The GDL Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by GAMCO Investors, Inc. It is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It invests in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund invests in securities of companies involved in publicly announced mergers, takeovers, tender offers, and leveraged buyouts. It also invests in companies undergoing corporate reorganizations involving stubs, spin-offs, and liquidations. The fund considers factors such as the probability that the targeted acquisition or other transaction will close, the length of time to closing, the liquidity of the securities involved in the transaction, and the issuer's free cash flow and long-term earnings trends for making investments. It benchmarks the performance of its investments against the S&P 500 Index and 3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index. The fund was formerly known as Gabelli Global Deal Fund. The GDL Fund was founded on October 17, 2006 and is domiciled in the United States.