<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001271163-18-000018.txt : 20180403
<SEC-HEADER>0001271163-18-000018.hdr.sgml : 20180403
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180403183601
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001271163-18-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180329
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180403
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180403

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:		18735148

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

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
</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>2018-03-29</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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</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>GPJ Retirement Partners</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>450000</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>E3M 2016, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</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>Trust Accounts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</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>Investment Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were surrendered in accordance with Right to Put to the Fund up to 100% of Outstanding Series B Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by GPJ Retirement Partners, LLC, a limited liability company.  Mr. Gabelli has less than a 100% interest in the entity and disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by this entity which are in excess of his indirect pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">E3M 2016 is a limited liability company owned entirely by Mr. Gabelli.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The shares reported reflect the total shares owned by trust accounts for which Mario J. Gabelli serves as trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares were owned by MJG Associates and Gabelli Fund, LDC.  MJG Associates provides advisory services to private investment partnerships and offshore funds.  Mario Gabelli is the sole shareholder, director and employee of MJG Associates.   MJG Associates is the investment adviser of Gabelli Fund, LDC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas R. Jamieson as Attorney-in-Fact for Mario J. Gabelli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
