INC ET AL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020828

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GABELLI FUNDS INC ET AL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940714

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI MARIO J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185533

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21969
		FILM NUMBER:		13716578

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC
		STREET 2:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GGCP, INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238894
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21969
		FILM NUMBER:		13716577

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 GREENWICH AVENUE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GABELLI GROUP CAPITAL PARTNERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030604
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-03-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001378701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GDL FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GDL.B</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GABELLI MARIO J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RYE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10580</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Control Person of Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238894</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GGCP, INC.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>140 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Majority shareholder of GAMCO</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000807249</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAMCO INVESTORS, INC. ET AL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RYE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10580</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Owner of Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-03-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>85100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>GAMCO Investors, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>130000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>GGCP, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>425148</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were surrendered in accordance with Right to Put to the Fund up to 100% of the  Outstanding Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by GAMCO Investors, Inc. (GAMCO).  Mario J. Gabelli is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and controlling shareholder of GAMCO.  Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in GAMCO and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by it which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by GGCP, Inc. (GGCP).  Mario J. Gabelli is the Chief Executive Officer, a director, and the controlling shareholder of GGCP.   Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in GGCP and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by it which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas R. Jamieson as Attorney-in-Fact for Mario J. Gabelli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
