EX-99.(S)(III) 4 ex99-siii.htm FORM OF PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT RELATING TO PREFERRED SHARES
 

THE GDL FUND N-2

 

Exhibit (s)(iii)

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT1

(To Prospectus dated             ,            )

 

                 Shares

 

The GDL Fund

 

Series                  Preferred Shares

 

We are offering for sale                  shares of our Series                  Preferred Shares, par value $0.001 per share. Our common shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “GDL” and our Series C Preferred shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GDL Pr C.” Our Series E Preferred Shares are not listed on an exchange. The last reported sale price for our common shares on             ,          was $         per share.

 

You should review the information set forth under “Risk Factors and Special Considerations” in the accompanying Prospectus before investing in our preferred shares.

 

 

 

Per Share

 

Total

Public offering price $                $             
       
Underwriting discounts and commissions $                $             
       
Proceeds, before expenses, to the Fund(1) $                $             

 

 
(1)The aggregate expenses of the offering (excluding underwriting discount) are estimated to be $        .

 

The Underwriters are expected to deliver the Series                  Preferred in book-entry form through the Depository Trust Company on or about                     .

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Fund is not making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus, respectively. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. In this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus, unless otherwise indicated, “Fund,” “us,” “our” and “we” refer to The GDL Fund. This Prospectus Supplement also includes trademarks owned by other persons.

 

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1In addition to the sections outlined in this form of prospectus supplement, each prospectus supplement actually used in connection with an offering conducted pursuant to the registration statement to which this form of prospectus supplement is attached will be updated to include such other information as may then be required to be disclosed therein pursuant to applicable law or regulation as in effect as of the date of each such prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, information particular to the terms of each security offered thereby and any related risk factors or tax considerations pertaining thereto. This form of prospectus supplement is intended only to provide a rough approximation of the nature and type of disclosure that may appear in any actual prospectus supplement used for the purposes of offering securities pursuant to the registration statement to which this form of prospectus supplement is attached, and is not intended to and does not contain all of the information that would appear in any such actual prospectus supplement, and should not be used or relied upon in connection with any offer or sale of securities.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

  Page
TERMS OF THE                   SERIES PREFERRED SHARES Q-3
USE OF PROCEEDS Q-3
CAPITALIZATION Q-3
OUTSTANDING SECURITIES Q-3
ASSET COVERAGE RATIO Q-4
SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF THE SERIES                  PREFERRED Q-4
TAXATION Q-4
UNDERWRITING Q-4
LEGAL MATTERS Q-4

 

 

 

 

TERMS OF THE SERIES                  PREFERRED SHARES

 

   
Dividend Rate The dividend rate [for the initial dividend period](1) will be     %.
   
Dividend Payment Rate [Dividends will be paid when, as and if declared on                     ,                     ,                      and                     , commencing                     . The payment date for the initial dividend period will be                     .(1)]
   
Liquidation Preference $         per share
   
[Non-Call Period The shares may not be called for redemption at the option of the Fund prior to                     .]
   
[Stock Exchange Listing]  

 

 
(1)Applicable only if the preferred shares being offered will have different rates over time.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate the total net proceeds of the offering to be $        , based on the public offering price of $                 per share and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The Fund will invest the net proceeds of any offering in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies, and may use a portion of such proceeds, depending on market conditions, for other general corporate purposes. The Investment Adviser anticipates that the investment of the proceeds will be made in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as appropriate investment opportunities are identified, which is expected to substantially be completed within three months. Pending such investment, the proceeds of the offering will be held in high quality short term debt securities and instruments.

 

The Fund may also use the net proceeds from the offering to call, redeem or repurchase shares of one or more of its Series C Preferred Shares or Series E Preferred Shares. The Series C Preferred Shares pay quarterly distributions in March, June, September, and December of each year. The Series C Preferred Shares paid distributions at an annualized rate of 4.00% on the $50 per share liquidation preference for the quarterly dividend periods ended on or prior to March 26, 2019 (Year 1). On February 22, 2019, the Board announced a reset fixed dividend rate of 4.00% that will apply for the next eight quarterly dividend periods (Year 2 and Year 3). On March 1, 2021, the Board continued the 4.00% dividend rate for Series C Preferred Shares through the mandatory redemption date of March 26, 2025.

 

The Series E Preferred Shares pay quarterly distributions in March, June, September, and December of each year. The Series E Preferred Shares paid distributions at an annualized rate of 4.00% on the $10 per share liquidation preference for the quarterly dividend periods ended on or prior to March 26, 2023 (Year 1). Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective January 19, 2023, the Board increased the dividend rate on the Series E Preferred Shares to an annual rate of 5.20% based on the liquidation preference of the Series E Preferred Shares. The Series E Preferred Shares have a mandatory redemption date of March 26, 2025. See “Description of the Securities—Preferred Shares” in the Prospectus for a definition of “Year 1,” “Year 2” and “Year 3.”

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

[To be provided.]

 

Outstanding Securities

 

The following information regarding the Fund’s outstanding securities is as of              ,           .

 

Title of Class

Amount
Authorized

Amount Held
by Fund or
for its Account

Amount
Outstanding
Exclusive of
Amount Held
by Fund

Common Shares  [    ]  [    ]
Series C Cumulative Puttable and Callable Preferred Shares  [    ]  [    ]
Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Shares  [    ]  [    ]
Other Series of Preferred Shares  [    ]  [    ]

 

 Q-3 

 

 

ASSET COVERAGE RATIO

 

As provided in the 1940 Act and subject to certain exceptions, the Fund may issue debt and/or preferred shares with the condition that immediately after issuance the value of its total assets, less certain ordinary course liabilities, exceed 300% of the amount of the debt outstanding and exceed 200% of the sum of the amount of debt and preferred shares outstanding. The Fund’s preferred shares and notes, in aggregate, are expected to have an initial asset coverage on the date of issuance of approximately     %.

 

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF THE SERIES             PREFERRED

 

Reinvestment Risk. The Fund may at any time redeem shares of Series                  Preferred Shares to the extent necessary to meet regulatory asset coverage requirements. For example, if the value of the Fund’s investment portfolio declines, thereby reducing the asset coverage for the Series                  Preferred Shares, the Fund may be obligated under the terms of the Series                  Preferred Shares to redeem shares of the Series Preferred Shares. Investors may not be able to reinvest the proceeds of any redemption in an investment providing the same or a better rate than that of the Series                  Preferred Shares.

 

Distribution Risk. The Fund may not meet the asset coverage requirements or earn sufficient income from its investments to make distributions on the Series                  Preferred Shares.

 

Redemption Risk. The Series                  Preferred Shares are not a debt obligation of the Fund. The Series Preferred Shares are junior in respect of distributions and liquidation preference to any indebtedness incurred by the Fund. Although unlikely, precipitous declines in the value of the Fund’s assets could result in the Fund having insufficient assets to redeem all of the Series                  Preferred Shares for the full redemption price.

 

TAXATION

 

[To be provided.]

 

UNDERWRITING

 

[To be provided.]

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters will be passed on by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, counsel to the Fund in connection with the offering of the preferred shares.

 

 Q-4 

 

 

 

The GDL Fund

 

Preferred Shares

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

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